The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-11 00:00:00

lIIONMASTEI?S' QUARTERLY MELTING.

WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.-1 he usual quarterly
meetings of the ironmasters of this district for the cur-
rent quarter commenced at Walsall yesterday. The
second meeting was held here this afternoon. There
was a thinner attendance than usual, and very little
business was transacted. The trade is in a languid
state, there are no orders in from America, and as re-
gards the price of manufactured iron the resolution
adopted at the preliminary meeting has been aban-
doned ; and there is a general concurrence on the part
of the trade to reduce bars 405. per ton on the last
quarter-day's prices, the fall on other descriptions of
iron being in proportion. That the trade is in a de-
pressed state cannot be concealed ; but the best in-
formed members of it agree that there is little cause
for despondency. There are no stocks of iron of any
kind on hand, for, unlike former periods of languor,
all through the last quarter the mills and forges were
kept going not more than half time ; and the opinion is
very strongly entertained that another two mouths will
bring about a change for the better in American com-
mercial affairs, a circumstance which would instantly
impart renewed vitality to the iron trade, especially as
the States, not having been importing iron during the
last three months, must of necessity have been exhaust-
ing. Prior to the public assembly to-day a very important
meeting of the pig masters was held at the Swan Hotel.
The object was to consider the expediency of reducing
the make of pig-iron 20 per cent. during the present
quarter. About three-fourths of the furnaces of the
district were represented, and with one dissentient voice
only it was agreed that to reduce the make to the ex-
tent proposed would tend greatly to restore the trade
to a healthy state ; but before coming to any formal de-
cision on the subect, it was agreed to adjourn the
meeting for a week in order that the opinions of such of
the pigroasters as were absent might be taken. The
present average price of hot-blast mine pigs of Stafford-
shire make is 4/. 10s.; of cold-blast, five guineas per
ton. Ironstone ranges from 13a. to 205., and coal fully
maintains its price, which is to some extent attributable
to the fact that the quantity raised is very much lessened
by reason of the difficulty experienced in getting the
miners to work ; on au average they will not work more
than 3 days a week, and some of the pits are almost at
a stand. Up to the present time the wages paid to the
mill and forgemen have been kept up to the same stand-
ard as when all descriptions of manufactured iron was
at least 2/. a ton higher than it now is ; the present
scale cannot, however, any longer be maintained, and it
was intimated to-day that a general reduction would take
place immediately. The demand for tin plates is brisker
than it was on last quarter day; the present price is 325.
GI to 335. per box, delivered at Liverpool.

"A reader of the Times noticing this advertise nent
in this, day's edition, and thinking it bears the appear-
ance of relationship to the extraordinary curious ones
brought under the investigation of Alderman Wilson
at the Mansion-house, begs to bring th© same under
his attention.
"'Carlisle Parade, Hastings, Jan. 8, 1855."
Alderman Wilson—Did you trace that advertisement
to any person ?
Haydon—l did, to Mr. Wardroper.
Alderman Wilson said he was satisfied that Mr.
Wardroper was the dupe of some designing persons,
who were endeavouring to make a profit by putting
his name forward in a speculation which must ulti-
mately result in-disappointment.
Sir R. W. Carden would not suppose that Mr.Ward-
roper was entirely blameless upon the occasion under
whatever influence•he might have acted. It was evident
that he had caused the advertisements to be inserted, and
that his vessel in which he was, although a miserable
invalid about to sad himself on the 13th or 14th of the
month, had not, by his own acknowledgment, been
chartered on the 6th. It was also remarkable that ho
was not present at the present moment according to the
understanding which existed between him and Alderman
Wilson. The publication of the matter had done good.
He had received the following letter from Nottingham
on the 9th inst., upon the subject :
" Honoured Sir,—Having a son, a non-commissioned
officer, serving in the Crimea, and wishing, in connexion
with other friends, to send a few necessary comforts to
him, I saw an advertisement in the Morning Advertiser
which led me to write to a Mr. Wardroper, who has in
reply forwarded to me the papers I now enclose. The
box would certainly have started off to-morrow had it
not been I,r the inquiry into this case, which, I believe,
you have mainly promoted, and which I read in yester-
day's Times.
"I beg to thank you for your most useful exertions in
this and many similar matters, which so deeply affect
the interests of the masses, less informed on these sub-
jects than ycurself.
" Sir Robert, I am your obliged, obedient servant,
"Sir R. W. Carden." "JOHN THOMPSON.
TAhleapeplraalenee4enir,sawsalluded to were precisely similar to those
sent by Mr. Wardroper to Mr. Aldridge, but that which
inclosed a list of the charges was not signed " W.
Wardroper." son.
quite enough had been his surprise thaiatilsr;elnf.
took
y,s;?..doffredcoteudietnitulecehpugobloide.ation of what Mr. Bardswell supported his previous application to
set aside the petition for adjudication against Mr. E.
Sir H. W. Carden
that After den • the truth of various reports, which
etc„,otuedldtono.utsthierl,pl emxapgriesstsriant: Oliver and the whole of the sulesequent proceedings.
Wardroper was not present, and denying
alleged that the creditors were desirous of having the
it? compelling that gentleman's attendiancea't the Man• estate administered through the Court of Bankruptcy,
sion-house, the question being one of immense public he proceeded to argue the case, relying upon an_ inter-
im
Aldermanp o r t infer-
importance.
c e .
Wilson said it was clear that there had been trnhaelibtaYniknrutip'et
quite enough stated to justify the application of Mr.
e should sti3:l remain eibntei,tis. neglecting to state for what
Mr. Evans admitted that the petition was not made
Aldridge, t ,whom he considered the communi t
very great obligations. The ca,s
the hands of the police, the most active and intelligent
officers of which would watch and investigate it in filed the pe on
eunder
hid
prescribedt
tfiorminantidleaffiterriteisZtaainneine,g
htheastaihde,
he could better his client
with the sent form, and did not think strictest care. inasmuch as he could not
.sustain the petition in its pre-
;by seeking to emend and set himself right, he did not Mr. Aldridge said—ln thanking your worship for the ' think he otnehl further to resist Mr. Bardswell's motion. complimentary remarks passed upon me for bringing !If his honour were induced tai amend the petition, it
this extraordinary case before the public, in the doing of would leave his client with difficulties to contend with
which I feel I have only done that which is 'conshitent elsewhere, and he considered it the safer course to advise
with the duty of every subject, allow me to say that the him to withdraw.
public are not more indebted to me than to Alderman His Honour declined to give his decision until to-day
Wilson, for the ready hearing of ray statement, and for (Wednesday), ;when he declared the adjudication set
the immediate assistance in sifting to the foundation this aiide, and the petition void.

MR EDWARD OLIVER'S CASE.

THE ADJUDICATION ()F BANKRUPTCY SET

ASIDE.

LIVERPOOL, Wednesday. —Yesterday morning the case
of Mr. Oliver came before the Court of Bankruptcy, in
this town, presided over by Mr. Commissioner Steven.