The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-06 00:00:00

THE MASONS' STRIKE IN EDINBURGH.

We (Seotrman) learn that arrangements, to
which we referred a few days ago, are still going forward
among the MUMS on strike for the establishment of
a Co-operative Contracting and Building Association.
We behove it is not, however, intended that the opera-
tive society or union should he connected in its corporate
comity smith the proposed salaams, hat that the Beildirm
Aasociation should be composed, in the meantime at
least, of individual operatives who are prepared to take
and pay up shares in the concern, and capitalists (several of
wham, it is stated, have come forward with liberal offers)
who shall invest in it in the some way. A meeting of opera-
tives who had put down their names for shares, number-
ing between 130 and 200, was held in the Society's Hall
on Wednesday evening, at which a committee was
appointed to draw up a constitution and Mee
for the proposed association, and to take steps
' for getting it registered under the Limited Liabilities
Act. The shares, we are informed, are to be IL each,
and are to be paid up at once ; and it is to be provided
that no partner shall hold more than twenty. This
provision, we presume, applies only to the "operative"
shareholders, for several " capitalists," it is said, have
offered, and are expected to invert some hundreds each,
A discussion took place at the meeting as to the total stun
at which the capital of the association should be fixed.
some members proposing 93,000/., and others wishing to ex-
tend it to 40,000 L, bet ultimately this point was left to be
considered and reported on by the COll 1111 l ttee to a future
meeting. It is not expected, we believe, even by the origi-
nators of this co-operative association, that it will have
much immediate effect upon the present dispute between
the operative mamas and their employers, am a considerable
time must elapse, even if the scheme should prosper.
before it can be in working operation, or in a position to
exercise much influence on the labour market.

The COLNE STRIKE.-The 44th weekly report
and balance-sheet of this strike has been issued, audit shows
a great falling oft in the subscriptions, although the " in-
come" and • expenditure" are halanccil with en
surplus in band of 131. 11s. 11d.' sgain,t st. 10a. =rest
week. The subscriptions rained iu Blackburn last week
amount to 1151., to which 1001. has been A. 1,101 from the re-
serve fund. and of this 2151.. 1531. has been sent to Colne.
After other payments of small amount there is a balance
in hand of 451., and the amount "due to the reserve fund,"
which has been drawn on to make up deficiencies during
the recent agitation, is now 11081. An earnest appeal is
made that "ell mills will come up with their levy this
week." The subscription raised in Accrington amounts to
134 Os. Bd., of which 4/. 10s. was sent to Coles and 41. 10e.
to Clitheroe„ but in the general summary of contributions
to Colas, Accrington receives the credit of sending 13/. 55.,
and it would appear that Accrington also has had to draw
on the " neerve fund to the extent of 161. The amount
raised in Padiham last week was 20/. 7s. 91, and after taking
Ct. 14a. Md. front the reserve fund, 251. is put down as sent
to Color, hut in the general summary of Colue contributions
Pailiham gets the credit of sending 45/. The amount raised
1 in Preston last week was 321. 12s. M., and after paying en-
' tain expenses, 2ri. is put down as sent toColne, which leaves
a balance in hand of 20s. But is the general summary of
contributions to Colue Preston is put down as seeding IT.II.
The subscriptions raised iu Hmlingden amount to 15/., of
which 131. is sent to Cohn, but in the general summary
Haslingdesi is put down as sending 231. The income of the
week thus made up amounts to 537/., and the expenditure
to 5321. Ilarwen has ceased to contribute to the strike,
which is a decrease of 601. per week.
The CHATHAM CONVICT PRISON.-A parliamen-
tary return relating to the recent disturbances at the Chat-
ham convict prison hes been issued. The first table It
wedelns has reference to the previous imprisonment of the
convicts. Of the number implicated in the iment distur-
lsomes, 183 had been received direct from the hulks at Ber-
muda and Gibraltar-all but four having been received at
Chatham since October, 1860. A list of all the 857 convicts
implicated in the disturbances shows their general prison
character and the amount of gratuities credited to each on
the Ist of February, 1861. These amounts are in some
cases very large, and in many instances men with had
or indifferent prison characters have 10/., 12/., or
13/. set down to their credit. In see cam we
notice a men whose character is " senior,'" has more than
271. owing to him. It would give little additional weight
to these curious facto if we were to copy out the register
numbers of the prisonen and the precise amount credited
to them ; but in almost every case where a conviction dates
back two or three yews we find a comparatively large sum
credited to the delinquent, while its amount seems in no
way dependent on his prison character. It will be remem-
bered that after the riots the Ninon* were divided into
six classes, the first being restored to their privileges with-
out forfeiture, and an ascending scale of penalties being
lapplied to each class up to the sixth, the men of which fee-
faited these gratuities, together with all remission of NM-
tenon and other privileges. The first and second clam coa-
-1 tainel 774 men ; the third class, 123 men; the fourth dm.
in 66 s.; the fifth class, 14 men ; the sixth clam, 82 men.
EAST ANGLIAN RAILWAY.-Tile &T turned
meeting of this company was held yesterday. • after a
long discussion was again adjourned to that day six weeks
to enable the directors to try if they can bring the Eastern
Counties board to fulfil their agreement with the East
Anglian Oornpany by efficiently working the Anglian line,
or to bring them to an equitable arrangement with the
1 East Anglian.
CRYSTAL PALACE. -ONE SHILLING DAY. -
FIUDAT, APRIL 5.-Adwdesions on payment. 4,101 t
ditto by season tickets, 1,147. Total visitors, 5,248.