Report continued. 



It is with satisfaction too that the commit- 

 tee note that members are taking a fair share of 

 the work of assisting other societies by giving 

 lectiu'es and papers. During the past year over 

 80 papera had been so given, and the committee 

 trust that this liigh averagei will be maintained. 



With regaa-d to the hterary contributions of 

 the membere, your committee caamot do> better 

 than quote the President, who, in a paper read 

 h«rer a short time ago, said : 



"The amount of literary matter contributed 

 to the press by members of our Society no man 

 can number. Probably at least 200 articles per 

 annum were contributed by those who' claim to be 

 non-professional. Much of this is of a scientifio 

 character, and not. included in that lighter htera- 

 ture of which I hojve been speaking." 



During the year too, Messrs Partridge, of 

 London, have issiied a novel " Norcliffe Court" 

 BJid wliich was wi'itten by this year's president, 

 and your committee have reason toi hope that 

 this will not be the last so issued by members of 

 this society. 



During the winter the microscopic section has 

 also developed along useful Unes, and it is hoped 

 that during the summer, the members of it will 

 be able to obtain certain scientific apparatus 

 which will enable it to extend its operations 

 considerably. 



Many gifts have also been made to the society 

 during the year, and to all whO' have so contri- 

 buted the thanks of the society are due. 



The problem of drawing closer the ties bet- 

 ween the various Natural History Societiesi of 

 our district still remains unsolved. With a view 

 of getting into closer touch with somei of these 

 societies it is/ proposed that those members' — 

 of whom there are many — who are cyohsts, 

 should foim themselves into a section for visit- 

 ing outside societies on those Saturdays for 

 which no ramble is fixed. Already several 

 names have been received, and it is hoped that 

 others will also join. 



hi oonchision, the committee beg to thank 

 aU those kind friendls who have assisted in 

 making the meetings, the parties, and the enter- 

 tainments successful. Whilst recognising that 

 the Society demandis sacrifices of both time aaoA 

 money from the members, the committee feel 

 that tlie end aimed at is wort-h both — for the 

 objects of the society are to' help tO' lift the mind 

 above "dull oares and sordid self" and to make 

 us see that there are realms in the world of liter- 

 ature, ot science and of art that are woi"th ex- 

 ploring — ^for therein may be found such pleasures 

 as wealth alone may not purchase and which 

 poverty cannot take away. 



ELECTION OP OFFICERS. 



Tlie committee's report was unanimously ad- 

 opted, as was akcx tire financial rqjort, wMch 

 lia<i been prepared, and was read by Mr. Robt. 

 Radcliffe, financial secretary. The vice-presi- 

 dents were all re-elected, and the following were 

 elected the committee for the coming year : — 

 Messis. A. Holden, J. Baldwin, W. Ingliam, 

 A. Wright, J. Oldham, J. Tliomton, J. Hesketh, 

 and M. Shai-p. Mr. Jolin, Dean was elected 

 treasm-er ; Mi-. S. Holden, auditor ; Mr. R. 

 Radcliffe, financial secretaiy ; and Mr. John 

 Allem, general secretary. 



