394 PRESIDENTIAL ADDKESS. 



early friendships with some of our oldest members, who are not 

 at all times able to attend our pleasant gatherings. 



The Piest Field Meeting was held at Corbridge and Halling- 

 ton Waterworks, on "Whit Monday, May 21st. The morning 

 was exceedingly fine, and consequently more members assembled 

 at Corbridge than had given notice to the Secretaries that they 

 would require conveyance to Hallington. Only two conveyances 

 could be obtained, after every effort had been made by telegraph 

 and messenger to Hexham, so that some of the party were left 

 behind with myself to stay and visit the Church and some 

 other interesting localities nearer at hand; and here let me 

 emphasize the advantage to be gained by giving to the Secre- 

 taries timely notice of the accommodation required. As soon as 

 the conveyances were filled a start was made along the Watling 

 Street for the ascent of Stagshaw Bank — rather a steep climb 

 out, as it is a rise of about 650 feet in a distance of three miles, 

 the line of the Roman Wall crossing the Watling Street at a 

 height of 800 feet. This northern bank of the Tyne is covered 

 with a thick deposit of lateral moraine and drift, which has been 

 shaped into numerous rounded hillocks and other irregular 

 mounds along its side, covering up almost entirely and conceal- 

 ing the subjacent upper beds of the Carboniferous rocks. Look- 

 ing south from Stagshaw Bank moor a splendid view of the 

 broad valley of the Tyne, with its numerous and important 

 tributary valleys, well wooded and sheltered, gladdens the eye 

 of the citizen escaped from the thick and smoky atmosphere of 

 the town. After passing the line of the Roman Wall, and de- 

 scending towards the Erring Burn, a most extensive panoramic 

 view of the lower part of the North Tyne is obtained. The 

 line of outcrop of the Whinsill from Gunnerton to Great Baving- 

 ton; the hills bounding the Eede Water, and the Great Cheviot 

 on the far distant horizon, with the small white straight line of 

 the Watling Street stretched before you, as if drawn with a 

 rule, burst at once upon the view, affording, on the fine day we 

 saw it, one of those charming moorland scenes which are peculiar 

 to the Tyne district and Western Northumberland. On each 



