QUARTER NOBLE.-The Rev. C. W. WHISTLER exhibited an interesting gold coin of the reign of Richard II.—a quarter of a rose noble, which was found at Cheselbourne.

A COFFIN LID AT TOLPUDDLE.-Mr. W. DE C. PRIDEAUX exhibited a plaster cast of an early stone coffin lid, at Tolpuddle, having an effigy in low relief with an inscription around it. The PRESIDENT said the Club were much indebted to Mr. Prideaux for getting this portion of the stone slab out and making the plaster cast of it. £2 was voted towards the estimated cost (£5) of getting removed from the wall the lower portion of the slab which is embedded in it.

A DOUBLE STOUP.-Mr. LE JEUNE showed a photo of a reversible stone stoup with trunnions found at Christchurch Priory.

PAPERS.

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The HON. EDITOR read a paper on The Normans in Dorset." (Page 115.)

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THE BETTISCOMBE SKULL."-In the absence of the Hon. J. S. Udal, F.S.A., portions of his paper on the "Bettiscombe Skull" were read. (The paper will be found printed at page 176.)

SPIDERS.-The introduction was read to the customary annual paper prepared by the Rev. O. PICKARD CAMBRIDGE, F.R.S., the eminent arachnologist, on "British Arachnida Noted and Observed in 1909." The result of the past year's collecting and observations enabled him to record the addition of seven species to the British and Irish list.

WEYMOUTH AND MELCOMBE REGIS IN THE CIVIL WAR.— Mr. W. BOWLES BARRETT, the well-known Weymouth historian and antiquary, read an interesting paper on that town in the time of the Civil War.

The meeting terminated with a paper by the Rev. A. C. ALMACK on the Pitts of Blandford St. Mary." (Page 165.)

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ANNUAL MEETING.

THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING took place on May 26th. The President (in the chair) was supported by the following Vice-Presidents :-The Rev. H. Pentin, Captain Elwes, the Rev. W. Miles Barnes, the Rev. J. C. M. Mansel-Pleydell, and Mr. Ernest Sykes. There were also present the Hon. Editor, the Assistant Secretary, and nearly 30 other Members. Five new Members were balloted for and elected, and one fresh nomination was announced.

The PRESIDENT then read his Address.

(Page 1.)

Mr. MIDDLETON moved a vote of thanks to the President, and was seconded by Canon RAVENHILL.

The HON. SECRETARY read his Report, in the course of which he announced the financial results of the summer meetings held during the past year. (Page lviii.) He next referred to the work of the sectional committees, and concluded by proposing that an Earthworks Sub-Committee be added. This proposal being formally put to the meeting, was unanimously carried, and the following Members elected ad hoc :-The President, Dr. Colley March, the Rev. C. W. H. Dicker, Captain J. E. Acland, Messrs. C. S. Prideaux, W. de C. Prideaux, and H. Le Jeune, and the Rev. C. W. Whistler as corresponding secretary.

The HON. EDITOR read a short report. (Page lx.)

THE DORSET PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY.-Mr. C. J. Cornish Browne (Director) being unable to attend this Meeting, his Report was read by the HON. SECRETARY. (Page lxi.)

THE CLUB'S FINANCES.-The HON. TREASURER presented his financial statement. (Page lxiii.) The PRESIDENT said. they were much indebted to Captain Elwes for the wonderful way in which he managed their finances. He had pleasure in moving the adoption of the report. The Rev. G. THOMPSON, in seconding, said he was glad to hear that, although so much had been done by the Club, there was so large a balance in hand. The motion was carried with applause.

THE MUSEUM.-Captain ACLAND, as Curator, gave some account of the principal work done in recent years in the County Museum, and a vote of thanks was accorded to him for his valuable services. (Page 24.)

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PRESENTATION OF THE ESSAY COMPETITION MEDALS.— The Rev. J. C. M. MANSEL-PLEYDELL then made the presentation of the "Mansel-Pleydell" and "Cecil" medals. The Mansel-Pleydell " silver medal and prize, of the value of £5, had been awarded by the Trustees to Dr. W. Theophilus Ord, of Greenstead, Madeira-road, Bournemouth, who, although a busy professional man, had found time to produce an excellent essay on "The Geology of the Purbeck Hills." The "Cecil " medal and prize, also of the value of £5, had been awarded to Mr. George Nicholson, of Sunny Bank, Weymouth, for an admirable essay on "Electricity as a motive power in aviation, navigation, and motor traction on land, in view of recent developments." This subject was chosen by Lord Eustace Cecil himself, the founder of the competition, who had written saying how sorry he was not to be able to attend and present the medal in person.

MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBITS

AND REMARKS.

The PRESIDENT called attention to a small fossil of uncertain nature found at Swanage and sent by Sir Charles Robinson, C.B., and also to some very large roots of black bryony. Mr. EATON, who has lately been in Algeria, studying the habits of the various small desert animals, ranging in size from a fox to a small mouse, gave a short and interesting account of some of his observations, speaking especially about the jerboa.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

On the motion of Canon RAVENHILL, seconded by Mr. VERE OLIVER, Mr. Nelson M. Richardson was re-elected President with acclamation.

Mr. STANLEY CLARKE proposed, and Major CONEY seconded, the re-election of the Rev. Herbert Pentin as Hon. Secretary; which was unanimously agreed to.

Captain ELWES, who had intimated that he would be unable to continue in the office of honorary treasurer, said he wished to propose as his successor the Rev. J. C. M. ManselPleydell. This would once more connect one of the most revered names in their history with the official heart of the Club. The PRESIDENT, in seconding the proposition, said it was with regret that he heard of Captain Elwes's resignation, for he had been a phenomenal treasurer. He found the Club, if not in debt, yet with no money in hand, and they had just heard what was the present satisfactory financial position of the Club. The motion having been carried with applause, the newly-elected Hon. Treasurer accepted office with a few felicitous remarks.

Mr. FLOYER proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Captain Elwes for his ten years' work, and was seconded by the HON. SECRETARY. The vote was cordially given.

The Rev. C. W. H. Dicker was re-elected to the post of Hon. Editor of the Club's" Proceedings."

It was proposed by Captain ELWES, and seconded by Mr. DICKER, that Mr. Cornish Browne be re-elected Director of the Photographic Survey. Carried unanimously.

The PRESIDENT then re-nominated all the Vice-Presidents. Mr. Alfred Pope accepted the duty of representing the Club at the meeting of the British Association at Sheffield, and Messrs. Alfred Pope and Nigel Bond were asked to serve as the Club's delegates to the Congress of Archæological Societies in union with the Society of Antiquaries in London.

A programme was arranged for the holding of one two-day meeting and three single-day meetings during the Summer.

FIRST SUMMER MEETING.

THE VALLEY OF THE NORTH-EASTERN WINTERBOURNE.

Tuesday, June 30th.

For this year's opening meeting in the country the Valley of the North-Eastern Winterbourne was selected, Blandford railway station being the rendezvous. The gathering numbered upwards of 70, and included the President, the Hon. Secretary, the Editor, and our exTreasurer (Captain Elwes). With the exception of a small shower at starting, the weather was fine all through the day.

WINTERBOURNE STICKLAND

was the first halt, and here the carriages were met by a small contingent who had come by cars. On alighting the party entered the church. The Rector (the Rev. G. H. Matthews) was unavoidably absent; but he had thoughtfully left some notes which he had written about the church. In these he stated that the tower and nave were of about the date 1470; but the east window, of three lights, is Early English.

In the side chapel the party viewed the large tomb of the Skinner family, one Thomas Skinner having died in 1756. The Rev. R. GROSVENOR BARTELOT called attention to the mural tablet bearing an heraldic shield, the dexter side void, the sinister side charged with a crossbow between four choughs, probably the arms of a former rector of the name of Highmore, whose daughter married a husband having no coat of arms. The Communion plate was exhibited, the chalice bearing the date 1688. Mr. ALFRED POPE said a few words on the rude sculpture of the ancient Rood in the church porch, discovered during the restoration of 1890, with the face side hidden in the east wall of the porch. It is thought to be the head of the old village cross, the base of which is still to be seen in the roadway.