The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-08 00:00:00

CLOSE OF THE TAPTON COLLIERY.

THE WORKMEN'S FAREWELL DINNER.
Ihe proprietors of this colliery, known as the
Lockoford Works, G. and R. Stephenson, Thqs.,
finally relinquished the undertaking on Monday
last, on which day the whole of the men and boys,
numbering about 140, were discharged. The
works have been in operation upwards of twenty
years, and they have been abandoned in conse-
quence of the numerous faults that have been en-
countered, which rendered it impossible to work
the pit to a profit. Although this large number of
men and boys have been temporarily thrown out
of employment, it is gratifying ,to know that none
of them who are disposed to labour need be out of
work, as the adjoining collieries of Staveley, West
Stavely, Sheepbridge, and others, have found em-
ployment for all who have applied for it. Messrs.
Stephenson and the managers at Lockoford have
been azeious to secure good work for the men,
and we have reason to know that their efforts have
been successful. The affairs at Lockoford are being
wound up, and it is not improbable that the plant
will be sold by auction. On Tuesday last the
managers of the colliery, together with the friends
and the workmen, partook of a farewell dinner to
commemorate their separation from the colliery.
The repast was well served up in a large marquee
by Mr. Turner, of the Hare and Hounds, in a field
in the rear of the inn. There wero present Mr.
Howe, engineer to the Clay Cross Company ; Mr.
D. Coop( r, engineer to R. Barrow, Esq., of
Staveloy • Messrs. J. and W. Parker, of Clay
Cross ; Mr. S. Parker, of Tapton Colliery • Mr.
Hudson, of West Staveley Works ; Mr. T. Halli-
day ; 11fr. Godber, of the Wingerworth Company ;
Mr. Longworth, of Staveley ; Mr. Heath and Mr.
Kirk, of Chesterfield, &c., &c. After ample justice
had been done to the dinner, Mr. Howe was called
to the chair.

Tne CHAIRMAN gave in S1le:N:1381011 the healths of
the Queen, the Prince Consort, and the rest of the
Royal fain,ly, and in proposing the Army and
Navy he alluded to the affairs of India, and hoped
our operations there might be carried on with
success.

The CHAIRMAN next gave the health of the Duke
of Devonshire, Lord-Lieutenant of the county,
observing that he was glad to hear the noble duke
was in improved health. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. LONGWORTH said the toast he was about to
propose, he was satisfied would be received with the
greatest enthusiasm. It was the health of Robert
Stephenson. (Cheers.) He should have been
glad to have proposed the health of his father had
he been living, because a better friend to the
working man never lived. He rose inch by inch
to be the first engineer in the kingdom. No man
was superior to George Stephenson, not even the
greatest lord in the country. He bad great talent,
immense talent, and it was easy for any man to do
the same thing if ho would devote himself to study
as Stephenson did. He had mot so much natural
talent as many supposed, but he had a great amount
of perseverance ; and he would tell them, as a man
of business, that unless they persevered they would
not make any progress. (Hear.) He (Mr. Long-
worth) began life with very little, indeed he was
not very well to do now, but he had advanced him-
self so far that he should not be very much in want
in future. He begged to propose the health of
Robert Stephenson, because there was scarcely a
more talented man living. (Drank with all the
honours.)
The CHAIRMAN said he wished to saya few words
in reference to the last toast. Their friend, Mr.
Longwortb, bad said that the late Mr. George Ste-
phenson bad not much natural talent, but a large
amount of perseverance. But he (the chairman)
was there to say that Mr. Stephenson not only pos-
sessed a large amount of perseverance but a great
amount of natural talent. (Hear and cheers.) Mr.
Stephenson rose from the lowest ranks. His father I
was a fireman, and earned 14s. or 15s. per week.
The late Mr. Stephenson commenced work in a tur-
nip field, at 2d. per day, but he rose stop by step by
his own industry, perseverance, and natural talent
as well. We were too apt to look back upon great
things as matters of no moment or consequence to
us. We knew what a screw bolt was. It was now
considered a simple thing. Who was the man that
invented the screw bill ? It was Mr. Stephenson,
and one of his earliest inventions. Mr. Stephenson
was also the inventor of the Safety Lamp, which
bears his name, and which was now considered su-
perior to the Davy Lamp, because it would not ex-
plode in gas but go out, leaving the miner in dark-
ness, but in comparative safety. (Cheers.) In bring-
ing this lamp before the notice of the public, he had
the richest men
took it up, and
into
tfihgeh t throughoutcountry
taog afianoset, own
he
oo f
whilst 1001. was given to Mr. Stephenson, who was
re
Sir Humphrey Davy was given
ally and truly the 2,000 guineas,
inventor of 'the Safety Lamp.
Mr. Stephenson did not bring this invention to us,
by taking some gas iu a bladder and experimenting
upon it in a carpet dtawing-room. No, he took it
in the mine and tried in the presence of men who
ultimately rose like himself. He was like all other
poor ram who bring out these inventions, Ho