ANNUAL MEETING GENERAL BUSINESS. 179 



" Your Council hope other local Societies will join the Union, and 

 have reason to think that several contemplate doing so.* 



"The objects of the Union may be broadly stated to be to extend the 

 usefulness of Local Societies by affording facilities for inter-communica- 

 tion tlu-ough an authorised and regularly piiblished magazine, which 

 records the more important work done by them ; announces their forth- 

 coming meetings and excursions ; and assist in the interchange of notes 

 and specimens ; and, by providing opportunities for personal iutercom-se 

 among the members at meetings to be held from time to time in various 

 places of interest, and in other ways, to promote the study of Natural 

 History, and other scientific subjects. 



"Your Council desire to record their warm appreciation of the hearty 

 efforts which the Birmingham and Dudley Societies have made to ensure 

 the first meeting of the Union being successful and interesting. The 

 Conversazione which will take place in the Towti Hall this evening will 

 give members of distant societies some idea of the scientific and other 

 resources of local members and %vill afford an excellent opportunity for 

 social and intellectual intercourse. The excursion to Dudley and 

 neighbourhood to-moiTOw will supply an admirable opportunity for the 

 study of some of the geological features of a most interesting and 

 important district, while the archasological members will find much to 

 occupy their attention. Your Council feel that the thanks of the 

 members are due and are assured that they will be warmly tendered to 

 the gentlemen who have with admhable foresight, much labour, and 

 expense made these arrangements for their edification and instruction. 



" Your Council recommend that they be empowered to appoint a 

 small Committee of Management to transact the general business of the 

 Union. They also submit bye-laws for your consideration. 



" The present subscription of one penny per member is deemed by 

 your Council as quite inadequate to enable the Union to engage in any 

 real work, and they deshe to have yoiu' opinion as to whether it should 

 not be increased, and if so to what amount. 



" It now only remains for your Council to state that it recommends 

 this meeting to select Leicester for the next annual gathering of the 

 Union, and to express the hope that this association of societies may be 

 increasingly iustrumental in fostering the study of Natural History and 

 alhed sciences." 



The Peesident moved the adoption of the report. He strongly 

 recommended the meeting to adopt the suggestion of the Council, and 

 empower them to select as a Committee of Management ten members of 

 the Council and the editors of the "Midland Naturahst, " e.c o//ic;o. Aa 

 to the amount subscribed by each naember annually he for his part 

 could not think what induced the promoters of the Union to fix the sum 

 BO low. The subscription would only pay the postage of two circulars 

 to each of the members. He recommended the meeting to pass some 

 resolution fixing the subscription at a reasonable amount. His own idea 

 was one shilhng per annum per member if the societies of the Union 

 meant to do real work. 



The motion was seconded by the Rev. W. H. Elliot, and carried. 



The Presldemt then moved that the Council be empowered to 

 appoint a Sub-committee of Management to conduct the business of the 

 Union, 



Mr. Lawson Tait seconded the motion, which was carried. 



* " The Peterborough Natural Hibtory and Scicutific Society " has since joined 

 the Union. 



