The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-04 00:00:00

SERIOUS DISTURBANCE AT PRESTON.

Oe Saturday evening an emeute of a threatening
nature (the second in the space of ten days), took
place among the pauper labourers at the 'relieving-
offices, Saul-street, Preston. As has been before
stated, the men are about 1,000 in number, and are
employed on the moor. Half have latterly been
employed in the forenoon and the other half in the
afternoon, but on Friday orders were issued that
they should work the entire day, or only receive a
moiety of the usual allowance—viz., 6d. The
paupers determinedly resisted this order, and the
more violent of them threatened death to the well-
disposed who were willing to comply. The opposi-
tion assumed such an alarming form that it was
not deemed prudent to carry out the resolution,
and the labourers accordingly received their ls.
each for only half a-day's work. On Saturday
evening the men assembled at the offices to the
number of 1,000, and demanded their pay as usual.
On being informed that They would only receive Gd.
each a most serious disturbance occurred. The
commotion commenced before 5 o'clock, and several
or the more violent of the labourers rose and
harangued the. rest:, calling upon theni to resist
this attempt "to starve them to death." The
guardians present were Messrs. M. Satterthwaite
(the chairmen of the board), Ward, Dewhurst, and
C. Satterthwaite. Mr. Ward essayed to speak to
the people, but he was hooted and groaned at, and
denounced in the most violent and profane terms
The affair assumed such an aspect that the Mayor
of the borough (Mr. J. Humber), Mr. Dadd, the
magistrate's clerk, and Mr. Gibbons, the police
superintendent, with about 20 constables, ultima-
tely went to the spot. The leaders of the paupers
continued their hal angues, and al efforts at expos-
tulation were useless. The men declared that they
would have the pay either one way or another.
consultation between the guardians present and the
authorities took place, and it was contemplated to
read the Riot Act. The superintendent of police
went to one of the orators, who was appealing to
the passions of his fellows, and requested him to be
quiet, but no notice was taken of the intimation.
One section of the guardians, backed by the autho-
rities, for some time expressed a determination to
resist the tumult, and adhere to the resolution for
stopping the 6d. Mr. C. Satterthwaite and others,
however, pointed out the d„nger of onth a course
in the then excited state of the men, and also that
there was some ground for the complaint, seeing it
was attempted to make the abatement on Satur-
day, as on Sunday they would receive no money
at all. After a long discussion it was agreed to pay
the parties their shilling each, and enforce the new
rule on Monday (this day), with the determination
that the men should either work a full day or only
receive payment in proportion. The superinten-
dents have instructions to put the labourers a full
day's employment. It is very probable that a
serious riot will be the result. An outbreak was
cert anly avoided on Saturday night by the conces-
sion of the guardian ; and the enforcement of their
order will be exceedingly difficult. if not danger-
ous to the peace of the town. The commotion
lasted nearly three hours. It is to be hoped that
the number of this class of paupers will be speedily
reduced. Six additional mills have within the last
few days commenced running full time, and they
will, to a small extent, lessen the number of the
labourers ; but it must be borne in mind that the
paupers on the moor include a large class of idle
persons who seldom worked in good times.

ADVERTISEMENT. ] —Holloway's Ointment and Pills
remarkahle for their Efficacy in curing diseases of the
Skin.--Scurvy, ringworm, and other cutaceous dis-
orders are engendered by the impurity of the blood,
and the only sure means of eradicating such complaints
is to undergo a course of Holloway's Pill-4, and at the
same time apply externally his invaluable Ointment.
Cures by these extraordinary medicines are daily
attested, proving their astonishing efficacy in purifying
the blood, strengthening the constitution, and re-estab-
lishing the best of health. They are equally beneficial
in curing wounds, &o.—Sold by all medicine vendors
throughout the world ; at Professor Holloway's
Establishment', 244, Strand, London, and 80, Maiden-
lane, New York ; by A. Stamps, Constantinople ;
A. Guidicy, Smyrna ;and E. Muir, Malta.

_ .
I.A.Dve erissmzsr..}— SIGHT AND 'NAMES SPECTACLES
POWERFUL TELESCOPES OPERA, RACE, AND Paasrearive
GLAssza.—S. and B. Solomone, opticians, 39, Aibemarle-
street, Piccadilly. Observe—opposite the York Hotel, W.
By her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for valuable and ex-
traordinary improvements in the most powerful and brilliant
Telescopes, Camp, Race-course, Opera, and Perspective
Glasses, to know the distances. These Telescopes possess
such extraordinary power that some, three and a-half inches,
with an extra eye-piece will show distinctly Jupiter's moons,
Saturn's ring, and the double stars ; with the same telescope
can be seen a person's countenance three-and-a-half miles
distant and an object from 16 to 20 miles. For the waist-
coat-pocket, and are of larger, and all sizes, with iucreasing
powers accordingly. The Royal Exhibition, 1851. —A valu-
able, newly-invented, very small, powerful, Waistcoat-pocket
Glass, the size of a walnut, by which a person can be seen and
known one and a-half mile distant. They answer every pin,
pose on the Race-course and at the Opera-houses. Country
scenery and ships are clearly seen at 12 to 14 miles. They
are invaluable for sheeting, deer-stalking, yachting, to
sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera,
Camp, Perspective, and Race-course Glasses, with wonderful
powers. • Invaluable preserving Spectacle Lenses of the
greatest transparent power. The great advantage derived
from this invention is, that vision impaired becomes pre-
served and strengthened and very aged persons are enabled
to employ their sight at the most minute occupation—can see
with those lenses of a much less magnifying power—and
they do not require the frequent changes to the dan-
gerous effects of further powerful aseistanee. Pers,:n,
can be suited at the most remote part of the world by send-
ing one of the glasses out of their spectacles in a letter, and
stating the distance from the eye they can read small print
with it, and those who have not made use of spectacles by
stating their age. Deafness.—New Discovery.—The Oxganio
Vibrator, an extraordinarily powerful, small, newly-invented
instrument for deafness, entirely different from all of hers,
surpassing anything of the 'kind that has been, or prob ably
can, be. produced. Being of the same colour as the sk in, is
not perceptible. It enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at
churchaud at public assemblies ; the unpleasant sensatic
°
singing noises in the ears is entirely removed, and it affords
all the assistance that possibly could be desired.-39. A
lba
Dario-street, PiendillYs—Opposite the York Hotel, W,

F
- , :•
less than an attempt to take adv44k
satisfaction with some parts (-,f )
of IndiAt Governmentt whi ele
(parer-4, to enablo the Or 3 tj
Ministe:s o. usurp au en: moil
and per ona'qe, aid share it better_
a boll--fac •(.1 u-urpati. nis pregnant_ d`ate.
' the ha ante of the Constitution, audTertheiltert,
of the citizen, which that Constitution was framed
to wren). Even the poor apology that this hazard
of our liberties will be compensated by increased
administrative ofliciency cannot be.offere4l f4ir the
forthcoming Bill. The division of the Army in India
into a Earopeau force under the Horse Guards, and
a native force under the looal Government, is a
partition of authority that will render effective
military acdon impoesile. The selection of mem-
bers of the present Board of Directors to fill up the
seats at the Council Board of the new Indian
Minister, shows that Government has no fault to
find with the policy hitherto pursued in the English
dominions in India, and no intention to change it,
It will continue to act by the advice of the Director.,
hut it will strip them of all patronage, and of all
administrative authority. Lord Palmerston, and
his colleagues, flatter themselves that they will in
this way obtain the advantage of the lights of those
men who really know India, and at the same time
remove all impediments in the way of their jobbing
Indian patronage. The six Councillors for India
will bo as arrant nonentities as the Junior Lords
of the Treasury, and greater nonentities than the•
Junior Lords of the Admiralty. Appointments in
India will no longer be conferred on the most de-
serving, but on those whose friends can repay their
donors with parliamentary and electioneering ser.
vices. At the same time that political corruption
is augmented in England, administrative efficiency
will be diminishep in India.
We have only one remark to add at present. It
is generally understood that Lord Clanricarde is to
be First Minister for India under the new arrange-
went.

THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICE.

(A- 92n the Australian and New Zealand Gazette.)
iWe have been favoured with the following iufor-
mtiou respect to the Australian steam postal
seiviee via Suez
At a uneetinlz of the committee of the General Asso•
ciation tJr the Australian Colonies, held on Deo. 10, the
following resolutionq were agreed to :
" ' 1. Teat for the efficient performance of the postal
service between Suez and Melbourne six first class steam
ships are required, of 2,200 tons bard n at least, and to
belcalmble cd poi forming, when tested for speed, not lees
then 12 :knot.] per hour.

" ‘ 2. That for the performance of the postal service
beiween Southampton and Alexandria three first class
steamships, of not less than 1,2E0 tons, and capable of
still greater speed than the preceding, are required.
"' 3 That, understanding the European and Austra-
lian Royal Mail Co. have joined the Royal Mail Steam-
packet Co., and that the contract entered into by the fur-
mil- for carrying the Australian mails is to be performed
with the combined resources of both companies, a de pu.
Cation from this association shall seek an interview with
the directors of the said companies, and ascertain from
them sele ther they are prepared to carry on the contract
in eonepliaece with the foregoing condi-ions.
" '4. That, in the event of a sufficient guarantee being
given that these c 'editions will be faithfully complied
with, and that na reasonable expense be spared to secure
the efficient performance of the contract, this association
will write to the Governments of the various Australian
culinies, recommending them totake no steps on account
of past negiect to terminate the existing contract.
" '5. That the hoe. secretary send a copy of these
resolutions to the chairman and directors of the Royal
Mail Steam-packet Company, requesting them to ap-
point a day to receive the deputation.
" ' W. C. WENTWORTH, Chairman.
" 'JAMES A. YoIIL, Hon. Sec.'"
The committee received a reply from the secre-
tary of the Royal Mail Company, stating that the
directors would be happy to receive the deputation
on the Ist inst. ; and, accordingly, on Friday the
following gentlemen—Mr. W. C. Wentworth, Sir
C Nicholson, Mr. W. Westgarth, Mr. E. Ste-
pipits, Mr. J. A. Youl, Mr. A. L. Elder, Mr.
Tobias, Mr. H. G. Ashurst, and Mr. F. A. Du
Ctoz—bad an interview with the board. After
s me conversation, in the course of which the di-
r ctors gave a most explicit assurance that they
w uld exert themselves to the utmost to carry out
title service in an efficient manner, worthy of the
great and rising importance of the intercourse be-
tween the mother country and Australia, they
stilted that, as soon as possible, there would be five
ships placed on the station between Suez and Aus-
tralia—viz., the Victoria, Australasian, European,
Colombian, and Etneu. The Victoria was taken
up some time since to convey troops to India, and
the Australasian has only recently left on the
same service. Both of these vessels will imme-
diately on their being released from the Govern-
ment service be placed on the line between Suez
am.d Melle The directors, however, stated that
they intend, d. to place six bolts on the line, as they
felt that number to be absolutely necessary for the
efficient execution of the service.

,We also understand that the committee of the
General Association intend to recommend to the
Legislatures of the various colonies the continuance
of the contract to the Royal Mail Company. We
trust that we may therefore congratulate our readers,
and all interestild in our Australian colonies, upon
the pleasing prospect that the service will at length
be placed upon a satisfactory footing. A very alight
consideration will show that the delays and disap-
pointments which have occurred with such singular
ill-fortuce have arisen from an attempt upon the
part of the original acceptors of the contract to exe-
cute a difficult and complex service too hastily be-
fon; the lino could be efficiently organised and the
proper arrangements made. We therefore hope that
under the new regime these steps will be at once
taken, and then we shall have very little doubt of
the success of the Overland route.

FIRE AT ROTHERIIITHE-DESTRUOIION OF
GOVERNMENT BOATS AND OTHER PRO-
PBRTY.

A very destructive fire happened yesterday (Sun-
day) morning, in the premises belonging to Mr. J.
Thornkson, government ship builder, Horseferry-
stairs, Rotherhithe. The property in question
stretched from the land side to the edge of the
river Thames, nearly 200 feet ; it was two stories
high, nearly 50 feet wide, and contained not fewer
than 16 large boats, built for the British Govern-
ment, and a great amount of ships' stores,
whilst piles of timber were stored in the open yard.
Adjoining this, on the south side, stood the private
residence of Capt. Smith, the superintendent of
the works, which was several floors high. Between
these buildings was the thoroughfare leading to
the Thames, termed the Horseferry, and on the
east side were the premises of Mr. Geo. Marshall,
shipowner and merchant, and within a few feet
were the premises belonging to Mr. G. Thomas, a
shipwright.
About two o'clock yesterday morning police-con-
stable No. 174 of the M division, whilst proceed-
ing along his boat, noticed an unusual body of
smoke proceeding from about the centre of the
boat-building houses of Mr. Thompson. At that
time no fire was perceptible ; but the smoke hover-
ing so long over the roofs, convinced him that the
interior of the main building was in flames ; and,
without delay, he gave an alarm, and sent off for
the necessary attendance of engines and firemen
belonging to the neighbourhood, but before even
those situated within a mile on the land side, or the
steam-float at Rotherhithe had time to get on the
way, the fire rushed forth from every window and
loophole in Mr. Thompson's factory.; and by the
timber
and the engines arrived, :pile after pile of
and vessels, together with a dwelling-house stand-
ing on the ground, became completely enveloped in
flame. The firemen, under the personal directions
of Mr. Braidwood, the superintendent ; Mr. Hen-
derson,loway, the engineer ; and
ylvMnerno.
not yielding
et
o'D worknort °in
the chief officer of the D section ; Mr.
by
ut the
water,tthh
me
ainsof
ff
tEhenklaenndt
COoflimepea,n
the gratings of the sewers were pulled up, and the
htuorsees ,o of
andthe
by that et
se; pe
er ed
idernotptpheedthrolandughg
itnhees awl)
oe
rr e-
fed with water, whilst the two powerful steam-floats
kept pouring many thousand tons' weight of water
per minute on the flames ; but the fire could not be
entirely extinguished for six hours. The origin cf
the fire is not known.

The following is the official list of damages :
" Mr. J. Thompson, ship boat builder, Horseferry-
stairs, Rotherhithe. Two timber buildings, of two
stories high, about 150 feet deep, destroyed and
contents consumed. The stock of timber and boats,
some finished and some partly so, very severely
damaged. The windows in dwelling-house burned
and pulled out ; rest of building and furniture
damaged by fire, water, and removal. The build-
ings and their contents were not insured, but the
furniture was insured in the County Fire-office.
Mr. G. Thomas, in the same place, shipwright.
Timber building, 70 feet, destroyed. Insured in the
Sun Fire-office. Ditto ditto, Capt. Smith (private).
The side and front windows and roof considerably
damaged by fire, and furniture by water and re-
moval. Ditto ditto, Mr. George Marshall, ship-
owner and merchant ; the old stores partially de•
stroyed. Insured in the Imperial Fire-office. The
fire was extinguished by the engines and firemen of
the brigade, &c. namely ; the two steam-floats,
four engines of D, one of A, two of B, and that of
the West of England office."

ER

CtßiEoDut. HARMONIC SOCIETY, ESETER-llALL.—Saardn'a
a is to be performed on Friday nest, the Bth
of January, when Mr. Silos Reeves will make bis first
appearance this season, together with Miss Lo
uisa:ng
and Mr. Santley.

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