452 An Account of the Excursions ( 1 9 1 2). [Sess. 



The meetings continue to be held fortnightly during the 

 winter months in the houses of the members, each " reading " 

 of the author prescribed being followed by a symposium. 

 Dr Watson took great delight in these meetings, and many of 

 them were held in his house. 



Having lived so long in India, Dr Watson was also con- 

 versant with several Eastern tongues, as Hindustani, Persian, 

 and Japanese. During a visit on one occasion to Japan which 

 he and Mrs Watson made, he dismissed the guide after the 

 first week, finding that his knowledge of the language was 

 sufficient for all purposes. Of European tongues, he was 

 familiar with French and Italian, and possessed a good work- 

 ing knowledge of German. Along with Mrs Watson, many 

 foreign countries were visited at one time or another, includ- 

 ing China, Japan, the Sandwich Islands, California, Egypt, and 

 Palestine ; while as regards the European continent, Italy and 

 Greece were well known. He returned to Greece again and 

 again, captivated by its classic traditions and associations. 

 With a mind thus expanded by travel and cultivated by 

 books and study, Dr Watson was withal a man of most un- 

 assuming disposition, — frank and kindly in manner, and ever 

 ready to give from his stores of information to all who sought 

 his help or advice. Of splendid physique, he attained to the 

 advanced age of eighty years, passing away on June 16, 1912, 

 after a long illness, throughout which he was tenderly cared 

 for by Mrs Watson, to whom we desire to extend our sincere 

 sympathy. 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXCURSIONS (1912). 



By The Peesident. 



The first excursion this season took place on 27th April, 

 under the leadership of Mr T. C. Day. It was undertaken 

 with the purpose of studying some peculiar phenomena con- 

 nected with the intrusive sill composing the Humraell Kock?, 



