The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-30 00:00:00

Xs. C. S. READ, M.P. ON THE CATTLE PLAINIE.
—Yr. C. S. Reed, M.P., who one of the Cattle Plague
Commissioners, hashed an opportunity during the last few
days of addressing his constituents in West Meek on
the subject of the rinderpeet. He expressed his belief
that the best way of suppressing the cattle plague was
to adopt the measures prescribed by the act at present
in force. When that act was passed in February the*
were no Ire than 15,000 came of disuses per week,
but since then the number had been reduced to 100
per week. Further, the. Mesas* had been
out in Irslaad with a loin of only 45 animals riZhat.
Scotland it had nearly disappeared, although it had
existed upon 3,70 e farms. He was mixed...:_meeipire
that it wee theenitieVnliresflierpitest
to extend to sheep the restrictions which=ly4r4
as regards cattle. As he believed he was instrumental in
freeing both sheep and pigs from certificates, It might be
imagined how annoyed and grieved heves when he hwird.
of this last order. But if certain farmers Lad the disease
and kept it secret, if certain dealers would buy animals
because they were cheep, and if the local eoinsetitteee
would not carry out their orders, the government could
only consider the safety of the country at large, and make
restrictions. However, he believed those reetrietiens
would be removed.
THREATENED OUTBREAK AXONU THE CONVICTS AT
THE CHATHAM CoNVICT rilltiON. —During the hurt few data
a spirit of insubordination has manifested itself alll
convicts at the Chatham convict prison, Bt. Mary's,
at one time threatened to assume a rather lotions aspect,
several acts of insubordination and mutiny havilest
place among the more daring of the prisoners, , it
was apprehended, to a repetition of the disturbances w
took -place at the same prison a few years since, on
which occasion the assistance of the military bad to be
obtained to overcome the convicts. The ruse of this
fresh outbreak was once more the character of the
food given to the convicts, the diet within the last
few days having undergone a change with which the
convicts appear to be greatly dissatisfied, On Sunday,
during the dinner hour, the spirit of insubordination
culminated, and would have assumed serious importance,
but for the decisive action of the governor and other
officials, who were fully prepared for the contingency.
Several of the ringleaders in the disturbances were
promply seized, placed in irons, and sent to solitary cells
to await instructions from the director-generaL An in-
vestigation into the whole of the circumstances has lance
been instituted, resulting in twelve of the more deter-
mined of the convicts tech receiving corporal panishment,
which was indicted yesterday in the prwon addition
to which the prisoners flogged will be reduced to a lower
cis- and will forfeit all the privileges they formerly en-
. • ' mtenoss to

clam,
joyed, besides losiag any reinCanion of their seat~___
which they had become entitled. Since the prompt action
on the part of the officials there have been no further
attempts at acts of insubordination.
TIM LOCK-1JB? Or THE MANCBSerrilt CARISX-
TEM AND Juliana. A delegate meeting of the carpeat
ers
and joiners of London was held last evening at the Seise&
Hotel, Bouverie-street, for the purpou of considering the
bed mows of rendering support to the locked-out men at
Manchester. The following resolution was adopted after
some dieettssicm:—" Tint this meeting having beard the
dot/smote of the deputation from Manchester sate the
lock-out of the carpenters and joiners in that city, pledges
itself to support &collection on their behalf this week. and
that the meeting stand adjourned until this day week to
take more decided steps to enable the Manchester work-
men to resist the lock-out."
THE MID-WALES RAILWAY.—The ordinary half-
yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at the
(AGO, 73, Ethelburg-house, Bishopsgate.street ; Mr. Whal-
ley, M.P., in the chair. The report of the directors stated
that during the past half-year considerable progress bad
been made. Many obstacles to the flow of traffic over the
line bad been removed, friendly alliances with other com-
panies bad been promoted, and every endeavour had been
used to develop the traffic on
the line. The Carthts
branch of the Brecon and Methyr Railway, •yf
work of
great magnitude, is expected to be complekd in Oc
t,
and would then give the company access not only the
Merthyr district but also to the Vale of Reath Railway,
which accommodates a district of the greeted importanee
to the company. The Mid-Wales Railway was promoted
mainly to afford a through communication between the
mineral districts of South Wales on the one hand, and
North Wales, the abippin. ports on the Dee and Meng,
and the great manufactunng district of Lancashire on the
other hand, and as such received the unction of pirlin-
ment. The directors bad kept that object steadily in
view, and they trusted ere long that the intentions of the
legislature and of the promoters would be fulfilled, sad
that the line would secure that which from its position it
was entitled to, viz., the main route between North and
South Wales. The chairman moved the adoption of the
report, and Mr. Lefoux seconded the motion, which, after
some conversation with reference to the trade lineage-
ments with local railways, was adopted.
SIINIVINGIIALE AND CAMBRIDGE Town RAILWAY.
—The half-yearly general meeting of the shareholders of
this company MIS held yesterday at the office*, 1, Breed
Sanctuary ; Mr. A. Ricardo in the chair. The report
stated that the directors were sorry to announce that the
elpectations entertained by them at tom date of the last
meeting se to the matisfutory progress of the contractor
had not been realised. The engineer had, however, given
Dottie to the centimeter to resume the works within seven
days ; and if lie did net do so, under the terms at the MD-
tract the directors would undertake the works themselves.
The report was carried after a alight discuasion, and the
meeting separated.
A distraint has jut! been made at the
(Bay
Railway Station, Yorkshire,by the load bard,
payment of a highway rate. The company bad refused to
pay, their oblation being that the local board bad so
power to mobs highway race, and could ally levy &strict
rates. A formal airfare was made, and the stoney (380
was paid =damndest.