The Express.
London, England, 1861-06-25 00:00:00

ARCHITECTS.

GENTLENT2C,—You are aware that for several years pest
differences have arisen between the contractors for building
operations and the masons of this metropolis with regard to
the hours of labour and the mode of payment, which
differences have led to strikes on the port of the men, and to
a general lockout on the part of the contractors, which
they admit to have cost them 300,00131., and by which they
subjected the men to considerable privations and loss. At
the present time an innovation has been introduced
by the contractors in their mode of payment which
the masons look upon as most objectionalje, and feel it
due to their interest to resist. Thu result is a general
strike of the whole body throughout London, which
threatens to extend to all the trades engaged in building
operations. It has been suggested to us that this dispute
ringbt be settled by arbitration. Being fully aware of your
intimate knowledge of everything in connexion with building
matters, of your everyday experience in arbitration, and,
the high position whichthe Institute holds in the profemion,
it occurs to as that your council is the fittest body to whom
we could refer the dispute. We, therefore, convened a
general meeting of the masons of London, at Wilcox's
Rooms, Lambeth, on the 22nd instant, when it
was unanimously resolved, that your council be solicited
to appoint a committee before which we are prepared to
offer evidence, and answer any questions which may enable
you to arrive at a just and equitable settlement of the
question at bane, if the contractors on their part consent so
a similar investigation. We are led to adopt this course,
not because we have any doubt of our ability to resist suc-
cessfully this infringement on our privileges, but knowing
the reasonable nature of our demands, and judging from
the justice and wisdom that must necessarily characterise
a committee selected by you, wo feel that you will come
to a decision which the masons can cheerfully accept, and
which will have the effect of restoring that peace and good
feeling between us and our employers which we so much
desire.—Signed on behalf of the committee,
R. THOMAS, Secretary.
Sun Inn, Hamm-street, Westmioster•bridge•road,
Lambeth, June 24.
- -

Yesterday evening an important meeting took place at
Radley's Hotel, to consider the steps necessary to be taken
by the masters in face of the determined combination of the
trades unions against them. There were present nearly the
whole of the leading firms, employing nine-tenths of the
building labour of the metropolis ; the senior partner of the
firm of Cubitt and Co., of Gray's-inn-laue, presiding. After
a short discussion, it was resolved, without • single dis-
sentient voice, that on and after the lit of July nest the
system of payment by the hour, which hai been found to
work so advantageously with the great firms that have
already adopted it, should be carried into effect by all
employers as the rule for all their business engagements for
the future.

Feeling that an unjust inference may arise from
the evidence given in the Divorce Court of "Comptes
v. Compton and Baring," Mr. B. Webster writes to a
contempoiary to state that during his management of the
Haymarket and Adeiphi Theatres (24 years) "gentlemen" have
not been permitted behind the scenes. " Such a system,"
adds Mr. Webster, "I am and always have been strongly
opposed to, and I believe such to be the exec in all theatres
devoted exclusively to the English drama."

THE WAKEFIELD ELECTION.—M 7, Smethurst,
the liberal candidate, is now in Wakefield, and bas issued
an address, in which he says—" My political principles are
those of a sincere liberal, anxious to see the constitutioa
this country in harmony with the. progressive ideasaud ma-
tured intelligence of the times to which we live. lam
an advocate fur such • measure of parliamentary reform
as would at least insure a fair and impartial represen-
tation of all interests and classes in the House
of Common; and as a practical means for realising
this result I should give my earnest support to such a
measure as that proposed by her Majesty's government lad
year. Etatertainum also as I do the firm conviction that
every elector should be free and unfettered in the deliberate
exercise of the right of voting, I would rind irate that right;
so far as human means can do so, by the protection of the
ballot. I am an earnest advocate for civil and religious
liberty, and though • staunch and attached member of the
church of Ragkied, I would have no other religious commu-
nity taxed for her support, and would therefore vote for the
abolition of all compulsory church rates."
THE FATAL ACCIDENT IN Moon-STREET.—Tho
adjourned inquest on the body of the barmaid who lost her
life by the explosion of a burning task of rum was con-
cluded before Mr. Bedford yesterthil. Several persons were
examined who had been in front o the cask when the acci-
dent took place. It appeared from what they stated that it
was placed before the bar, and some feet from a jet at which
customers were accustomed to light their pipes. No trace,
however, could be found of the way in which it caught
fire. he top of the ask suddenly blew up, and at
the same time a large volume of flame burst out. In
the confusion of the moment the cask was overturned, and
the flames, spreading on all sides, sot the premises on fire.
Mr. Findlay, the proprietor, said that the rum, of whit&
there were 20 gallons, was ;t3 degrees above proof. and
that it was a common practice for licensed victuallers to
allow such casks to stand in front of the bar until it could
be conveniently removed to the cellar. The coroner sad
jury condemned the practice in very strong terms. A Tx-
diet of " Accidental death" was pronounced.
SEVERE STORM NEAR STALYBRIDoE.—LOea 07
LIFIL—A very severe storm of rain took place at Staly-
bridge and neighbourhood, about five o'clock on Sunday
afternoon' accompanied with vivid flashes of lightning sad
loud claps of thunder. The river Tame, which runs through
Stalybridge, rose to a considerable height, and the rain came
down in such torrents for some time that the waive were
unable to receive it, and many places were Hooded in Maly-
bridge and Dukinfield. During the storm, the electric
fluid struck the house of Richard Gill, neilmaker, of St.
John's Wood, Hyde, on the Dnkinticld isle of Staly-
bridge. Richard Gill, aged twelve years, the son of the
owner of the house, was seated nearly °moils the fire-
place in the kitchen, and another boy, nainel Jamb Water-
house, aged thirteen, was sitting beside him. They were
both knocked insensible, the former for a short time, and
the latter for about three been. A Inns named Charles
Loftus, as well as several others, had most marvellous es-
capes. Loftus bad the left arm of hie jacket and his shirt
sleeve torn in tatters : but, except the shock he received,
no injury whatever. A man named Frank Riley was blown
a considerable distance, and Gill, the owner el
the house, was knocked down as if he had
receiveda heavy blow on the head. The ligbtciog struck
a tarrnhowie at Moorgate, Staley, about three miles
from Stalybridge, in the occupation of Mr. JAM'. Wawa.
In the parlour there were assembled, about 5 o'clock ce
Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Wilson, a son awl daughter, and
two little girls, Mr. Wilson being in the tolso.ite TOM Icing
on a sofa, and the rest of the family and domestics in other
parts of the house. Hannah L Wilsou, aged 15, had just
returned from the Staley Sunday Schierl, itteiineauied by
the two girls, and was sitting under the parlour wioilow,
reading her Bible, when the house was street,. Mr. Wilsoli
entered the room, and saw his child 'Stine exactly as he
bad left her, excepting that the face was turned toaards
the lobby. She appeared to him to have fainted, and be
raised her in hie arms and carried her into the lobbe, when
some water was procured, but she merely seemed to breathes
and was dead in less than a minute, there being net, the
least indication that she had been struck with the might

ning.
SERIOI7B RalLwaY ACCIDENT IN IRELAND.—The
following account of a serilMlS accident that took plan, on
the Midland Great Western Railway appears in the Dublin
papers :—On Saturday evening All accident meurreil on this
line, which, so far as we have been able to ascertain uP to
the present, might have rerulted in very terrible cease-
quences, were it not for the providential miniver in whi.l
they were averted. As it is, the matter is serious enough,
and although we are happy to say we hare
not learnt of any sacrifice of h.inian
life—
except the rumour of oue men being killed -
yet we believe that several ner-ons aro much injured. The
facts are these :—A special train left Team at loslhio4
9 o'clock on Saturday evening. containing between WO
and 700 harvest labourers. On arriving at two miles wet,
of the Eolield station, the driver discorrel that bad
run out of water, and he aomnlingly drew up, slid di-ece*
fleeting the engine, proceeded to the station, leaving the
train behind on the main up line. While it was thus wait'
lug with the guard in charge, the cattle train from !Oat
fair was seen approaching at a speed of fully twenty soles
an hour. Owing to a very acute curve at this partial; al the
line, the guard was unable to communicate with the darer
of the cattle train in sufficient time to stop it. Still, forte'
stately, the driver was able, by taking prompt steps, millet
off the steam, reverse the engine, pot on the Limbo. sod
thus being the speed to about six miles an hour. While
was travelling at this rate it acme iu upon the Town train
and • serious collision took place. Seven
np:rsons veeired
slight injuries, and both train* were, it is said. great/
broken. The sufferers were attended by Dr. Fergtoon
dreamed their wounds, and hail them sent up to Dahlia.
They wore taken on their arrival in town to Jervis•treat
and the Richmond Hospitals, where, we are happy to date.
it was found that their injuries were of a trivial character,
and arising principally from the shock caused by the Co'
ousioo.
_ _

CH:FETAL PALACE. ONE SEILLINO DAT."'
SEMITE AOCEET OP M. MANDEL—MONO tP, MICE 24.
A.lminiomi an pa meat, ; ditto by WWII ticket's
t,945 ; tots!. 17,968.