The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-09 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL SHARE MARKETS.

LlTffinoot, AffitTL &-flidea today: Urea Beaten, 2011, / I 1 1
1 1 1 1-Great Weetern, 361 / 40 391 }-Latrastdre and York-
sine 1211 i 1 ROI 20-London and North Ai eaten, 1141 3 1 14
1 14
ah ;41141.41 ;313;141 'll-Manchester,
Ig4rll:ll4l,2lantLi
Midland.
1091-Notrth &MIA 324 1-South Eastern, 651 15 511 1 41 1
5 41 1 4 1 -Grand Tr6nk of Canada, 16-Great Western of Canada,
134 his 371-1111n0is Central, 771-United States 5-20 Bonds,
1462, 744 14-Dutch Rhenish, 211 p.-Oreat Luxembourg shares,
91.1 G 8 15-16--Sanibre and Memo, 61 sd.-Intrrnaaoual Finan-
cial Company Limited, 21.1 -National Steam ,Limited. 167 .1.
ARCRIIIIVIL Argo. E.-The market was depressed from the
commencement of business, and prices declined still further
about noon, closing about the lowest. A good deal of business
was done in the leading railway stocks. Flinr Vale Company
(Limited , 151 d.-(]nut Eastern, 27 1 7 63 7 63-Great Luzern-
bourn, 8 lb-In--Great Northern A, 117 1 17 161 1 -Grand Trunk
of Canada, 181 18-Oreat Western of Canada, 131-Great West-
era, 193 1 1 1 I 11-Lancashire Insurance,) p.- lancashire and
Yorkshire, 1211 1 201 1 1 20 1 ditto East Lancashire 5 per
cent ].ref , 104-Land's and North Wester, 114) 1 14 5 14 1
14 131 1 1 1 1-Manchester, Sheffield, and Uneetnaldre, 44
414444434444-11etropnlitan. 1123 1 13 121 13 If
13 123 1 1-Midland, 110 1 10 97 1-North British, 321 45
South Swami, 04} 11 1 1 t 1 5 411113543111 1
4 1-Thames and Money Marine Insurance Limited, 2 15-16
D . -United States 5-99 Years Donis, 741 4 3 4-Loodou, Chat-
ham and Dover, 163-)Manchester Fire Assurance, 11 :1.-Vir-
gin's:ll per cent., 45.
Bustunonen, APRIL 8. -The transactions to-day were in
Birmingham Banking Company shares, at I 11-16 prem.-Bir-
mingham Wagon shares 'Limited:. second issue. at 1 prem. -
Birmingham Waterworks shares, at 301-Mouth Staffordshire
Waters:trim at 6-Midland Controct shares, at 41 dia. Closing
prices:- Great Western Birmingham Guaranteed Three and-a-
Balt per Gent , sellers. at 64-Blrmlngham Joint Stock Bank,
at 30 to 304-84affortishire Joint Stock Bank at 14 to 21 prem.-
Stourbridge and Kidderminster hank, at 141 to 14t -and Wolver-
hsninton aml iltafroulshire Hank. at 9 to 94 per share.
DI7IILIX. APRIL a-Three per Cent. Con:sits, 90 011-New Three
per Cent. Stock, SO gni-Ditto, fee account, 10th April 88-Ditto,
tor lies account. 9th May, :co} -India Fire per Cent. Stack
(transferable at the Bank of Ireland, 1084-National Bank ;430
paid 631 164-Royal Bank 1610 paid), 32-Ditto, for account,
Irt -Union Bank i Limited) 'gni paid , 133-Dublin and Belfast
Junction• ClOO Wicklow, and Werford .7100
=40-Great Southern and Weston (4100 paid. SO 001-
d Greet Western '4lOO paid ,uxonnt), 86---Dublin, Wick- ,
low, Ina Wolurtl. 5 per cent. .1•00; redeem. Dia all paid, 47.

THE NORTH-EASTERN ENt.INE-DRIVERS AND
FIREMEN.—Oa Sunday afternoon a meeting of the engine-
drivers and firemen of the North-Eastern Railway was
held in the Friendly Societies' Hall. York, at which at
least 300 persons were present, including delegates from
various sections of the line, and id., others representing
the Gloat Northern and the London and North-Western
systems, as well as Mr. Thompson, chairman of the central
committee. and Mr. Putley, the general secretary. The
object of the meeting was to ascertain the result of the
various interviews which the deputations representing the
i men have held with the North-Eastern hoard of directors
and Mr. Fletcher (the locomotive manager) respecting their
work. This to the meeting appeared most unsatisfactory.
It WWI stated, however, that Mr. Fletcher had promised
as soon as other companies improved the terms main which
their men were working to place the men of the North
Eastern system on the suave footing. The meeting ulti•
mutely resolved again to memorialise the board, and on
the points that ten hours should constitute a day's work.
and two hours a quarter of a day, and that Sunday work
should he paid as ordinary time and a half, the meeting
WAS exceedingly firm. A iliscus,ion took place as to the
scale of wages, and it being found that some differences
should be made in the various sections of the line, in ac-
cordance with certain local circumstances, such as the
cheapness of living in one part as compared with another,
it was agreed to leave this question in the hands of the
various sectional eon- mittees. The central committee, in
conclusion, pledged themselves to see the wishes of the
meeting carried out. The proceedings lasted over three
hours.

Pohrneai CONVERAIONS. —Formerly, it was held
to be dishonourable for a man who bad taken a side to de-
sert his friends even at the bidding of conviction ; now,
tle custom is to have a valid excuse ready for the change
which, when it has become inevitable, may be made with-
out disgrace. We do not quarrel with the practice of
sacrificing consistency by abandoning prejudices. We
agree with Charles Fos in thinking that " the circum-
stAnoes of the world are so variable that an irrevocable re-
solution is almost a synonymous term for a foolish one."
So long, then, as inconsistent conduct is a characteristic of
progress, adindicates an advance of the duller or more
inert section of our countrymen in the pathway of im-
provement, we cannot but welcome it as one of the most
hopeful signs of the times. Nevertheless the oonvenions
which we have witnessed during the past few mouths are
startling, on amount both of their numbers and their
thoroughness. We are reminded by them of the
statements in the monkish chroniclers about the marvel-
lous rapidity with which the saints of the early church
converted the heathen. After a short discussion, or a
brief contest, multitudes are raid to have renounced idol-
atry and begged to be baptised, and, not unfrequeutly,
the converts are reported to have desired to be led without
delay against those who were both their temporal and
spiritual foes, in order that they might first smite many
with the sword, and then compel the survivors to become
Christiana. The old enemies of reform are now displaying
the like enthusiasm, after a conversion equally extraordi-
nary.— Waltatifuter &Title, April number.