46 
J . H0PKIHS0N"-THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION" 
would induce the members of their Societies to undertake such 
work, in which all could take part, not only would science be 
advanced, but a greatly-increased number of members would take 
an active and permanent interest in their Society; and to further 
this end he suggested the preparation and issue, by the Committee 
of the Conference, of instructions to observers in these and other 
departments of science. 
Mr. Dordham suggested that the local societies might, from their 
special local knowledge, and from the fact of their being able to 
obtain the assistance of a great number of observers scattered over 
large areas of the country, afford help to the Committees appointed 
by the British Association on such subjects as luminous meteors, 
the circulation of underground water, erratic blocks, and rainfall. 
Mr. Axon said that the Conference would be doing a real service 
to science if it could induce the local societies to take up such work 
and also utilise by systematic record the many observations that 
were being made throughout the country, and which at present 
were largely wasted. 
The former Committee was re-appointed and the following reso¬ 
lutions were passed :— 
1. ‘ ‘ That the gentlemen named in the resolution appended to the 
Report take steps to have the Conference of Delegates recognised 
by the Council of the British Association.” 
2. “ That it be an instruction to the Committee to send out a 
circular to the various local scientific societies, pointing out the 
work undertaken by Committees of the British Association, and 
the valuable aid which may be given by these societies in that 
and other scientific work.” 
Third Conference, Southampton , 2 bth August, 1882. 
W. Whitaker, B.A., D.G.S., in the chair. 
The Report of the Committee stated : (1) that the Council of the 
Association had appointed a Committee “to consider the number 
and position of delegates from scientific societies, and the regu¬ 
lations which should be adopted for governing their relations to the 
Association;” (2) that “on March 28th Mr. Hopkinson and Mr. 
Dordham attended [this Committee], when the position and objects of 
the annual Conference of Delegates were discussed at some length; ” * 
and (3) that “ the Committee had prepared and issued the Circular 
to local scientific societies with a circular-letter drawing attention 
to the annual Conference, and to the rules of the British Associa¬ 
tion under which delegates may become members of the General 
Committee,” etc. 
The Conference was principally devoted to a discussion on the 
relation and status of local societies with the British Association. 
The Chairman drew attention to the desirability of obtaining 
greater regularity and method, and a nearer approach to uniformity 
* The results of this discussion are embodied in the Report of the Council. 
‘Rep. .Brit. Assoc.’ for 1882 , p. lviii. 
