The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-06 00:00:00

ELECTION OF CHURCHWARDEN.

Mr. Pashley, Q. 0., obtained a quo varranto under the
following circumstances. In April let an election for
churchwarden took place at Ackworth, in Yorkshire.
The rector was in the chair and nominated his church-
warden. The parishioners present proceeded to the
election of a second churchwarden. Mr. Roberts was
proposed, and also Mr. Wade. The rector took down
the names of the parishoners present and how they
voted. On adding up the numbers, he found 66 had
voted for Wade, and 28 for Mr. Roberta, and he conse-
quently declared the former elected. Afterwards Mr.
Roberts said he should hold a poll to-morrow at Lauen,
Ackworth, which be did, and was elected. He then
went before the Archdeacon, was seiorn in, and acted,
The question was the validity of his election, and if the
poll had been properly demanded.
Rule granted.

ROLLS COURT.
(Before the Master of the Rolis )
HAGGARD V. MACKENZIE-JUDGMENT.

His Honour the Master of the Rolls, in delivering
judgment in this case, said that the question to be de-
cided depended solely and entirely on the state of pos.
session of the goods in dispute. The facts of the case
appeared to be these :—Messrs. Campbell and Co., of
Glasgow, were anxious to extend their business to
London, and with that view they took premises in
London, and appointed the plaintiff salesman and
manager at a salary of 1001. a-year, consigned their
goods to him for sale, and afterwards became bankrupt.
The plaintiff claimed a lien upon the stock of goods
consigned to him for cash advances for indemnity of
bills and promissory notes gsanted by him in carrying
on the business of the company. The assignee in
bankruptcy clairsed the money drawn for the sale of
the stock for the benefit of ;,he creditors. His
Honour was of opinion that' Messrs. Campbell and
Co., never parted with the legal possession of their
goods, that the goods were only consigned to the plaintiff,
as their salesman, f6r sale, and that he had no preferable
claim upon the goods for his advances, whatever claim
he might have against the company's estate.

The labours of the coroner and jury, who have so
frequently assembled to investigate the cause of this
melancholy catastrophe, have now come to a close.
The following is their verdict :
"That the members of the Smith family (except
Richard Smith, the younger) were found dead in the
ruins of a certain house ar.d premises which had been
destroyed by fire, and that the deaths were caused by the
mortal effects of certain poisonous fumes and common
Rood smoke produced by the paid fire; and the jurors
aforesaid further say, that in what part of the house and
premises aforesaid the said fire originated, and fey what
means the said fire was caused, they have found it to be
impossible to discover.
" That William Hedger, the younger, was found dead
in the ruins of a certain house which had been destroyed
by fire, and that the death of the said William Hedger,
the younger, was caused by the mortal effects of suffo-
cation by smoke produced by the fire aforesaid.
"That Richard Smith, the younger, did die from the
mortal effects of fracture of divers of his ribs, caused by
his falling from a certain house when it was on fire, and
placed his life in danger therefrom."
To the foregoing verdicts the following presentment of
thejury was added--
'• In returning our verdict we feel that it is our duty
to state that the owner of the house No. 20, Gilbert-
street (Mr. Taylor), was guilty of great and culpable
neglect in not making a brick wall between the said
house in Gilbert-street and Mr. Calvert's show-room ad-
j ; and we are of opinion that the following altera-
tions should be made in the laws relating to the con-
struction of buildicgs and the management of fire-engines
as explained in the very able and valuable official report
of Mr. Marsh Nelson, the architect appointed to inquire
into the melancholy accident, viz. :
" 1. The amendment of the Building Act, to prevent
the erection of houses such as was lately the house
No. 20, Gilbert-street.
"2. The amendment of the Common Lodging-house
Act and the Nuisances Removal Act, to prevent the
overcrowding of rooms such as were occupied by the
unfortunate families of the Smiths and Hedgers in the
said house.
"The amendment of the Metropolitan Local Manage-
ment Act, to prevent the streets being obstructed by
horizontal shores, or struts such as delayed the approach
of the fire-escape on its way to the late fire.
" 4. The amendment of the unrepealed clauses of the
old Building Act, 14th of George 111., cap. 78, so as to
create for the metropolis a fire brigade and fire escape
establishment independent of private or parochial con-
trol—the funds being already provided for by the said
act.
" 5. That the Act of the 10th Vic., cap. 17 (Water
Supply Consolidation), be amended so as to provide for
an ample supply of water in case of outbreak of fire.
"6, and finally. That provision be made by law, in
conformity with the suggestions of Mr. Nelson, to place
in connection police-stations, fire engine stations, fire-
escape ladders, and the supply of water in case of fire ;
the whole of such establishments throughout the metro-
polis and its suburbs being rendered instantly available
for the public service in case of necessity by means of
the electric telegraph.
" The jary cannot terminate their painful inquiry
without expressing their feelings rf admiration of the
praiseworthy conduct of John Curie in assisting the
Eastwood family to make their ti;cape."

MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.)