The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-19 00:00:00

THE QUESTION OP MINERS' WAGES.

There is now little room for doubt that a move-
meet has been commenced which will result in en almost
universal reduction of miners' and colliers' wages in South
Staffordshire—there being no practical difference between
• reduction of the price actually paid fora given quantity
of work, and the quantity of work being increased without
any increase of pay. The men who were set at the time
of our last report are gradually returning to work, but they
have not all gone back yet. We were mewed on 'Change
in Wolverhampton, yesterday, by several employers, that
in all cases in which notices have been given and
work hid been resumed that the mew ars at work on
the new terms, namely, an Mamas of "Mesta," in
the ado of the pikemen, and a decrease of won
in the case of the bandsmen. In scarcely any cams
are the master, coming in immediate contact with
the men. Masters, finding that it wee neeserary to re-
duce the expense connected with the manufacture of pig-
iron, have intimated to their bottles or chartermasters that
their charters must be reduced. In mane cases specific
rates of reduction were mentioned to the betties, and they
were told that they must arrange matters with the men as
best they could. In the case of the Chillington Company,
for instance, the betties were told that they had allowed
the men from time to time to curtail the extent of their
dents, but the time having now come when the trade could
not afford to allow the mimed scale to continue, the but•
ties must consent to their charters being reduced from 3d.
to lid. per ton, and they must, if uweseary, make those
terms profitable to themselves by bringing back the
" dent.' to their former dimensions by reducing the
day men. The men employed by the Chillington Cora.
parry's battier, lifter making a show of resistance for
some three days, went on at—the pitmen an ati-
&timid yard a day, and the bandsmen, most of them at a
deism,. at 3d., and some few at rid. a day. The terms upon
which Messrs. Ward's betties are engaged did not permit of
such a speedy arrangement.
. The bottled here were in-
formed that the dents resat be increased to the above
extent, and then new terms would be agreed upon between
the masters and the bullies, founded upon this reduction
in the cost of labour; and in sonic, of Mears. Ward's col-
lieries such new terms have already been made. Meson
Sparrow gave the birdies at their stone pits notice that
their charter must be reduced 6d. a ton ; and the bodies at
the collieries of the same firm also gave notice to their
men for a similar reduction, without, however, having been
previously notified to that effect by the firm, and certain
of these colliery are now out, but the stone getters are at
work. The chartermaatere at the sloes pits are, however,
. .

beginning to oomplaia that the new tern are susuflicient
to afford a workiag prollt.—Btriaing/ioni Dail!! Post.

DECTRUCTIVE FIRE IN THE TEMPLIL—ShortIy I NEWSPAPER-4 FOR THE UNITED STATES AND
after two o'clock yesterday afternoon considerable abeam CANADA.-Owing to a disregard of the official regulations
was occasional by the report that a tire had broken out at upon the subject, which are clearly stated et pages 33 and
No. 13, King's Bench-walk, Temple. It was discovered 4b in the British Postal Guide, No. 19, many newspapers
by the police constable on duty, who perceived sparks is. addressed to the United States and to Canada are posted
suing from the third fluor, and having apprised the tamales in this couutry either utpaid or insufficiently pail, and
of the house, caused the "alarm" bell to be sounded, are therefore not forwarded, but seat to the returned letter
which brought the whole of the labourers and the power- branch for disposal. It seems to be forgotten that such
ful engine belonging to the honourable society to the scene newspapers must be prepaid one penny each, whatever
of the outbreak. For a time no water could be obtained, number may becontairted in a single packet, and that the
and great fears were entertained for the safety of the ad- charge is not regulated by weight, as is the ease with un-
joining property, and such was the rapidity of the flames I stamped newspapers sent through the post in this country.
that they soon extended to the top door of No. 12. No llt has also been observed that a fraudulent practice pre.
time was hat in forwarding an intimation of the catastrophe veils, to acoesiderable extent, of enclosing letters or other
to the stations of the London Brigade, wheat engines were articles in newspapers sent to or received from foreign
quickly in attendance, and on the arrival of the Boating countries, especially America, which readers them liable,
angles, which took up its position in front of the Temple- as the least penalty, to be charged with full letter postage
Koreas, operations were commenced. By this time the 1 according to their weight. The officers of the department
reef al No. 13 had fallen in, but in spite of the admirable I ore strictly enjoined to examine, as far as possible, the
manner in which the firemen exerted themselves the flames newspapers passing through their bands to or from foreign
were sot extinguished till four o'clock. The chambers is parts, and to enforce the official remilations wherever they
whichthe outbreak commenced had only reeentlybeen Into' may have been infringed and it is thought right to draw
gentleman, who had not yet taken up his abode there, but the attention of the public to this matter, with the view of
who for several days pest had been sending in furniture, all preventing the occurrence of future irregularities.-By corn-
of which has been destroyed. Considerable (tentage has mend of the Postataster.Geuend.-Roateen HILL, Seers-
lees does to the property of !Sir G. Bowyer and that of Sir troy. General Postoffice, Jan. 18.
David Dundee, both of whom occupied chambers on the By the clerical ontio.ion of an "0" in the figures
second door. The lower part of the house has sustained representing the amount of the rental of the county of
much Wary. The top of the house No. 12 has also been Middlesex, it appears, in our report of the proceedings at
destroyed, and the house has been otherwise severely de- the meeting of the Middlesex magistrates on Thursday, to
magsd by water. The origin of the fire cannot be ewer- ibe 9143,0201. it should be 9,160,030/.
tamed with any certainty. I A traveller kelt returned from Syria informs
Marie Antoinette's hair, during her imprison- us that such is the widespread celebrity of the • Royal
meat, became completely colander Ruch changes of colour Victoria Cherry," that in Dirllll.l,lll this favourite wine Is held In
may sow be completely restored by Herring's Magnetic Washes, the highest repute, and the happiest means of gaining the favour
stc.. of which Dr. Hassell reports .` I regard them as the most of English travellers Is to present them with a tarsal the Royal
perfect brushes hitherto made, as respects their mechanical Victoria Cherry." This elegant wine Is corlgned mindsets. to
construction, and their magnetics! action." They are the the European and Colonial Wine company, of 11. Primal. and
remedy fur grey hair. neuralgia,Ac."Cana sold by theca at the low price of 2;s. per Burenbottles and care .
terfelts are being made. OlEcee, 99, iirlaghall Street, London. I included paying tio carriage us sis dopes to any station in
-(Advertisement; hashed or Wales. -lAdvertlarreent.