The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-02-20 00:00:00

Feb. 20, 1844.

W. 4 R RING TO N.

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The weekly meeting was held on Wednesday last, Wm.
Gill, Esq.,
chairman of the board, presided. It appeared
from the returns that the number of cases relieved by
Warrington were 561, with £3l. 19s. 30d. in money, and
in kind £24. 95.-together £56. Bs. 10d.: and for the
rural districts there were 559 cases relieved, with £5B.
7s. 7d. in money, and in kind £9, 17s. 6d.-together
-C66. ss. ld. • total number of cases relieved 1123, with
the sum of £122. 13s. lid. In the corresponding week
of last year the amount of out relief amounted to £147.
10s. 10d. The number of in-door paupers were 151, and
for the same period of last year 182. Balance due to
the union in the hands of the treasurer 17s. 7d., and
£525- 9s. Bd. from four townships who had not paid up
the calls made upon them.
There was an unusual attendance of guardians present
owing to their having been called together by the clerk, in
conformity with the instructions he had received from the
Hon. Charles Clements, Assistant Poor Law Commis-
sioner, who had announced his intention of attending the
next meeting of guardians, to disclose a communication
to them upon the part of the poor law commissioners,
with reference to the out-door labour test order.
At twelve o'clock, the time appointed for all special
business, the CLERK then proceeded to read over the
Minutes of the preceding weekly board, which were con-
firmed.
Mr. KERFOOT and Mr. BOARDMAN also reported that
they had seen Mr. Mercer, agent to Thomas Legh; Esq.,
on the subject of taking some waste land adjoining the
Newton Workhouse, for the purpose of setting to work
the able-bodied in-door paupers. The following is Mr.
Mercer's answer to their application :-
" Mr. Boardman, "Feb. 13, 1844.
" Sir,-In reference to the subject of allowing the
Paupers in Newton Workhouse to make good the piece of
waste land in Crow-lane, which we some time ago had
some conversation upon, I beg to say that Mr. Legh is
Willing to let you have it rent free for seven years. Mr.
will find posts and rails to inclose it, and quick sets.
-toe quantity, I fany, is about one" and a half acres,
Cheshire measure.-I am, yours, &c.
At the request of the Commissioner, the CLERK read
the order of the poor law commissioners, directing the
guardians to find employment for the out-door able-bodied
Paupers receiving relief., and the other minutes of the board
relative to that order. This being done,
Mr. CLEMENTS stated, that in consequence of the re-
solution which the board had come to a few weeks ago,
for deferring the ont-door labour test order until after the
25th March next, he was instructed by the poor law com-
missioners to attend before them, and to explain the
nature of the position in which they had thereby placed
themselves, and also to urge upon them the necessity of
complying with the law ; that it was the wish of the com-
missioners to use the greatest possible forbearance, and to
give all the assistance in their power to those engaged in
the administration of the parochial funds; but he must
say, that if the board still persisted in the course they had
adopted, it only remained for the commissioners to give
effect tothe exercise of the powers vested in them ; and
be therefore wished it to be distinctly understood, that
unless-that was done they should now do so, and that the
course 'they would pursue would doubtless not only be
attended with pecuniary loss, but with some inconvenience
to those concerned. He said, the commissioners have a
choice of two courses to adopt; the one is -by mandamus
fora wilful disobedience of their orders,-and the other is
to file a bill in Chancery for a misapplicatkm of the funds
'of the union.
Mr. CLAYTON.-It is a very -strange thing why the
'commissioners appear so fully resolved -upon forcing such
-an order upon Warrington Union, whilst there are several
townships in the immediate vicinity not at present formed
-into union, and no other union in the-district has hitherto
'been called upon to corsply with such an order. He said,
it is very clear that when the guardians consider things
-are working well, the poor law-commissioners will not let
them remain so. He knew that new it was as much as
could be done to collect money necessary to relieve the
Poor, and that if they were compelled to cease giving re-
lief to all able-bodied paupers out of the house except
-what they received in return as wages r lour rovided
by the union, he could not tell wherefo the money must
come from which would be-required barely to keep them.
He was convinced that the business was better done before
there were any poor lawcommissioners than ever had been
since; aed that if the-commissioners were no better paid
than the guardians they would not continue nor attempt
to enforce a system upon them which it must appear
Manifest cannot be carried out in this part of the country.
Mr. KERFOOT.--I am convinced from past experience
that it would be impossible with any degree of benefit
whatever to carry into practical operation the out-door
labour test order • but, on-the contrary, that it will incur
a considerable additional expense upon the ley-payers.
At the present time (when the weather is such that little
or no out-door labour can be done) there are only 91• cases,
resident and non-resident, in the whole 14 townships in
the rural district of the union ; and these 91 families, con-
sisting of 536 individuals, only receive £lO 155. Ad. per
week, or about 41d. per 'head per week. He wished to
know if all these 91 able-bodied cases were required to be
set to work, what would be the weekly amount necessary
to be paid for the support of their families? 'He was
aware that it may be said that they all will not go to work ;
some will do for themselves.
CommissiowEß.--,Yes; that will be the case.
Mr. KEIVFOOT.-Wen, compel them to work for the
union, and stop the small weekly allowance which is now
made, and depend upon it the result will be that those
who have hitherto been able to earn a little by partial
employment will soon have their places taken up by others
from
Cheshire, Bolton, Leigh, and the surrounding neigh-
!3ourhood, and the cost upon their several parisheswill
be greatly increased. 'Out of the 14 townships in the
rural district of this, union there are three of them which
hbe ave no aide-bodied paupers in them, and surely it would
an act of injustice upon those townships to require
`u,em to contribute towards procuring the necessary
tnents to be used in the cultivation of land,-as well as
towards the payment of an overlooker's wages,,when they
need
nothing of the sort. He would venture• to assert
that, if
left to themselves, the rural townships would be
able to provide ample employment for all the able-bodied
l'aau-ipers in, them throughout the year.
r. Wooev concurred with Mr. Kerfoot that labour
Could be found in the rural district for all out-door able-
bodied paupers during the short period it was reeuired.
Mr CtaeseroN, addressing the Commissioner.--How
e'would the cost of the expense in cultivating lead and of
employing the paurrs,be charged?
,CmmlosloNea.-The cost of the w tools, rent
41:4 the laud, and wages of the overlooker wouldd-be entered
alc:.l,tbe establishment-charges to the union fund; and the
10,,,,e4 of the paupers would be charged to their respective
Oshipa to which they belong.
REEVES said he was resolved to stand by-his for-
decision, let the commissioners do what they may.
tea4.he Rev. PETER LEGS; ex-officio guardian,- of New-
t '5l---Prorn what has been advanced, I cannot-Gee any
~'s3
"n why we should alter our former determination.
then moved, That the guardians do abide-by their
formerl:;i resolution on the subject," which was secended by
r. X P.RFOOT.
Mr. BROADIDURST, of Sankey, rather indignantly said-
a shall move a counter resolution, and then proceeded to
Write one, which was, " That the guardians do proceed
to carry the out-door, labour order into operation *" h
IC
Was seconded by Mr. Smith, of Peuketh.
The CHAIRMAN then, put the amendment to the vote,
When there appeared only two bands raised in its favour.
On the original !notion being put, there were ten, hands
: lifted up in favour of it.
The CHAIRMAV declared the original motion .carried.
Mr. BROADWURST.-I Shill now enter my protest
..gainst the decision of the board, and he then proceeded
zatoeW..rite one out, which he and lalr. Smith signed, and in-
, AttamtelY handed it over to the Clerk.
eat4sZIONER., addressing Mr. Legh.-It will cot
I we;istrateesll for ?,Inandatous to issue against you ;bekag'
Mr. LEXor disobeing the law.
allte3ees, 55t am quite willing to take the come-
and. crotchets not consider myself bound by all the whims
.law,co,2_,ss. which may fall into the heads of the poor-
stieb
amnt ioner ; neither am.l willing to become a party
oactbe-enforced.
cruelty and starvation as that attempted
-Coltmiss cruelty lONER.-KOV do you -make it out an act of
.Mr• ,-. -1.
EGH.-It is SO by re uiri h e poor creatures to
walk
ten miles daily to the • k
you propose to find them
at ixten Moss, which is 3leonr milei from some parts of
several of the townships in -the union (except you
ntend
to provide omnibuses for them),-and starvation in re-
qUiriug them to work at Moss lands, half naked and half
fed. New,calls were then made on the overseers of the
several townships in the union for their contribution to
be paid in on the 20th instant.
The beard having disposed of the special business, pro-
ceeded with the cases of the fresh applicants for relief.
The first person called was ThotnasOxley, a plasterer and
slater, out of work, who is a widower with six small
children-the eldest only twelve years old.
Mr. SANKEY, evidently a little excited, addressed the
.Commissioner. What would you do in the case now un-
der consideration?
Commissiosen.--Relieve at your own discretion.
Mr. SAN KEY.--That is no answer to my question. I
`nut to know what you would allow him weekly ander
4te out door labour test .order ?
aleemmissioNEß.-1 do not see that any further answer
etleeessary, as the subject of the out door labour test or-
uow disposed of.
to r• SANKEY.-It appears then that you are come here
rejL4e
to aeaoh us our duty, and when a question is asked you
Ra answer it, which is not exactly the thing; but it
jira -to line that you are come here to lead the guardians
We t
1), an error, and then to leave them to get out of it as
as they can.
44°AfaitssaorrErt.-I came here on a former occasion
gave the guardians all the information and assistance
eb; °I I could, but was met with clamour and untenable
elections; the question then could not be said to be dis-
ta,sed, and the resolution you have passed to day is tan-
trunt to a wilful disobedience of the orders of the Poor
ea W Commissioners • , I therefore see no reason for giving
tother answer to the question.
evil% KeaFoot.-No, it cannot be said to be a wilful
leaah •
doedience to the commissioners' order, as the considcra-
aexte subject maybe of the
kr
hot HARRISON.-It is a great pity that Warrington is
the allowed to conduct its own affairs, independently of
tLat°,lber townships now in the union, for I am of opinion,
hey: would be much better for Warrington if it could be
Tiled from the out townships altogether.
if e CHAIRMAN -It is very desirable it should be so
that " •At could be accomplished.
tow'r• LEIGH.-I am quite sure the guardians of the out
&,°i'lliPs are willing that it should be so.
bear',Teral of the guardians then left the room, and the
Proceeded with the applications for relief.

CHESTER' MOCESAN CHURCH BUILDING

SOCIETY.

Yesterday, the annual meeting of the Chester Diocesan
Church Building Society was held at the Blue Coat Hos-
pital, and was attended by a large number of the clergy of
the Church of Enzland. Amongst those present we no-
ticed the Rev. Chancellor Raikes, the Rev. Rector
Brookes, the Rev. Rector Campbell, the Rev. Dr. Tat-
tershall, the Rev. Dr. Byrth, the Hon. and Rev. Horace
Powys, the Rev. Messrs. Nolan, Parry, Ewbank, May,
Gunning, Bold, North, Higgins, Stewart, Jones, riesketh.
Marshall, &c. &c. About half-past ten o'clock, the chair
was taken by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Chester.
HIS LORDSHIP, in opening the proceedings, said there
was an observation often used in another
place respecting
public speaking. It was called " speaking against time.
(Hear, and a laugh.) Now, the meeting must,—at least
he must, rather,—follow the converse, and be silent against
time, inasmuch as there was a good deal of business to be
transacted. (Hear, hear.) He was glad to think that
speeches on the present occasion would be unnecessary,
either to point out the necessity there was for building
churches, or to stir up those whom he had the pleasure to
see around him to the propriety of giving their exertions
to so excellent a cause. Of these they had shown their
conviction by the vast assistance the clergy and laity had
given him in the efforts he had thought it desirable to
make to supply the spiritual wants which ten years ago
were so great, and which still existed to a great extent,
though happily not to such an extent as heretofore. His
lordship concluded, amid applause, by calling on the se-
cretary to read the report for the past year.
The Rev. C. LAWRENCE, one of the secretaries, read
the report accordingly. It appeared from this document,
that although the funds at the disposal of the committee
had not been large, and the spiritual interests of the com-
munity extensive, the sum of £1650 had been granted to
two localities during the year. The incumbent of Old-
ham had, a second time, brought the necessities of his
cure under consideration, by stating that there existed a
population of 60,000 souls, with church accommodation
only for 7,500. The account of education in his parish
was equally disastrous. Many were without education
at all, the schools of the church as well as of dissent being
too few in number to accommodate them, while associa-
tions had been formed for the purpose of diffusinc a vicious
species of literature among the people. In this 'ase the
committee had had no hesitation in granting aid, because
it was for the purpose of rendering assistance to such
destitute localities that the society was specially origi-
nated; and accordingly grants of £5OO had been made to
emir of the three prospective churches that were to be
erected in Oldham. An application was then made by
the incumbent of Bleakley, to enlarge and refit an old
church, and to render it capable of affording a large
number of free sittings, but upon so extensive a principle
that the old building, when re-modelled, might with pro•
priety be denominated almost a new structure. As the
object of the society had from the commencement been
the erection of new churches, the committee were at
first at a loss to know in what manner to meet the appli-
cation; but finding it just, and the necessities of the case
urgent, they at length resolved upon making a grant,
trusting, under the circumstances, that they would stand
acquitted in the eyes of the general meeting. Such had
been the grants of the year. The committee, after press-
ing upon all the friends -of the church the doty of co-
operating in a day so obvious and excellent, stated that
they intended to hold 'their quarterly meetings in Liver-
pool in future, and that at those meetings applications for
aid would be received. The appeal which the Bishop had
made to The clergy during the past year, -had resulted in
the toriection of a sum of £2,000 and upwards, which
would recruit the resources of the society ; and though
the venerated 'Diocesan had submitted a plan, whereby it
was hoped a larger amount would have been realised, still,
remembering the distress which existed in the commer-
cial districts, thecommittee thanked (God, and appealed
for a continuance of the affectionate liberality of their
Christianiriends. The report concluded by stating, that
a' enevolent 'individual had tendered a sum of £5OO to
`the society, provided a further sum -of £5,000 should be
raised from the public, but that es only £l,OOO of the
£5,000 had been collected, the orer could not, as yet, be
accepted.
The TgaiegonEn. then read a statement of the accounts,
from which-it appeared that the receipts for the year. in-
-eluding a balance from the precious one, had been £8919
that there was a balance in the hands of the banks of £77,-fe
—that the outstanding accounts were £5lOO, and that
there was en available surplus of £2659 for the liabilities
of the-society.
The Rev. Mr. GUMMING int aired whether the £lO6O
was received as part of the £560, had been included in
the receipts of the year ?
The TREASURER replied in the affirmative: he 'Lad
taken into account the gross receipts.
The Rev. Rector Meow: said he had great pleasure
in proposing a resolution which had just been placed in
his hands ; and as he entirely agreed with his lordship's
observations that they ought not to speak against time,
he would content himself with simply congratulating his
friends around him on the•continued prosperityof the So-
ciety. He then moved that the report be received and
circulated under the direction of the committee.
ADAM HODGSON, Esq. seconded the motionowhich was
-unanimously adopted.
The Rev. J. HORTON, of Ormskirk, proposed,the offi-
cers for the ensuing year, arid, in doing so, expressed his
wish that there were a -great many more of his brother
clergymen from the country present to have their hearts
cheered and their zeal excited by the excellent report which
had been read by the Secretary.
The Rev. Rector CAMPBELL seconded the motion,
which was also carried unanimously.
The Rev. Chancellor Rarxes proposed the third reso-
lution, to the effect that the meeting being- desirous to
extent'. the beneficial effects of the society as widely as
possible, and being aware that the restoration of-churches
could 'not be effected without such aid as the society could
offer,-considered that -it -would be a reasonable enlarge-
ment of its sphere of- usefulness if it were permitted to
make -grants for the restoration of old churches, where
the additional accommodation gained should be- equivalent
to the building of a neweirurch, but that the sum granted
should never exceed the one-fourth of the total expense.
He said the manifest object of the resolution was to ob-
tain a bill of indemnity in favor of the committee ; and
speaking as lie was under a sense of the value of time, and
convinced that the committee would fall into gentle hands
in submitting their case fee approval, he thought the most
satisfactory mode lie could adopt, with a view to attain
the consent of the meetine to the motion, would be to read
a letter which was addressed to him by the incumbent of
Bleakley, near Manchester, soliciting aid to restore the
old church. The chancellor here read the letter, which
stated that the restoration of the church had been com-
menced—that it would contain 864 sittings, arf which 453
would be free, and that the alterations woukl cost £2,500,
of which he had succeeded in raising £2,000; and lie
concluded by expressing an humble hope that-God, who
had opened the way, would smooth the difficulties by
which he was surrounded. How the incumbent of Bleak-
ley had,succeeded in raising the munificent sum-of £2,000,
he (the Chancellor) knew not ; for when he made his first
dnleyr .collectedvefrom
p3psl caant
and
o nt h faetrt
ha es seins
tt
rnecoe
f,
til)rea saidtsu m he
ea
dhbaede ror
the hard earnings of the hand-loom weavers of the parish.
The statement of such a case as this would
(prove,ear bear.)th a that it was not without reason the ~committee
prayed for a little enlargement of their rules; while their
judicious -conduct for the time past would be -a sufficient
guarantee that the liberty uow sought for would not be
abused in time to come. He concluded by expressing a
sanguine hope that the grant, in reply to the Bleakley
application, would- meet, under the strong circumstances
of the caseewith the cordial •concurrence of the meeting.
(Hear, hear.)
The Rev.:Br. TATTERSIL seconded the resclution,
which was passed nein con.
The Rev. Chancellor RAISES said that as there was no
other resolution, and as he saw that they had yet a.guar-
ter of an hour to speak before they entered on committee
business, he thought as they were assembled for the pur-
pose of taking the spiritual wants of the diocese into con-
sideration, and :the means they possessed for meeting
those wants with promptitude, it would not be ort of
order if he were to read to the meeting a letter which had
just been laid on-the table, signed by the Rev. Mr. Low,
the incumbent of Oldham. The letter, which ran into
considerable detail, stated that there was 46,900 in his
parish without spiritual provision ; that there were 39,000
professing members ,of the church, 11,000 who made no
profession of Christianity, and 13,000 dissenters, from
!Roman Catholics to.sodialists. As an instance of the la-
onentable state of ignorance among the people, the writer
stated that one of them had lately been asked whether he
-had ever heard of Christ. "Yes," was the reply, "I
beard of Him, that lie was.a very good fellow !"
ltiis LORDSHIP stated his belief thatif the incumbent
of.C)idham were permitted•to occupy his sphere of useful-
ness-for four or five years longer, a very different state of I
things would be observable -in that part of the country, I
inasmuch as the erection of schools and churches was now
going on pant passe

The Venerable Archdeacon RUSHTON proposed a vote
of thanks to the Bishop, and-in doing so took occasion to
confirm the statements contained in Mr. Low's letter.
He believed that with returning prosperity and peace, the
operatives in the manufacturing districts were anxiously
looking forward to some point on which to rest. They
were quite,unsatisfied with the late agitation into which
the had been bronght. and were looking for a clergyman
of a church on which to rest.{Hear, 'hear.) He thought
that with renewed exertions the society would be fully
able to supply .the neglected wants of the people, were
it only in that portion of the diocese to which Mr.
Low's letter more particularly referred.
The Rev. J. H. GUNNING, of Wigan, seconded the
vote of thanks.

The Rev. Mr, P4ERY wished to state., before his
;lordship rose to reply, that on the preceding day (Sun-
,day), at Preston, a collection was made in the different
Sunday schools for the building of churches, and that
the result of that collection in pennies from the children
amounted to about £lB. (Hear.) This was only a
small sum, but it was something; and if the same plan
were adopted in all other Sunday schools, a considerable
sum would be realised. The preceding day, having been
Quinquagesima Sunday, had been selected in Preston
for the purpose, because the collect and epistle for the
day alluded to charity; and he had no doubt that much
more would be done in Preston in the same way.
(Hear, hear.)
His LORDSHIP replied, and the meeting formed itself
into committee for educational purposes, and soon after
separated.

TRIBUTE OF RESPECT.—On Thursday last, was pre-
sented by the Grand Order of Modern Druids to Mr.
William Gelderd, as treasurer to the funeral fund of that
society, a band Some silver snuff-box, lx•aring the following
inscription :—" Presented by the Brethren G.0.M.D.,
L.D., to William Gelderd, for his valuable services as
Treasurer to the Funeral Fund, xy, February,
MDCCCXLIV."