The Bee-Hive. — 1876-04-15 (London, England)

MANCHESTER. (From our Special Correspondent.)  The adjourned meeting of the Co-operative Wholesale Society, which was held on Saturday last, for the consideration of the proposed scheme for the reconstruction of the Ouseburn Engine Works, was well attended, and the discussion was of a very lively character. The result was, however, a large majority in favour of the reconstruction policy, and as, in accordance with the rules of the society, the numbers at the Manchester meeting have to be added to those given at the London and Newcastle branches, the result gives a great preponderance of votes in favour of another effort being made to raise capital and carry on the works. The approaching congress of co-operators at Glasgow is creating some interest here, and the officials at the offices of the Central Board are actively occupied in tha preparations. If what I hear is correct, our Scotch friends will show an equal, if not greater, display of hospitality to the co-operators than they did to the trade unionists in October last. • Among others likely to visit Glasgow, I am informed that the Wholesale Society will be represented by Messrs. Mitchell and Johnson; the Manchester Equitable by Messrs. Hardman and Foster; the Union Land and Building by Messrs. Pereivel and Whiloy ; the Co-operative Insurance by Mr. A. Greenwood ; and the Printing Society by Mr. Slater. Mr. J. D. Prior, of Manchester, has also, I am glad to hear, been deputed to represent the Trades Congress Parliamentary Committee. The strike of the painters and plumbers continues, with apparently little prospect of a settlement, though I hear that increased numbers are now at work on the terms of the men. The employers are making great efforts, which appear to meet with little success, to replace their old men by. non-unionists. In the neighbouring town of Bolton a horrible murder has been committed, and •I fear there is too much reason to suspect that trades unionists are the guilty parties. Whether it is so or not, I can only hope that the real delinquents will be brought to punishment. The facts are briefly that a strike of packers took place in the works of Messrs. Slater and Co., about Christmas last, forty-one men and seventeen women and girls coming out rather than undertake increased work without additional remuneration. Their places have been taken by others, and three of these were assaulted in a violent manner last Saturday night,  April 15,1876.  one—a man named Thompson, a foreman—being actually murdered. It was at once suspected that the turnouts were the culprits, and the poUCO resolved upon apprehending all the forty-one men who came out. I Ina" no complaint of their desire to discover the perpetrator of the outrage, but heartily wish them success; still, I venture to think that such -wholesale system of apprehension was quite an uncalled-for act 01 suspicion. . 3 Professor Levi's fourth lecture, delivered on Tuesday night, containcu much more debatable matter than his previous ones, and it was no or; prise that upon such questions as the influence of trades unions ad wages, the minimum of wages, uniformity of wages, piece-work and day-work, and other points some of his views mot with strenuous an effective opposition from the representatives of labour.