The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-03 00:00:00

COMPENSATION.

Two men, one of whose names was John Owen, appeared
before the board to claim compensation for loss of time. It
appeared that the men had been taken before the magistrates
by the master of the house, on a charge of introducing
ardent spirits there ; but from the absence of witnesses, the
evidence was not sufficiently conclusive to justify the magis-
trates in committing them, they were consequently discharged,
and they claimed compensation for loss of time.
The CHAIRIVIAN, after expressing his surprise, having heard
the case before the magistrates, that the men should have
had the impudence to make a claim, said the guardians
were unanimous that the application could not be entertained.

TEE CONTRACTOR'S INSTALMENT

A letter was read from the contractor for rebuilding the
Board Room, and expressing his surprise that when on the
15th of October he had requested the payment of £5OO, for
work done, as certified by the surveyor, he had only received
a eheque for £250, and requesting payment of the remainder.
Mr. LUNT requested to know of the clerk if they had
any funds.

he CLERK : We have not.
Mr. MACGEE wished to know the amount of the contract.
The CLERK replied, altogether it would be £l6OO or £l6OO.
Mr. HAYES said he would move that the £250 be imme-
diately paid to the contractor. It is impossible for the
guardians to expect the work to be done if they did not pay
the money. By paying the £250 instead of the £5OO, they
had broken the contract, and would thus be prevented from
obtaining any amount from the contractor provided ho did
not fulfil the contract.
The CLERK said any complaint came with bad grace from
the contractor, who had repeatedly been requested to get on
with the buildings, which, by the contract, had a right to
have have completed by the Ist of September.
Mr. LUNY seconded the payment of tho X 250.
At a subsequent period of the meeting the contractor
attended, and after making several excuses for not having
completed the works, was requested to state when he thought
they would be finished. To this he apparently could give nc
decisive answer, but he thought in the course of the present

month. .
Mr. SHAW, requested to know, from the contractor, when
the back premises would be finished, from the non-completion
of which the discipline of the house could not be earned on,
as they, had heard from the marauding which took place
every night.
Mr. ALLrAss said if the works were not proceeded with,
he should move the following week, that the guardians
complete the work themselves.
The CHAIRMAN informed thQ contractor, that unless the
works were proceeded with, the guardians would sue for
penalties under the contract.
The £250 was ordered to.be paid.
A SOLICITOR'S BILL.

The CLERK read an account from Mr. Holden, requesting
payment of £ll 9s. Bd., for drawing out a bond, specifica-
tions, &c.
Mr. ALrAss requested to know from whom Mr. Holden
had received instructions.
Mr. M'GEB considered it was the duty of the surveyor
to prepare all such documents.
It was elicited that the order had been given by the
clerk, and the amount was ordered to be paid,
Mr. ALPASS protesting against any such order being
given in future, unless from the Board, as he was very
jealous of any authority—what little they did possess, being
taken away from them.

MISCELLANEOUS

A letter was read from the poor-law commissioners, in
answer to one sent from that board, relative to the payment
of a bill, for work done some years since. The commis-
sioners could see no objection to the payment of this bill,
provided the guardians were satisfied that the bill had
not been paid. The amount was ordered to be paid.
Another letter was read from the commissioners, with
regard to Mr. Palgrove's demand, which could not be paid
by the board, unless Mr. Palgrove, as Mr. Deane's solicitor,
or the sister of the latter gentleman, were in a position
to give a legal discharge for the payment of the salary due
to him. • . .

A circular from the same commissioners recommended
that the vaccination districts might be so constructed or
re-arranged,' that there might be a sufficient number of
convenient places. The circular was referred to the
hospital committee, as was also a letter from Mr. Johnson,
containing several suggestions relative to his district.
In consequence of some breaches of discipline in the
house, on the part of some of the paupers of both sexes,
it was. ordered that twelve dozen new locks should be
provided for the doors, as a substitute for those now in use,
the paupers being able to open them.
Several other matters of minor importance having been
arranged, the board broke up.

FIRE LAST NIGHT.—Last night shortly before 12
o'clock, a fire broke out in the shop of Miss Levi, Milliner,
London-road, near to Commutation-row. The fire com-
menced in the shop, and its ravages were not arrested until
a considerable portion of the premises had been gutted.
Great praise is due to Mr. Henriff and the Liverpool Fire
Brigade, also to the West of England, for the assistance
rendered: the damage done is very considerable. Two per-
sons were asleep on the premises, but timely notice having
been given, they were easily rescued.
THE WIGAN RIOTS AND THE LOCAL AUTHORI-
TIES.—The Globe of last night, in an article on the Wigan
riots, and condemnatory of the police arrangements there,
says :—The question for the day has ceased to be one of ten
per cent., or one between master and men ; and it has be-
come entirely a matter of dispute between peace-breakers
and those who are charged with maintaining the order of
society. Any inefficiency in the means to preserve the
peace now would not only stimulate the audacity of the
Wigan rioters by impunity, but would suggest disturbances
elsewhere ; it would then be necessary to invoke a much
larger force for the purpose of restoring :order, with all the
consequences that follow upon an extensive intervention of
military power. Amongst these consequences would neces-
sarily be the risk of considerable increase to the blood that has
has already been shed. The local authorities at Wigan
are convicted by the recent events of not having been suffi-
ciently watchful in taking steps to preserve order. They
must have known, or at least they ought to have watched,
the premonitory signs of disturbance ; and they ought
not only to have been prepared with a more efficient force
for preserving the peace, but they ought also to have
forwarned those upon whose aid they relied. The delay in
despatching. the troops from Wigan, for which censure is
hinted against the military commanders, may perhaps be
traced to that neglect of notice. At all events the Wigan
authorities suffered their vigilance to lag behind the occa-
sion.• If we advert to that fact, however, it is not for the
sake of a fruitless censure, but for the purpose of using the
example to stimulate the local authorities in other parts
of the same district. We must have no more surmises, no
more discoveries that assistance is wanted without the oeca-
sioJacing expected,