The Express. — London, England, 1847-10-16 00:00:00

------- lairaswith the government ; in consequence of which boss introduced into parliament—the act alluded to its an Moe& The proprietors were now asked to give t o o loseargres 10 the directors in carrying into effect the im igemenaudyad previously authorised . — The adoption of the mad Wks aboyail sad seconded, 311117 hAD asked if the 136,00 W. was to be applied to o aoo pose lki mposes of coloaisatMn, for filling up the outline of the settlements hitherto established ? for that Ram would go a very small way in making new establish. moan It would puzzle any one to show what advantage they had derived from the previous loan of 100,0001., beyond paying off numerous obligation. He hoped it would not be accessary to employ this in • similar manner. The settlers were loudly calling for some improvement of their condition, e ither by the formation of roads, or by sending over capitalist wrier.; and if it were known in this country that the directors intended to do so, this would be a strong induce ment to many to settle in New Zealand. The CHAIRMAN said it WY never conteplated that this 136,0001. should be wholly applied to the m advantage of the old settlements, and the act erre...sly prohibited such an application. tiovernment proposed to advance this sum on security of the lands of the company, to promote an extended field of colonisation ; and for this purpose had vested IR the company, for three years, the whole of the large territory of she middle island and the southern part of the northern island. With respect to former settlers', the directors were most anxious to fulfil their obligations to the best of their power—not only thew obligations which could be enforced in 'court of justice, but those of • moral and religious charac ter ; and ere long he hoped prosperity would be found in the settlement, and that the settlers would be satisfied. The difficulties of by-gone year' were now happily removed. The colonial government was determined to promote the welfare of the whole colony, and the government at home was re solved to aid in this desirable object. As to the demands of the settlers being complied with, all that could be reasonably expected the directors would endeavour to do. Mr. BERNARD hoped there would be no more concessions on the part of the board, particularly towards the Nelson settlers ? The CHAIRMAN said he understood the hon. proprietor to allude to some mtisfaction or concession to those who had suffered disappobstment in the laying out of the new town of Pert Underwood. The subject wee under the consideration of the directors, but no decision had yet been come to. A fresh act of regulations had been sent out, which they hoped would prove satisfactory; and the agent bad been instructed to do all in his power to meet the views of the land purchasers in Nelson. The direc tors were most desirous to do all in their power to improve the condition of the settlers ; arid Capt. Otway, R.N., who had recently returned from the colony, gave a moat glowing account of the way in which thing' were progressing at Wel lington, where roads were making, and public buildings were rising rapidly. Mr. BERN tee asked if the cost of the roads was to be dm frayed by the company ? The CHAIRMAN said, the roads in progress were made en tirely by the colonial government, not by the company. The proceeds of the sales of land by the company would be ap plied in liquidation of the debt to the government, and after wards to the interest' of the colony. Mr. BERNARD said, if the directors could form or suggest a loan company, which might be drawn upon by theme work ing lands, in the same manner as was done here under the Drainage Act, the money to be repaid after a certain period, it would be a most important boon to the settlers, and would no doubt be beneficial to the company. The CHAIRMAN said the rapidity with which the company proceeded in its colonising operations must depend on the willingness of persons to proceed to the colony as settlers. The 136,000/. could not be applied as an emigration fund. At the end of three yeses the proprietors would have the op tion of going on with their operations or suspending them. If they stopped, their debt would be wiped off; if they went on, the money would have to be repaid at a future period. Mr. BERNARD thought the company suffered through want of publicity being given to their undertaking. The CHAIRMAN said the directors were anxious to give it all 'possible publicity. The act did not permit them to ad vance loans to settlers ; but a company formed for that pur pose would greatly benefit the settlers as well as themselves. The director, could not be accused of doing nothing; for they had been engaged some weeks in carrying out the settlement that had beta suspended during the period of the disasters. A Scotch settlement had been projected in the middle island. The land, 100,000 acres, had been pus.- chased and prepared for the settlers ; and two ships were en gaged to convey them—one to sail this month from the Clyde, the other next month from the Thames. Mr. HA t...sw me. said he had visited both Nelson and Un derwood, and found roads set out quite equal to any in this country. Many miles of read, quite equal to the Great Western, or any other in this country—ai fist and as free from obstructions, had been executed at the expense of the company. Port Underwood was very precipitous; the land wee very high round the port; and though it was a good port of refuge, he did not think the proprietors of land in Nelson would think of exchanging their position for it. Mr. BEET entirely differed with the last speaker as to the excellence of the roads made at Nelson, or as to any bene ficial roads being made at all in that district. Roads had been set out by the company's agents, and unfortunately attempted to be made, and in thew parts they were scarcely passable in winter. Mr. HALLWREL pledged his word that what he had mated wee correct. The period he referred to was May, 184.5, when he travelled those roads in a light chaise cart. The CHAIRMAN said he could not suppose that the posi tion of the settlers was what had Leen described by Mr. Bernard. He found, from • paper containing some sta. tistice as to Wellington, that the amount of the customs, for the quarter ending 31st March last, was 3,925/.; and Go smiler Grey, in a recent despatch, declared New Zealand to be in a state of prosperity rarely known in a new colony. Mr. Beasuato thought the publication of that despatch would have a very favourable effect on the public mind. Capt. °TWAT, at the request of the chairman, stated that he had been employed on the coast of New Zealand, in two of her Majesty's ships, for nearly two years. During that time he had visited the whole of the settlements, and had been last in Cook's Straits in January or February last. He there found great improvement, and also at Welling. ton. At New Plymouth be had been two or three days on shore; and the new buildings and the state of trade there led him to the conclusion that the colony was rapidly pro greming. The people appeared satisfied as to their security for life and property. lie rode up the Waimea valley to Nelson, and found a beautiful scene of cultivation and im mense crops. He returned by another road, which was as good as any road near London. In February roads were being'made, on which were employed troops, the natives ' and English workmen, in about equal proportions; and the roads were snaking on the most substantial and excellent plan. A very fine road was also opened from Wellington to Panama, about fifteen miles ; only about • mile of it was unfinished. The port of New Plymouth was not a good port ; there was no jetty, nothing but tho beach •, but the country was as beautiful as any out of England, and there were some very good roads. I. pun the whole, he considered the climate of New Zealand the most suited to an English man of any part of the world ; and he had been in all parts. (Applause.) There was coal in Massacre Bay, not far from Nelson. It had been used in one of her Majesty's steamers, the In fl exible, and the captain and chief engineer reported of it most favourably. The miners were only at the surface of the coal now ; when the seam was penetrated, it was ex pected to be quite as good as Newcastle coal, which had hitherto been exported thither for the use of the steamer,. There was also coal in the north part of the island, which had not yet been worked. Mr. IVtortemse asked whether the lands heretofore granted would be affected by the mortgage given to govern ment for this grant ? The CHAIRMAN said the mortgage would only extend to the lands in the possession of the company, about • million acres, at the time that the act was passed. It would not affect that portion which was called the demesne lands of the crown. Mr. BERNARD asked if any part of the 136,0001. was to be appropriated to steam communication between the settle ments ? fieCHAIRIIAN said that 24,0001. was to be specially de voted and held in trust until the time when the exigencies of the settlers might require its application in the promotion of religion and education, and in the extension of steam cote. inunication. The following resolutions were then submitted by the chairman, and unanimously adopted 1. That 11w report now read be received and adopted.-2. That the court of directors be, and they are hereby, authorised and em powered to borrow sad take upon loan from the Lord High Tres. surer, or the Lords Commissioner, of her Majesty's Treasury, soy sum or sums of money not exceeding in the whole the som of 136,000 f., to be advanced to the said company from and out of the I tZtliral luee of rit th y e o c f * r d' t e pro te t tft . : 4 nd th o e f ,m the d Kingdom, on of the lands, tenements, sad hereditaments in New Zealand belonging to the company, or to the posser`on of which the said company la en- Wed, upon the terms, within the periods, and in acoo.. with, and pursuance of, the peovisiona contained in s sortain aet, made and pared in the last session of parliament, Intituled, "An Act to pro mote Colonisation is New Zealand, and to authorise a Loan to the New Zealand Company ;^ and that ter such purpose the court of directors be, and they are hereby, authorised and empowered to affix the common seal of the company to any deed or deeds of aresignment and mortgage, or other instrument or instruments, and to do ail suck ! other acts and deeds In that behalf as may, in the opinion of the said ! directors, be requlaite or expedient.-3. That Henry aglioahr I Aldionloy, Esq. and George Lyall, jun., two of the said direc tor*, be, and they an herby, authorisedand empowered to resolve for and on behalf of the saki company all such sum or cams of money I 0 shall be paid by the Lord High Treasurer, or the Lords Commie. ban, of ore Majesty's Treasury, on account of the said intended I k., at or before the execution of the said deed or deeds ; and that their receipt on receipts foe the same shall be valid and binding on the rid company.--1. That any two of the court of directors, for the time being. who May I , e nominated for that purpose by the court of directors, shall be, and they are hereby, authorised to receive, foe and on account of the company, all such further sum and sums, not ex ceeding in the whole, together with the num paid, or to be paid, at ne Lefore the execution of the mid deed er r deeds, the said mum of 136,000 L, as the Lord High Treamire,r, or the Lords Cortualrioners of her Majesty'. Treasury, may hereafter think fit and agree to lend and advance to the said comrrny, in pursuance of the powers and proclaims of the rid act; and that the receipt or rreeipta of suet two director, for the some ;ball be valid and binding on the said tocupany.-3. That this meeting anticipates much advantage to the company and the colony from the appointment of her Majesty's com missioner, and see, with much satisfaction John Web b ed Cowell, in the execution of hi. duties as ...tab commissioner, taking part In the preeeedinge of this day.-6. That the thanks of this meeting Le presented to Captain Otway, H.N., for his kindlier in complying with the moon that be would commuaiacc the result of his obser vations dame the period of his recent service in New Zealand.— % That the Menke of this meeting to presented to Henry Ail/Booby Aelionby, Pal., IL P., for his conduct in the chair; and to the deputy governor and court M directors for their attention to the affairs of the company. Thanks were then voted to the chairman and directors, to Capt. Otway fur his intemting communication, and to Mr. Cowell, the government commissioner, fer his attendance. THE STATrE Or Sri R. SALE.—Yeeterdliy the Nimble statue of the late Sir It. Sale, ti C. 8., the Hero of Cabul and Affghanistau," wet deposited In St. Paul's Cathedral. WESTMINSTER COURT UP SEWERS.—ILLEOAL CON DIICT Or • COMICOUtIONEK.—A meeting of the commis eionen of sewers for Westminster was held yesterday at the eourt.hoese, Greek-street, Soho-guars, when a further in ve timto in the cooduct of Mr. Faker, a commissioner, who usurped the powers of the wart, was proceeded with. The solicitors to the court presented a report on the course Mr. Fader had thought proper to pursue, which stated that there was no legal ground whatever to rapport the 'Fa:aiding, of Mr. Fader; that it rested With the tom. mimosas aloe, to require parties' to make sewers end to drain their houses into them ,• that the court only could make any order, decree, or settle the payment to be made, and that an opposite course had been pursued by Mr. Flirter, who had no right whatever in the sewer. That it was the duty of the court to prevent a recurrence of such conduct, and that any party morning, without authority, the powers of the court, to coerce individuals into the payment of sums of money might be criminally proceeded against in the Court of Queea's Bench. After the reading of the report, • letter was read from Mr. Fader, expressing his inability to attend the court.—The court was addrtseed by several hon. commissioners, who maintained that Mr. Farley had acted very illegally in this matter; hut before p:oceeding further it was suggested that he should be made acquainted with the opinions this day delivered to the court by the solicitors. Accordingty, it was mow ßrou ghton (the by Mr. (the magistrate), seconded by Mr. Le Breton, " That a copy of the report, drawn up and rand by the solicitors, be seat to Mr. Farlar, and that he be required to send to the court any explanation of the part taken by him in connexion with these Iporoceedings."—The motion was tarried unani mously. and, after transacting some routine business, the court adjourned. THE POOR IN THE PARISH OP ST. GEORGE-THE MARTYR, SOOTHWAVA.—Yesterday a special meeting of the board of guardians of the above pariah took place for the purpose of agreeing to on answer to a letter from the Poor law Cansmiseleners ' in which they refused to give their con sent towards the building of a new infant establishment, which appeared in our paper on the 29th of Sept., and also to adopt some plan for the accommodation of the poor during the ensuing winter.—The Chairman, Mr. E. Collin/1011, said that the sub-committee which had been appointed had agreed to a memorial, which would be submitted to the board for its approval. The memorial stated that the board regretted that the Poor-law Commissioners had felt it to he thew duty to make objections to their efforts to provide suffi cient workhouse accommodation for the paupers of the pariah ; and gave the reasons which induced them to take steps for providing further workhouse accommodation. Five years ago the board were oblige! to provide an additional sleeping ward in the workhouse, and the urgency of the case was then so great, that it was erected on ground of which the guardians were only partly tenants ; that the board were anxious to have extended the infant establishment at Lewisham, which would have relieved the workhouse, as the rooms now occupied by the children would have been appro priated to another class of paupers ; that during the last summer two of the sleepine-rooms had been converted into sick wards, the number of sick having increased to such an extent so to render it more like a hospital than a workhouse; that, in consequence of the want of such accommodation, the successive board of guardians have been obliged to meet the evil by such an unnecessary extent of out-deor relief, that it doubled in its amount in f ouryears from March,lB-43, to March, 1847—namely, from 2,557/. to 5,1871., and, even with this growing evil, they were obliged, last winter,through the interference of the Poor-law Commissioners, to take prompt measures for turning a largc number of paupers out of the overcrowded workhouse, and atter that was done the beds in some of the sleeping wards were so close together that there was not room for the occupants to pass between them, and during the whole of last winter upwards of 100 children in the workhouse slept on the average four in a bed.—The Chairman said that something must be done to meet the want of accommodati on for the poor during the ensuiag winter, hut he was quite at a loss what course to recommend. The house at present was nearly full, and if wet weather set in they would be overflowed. At Lewisham the infant establishment was overcrowded. The number at present in the workhouse was 442, the full number being 460; so, in fact, there was only room for eighteen, how ever great might he the emergency.—Mr. Ward thought that if a great pressure took place, they should cover the yard in, and thus fit up temporary accommodation for the poor.—Mr. Crafter . It we have a pressure, we must extend out-door relief —The Chairman said, in a week or two the poor would be flocking in from the country • and it would not do to let the wretched applicants want god and lodging. Last winter they relieved from 2,500 to 2,700 weekly, end such would be the use again.—After a good deal of discussion it was peed that the visiting committee should look round the parish, to see if they could find any premises into which the casual cases of fever or sickness could be nut ; while the best means to be adopted for the relief of the casual poor should be postponed, to see if the poor-law commissioners would point out a remedy for the approaching evil. METROPOLITAN CONVALESCENT SOClETY.—Yes terdey, a meeting of the committee and others, interested in the welfare of the above institution, was hold at their rooms, Backville-street, Piccadilly. This institution, which is si tuated at Carshalton, Surrey, was founded for the benefit of convalescents, and of the sick poor of the metropolis gene rally, whose complete restoration to health, equally imprac- ticable at the hospitals and at their own homes, may be speedily effected by a change of air and of circumstances, which, together with medicine, nutritious food, &c., is sup plied to the patient free of all charge. During the past year upwards of 400 patients have been received in the estab lishment, which contains beds for 55 occupants. The uylum is not sufficiently large to accommodate the great number of patients who daily apply for admission, and a special fund is being raised for a more capacious building, to which 5001. has been subscribed. The funds, owing to the high price of provisions and the number of patients during the past year, have become low. The number of sufferers, who have been received into the asylum since its establishment, has been above 1,500. KING'S COLLEGE. HOSPITAL. —Yesterday after noon, a meeting of the governors was held in the board room of the institution in Portugal-street, Lincoln's-inn, for the transaction of general business. The report stated that there were at present 109 in.patients since the com mencement of the present year, 1,913 had been admitted ; and during the same period, upwards of 14,000 out-patients had been placed on the books. The numbers of the latter class of patients had recently been greatly on the increase. An increased number of poor married women have been at tended at their own homes during their confinement (last year this class was nearly 509). The total number of in and out patients who have participated in the benefits of the chanty since its institution in 1839 have been nearly 100,000. The funds of the hospital are very low; every shilling will be expended to meet the demands of the past quarter, with out trenching upon the funded stock, which is but of small amount. A legacy of 1,0001. has recently been bequeathed by the late Min Collyer. IMPROVEMENT OF THE WORKING-CLASSES.—The Working Men's Association for their mental improvement is extending itself over the metropolis, and has sevensl district libraries, circulating many thousands of volumes. It was originated, as we are informed, by the men in Messrs. Maudslay's employ, who at first contemplated nothing more thus a little society for mutual instruction; but a knowledge of it spreading, it was taken up by Lord Radnor and others, who interest themselves in the condition of the working classes.— The Builder. " TIGHTNESS" OE TIIE MONEY-MARKET.—Some faint idea of the past scarcity of money may be entertained from the following circumstance : No less than six dukes, four marquises, as many eerie, and three barons, all of whom, we learn, intended to send to the Shakspeare fund certain sums, varying from 501. to 2001., have, up to the present moment, not sent a single sixpence. In our next we trust to be enabled to give a better account of the money-market.— Punch. - COMMUNICATION WITH GUARDS OF RAILWAY Taraws.—A lady engineer has at length solved the problem of a ise•Mmient and practicable communication between the =land guards of railway trains, in a manner exempt a the evils that have hitherto deterred railway men free entertaining such projects. The evil of most Imethoda hitherto suggested has been that they alarm only, instead of simply communicating, and that they are of • nature liable to frequeat derangement or neglect, or disuse. This invention is neither more nor less than a common talldag-tube, such so many business men have in their lAMB to talk with their clerks in another tom. This her ladyship, the inventress, proposes to pat in every carriage of • railway train. The apparatus generally will be as follows :—A common tin tube, my an inch in diameter, will pass along every carriage, my just under the roof; and at each end an India rubber pipe will continue it into the next carriage, so as to be detached with each carriage (by a bayonet joint) and attached when the train is formed. Any eye will detect the continuity or discontinuity of the communication from the outside of the train before starting, and the India-rubber will allow any flexure or extension without injury to the com munication. There will thus be one continuous speaking. tube all along the train ; an orifice, closed with a spring, except when in use, will be in each carriage, and the num ber of each carriage will he legibly inscribed on it ; a simi lar orifice will be conveniently plamd at the seat of the guard of the train. Each passenger can thus address to the guard any communication that may be required, and the conversation may be conducted as follows: —Pas senger speaks "Guard " Sir !"—" A gentleman in this carriage has been taken suddenly ill, ap parently with an apoplectic fit."—" Which carriage I" —" No. 3.51."—" I will stop the train instead of passing the station, and inquire if there be a medical man at hand."— Or thus : " Guard."—" Sir."—" We have a maniac in this carriage, No. 241, pray come to our assistance."—" I will immediately."—Or: "Guard."—' Sir."—" No. 271 car riage has a hot axle and is setting ere to the carriage."— " 'top the train,"—and so on. There is this difference between this mode of communication and the alarums pro- posed, that instead of a vague alarm being given, a specific message is communicated, and the guard is left the option of complying with the request or declining, so as to use his discretion coolly with a full knowledge of the circumstances. There are sundry matters of convenience to be attended to in this before it is practically quite perfect; but we think our lady correspondent has hit the simplest method, and the least objectionable.—Rotheoy Chronicle. THE IRISH AND THE ENGLIOH.—Sir,—At the present moment, when charity, speaking from her post in Printing-house-oquare, declares that we Irish are positively "all bad "—that Nicoll's assertion, The blackest heart bath edge to tell That God still beget% there, may be true, provided the heart be not en lriah oue—per mit me to mention one instance of Irish sympathy with the Saron in his hour of need. The instance to which I allude is this. After the great fire of Loadon, when many thou sands of its inhabitants had net a roof to shelter them, when they were without house or home, or wherewithal to pur chase a mouthful of victuals,. then did the Irish consult to, ether and send them our n inety themsand head of 04%4 to help them over their difficulties. Is . 1 _ "t thiswri tten in the etronkles of England ? BAkvit, lICURYRY LANGLEY. INQUEST, YESTERDAY.—SUSPICIOUS DEATIL -131- fore Mr. W. Baker, at the Cape of Good Hop* Yulgie-house, Commercial-road East, respecting the death or gm. Loulls Brown, aged 37, who died on Tuesday h e t. The deceased was the wife of James Brown, who formerly practised es a surgeon, but was not regularly aointed. Thos demseed was pregnant, and enjoyed very good health. On Monday last Idr. Cummins, a surgeon, was called in, and found the deceased very ill. The dece ased informed the surgeon that her husband had given her some pills, and premature labour was brought on. She gradually bemire' worse, and expired on the following day. Mr. Cummins said he had made &post motion examination of the bo:y, and discovered the stomach highly inflamed and ulcerated. He had not had sufficient time to examine the contents of the stomach, and wee unable to give a positive answer as to the cause of death. It was very unusual for ulceration to take place so spontaneously, and he had given directions to Dr. Lesthy, professor of che mistry at the London Hospital, to examine the contents of the stomach. The deceased had had two other confinements, and the children died in a similar manner. The inquiry was adjourned until Monday next. THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 16, 1847. SIR ROBERT PEEL IN LIVERPOOL. On Thursday afternoon, at five o'clock, Sir Robert Peel arrived at the Edgekill station, and proceeded to Moe ley-hill, the seat of Charles Lawrence, Beg., where he dined with Lord Bandon, Mr. Cardwell, M.P., and a select party invited to meet him. lesterday morning, accom qrnielalawGellYl. P w an re d n :ieh,:e th ' e i!: y tg r e , v Lo rd a S Obj l e ' e n t; ' of interest in x.iverpcse . ; and was driven in the first instance to the noble building to course of erection by the corporation (and which her Majesty is expected in person to open), the Assize Courts and St. George's Hall. The right hon. baronet was received there by M. Bramley Moore, the Chairman of the Dock Committee, by several members of the Corpora tion, and other influential gentlemen connected with the tows. Sir Robert was profuse in his inquiries, and left ne nook untraversed. The distinguished, party then re entered their carriages, and were driven to the Coburg Dock, where the unfortunate Great Britain at present lies, and on board of which the party were received and wel comed by Messrs. Bright and Gibb, the Liverpool agents Almost all the vessels in port were decked with signal and ether flags, and had a gay holiday look. The right hon. hart. was then driven along the entire line of docks, which coul not fail to strike him with their magnificence and ex tent. The carriages stopped in front of the custom-house, and Sir Robert alighted from the carriage to inspect • beautiful bronze statue of Huskisson, elevated only a few hours before in front of that edifice. The party were then driven along the Prince's, the Waterloo, the Trafalgar, and Victoria docks, and, alighting, proceeded to inspectthe noble additional docks in course of construction in the north. Here they embarked on board the Medina. Dublin mail packet, for a sail up the river. The tight hon, hart- appeared highly interested with all that met his view. After he had inspected the leviathan new landing stage, the vessel was steamed towards Woodside, when the right hon. bait. and party landed from one of the Medina's boats. He was received on the pier by Wm. Potter and Wm. Jackson, Esql., was greeted with a hearty cheer, and proceeded direct to view the new docks and the various objects of interest at Birkenhead. List nieht Sir R. Feel was to dine witha party of about 70. at the town-hall ; and although the event and the expected speech appear to have excited considerable interest through out the country, the mayor and other parties concerned in the management of the dinner have thought it most consis tent with their dignity to exclude the representatives of the public press. Such exclusiveness they may find to be unwise : for if aught impo'-tant be uttered, it will be sure to ooze out, although in a mangled form. Our correspondent adds a postscript:—" The Exchange flags were crowded till a late hour in the afternoon, but the right bon. hart., as some expected, did not appear." IRELAND. Duatrx, Ocr. 13. Sir Wm. Somerville, for the first time since his arrival as chief secretary, has left this country for London to communicate to the government the com bined views of himself and the Earl of Clarendon on the policy which should be pursued through the pre sent crisis of delicacy, danger, and difficulty. The habitues of the Kildare-street Club detect sundry fissures in the relations of Viceroy and Secretary. But they are wholly without foundation. No difference of opinion exists between the Earl of Clarendon and Sir W. Somerville. The charges for the collection of poor-rates vary enormously in several districts. In the Castlebar Union, for instance, the high premium of 2s. 6d. in the pound, or something over 12 per cent. is offered in vain to collectors, in consequence of the general re luctance not unmingled with inability. In the Kan turk Union how different! There, on one district levy of 2,400!. only 93f. was returned us uncollectable ; and in another, out of 2,800/., the sum of 2,4001. was collected. The poundage on collection varied from twopence to sixpence; this is perhaps the lowest in Ireland. In reference to the Castlebar Union, the Telegraph asks whether the rate-payers might not be allowed the discount on lodging the rate with the treasurer. This hint is worthy of attention in districts subject to high poundage rates. Conciliation-hall and the Irish council are at vari ance as to the representative meeting, though the dis cord leads to no more disagreeable results than a slight difference of opinion. The Irish Council has issued circulars to convene a general meeting of mem bers of both houses, with a filling in of the gentry, which is not likely to be liberally responded to. Mr. Reynolds has published his reply, and a sharp and curt one it is. He will not attend. Mr. John O'Con- nell thinks differently. He will move from one council to the other. So will the majority of the re peal members ; while the less "go a-head "of our re presentatives will not reciprocate the favour. Some of the repeal journals connect the letters of Mr. Trevelyan and Sir J. Burgoyne with the threatened inquiry of the Connaught bishops. The Loughrea queries are likely to be acted on universally. The clergy of Ballinrobe express their satisfaction at the promptitude of the western hierarchy, and their efficient means to expose the past and provide for the future. One fact is stated, which, if tree, exhibits a large district of Connaught in a most melancholy light. The parish priests of the union declare that, with the exception of a few landed proprietors, there are not on an average twelve families in each parish which have subsistence until next harvest, after pay ment of all legal demands. This is a collective answer by anticipation to the most important of the six queries. A serious change is contemplated in a very im• portant department of the business of the equity courts, and equally calculated to serve the country. It is unnecessary to review the injuries accruing to pro perty from receivers, who, with a nominal responsibi• lay, were freed from control, and who, from their in termediary position between landlords and public officers, had not the feelings of the one class, and were withdrawn from the influences which determine the conduct of the other. Placing a property under a receiver was tantamount to the utter neglect of the tenant. The contemplated change is this : instead of the nominees of individual creditors, official receivers, with permanent offices, are to be appointed, and with fixed salaries instead of fees and per centages. Having a life interest in the office, it is reasonably supposed the new officers will be vigilant and active in the super vision of the properties committed to their charge, ' and in every respect some one will fulfil the duties of a resident landlord. With the greater portion of the landed property of Ireland passing through, or on the verge of, the Court of Chancery, the protection of such an official body would be a great blessing to the in debted proprietor. CLARE DEPUTATION TO THE LORD LIEUTENANT. I forwarded yesterday the memorial presented by this body to the Earl of Clarendon. The lollowing is • de scription of the interview which took place on that occasion. The deputation having been formally introduced, and the memonal read, His Excellency at once proceeded to the business upon which they appeared, by saying, that he wished to consult their opinions as to whether they would discus. the resolu tions seriatim, as it might be their desire to make remarks upon each, or whether they would consider the whole sub ject upon which those resolutions had been founded. With respect to the first resolution the memorialists said : " We have been deputed to lay before your excellency the disas trous condition of our country in connexion with the Labour Rate Act, which has left us with presentments unfinished, highways obstructed, life enda ngered , . and 'oast heavy expen diture more than neutralised. lie hoped it was not quite the case that the highways were impassable. It was the in tention of government that the maul coach reads should be put in a passable condition, and he wished to be informed as to whether those roads were in the state in which that pare graph had represented them to be. Mr. FirzOeaALD said it did not apply to the moil coach roads in particular, but to all public roads. At present the fields were open, because the fences had been broken down, and the lands were trespassed upon by cattle passing from one farm to another. The farmers were put to =ones. nicace, and the lands left uncultivated. His EXCELLENCY said, a very small amount of labour on the part of individuals would repair the toners where they had been impaired. For his part, he would not allow his cattle to stray, nor would he allow his neighbour's cattle to trespass on him, without putting up stone walls, or some other description of fence that would secure his own cattle and protect his lands from trespass. On reading the next paragraph, which referred to the Labour Rate Act, his excellency said Now, that act—the Ross.,:t Ses sions Act—under which the advance' had been made, had been solely intended W execute works where distress existed, in order to provide sinsp:..nlatent for the poor, for where the distress had ceased so fuslher adrenals had been made. The advances of money that lusi been made by the government were not kir roads, but solely for the relief &Boded by them. He had been looking over the correspondence of the Board of Works, and the circulars Wool by that board, from which there could be no mistake that the .works had not been undertaken as works of them selves essentially of importance, but (or the sake of procuring relief for the destitute and of raving human life. Col. Vastrinuton said that those works should have been finished. The deputation demanded money, according to the estimate of the road erosions, to finish the works which the Board of Works had left incomplete. The ratepayers had given their money, and the works had been left unfinished, and, although the money had been granted, the Board of Works did not fulfil their own estimates. His Exestxamer said that the labour rate was not com pulsory, as the Lord Lieutenant's warrant for holding ses sions was only issued on the application of the ratepayers themselves: it was the only means by which they could ob tain an advance of public money. The ratepayers asked for money for the employment of a certain number of people, and the great body of the people haring been thrown on those works, the money was all consumed upon unprofitable labour, and moons had been put upon those relief works who had no right to be put on, and who never should have been put there. Sir Lucius O'Bittas said the object all had in view was to see how they could get out of the difficulties in which they were placed. Ili/ EXCELLENCY said nobody could deny that they were in great difficulties, and, whilst they dwelt upon these, the should remember the state of the treasury in England, with a declining revenue, and the distressed state of the working classes there. Whilst they complained of distress here,where it existed under their own eyes, they should remember that there was distress in England and in Scotland also ; and as they were all in the name boat, end v there was every dis position on the part of England to relieve Irish distress, they should not press it unequally. The case was hard at either side ; but all should do the best they could. Mr. FITZGERALD said the roads were in a dangerous stote, and they desired to finish them. It would greatly aid in relieving the out-door relief system if the able-bodied poor could be set to work on the roads which they wished to finish. His EXCELLENCY said they would have the whole popu lation throwing themselves upon the roads for labour, and great mischief might arise from that. The plan to get small loans to fluish their roads might be a very good one, but where the money was to come from, he could not see, except from Leadenhall-street ; and when it would be re- collected that the Funds were at 83, the difficulty would be at once apparent. Sir LCCIIJE O'Basan Raid that the suns required would not be a formidable one, and they would thus get out of their difficulty. His EXCELLINCY said that those complaints did not come solely from the county Clare: other parts of Ireland were just as bad. They would find the state of the roads in other quarters something like that in the county of Clare, and whatever would be done for that, should be done for every other county, and all these would swell the amount to an enormous extent. Sir Lucius O'BRIEN said that a moderate sum monthli would effect what was required. On some roads 5 would finish the works; others now in a very bad and dan gerous state, on which a carriage could not be driven with out endangering its springs, would require 201., perhaps more. The county surveyor, on going through the county, could form an estimate of what the outlay woult be. His impression was, that about 4001. or 5001. a week would provide a great deal of labour, and do a great deal of good. Out-door relief might be tumid to the purpose, instead of paying them in provition ; and persons recommended for out-door relief might be employed at the roads, and if they could be employed at that species of labour, the money ex pended in that way might be profitably used. His EXCELLENCY said it would be a dangerous system of employing the people. It had been tried in England, and it had been found to be perfectly ruinous. It never could be made to operate for good, and as suck it had been entirely abandoned in England. If established in this country, they would have the same work done under the poor-law as under the Board of Works, and they would have nothing lift for the really destitute. Mr. Frrmieriatti, after referring to the extent of the county of Clare, Cotk, end Mayo, said the question was, was there any other place from which they could get the money without applying to the government for it ? His Excetcetme asked them to put themselves in the same position so the government, with a revenue falling off to the amount of 1,400,0001. in one qnarter ; and it might be that the works they required to execute could not be done for less than 100,0001., and where was that to come from ? Mr. FITZGERALD said that the government might not be fully aware of all the circumstances which the deputation represented. His EXCELLENCY (smiling) assured them that the go vernment were perfectly in possession of those things, for they could not occur so often without his letting those at the other side of the water know every circumstance connected with them. He asked, would there be no chance of raising the money on the rates of the county ? Mr. Firzonitams said, he did not see that there was. The banks were very chary about making advance, to poor law boards, as they were ail in debt. The poor-bowie test was what they had been desirous to establish ' - and to do so it would have been well to have made room for additional numbers, in order to test the really destitute; but the means of enlarging the workhouses was not in their power. Great abuses wool 1 be practised by a man working himself, earn ing, perhaps, 101. a week, and sending a portion of his family to the poor-house. His EXCELLENCY said, the case referred to would be a most gross abuse of the poor law ; but it was the intention of the government, in order to effect a good working of that law, to increase the number of inspectors, by which means the law would be rigidly carried out, and abuses pre vented. He recommended them to make exertion to in crease the workhouse accommodation. It might not be very - - - - expenaive to hire a house, or to erect a temporary place like the fever hospitals, for the purpose of carrying out the work house test as far as possible. The officers of the Board of Works might aid in increasing workhouse accommodation. When he was at Ballinuloe lately he found that the board of guardian. had hired a house that had been occupied as a barrack, which was capable of holding a thousand persons— and if by hiring a house in the same way they could provide workhouse accommodation for them, instead of feeding them at their own houses, they could apply the workhouse test to the able-bodied and the destitute. One of the deputation said they were all in debt. His EXCELLENCY said, if the Chancellor of the Ex chequer wanted money for their relief, he would have te go in'o the money market for it. The government was at desirous as they themselves could be to relieve the countrylrom its difficulties, and it was only the want a means that operated against their desire to do it. If they would give him an estimate of what the county surveyor w require, he would submit it to the government for their Cu.. sideration ; but he could not then give them any answer en the subject. Neither would he give them any encourage ment as to the hopes they expected to realise from their sg. plication. Mr. Flrtoutatn said he feared the government was la aware of the state of the country. The lands had been Ma uncultivated lest spring. With the prospect of the potatoes not growing again, the people left their lands unfilled sad uncropped. His EXCELLENCY said Surely it would be a hard 41111811 that the industrious classes in this country and in England should be made to pay for such disgraceful and criminal neg ligence as that. Col. VANDELEUR said the people had been told publicly not to till their lands—that the government would till and provide seed for them—and the consequence was, that almost every second field in some parts of the county was uneulti~ limited and unsown. . Sir Lucius °Tater; said the suggestion of his excellency was the best thing they could adopt. Let the county surveyor produce an estimate of wh►t the county would require, and in submitting it to his excellency they would hope for a favourable result. . illsixcitilTEtrcy wished to guard himself against creating an impression on the minds of the deputation that he had been giving rise to any hope, or exciting expectations that might not be realised. When he should receive their estimate for a moderate loan, founded upon some positive data, he would transmit it to the government. Mr. FITZOEBALD said, that if driven to out-deor relief, it would be better to set the people to werk on the roads rather than not get anything at all in the shape of labour for their support. Ifis ExCELLENCY : It would increase out-door relief fifty fold. With respect to the Land Improvement Act, what are the landlords doing in the county of Clare ? Mr. FITZGERALD: Trying to exist ; they have their own embarrassments, from not getting their rents. His EXCELLENCY: In several parts of Ireland the rents were extremely well paid. He had had letters from gentle men in Leinster and Munster, who informed him that the tenants were paying their rent', and, in some cases, offering them without their being demanded, lie asked was there nothing doing in the way of improvement / Mr. FITZGERALD—Nothing. One part of the county was composed of lime-stone gravel, which did not require drain ing ; other parts would require draining, but they were oc , occupied by cottier-tenants, and he could not see how it could be done. He considered that townland rating would be preferable to district rating under the poor-law. His EXCELLENCY feared that would 'eels a large num ber of people unprovided for. Taxation had hitherto not premed heavily upon the country. The first repayment of the advances which had been made in 1846 would not be de manded until the let of January next, and that could not be looked upon as a grievance. He feared it was impossible that a great visitation of Providence should pass over the land without leaving traces after it, although the means of relieving the people from that visitation had been made as light as passible. Mr. FiTzOERALD said the visitation by which the country had been afflicted was an imperial calamity, and It should have been borne by the imperial resources. His EXCELLENCY said the Labour Rate Act had been carried into operation by advances from the imperial treasury to the amount of five millions ; the imperial parliament raised a loan and relieved Ireland from the payment of half of that sum, and extended the time for the repayment of the other half over a period of ten years, and surely that was treating it imperially. His Excellency concluded by re questing that they would have the goodness to furnish him with an estimate of what they required, and he would for ward it to the government, in order to make their memorial more complete. But, he should repeat what he before stated, that he would not excite their hope of succeeding, nor raise expectation founded upon anything except the merits of the case, and the anxious desire of the government to contribute by all means within their power to the relief of Ireland. The deputation then withdrew. STATE OF THE COUNTRY. A man named Philip Nash, • bailiff' to the Rev. Thomas Westropp a clergyman resident near Limerick, was shot i.:id on Monday night at a place not three miles from that city, and within about bid( a mks of a police station. The man we walking along the road in company with two friends when the swot was fired, and he fell pieced with II gangs. He died in leer than two hours. ... ----- The state of Clare almost rivals that of Tipperary. The farmers must have armed protection for the carts which convey their produce to market, and on their way home wards the parties who cart it are alines: invariably attacked. There are not fewer than five instances of such attacks in this day's Limerick papers in which carters were pelted with stones on their homeward route from Ennis market. One of the parties thus attacked was in the employ of Mr. Bridgman, late M.P. for Ennis. The man now lies ill of wound, received. Another instance of a farmer's horse being shot, which had carried corn to market, is also recorded. The pirates of Mayo have just been disappointed of a prey. The Kate Thorn, laden with Indian corn and dour, lay off Eagle Island on the 4th instant. Six boats put out from shore, with from six to ten men in each, and made for the vessel,manifestly with the intention of boarding her. They had attained a very alarming proximity when a breeze sprung up, and bore the expected prersafely from among the "Achill wreckers," You will be grad to hear that, notwith standing the destitution, fever is decreasing in this county. The King's County seems determined to maintain that re putation for restlessness attaching of late years to it. To-day ws have accounts thence of an attack upon the house of a man named Hearn, into which shots were fired, fortunately without doing any damage to the residents. The house of Mr. Samuel Drought was also fired into at night, and the owner wounded, slightly as it happened. Arms were plun dered in more than one instance, and property carried away; and in the ewe of a Mr. Hughes, *receiver under the Court of Chancery, who had made a seizure for rent due, to which, however, a replevin is entered, notice from " Copt Starlight," or some men of equal rank, is i-sued, to the effect that Mr. Hughes is looked alter ; and that whoerershall send corn to be ground at the mill of a Mr. Abernethy, who sometimes acts for this receiver, will be shot. Frawley, a bailiff, who ionic weeks since was beaten while serving law notices in Clare, for a land agent of Dublin, has died of the injuries received. Notwithstanding the advice and remonstrance of Arch deacon Fitzgerald, P.P., Ballingary, the meeting of peasant labourers took place on Monday, et the Hill of Garryfine, whence they proceeded in a tumultuous body to Brume, firing shots in the village, and drove the stock of Robert Fethereton, Esq , a magistrate; broke the gate, and drove the stock of Rev. George alassy, of the glebe : also the stock of Rev. Mr. Ryan, P.P. of Rockhilf, and tore up and trampled the turnip field of a farmer near Kearney in the same neighhourhoed. Many of those marauders were armed. Some of the cattle has been since restored. • On Sunday morning last, notices were found posted on the chapel gates of Broadford and Callaghan's-Mille, calling on the people of the adjoining parishes to meet on Thursday next, at Clunerk, near Broadford. The notices which the police removed were as follows :—" Take notice, that every man in the parish of Kilsiely is expected to meet at Clunerk, in the parish of Killuran, on Thursday next. Any man stopping back let him mark the consequence. Dated this 9th day of October, 1847." Notwithstanding the Roman catholic clergy strongly denounced the impropriety of such conduct at the chapels on Sunday last, it is understood the meeting will take place. It is difficult to give an opinion as to the object of such meetings • but from the feeling at pre sent in the country, it is feared co good will result from tumultuous assemblages. Several notices have been posted up along the line of railway at Thurles, threatening " that no horse should work on the line without receiving 4s. a day hire." SCOTLAND. EDINBUROH, OCT. 11. Aberdeen is the moat public-spirited of all the Scotch towns; while Edinburgh writes and Glasgow talks, Aberdeen acts. The granite city was the first to institute ragged schools, and it has now taken the lead is forming a health of towns association. Not only are cities overcrowded and generative of disease from bad municipal arrangements, but the same evils are extending to small towns and villages. The county inspector of police for Mid-Lothian says: • , . . . . . to Dalkeiththere are sixteen low lodging-boners; mos t of them are situated in narrow confined closes, and in thickly populated part, of the town. The apartments are mostly small, some not more than from twelve to fourteen square feet, and having from two is eight beds to them year where so many beds are planed, are fised on each side of the apartment, with • kind of boa-bed al.ding from beneath. At night there may be found in some of them from sixteen to eighteen adults of both seam, btvideu children, all congregated together. The wandering life of the chins that fre quent these houses tends very materially to spread contagion; many of them being migratory infect others. In Patlthead there ore several low lodging-houses; and, at the foot of the village, about fifty Irish are loomed in tire small rooms: one of these is scarcely more than ten square feet, and I believe that seven adults live and sleep therein. The medical practitioner resident to the village Informed me, that this alone tended to gureate and keep op lever. In Muoeiburgh and Fisher-row there are do of a similar dmenption, most of them over crowded and dirty. I ern of opinion that these homes should be re gularly hemmed, and subject to frequent medical inspection, and under the complete surreilLince of the ',Mice, with powers veined in them by Law to enforce • proper code of regulations. U thn was done, It would tr nd to prevent the spread of infectious diatoms, and thereby improve the health of the public. And in accordance so far with thus suggestion a model lodging-house is to be set up in Dalkeith. In Aber deenshire, the county authorities have been dealing with the kindred but still more difficult subject of intemperance. In that shire there are 613 public houses, yielding a lieense revenue to government of 2,6061., and a rental to landlords of 4,6301. From inquiry, it has been ascertained that the conversion of these houses to other purposes would diminish their rents to 4,1011., thus causing a loss of about 5001. This consideration has induced the committee ap pointed to consider the question to suggest that the number of alehouses should be in proportion to the population as 1 to 650—a ratio which would reduce the licenses from 613 to 200. In Scotland we have no church-rate controversies, the stipends of the established clergy being almost wholiy payable by landlords, according to the cur rent price of grain, but in towns, where of course no grain grows, their incomes are derivable from corpo ration funds, and the laws regarding payment being not very definite bickerings arise ever and anon, and seem to increase in direct ratio with the augmenta tion of dissent. Thus in Edinburgh, on two churches being burnt, the council would only rebuild one, and the other lies in ruins till the case is litigated. In Dundee only two out of three edifices destroyed by a similar calamity have been re-erected, and the minister of the nnbuilt church has raised an action against the town because they decline raising his stipend from 10.51. to 3001. In Arbroath a petition was laid before the council from the Kirk Session, praying them, as representatives of the heritors, to grant some necessary repairs on the parish church ; which the council refused, intimating that the pro prietors of pews were the proper parties to whom to apply for aid. The appointment of a licentiate of the Free Church (corresnding somewhat to a deacon in the English church) t po o the Hebrew chair in the Edinburgh Uni versity is a similar case of antagonism between church and dissent. The university contains four faculties, arts, law, medicine, and divinity. The proprietors of the Glasgow Argus newspaper have, it is said, resolved to discontinue its publication. A correspondent of the Edinburgh Chronicle, indig nant at the reproach of Scotland being a poor country, adduces the following statistics in refutation of the calumny : Table showing the relative position se to wealth which Scotland beam in oomparivon with some of the principal states of Europe : Proportion _ . . Tlevenne. pcmolstlon pc! I.n.dividuaL Engl4nl ail:6667mi imam* l 2 is 6 g010:010... .3 0 Irelmad . f,000,000 - . 1,000:000 . 0 12 I s1,000:000...34;ood,000... I to 7 Holland i:600:000.. .5:231:000 1 16 5 .1;:coe;000 I o'000: i 10 8 2,19.,000... 0 16 2 The revenue of Emitted In lisrm ' insd by the residence and expendi ture of the nobility sal Melei proprietor. of England and Ireland. Upon the game principle the reelase of Scotland would be greatly In creased if her nobility and Wel proprietors were resident upon their estates, and her revenue eqemelid upon the institutions and govern ment of the kingdom. The sem ohnervations equally apply to Ire land. It to perhaps a better initerion to make a oomparison of the real property in Scotland with the same in England; Inland being left oat for want of data, arising from there being no property to foe that country. Real property. Average per indlyiduaL England £62,310,000 Scotland The above comparDann show that Scotland is nearly as rich no Ewland, thrice no rich es Ireland, much richer than France, Frumas, Unhand, or Denmark—is internally ss rich ea England in minvnibi, such as silver, copper, lead, iron, and coal; she is rich In learning, enterprise, commerce, and manufactures; has 30,000.0001. lying In the different banal. Then how in It that, notwithstanding all thin, we find such difficulty In rslaing money for public pummel ! The ques lion is easily answered. There Is an annual drain upon the country I of rents and revenue to the amount of 9,000,0001., a sum equal to her whole rental. These plain fact. show that, were Janice done to Scot land, money would be as plentiful here a. in England. The Duke of Athol' has fallen into bad odour with the citizens of Perth, on account of having, as alleged, returned no answer to an application made to him, as master of the grand lodge of Scotland, to lay the foundation-stone of the general railway terminus of the fair city. His grace has probably not relished the Glentilt discussion in the Perth town council, and may further have concluded, rather wisely, that he could not safely calculate on making a successful public appearance while glen-closing continues to be so much agitated. In his absence, the masonic honours were yesterday discharged with due punctilio by Mr. Fox Maule. THE Lsw or Nawararza. Su BBCRIPTION. A gentleman in Peterhead, who received and read this (John o•Groa! Journal) paper for three years, on the account being pre sented to him refused to pay, on the plea that he dal not order the journal ; that a friend had ordered the paper to be sent to him ; that owing to some private understanding be twixt themselves he considered the paper to have been wrier amt. sm . , I rd oun t lyqu igst .. b . !atos es l o f f in ki. n re o t wa s zrespo tt iV sTaw bt ei for ilr th b e t •^ NI action in reluctant)/ o,"igel P r. ') '-vs' since received the fol- Court at release,. •r• sod ill plop " After „, at : lowing note from out :jest in Court at , • i n the a strong contest with your debtor and his tgr. sheriff gate deereet metope him, on the weli-ssifert,.., principle, that ' the reader of a paper is bound to per for 14 whether orderedifreet by him or not.' " DOING Busimass.—A culprit from Dandee who a Perth was tried, convicted, and sentenced to banishment last Wednesday evening, officiated 01 the previous morning in Dundee, as hangman's resistant at the execution of Dionne Leith. He had 11. for hi, services, of which he gave his counsel 21. to defend him on has trial. DIABOLICAL Acr.—One night last week, some mischie vously-disposed person committed several depredations in the neighbourhood of the Bridge of Don ; and, among others, the old bridge being under repair, and scaffolding being for this purpose suspended by ropes over the parapet in the usual manner, they actually cut the ropes, leaving only a few threads, so that if the workmen bad not in the morning die. covered the deed, they must, on taking their places on the scaffolding, hare been precipitated into the river and lot their lives, or at lout rendered their escape almost miraculous. The perpetrators hare not been discovered. PROPINCIAL• __ LANCASHIRE. A MEETING OF FACTORY OPERATIVES took plate at Oldham, on Thursday evening, in the Working Men's Hall, fur the purpose of taking into consideration the pro priety of a total cessation of labour for a short time, in pre trireme to running the risk of • general reduction of wages. The room was well filled. Mr. T. Wilson, a factory operative, being called to the chair, said that about • year ago it was well known to many present that not only • public meeting, but • requisition, had been got up to the musters, requesting them to work short time ; and the consequence of disregard.. ing the request they now saw in the present state of trade. I He believed it to be for the interest of the. employers as well as the employed to have a stoppage for • short time. He had never wished to injure the manufacturers as a body but., at the same time, he would support the interest s of his trade. His impresion was, that if proper steps had been taken • year ago, • different state of things would have been the result. Meetings were being held in all the districts to ascertain the opinions of the operatives on the question of a cessation from labour, and the results of these meetings would be reported to • delegate meeting, to be held at Man. cluster on Sunday nest.—Mr. Juttwood, secretary of the operative spinners association, moved the first resolution, to the following effect: That this meeting deeply deplore the necessity of being called tn. gether,oa the prement menace, to devise means by which their ditto. adder are la be met, and regret that the advice tendered to the em ployen in 12,46, to work " short time for a seaaon," did not meet with that general consideration from them which the stale of the cotton and food markets at that time required. The speaker then alluded to the results which had followed that non-consideration—the masters at Ashton were offering a reduction of 10 per cent., and at Moseley there was a turn out to rerat a reduction.—The motion having been se conded, Mr. J. Cheetham remarked that he did not see how &cessation from labour would benefit the operatives. It did not appear that the masters had pledged themselves to sup. port the operatives in this new movement. Unless the masters would go with them, they might be no better off at the end of a month's cessation frost labour than they were at present. Ile should move as an amendment that there be no ces•ation from labour.—Mr. Wood said Mr. Cheetham had not alluded to the subject involved in the resolution. lie thought a ce:sation from labour was the most likely course to keep up the regular rate of wages; while, if they submitted to a reduction, it was hard to tell whether they would ever again recover their position.—The first resolution having been car ried, Mr. J. Taylor, operative, then moved the second resolution That this meeting b of minion that the reductions in the wages of the operatives, which bad been proposed in some places would not relieve the trade from its difdeulties, but would aggravate the suffer ' lags which slim feelingly deplore, and that nothing short of a rows lion of work foe a abort period will restore to the employers and em. snored that position to width they are justly entitled. Mr. Cheetham said he did not see how the operatives were to exist without labour, and another operative then pro posed es an ameudment that they should memorialise mas. ten for short time unly.—There were only 20 hands held up for the amendment, and the original motion was carried by a large ma:ority. THE BIRKENHEAD DOCKS.—The proposition to transfer the management of this immense trust to other hands has scarcely been announced, and aroused public 'cranky, before we bear of it abindoned. It was only the commencement of last week when it wu first made public that negotiations were in progress between the Birkenhead Dock commissioners and the Liverpool Dock committee, the object of which was the transfer of the dock estate of the former to the latter body, and it is now distinctly understood that such negotiations are altogether at an end. - The Birken head commissioners wished the Liverpool Dock committee to . . assume all their liabilities, and carry out the whole of their acts of parliament in reference to the docks, which terms the latter refused to comply with, and hence the unsuccessful result of the negotiations. We believe, however, that this somewhat unexpected termination of the negotiations is not altogether unpalatable to several of the gentlemen connected as shareholders or otherwise with the Birkenhead Docks, who are not the most favourably disposed towards the Liverpool corporation becoming the future owners of the estate; and it is very confidently stated that they rejoice at the result, and see in it the prospect of the docks becoming the property of other parties, who, it is stated, are anxious to purchase them. It is very currently rumoured that certain of the large ,bond holders are anxious to have possession of the entire works, and that, backed by an influential company of London mer chants, and assisted by the influence of a well-known power ful railway company in the south, it is not unlikely that this immense estate will become their property. There is every reason to believe the probability of this statement, for the enormous amount of money which the bondholders have at stake—being little less than half a million sterling—induces the belief that they will leave no stone unturned in order to accelerate the completion of the docks, and thus open to themselves the prospect of a return for their capital. It is further stated that unless some such step is adopted the works must remain as at present standing, for the commissioners hove not the means to proceed with them, not being able to obtain the sum of io,ooof. owing to them by the Dock and Warehousing Company, nor yet the loan of 50,0001. advanced by them to the Birkenhead town commissioners. It is, moreover, very generally believed that, independently of these obstacles, the present constitution and temper of the Birkenhead Dock Commissioners is anything but favourable to united action in carrying forward the works. Unfortunate differentia amongst themselves, of some standing, are, it is confidently stated, growing fiercer instead of abating ; and as certain of the great capitalists, who have hitherto played a leading part in Birkenhead matters, are now said to be at open warfare, albeit some of them have withdrawn for the present from active interference. YORKSIITE. FIRE AT SEIIPLEY.—On 'edneeday morning last a fire occurred on the premises elonging to Messrs. Har. greeves, of Shipley, near Bradford, known by the name of Pricking-mill. The watchman left the premises about half past six, soon after which time smoke was observed to be issuing from the wool warehouse. Upon the door being 'opened, the room was found to he full of smoke, and the building evidently on fire. A number of workmen being fortunately on the spot, every exertion was made to stop the progress of the flames, and a considerable quantity of wool was conveyed to a place of safety. En g ines were procured, but so rapid was the progress of the hre, that before their arrival the roof and floors of the warehouse had fallen in, and the conflagration had extended to the room over the cot tage adjoining. The active exertions used at length pre vented the further spread of the fire, the warehouse being completely gutted, and a large quintity of wool render ed useless by the felling in of the roof. The stock previous to the fire was valued at 2,7001., not more than one-third of which is saved. The property was partly insured STAFFORDSHIRE. THE LATE EXPLOSION OF GAS AT WALSALL.—The inquest on the body of the unfortunate man who lest his life by the explosion of gaa in the church of Walsall, as described in this paper on Wednesday, was brought to a termination on Thursday night. From the evidence adduced, it did not appear that there had been any culpable negligence, but cer t an absence of proper -notion. The person who had been manager at the gas works for about a quarter of • cen tury stated, that having heard of some defect in the meter a few days prior to the occurrence of the explosion, he went to examine it, and found that the rust had eaten through the iron and that the water leaked through the apertures ; he consi dered, however, that the pipes in the church were strong enough for ten times the amount of pressure put upon them further, that he bad taken the meter away to repair, and had made the connecting joints perfectly safe.—The jury returned • verdict of " Accidental death," with a recom mendation that scientific persons should be employed to manage the gas in churches and chapels, in order to prevent such casualties. PRESERVATION OF FOOT:PATII, , .--The first Feneral meeting of members of the association for reclaiming and preserving public paths in Ipswich and its vicinity waehild at the Mechaaics' Institution on Tuesday last. Mr. (lowing explained that two provisional meetings had been held to consult upon the formation of a society of this description. The regulations of a similar society, which had existed at Colchester for some time past, were produced ; and the Col. cheater society having been very successful, it was thought that for the town of Ipswich no better course could be taken than to adopt the Colchester rules. He was happy to say, that at least 70 gentlemen had become members of the asso ciation, whilst various gentlemen had promised their sup port in other ways. The rules were read, from which it sp prsred that the duties of the committee would be to inquire into all encroachments, diversion., and obstructions of paths, either committed or contemplated, and to take such steps in reference thereto, either by remonstrance or by legal pro ceedings, as a general meeting of members should think fit to authorise. E.OBF-C. VALUE OF LAN D.—MOlefe. May and Son sold re cently at Chelmsford, Newman's Farm, Burnham, corn prising farm-house and out - buildings , with 108 aeres of land, Pat 1601. per annum, 3,9801. Alto, Sharp's Farm, in Fur leigh and Latehingdon, including house, with 78 acres of land, let at 751. per annum, 2,olol.—Merars. Baker and Son offered at Chelmsford a oopyhold farm, at Great Baddow, consisting of dwelling-house, homeatall, with Ga. 3r. 35p., in the occupation of Mr. J. Keys, at 201. per annum. The lot was not sold.—On Fri - day last Mr. Boadel sold the following freehold lots, situated in ths parishes of Buttabury, Stock, an d Mountnesaing, held at 701. per annum : Elm Brook Farm, with a newlpereeted house and buildings, and 36a. 2r. 28 p. of land, 1,8001.; Two Fields in Montnossing, apportioned rent, 121., 3451.