Vat 43robintes.
The Marquis of Londonderry has had a triumph. At the last elec- tion for Durham, the Durham Conservative Association put forward Mr. Purvis; whom the Marquis refused to support. In dudgeon the Association determined to cut the connexion with the Peer, and dis- solved itself. Last week, however, there was a meeting to reorganize it ; and, as it cannot get on 'without the Marquis, his patronage has once more been solicited.
The Chard, Ilminster, and Crewkerne Labourer's Friend Society held its anniversary on the 23d October ; when there was a general meeting, a distribution of prizes, and a dinner of the members. The operations of the Society extend to twenty-seven parishes ; there are 570 field- gardens, including 69 added last year ; and there is employment in spade husbandry on allotments for 750 heads of families. At the dinner, the Reverend F. C. Johnson, the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, made a suggestion which was well received (and which we hope to see carried out next year)— There was one little matter he would suggest, and he should certainly men- tion it at the next Committee meeting; and that was, whether it would not be practicable to have the labourers to dine with them. (" Hear " and cheers.) 111: e was sure it would be an additional gratification to all there present to see them at that table. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) He had seen them that day partaking of their bread and cheese gratefully and thankfully, but he had much rather see them partaking of a smoking joint. (Loud applause.)
Mr. Currie has addressed a letter to Mr. J. M. Molyneux of Losely Park, suggesting a mode of providing adequate employment for agri- cultural labourers ; which has given rise to some discussion. In pub- lishing the letter, the Times differs from one of its correspondents, and expresses a wish that Mr. Currie's suggestion were generally adopted. It is this-
" I would propose, that in every pariah where the labourers are not fully employed, a meeting should be called. Let it be ascertained how many men each occupier should employ (which may be very easily done); let them be divided fairly; and if it appear that to employ them all it is necessary to assign more than the quantity of acres justify, then let the landlord pay or allow the difference; publish a periodical statement of the demand for or ex- cess of labourers, as may be—say quarterly; and any individual refusing to take his proper number of men must in such statement be named ; which will properly expose him. In carrying out this measure, I would as much as pos- sible employ task-work, either in draining the land or in spade-labour ; and no distinction should be made between married and single men. It is a common but most pernicious custom for the farmer to employ only the married man, and leave the young single man to take his chance, for the false reason of eco- nomy that the support of a married man with a family swells the rates more than the cost of a single man."
The Birkenhead Dock Company have applied to the Town-Council of Liverpool to be allowed to purchase the reversionary interest of the Corporation in the Wallasey estate, on which the Company wish to erect warehouses ; offering to pay for it in a gross sum at the valuation of competent parties. The Council refused the application ; but an application to Parliament on behalf of Birkenhead has been spoken oC Mr. Miller, the Head-Constable of Liverpool, has been dismissed from his situation by the Watch Committee, for disobedience to orders in attending the Birkenhead festival, contrary to the wishes of the Committee.
The Great Britain steam-ship is released from its awkward and pro- tracted confinement in the dock at Bristol ; for, the alterations of the egress having been made, the steamer was floated out on Friday, and moored at the Sea-banks.
Two of the men implicated in the murder of a Policeman at Dover, eight weeks ago, were taken last week, in a wood on the road from Maidstone to Sittingbourne. They had been living in the woods thereabouts since the crime was committed.
Two men have been killed in a colliery at Newbridge, by the break- ing of a chain while they were drawn up the shaft they fell a con- siderable distance, and both died almost instantly.
A man has been killed on the Brighton Railway, near Hayward's Heath station, by an engine passing over his body while lying in a drunken state across the rail. It seems extraordinary, that even drunken men should choose so dangerous a place to sleep on as a rail- way; but many such cases have occurred, with the same fatal result.
A sham siege has been going on for some time at Chatham lines ; and was, on Wednesday, the cause of the death of James Sullivan, a private in the East India Company's Sappers. Some powder had been exploded in a mine, and Sullivan and two other soldiers entered to clear away the loose earth : enough air had not been pumped into the excavation to purify it ; Sullivan and another man fell senseless ; and before they could be got out, the first was dead.
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