The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-19 00:00:00

HARTLEY RELIEF FUND.

Mr. W. F. Birkmyre, actuary, of London, has
made a report to the Executive Committee of the
Hartley Relief Committee, who was requested by
them to make a valuation of the allowances to the
sufferers by the accident at Hartley. The following
is the substance of the report :—The scale of allow-
ances authorised by the committee, and which has
been assumed in the valuation, is as follows :-7s
per week to each widow ; lOs 6d per week to each
widow and child ; 13s 6d per week to each widow
and two children ; 15s Gd per week to each widow
and three children ; 17s Gd per week to each widow
and four children ; 198 Gd per week to each widow
and five children ; 21s 6d per week to each widow
and six children. These allowances are to continue,
except in cases of gross misconduct, to the widows
so long as they remain unmarried, to girls until they
attain the age of 15 years, and to boys until they
reach the age of 12 years. The allowance to infirm
adults has, as a general rule, been fixed at 7s per
week. Widows on remarrying are to have £2O. On
widows or adults dying an allowance of £3 to he
made for funeral expenses; and £1 to be paid
ou the death of a child. The value of these allow-
ances has been estimated for two periods—first,
for the next 15 years, at the expiration of which
the children will have ceased to draw from the
fund ; and secondly, for the remainder of the lives
of such of the widows and adults as may survive
that term. The reporter has not thought it proper
to assume a higher rate of interest than 3!i per
cent., and with the approval of the committee has
based the calculations on that rate. It may be
thought that a higher rate might have been taken,
but when it is considered that the fund has to be
invested, not for a few years merely, but for the
whole of the lifetime of the recipients,and that per-
manent investments do not yield more than 4 per
cent. at the utmost, and that a certain portion of the
funds must always be necessarily lying in bank un-
invested, he thinks that the adoption of al per cent.
will be deemed a prudent step. As the greater
value of female life is well established, the calcula-
tions in connexion with the female lives have been
based on the Government tables. The estimate of
the amount to be deducted for the probability of the
widows re-marrying, and so forfeiting their allow-
ances, and the value of their allowances to be made
on marriage, are necessarily approximations. As,
however correct the statistics of marriage for the
population (which have been the guide in this in-
stance) may be, yet when we come to deal with com-
paratively limited numbers and with a particular
class the application of such statistics can only be
considered a rough approximation. In the present
instance there are two counter influences—there is
the inducement held out by the bonus on marriage
on the one hand, while on the other hand there is
the deterring influence of the loss of a liberal allow-
ance. It is doubtful, however, whether the for-
feiture of the allowance will very materially affect
the marriage rate, as the sum down will no doubt
prove attractive ; it is therefore assumed that the
rate of marriage will not differ widely from that
which generally prevails. It has not been thought
necessary to estimate the probabilities of marriage
after the expiry of 15 years, as the result
would not be affected in any material degree.
The result is that a sum of £35,252 118. 3d. will be
for t requiredhe
nteox be
fifteeninvestedetaorsp, r oavnidd eafofrut
rht ehallowances
f
£15,170 14s. 9d. will be necessary to continue them
at the same rate throughout the remainder of life
after the expiration of that period—making a total
of £50,420 Gs. as the fund to be invested to meet
the allowances for the whole duration of life from
the present time. The sum of £70,000 has been in-
vested in safe and available securities by the execu-
tive committee, and £5,500 lies in the hands of the
bankers in Newcastle. So that there remains a
surplus of nearly £25,000 to be disposed of. It is a
remarkable fact that, though little more than twelve
months have elapsed since the catastrophe at
Hartley, ten of the widows have remarried. The
consideration of the disposal of the surplus, it is
understood, will he brought by the executive im-
mediately under the consideration of the general
committee appointed at the county meeting held in
Newcastle at the time of the catastrophe.

Importing Tea without colour on the leaf pre-
vents the Chinese passing oil inferior leaves as in
usual
kinds. Ilotniman's 'lea is uncoloured, therefore, always
flood a?t7.e. Sold in packets by 2,280 agent,
Another " sensation" acrobat has come to grief.
The great feat of a performer, named Matioel,
is
swinging upon a wire, about the thickness of a
tobacco
p
several
&c. At !he Cantetbury Hall,
pike,
rk,innyiven;ght, his wire was suspended over
• be] nein— himself erect upon ono foot, playing
tErrii;gkhs N
to
nA i,thonbasliastu,
the stage, orchestra, and part of the pit, and ho had nearly
completed his performances
When he lost his balance, and
fell upon the footlights. One of the gas-burners passed
through his right foot, entering the sole, and coming out
between the large toe and the next one to it. A few nights
previously, at the Brighton Circus, an amateur, in attempt-
ing to imitate Leotard's performances on the flying trapeze,
missed his hold, and fell with great force into the ring, the
sawdust in which broke the fall, but he was considerably
shaken.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAL—Morning, 2h. 52m.—Afternoon, 3h. 16w.
To-monaow.-Morning, 3h. 36m.—Afternoon, 3h. 56m.