290 The hish Naturalist. November, 



lying, the largest ship in the world, and excited much atten- 

 tion. The linen industry also claimed many visitors, and the 

 works and warehouses of the York-street Company and Messrs. 

 John S. Brown and Co. were several times invaded by nume- 

 rous parties. Visits at stated hours were also paid to the 

 works of Messrs. Inglis and Co. (bread and cake factory), 

 M'Caw, Stevenson, and Orr (printing and lithographing), 

 Dunville and Co. (distiller}^), W. A. Ross and Sons (mineral 

 water manufactory), Salt Union, Limited (salt mining, Car- 

 rickfergus), Cantrell and Cochrane (mineral water manufac- 

 tory), Belfast Ropeworks Co., Laganville Estate Brickworks; 

 as well as to the National Telephone Co.'s Exchange, the 

 Chief Fire Station, Electric Generating Station, and Gas 

 Works — the last three being the property of the Corporation. 

 The Harbour Commissioners on three successive days placed 

 their steamer Musgrave at the disposal of members for the 

 viewing of the harbour works and lough. 



ENTERTAINMENTS. 



In the wa}^ of social functions Belfast did its dutj- well. On 

 Thursday evening, nth instant, the Lord Mayor of Belfast 

 (Sir Daniel Dixon, P.C., D.E.) gave a great reception in the 

 Exhibition Hall adjoining the Botanic Gardens Park. Two 

 thousand five hundred guests w^ere present. From the hall 

 the visitors passed into the consen^atory, and thence across 

 the lawn under an unbroken series of marquees to the splendid 

 new ferner}^ — perhaps the finest thing of its kind in the British 

 Islands — which was formall}^ declared open by the Lord Mayor, 

 who was accompanied by the President of the Association and 

 the Earl of Shaftesbury. 



An equally brilliant function was the soiree given on 

 Tuesday night, i6th instant, at the Harbour Office by Sir 

 James Musgrave, Bart., and the Harbour Commissioners. 

 Over two thousand invitations were issued, and the accom- 

 modation available in the building was supplemented by the 

 erection of a large marquee. 



