12 REPORT OF MEETIKGS FOR 1906 



Adam P. Scott, Amble; Mr T. B. Short, Berwick; Miss 

 Simpson, Coldingham ; Mr Jas. A. Somervail, Hoselaw ; Mr 

 James Veitch, Jedburgh; Dr W. T. Waterson, and Mrs 

 Waterson, Embleton ; Mr Walter Weston, Alnwick; and Mr 

 Thomas Wilson, Roberton. 



The rendezvous was Belford Station at 10-35 am., where 

 brakes were in readiness to convey the party. The President, 

 Mr J. 0. Hodgson, Alnwick, was unavoidably absent ; but 

 his good wishes for a pleasant excursion were communicated 

 by the Organizing Secretary, who undertook to discharge 

 his duties in addition to his own. Leaving Belford on the 

 right, the party drove by Newlands Lodge, where, striking 

 South-West from the main road, they began a steep ascent, 

 over a road washed bare by the torrential rain of the previous 

 Saturday, with the view of reaching Chatton Moor, from 

 which a new carriage-drive leads directly to Chillingham 

 Castle. On gaining the summit the members obtained a 

 glimpse of the sea-coast, and of an expanse of moorland 

 interspersed with patches of whin and bracken, with the 

 disused workings of limestone, or the refuse-heaps of ancient 

 borings, which testified to the unproductive coal-seams that 

 underlay them. Few habitations presented themselves before 

 the valley of the Till, stretching from Weetwood in the 

 direction of Wooler, opened out to view, 

 Chatton. revealing an area of rich arable land, dotted 



here and there with comfortable homesteads 

 and cottages. In the neighbourhood of Chatton could be 

 traced examples of the Small Holdings, which at the close 

 of the eighteenth century Hugh, second Duke of Northum- 

 berland, with advanced views of land-cultivation and con- 

 spicuous generosity, apportioned to the inhabitants of the 

 district. Seventy such allotments, averaging about five acres 

 apiece, were granted on very liberal terms, together with 

 half-a-dozen small farms, averaging from thirty to ninety 

 acres; but with few exceptions all of these have more 

 recently been amalgamated with more extensive holdings. 

 Away to the South, though somewhat obscured by gathering 

 mist, the conical peaks of Yeavering Bell and Humbleton 

 Hill bulked largely, the advance guard of the great Cheviot 

 range lying immediately behind. 



