The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-20 00:00:00

THE LONDON DISTRICT TELEGRAPH

COMPANY.

In their report for the past half-year the directors
of the above company state that they anticipated they
would have been enabled to have announced the completion
of the principal portion of the London District Telegraph
system. In consequence, however, of the wet season that
has since intervened. followed by the very severe front,
unexpected delays hare occurred in carrying on the works.
Fifty-two stations are now open for messages, being as
increase of fourteen since the bet report, and twenty-one
more will be ready for opening very sly, The greater
portion of these new stations are being worked with only •
slight addition to the previous staff ; and there are sufficient
clerks, either qualified or in training, to open the
twesty.oue stations with a trilling increase for
Le. The unavoidable preliminary expenses liris=
bees fully considered at previous meetings, it now
remains for the director+ to submit to the propels-
tors their views as to the development sod future working
of the undertaking. Upon comparing the receipt' for the
two past haWyears, it appears that there is an increase at
507!. 3d. The directors consider this to be • satisfac-
tory prou, that the public are beginning to appreciate the
isWertakiog even in its present iocomplete state. The ex-
perience of the past year has shown that sonic rearrange.
merit of the tariff was desirable. The original charge
was 4d. fora niesesge of ten wonls, but it was found that this
scale did not allow a sufficient number of words, and there
was a cossequent increased charge for the message. It was,
thereon', thomcht advisable to iucrease the number ad
words to fifteen, at • minimum charged Gd. A scale far
beyond the limit of free deliveries bee also been
adopted,
,tint this will gradually be 10, oiled us additional
statics' are opened, except for very remote distncta, sad
the directors believe that the public do cot think these
alteratives unreasonable. With regard to the venous atm
tuns now at work or to be opened, many of them
are, of course, experimental, and the directors have
' therefore decided that, unless a statics be found to be
ppaying its working expenses, after being open • reason-
able time, it will be eloped, unless special arrangenieste can
be mole for working it profitably, or a load guarantee pro-
vided for the expenses. The directors have decided to com-
mence advertising the advantages of the company, and they
take. this opportunity of suggestieg to the shareholders
the desirability of doing all in their power to make the
undertaking known. in IltklitlOU to the works now is
proper, the directors have completed arrangement" for the
emotion and working of several private telegraphs on re-
munerative teem to this company. A considerable amount
is still doe for calls. the payment of which the directors
have hitherto refrained from enforcing ; but as some of the
shareholders have objected to these amounts being left out-
standing, the directors have now no alternative but to
take the necessary steps to compel payment. In con-
clusion, the directors state that the working arrangements
with the canons other telegraph compeers', whereby as
interchange of provincial sod continental manages is se-
cured, to the advantage of the compauy, and the
convenience of the public, continue must
Pursuant to the articles of sasociation, two el the direc-
tors, Mr. Samuel Gurney, M.P., and Mr. Charles Reynolds,
retire from the board, but being eligible, offer themselves
for re-election. The auditors. Mr. Morris Chubb and Mr.
Edward Sandell, likewise retire, and offer themselves for
re-election.

intsci OP THE HERO, AND LOSS OP SEVEN
LIVES.

On Monday afternoon it blew strong, and the
sisThatlignidually oacrosaed to a gale from S.S.E., which pre.
throughout the night. The harbour of Peli-
sses we crowded with shipping. The flowing tide,
urged by the gale, swept over the Extension (the meat
expound pert of the piers) in volumes, and about
II chits* we of four vessels attached to the moorings
furthest seaward broke adrift. It was the brig Hero, of
Bideford, Capt. Fowler, coal-laden, from Wales for Ply-
mouth, that has been here for some days windliound. Five
men (Melodies the captain) were on board ; and three of
the crew of another vessel jumped on board to assist.
A warp was gut out and miU fast, but parted, and the
ill-fated vessel fast drifted towards the rocks which lie out-
side the West Cornwall Railway seawall. The eight men,
seeing the fate that awaited the Hero, took to their boat,
but this frail craft was soon disabled, got into the breakers,
and was apart, in the sight of many eaves of spectators,
who witnessed the struggle from the piers, the moon at
times shining brightly.
The struggle was brief—indeed the whole affair was one
of a few minutes—awl seven of the eight sailors perished.
ooe was swept by an immense wave along the back of the
northern pier. Another such wave would have dashed him
against the railway wall, but he was caught by a brave
man, who descended the pier by some iron bars fixed in it,
and rescued the half-drowned nuoiner. We have not yet
been able to ascertain names or details. The wind mode-
rated this (Tuesday) morning, but the Hero—her masts gone
and feat breaking up—is a total wrerk. —Coro wit Telegnsph.

THE BLIMIESt RN WILSYRES ANDTMLIR EMPLOYERS
—The operstiven employed is the weaving departments
of Mmes. Ightittleworth sod Co. and Yr. William Birt-
wistle, Blackburn, coninimiced work at half-past eight
o'clock on Monday morning, on the operatives' terms, viz.
four days per week, at the reduced wages. It is said that
two or three other manufactories will resume work this
sore* on the sense terms. At Dames, in the afternoon,
• huge wthdosor sweeting was held, sad a nwolutices wee
endearingrati
the opeves' policy, and also denying Vied zareimod any dictation on their part It wee stated
at the IsesSimi that three manufactories had that morning
osesswtheed ran short time at the reduced ratoof wages;
that one ae two were to begin this morning, and
that the weevers mid others had bees requested to be in
milsaines for that wpm.