Few co-operative productive concerns can show a record such as this.

It is a noteworthy fact that, although on the commencement of the corn mill scheme the society had only about £1,000 of available capital, so strong was the confidence of the members in the stability of the concern, that after spending about £5,000 on the completion of the mill, they had in hand available unemployed capital amounting to over £3,000, and this took place in the days of the Cotton famine, previously referred to.

ERECTION OF DEPOT, BAKERY, STABLES, &c.; MR. HOLT (FIRST PRESIDENT) RETIRES; MR. WM. BOYDELL. ELECTED; CLOG AND SHOE BUSINESS TROUBLESOME; SUB-COMMITTEES FORMED; BOOTHSTOWN BRANCH OPENED; AN INCIDENT AT THE ASTLEY BAKERY.

"Therein the patient must minister to himself."

FOLLOWING on the completion of the corn mill and the continual growth of the shop business, it was soon found that other extensive developments were necessary in the shape of additional buildings. The committee had no sooner got the corn mill successfully floated than they took in hand the erection of a central depôt or warehouse and retail shop adjoining the mill; which comprised also a bakery, shop and offices, with a large meeting-room over; also stables in the rear of the same; and also a house for the manager, for which he paid a rent of 3s. 6d. per week, his wages at the time being 30s. per week. These extensions involved an expenditure of about £2,500.

Mr. Richard Hindley, who along with Mr. Wm. Hill were the first appointed auditors to the society, was put in charge of the warehouse and shop at the wage of 18s. per week. Mr. Hindley had almost from the commencement of the society been actively engaged

in its work. First as one of the persons to serve in the shop at night at the salary of 3d. per hour. Afterwards he received 3s. per week as assistant in one of the shops, until he was appointed warehouseman. Mr. Hindley continued in charge of the warehouse until June, 1886, having thus been an employé of the society for a period of twenty-eight years.

To show that the committee were determined to keep well in touch with the society's business, witness the following resolution passed on August 31st, 1863"That the Corn Mill be under the control and management of the head miller (Mr. Pritchard) both inside and outside the mill, subject to the approval of the Committee of Management; also that the aforesaid miller be required to furnish the Committee with a full and correct report weekly, of the progress and condition of the Mill; what has been ground during the week, what is in grinding, what has been delivered from the Mill, and a general statement of the Machinery and the hands in work.'

Another resolution illustrating the watchfulness of the committee was the following:- That Mr. Pritchard be requested to report why the one pair of stones was not ready when the new cover was ready."

Who could have believed that a few silk weavers could have shown such conspicuous business ability, and have so far piloted the society successfully to the magnitude it had then attained.

In December of the same year it was resolved66 That 3 tickets for the Annual Tea Party be sent to each of the neighbouring Societies."

This was the first occasion of fraternization with other societies, with the exception of the advice sought from the Rochdale Pioneers at the commencement of the society. It was, however, an astute move on the part of the committee, as they doubtless had in view the business of the corn mill and desired to enlist the support of the societies, many of whom, be it stated, afterwards joined the society as members, and in most cases have continued so to the present day.

The commencement of 1864 saw a change in the