186 [Proc. B.N.F.C. 



attention of the Board of Works had been called to various 

 ruins which should be preserved as national monuments; but 

 it was an almost Herculean task to move this invaluable 

 Board, which they sometimes considered was not acting up to 

 the spirit of the Acts of Parliament which gave it power. 

 It was a matter of considerable gratification to know that tne 

 active measures of some of the members contributed to the 

 restoration to Ireland of her " treasure trove," in the now 

 famous Limavady gold ornaments. They trusted that in the 

 future those who sought and found treasures within their 

 shores, no matter what they might be, would be sufficiently 

 patriotic to procure them for their own National Museum 

 instead of bartering them out of the country. They also felt 

 some pride in recording that one of their most able and active 

 members, Mr. Robert Bell, had been the first to make tlie 

 interesting discovery that the substance known as dopplerite 

 existed in Ireland, the only other places in which it is found 

 being Germany and Switzerland. Mr. Bell's discovery had 

 awakened much interest in geological circles, and the repu- 

 tation of their section might be well assured while they 

 possessed men like him. During the year the newly-organised 

 sister society — the Ulster Fisheries and Biology Associa- 

 tion — had commenced to work with great earnestness, and 

 had been well supported by some of their members. They 

 regarded the rivalry, if such it may be called, as a fine healthy 

 one, spurring them on to additional energy. He would like 

 to remind them that the Club was now taking another step 

 in advance, and that they had secured the use of a room in 

 the Museum, College Square. That room would be open every 

 Wednesday evening from seven till nine o'clock, commencing 

 next Wednesday, and they asked all who desired to aid the 

 Club to meet there and exhibit any object of interest, and to 

 explain it or have it explained. The winter session would 

 also provide an attractive series of lectures, to which the 

 friends of members were invited and welcomed. 



A number of members having arranged to make a presen- 

 tation to Mr. William Gray, M.R.I. A., on his retirement from 



