The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-30 00:00:00

The Dispute in the Building Trades.

The Birmingham Post, of Saturday, says :—" We
are glad to be able to state that there is an imme-
diate prospect of a settlement upon an apparently
permanently basis of all questions in dispute between
the masters and operatives in the building trade.
The discharge note, as our readers are aware, was
withdrawn a week since, and in the resolution with-
drawing it the masters expressed themselves willing
to meet a deputation from the men to discuss differ-
ences and agree upon a set of rules to be binding
on both sides in the event of any further disputes.
No notice of this resolution was officially communi-
cated to the men ; they only heard of it through
the medium of the press. They held a meeting
upon the subject, however, and wisely determined
to communicate with the masters and ascertain
whether the uncontradicted information pub-
lished last Saturday was accurate. Accordingly
the operatives' secretary wrote to the masters'
secretary, asking for an interview between deputa-
tions from both bodies ; and that interview being
granted, the meeting took place on Friday. The
masters were represented by Messrs. W. B. Briggs,
Blore, E. Barnsley, C. Jones, J. Hardwick, G.
Hohnes, and W. Matthews. The deputation from
the operatives consisted of Messrs. Price, Burton,
Burgess, French, Jones, Gould, Matthews, and Sayer.
The interview was of nearly two hours' duration,
and matters were discussed in a friendly spirit on
both sides. In reply to the men, the masters gave
an assurance that the discharge note had been un-
conditionally withdrawn, and stated that the reason
why the men received no notice of the fact was
that the masters were not aware of the existence
of a General Operatives Committee, which re-
presented the whole body of men on strike—they
only knew of the committees of Trades Societies,
and did not hold these to represent the whole body
of workmen. This question being disposed of, the
proposed meeting for a discussion of differences
came under consideration. After a lengthy conver-
sation, the following conclusions were arrived at
That the masters shall meet by themselves, next
Wednesday, to agree upon such rules for the regu-
lation of the trade as they may deem suitable, and
that the men shall meet and agree upon such rules
as they may deem suitable ; that early in the fol-
lowing week an equal number of masters and men,
appointed by their respective bodies, shall meet to
discuss these rules ; that in case of dispute, each side
shall choose a referee, and that the referees so
chosen shall choose an umpire, whose decision shall
be final ; and lastly, that the rules so agreed
upon between the representatives of the masters
and the representatives of the men shall be bind-
ing upon the whole trade, both masters and opera-
tives. These points being satisfactorily agreed upon,
the deputation stated that there was no reason why
the whole of the men should not return, and that
they should advise them to do so on Monday morn-
ing. There being still a question in the minds of
the men as to the three mouths' notice which it was
agreed some time since should be given before any
alteration in trade rules could come into force, the
masters ;were asked whether they considered that
rule to be still in force, and, if so, whether the pre-
sent arrangement ought not to be carried out with-
out any prejudice to the men in that respect. The
masters replied that they did not consider the rule
to be in force ; and it seemed to be generally agreed
upon that all previously existing rules were now null
and void, awaiting re-modelling at the hands of the
forthcoming Conference."

Lifeboat Services•

PAR, CORNWALL, Sunday Night.

During a heavy gale of wind from S. by W. this morn-
tng (reports Mr. W. E. Geach) the Falvey lifeboat of the
National Institution put off to the assistance of a French
lugger, then lying at anchor on the lee shore of St. Austell
Bay, having a signal of distress flying. As soon as the
vessel was discerned by the Coastguard at daybreak the
lifeboat was launched, and under the command of her able
and energetic coxswain, W. Heath, having also on board Mr
Geo.Reddett, chief officer of the Polkcrris Coastguard Stit-
tion, proceeded to the assistance of the vessel and crew. The
sea was running high and the windblAing a gale. The lug-
ger hung heavily on her cables, which wore expected to
part on tho approach of every sea. The coxswain and
chief officer boarded and took the command_ the
/,...iguig on to windward. Sail was immediately set, the
anchors shipped, and the vessel was brought safely into
Par Harbour. A galley from Polkorris also put off, and to
show the great danger her crew incurred in attempting to
cross the bay in such weather, as soon as they got on board
the ship their boat was instantly capsized and lost. So
rough was the sea in crossing the bay to Par that no other
than a lifeboat could have lived in such weather. The
vessel proved to be the La Maria Francois, Le Pore Sam-
son, Arthur Jeangert, master, 67 tons, four men, from
Portsmouth to Par in ballast.

NOBLE Grrrs.—The following special gifts, for the pur-
chase of the lifeboats hereinafter named, were presented
last year to the National Lifeboat Institution.:—Berwick-
on-Tweed, Bridlington, Cardigan, and Carmarthen Bay,
collected in' Manchester. by Messrs. R. Whitworth, J. G.
Bell, and Rev. E. Hewlett, £940 10s. 10d. ; Alnmouth,
Miss Wardell, £.1120 ; Redcar, Messrs. John Crossley and
Sons, £3OO ; Whitby, No. 2, Dr. H. W. Watson, £lBO ;
Donna Nook, Robert How, Esq., and Miss How, £350 ;
Thoddlethorpo, Mrs. B. Caslako, £350 ; Sutton, collected
in Birmingham, £250 ; Skognoss, friends of the late Her-
bert Ingram, Esq., M.P., £205 ss. ; Dover, collected in
Wiltshire, by Capt. N. J. Reed, R.N., £435105. 9d. ; Poole,
a lady, £5OO ; Penzance, J. C., £250 ; Sennen Cove,
Mrs. M. A. Davis, £3OO ; Padstow, collected in
Bristol, by Capt. R. Tregor, R.N., £570 ; Newquay
(Cardigan), Ancient Order of Foresters, £255
lls. 3d. ; Porthdinllaen, Lady Cotton Sheppard and
Friends, £250; Holyhead and New Brighton, Joseph
Leather, Esq., £662 15s. ; Blackpool, Mrs. and Miss Ilop-
kins, £250 ; Piel, Commercial Travellers' Lifeboat Fund,
£250; Girvan, Alexander Kay, Esq., £4OO ; London-
derry, J. T. Allcroft, Esq., £250 ; Tranmore, Cambridge
University Boat Club, £250 ; Ardmore, a Friend, £3OO ;
Valentia, a Lady, £5OB. Making a total of £8,327 Us. 10d.
As oath lifeboat station requires £5O a-year, to keep it in
a state of efficiency, the institution must necessarily require
a large annual income to maintain its 140 lifeboats, which
are now stationed on various parts of the coasts of -the
United Kingdom, and which save every year nearly 600
lives from shipwreck.

Extraordinary Case of Arson and Forgery at

Derby.

At the Derby Police-court on Saturday last, before the
Mayor and other magistrates, David Gray, eating-house
keeper, Sadler-gate, Derby, was brought up on remand
charged with setting fire to his premises on the Bth of
January last, for the purpose of getting the insurance
money.

Mr. Leech appeared for the prosecution, high-acted by
the Notts and Derby Insurance Company and the Western
Insurance Company.

Inspector Fearn and several of the police force were called
to prove that the fire took place, and also narrated the sus-
picious circumstances attached to it.

Mr. Edward Cozens Smith, sub-manager of the Com-
mercial Union Fire-office, London, said prisoner effected an
insurance with their office at Lady-day, 1863, for £3OO
upon his furniture, stock, Ste.; he then lived at 8, John-
street, Upper North-street, Poplar New Town, and de-
scribed himself as a flour and hop merchant. He knew
that he was insured in the London Corporation Office at
the same time for £7O. On the 28th April, 1863, he had
a fire, and the London Corporation Company paid him £5
for his loss. At Christmas, 1863, prisoner took out a
policy in the Commercial Union Office for the sum of
£4BO on his furniture, stock, &c. He then resided at Cot-
ton-street, Limehouse. On the Ist Feb., 1864, a fire took
place, and prisoner sent in a claim for £155, which was
paid him.

Mr. Bower, London manager of the Leeds and Yorkshire
Insurance Office, said that on the 23d March, 1864, pri-
soner insured his stock and furniture with them for £350.
He then resided at No. 6, Cross-street, Blackfriars-road.
On the Bth June a fire took place, and prisoner received
£267 17s. 6d.
Mr. Shakespeare, Derby agent of the Western Insurance
Company, said prisoner insured with him last midsummer
for £250, and in November last extended it to £350. After
the fire on the Bth of January last the whole of his effects
was valued at £BO.
A great deal of evidence having boon given the prisoner
was committed for trial at the next Derbyshire assizes, bail
being refused. He was then charged with forging a.cheque
fcr £63 9s. 4d. on the it
W 1 he
chapel branch of the Loudon
and Westminster Bank. The cheque was the order of John
same ei ng
assizes a forgery,
ou the
this
Williams, and made payable to David Gray. The prisoner
attempted several times in Derby to get the cheque cashed;
but without success.
tgiven
t o o ft
the s b
prisEovniderencweasalso
having
encobienmid
charge.

At the ordinary general meeting of the Ocean
Marine Insurance Company, held this day at the
London Tavern, the report, which was adopted, re-
commended the payment of the usual dividend of
ss. per share on the paid-up capital, and a bonus of
Xl'per share, both free of income tax.