Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-16 00:00:00

PINLNCE COMMITTEE

The proceedings of this committee having been read,
The Chairmen sail there were some subjects referred to in the
proceedings on which he thought it right to offer sonie explanation.
The first was the question of rating the dock property for the relief
of the poor. Gentlemen mast Imam been aware that for the last few
weeks there had been a good many letters in the papers from gentle-
men of that town on the sabject —some arguing with much ability
both in favour or the legality and advisability of rating the dock
property : others, with not so much lib,ra its but, probably, more
selfishness, denying that position. Bat the members of the vestry,
an representatives of the ratepayers, had only one duty to perform,
which was to see that all property impartially paid its proper share
to the relief of the poor. They b nievcd they were supported in that
view by a large majority of the inhabitants, and if anything renders
it more imperative than another it was the recent proceedings with
reference to the Deck Trust. 'they were now in a position to contend
for the justice end propriety of rating the dock property, and every
step which could legally be carried out and adopted to enforce that
view of the question wend be dme as seen as proper ar-
rangements were made. He did ho e that, in doing so, they
should be supported by the inhabitants, an they blieeed
it to be just, and he hoped that the majority of the merchants,
whose interests particularly were connected wi•h the question, would
not be quite so,selfish as to consider their own pee :eta in opposition
to the interests and the well-being of that great trust. Tine Vestry
bed eyed, and they hoped they should be hereafter supported in that
view of the question, that the large majority of the merchants were
cot so eeltish as to expect teat their own interests ware to be con-
sidered in oppos then to the claims of the community. Lt reference
to another subject, the Chairman said he exceedingly regretted that
t Vestry had not funds, and were not in a position to contribute to
ho support of th i office 'n Landon. The necessity of such an office
had always been felt by the parish, as well as the oti er public bodies
of the town. They had had until recently, very able assistance in the
person of the late Mr. Wainwright, and he did not doubt that a very I
able person would be appointed to fill his place, but un ortunately
the Vestry could not legally appropriate any portion of the parish
rate to that purpose, The Vestry were to be called u :on that day by
a motion of which notice had been given by Mr. Luff, to rescind a
resolution p toted at the last meeting, declining to permit Mr.
Hughes out door Inspector, to withdraw his resignation. As that motion
would be explained by Mr. Luff, he di 1 net think it necessary to dwell
upon it at present. He wished, however, particularly to draw the
attention of the members to the grossly exaggerated statement which
had been made, in some instances, by members of the Board, with
reference to the destitution exietieg among the community, and the
exaggerated statements made in the press upon the same subject.
The Board had held meetings and many investigations. 'there was
no such distress as some members had talked about, and in all pro-
lity tile very talking in that manner was likely to create the
clamour and oifflialty which it was their duty as mush as possitle to
avert. (Hear, hear.) The parish had-raede ample arrangements to
provide for any destitution which might come before them. They
were quite prepared •to give employment to tho-e who were indus-
trious and willing to work. Fee' the idle, dissolute, and improvideiit,
who would not work, bat were determined to be support, d by the
parish, they had no sympathy ; but for those who would work, they
were prepared to prov de at least such employment as would keep
thorn from starving, and enable them to get on tolerably well. (Hear
hear.) e
Mr. Luff then moved according to notice, that the reso7ut ions passed
by the Finance Committee on the 2nd of Vetcber, and the 27th of
November, declining to permit Mr. Hughes, oat-door inspector, to
withdraw his resignation be rescinded. fdr. Luff bri' fly stated that
in consequence of certain irregularities which had taken place, the
Finance Committee contemplated dismissing Mr. Ilte:hes, but the
latter sent in a notice of his resignation of the offices; subsequently he
made au application to be :Mowed to withdraw his resienation,which
was refaced. ' Since that, the Committee had rec eyed a letter from
Mr. Hughes's with, imploring the Committee to give him another trial,
and although there had been so ne irregularity, yet. as Mr. Hughes
frilly regretted, then, the Finance Committee, by a majority of eight
to four had decide i upon recommencing the he be allowed to with-
draw his resignation.
Mr. Hand seconded the motion. •
Mr. Cropper opposed the motion, and urged that the wholeqtiettlon
should be re-investigated by the Committee, and Mr. Hughes
allowed to stand upon his own merle.
Mr. Bairstow also opposed the motion, en the ground 'that Mr.
Hughes had forfeited the confidence of the Board.
Mr. Crellin, Mr. Shaw, and other gentles:len denied this allegation,
and supported the motion.
After some discussion, the motion to rescind the resolution was
carried by a majority of 15 to 7.
Mr. Luff then moved that the resolution of the committee, recom-
pending that Alr. Hughes oe retained, be confirmed.
IP Mr. ilairetow moved a direct negative.
Another debate took place, which ended in the follovriug division
being taken upon Mr. Bairstow's amendment. For :—Messrs. Bair-
stow, Owen, Chesney, Cooke, Cropper, Jacason. and W. Jones-7.
Against :—Messrs. Woodruff, Shaw, Cronin, Smith, Denton, Hand,
Hughes, J. Jones, Leff, Mellor, Richardson, Byers, Syred, Taylor,
and Williams-15.
The amendment was, therefore, lost, and Mr. Luff's motion was
carried.
The.general pro-eedings of the committee were then confirmed.
The vestry soon after adjourned.

THE RIGHTS OP PROFEATY.-Our townsman, ?fr. John
111. Nevin, auctioneer, was called upon by the representative
of a Dublin merchant to hold a sale in the village of
Killimore, of such goods as were not removable, and to
assist with carts to remove the remainder to Ballinasloe,
where the Dublin merchant considered they would realise
the most money. The goods were assigned in lieu of debts
due by the trader, who seemed to assist in the packing of
the artic'es for removal. The lower order of the village
rose up en masse and took the property by force, and
though the police were called on, they could not act, so,
the auctioneer, the Dublin gentleman, and party, were
completely baffled, and were obliged by the Killimore
amazons to relinquish the soizare.— Werdern, Sear (Rai-

linastoe.)
DEATII IN A LI/IFIIILN, NEAR. KENDAL.—On Saturday
evening, between eight and nine o'clock, Mr. 4hn Willan,
farmer, of Plumgarths, about two miles &ob. Kendal,
hearing a noise from the direction of two limekilns near
his house, went out to ascertain the cause. Not returning
for some time, several inmates of the house went to seek
him, and eventually fou d him at the bottom of one of
the kilns, into which he must have fallen accidentally.
the kiln was not lighted; but they were unable to reach
him, as the kiln was about twenty feet deep. Obtaining
assistance from a neigbouring farm, they at length suc-
ceeded in liberating him ; bat not till a large sumber of
stones had been removed from the base of the kiln, so that
his bo-'y could be drawn under the wall. When discovered,
Mr. Willan was still alive, though severely bruised from
the fall. He was conveyed home, and a horseman des-
patched to Kendal for surgical assistance, which arrived
a few minutes before Mr. Willan expired. The other
kiln, a few ya:ds distant, was burning, and shed a light
over the mouth of that into which Mr. Willan fell. He was
of very temperate habits, and perfectly sober at the time.
INSURANCE NEws.—Law Union Fire and Life Insurance
Company.—From the report of the directors just issued,
it appears that during the past year, which is the third of
the company's operations, 2,155 proposals have been
received in the fire department for insuring £1,145,000 ;
and in the life department, 276 proposals for insuring
£157,170; of the above proposals, 2,102 were completed
in the fire department, yielding in annual premiums,
£1,339 03 3d ; and insuring £1,145,000. In the life
department 213 policies had been issued, to insure
1 £116,775, the annual premiums on this amount being
£8,056 as lid. The sum of £1,748 had been received
during the year for granting annuities. Alli the reserved
shares, numbering 5 310, had been issued, and the
amount called upon the £lOO,OOO paid, increasing the
shareholders' paid capital to £50,000. There are now 624
shareholders registered in, the books. A dividend of 4
per cetit was declared, and it was stated that this had
been fairly earned, and that without touching the capital
in the slightest degree the whole of the prelirainary
expenses had been paid, and there was a reserve in hand.
The following are the principal items of the balance
eheet :—First call of £lO per share on 5,536 shares,
£2,768 ; interest on investments, £1,851. Fire depart-
ment new policies, £1,369 19s 9d ; old policies, £2,701
15s 9d ; total, fire duty paid, £4,829. New Life premiums,
X 3,321 3s 5d ; renewal premiums, £7,394 17s 10c1;
premiums for annuities, £1,748 4s ; total, capital,
77,874. Fire department expenses, £1,090 ; duty,
£4 4:.5,4 ; chinas, £1,518. Life department re-assurance,
£1,274. 11,;,:ar4i9lent expenses, directors and auditors,
£4OB ; salaries,-49(16.;rent and taxes, £362. Interest
on shareholders' capital 2'°119 iiJad: The total lima-
mute are stated to be £62,020.