The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-03 00:00:00

BRITISH WORKMEN'S EMIGRATION
SOCIETY.

Yesterday evening a numerous meeting of the
working population and other inhabitants of the
district of the Hackney-road and its neighbourhood,
assembled in the Great Phoenix Hall, Goldsmith-
place, Hackney-road, on the invitation of the
British Workmen's Emigration Society, for the
purpose of showing the ratepayers that by means
of this society they might in a great measure
relieve themselves of a considerable portion of their
poor rates, provided they were properly supported
in their philanthropic undertaking.
Mr. J. W. WILFoRn, the secretary, proposed
that Mr. A. S. Ayrton, M.P., should take thechair,
and said that when the hon. member took the
chair at a meeting in Bethnal-green, some discon-
tented persons of dishonest principles relieved him
of his diamond pin; and if there were any such
present he would give them notice they had better
leave at once, or they, might be compelled to retire
under a metropolitan escort. (Laughter.)
Mr. A. S. A YRTON then took the chair, and said
beginning to their proceed-
it was nut a very happy
ings to allude to his loss at the last meeting, but
though there was somebody in that meeting that
coveted the jewel lie had the misfortune to wear he
bore his loss with good humour, as it was a piece of
idle vanity in him to wear a glittering diamond at a
meeting where he might tempt the cupidity of some
dishonest person. There were some who opposed
him on that occasion, and as he beat them at argu-
ment they reversrevenged themselves upon him by
taking his pin. The hon. member then adverted
to the subject before the meeting, and contended
that there was not sufficient land in this country
to afford employment to the labour that existed.
here. It had been said that there were millions of
acres of waste land in England, which, if cultivated,
would supply all the surplus population of the
country; but he knew the quality of the land
referred to, and he knew for a fact that it was
surrounded by an agricultural population who
thoroughly understood the nature of the soil, and
there were farmers also wealthy enough to bring it
into cultivation ; but they did not undertake it, for,
though they might ultimately succeed, it would
cost them more than the land would be worth after
it was cultivated. He, therefore, contended that
under existing circumstances it would be the duty
of every one t assist the working men who could
not get empluyment to emigrate. He referred to
tOe prosperity of the United States, and said the
reason they were prosperous was because there was
a constant system of emigration going on from the
places where the labour market was overstocked to
'where labour was in greater demand. He then
went on to show the prosperity of the colonies, and
stated that in New South Wales the inhabitants
sent home on the average (taking man, woman, and
child) a large amount of money, for the purpose of
importing articles of British manufactore for their
Own use. In Western Australia the average was
15 per head, in South Australia it was
£l6, and in Tasmania, £l5 per head. He then
proceeded at great length to point out the ad-
vantages of emigration, when he met with
considerable interruption from a number of
working men who did not quite agree with the
movement, and who were under the impression
that the meeting was one open for public discus-
sion, but on having had it explained to them that
it was a meeting for an exposition of a practical
proposition, and that any opposition to it should be
carried on by a counter meeting, they quietly
listened to him to the end.

Mr. ROBERT CHARLES then moved the following
resolution :—""That this meeting is of o.3inion that
the labour market in this country is overcrowded,
and is likely to be so for some time to come. Much
of that labour for which there is not a sufficient call
here is much needed in many parts of the British
colonies • and we believe that emigration is
eminently calculated to benefit this country, whilst
the condition of the colonies would be improved."
In supporting the resolution, he related many
instances within his knowledge where persons had
gone out to Australia and New Zealand, and had,
in the course of from one to three years, sent home
considerable sums of money to take out their
relatives ; but with all these advantages he must
caution them that if they made up their minds to
emigrate they must be prepared to be sober, indus-
trious, and painstaking, and stady in every way to
make themselves valuable to the colony.
Mr. RIDGWAY seconded the motion, and said the
advantages the society offered were 40 acres of land
to every adult that went out, and 20 acres to each
child between five and eighteen years of age.
The CHAIRMAN then read letters from Mr. But-
ler, M.P., Mr. Payne, and other gentlemen, regret-
ting they could not attend ; also one from William
Gapes, from New Zealand, who had been sent out by
this society. The letter gave a most glowing account
of their prosperity.
Mr. AMBRosE THOMPSON, a working man, then
mounted the platform, and wanted to propose an
amendment, but
The CHAIRMAN put it to the meeting whether it
should or should not be proposed ; and on a show
_ _

of hands being taken, it was declared to be against
him. He was then pushed off the platform, upon
which a storm arose that threatened the promoters
of the meeting with personal violence ; and the
words "Rascal" and " Vagabond," were fre*ly
addressed to the chairman. At length tranquillity
was restored, and another show of hands was taken,
which decided against the proposition of the amend-
ment.

The resolution was then carried.
The Rev. Mr. PACKER moved a resolution to the
effect that the government should be petitioned for
a loan of £50,000 for emigration purposes, and also
that a penny rate should be raised from the several
parishes for the same purpose.
Mr. SNOW seconded the motion, and entered into
tho advantages and disadvantages of emigration at
great length, and offered some very good advice to
intending emigrants.
The resolution was then carried.
A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the
proceedings.

THE LOSS OF LIFE AT THE WEST.
MINSTER PALACE HOTEL.

Yesterday afternoon, at two o'clock, Mr. Charles
St. Clare Bedford, the coroner for the city and
liberties of Westminster, resumed for the third time
the adjourned inquest respecting the deaths of the
seven unfortunate men who were killed by the
falling of a stage or scaffolding at the works now
in progress by Mr. George Myers, known as the
Westminster Palace Hotel, situate in Victoria-
street, Westminster.
The inquiry again excited great interest. Mr.
Sergeant Ballantine again attended for Mr. Myers.
Mr. Sturgeon, instructed by Mr. Whitehurst,
appeared for the Accident and Burial Society of
that
atbugtive their
heairt
Labourers, and for some of the widows, and Mr.
Moseley on behalf of the widow of the deceased
Buckley.
evidenceSer waseal witnesses
chieflytnes es
awreerpeetitin o
examined,
o f
the former examinations, to the effect that they
Several is
did not consider the timber used good enough, it
being knotty, and in some parts green, and also
that it was overloaded. They also thought the
vibration caused by the men moving about on the
men employed on the
scaffolding had contributed towards producing the
have
acocvriekd es
bnweteenr e
given
alsovveenr a
for
examinedfth e
hoisting
setvaetneidn gthbeforehad
de
done
accident.the lower stage, O'Neill, foremans
as to orders alleged to
Amore iduff up the
otof
tt
hb
ee
s removalcaffoide r
so f,
of Mr. Coleman, who was present
removing it. The inquiry was tit
htee request
of
they a again ad-
journed.

THE BIRKENHEAD RIOTERS.—T. he following
men were brought before the magistrates at Birkenhead, yesterday, for being concerned in the late rio is at that place.
Patrick Farrell was charged with breaking the windows at
Mr. Laird's works, and assaulting several oiF the workmen.
James M'Guire and Thos. Murphy were chared with
attempting to rescue the former pnsene,r; and Laurence
Taggart and Thomas Martin were chargc)d . with being
last
en-
gaged in the riot. After a lengthened inv€ igation
good
be-
four prisoners were held over in sureties for their g
htaakvinoura
pdrouillilinegentthpeartnexm.t tthweo
dmisoternthhluis.
ceF;
to take his trial at the assizes. wireerellzeweltoithtaeici

( -, NEWSPAPER
VX=,....-....--,--,
..i..,
.--
Major-Gen. Sir Richard Dacres, ' r 19*
appointed Commandant of the Barr .0 ; ...1--
arrived at Woolwich, accompanied b • • _ : ;
Camp, Major W. E. M. Reilly. At noon
I. -
lal :1 eAved the body of officers commanding bri-
gades and corps, in pursuance of a notification
issued on the preceding day by the Brigade Major,
by order. After the reception the General pro-
ceeded to commence the duties of his command,
signed the various documents about to be placed in
orders, and fully relieved Major-Gen. Bloomfield,
lately Second Commandant, acting in command
since the departure of Sir W. F. Williams.
Lieut.-C-7•7'14. commandant of the King's
Own Rifle Treglinit-rit of Staffordshire Militia, has
received orders from the Lord-Lieutenant of the
county to assemble his corps for 21 days' training
on the sth of July next.
The Herefordshire Regiment of Militia will be
called out for training an exercise in a few days.
The Durham Militia Artillery, about 14 officers
and 270 men, will arrive in Portsmouth garrison
this morning, and take `up their quarters in Fort
Gomer. The troops at present in Fort Gomer will
encamp on Brown Down for rifle practice.