The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-17 00:00:00

CITY OF LI

IMMISSION.

Yesterday the Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire
into the present condition of the corporation of the city of
London continued their investigation at the Parliamentary
Paper-office, 32, Abingdon-street—the Right Hon. H. ha-
bouchere in the chair.
Mr. S. W. Knox, Mr. H. Bellas, and Mr. D. M`Gonegal
attended as a deputation from Coleraine, to give evidence
as to the manner in which the Irish Society manages that
portion of its property.
Mr. Daniel .M`Gonegal, solicitor, and secretary to the
municipal commissioners of the borough of Coleraine, was
the first witness examined. He produced a report made
by the Irish Society to the House of Lords in 1839, show-
ing that they admitted their position in regard to the
estates to be simply that of trustees for the benefit of the
town of Coleraine. The people of Coleraine complained of
the way in which the Irish Society managed their funds,
inasmuch as they had done nothing for the borough except
by expending a few trifling sums in the repair and baild-
ing of churches and school-houses.
The Chairman—Were applications made to the society
to assist in carrying out public improvements?
Witness—Yes. The society had repeatedly refused ap-
plications which they had received from the commissioners
to make water works and other improvements in the town.
The property belonging to the society in Colerain e amounted
to 3,0001. per annum. It consisted chiefly of land and
fisheries let on short tenures—such as leases for 61 years—
and, in some instances, leases on lives renewable for ever.
The whole town of Coleraine formerly belonged to the
Irish Society, but they had granted a great portion of
their property to persons for leases in perpetuity. The
municipal commissioners of the town applied to them re-
specting a piece of land which they wanted for the comple-
tion of gas-works they had erected on a plot of ground which
they leased in perpetuity, and which was of no use to any
one but the people of Coleraine. The reply given was.
that if the commissioners would surrender their lease, the
society
i would grant them the piece of ground they de-
sired, n addition to what they already possessed, at a
rental of 61. a year. The piece of land in question was only
about 100 feet in width, running round a piece of property
which the commissioners held for the benefit of the town.
He mentioned this fact to show that this Irish Society was
a grasping, illiberal, and unpopular body of men ; and, as
further evidence of this allegation, he could instance the
case of Mr. Gall, a gentleman living in the neighbourhood
crmTerltlyed,
of the town, from whom the society took forcible posses-
sion of a small piece of house
butth to
emo
paybr himought
an action against them, and property,
for the injury he had sustained.
The Chairman—Does the Irish Society, as a practice sub-
scribe to the charities or public schools of Coleraine ?
The witness replied that they did in a limited manner.
The whole amount expended by the society for such pur.
poses, from the month of July, 1846, to February, 1853,
was only, 4,5101. 12s. 6d., and this sum was not disbursed
in the town of Coleraine only, but was extended over & dis-
tance of 12 miles round it. During the seven years the
society received from the borough, after allowing payments
to agents and others, 18,2721. 9s. 7d., and in the time of
the famine, the whole sum given by the society towards
alleviating the distress of the poor amounted to 251. The
gentleman of the neighbourhood supported the poor them-
selves, whilst the Irish Society expended in litigation, in
deputations, and in fees to themselves for attendance at
the house in London 10,3901.
Mr. C. Lewis—What is the extent of the society's
landed property in Coleraine ?
Witness—The extent was very considerable. The society
were the landlords of the soil of the whole town. They
possessed, in addition, a little rural property. They were
some valuable fisheries connected with the town of Cole.

rains, which were given to the society for the benefit of
the towns of Londonderry and Coleraine, and they also
claimed the slopes of the river arising from the receding of
the tide. The people of Coleraine owned about 6001. a
year in land. Coleraine was a prosperous town. There
were corn mills and a market for linen, and one mill for
the manufacture of that commodity. The inhabitants of
Coleraine were anxious to get rid of the society altogether.
They considered that it had wasted the funds that ought
to be applied to improve the town and promote its prospe-
rity, and that it was not capable of managing its affairs. He
thought it would be for the benefit of the town if tile
prp-
perty were sold, and the proceeds invested for the benefit
of the inhabitants. This was the `general feeling amongst
the inhabitants. He might almost say it was the universal
opinion.
Mr. Hugh Bell, a general merchant, residing at Cole-
raine, deposed that he had been for 20 years connected
with the municipal commissioners. His evidence tended
to confirm the statements made by the preceding witness,
respecting the unsatisfactory manner in which the property
of the society was managed, and the illiberality they had
exhibited upon occasions when their assistance was re-
quired in the promotion of public improvements.
The Chairman said a complaint had been made to the
commissioners that the society had not been willing to
afford pecuniary assistance with sufficient liberality for
public improvements in the town. In witness's opinion
was that the case ?
Witness—That is the case. The inhabitants of Cole-
raine held that the Irish Society were trustees for the
town of Coleraine, and they claimed a certain 'portion of
their funds which they did not contribute. He considered
that the best course they could adopt would be to sell the
property, and administer the proceeds for the benefit of
the town.
Mr. S. W. Knox, town clerk and solicitor at Coleraine,
expressed his entire agreement with the preceding wit-
nesses as to the general impression which prevailed among
the inhabitants of the town, respecting the manner in
which the Irish Society discharged its trust. His opinion
decidedly was, that the influence of the society was inju-
rious rather than beneficial to the town of Coleraine,
viewing them in the character of landlords or of trustees.
The Chairman—Do you believe that the money of the
society would be more advantageously expended in the re-
lief of local rates than by leaving the ratepayers to pay
them, and devoting the funds to other purposes which
might, under circumstances, be left undone ?
Witness—The money might, perhaps, be more usefully
employed for the general benefit of the town.
The Chairman inquired whether the society ever inter-
fered in political matters in the town ?
The witness replied that shortly after the passing of the
Referm Bill they had expended 3,0001. in a long-contested
election—a suns which might have been devoted to some
building purpose for the benefit of the town. That was
many years ago. At the present moment the society did
not interfere at all, for they had no political influence.
The witness proceeded to complain of the charges which
had been made for deputations, and stated that in the
year 1825 they had expended 3491. on a visit of instruction
to their estates ; and out of the 25 days over which the
visit extended, three days only had been spent in the
neighbourhood of Coleraine. By way of contrasting the
manner in which the London companies managed their
affairs with the course pursued by the Irish Society, the
witness stated that the Clothworkers' Company expended
on their own property in the neighbourhood of Cole-
raine, the greater portion of their receipts, which
amounted o 5,0001. a-year. The same company
had not expended more than 151. a-year in law ex-
penses since 1840, when they became possessed of the
property—a remarkable small sum as compared with the
amount paid by the Irish Society in litigation. As trus-
tees, and having consequently no personal interest in the
application of the funds, the Irish Society appeared to be
reckless about litigation.
The Chairman observed that two courses had been sug-
gested to the commissioners as the best to be adopted in
reference to this property. The one was, that the whole
of the property should be sold, and the proceeds invested
and appropriated to the same purposes to which it was
now applicable; and the other course was, that facilities
should be given to the tenants of the society to change
their limited tenures to perpetuity tenures in the same
manner as was adopter under the Trinity College (Dublin)
Act, and the Church Temporalities Act. He would be
glad to hear from the witness which of these two plans
was in his opinion the most expedient to be adopted.
The witness said he had some difficulty in drawing a
distinction, but it appeared to him that either course would
be a great advantage to the trust, and to the community
who were originally intended to be benefited by it. The
witness then went on to complain of the conduct of the
society in exacting certain large fees which were paid to
the secretary septennially along with the septennial fees
for the renewal of the farm leases—a practice which was
not adopted by private individuals or public bodies, and
which had the effect of enriching the society at the ex-
pense of the tenants.
Mr. Haslett, of Londonderry, who was examined the
previous day to speak to the Irish property in that city,
tendered some further evidence, which, however, added
nothing material to the facts already advanced. He, how-
ever, stated, that he thought the two plans mentioned by
the chairman as having been suggested for the disposal of
the Irish Society's estates were consistent with eaoh other,
and might be conjointly carried out with advantage to the
trust and to the inhabitants of the town.
The inquiry was then further adjourned until this day.
,t

ABOLITION OF COMPULSORY REMOVAL OF PAUPERS.—
Yesterday an extraordinary meeting of the guardians
of the 98 parishes which comprise the city of London
Union was held in the board-room, 51, St. Mary-axe,
City, for the purpose of taking into consideration the
bill introduced by the Right Honourable M. T.
Baines, president of the Poor-law Board, and now
before Parliament. The chair was taken by Mr.
Deputy Condor, who was supported by representatives of
29 of the 98 parishes in the union. Mr. 3. Finlay said
he considered that the bill of 111 r. Baines would in-
flict great hardship on the city of London Union. It
would open the doors of the union to great abuses. If
out of work, labourers and their familiesminh would
andflock to
the union from Manchester, Birmingham, other
parts. They would thus settle down ing atrahe metropolis,
and there would be no means of getting rid of them.
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Baines did not include Ireland in
his bill. If anything could be suggested to remedy the
defects of the Government measure, he was sure that
that board would adopt them. He thought the non-
removals would not only be unjust to that but to all
other unions. He should ask that a committee be ap-
pointed to inquire into the matter, and advise the best
course to be adopted with regard to settlements. He was
willing to allow two, or even five years, but to do away
with settlements altogether he thought would be very
injudicious and unjust. His object was always to pro-
tect the interests of both classes, viz., the ratepayers and
the paupers—the ratepayers from the impositions of the
idle and dissolute vagabonds, and the interests of the
aged and deserving paupers. Having read a list of the
various parishes showing the unequal rating of the same,
he referred to the question of the equalization of the
poor rates, of which he spoke in a condemnatory point
of view. He then added that all charges for mainte-
nance should be in accordance with the amount to which
the parish was rated. He would suggest that in lieu of
the present system of maintaining paupers the rate
should be struck from the average of the three preceding
years, which rate would be subject to a charge of 2-/
per cent. on the out relief, and 5 per cent. on the in-
door relief, the remaining portion to be placed to P. com-
mon fund for division amongst other parishes. He con-
cluded by moving the appointment of a committee to re-
port to the board at an early period. Mr. John Lucas
seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.
a vote usly.
A committee of 15 gentlemen, including the chairman
and two vice-chairmen, was then appointed, a
of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.
AN EARTIIQUAKE.—About half-past eleven o'clock
last Sunday night, a gentleman near flockley-hill, Bir_
mingham, whilst reading, felt a severe shock, and the
fire-irons then bounded from their upright positions with
extreme violence. On Monday, he mentioned this to a
person residing near West Bromwich, who also said that
he felt disturbed at the same time, and heard a rumbling
noise whilst in bed.—Biriainghwa Journal.