The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-11-08 00:00:00

THE WORHHOUSE

The workhouse committee called the attention of the
board to the enormous expense attending the keeping
up the hospital establishment, and recommended that
the workhouse should be so altered as to give accom-
modation there, so that the hospital might be disposed
of.. At the present time there were only twenty
patients in that place. Dr. Lister recommended that
twelve of the patients, not fever cases, should be taken
into the workhouse, and that a suitable place should be
found for the remaining eight fever cases, which could
be done at a much less expense ; and at a subsequent
period of the meeting, Mr. Abrahams stated that he
had received a note from Dr. Lister, to the effect that
he had been looking at a suitable place, which could be
had at £4O per annum.
Mr. EDWARDS - The cost of this place is most
enormous.

The CLERK—It is about £1,400 per annum.
Mr. EDWARDS said the cost of the maintenance of
the staff of servants, with the interest on the £6,000
which the building cost, was absolutely disgraceful. It
made the inmates of the place cost the ratepayers about
305 per head. He felt that the committee had treated
the matter with a great deal of apathy. If they had
treated the matter properly, they might have had the
Workhouse so altered for about £l5O &hat it would have
been ready to receive the sick. All that the Poor-law
Board had complained of was the want of a dormitory
for the boys. The fact was, that there Were more officers
in the hospital than there were patients.
Mr. PILLING exonerated the committee from the
blame cast upon it by Mr. Edwards. Tile fact was,
that the Poor-law Board had refused to sanction the
plans,

Mr. ROSCOE thought that the time had come when
something should be done with the motion.
Mr. GARRETT asked if it would not be advisable that
the Poor-law Inspector should be invited to see it.
After some further conversation, at the suggestion of
Mr. Abrahams the matter. was referred to the special
committee, with instructions that they should place the
rejected plans before Mr. Culshaw, the architect, and
see what could be done with the Workhouse so as to
give the necessary accommodation for the sick poor.
THE TAMPERING WITH THE BOOKS—ANOTHER SCENE

BUT NO FIGHT.
The clerk then read an official document from the
Poor-law Board, relative to the resolution passed some
few weeks since, on its being shown that some person
had been altering the governor's book, with a view of
showing that he was a defaulter to a considerable
amount, by which it was prohibited that the books
should be inspected by any guardian without the express
sanction of the board. The Poor-law Board directed
attention to several sections in Cie poor-law regu-
lations, which stipulated that the books should be kept
in the custody of the officials, but must be submitted to
the guardians at each meeting, and recommended that
some steps should be taken so as to prevent such books
being tampered with or altered, when not in the custody
of such officers.
Mr. JEFFRIES thought that something must be done.
Were they to have a policeman to watch over the books
while they were in the board-room ? They must do
something for the protection of the governor. That the
books' had been altered, there was no doubt from the
letter from the board. If he knew who the man was
who had done such an act, he would not sit at the board
with him. By reports, some said it was this person, and
some said it was another; but lie did not know who it
was. It was the act of a murderer, a villain, a despicable
thief. He used strong language, but the man who would
be guilty of such an act deserved it, and he (Mr. Jeffries)
should not think much of seeing a pistol put to the hole
of his ear. It was done to injure the governor, and the
man who would be guilty of such an act would not mind
stabbing him under the fifth rib in the dark. He would
move that when the books were in that room there should
be an officer to look after them, and see that they were
not tampered with.
Mr. Roscoe seconded the motion.
Mr. WEBSTER would move that Mr. Jeffries look
after the books.
The Cxxiamikw—Then the motion before us is that
an officer be present while the books are being examined.
Mr. SMITH begged leave to second it.
The CHAIRMAN—That has already been done.
Mr. SHAW—If there is to be a police-officer present
when the books are here, let there be one in the house
from Monday morning until Saturday night. Let there
be a policeman in the house all the week.
The CHAIRMAN—It is not a police-officer, but one of
the officers of the board.
-Mr. SHAW thought that the books required to be
looked after when not in that room. He had no doubt
of where the alterations were made,—not in that room.
Oat of doors there was but one opinion, and that was
that the books were not altered in that room, but by the
officers themselves.
The CHAIRMAN—There is only one opinion out of
doors, as to where it was done, and that was in this
room, and by. a guardiau—(hear, hear,)—and he had
never heard any other opinion expressed, except by Mr.
Shaw. (Applause.)
Mr. JEFFRIES—There is no doubt but it was done
in this room.
Mr. SHAW—Then why not meet my offer. I will
put down £5. Let others do the same, and then a good
reward can be offered ; and I believe it will soon be
found out who done it.
Mr. EDWARDS—What does your belief amount to ?
(Laughter.)
Mr. SHAW—You say you want to find it out. That
is the only way to do it.
Mr. WEBSTER could not see why they-should have an
officer to watch over them.
Mr. SHAW said he had been informed that the book-
keeper had taken the books home to his own house.
He did not say it was true, but he had been told so. If
it was so it was very improper.
Mr. PILLING—The officers should be asked. That is
easily proved.
Mr. SHAW—I do not vouch for the truth of it, but I
have been told so.
Mr. WEns.rEn. The books could not have been
altered in this room; there was not time for it.
The CLERK—As they were altered, it could be done
twenty times over.
At the wish of the board, the governor and the book-
keeper were called into the room.
The CruiamArr—Have you at any time taken the
books home to your house ?
The BOOK-KEEPER—No sir, never.
The CRAiRmAx—Mr. Shaw, you are a most unfortu-
nate man. You are very fond of making charges against
our officers, but there never is any truth in them.
The GOVERNOR—Who is it that makes the charge ?
Is there any charge against me ?
The CHAIRMAN—No.
The GOVERNOR—I do not alter my books. I can
show my books when called up. It would be well if
all other persons could do the same.
-rne CLERK---There-is no truth in any of his charges.
Mr. EDWARDS—They are all false.
The CLERK—It was dangerous for any person to be
an officer to the board and liable to such charges being
made. No man is safe.
Mr. SHAW—I said I was told so.
Mr. PILLING—Who told you ?
Mr. SHAW—I shan't say (cries of oh, oh !)
Mr. PILLING was about to say that he had had an
interview with Mr. Shaw, when—
Mr. SHAW—You have no right to state it.
Mr. EDWARDS—Has it reference to our officers.
Mr. PILLING—It has.
Mr. EDWARDS—Then you have a right to tell us.
Mr. PILLING—I told him that if he knew anything
about the officers he had a right to tell us. I move that
he be requested to tell us now what he knows about them. '
[During the above conversation the board-room was
in one continued state of noise *and confusion, to describe
which would be an impossibility for the most graphic
writer.]
Several members having expressed their objection to
have an officer present, the board divided, when four
voted for the motion and six against it. It was therefore
lost.
The CHAIRMAN—I wish to know whether any guardian
has the power to take extracts from the books.
The CLERK—Not without the authority of the board.
The CHAIRMAN—Then I hope to see that law carried
into effect. (Hear, hear.)
r.m.Seus
Messrs.
Pilling,t en offered r
etso,
ahnadv e
Ead
wp rairvdast,e
ai
nn
dt e rovoi
me w.
wiMth
municate what he knew of the officer's conduct.
Mr. PILLING—Do it openly, and then we can pay
attention to it ; but we will have no private communi-
cations.
Afrilie information
SffAwlfl
giveyoou.
tell u;yo u can
do what you like
with
Several guardians expressed their concurrence in Mr.
viewste board adjourned.ofthe matter; and the business being
concluded,P iiins
the

FIRE ACCIDENTS.—About five o'clock yesterday after-
noon a fire broke out in the timber yard of Mr. Roberts,
of Fox-street, but with the efficient aid of the Rose-
hill reel, which was quickly in attendance, the flames
were soon extinguished, without any great loss of pro-
perty being occasioned thereby.—About noon, yesterday,
an alarm was raised that the premises of Mr. Smith,
manufacturer of nails, &c., Hanover-street, bad caught
fire. On examination the report was found to he correct,
and information was immediately conveyed to the fire
station, when, without any delay, Mr. Hewitt, the super-
intendant of the fire brigade, hastened to the spot, and
with the assistance of his men he soon got the West of
England and Salthouse Dock reels, into action. In a
brief space the fire, which had originated in a yard at
the back of the warehouse, was completely subdued.
The damage 'sustained is, we are happy to state, but
trifling. Great praise is due to Mr. Hewitt for his
indefatigable exertions on the occasion.
COUNTY ConnT.—The only business of any import-
ance
transacted in the court yesterday, was the hearing
of the insolvent cases_, which occupied a considerable
portion of the day ; but, with the exception of the fol-
lowing case, they were not of any public interest.—
George Corbridge Holland, of 8, Haughton-terrace,
Haughton-road, Birkenhead, but holding offices as an
accountant and commission merchant, at 17, Hanover-
street! Liverpool, came up for hearing from prison.
The insolvent, was supported by MI-. M'Onvine, in-
structed by Mr. Robert Anderson, and was opposed by
Mr. Husband and Mr. Grey, on behalf of two retaining
creditors. It appeared that the insolvent had formerly
carried on business in partnership with a Mr. William
Bate, but latterly conducted it by himself. His debts
were £528 3s. 7d. ; credits, £l2 10s. and from the
schedule it appeared that he owed 'dr. John Chubb,
£45 3s. Bcl., and Mr. William Milner, £A2 16s. Bd.
It was proved that the insolvent had obtained the goods
from these creditors by fraud, :and afterwards pawned
the articles. His Honour passed some very severe
strictures on the conduct of the insolvent, and made an
order for his committal for a period of two years from
the time he came up for his final order, on the 22nd of
I September, 1860.