The workmen of Middleton Colliery entertained the Reverend R. H.
Brandling, the owner, at a tea-party, on the 14th December. The number present was about three hundred and twenty or thirty ; the men's wives performing the duties of the tea-table in a very creditable manner. Mr. Brandling is in his seventy-fourth year, and this acceptance of the invitation was considered a signal favour ; the committee of management conveying their thanks through Mi. Embleton, the manager of the works. Mr. W. Booth, one of the workmen, contrasted the treats' meat of the colliers with that in other districts. "Many of the colliers elsewhere had, in times of bad trade, to stay eight or ten hours in the pit for is. or la. 6d, whereas in this colliery they can always make their 43. or 4s. 6d. a day; and whenever they are required to work, they never get part of a day's work; and he begged in the name of the workmen to thank 3fi. Brandling for the many privileges enjoyed • by the Middleton workmen, privileges which he believed were no(
enjoyed by any other set of colliers in Yorkshim. Mr. Brandling said that the Committee most have made a mistake, for that it WAS he who ought to return thanks for the invitation; which he did in a very hearty and friendly nuumen He stated that at another colliery .which he possessed in the North, the men, although receiving as good wages as those at Middleton, had been induced to join the union; but they had seen the &lee position in which they had placed them.: selves, and had returned to their work. The evening passed in the pleasantest way. A somewhat important mistake as to the figures occurred in the report of the dinner given by Mr. Brandling to his colliers: the number was. not 250, but 520. The bad weather kept away great, numbers. from the present meeting.
In anticipation of an increased demand for railway-iron, William Crawshay, Esq., has decided upon the erection of an extensive steam capable, if necessary, of the completion of 2,500 tons of rails per month. The estimated cost of the extensive project is about 25,0001.; while it will be the means of affording employment to three hundred persons, in addition to the large number already employed in this gentleman's immense establishments.—The Cambrian.
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