The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-06 00:00:00

CITY C7o4L

Last night a public meeting was held in the
London Tavern for the purpose "of orginieing an
opposition to the bill now before Parliament for the
renewal of the coal dues levied by the city. The
chair was taken by Mr. Nieholay.

The CHAIRMAN condemned the tax as iinpolitic
and unjust, and charged the Government with
breach of faith in attempting to renew it. (Hear.)
It was monstrous that places like Staines, at a dis-
tance many miles from the city, should be compelled
to pay for metropolitan improvements. The Go-
vernment, aware of the impossibility of . continuing
the tax on its present footing, had endeavoured to
render it more palatable by limiting into the metro-
politan area. But why shouldhirge manufacturers
be driven from London on account of the dues on
the fuel which they consumed ? And if a draw-
back were allowed to manufacturers, it would be an
obvious injustice to- •private consumers. (Hear.)
The embankment of the Thames, was very desirable,.
but funds 'ought to be provided for it in some other
way. He had heard that a private company had
offered to undertake it. The Metropolitan Board
of Works
swas not, as a body, in favour of the tax.
A 8 a meuwer of the Board himself, he felt that he
would not properly represent the great constituency
of Marylebone unless he opposed those dues. (Hear.)
He believed the decision of the meeting would have
much weight with the Board.
Mr. L. vRENem-obJecteti- to the tar, chiefly on
the ground that it pressed heavily ant/ unjustly
on the poorer classes of the metropolis, and. limited
their supply of one of the prime necessaries
of life. (Hear, hear.) Although he was an ad-
vocate for a reform of the Corporation of London,
he gave that body credit for having surrendered a
great portion of the dues. He dwelt upon the im-
policy of transferring such a fund to an irrespon-
sible body like the Metropolitan Board of Works.
(Hear, hear.) He anticipated that the present
meeting would be only the first of many others
which would be held to protest against that most
unfair impost. He moved the following resolution:
" That it is inexpedient and inconsistent with the policy
of the day to levy enormous dues on an article of necessary
consumption, and that, considering fhe state of the Lon-
don poor last winter, and the price of fuel, a tax ou coal
entering London is a grievous burden, and ought not to be
entertained."
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ALFRED RICHARDS, in seconding the reso-
lution, reviewed the history of the tax, and pro-
nounced it illegal and unjust from its commence-
ment. Sir John Trevor was ignominiously dis-
missed from the office of Speaker of the House of
Commons for having taken a bribe of £l,OOO from
the corporation to pass the bill in an underhand
manner; 'and the charter which the King had
granted to the city was one which he had no right
to issue. It appeared to him singularly inconsis-
tent that at the time when we were supplying
France with .untaxed coals an oppressive tax
should be renewed uppn all coals entering our own
metropolis. (Hear.) The Thames embankment
scheme had no more earnest supporter than him-
self; but he desired to see money procured for it
either by a general rate, by a grant from the Con •
solidated Fund, or by private enterprise. A com-
mittee of the House of Commons now sitting was
about to investigate the whole question of these
dues, and no measure ahould be passed until that
committee had reported.
Mr. CHARLES COLWELL and Mr. BIICETON sup-
ported the resolution,

Mr. GEORGE BROOK regarded the coal dues wit h
disfavour, hut feared that there was not the slightest
chance of getting rid of them. Under that impres-
sion ho therefore moved as an amendment—
" That this meeting is desirous of inducing the Govern-
ment not to continue the tax on coals, but holds, that if
the Bill for levying the tax be carried, a portion of the
money so collected should be applied for the purpose of
doing away with the bridge and road tolls in and near the
metropolis.

The CHAIRMAN pronounced the amendment in•
competent, as the question was whether or not there
should be a coal tax, and not how it should be
applied.
Mr. PEARCE maintained that the coal tax- was an
advantage to the labouring classes of the metropolis,
as it was the means of providing them with em-
ployment in the construction of public works. (A
voice—" You're a servant of the Commissioners of
Sewers.") He denied that the Metropolitan Board
of Works was an irresponsible body, because the
members had to render an account of their proceed-
ararae payingsup
po thet ,
proceed-
ings to their constituents. There must be some fund
lb
tedexptheensceoaolfd
upublic
tiimi
ac esnutbs.,.
stitute was proposed. (Hear.)
Mr. J. R. TAYLOR supported the resolution.
Great confusion and disorder arose on the resolu-
tion being put to the meeting. The Chairman
professed himself unable to decide whether the
show of hands was in favour of or against the
continuance of the tax, and each side loudly claimed
the majotity. At length tellers were appointed,
and the vote was declared to be against the resolu-
tion, and in favour of the tax.

The meeting then broke up, after a vote of thanks
to the Chairman.

DESTRUCTIVE .FIRB IN CANN 0117-IZOI f",

ivEsnifliVSTEl?.

Last night, about a quarter past 10 o'clock, a
fire of a most destructive character broke out on
the premises belonging to Messrs. Hills and Mat-
thams, hay and straw salesmen, of Cannon-wharf,
Cannon-row, Parliament-street.

Cannon-wharf, although occupying a large area
of ground, extending from Cannon row to the river,
is entered by a sort of blind thoroughfare, in itself
so retired that, after the usual business of the day,
no passers by would be likely to observe the pre-
mises. It was probably owing to this circumstance
that the fire had attained a considerable height
before any discovery of its outbreak. The first alarm
appears to have been given by a police officer on
duty in Cannon-row, who, while making his rounds,
observed a bright reflection inside the entrance
gates of Messrs. Hills and Matthams' premises.
On looking further, he at once saw that a fire was
raging on the wharf, where an immense quantity
of hay and straw, and other combustible materials
were stored. Without a moment's lo;.s of time he
raised an alarm, and Mr. Hills, whose residence is
in Cannon. row, and who at the time was entertain-
ing a party of friends, was instantly on the spot.
Summoning to his aid several of 4iis employes who
resided in the neighbourhood, their united efforts
were first directed to an attempt to save a stud of
17 horses standing in two stables on the south side
of the wharf. Owing to the rapidity with which.
the flames spread this proved to be impossible ; and
notwithstanding every exertion was made by the
head carman (who was himself severely burnt in
the attempt) and others, only two of their number
were rescued.

The engines arrived in rapid succession soon after
the alarm was given, and under the judicious direc-
tion of Inspector Bradstock, of the A division, a
large body of police officers were stationed along
Parliament-street and in the adjoining thorough-
fares, so as to prevent the crowd from interfering
with the operations of the firemen. But no exe_r;
0-,a and be-
fore on their part, however well directed,
the fire;
broke out. The s e were u totreorc?l_nyrec:deaoaremirfs.
seriously
scipy
to save any portion of the premises where r"
beenwhen theth flame 8 had
fore the fire had spent itself the four
houses in Cannon-row hadged.
f threeiathdteoa.:llFe,gsin,
In the alarm and confusion,
caught the upper storey in.
roof
from an u
Cannon-row, and the tiled f
n upon upper
e head,
Win-
dow,kome bystanderfwurhnicithurestwruacskthrow
nc!cessary
upon a
stretchery to Wes
to convey him truinster
Hospital.
wounding him so sevearel as to render it

ACCIDENT ON TILE LANCASHIRE AND YORK-
SHIRE LINE.—An accident, involving ficstructior, of pro-
perty to a considerable amount, occurred on this "tine at the
Halifax Junction, near S)werby-bridge, on Weiniesday. A
luggage train started from Sowerby-bridge for Leeds about
balf.raot 10 in the forenoon, but by some mearr s not yet satis-
factorily explained, as soon as the train lef2l, the main line
for the junction, the engine got off the rem., dragging with
it the tender, the transit .van, and three t re reeks loaded with
iron. The engine ran about 100 yards ith this way, plough-
ing up the line, breaking the sleepers iLto ruatchwood, and
smashing the rails. Ultimately the engine the tender,,and
the van were overturned. The driver an, d stokeT escaped
with comparatively little hurt, but tite g Lard, named John
Littlewood, of Holmfirth, but lodging at ; Sower by Bridge,
had his ancle fractured by falling out of the can when it
was overturning. He is now at the I laliff.,x Infirmary.
h
The line was blocked up several hours, and, the trains had
to go round by North DO= it/inctig.u.