422 [Proc. B.N.F.C, 



President. The Treasurer (Mr. W. H. Phillips) and the Secre- 

 taries (Mr. R. Lloyd Praeger and Mr. Francis Joseph Bigger) 

 also resumed office. One vacancy occurred en the Committee, 

 and the selection of a lady member to fill the vacant place, for 

 the first time in the history of the Club, was greeted with loud 

 applause. 



Discussion followed on the suggestion to amend the rule 

 (Rule IV.) relating to the qualifications of Honorary Members, 

 by the omission of the clause requiring that the usual residence 

 of such should be at least 20 miles from Belfast. The point 

 arose out of the fact that at the election of an Honorary Mem- 

 ber at a meeting of the Club held on December 15th, this 

 clause had been accidentally overlooked. Mr. Praeger having 

 introduced the subject, considerable discussion ensued, in which 

 Messrs. R. Welch, W. Gray, M.R.I.A.; F. W. Lockwood, Joseph 

 Wright, F.G.S. ; J. Hamilton, and Francis J. Bigger took part. 

 Ultimately it was decided, by a large majority, that the rule 

 as at present in force should remain. 



The junior secretary (Mr. Francis Joseph Bigger) brought 

 under the notice of the Club some archaeological subjects that 

 had been engaging the attention of the Secretaries. Repeated 

 efforts had been made to get together the various portions of 

 the town cross of Downpatrick, but on account of the unfor- 

 tunate refusal of one landowner to hand over a portion which 

 was in his possession, the proposed restoration of the cross has 

 had to be temporarily abandoned. A vote of thanks was 

 passed to Major Maxwell, D.L., on the motion of Mr. W. 

 Swanston, seconded by Mr. W. Gray, for his exertions in con- 

 serving the beautiful ruins of Inch Abbey, near Downpatrick, 

 as advocated by the Club during the past year. It was also 

 reported that the Belfast and County Down Railway Company 

 would undertake the conservation of the interesting souterrain 

 at Artole, near Ardglass, owing to the efforts of members of 

 the Club, and that it was in contemplation to do some restora- 

 tive work at the ancient church of Raholp. 



Mr. R. Lloyd Praeger then drew attention to a number of 



