234 The Irish Naturalist 



Hon. R. B. Dili^on (Galway) referred to the local interest which the 

 visit of the Field Clubs to Galway had excited, and which he trusted 

 would have a lasting effect in the way of stimulating scientific research 

 in that part of the country. On behalf of those of the party who were 

 not members of any of the Clubs, but were there as visitors, he wished 

 to express the great pleasure and interest which they had derived from 

 the excursion. 



Prof. FiTZGERAI^D then moved:— That the United Naturalists* 

 Field Clubs of Ireland press upon the Board of Intermediate Education 

 in Ireland the importance to education and to the country of introducing 

 Natural Science as a subject to be encouraged in Intermediate Schools 

 in Ireland. 



Prof. B. J. M'Weenfy, M.D., (Dublin), had pleasure in seconding 

 the resolution, and referred to the advantages which the teaching of 

 natural science would give. Before sitting down, he referred to the very 

 great kindness shown to the party during their visit by many inhabitants 

 of Galwa}^ Bspecially were the thanks of the party due to the Presi- 

 dent of Queen's College, to Sir Valentine Blake, to Captain Henley, to Mr. 

 P. O'F. Johnston, J.P., to the Hon. R. B. Dillon, to Mr. R.J. Kirwan, B.E., 

 to the Committee of the Royal Galway Boat Club, and to the officials of 

 the Midland Great Western Railway, and of the Galway Bay Steamboat 

 Company. He would like to move a vote of thanks to these gentle- 

 men. 



The Chairman put Professor Fitzgerald's resolution to the meeting, 

 and it was passed unanimously. 



Adam SpeerS, B.Sc, (Belfast), seconded the vote of thanks to those 

 who had so cordially assisted the success of the excursion. Referring 

 for a moment to the resolution which had just been passed, he wished 

 as the head of an Intermediate School, to express his gratification that 

 such a resolution had met with the unanimous favour of this meeting 

 of practical scientists. 



Hon. R. B. Diiyi^ON responded on behalf of those named in Dr. 

 M'Weeney's resolution. He assured the members that the visit of the 

 Field Clubs had been a most welcome event in Galway. 



F. J. Bigger, M.R.I.A., Secretary, Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, 

 wished to express the deep obligation of the members to Miss Gardiner, 

 of Leinster-street, Dublin, for the remarkably prompt and able manner 

 in which she had managed the catering on the daily expeditions— a very 

 important matter on these long and fatiguing excursions (hear, hear). 

 Speaking of the Field Club Union, he predicted how its increasing 

 strength would more and more bind the Clubs together, so that at length 

 they would have in Ireland one Field Club, with a common membership 

 for all, and one official mouth-piece — the Irish Nahiralist. 



Prof. Johnson remarked that the conference would not be complete 

 without some remarks from the organizer of the excursion. 



R. Li^OYD Praeger, B.E., Secretary Field Club Union and Dublin 

 Naturalists' Field Club, in reply said he had only to repeat the thanks that 

 he had expressed that evening after dinner for the unfailing promptness 



