The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-27 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION OF FARM PRODUCE BY

FIRE.

On Saturday afternoon last a large number of
ricks of corn and other agricultural produce were destroyed
by fire on Sherfield Court Farm, the result of childish play-
fulness and thoughtlessness.

The farm, which is in the occupation of Mr. John Butler,
is situate near Sherfield Church, about five miles distant
from the town of Buingstoke. It appears that in the early
part of the afternoon a little boy thought to amuse himself
by making a small fire in the roadway. For this purpose
he collected a few pieces of wood and some straw that was
lying about, and then set light to them, a short distance
from the farm premises of Mr. Butler. In • few
minutes some of the burning straw war carried by
the wind to Mr. Butler's yard, where stood a cluster
of ricks, numbering in the whole fourteen, consist-
ing of wheat, barley, and other kinds of corn, and pre-
sently flames were perceived to issue from one of
them. An alarm was quickly raised, the engines from
Basingstoke sent for, and every assistance promply ren-
dered by • hos: of people who collected together. All their
efforts were ineffectual to arrest the fury of the devouring
element in that part of the premises, fur the darnel spread
with amazing rapidity from rick to rick, and the body of
fire was immense, threatening destruction to the whole of
the farm buildings and residence.
By means of great exertions by the firemen and others,
the farmhouse and chief of the nut-buildings were saved;
but it is with regret we learn that not less than 14 ricks,
comprising a large quantity of oli and new wheat, besides
hsrlev and oats, has been wholly destroyed. Although
Mr. Butler was insured, it is believed that he will be •
great loser by this unfortunate cone igration.
At the time of the fire break;ng out Mr. Butler was at
market, 11 miles distant, cud a messenger was
despatched fur him, but he returned only in time to sea
the total destruction of this harvest's produce.

SOUTH-EASTERN HAlLwAY.—Traffie for the week
ending Sept. 24, 18.53:-20,1371. 13s. 6d. Corresponding
week, 1352, 19,23Ci1. 18s. 3d. Increase in 1b53, Mil. 15s. 3.1.

CORN TRADE AT HOME AND ABROAD

iloroo tto Mari•Wie Erpress.)

The activity in th. cons trade continues ; in fact,
(o.;umsdnees are uccurriug daily of a character calculated
taler r .., the ezeitement. the protracted misunderstand-
4, ...testa Ramis sod Turkey has become more and more
ert.cu:t of arrangement, awl threatens to terminate In war.
• wkieu, sk.ield it t eke place, Great Britain would be very
wog, to be involved. It would be out of place here to
e.capitalate what has already been discussed in the daily
rpm bet the advice' from the East are of such a nature
la to lead the most ...again* to doubt whether the dispute
between the Cur and Sultan can Low be settled except by
ea appeal to arms. Tuis Keys has had considerable effect
pa the mind' of hoidens of wheat in this country, inasmuch
wit threatens to increase the ditficulties already experienced
Loth prices and scarcity of shipping) in making pur-
chases at foreign ports. That England will have
to import largeiy, it would be idle to endeavour to
c octal. With average crops we have for several
tOloreattre years OonSulaed .ems million of quarters
of t.asiga wheat per annum. What the. are our re-
inrrenients likel) to be under existing circumstances I' The
pt dace of wheat at tt• utmost cannot be estimated at
more than thy, e-fourtLa of an average, and there is, we
are inclined is thii.k, no excess is the yield of the other
tan crops. rotators are seriously affected by disease, and
kase been forced into coasumption so rapidly, owing to
tba uutituess for storing, that this article of food must
eels shortly become scarce. 8o enormous has beta the
gor.sumptios, that with an importation of 3,304,023 qrs. of
Wlit .t and 3,337,206 cwta. flirt during the eight months
'litho; the Sib inst., the stocks in granary are by no means
es,,s.ive. Oar position is therefore sallkiently critical to
warrant satiable as to the future. We are anxious not
to eiaggrrate tie dilleulties this country may be placed
bat that diglealties exist it would be folly to deny.
Ibe weather has been favourable sines our bat fur harvest-
uta the crops in the late districts, and a considerable quan-
tity of corn has been carted in tolerably fair order. There
itill a good deal of spring-sawn wheat uncut, even in
the southern parts of the kingdom ; and is the more
backward districts some is so green r to reader it doubtful
whether it will arrive at maturity. The reports as to the
yield of wheat age very useatiefeetory. In many eases,
where the premisee has been tested by threshing, the quan-
tity has turned oat little more than half of what had been
ealcUlated os ; the increased price will, therefore, hardly
compensate the grower for the shortness of the yield. The
accounts respecting the bailey crop vary materially. In
some counties the quantity is described as large, and in
others altogether the reverse. There can, however, be no
doubt that this grain will give a better money return than
'heir. and we are inclined to think that farmers will be
disposid to bold the latter end send the former to market,
the prices obtainable for malting barley being relatively
quite as high as those current for wheat. The deliveries of
the last-named article have not been free this week, and
higher rates have heeu paid in many of the farmers mar-
kets than could have been realised at Mark-lasso. At lie-
bridge, on Thursday, 80e. per qr. was obtained for a parcel
of sew of tine quality.
The most recent advice* from Ireland speak more de-
spondingly of the potato crop than previous accounts, and
it is greatly to be feared that tie loss of that useful root will
be greater than was • few weeks ago expected. Indian
cora, after having fur some time been neglected, had there-
fore excited renewed attention, and its value had under-
goae a considerable rise in most of the large consuming
mart/. Wheat has of late years been but little cultivated
lo Ireland ; the produce in proportion to the breadth sown
is stated to be tolerably good. The oat crop is not so well
epuken uf, either in regard to quantity or quality,as earlier
in the season.

The arrivals of wheat coastwise into the port of London
have been saodents, only 3,167 qn. having been reported
daring the week ending this (Saturday) evening. Mean-
while, but little has been brought forward by land-carriage
from the neighbouring counties, and needy buyers have
cinsequently bad to pay very high prices.
The business done on Wednesday was not extensive
owing in a great measure to the want of choice of guilty—
the greater part on sale consisting of ordinary lots left over
from pre v ions supplies. Notwithstanding these disadvantages,
llondsre terms wen exceeded by about Is. per qr. Sub-
wnently, the &mesas of holders increased, and a farther
me of Is. per qr. was established on Friday. The arrivals
of wheat from abroad have been only moderate sines the
close of last week, and nearly the whole of that previously
received having been landed, Mars has been no anxiety to
sell from on board ship. For granaried parcels very fall
terms have been asked ; indeed, many holders have with-
drawn their samples altogether, in expectation of higher
rates later in the year. The high pretensions of holders
have naturally induced a good deal of caution on the part
of buyers; cull, considerable transactions have taken place.
There was not so mush doing on Wednesday as on
Friday, and on the former occasion it was somewhat diffi-
cult to used previous rates.

The •deices from France reportiag renewed activity
there, and the unfavourable change which took place in the
weather oa Friday, gave • fresh impetus to the upward
movement, and • fair extent of business was done at rates
about 2s. per qr. above those at which purchases might
have been made la the beginning of the week.
la consequence of the very high terse demanded for
floating cargoes of wheat, comparatively few contracts have
been closed ; but there has been ea active inquiry, several
triers to buy wheat afloat having been received during the
week from France. For blarianopoli wheat on passage
COL 6.1. to Ws., for Taganrog Ohirka 595. to 605., and for
the commoner kinds from 50s. up to 651. per qr., cost and
freight, has been realised.

Flour has beers held with extreme &mama, and the
alders ham manifested s decided la willingness to snake
forward sales. For oountry hossebold low rates have
been asked Quite as high, is proportioa, as those de- I
marled for tows make. A part of the expected arrival
of door from America hie come to /mad, 20,726 brie.
hear reached us this week. The market was previously
very bare of fresh qualities, this supply has consequently
had so effect sa prices; iodised the article was rather
dearer, if anythisg, at the don than in the beginning of
the week.

The receipts of barley eoestwies have been small, and
very few lots have bees brought forward by land-carriage
aims Monday. The dam kinds have born much sought
atter, and extreme rates have lona realised for good malting
qsalities ; in the abeam*, however, of supplies of import-
ance, the transactions have bees is tee halted a seals to
warraat alteration is quotidian& Foreign barley for grind-
lag has become ezorsdingly earns ; and for a cargo of
fifth, but light Kosigsberg barley 34.. dd. per qr. was, we
heleve, made.
The coseamption of mat is, sad has for some time bees,
sateasive seslo, owing to large imports of els ; stooks
her. deletes bemuse short, and the value of the article
110144 'warm upwards.
The arrivals of oats, mmetwise sad from Inland, ham
Men small ; sad the receipts from abroad not wetly is
liberal as earlier is the month. Nearly OS whole of the
mantly-reosived large supply of Ruske eats his pored
eto the heads of the dealers, sad there are sow so pressiag
Wien. A fair beauties wee done in this grain on Wedaes-
day, at Od. per qr. over previous prime; sad a similar &d-
-ream we established on Friday. Arehsageds were sot
offered below 21s. 6d., and maay declined &emptier that
price. The deer qualities of oats were held proportion-
ately high.

liesas-Oses bessa sought after of late, sad prices bass
steadily Tessa.

Vsl7 few aew peas have thus far sew to hand, and
114 h terms have been realised fee those which have air
peered.

Whig to increasingly unfavourable accounts in regard
to potatoes, Indian corn afloat has been held at embargoed
terms for Galata 38e., and for lhnila 365. per qr., root
tad (melt, has been paid.

FOREION CORN.

The &deices from the Baltic are this week of much the
same character as before. The harvest in that quarter ap-
pears to have given an indifferent return, and the quality
of the new wheat is described as very inferior. Meanwhile
supplies of old had almost ceased, and the stocks in ware-
house an reported to have been reduced into a very narrow
romps& Under these circumstances large transactions had
he.a rendered almost impossible, and quotations had be-
tome in a great measure nominal.
Konigsberg letters, of Monday's date, state that the little
is wheat which had come to hand had proved too damp
Ind inferior in condition to be suitable for shipment
and stocks of old baring been nearly exhausted, hardly
asything bad been done during the preceding week for
export.

Adviees from Danzig, dated Tuesday, are to nearly the
lame egg!-491bs. to 6011 s. per bushel would, we are in-
formed, be an extreme weight for the new wheat; the
greater part of the samples which had appeared having
avenged iiiLber. to 6711 m. per bushel ; for fair quality of
blbs. weight 5.5 e. to Ws. per quarter free on board had
bee, ptid. There was hardly anything being shipped ;

indeed, the supplies of new boned forward had beta
wholly unfit for export.
From Poland and the Bug district the amounts of the
crops were by no means of a satisfactory character.
At Stettin, on Tuesday, the best qualities of old red
wheat, weighing blithe. per bushel, could not be bought
below 60s. per quarter ire, on board ; and for 62Ibs. white
Polish his. per quarter had ben asked. Barley was
quoted 28e. to 32a, and 361bs. oats 20e. per quarter.
Freight to London and East Coast be. 6d. to be. 9d. per
quarter.

R *took letters, of the 20th hut. Worm im that 684. had
beta paid for damp new, aad 60r. per gr. for floe old.
Barley was quoted 331. per qr.; and hardly any peas or
oats had bean offered.

From Hamburg we learn that after a temporary calm the
wheat trade had assumed renewed activity, and prices In
advance of those of the preceding wcek were realised on
Wednesday. For good 61 lbs. Holstein wheat 645. 6d. per
qr. free on board, and for red Upland on the spot, weighing
only 60 ►bs. per bush., CBs. per qr. had been paid. Spring
corn had beea is lively request, and good Danish barley,
63 1b.., could sot then be bought below 33a. Danish peas
were quoted from 465. 6d. up to 46e. 3d. per qr. free on
beard; and other articles equally high.
la the Dutch markets the upward movement in prices
has continued: and at Rotterdam, on Monday, whits
wheat was 2a. to 35., and red 2s. per qr. dearer than on
that day week. Rye advanced 151. to 20f. per last, and
other article. were generally held at enhanced rates.
The accounts from France are of a more subdued tone,
nonsuch as buyers had beevme cautious in sctisg at the
ealunced terms; null a further rise of two franca per sack
was realised in dour at Paris on Wednesday.

From the Mediterranean we have nothieg new to com•
=imitate : that the wants of the Italian states will be
great, cannot be guetioned ; and a considerable portion
of what the Black Sea may have to spare will be retained
within the Straits of Gibraltar.

From Odessa we leant that the thmatiniag upsets of
political affairs had greatly interfered with basin's,. and
that prices had rather given way, notwithstanding the ex-
citing reports from Francs sad Einglsad: good Polish
Odd's* was quoted 360. per qr.; and freight to United
Kingdom was 18s. 6d. per qr.

From the United States the advioes are of • lively
character. At New York large purchases of wheat and
dour had been made on English and French account,
and • material rise had consequently takea place in prima.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT BY THE FALL.
INC OP A HOUSE IN THE STRAND.

ADJOVENED INQUEST.—VERDICT.
Yesterday the inquest on the bodies of George
Rowe, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, and George Dunn, who
win killed by the falling of a house in the Strand, was re-
sumed before Mr. Langham, the deputy coroner for West-
minster, at St. Clement Danes' vestry-room, Pickett-street,
Strand. As before, Mr. Hawkins appeared for the friends
of the deceased, Mr. Bodkin for Main. Lusa+, the con-
tractors ; Mr. Ballantine, instructed by Messrs. Aldridge
and Bromley, for Mr. Abraham, the surveyor ; Mr. Robin-
son for Mr. Angell, the district surveyor; Mr. Ford, soli-
citor, for Messrs. Smith and Sons, the owners of the new
building ; and Mr. Few for the Duke of Norfolk, the
ground landlord.

Mr. Angell, district sarveyor, examined by Mr. Sanaa-
tiae—On the last occasion I stated that I inspected the pre-
mises on the 19th of August, and from what I saw then I
should say the buildings were sufkiently shored.
By Mr. Hawkins—The excavation at the side of the wall
was not made then. The sherieg was quite sufficient for
the condition the works were then ia.

By a juror—They had not gone below the foundation at
that tine.

By Mr. Robinson—The house had remained for mental
months without any shoring at U. Thor. was none at the
time of the Wellington funeral.

Mr. Ford, solicitor, proved the execution of the building
contrast, which wee read, as was alp the specification. The
contract required that the contractors should take down
sad remove the present shoring and provide new shoring as
might be required.
Mr. Hairy Robert Abraham examined—l am an archi-
tect and surveyor, and my offices are at 11, Howard-street,
!lined. I was employed on them works by Meson. Smith,
and also in my official capacity as surveyor to the Arundel
estate by the Duke of Norfolk. The excavations, the
works in mpeet of the shoring., were commenced on the
3rd of August. I gave the orders for them on the 2nd
of August. I bad previously, on the 2nd of August, made
• most minute and accurate survey of the house itself, in
order to ascertain what shoring might be necessary, and
whether there were any signs of weakness in it. I gave
directions for two shores to he put up previous to com-
mencing the excavations. The excavations commenced im-
mediately after the two shores had been fixed—three or
four days after. About that period Rowe was •p-
-pointed. He was Ileum Lucas's foreman. There
was • question whether an independent clerk of
the works should be appointed, but Rowe being
so good a man, they could not pat • man over him. Haan.
Lucas asked if there was to be • clerk of the works, but I
thought it unnecessary. I was not interested in saving the
expense of • clerk of the works. On the other hand, it
would have saved me expense had a clerk been appointed.
Rowe's duty was immediately to take the best means for
securing the wall previous to the excavation commencing
He without consulting me removed the two shores I had
put up, and he put up three others. The three others were
not entirely new, but placed in better positions than the two
I had put up; there was less vibration. They were raking
shone ; they were constructed of pietas of timber, some 36,
some 36, aad soma 40 feet in length. The timber was of
the primed quality, and I have here models of them. I
can show, by referring to a plan which I have made—(the
drawing was then produced and the witness ex-
plained it)—the fallen building was of the slightest
possible description, and what we had to do was to keep it
is equilibrium, for any thing that disturbed it would atom-
suily endanger it. The wall up to the first 'Loring was
18 inches thick, and after that 14 iaches to the top. We
were about to underpin the wall sad then to raise another
external wall against it. When Rowe had completed the
shores I required him to raise soother one to catch the
under side of the south wall. I had deo two other shores
to take the parlour. That was promptly dose in a very
efficieat manner. There wore six jack shore• placed up,
I think they were put up in dust eight or tea day., cer-
tainly a week after the others had been put up. They were
made of some good sound stuff, that had been on the
premises before, sad two of them were six or
seven-itch seaffold-poles. They wore plasma under
the raking shorts, rather between them. One of them was
put up to catch the part of the bOOMIIIIIt Sae mbar, it had I
gone through the wall. The wall was de facto an external
wall, but &jure a party wall. The bows was one of the
oldest houses in the Strand. Allow me to explain with re-
gard to jack shores. that jack means short. There is another
description called dead shorn; it is need under the others.
We should have had to place dead shores under she wall
w►ile we underpinned. The short shores that we had
were placed where we thought noesseary against different
parts of the building—they were tea or twelve feet high.l
The short shores were put up partly by my directions, and
I think some were pat up by Rowe himself. Wherever I
saw a weak place I had • shore. I watched it for that
purpoet, not that I believed any responsibility was incurred
by me in not &deg lt, but I thought it my duty. I con-
sidered the shoring amply sufficient, and I have had much
experience.

Coroner—What did you consider the duty of Rowe u
distinguished from yourself ? To take upon himself the
responsibility belonging to his master with regard to carry-
ins out t►e weeks. My duty was to see that my design
was carried out, that the materialawere proper, and that the
building was safely constructed, but principally to see that
my design was fairly carried out. There is a clause in the
contr►ct by which I had power to dismiss Rowe if I had
found him negligent. It was intended by myself originally
to take down the party wall, and I caused the usual notices
under the Building Act to be stirred on poor Thompson.
In consequence of Thompson's most earnest entreaties that
the wall should be allowed to stand, and his representations
to me that he would be ruined if I turned him
out of the house, it was agreed that the Sat of
the district surveyor should determine whether the
wall should be taken down or not. There is Isle. Thomp-
son'. letter to that effre . Thompson had not a lease, but
he had certain obligations. The house belonged to the
Duke of Norfolk. (The letter, which was dated 22nd Sep-
tember, 1862, was put in.] I had recommended Thompson
to employ a professional men, and he employed Mr. Bush.
I got his content in order to prevent the delay that might
have arisen by a reference to the official referee. After-
wards the plan was chinged. Originally the plan was that
three houses should be erected, and it was eventually
determined that there should be only one. On the 2nd August
Mr. Thompson made another application to me to deter-
mine, without reference to the district 'surveyor, that the
wall should not come down. I arid Mr. Phillips went Over