The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-16 00:00:00

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On TUESDAY next, the 19th instant, at the Brokers'
office, 4, Lancaster-buildings.
500 Tons Patagonian GUANO,
of good analysis ; now landing ex Maitland.—Apply to
JOHN DAVIES & CO., Brokers.

THE LIVERPOOL INSTITUTION FOR
THE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT
OF NURSES.

+

The first annual meeting of the subscribers and
friends of this institution, was held at two o'clock yes-
terday, in the Charitable Institution House, Slater-
street; Mr. Edward Cropper, in the chair.

The Secretary, Mr. I. Brougham, read the following

REPORT.

The result of the first year's experience has been, on the
whole, satisfactory. The great need of good nurses has
been most fully proved, and the difficulty of obtaining
them not less so. The number of applicants for nurses'
situation has not hitherto been great, but the institution
has been comparatively very little known. Many who
have applied, or who have been recommended, have been
most unsuitable for the post they desired to fill, having
thought only, or mainly, of obtaining for themselves a
permanent situation, being really fit for nothing else.
The two months' probation has been found most necessary,
and:very useful. Two nurses who came with most unex-
ceptionable testimonials and very high professions were
proved, during their probation, to be really very unfit for
the post. Two others who were fully entered were found,
on longer trial, to be unsatisfactory. The number now
qualified to act may seem small, but the committee have
the pleasure of believing that they are all really trust-
worthy, useful women, desirous of doing everything in
their power to comfort and assist in every situation,
whether poor or rich, to which they may be sent. The
six nurses now in the Home have passed their probation,
and two others are engaged to enter it.
The testimonials received by the sub-committee from
the situations to which nurses have , been sent are all
satisfactory—many of them most gratifying. The number
of patients who have been assisted gratuitously is con-
siderable, and they have been most grateful, generally,
for the assistance. The number of these who have been
attended for very small sums is also quite as large as the
committee think could have been expected. The nurses
are very rarely indeed more than a day or two in the
Home ; the demand for their services has been far more
than the institution could supply. One nurse has left the
institution, after an eng',*-- of about nine months,
er remuneration than she was

having been offered a

receiving from the committee
The institution, to be really effective, should be almost.
self-supporting. This, however, is impossible except with
a much larger staff of nurses than the committee have
been able to engage hitherto ; and, evens, if a large num-
ber of suitable women were to present themselves at once,
it would be some time before the receipts would cover
the expenditure incurred. An advertisement was sent to
the Times newspaper, inviting applications for the nurses'
situations. Several answers were received, but only two
at present seem suitable for the :post, as far as the com-
mittee, after careful examination, could judge.
A lady in London has very kindly offered to see any
candidates who may apply there, and after seeing them
to send a more particular account of them to the sub-
committee than could be obtained from ordinary testi-
monials.

In conclusion, the committee have to regret:the want of
funds. They believe that the matron, who entered upon
her situation about three months after the commencement
of the institution, practises strict economy in the arrange-
ments of the Home; but the expenses of furnishing, &c.,
were necessarily considerable in the first instance. Much
of this outlay will not, of course, occur gain ; but the
expense of clothing for the nurses, and their salaries, &c.,
are far more than the present subscription list will justify
the committee in continuing much longer, if no increase
can be obtained from among those who are interested in
the success of this attempt to raise the tone of those who
are employed as nurses for the sick, whether rich or poor,
in this large town.
Mr. John Cropper, in submitting the statement of
accounts, observed that if the institution were to be
purely a charitable institution, the subscription list
should be largely increased, and that if, on the other
hand, it were to.be a self-supporting institution, a large
staff of nurses should be retained and constantly
employed. He thought that if nine nurses were retained,
and six constantly employed, at a guinea a week, it
would be nearly self-supporting, and in that event there
would be three nurses whose services could always be
given gratuitously to the poor. The expense of furnish-
ing the house, had been £l4l ; house-keeping,
£B5 18s 6d ; salaries, £5O 14s 8d ; and other expenses of
a smaller kind. The donations amounted to £226, the
subscriptions amounted to £4B, and the nurses had
earned £4B 15s. There were bills remaining to be paid,
and he thought the balance carried over against the
institution, would be about £5O.

The Rev. Mr. Hewson moved that the report be
adopted, printed, and circulated among the subscribers.
He thought the institution much wanted in the town,
and he should deeply regret, if the support which it
deserved were not extended to it. They had always
shown in Liverpool great zeal for the interests of
religion, and its spread among the people, but he thought
that their sympathy for the temporal sufferings of those
around them, had not always kept pace with that zeal.
He rejoiced, therefore, in the establishment of the insti-
tution, and hoped that it would prosper.
Mr. Lewis seconded the motion, ar.d, in doing so,
pointed out what a benefit it would confer on those
strangers who might be attacked with illness, while
passing through the town. Away from friends and
home, they the more required careful and anxious atten-
dance, and, that he was sure would be found in the
nurses of the institution. The public, however, were
not generally aware of the existence and nature of the
institution, and, he therefore, thought that means should
be taken to make it known, either by advertisement or
otherwise.

The motion was unanimously adopted.
The Rev. Dr. 111'Niele moved the second resolution,
which was to the effect that the institution was well
calculated to supply the great want of competent
nurses of christian character, and was, therefore deserv-
ing of liberal support, without which it was impossible
to carry out the objects, and especially that of sending
nurses to the poor free of charge. lie said that the
institution seemed to be as yet but an experiment.
The treasurer had told them that, if there were nine
nurses retained, and six of them in constant employment,
the institution would be self-supporting; but at present
there were not so many, so that it was on its trial, and,
therefore, the observation of the last speaker, as to
making it better known, was quite in point. The sup-
port now required was donations to carry through the
experiment, and give it a fair trial ; for if the anticipa-
tions both of the report and the treasurer were correct
it would :be soon self-supporting and independant of
subscriptions. That was an inducement which would
nu doubt lird many persons to come forward in support
of the experiment, and he therefore suggested that the
friends of the institution should give as wide a circula-
tion as possible to the statement.

Mr. Bickersteth seconded the 'notion ; and, in doing
so, illustrated the want of properly-trained nurses in
Liverpool by what came under his own observation as a
medical man in the course of his professional visits a
few days since. He said, that in one day he had met
three nurses sent down from London to patients in
Liverpool; and as that was but the observation of one
medical man in a limited practice, they might reasonably
infer the want of qualified nurses here. Under these
circumstances, he had no doubt of the success of the
institution, and that success he hoped it would soon
attain.

The motion was unanimously adopted.
On the motion of Mr. Brougham, thanks were voted
to the chairman, after which the meeting separated.

LIVERPOOL, CROSBY, AND SOUTHPORT
RAILWAY COMPANY.

♦
SPECIAL MEETING YESTERDAY.

A special meeting of the proprietors of the Liverpool,
Cresby, and Southport railway company was held in the
Clarendon rooms, at one o'clock yesterday. There was a
numerous attendance of shareholders. The chair was
taken by Mr. William Earle.

The Chairman said he had been in hopes that he should
not have had to call upon the proprietors again to take the
trouble of coming here upon a question existing between
that company and the Lancashire and Yorkshire company.
Circumstances, however, had arisen, which obliged them
to do so, and which they would perceive by hearing the
report, which he would now call upon the secretary to read.
The Secretary then read the following