The Press. — London, England, 1856-09-20 00:00:00

SEPT. 20, 1856. escape of vapour into the atmosphere of the pre mi.es, whence it passes into the surrounding neigh bourhood : That (observed Dr. Letheby) which appears to me to be the most serious, and theretbre the most important, part of this case is the storing of so inflammable a matter as wood naptha in the very heart of the City ; for I can scarcely imagine a more frightful result than the ignition of something like a thousand gallons of this spirit, in the midst of warehouses crowded with all sorts of combustible matter. It is true that every precaution is taken by the owners of the property to guard against the occurrence of fire; but still an accident might happen from without, to say nothing of what may occur from the carelessness of workmen within, as the smoking a pipe. or snuffing a candle, or treading on a luoifer match, and so setting the whole of it in a blaze. If such a disaster were to happen, the mischief of it would be enormous, for the burning naptha would flow about like a river of fire, which nothing could extinguish. The substance of my opinion therefore is that the storage of wood spirit in any warehouse in the City is exceedingly dangerous; and in cases like the pre. sent, where the vessels containing toe spirits are fre quently opened, the danger is increased by the diffusion of the naptha vapour, which is peculiarly offensive it it is not absolutely injurious to health. A discusgion occurred upon this report, and an im meliate inquiry was ordered. A YOUNG WOMAN, one Georgina Toulmin, a flower maker, met her lover on Sunday walking with another girl in Victoria-park. She brooded over the circum stance till Wednt ■ lay, when she deliberately drowned herself in the Regenes.canal. A SERVANT GIRL living in Tonbridge•place, New. road, was detected the other night in some dishonest act. Her mistress, threatening her with the police in the morning, locked her up in the garret for the night. In the morning the girl was found lying in the area, frightfully injured, and insen4bie. She had either attempted to escape by the window, or thrown herself out. She lies at University Hospital in a dangerous state, having broken her leg, and suffered severe internal injuries. THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY held a general meeting on Wednesday at Exeter-hall, under the presidency of Colonel Knox, M.P., and attended by Viscount Inges re, Hon. R. Bourke, Rev. Dr. Wor thington, Mr. N. W. Winstauley, Mr. R. Steven, Mr. Adams, Mr. R. N. Fowler, Mr. W. Sangster, Mr. Stemdale Bennett, Mr. Asthury, and other members of the society. The most important points in the report, which was read by the chairman, were the finances of the society and its recent disposals of land. Its total receipts from its formation to the 13th in stant amounted to 254,7521. 17.4. 10d.; the total with drawals from September, 1852, to September 13, 1850, to 33,0721. ss. 2d ; and its receipts for the quarter from June the 24th to September the 13th to 13,5001. 3s. The total number of shares, both in progress and completed, up to the 13th instant had been 12,482, and the returns up to the same date of the register of the order of rights had been 5,808, of which 3,305 bad been rights exercised on estates. The total amount received for land sold from the formation of the society up to September 131.11 had been 101,7621. 12s. Bd. and the sale of land during the quarter had realised 14,2241. Bs. 6d. Nineteen leased plots on the Brighton estate had been offered to the holders of rights, and taken within the first 120 numbers on the register; the whole of the Malden estate, in South Essex, had been disposed of, and the magnificent mansion on the St. Margaret's estate sold to the Royal Naval Female School. An excellent estate had been acquired at Maidstone, and no time would be lost in offering it in plots to the members. In moving the adoption of the report, the chairman referred particularly to every point of it, and hoped that next. year the report would be equally satisfactory, and that the committee would have ex• tended largely the area of their exertions. In seconding the adoption of the report, Viscount In gebtre expressed a wi4h that working as well as opu lent men should be tenants of the society's plots of land, in order that they might exercise the franchise, and be benefited personally as well as politically, inasmuch as their property would produce them at least five per cent. V r A bintiaL THE WESTMINSTER CLOCK BELLhad anarrow escape while being shipped at Hartlepoul last Saturday. From some lubberly management the shears gave way, and the bell and all fell, luckily not far, into the hold of the vessel. A correspondent from Hartle pool gives the following version of this clumsy affair:— Soon after one o'clock the bell was first swung from the truck on which it had been brought from the Cimnilry—a fair lift it could not be called. After a short demy the bell was gradually suspended over the water, and the vessel— the Wave—brought under the bell to receive it. The bell was held by two chains, and one of those chains got over the pullyblock and would not act ; the weight of the bell was then thrown on the other chain while this was recti fied. This *as dons by attaching a pair of pullyblocks THE PRESS. cross or sidewise of the shears, and when they commenced pulling on these blocks the natural consequence was that the legs were pulled overon one side, and the bell fell with a great crash into the vessel, bearing all before it, the legs of the shears sweeping away foremast, bowsprit, &c. When the shears first began to give way the bell was pro. bably ten feet high, but the legs, in falling, gradually lowered it, and the actual fall was from twelve inches to eighteen inches. Had the fall been ten feet, the bell must have gone through the bottom of the vessel. As it was, the damage done to the vessel was very considersble, and pumps and buckets were actively set to work. The general impression was that she would sink. When, however, it was found that she did not, two steamtugs were brought, and as soon as she could be cleared from the wreck of shears, mast, &0., she was towed to the outer basin and run on the sands, it being then, fortunately, high water. This was due in little more than half an hour after the hell fell. From one cause or another the bell was kept in suspense about two hours before the break down. The men showed considerable activity in getting out of the way, and, fortunately, not one casualty occurred. It is to be hoped the bell is not injured, but this cannot be known at present. The bell is happily not injured. THE POOR-LAW BOARD AND THE ST. THOMAS'S UNION, near Exeter, have not yet saddled their horses. The guardians contend that three relieving officers, with increased salaries, can do the work as efficiently, if not more so, than four officers with smaller pay, and they have asked for a trial of three for six months. The Poor Law Board however, having requested the guardians to proceed to the election of a fourth relieving officer, they held a special meeting last week and resolved : That as the guardians are conscious of no reason for doubting their own judgment and discretion in a matter of local detail, or for their being doubted by others, any more now than when on previous occasions they have recommended, and the Poor-Law Commissioners have accepted, alterations in the number of relief districts; and, as this board have three times determined upon dis continuing the fourth district, and have requested the Poor Law Board to allow them a trial of three officers for six months, which the hoard have declined to sanction, and as during the time the present three officers have dis charged the duties connected with the administration of out door relief the guardians have every reason to be satis fied both as regards the decrease in the number of outdoor poor and in the amount of outdoor relief, they decline giving any direction for the election of a fourth officer. MESSRS SMITH'S WOOLLEN MILLS at Morley, near Leeds, were burnt to tho ground last Friday week. The property was insured, but several hundred work people are thrown out of employment. THE PLAN OF THE RURAL POLICE FOR THE WEST RIDING has been agreed to by the magistrates' corn• mittee. This committee recommend that the Riding be placed under the provisions of the 2nd and 3rd of Victoria, the number of constables to be 460. They also recommend that the chief constable have 5001. a year and the actual expenses of travelling. Of the 460 constables, twenty are to be superintendents—ten at a salary of 130/. a year, with an allowance of 401. for a horse, and tt.n at 1241., with the same allowance. Twenty.two are to be inspectors—ten at a salary of 75/. a year, and six at 651. a year. The remaining 418 constables are to be in their several classes at 2k., 20i., and 183. a week respectively, exclusive of clothing. A SECOND FETE took place in the park and grounds at Aston-hall, near Birmingham, on Monday evening. The proceeds on this occasion were appro. priated for the benefit of the General Horpital. It is estimated that at least 80,000 persons were assem bled. A HARVEST FESTIVAL Was held on Monday at Rockland, near Attleborou.gh, in Norfolk. A sub stantial English dinner was given by their em ployers to 119 men. After dinner game: and races filled up the time till evening, when 210 wives and children joined the men at a good tea of cold beef and plum-pudding. Everything passed off with the greatest success, and especial credit is due to the Rev. Addison Hemsworth, who set on foot and arranged this kindly meeting between masters and men. Cum OF CHILDREN having strayed and lost them selves in corn fields are mentioned as occurring lately in Yorkshire. The dead body of one child was found in a barley-field at Quarrnley, near Huddersfield. He had lost himself and died from starvation. THE RIVER TYNE Common»; have determined upon the construction of new deep river docks, but have not yet agreed upon the site. A SCHOOL OF DESIGN is about to be established at Coalbrookdale. Application has been made to the department in London for securing the immediate appointment of a competent master. Considering the artistic skill required in the neighbourhood, both in the manufacture of iron and china, this institu tion cannot fail to be highly useful and successful. ___ A CHILD FELL OVERBOARD from the fore part of one of the Ryde and Cowes boats on Wednesday, and with singular good luck was swept by a *ate just 897 without the paddle-wheel. The sea was very rough at the time, but the captain of the steamer tore off his coat and shoes, jumped overboard, picked the child up, and saved its life. MR. ALDERMAN ROSE, on Saturday last, gave an entertainment at his seat at Cranford to the children of the schools cf Vintry Ward, Queenhithe, and Cranford, together with the employes from the alderman's London establishment, their wives, andt children. About 250 sat down to the English roes beef and plum-pudding, together with other good things in which juveniles, large and small, delight. A Itoeuz ESCAPED from one of the cells beneath Bradford Court-house, on Thursday morning, in a very clever and daring manner. He was safe in the cell on Wednesday night, when his supper was taken to him. At half past eight o'clock on Thursday morning, the superintendent constable of' the division, on going to the cell, found that he had escaped. He had extracted th►ee large holdfasts which sup ported a box iu the corner of his cell, rolled his bed up, and, standing on it, torn away the brickwork above a massive arch which spans one side of the cell. Access was thus obtained to one of the hot air flues of the building, into which he must have got, descended to the firing-up place, thence made his way into the Court-house area, thence to the outer yard, an I so got clear off. The whole of the floes were carefully examined, but no trace of the man could be found. Wiih the exception of his trop• sera and stockings, he left the whole of his clothes behind—boots, waistcoat, coat, belt, and even his shirt and flannel. A POLICE-OFFICER'S MISTAKE, under rsther curious circumstances, was investigated at the Buckingham shire magistrates' meeting at Windsor on Tuesday. A complaint was made against Charles Dickman, one of the county police, with having assaulted Mrs. Ann Sayers, of Windsor. On Wednesday Mrs. Sayers, with four female friends, was walking from Datchet to Windsor, when Dickman, who wore plain clothes and was on horseback, came galloping after the party, got off his horse, and, placing his hand on the shoulder of Mrs. Sayers, ex claimed abruptly " You are the persons I want," and ordered her, with two of the friends who accompanied her, Mrs. and Miss Lawson, to go to the toll-house close at hand. Mrs. Sayers was so frightened that she fell into hysterics and fainted, but one of the younger ladies laughed. The ladies asked him who he was, and what he did this for, but he only told them he would explain it to them presently. The result was of course that the officer soon discovered his mistake, and after a brief detention the ladies were set free. Dickman in his defence said that five persons concerned in uttering base coin, of whom three were middle-aged and two young females, and who were " dressed in silks and satins, and would be taken by any one for ladies," hadsince been arrested, and that he was in search of these women at the time. He expressed sincere regret at his error, and the charge was dismissed. THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE VICTORIA MILITARY HoserrAL, near Netley Abbey, in Harnpsl ire, are now set, and the walls of the building are rising above the ground, so that a notion of the size and figure of the building can be formed. About 500 men are at present employed on it, but next year the number will be increased to upwards of 1,000. The frontage of the hospital will be 1,400 feet, or more than a quarter of a mile in length. The general depth will be 200 feet. In the centre, however, the depth will be nearly 300 feet. The hospital will be fifty feet high, and three towers, of dome-like shape, which will grace the centre block and the two wings, will each be 100 feet in height. The a of on wlieh the hospital is built is about sixty feet above South ampton Water, and the drainage of the hospital has been effected upon the must improved plan. The main sewer, of great magnitude, and of an elliptio form, runs along in the centre of the parallel with the front. The stone dressings ann the plinths will be of Cornish granite. The view from the towers will be magnificent, overlooking as h will the New Forest, the Solent Sea, the Isle of Wight, and the British Channel. Prince Albert visits the works often, and takes the greatest interest in them. The hospital Will accommodate 1,000 patients, be sides affording a residence for a large medical and Government staff: The centre block of the building, projecting ninety feet from the frontage of the wings, will contain the apartments of the staff. Behind this block, in the rear of the building, will be the chapel. The Government is buying up much land in the neighbourhood. The view of the hospital from the ships and steamers going up end down Southampton Water will be imposing, owing to the immense pro. portions of the structure and its nearness to the shore. From Southampton, and from Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, which are situated twelve miles apart., will be distinctly seen the largest building in Europe. The hospital will, it is expected, be completed in tee yeses' time. It will cost upwards of a quarter of a million sterling. The barracks will, it is expected, ultimately be erected in the neighbourhood.