The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-30 00:00:00

TEE CENTRAL RELIEF FUND.

A meeting of the executive committee MY held
reeterday afternoon at the Manchester Town-hall ; Sir J.
SECTTLEWORTM in the chair. There were also present
Lord Egerton of Tattoo, Colonel Patten, M.P., Major
Egerton Leigh, Mr. J. Platt, Mr. R. Gladstone, Mr. H.
Mason, Mr. M. Roes. Lord E. Howard, Mr. J. Worrell,
Mr. S. J. Stern, Mr. B. Kay, Mr. W. Rathbone, jun.;
Ms. F. Ashton, r. Unemaissiawer Yarnell, Mr. J. Fenton,
Mr. E. aehworth, Ibtr. 8.. W.•flutelneeoe, Mr. R. Mackin,
Mr. J. Goodair, Mr. A. H. Heywood, and Mr. J. W.
bfaclare, hon. secretary.
The Hun. Szmueraas stated that Lord Derby was again
prevented by indisposition from being present.
The cash receipts ware reported to have been for the
week ended Saturday last 51,11981., including 120001. from
the Bridgewater-house Fund. The balance in the bank on
Saturday was 304 M 5/., besides 16,4:15/. balsam of New
South Wales fund. During the week 796 bales of clothing
were sent out.

The following letter was read from the Roman Catholic
Bishop of Salford, announcing a donation from the Pope :
"Bishop's ilool4l. Salford, Dec 29, 1862.
" Sir,-1 have to inform yon that his Hotlines the Pope
has transmitted to me the sum of 109/. in aid of the prevail-
ing distress. I feel that I cannot do better than remit the
sem, through you to the Central Relief Fund.—l am, your
obedient servant, " W. Tau=
"J. W. Mar-lure, Esq."
Lord Emorrox of Tirros moved, Colonel WlLeme Pirreor
seconded, and it was resolved uoanimously—" That the
Right Rev. Bishop Turner be respectfelly requested to
convey the special thanks of this committee to his Holiness
the Pope for the subscription of 1901. which he has been
graciously pleased to make to the fund for the relief of
Lancashire distress."

Among the other subscriptions announced were a second
inetalment of 1,0001. from Graham's Town (Cape of Good
Hope), where a further remittance was also expected to be
ready by the December mail ; and a further remittance of
250 boxes of bacon, per the China, from the committee of
British resideuta in New York. The letter of advice
states :—" The shipment is insured here valued at 10,000
doh:. The bacon la of the beat quality for the purpose, and
Mr. Canard, of the British and North American Royal
Mail eteanars, kindly takes the shipment amass to you
free of freight, which was the great inducement with us to
send it instead of money at our high exchange." The City
of Manchester also brought 25 barrels of provisions from Mr.
C. Taylor, a British resident at New York, being a gift of
that gentleman to the operatives. The amount of invoice
was 289 dols., and the freight was free through the kind-
ness of Mr. J. G. Dale, agent for the Liverpool and New York
screw steamers. The sum of 2,0004 has been received
from the Edinburgh Relief Committee,in addition to 21,0001.
formerly remitted. The Central Committee were 11103111.
mended to apply the 2,0001. for the support of sewing
schools, not including those in Manchester. From Devon-
shire 5001. additional has been received ; from Salisbury,
1,0001. • and from the town and county of Aberdeen, 1,0001.
Special vote. of thanks were passed for the subscriptions
from . Graham's Town and New York.
_ _

Donations of rails were announced from Mears. R. Evans
and Co., St. Helen's (1,000 tom) ; and from Messrs. John,
James, and Joseph Ines, Clarksfield (2,000 tons).
Mr. PLarr moved the resolution of which he had given
notion last week, in reference to grants from the New South
Wales food, and, after some discussion, consented to its
alteration as follows :—" That in future, all applications for
grants from the New South Wales fund be made in the
first instance through local relief committees."
. . .

The motion was —amended by Mr. lissoy, and carried
I unanimously.
Colonel WlLsow PArrer reported that he had received
a letter, printed for circalation, from the Rev. Mr. Williams,
of Ashton-wader-Lyn., referring to his letters to the secre-
taries of the Weston-super-Mare Relief Committee ; and,
animadverting on the decision of the Central Relief Com-
mittee io the Ashtoa dispute, said that, in consideration of
the time and attention already devoted in vain by the com-
mittee to the adjustment atlas dispute, he bad declined to
enter again on the subject, but that be had disclaimed, on
the pert of the committee, all Mr. Williams's imputations,
sad had requested that his letter might accompany any
publication of theirs.
The Hon. dzorter•nr read a copy of Mr. Williams's cir
miler and Colonel Patten'a reply, as the former contained a
statement impeaching Mr. Fennell.
Mr. FLRNALL said that be remembered having a meeting
with the Rev. Mr. Williams, and other gentlemen, of •
strictly confidential character, when he (Mr. Farnal) stated
that he should consider it to be his drty to vote for mental
going to that local committee at Ashton and Hurst which
embraced to the greatest extent the requirement, of the
central relief committee; but that when he found the
Mayor's committee ready to receive the ministers of reli-
gion, he felt perfectly satisfied with it.
Mr. Fanniaa, read the following report :
"To the Central Executive Relief Committee.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,—A reference to my tabular
report fur the week ended Saturday, the 20th instant, will
show you that there is • decrease in the number of persons
reserving parochial relief, as compared with the number so
relieved in the previous week, of 5,163. This decrease of
5,10 is explained as follows :—There is • decrease at
Ashton-under-Lyne of 1,265 ; Blackburn, 526 ; Bentley,
179 ; Bury, 452 ; Gersten, 17 ; Oicesop, 33 ; Bethesda°,
466 ; Leigh, 7 ; Oldham, 1,557 ; Rochdale, 206 ; Saddle.
worth, 113; Salford, 81 • Stockport, 1,782; total, 6,714.
There is an increaseat Rarton-upoe-Irwell of 5 ; Bolton,
20 ; Chorlton, 760 ; The Fyhle, 31 ; Laucaster, 12 ; Mac-
cletheld, 110; Manchester, 336; Preston, 88; Prestwich,
49; Warrington, 36 ; Wigan, 148 ; total. 1,551; making a
net decrease of 5,163. I have received no returns from
the clerks of the unions of Chorley, Clitheros, and Tod.
morden for the week ended the 20th lost., and I have
therefore inserted in my tabular report their figure* for the
week ended the 13th inst., and I am unable to state whether
there has been an increase or a decrease in either of those
places. The figures entered for Oldham represent a decrease
of pauperism as compared with the week ended the 6th
inst., and those for Stockport arc also compared with the
same week. There were on the 90th inst., 264,417 parsons
receiving parochial relief in the unions adverted to ; in the
corresponding week of last year 61,264 persons were so
relieved; there it therefore an increase of 203.153
persons in receipt of parochial relief, or 131.6 per cent. The
weekly coat of outdo* relief on the 20th inst. was
18,7451. Bs. 7d ; in the corresponding week of lest year
it wee 3,0351. 16e. Bd.; there is therefore an increase of
15,7091. Ile 11d., or 517.4 per cent. The average per
portage of pauperism in the population of these unions on
the 20th instant was 13.3 ; in the corresponding week
of last year it was 3.1. The average amount of
out-door relief per head per week, both in
money and kind, in these unions on the 20th inst. was
Is. 50 the lowest was 00., and the highest 2s. 70.
at Burnley.. Of the 264.417 persons receiving parochial
relief ou the 20th inst. 12,463 were in-door paupers. The
amount of money in the handset the treasurer of the above
unions, on the 20th lust, was 78,4171. 9a. 4d. ; in the pre-
vious week the amount was 891.6311. Is. 3d—l am, my
lords and gentlemen, your obedient servant,
" H. B. Faarrath, Special Commiesioser."

" P.S. The decrease of 1,782 paupers at Stockport is for
• fortnight ; there having been a decrease of 1,040 fur the
week ended the 13th inst., as compared with the week
ended the 6th inst. (sod this decrease I alluded to in a poet-
scrip to my last report), and • further decree's of 742 for
the week ended the 20th inat., as compared with the week
ended the 13th lost.

" I have just received the return for the week ended the
20th init., from the clerk of the Todmorden Union ; but it
came too late to be enclosed in my report. I may, however,
state that a decrease of pauperism has taken place there
during the week ended the 20th inst., u compared with the
week ended the 13th inst."

Mr. H. Mason (Ashton), Mr. J. Goodair (Preston),
and Mr. IL Madura (Stockport), informed the committee
of local circumstances showing that the increased employ-
ment of cotton workmen was regarded by them in their
respective diltriete as likely to be only of temporary dura-
tion. Mr. ft. H. Hutchinson sitated that the apparent
diminution of pauperism in Blackburn was chiefly in cones-
quenoe of an arrangement between the board of guardians of
Blackburn and the relief committee, by which that commit-
tee would week by week cease to supplement parochial aid,
and would take in each week a certain increasing number of
paupers under their exclusive charge, without diminishing
the amount expended by the guardians.
The cominittce were generally of opinion that no valid
reasons have been laid before them for expecting more than
• temporary alleviation of the want of employment for a
long time to come.

The lion. Secretary was asked (by Major Egerton Leigh)
whether, iu reply to an advertiaerneut from him, frequently
repeated, any well-founded cues had come before him of
work being refused by operatives in consequence of their
preferring relief!
Mr. Pt! AcLoos replied that he had only received charges
against two persona, and these were being inquired into.
Sir J. K. BHUTMEWORTH communicated train Roasendale a
memorial signed by Mr. J. Dines, the chairman of a com-
mittee of co-operative shareholders, representing the claims
of this clam for relief, and requesting that a deputation
might be received on Monday, Jan. 5.
It was moved by Mr. M. Loss, seconded by Mr. R. H.
Hurarnoson, and resolved :—"That the memorial he printed
and circulated among the members of the Central Executive
Committee, and that Mr. J. Elena be requested to make any
further representations in writing, as this committee prefer
deliberating upon statements communicated in writing, to
the reception of deputations."
The following grants were made (the figures between
parenthesis indicating the number of weeks for which the
grants ere made) :—Hebilen Bridge (4), 500/. ; Coble (4),
2001. ; Blackburn (4). 3,0001. ; Torten mid Edgeworth (6),
1001. ; Seammouden (4), 501. ; Clitheroe (4), 2101. ; Lang-
ton. near Preston (1). 501. ; Wilton (4). 2001. ; Burnley (4),
I,MOI. ; St. Mary's, Newthurch, and /*audio, near Burnley
(4), 501. and 501. clothing; Walton-le-Dale (4), 300/. ; Stock-
port (2), 2,000/. ; Sobdeo (4), 501. and 604 clothing; Bar-
rowfurd Booth (4). 2001. ; Birch (3), %/. and 251. clothing ;
Felice (4), 501. ; [dewy (4), 2001. ; Bury and Elton (I),
1,2001. ; Balch:etas and Osbaldistoe, 504 ; Bolton-le-Moors
(4). 5001. From the New South Wales Food :—Bolton,
176/. ; Stucksitewl, 461. ; Manchester and Chorlton. 301. ;
/Mansfield, 301. The last four grants are to mowing and
other schools.

BLACRIIVAN.—The returns, presented to the bawd
of ir.dians at their meeting on Saturday, showed that
WW pimps lod been relieved in the onion during the