as yet, been held in the Mid- lands took place in Birmingham on Friday and Saturday, May 13th and 14th, when no fewer than 217 delegates attended from eighty-four branches.

A visit was paid on the first day to Fort Dunlop, where delegates were en- tertained to tea by the directors of the company, after an inspection of the works. The Lord Mayor of Birming- ham, and Mr. H. Shankland and Mr.

J. Healey, of the Dunlop Company, welcomed the delegates to Birming- ham, and the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., chairman of the Institution, and Colonel The Lord Sempill, a member of the committee of management of the Institution, replied to the welcome.

The official conference was held in the ballroom of the Botanical Gardens on the Saturday morning, and was presided over by Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., supported by Lieut.-Col. C. R.

Satterthwaite, O.B.E., secretary of the Institution. Great interest was shown in the points under discussion, and there was a long list of speakers from all over the Midlands.

During luncheon Sir Gilbert Barling, Bt., C.B., C.B.E., F.R.C.S., gave an address on the life-boat service, and the delegates were then taken by private cars and buses to Hewell Grange, where they were entertained by the kindness of Lord and Lady Plymouth..