The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-29 00:00:00

THE STRIKES IN LIVERPOOL

The labour-strikes have been continued during the
week, and, in most instances, they have been successful
in obtaining the advances demanded. The cabinet-
makers are now receiving 2s. a-week extra, upholsterers
25., corn-porters 6d. a-day, and plasterers 6d. day. The
movement among the nightmen has not been so successful,
owing to their want of funds ; most of them have returned
to work at the old wages. The strike of the porters at
the goods stations of the London and North-western
Railway was resumed on Tuesday. As stated last week,
they struck work on the previous Thursday, on a demand
to have their wages advanced from 245. to 275. a-week,
for the first class, and from 21s. to 213. for the scond
class porters. The superintendent, Mr. Cochrane, pro-
mised to represent their propositions to the directors,
agreeing in the meantime to pay the advanced wages.
They also demanded a diminution of the hours of
labour, and the payment of 6d. an hour for over-work.
The company then advertised for a large number of extra
porters in order to carry out the wishes of the men by per-
forming within twelve hours that which was not done in
less than fifteen or sixteen. The porters took offence, and
struck work ; the firemen, bookers, deliverers, loaders,
cranemen, breaksmen, and others followed their example ;
and the entire work of the stations was stopped. On
Thursday the porters assembled at the King's Pierhead,
and adopted the following resolutions :—That the wages
of the porters be 245. a week ; hours of work from six,
a.m., to seven, p.m., with no half hour for tea ; that the
shipping clerks be paid 275. a week ; that the goods re-
ceivers and goods deliverers be paid in proportion ; that
the sheeters be paid 243. a week, and a quarter allowed
them in the morning to make up for the excessive work
in the evening; that foremen be paid in proportion to their
stations ; that the wages of the men should be paid weekly
instead of fortnightly, as the latter system often involved
men with families in difficulties ; that all work after
seven o'clock in the evening should be paid for at 6d. an
hour, and portions of hours to be charged as full hours.
That no notice to quit the employ of the company be
given on either side. On Saturday the men congregated
at the King's Dock Pier, and appointed a deputation to
wait upon Mr. Poole, who told them that they were act-
ing illegally and improperly in leaving their work, and
explained the folly of striking for wages first and asking
for an advance afterwards ; that he would advise them at
once to return to their work, and then submit their wishes
in a proper manner, through him, to the directors ; that
any man was at perfect liberty to leave the company's
service on giving due notice, but not otherwise ; and
that, whilst in the service, he was equally at liberty to
apply for an advance of wages if he thought proper. Mr.
Poole then received their propositions in writing, and
promised to lay them before the Board of Directors at
their next meeting ; and, in the meantime, to pay them
the rate of wages agreed to by their superintendent until
the decision of the directors was known. This arrange-
ment being satisfactory, the deputation withdrew, and the
men, upon its being made known to them, instantly and
cheerfully proceeded to their work again. We are informed
that the wages paid by the London and Northwestern Rail-
way Company have been quite as liberal as those paid by
other companies, if not more so, to the same class of men
for similar services. No porter received less than a
guinea a week, and the most of them were in receipt of
24s per week. The cranemen and foremen were paid
from 24s to 30s per week, many of whom are not at all
dissatisfied with their stipends, but they complain, with
just cause, of the very late hours imposed upon them by
the public shippers and receivers of goods, whose carts are
employed at the docks and warehouses during the day,
and only use the railways at night.
The advance demanded by the goods porters of the
East Lancashire, and Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway,
was acceded to on Thursday last, and thus a second strike,
which was to have taken place at one o'clock that day,
wag avoided.

There are certain 111-Nunded run-tome in circulation to
the effect that a strike is contemplated by the borough
police. We believe there is no truth in the report, which
may probably have arisen from the fact that a considerable
number of men have given the usual month's notice to
quit the service._ _ . .

Yesterday (Monday), the men in the employ of the
master carmen of Liverpool struck for wages, and in the
afternoon a numerous meeting of them was held on the
Pier-head. It would appear, however, from the proceed-
ings, that the whole affair arose out of a determination to
enjoy the Easter holidays. One of the speakers, who had
evidently been sacrificing to the jolly god, and who
answered to the call of "Hobby," proposed, as a resolu-
tion, that their wages should, in future, be twenty-four
shillings a week and a pint of ale every night. This was
carried by acclamation, as was also a resolution that any
one working for less should have his nose broke. Those
assembled seemed more disposed to enjoy themselves than
to complain of any substantial grievance, and it is believed
that the whole affair will be over in a day or two.

TOWNSHIP OF TRANMERE.
The annual meeting of the ratepayers of this district,
in the parish of Bebington, was held yesterday (Monday),
in the Assembly-room of the Britannia Hotel, Lower
Tranmere. Mr. E. G. Willoughby in the chair. The
first business was the choice of a list for overseers, to be
submitted to the magistrates at Great Neston, on Friday
next. The retiring overseers were Messrs. E. G. Wil-
loughby and C. Woodward, who have been put in nomi-
nation as guardians for the district. After some little
discussion, the following list was approved :—Messrs. J.
H. Barry, Blyth Brown, W. W. Perry, John Williams,
and Joseph Blundell. For surveyors of highways :
Messrs. Samuel Lightbound, and J. Routledge, having
given general satisfaction during the past year, were
unanimously re-elected. Messrs. William Prowse, jun.,
and William Webb, were re-elected assessors. Messrs.
W. Webb and J. Langley were re-elected auditors of the
highway accounts. The next business was the appoint-
ment of constables. For Clifton-park and Holt-hill
district : Messrs. George Spencer and James Kenan were
re-elected; for Higher Tranmere district, Messrs. G. Mil-
ler and Samuel Jones were re-elected;. for Limekiln-lane
district, Mr. H. Addison was re-elected, and Mr. Kenan was
appointed in the room of Mr. Wm. Evans; and for Lower
Tranmere district, Messrs. Edward Gorris and William
Jackson were re-elected. The committee appointed last
year to assist the overseers was re-appointed, with the
addition of Messrs. Willoughby and Woodward, the re-
tiring overseers. A claim was made on behalf of Mr.
Thomas Dawkins, to be re-paid the sum of £3 55., the
expense which he had incurred for securities for collecting
the highway rate some time since, but as no rate was levied
they had been rendered unnecessary. Upon the motion
of Mr. Woodward, it was agreed that the amount should
be refunded. In answer to an inquiry respecting a gift of
bread to the poor at Tranmere church, it was stated by Mr.
Woodward that there was a gift of £5 year arising from a
field in Tranmere, and which for some years had been
divided between the parish church at Bebbington and the
district church. It had, however, been lately discontinued,
and some inquiry would be made about it at the Bebington
vestry meeting ; but as Lord Cranworth had a bill betore
parliament to vest in the county courts the investigation of
parochial trusts, it was thought advisable to wait until
the bill became law. After some discussion it was agreed
to posptone the case for a time, but in the interim the
overseers and guardians were requested to make them.
selves acquainted with the facts. Thanks were voted to the
chairman, and the meeting shortly afterwards separated.

DR. SHERIDAN MUSPRATT has a portrait of Shak-
speare, at the College of Chemistry, which was painted by
a contemporary artist of the bard of Avon.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—Yesterday morning an office boy
was run over by a cart, in Park-lane. His head was so
fearfully crushed, that death was instantaneous. He has
not yet been identified.
FREE EMIGRATION.—SO successful was the arrange-
ment at Mr. Henry Russell's last concerts, of giving away
free emigration tickets to Australia, that he has announced
another series, with similar advantages, for three weeks
hence.

CONVERT FROM POPERY.—On Sunday evening last,
an intelligent young man, about 20 years of age, abjured
the errors of Popery in the Church of St. James's, Latch-
ford, near Warrington, and was received into communion
with the Church of England by the Rev. James Wright,
the incumbent.

MEETING OF SHIPWRIGHTS.—A meeting of ship-
wrights, unconnected with the Liverpool Shipwrights'
Association, was called for last night at the lecture-room,
Tuton-buildings, Lime-street. A considerable time after
the hour appointed very few attended ; no business was
proceeded with, and those present did not seem to be
aware for what purpose they had assembled.
THE ANCIENT BARDS.—The fine historical picture of
"The Laat Fight of the Bards," now exhibiting in Church-
street, may be seen this week for the last time ; and, in
order to give the working-classes an opportunity of im-
proving their acquaintance with the fine arts, the exhibi-
tion is open in the evenings up to ten o'clock.
AT A VESTRY MEETING, holden in the new Parish
Church of All Saints yesterday, (Easter Monday,) the
minister, the Rev. Henry Marlen, appointed Richard
Yates Ackerley, Esq., as his churchwarden; and the
parishioners, in their own behalf, appointed Robert Pear-
son Zinger, Esq. The above gentlemen have already
held office in this church for three- years, during which
period, under their prudent management, it has been
blessed with increasing prosperity, and their re-appoint-
ment not only augurs well for the future, but meets with,
the universal approbation of OP congregation,