The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-22 00:00:00

OCTOBER.

Northampton Autumn. 1 I Newmarket 2d October.
Edinburgh
Bedford 3l Newmarket Lloughtou .. 21

The Engine-Drivers' strike.

A notice has been issued bearing the signature of
13 firms among the largest shipowners of Hull an-
nouncing that the goods train between that port
and all parts of the kingdom are in full operation,
and that their steamers are running regularly, as
before, to all continental ports.
Some slight damage continues to be done to the
rolling stock of the North-Eastern Company through
the unhandiness of some of the men who are em-
ployed as drivers of goods trains. But the passenger
trains are admirably managed. The men on strike
in the northern section of the line seem very anxious
for a settlement, and are willing for all the points
in dispute to go to arbitration. But the company
have as yet made no signs of a willingness to agree
to terms of that kind. The goods trade is getting
better, but the trading public are still a good deal
incommoded through a difficulty in getting their
goods away. The Easter holidays arrangements
will be pretty much the same as ordinary years, and
the trains on the main line are keeping excellent
time.

On the Mahon division of the railway the strikes
may be fairly said to have died out. With the ex-
ception of two trains, comparatively nicless at this
season, the whole of the service on the five Hues
centering at Melton is now in full working for pas-
sengers, and the trains run very punctually; not a
single accident of any kind having occurred. The
goods and mineral traffic has been worked up, all
arrears" having ben cleared off by special trains
on Good Friday, when the ordinary passenger
trains did not run. A large number of goods, and
mineral drivers from other railways and from col-
lieriesare offering their services. In this state of
matters but little heed is given to the threat of the
central committee to order a general strike. Its
effect on the North-Eastern overcome beforehand,
and as many of the old hands have deserted the
union, and are now seeking "re-employment on the
North-EaStern at greatly reduced wages and in in-
ferior positions, there is no doubt their example
would have a salutary effect on the men of other
lines. Driveers earning Bs. to 93. per day are now
seeking re-engagement at 55.
The adjourned hearing of the charges against the
drivers and firemen in the Gateshead division of the
North-Eastern Railway, for leaving their work with-
out notice, came before the borough bench of that
town on Saturday. The names of the men ars
Henry Yates, John Hutchinson, Robert Bone, Thos.
Waters, Wm. Appleby, Geo. Brewis, Thos. Davi-
son, Thos. Goss, Thos. Routledge, Alex. Gray, and
Jonathan Clark. Mr. Blackwell, barrister, prose.
cuted ; and Mr. J. P. Roberts, of Manchester-, de-
fended the men. The case of Davison was taken
first. It was proved that Davison, who was an old
' driver, had a copy of the rules, and that ho left
work on the 11th of April without notice. After
an address from Mr. Roberts, the Bench consulted
for half-an-hour, when the mayor announced that
they found that Davison had been guilty of having
broken his agreement with the North-Eastern Com-
pany without lawful excuse ; but they agreed to
postpone judgment until the 28th of May, to allow
matters to be amicably settled if possible. The
Court refused Mr. Roberts a case for the Court of
Queen's Bench. The whole of the defendants were
bound over to appear.

LEEDS, Sunday Evening.

The engine-drivers on the North-Eastern Rail-
way attended a public meeting this afternoon and
stated their grievances more fully, especially as to
" shed days." A Great Northern driver proposed,
as a measure tending to reconciliation, that a man
from each of the four great railway companies
having lines in Yorkshire should wait upon the
North-Eastern directors and show them the terms
upon which they themselves are working, and ask
the North-Eastern Board to treat their servants as
other companies do. Alderman Carter seconded
the motion. It was carried by acclamation. It was
also resolved that influential persons at Leeds be re-
quested to accompany the drivers for that purpose,
and after the interview to call a pubi;,p meeting, and
lay a statement before it of the result.