The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-29 00:00:00

THE BUILDIHLB' STRIKE

The deputation from the masons.' committee,
who waited by request upon some of the employers on
Friday last to discuss terms for an amicable settlement of the
dispute, made their report to the committee on Saturday.
They stated the interview lasted some hours. They in-
formed the employers they were instructed to make the
terms of the compromise previously offered by the men,
vii , 6e. per day of 10 hours for live days, with 3s. far Sa-
turday, commencing work at 6 sad leaving at 12, the basis
of aay agreement. With respect to the terms for the first
five days there was no difference of opinion ; but it was pc-
posed by the employers that the time for leaving work on
Saturday should be extended to 1 o'clock, the extra hour
being paid for as overtime, or that the hour of com-
mencing work should be seven o'clock instead of six, leay.
ing off at one. The deputation replied that the terms of
the compromise had been adopted by the men after mature
deliberation ; that in its favour the men had unreservedly
given up the demand for the nine hours, and met the
employers half way, and that they were not prepared to
extend their hours of working beyond 12 o'clock on
Saturday, even though they were offered double pay for
the extra hour. They also assured the employers the
compromise was offered in good faith, and with the desire
I to prevent any further disputes, so injurious to both parties,
and that they might feel satisfied there was no ulterior object
entertained by the men, provided the terms of the compromise
were given and acted upon in their integrity, that Sil firms
were now paying on the terms of the COMprOLTkillk and that
it would therefore be unfair to those firms to make any alter-
ation in favour of the large employers. The statemente and
arguments of the deputation were listened to attentively,
and the whole subject discussed fully and calmly. An
answer was promised in • few days. The Masters' Asso-
ciation will meet early this week at Messrs. Cubitt's, Gray's-
' inn-reed, at which me.iting, it is understood, the ultimatum
of the men will be taken into consideration, and if accepted,
as in the opinion of the deputation it will be, the dispute
will be brought to • speody conclusion.
On Saturday last Mr. Higgs, the contractor for the Chel-
sea barrack, upon which the Sappers have been employed
for the last few weeks, posted up notices on the works offt --
fog employment to 100 stonemasons on the hour system.
This, it is believed, Is preparatory to the withdrawal o! the
military artificers from the service of the contractor, leaving
him to his legitimate meoureas.

A Naw Hawn': as BLatimmtlaaa. —The Com-
mittee of the Corporation GI Lembo for the Bridge-bouse
Lands have had under their consideration for some time the
best mode of providing for the public convenience, which
has been somewhat jeopardised by tho state of the present
bridge. After much deliberation they det, -mined to call
upon the principal engineers in England for designs for •
new bridge, leaving them quite unfettered in their arrange-
ments and designs. The productions of these gentlemen,
and of some rising engineers who were desirous of bringing
forward their ideas voluntarily, have been under the con-
sideration of the committee, who, doubtless, have had
enough to think of, since the designs submitted to them
are not less than twelve in number, many of them most
elaborately drawn, with details of construction. The en.
Omen were Mr. Barlow, Mr. Brereton, Mr. C,oodcbild,
Mr. Brunlees, Mr. Joseph Cabal, Messrs. E. Bidder and
E. Clarke, Mr. It. W. Mylne (grandson of the architect of
the present bridge), Mr. Fowler, Mr. Hawkshaw, Mr. G.
Reouie, Sir John Rennie, and Mr. Page. Amid such a
varie.y of highly creditable designs by men of ackeow-
ledged talent, the committee were called upon to exercise
their best judgment, and on Saturday they finally decided
to select the design of Mr. Page, and appointed him the
imeneer for its construction.
DasTßucrivz Fiat.—Ou Saturday morning, be-
tween one ud two o'clock,• the, attended with great loss of
property, occurred at 211, Oxfordetreet, in the occupation of
Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Freukell, fancy repository. The in-
mates escaped, chiefly by means of the firemaipes. The
whole of the premises in which the fire originated are de-
stroyed, and the adjoining houses considerably damaged.—
Another fire broke out on the premises of Mr. Stokes, Bee.
borough-place, Harrow-road, Paddington, which it is feared
will be attended with loss of life. Mr. and Mrs. Stokes
were so severely burnt that tLey were conveyed to
Mary's Hospital, when they now remain in a precarious
situation.—A third fire happened at Mr. Richard Wil-
liams's, tailor, No. 21, William-street, Westminster,
which was bit extinguished until the shop and contents
were destroyed.