The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-04-30 00:00:00

THE COLLIERS.

The colliery districts in Durham and Northumberland
are in a very unsatisfactory state; and should the shop-
keepers in the villages continue to supply the families of
the men with provisions, the strike is likely to be a pro-
tracted one. The coal-owners have, it appears, decided
that they cannot employ the men under the unreasonable
restrictions contained in the bond drawn up by Roberts;
and, in some places, where strangers have been employed
to remove the stocks from bank, open hostilities have
been resorted to, the women taking an active part in the
affray—and, though nothing of a serious outbreak has yet
taken place, the disposition shown is in itself sufficiently
alarming. A troop of the Bth Hussars, and a company of
the 37th, were marched on Monday last, from Newcastle
to Durham, as a more central point, should their services
be unfortunately required, and two other companies were
waiting further orders for the same destination. It is
stated that the aspect of affairs in the pottery district is
changing, and that the turn-out there will probably soon
be at an end, three district meetings were held in Nor-
thumberland on Monday last, and one in the county of.
Durham, at each of which resolutions were passed favour-
able to the continuance of their present position.
The Nottingham Review gives the following. account
of the state of affairs further south :—" We are informed
that most of the Nottinghamshire,and several of the
Derbyshire colliers are doing very little work, as great
numbers of the colliers firmly continue in the union. We
understand there has been a large meeting of the most
influential coal-masters in the counties of Derby, Not-
ti gham. and Leicester, with those connected with the
North Midland Railway, at which it was determined not
to employ any colliers in the union, and ,to put it down
previous to entertaining the question of any regulation in
wages or prices of coals."
A meeting of the colliers of Wigan and neighbourhood
wasThephreolcde
sasti
nA mr
eha ec rhsewd °tot
id
e Common,common
abouton-
aloacskt
headed by two bands of music, with flags, and accompa-
nied by Mr. Roberts, the miner's. Attorney General, and
several delegates. .Mr. John Berry of Wigan was called
to the chair. Messrs. Price, Dennett, and Booth addres-
sed the meeting, and amongst the grievances of the dis-
trict, enumerated the truck system ; and the exorbitant
charge of 2d. per lb. extreWhen they were obliged, to pay
for their powder and candles
some
e;
ot.
3s.
the6d.hn
efeoarriadsdtelerss: that
they could purchase elsewhere for 2s. ; and spades in the
saelsn were describedeproportritn in short
as little better than ironmongers' and
tallow chandler's shops. Mr: Roberts addressed the
meeting at some length, exhorting them not under any
circumstances to violate the law, but to act in unity, and
with sober judgment, and then they would ultimately pre-
vail. The meeting amounted to between three and four
thousand, who on being asked by Mr. Price if they still intend
to hold fast to the r, strictive system of labour, as the means
of keeping the stork of coals low, simultaneously held up
their hands. Adt legate meeting, at which Mr. Roberts
• attended was afterwards held at the Rope and Anchor Inn,
Scholes, when it was unanimously resolved that Mr.
Roberts should come on circuit into these districts once a
month.

DIALGGUE BETWEEN EMI! A. AND EMILY.—" It Seems
crud to kill so rnany anitruits f.r their C:is—thirty-six
l'0" • quii I els int to i!e :th to mike a niuff for us 1" "
it is cruel ; why don't the monstcrs take them off without
killing them?"