The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-03 00:00:00

THE SATURDAY HALYHOLIDAY MOVEMENT.

A numerously attended meeting was held last
night at St. James's-hall, under the auspices of the Satur-
day Half-holiday Committee, for the purpose of publicly
thanking the employers who have recently adopted the
Saturday half-holiday, as well as reporting upon the pre-
sent position of the movement, and promoting its further
eltennon. Mr. M. Bowen (Shoolbred and Co., Totten-
ham-court-road) presided, and in opening the proceeding
said he would not occupy the present position in which
he had been plaoed if he did not believe that the interests
of employer and employed in the movement
were identical. From the experience of the past
three months they found that the same busi-
ness could be done up to 2 o'clock on Saturday as was done
twenty years ago up to 9 o'clock in the evening, and when
such was the case it was to be hoped that the employers
would make a concession which was so much needed and
desired. On the 13th of July forty-two bonus closed at
2 o'clock on Saturday, and since that time the number had
increased to eighty-four. In Islington, some of the homes
which had transacted business up to 9 o'clock
on Saturday evenings had begun to dose at 5 o'dock
and tha shops in the Burlington-arcade now
closed at 4 o'clock, instead of a much later hour.
Mr. Larkin (Messrs. Hitchcock, Williams, sad Co.)
moved the first resolution, as follows :—" That the sincere
thanks of this meeting be offered to those emplo ers, who,
by closing their establishments at two o'clock on
SatuNa
have conferred the benefits of the Saturday half dualitCY
upon a large number of persons in various trades, and hate
led to an abridgement in the hours of busbuire on
Saturday night in the late shopping distrretarg
the mettipai... *faun el his
he expressed the hope that the employers of the metro-
polis would further their own interests by oeuntenanchee
the movement. He said the young men to whom a
haallf
holiday was given on Saturday entertained grateful feelings
towards theirjemployers for the much-needed boon, and
in the end those employers, instead of losing by
the concession, gained by it. Mr. Ferry (Messrs.
Goode, Gainsford, and Co.) who seconded the reso-
lution, entered his protest against protracted and
continuous labour. He said the trade assistants
in their effort to gain the Saturday half-holiday did not
want to do less work than they did at present, but they
wished to do the same amount of work in a shorter space
of time—(cheers)--and they
.wanted to he enabled to de-
vote the Sabbath to its legitimate use. (Renewed cheer-
ing.) The resolution was then put sod carried amid ac-
clamation. Mr. St. Clair (Messrs. Marshall and Snellgrove)
proposed the next resolution :—" That this meet-
ing presents its sincere thanks to her Grace
the Duchess of Sutherland, whose generous exer-
tions, with those of the Countess Dude and Lady Elcho,
have secured the co-operation of a large number of the
ladies of tho metropolis for the support and extension of
the Saturday half-holiday." He said it was insinuated by
some persons that the majority of the trade assistants did
not sympathise with the movement, and by others that the
assistants wished to force the employers into submission.
He wished to repudiate both of these insinuations, and to
assure the employers that no such sentiments were held by
the assistants. Mr. Hyde seconded the resolution,
and it was carried with enthusiasm. Mr. Hamer
(Messrs. Dewar, Son, and Sens) proposed the third
resolution :—" That this meeting respectfully solicits the
public to support the Saturday half-holiday movement by
not shopping after 2 o'clock on Saturdays, and thus to pro-
mote the abridgement of the late hours which still prevail
on Saturday evenings in various parts of the metropolie."
Mr. Bryant (Messrs. Debenham and Freebody) seconded
the resolution, which was unanimously adopted. The
Chairman acknowledged the receipt of numerous subscrip-
tions given in support of the movement, and said that as
Leet. was required to carry out the programme adopted
by the committee on a recent occasion, lie anxiously hoped
that increased aid would he afforded. The proceedings
terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

The anniversary of the Portsea Beneficial Society
was held on Monday night, and amongst the invited guests
who were present were—Mr. W. IL Stone, M.P. for Ports-
mouth ; J. Bonham-Carter, M.P. for "f inehester; and
Sir Jervoise Clarke Jervoise, Bart., M.l'. for South Hants.
SPECIAL RELIGIOCS SERVICES Von TUE PEOPLE.—
The special religious services for the people will be again
held on and after Sunday, the 7th inst. every Sundey
evening, at the following theatres i—gurrey Theatre,
Blackfnara-road ; Pavilion Theatre, Whitechapel-road ;
Standard Theatre, Shoreditch ; and Sailler's-wells Theatre,
ClerkenwelL Service commences at 7 o'clock ; doors open
at half-past 6 o'eliick. There will be no charge for ad-
miseion, and all seats will be free.
CITY COMMISSION Or SEWERB.—The com-
mistioners of sewers of the City of London held their
usual weekly meeting yesterday. Our readers are aware
that the constitution of this commission has recently un-
dergone a very important change, under a resolution of
the Court of Common Council, and the members of the
new body appear to be bestiring themselves very actively
to carry out the important objects entrusted to them. At
the meeting yesterday various standing orders wereadopted
having reference to the appointment of different com-
mittees for sanitary and other objects. Among the newly
appointed committees is one called the streets committee,
whose duty it will be to attend to all questions relating to
pavements, projections, cleansing, removal of dust and
ashes, water supply, sewage, And lighting. Another
important committee, to be called the sanitary com-
mittee, will also be appointed, whose duty, as
its name implies, will be to attend exclusively to all
sanitary matters, and everything else relating to
the public health. In addition to this a finance and im-
proveuleut committee will be appointed, to when all ques-
tions relating to the finances of the commission, such as
the rating, parliamentary, and improvement matters will
be exclusively. submitted, subject of course to the control
of the commission. Mr. Elie' Davis, after these matters
had been disposed of, took occasion to refer to a statement
that he had made at a previous court with regard to the
improper removal of several dead bodies of persons who
had died of cholera front Three Kings-court, Minories,
and said that from inquiries he had since made be had
reason to believe that the alleged facts were very much
exaggerated, if not entirely without foundation, and he
considered it his duty to make this public statement
upon the subject. Dr. Letheby, the medical officer,
reported that during the week 1,1281ba. of meat
had been seized at the different markets that was
unfit for human food. lie also reported that Thomas
Norris, a butcher, carrying on business at William-
street, Lisaon-grove, William Hunt, a fanner at Barking,
and Henry Cole, a farmer at West ILaningfield, Essex,
had been summoned before the City magistrates by the in-
spectors, and fined in amounts varying from :ilia. to 10/.
for sending unwholesome meat to market ; and William
Plummer, a butcher at Leicester, was fined 10f. for a
similar offence. With regard to the sanitary condition of
the City, it appears by Dr. Letheby 's report that it is
remarkably satisfactory, the number of deaths being only
31 during the week against an average of 44 during the
last ten years, and out of this reduced number a great
many of the deaths were of children and aged persons.
THE RINDERPEST IN NORFOLK.—During the
past month only one case of cattle plague was recorded in
Norfolk. The following ludicrous, but at the same tune
satisfactory report has been forwarded to the Privy Council-
office by one locel inspector :—" Sir beg beg to report that
we have no more cattle p!ague or rinderpest in my beat.
Our lottal committee met on Tuesday, at the clerk's office,
and agreed to discontinue the inspectors; there are
several who have sent in their resignations. There never
was such a disease as rinderpest among sheep. There are
very few beasts to have it in my neighbourhood. I shall
not have to troulge you with any more of these returns,
thank God, as I mean to cut it."
RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR BISHOP AUCKLAND.—
An accident of a serious character took place on the new
railway bridge at Newton Cap, near Bishop Auckland.
on Monday. About half-past 12 o'clock, an engine,
No. 187, with a long train of 82 empty coal waggons, left
Bishop Auckland station, and was proceeding along the
Auckland branch of the North Eastern Railway towards
Willington, but had scarcely got half way across the large
viaduct at Newton Cap, about a quarter of a mile from the
station, when the wheel of one of the waggons in the
middle of the train broke. This had the effect of throw-
ing a number of the waggons immediately following off the
line, the one being piled on the top of the other in a com-
plete pyramid, until they fell over on both sides of the
bridge, shattering the bridge coping on either side for a
distance of nearly twenty yards, and precipitating the
parapet of the bridge for some distance intoth thediatance bed
of the
of the
river, where, from the great weight and e
fall (120 feet), they were completely buried in the ground.
Several of the waggons were resting on the para the
pet of the
bridge, and narrowly escaped being precipitated into
river below. Thirteen of the wad ons were literally
smashed to pieces, and both the up and down lines were
completely blocked up and strewn over with waggon
wheels, broken a:lenses, and loose splintered timber, the
remains of the waggons. leas than half a dozen engines
were to be seen on the spot shortly after the accident,
some lending their assistance in clearing the line, which
was only accomplished in about two hours, after coneider-
able difficulty, and with a strong body of men, daring
which time the traffic on the line was en
clock trsin, which tirely stopped.
The passengers by the 1 o' arrived in
due time, bad to get out at the other side of the bridge
and walk to the town, the officials carrying the luggage.
A collision with another train, engine No. 509, which was
coming in the opposite direction, was very narrowly
escaped. The driver only succeeded in stopping
accident. the train
when within a few yards of the scene of the
Fortunately, however, no lives were sacrificed or anyone
injured, and the total wreck of the thirteen waggons and
the injury to the bridge (which is somewhat ooneiderable)
is all the damage that has been sustained. The bridge on
which the accident occurred spans the River Wear at
Newton Ca , about a quarter of a mile from A.uckland.—
Newest*