Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-05 00:00:00

THE UNEMPLOYED POOR OF LEICESTER.

At the meeting of the board of guardians of the Leices-
ter union, on Tuesday night, it was stated that the relief
cases wcre—in-door, 660 ; out-door, 2,624 ; showing a
very large increase of distress.
The committee appointed last week to consider the
expediency of abolishing or modifying the wookhouse
test, presented a very long report. They had unanimously
arrived at the following conclusion:—
As there is still ample accommodation in the workhouse,
and bearing in mind that an indoor labour test, to any
extent, is impracticable, and that numbers of the appli-
cants for relief are altogether unfit for exposure to the
weather, to which they would be subjected by outdoor
labour, your committee cannot recommend a departure
from the present system of relief.
The report recommends, that in view of a large.increase
in the number of inmates of the workhouse, due pro-
vision be made for preserving order and subordination.
Fer this purpose the committee, having had full powers
delegated to it by the board, has engaged a superintendent
for each of the wards, male and female, who are to be
paid,—the men, 12e per week, with ration and lodging in
the house ; the women, 10s, per week with lodgings, and
and allowance of 63, in lieu of rations. The committee
doubts if it will be necessary to institute an oat-doer
labour test ; but in order to be prepared for it, rooms are
to be fitted up for the oakum picking, and a superinten-
dent is appointed to teke the over3iglet of these so
engaged. It is proposed, in the first place, to employ at
this work men of about 60 years of age, who, it is sup-
posed, will generally be married men, without families,
and to give there 33. in money and 21b, of bread daily, with
an additional loaf and is 2d in grocery at the end of each
week—in value altogether 4s 8d weekly. Should the
Pressure continue, it is proposed that this class of applicants
be discharged from labour, and the test applied to young:r
and more able•bodied men. The committee suppose these
means " will be found sufficient to carry out effectually
the object sought, namely,—to amend the evil of giving
relief in aid of wages, by withdrawing from the labour
market every person receiving parochial assistance, to cheek
imposition and yet adequa'ely relieve the poor." The report
was unanimously adopted by the board. As soon as the
decision of the board became known, great dissatisfaction
was expressed by the more violently disposed of the ope: a-
tives, and at two several aaeetings, held on Wednesday,
some strong langurge was used. At the breaking up of the
second meeting in the afternoon, a number of those com-
posing it passed through Market-street, where a lump of
coal was thrown at the window of a baker named Cox.
Mr. Cox succeeded in collaring the man who threw it, but
was set upon and severely beaten by the mob, who then
passed through to the Market Place, hooting and groaning
at the shops of some members of the board of guardians.
By the prompt exertions of the police, however, further
mischief was prevented. ,The militia, who are now
quartered in the town, and the Leicester troop of the
Yeomanry Cavalry, have received orders to hold themselves
in readiness to suppress any outbreak that may occur. The
operatives' committee report the number of unemployed at
4,000.

DISTRESS IN CARLISLE.

The distress consequent on the general depression
of trade, which more or less prevails throughout
the country, has at length reached Carlisle, where
it is beginning to manifest itself to a melancholy
cro.p3 of 1= IX ana half grown 10.40 aro equator
ing in the streets, either from want of employment, or the
result of that short time system which has recently been
adopted by the whole of the manufacturing firms iu the
city. The la'e hard weather has lately thrown out of
work numbers of men employed in the building trade.
The hand-loom weavers have been the first to awaken the
sympathies of the well to do citizens, and the Mayor
(John Howe, Esq) called a public meeting of the inhabi-
tants on Wednesday afternoon, to devise measures to
alleviate their present distress. The chair was taken by
the Dean of Carlisle, who was supported by W. N
Hodgson, Esq. and other gentlemen. One of the speakers
disclosed the fact that in a single district of the town there
were no less than 693 persons (including women and
children) who are entirely without the means of
subsistence. The total number of persons out of work is
about 1,200. Resolutions recommending a subscription,
and appointieg a committee to administer the funds, were
carried unanimously. Mr.Wilks carried a motion appoint.
ing a committee to inquire iato the general condition of
the band-loom weavers, and to adopt some means for its
permanent improvement. The meeting then broke up.

MEETING OF MESSRS. FLETCHEP. AND ROSE'S CREDITORS.

The meeting of the crelitors of this firm, on Thursday,
at the Queen's-hotel, Birmingham, (Mr. Skey presiding),
was numerously attended. A statement of liabilities and
assets, and a debtor and cruclitor account having been read,
a discussion cusuel, and the result was that an amendment
was carried, that the estate be assigned to inspectors (who
ware appointed), and an offer of 12s 61 in tin pound was
accepted, is 3d at two months, 13 3d at four months, and
four other instalments of 2s Gd each, at seven, twelve,
eighteen, and twenty-four months.

TILE WESTERN I.3_kNK OF SCOTLAND.

Toe me Aing of the shards shiers was held on Wedaesi ay,
Mr. J ,Ins Dunlop, senior director, in the chair. It was
resolved to register the company under the Joint Stock
Banking Companies Act of 1857. The chairman said that
the best endeavours of the directors hsd bean thwarted by
the late manager, who disregarded their express instruc•
tions and gave great advances to unworthy person,. The
promise of the bank agents who had already seceded
represent 2,000,000 of depsits, and agents representing
1,000,000 more were is the act of seceding. The interim
manager read a financial statement, showing that on the
Otis of November last the assets were £10,627,82-1; the
liabilities were £8,911,932, leaving an apparent surplus
of £1,115,892. Up to that timeit he known and undoubted
losses were £3d0,000. A committee of investigation was
appointed, and the meeting was adjourned till the 17th of
December. A proposal was made to resuscitate the bank,
but it could not in the meantime be entertained.