The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-17 00:00:00

FLNSBURY FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY.

A general meeting of the initabitants of Kingsland
and the neighbour:loos& was held last evening at the Star
and Garter, kingsland-gate, in support of the abovenamed
society. It being aunoanced that that distinguished advo-
cate of the freehold land movement, Mr. Taylor, of Bir-
mingham, would address the m,•etior, there was a crowded
attendance. Tkis society, which has only been established
10 iwniths, takes for its model the society established at
Birmingham in 1811, whose starers, is unprecedented. It
numbers about 4OU members, and tiith:. Lau been sub.eribeil.
Its object, in common with that of the other freehold land
societies, is to confer on its members the privilege of a
county vote, by enabling them to purchase, by small weekly
subscriptions, a piece of freehold laud, on which a residence
may he erected, or a garden cultivated, either to lit or oc-
cupy. It proposes to purchnse land in large quantities by
the acre, to be divided into plots of as annual value of
not less than los., and sold to the shareholders at the
wholesale or cost price, thereby effecting a saving of from
to 601. on each plot. The investment is stated to be
far safer than that of savings bank•, while the returns are
considerahly greater, in the proportion of 50s. to 12s. per
annum on an investment of 201.

The chair was taken by JAMES DEAL, E-q. Ile stated
that the origin of the Freehold land movement was due to
Mr. Jinxes Taylor, of Birmingham, who was present.
(Cheers) The movement had begun in a very humble and
unostentatious manner, in a temperance hall at Birming-
ham ; it was takeu up by the local pre's, and powerfully
supported by the Daily News and other metropolitan
papers. Societies hod since been established in every
county, and in every district of the metropolis. The Fins-
bury satiety had nut yet made a purchase, but expemed
soon to be abl•.• to do so. . _ .

Mr. 1 ..k1 LOB, of Birmingham, moved a resolution,
declaring that the society uttered a sale and profitable in-
vestment to the working-classes for their savings, and that
it was entitled to the support of the meeting. It hail the
advantage of being enrolled, whereby legal protection was
secured to their feuds, and they were exempted from the
mortgage duty. In Birmingham the society kid existed
just four years ; they had made 1,100 allotments ; they had
3,004 shares, and hail taken in one day lust week nearly
1,0001. They had now neat 20,0'.01. worth of laud ready to
divide, which wood mime 700 or 800 allotments more.
Mr. Ii.I>SON, of lientish-town, seconded the resolution,
and advoc steel the movement chitty on the ground of its
social advantages.
'l•he r,olution was unanimme4 agreed to.
Other speakers followed, and the meeting then proceeded
to the enrolment of members.

PROPOSED BATHS AND WASIIIIOVSEs, PARISH OF
ST. 6110110 E TILE MAttrYlt, SOUCllWtux.—Laat evening
a general vestry meeting, in compliance with a requisition
presented to the churchwardens and overseers, took place
su the National School Room, 13oningleroad, for the put-
pose of considering the expediency of adopting the act of 0
and 10 Viet., cap. 71, to encourage the establishment of
public baths and washhouses. Mr. Wilson, the rector's
warden, in the chair. It appears that this question has ex-
cited a great deal of interest in the parish, and the meeting
was therefore very fully attended. The proceedings were
throughout of the most noisy description, and cries of
"shame," "turn him out," &e., were so often indulged
in that it was evident there was a serious division
of opinion amongst the parishioners. Notwithstand-
ing the uproar which existed we were enabled to
collect the following facts—that some time ago it was
agreed by several of the inhabitants that it was advisable to
establish baths and washkouses in the parish, and the ordi-
nary steps were accordingly taken for that purpose. The
proposal, however, met with considerable opposition, and
atter much discussion a committee was appointed to cou-
bider the subject. This committee reported that the scheme
was a go. one, and might be Carried out at a cost of some
UAW., whilst the average annual outlay, it was calcu-
lated, would amount to about 2,9001. The receipts they
estimated at 3,000/. per annum. The vestry ultimately
agreed to adopt the act, and an application was made to the
Secretary of State fur his sanction, but Sir George Grey re-
fused on the ground that there was a I gal defect iu the
mode of proceeding, and the matter was accordingly re-
ferred back to the parish for further consideration. Hence
the present meeting, and the abase preliminaries having been
explained, a resolution was moved to the effect that the act to
encourage the establishment of baths and washhouses ought
to be adopted in this parish. A long and violent discussion
ensued, and an amendment was moved, that the considera-
tion of the question should he postponed for two years, it
being contended that during that period there would, be suf-
deient opportuuity of ascertaining whether the baths and
washhouses already in existence were, or were likely to be,
self-supporting." The amendment was received with
tumultuous applause, and was ultimately carried by a large
majority. Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and the
business terminated.

AFFILIATION CASE.—CIIARGE AGAINST A CLER-
GYMAN AT DVAIAWILY.—This was a rehearing of the
charge against the Rev. Stephen Matthews, the incumbent
of hanging Heaton, near Dewsbury, the alleged father of
au illegitimate child born in May last, by Mary Hellewell,
the latter being a young girl only 16 years of age, who was
engaged as a paid teacher in the school connected with the
church at Hanging Beaton. The rev. defendant is a man
verging upon 60 years of age, and has for many years held
the incumbency of Hanging Heaton. The case was first
heard at the Dewsbury Court House on the 25th of
August, when the justices declined to make an
order of maintenance upon the defendant, on the
ground that the evidence of the mother of the child was
not corroborated in the way required by the act of parlia-
ment. The decision gave great dissatisfaction in the neigh-
bourhood, where the case has excited considerable attention;
and feeling that justice had not been done in the case, the
friends of the girl determined to have a re-hearing, which
was fixed to take place on Monday last. The court-house
was crowded to suffocation during the whole day, the hear-
ing occupying till nearly ten o'clock at night. Mr. Scholes,
solicitor, appeared in support of the application, and Mr.
Watts, solicitor, for defendant, who was not present. The
magistrates who heard the case were John Hague, Esq.,
and Frank Wormald, Esq., both of whom were present at
the former hearing. Mr. Scholes having addresse.l the
bench at great length in support of his application, and stated
the character of the evidence, new and old, which he should
adduce, proceeded to call his witnesses. The evidence went
Ito show that the rev. defendant had seduced the girl ; that
a criminal intercourse had continued for two years. At
1 the conclusion of this evidence, the magistrates retired for
I nearly half an hour; and on their return into court Mr
1 Hague said to Mr. Scholcs that the new evidence adduced
had not much strengthened his case, and therefore the
magistrates still declined to make an order upon Mr.
Matthews. This decision was received by n crowded court
I with hisses, and loud murmurs of dissatisfaction. Mr.
Sc' oles stated that he should not again trouble the maBis-
-1 testes with the case, but should, if he had the opportunity,
, take it before another tribunal. An action for seduction
il
bew illirlu,
nw. ea
.6 edl iwe vale ,
mb be
likelym m en eedbe
t,
i!ife
ditaththasenontexaltrey.a.dryk
aa benem
1 assizes.
NATAL APPOINTMENTS.—ADMIRALTY, SEPT. 16.
Commander, A. M. Skinner, to the Holyhead Packet Station.
, Inspector of Machinery, C. Atherton, to the Woolwich-
' yard. Clerk, J. Burke, to the Arrogant. Acting As-
tsAcrctingitt
ARTIFICIAL LEATHER.—A steam-engine of six or
!' toseAlaiial"anutehrtaatoop-Siit-ulo'Srge:cauto.rgc": 14'
N. WaPv.haliliPi*att: Cadet, M. I.P.lnthiPregedi"byCeo:tketz,.
eight horse power is erected at Abington, lam., for grind-
ing up the chips and shavings of leather which are cut off
by the shoe and boot makers, and which have heretofore
been burnt or thrown away. These are ground to a powder
resembling coarse snuff, and this powder is then mixed with
certain gums and other substances so thoroughly that the ,
whole mass becomes a kind of melted leather. In a shoit
time this dries a little, and is rolled out to the desired'
thickness—perhaps one twenty-fourth of an inch. It is now
quito solid, and is said to be entirely waterprnof.—The
Builder.