The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-11 00:00:00

The Manchester New Exchange,

The provision of a new and larger building in the
place of the present Royal Exchange is a subject
that primarily affects the present proprietors. It is
for them to consider the pecuniary element of the
question, and to secure from all diminution a divi-
dend upon which not a few rely. This duty is
clear and indisputable. Again, the proprietors, by
their Committee, have the power to deal with their
present property precisely as they please, and with-
the site they acquire they may do the same. This
right is equally clear, and will not be questioned.
The erection of a new Exchange is, therefore,

secure from such a controversy as has often
been known in Manchester as " the battle of the
sites." The site in the present instance has
been obtained, and every one admits that no better
could be suggested. Nevertheless, while interference
from outside is impossible, a question so important
as one affecting the very centre and temple of the
staple trade of the cotton districts may fairly be
discussed by the general public, and any practical
suggestions touching a modification of the present
scheme will doubtless have the fullest attention of
the Exchange proprietary. Many, if not most, of
the shareholders are citizens of Manchester, and
eonsequently have a personal interest in the im-
provement of the city. As their scheme stands no
improvement is contemplated, except so far as the
new buildings may be superior to the block of
which Newall's Buildings are the centre. Indeed
we may say that some public inconvenience will
result if the present plan is carried out. Exchange-
street, where are already important shops, and which
is also the main approach to St. Ann's Square, is
now much too narrow a thoroughfare for the neces-
sary traffic. It is proposed to construct a
row of shops on the east side of that
street, in the existing Exchange building, which,
by their locality, would be among the first retail
business premises in the city. This would greatly
increase the carriage traffic, and the extreme
inconvenience that would result can be easily
imagined. The City Council have readily and
liberally granted the Exchange Committee all they
asked. The latter have permission to absorb Crow
alley, and a guarantee that they shall not be op-
posed if they desire to avail themselves of every
square yard now covered by the buildings between
Market-street, Bank-street, Cross-street, andDucie-
place. The Council have done more—they have
expressed a desire (not collectively,. it is
true, but by several members), that if any
public improvements can be effected, the Corpo-
ration should approach the Exchange Com-
mittee in a liberal spirit. It remains for the Ex-
change proprietary to reciprocate this feeling. We
trust that at the meeting to-day a disposition will
be evinced to meet the Corporation half way, and
to do everything that can be done for the public
advantage compatible with those vested interests of
the shareholders to which we have already alluded.
To our thinking, a feasible proposition,
worthy of the fullest consideration, was tha.t
put forth by Mr. Alderman Neill at the
last meeting of the City Council. ' Let
the new structure extend from a line with
India Buildings, Cross-street, to a line parallel

with the west side of Exchange-street, leaving that
street as wide as the Square. By this scheine about
half the site of the present building would be given
up to the public, and the other half incorporated in
the new building. The new Exchange would ab-
sorb Ducie Place, and relinquish a somewhat larger
plot, the transfer being made pro rata, and the
difference paid by the Corporation. The Exchange
Committee may think that this plan would give
them more space than they require. But their
scheme only proposes an increased area of 71 per
cent. upon the present building, which, with an
increase of subscribers at 10 per cent. per an-
num (last year it was 25 per cent. over
the previous year), would' be fully availed of in
less than eight years. If, however, the enlarged
site we have named was too large, the
same roof might- cover a public room, larger
than the Town Hall and less than the Free-
trade Hall, which is very much wanted in the
centre of the city ; or shops might be constructed in
the Exchange-street front in such a manner as to
be thrown into the building if required at some
future time. These are matters of some detail,
which cannot be decided at once ; but they are
worthy of the most mature consideration before '
anything is finally ordered.
Another main consideration is the architectural
style of the new building. This age cannot be con-
tent for use to divorce beauty. In the Assize Courts
we have a notable instance of the harmonious
union of the two ; and a city with such a build-
ing must not have anything less worthy as the
spot which represents to all the world the
source and centre of our commercial wealth and
greatness. The Exchange proprietors and their
committee will, we doubt not, remember their duty
to their fellow-citizens in this matter ; and it may
fairly be expected of them that they will adopt such
a course in the selection of their architect as will se-
cure the best design of which their outlay will ad-
mit—Manchester Guardian.

At the meeting of the council of the Miners'
National Association, held at Wigan on Monday,
some interesting particulars in reference to the miners were
made known. The Wigan colliers were said to be very
desirous of avoiding strikes in future, and with this aim
they purpose renting a colliery, and working it on the co-
operative principle. Coal cutting machines were reported
to be failures. The Scotch miners have begun a movement
for reducing the time of work to eight hours a day, and the
prospects of the men are favourable. In two counties the
principle has been adopted. On the whole, the condition
of the miners was pronounced to be satisfactory.
EXTRAORDINARY INSTANCE OF HOARDING MONEY.
—A few days ago a.working man of Lewes (one of
whose aged parents died a short time before), presented
himself at the bank of Messrs. Whitfield and Co., and in-
quired the rate of interest for deposits. Having been satis-
fied upon this point, he emptied upon the counter a basket
of gold, which was found to be of no less than 1,1501. in
value, the coins consisting of sovereigns and half sovereigns.
The bankers were very naturally somewhat surprised to
receive such a deposit from so unexpected a character. The
explanation, however, was soon tendered. The depositor's
parents, industrious, steady people, it seemed, had been
accumulating this sum during the whole of their lifetime
(having lived considerably beyond the span of threescore
years and ten), and had carefully kept it secreted at the
bottom of a large clothes-box in their cottage. The death
of the wife rendering an alteration in the domestic
arrangements necessary, brought to the knowledge of the
surprised family the fact of their accumulated wealth, and
led to its being deposited in a place of greater security, and
wider more profitable circumetancee.—Sußeo Advertiser,

tart ,4 0
4„,,athit

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Jan. 10.

Her Majesty and her Royal Highness Princess
Helena drove out yesterday afternoon, attended by
Colonel Ponsonby.
Her Royal Highness Princess Louise also drove,
attended by Countess Blucher.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Nemours
and the Princess Margaret and Blanche of Orleans
arrived at Osborne yesterday afternoon. The duke
left Osborne this morning ; the princesses remain
on a visit to her Majesty.