London has been worried all the week by a strike
of the Stokers in mauy of the gas works. The matter has not been investi- gated in Court, and the accounts are to the last degree contradictory, but the following would appear to be near the truth. The gas stokers have lately formed a Union, and the gas companies, who are very rich, have conceded excellent wages, ranging from 35s. to 40s. a week for half-skilled labour, and moderate hours. [Nominally the men arc employed twelve hours a day, but they only work six.] The men, excited by vic- tory, have shown a tendency to insubordination ; while the man- agers, irritated by defeat, have been a little more severe than usual. On Friday last, accordingly, a coke backer at Fulham was discharged, the manager says for disobedience, the men say for being a Unionist, the truth probably being that he was disobe- dient, but had be not been a Unionist he would have received a lighter punishment. Thereupon the men struck, and their example being followed by 2,408 of their comrades, London was left in partial darkness. The Companies, however, made great efforts, men were brought up from distant places, high wages were offered and permanent engagements, and the supply never wholly ceased. Indeed, by Friday evening it had been almost recovered, though unluckily the newspaper region was worst off, and machin- ists, who need light stronger than oil, were put to exceeding inconvenience.
