The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-17 00:00:00

CORONERS' OFFICERS' FEES.

The Middlesex magistrates, at their iertir.z,
yesterday, proceeded to consider the pmpowil 11.1
schedule of fees, allowances, and disbursements to bi.•
by the coroner of the county on holding inquiet+.
Clerk of the Peace read the following letter from Dr.
Lanketter :

Greet Marlborough-street, July 15, IVA

" Sir,—My 'attention has beetidrawn to a report to b
Presented to the Middlesex magistrates on Thursday nes:.
in which it is recommended that the payment of the cot,
ner's constable be reduced in the metropolitan distre!,
from 7s. 6d. to 4s. As this recommendation has ben
made without, as far as I am aware, any inquiry berth;
been instituted of the coroners or constables, I must b.
that you will use your influence with the magistrates t)
obtain a delay in carrying it out, in order that a fad
inquiry may be made into a subject of so much inapt.
tance. The objections which I think may be fairly raced
against the proposal to diminish the expenses of the Coro.
ner's Court are as follows :—lf the payment of
7a. 6d. for each inquest was fixed many years
ago, when the expenses of living and house
rent were much less than they are at present, and if such
a sum was regarded as only sufficient at that time. c
should be rather increased than decreased at the pre.eut
time. By the employment of efficient constables I hare
been able to reduce considerably the coot of each inquest
to the county, and not only to reduce the expenses of ea,
inquest, but to diminish the time and labour of jun,"
Should the present proposals be carried out, I beli.w
would be followed by the resignation of all the A..kt
constables. Then the place would have to be tilted by mm
unaccustomed to the work, and who by their want
knowledge of the nature of the evidence required and tba
camel' which inquests should be held, would unnere
warily multiply adjournments and inquest& and thus
greatly increase the present expense of coroners inquiries.
tinder these circumstances I would earnestly ur R th'
board of magistrates to refer the report in question hr t
to the committee, in order that inquiries be made from IL.
coroners and constables.
" I have the honour to he, Sir,
" Your most obedient servant,
"EDWIN L.assEa•st, Coroner.

" H. Pownall, Esq."
A memorial was also read, stool Lc the e.,rm,vr..,'
rem of the county, against the mea•un.. Mr.
moved the adoption of the report, which
Mr. Wyatt. Mr. Cocks moved that the ref rt rorrr. I
back to the committee for further coienderati.m. Mr.
Charles Wright said he was in favour of five-.ltilliti.:.
He thought they went too far in lowering tlw
78. 6d. to 4e. The chairman then put the inoti.,iith.it!..
report be adopted, and it was earned by a large in I,
the amendment being negatived.

THE IRISH CHURCH.—Last eveniu .1
i defence,"tle united
meeting, convened under the auspices of the II on.: .1
branch of the Middlesex Constitutional AAS”I`..,I. .s. ''
t
held at the Assembly Rooms, Holly Bit-it-hill. 11.e..e••••
as the circular sad a t rtli•un:n' I"
"ofn
admission was by ticket, and the attentee ':
whole, was both numerous and intluented. NI,. I •
Hoare was called to the chair, and in his openal: •
he strongly insisted upon the right of the this .% • -
to retain its endowments as property with
State had no business to deal. 'Mr. J. 11.
1.
churchwarden, of Hampstead, proposed th.•
ing resolution :—" That this meeting, wlol.•
for the correction of any proved let
Irish church, is strenuously opposed to its di-. *:*
ment and disendowmcut." The Rev. E. •
seconded the resolution in a strong anti-l'el-ly
and Mr. Comick followed on the same side. The •
tion was energetically resisted by the liev. W. 11:
who, however declined to move any aniendnu•nt...o:• • ;
ing the manifest one-sided character of the ne cc',:. • •
the absurdity of its decision being tat.
true reflex of the opinion of the majority of 'iv
or inhabitants of the district. Mr. Mania,-''
Dr. Underhill also endeavoured to thew
injustice of maintaining the Irish church in onpaatio”
the will of the people of England and Irelati.l; and
Mr. Robt. Baxter, one of the agents of the orvu:e:
or constitutional arty, had argued at some lense ngth. in
favour, the resolution was put to the vote sad Cann tki 5.
a large majority. The minority, how.•cer, W"
means insignificant. Alderman Halo neo-e.l 4.1
resolution, pledging the meeting not to It
didate for Middlesex who was favourable to Mr. i•
stone's measure of disestablishment. Mr.
this resolution, which, on a show of hands, I,+' "
•
the same manner as the first.
130IITIIWARK.—An opposition to the two
members, Mr. Locke and Mr. Layard (liheraho,
of. It is said that Mr. Scovell, the whavtinget, I'•••
selected to oppose them. •t-
NEW GAMING ACT.—Yesterday the new"
Act Amendment, which contains an important
affecting the parties who play or bet in the stiee'T
was printed. From the Ist October persons
betting by way of wagering in a street, road, or P
iw
resort are to be deemed rogues and vagabonds. 3"
punished under the act of the sth Ueo. IV., e. s 5.
ST. SWITIL IN' S -DAY.—Om St. Swit b s-,l:ty
nesday) great quantities of rain fell between Wei. !•••::,
and Ileetpond, ou the South-Western line. Then.
much thunder and lightning in the same part.. At.
Row, in Hants, it rained all the afternoon. I.; 'th,„
by the side of Winchester cathedral, where St•
lies buried, was struck by lightning, and in some pa.'
at
the neighbourhood of Winchester much rain Rill.
The weekly half-holiday movement wttg
minced yesterday, at Leicester. on a large sealo•
ye
fluential public meeting, in which the leadinCali%9k, r.
and other ministers took part, with Mr. rage, 'h.{
Mr. H. Walker, of London, and other sitt!"...,
adopted resolutions favour of the moviaatut
previous' Tuesday.