ISLE OF WIGHT.
FRIEND-IN-NEED SOCIETY. — The annual meeting of this society was held at Wadham's auction room, on Tuesday evening last. From the financial statement then read it appeared that the receipts during the past year (including balance brought forward) amounted to £1,939 18s. 7d., and the disbursements to £1,031 11s. 5d., leaving a balance in hand of £928 7s. 2d. The principal item of expenditure was the amount paid for burials—£910. There were 55 deaths from January 13, 1867, to January 12, 1869, namely, 26 at Newport, 9 at Cowes, 6 at Ryde, 3 at Ventnor, 3 at Yarmouth, 2 at Brook, 2 at Niton and 1 each at Sandown, Wootton, Petersfield, and Walworth. The society was established in 1842, since which time its career has been one of uninterrupted advancement. It numbers now nearly 3,000 members, and though, as before stated, upwards of £900 was paid for deaths last year, nearly £120 was added to the capital of the society during that time. During the 27 years that it has been in operation no less a sum than £13,202 15s. 6d. has been paid for the burial of 451 male and 425 female members. The heaviest year was 1866, when 83 members died, and £1,298 was paid by the society and 11s. 3d. by each member. The total amount paid by each member from the establishment of the society to the present time is £9 10s. 5d., showing an average yearly payment of 6s. 10½d. For this small sum every member secures to his friends on his death. a grant of £20. At the meeting on Tuesday evening the following officers were unanimously re-elected:—Trustees — Messrs. John Hayles, John Alderslade, and John G. Cowdery; president— Mr. William Stephens, St. Thomas's-square; vice-president—Mr. Morris Jackman, Lower St. James's-street; secretary—Mr. John Dore, Upper St. James's-street; treasurer—Mr. Richard Cogger, sen., South-street; auditors—Messrs. John Daish, Carisbrooke, and G. H. Brown, West-street, Newport.