The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-10-12 00:00:00

WORKHOUSE COMMITTEE.

The usual weekly meeting of this board was held yes-
terday, at the Board-room, Brownlow-hill. Mr. Church-
warden Cropper presided ; the other committee-men pre-
sent were Messrs. Smith, Byford, Owens, Peck, Dalton,
Goodacre, Satohell, E. Byford, Turner, Whitty, and
Lightbound.
The usual routine business having been disposed of,
the following reports were read:—
The Governor reported that three bags of rice and
two tons of rice had been rejected by the Sample Com-
mittee ; also six kegs of mustard, from Mr. Henry Tate,
as not equal to sample. The whole of the supply of
wheat, delivered by Mr. John Phillips, was rejected on
the ground that it was " nnsweet." The contractors
appealed against the decision of the committee.—The
following is the return of vagrants relieved during the
week : 208 men, 112 women, 28 children; total, 348;
showing an increase of 42 during the week, and 85 as
compared with tbe corresponding week of last year.
The Medical Officer reported that the total number of
individuals under treatment was, last week, 345 ; new
cases since, 155 ; cured and discharged, 130 ; died, 10;
now under treatment, 558.
The Governor reported that the numbers accommo-
dated in the Workhouse was, last week, 1,975 ; this
week, 1,979 ; increase, 4 ; for the corresponding week
of last year, 1766; showing an increase of 213.
Mr. WHITTY thought it was very strange that pau-
perism should be on the decrease in Manchester, and on
the increase here.
Mr. SATCHELL supposed that the increase here was
chiefly Irish.
The CHAIRMAN—The fact is, that they like to come
here for the winter. He knew a case where a girl had
come from Manchester, and was most anxious to get
into the house for the winter.
Mr. SMITH—And there is another reason why pau-
perism is on the decrease in Manchester,—there are a
great many factories there, and they employ a great
number of hands.

THE MUSTARD QUESTION.
The Clerk stated that in consequence of the instruc-
tions he had received at the last meeting of the com-
mittee he wrote to the Messrs. Colman's, who had
supplied Mr. Pearson, the contractor, with the mustard
that had been rejected. The first answer he received
was that Mr. Colman was not in town, but that he
should have full particulars by the next post. He had
asked to be informed whether the keg he had sent from
the workhouse stores was in the same state as when it
left his warehouse; and also whether it was according
to the sample sent in, and if it answered the descrip-
tion. In the reply it was stated that the keg sent
appeared to be in exactly the same state as when it left
their warehouse. The letter went on to say that they
prepared three sorts of mustard—the best brown mus-
tard, the pure brown mustard, and the genuine brown
mustard, and that the keg sent back was the same as
the sample except as to colour, which might be caused
by the keg having been placed in a damp place, or other
causes. They also endorsed Mr. Pearson's invoice
ordering the, " best brown mustard," and forwa:ded
three kegs as a sample of the different sorts prepared by
them.
Mr. GOODACRE said that neither Mr. Pearson nor
himself.were aware that the Messrs. Colman prepared
two or three sorts of mustard, of nearly the same
description and material. He should be most happy if
Mr. Pearson did exonerate" himself from any blame in
the transaction. But he wished it to be understood
that there was a great deal of misapprehension out of
doors in regard to mustard. It was thought that it was
used for the table, but such was not the fact, as it was
principally used in the surgery for mustard plasters,
therefore it was absolutely necessary that they should
have the genuine article.
The contractor, Mr. Pearson, was then called into the
Board-room, and he said the words " strength and
colour" in the order were written by him. He said he
was surprised at what had taken place; and ho hoped,
after what had been done and said, that the Board, and
especially his friend Mr. Goodacre, would exonerate him
from having been guilty of a " contemptible trick," in
reference to the mustard. He hoped it would go forth
to the public that Henry Pearson was not the man who
would ever be guilty of such a trick. He hoped the.
Board would see that there had been no fault on his
part ; but whether Messrs. Colman were guilty or not,
he did not know.
in the transaction,.. but he felt
Mr. GOODACRE said he perfectly exonerated Mr.
Pearson from any blame
that he was perfectly justified in taking the steps he
had in the matter.
Mr. PEARSON said he paid them ls. 6d. per lb. for
the mustard, and the saaiple he sent in to the "
wor
Hkhe was
ouse
was from them, and of their 4, pure . brown
sure he had acted right in the matter.
Mr. SATCHELL—Whatever the Messrs. Colman may
call their mustard, Mr. Pearson must stand exonerated
from all blame.
Mr. TURNER was oiad to hear such an expression of
feeling.
After some further conversation, in the course of which
Mr. Whitty said that when the committee were dealing
with the characters of tradesmen, they should be careful
what observations they made, and hoped that this would
be a warning for the future,
Mr. SitarcnELL proposed a resolution to the effect
that the committee having heard Mr. PCaTEOII'S expla-
nation, and the, letters from Messrs. Colman, they
exonerate him from all blame ; at the same time they
thought Mr. Goodacre was perfectly justified in laying
the matter before the committee.
Mr. TURNER seconded the resolution, which was
unanimously adopted.
It was then decided that the mustard supplied by
Mr. Pearson should be rejected, as it was not genuine
according to sample, as admitted 'by Messrs. Colman,
and no doubt that they would place the matter right
with Mr. Pearson, and that the three kegs forwarded
by that firm should be kept.
Some other business haying been disposed of, the
committee adjourned.