ie oan f7 7 Apr 12, 1872.
and 38, situate near Hastings. Their destruction is to be witnessed by a number of Officers belonging to the Royal Artillery and Engineers. 2001b. of gun- powder, arranged in three heaps, will be fired under one of the towers, and 800lb, contained in barrels, under the other. Tue Housn Dury.—The inhabited house duty, on which the Budget gives some relief by extending an exception, is a tax which becomes year by year more productive, as our houses increase both in num- ber and value. In the financial year 1859-60 it was charged on 204,705 houses occupied for purposes of trade, or as farmhouses, at 6d. in the pound, and on 327,878 other houses, at 9d., the tax applying only to houses of the value of £20 a year and upwards; in the year 1869-70 it was charged on 267,451 houses at 6d., and on 486,246 houses at 9d. In the year 1859-60 the tax produced £796,880 net—viz., £744,771 in England, and £52,109 in Scotland; ten years later the produce exceeded £1,100,000. It will be remembered that the house duty was substi- tuted for the window tax in 1851, and, like other assessed taxes, imposed on Great Britain only. The change gave to the taxpayer a relief equal to about amillion sterling. Since 1851 the produce of the tax has increased more than 50 per cent.—viz., from £727,000 to £1,100,000. The net product in the year 1870-71 was £1,129,125—viz., £1,053,543 in England, and £75,582 in Scotland. It is now nearly two centuries since, in 1696, the tax on inhabited houses was first imposed in this country in conjunc- tion with the window tax; but the house tax was repealed in 1834, and not levied again until 1851. Tue PreAsopy Trust.—Lord Lyttelton, in a letter to the Times on Monday last, expresses the opinion that the public are not very fully or satis- factorily kept informed of the proceedings of the Peabody trustees. They build houses, he says, and charge for them a fair, though moderate, annual rent. Their rent forms their permanent income, which is applied in the same way. The fund is thus reproductive and perpetual, and ought eventually, though at a very distant day, to. renew the face of London. It is, he adds, a question whether the trustees might not do much additional good, and more rapidly and extensively, by possessing them- selves of existing buildings on a large seale, and improving and regulating them to the utmost extent short of reconstruction. Other people have been asking this question before Lord Lyttelton, and the trustees must before long give some answer to it. Money tHE Roor or More Evin.—Any one at all familiar with the generally filthy condition of Scotch and Irish, and many English County, Bank Notes will hardly deem a correspondent of the Scotsman an alarmist, who writes asking us to con- sider that the process of counting notes consists in rubbing the points of the forefinger and thumb upon one note after another, while we ever and anon apply the fingers to the tongue, which is known to be one of the most absorbent organs of the body. Bank notes are circulated among the rich and poor, the filthy and the clean, the healthy and the dis- eased, and it is very apparent that they thus become the most admirable media of infection we can well conceive, unless due precautions are taken. More frequent issues, and the adoption of a paper like that used by the Bank of England are the evident remedies. Save or Curist’s Hosprrat.—A meeting of the Governors of Christ’s Hospital was held on Thurs- day week to consider the offer made by the Mid- London Railway for the purchase of the buildings and four acres of ground of Christ’s Hospita!, the company’s bill having passed its second reading in the House of Commons by a majority of 27. The sum of £600,000 was offered for the land, hall, and buildings, and after some discussion was unanimously accepted by the Governors. The scheme, therefore, which was discussed and rejected last year will now be carried out. A thousand boyswill be transferred to new buildings in some healthy country district where cricket and other out-door sports will be pos- sible, and half a million of money will remain to plant day schools as centres of education in various parts of London. The company are to pay at once 10 per cent. deposit, and the officers of the hospital are directed to take all necessary steps for comptet- ing the transfer of the property. _ THe Derrorr Tunnen.—The following descrip- tion of the present condition of the work of excaya- ting a tunnel under the strait separating Detroit, Mich., irom Windsor, Canada, has been published :— A large cofferdam, forty feet square, has been con- structed by driving down in double rows thick piles, upon which six-inch planks were bolted. A solid pier was then formed by ramming in hard blue clay, and through this newly-made land the shaft is to be unk. The base of the iron shaft, fifteen feet in
THE BUILDING NEWS.
diameter, two feet thick, and weighing eight tons,
has been placed in position, and upon it brickwork,
laid in asphalte, has been built to the height of ten
feet. The weight of the iron base and brickwork
will gradually sink the shaft to the required depth
of fifty feet, as the earth is taken from beneath.
When the bottom is reached the next work will be
the excayation of the drainage tunnel, five feet in
diameter and twenty-five feet below the main tunnels,
at the respective entrances, but rising, gradually to
the central point.
eee
CHIPS.
On the pulpit in Bicknollen Church, which ts being
renovated, being removed a few days ago. a stone
staircase was discovered in the wall, and leading out
again almost to the top of the screen.
8. Mary’s Church, Reading, is undergoing resto-
ration. A new north aisle is to be added.
Two stained glass memorial windows have been
placed in the south transept of the parish church of
Fayersham. Messrs. Layers, Barraud, and Westlake
were the artists. .
The foundation-stone of a new Presbyterian
Chapel was laid at Hoylake, Cheshire, a few days
since.
A new public hall is being erected at Dorking
from the designs of Messrs. Driver & Kew, by
Mr. Shearburn.
The Lincoln Corporation has purchased the water-
works of that town, the sum fixed upon by the
arbitrator being £63,827, or £13,289 less than the
amount originally asked by the company.
The parish church of West Harnham, Wilts,
which has considerable Norman remains, is about
to be thoroughly restored.
A movement is on foot towards the erection of a
theatre at Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare’s birth-
place.
—___—o——_—_ MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK, TUESDAY.—THE INSTITUTION OF CrytL ENGINEERS. —‘ Description of the New South Dock in the Isle of Dogs, forming part of the West India Dock.” By Mr. Leveson Francis Vernon-Harcourt, M. Inst. C.E. 8 p.m. FriIpAY.—CIviL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS? Society. — ‘On the Preservation of Tron.” By Mr. W. Meakin. 7.30 p.m. ——— Grade Aetws. WAGES MOVEMENT. Anytru.—After being for little more than two days on strike, the joiners in Alyth and district have re- turned to work, the employers haying conceded their demands for the nine hours’ limit, with no abatement in pay, overtime to be paid at the rate of time and a half. The change, however, will not take place till the Ist May. The masters haye also promised, without solicitation, to increase men’s wages at the same time. BARNSLEY.—Nearly all the joiners in Barnsley have struck for an advance of 1s. per week on the present wages, and for a reduction of the working hours in the summer months from 55 to 52} per week. BIRMINGHAM.—A meeting of the employers of zinc- workers of Birmingham was held on Tuesday, at the Acorn Hotel, Upper Temple-street, for the purpose of considering the present aspect of trade affairs. The masters considered that the workmen had treated them with contempt in having failed to meet them in con- ference, as arranged. It appeared that the workmen asked areduction of the hours of labour to 54 per week, to be allowed to walk toand from their work in their master’s time, and to be allowed Is. per night for lodgings when working out of town. The masters’ offer is, that the hours should be 563 per week, with 1s. for the first night and 6d. for the following five nights, when out oftown; the men to walk from their work in their own time, if not more than 2} miles from the workshop. The workmen refused to accept the terms offered by their employers, and a strike took place on Monday. The masters, at their meeting on Tuesday evening, were unanimous in their decision to adhere to their former resolutions, and to ‘let matters take their own course.” BRIDGWATER.—The Jrickmakers at Bridgwater have formed a union, and threaten a strike for an ad- vance of wages. CoventRY.—We reported last week that the um- pires appointed to settle the differences between the masters and men had made their respective awards, giving to the men concerned an increase of wages. The labourers refused to accept the award, and by their refusal have apparently gained their whole demand. GREAT BripGr.—On Saturday night a meeting of mill and hand sawyers was heldat the Limerick Inn, Great Bridge, to consider the affairs of their society, and the position of the men out on strike. After a
307
long discussion, it was moved, seconded, and carried
unanimously, ‘That every workman now receiving
the prices agitated for bring to the next meeting a
note from their masters, stating that the prices are
being paid.” The second resolution was to continue
the strike, it being unanimously agreed that none of
the men out on strike should return to work until the
employers conceded the terms asked for. The third re-
solution was, ‘‘ That those men who have returned to
work on the false statements made to them shall at
once give asecond notice of fourteen days for the proper
increase.” This was also carried unanimously, and the
meeting terminated. The recruiting from other
neighbourhoods is not, it is stated, at all successful.
LreEps.—The Leeds bricklayers, who at present re-
ceive 7d. an hour, resolved, at a meeting held on Wed-
nesday evening, to demand an additional $d. per hour.
About 300 were present at the meeting, which was
composed of both society and non-society men. A
deputation was appointed to wait upon the masters.
NortTHAaMPTON.—The carpenters of Northampton are
agitating for the nine hours’ movement for their trade.
The masters haye consented to allow it in June, but the
workmen demand it to be commenced forthwith, and
as the masters refuse to accede to this they have decided
to commence a strike on Monday next. The terms the
men ask are nine hours per day, and overtime to be
paid for at the rate of 9d. per hour.
RocHestER.—A meeting of nearly one hundred men
ofall classes of the building trades, in the employ of
Mr, J. G. Naylar, builder, of Rochester, was held on
Thursday week, to take into consideration the nine
hours’ movement. After an amicable discussion, in
which Mr. Naylar took part, the question was deferred
for further discussion.
SuNDERLAND.—On Wednesday week, at a meeting
of the men on strike in Sunderland, it was determined
to adhere to their modified demand for 33s. a week and
fifty-three hours. It was stated that a large proportion
of the masters had already conceded satisfactory terms.
ed
TENDERS.
CANTERBURY.—Sir,—In your last impression, the ac-
cepted tender for Bridge Union, Canterbury, should
have been Foad, not “ Toad.""—C, FoAp,
GRAVESEND.—For the erection of a new tower to
§. John’s (Roman) Catholic Church. Messrs. Goldie &
Child, architeets :—
Crossley . aves £1888 Roberts . 1673 Conder . . 1576 Blake...... . 1515 HAMPSTEAD-ROAD.—For decorative repairs at No. 15, Mornington-crescent, Hampstead-road. Mr. J. H. Rowley, architect:—
FOODS <icccccccceeepee axe LTO
Newman & Mann. 145
Vaughan. 124
Crabb ..... RereLLD
of two semi-detached
HaAstings.—For the erection
Mr. W.
houses and stabling in Harold-road, Hastings.
L. Vernon, architect :—
Wood & Geary..
Parks...
Reeve
Starr
Vidler.
Rodda ..
Hinkley (accepted)..
aocoooses MAMENHEAD.—For drainage works, Maidenhead, for the Local Board of Health :— Price (accepted) . ASHEON. .ccsceceens £699 670
MortLake.—For villa at Mortlake, for C. Lee, Esq. Messrs. Pain & Clark, architects. Quantities supplied by Mr. E. Merfee :— Henshaw ... wee £1230 - 1198
Manley & Rogers.. 1140
Cook & Green - 1109
APICS see esccscns - 1090
Aviss & Co. (accepted). - 1029
Sawyer (too late) ae» 1019
WEstsinster.—For the erection of stabling for eleven
horses, coach-houses, and living-rooms above, &c., for the
Right Hon. Lord Auckland, in Buckingham-row, West-
minster. Mr. William Scott Champion, architect. Quan- tities supplied by Messrs. Woodzell & Colleutt :— Ennor . £1449 Cooke & Green.. . 1313 Smith..........0066 1287 Newman & Mann.. - 1265 Scrivener & White.. 1254 1120 Wagner (accepted) —
Ashton & Green, Slate and Slab Merchants and Quarry Agents.—Shippers, Merchants, and Con- tractors furnished with Price Lists of every description of ROOFING and MANUFACTURED SLATE, Railway- rates, &c. Agents for London and Country for the Sale of the celebrated WHITLAND ABBEY GREEN SLATES. S. Columba Church, Haggerstone; Patriotic Schools, Wandsworth, Sisters’ Home, Finsbury, S. Mary Abbott's Church, Kensington, are fine specimens of Whitland Slating. Complete list of Buildingscovered with these Slates supplied. Drawings and Prices of A. & G.'s RED RIDGE TILES specially prepared for use with these Slates, on application.—Offices and Show-rooms, 14 & 15, Bury- street, St. Mary Axe, London, E,C.—[ApDyT.]
