LATE ENGLISH NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3107, 3 February 1873, Page 3

LATE ENGLISH NEWS.

From London papers to hand to the 11th November, via Sydney, we make the following extracts: A LARGE LONDON FIRE. On the 10th November, one of the largest fires that have occurred in London for many years past broke out at the City Flour Mills, in Upper Thames street, and caused an immense destruction of property, respecting the value of which almost fabulous statements are afloat. The building was of itself, perhaps, as conspicuous as any that could be seen on either bank of the Thames, and its loss will for the time obliterate a landmark of the metropolis. It was—and its shell, which is all that is now left of it, still is situated a few yards east of Block friars Bridge. From its extraordinary height it towered above ad the other wha-vea and bindings in the neighborhood, and it had no 4ess than some 400 windows in ait l around it. There were seven storeys to it, each of them being divided into warehouses and machine-rooms, and the quantity of grain that was continually kept in it was extremely large. It had a river frontage 65ft in length, and one of 1 ke size in Upper Thames street, and between the latter street and the river frontage was a distance of 250 ft, all occupied by the mill. There ; was also a long creek at the western side of it, from which barges might be laden. The building ww erected in 18 2, and belonged to Messrs J. and J. Hadley, an eminent firm of millers. One of the partners is a member of the Corporation of London. The premises wen: virtually destroyed in the course of yesterday. One of the tire brigade, a so, as is feared, lost his life while at work in the building. The tire, which doubtless had been smouldering many hours previously, was discovered shortly before seven o’clock in the morning. The lire, in spite of every effort that the skill of the liren.cn enabled them to make, spread gradually throughout the entire upper part of the building. The floors oue by ono gave way with a tremendous crash, throwing the entire weight of the contents on those beneath, and it is now said that the two lower floors, which are unt-inched, are bending so much with the pressure that it is positively impossible they can long keep up. 'The high walls are cracked in various places and lik ly to fall, and it is very dangerous for any one to approach th m. The circumstance whioh led, it is feared, to the death of a fireman, happened about three o’clock in the aft.moon. Some of the lire brigade had obtained access, by means of the escapes, to the third floor of the building, and were plying their hose, when a portion of the floor above suddenly gave way. It was thought that all the men so situated managed to escape, but, on muatmng them late in the day and palling the roll, it «as found that one of them, named Stanley Montague Cuernsey, who was known to be in that part of the building, was missing. Ib is therefore surmised that he was buried in the ruins. Although, being daylight, no v flection of the (lames was visible, yet, as the lire became known, the bridges and all the streets iu tli3 neighborhood were densely crowded. On the river also, the floating engines were surrounded by skiffs, and other small craft, all filled with spectators, The land-engines played from every conceivable point round the building. Firemen stood on the high premises abutting upon the mills, and tie. ce managed to pour into the windows and apertures of the building tons upon tons of water. Very little impression seemed, however, to be made, for the fire, which began at sevtn o’clock in the morning, is still burning,, and is likely to continue in that state for a day or two, owing to the immense bulk of the smouldering contents, though all danger is over. The roof fell early in the day. >wo lower floors out of seven—are comparatively uninjured by the fire ; bat they are likely, fropj the weight of the grain, machinery, and water above' - them, to fall at any moment. When darkness set iu, the reiluctwu of the fire was visible for some distance, auci the immense shell ot the building, with its numerous window's, was lit np by the flames raging within it, A GOLDEN WF.PMNu. The golden wedding of the King and Queen of Saxony was celebrated on the 10th .November. The city was profusely decorated, and early this morning (10th November) all the church bells were rung in honor of the event. The religious cereniQuy of blessing the Royal pair was celebrated in the Koyal Castle, whither the King and Queen were preceded by a brilliant bridal procession, and followed by the Emperor and Empress of Germany, the members of the Royal Family, including the Austrian Archduke Charles Louis, ( harles Theodore, Prince of Bavaria, the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, the Duke of Anhalt, the Count of Flanders, the Prince Christian of Augustenburg. .The King and Queen of Saxony met the Enqieror and Empress of Germany uudev a canopy erected before the T.ltar. The Imperial Grown Prince of Germany stood immediately behind the Royal couple, and he was succeeded by the Protestant Princes, while the Catholic Princes stood on the left of the altar. Bishop Fonverk, assisted by eight clergymen, gave the benediction. In an address from the altar, he alluded to the honored presence of the Emperor and Empress of Germany and other 'illustrious luestn, and nminded those present of the oloriuus military leadership of The two Saxon Princes, which had been acknowledged by the Emperor William. Ho concluded by asking the King and Queen, “ Do you promise, in the sight of God, to remain true to the end of your days to the indissoluble tie entered into fifty years ago, and with conjugal nuity and mutual help, to serve God until God ye both part?” The King and Queen answered, iu a loud voice, ** Ye*. Thereupon the priestly was bestowed. The whole warty proceeded to the Court Church, whevu'a To Dcum was sung, amid rifle-firing and salvoes of artillery.

THE NEW LORI) MAYOR Of LONDON. Sir Syndey Hedlcy Waterlow lias now entered formally and legally on his year of oi'lice as Lord Mayor of London. His inauguration on Saturday, hovcmber 9, well deserved the name, for there was not a single contretemps to mar the hopefulness of the event. Fine weather, for an Englist November, favored the outdoor pa- c uit, which was distinguished by the splendour of the liveries worthy the servants of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs. The appearance of the timehonored stage coach in the procession was the only point suggesting a maintenance of old customs , except, perhaps, the employment of Thames watermen to carry the banners. At the banquet in Guildhall the absence of the Premier was excused by his condition of health, which necessitates rest, bodily and mental; and the Ministry was represented by lord Granville, Mr Lowe, and Mr Goschen. The company was of the usual representative o.haraotc-, including many distinguished persona in every sphere of public life.

BHADLA.UGII IN GLERKENWELL GREEN,

“Democrats crowded Clerkenwell-green by thousands to bear indignation speeches against the Government and subordinate authorities, for prosecuting the speakers at the Hyde Park demonstration a week before. The orations proper to the occasion were delivered from a dray ; and they were cf slight interest, until Mr Braudlaugh appeared, and inveighed strongly against the new regula-

Hons for the control of the parks, maintaining that, although there was loose wording in the Act, it could not justly take effect against “uneducated workingmen, who had a right to expect that the law should be made plain to them.” On Saturday afternoon, at the Patriotic Club, there was a full meeting of the Hide Park Defence Committee, when it was announced that, if the seven men now under summons for taking part in the demonstration of the 3rd November were punished by fines, the Magistrates at Bow street would be asked to state a case for the decision of the Court of Queen’s Bench. MISCELLANEOUS. The Court of Exchequer has decided that to call a sporting man a “welsher,” is not slander iu a legal sense. In the course of the argument in the case, the Judges indirectly signified their willingness to accept the authority of the “Slang Dictionary” for a definition of the obnoxious word for the use of which an action had been brought. THE NEW ACT ON BABY FARMING. On the Ist November the new Act on baby farming came into force in the United Kingdom. Not more than one infant under one year old is to be nursed for hire, unless the name of the person, as well as the house, is registered by the local authority of the place. A register is to be kept, and the local authority may refuse to register, or may remove the place from the register for neglect in providing proper care, with food and attention to infants. For .an offence under the Act the punishment is not to exceed six months with or without hard labor, or a fine of L 5, with the liability to have the name removed from the register. The local authorities are to pay from the rates the expenses under the Act, and any fines payable to go to the local rates. The Act is not to extend to relatives or guardians of infants, nor to the public institutions. Inquests are to be held on infants dying in registered" houses unless the coroner is satisfied with the medical certificate. If the Act is not enforced by some authority it will become a dead letter.