Coroner-" Gentlemen, the country is much indebted to you for the services you have rendered in this case the verdict leaves the case where it stood at the outset.' Such has been the termination of this protracted inquiry; the verdict on the first inquest was a decisive expression of opinion; the above verdict at Docker's-gate, is unmeaning. But the most remarkable fact in connexion with the inquiry was the refusal of the coroner to call Captain Laffan, though requested to do so by the relatives of the deceased.

At the half yearly meeting of the London, Brighton and South-Coast Railway Company on the 2nd instant, Mr. Samuel Laing, the Chairman, made some remarks respecting Railway Accidents which have attracted much attention: He said: "The Directors thought it a great hardship that railway companies should be called upon to pay large sums for accidents over which they had no control, and which did not result from any false economy on the part of the company, but purely from accidental causes, over which they could have no more control than they could over the tire of a wheel flying off, or a flash of lightning striking the train. Railway companies are made insurers for all casualties which happen on their lines; while steam-packet companies are not. An accident happened a long time ago at New Cross, on a foggy day, in consequence of the man who went down the line showing a green instead of a red flag. A slight collision followed- so slight' that no one seemed hurt; yet, twelve months afterwards, compensation was obtained by some persons, 'whose nerves, it was stated, had received a shock.' Compelling a company to pay compensation for accidents over which the directors really had no control, does not prevent the recurrence of these accidents. What he complained of was, that the principle of the Carriers Act was not carried out with regard to passengers. In that act it was provided that a carrier was not held responsible for damage to or loss of valuable goods, gold, silver, silk, &c., unless paid for accordingly. For instance, if an accident were to occur to one of their express-trains conveying half-a-dozen Bishops and the Lord Chancellor, through one of their men making a mistake, it seemed inconsistent that the company should have to pay 20,0001. for the Lord Chancellor, although he should pay no more than any other passenger (about 2d. per mile)."

body of Mr. Floyd. A great many of the superior servants of the North-Western Company were present, and they formed the principal witnesses. The tendency of their evidence was to show that the falling of the ashpan had caused the accident. The engine-driver was of opinion that something hard had struck the pan; but nothing was found, neither did he feel the engine jerk at any point. And as the company's servants, to whom the duty of inspecting the engines is delegated, were all of opinion that the engine was sound when she started, the matter remained in complete mystery. But, after some discussion, it was agreed that a Mr. Moredale, a machinist independent of the company, should examine the engine. He reported, that "the thing was altogether in a bad state;" that the "iron-work belonging to the pan was decayed;" that the "snugs and nibs" were decayed; and that he should think the ash-pan "had fallen off from the decayed parts of iron;" but as the fire was in the engine, he could not closely examine it: he also complained that all the parts of the work were not there. The jury concurred in the main part of his opinion; and at length it was agreed that another inspection should take place when the engine was cool. The investigation was resumed on the 9th. Meanwhile Captain Laffan, Mr. Moredale, Mr. Fairbairn of Manchester, Mr. Kennedy of Liverpool, and Mr. Marshall of Birmingham, had examined the engine. Mr. Moredale adhered to his original statement, that the stays were decayed-one broken through, and two out of four faulty; and that the engine started in that condition; then the stay on the same side with the broken one gave way, and the ash-pan fell to the ground. Mr. Fairbairn described the construction of the ash-pan, and the method of fixing it on to the fire-box; and gave it as his opinion, that the ash-pan must have been broken away by coming in contact with some obstruction on the line-something weighing sixty-seven tons at least, dead weight; but he could not say what it could have been. Mr. Marshall and Mr. Kennedy agreed with him. Captain Laffan, the government inspector, deposed as follows: "I have seen the ash-pan, and have heard the evidence which has been adduced up to this time; I saw the ash-pan on Friday last, and again today; the ash-pan fell in consequence of the failure of the supports; such is my opinion. I see no appearance whatever to lead me to suppose that the failure of the ash-pan was owing to any accidental obstruction in the At Mr. Tomkins's saw-mills, Old Gravel Lane, way; but I see every reason to believe the contrary. Wapping, the Boiler Exploded on the 2nd inst. FortuI see no reason to believe that there was any blow, nately, most of the workmen had left the place to take but that the ash-pan fell in consequence of the their dinners. Charles Varrall, a bricklayer, was at failure of the supports, one giving way after another. work on a roof near the boiler-house, and he suffered There was some defect in the engine, I think, at the dreadfully; he was alive when got out of the ruins, but time of starting." Some further evidence was taken; died in two hours.-The Jury impanelled to inquire and the jury returned the following verdict: "We are into the cause of the explosion and death returned the of opinion that the immediate cause of the accident was following verdict-" Accidental death, by the explosion the defective state of the straps of the ash-box, thereby of an engine-boiler, situated at Green Bank Saw Mills, causing the death of William Floyd; and the jury Wapping; and the jury wish to add, they consider cannot separate without expressing their decided opinion great neglect is attributable to Mr. Mark J. Tomkins, that the inspection of those constructed engines should for allowing the boiler to be used after being repeatedly be made more minutely and more frequently, so as to informed by the engine-driver of its unsound state; and insure the safety of the public." Another inquest was they also exonerate the engine-driver from all blame." held on the body of Mr. Beddington, the other sufferer, A dreadful Accident on the Midland Railway occurred and was brought to a close on the 25th. The coroner between Draycott and Borowash, on the evening of the addressed the jury, carefully analysing the conflicting 5th instant. While a train was proceeding to Derby at evidence. He concluded by observing, that passengers its usual rate of speed, the tire of the driving-wheel of were entirely at the mercy of the company; they had the engine broke, and a portion of disengaged tire no means of signalling the engine-driver or the guard; striking against the body of the engine, knocked off they were obliged to place confidence in the company, what is technically denominated the clack-box" and it was therefore reasonable that the company should the escape-tap; thereby causing two considerable do all they could to carry their passengers as safely as openings into the boiler, through which the pent-up was possible. He for one denied that there should be steam rushed out, filling the carriages with steam, and any distinction made as regarded the safety of first, occasioning the greatest consternation among the second, or third-class passengers; the company was passengers. In this dilemma, Job Kirk, the enginebound to provide carriages of sufficient strength for the driver, being apprehensive that the engine would run safety of all, though there might be differences in the off the rails, and being at the same time unable instantly matter of comfort. If they were of opinion that any to bring the train to a halt, got upon the step opposite particular servant had not performed his duty, they to the broken wheel, intending to leap off in case of would have to return a verdict of manslaughter. The necessity. While so standing, a sudden jerk, caused by jury returned the following verdict:-"We are unani- the revolution of the imperfect tire against the engine, mously of opinion, that the death of John Thomas Bed- threw him from the step down upon the rails, and the dington was caused in consequence of the ash-pan train passed over him, fearfully crushing both his feet having been severed from the engine, but the cause of and ankles, and breaking both the bones of each of his such severance is not in evidence before the jury." legs. The stoker also leaped or was thrown off; but

fortunately escaped without further hurt than some it had reached many yards from the wreck, and the severe contusions about the head and face. The Midland Company supply tourniquets to their trains; two were applied to the limbs of the sufferer, and he was conveyed to Derby. It was found necessary to amputate both legs; but the man is expected to recover. Kirk was considered one of the best engine-drivers on the line.

There was a great Fire at Tottenham very early on Sunday morning, the 8th inst. Tottenham Mills were very extensive premises, on an island surrounded by the Lea: one pile of building was an oil-mill, another a corn-mill, with the usual offices attached; and there were also dwelling-houses adjacent. The fire originated in the oil-mill, where extensive alterations were in progress; and thence it spread to the corn-mill, which was only eighteen feet distant; both the mills were destroyed, with some of the minor buildings and an old malt-house; the dwellings were but partially burnt. While the fire was raging, a large vessel filled with oil burst, and the flames ascended to a great height; other vessels subsequently gave way, and streams of blazing oil floated down the Lea. A great number of persons will be thrown out of employment by the disaster. The proprietor, Mr. Edward Bell, was partially insured.

Four men were Killed by Lightning during a violent thunder-storm at Manchester, on the morning of the 10th. Eight cottages were in course of construction in Ridgway Street, in the fields near Clayton Hamlet. The lightning struck the east corner of the block, entered the roof, and ran along the whole range, some portion descending to the earth by every window. All the people employed, and Mrs. Fletcher, wife of the owner, were struck by the lightning; some were not hurt much, but four were killed outright. The fatal strokes occurred at three distinct places, two of the sufferers having been sitting together on a window-sill, while the others were at work in different houses.

whole of the helpless creatures perished. For eight hours the position of those on the wreck was one of great peril; the sea was sweeping over her decks, and it was expected every moment she would go to pieces. Soon after day had broken a schooner bore down to the spot, and, with the aid of the crews of two other vessels that came up. the whole that were clinging to the wreck were taken off in safety. Their luggage, however, was lost, for in a few days the vessel broke up, and was a total wreck. The emigrants have since been forwarded to Quebec.

Another dreadful Railway Accident has taken place, followed by the Suicide of a pointsman, through whose fault it appears (partly at least) to have happened. It was on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. The train to which the accident occurred was the one leaving Liverpool, via Bolton, to Manchester at six in the evening, and due at Bolton at a quarter before nine. On the evening of the 24th, this train had lost time so considerably as to be nearly an hour late. When it arrived within a mile of Bolton, the station and all the intermediate distance were blocked up with trains which had arrived before it. The first of these, or at least the principal one, and the one leading to the detention of the others, was a very heavy passenger-train, consisting of 36 carriages, and did not arrive at Bolton until twenty minutes past nine. The passengers were partly travelling towards Manchester, but a great portion of them were for Yorkshire; and this is the station where the train had to be separated into two parts, one of which would have to leave the Manchester line for a mile further south to go via Bury, Heywood, and Rochdale, to Yorkshire. Unfortunately however, the carriages had been indiscriminately packed with passengers going in both directions, and full twenty minutes were lost in disentangling the mass and getting the right passengers into the right train. Whilst this train was at the station, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, and ultimately a sixth (the one smashed) came up. The second train was an excursion train of 36 carriages from Liverpool; the third was a luggage-train from Liverpool to Manchester; the fourth was an excursion-train of 25 carriages from Fleetwood (behind its time) to Manchester; the fifth was a luggage-train-principally laden with timber-from Liverpool to Bradford, Yorkshire. These five trains probably numbered altogether upwards of 150 carriages, and stretched over nearly a mile of the line, to a place called Bullfield, where a pointsman is placed, having charge of two signals upon a high post in the form of discs. The pointsman's cabin is close to his points, but the signals are 250 yards beyond (or further from Bolton), and are worked by means of a lever and a wire about six yards from the cabin. Beyond this cabin the line of trains stretched about 125 yards, or half way to the signal. The signal would have been seen for upwards of a mile in the Liverpool and Preston direction, had it been lighted, but it appears that the day's duty of pointsmen ordinarily ends at half-past eight in the evening, and he had left his post at a quarter to nine on this occasion, putting out the light at the signal on this as on other occasions, although it is alleged that he had received instructions that there would be extra or excursion-trains on this occasion, and that he must remain until they had all passed. The night was exceedingly dark, and when the sixth train (which was not an excursion or special train, but the regular late passenger-train from Liverpool to Manchester) came up, the driver would not come in sight of the preceding one, owing to the curve, until he reached the place where the signal post is placed, a distance of about 125 yards. Whether the driver was not on the look-out, or whether it was impossible for him to stop in so short space with a train of sixteen carriages going at a high speed, has not yet The emigrant ship the Trusty, of Scarborough, been ascertained; but the result was that he ran into having on board nearly two hundred emigrants, has the luggage-train with great force, and the collision was been Lost off the shores of Cape Graspe, while on a so fearful that the three first carriages (third class), were passage to Quebec. When the vessel struck, against the command of the 'master, one of the boats was lowered and cut away from the vessel. It contained in all, about twenty persons. An attempt was made to gain the shore, but the boat was capsized by it before

A Serious Accident on the Western Valleys Railway, which extends from Newport to Blaina, took place on the 11th. The line was recently converted from a tramway, solely used for the conveyance of mineral and other heavy traffic, into a railway, but many of the objectionable features which marked it in its previous condition, such as great curves, &c., still remain. The train was proceeding along at its accustomed speed until nearing the curves, when the speed was decreased. Approaching Llanhithel, where there is a great curve, the speed was lessened, but suddenly a collision of all the carriages took place. On looking out the passengers were greatly alarmed to perceive that the engine had run off the line, and was lying, with one or two of the carriages, on its side in the ditch on the road side. Among the numerous passengers still in safety were two or three gentlemen who leaped through the fastened windows of their carriages, and hastened to the assistance of the sufferers. The driver was found unhurt by the road-side; but the stoker was discovered beneath the engine, some of the projecting portions of which were pressing into the poor fellow's body, and the escaping steam from one of the valves was scalding him where he lay groaning. After some time he was safely got out. Though found to be severely scalded, and greatly bruised, it was ascertained that no bones were broken. The passengers in the next carriage were released, suffering from contusions and bruises.

Mr. Frank Hartland, who was for many years a great favourite on the London stage as a pantomimist, was Accidentally Killed on the 16th. A plank having been detached from a building scaffold in Mount street, when he was passing, struck him with great violence on the side of the head, completely crushing in the skull. He died on his way to St. Thomas's Hospital. Mr. Hartland has left a large family, hitherto entirely dependent upon him, to deplore their untimely loss.

smashed very badly, the second one being turned up on its fore-end between the other two, with the ten passengers in it feet uppermost, and almost on their heads. The terror of the passengers was beyond description. It is said that their screams were heard at the distance

of more than a mile from the spot. It was found that fifteen passengers were injured, several of them dangerously, and one of them, a boy of twelve years old, was not expected to recover. After the accident Mr. Crowshaw, the clerk in charge of the station at Bolton, went to the house of the pointsman, Lee Bancroft, and asked him how it was he had not the signal lighted. Bancroft replied he did not know. He had put the light out at a quarter before nine o'clock, as usual, and then went home. On being asked if he had received a copy of the notice mentioned above, he replied in the affirmative, and said he had read it and the instructions at the foot. He assigned no reason for neglecting them, but said he did not think he was required to remain after a quarter to nine o'clock, which was his usual time for leaving. Mr. Crowshaw, however, told him he was to blame for leaving the signals when excursion trains were expected. About half-past twelve o'clock the same night, the unfortunate man was found suspended by his neckerchief from a large nail which he had driven into the top of his wooden sentry-box.

SOCIAL, SANITARY, AND MUNICIPAL

PROGRESS.

sailed from the ports of the United Kingdom, at which there are emigration agents; 21,890 sailed from Irish ports; 8687 from the Scotch ports of Glasgow and Greenock; and 94,535 from English ports-namely, 3224 from Plymouth, 15,304 from London, and 76,007 from Liverpool. It is known that a large but unknown proportion of the emigrants from Liverpool are of Irish origin, but the birthplace is not distinguished in the abstracts.

The Price of Provisions has varied little during the quarter; mutton and beef have, however, been a little cheaper than they were in the previous quarter: the price of wheat remains 40s. 10d. a quarter.

With regard to the State of the Public Health, the report gives the following particulars: The deaths in the spring quarter were 100,813, and the mortality was at the rate of 2-227 per cent. per annum, which is slightly above the average of the season. The excess of deaths was chiefly in the town districts, which still maintain their fatal pre-eminence over the country in destroying the lives of the population. The rate of mortality in the 506 districts, comprising chiefly small towns and country parishes, was 2-052; in the 117 town districts 2-436; so that out of the same population for every four deaths in the districts where the air and water are comparatively pure, there are nearly five deaths in London and our other towns, where all the THE Registrar General's Return for the quarters sanitary arrangements are still left so imperfect that ending March and June 1852, has been published. It no improvement sensibly affecting the rate of mortality comprises the births and deaths registered by 2190 has hitherto been effected. In the three months registrars in all the districts of England during the that have elapsed 48,357 deaths have been registered spring quarter ending June 30; and the marriages in more in the town districts in the place of 40,000, who than 12,000 churches or chapels, about 3228 registered would have died if the mortality had not exceeded places of worship unconnected with the established two per cent.; a standard of salubrity by no means church, and 623 Superintendent Registrars' offices, in high or unattainable. The season has been unusually the quarter that ended March 31. The return of cold, but food has been abundant; and from the marriages is not complete; but the defects are incon-notes of the registrars generally it may be inferred siderable, and approximative numbers have been supplied that the people are actively employed. Small-pox, from the records of previous years. scarlatina, hooping-cough, and typhus have prevailed to some extent, not only in London, but in many parts of the country; and persons with families, who are about to visit strange districts in search of health, will obtain information from the notes of the registrar, or by local inquiries, which may prevent their exposure to local epidemics. Much good has already been effected by the enforcement of sanitary regulations in lodging-houses. The registrar of North St. Giles says: "There is a decrease of one-fifth in the deaths, as compared with those of the corresponding quarter of last year, which I attribute to the sanitary arrangements enforced by the police, in making the landlords of the houses in Church Lane, and the Rookery, whitewash and cleanse them, and not allowing above a certain number of persons to sleep in the lodging-houses." The registrars of St. Ann, Nottingham, and of Cardiff, in South Wales, have recorded similar good effects from the supervision of the low lodging-houses. Public attention has been before called in these periodical reports to the neglect and illusage of children in the large towns of the country, and more particularly in Lancashire, where the mortality of children under five years of age is twice as high as it is in the healthiest counties, and much higher than it is in London.

The Marriages in the quarter ending March 31 were 32,933, consequently in the three months 65,866 persons were married; this slightly exceeds the numbers in the corresponding quarter of 1851, and is 10,906, or one fifth part, more than the numbers married in the winter quarter of 1847. The rate of marriages, after allowing for increase of population, is found to exceed the average of the season, and is only less than it was in the winter quarters of 1846 and 1851. The excess is distributed over nearly all the divisions of the country, but is most conspicuous in London, where the marriages in the winter quarter increased from 4377 in 1849 to 5576 in 1852. Marriages increased in St. George Hanover Square, and in Hastings, Brighton, Bath, Clifton, and other watering-places. The marriages in the southeastern division also increased in Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire; decreased in Berkshire. There was an increase in Oxford and Cambridge; in Colchester and in Norwich; in Malmesbury and in Bradford (Wilts); also in Exeter; in Redruth, Cornwall, and in Bristol; in Hereford, Shrewsbury, and Stafford; in Wolstanton, and Burslem, among the Staffordshire potteries. The marriages in Birmingham were 390, or 44 less than in the previous winter. In Leicester and Nottingham the number of marriages has for the last two years exceeded the average. The marriages in the last quarter were also over the average in the districts of Derbyshire, in Stockport, Liverpool, Prescot, Wigan, Warrington, and Manchester. In Sheffield marriages were numerous; in several districts of Yorkshire below the average. In the northern counties the marriages exceeded the average; in Wales they declined from 1930 in 1851 to 1804 in the winter quarter of 1852.

The Births of 159,136 children, born alive, were registered in the quarter ending June 30. The same number, within two, was registered in the spring quarter of last year. The proportion of births to the population since 1849 has greatly exceeded the average of previous years.

As the births in the quarter were 159,136, the deaths 100,813, the Increase of Population by natural causes is 58,323. The increase in the previous quarter was 55,094; in the corresponding quarter of 1851, 59,499. In the quarter ending June 30, 1852, 125,112 emigrants

The ceremony of Placing the First Pillar of the New Crystal Palace at Sydenham took place on the 5th inst., in the presence of a large and distinguished company. Mr. Laing, the chairman of the company, officiated. A bottle containing coins, and a paper containing the date and other particulars of the commencement of the edifice, having been placed under the pillar, it was screwed down by Mr. Laing, who afterwards addressed the assembly. The ceremony was followed by a collation, and speeches from Mr. Scott Russell, Sir Joseph Paxton, Sir C. Lyell, and other gentlemen. During the fête, a model of the structure was exhibited, with various plans and designs, which warrant the expectation of a higher artistic effect than that obtained in the strictly utilitarian building in Hyde Park. The roofing of the whole nave, as well as of the transepts, will be arched; the height of the transept will be increased by some sixty feet; towers will be added, terraces, and vast arched embrasures; the general effect being greatly improved

AUGUST, 1852.]

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181

by festoons of vegetation and flowers hanging from the of a small area; it is received into two small covered roof and trailed along the pillars. reservoirs, and distributed by gravitation on the principle Last year during the period of the Great Exhibition, of constant pressure. It is softer than the water an association was formed, composed of some very dis-hitherto obtained from wells. Every house is drained tinguished men, native and foreign, for the purpose of by means of stone-ware pipes; and the sewage is carried promoting a Cheap and Uniform System of Colonial and International Postage. But since the latter days of the Exhibition, when one meeting was held, the association appears to have slept, until this week. A meeting was held, at the house of the Society of Arts, on the 10th inst., and the following resolutions were unanimously adopted

"That it appears to this association, that all the arguments used by Mr. Rowland Hill in favour of the justice of a uniform rate of postage apply certainly to colonial and probably to foreign correspondence. That the cost of conveyance, as was proved by Mr. Rowland Hill, depends upon the number of letters, and not upon the distance; and that therefore the justice of a uniform rate is evident. That the association welcomes

the recognition of this principle in the recent adoption of uniform rates for printed papers to some of our colonies. That the simplicity and convenience of prepayment also appear to apply to colonial and foreign correspondence."

Earl Granville has consented to become president of the association.

into the sea at low-water mark. Sandgate has a population of about 1500: the money has been raised on the security of the rates, and the debt will be liquidated in thirty years by a charge of 1s. 1d. in the pound upon the present house property-of course to be reduced as building extends.

The cattle-show of the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland held at Galway, has far surpassed any previous exhibitions in the quality of the stock. The Earl and Countess of Eglinton and many distinguished persons were present; among them, the Duke of Leinster and Lord Clancarty.

The half-yearly general court of governors of the Royal Asylum of St. Anne's Society, and the election of 15 children, viz. 5 girls and 10 boys into this asylum, was held on the 13th, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. Mr. Henry Pownall presided. The report, which was read by the secretary, after setting forth the benefits which have been derived from the institution since their last meeting, states that as the charity is solely dependent upon voluntary benevolence, and as the claims of families, suddenly reduced from prosperity to destitution, are still hourly increasing, the committee finds itself compelled to make an earnest appeal to the benevolent public for further assistance. The report then further strengthened by the late disastrous calamities to the orphan school at Paris, and to the ill-fated ships, the Amazon and the Birkenhead, and concludes by stating that two donations of 50%. had been promised to meet a certain sum by similar amounts; and with the unanimous resolutions of two general courts, an important alteration in their rules would take effect at the ensuing election, whereby every vote would be carried to the credit of the candidates for three successive elections. The report having been adopted, Mr. Henry Pownall, Mr. Alderman Wilson, the Hon. Wm. Ashley, and Mr. John Carr Glyn, M.P., were elected as trustees.

The Royal College of Physicians has received a new charter, by the provisions of which some important changes are introduced into its constitution. Its designation is changed from that of "Royal College of Physicians of London" to that of "England," and its "licentiates," no longer so termed, but "members." All medical practitioners will be eligible to its member-states that their claims upon the benevolent are still ship who possess the degree of "M.D." from any university in the United Kingdom, or have received licence to practise from the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge, Dublin or Edinburgh; and, under certain conditions, medical practitioners who exceed forty years of age, and are in practice.

The Annual Show of the Northumberland Agricultural Society was held at Belford on the 10th inst. It was an average exhibition in respect of stock, and superior in point of implements. There was afterwards a dinner at the Railway Hotel. Earl Grey presided. Among the guests were Lord Lovaine, M.P., Sir George Grey, Sir Mathew Ridley, the Honourable H. T. Liddell, M.P., Mr. H. G. Liddell, M.P., and other gentlemen. Lord Grey complimented the county generally; spoke warmly of the great improvements made in agriculture of late years, and in the dwellings of the labourers. On this latter topic all the speakers were especially eloquent. Mr. Liddell complimented the Duke of Northumberland, and Lord Lovaine returned the courtesy by praising Earl Grey. "The progress of agricultural science might be traced in what was going on at Howick, and it was written in the crops there as plainly as in any book that ever was printed." Sir George Grey testified from his own observation to the great, marked, and rapid improvements which had taken place of late years in the skill and industry, and general progress of the northern division of the county of Northumberland." The prizes were distributed by Earl Grey.

A Return has been published of the sales in the Encumbered Estates Court in Dublin, from the opening of the commission until the 9th instant, when further sales in Dublin were suspended until after the summer vacation.

"The number of estates sold was 777 in 4083 lots.

A Treasury order has been issued, Prohibiting the Vending of Chicory under the name of Coffee, but leaving every dealer at liberty to dispose of each article under its proper name.

An instance of the good that may be done in the way of improving the Sanitary Condition of Towns under the Public Health Act, has been exhibited in the little town of Sandgate in Kent. For 28501. the town has been supplied with good water and thoroughly drained. The water is obtained from the Greensand Hills, immediately in the rear of the town, by deep under-drainage

The first meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Sewers, as re-constituted by the new commission, was held on the 31st ult. Major Dawson described the task which awaits the Commissioners, and the means which they possess of accomplishing it. In the ensuing year they will be required to meet the ordinary expenditure on works of sewerage, amounting to nearly 50,000l. The new works urgently needed in various parts of the metropolis will demand 280,0007.; while the main arterial system of drainage must still remain untouched until the commission can find the means of raising an additional fund considerably exceeding a million sterling. After paying the current expenses, the Board will have at its disposal only a balance of about 96,0007.; and consequently, not only will no progress be made with a comprehensive system of sewerage, but works, which are even more immediately necessary, and which are estimated at a cost of more than 180,0007., will be unavoidably neglected.

Mr. Benjamin Bond Cabbell, the member for Boston, has lately completed a most extensive purchase-the whole of the town of Cromer with the exception of two houses, and about 12,000 acres of land. The purchasemoney amounts to upwards of 60,000l. The property was lately possessed by the Misses Wyndham, two old ladies, who were much averse to improvements and alterations. To the inhabitants of Cromer the change of proprietorship is likely to be most beneficial, as Mr. Cabbell has given orders for the laying out of new streets, and other extensive alterations and improvements.

A portion of the Census Returns of Ireland, showing the area, population, and number of houses, by townlands and electoral divisions, in the County of Wexford, has been printed by command of her Majesty. It appears by the poor-law valuation of Ireland, made in 1851, that the unions in the county were valued at 330,5371. 2s. 3d.; but, by the government valuation of the county, made by Mr. Griffiths in 1847, the value was stated to be 390,1777. 11s. 7d. The area of the county contain

COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES.