The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-01 00:00:00

ALARMING AND DESTRUCTIVE

FIRE.
Between twelve and one o'clock on Sunday morn-
ing a fire broke out at the cotton factory of Messrs.
Binns and Dean, Dukinfield, near Ashton-under-
Line, which was attended with the destruction of
property to a large amount. A fortnight ago last
Sunday morning a fire broke out in the same mill,
which completely destroyed one portion of it, extend-
ing to nine windows in length, the mill being five
stories high, which did damage to the extent of
about 8,0001. On the present occasion the fire was
first observed in the fourth story by three youths
who were passing at the time ; they gave an alarm,
and in about twenty minutes the Ashton town fire-
engines, together with five private engines belonging
to various millowners and others, were brought to
play upon the flames. Owing to the floor in
the room above being formed of three-inch planks,
the fire was a considerable time before it
got into it, which gave the firemen an op-
portunity of getting to work before the flames
got much a-head. The destructive element was con-
fined chiefly to the room in which it first commenced
its ravages, and one portion of the room above, both
of which were filled with spinning jennies. The
damage, however, will be very considerable, not only
from the fire, but from the quantity of water thrown
into the building amongst the machinery. At pre:ient
it is impossible to calculate the amount, but it is 5 ap-
posed to exceed several thousand pounds. The firm
is insured in the Globe, Sun, Phatnix, and Liverpt
Fire Insurance Companies. During the fire several
persons had hairbreadth escapes, one man, namod.
Samuel Mason, an overlooker at the mill, ventured to
cuter the attic, when he fell through the floor, and was
caught by his arms between the beams, the machinery.
in the room below being all on fire ; some men went
to his assistance and succeeded in releasing him from
his perilous situation. He did not sustain much in-
jury beyond the fright occasioned by the fall. The
whole of the mill will now be stepped for some time,
throwing out of employment upwards of 300 work-
people. The origin of this, as well as the other fire,
remains as yet a mystery ; a strict investigation,
how-
ever,
is now likely to be made both by the police-
authorities and the various insurance companies -
.Several thousand persons left their beds to go and.
witness the fire, and during the whole of Sunday'
parties from a distance came to view the scene of
destruction.

THE POST-OFFICE AUTHORITIES AND THE MAIL
GCARDS.—Considerable sensation has been excited
among the above body of public servants by the recep-
tion, by nine of them, under ten years standing in. 'the
service, of official letters, informing them that after a
certain date they will no longer be called upon to per-
form duty on tlie establishment. The notice also stsites
that the Postmaster-General has agreed to allow to each
man a bonus of 501., to be paid when the term of servi-
tude is ordered to cease and determine. On Satvaday
morning several of the guards met, upon their arrivul by
/he night mails, to take preliminary steps for the pur-
pose of representing the hardness of these
ncod ndexhitions to
to
the heads of her Majesty's Treasury, a
their Lordships the injustice of the reduction to men
about to become entitled to the allowance to which they
consider they have a claim under the Act of William
IV., cap. 24.
REPEAL OF THE WINDOW-TAX.—A meeting was
held yesterday at the Guildhall, Bath, over which the
the Legislature. The meeting
Mayor (Mr. W. Hunt) presided; for the purpose of
passing resolutions for the repeal of the tax upon win-
datftoernidti.tioTnihnegre were present, besides (Wier
Sows,w ealni
both of whom addressed the meeting at Con-
ley, MY-,
siderable length on the subject of the resolutions, stud
expressed their concurrence in the view taken by those
present as to the repeal of the tax. The Mayor, haying
explained the objects for which the meeting was con-
vened, the Rev. J. Newell, Admiral Gordon, Mr. T.
Barrett, Mr. Greene, Mr. C. Bolwell, and other gentle-
men moved and seconded the resolutions, which ',rare
adopted unanimously, and the meeting broke up.
DESTRUCTION OF A CORNMILL DT: FIRE, AT
BOOTLE.—On Sunday, about ten o'clock, a fire (pro-
duced, it is supposed, by friction, the wind being high at
the time) broke out at the windmill, situate in Bootle
village, belonging to the Earl of Derby, and occupied by:
Mr. Smith. The mill was completely destroyed,—
Liverpool Mercury.