The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-15 00:00:00

THE DISTRESS J LANCASHIRE.

The first meeting of the Borough of Salford Dis-
tress Committee was held at the Town-hall in that
borough on Wednesday, James Worrail, Esq., the
mayor, presiding. The Mayor of Salford was ap-
pointed chairman, and Mr. Alderman -Weston (tee
ex-mayor) the vice-chairman of the committee ; and
• Mr. Alderman Davis, Mr. George Brett, the town
clerk, and Mr. William Noar, the borough treasurer,
were requested to act as honorary secretaries. Re-
solutions were adopted, reqvesting the secretaries to
inquire and report what organised bodies other than
the board of guardians are now engaged in relieving
distress within the borough consequent upon the
present position of the cotton trade, the organisa-
tion of such bodies and their mode of giving relief,
the mode of investigation adopted by the 'Manches-
ter and Salford provident societies, and the extent
and description of relief given. A resolution was
also passed affirming it to be the opinion of the com-
mittee that the funds which may be entrusted to it
should not be giving to persons receiving parochial
relief, unless in special and extreme cases. The
mayor announced subscriptions to the amount of
£B5O for the local fund ; and he, the ex-mayor, Mr.
Alderman Pearson, and Mr. Alderman Turner were
requested to wait on some of the leading firms and
inhabitants to solicit subscriptions in aid of the fund,
preliminary to a general ward canvass being insti-
tuted by the committee. A deputation from the
factory overlookers had an interview with the com-
mittee.

The quantity of soup distributed,
principally
through the Manchester and Salford District Pro.
vident Society, in the week ending the 9th instant,
was 14,133 quarts; the week previously the quan-
tity was 13,295 quarts.
On Tuesday evening a meeting of the workpeople
employed by Mr. John Whittaker was held in the
schoolroom, Hurst, for the purpose of forming a
committee to relieve the distress among themselves..
Mr. Edwin Whittaker presided. Mr. W. Penning-
ton read a brief address from Mr. John Whittaker,
expressive of his deep sympathy with the people,
and intimating his wish that the meeting should
appoint a committee to distribute judiciously the
£4O per month which he had contributed to the
Central Relief Fund specially for this object, to-
gether with such other funds as might be obtained.
A committee was appointed, and afterwards met to
arrange for immediate operations.
By the aid of their personal friends and clerical
brethren, the clergy of Blackburn have instituted
sewing classes for the benefit of the younger
branches of their respective suffering and patient
flocks. By present rules, none are admitted who
are married, or are under 14 years of age, or who
are in partial employment. They are occupied in
sewing, knitting, darning, &c., during three days
in the week, five hours in each day, and, if in con-
stant attendance, receive each eightpence per
Iday. Partly from the association's funds, and partly
from private benevolence, an economical meal of
rice pudding, or coffee and bread, is provided for
each pupil once a week. The committee of manage-
merit avail themselves of the kind assistance of
ladies who, in rotation, superintend the classes,
each one day a week, and they calculate upon an
expenditure of £4O or £5O per week in wages to
matrons and pupils.
At the meeting of the Oldham board of guardians
on Wednesday, the figures presented by the reliev-
ing officers showed a considerable increase in the
numbers relieved during the last week as compared
with the week previous—the numbers being 4,068,
against 3,566, and the amount of relief, £143, as.
compared with £l7l. The clerk stated that
the rmembers of the committee appointed at
the late public meeting had requested him to
suggest the appointment of a separate day
for the relief of unemployed applicants, as the
majority of them were unwilling to come before the
guardians at the same time as the regular paupers.
The board decided to relieve the unemployed poor
every Wednesday morning, commencing at nine
o'clock, and to proceed with the usual relief busi-
ness at two o'clock on the same day, the opinion of
the guardians being that it would interfere with.
the arrangements of the relieving officers if a sepa-
rate day were appointed. The Local Relief Fund
now amounts to between £3,000 and £4,000.
Messrs. Joseph Rowland and Sons have given £2OO,
and Mr. F. T. Hibbert, M.P., £5O. Mr. Hibbert
has also intimated that he would have sent a larger
contribution had the fund been applicable to the
Whole of the Parliamentary instead only of the
municipal borough; but, under the circumstances,
he intends to contribute to the relief funds orga-
nised in the other townships or union. The relief
committee will hold its first meeting this evening,
when the necessary preliminary arrangements for
relieving the distress will be taken into con-
sideration.

A committee appointed by the Wesleyan Con-
ference for the purpose of suggesting measures for
the relief of the distress in Lancashire and Cheshire,
have submitted their report. They recommend
that public collections shall be made in all the Wes-
leyan chapels throughout Great Britain not later
than the last Sabbath in September, and that dona-
tions shall also be solicited from the influential
members of the congregations.
The Liverpool subscription in aid of the fund for
relief of 'the unemployed operatives in the cotton
manufacturing districts continues to be well sup-
ported. Up to the close of business on Wednesday
afternoon the gross sum subscribed is Liverpool
amounted to £28,338 4s.