LECTURE—On Saturday evening Mr. J. Burns gave a lecture on "Phrenology" in the New Hall, which was well filled. The Rev. G. Pung presided. The lecturer, during the evening examined the "bumps" of some eight or nine of the audience, and the conclusions arrived at were considered very accurate.

WORKMEN'S HOLIDAY—On Monday evening the workmen employed by Messrs. W. Colson and Co., and their friends, to the number of about 120, were provided with tea in the New Hall, after which there was an entertainment, of which the following was the programme:—Piano solo, Master J. Colson; song, "The Goose Club," Mr. C. Stringer; recitation, "the Wreck of the Hesperous," Miss P. Denton; song, "Is there room for Mary there," Miss R. Ashby; song, "No one to love," Miss E. Barker; song, "Mill May," Master H. C. Packwood; duet, "very suspicious," Miss E. Colson, and Mr. C. Stringer. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Messrs. Colson and Co. for their liberality in providing the treat, to which Mr. Packwood responded. He said it afforded them great pleasure meet their employees as they had done that evening, and he was of opinion if they had more such meetings it would be better, and he believed the firm would be prepared to do as much or more on some future occasion. During the evening there was a plentiful supply of refreshments, and games of various kinds were played. The party broke up at a late hour, after thoroughly enjoying themselves.

VACCINATION—On Sunday evening Mr. J. Burns gave a lecture in the New Hall, entitled "Vaccination as a religious question; or, is it in accordance with the will of God." The Hall was crowded. The Rev. G. Garlick presided, and the proceedings were opened by the audience singing the hymn, ''Standing by a purpose true," from Sankey's hymn book, after which the rev. gentleman read the 6th chap, of Micah, and offered prayer. Then the audience sang "Hold the fort." The Chairman said he did not know how to say "No" to the deputation that waited upon him and asked him to preside, to assist him in raising the question from the secular to the sacred. For himself he could hardly distinguish between the two, as everything that was good to a religious man was sacred. He then introduced Mr. Burns, who took a verse from the Gospel by St. Matthew, on the sin of offending the little ones. He said his opinion of religion was to cease from doing evil and learning to do well, and was expressed by the Apostle in the words, "Do thyself no harm," but vaccination never said so, as it did harm to the helpless children. The usual arguments on the question were then advanced as to the origin of vaccination, how the matter was procured, and the evil results following in some cases. The treatment of small-pox, and the passing of the Compulsory Act in the small hours of the morning, and the interested motives of the medical profession in supporting the system were touched upon, and the way magistrates carried out the act also came in for criticism. He considered the whole system degrading, immoral, and irreligious. The lecture was listened to with the greatest attention.

DIORAMIC LECTURE—On Wednesday evening a dioramic lecture, illustrated by some painted limelight pictures, 20ft. in diameter, illustrative of the Egyptian war, and the principal places in that country, was given by Mr. Fordes in the New Hall.—The same gentleman gave the same entertainment in the Higham Ferrers Board Schools on Thursday evening.