sufficient value to carry a vote for the shire.  The purchasers were principally members of an Investment and Permanent Benefit Building Society, started January 4, 1847, in connection with the local branch of Oddfellows, of which Mr. Smith was a chief official.  Franchise Street, which is supposed to be the only street of its name in England, was the result of this division of land, and as every purchaser pleased himself in the matter of architecture, the style of building may be called that of “the free and easy.”  Many estates have been divided since then, thousands of acres in the outskirts being covered with houses where erst were green fields, and in a certain measure Birmingham owes much of its extension to the admirable working of the several Societies.  As this town led the van in the formation of the present style of Land and Building Societies, it is well to note here their present general status.  In 1850 there were 75 Societies in the kingdom, with about 25,000 members, holding among them 35,000 shares, with paid-up subscriptions amounting to L164,000.  In 1880, the number of societies in England was 946, in Scotland, 53, and in Ireland 27.  The number of members in the English societies was 320,076, in the scotch 11,902, and in the Irish 6,533.  A return relating to these societies in England has just been issued, which shows that there are now 1,687 societies in existence, with a membership of 493,271.  The total receipts during the last financial year amounted to L20,919,473.  There were 1,528 societies making a return of liabilities, which were to the holders of shares L29,351,611, and to the depositors L16,351,611.  There was a balance of unappropriated profit to the extent of L1,567,942.  The assets came to L44,587,718.  In Scotland there were 15,386 members of building societies; the receipts were L413,609, the liabilities to holders of shares amounted to L679,990, to depositors and other creditors L268,511; the assets consisted of balance due on mortgage securities L987,987, and amount invested in other securities and cash L67,618.  In Ireland there were 9,714 members of building societies; the receipts were L778,889, liabilities to the holders of shares L684,396, to depositors and others L432,356; the assets included balance due on mortgage securities L1,051,423, and amount invested in other securities L79,812.  There were 150 of the English societies whose accounts showed deficiencies amounting to L27,850; two Scotch societies minus L862, but no Irish short.  It is a pity to have to record that there have been failures in Birmingham, foremost among them being that of the Victoria Land and Building Society, which came to grief in 1870, with liabilities amounting to L31,550.  The assets, including L5,627 given by the directors and trustees, and L886 contributed by other persons, realised L27,972.  Creditors paid in full took L9,271, the rest receiving 8s. 9d. in the pound, and L4,897 being swallowed up in costs.  The break-up