REPORT OF THE COUNCIL 257 



have been necessary in the electric lighting installation. The 

 fusing of one of the main wires in the basement was very nearly 

 the cause of a serious fire ; and a thorough examination of 

 the installation throughout the building showed that much of 

 the wiring was unsuitable for carrying the voltage it now has 

 to bear, and that in certain other respects the arrangements 

 were none too safe. These defects have now been remedied. 

 The best thanks of the Society are due to Mr. Wilfred Hall, 

 who went to a great deal of trouble in examining the in- 

 stallation and advising the Council in regard to it. 



Of the Society's Transactions, one part, forming the con- 

 clusion of Volume III., New Series, has been issued during 

 the year, and another part is now almost ready. The Council 

 fear that unless there is a substantial improvement in the 

 financial outlook it may be necessary to suspend the publica- 

 tion of Transactions altogether for a time, though such a step 

 would be taken with much regret, and would have an un- 

 fortunate effect upon the standing of the Society in the 

 scientific world. With what success that standing has hitherto 

 been maintained by means of the Transactions may be judged 

 from a recent and most gratifying notice in Nature* the 

 leading general scientific review. 



The Hancock Prize for 1911-12 was divided between 

 Mr. Wm. Eltringham, of West Wylam, and Mr. John Baxter, 

 of Birtley. Both prize-winners are excellent self-taught field 

 naturalists, precisely such as the competition was founded to 

 encourage, and it is a gratifying result of the annual offer of 

 the Hancock Prize that it has brought into notice such a 

 number of men of similar type who are doing really good 

 work in various branches of local natural history. 



The work done in the Museum during the year is described 

 by the Curator in a later section of the report, but the Council 

 wish here to express their thanks to the donors of the 

 numerous gifts to the Museum, and to the gentlemen, of 

 whom Mr. P. Walther must be mentioned specially, who have 

 * Vol. 88, p. 158, Nov. 30, 1911. 



