The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-08 00:00:00

INCENDIARISM IN YORKSHIRE.

At the Epiphany Sessions for the East Riding, held on
Tuesday, the magistrates held a long discussion upon the
subject of the recent numerous incendiary fires in the stack-
yards of the Yorkshire Wolds, not one of which had been
traced to its author. The chief constable stated the measures
he had taken to trace the origin of the fires, one of which
was the employment of detectives, which the Police Com-
mittee sanctioned, and also resolved that the extra expenses
should be paid from the police fund. The appended com-
munication was read, received from the Home-office :--
"Whitehall, Jan. 1, 1864. Sir,—I am directed by Secre-
tary Sir George Grey to inform you that, having been in
communication with Lieut.-Col. Woodford, her Majesty's
Inspector of Constabulary for the Northern district, on the
subject of the incendiary fires, which have of late occurred
in the East Riding, he has received a report from that
officer, recommending that a temporary increase should be
made in the members of the constabulary force, and that the
county magistrates should taken into consideration the pro-
priety of further dividing the Riding into police districts,
co-extensive with the remaining petty sessional division of
the Act 3 and 4 Victoria, cap. 88, sec. 27.—1 am, Sir, your
obedient servant, H. WADDINGTON. C. W. Strickland,
Esq., chairman of Quarter Sessions, East Riding of York."
The Hon. Admiral Duncombe said it seemed singular that,
although the first fire of the series occurred in the first week
in October, information was only sent to the Secretary of
State on the 15th of December. The reason was the inabi-
lity of the committee to sanction any measures that might
be adopted for the suppression of the fires. He was of opi-
nion that an extra expenditure should be agreed to, and that
if detectives were employed they should not be subjected to
interference from the police. Lord Wenlock explained that
he wrote to Government on the 16th or 17th of December,
urging the offer of £lOO reward and a free pardon
to any accomplice. In answer to this request there
were now two detectives employed in investigating the
fires, and he hoped the farmers would aid them as much as
possible. There could not be two opinions about the fre-
quent recurrence of these crimes being a disgrace to the
Riding. His Lordship had undertaken to visit every place
where a fire had occurred, and took the occasion to deny
the truth of the rumour that an ill feeling existed between
masters and servants. From the servants themselves he
learnt that wages were higher, rather than lower, and that
the condition of the working population of the Wolds was
one of comparative comfort. Wages were Bs. per week,
with meat, and 14s. to 15s, otherwise. The Police Com-
mittee's report was then agreed to, and the trials of pri-
soners proceeded. The North Riding Sessions were held
the same day. The only subject of importance was a de-
bate upon the recommendation of the Police Committee to
continue the teasing of oakum in substitution for the
treadwheel. The light but monotonous labour of oakum-
picking was most trying, and some old offenders greatly
preferred to work at the wheel. An amendment was pro-
posed to return to the wheel, but was lost, the report being
carried by a considerable majority.

REGISTERED LETTERS FOR JERUSALEM.—AB
the regulations of the French Post-office do not
allow of registered letters for Jerusalem being sent vie
France, all letters addressed to Jerusalem which the
writers desire to register, will, in future be sent via
Belgium and Germany, and the rate of postage
applicable to letters forwarded by that route must
be prepaid upon them, viz. :—Nut exceeding 1- oz, is ld ;
above oz, and not exceeding 1 oz, 2s 2d ; above 1 oz, anct
not exceeding 2 ozs, 4a 4d; every ounett after the first, 2s
2d. In addition to this postage, a registered tee of Gd
must be paid in advance upon registered letters for Jeru-
salem.—By command of the Postmaster-General, Plow-
LAND HILL, Secretary.
SIR. JAMES OUTRAM.—At a meeting of the Town
Council of Aberdeen, on Monday afternoon, Provost
Anderson suggested that he should be authorised to com-
municate with the committee at present making arrange-
ments for erecting a statue to the memory of Sir James
Outram, pointing out the claims of Aberdeen to be the site
of the monument, seeing that the " Bstyard of India" had
received his education in. Aberdeen, and spent a good deal
of his early life there. The proposal -gas secluded 17 the
Dean of Guild, and unanimously agreed to.