29 



YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT WAKEFIELD. 



There was a heartiness throughout the whole of the proceedings 

 connected with the Fifty-sixth Annual Meeting of the Union 

 held at Wakefield on Saturday, December 8th last, that spoke 

 well for the future welfare of the Union, when more normal 

 times return. The absence of their distinguished President, 

 Sir Archibald Geikie, O.M., K.C.B., LL.D., through illness, was 

 much regretted, as the presence of his stimulative personality 

 would naturally have added to the enjoyment of the gathering. 



In the morning a large party, under the guidance of Mr. H. 

 Pollard, visited, by the kind permission of Mrs. E. J. Simpson. 

 Walton Park, famous as the residence of the late Charles 

 Waterton, an eminent Yorkshire naturalist. The members 

 were conchicted over the grounds by Mr. E. T. B. Simpson, 

 and much enjoyed the visit under his able guidance. Members 

 who arrived later inspected the Chantry on the Bridge, the 

 field of the battle of Wakefield, Sandal Castle, and subsequently 

 the Cathedral and County Hall, under the guidance of Messrs. 

 C. T. Wilby, James Reyner and W. Holmes. 



Alter the Sectional Meetings there was an exceptionally 

 well attended gathering of the General Committee, tw^enty-eight 

 of the Affiliated Societies being represented. The meeting 

 was held in the Council Chamber at the Tow-n Hall, Prof. 

 P. F. Kendall, M.Sc, occupying the chair. The report of the 

 year's work was fully considered, and the gratifying announce- 

 ment by the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. Edwin Hawkesworth, that 

 the financial position of the Union was in a sound condition, 

 the year's working again showing a balance to the good, was 

 receiv'ed with applause. The recommendation of the Executive 

 that the Excursions should be continued also received general 

 approval, and their suggestions for the places to be visited 

 during the coming year were agreed to. The announcement 

 that, on the invitation of the Executive, Prof. W. Garstang, 

 M.A., Sc.D., F.Z.S., of Leeds, had accepted the Presidency 

 of the Union for igi8, was cordially received. 



The Secretaries stated that Mr. R. C. Fowler Jones of York 

 had presented to the Union an elaborate and carefully compiled 

 index of the Excursion Circulars issued by the Union since 

 1877 ; the index also included the Societies which had been 

 affiliated with the Union, and of its past Presidents. Thanks 

 were accorded to Mr. Jones for his gift. 



After a brief interval, the Annual General Meeting of the 

 Union was held, the attendance being excellent. 



Prof. Kendall again presided, and had the support of the 

 Mayor of Wakefield, Councillor George Blakey, J. P., Colonel 

 E. A. Brotherton, J. P., the President of the Wakefield Paxton 

 Society, Canon Welch, the Vicar of Wakefield, and officials of 

 the Union. 



191S Jan. 1. 



