Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-29 00:00:00

WEST DERBY BOARD OF' GUARDIANS.

The menibets of this board met yesterday in the
Board-room, at the Workhouse, Mill-lane. The chair
was occupied by Mr. Pitts, the other members present
being Messrs. Ledger, Whitby, Wensley, Heyes,'Rain-
ford, H. Edwards, Abrahams, Pilling, Wareham, Gar-
rett, Parkiri,t Medealf, Roscoe, J. Edwards, Mawdesley,
Smith, Shaw, Roberts, and Bolshaw.
'Mr. Geugh; the governor, reported that the numbers
in the house last week were 680 ; admitted since, 11 ;
born, 1; discharged, 17 ; died, 2 ; in the house this
week, 673, of whom 3.9 belong to Toxteth-park.
During the corresponding week last year there
were 721 in the house. In the hospital there Were
last week 110 • admitted since, 24.; discharged, 17;
died, 1 ; in the house this week, 125, of whom 48
belonged to Toxteth-park. In the corresponding week
of last year there were 109 in the hospital. Cheques
for 'the following amounts were signed for out-door
relief :—Mr. Potts £126, Mr. Olney £3B, Mr. Lythgot
£22.
Dr. JonNsoN stated to the board a case which had
come under his notice, where a man of the name of
Patrick M'lcally whose wages varied from twenty to
thirty shillings a-week, had been relieved by Mr. Bram-
ham, and he.(Dr. Johnson) had been ordered to visit
him. He wished the board to decide whether such eases'
were proper for relief and medical attendance.
Mr.' BRAMAAM having stated that he was told that
the man had been out of employment for three months
and that he *as ignorant of the facts stated by Mr.
Johnson, the chairman thanked Mr. Johnson for bring-
ing the case before the board, and the "subject dropped.
A letter was read from the Poor-law Board enclosing
a copy of a letter which had been sent by that board to
Mr. Allen, relieving officer, in reply to his 'metnorial.
The board stated that they had'considered the expla-
nations which Mr. Allen had' submitted to them, but
under the circumstances they were of opinion that he
should.no longer continue to hold the office of 'relieving
officer, and they therefore requested that he would blithe-
diately fors6rd his resignation to the West Dbity
Board

In accordance with this request Mr. Allen forwarded his
resignation, 'which was accepted, and Ledger' gaffe
notice that at the next meeting-he should move that a
eaccessor belppointed.
•Mr. ABRAHAMS moved that the thanks of the board
be given to the Earl of Sefton for the Christmas tree,
and to Mrs. Pemberton Heywood, and the other donors
of toys for distribution among the children at the work-
house. He was sure the guardians who were present
must have been delighted with 'the scene, which pre-
sented itself in the board-room on the previous evening.
It was very gratifying when they found the noblest of
the land encouraging innocent recreation and amuse-
ment among the children of the poor at this season.
Mr. H. EDWARDS seconded the motion, which was
carried unanimously.
Mr. WENSLEY havinc, moved that Messrs. Lodge and
Rowlands; the medical officers of the board be appointed
vaccinators for their respective districts,
Mr..W-urrarr Said the board was about to do one of
the most unjust acts which it could possibly do, by ap-
pointing other persons to fulfil a duty which had been
fulfilled by Dr. Chalmers for twenty years, without .
any cause of complaint.
The CHAIRMAN said they might have requested Dr.
Chalmers to resign, but they did not do so, and he
thought they were showing treat courtesy 'by
allowing him to continue as vaccinator after he had
resigned as medical officer.
The appointment of Messrs. Lodge and Rowlands
was affirmed.
An application for an .increase of salary by Mr.
Hamilton, superintendent of out-door labour, was not
entertained.
The remainder of the business was unimportant.
PORTUGAL AND
.THE DECIMAL SYSTEM.—The use of
the decimal system, as regardS measures of length, is to
be obligatory in Portugal from the Ist January next.
Dusiscrilow or CRIME.—In no county of England
has the diminution of crime during the past seven years
been more marked than in Gloucestershire. Within a
year or two, four prisons—Lawford's Gate, Littledean,
,Gloucester ci,ty, and Tewkesbury—have been elo4ed Tor
want POsimie.i-iimand as the' County Jail for some
time past has not been more than half occupied, it is
understood that at the quarter seasions, lo'be held the
first week in January, an order will be given close
,the two remaining batiks of correction at Northleach
and Horsley. Thus no less than six prisons will have
been cJosed in two years, and.there is still' "lodgings to
let" at the_ County Jail.—Bristol Times.
NON-UOMBUSTIBILITY OF CRINOLINE.--At the meet-
ing of the Pharmaceutical Society, a few days since, in
Edinburgh, Dr, Stephenson Macadam' exhibited a crino-
line dress, one :half of which had been immersed la a-
: solution of sulphate 'of ammonia, in order to testite.tion
Combustibility. On a light having been applied to the
erinolinet
,the part of it which had not been steeped in
the solution 'Nyas at once enveloped in 'flame ; but the
Only effect which the light had on the other part was to
char it; This was considered' a sitisfaotory experiment;
and it was stated that; as, ammonia was only twopence.
per pound, it was accessible to the humhlest. elaises. It
was. stated that the crinoline used in 'the reyal'hOuse-
was. stepped. in a totally difft:ren`: solution;, but that,
its cost' preven.til its gpi.eral that the ebeitr2er
solution was equally effiCacious,