16 ANNIVRRSA.RY ADDRESS 



Sir Henry Maine, in his reference to Lauder, says : — " It 

 may be doubted whether a more perfect 

 Sir Henry example of the primitive cultivating com- 

 Maine's munity is extant in England or German3\" 



Ideal. On this account it has a special interest 



for the archaeologist and the historian. 

 It exists in the 20th century a modern, up-to-date burgh 

 and community, yet enjoying full possession of rights 

 and privileges more ancient than those conferred by kings, 

 and conserving customs which had their origin in times 

 before the history of the country began to be written. 

 The formation of this community leads us back to a 

 time when the untutored and savage inhabitants of the 

 district had been drawn from the simple but rude methods 

 of living by hunting and fishing, and had come under 

 the influence of a civilization which taught them to seek 

 a better life by living together and cultivating peacefully 

 the lands which lay open for them to possess. It was 

 a forward step in their development. Living together 

 as members of a community, cultivating the land under 

 the authority of a recognised head, and ob.serving rules 

 to advance the common welfare, are the first stages in 

 the formation of settled government, and lead on to the 

 building up of a society based on the feeling of common 

 brotherhood and universal goodwill. 



It is now my sad duty to announce the names of members 

 of the Club who have died since the annual 

 Obituary of meeting in October last. I am indebted to 

 the year. Mr Bolam for information regarding these, 

 and for this, and his help in other matters, 

 I most sincerely thank him. I understand that special 

 notice will be taken of some of the deceased in the 

 " Proceedings " of the Club, so I do little more than 

 mention their names here : — Mr Middleton H. Dand, of 

 Hauxley, had been a member of this Club for more than 

 44 years, and passed away at the ripe age of 91 years. 



