the Council, who appeared to take some exception to his action. 

 In reply he wrote a placatory letter to the Clerk saying that it was 

 the Society's duty to point out when earthworks could be preserved 

 from threatened destruction. He also wrote to the President of the 

 Local Government Board asking if he would be good enough to 

 make sure, before passing the plans, that the utilisation of the Dyke 

 was the only means of securing the necessary water-supply. In 

 reply he received a letter stating that Mr. John Burns had appointed 

 an Inspector to hold an Inquiry, and that if the Society of Antiquaries 

 desired to offer any evidence it would have an opportunity of doing 

 so. Accordingly, he informed the Local Secretary, and Mr. Kitson 

 Clark and Mr. Crossley, of the Yorkshire Arch^ological Society, 

 attended the Inquiry. The result was entirely satisfactory to the 

 local society and to the Society of Antiquaries, and the speaker was 

 sure it was also to the Congress. The President thought that the 

 result was in a great measure due to the arch geologically intelligent 

 action of the President of the Local Government Board. 



The Report of the Earthworks Committee was agreed to. 



Mr. Nevill pointed out that Mr. Chater had borne the brunt of 

 the work for four years, and proposed a vote of thanks to him. The 

 Congress, he said, must be indebted to him for so ably carrying out 

 the work. 



The President observed that none could realise the amount of 

 work which went to produce a Committee's Report unless he himself 

 had experienced it. Mr. Chater had done admirable work and had 

 kept the wheels of the machine so well greased that there had been 

 an entire absence of friction. The Secretaryship involved a great 

 deal of work and correspondence and demanded much judgment and 

 tact. In all those ways, the Congress had been fortunate in having 

 Mr. Chater as Secretary of the Committee. In regretting his resig- 

 nation, they expressed their thanks for the admirable way in which 

 he had carried on his duties. 



The vote of thanks, coupled with an expression of regret at his 

 resignation, was cordially passed. In acknowledgment, Mr. Chater 

 was sorry he had not been able to continue in office for a longer ! 

 period. He thanked the local societies for the way in which they had 

 supported the Earthworks Committee. 



The subject of Church Restoration was then discussed. It arose j 

 out of a Resolution passed at the last Congress, the Council having j 

 made during the past twelve months the following recommendation : i 



" That the position of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 

 respect of work hitherto accomplished in advising Diocesan] 

 Authorities on matters of Church Restoration should bej 

 strengthened by the grant of additional powers through! 

 ' The Ancient Monuments (England) ' Royal Commission ;j 

 and that the Council of the Congress of Archaeological 

 Societies of England and Wales recommends the appoint 

 ment of the Society as the advisory authority for England 

 and Wales in all matters relating to the fabric, furniture 

 and monuments of Churches." 



28 OCT 1558 



