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ASTRONOMICAL SECTION. 
The Section has held two meetings during the Session. In December the 
Rev. Walter Bidlake, Vicar of Crewe, gave a very clear and interesting 
account of the “ Stars in Winter,” with many pictorial illustrations. At the 
March meeting Mr. H. H. Waters, of Liverpool, gave a Lecture with the 
title, ‘‘ Notes on some Observatories, Volcanoes, and Earthquakes.’’ It was 
illustrated by many slides from photographs taken during the lecturer’s 
recent tour, and regions dealt with being the Western States, South Sea 
Islands, and Japan. The combination of astronomy with travel and observa- 
tions of terrestrial phenomena produced a very interesting lecture. 
In spite of the interest of the above lectures, it cannot be said that the 
Section is very flourishing, or even that it exists! It is still without a Chair- 
man, no person interested in the subject having been found willing to bear 
the very mild yoke which the office imposes. At the close of Mr. Bidlake’s 
lecture the Secretary invited members to take advantage of the opportunities 
for practical observation, provided by the fact that the Section possesses an 
excellent telescope. The invitation was quite unproductive. It is hoped that 
its repetition in this Report will reach a wider circle, and lead to the formation 
of a real Astronomical Section ! 
ad 
PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTION. °” 
There is little to report in connection with the above Section. Owing to 
_ the restrictions in regard to photography, no one being allowed to use a 
camera in the City or County without special police permission, and the great 
advance in prices for chemicals, plates, and other accessories (in some cases 
100 per cent., and others unobtainable at any price), little or no photographic 
work is being done. This I find is general throughout the country. 
Considerable difficulty has been experienced in regard to the lighting of 
the Enlarging Lantern. Filaments suitable for the Nernst lamp (by which 
the lantern is illuminated), at the present time are practically unobtainable, 
and I would suggest that some other method of lighting—of which there are 
~ several—should be obtained, especially as the Nernst lamp is’ now obsolete. 
On November 1ith, Mr. G. C. Caldecott, of Wrexham, delivered a Lecture 
on ‘‘ Views of Wrexham district, including the last Annual Excursion of the 
Society to Overton-on-Dee.’? By way of introduction, the lecturer pointed out 
and described by lantern slides some interesting information relating to colour 
-yalues, and the uses of different kinds of sensitive plates. Proceeding, he 
shewed some magnificent views of the, Parish Church, Wrexham, afterwards 
going over the ground traversed by the Society last Summer. ,Many of the 
_ views of the Dee Valley were of great interest, the subject being well chosen, 
and faithfully executed. Mr. Caldecott concluded by throwing on the screen 
a series of beautiful views, illustrating the woodland scenery of the district 
around Wrexham, including Gresford, Holt, Farndon, etc. 
ARTS AND CRAFTS SECTION. 
Only one Meeting of the Section was held during the Session, on March 
th, 1916. when Mr. Fred H. Crossley delivered a very interesting and instruc- 
e Lecture upon the “ Remains of Stall Work in Cheshire Churches.” The 
purer contrived to hold the interest of his audience in the niceties of the 
ails of Ecclesiastical Woodwork by his clear and lucid style of lecturing, 
ind by explaining and comparing the examples thrown upon the screen. The 
Being report of the lecture appeared in the Cheshire Observer of the 11th 
“Some rare and beautiful examples of the woodworkers art in medieval 
mes were described and illustrated in a Lecture on ‘The Remains of Stall 
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