The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-08-02 00:00:00

E

BIRKENHEAD ;1. said to
i=. S i. per 1 OW vul)ie feet, while in Liverpool

SUAI EltS

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic for the
week ended July 24, 1853:—Railway: Passengers, parcels,
&c., £4,048 14s. 2d. ; goods, £1,159 Os. ld. ; Steam-boats:
£768 183. 11d. Total, £4,817 13s. Id. Increase as com-
pared with the corresponding week last year, £1,808155. 9d.

MR. FIN CHETT MADDOCK having, from venerable old
age, become unequal to the fulfilment of the duties of the
office of Town-clerk of Chester, the Council, after a warm
discussion, elected Mr. John Walker, as deputy of the
Town-clerk, by 19 votes against 16.

ROBBERIES IN CHESHIRE.—On Monday week, Evan
Cleaton was committed for trial at Liscard, charged with
stealing a barometer, two top coats, and a pair of gloves
from the entrance-hall of the mansion of John Bigland,
Esq., New Brighton, and also for stealing two oak chairs
from the entrance-hall of the Commissioners rooms, at
Birkenhead.

THE MURDER IN NORTH WALES.—On Wednesday,
at the Carnarvon assizes, John Roberts, aged 23, was sen-
tenced to death for the wilful murder of Jesse Roberts,
aged 16, near Roe, in the county of Carnarvon. The
murderer. it appeared, had invited his victim, who was a
pupil-teacher, to go shooting rabbits, and while so em-
ployed among the mountains, at a place called Cerrig-y-
-pryfold, Roberts shot the poor young man, robbed the
body of a watch, and left it among the rocks.
THE LATE Mr. HENRY WINCH.—The following com-
munication has been addressed to the widow of the above
respected gentleman, by his brother magistrates :—"Town
Hall, Birkenhead, 22nd of July, 1853. Mrs. Winch,—.
Madam,— The magistrates, in hundred session assembled
this day, have heard with concern of the death of Henry
Winch, Esq., of Seacombe, on the 17th inst., and they
desire to record their sense of the value of his active and
upright services as a justice of the peace of the district to
which he devoted his attention.—John Dean Case, chair-
man."

THE LORD'S DAY OBSERVANCE.—Twenty-eight farmers
of the parish of Acton in Cheshire, keeping a total of 909
cows, and amongst whom are the owners of some of the
best dairies in Cheshire, have signed a declaration to the
effect that they have left off the practice'of making cheese
on the Lord's-day for periods varying from two to twelve
years ; that they are in every respect satisfied with the
results of the change; and that they are satisfied that,
with due care, any one who k disposed to do so may leave
off cheese•making on that day without sustaining any loss
or inconvenience.

WALLASEY COMMISSIONERS.—Mr. Penny presided
at a meeting of this board on Tuesday, when a report was
submitted from the special committee. The report re-
commended that Mr. Hassall be clerk, with a salary of
£l5O per annum, with an assistant at £6O per annum ;
that Mr. Kerr be collector, at £125 per annum ; Mr. J.
Chaffers, of the Royal Bank, treasurer ; and that an
inspector of nuisances and a surveyor be appointed, at
salaries of £lOO per annum. All the resolutions were
agreed to, except that relative to Mr. Chaffers, who re-
fused to give any security. It was consequently agreed
to defer the matter until the next meeting.
EXTENSIVE STRIKES IN SOUTH WALES.—An impor-
tant district of South Wales is at present suffering from
the annoyances attendant upon a rash and ill-advised
strike. The Dowlais Works are stopped, its 15 furnaces
are out of blast, and each furnace affects, directly or in-
directly, 1,000 people men, women, and children.
From time to time there have been advances of wages at
Dowlais, and at other works in the two counties. At
the time the strike took place the men were working upon
the fourth advance, making in all a rise of 30 per cent.
In the Merthyr district an advance of 10 per cent. was ac-
corded, hut the men, not satisfied with this large advance,
asked 71 per cent. more. At Plymouth Works the men
turned out without notice, but shortly afterwards resumed
work, the manager, Mr. Hill, having given them not only
this 71 per cent., but 21 per cent, more, or 20 per cent.
in all. This stimulated the workmen at the Dowlais
Works to ask an advance of 71 per cent. To this
Lady Charlotte Guest declined to accede, and on Tuesday
the colliers struck work, without giving notice. The ex-
ample of the colliers was afterwards followed by the
" puddlers," and the whole 15 furnaces were then at once
blown out, and all work suspended. By thus ceasing work
without giving notice, and without fulfilling their engage-
ments, the men have forfeited all arrears of pay due to
them, and from 10,000 to 15,000 people—men, women, and
children—are thrown out of bread. In consequence of the
dissatisfaction of the workmen at Cyfartha, Mr. Crawshay
has given notice that on the 26th of August all contracts
shall cease. Ebbw Vale, Sirhowy, Rhymney, Tredegar, and
all the Pontypool Iron Company's works are going on as
usual. The colliers at Dowlais, it is stated, are leaving in
large numbers for the collieries in the Aberdare-valley.
Much anxiety and excitement have been created by the
" turn-outs," and exaggerated rumours have been afloat
of menaces, intimidation, rioting, &c. These reports led
to precautionary measures, and the troops (horse and foot)
at Newport-barracks were under arms, preparing to move
at a moment's notice. Meetings of large numbers, it is
true, have been held on the hills, but it is stated that they
were conducted temperately and decorously. At a meeting
of the Red Ash-colliery proprietors the following resolu-
tions were agreed to :—" That this meeting is of opinion
that the further advance of 2d. per ton, asked by the col-
liers on the Ist of August, cannot be agreed to. That
this meeting does not consider that it would be advisable
at the present time to advance the price of coal. That the
masters are willing to give an advance whenever the price
of coal exceeds the present price of 10s. per ton. That a
copy of the foregoing resolutions be sent to the different
coal-owners in this and the neighbouring districts, re-
questing their co-operation." It is hoped that the dis-
cussions now taking place on the hills will eventually lead
to the men returning to their work, as, however disastrous
to the masters, the effects of a strike of any continuance
to the men are ruinous.

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—The North-London
train, on passing through the Minories portion of the
Blackwall Railway on Thursday, got partly off the rails,
and three plate-layers, who had been working at the spot,
and who were standing against the parapet wall to let the
train pass, were thrown under the engine, and two of
them killed ; the third escaped with some bruises. None
of the passengers in the train received any injury.