EMPLOYEES' EXCURSION—On Monday the employees of Messrs. J. K. Nichols and Son, army boot and shoe contractors, had their annual outing and went by the Midland Company's excursion to Yarmouth and Lowestoft for a day at the sea side. A great number also went by the same excursion about 200 starting from Raunds station at 6a.m., arriving at their destination about 11, where a pleasant day was spent, the party returning at midnight.—The same day the employees of Mr. Owen Smith, army boot and shoe contractor, had their outing and chose for their destination Blackpool, on the opposite coast. Starting from Raunds station at 4a.m., after a long and tedious ride of 9½ hours, the excursionists got to the end of their journey at 1.30p.m. About 5 hours by the side of the briny ocean terminated their visit to Blackpool, and another 8 hours ride landed them safely at home, tired and weary of the journey, as well they might be, as a day's outing in which about 17 hours of it one is boxed up in a railway carriage is not a most agreeable diversion, and most likely will prompt the excursionists to select a different place in future.

THE SHOE TRADE—A deputation from the Raunds Branch of the Rivetters and Finishers' Union, consisting of Messrs. W. Cobley, F. Abbott, and J. W. Clark, visited Irchester on Monday last to assist Mr. D. Stanton, of Northampton, in forming a branch of the Union for that place. The meeting, which was well attended, was presided over by Mr. Thomas Coles. The Chairman opened the proceedings in a brief speech, and was followed by Mr. W. Cobley who gave reasons why a branch of the Union should be formed at Irchester, and how it happened that the Raunds branch had been called upon to assist Mr. Stanton at the meeting. Mr. Stanton then addressed the meeting at considerable length, explanatory of the principles and objects of the Union. A number of questions were asked and satisfactorily answered by Mr. Stanton. The enrolment of members was next proceeded with and a good number joined. The officers elected to act pro tem were: Mr. Slater, secretary, and Mr. Spencer George, treasurer. [more about the Union under Rushden]

THE HAND-SEWN ARMY BOOT AND SHOEMAKERS—The members of the Raunds section of the Amalgamated Society of Boot and Shoemakers held their monthly meeting on Wednesday evening at the "World Upside Down" Mr. J. Underwood in the chair. The ordinary business was transacted, and a number of new members were admitted, making a total of nearly a hundred.—The chairman then gave in his official report of the meeting, of masters and men, and complained of the uncourteous manner in which the masters left the meeting. He said Mr. J. K. Smith had got a stabbing machine and also a stitching machine to stitch hard jack boots with. Much disapprobation at this was expressed by the workmen, and it was unanimously resolved, by those present not to take any of these boots to last and sew and get ready for this machine, and it was further resolved convene a special meeting of the section at an early date, so that the resolution might be adopted by the whole of the members.—With regard to the wages statement, the men resolved to stick to it and agree to no compromise. It was decided not to send a deputation to the War Office, but to leave it to the secretary to communicate with the Director of Contracts and tell him they could get plenty of handsewn army boots done if the masters would pay the price asked in the wages statement forwarded. It was resolved on the motion of Mr. J. Mayes to send 10s. from the section as a contribution to the loan of £20,000 about to be sent to the Australian workmen on strike. Resolutions to assist the Chelsea and Worcester sections to get an increase of wage were also unanimously passed. The wages statement for army work was again referred to, and the circular forwarded to Mr. C. Robert Spencer M.P., Mr. A. C. Morton, M.P., and Mr. C. Bradlaugh, M.P. They sent letters stating that the matter should receive careful attention, and they would be pleased to give what assistance they could. A letter was also read from Lord Burghley M.P., who stated his inability to offer any assistance, but hoped the difference between employer and employed would be satisfactorily settled without outside interference. This answer of his Lordship was not satisfactory to the men. Some communications were then read from the Executive Council in London and the meeting then closed.