cxxiv Journal of Proceedings.
In accordance with the suggestions of Mr. Cole, tunnels were cut
through the chalk from the open pits to the closed ones, compass bearings
and measurements being carefully taken on the surface from the open
shafts to the centres of the depressions in the wood denoting the closed
pits. It is quite unnecessary here to give any account of the work done,
as that will be fully detailed in the Report of the explorations to be
drawn up by the conductors.* The work was found to be
somewhat fatiguing, as, although the air even in the closed pits
was comparatively pure, the sense of confinement and the damp
atmosphere were by no means exhilarating. Many friends visited
the pits during the explorations, and to afford members generally
an opportunity of inspecting the workings, a Field Meeting was held in
the wood on November 8th, when a number of persons descended the
shaft of the pit " No. 3," and so gained access through the tunnels into
no less than twelve pits, comprising seventy-five chambers. The
visitors were all astonished at the amount of work done, and the extent
of the chambers revealed by the tunnelling operations. It was pointed
out that the " chalk-pits " theory was effectively disposed of by the
proofs afforded that the chambers of one pit were so constructed as not
to run into those of another. In some cases the dividing wall is only
eighteen inches thick; and in others the end of one chamber has been
actually twisted out of the line in order to avoid breaking through the
wall into another chamber.
Owing to the approach of bad weather, the work in the pits was
finally closed for the year on November 10th, † the timbers employed and
some of the tools being left in the pit, in view of the resumption of the
explorations.
Saturday, October 25th, 1884.—Ordinary Meeting.
The fifty-second Ordinary Meeting was held in the Great Hall of the
Loughton Public Hall, at seven o'clock, Professor G. S. Boulger, Presi-
dent, in the chair.
The following were elected members :—Messrs. C. J. Allen, E. Rider
Cook, F.C.S., J. W. Forbes, J. H. Fraser, G. W. Hannam, R. McLachlan,
F.R.S., F.L.S., A. J. Puckridge, C. Speller, Thomas Wilkinson, Rev. C.
E. Campbell, B.A., Rev. J. H. Newnum, M.A.. Mrs. Furneaux and Mrs.
Oxley.
* A preliminary report was presented to the Club on Nov. 29th, 1881 (post), and
after the subsequent explorations in 1887, a full report was printed in the ' Essex
Naturalist,' vol. i. (1S87), pp. 225-270.—Ed.
† A visit was paid to the Deneholes on May 9th, 1885 (see report post, con-
taining some interesting information), but owing to various causes the work of
exploration could not be resumed until September, 1887, when a fortnight's work
was superintended by Messrs. W. Cole and T.V. Holme (see 'Essex Naturalist,' vol.
i.,pp. 202-204) and the results were embodied in the report (in the same volume)
alluded to above.—Ed. (1891).