418 president's address. 



possible. Let us hope, that in all departments of our national 

 industry new sources of supply may arise when the moment 

 of need occurs. 



Fifteen new members were elected on this auspicious occasion, 

 and the return home was pleasantly accomplished. 



Perhaps the most formidable excursion of the season was that 

 which occupied the 13th and 14th days of September, the district 

 visited being the border region of Northumberland, in the vicinity 

 of Otterburn and Chattlehope. Leaving Newcastle at an early 

 hour in the morning, the representatives of the Club were met at 

 "Woodbum Station by the Rev. Timothy "Wearing, and the Rev. 

 James Christie, of Otterburn, and conducted by a route of great 

 pictorial as well as geological interest, to the Silver Nut "Well at 

 Meadow Haugh. A spring which here bubbles to the surface 

 has, from a period of unknown antiquity, continuously brought 

 up, from a stratum lying below, hazel nuts slightly coated with 

 sulphuret of iron. Some specimens of these were procured, giv- 

 ing rise to various speculations as to the time when they were 

 deposited in their present bed. After partaking of the liberal 

 hospitality of Thos. James, Esq., of Otterburn Tower, the party 

 proceeded through the pretty village of Otterburn to the heights 

 on which the battle of Otterburn was fought. Here they enjoyed 

 the instructive guidance of Mr. Robert "White, who, in his his- 

 tory of the Battle of Otterburn, has told the tale of that cele- 

 brated fight in a way which leaves nothing to be desired. The 

 Roman station of Bremenium, and the Roman tumuli by the side 

 of the "Watling Street, formed the closing investigations of the 

 day. A party of twenty-two sat down to dinner at the Horsley 

 inn. After the abundant and much-needed meal had been dis- 

 patched, the Rev. James Christie read a paper entitled, "Reed- 

 water in Ancient and Modern Times" and Mr. Robert "White, 

 drawing upon the abundant stores of his youthful reminiscences, 

 gave a striking picture of the habits and amusements of the 

 people of that district half-a-century and more ago. Those of 

 the party who were to return to Newcastle that evening then 

 procured conveyances by which they were taken back to the 



