The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-05 00:00:00

TEE LANcAssma DISTRESS,

CENTRAL RELIEF FUND.

The weekly meeting of the Executive Com-
mittee wax held at the Towa.ball. Mauliester, plater.
day. The Earl of DERBY pruddrl; and there were alto
preent—Lord U. Howard, ALP., Lord Egerton of Tattoo,
Colonel Wilson Patten, M.P., Major Egerton Leigh, the
Mayor of Manchester, Messrs. A. H. Heywood, R. Glad-
stone, Hugh Mason. S. J. Stern, M. Row, T. Ashton, W.
itathbone. inn., R. Ashworth, H. B. Penal], J. W.
Machin, R. H. Illitchinsoo, J. Platt, W. Roberta, G. L.
Arhwoetb, end tlawlinson.
The Hos. SECRETARY repotted that 807 Z. 7s. 7d. had been
received during the week, and that the b.,Ltoce in the blink
was '31.n,00:V. 9a., including the sum of 3,3621. 14e. Pd.
interest for the nix usantbs ended Dec. Slat., 18G3. He also
reported that three parcels of clothing had been received and
ace sent off.

The Mayor of MANCHESTER handed in a cheque for Ili,
being a donation flow the Recorder of 31anobester.
Mr. Mac Lean read his monthly report, which was as
follows :-" 1 have the honour to present to you my returns
for the month ended the 20th December, 1863, which. as
already anticipated, show a demease in the numbers em-
ployed in t:10 1111116 and manufactories of the cotton districts.
Ibis change for the worse, amounting to a icluction of
10,54 E in those working full time, has not exceeded the anti-
cipation* expressed last month, and there is reason to feat
that during the next three or four weeks the time worked in
the mill* of the district will not be more than at present.
Three months having elapsed since the :ast census of ueem•
ployed operatives aas taken by the larger committees, a
home-to-Loath visitation hos been made in moat of those
*Ana where, as explained in the last report, it is impossible
to do so monthly. This inquiry proves that the total number
has been, during the interval, reduced by 29,267 operatives,
and that as compared with the last week in March there
are, at the present time, 33,969 fewer operatives ; of these
15,21-1 lave emigrated to the colonies or United
Crer,' or migrated to some parts of the United King-
dom, whilst 1:6725 have found employment in other
eocapationa within the cotton districts. I should also state
that of the 119,038 still reported ' out of work,' about
4.000 a re obtaining casual employment for one or two days
per week in other trades is their immediate localities. Toe
last week of Deeemler as compared with January shows a
decrease of 275,877 in the total number relieved ; but there
were 10.6.-.9 niers relieved in December than in November,
the ioeie.se lining 1,476 of thosedepeedeut on the guardians
only, 3,308 upon load committees only. and o 257 of those
who reilef from the guardians is sapplemente-at by the re-
lief committees. The per ceetage of iii<tress upon the
population of each union this mouth* as compared with
November is as follows: Aehtoa-under-Lyne, 18.3 against
17.5 ; Barton-upon-Ithwell, 3.0 against 3.1 ; Blackburn, 8.0
against 7.9 ; Bottom against 6.1 ; D.anley, t 7 against
4tl ; Burr, 10.5 against 9.9 ; Charley, 2 against 8.1 ;
Charlton.. 6.3 ; agentagents.B ; Clitheroe, 4.9 8.
against 4.7 ; the
Fylde, 4.0 eganist 4.0 ; Garstang, 6.1 against 3.6 ; Glossop,
4 against 31.4 ; Haslingalen, 5.7 against 4.8 ; ancaster,
4.7 against 4.3 ; Leigh. 3.7 against 3.:: ; Macelestehl,
4.5 against tra ; Manchester 8.7 against 7.4 ; Oldham, 7.9
. against 7. ; l'reaton, 16.8 against 15.8 ; Prestwich, 10.1
against , Rochdale. 10.3 against ; Sadilleworth,
7.6 against 7.0 ; bAtora, 5.9 rimiest 5.3; Skiptoe, 6.7
against 6.1; SiO,krAllty 11.4 against 11.3 ; Todinorden, 5,7
easiest 7 ; Wsituagtou„ 3.4 against 3._; Witmer, 12.0
"Latinist L.'2..

-Mr. t clemissioler FAVCAII. read the fs:liwiug report :
" 1 beg to inform you that on the 26th ult. there was an
in-
creasein the number of persons receivicg parochial relief
in 27 iicions io the cotton usanufactur.nz districts, as com-
pared with the ...umber so relieved iu the ravioli. week,
of 1,21.. .fhie io. tease of 1,213 is expLiined as follows :
There it an lucre: at At Bury of 131, at I.lborltun of 66, at
the Fyhie of 73, at I.lAratang of "..73, at Ifsalingden of 161,
at Laucastcr of 11, at Leigh of 44, at Macclesfield of 20, it
Manchester of 3sf, at I'reston of 190. at Prestwich of 23,
at Ithemlisle of 109, at Saddlowortli of 10, at Salford of 17,
at Stockport of 15, at Todnordeo of 1, and at Wigan of 1,
=skip; total intrease of 1,302. But there is a decrease at
Aaliton.ander-Lyne of 34. at Blackburn of 40. at Bolton of
83' at Beruley f 53. at Blithers* of 1. at Uloasop of 24.
atOldh.on of 45. and at Warrington of 7 ; making • total
decrease of 1.719, to that there is a net incresue of 1,213.
There were, on the Nth ult., 133,89 persons receielug
parochial rolief in the 27 unions adverted to ; in the cone-
spoodin; week of 1861. 63,960 persons were so relieved.
There therefore. an increase of 0.9211 persons in the
receipt of parochial relief, or 100.3 per cent. la the cot-
reepomilag week of 1i62, 2..4,306 persona received parra•hial
relief; there is, therefore, now a decrease of 126.617 as
compared with tae eurrespondiog week of 1862. The tntal
coat of outdoor relief on the 26th nit., was 5,361!. 12a. lid ;
in the co:reipoodas; week of 1861, it was 3,230'. 16.. 9.1. ;
there iss. therefore. an increase of 5.1:Y11 165., or 134.8 per
cent. is the sisrreapoodin; week of 1i62, it was 17,934 f.
Ss. Bd. there at, therefore, now a decrease of 11,372!.
1,21. lid.. as compared with the correspoudiug week of
1862. Use 'Miro 'ref tentage of pauperism no the popu-
lation of these Ualuiva on the 20th ult. was 6 ; in the
correspoodiug week of 1,61, it was 3.2 ; and in the corre.
apundaf,; work of 1862. it was 13.2. The amount of money
iu the hands of the treasurers of the above unions,
no the with ult. was 100,111/. 173. 9d. I have
added two columns to the statisthal table of
psupv:',:si with wham 1 furnish you weekly, end these
colutor t give y.es the number of able-hodied men recessing
outdo.; isarnebiAl relief in each union, and the per ceotage
of thew outdo's,' able-bodied men on the total outdoor
pautte;.sol of sell union, and the a.m. infoonetion as
regar. 1t tne whole dismet. It is my intention as future
g:ve you this informatioo every week, so that you
may Lave an opportanity of Me-erring the increase of
&ern..., of the employment of the class referred to
withia ;be cotton manufacturing districts. A reference to
the ".'..care for this week will allow you that there are
aide-bas-lied la- a in the receipt of outdoor parochial
relief. or 11.01,:r cent. on the total number of persons in
the res...ipt of ot:tdoor relief in the district. These 13,:1i2
able-bodied tom: are relieves! in the following unions, viz.:
At Astifonsunder-Ly oe, 2 213 ; at liirtoo-upon-lrerell, 31 ;
at Blackburn, 3f12 ; at Bolton, 214; at Barelev, 233; at
Buy. :JO; at COorler, ;at einnlton, ;at Cli.
tberoa. 64 • at the Fylde, 33 • at Garatang. 61 at Olosoops
406 ; et I:l;ialin,;den. 354 ; at 'Lam:aster, 317 ; at Leigh, 5h ;
at Me:death:ld. 134 ; at Manchester, 1.614 ; at Oldham,
348; Preston, 2,24 h; at Prestwich, 147 ; at Rochdale,
1131 ; it Seddleworth, 228 ; at Salford, 320; xi Stock-
port. 264 ; at Tudzuorden, 123 ; at Wanington, 49; and at
Wigath 601."
. .

AsiiWoß7li saki he was glad Mr. Foes and he
were f., and no nearly right in progoosticatiog a supply of
24,00' trades per week for the past year. Though
the stack in Liverpool was now reduced, the esti-
mate ha had recently made fur the ensurog year
was fully bone out by the circulars of several is.
broker. in Liverpool ; some, indeed, cake.
bitit4 the year's probable supplies as equlvaleut Ai hve
days' :king per wee... It was known that the months of
January. February, slid Much were those is which the
importations were lowest ; but after that period, however,
he bud no doubt that there would be sufficient cotton for
four a.: a half to five days workia4 weekly ; and owing to
this ...teased supply and the extended operations of the
Pobli. V;ork..%.t, Le thought it would after March become
a sublect for cousideratiou whether this committee might
not with advantage .A.,:sperid or close its operations.
Mr. ...nu uses was pretest. and read the following
docutucat There are at preaeot 49 (places) cities, towns,
and diatr.ets, iu wh.th the Public Works Act is in operatiot,
representing upwati:s of 1,000,000 of population. The
Public Works .let heanoie law at the end of July, Isiet.
My brat reputt to the Poor-law Board, on works, was made
on the 13th Auge,t, I.m; (Clackband, for 7.,300. Since
We t.mo I have elan-Meal sites of proposed works, and
have r.rroared said forwarded acme ;Cr reports. recommend-
ing e•Poodes se:ration amounting to nearly 1,200,00 e.
The th.o law !loud lorve prepared and tripled cruces,
for MI, amounting is the whole to about 029.0. ; beet
and iLeataltrei.t., amounting to 21h1,21,./f. hoeing
Lees smetioneal ; other orders are in progress. There
are at parrot about 2,VOU men at work under the
Pill . V;orit. '.c';. hat this number is iocressing. The
fetich et the Public Works Act is in every respect per-
missive. Its ;adoption and it. execution depend on the
local authoritte.. The works proposed to be executed
must be of a teneficial character. Government only under-
take. t-r ;novel, the teceasary legal powers, and to advance
moue- at a law rate of interest, but d es not in any respect
die...to to the a'Alloritiea as to the sort of works, or
as P their extent. The government eu.iueer report.s as to
whether. in his opidon, the works proposed to be executed
will be ovally beneficial and of a permanent character, and
give. -trivia* when asked. There are several reasons why
pub:— works have P..: made more progress up to this time.
The works, being necessarily works of utility, require
skill,-' orofe.sornal knowledge to devise. plan, Nod estimate.
Each r lard ordinary work to attend to,
the new work. cv..ld only be taken up as an extra wall
saw : duty. Y. iry places have come, for the first
time. -oder ar: b rut c goveroment, and such plaoes
have 00l to ni -I p rof,asirroal servia•• and advice as best
they r.italrl, a. t.siog. ueeets.rily, some delay. There is
mu:), and ile!;:y is no-laug material at so many
pont.. arid in ye:unities so touch beyond the ordinary
call., f the lotaalittes. All the..l L-A,1,v1 of delay are au
course of tem.-nal ; sod if it is said Progress is mush
AIM,- thou Liao tete,pities of ti.. case demand, it
ought to be rer.eniheted that other bap., of evil
are o. ordeal the evil of creating :no roduetave works
at Li, will of a cvotrj government. ..r of attempting
to : i a-gui.ite r. ati• L.,: works or workshops of say wart.
Gerh-ral in.trhetroha W. to sewers and drains have been
pby thegoverturent engineer, and have berm sent
out bi oar), plar .tid-r the Public Work. Act, and profes-
-11104.! odVIOB Is freely given on all occsooas when asked
for, boa is not odtrirdeal ou the local authorities againat
tier wish. The aotitor of government has been es rapid
as p Is the engineer's department no post bee
been 0b... d. iss plans have been reee.red, proposed works
and sates balm bees exarniared, report., baring been made
and sent in at once. The rapid prosecution of public
v►eels must re.t with the heal authorities ; and it is town
owner's, boards of guardian', local and town commis-
sioners, and local board. of health that must set the ma-
ehieery of the Public Works Act in laeueticial operation,
and dad the able-bodied nom work.
ft,a/3171:T RAWLINsON, Civil Engineer.
Mr. FatNALI.—You have stated that there are 2 000
men now employed upon public works. I shall be obliged if
you will state Low many men :night be now employed me
such works be local authorities thro.rgh the medium of
knee :amid), ado:Lured.
Mr. It tw hi ;moo— From 10,000 to 12,600 POGO.
The Mayor of MA/iCtil-silltered that is Macchaster there