The Express.
London, England, 1864-04-05 00:00:00

THE LANCASHIRE DISTRESS.

CENTRAL RELIEF FUND.

The usual meeting (now held fortnightly) of the
Executive Committee was held at the Towe.ball, Ms
cheater. yesterday. Sir J. KAY Haurrtsworre, Hut
(High Sheriff), presided. The Hon. Secretary reported that
6,241/. 15s. bd. had been received during the pest fortnight,
and that the balance in the bank was 133,2101. 3s. Bd. Tba.
morning 291. Ba. 6d. had been received from Redditch, and
329/. Os. Bd. from Darlingtoo. Mr. Parnell reported that
there hal been been a dens 3114111 of persona reoeiving relief in
the fortnight ending March 26, from the guardian. of 27
unions of 6.687. The Hon. Secretary having presented his
usual monthly report, Mr. Worrell said that as needy the
whole of the money to be lent under the Public Works Act
was stated to have been applied for, and as no further ap.
phcations for money could be received by the Poor-law
Board after the Ist July, it was important to know, if pos-
sible, whether the entire sum applied for was likely to be
need. If not, other corporations or local rutt•oritiss who
might wish for money shor'd have the opportunity of making
application. Mr. Faicall said the question was an impor-
tant one, tacarse he knew that more mooey would be
wanted then there was to lend. If it should so happen
that, from unforeseen inrcumstinces, certain local
Mies did not wi.nt the whole sum Pet to their
credit, it world be very desirable for them to let the Poor.
law Board know, se that any surplus might be appor-
tioned amongst others who really needed it. Colonel
Patten inquired if any return had been recently obtained
of the number of cotton operatives employed under the
Public Works Act. The Hon. Secretary replied that no
re.urn had been obtained since that presented a mouth
ago, which showed that there were about 3,100 cotton
operatives then employed on public works, and for whom
clothing had hem supplied. As no further applications for
clothing had been rec,.ivrd, it was foie to assume that ro
important vs:Utica in Of numbers had mast occurred.
Mr. Aah.oo said he had teen informed, by persons upon
whose testimony he could rely, of circumstances connected
with efforts to stimulate emigration from these districts,
which he deemed of such importance to the winking
clause that publicity should be given to them, in order
that this disclosure might operate as a warning
both to the agents and their victims, or if untrue
be authoritatively denied. He understood that persona
tepee untie; thansielves as agents from some of the riti"a
in America were engaging people here for factory work in
that country. Each man engaged received a certain sum
for outfit erd pewee money, and was requ'red to sign an
rlreetneut, binding him to repay the sidearms within a
period of 90 days of his arrival in America. On stringent
measures being adopted to enforce repayment tie emigrant,
who had not then saved suthcient money were induced or
compelled to enlist in the army. This system was first
tried with single men' but as many of them contrived in
some way to raise the cost of their individual expenses it
was now being applied to married men with families of
children over ten years of age, whose emigration expenses
were;much larger. Consequently, men so situated had
seemly any prospect before them but enlistment when
pressing demaods were made for the repayment of the
emigration loan.
The committee then proceeded to make grants of moos"
to the local relief committees.

WEATHER REPORT. -111118 DAY.)

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LISBURN ELECTION COMMITTEE.
(THIS DAY.)

The committee appointed to try the merits of tilt.
petition against the return of Mr. Varner for the borougl. of
Lisburn, re-assembled this morning at 11 o'dor':,
to the adjournment agreed to on the 22nd of Masai, eiusel
by the stew* of Yr. Stirling, who wan unable to attend ou
that day in consequence of illuees. The members prtstia
were Mr. H. E. Adair (chairman), Mr. W. F. Forster, Mr.
Paul, and Mr. T. North.

Mr. Clerk appeared on behalf of the petitioners. The
sitting member was not represented by counsel.
The Chairman—All the members of the committee tot
being present, the committee will sit for an hour, and then
adjourn, and report their proceedings to the house. Tio •
are the instructions given to the committee by the bare -,
and this is the course which the committee have been ad.
Tided to pursue.
Mr. Clerk—The committee of course have nothing to do
but to obey the instructions given by the house. 1 don't
know whether it might be expedient to s►y anything on the
question of adjournment.
The Chairman—l think not. We are not met for any
purpose except the purpose of adjournment.
At the expiration of an hour.
Mr. Clerk mid—lt is now 12 o'clock, end I have an
cation to make before the committee adjourns.
The Chairman—The committee desire toe to state that
they are unanimously of opinion that they have power to
meet for the purpose of sdjottrning, but not to 'Ato transact
business, or to hear anything connected with the case.
Mr. Clerk-1 was going to claim the right to be heard in
reply, because, as I understand, the house has allowed the
excuse of the hon. member's non.attendacice on the _Sod
of March, and according to the act, when the house allows
such excuse, the member is discharged from attendance,
and the committee are to sit and hear. Of course you Wee.
the power to say you will adjourn, and may decline ea Lear
me. I understand the house excused the boo. member.

The Chairman—No ; the debate was adjourned.
Mr. Clerk—Then, I have been misled by what appears in
the papers.
The Chairman—lf you will refer to the proceedi^n of the
house you will see that the debate was adjourn. 1. The
committee will now adjourn until to•morrow at I 1 o'.loin.
Adjourned accordingly.

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