194 TProc. i3.N.F.O., 



and that the train for some reason stopped opposite a large 

 bed of it, and a few enthusiastic members availed themselves 

 of the opportunity to procure specimens. 



The fifth excursion was to Magilligan on the 15th August. 

 The day's work seems to have been chiefly geological, but the 

 note at the end is worth attention : " We hope to find apology 

 for the non-attendance of our less enthusiastic members, and 

 the ladies in particular." I think we have improved since 

 then, perhaps on occasion we might reverse that apology. 



The next excursion was on the 29th August to Whitehead, 

 the G-obbins and Blackhead, in which thirty-seven members 

 took part, and Mr. Tate conducted, lecturing on the geological 

 formations of the district. 



I may say that in going through the minutes I find the 

 Gobbins has been one of the favourite places for half-day 

 excursions, even down to last year, and I should like while on 

 the Gobbins to note that on one occasion when investigating 

 its natural features, one of our members was so keen to explore 

 that he undressed and swam round the rocks, and inspected 

 the long line of caves; but that was not in the year we are at 

 present speaking of. 



We are now in October, and the Committee on the 12th of 

 that month proposed that the Winter Session be opened with 

 a report on the past work of the society, so that in looking 

 back I am following the line then adopted. 



It was also proposed that the " character of a Conver- 

 sazione " be given to the meeting by having tea and coffee 

 provided, but this proposal was not carried. 



The first Winter Meeting was held on November 5th, Mr. 

 Grainger in the chair, when Mr. Chew read the first paper 

 to the Club on " The Aims and f*rogress of the Society." 

 The Chairman announced that the following papers would De 

 read on the 19th November: — "Geographical distribution of 

 the plants around Belfast," by Mr. Tate. There is no doubt 

 that Mr. Tate was the father, the prime mover, the architect 

 — so to speak — of the Club, and he seems to have been a 

 thoroughly active, many-sided man, one of those real 



