The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-25 00:00:00

THE GRIEVANCES OF THE JOURNEYMEN

BAKERS.

MR. TREMENHERRES REPORT.

This morning a blue book of 212 pages was
issued, containing a report, dated the 3rd instant, addressed
to the Home Secretary, by Mr. Tremenheere, relative to
the grievances complained of by the journeymen bakers.
The report itself occupies 66 pages; the rest of the
book consists of the evidence. The proposition
which Mr. Tremenheere recommends for the consi-
deration of the legislature are the following:—
•' 1. That no youth under eighteen years of age should
be *Bowed to be employed in a bakehouse later than the
hour of 9 pm., or earlier than 5 am. 2. That bakehouses
should be placed under inspection, and subjected to certain
regulations in regard to ventilation, cleanliness, &c. 3. In
the course of the inquiry several questions presented them-
selves, more or less directly affecting the condition and wel-
fare of the journeymen bakers, but having also a wider
scope, and involving matters of much interest to the public
generally. I should not h►ve satisfactorily fulfilled the im-
mediate duty imposed upon me had I declined entering upon
those questions. Therefore, in the interest both of the
journeymen and the public, I am prepared to submit to you,
thirdly, that it would be desirable that the provisions of the
act • for preventing the adulteration of articles of food,'
(Z 3 and 24 Vict. a 84), should be made more effectual"
Mr. Tremenheere also thinks it highly desirable to direct
attention to the introduction of machinery in the process of
bread-making by Mr. Stevens's patent doughmakiog
machine, and by Dr. Dauglish's system of making what is
termed the 'mated bread. Many of the grievances com-
plained of are, he says, beyond the reach of legislative
remedies ; but although it would be impossible for parlia-
ment to interfere with the night work and the long hours
of day work of the adult labourers in the baking
trade, "it is to be hoped," says Mr. Tremenheere,
" that this inquiry, and the renewed discussion of the sub-
ject to which it is likely to give rise, may have some effect
in leading to such mutual concessions, of a simple nature,
between the men and their masters, as may place those
questions upon a footing satisfactory to both parties."
The report deals separately with each subject contained
in the above propositions, and the facts detailed are of
painful interest.

MYSTERIOUS MURDER AT CHATHAM.

CHATHAM, THURSDAY.

Between five and six o'clock last evening the body
of a respectably-dressed boy, apparently between nine and ten
years of age, was found in one of the fields adjoining Chatham
Lines, with its tSroat cut and the bad and face much bruised,
leaving no doubt that the poor child had been cruelly
murdered. The spot where the body was found was close
to one of the heaps of chalk thrown up from the air shaft of
the railway tunnel passing under Chatham Lines, in a field
in the occupation of Mr. Gilberts, and close to the lines,
which, during the evening, are always crowded by boys and
men playing at cricket and other games. The body was first
seen by a lad named Alfred Tree, who at once called the at-
tention of two men who were passing to the discovery, and
information was immediately given to the police. On the
body being removed to the Napier Arms tavern, it was
soon identified m being that of Thomas Frederick
Houghton, the son of respectable parents residing at Almon-
place, High-street, Chatham. The deceased left his home in
the afternoon for the purpose of playing on the Lines, but
nothing more appears to have been seen of him until the
body was discovered under the circumstances stated.

From the medical examination of the body it was evident
that the murder had been committed early in the afternoon,
and that the deceased had boon dead two or three boon
when the body was found. The principal wound was one, of
three or four inches in length, in the throat, which was of
itself sufficient to cause death. There was also a bruise on
the mouth and cheek as if done by a blow with the fist.
Tho place where the body was lying gave indication of •
severe struggle having taken place, but there was compara-
tively little blood to be seen. At nine o'clock this morning
Mr. Thomas Hills, one of the coroners for the district,
opened an inquest on the body at the Napier Anna. SuM.
cient evidence as to the identity and finding of the body
was taken, after which the inquiry was adjourned fora week
to give the police time to endeavour to discover the perpe-
trator of what there is every reason to believe is • foul
murder.

ACCIDEIREI IN FACTORIES. —The half-yearly
reports of Mr. Alexander Redgmve mud Mr. Robert Baker,
inspectors of factories, were issued this morning. The
number of accidents has diminished in the half-year ending
30th of April ; but this, the inspectors say, is mainly
owing to the want of employment, which has proportion.
ately diminished the number of operatives. Both gentle-
men say, however, that they are concurrently endeavouring
to reduce the number of such disasters absolutely by
the more effectual fencing of machinery.

A Naples letter of the 19th says :—" Apropos of
salon, two Jack Tan astonished the Neapolitans with •
boxing match in the Villa Reale yesterday afternoon.
Heenan and Royer' did not go into each other with better
will; but the battle did not last long, for one of the pugi•
lista had a rib broken by a tremendous knock-down blow,
and the police, seeing the moment favourable, made • rush
at the victor; but the other generous tar, see•
ing his adversary in the hands of the Philtstines, arose from
the ground and 0111111 to his rescue with such effect that the
police, numerous as they were, could not capture the two
sailors, who fought back to back, and kept the beaks at bay
until • detachment of soldiers with fixed bayonet' pat an
end to the contest, and escorted the combatants to the
office of the oommisiary of police."