The Sun. — London, England, 1867-08-15 00:00:00

EAGLE INSURANCE COMPANY. The annual meeting of the shareholders in this company was held at the offices, Milton Chambers, Ludgate-hill, on Friday afternoon last, the 9th inst• —Mr. George Russell, chairman of the company, in the chair. The advertisement convening the meet ing was read, and also the directors' report, which was as follows : "The report which the directors have now to make to the proprietors has reference not only to the progress of the company during the past year, but also to the more importatit consideration of its financial conditim at the close of another quin quennium, and of the long term of 6) years from the date of its establishment. As regards the pro gress of the company during the year, it may be sufli.:ient to state that the ordinary receipts and payments have been augmented by those of another small assurance society, the business of which has been transferred to the Eagle in this interval. Thus the total premiums received have been £397,533, and the interest from investments, £123,352; whilst, on the other hand, the claims on decease of lives assured have amounted to £307,016, and the ex penses of management to £16,920--this last sum including £3,909, which will, for the most part, now ce.tse. An exception to this general augmen tation is to be found in the case of the premiums on new assurances, which have amounted to £15,401, a less sum than they reached in the foregoing year. Adverting now to the result of the quinquennial in vestigation, which has been in progress for several months, and which has been conducted with all due care and circumspection, it appears from the actu ary's statement that there were in force on the 30th June last the following policies, viz.:-16,88 2 par ticipating, assuring with additions, £9,305,962, and paying premiums amounting to £274,517 per annum ; and 4,096 non-participating, assuring £3,709,743, and paying premiums amounting to £112,319 per annum. The total amount assured in these two classes—viz., £13,015,705, together with some annuities, is found, by the minute and laborious processes used in such investi gations, to involve an immediate liability of £6,244,830. The total annual premium receiv able—viz, £386,836 —is shown, by the like pro cesses, to be now worth £4,506,168, or nearly 12 years' purchase. The net liability arising under theselarge items, viz., £1,738,662, is included in the following statement, which has been verified by the auditors, and which comprises all the realised and unrealised assets of the company, and also all claims against it, immediate or remote : £3,533 7 6 LIABILITIES. Interest due to proprietors Claims on decease of lives assured, and a lditi o ns thereto, unpaid Sundry accounts 21,917 16 11 Value of sums assured Proprietors' fund .......••••• £177,680 0 0 Surplus fund £1,159,194 13 9 £7,486,280 6 9 ASSETS. Amount invested in fixed mortgages £1,352,448 3 5 Do. do., decreased mortgages 194,919 8 2 Do. do., reversions 585,972 10 7 Do. do., funded securities 347,502 11 11 Do. do., temporary securit i es Current into est on the above investments 28,987 3 3 Cash and bills . , ... 27,207 17 10 Advanced on security of the company's policies Agents' balances Sundry accounts 148,572 3 8 28,017 0 3 43,175 3 11 Value - of re-assurances Value of premiums 100,082 12 0 ~ 4,506,107 18 0 £7,486,280 6 9 Deducting the sums payable on demand, or at an early maturity, it will be found that the realised asets above set forth amount to £2,897,856 103. 3d., and the proprietors will observe that of this amount £177,680, their paid-up capital, is set apart exclusively for them, £1,738,661 16s. 6d., exclusively for the policy-holders, and £981,514 13s. 9d. for both. This last item forms the provision for the present bonus ; and the accumu lating for future bonuses and expenses, and it is recommended accordingly that £208,774 be now appropriated for immediate distribution, leaving £772,7 if) 13s. 91. to accumulate, and also to meet the reductions of premium i❑ respect of the policies transferred by the National Mercantile Assurance Society, the first of which reductions, it may be re membered, is to take plac. in 1868. The share of the present distribution pertaining to the proprietors will be psid to them, with the dividend, early in October. The portion to be allotted to the policy holders will be determined as quickly as possible, and notices of the addition made in each case de spatched to them ; but this process will necessarily occupy considerable time. Meanwhile, some idea may be formed of the amount of these reversionary additions by an examination of the subjoined table, which exhibits them in the instance of assurances 20 years old, effected on lives of various ages at com mencement of the risk : ADDITIONS TO THE SUM OP £l,OOO ASSURED UNDER EAGLE POLICIES OF 20 YEARS' STANDING. Age Additions prior Additions now \ Total. at Entry., to 1867. made. I--. -- X s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 23 325 0 0 67 12 0 302 12 0 25 221. 5 10 62 16 0 281 1 10 27 213 15 10 59 10 0 273 510 31 193 19 7 54 13 0 218 12 7 36 180 6 8 49 14 0 230 0 8 41. 167 2 4 46 8 0 213 10 4 46 161 2 2 46 12 0 , 20 7 14 2 , The additions to be made to the assurances of the society just transferred will be in the same propor tion, but will be necessarily smaller in amount, in consideration of the shorter time—that is to say, of the 18 months only, in which they have accrued. The directors consider that these results are satis- factory, and they tru3t that the proprietors will be of the same opinion ; looking at the progress which the company has made during the last 20 years and the position which it has now attained, they feel themselves justified in anticipating that its future career will be a successful one. They will only add that they hope in a few weeks to be enabled to re move from the present temporary offices to the company's new premises in Pall-mall, and to have thenceforth more suitable accommodation for the carrying on of the company's business than they have for some years past been so fortunate as to enjoy." The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, I now rise to move the adoption of the report ; but before doing so, it is alike my pleasure and my privilege to address to you a few words upon the present position and future prospects of this company. This is, as you are aware, the quinquennial meeting ; and we therefore have to consider not merely the advance which has been made by the company dur ing the past year, but also, as the first paragraph of the report tells you, our financial position at this quinquennial period. I have noticed myself, since it has been my pleasure to hold a seat at this board, that there has been a very considerable monotony in the reports of this company. But there is one monotony which is never disagreeable to the pro prietor, and that is the monotony of success ; and I think I may say without fear of denial and with out any exaggeration that the monotony of success has been enjoyed by the Eagle Company from the day of its foundation up to the present moment. (Hear, hear.) Now, with reference first to our position as to advancement during the past year, it is entirely satisfactory, with perhaps one exception ; and I am myself, as your chairman, extremely glad that the report clearly and pointedly sets forth that one case in which the position of the company for the year is perliaps not quite so successful as we might wish. In the third paragraph of the report you may have heard that an exception to this general augmentation is to be found in the case of premiums on new assurances, which have amounted to £15,401 —a lt'ss sum than they have reachel in foregoing years. Now, gentlemen, I for one—and lam sure you will agree with me—would rather, if there is an announcement to be made that is not altogether satisfactory, that it were placed prominently in the report. (Hear, hear.) There is nothing like being perfectly clear and above-board. It is our desire that attention should be challenged and investiga tion sought ; and I shall be very happy if my explanations are not sufficiently large and com prehensive to answer any questions upon any points which may be put to me by any pro prietor present. (Hear, hear.) I think, gentlemen, I can account to you in a very great degree for the falling off in the new premium% In the first place, it is the necessary result of a very large and daily increase of competition. New offices are springing up almost every day, and these new offices very naturally take their share of the new business; and I may add that the directors of this company are very unwilling to incur the heavy charge neces sary to maintain a large increase of new business. (Hear.) There is, gentlemen, another cause to which I attribute the falling off in the new premiums, and which I attribute it in a larger degree than I do to the competition to which I have just alluded, and that is to the locally obscure position which this office has occupied ever since we lost sour original house. (Hear.) It is during the two years that we have been tenants instead of holding a house of our own that this falling off in our new premiums has taken place. Now, that matter will very soon be removed. lam happy to say that we have procured a most eligible site, upon most moderate terms, in a very first-class position. And not only have we obtained the site, hut, as many of you who have passed along Pall mall may have noticed, the house is, I may cay, completed, and at a very early period the business of this company will again be transacted under its own roof. (Hear.) It is perhaps only just that I should say that the acquisition of this site, which I consider most admirably suited to the interests of the company, we entirely owe to the indefatigable zeal and industry displayed by my friend Mr. Sam brooke in searching it out. (Hear.) He never rested till he found a suitable place for us. This was not the only site he set before us. He made re peated inquiries, and set a great many before us, and at last this one upon which you see the house now erected. I repeat that that house was not only erected on a most excellent site, but that the site was purchased upon the most excellent and advanta geous terms to the company. (A Shareholder—ls it freehold ?) It is a freehold site. I may mention also that a great deal of the business which we take over when we amalgamate, as we have done on some occasions, with other companies is new business ; and this in some degree compensates for the diminution in the amount of the new premiums to which I have alluded ; because, of course, the business which is transferred would appear as old business, and would none of it appear as new premiums. I may also observe that the competition to which I previously alluded is in a great measure neutralised, and, I may say, more than neutralised, by these amalgama tions, because the company which may join us, and which was previously opposed to us in taking away a certain class of business, is not only removed from competition, but become part and parcel of our selves, and the whole of their interest, which was previously opposed to us, becomes identical with our own ; and that, of course, will again in some degree remove the inconveniences which we at pre sent undergo from competition. (Hear, hear.) I may also say that there is another slight compen sation, or perhaps I should say it is not a slight one : and it is this, the directors recently felt that the time had arrived when they could with safety retain on a single life a larger sum than hitherto. The limit until very lately was £B, OOO ; but the direc tors, having regard to the financial position of the company, thought they might with safety retain £lO,OOO upon a single life, and that, of course l , saves a large amount of reassurance. Now, gentemen, with reference exclusively to the quinquennial period, I may say that in that there is no drawback. It is one, I think, of unqualified and absolute suc cess. (Hear.) I know no drawback of any kind to which I can call you r attention in the financial posi tion of the quinquennial period. I may merely men tion this, that 20 years ago, only four quinquen niumssince, the income of this company was £60,000 a year ; it is now in round numbers half a million. (Hear.) I think, therefore,we may say that the stride we have made in that time is quite remarkable, and I can most confidently say that that increase of business has been made with great safety and caution. We have never taken one single step in the dark ; but we have most prudently cmsidered whether it was not to our advantage to take it, and whether we could not deal with it with perfect safety. (Hear.) With reference to your position, gentlemen, as proprietors, I think you will be of opinion that the amount of the reserve fund which we consider it safe to set apart for immediate divi sion amongst you as a bonus is very considerable, and will be a very pleasant addition to the dividends which annually you are accustomed to receive upon your shares. (Cheers.) It only remains for me now to allude to one other matter, which is one of un qualified regret, and that is that during the past year we have lost two of our directors. One—Mr. Lloyd —was a gentleman who had occupied a seat at this board for many years before I had the honour of being a member of it. I can speak of him from my own experience and also from the experience of all the directors present, and I say that in him we lost a most able and untiring director, and one who brought great. business habits to bear on the affairs of the company. We much regret his loss. The other director, Mr. Wilcoxon, had only very re cently joined this board when he was taken from us. He joined this company in consequence of the amalgamation with us of a company of which he had been the chairman. I have also to express the regret of the board that we should have lost his services, which no doubt would have been valuable if he had been spared to us. But, gentlemen, we are at all events fortunate in still retaining the services of his colleague, Mr. De la Rue, of whom, though we never like to praise a man in his presence, I can say most truly that he is an able, indefatigable, and valuable addition to our board. (Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, without further preface, I beg to move the adoption of the report. I feel confi dent that the past and present of the company are only significant of our future progress. I know that before very many minutes are over I shall have left this chair, and my place will be taken by another; but I can most confidently predict that under the leadership of my gallant friend, Colonel Wetherall, the Eagle will continue in its course of progress, and that the future of this company will be worthy of its past. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I beg to move the adoption of the report. Mr. THOMAS BARKER seconded the motion. The CHAIRMAN—I mentioned just now, gentle men, that I should be happy to answer any questions which any proprietor may think fit to put to me; and if any proprietor wishes to put any questions I would remind you that now is the time to do it. Mr. CHARLES DOANE —With respect to the bonus to the proprietors, if I recollect rightly, on the last occasion it was 15s.—(The Chairman--16s.)—and now it seems we are going to have an increase of nearly 50 per cent., which I think is very satisfac tory. There is one item I should like explained, and that is the amount of funded securities. Last year, if I recollect aright, you increased these investments, and I thought it was a very proper action on the part of the board. Perhaps, sir, you will have the goodness to state whether the amount now invested in funded securities is the amount now standing on the books of the company, or on a certain date. On a former occasion I made some inquiry also with respect to the sum, amounting to a million or more, on mortgages ; and I asked whether the auditors really efficiently examined all the documents per taining thereto. I then received an aFsurance from the chair, and a still more explicit statement from the auditors, that they were very careful in the discharge of their duties; and I am glad to find in the report that the board bear record to the efficient manner in which the auditors have performed their duties, because in these days, when confidence is very much shaken in public companies, that is of the greatest to the mortgages,possiblenirportance. (ll , !ar, hear.) Then, a s I dare say the legal advisers of the company do th e i r d u t y thoroughly. We know the registration of titles in this country is the ex ception and not the rule, and we are obliged to trust very greatly to the care and ability of our legal ad visers, whom I have not the pleasure of knowing, but I dare say they are attentive to the interests of the company. (Hear, hear.) In expressing my sentiments on the report, I cannot do better than say that it shows the position of the company is an sbsolute success; and I personally congratulate the board on the admirable manner iu which they have conducted our affairs. (Hear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN—With reference to the first ques tion of the honourable proprietor as to the amount of our, funded debt, I may observe that it is one necessarily of a shifting character, bat it is one cer . tainly of very great importance, and curiously enough, one to which our attention will be directed at the meeting which we are going to hold presently, when you gentlemen have retired. This is a proper matter for the honourable proprietor to have noticed, and one to which the attention of the board is con stantly directed. With reference to the second question, as to mortgages and other securities, the directors—not satisfied with the very admirable and excellent attention of the auditors—at uncertai❑ periods, and not at certain periods, investigate by a small body of themselves these securities of the company; and very recently I myself, with the as sistance of the deputy chairman and another director (Mr. Sambrooke), went very carefully through the securities, and I have great pleasure in informing you that that investigation was most thoroughly satisfactory. (Hear, hear.) Mr. BARKER—Do you contemplate having an office in the City, or to confine it to the West-end ? The CHAIRMAN—We propose, at all events for the present, to confine our office exclusively to the West-end. A very large amount of our business, perhaps the larger amount, is now at the West end; and so many large offices now have branches there that we anticipate that, whilst the office at the West-end will be a great advantage to our western business proper, it will be no detriment to the class of business which may more properly be called the City or eastern business. Mr. BARKER.--it won't weaken your City inte rest, will it? The Royal Exchange have an office in both places. The CHAIRMAN—On the contrary, we anticipate that, whilst it will strengthen our western interest, it will in no way weaken our City or eastern inte rest. (Hear, hear.) A PROPRIETOR—An hon. proprietor just now talked about the bonus on the shares being an in. crease of 50 per cent., but I think that increase is only half a crown—is it not so ? Dr. Guv—No, it is 7s. 6d.—three half crowns. (Hear, bear.) Mr. HEDGES—What may be the entire bonus we may expect ? The CHAIRMAN—It will be in fact 235. 6d. per share, independent of dividend, which is, as usual, a fixed dividend of 5 per cent. Mr. NOBLE—I have been a shareholder of this company, or rather of the old Palladium Company, from its commencement, and at the last meeting I took the liberty of expressing my opinions as to the ama l gama tions which have taken place. I beg leave to say again that I think we may go on amalgamat ing till at last we may meet with some unfortunate mishap ; and I would therefore impress upon the board the desirableness of abstaining from further amalgamations. Let us be content and happy with our present excellent position. The result of the business is much beyond my expectation, consider ing the extraordinary circumstances in which we have been placed, and the financial difficulties of the past year. The Citxtn3tAN—With reference to your remarks as to a malgamations, I may state that the board have no amalgamation whatever in contempla tion ; and also that when they do enter into these matters they do not take any final step until they have given the subject mature thought and delibera tion. (Mr. Noble--I have no doubt of it.) Per haps the hon. proprietor, therefore, will be willing to leave that matter, as all others, to the discretion of the board. (Hear, hear.) Mr. NOBLE—I have no hesitation in cluing that —none at all. The report was then put and carried unanimously, The CHAIRMAN—The next matter to bring before you, gentlemen, is the reappointment, if it be your will, of Mr. Henry Rose as an auditor of this com pany. He retires by rotation, but is eligible fur re election. It is not necessary for me to detain you by stating, what you must all know, that he is a most able, zealous, and efficient auditor. He is rather your officer than ours, but I can only say, on the part of the board, that we entertain a very high opinion of him, and highly value his services. Is it your pleasure that he be re-elected ? This having been agreed to, and on the motion of the chairman a very cordial vote of thanks hav ing been given by the proprietors to the officers and staff of the company, the meeting adjourne'l. EXPLOSION A 7 STO TV 3/ A RKET GUN, COT7ON WORKS. Yestmlay afternoon an explosion took place in the building used for the purpose of drying gun cotton at the works of Messrs. Thomas Prentice and Co. The building was a two-storeyed one, the bottom being built of clay lumps, the upper part of wood, with a lining, and the space filled up with Sawdust packing. The roof was of slate. building was situated near the bank of the river, on the railway side, at almost the furthermost part of he works. The custom has been to place the manufactured cotton in this building moist, and subject it for a time to heat varying from 90 to 120 degrees. This heat was i m p ar ted by means of pipes from an adjacent shed, in which were a series of stacks of horizontal pipes, generating heat from steam conveyed to them by a pipe across the river. About three o'clock a loud dull report was heard, and people whose attention was drawn to the noise saw a sheet of flame shoot up into the air like a gigantic rocket. This was quickly followed by another rather sharper report, not so loud, and the building was levelled with the ground and in a blaze. This instantly spread to another drying shed in which was a quantity of the sheets of paper used in cartridges hung up for dry ing. The roof of this shed was quickly sent up, and came down in some thousands of pieces (it was in this building that the explosion took place two years since). The flames went thence over the large tanks containing cotton in process of manufacture. Somn of the covers were burnt, but the cotton wal only blackened in places. Beyond these the flames reached an old tree, which was set on fire, but went no further towards the main part of the factory. The trees on the railway side were burnt and scorched, and some cattle belonging to Mr. Arnold Suttle were badly burned; one poor animal was killA on the spot, and all the others more or less blackened about the head and back. Fortunately o n f o t p . b e e r s r o i I n w c riaysb when n o any of h the explosion r t los e buildings t il o d o i k n gon that side of place. . A boy who was standing about thirty yards off, amongst the tanks, was either knocked or fell down and hurt his arm, and this was the only casualty. A large number of the workpeopls arc women, who were desperately frightened and scampered off in all directions to get away from the works, and some few fainted. Plenty of assistance quickly arrived from the town, including all the medical gentlemen, Messrs. Spencer, Freeman, Sheridan, and Harper being the first to arrive, but happily there was no need for their ser vices. As soon as the people had been got away attention was turned to the remains of the buildings, which were still blazing away. Plenty of water and buckets being in readiness, lines of men were formed, and the tire got under almost be fore the arrival of the fire-engine, half an hour after which every spark was extinguished. This ex plosion, which was the worst that could happen at the works, clearly demonstrates in a very pleasing, manner the excellence of the arrangements for pre venting loss of life or damage done to the factory from explosions. Although a great quantity of the cotton exploded, glass windows within twenty yards of the principal building remained intact without a flaw of any kind ; had only half the quantity of gunpowder been fired, there would not have been a whole window in Stowmarket. Every part of the factory being in a manner isolated from the other, the damage done will cause no stoppage of the works, and a fortnight will repair all the damage. Two men named Canham and Broom, who had sole charge of the building, were in it a few minutes be fore, and had just crossed the bridge when the blow up took place. The occurrence is no doubt to be attributed to over-heating. The sun made the roof very hot, and the pipes forcing in more hot air, the temperature was raised to 170 deg., at which gun. cotton explodes. All the Messrs. Prentice were from home at the time, and Mr. Trotmau, the ex cellent manager of the works, is away in consequence of ill-health. Amongst those most active in render ing agaititauco were Mem, W, Liowitt, Sutton, TIIE SUN, LONUON, THIJESOA Y EV ENING, AUGUST 15, 1.867. Woods, J. V. Webb, Cocksedge, Ransom, &c. The greatest order prevailed, and by five o'clock the place was left almost without lookers-on.—Bury and Norwich Post. PROGRESS OF THE THAMES E3II3ANK- .3IE4V 7 . Mr. Bazalgette, the engineer to the Metropolitan Board of Works, has made the following report on the progress of the works of the Thames Embank ment :—" Contract No. 1, between Westminster and Waterloo-bridges. —The whole of the dams have been completed, and portions thereof have sub sequently been removed from the works where suf ficiently advance] for the purpose ; 3,262 ft. of the low level sewer, 3,234 ft. of the subway, 2,925 ft. of the smaller sewer for intercepting the drains from the foreshore, and 281 ft. of the flushing culvert arc also complete. AbOut 3201 t. of the Westminster Steamboat Pier and the face wall next the bridge, the main wall, the return wall, the screen and re taining walls, the steps, landings, pavings, &c., in connection therewith, are all in a very forward state of completion ; 586 ft. of the adjoining river wall are complete, and a further length of 134 ft. has been brought to a height of 3 3 4 ft. above Trinity high-water mark ; 100 ft. of the York-gate sub structure are brought to a level of about lft. above that mark ; 260 ft. of the river wall adjoining are complete, and a further length of 403 ft. is con structed to a height of 34ft. above Trinity datum ; 45ft. of the Charing-cross pier are brought to the same level, and excavating, concreting, and brick work are proceeding within the data for the com pletion of the remainder of this pier ; 302 ft. of the river wall adjacent thereto are brought to heights varying from lft. to 34ft. above Trinity datum. The works to the Adelphi landing stairs are brought to lft. above, and 398 ft. of the river wall adjoining those works were brought to levels varying from lit. below to 34ft. above that mark. In connexion with the Waterloo steamboat-pier works up to the junction with the No. 2 Contract, the main, screen, return,and face walls are in progress, and the granite aprons are complete,theworks generallybeing brought to levels varying from lft, below to about lft. above Trinity datum. Filling in be hind the walls and in the works has been carried out to the extent of about 50,000 cubic yards. The Victoria and Regent street sewer outlets, including the diversion of a portion of those sewers for the purposes of the Waterloo and Whitehall Railway Company, and the works of finishing their tube within the embank ment are complete. Approximately the cost of the whole of these works (including £19,000 advanced upon materials) amounts to about £394,000. Con tract No. 2, between Waterloo-bridge and Temple gardens.--•The low level sewer, subway, and smaller intercepting sewer are complete, the river wall is constructed to its full height, and the parapet is being formed thereon. The new Temple pier is also approaching completion, the upper portion only remaining to be constructed. The approximate value of the whole of the works completed (includ ing £3,206 for materials upon the ground) amounts to about £215,490. Contract No. 3.—The draw ings for this proposed contract are completed. They comprise the formation of a viaduct from the eastern end of Inner Temple-gardens to Blackfriars-bridge, and will complete the line of embankment between Westminster and Blackfriars bridges; but this sec tion of the work awaits certain negotiations pend ing between the Board, the Metropolitan District Railway Company, and the City Gas Works. This contract will embrace the formation of the roadway for its own length, but the roadway along the whole length of the embankment cannot be completed until after the construction of the Metropolitan District Railway, which for a considerable distance will be formed beneath its surface. Southern E mbankment.—A length of about 2,570 feet of the dam, and 2,870 feet of the staging, is com plete, and in the construction of which about 237,000 cubic feet of timber, 13,000 cubic yards of clay puddle, and 185 tons iron have been used. Within the dam about 240 feet in length of the river wall have been brought to a level of 1 foot below, and 2,060 feet of the wall to levels varying from 1 foot to 7i feet above Trinity high water mark. For the construction of this wall about 87,000 cubic yards of earth have been excavated, 30.000 yards filled in, 22,000 yard• 3 of concrete de posited, 580 yards of brick work laid, and 123,000 cubic feet of stone bedded. The totAl approximate value of the work done is £107,000." 711 E TRADES' UNMAIS'IS AND THE TAILORS' STRIKE. 1 \t. enA i d r. : T . ii u g h e s , Last evening a large meetingof the tradeunionists of London was held at the Cambridge-hall, Oxford street, " for the purpose of considering the circum imuvenited‘ stances connected with the coming trial of the officers of the tailors' society, and hearing a report as to the position of the tailors' association." It was announced and w interested ere in expectedindus trial progress" :—The Marquis Townshend, Lord Amber icy,the Hon. A Herbert, Nit.. J. S. Mill, that the followihnagdgbeenetnle M.P., Mr. Torrens, M.P., tAei .apt Mr. Beal, Mr. S. Ludlow, Professor Beesly, Mr. E. Beales, Mr. F. Harrison, Mr. Mason Jones, &c. Only those referred to in the symbol " &c." were present, for the others were absent, and Mr. George Potter presided. In the course of a speech which occupied nearly au hour in delivery, be dwelt in forciblelanguage (forcible sometimes in the extreme) upon the right of working men to combine, and, after entering into along defen ce o f th e unions, he urged that all working men should combine until capital entered into partnership with labour. He defended picketing as legal and right. Letters were read from some of the persons who had been invited and had not attended, and then Mr. Partridge, the president of the tailors' association, said this was the 17th week of the strike, and he believed it to be as effective as at first, inasmuch as the masters had not been able to supplant the men who had turned out. But he owned that the finances of the tailors were not so good as could be desired, and he urged that continued support must be given by the trades to bring the dispute to asuecessful issue. With respect to the forthcoming trial, he said the tailors' committee could never sanction the promis e ma d e on behalf of the prisoners to obtain a postponement of the trial —that the pickets should be withdrawn until after the trial ; and, referring to summonses which had . • „ been issued against more of the men's " executive, he said that as fast as the trade officers were brough before the law others would be elected in their place. Mr. Bailey, president of the Amalga mated Tailors of England, a l so urge d the trades' unionists to contribute to th e suppor t o f the strike. Mr. Dun ning, a bookbi n d er, propose d this resolution : " That as the master tailors, after fir st consentin g to the principle of uniform time - log , refused to draw up with the employed a tim e statement for the proper regulation of work and wages, calculated to put an end to all disputes hereafter, such con duct left the men in their employment no alterna tive but to strike. This meeting, therefore, pledges itself to give all the moral and pecuniary support in its power, and urges all delegates and members of trade societies to bring the matter before their respective trades at the earliest possible moment." He regretted that there bad been a strike, for, he said, it would have been wiser to have kept up a " chronic agitation ;" but then, be urged, the men were forced to strike, and should be supported. Mr. Murray, bootcloser, seconded the motion, and de el arJI that the unionists had a right to picket houses in protection of their interests just as the " property classes" looked after their interests. In the course of his speech he defended the tailors from the charges of ruffianism, and appealing to the audience with " You know what tailors and shoemakers are when they are out," he said he never knew the dis trict where they lived so a uiet as it bad been this season. The struggle, be said, must be maintained until there was victory. The resolution was car ried unanimously. Mr. T. Connolly, stonemason, who addressed the meeting in his shirt sleeves, moved the following resolution :—" That as the Act (22d and 23d of Victoria, cap. 34 ) entitled an Act to Amend and Explain an A ct of the 6th year of the reign of King Geo r g e IV., to re peal the law allowing suelAworlirnen to reason with and p ersuade relating to combina tions of workmen, others fox any object not in itself illegal : so long as they do not threaten, directly or indirectly, molest, obstruct, or make a breach of contract, this meeting is of opinion that the leaders of the tailors now on strike never sanctioned or recognised any conduct on the part of their fellow-workmen contrary to the above statute; and further declares its opinion that picketing is a legal means of putting the privileges of the above law in force, and that the members of committee now under trial for alleged conspiracy are entitled to the sympathy and support of their fellow-workmen." This was seconded by Mr Scanes, a tin-plate worker, and was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings, which were very unanimous through out in all matters of opinion, but thy were inter rupted several times by intoxicated men, who, it seemed from their expressions, were some of the tailors on strike. The Banner states that the Excelsior Company at Twist's Creek, Yackandandah, have just com pleted a crushing of 46 tons, and the return is over 100 ounces of good gold; Twenty four tons from th. 3 Homeward Bound Reef yielded 86 ounces, the quartz being taken from a depth of 125 feet. At Araluen, where the miners have been obstructed by floods, operations have recommenced, and things are going on well. The claims are now clear of water, and are again being worked. The Scotch Moors. The shooting season opened on Monday in Perth shire under very favourable circumstances, so far as the weather was concerned. At an early hour the mountains were enveloped with mist, but by 6 o'clock the fog had disappeared, and the sun shone out brightly, and the day throughout continued to be the hottest of the season, with scarcely a breath of wind blowing. Never before, however, or at least for the last 30 years, did the grouse shooting open with more gloomy prospects for sportsmen on the principal and best moors of Perthshire than this season, owing to the deadly results of disease among the birds. On the extensive moors of Drum mond Castle, Glenartney, Lochearnside, Monzie, Auchinapree, Glenalmond, and other places, there was no shooting yesterday, and none of the moors will be shot over this year. The moors of Glenturret, Innergeldie, Fendach, Glenquaich, and a few others in the central district of the county, were tested yesterday, but we had received no returns of the success of the various sportsmen up to the time our parcel was despatched, with the exception of two gentlemen, who had only bagged five pair of grouse in six hours' hard work ; and last year 73 brace were killed on the same moor in less time. The reports we have received the last few days show that on the extensive range of shooting grounds stretching from Crieff to Lochtayside the malady still lingers among the few grouse still left in many places, and that both old and young birds are found dead daily. The fact that on several moors the whole stock of parent birds have been swept away by the distemper, and young birds are affected and dying daily, shows too plainly that the disease has not resulted, as some maintained when the malady broke out, from the grouse feeding on frosted heather. It is now the opinion of many that the cause of disease has resulted from atmospheric influences ; for while on some grounds the distemper carried off nearly all the grouse, on the neighbouring moors few birds were affected. At all events, the morta lity has been unprecedented, and the disease ap pears to be as mysterious as when it first broke out. All descriptions of low-country game are abundant, and have seldom been seen in better condition. Partridges especially, though the young covics are unusually late, are plentiful in all direc tions, and the birds arc improving rapidly with the present warm weather. Capercailzie and pheasants are numerous in all the preserves, and the birds are well grown and will afford excellent sport. The prospects of sportsmen in the forests were never more encouraging. The deer are numerous, and the animals have improved rapidly in condition and appearance since the beginning of June, owing to the richness and abundance of the pasture in the glens. The herds show a goodly number of fine stags with splendid heads, but there will be no stalk ing in the forests of Glenartney and Turlem this season in consequence of the grounds being unlet. Scotsman. New South Wales. -$.- get into of the population condemned to idleness, and the not neat, nor is it desirable ; and when they _ unpleasant task of waiting for something to turn service, most mistresses will object to that kind of up.' There are many rich claims on the original finery which is not suitable to the station in which working, but the majority of the miners can it has pleased God to place them. (Hear, hear.) obtain little more than bare wages. The reefs I hope my female friends will excuse me for giving at the Ty gong look well, but the want of proper ma- them these hints." chinery or crushing operates materially against success. Still the field of gold on the whole con tinues good. The washing up' has nearly ceased, and the diggers are again busied in getting out their stuff. In some places there is want of water for washing. The news from Alb Any is very good. FRENCH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. At the last sitting MM. Alph. Milne Edwards and Grandidier sent in a paper on the Cryptoprocta, a genus of mammalia so named in 1833 by Ben nett, who, however, had but a single specimen of it, Cryptoprocta ferox, which, moreover, was young . , and had not yet cut all its teeth ; so that one of the chief characteristics was wanting. Since then no other individual of this kind had been found, either dead or alive. M. Grandidier, who has recently returned from a voyage to Madagascar, has been fortunate enough to supply this deficiency, having brought over the whole skin and head of one, and the skeletons of two others, all full grown. An attentive study of these new specimens has led the authors of the paper to conclude that the Cryptoprocta belongs to the feline genus and not to that of the Viverridas, or Civet, as Bennett had supposed ; its front teeth being arranged in two rows, and presenting other peculiarities in common with those of the cat. There is one circumstance, however, which distinguishes it from the latter; it does not walk on its toes like the cat, but on the soles of its feet like the bear ; it is plantigrade, and not digitigrade. A paper was received from M. Augeraud on a fall of Aero liths in the plain of Tradjera near Constantine, Algeria, on the 9th of June last, at about half past 10 p.m. He states that the sky was illumi nated for a few seconds, and that a sound resembling thunder was heard, which ended in three loud and distinct reports like that of cannon. The phenome non was remarked at Setif, at 15 kilometres N.W. of Tadjera, the place where the asroliths fell ; at Ouled Salah, a distance of 60 kil. from the same place; at Eulma, 20 kil. W., and at Bou Saada, 160 kil. N.E. The fire-ball appeared in the heavens at about 60 deg. above the horizon, moved over 25 degrees in the course of from 5 to 8 seconds, and disappeared at about 40 degrees above the horizon. It was three times the apparent size of Venus, and left behind a luminous train of the length of about 10 deg. The light was white, and intense enough to render objects of the size of a man's fist visible at a reasonable distance. A few of the aerolithS picked up at Tadjera accompanied the paper. Dr. Poulet communicated certain observations of his on the whooping cough, showing that it was 10: fectious, the breath of the patients being infested with a multitude of infusoria or animalcules, which he distinctly perceived through the microscope t ° be the Monas termo or Bacterium bacillus. COUNTRY MARKETS. SALISBITRY.—T UESDAY. At market this morning the attendance of farmers, nail lers, and dealers was small, owing to harvest operatio n° being now in active progress. A short su pp ly of whe t with little business done. Grinding bar le y , beans, oat°, and peas were also moderately dealt in, but prices were 0° higher than last week. The following are the quotations :—Wheat realised from 58s to 74s ; barley, 31s to 375; oats, 26s to 32s ; beans, 46/ to 52s ; and peas, 40s to 48s per qr. Tares, from 55 6d p i 7- 6d per bushel ; Best bread, 16d ; household ditto, 1° per 81b loaf. Flour, 48s to 53s per sack. HULL.—TUESDAY. At our market to-day there was a small show of E a' lish wheat, and owing to the fineness of the weather thei demand was not active, sales only being effected at a f_, Bl of is per qr. Spring corn of all descriptions was seal' and sold at fully last week's prices. English white.wheat, 65s to 71s; red, 62s to 67s ; sic and Konigsberg, 65 s to 72 s ; Ba ltic red, 62s to 61,1 is ;' Danish and ',Hamburg, 60s to 66s ; Russian, 57 s to PS' Barley, English, 40 s to 42 s ; grinding, Mediterrane:a 31s to 35s 6d. Oats, new English, 26s to 28s; Russls 26s to 275. Beans old English, 58s to 60s; foreign, 4 , to 445. Peas, English blue, 42 , to 44s Od ; foreign white' 44. s to 455; grinding, 43s to 44s Od per qr. LYNN—TUESDAY. At to-day's market the supply of wheat was limited, a nd but a slender attendance. The trade was slow, at 1s pe . qr and iu some instances 2s under last week's quotation Grinding barley and oats ruled 6d to is hi g her than la 6 week. Beans fully as dear. Nov wheat, 72s to 76s ; new red, 65s to 69s ; old wb i t t „ e ; —s to —s; old red, —s to —s per 3G stone. Barley malting, 47s to 51s; secondary, 42 r s to 455. Oats, 00"; 21s to 27s per 21 stone. Beans, small, 43 s to 48s. e" 40s to 42s per 28 stone. MONMOUTIISIIIRE—TUESDAY. est Vr Owing to the favourable prospects of the harvest .'- .g has declined is per quarter, and a still g reater reductiool likely to take place. Barley, with little o fferin g , tends Lag ward in price. In oats and beans the trade generally btl been steady. 4. red , The following are the average quotations:—Whea' , r 78 9d to 8s Od per bushel ; white, 7s 9d to 8s 6d ; infer l T, 6s Od to 6s 6d ; malting barley, 40s to 41s per qr ; gr 1 946 ing ditto, 34s to 36s Od; beans, 43s to 45s ; white oats, 6d 29s 6d ; black ditto, 26s Od to 27s Od. COAL MARKET. Price per ton at the closeof the market.. a s. d. s• 6 Wylam Haswell Hartlepool - 1 -', 6 0 South Hartlepool l9 3 Kello e .................. 14 Brancepeth C. Gas ships at market, 41—sold. 33 Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. 24. .kustralla and New Zealand, via Southamptoa.....Aug• . 3 . Ditto, via Marseilles Au'. Ditto, via Panama ........ . ... •' • r 3. Srazil, Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video SO - 21 Ditto, by French packet •• ••• Aug. . Cape Verde. by Brazil packet ...... , Sept' a 27. Uape of Good Hope. Ascension, and St. Helena Aug' o i. China. Penang. and Singapore, via Southampton -Aug - , 3 , Ditto, via Marseilles. . Aug' 1 , Sept' " Falkland Islands 2l. Jibraltar, via Southampton Aug . ' 29 ... . ......... , India, via Southampton . Aug' t Aug. l ' Ditto, via Marsell es Ank 2l ‘ Malta, Egypt, its . .. ......... ... • Au k 0,, '- Ditto, Marseilles Mauritius, Cape of Good Hope, and Natal, via 21 , dug' Southampton Aug. i s ;, Ditto, via Marseilles Aug' 2 Newfoundland Portugal Ditto, by private ship to Oporto ... Ditto ditto to Lisbon United States, Canada, California, &c., by British 21, packet Ditto, by United States packet -.. Aug' Ditto ditto (New York) Ditto ditto (New York) Ditto ditto (Baltimore) •• • ....... .• log. 1 3 , Ditto, by Canadian packet 1 1. West Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Tene riffe Atte.' West Indies and Pacific (except Mexico and Baha- 0. Aug' 28, mas) Cub'. and Mexico Aug' 0 . •, Bahamas, via New York • Auo' 2 ,5, Bermuda, via ditto ... . • • •Aug . .04 - - _ mad 1 !e . B. I ADVERTISEMENT.] --Holloway's Ointment h oitl„ need only a single trial to make known their long vi tie d No outside sore or inward inflammation canorte7 stand the cooling, purifying, and healing influences e o t q & by these two medicaments. Be the mischief recast it I chronic, grave or slight, painful or simply anneY0,3143,; will succumb before the curative virtues of these n° oily'rson .0 medies, which can be rightly applied by any pe ohl L 'A will attentively read their accompanying directionNivio; are propounded in the plainest language, void ofteVo tb, terms, and printed in the most legible characters. a bs r , man of business conflaed to his counting house, and th rassed by engagements, these pills are invaluable ; 000' man of pleasure, addictet; to free living, they are Birti:s. t ° CLAYTON—On the 13th inst., 14, Portman-00.113r wife of Captain J. W. Clayton, Of a son. We ill/01 Kncontsm—On the 12th inst., at ityot Rectory', Herts, the Viscountess Kilcoursie, o f a daught e ' o f co' LONGDEN—On the 10th inst., at Southsca, the s vif° Lougden, R.A., of a daughter. Marriages. , Pl i HOME—HEPBURN -On the 13th inst., at SLI-e5"°136'10.76 Lothian, David M. Home, Lieut. Royal Ficr se - 0 "- (Blue), son of David M. Home, Esq., of WedelerlV. Jane, third daughter of Sir Thomas B. Ilep/4107 tbolil SLAUGIITER—PEARCE - On the 13th inst., at 00 C ( j .t , 1 0 4 Cathedral, Plymo'Uh, Charles Slaughter, Esq ., t 7 0 .3 .8 )11 , 11 , R.11.1.L.1., son of Vice-Admiral Slaughter, ICH. , " 10"'" only daughter of P. Pearce, Esq of Penh- 'e 7 ,, Devonport, and Teignbridgo House,. South nevV". Deaths. v ato ll COCKERTON—On the 14th inst., Mr. Chri topher C°eD late of 11, New North-road Hox.ton, aged V. Tla blit HALL—On the 10th inst., at Merville, Donnybrook", i' d O. Annie Jane Hall, daughter of Gen. Hall, C. 8 ., f4eliet; KENDRICK —On the 12th inst., at 24, Sydney-terrace mg, Usurious C. Kendrick, Esq., aged 74. M - ONTEFIORE—On the 11th inst., at 9, Westbourne-tertfic Ilyde-park, Horatio J. Moutefiore, Riq., aged 69 * A) MUNDAY—On the 13th inst., at Hounslow, S. Munday, Esq., aged 64. be at SCRIMGEOUR—On the 11th inst., at The Grov e, ilig '2 3diddleselc, Wm. W. Scrimgeour, Esq., aged 75. i e idol SMITH—On the 11th inst., Mr. John T. Sith, 111 combs-street, Belgrave-square, aged 6f,. London : Printed and Published by WILT:I93I , n 11 of No. 112, Strand, Prin ter, at TUE SUN Office,:i;tl Strand, in the Precinct of the Se voy, the v ° luguat 16676 The HOP IN7ELLIGENCE. Very severe floods have occurred in the colony, and at Windsor much damage has been done. A despatch from that place, dated June 21, says : " It rained heavily all last night, and the river has risen to within a foot of the great flood of 1864. It is still raining, and the waters continue to rise slowly. There is no communication by railway, and the letters posted last evening are detained. Many persons in imminent peril have been taken off lofts and the roofs of houses in Wilberforce and Cornwallis. There are few boats available, and the six telegraphed for are expected from the govern ment. There is a perfect sea all round. Windsor, Wilberforce, Cornwallis, Richmond, South Creek, and Pitt Town, bottoms are flooded, and numbers iu the town have been obliged to leave their dwell ings for higher spots. The School of Arts and other vacant buildings have been thrown open, and are filled with people. Up to this time the water has risen 48 feet. Great distress is anticipated." A. later despatch says :—" The flood still rising and rain continuing. The waters are now three feet higher than the flood of June, 1864. The Govern ment boats have arrived from Sydney, but, we fear, too late to be of much service. It is believed that every one has been brought to the town that was in danger, but if the waters rise much more there is no saying who will be safe. The waters are across the lower part of George-street three feet high. Fami lies have been taken off the tops of trees. No mail communication. The waters are at the top of the arch of the viaduct over South Creek. It is blowing a fearful gale. There will be great distress." The Sydney Horning Herald refers to the floods in the following terms :—That the heavy rains of the last few days should have caused floods is not surprising. Like causes produce like effects. Our tortuous rivers that drain great areas will al ways overflow their banks when the rain-water drains down into them faster than it can get away t o sea. Whenever we shall construct great and numerous reservoirs to store the storm waters, and whenever we cut new and straighter channels to the ocean for the surplus water, we shall diminish the risk and damage of floods. But it seems as if these are works:that belong to a succeeding generation. Meanwhile, so long as the country remains in a state of nature, or modified by the removal of the forests, floods will recur at intervals just as they have done for centuries, and the alluvial land that has been formed by a succession of overflows will be always subject to repetition of the process. But the ac counts which appear in our columns when these river floods are rolling to the sea are apt to give a very false idea of the necessary dangers and losses to which agriculture in this colony is exposed. We read of farms and fences under water, of families carried off in boats from their house roofs, of haystacks, pumpkins, pigs, and poultry roling down the impetuous tor rent, of crops spoilt, and sometimes of the sur face soil carried away. But for these disasters there is generally an abundant compensation. The flood that desolates also enriches. The slime left by the receding water gives a rich top-dressing to land that often receives no other manure. The har vests of subsequent years make ample amends for the loss of an occasional crop. Ground that other wise would be exhausted by merciless cropping thus renews its fertility. The best proof of this is to be found in the money value attached to the alluvial lands. When purchased iu freehold, a high price is always given for it ; when rented, from two to four pounds per acre per annum are readily offered, and when the drenched tenant leaves another dry one is always ready to take his place. The rich and frequent crops account for this rental. When the land is laid down with lucerne six cuttings a year are obtainable in good seasons, and for other crops there is a propor tionate return. It is worth while to submit to an occasional inundation to maintain land at such a standard of fertility. In seasons of drought, too, the alluvial lands become doubly remunerative. When farmers on the high grounds can get no crops at all, or at best only stunted crops, those on the alluvial have the produce markets at their mercy, and coin money ; and, with all the precari ousness of our climate, the seasons are generally impartial enough to give us, on the average, a dry year for every year of floodi." From the gold fields we have the following intel ligence :—" Few new discoveries have been made at Emu Creek, and consequently there is a lane portiou MAIDSTONE, Aug. B.—The heavy rains this week, when hot sunny weather is so much required, have taken from us almost our only chance. Where the burr looks well it cannot turn into hop. There are a few, comparatively speaking, very good grounds. The College Gardens, " Mangravit," and one or two other plantations have hitherto looked likely to grow something like a crop, but a speedy change of weather is absolutely necessary to enable them to do so. Our prospects are very disheartening. ADDINGTON.—The hops look a trifle better, but unless we have a speedy change in the weather, there will be no chance of a growth. ALLINGTON.—Our prospect of a growth of hops is worse than ever. The bine is most foul, and the burr cannot turn into hop. BAiurlNG.—We cannot expect the plant to re cover, with the weather so completely against it. We give up all hope of a crop this year, so far as this parish is concerned. BOXLEY.—With scarcely an exception, the hops have gone to the bad. One or two gardens show a little brighter bine, but they are at a standstill. A very short crop, if any at all. BEARSTEAD.—We cannot report better than we have done hitherto. In one or two grounds we might grow a few hops, should we get better wea ther, but our chances at present are very small. EAST AND WEST FAIRLEIGH.—Ia the better grounds there is au evident improvement, but the hops being in burr require much warmer weather. We find a little mould at places. Some grounds are so foul that it is a question whether any attempt will be made to pick up what few there may be. LOOSE.—Iu several of our cleaner grounds the burr has come out strongly, but the bine is very foul, and the weather must very speedily alter for the better if we are to get any hops. TILE MALLINGS.—The hops look about as bad as they possibly can do. The plant is quite black, and looks as though it had been burnt. Nothing can save us. WATERINGBURY AND NETTLESTEAD.—Our hops do not appear to improve in the slightest degree. What burr there is remains a fixture, and is not likely to turn into hop. A very small crop, if any, this year. LENHAII.—In the better grounds we may possibly grow a few hops, but to do so we must have a decided change in the weather. In the lower grounds nothing can be done. YALDING AND HI NTON.--We still go on very badly. Ia some grounds a slight improvement may be seen, and we may have a few hops ; but it is too late now for anything like a crop. SUNDRIDGE, Aug. 7.—The continued wet weather is likely to have a prejudicial effect upon the hops, having every appearance of another 1860, when the hops came down at about half what they were called. Should such prove the case, those that are fortunate enough to escape the blight and grow good hops may naturally expect very high prices. It appears from reliable information the foreign crop will be small, as blight is steadily spreading, and importa tions to any extent cannot be expected. The home growth, in the opinion of many, will be as small as any ever known. The sto,:k iu hand also is unpre cedentedly BRIGIITLING, Aug. 8.---The plantations are so very uneven that it is difficult to say anything that is applicable to any large portion of them. The vermin has increased in some gardens, whilst others diminished; still, we keep thinking we are a little favoured in this district, and hope to grow a few. WESTERHAM AND TIIE VALE OF HOLIIESDALE, Aug. B.—Unless there is a speedy change in the weather, we shall not grow any hops in this dis trict. The London market is much excited on ac count of the unfavourable prospects and short stocks; and there is an active demand for 1866'5, at an advance of fully £,-1 per cwt. from the lowest point. For old olds (1855's and 1856'5), a shilling a pound is offered and declined. EDENBRIDGE AND DISTRICT, Aug. 8 —Some of our planations are improving, and some are gone into total blight since our last. IlAwKaunsT, Aug. B.—Accounts are still very con flicting ; some gardens are improved, others the contrary. Under any circumstances the crop must be a light one. WARBLETON, Aug. B.—The hops here ara pro gressing favourably, and are nearly clean ; we now want warm weather to bring them to perfection. PEAsmlnsti, Aug. B.—The hops are making their last effort by fresh branches, some of which are clear of vermin, but the greater part are full of lice. FEMALE LOVE OF FINERY. The Countess of Waldegrave was present last week at a school examination at Wigton, and deli vered a short address, in the course of which she said :—" I wish to speak to the females present, es pecially mothers. There is a subject which I believe a great many will join with me in thinking impor tant in these times in which we live, and that is the subject of female dress in all ranks of life, but especially among those who attend our schools. I regret to say that there is a great deal of what may ba called useless finery among the young girls of the present day, and I should think that probably mothers are a little to blame in that particular. I have observed this passion to be On the increase all my life ; and as God's mercy has spared me through eighty years, I think I may speak from experience on the subject. I must say I think it a great mis take on the part of mothers to dress their children to the utmost extent of their means, instead of in ducing them to lay by their pence for what is called a rainy day, or to collect clothing for winter ; in place of which they allow their girls to spend all their little money, and what they can add of their own as well, on what I should call unnecessary and useless finery. lam very glad to find that you educate the children well here, and I am delighted to see that needlework is made a very particular point of examination in many of the schools ; be cause, in seeking for female servants we all want those who can be useful in those particulars, as well as in knitting and darning, for which I have had pleasure in giving prizes in my own country on various occa sions. Now, while children are taught to spend all the money that they c►n get on little bits of finery, the first thing a mistress has to teach her young servant is to dress neatly, and properly, and respect ably, and thus correct the great mistake of mothers who help their children forward in unnecessary out side clothing, while very often, I regret to say, the inside is exceedingly deficient. (Laughter and ap plause.) I therefore hope that mothers who have such opportunities of having their daughters edu cated—and you have many compared to those en joyed in my part of the country—will earnestly strive to give them that degree of propriety and neatness in their dress which is always respectable, useful, and efficient. 1 trust you will excuse me, coming such a distance as I do, for making mention of what many, if they would speak out, really feel in their hearts. (Applause.) lam often told by mothers, Well, a a'am, I can't help it. My girl will go to the second-hand shop and get these bits of things, where they are cheap. And it is only a penny flower, and a flower .does not wear out so won as a ribbon,' (Laughter.) Well, but that is