858 REPORT— 1902i 



Northumberland, Durham, and New- Professor M. C. Potter, 'F'.L.S. 

 castle-upon-Tyne Natural History 

 Society. 



2 Nottingham Naturalists' Society . William Bradshaw. 



Paisley Philosophical Institution . William Beattie. 



Perthshire Society oE Natural Science Henrj^ Coates, F.R.S.E. 



1 Rochdale Literary and Scientific James Ogden, 



Society. 



1 Scotland, Mining Institute of . . James Barrowman, 



Somersetshire ArchcBological and Lieut. -Col. Bramble, F.S.A. 



Natural History Society. 



South Staffordshire and East Worces- Professor Henry Louis. 

 tershire Institute of Mining Engi- 

 neers. 



South-Eastern Union of Scientific W. Whitaker, F.R.S. 



Societies. 



Toronto Astronomical Society . . W. H. S. Monck, F.R.A.S. 



Tyneside Geographical Society . . Herbert Shaw, F.R.G.S. 



Warwickshire Naturalists' and Ar- William Andrews, F.G.S. 

 chseologists' Field Club. 



1 2 Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club . Rev. J. O. Bevan, F.S.A. 



2 Yorkshire Geological and Polytechnic Professor P. F. Kendall, F.G.S. 

 Societj'. 



1 2 Yorkshire Naturalists' Union . . Harold Wager, F.L.S. 



Fh'st Conference, September 11. 



This Conference was presided over by Professor W. W. Watts. The 

 Corresponding Societies Committee was represented by the Chairman 

 (Professor Watts), the Secretaries (Dr. Garson and Mr. Bles), and the 

 Rev. J. O. Bevan. 



The Chairman delivered the following Address : — 



Since the establishment of the Conference of Delegates in its present 

 form many successive chairmen, delegates, and readers of papers, together 

 with the representatives of the various Sections, have brought before the 

 Conference reasons for its existence or work for it to do. 



I trust that I may be pardoned if, in enumerating some of the func- 

 tions which especially appeal to me, I have been somewhat anticipated by 

 contributors to previous Conferences. 



First and foremost in my belief comes the fact that this Conference is 

 the only body which gives a kind of corporate existence and standing to 

 the Local Societies as a whole. It is the only thing which brings the 

 Societies into touch with one another, and it is the only hope that at 

 present exists for united action and systematised work. That delegates 

 should make acquaintance, meet in friendly intercourse, and compare 

 notes as to work done by themselves and one another is also a good side 

 of our gathering which is capable of further development than it has yet 

 received. 



Secondly, the annual printing of a list of Societies known to be 

 doing important work, with an index of their publications, is a most 

 useful guide to those desirous of working up the literature of any area. 

 The publications are always of limited issue and still more limited circula- 

 tion, and they are most difficult to obtain a few years after date. The 

 Association has most wisely treasured the publications which have been 

 sent to it, and it is to be hoped that this nucleus of a valuable and unique 

 collection will be placed where it is widely accessible. 



Thirdly, comes the stimulation of mutual example and rivalry. The 



