The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-29 00:00:00

rim DISPUTE IN THE BUILDING TRADES'.

A great demonstration of the operatives in the
mice' howls= al the banding trades took place Met wren-
* at the Surrey Theatre, ocerened by the central com.
Wilms at delaptes, to learn from the men whether they
wee tarn determined to I add the system of payment by
the bear introduced by a few of the master builders. The
body of the theatre was densely crowded, the stage hole&
occupied ►y the delegates and committee-mon of the various
trades._

Mr. humans, • gentleman who is connected with the
trade, occupied the chair. He aid he occupied this position
as their chairman because be bad always felt empathy
with working men in their struggle; fur social and mond im-
provement. The question now agitating their trades wee
one affecting their position as mew He referred
tvom:bliAar-out of bat year, and though that wee • tyran-
nicest woes en the part el the waiters, and public
opinion isd than to withdraw the document,
the pesseet action on the part of • portion of as
masters was equally ea obnoxious to the workmen, and he
hoped would be equally unsuoomsful. (Cheers.) There could
be no doubt that the intention of the document of jut year
was to destroy trade societies ; and there could be no doubt
that the hourly payment was introduced with the same in.
tentionA therefore it became their duty, by every Iselin!
peaceable means in their power, to offer it their op
Mr. 0. Forma then rose, and was received with cheers.
He came forward by desire of the central committee to lay
before them • brief resume of their proceeding,, in order
that the public mind might be disabused of the many
false statements' that had been pet before them by
the organs of the employers. Having given a his-
tory of the unfortunate dispute from the 7th of Much
to the present time, Mr. Potter referred at great length to
the many misstatement. and untruths which he said had
appeared in the Times newspaper on the subject. They
had been charged with attempting to do away with over-
time. The be denied ; it was systematic overtime which
was objected to, as injurious both to the =sten and men.
He thee entered into the position in which the works of
the masters in derute at present stood, and declared that
the men they had obtained were chiefly the refuse of the
trades, and that a peat parties of the work had to be taken
dove again, so badly wee it executed. He urged the con-
tinned opposition to the new system, and was quite satin.
lied they would be ultimately successful
Mr. Aticitorr (carpenter) moved the first resolution—
" That in the opinion of this meeting the system of per
meet by the hour is pernicious in itx influence, because it
destroys a maximum day, leaving the workman to the
mercy of his employer, by cutting off all the privilege; he
has hitherto enjoyed."
Mr. WRZICLZI (plasterer) seconded the resolution, strongly
condemning the new system.
The resolution was carried amid loud cheers.

Mr. Qunxia (painter) moved that the thanloi of the meet-
ing be given to those who bare so liberally contributed
towards the support of their fellow•workmen who had
stood out against the system of payment by the hour, and
*dßing the meeting to render them every support until
the hour system is withdrawn.
Mr. DAVNT (carpenter) "amended the motion, which was
supported by Mr. Fiutoo (French polisher), and carried.
A vote al thanks to the chairman concluded the pro-
asdings.

CRYSTAL PALACIL —The preparations for Non-
din's ascent on Saturday are being carried out with the
utmost activity. The velarium over the Handel orchestra
is removed, and the great transept, in all its noble propor-
tions, is again open to view. Masses of timber am bring
fixed in the upper gallery for the main rope and its worn-
parrying guy lines, the fixing of which are being carefully
superintended by M. Blondm's awistants who have come
with him to this country. The galleries are also being fitted
up with seats to afford visitors the fullest view at any height
they may select.
kRIT ()ARMIN& —The large masses of rhododen-
drons, assloui, and other American plants on each side of the
Grand Promenade, and those on the slopes and mounds of the
Fairies' Glen or Hollow.way in the Royal Pleasure Grounds
near the Theme*, are progressing towards their prime,
and when covered with blossom of various colours will pre-
sent for several weeks a most magnificent sight of surpass-
ing interest end beauty. The chestnut, lilac, laburnum, nod
hawthorn trees are now in their greatest perfection. The
blue bell or wild hyacinth in the woods of the new !Irby
return are also in full flower.
SULDII2B' Howes.—A public meeting was held
yesterday as St. James's Hall, with Lord Stanley in the
chair, for the purpose of raising funds to defray the ri-
peness incurred in establishing a Soldiers' Home at Gibral.
tar, and of enabling the committee to extend the benefit of
that institution, and further of enlisting on behalf of similar
institutions at home and in foreign service the support of
those who take an interest in the soldier's welfare. The
chairman, in opening the proceedings, explained that the
object of the institution was to provide an attractive and
suitable place of resort for nee-commissioned officers and
soldiers of the garrison when they were out of barracks and
off duty, and thereby to improve their moral character
and deportment. The HOMON he said, were roomy, cheer-
ful, and well ventilated, and at them unintoxicating re-
freshments were mild. They were provided with billiard tables
and other means of rational enjoyment—indeed they were
places of comfort and recreation. 'They were neither chapels
nor schools, although there were books and class-rooms
there. The cost of membership wee a mere trifle. The go-
vernment, he said, bad promised to give 500 f. towards de*
fraying the expenses incurred in the establishment of these
homes, provided Heaton equal sum was subscribed and to
raise this 500 f. the meeting was railed. Tbo home at Ci-
braltsr had been established by Captain P. Jackson, who
oat of his own pocket had found the necessary funds.
Major-Gassers! Lord Rakeby, Major.Geoend Lind-
say, M.P., the Rev. G. R. 01*, Chsplahr•General of the
Forces, Major the Hon. H. L. Powys -Keck. Captain
Wagtail Jacksou, Mr. Commissary General Ingrain, and
others, addressed the meeting, and resolutions in further-
as.w of the ob. for which it was wormed were acme-
nvonaly
Musson OF PATENTS, SOIITH KENSINnTON...•
Number of visitors for the week ending May 25, 5.011.
Total number since the opening of the museum free daily
(May 12, 11168), b. ,JO5.