LOCAL & DISTRICT NEWS......#2 APPLEBY AND KIRKBY STEPHEN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The annual general meeting of the members was held at the King's Head Hotel, Appleby, on Saturday last, when MR. JOHN NICHOLSON, of Kirkbythore, was appointed chairman of the committee for the current year, and the annual show was fixed to take place at Appleby, on Friday, the 18th September next. JAMES ATKINSON, Esq., of Winderwath, has generously offered to give a challenge cup of the value of £20 or thereabouts, but the object has yet to be decided upon. The accounts, which were audited previous to the meeting, show a substantial balance of £58 14s. 2d. PENRITH WHITSUNTIDE CATTLE FAIR. This annual gathering took place on Tuesday morning upon the Fair Hill, at the Townhead, and was largely attended by dealers and other intending purchasers, who found only a small display of stock to select from. Calving cows and heifers were particularly scarce, and had it not been for a drove of fine, fresh two and three year old bullocks and heifers shown by MR. PATTINSON YOUNG in an adjoining pasture, this department of the fair would have been only very indifferently represented. By nine o'clock an eager disposition was manifested by dealers to enter upon business, but wishing to make their contracts on a somewhat reduced scale (on account of the downward tendency of the Lancashire and Southern markets) to that which has prevailed in the north for some months, and sellers being resolute in their demands for former, and in some instances even higher rates, for a time a lull took place. However, previous to the close, which occurred early, a better understanding was come to, and all the choicest animals found customers at prices similar to those ruling at last April Fair. APPLEBY. The half-yearly statute hiring was held on Monday in the Market-place, servants preferring it to the High Cross, near the Castle gates, where it has been held at this time of the year alternately with the Martinmas hiring at the Low Cross for generations past. There was a large attendance of young men and girls, who to appearance seemed more bent on pleasure than on business; the best known servants having accepted situations previous to the hiring, which was unusually brisk, and in a great measure concluded at an early hour in the afternoon. Wages as expected ruled high. Best men obtained from £15 to £18, and youths from £10 to £12 and upwards for the summer half-year. Women servants from £9 to £11, and girls, from about 16 years of age, from £7 to £9, according to their ability. The town was very quiet and peaceable throughout the day. These was a total absence of shows and shooting galleries, and a dance in the Butter Market Hall, got up by a portion of the Militia Band, appeared to be the chief attraction,, and was largely patronised. WENSLEYDALE RAILWAY. The branch from Leyburn to Hawes, which, in order to avoid obstacles, proceeds in a rather circuitous line up the dale, or Valley of the Ure, will be about seventeen miles in length. Commencing at the present station at Leyburn, it passes underneath the road to Middleham, winds along the hill side to the south of the village, crosses the Wensley road, and skirts the base of the cliff known as the Shawl, and proceeding, onward passes near the lead mine at Keld Head, leaves Bolton Hall a little to the south, touches at the village of Redmire, and a little further on passes in front of the grim-looking ruins of Bolton Castle. Thence the line, taking a south-westerly direction, runs near to the village of Carperby, passes close by "Aysgarth Force", and continues on past Bearpark, Nappa Hall, through an extensive rabbit warren known as "Nappa Warren", on to Askrigg, Bowbridge, Bainbridge, and further on it crosses the Ure and proceeds thence to Hawes.