Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-10 00:00:00

THE AUGMENTATION OF TU BOARD.

A memorial to *the General Poor Law board from
several of the guardians and ratepayers of some of the
townships connected with the union, praying that addi-
tional guardians should be appointed to some of the town-
shipq.

Some conrersation followed on the subject, the result
of which was, that as it did not appear that the foun-
dation for the applicaion was based on tha amount of
population, bus on the amount paid to the rates,
the subject, on the suggestion of tie Chairman, was
postponed for a week.

Ttit COURIAR" AND TU BOARD.
The following letter was read from Mr. Tinling, the pro-
prietor of the Courier newspaper, complaining of the
system of sending the advertisements from the Board to
Mr. Greenwood, which it was stated was injurious to
newspaper proprietors.

TO THE CHAIRMAN OP THE WEST DESIST SMASH OF GUARDIANS.

Rev. beg to call your attention to the followin4 statement
respectin; the practice connected wit,i th 3 advertising of contracts,
Sic., of the West Derby Union.

It was, until very recently, the custom of the Wee' D rhy Board to
Ilene all their advertisments to this, and is the other newspaner offices
in this town, for insertion in the re:spelt:ice newspapers, to which cus-
tom, I believe, all other public bodies have, and do still adhere. Be'
LH' some reason requiring explanation, the advertising business of the
West Derby Beard has been transferred to the hen is of a Mr. Green-
wood, primer and stationer, in Liverpool. Now, I beg respettfully to
mac, that it is not the usage of the new3paper trade to accept adver-
them nte from eny local agent whatever. For why? Becan•e the
news caper proprietor or proprietore employ solicit ,r 3 to conduct their
advertising business or bn,inesseF, and, therefore, a loss would be
'entailed upon proprietors lied t'tey to p iy commission to an agent fir
that which could be better performed by their own employ& Here
Is a case in p•int, of cross negligence. According to the book entry in
the el, re's office, there was ordered to he inserted in the different local
newspapers an advertisement, calling for estimates for the falilment of
a contract for lime washing; the Liverpool Courier being one of the
newspapers Faceted. The solicitor for the Courier, upon making
sreplicetion for the advertisement in question, was told that Mr.
Greenwood hal orders, and hs would send the advertisement to the
office of the Courier. The advertisement was to be inserted on the
Ist of July inst. /laving waited until tile last momen'T on the night
previous, and as the advertisement, even then, was not forthcoming,
it wos do'errninsd to give. it insertion. Aftetevard3, the account' for
the sum charged for the. advertisement (4), was sent in to Mr. Green-
wool's place of baiinees; bat payment was refused. on the groucd
that that sum was an overcharge. New, alr, the charge was no more
than it has al ways been—the nsnal charge eceerding to the scale of
the Courier, the Jferc'ery, the Albion, Ma 7, and the other
newspapers in the town. I have no hesitation in saying,
that it is so much money thrown away in the shape of commission
to Mr. Greenwood, he not being recognised by any of ;he Liverpool
newspa,,er proprietors as an advertising agent.

I have no wish to orejudics the Bar lagainst Mr. Greenwood, bat
surely it is reasonable that we should be paid our proper and just
charges. Permit me to ask that this communication be read before the
next me ting of the Board with the view of its receivi 'g that considera-
tion to which it !s fairly entstled.

In eonclusion, allow me to add that I have not the sma'lest doubt
Istsfsve-, that the clfferent newspaper proprietors in Liverpool would
fully bear me out In what I have herein pat forth, and woul t not
hesitate one moment to show, in nnmistakeable terms, their desire to
hare a stop put to a system which 1, as unprincipled as it is injurious.—
I am, rev. sir, yours, [For CIIARLBS TOILING.]

ROBERT HADDfi 1.
Mr. SHAW hoped that the Clerk would give some ex-
plaination on the matter.
The CLERK was rea ly to do so if required by the Board.
Mr. SHAW wished to know why the advertisements were
not sent direct from the Board, instead cf through Mr.
Greenwood.

CLIAYER said, the same system bad been pursued
for the last three years; and had been found most ex-
pedient, and had given the greatest satisfaction to all parties,
indeed, their hid never before been any complaint, as not
a single miEtake had ever been made. Before, the
advertisements had been so sent to the different newspapers,
the mistakes were innumerable, as he had had bills
frequently sent in twice, and even three times, after they
besides a discrepancy
had been paid, in the charges. Re
thought tha. Mr. Greenwood was well known in the tr,wn,
although he had been designated as a Mr. Greenwood ;
and rather than the present system of sending advm-ti.-e-
-ments through him should be discontinued, he (the Clerk)
would pay the trifling commission Mr. C got, out
of his own pocket.
Mr. TAYLOR then moved that in future ail advertimen,„i„
be sent direct from the clerk of the Board, and not through
Mr. Greenwood, and that the Board name in what
papers the advertisements should appear.
The CHAIRMAN said the Board always did so.
The motion having been seconded,
Mr. WENSLEY moved as an amendment. That the same
c.•rrse be continued as had been adopted with such goad
Feet

The Board after a brief conversation divided, alien Mr.
Wensley's amendment Was carried by a large majority.

THE PENDING LIBEL CUM
A letter was read from Mr. Edward', a solicitor, of

Preston, requesting on behalf of the defendant in an
action then pending for libel, to have permission to inspect
the minutes of the proceedings of the Board, in all matters
appertaining thereto.
Mr LEDGER said he had understood that the Board had
nothing whatever to do with the subject.
The CHAIRMAN said all they had to do with it was, that
the affidavits for the plaintiff had been laid on the minutes
of the transaction of that Board, and therefore it was only
fair that the defend.snts 'should have an opportunity of
replying to those affidavits, which he could not do, unless
he had the same facilities afford d him.

Mr. FDWARDS moved that the request be complied with,
which wA s eecanded, and un.nimonily adopted
THE " RATTLE HIS BONIS OVER THE STONER" INQUIRY AGAIN.

TRIUMPH OF DP MINS

At the last rneetiog of the Board, it was, at the request
of the Goneral Poor law Board, agreed that this subj Pet,
which has so often been under discussion, should be again
taken into consideration, and, consequently. the-following
circular, as read by the clork, was forwarded to each of
the guardians of the unicn
:
S r,—The Ponr-late Board having requestel that the sub-
ject rrlitive to the resignation of Dr. Nevins, medical officer
at the Workhouse, should again receive the consideration of
the guardians, I beg to inform you that no:ice has been given
by Mr. L, der hat he will, at the next meeting of the Board.
on the Bth inst., take the following mo:lon, viz. :—" That
Vris Board, having full confidence in the skill sod attention of
Dr. Nevins, request the Poor-law Board to sanction the con-
tinuance of It's ecrvices Ps medical officcr of the Workh,uts
of the West Derby Union."—l arm, sir, your obedient
WILLIAM CLEAVER, Union Cleat.

servant,

Liverpool, 2nd July, 1857,

Upon. the circular Having been read,
Me. LEDGER said : Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen—l had
always understood that it was an established rule of this
Board, and also of all other Boards, that at the time of
giving notice of a motion, no guardian should at that period
make any observations, but should wait unTil such time
as the matter came on for discussion. That rule has been
violated, at the last meeting of the Board, by Mr. Whitby
and by Mr. Shaw. The remarks made by those gentlemen
pilaw, whether intended or not, that it was their desire to
prejudice the memorialists in the eyes of the public. Mr.
Shaw had on that occasion said, " that there were state-
ment s in the memorial which could not be borne out by
facts ;" but I will soon show the Board that every statement
made in that memorial can be borne out by facts ; and I
will defy any man to contradict one fact that is there stated.
(Hear' hear) Therefore, I shall proceed to prove that
every fact stated in that memorial is true. (Hear, hear. )
It had been stated that the names of some of the guardians
who had signed that memorial had been surreptitiously
obtained ; that he denied, for he would be one of the last
perons that would attach his name to any document. But
to the paint—l will quote from the NORTHERN TIMES what
took place after the letter from the Baard had been read.
I said—

nAt the next meeting this Bor•rd, I shall move—and I now
give notice—that this • has full confidence in the ability
and skill of Dr. Nevin and that the General Poor-law Board
be r,quosted to cqntin , his servi,as as one of the medical
offiv.ra of the West De:. y Union Wo:khouso.—Mr. Whitby :
I think we hava had quite enough of the matter, and I shall
move that we proceed no further.—The Chairman : We can-
not have any discussion on the subject now; and I suppose
that will be your amendment.—Mr. Whitby • It will.—Mr.
Shaw: Ihe letter that has been read is in answer to a resolu-
tion sent from this Board. It mentions something about a
memorial having been sent. That was a private communica-
tion, and the Board have never seen it. I think that memorial
has a right to to be laid before the Board. I have had the
privilege of seeing it, and there are certain statements in it
which canno' be borne out by facts. I do hope that the gentle-
men who sent it will place it before the Board. N.st week
I shall he prepared to make some observations upon it.
The metnori,l had ben called a private communication.
If it hal been a private communication the Board would
not have answered it. Bat how did it stand As soon as
Mr. Shaw bad carried his motion, by the majority of one,
Mr. Pitts said he should give notice that a memorial would
be sent to the Board, bet the Chairman told him it could
not be done. But, Mr. Shaw had written to the Board--
did he get an answer? 80. Then that might be consi-
de,ed a 4 a private communication ; but the memorial was
answered, therefore it was not considered as a private com•
munication. But it had bisect bruited about by some of
the opponents of Dr. Nevins that the signatures to the
memorial were surreptitiously obtained, and that if the
Poor-la si Board had known that they had been so ob-
tained, they would not have noticed it. Now, sir. lam
not disposed to sit down quietly with such aspersions,
and shall proceed to prove beyond contradiction, that no-
thing whatever has been concealed from the Poor-law
Board from first to last. Mr. Shaw stated they had not seen
the memorial, but all the guardians knew about it, for more
than half the Board had not only seen it, but had also
signed it. But, sir, it is not usual to send memorials to
opponents, but it was placed in a situation where all
who liked could sign it. Bat it was not customary
for whig, tory. or zadicals, to send their memorials
to their opponents. I shall read the memorial, and I shall
be glad to hear any objections that may be made to it, and
I hope Mr. Shaw will, when he is dealing with it, do so on
the great and broad principle, and with liberality, and
without cavilling or ictroducing irrevelant motions.
Mr. Snew : I rise to order
The CILUILVAN : You must not make such remarks as
those.

Mr. LEDGFR : I ask it as a matter of right. I shall
now proceed to read the letter I read to the Thud. It
was as follows :

My Lords and Gentlemen.—l am desired by several
guardians of the West Derby Union, respectfully to call your
attention to the following fists relative to the case of Doctor
Nevins, and earnestly to request you will suspend your decision
until you receive the memorial in his favour, which will be
transmitted as soon as the necessary signatures can be. obtained.
At the weekly meeting, yesterday, the following resolution,
moved by Mr. Shaw, and seconded by Mr. Isaac Edwards, wes
cart ied by a majority of only one :—" That, in consequence
of Dr. Nevins hating failed to send to this Boatel an ample
apology for his conduct, as condemned in the letter from the
Poor-law Board, dated the 25th ult., the Peon-law Board be
requested to call upon him to tender the resignation of his
office as medical officer of the workhouse " Mr Hayes pro-
posed, seconded by myself, and supported by the Rev. W. A.
Tattersall, Mr. Ab'ahams (Chairman of the Workhouse Com-
mittee for the Sick), Mr. Pitts, Mr. Wensley (Chairman of the
Visiting Committee), Mr. Birch (Deputy Vice-Chairman of the
Board), and other., as an amendment :—" That the letter of
D. Nevins be received as an ample apology.' For the
motion, eleven; for the amendment, ten; and I have the
authority of the chairman, the Rev. W. Baduall, for saying,
that, had the votes been eqeal, he would have given the cast-
ing vote in favour of Dr. Nevins. Besides, of the nine
members far Toxteth Park, five were absent, and four voted
for the resolution ; but these genlemen, in consequence of the
secaration about to take place, will soon cease to belong to the
Union, and consequently have neither voice nor interest hi the
question. The late Chairman, Mr. Hurison, was from home,
arid the present Vice-Chnirman, Mr. henry Edwaids, was
prevented by illness fiotn attending; but they will sign the
memotial, and other members who were unavoidably absent
will also sign it. No privacy in this. Taking these fac's into
consideration, Icoufilently venture to suheuit,that Mr. Shaw's
re olutio-n does not in reality convey the sentiments of the
West Derby Board of Guardians. In all pi obability, after the
sepat at'on of Toxteth Park from the Union, the officers of the
present establishment, with very few exceptions, will be
retained by the West Derby 'Union, and it is the anxious wish
of the guardians who requested me to address your honourable
Boatel on the subject, and especially of all the guardians who
hold official situations, that the valuable services of Dr. Nevins
tshould be continued. He has been upwards of ten years
medical officer of the workhouse, anti during that long time wrrs
always in attendance, morning, noon, and night, whenever his
services were required. During the discussion yesterday, it
was admitted on all sides that no chargo of neglect was ever
brought aaainst him ; and that he is eminent in his profession
I cannot be denied. t was not without cause that he Was pro-
voked at the conduct of a section of the Board, for, on several
occasions, they overruled his suggestions, although approved
and recommended by the. Visiting Committee. At that time
all parties agreed that additional medical aid was essential; and
the dispute was merely whether a properly qualified medical
man or a dispenser of medicine should he engaged. Dr. Nevins
certainly a more competent judge of the wanes of the sick
than any of the guardians —.recomrnentlid the former, and as
he could not meet with a dispenser on the terms laid down by
the guardians, he, in his anxiety for the welfare of the sick
paupers under his care, paid for the assistance of a surgeon out
of his own packet. In this dispute the only objectionable part
of Dr. Nevins's conduct is the authorship of a satirical article
on !he section of the Board by whom he thought lie had been
unjustly dealt with ; it was published in the Liverpool
NORTHERN Thies, a hasty and injudicious act, which he
regrets, and nob dy attempts to vindicate, hut for which, in
the opinion of !he ten members who voted for him yesterday,
and of those who will attach their signatures to thememoriah
next week—no privacy in this—he has been already severely
and sufficiently punished by the publication of your letter of
censure in the same newspaper ; and as he has inoee than once
amply apologised, they are unanimously of opinion that to
demand any further apology would show vindictiveness on the
part of the guardians, and a vain attempt
;to exact what it is
respectfully,mevident no professional gentleman of distinguished character
and standiinysociety could possibly submit to.—l am, very
tervant. lords and gentlemt n, your most obedient
WILSON LEDGER, Guardian.
The Poor.law Board, Whitehall, London.

Everton, Liverpool, 19 h June, 1857.
3fy Lords; and Gentlemen,—ln reference to my letter of
the 11th instant, I beg leave to inform you that the nsemo,
islets have requested the clerk, Mr. Cleaver, to transmit the