The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-13 00:00:00

EMIGRATION AND LABOUR.

We extract the following from the Melbourne
Herald relative to the continual differences which
have existed between Messrs. Cornish and Bruce,
the contractors for the line of railway between
Melbourne and Sandhurst, and their workmen.
This is Mr. Bruce's account of the matter, and we
opine that the acknowledged existence of strikes in
four distinct branches of his service does not speak
well for the judgment or justice of the firm

"We regret to hay; to announce that the
differences between Messrs. Cornish and Bruce
and the masons in their employ still continues
and that there does not seem any imme-
diate probability of the dispute being settled
amicably. In an interview between the
employer and the men, Mr. Bruce stated the
cause of the dispute to be as follows There
are fo-ur strikes existing on these works at
present. The masons on the Castlemaine section

have struck work on the important ground that we
retain in our employ nine men who are in arrears
to the society. They were receiving 18s. per day
of eight hours, and the only pound of strike is that
nine men owe money to the mason's society. The
bricklayers were working peaceably enough for 16s.
per diem of eight hours—ls, more than they receive
in Melbourne—when suddenly they came and gave
notice to Mr. Beecham, four hours' notice, that
unless they had 18s. per day they would strike.
The carpenters struck owing to a misunderstand-
ing. I regret if any statement made by an official
in our service has misled them, and as I have stated,
en the simplest evidence that such statement has
been made,' will implement their contract:in all its
integrity. Then I have a strike in town which
includes blacksmiths, carpenters, engineers.'"

We do not wish to be severe on Messrs. Cornish
and Bruce without reason, but it must be borne in
mind that having obtained a very profitable con-
tract, their first act was to take advantage of the
eagerness with which the unemployed flocked to
their service to reduce the standard rate of wages,
and that while labourers were able to earn from
10s. to 15s. working for other contractors, those
employed on the embankments and in the cuttings
of the Sandhurst Railway were fortunate in obtain-
ing from 7s. 6d. to 10s., and these injured contractors
are at present engagel, through the instrumentality
of their agents, in importing German and other
foreign mechanics to undarwork the English
tradesman, and then express their astonishment at
discontent being felt.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day.)

ROLLS COURT.
(Before the Master of the Rolls.)
JTJDGIIHNT-BROWN V. lIODGSON.

His Honour the Master of the Rolls said—l have read
over the answers in this case, with a view to determine the
point whether the trustees are to have their costs. lam of
opinion that in the case of the administration of an estate if
an objection is made that the trust funds have been impro-
perly applied, and that expenses have to be paid, and that
the estate is not sufficient to pay them, the trustees should
be liable. Here the trustees did what they ought not
to have done in restraining this lady—this is not
an ordinary case of administration by the trustees, but a
case of improper proceedings, and therefore the trustees
must pay costs.
His Henour corrected a mistake in the certificate as to
£3l, and gave directions as to the payment of costs to Mary
Hodgson.

JTIDGMEXT.-314LEOD ♦. DOWLEY.

This cause came on to be mentioned this morning.
His'Honour the Master of the Rolls said—l cannot find
anything to justify your client (Mr. Lloyd, Q.C.) in stating
that he did Rot know of any debt affecting the estate at all.
Yon admit that your client had no foundation for making
that statement at all. I had prepared an order which I read
at the time, and I cannot see that your client was justified
in stating that ke knew nothing of the incumbrance on the
estate. - I think he had information of the prior incum-
brance.

His Honour directed the money to be paid into court, and
ordered that the plaintiff should receive notice before it was
paid out of court.

Costa to be paid out of the funds of the estate.
JUDGMENT-FOX V. GARRETT.

_ .
This cause came on to be mentioned on one point.
His Honour was of opinion that the child born after the
death of the testator was entitled to take a share of the
testator's property.
Costa to bo settled on the minutes.

The Courts of Law sat to-day at Guildhall, City. The
only case of slightest interest that occurred during the
day was an action brought by Lord Ward, now Earl
Dudley, against Mr. Lumley, the late lessee of her Ma-
jesty's Theatre, to recover three quarters rent alleged by
the plantiff to be due to him from the defendant. The evi-
dence was clearly of a legal and technical nature, and re-
lated principally to the construction put on certain docu-
ments. The case is expected to occupy the Court for two
days.