The Express.
London, England, 1857-12-30 00:00:00

BQUALISATION OP POOR-114TE.

Let evening a meeting of the central committee
of the ASSOC:141011 for Promoting the Equ.eloution of the
Poor-rate an Unitermity of Assessment throughout the
IG6opetimt Districts,was held at the vestry-room of St.
Andrew's, Holborn ; ear. W. GILIBISKT in the chair.
Mr. Wsawics reed the report of the executive" committee,
se follows That, in Fuson= of the in-'ructions given
to es at the lath meohog, we have prepared a bill for the pin-
aulcicanytng Into effect the equaliestion of the poor-rates
metropolitan districts, bet we have not
ft Inpatient to have the same printed and circulated,
kr on ear submitting the same to the hon. member for the
To= Hamlet., Mr. Ayrton, we found that he did not
agree with the plan by which we pepend to carry into
effect the object. of the neociation, but, on the cou-
ntry, he had denied ;en which he thought would
to be more acceptable the attire, and as such, likely to
receive greater setwat. T plan proposed by us was one
which, after the 2M day of March mat, or some subse-
quent day to be named, the rate for the whole of the parishes
within the metropolitan districts should bo charged en equal
rate for the rebate, the poor, save as to debts already con-
tracted, or mon borrowed by any of the send" penalise.
This we pro to be effected by a financial board elected
by the • of the venom pariah's and unions on the
princip a adopted by the Metropolitan Board of Work., the
financed board to have the power of ..ordaining the average
expenditure of each pariah, the rateable value of property
rod to the relief of the poor, and to issue orders of con-
teibution on the various pennies, the same as boards of
guardians do under the entering law. The bill likewise
rata= • clams providing that in case of any estravegant
expeediture the union or perish so impending the money ale it
pay the same themselves. Mr. Ayrten'• plan la the extend-
lag the principle of the rate in aid by giving increased
power to the justices, ea follow,:—That the judicee
at the April quarter sessions in every year. nominate six
of their body, with the chairman, five to be •
quorum to hold • rating union for the year ensuing.
That the justices shall require the churchwardens overseers,
or other parish °Moms having the management of the poor-
rate, to return to them, on or before the day of May; in
every year, the amount expended or contributed by them for
the rend of the poor, far the twelve months ending the 25th
day of March then lath pad, and the value of the property
rated and the rate per pound. That the justices *hall have
the same power to sacertain the true value of each parish, as
they have in respect to the county rate. That they shall ea-
certain the averments of the whole of the expenditure and the
true value of all the panes. and placee hello to contribute.
That in all park= where the expenditure ehall have ex-
ceeded the average, one half of such excess shall be charged
on them whales m which the expenditure shall have been
below the average, to the extent of one-half the amount
which each such pariah its below the average, so that if the
average expenditure of the district shall have amounted to
one shilling in the pound and the Pariah A hats expended two
shillings, the Pariah B sixpenoe, A will be reduoed to one
shilling and sixpences and B increased to nincpence. That
the contribution for the pant year shall be levied by two
equal rates in the year ensuing. That on complaint of any
pariah to beeharged that the rates in excess havebeen unduly
mereased, the justices shall examine into the same, and if
they shall be convinced that excess or any put of the rate
wee made for expenditure unnecessarily incurred, no contri-
bution shall be made towards such unnecessary expenditure.
The jinn= shall have power to appoint • treasurer to re-
ceive and pay the contributions. That in the execution
of this act the justices shall have power to send
for all accounts and all pewees now possessed by sessions
or juntas. No certiorari to be allowed, but justices
to state • ease for Court of King's Bench respecting any
question of law which may arise if desired by any party.
The executive committee think this proposal objectionable,
because it only proposes to relieve them of half the unjust
and oppressive burden of which they now complain and been
so long borne ; and at the same time making the question
exclusively a ratepayer's question, offering no inducement to
forego orders of removal or other annoyance to
which the poor are now liable. Wo therefore
ask you to consider the question and to give us
your Instructions thereon. We have further to report
that on the commencement of the present season we have

taken dame at 32, Fleet-street, for the purpose of carrying
on the balm,s of the association, and have adopted a system
oR public meetings, to be followed up by an active canvass
for signatures and subscriptions ; and, ea far as that has
been hitherto done, we have found it responded to by the
ratepayers in a manner satisfactory. In the east end of
London an association has been formed exclusively for the
Tower Hamlets, the promoters of which are co-operating
with ea in the cause, and we are happy to ray that already
several thousands of signatures have been obtained. We
propose to continue this system throughout the metropolis,
and hope, in a few weeks, to have petitions reedy for presen-
tation which will tell the government that the question is
not confined to the eastern part of the meeircee than
the south, wee, or north."
The report wee received and adopted after a brief discus-
don, in which several members of the committee ermined
their disapproval of Mr. Ayrton'a bill.
Mr. Fowtan proposed, and Mr. Snug seconded, the
following resolution :—"That this committee having care-
fully considered the plan proposed by Mr. Ayrtnu for miti-
gating the inequalities of the poor.rate, "geese their decided
opinion that nothing less than an equaliaation of the rate, on
a uniform basis of samesanent, will do justice to the ratepayer
or to the poor."
The resolution was carried unanimously. .

The draft bill, prepared by the executive committee, wee
ordered to be hid before counsel.
The committee Wm broke up.

THS BUBXING OF THE SARAH 84-VID

TRANSPORT SIRAREP.
The following letter has been received front Capt.
J. 8. Cattle, the commander of the Sarah Sands
" At about 3.45 p.m., on the 11th of November, I disco-
vered a very strong smell of fire arising from the after orlop
deck (where about 120 of the troops were berthed), and upon
going into the hold found it to be on fire, and immense volumes
of smoke homing from it. I immediately ordered the engines
to be stepped, all sail taken in, and the ship brought to the
wind. Some hands wore at the same time getting fire hoses
pasaed below. I then requested Colonel Moffat to have all the
ammunition thrown overboard, and succeeded in clearing
the atarboad magazine. By this time the whole of the after
part of the ship was so much enveloped in smoke that it
was scarcely possible to stand; but volunteers came aft and
attempted to clear the port magazine, which they succeeded
in doing, with the exception (at we 'appose) of one barrel.
Several of the men were dragged up analces from below
while thus engaged. I ordered all the boats to be lowered,
placing all the lathes In the port life-boat, under the charge
of Mr. Verily, third officer, giving
_him orders to keep clear
of the chip until recalled. Mr.lVelch, chief officer, wee
forward hoisting out the cutter and long-boat, which was
done without accident 1 then commenced constructing
rafts, of which I launched two overboard, and cutely moored
them alongside, keeping a third across the deck forward In
readiness. At about 8.30 p.m. fames burst through the
upper deck, and shortly after the wizen rigging took fire. I
wag then fearful of the ship paying off, but fortunately the
after braces were burnt through, and the mainyard swung
round. About 9pan. a fearful explosion took place in the
t magazine. By this time the ship was one body of llama
from the stern to the main rigging, and thinking it warmly
possible to save her, I called Ifejor Brett (in command of the
troops) forward and told him my opinion, requesting him
to endeavour to keep order amongst the troops till the het,
but at the same time to use every exertion to chock the fire.
No parson can describe the manner in which the men
worked to keep the fire back one party went beow keeping
the bulkhead cool, several men of which were dragged up
warless, and froth volunteers took their places, but were
noon in the woe state. At 11 p.m. the main topsail-yard
took tire. Mr. Welch, a quartermaster, and four or Ave
soldiers, went aloft with wet blankets, and succeeded in
extinguishing it, but aot until the yard and mart were neatly
burnt through. About midnight we appeared to have made
acme impression on the Ore, and after that drove it back inch
by inch until daylight, when it had been completely got
under. The ship now appeared In a fearful plight, merely
the shell remaining, the port quarter blown out by the
exploder!, fifteen feet of water in the boll, and the ship
rolling heavily, and taking in large quantities of water aft.
As soon as the smoke was partially cleared away, I got
spare sails and blank,ts aft to atop the leak, pasting two
hawsers round the stern and setting them up. The troop.,
were employed baling and pumping, the chip rolling
heavily, and the tanks rolling from side to eider in the hold.
About 10 am. the ladies joined the ship. I then ordered
ldl the boats alongside, but found the sea too heavy for them
to remain there. The gig, hews, cr. had been abandoned
kluring the night, and the crew, under Mr. Ward, fourth
officer, at into &nether of the boats. The troops were em-
ployed during the remainder of the day baling and pumping,
and the crew in securing the stern. Throughout the night
all hands were engaged in baling and pumping. The boats
were retired fore and aft, but Fermi were Peet rely damefaed.
At daylight on the 13th the crew were employed hoisting in
the boats, the troops working manfully In baling and pump-
ing. latitude at noon 13.12 South. At 6 p.m., set fore-
sail sad sighto and bore for the blauritite. On Thurs-
day, the 19th, sied the Island of Roderlgue, and arrived
at She Mauritius on Monday, the 23rd.
(Signed) "J. S. CASTLE, Commander."

CHILD BURET TO DEATH. INCIOEST. Lah
night an Inquest wee the
on the body of Henry Martin, a
little boy nee yeas old, the POU Of R pro WillOW, liVin at
22, Clemenea-lane, Clare-market. On Sisturchoy evening the
mother stepped out for a minute to buy • candle, leaving the
child playing before tho fire, which was unmet. Med by
either guard or fender. On her return the I hiliTs clothes
ware all en lire. He wu found to be so burnt ihat he died
during the night. The coroner remarked forciblyon the im-
propriety of having children slow with an onguaried fire.