The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-26 00:00:00

LI VEICrOOL, Arial. 25.

STOCK Excwkwais.— Business on our Stock Exchange
was worse to-day. The transactions were as follow :
Caledonian, Preterence, c.—East Lancashire, 6%—Lan-
cashire and Yorkshire, Conan!., 34—London, Brighton. and
South Coast, 77k.—London and North-Western, 101—Ditto,
New Quarters,flBs. 9d. dir.—Midland, 32—Ditte, Halves,
27% die.—Shrewsbury and Cheater, Preference, guaranteed
3 per cent., 12—South-Eastern and Dover, 131 .
MANCHESTER, APRIL 25.

STOCK ExonArum—The market has been dull to-day,
and prices have declined. The transactions were as follow :
Lancashire and Yorkshire, Fifths, 10 t/2 c. dis.—Londen and
North-Western, New Quarters, 1 V. 2 dis.— Great Western, 51—
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 11%—North Staf-
fordshire, to 1,4 dis.—Shewsbury and Chester, Preference,
guaranteed 8 per cent. 12 LA South-Eastern and Dover, 13%
c.—Ditto, Thirds (No. 4), 4 7-16.
BIRMINGHAM, APRIL 25.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market was stationary to-day.
The transactions were—Midland (Birmingham and Derby),
lsl4—South Staffordshire, 414 dis. —London and North-
Western were quoted at 101%, and Midland at 33.
YORK, APRIL 24.
STOCK EXCRANOK.—The transactions to-day were as fol-
low :—North British (guaranteed 6 per cent. for five years,
and 5 per cent. in perpetuity), 474—Caledonian, Preference,
East and West Yorkshire, Preference, 6 per cent., 3%
—Leeds are Tbirsk, 6—York. Newcastle, andißerwick, 12
—Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), %—York and North Midland,
14i —South-Eastern and Dover, 1314.

BEtEWER-STREET RAGGED SCHOOLS.-011 Wednes-
day evening, at seven o'clock, the second annual meeting of
the Brewer-street Ragged Schools, Great Wyld.street, was
held at the Music Hall, Store-street, Russell .square, to re-
ceive a report of the state of its affairs for the past year.
Sir T. H. Maxwell, Bart., having been called to the chair,
the secretary read the report, which stated that the teachers
regretted that there was was not sufficient accommodation
for the many applications made for the admission of children.
A great improvement had taken place among the children
since the last annual report. Accounts have been received
from those sent to Australia as emigrants, which were of the
most satisfactory character. There were eighty names on
the books; fifty being the average daily attendance. An
industrial school was established a short time ago, which
bad induced among the girls a considerable improvement in
their manners and habits, and who now take a pleasure
in making their own garments. The receipts amounted
to 1121. 10s. 4d., and, after paying all necessary ex-
penses, there remained a balance of 161. 12s. 10d.,
which was to go to the building fund. Joseph Payne, Esq.,
the barrister, and one of the most zealous supporters of
ragged schools, moved a resolution that the report be
adopted and printed, as also the committee and other officers
be re-elected. Mr. Ware, secretary of the Field-lane school,
seconded the resolution, and said he had the honour to
hand to the treasurer of the schools the munificent do-
nation of 201. from the Duke of Argyle. The resolution
having
.been adopted unanimously, Dr. Cumming moved
a resolution to the effect, that the meeting pledged itself
to renewed offort in the cause of ragged schools, being
convinced of their importance as one of the most success-
ful means at work for the elevation of the most degraded
portion of the youthful population. Several other gentle-
men addressed the meeting in support of the resolution,
which, with others in support of the general principle of
ragged schools, was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks
was then passed to the chairman, and the meeting separated.
PRESERVATION 01' OAK FENCING.--I have had
much experience, and have for years watched the effect of
the atmosphere upon these wooden fences, and in all cases
have found that the wood itself, without any paint or dress-
ing whatsoever, is the most durable. I erected a fence of
thin yellow deal feather-edge boards, six from the 3-inch
deal, and when removed, after seventeen years, there was no
appearance of decay at all : with respect to oak, which is of
a gummy sap, it will often be found that, when put up new
and tarred or painted, a fungus will vegetate through the
dressing, and the interior of the wood be rapidly destroyed ;
but when undressed it seems that the weather desiccates the
gum or sap, and leaves only the woody
.fibre, and I ani firmly
of opinion that au oak fence undressed is the most durable,
even by years. I may add, that white rosin and tallow is a
very good dressing for an oak fence : it must be applied hot,
and laid smooth by a brazier, in the same way as boats'
bottoms are dressed.—correspondent of the ,Builder.