The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-10-14 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES

.-TiTAT many and fearful anomalies exist in our
social system cannot be denied. It was but the
other day that we had to refer to the defective
condition of the Poor Laws, and their utter incom-
petency to meet special contingencies. Since then
our sympathies have been aroused on behalf of a
poor young girl, named MARY ANN ELDER, .11110
was brought up before Sir CHAPMAN MARSHALL, ,at
the Guildhall, on Monday, charged withdempliShing
a street lamp, value one shilling-and sixpence.
From the evidence then adduced it appears
that the unfortunate girl had
.been met loitering
about Skinner-street, at three o'clock on Sunday
morning, by a superannuated policeman, named
JoHN STAG, and that upon being interrogated as
to what had caused her to be perambulating the
streets at such an hour, she stated that she was
destitute and starving ; and that having obtained
an order for admission to the King's Cross House
of Refuge, she was refused admittance. She
further affirmed that from the Thursday morning
previous:she had nothing to eat but a halfpenny
loaf. Upon being requested to go away by the
policeman, she stated, she " wanted to go to pri-
son," and accordingly took up a stone and broke a
pane of glass, the property of the gas company,
when she was immediately taken into custody.
The wretched creature was sentenced to seven
days imprisonment: It is said that her forlorn and
destitute condition excited the commisseration of
all persons in the court.
We have no desire, in the slightest degree, to
palliate crime, or to apologize for its commission ;
but, nevertheless, we cannot refrain from express-
ing our conviction, that something must be`
lamentably. displaced in our social machinery,
when an unfortunate famine-stricken female can
find no place of shelter, and when she is driven to
the awful alternative of either transgressing the
law, or perishing of hunger ! .

It has been said that no one need die of positive
destitution in England; but we fear sadly facts will
tell to the. contrary. We, at least, console our-
selves that by payment of the poors' rate we
supply ample provision for the necessitous. But
it does not appear as if the utterly destitute might
partake of the national provision made for them.
Our prisons are crowded, and many of their inmates
prefer such asylums to the worldiouse refuge. It is
not so much innate disposition to commit crime
as positive destitution, that forces the inmates of
our goals oftentimes to violate the laws of their
country. And yet we keep up • expensive establish-
ments to secure and maintain them ; whilst by an
inefficient Poor Law System, we increase their
number—double the public burdens—and after all
effect little •good.

Mr. HENDERSON replied that the motives which actuated
the opposition were not now the question. The question
was whether they were to carry out the act of Parliament
or not. Ho thought they could carry it out without going
to any expense..
_ _ .

_
Mr. GODIMEY:—But you ought in the first instance point
out how the nuisance can be cured.

Mr. HENDERSON : All we are requested to do is, to prove
the nuisance.

M‘GowAN said that Mr. 'Mansfield would not con-
vict unless the were satisfied that the parties were not using
the best means for preventing the smoke nuisance ; but
that inVolved the proof that better means than they used ex-
isted for preventing the nuisance. Several notices had becif
served on parties for this nuisance, but the committe foibore
to issue the summonses, until the gentlemen who formed the
sub-committee and afterwards the deputation, had done
what they wished—namely, visited those towns where it was
said the process was in successful operation. That plan was
not carried out, and he (Mr. M'Gowan) did not know how
the committee were now to act,

The CHAIRMAN was rather afraid that there was some
little vindictiveness in this thwarting of the committee:;
and, certainly, if a committee of sixteen gentlemen would
not satisfy the Council in such a small matter as the ap-
pointment of the deputation, it would be better that they at
once resigned. .

Mr. GODFREY ; You say that several notices of informa-
tions have been issued against parties to be brought before
Mr. Mansfield—will the.,officers now receive orders.to pro-
ceed with them ?

Mr. M‘Gow,LNT : It is for the committee to determine
what steps are to be pursued ; but it is a bad system for
a public body such as this, to allow prosecutions which they
threaten, to remain in abeyance for a long time.

Nr. GODFREY said that it the prosecutions were entered on,
he should move for a committee to inquire into the.mat-
ter.

Mr. BECKWITH was sorry to say that the committee was
placed in a very unpleasant position by what took place in
the Council, at its last meeting. But they would not have
been placed in such a painful predicament, if•it had been
the good judgment of the committee to have elected. Mr.
Bennett their chairman, when he wanted to return to it.

The CHAIRMAN here called Mr; Beckwith to order

.Mr. BECKWITH conceived he was.perfectly in order.
The CHAIRMAN had no synipathy with Mr. Bennett, but
at the same time he conceived Mr. Beckwith was out of or-
der, in referring to him.
Mr. BECKWITH then proceeded to say that he was very
glad the Council had opposed the deputation, for though he
himself was on it, yet he had no desire to go travelling about
the country.

Mr. M'OrowAisr observed that the committee were already
about suffering the inconvenience resulting from the position
in which they were placed. There was a letter before them
from Mr. Morgan, representing some patentees, and request-
ing the sub-cominittee to go down that afternoon and inspect
a steamer in the river, in order that the committee might
see how the apparatus which was there prepared, would
effectually prevent thesmoke nuisance.

Mr. CLAYTON said that it was necessary that some one
should go down, as the steamer was probably lying up for
the express purpose ofthe experiment.

Mr: BEciwira : Would if not be as well to send word to
Mr. Bennett, as he, probably, would be anxious to be present
(Laughter.)
The BOROUGH ENGINEER said that he and. Mr. Fresh
would go down, and let. the committee knOw the result.
Mr. BECKWITH : This all comes from your discharging Mr.
Parker's friend, Mr. Slade.
A communication was read from Mr. Jackson, coal-agent,
complaining of a nuisance in Vauxhall ward, arising from
some chemical matter from works in the locality, mixing
with the sewers ; steam sometimes issues from the sewer
grating opposite to a butcher's shop, which left a purple de-
posit on his meat, and rendered it unsaleable. Referred to
the Borough Rngineer. .

The lett—er laid before the committee by Mr. Moss, relative
to. the consumption of smoke was then read, and it was
agreed that the re-construction of the new sub-committe on
the smoke nuisance shOuld be posponed until after
November.

Mr. HonsoN concurred in this decision, as he said the
Council was under the impression that persons who knew
nothine,-of the subject had been appointed on the deputation,
the act was looked upon as a job.
. _ _

Mr. BEciovrrii ...asked vaiat it looked like on the
occasion when Mr. Hodson " collared" the £7O for going
to London—you went to London on the water question,
and, therefore, you must be a water doctor, for which you
charged £7O, you know. (Laughter).
Mr. Hopson thought if Mr. Beckwith had been there, he
would have charged more.
Mr. BEcKwiru : I don't want to collar a shilling myself.
(Continued laughter).
The medical Officer of health, reported in the week ending
Saturday the Bth inst., the deaths registered in the borough
were 229, including 47 deaths occurring amongst the eme-
grants, most of whom were Permans. Deducting those, the
correct mortality for the week, becomes 192, against an
average of 204, without cholera in the same week, of the
preceding five years—forty deaths were registered from
Cholera, out of these only three were residents of the town.
Diarrhoea caused 16 deaths---being four fewer than in the
previous week, and three less than the average of the cor-
responding week of former years. Of the remaining 20
deaths from. Zymotic diseases, 8 from Scarlatina, fever from
pooping-cough 2, from cramp 1, from measles 1, from sy-
philis 1, and only one from typhus-fever. During the present
week above 35 new cases of Cholera have occurred, of which
25,were amongst the emigrants, and four amongst the in-
mates of the workhouse—two of those having been employed
about the Cholera patients. Twenty one deaths, have oc-
curred, of which 3 cases were among the residents of the
town. The majority of both cases, and deaths have occur-
red amongst the passengers of the two ships mentioned
in the last report, viz : the Silas Greeman, and Isaac
Wright. The disease seems to be nearly arrested for
at the present, no new cases having been admitted into
the hospital for the last two days, for either the resident or
emigrant population. The district medical officers continue to
reports favourably of the health of their respective districts,
and the registrar's returns do not as yet furnish any indica-
tion of the immediate outbreak of the epidemic. The parish
authorities are proceeding with their arrangements to meet
the contingency, should it unfortunately. occur. The Rev.
J. B. 'Lowe, incumbent of St. Jude's, has again called the
attention of the medical officer to the 4 disgracefully filthy
state of the streets'adjOining St: Jude's church." The officer
of health has' On. several occasions represented to the com-
mittee the propriety of sewering and paving these streets, in
several of which there arc deep 'irregular channels and pools
of stagnant water. Most the back passages also require
flagging and channelling, and the medical officer of health
begs to represent this as a case requiring immediate atten-
tion on sanitory grounds. The engineer's estimate of the
cost of sewermg those streets is £264 12s. The medical
officer of healtlialso recommends that notice be served to
pave that portion of William-street, extending from Dalton-
street to Elm-street. This portion of the street has been
sewered, but the surface is irregular, and gives lodgment to
foul and stagnant water.
Mr. Moss strongly recommended that the streets referred
to by Mr. Lowe should be at once done.

Mr. BECKWITH objected, as there were several streets in
West Derby of much longer standing which were not yet
done.

The Borough Engineer was ordered to have the streets
sowered, &c.

Mr. Rishton the building surveyor, reported the inspect-
ton of 140 dilapidated privies and ashpits, 90 of which were
undergoing alterations and repairs, and 50 of which required
such, together with various other details in his department.
Mr. Rowlands, the borough engineer, reported various par-
ticulars of the work done and in hand in his department ;
and Mr. Fresh the Inspector of nuisances reported the
empting of 1032 cesspools, the inspection of 176 nuisances
complained of by inhabitants, and the reference of 44 others
to the Borough Engineer for remedy by drainage, etc., with
a detail of the , other operations of his staff, including par-
ticulars •of a Sanitory examination of 2054 court houses, and
1154 cellars, formerly cleared of inmates in the lower parts
of the town.

. A letterwas read from Mr. Laird, complaining of the
non-removal of certain nuisances by Mr. Rose, though his
attention had been frequently called to them.

Mr. Fresh observed, in reference to this matter, that Mr.
Harrison, on the part of the inhabitants of West Derby,
had met Mr. Rose, and that they had agreed that no fresh
deposit Should be allowed to be placed in the locality com-
plained of, and that that which was there accumulated
should be removed by degrees. Mr. Harrisson, however,
complained that that agreement was not carried out, but he
(Mr. Fresh) could state that Mr. Rose was removing the
accumulated matter, and that he had made no fresh de-
posit.
Mr. HODSON : He is working as hard as a man can work ;
and he says he will sacrifice every shilling he has, to carry
but his contract.

. . .
Mr. CLAYTON said, it was a very serious matter to Mr.
Laird, that . the nuisance he complained of should be re-
moved.

The Borough ENGINEER stated, that fifteen men had already
left his employment in consequence of it, but observed, that
in Phillip's-street, there was not a particle of manure
belonging to Mr; Rose.

Mr: ICUs]) The northern part of the town will be cleared
in ten days if he goes on as he is.
Mr. HODSON said, that Mr. nose would have done every-
thing demanded, if the committee had. carried out their
agreement with him, as strictly as they now required him
to fulfil his contract.

Mr. M' GOWAN observed, that there was certainly an ar-
rangement with Mr. Rose, but he did not believe it was in
the nature of a regularagreement.

- • The - CHAIRMAN said, that the agreement was made
'between him, the Borough Engineer, and Mr. Rose ; and
that agreement would have been carried out, were it not for
the refusal of the Canal Company, to, comply with the
request made to them.
Mr. Jhelum asked if the committee was to be bound by
the act -of the' chafrman ?

The CHAIRMAN replied, that he and the Borough Engineer
had acted in accordance with the instructions of the
committee.

A letter was then read from Mr. Thomas Duncan, in-
forming the committee, that the difficulty complained of by
Mr. Rose, in procuring water to cleanse the depots on the

e moval of matter, could be obviated by Mr. Rose calling
on him.

A brief discussion then ensued as' to the nature of Mr.
Rose's contract in this particular,
•but it appeared that the
words in' the Contract were that he would " wash out all
places where water could be procured." _
z .

Sun-street was directed to te severed, to drain the block of
property adjoining. Notice was ordered to be given to the
.Collegiate Institution to drain into the sewer in. Shaw-street.
The Town Clerk was directed to proceed against Mr. Home,
for obstructing the footpath, in Duke-street. It appeared-
he had set the officers of the Committee at defiance. The
subject of an encroachment on the parapet at the corner of
rarlton-street, Church-street, was ordered to be referred to
the Borough Engineer. In reply. to a question, Mr. Fish
said that he had examined the nuisance complained of at the
factory, bridge ; it was caused by a draining from the deposit
from the streets in•the neighbourhood.

The proceedings terminated about four o'clock

SELECT VESTRY.

AN adjourned meeting of the Select Vestry was held
yesterday; for' the purpose of receiving the report of the
Medical Relief. Committee, in connection with the threatened
visitation of cholera. The Rev. Rector CAMPBELL presided:
The other members present, were Messrs. Denton, Came;
Ilughes,. Jones, Bradley, Sumner, Hand, Shgw, Mellor,
Tio4,lton, and Savage. The proceedings of the Medical
Relief:Committee occupied upwards of an hour in reading,
bid the following report presents a resume of the operations
of the committee.

REPORT OF THE MEDICAL RELIEF COMMITTEE

Resolved,—That the following summary, embodying the
proceedings of this committee up to the present time, in a
more concentrated form than the minutes admit of, be sub-
mitted with the latter to the consideration of the Vestry at its
next meeting :

The Medical Relief Committee would refer to the foregoing
proceedings, as some indication of the promptness and assiduity
with which they have endeavoured to discharge important duties
entrusted to them. The order of the General Board of Health
was received on the 26th September. The Vestry met on the
27th, and appointed this committee, and, at the conclusbn of
this meeting, the committee held their first sitting, and they
have continued, with one exception, to sit daily, and sometimes
oftener.

Having, in the first instance, called together the whole of
their medical staff in conference upon the measures to be taken,
these gentlemen, most of whom had had much experience with
regard to the cholera, on its former visitation, attended before
the committee on the 28th September.

It was obvious, however, that the principal requirements

Ist. Extensive in-door accommodation, not only' for the sick,
but also for those poor persons who, not being sick, require sepa-
pation from the infected.

- 2nd. A numerous staff of medical officers, whether for the
treatment of the sick, or house to house visitation.
. .

3rd. Additional dispensaries for the more ready obtainment
by the poor of the proper medicines.

4th. Vigilant inspection over the lodging-houses, back houses,
back streets, and other places in order to the speedy removal
of everything likely to engender or promote disease.
The workhouse with its healthy location, its large well-
ventilated rooms, its medical staff, and the presence of every
appliance which medical science and skill have provided in the
present day for the mitigation of human suffering, constituted
it, in the view of the committee, the most fitting receptacle! in
the town for cholera patients.
The committee, therefore, directed their efforts to rendering
the workhouse as extensively available as possible, and on the
Ist October the whole of the children in the workhouse schools
were transferred by their directions to the industrial schooli at
Kirkdale. On the 27th September, the workhouse provided
room for only 30 patients ; on the 29th, for 130; on the Ord
October, for 750 ; and on the 7th October, for 1000 ; and if
the new medical wards be ready on the 21st October, as
promised by the contractors, the number capable of being ac-
commodated within the workhouse will then exceed 1,200
persons.

To meet' eilery emergency; however, the committee were
desirous of procuring the use of premises, as auxiliary hospitals,
in or near any of these localities likely ,to be attacked' by
cholera, in which hospitals for the saving of time, so highly
important, when dealing with this deadly disease. The
patients might be immediately put under treatment, and when
past the point of danger, removed to the workhouse until their
ultimate recovery.

They accordingly advertised in all the local newspapers, com-
mencing with the print of the 27th September, and at the same
time they advertised for the names of the medical gentlemen
who were willing to engage their services, should occasion need.

Up to the present time no reply to the first-named adver:
tisement has been received.

The committee on the llth instant obtained possession of a
shed in William-street, which will be immediately prepared
for the accommodasion of about 100 cases. They are likewise
happy to report that after considerable negotiation they suc-
ceeded on the 4th instant in obtaining possession of the Emi-
grant's Home, Moorfields, capable of accommodating about 200
persons, and which, from its central position, it was desirable
to occupy under efficient arrangements for its maangement. On
the same day, by the committee's direction, a medical gentle-
man was assigned to this hospital, together with the other
necessary officers.

In order further to be prepared for cases occurring on board
vessels in the river, this committee made application on the 30th
September, to the Home Office for permission to occupy one of
the hulks at anchor in the river, and on the sth instant they
received a communication in reply, stating that Lord Palmerston
was at present in correspondence with the General Board of
Health upon the subject.
To facilitate the removal of cases into hospital, and to render
the distance from the workhouse as short as possible, with re-
gard to time, the committee have purchased two additional cars
with horses, one car to be in readiness at such one of the dis-
pensaries as may be considered most conveniently situated.

- Three additional dispensaries have been established, making
five in all, viz. :—Burling-street parish dispensary, Kent-
street parish dispensary; the Workhouse, Brownlow-hill ; Mr.
Brittain's, Great Crosshall-street ; another house in Cheapside.
The second advertisement before referred to has been re-
sponded to by the applications of thirty medical gentlemen, who
will be appointed " house•to-house visitors," as necessity may
arise.

To render these extensive arrangements as effective as possi-
ble, the committee determined to make them known amongst
the poor by the issue of a printed paper, instructing them as to
the precautions to be taken to prevent cholera; where to obtain
medicines and medical advice when attacked, or a conveyance
to hospital, if necessary ; and accordingly one of such papers is
in course of delivery at each of the 25,000 cottage houses in the
parish.

The removal of nuisances and of all other matters likely to
be detrfmental to the !public health is a duty which, in Liver-
pool, devolves especially upon the Health Comn-kittee of the
Town Council nevertheless, the Select Vestry are required
by law to secure that such duty is effectively discharged. To
aid as far as possible in a work of so much importance at the
present juncture, the Medical Relief Committee have directea
their medical officers and relieving officers to report gaily all
nuisances, unhealthy rooms, and places coming under tneir no-
tice, and all nuisances, &c., previously reported -but
not attended to, Copies of all such reports are sent daily to
the Medical Officer of Health, as also returns from the medi-
cal officerS, sheaving the number of cases of bowel complaint—
the number cared---the number dead, and then umber remain-

ing under treatment

The Committee Inve communicated to the Manager of the
Public Dispensari, s and Hospitals of the town, a request that
all cases .coming under their cognisance may be immediately
notified to the Governor of the Workhouse.

Several sick cases on board the " Silas Greenman," having
on her arrival been reported to the Committee, they imme;
diately appointed a medical officer•accompanied by the governor
to visit this vessel, with authority to take such steps with re-
gard to the disposal of the passengers, as circumstances might
require. He •found the vessel in a state of filthiness, which,
aided by the over crowding and the personal uncleanliness of
the passengers, was sufficient to account for the prevalence of
disease on board. Cases were immediately brought to the
workhouse hospital. Indeed, it was found absolutely neces-
sary for the preservation of the remaining passengers, to clear
the vessel of her living cargo, and they wore •accordingly re-
moved to the Moorfield's establishment.

The circumstances of the " Isaac Wright" were still more
deplorable. There was the same state of filthiness, the same
want of ventilation, besides deficient means of cooking for the
number of persons on board. She brought three dead bodies,
forty-seven had been thrown overboard ; three died during
transmission to the workhouse, and of 380 brought to the
workhouse, forty-two who arrived " in the most wretched con-
dition it is possible to conceive" were obliged to be placed in the
hospital. Each of these 380 unfortunates were provided with
a berth, and a comfortable meal, and were then put to bed.
The extraordinary exertions which. were necessary to pro"
vide in such an exigency for so large an accession of •inmates,
were cheerfully rendered by the governor and his assistants
whose praiseworthy conduct on this occasion, deserved and re-
ceived the grateful thanks of the emigrants. " They appeared"
says the head constable in his report to the mayor, " very grate-
ful for what had been done for them, and expressed their
thanks." • In one room nearly the whole of them were praying.
It was a most gratifying sight to witness the care which had
been bestowed upon them by the authorities. Notwithstanding
the present healthiness of the town, and its exemption hitherto
from the cholera epidemic, yet looking to the former ravages of
this fearful disease, the committee have deemed it-not only a
public but a christian. duty; to be well prepared, so far as human
means permit, for the prevention or mitigation of that dreadful

eeourge,

... The. Committee, in conclusion, desire to make reference to
a letter addressed to the Rev. Rector Campbell, by T. L. Hod-
son, as chairman of the joint sub-committee, sitting at the
Town-hall, which letter. urges the attendance of the Medical
Relief committee with that committee, stating the object'of this
arrangement to be joint action between all the Public Bodies,
under present circumstances.
In this communication the Rector replied that certain mem-
bers of. the Medical Relief committee had arranged to attend
the meetings of the joint sub-committee, for the purpose of
conference, but " that the duties of the. Town Council arid
the Vestry are perfectly. distinct, as laid down by the Board of
Health, and that, as they cannot dive'st themselves. of _ their.
respossibilities as Guardians of the Poor, so they gannet depute
the execution of them to any other body."