The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-08 00:00:00

DESTRUC lION OF UNION HALL.

This edifice, situate on the south side of Union-street,
Borough, was, late on Saturday, totally destroyed by
fire. For many years it was the chief police•office for
the Surrey and Southwark district, and, since the re-
moval of the magisterial business to the new office at
Stone's-end in the Borough, the premises have been oc-
cupied jointly by Messrs. Pickford and Co., the railway
carriers, and by Messrs. Smith and Co., hat and cap
manufacturers, of Trinity-square, Southwark.
The outbreak was exceedingly sudden. The clerks
of Messrs. Smith were engaged in the counting-house,
when they were startled by a flash of light on the oppo-
site side of Uion-street, and going out to ascertain the
causo, they were astonished to find that their own place
was on fire. So rapid was the work of destruction,
that it was impossible even to save the books, and in
less than a quarter of an hour the whole building was in
flames. A number of engines IN ere quickly on the spot,
but it was some time before a supply of water could be
procured. The firemen succeeded in preventing an ex-
tension of the flames, but all effects to save the Union
Hall proved abortive, and it was completely consumed
by eleven o'clock.
The following is Mr Braid wood's report :
`• Union-street, Borough—Messrs. J. Smith and Co.,
cap-manufacturers, front warehouse burnt out, back
workshop seriously damaged, and three-fourths of the
roof off. Cause of the fire not known. Insured for the
contents in the Atlas, the Hand-in-Hand, and the Sun
fire •offices.
" Ditto, Messrs. Pickford and Co., railway-carriers,
&c., stock and building on ground floor seriously da-
maged by water; insurance not known.
" Ditto, No. 189, G. Martyr, ironmonger, stock in
trade in shop damaged by water, and roof by breakage;
insured in the Royal Exchange.
" Ditto, No. 8 (opposite), J. Bear, capmaker, front
scorched; insurance not known.
"Ditto, Nos. 9 and 10 (opposit.), T. Smith, coffee-
shop-keeper, front of premises damaged by fire, &c.;
insurance unknown."

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE

DERBYSHIRE, STAFFORDSHIRE, AND NOR-
CESTERSHIRE JUNCTION.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held
at the King's Arms Hotel, Westminster, on Saturday,
Mr. Alston in chair. The hour appointed for the
meeting was twelve o'clock, but a considerable time
passed before a quorum of six shareholders was formed.
The CHAIRMAN proposed, as they were barely in
legal number, to take biul p 1 y the business essential for
carrying on the affairs of the company, and to adjourn
all other matters to a future day.
The seal of :the company was then affixed to the
register of shareholders, and the report, of which the.
following is an abstract, was then read :
At the last half-yearly meeting the shareholders
tahssaured by the board that they were in expecta-
solioitor, would tionebalatnethe measures taken to obtain payment of
the 0f2,6231. 15s. 2d., due from the late
efforts used, soon be realised. Hitherto the
ard have not ceased to continue
but :Ilethisbo respect have not produced pay-
ment,gstatohde'
wiltthey have strong reason to hope
such efforts, and
be accomplished, and
that the result
report will announce
that at the next speedilymeeting
debt, interest, and
the payment of this longa_eemedingt
measuresard have
for an application
to take
tchoests;e
went in the ensuing session for
extendn to Parlia-
qTuil:tebo
line already sanctioned by the Act incorporating theh
company to Wolverhampton, Walsall, and the ot the
Ashes station, on the London and North-Western
Railway, by which the Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and
Worcestershire Junction Rail way, which at the present
moment terminates in a field, will be extended to
those most important manufrcturing towns, and thus
be connected with the London and North-Western,
the Great Wsstern, the North Staffordshire, and the
South Staffordshire Railways. These most important
objects can be effected at a comparatively small ex•
pease, whilst they must in the result restore the pro-
perty of the proprietors to a valuable position, and ulti-
mately ensure for the agricultural, mineral, and ma
nu-
facturing interests in the vicinity the most extensive
ads antages. It is the intenrion of the board of directors
to convene a meeting of the proprietors to submit for
their consideration and determination
this new feature
in their affairs, particulars of which will
be pre-