Evening journal., 1897-05-05
lie CORAL IsLANp ExpepIrIoN
II sfade n Complete Failure I'm It's
Operations at Funafuti.

Operations at Funafuti.
A Vigorous attempt TO wrest from the
Jealous hands of nature the secret of
the origin and genesis OF coral atolls
and reefs, commonly spoken of as coral
islands, was made last summer by an
expedition sent out 10 the Ellice 10y
the Royal society, assisted by n COM
mttee of the British association. under
the charge of Prof. Sollas, of the Uni
versity of Dublin. The chief object
Of the expedition, IL will be eremembercd,
was 10 ascertain, by sounding and bor-
ing, the genesis of q coral island, end
the means employed were fully de-
scribed in the Times OF September
last. The article on the coral island
expedition it was stated that the actual
operation of boring through the depos-
/ its of coral to the strata below was
comparatively easy, provided all goes
we'll" Unfortunately for the elucida-
tion of the mystery OF the origin of
coral atolls, all has not gone well. From
the report submitted by Prof. Sollas to
the Royal society on February l. it. APP
pears that the expedition arrived at
Funafuti on May 81 last year, and the
first difficulty was TO land the boring
plant and driving machinery. a land
ing place having been selected the
heavy plant was taken on shore, and on
June 8, within two days OF the landing
OF the apparatus, the first attempt at
boring was made near the edge Of the
lagoon. Progress in boring was at
first rapid. the men working day and
night i'm three shifts of eight hours
each, and i'm q fortnight the bore hole
was 105 feet deep. But unfortunately
the sand poured into the hole faster
than it could be pumped out, and when
10 was certain that no further advance
could be made the boring at this spot
was reluctantly abandoned.
The expedition then determined tc
: try the outer or seaward side of the
beach, and a spot was found where Tho
/ coral rock seemed to be harder and more
e promising. Accordingly, trial pits
a were sunk, and the apparatus and en-
s gines brought round to this side of thu
= island The landing of the plant on th'
= seaward side was, however, ATTENDED
. with great difficulty, so, while some o
I the machinery was brought round b.
4. water, the rest, including the boilers
L which were rolled bodily along tn
s. beach by natives, was taken overland
IS News had meanwhile been sent 70 Sid
IS ney. n. S. W., where the authorities YER
'e kindly sent out additional boring ms
s. chinery, which, however, failed TO al
rive in time. On the outer side, thel
of the coral ring, boring was recon
te menced, and carried to a depth Of som
ID - feet. But the difficulties here wer
to even greater then they had been ON th
IS, other side. Had the carbonado damon
on drill encountered the hardest rock,
at could have cut through it with cas-
-D But no such solid material was fouu
n. st q depth of 81 feet coral rock va
en- found. but it was far from solid, an
o. being full of holes, either filed wit
sand or empty. it was almost impossih
10 bore through it. AS fast as the soi
was pumped out, fresh supplies flow
n i'm. cholxed the tubes cogged the dri
ol and eventually rendered it, utterly il
~. possible for the most powerful drill
~ penetrate further The boring tub
.c- were pushed down some 20 feet by ma
ie- force but were interrupted by bloc
re OF coral rock. In short, the water us
'n. for ubricaiipg purpo flowed out al
aI sand poured into the hole. and 80 was e'
re dent that further progress was impc
siplc. So the second boring was aba
'v doncd at q lesser depth than had be-
1n. attained in the first instance, and I
M expedition left Funafuu at the end
nd T,,lv-T -Tondon Times