350 



THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.— REPORTS OF 



MEETINGS. 



VISIT TO THE WALTHAMSTOW RESERVOIRS OF THE 

 EAST LONDON WATERWORKS COMPANY. 



Satuniay, May i^th, 1904. 



A meeting at the Reservoirs was projected last year, but was deferred owing 

 to bad weather (anfe, p. 247). On the present occasion Col. Bryan, ^I. Inst. 

 C.E., the Engineer to the Company, kindly made all arrangements for the com- 

 fort of the party, use of a boat on the Reservoirs, and use of the large workshops 

 for tea, etc. 



The meeting was "conducted" by ^Mr. D. J. Scourfield, F.R.M.S., and by 

 some other expert m.embers of the Club. The numerous company assembled at 

 the open spaces near the reservoirs near the Superintendent's house at Black- 

 liorse Lane. Here tables, jars, nets, &c., were arranged under a clump of trees. 

 Numerous interesting aquatic forms of life were obtained, and exhibited in 

 extemporised aquaria and under microscopes. A good representative series of 

 spring flowers growing on the banks of the streams and reservoirs was shown. 

 Mr. Scourfield and others gave many" lecturettes " on the objects — both before 

 and after tea— and explained tlie use of the special nets used in investigating the 

 entomostracous fauna of fresh-water lakes, Sec. A full report of the organisms 

 observed will probablv be published later in connection with a futute meeting at 

 tlie reservoirs. 



The President, ^Nlr. Rudler, presided at the tea, and hearty votes of thanks 

 were passed to Col. Bryan, the Superintendent, Mr. Jeffrey, and to the 

 Conductor, ]Mr. Scoiirfield. The latter summed up the afternoon's work in a 

 very interesting speech. 



After lea the collecting Avas continued, the pleasant weather rendering the 

 water trips and botanical rambles very enjoyable. 



MEETING AT SAFFRON WALDEN, THAXTED, HORHAM 



HALL, AND DISTRICT. 



W/zitsun-JJofiday, May 2yd, 1 904. 



This meeting was arranged to take advantage of the kind invitation of our 

 member, Mr. L. Cranmer-Byng, to visit him at Horham Hall, Thaxted. 



The main party assembled at Saffron VValden, about 10 o'clock, at the ofhcia 

 inn, the " Rose and Crown," where some members had lodged — other visitors 

 came by road from Dunmow and Chelmsford, and joined e?i route. 



The drive from Walden was very pleasant, the county being in the prime of 

 spring beauty. A deviation fiom the main road was made to allow of a visit to 

 Debden Church, a very ancient building of brick and stone, and situated in a 

 most delightful piece of country. The Rector (the Rev. F. H. Fisher) 

 very kindly conducted the party over the church, and Mr. I. Chalkley Gould also 

 assisted in the demonstration. After thanking the Rector, the drive was con- 

 tinued to Thaxted, perhaps the most old-world town in Essex. It was once an 

 important centre and corporate town, but the Mayor and Corporation were sup- 

 pressed by James II. The old Guild or Moot Hall still stands as a memorial of 



