The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-02 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL GYMNASIUM.

The members of the ladies' classes and their
friends of the fairer sex mustered in great numbers at this
institution on Saturday, to witness the exercise■, which
were to be followed by the fourth annual distribution of
prizes. The interior of the building was tastefully de-
corated, and made to assume a more than usually festive
air in honour of the event. The body of the large central
hall was tilled by the lady members, while the spectators
occupied all the room to be found in the galleries. Dr.
Grinisdale was chairman, and in that capacity delivered
the prizes. These were two elegantly-bound copies of
Tennyeon's "Elaine," illustrated with photographic fac-
similes of Dore's designs, presented by Mr. S. R. Graves,
M.P„ and Mr. J. Grant Morris, mayor. Another prize
was a handsomely-bound copy of Rogers's poems, girt n by
Mr. C. I'. Melly ; and there were a number of other
equally valuable prizes provided by the gymnastarch.

THE WEATHER IN THE NORTH.—The new year
has come in with some severity in the north. A Shields
correspondent, writing on Monday night, states that a
lOW from the north-east bad prevailed on the Northum-
berland coast since midnight on Sunday. It had been
accompanied by a heavy fall of snow, and the sea was
extremely violent. A vessel coming from North Europe
had experienced very heavy weather, especially on the
Dogger Bank. A number of laden Scotch vessels put back
to the Tyne for shelter on Monday, sonic with sails split
and carried away, quarter-boards gone, &c. ; but no serious
casualty had occurred down to the despatch of the last
train last night. The British Queen steamship from Ham-
burg to Hartlepool, with emigrants for the United
States of America, put into the Tyne for shelter.
In Edinburgh the mild, almost springlike, weather which
has prevailed for about a month, suddenly changed on
Sunday. night shortly after 10 o'clock,when Is strong north-
west wind began to blow, and in the course of Monday
morning it increased to a gale, bringing along with it
heavy hail showers intermixed with snow. In the morning
Arthur's Seat and the I'entlands, as well as the hills north
of the Forth, wore a covering of white ; and throughout
the whole of Monday hail and snow showers fell M inter-
vals. There was also a considerable degree of Inst. As
an instance of the high temperature of the weather
hitherto, it may be mentioned that in several quarters
swedes in the fields have been increasing in size ; and the
furze dotted over the east end of Arthur's Seat was last
week blooming almost as fresh as in summer. Primroses
have also appeared in bloom. At Melton, on Sunday
eight, the " Green Christmas " and summer flowers fare
way to a hard frost, the wind going round to N.N.E.,
front which quarter since 7.30 this morning a heavy snow
storm has set in. The moors and welds have only been
white over once before this season and that for a few
hours only. At Melton to 3 p.m. quite 8 inches of snow
has fallen, and reports from Kirby, Helmsley, and the
moors speak of a -heavier downfall. The neighbourhood
of Ecclesfield (says the Sheffield Independent) was on
Sunday visited by a heavy storm of thunder and lightning,
the peals of thunder being loud and startling, and the
lightning extremely vivid. About half-past three the
people of Sheffield-lane top were startled by a loud roll of
thunder, instantly followed by a lightning flash and a
crash as of falling buildings, and it was found
that the corn mill of Messrs. W. and C. Mann
had been struck, and greet damage done.
The chimney on the east side of the mill was about 40
feet high, and had been struck near the top, scattering the
stones and bricks in every direction, some being driven a
distance of 40 yards. Above nine ards of the chimney is
still standing, being riven down the centre. The chimney
in its fall smashed through the roof, but fortunately the
floor was strong enough to bear the weight, and the
machinery escaped uninjured, with the exception of two
pulley wheels connected with the pump. Closely adjoin-
ing the chimney was the boiler, protected by a roof sup-
ported by brick pillars on each aide. The roof is entirely
destroyed, and only two of the pillars remain standing.
Great alarm was created in the neighbourhood, but
although many cottages immediately join the mill, and
large stones were thrown dangerously near, fortunately
no one was injured. We understand that the building
is insured.

We- (Dorset County Express) are much grati-
fied to learn that the Rev. C. W. Bingham received last
Saturday two cheques of 200‘. each unsolicited from the
Karl of Eldon-one for the Dorset County Hospital, and
the other for the Small Benefices Fund : his lordship has
also given 1,0001. to the building fund of the Dorset
County School,
CsTer.u. PALAcs. Own Banznro DAY.
Tugsmor,JAL I.—Ads:denims on payment. 4,902 ditto
by mem tisits* 1,1188. Total Ashen, 6,0611.