Starting from a suitable sequence of auto-Poisson lattice schemes, it is shown that (almost) any purely inhibitory pairwise-interaction point process can be obtained in the limit. Further pairwise-interaction processes are obtained as limits of sequences of auto-logistic lattice schemes.

The merits of a conditional probability (or Markovian) approach to the analysis of local spatial interaction lie in its intuitive appeal and its ability to cope with non-Gaussian situations. Whilst relationships between plausible spatial-temporal models and Markov fields may sometimes be obtained, this does not remove the need for a purely spatial approach to be available. In addition to promoting the above point of view, some Monte Carlo simulation results, due to Mr. D. H. Green, were presented. Analytical progress on coding efficiency was reported.

This meeting was envisaged by the organisers as the first of a continuing series of short, informal conferences within the general area of applied stochastic processes. The twenty-seven participants were drawn mostly from statistics and mathematics departments of British Universities, but also included a small number of biologists and geographers. The meeting was notable for its pleasantly informal atmosphere, and the consequent lively interchange of ideas, although for future meetings in the series a better balance between statisticians and applied scientists should, we feel, be effected.