The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-04 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 4, 1867.

et milk ; in others there was an abundance of it, but
it was turned into butter and cheese, and the poor
could get none to drink. He believed that the Ladies'
Sanitary Association had published some useful sugges-
tions for dealing with the latter case ; and, if so, the
Society of Arts might with advantage give additional
publicity to those suggestions. There was plenty of
kind feeling in England, but people did not always
know " how to do it.' It had struck him as somewhat
unfortunate that, while the supply of milk, as milk, was
insufficient for the wants of the people of England, such
large quantities of English milk should be converted into
cheese. Cheese, of course, was • valuable article of food,
very nutritious to those who could digest it ; but cheese
might be brought from a distance, while milk could only
be consumed, as milk, within a very limited area. Mr.
J. C. Morton in his paper on " London Milk," last tea.
anon, had stated that the quantity of milk consumed by
the three millions of London people was less than half
the amount that, according to a good standard of food,
they ought to consume ; also that this was true of
a very wide extent of agricultural populations ; that
the transit of milk by railway was injurious to it;
and that consequently country-raised milk was worth
leas per gallon in London than London-raised milk. He
gave a table showing the milk-consuming rate of various
populations, and it appeared that in Devonshire the
quantity of milk consumed was considerable greater per
head than in any other English county. Could this
superiority be a result of the common Devonshire prac-
tice of preserving the milk by clotting it? He thought
that the Society of Arta might usefully press on the
railway companies and milk producers the great im-
portance of improving the present very unsuitable milk
vans on which that delicate and valuable commodity
was now savagely transmitted to the metropolis. He
thought also that the Society of Arts might offer its
medal and a valuable premium for the best method of
preserving milk, so that it might be sent from greater
distances than at present. Much milk, which was now
necessarily converted into cheese, because it could not be
kept from spoiling as milk, might then be more bene-
ficially and profitably consumed as milk. Mr. Foster
had told him of a French invention for the preservation
of milk ; and said that he bad tasted some milk thus
preserved for three years, which was perfectly sweet,
and could not be distinguished from fresh milk. The
committee would do well to acquaint itself with that
invention ; and if it were open to any serious objection,
the society might do good service by offering a medal
and a valuable prize for a better method of preserving
milk. He knew that, after all, the commercial prin-
ciple, the hope of gain, was the best stimulus to inven-
tion ; but all experience showed, the experience of the
Society of Arts proved to demonstration, that these
offers of medals and prizes bed useful effects. To this
day the medals granted at the Exhibition of 1841 were
paraded in advertisements of all sorts of articles that were
offered for sale ; and this was done not merely by petty
chspnien of no reputation, but by tradesmen and manu-
facturers of world-wide eminence. An article medalled by
the Society of Arts was sure to command a market. On
the subject of cooking he would not say many words. The
committee well knew how deplorable was the cooking
among the lower, indeed among all but the highest, classes
in this country. A valuable paper had been read and well-
discussed before the Society of Arts on the admirable
system of " Cooking Depots," introduced at Glasgow by
Mr. Corbett. That was one of the greatest boons that bad
been conferred on the working-classes. The same system
had been introduced successfully at Manchester. An
attempt had been made in London, but unhappily without
success. He believed that it had failed, so far as it had
failed, from no inevitable causes, from no local pecu-
liarities. There seemed to be no reason why the same
system should not be carried out, on • very extended
scale. in London as elsewhere ; and the committee might
do • good work in collecting and collating experience
on the subject, and in calling attention to it, until
a second Mr. Corbett should arise with wisdom and
energy enough to acclimatise the Glasgow product in
the metropolis. The committee might also represent
to the Committee of Council on Education the great
importance of providing instruction in cooking for the
poorer classes. This surely was a subject well worthy
of the notice of her Majesty's inspectors of schools.
This was • matter which the Society of Arts had long
regarded as important. In the society's great scheme
of educational examinations, designed to encourage the
education of adults among the working classes of both
sexes, domestic economy held a prominent place. In that
subject the Dean of Hereford was examiner. In his out-
line of the examination for 1867 were included " the nu-
tritious properties of food, animal and vegetable ; modes
of cooking, &a. ;" and • benevolent member of the coun-
cil, Mr. T. Twining, had taken measures to supply a nye-
tematic course of lectures to the workting classes in differ-
ent parts of London. Having particularised these four
great subjects of meat, fish, milk and cooking, he would
not longer detain the committee, though he was
aware that there were an almost infinite num-
ber of other useful subjects which might be
=fled. There were, for example, the great cereal
vegetables of various kinds, as well as fruits,
little known, but capable of being much used in this
country, and that scandal of civilisation, the adultera-
tion of food. He would now propose that the chairman,
Mr. Bruce, should be supported by two vice-chairmen,
who might take the chair in his absence or at sub-com-
mittees ' • and he would move that Mr. Childers, M.P.,
and Mr. Benjamin Shaw, • member of the council, be the
vice-chairmen.
_ _ _

The motion baring been seconded was carried unani-
mously... . . .

The-following gentlemen were then appoiated a sub-
committee to collect information and materials, and gene-
rally to prepare for the transaction of the business of the
committee when it shall meet in February, viz.:—The
Right Hon. Henry Austin Bruce, M.P., chairman of
the committee ; Mr. Childers, M.P., and Mr. Shaw, vice-
chairmen • Professor Bentley, Mr. Harry Chester, Mr.
Michael, Mr. Consul Parish, and Mr. Edward Wilson.
A general conversation respecting the objects of the
committee, and its modes of proceeding, then followed ;
in the course of which Mr. Michael described an invention
for preserving milk which he thought successful. The milk
was dried in oscillating vessels, and in that state was
easily transportable, and might be kept for a long period.
This method had been successfully adopted at Lord North-
brook's, and was about to be introduced on a large scale at
Zurich, in Switserland. . . .

Mr. HARM' CHESTER said that probably that invention
was little known and, if it were really valuable, this com-
mittee might direct attention to it ; but all plans for
drying milk were somewhat elaborate and costly, and what
he had principally in view in his remarks on milk were
means for preserving it, not during long voyages, but
during ouch brief periods as would allow milk in its
natural state to be sent to London, for example, from
greater distance. than was pesnbleat present.

Mr. HELL said that, reinemberingthe caution which
they had received against running foul of popular preju•
dices—he would say nothing about edible snails, though
the committee knew that many drooping lives had been
saved in foreign countries by the use of that singularly
restorative diet. He hoped, however, that the great
families of molluscs would not be entirely overlooked by
the committee, and he drew attention to various other
articles much used as food on the continent, but little
known in these islands.

Mr. SHAW enlarged on the great importance of the ob-
ject for which the committee had been formed. He said
that, from his conversations on this subject with many
medical men of eminence, he felt assured that any
material improvement in the diet of the people would
show itself unmistakably in their health and strength ;
and would not only enable them to react better than at
present the attacks of cholera, typhus, and other epi-
demics, but would diminish sensibly the mortality from
consumption, heart disease, and other maladies which
were in a great degree the consequences of an imperfect
nutrition.
The committee then adjourned.

A SEAMEN'S DEPOSIT BANK AT LIVERPOOL.—
Seamen's savings banks have been for some time in opera-
tion at the various ports, but the Board of Trade have now
established at Liverpool an experimental deposit bank,
which, it is believed, will be found highly advantageous.
No interest is allowed, but a seaman can at coos deposit
any amount, and withdraw it at a moment's notice, so that
there is now no excuse for his trusting it to the care of
people whose only object le to plunder him. When a sea-
man is going upon a voyage he can have his money trans-
ferred from the deposit bank to the savings bank, and then
interest allowed at the rate of 3 per neut. per annum.
COLONEL AICROYD AND THE CHURCH RATE QUES-
TION.—CoIoneI Akroyd, M.P. in speaking at the annual
meeting of the Halifax Church Institute on Monday even-
ing, said that with respect, to the proceedings in parlia-
ment in reference to the church, the only matter of any
importance was the Gladstone compromise on the church
rates difficulty. That compromise was not very thank-
fully received by the church generally, and one could
hardly he surprised at the cold reception ; for though it
professed to retain much of the machinery fur levying
church rates, still by abolishing the legal power of the
enforcement of payment, it in point of fact rendered
church rates little more than voluntary subscriptions. The
church rate question, however, was mourning another phase.
The question had been suggested to many who had been ad-
vocates for the repeal of church ratee—what was to become
of the church property—in whose hands would be invested
the ownership if church rates were abolished! The
theory now was that the parish churches were the pro-
perty of the parishioner. of the districts. If, however,
everywhere were abolished the power of levying church
rates, into whose hands would be surrendered the care of
the church! Mr. Buxton, who bad been an advocate for
the repeal of the church rates, had admitted the difficulty
of the question. Then in some cases there might be in •
district a majority in favour of ritualism—persons with
strong tendencies towards the Church of Rome, who might
carry the property into the hands of a section of the
church. Then the question must present itself to dis-
senters—were they prepared to give up their share of the
church property—were they willing for the sake of avoid-
ing church rates to allow the confiscation of the property
to the churchmen of each parish; to give up their future
claims and rights and those of their posterity! The new
government might deal with this question and obtain a
settlement. Nevertheless all must admit that the church
ratequestion was surroaadad with difficulties.

SURREY SESSIONS

(Before Mr. Penrhyn, Deputy-Chairman.)

George Victor, alias Byles, 28, was indicted for stealing
two pads of herrings and a basket containing three turkeys
and two geese from the London-bridge terminus of the
London, Brighten, and South Coast Railway Company.
Mr. U. Moir appeared to prosecute on behalf of the rail-
way company.
The evidence in the first case showed that on the even-
ing of the lath of November twelve pads of herrings were
brought to the station and placed on the luggage platform,
to be forwarded to Henry Daley, a greengrocer, &c., of
I Croydon. The prisoner was seen hanging about the lace,
and shortly afterwards he removed two of the and
had them labelled for himself, telling the porter t at they
had been left there for him. The ten pads of herrings
were duly forwarded and received by Daley, but the other
two were not, and the prisoner was not seen again until he
attempted to steal other property.
In the second case the prosecutor, Joseph linger, also a
greengrocer, of Cloydon, said that on the evening of the
118th ult. he took a basket containing three turkeys and
two geese to the same station, and left it on the luggage
platform, near the weighing machine, while he went on an
errand. On his return he wasinformed that they had been
removed, and be found the prisoner in custody.
William Pillbeam, luggage clerk, in the employ of the
company, said that he was on duty neer the weighing
machine on the night of the 18th ult., when the prosecutor
brought the basket and left it there. A little while after
' that he saw the prisoner remove the basket and ask one of
the porters to label it for him to Croydon. Witness went
rap to him then, and said, " That's not your basket—it be-
, longs to Rigger." Prisoner replied, " It's mine ; H
only brought it to the station for me." Witness told himauer
be should not have the basket until Nagger returned, when
be endeavoured to get away from the station.
Mr. Carpenter, the superintendent of police of the
Brighton Railway Company, said he bad been looking out
for the prisoner a long time on suspicion of stealing
parcels from the platform, and on the night in question be
met him hurrying out of the station, followed by Pelham,
and took him ito custody. He had been twice bdore con-
victed of felony.
Verdict, Guilty.
" '

Sentence, seven years' penal servitude.
Sleanor 'lathier, 20, was indicted for stealing a
quantity of linen and china, the property of her master,
Mr. Arthur Newton Turner, of Pembroke villas, Penge ;
and Oeorfte Pulner, 28, a carrier, was charged with re-
ceiving the same, well knowing them to have been stolen.
Mr. Sharp prosecuted ; and Mr. Lilley, instructed by
Mr. Edwin, defended Fulmer.
Sergeant Capon, of the M division, said that about half.
peat eleven o'clock on the 3rd ult. he met the male prisoner
carrying a bundle in Russell-street, Bermondsey, and on
being asked what it contained, be said, " Only some table
linen that was given to me by my woman, who bought it."
Witness took him to the station-house, and on searching
the bag he found it to contain a number of diaper napkins,
a tablecloth, a china cup and saucer, two plates, one tum-
bler. and other articles. At his lodgings be found four
similar plates and other china cups and saucers. From
information he afterwards received, be took the femaleinto
custody, when she said she was very sorry for what she had
done. She did take the things and give them to the male
prisoner as bought property. Witness found in her box a
towel, some sugar, starch, and black lead.

Pro'eetutor a7iid risone: Hatfield was one of his servants,
and he had seen the male prisoner at his house. On re-
ceiving information from the sergeant he missed the china
and linen produced. The towels and napkins were marked
" S. A. Louron," and were his property. He did not give
the female prisoner any of the things, and she had no
business to give them away. He had received an excel-
lent character with the female, and always believed her to
be an honest well-behaved young woman, and strongly
recommended her to mercy.
The jury acquitted the man, but found the female
Guilty, with a recommendation to mercy on account of
her wevious good character.
The Chairman sentenced her to six months' hard labour.

quenee of his throwing • light into the Post-office box
might not only have been the destruction of the letters. but
the burning of the house.

LAMBETH.

Richatq Rolls, a young 111111 of respectable appearance,
who has been empoyed for eight years at the Crystal
Palace as cellarman and barman, was placed at the bar
before Mr. Elliott for final examination on a charge of
stealing a gold watch and guard chain, of the value of 25
guineas, and three coats of the value of 81., while the tire
was raging at the Crystal Palace on Sunday last.
Beiween the hours of two and three o'clock on Sunday
last, Mrs. Chart, a respectable female, accompanied by
her husbend and Mr. Lambert, a lodger in her house, were
admitted to the Crystal Palace as shareholders, and an
alarm of fire having been raised a few minutes after, Mr.
Chart threw off two coats, and Mr. Lambert one, with the
laudable intention of aiding in extinguishing the flames, and
handed them to the care of Mrs. Chart, as well as their
hats and umbrellas. Mr. Lambert also handed to the lady
his gold watch and guard-chain for her care. In about three
quarters of an hour after Mrs. Chart became much alarmed
on hearing that the wild animals were about to be turned
loose, and appealed to the prisoner, whom she believed from
his appearance to be in the employment of the company,
to show her the way to the gardens. The prisoner said,
" I have some article/ of my own which I do not know
well what to do with," but he placed something on the
table, and took Mrs. Chart towards a staircase which ap-
parently led into the gardens. While on the stairs, how-
ever, be stopped, and, saying " this is the beat we
down," took the lady down a flight of stairs to a dark
cellar. They proceeded to a door that was closed, and Mrs.
Chart, becominA alarmed, exclaimed, " This can't be the
way lam sure; and rushed back. She had net got more
than a dozen yards when she was overtaken by the pri-
soner, who, seizing hold of her cloak near the throat, said,
" I must have that watch and these coats." He then
laid hold of the hand in which she held the watch, when
she cried " Murder !" as loud as she could, but he took
the watch, chain, and coats from her. He also said,
" I must have this chain also" (the chain she was wearing
at the time), but she said he should not, and, still calling
out, struck at him, and rushed along the passage to get
away from him.
For the defence Mr. Bertram, who with Mr. Roberts, is
contractor for the refreshment department, said he had
known the prisoner for about eight years, and during the
whole of that time he had borne an irreproachable cha-
racter. He was first in the service of Mr. Staples, next in
that of Mr. Strange, and during his term as cellarman,and
latterly he was in the position of barman, in receipt of
large sums of money, and he (Mr. Bertram) had always
placed the most implicit reliance on his honesty.
Amelia Jocelin, an exhibitor at the Paiute, to whom the
prosecutrix and prisoner were perfect strangers, said that
the former, in telling her about the robbery shortly after
it occurred, told her the property had slipped away from
her as she was going out to the gardens.
Mr. Elliott admitted that the testimony was somewhat
conflicting, and that there was some difficulty in dealing
with the case. He, however, committed the prisoner for
trial, but consented to take bail in 100/.
. .

Thu sum Mr. Bertram at onceconsented to becomebound
in for the prisoner's appearance at the sessions, and the
prisoner was at once Liberated.

f3OIITHWARK.

Henry Williams, s young man, was brought before Mr.
Woolrych for final examination, charged with assaulting
John Stroud, and being concerned with another not in
custody in stealing a valuable silver watch from him in
the Blackfriars-road.

The prosecutor said that on Christmas night he had been
spending a few hours with a family party at Walworth,
and between six and seven the following morning was re-
turning home with hie wife and other friends. When
they got to the corner of Great Charlotte-street, and were
shaking hands, all bidding good bye to each other, the
prisoner and another young fellow rushed before them.
The prisoner seized witness ander the chin with one hand,
while with the other he snatched his watch and broke it
from the guard, and before he could recover himself the
prisoner passed it to his companion, and ran across the
road. NS Unitas pursued him, and caught hold of him
near the Surrey Chapel, when they had a severe struggle.
A constable came up at the time, and he gave the pri-
soner into custody. His companion managed to make his
escape with the watch.
Mr. Woolrych asked him whether the other man did
anything to him?
He replied that when he first caught hold of the prisoner
the other man tried to prevent him, but seeing the constable
approach he made off with as much speed as possible.
Soon after that the prisoner said, " I have not got your
watch, but I know who has, and I known it was yours
you should not have lost it."
Mary luard said she was with the last witness when the
prisoner and another man rushed between them, and the
prisoner seized the prosecutor by the neck with one hand,
and snatched his watch with the other. After that he
passed the watch to the other man, and they ran across
the road.

Pollee-constable 62 L said he heard cries of " Police "
on the morning in question, and on proceeding towards
Surrey Chapel he saw the prisoner and prosecutor strug-
gling together, and the latter gave him into custody for
assaulting him and robbing him of his watch. He told
witness that he had not got the watch ; the other man
had got it.
The prisoner denied the charge altogether, and declared
he never made use of those observations.
Mr. Woolrych committed the prisoner for trial.

SERIOUS CASE OF POISONING IN NORFOLK.

Yesterday, before the Docking bench of magis-
trates, four persons named John Grief (51), Susan Grief
(51), Mary Grief (27), and Sarah Grief (23), were brought
up on a charge of poisoning two if not three illegitimate
children, at Shernborne, an adjacent village. The pri_
soners John Grief and Susan Grief are husband and wife,
and Mary Grief and Sarah Grief are their daughters. The
legitimate family of the Griefs consists altogether of
twelve children, of whom eight are living at home. The
names of the children supposed to have been poisoned are
the Alfred Grief, who was five years and six months old at
time of his death, and who died Nov. 6, 1866 ; Ann Maria
Grief, the child of Sarah Grief, who was fifteen weeks old
at the time of her death, sad who died April 13, 1866 ;
and Jemima Grief, the child of Mary Grief, who died in
1860. The bodies of the children Alfred Grief and Ann
Maria Grief have been exhumed, and an abundance of
arsenic has been found in them ; as regards the third child,
Jemima Grief, the result of the chemical analysis isnot yet
known. The children, although illegitimate, appear to
have never been affiliated, and it may be added as an
illustration of the immorality prevailing in the family of
the Griefs, that Sarah Grief has had another illegitimate
child, which is still living, while she is now again
enceinte and near her confinement. The death of the
child Ann Maria Grief appears to have excited no suspi-
cions, but the case was different when Alfred Grief
sickened and died in November. This child was taken
ill on Saturday, November 3 ; on the Sunday he was
better, and on the Monday he went to school, but he was
sent home in consequence of being very ill ; he continued
to grow worse until about 1 a.m. on the Tuesday, when he
died. The poor little fellow seems to have vomited green
matter, and a green foam was also observed about his
mouth ; these symptoms of arsenical poisoning, of course,
provoked remark, more especially as no medicol man had
been called in, although the parish doctor might have
been sent for without any expense to the family. Sub-
sequent inquiries showed that the child Ann Maria Grief
bad presented similar symptoms, and had died without
the attendance of a medical man. John Grief, the mile
prisoner, carries on the occupation of a sheep dresser, a
business requiring occasionally the use of arsenic, but when
he was interrogated on the subject he denied at first that
he had an arsenic in his possession. He made this state-
ment on the 19th of November, but arsenic was found in
his house notwithstanding. The male prisoner also stated
that whenever he had any arsenic he was careful to keep
it locked up in his " coffer," but the arsenic discovered was
not found there, but on the top of the bed in which the
prisoner and his wife slept. The wife, Susan Grief, had
also denied having any arsenic in the house. The male
prisoner is understood to have endeavoured to make it
appear that be had left some bottles about containing a
mixture which be had turd in his business, but these bot-
tles, when found, were under the stairs, and quite out of
the reach of any one. There were a few drops in the
bottles, containing a mixture of tar, soft soap, and
arsenic, but the poison was not in the state
in which it was found in the bodies of the
children, in which it was detected pure and simple. The
male prisoner was arrested November 26, and has since
been in custody in Norwich Castle. Susan Grief and
Mary Grief were arrested on the 22nd of November, and
Sash Grief on the 6th of December ; the female prisoners
have been in Wymondham Briiiewell, and were brought
up from there yesterday, while John Grief was brought up
from Norwich. The prisoners all denied, when arrested,
that they knew anything about the matter. Sergeant
Nose, of the Docking division of the Norfolk police,
applied yesterday for a remand ; and no opposition being
offered by the prisoners, the application was acceded to,
and the accused were again remanded to Norwich and
Wymondham. When the case is again gone into, it will
be completed so far as the magisterial inquiry is concerned.
It is perhaps right to state that although the narrative
given of the case is derived from official sources, some of
the details have not yet been deposed to on oath.

IMPORTS AT LIVERPOOL DL'RINO 1866.—During
the year 1866 the duties received at Liverpool, from the
ship and the warehouse, amounted to 2,885,969/. In 1863
the figures were 2.785,0661., showing an RICTISAIS in the
year 1866 of 100,8731.
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brain. Holloway's Nils can be confidently recommended as
restoratives of constitutions shattered, broken by excessive mcm
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lordships which make the young old man.

THE FATAL OAS EXPLOSION IN LEATHER-
LANE.

After our report lett yesterday,
Thomas Westbury said he lived next door to the house
occupied by Luigi Magni. He returned from work shortly
before 6 o'clock on the 22nd of December, and in a few
minutes afterwards heard the explosion and the falling of
the next house. He then got out of the window of his
house just as No. 5, which he occupied, was also falling.
There was no gas in his house and the explosion must
have taken place at No. 4. la did not smell the gas in
the street before he went in, nor did be see any men
worlung there at the time. His landlady had her leg
broken -by the falling of the house.
George Knight, • warehouseman, residing at Na. 9,
Little Walnut-street, said that while sitting in his parlour
about six o'clock on the 22nd of December he felt a shock
as if something had fallen on the house. He immediately
went out and repaired to the scene of the explosion. There
was a strong smell of gas in the street, and shortly after
his arrival the debris took fire. About one or two minutes
elapsed from the time of his feeling the shook and the
of the house No. 4. When he reached Summers-
street he saw no light in the houses Noe. 4 and 5, which
fell After the houses had fallen he saw a great sheet of
light in the front of the ruins of No. 4.
James Chaney, a plumber, residing at 18, Baek-hill,
Hatton-garden, was next examined. He said he was at
his shop door at six o'clock on Saturday week, and heard
the explosion. He went to Summers-street, which he
reached when No. 4 was falling. Last Tuesday he exa-
mined the gas pipes at No. 4, and found the pipe between
No. 4 and the street lamp defective. The pipe had been dis-
connected previous to his going there. It was decayed
and there was • hole in that part of it which ran under
the street.
The pipe was produced for the inspection of the coroner
and jury.
Mr. Humphreys said the pipe was blocked up before the
explosion, and had consequently no connexion with it.
The witness, in reply to Mr. Merriman said he had not
seen the meter or the main which was in direct communi-
cation with the house.

Inspector Potter, of the U division of police, deposed
that he had taken steps to examine the gas pipes at tuns-
men-street. After the last inquest he communicated with
the parish authorities for the purpose of having the pipe
which led from No. 4 to the street opened. He now produced
a piece of pipe which was attached to the new main. He
had also a long piece which was attached to the short one,
and the thin end of which we, connected with the house.
When he reached the scene of the explosion he saw dame
issuing from a vent in the pipe to which he had just re-
ferred. He saw another piece of pipe (similar to one
produced) sticking out close to the house.
Mr. Humphreys said the three pieces of pipe completed
the entire service.
Inspector Potter said he had unsuccessfully endeavoured
to find the meter.
In reply to the coroner, he said the leakage from the
pipe or main would go into Basini's cellar.
In answer to Mr. Humphreys be said the officials of the
Chartered Gas Company had given him every facility while
he was making the necessary inquiries.
Thos. Damson, 11, Radnor-et:est, St. Luke's, said he
I was a service layer in the employ of the Chartered Gas
Company. He reconnected the service of gas in Summers-
street on the 22nd of December. He saw the pipes which
supplied No. 4, and he believed them to have been per
fectly good. He did not see the piece of pipe which had
been disjointed from the main since the explosion, and
which was immediately connected with the cellar.
The coroner requested the witness to inspect the piece
of pipe in question, and say if he considered it gate.
The witness complied with the direction of the coroner,
and said he did not consider the pipe safe, nor would he
have allowed it to remain in the cellar if he could have
reached it. He was quite sure he did not injure the pipe
while laying on the new pipe. He would have gone into
the cellar had he not been told by a boy that he could not
go in.
The coroner asked if he was aware of the cause of the
accident?

The witness replied in the negative.
Mr. Merriman asked why the company had put on new
pipes'l
The witness said the circumference of the new main was
too large to admit of the possibility of a connection with
the old pipes, but in other respects he believed them to
have constituted a good house anew.
In answer to further questions, be said he tested the
meter and found no leakage. If he had smelt gas he
would have taken steps to procure admission to the cellar.
In reply to Mr. Humphreys, he said the end of the old
pipe was perfectly sound when he joined the new pipe to
it The part of the old pipe that was broken would have
been in tbu wall of the house. Seeing that the two parts
of the old pipe which was disjointed were perfectly sound,
he came to the conclusion that the whole of the pipe was
so. The meter was in a box. under the ground floor win-
dow of No. 4. _ _ _ _ _

Luigi Basini was recalled, and stated that the deceased,
Pietro Basini, to whom Damien said he had spoken, did
not speak English. Re saw Damson connecting the pipes,
but ho was in a position to swear that from 2 o'clock till
4 o'clock on the day in question Damsel' did not enter his
house.

In answer to the coroner, he stated that while Damsell
was endeavouring to join the pipes he saw them shaking.
The coroner at this stage of the proceedings suggested
the advisability of an adjournment.
The inquiry was accordingly again adjourned.

FATAL ACCIDENT TO A MARRIAGE PARTY.—
THREE MEN DROWNED.—In the north of Scotland a raper.
stitious belief prevails that it is dangerous for • bride-
groom, after the proclamation of the banns, to venture on
a journey by sea, and a number of cases have occurred
within the memory of the present generation to strengthen
the belief. On Wednesday, the 26th ult., a melancholy
accident took place near Lerwick, which will doubtless be
regarded by the tithing population of Shetland as corrobo-
rating this superstition. Tuesday week a marriage, party left
Lunnasting inafithing-boat intending to proceed to Lerwick,
at which place the marriage was to take place. The wind
was unfavourable for the party proceeding further than a
harbour in the north of the pariah of Tingwall, and there
the boat was taken for the night. The bride and • sister
of the bridegroom, the only females in the boat went on
shore and travelled on foot to Lerwick. On Wednesday
morning the men prepared to complete their journey in the
boat. Sail was set, and all proceeded well until they had
advanced some distance to the south of Rovy Head, when
the boat was caught by a squall, thrown over, and imme-
diately sunk. In the boat were the bridegroom and his
brother, two brothers of the bride and the owner of the
boat. The accident was observed by the crew of another
boat, who hastened to render antistatic*, but the two hea-
then of the bride were the only persons saved, the others
having disappeared almost as soon as the boat sank.—
Scotsman.

ANOTHER TRADE OUTRAGE. —A COAL-PIT FIRED.
—A disgraceful outrage has been committed by some
unionist miners at the Pineton Colliery. During the last
few weeks several unionists have been discharged from the
eollie and this has caused • very bad feeling to exist in
the neighbourhood. Early on Saturday night it WWI dis-
cover that Pit No. 2 had been set on tire in no less than
four places, and that • tremendous conflagration was
raging. Prompt assistance was obtained, and an attempt
was made to extinguish the flames, but all exertions up
to Wednesday night proved fruitless, the fire at that time,
however, being completely got under. A great mass or
coal has been consumed, and large walls—the pat titione
of the pit—have fallen down, and the mine now lies in a
state of almost inextricable confusion. We may state
that when the fire was at its height the heat was so in-
tense that hard flinty rocks were made red hot. The loss
to the proprietors of the pit will be very heavy. A re-
ward of 501. has been offered for the discovery of the per-
pstistors of the outrage.
THE SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE IRON TRADE.—
BIRIONGHAN, JAN. 3. —The adjourned preliminary meet-
ing of the ironmasters of this district was held here to-
day ; Mr. William Barrows in the chair. There was a
large attendance, and after • brief discussion a resolution
was unanimously passed to reduoe the price of manufac-
tured iron 20s. per ton, the wages scale to be lowered 10
per cent., and the puddles to be reduced la per ton.
The furnace-men are also to have notice of a
corresponding reduction. It is believed that the
men will look at this matter in a rational way,
and accept in a proper spirit reductions which the
exigencies of the trade have brought about. There
are always people to whom • trade strike is a source of
profit,or who, bring mischievously diaposedoire ever intent
upon fanning into life a contentionof that kind ; the bitter
experience of the past will, it is hoped, be sufficient to
induce the men not to be led aside from their true in-
tercets, however unpalatable the course determined upon
to-day may be. A meeting of the thin coalmasters is to
be held forthwith, at which the reduction of the men's
wages in that branch of the trade is to be discussed.
THE CATTLE FLAW:YR.—Yesterday's official re-
turn shows that in the concluding week of the year 1866
the prevalence of cattle plague showed • tendency to in-
crease. During the week ending 29th December 9 attacks
are reported to have occurred in Great Britain, being an
excess of 3on the previous week. Three fresh outbreaks
of the disease took place, the number in the week pre-
ceding being also 3. One hundred and eighteen healthy
cattle were slaughtered from having been in contact with
infected animals. The attacks reported are for the fol-
lowing 2 petty sessional divisions, viz. :—Yorkshire (East
Riding) South Holderness, 4 cows and 4 calves ; end
Market Weighton, 1 steer. The number of animals
attacked since the commencement is 253,807, and 52,646
healthy cattle have been slaughtered to prevent the spread
of the disease.

A VaNgerata PARTY. —On the day before
Christmas-day the Rev. Mr. Judd, curate of St. Paula,
Cambridge, entertained 12 old ladies, his parishioners, to
dinner and tea, and provided them with other good Clint.
appropriate to the season. Their united*ages amounted to
1,000 years ; but the venerable dames managed to spend a
very merry afternoon notwithstanding.
Du BARRY'S DELICIOUS REVALEIFII. ARIHICA
FOOD cures dyspepsia, indigestion, cough, asthma, consnmptioe,
debility, constipation, dlarrhas, palpltedon, nervous, bilious,
liver, and stomach complaints, Cure No. elkel3.--.• /tome, July
IHM—The health of the Holy Father is excellent,
sines, abandoning all other remedies, he has oosened"=2
mairel,y to Du s Food, end Ids Holiness mane mules
this excellent food too hlehly."—Gmettede NUL Do berry end
Co., No. 17, Itegent-ettest, London, W. In Use, at is. ltd.;
Es. ad. Ms, FM WM.. ena—adverthisimeat.

Piloted aati Padilla.* by WabioN Lab Hosis, f o. S.
Loolbardairsot. to lba City of Loadra. renter, at tho
mom la Lombard -airs* fa tits Pouliot of Whiterlam--
111.1 DAY, 111117.