Referee's report by Richard Vynne Southwell, on a paper 'Stress functions for a plate containing groups of circular holes' by the late R C J Howland and R C Knight Sectional committee: Engineering Recommended for publication in Philosophical Transactions. The author's names suggest that the analysis is sound. It is long but cannot be compressed. The main lines of the paper were worked out by Howland before his death and this alone provides a strong reason for publication. [Published in Philosophical Transactions A, 1939]. Endorsed on verso as received 11 November 1938. 10 November 1938