The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-19 00:00:00

THE NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE.

On Friday, Mr. Ayrton, M.P., the First Commissioner
of Works, publicly laid the chief corner stone of the new
General Post Office, an extensive and commodious edifice
of fine proportions, now in course of erection in St.
Martin's-le-Grand, in front of the existing establishment
there. The Marquis of Hartington, as Postmaster-General,
had expected to be present on the occasion, but was obliged
to forego his intention at the last moment. The cere-
mony, which was interesting in many respects, was
conducted in the presence of the heads and other principal
officers of the various administrative departments of the
General Post-office, including Mr. Tilley, the secretary
Mr. F. J. Scudamore, the second, and Mr. F. Hills, the
assistant secretary ; Mr. W. Page, Mr. A. Benthall, Mr.
R. Parkhurst, Mr. Baines, Mr. Baker, Dr. Waller
Lewis, Mr. Hobart, private secretary to the Postmaster-
General ; Mr. Ashurst, the solicitor, and Mr. R. W
Peacock, assistant-solicitor; Mr. George Chetwynd'
Receiver and Accountant - General ; Mr. John
Mitford, of the same department ; Mr. Farmer,
chief clerk in the Money - order office ; Mr.
Boucher, Controller of the Circulation Department
ment ; Mr. W. Rushton, chief clerk, and Messrs. If
Mellersh and J. C. Lovett, sub-controllers ; Mr. F. Salie
bury, postmaster of the eastern central district ; Mr
Wallicker, postmaster of Hull ; Mr. Gould, clerk Of
works ; Mr. Deputy White, and many more. The ne'n'
building will be of four storeys and have four fronts, two
each 286 ft. in length—one towards St. Martin's-le-Gland
'and the other in Bath-street ; and two each 144 ft. long--
one in Newgate-street and the other in Angel-street. It
will be faced with granite to the height of sft. ahovs the
pavement, and the superstructure will be of Portland
stone throughout. The first two storeys will be ono'
mented with Doric pilasters, and the two upper storeys
with Corinthian pilasters. The principal or centre' ell-
trance in St. Martin's-le-Grand will consist of a Doric
portico, surmounted by columns and an entablature of the
Corinthian order.

DOG DUTY.—The annual ss. tax was paid on
1,140,727 dogs in Great Britain in the financial year 1869'
70. In Ireland the tax is but 25., and about half A
million dogs are on the register.
THE REPRESENTATION OF MALLOW.—A rumour
is current that Mr. Waters, Q.C., brother-in-law of Lora
Chancellor O'Hagan, and member for Mallow, is about to
be provided for in a legal situation, possibly the chairman'
ship vacant by the death of Mr. Charles Shaw, in which
event it is believed that Major Knox would be ready once
more to contest the borough.

- -
4 MAN KILLED AT STOURBRIDGE.—A marl?
named Samuel Brooks, elnployed as a yardsman at Stour"
bridge, was found dead on the railway in that town, at
seven o'clock on Saturday morning. The body was dread-
fully mutilated, both hands and legs being cut off. It is
supposed that he stepped out of the way of a train on to
the down line, and was struck by a down train. Unfor'
tunately, he leaves a wife and family.
FISH FROM IRELAND.--11l the year 1869 11,060
boxes of salmon arrived at Liverpool from Ireland ; the
average contents of a box are stated at 18 fish, 1201 b. ;
8,880 boxes of salmon were delivered and sold in Billing's'
gate Market consigned from the Irish fisheries in 1869;
also 23,000 boxes and barrels of herrings, of the value of
£47,000; 8,800 boxes of mackerel, of the value of £17,400;
and 300 boxes of codfish, of the value of £B5O —Times:
SELF-REWARDING BENEFICENCE*--The Warden
and Fellows of New College, Oxford, have decided not to
hold a " gaudy" this year, and to devote to expenses at'
tendant on the festive gathering to the fund for aiding tho
sufferers in the present war. Their example has been fel'
lowed by the authorities of Magdalen College, who haTe.
notified that their annual Christmas-eve entertainment
will not be given, and that the amount so saved will be
devoted to the same good object.
PROPOSED TUNNEL UNDER SCARBOROUGH.--Th°
Scarborough Town Council, at the last monthly meeting'
remitted to a committee a proposal from Mr. J. F. Fair
bank, C.E., to unite the North Sands with the South Bel
by a tunnel under the town. The report of the COl'
mittee recommends that the council grant the application of
, onreceipt of plans and guarantee of subscription
capital, on condition that the work is completed i o
n tw
years. from the Ist of January, 1871, that indemniti,
against damage and loss be given, and that an annua,
consideration—at first 10s.—be given.
HIGHWAY ROBBERY IN DERBYSHIRE. At the
Derby Assizes, on Friday, John Brassine'ton, a publican,
was indicted for highway robbery at Mickleover. The
prosecutor, a farmer, named Dean, living at Burnaston.
left the prisoner's house, about nine in the evening. 00
his way home he was followed by Brassington, and
an
accomplice named Webster, and when he reached a dark
lane they knocked 'him down and rifled his pockets of
a evidence aaainst the
money, and a receipt on the Uttoxeter Bank for 260
Webster was liberated cn gives
prisoner, who was sentenced by gr. Justice By'lea to too
years' penal servitude.
BREAKFAST.—EPPEN COCOA..--GRATEFUL AND Co
FORTING.—The very agreeable character of this preparation 1 a
rendered it ageneral favourite. The Civil Service Gazetteer
marks By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws whiel;
govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by
careful application of the fine properties of welbsolected coeof.,
Mr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicaor
flavoured'fte!?
et
which may save us many heavy doct ,
bills." is labelled—JAMES EPPS ct CO., 1101101",
Each be v
pearete
pathic Monists, London. Also, makers of Epps's Cacaoine,
very thin evening beverage.—Advt.