14 



■* ' Mr. Kearton's lecture the previous winter proving such a sjreat success, your Committee were 

 induced to again secure bis services and engaged a larger hall, but owing to the inclement weather the 

 attendance was less than anticipated, with the result that its receipts did not cover the expenses. 



For a number of years we have had to regret that in Canterbury there were no evening classes in 

 scientific subjects, but at last we are glad to be able to report considerable progress. The Education 

 Authority has arranged, among other subjects, for classes in chemistry and physics, under the 

 superintendence of one of our members, Mr. Leeming, M.Sc. 



Tour Committee trust that as the coming year will be the 50th of the Society's existence, some 

 special efforts will be made by every individual member to help to justify its existence and give it 

 fresh impetus for the future. 



A, LANDER, 



Hon. Secretary. 



REPORT ON THE CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES OF CORRESPONDING 

 SOCIETIES, BRITISH ASSOCIATION, YORK MEETING, 1906. 



I am pleased to have had the privilege of representing the East Kent Scientific and Natural 

 History Society at this Conference, and only regret that circumstances made it impossible for me to 

 be present at the second meeting. I have, however, obtained an authentic report of the proceedings 

 and am thus able to give a connected account of the proceedings. 



This year, for the fir.-t time, the Societies represented were divided into two groups, Affiliated 

 Societies, which undertake and publish original scientific work, and Associated Societies, which do not 

 publish original papers. The list contained the names of sixfy-one Affiliated Societies and eleven 

 Associated Societies sending delegates ; but of these the attendance book showed that only forty-two 

 of the former and eight of the latter class were actually represputed. 



The first meeting, held on August 2, was presided over by Sir Edward Brabrook, who delivered an 

 able and stimulating address mainly concerning the relation of Scientific Societies to the subjects 

 dealt with in Sections F, H, and L — economics, anthropology, and education. With regard to anthro- 

 pological wcrk he pointed out that Local Societies could render an invaluable service in obtaining 

 photographs and measurements of members of families known to have been settled in the locality for 

 many generations, and so provide material which no central organization could procure. As to 

 education, he dwelt mainly on the importance of healthy surroundings in school life, and called 

 attention to the coming meeting of the International Congress on School Hygiene, which is to be 

 held in London, in August, 1907. In conclusion, Sir Edward laid stress on the value of the meetings 

 of the Conference of Delegates of Ctrref-ponding Societies mainly as " Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man 

 eharpeneth the countenance of his friend." 



The report of the Committee of Corresponding Societies was then read b> Mr. F. W. Budler, the 

 Secretary. It referred to the question of taking action towards obtaining reduced railway fares for the 

 travellin? of individual members of societies, and stated that each society desiring such concessions 

 must approach the local railway company on its own account ; but that warrants would be issued by 

 the authority of the British Association certifying that the societies, whether affiliated or asscciated, 

 were deserving of any concessions which the railway company might be prepared to grant. 



The last item on the programme was an address on local societies and meteorology which I had 

 been requested by tbe Committee to deliver. This address pointed out the appropriateness of the study 

 of meteorology for all societies which were not specialized in one department, partly on account of the 

 value of tbe contributions to science, partly because of the intellectual advantages accruing from the 

 fctudy. While only wealthy societies could indulge in costly investigations such as that into the 

 condition of the upper air by means of kites, or could support observatories like that of the Royal 

 Cornwall Polytechnic Society at Falmouth, almost all could contribute to local climatology by 

 instituting or securing the continuity of local observations. In two particulars this service would be 

 particularly valuable, in starting new records of sunshine and in supervising and increasing the number 

 of observations of rainfall. Additional rainfall stations are more urgently needed in the Scottish 

 Highlands than in any other part of the British Isles except the west of Ireland ; but there are several 

 spots even in Kent where new records would be welcome. I may mention Charing, Romney lUarsh, 

 X^ueenborough. Kingsdown, Barham, and other places between Canterbury and Dover, and any places 

 over 500ft. above sea level. The special value of the work of a society lies in the guarantee of 

 continuity which it affords. Only the best instruments, tested and certified as accurate, should ever be 

 employed for such observations, the cost of which lies ultimately in the time of the observers rather 

 than in the price of the apparatus. 



The sfcond meeting was held on August 7th, when Mr. John Hopkinson occupied the chair. A 

 paper on " The Desirability of Promoting County Photographic Surveys," by Mr. Jerome Harrison, was 



