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THE YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION AT 

 BRETTON PARK. 



About sixty members of the Yorkshire Naturahsts' Union spent 

 a pleasant afternoon on Saturday, June the 14th, in the district 

 chosen for the 85th meeting, which was held at Dewsbury for the 

 investigation of Bretton Park, Coxley Valley, and Elmley Wood- 

 house, a charming district, the first-named place being the Yorkshire 

 seat of Mr. Wentworth Blackett Beaumont, M.P., to whom the 

 Union is much indebted for so very kindly throwing open his estate. 



For the benefit of everyone, as far as possible, two separate 

 excursions had been arranged, the first to start from Horbury Bridge 

 Station at ii.o a.m. and to proceed to Bretton Park village by way 

 of Calder Bank, Hartley Bank Colliery and Bullcliffe Wood, 

 returning by Stocks Moor and Midgley. Horbury Bridge Station 

 was also the starting point for the second party, who were to leave 

 there at i o'clock by way of Coxley Valley, Stone Cliffe Wood to 

 Elmley Woodhouse and Bentley Springs, returning to Midgley. 



This is what had been arranged by Messrs. C. P. Hobkirk, F.L.S., 

 and P. F. Lee, to whom the Hon. Secretaries are much indebted 

 for making the arrangements and drawing up the usual excursion 

 circular, but in point of fact although two i)arties started as arranged 

 it would be somewhat difficult to say what actually took place; for 

 example several members were on the ground in the early morning 

 so as to have a full day in the district, and many of the others took 

 to independent research, rambling where they listed. However, as 

 the day wore on and especially towards five o'clock, members came 

 dropping into Dewsbury by ones and twos and made their way to 

 the Royal Hotel. It will scarcely be necessary to mention that 

 five o'clock was the time fixed for tea, and tea-time always proving 

 an attraction, those who are experienced in these matters find that 

 the census of the attendant members can only be safely taken at 

 that time. The weather throughout the day was beautifully fine, 

 and it is not , too much to say that the members attending the 

 excursion thoroughly enjoyed themselves in this lovely district. 

 After tea, the sections met to compare notes prior to the General 

 Meeting which was held at 6.30, and presided over by Mr. C P. 

 Hobkirk, F.L.S. It was found that many members would have to 

 leave soon in order to catch their respective homeward bound trains, 

 in consequence of which, on the suggestion of the chairman, the 

 minutes of the previous meeting were taken as read. 



Mr. Arthur Ed. Holme, M.A., Dewsbury ; the Rev. F. Barham 

 Foster, B. A., Heckmondwike, and Mr. E. W. Last, Huddersfield, were 



July 1890. 



