REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 223 



the two Societies which are at present incomplete will have 

 to be completed before the joint arrangement can absolutely 

 terminate, and after that period our Society will have to 

 undertake the publication of its own Transactions. 



The want of a systematic index to the Joint Transactions 

 has been pointed out, and the Committee would be glad if 

 any members who are willing to assist in the work of indexing 

 will communicate with the Curator. 



Application has been made to the Committee to allow the 

 Memorial Statue of Lord Armstrong (for which the designs 

 were recently exhibited in the Museum building, and which 

 will be of a very handsome and decorative nature) to be 

 erected at the southernmost extremity of the Museum grounds. 

 The site required would occupy the southernmost piece of 

 ground up to where the pillar of ironstone stands at present. 



Having regard to the very intimate connection which for 

 so many years existed between Lord Armstrong and the 

 Society, the Committee feel the site selected to be a most 

 appropriate one, and are sure that the resolution (which will 

 be moved at the Annual Meeting) authorising the erection 

 of the statue of their late President on the site in question 

 will meet with the unanimous approval of the members. 



A fine photogravure of Lord Armstrong has now been 

 added to the portraits in the Committee Room, and an 

 enlargement by Mr. Auty of his photograph of the Society's 

 late Curator (Mr. Richard Howse) has also been placed on 

 the walls of that room. 



It may be mentioned that Professor Lebour very kindly 

 went through Mr. Howse's collection of fossils, many of which 

 were of a unique character, and the Society have purchased 

 those which Professor Lebour recommended. 



The Hancock Essay Prize has been awarded to Mr, James 

 Caygill, and the competition is again open for this year. 

 Your Committee cannot help expressing their regret that so 

 few essays are sent in for this competition, which is open to 

 any resident in the counties of Northumberland, Durham, and 

 Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and as the conditions of the com- 



