The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-12 00:00:00

IRONMASTARS' QUARTERLY MEETING.

BIRMINGHAM, Tuvaatiav Evkianc.
The principal meeting of the ironmasters of this
' district was held here this afternoon ; there wax a very
large attendance, and although many marks of the qui-
etude which has so long mended were still visible, the
tone was decidedly more cheerful than it has been of late,
and a far greater amount of business was done than could
have been anticipated. The estimate formed (which must
necessarily be a rough one) was that not less than 50,000
or 00,000 tons of iron were sold. There were buyers
present from all quarters, and the general ouinion
amongst them appeared to be that we are on
the eve of a general improvement, though it may
be very gradual ; in fact, that the trade will not
regain • thoroughly normal state until next year.
The present reaction arises mainly from the circumstance
that consumers' stocks are so low they are compelled to
come into the market. A de.nand is also springing up on
account of the East Indian and some other of the foreign
markets. The little impetus given to the trade by the
meeting of to-day comer very seasonably, and will be felt
throughout the district. The quantity of orders received
will not be sufficient to put the works on anything like full
time, but many will be enabled to go on four days at least
who have hitherto been working two or three days only.
There is a better demand for hoop iron, but the reaction ex-
perienced at this meeting news to be in respect of newly
all descriptions of finished iron. There was a good business
' done to-day in pig iron the make of this district. The
prices of hot blast, all mine, ranged between 3/. 10s. and
3/. 15e. per ton ; cinder
pigs, 2/. 15e. to 3/. 2a. rah per ton.
The demand for Shropshire iron is subject to lees flucttut-
tion than that of this district • there was the usual steady
business done in that commodity at this meeting, and it
was reported that the quarter's make was sold. The trade
in all the other iron-producing districts wax well repre-
sented, and the tone of this assembly gave rise to • feeling
of much cheerfulness. There is an old saying that it is a
long lane which has never a turn. The South Stafford-
shire iron trade has been in • sadly depressed and other-
wise unhealthy state during the last twelve months ; it is
to be hoped that • turn has now been taken in a brighter
direction, and that there will be nofresh retrograde move-
meat.

Tux TAILORS' STRI K Z.—As soon as the arrange-
ments made by counsel on behalf of the defendants in-
dicted for conspiracy at the Central Criminal Court on
Wednesday last that the pickets should be at once with-
drawn from the shops on strike consequent on the post-
ponement of the trial to the next session, considerable
excitement pervaded the whole trade, both masters and
men ; the former were spreading everywhere the news
that they had gained the victory, the latter felt that the
withdrawal of the pickets was tantamount to giving up
the strike. To calm down the excitement of the men,
Mr. Edward Lewis, the solicitor to the association, drew
up and forwarded to the committee • long and elabo-
rate document, setting forth the reasons which had
induced counsel for the men to consent to the withdrawal
of the pickets, the main reason being that owing to
the large number of additional witnesses brought forward
by the prosecutors at the last moment, and the new facts to
which they were to de pme to make a proper defence, a vest-
ponement of the trial was absolutely necessary, and the
consent of the prosecutors could only b.. obtained by the
promise that the pickets should be withdrawn. Acting on
the pledge given the committee of the operatives withdrew
the pickets on Wednesday afternoon, but seeing the ex-
citement in the trade, and feeling the responsibility
thrown upon them, they determined to consult the trade
through the means of the various shop committees. This
was done yesterday morning, and the result was that the
following resolution was adopted almost unanimously :
"As the prosecution against Mes•rs. Druilt, Law-
rence, Adamson, and others has surprised the counsel
of the defendants by voluminous evidence brought
forward at the last moment, which thereby forced
the said defendants to agree to an arrangement which PM
on no account be indorsed by the trade, the defendants
are, by a legal necessity, deposed from holding any office
whatever pending the trial in connexion with the London
Operative Tailors' Protective Association, and the picket.
ing system will continue until it is decided to be illegal
in a court of law." In pursu-nos of the above resolutions,
the shop committees placed the pickets again on the shops
last evening, and they will continue to do duty daily until
the trial, should there be no settlement arrived at in the
meantime. New allows were last night appointed in the
place of these deposed by the above resolutions.