The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-12-31 00:00:00

LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL NEWS,

EMBEZZLEMENT.—On Friday Walter Blount, who, as
we stated in our last, had been brought before Mr. Rush-
ton on a charge of embezzling money from Mr. Lane,
was committed for trial.
The ship Oxnard, Captain Hinckley, hence for Boston,
via the Cove of Cork, when two days out from the latter
port, while lying to under a close-reefed maintopsail, was
boarded by a tremendous sea, which killed one man out-
right and broke the leg of another.
ROBBERY.—A middle-aged woman, named Janet Ben-
nett, housekeeper to Mr. Dismore, silversmith, Bold-
street, was on Friday committed to the sessions for having
robbed her master of an immense quantity of property,
in plate, linen, bedding, &c.
CHRISTMAS BENEVOLENCE.—Sir W. Massey Stanley,
Bart., of Hooton, distributed on Christmas-eve two fine
oxen, and a large quantity of warm clothing, to the cot-
tagers and labourers resident in Hooton, Eastham, Stour-
ton, Thornton, &c.
Five persons named Hargreaves, father, mother, and
three sons, hitherto moving in a respectable sphere, were
convicted of thefts last week at Preston, and sentenced
to transportation ; their ruin is attributed to the drunken
habits of the mother.
DEFRAUDING THE CUSTOMS.-011 Saturday, a young
man, named Humphrey Jones, was brought before Mr.
Rushton, on a bench warrant issued by Mr. Baron Gur-
ney, for conspiracy to defraud the customs. Mr. Rushton
ordered him to find bail for his appearance at the proper
time.

CHILD KILLED BY ITS MOTHER.—On Friday a little
girl, named Wirrall, about eleven years old, went to see
her parents, who live in Wright-street, and, on opening
the door, she discovered her mother on the floor in a
state of helpless intoxication, and lying upon the body of
her child, aged about six months, upon► which she had
fallen. The child was quite dead.
INCREASE OF BUILDINGS AT PRESTON.—At one time
almost every street in Preston exhibited a number of
houses on which were posted notices "To Let." At the
present time nearly all that are fit for occupation are in-
habited; and various parties are preparing to build rather
extensively in the spring. This will provide employment
for a considerable number of hands.

IMPORTANT TO SHIPOWNERS AND UNDERWRITERS.
—lt was resolved on Thursday, at a general meeting of
the Underwriters' Association, to appoint a sub-commit-
tee " to confer with the committee of the Liverpool Re-
gistry of Shipping, for the purpose of forming a Board of
Examiners to investigate the circumstances attending
marine losses connected with this port."
DEATH FROM EXCESSIVE DRINKING.—On Tuesday
an inquest was held on the body of Catherine M'Keown,
of Elizabeth-row' aged 36 years. It appeared that the
evening before, she swallowed about half a pint of un-
adulterated rum, and that, in about an hour after, while
in the act of going to bed, she fell down suddenly, became
insensible, and speedily expired.
WIGAN PARISH CHURCH.—At a meeting of the rate-
payers of Wigan, on Thursday, two reports were read
respecting repairing:the church. One recommended the
church to be rebuilt at a cost of £13,036, and the other
recommended the repairs to be made at an expense of
about £BOOO. The surveyors were directed to report
again.
INQUEST.—On Saturday an inquest was held before

the borough coroner, on view of the body of John Wilson,
a lodger in the house of William Davies, a sawyer, of 13,
Edward-street. The deceased, who was 32 years of age,
was brought home in a car, in a state of intoxication, on
Friday night last, and wasimmediately t iken to his room,
and laid in bed. The following morning he was found
dead.
COFFEE FOR THE POLICE.—By an order from the
Watch Committee, all the police-constables on night-
duty, are allowed a bowl of coffee each at their respective
stations, and this order will continue in force during the
present intensely cold weather. With the coffee, a slice
of bread is given them, and, about two o'clock in the
morning, the poor fellows find it an extremely cheering
refreshment.

FREEMASONRY.—The Right Hon. Lord Combermere,
R. W. G. M. for Cheshire, held a Provincial Grand
Meeting on Friday, at the Royal Hotel, Chester, when
there was a numerous and highly respectable attendance,

including many distinguished vistters from the adjacent
counties and deputations from the various lodges of the
Province. The P. G. Lodge was opened in due form,

and, after some business, closed. The brethren alter.
wards sat down to a sumptuous banquet. The usua

loyal and appropriate toasts, with, in many instances,
masonic honours, were drunk, and song and sentiment

enlivened the entertainment, from which the brethren
departed highly delighted.
CURLING.—On Thursday last, the Caledonian and
Thistle curling clubs of Liverpool and Manchester met on
the "icy board" in the neighbourhood of Newton. The
ice was in an excellent state for the slippery game. It
was agreed on that the contest should be determined by

shots. The respective combatants arranged themselves
into three ranks, and set to in right earnest. After four
hours of keen contest, on balancing advantages they found
themselves at a dead set, each counting fifty-one shots.
On leaving the scene of action, they adjourned to the
Leigh Arms, where they were entertained with the best
of curlers' cheer, beef and greens, and other dainties of
the season.

On Thursday last the Soup Committee met in the office
the Board of -Highways, Mr. Rector Campbell in the

_ . .
chair. The object of the meeting was to discuss the pro-
priety of opening the soup kitchens during the present

season.

The evidence tendered by the parish authorities,

and that derived from other sources, was greatly in fa-
vour of the present comfort of the poor, compared with
the last and preceding winter ; and that, under the cir-

cumstances, they were glad to find it inexpedient to open
the shops. It was, however, resolved to have all in readi-

ness to open, should a return of severe weather take place

and throw the poor out of employment.

The weather,

since then, has increased in severi y, and the north shop
in Pickup-street was opened on Thursday, and should it

be foundneeessary, the others in the south and east will

be available for the some purpose, as circumstances may

require.

ST. JAMES'S CONGREGATIONAL TEA PARTY.—The
annual tea meeting of the congregation connected with
St. James' Church, took place on Thursday evening, in
the school-room, St. James'-road. The room was taste.
fully fitted up for the occasion. About two hundred
ladies and gentlemen were present, amongst whom were
some of the principal members of the church, and the

.
following clergymen :—the Rev. E. H. Hampton, Rev.
John Jones, jun., Rev. J. H. Stewart, Rev. D. Stewart,
Rev. H. Carpenter, Rev. G. Gibbon, Rev. J. Graham,

&c., &c. Ai one end of the room was stationed an effi:

cient choir of singers, (Miss Blundell presiding at the
piano forte,) who, by the performance of several of the
most striking songs, choruses, &c., from the oratorio of
the Messiah, contributed much to the gratification of the

company. At the conclusion of the tea the Old H und re tb

Psla-m was sung by the choir, in which the company
joined. Sev ral speeches were afterwards delivered by
various gentlemen present.

The brethren of Lodge No. 17, of the Grand Protestant
Association of Loyal Orangemen met on Monday even-
ing, 23d inst., to celebrate the third anniversary, at Bro-
ther Warburton 's Temperance Hotel, 12, Scotland Road,
when between 30 and 40 of the brethren partook of a most
excellent supper, served up by the host in his best style.
The following toasts were given and heartily responded
to, and more especially the one of our respected fellow-
townsman, R. Harboard, Esq., and that of the Rev. T.
D. Gregg and the Orangemen and Protestants of Ireland.
Toasts—The Queen, may she ever hold fast the principles
thatplaced the Houseof Hanover on the throne; The W. G.
M.; The glorious, pious, and immortal memory of William
111., Prince of Orange ; The W. D. G. M.; and other
loyal toasts were given, after which the room was cleared
for those of the brethren who thought proper to trip the
" light fantastic toe," which was kept up to a late hour,
when they separated, having enjoyed themselves and for-
warded the cause of brotherly love and benevolence.

LIVERPOOL SAILORS' OME.—The first meeting of
the members of this institution, which was numerously
attended, was held on Tuesday last. The chair was oc-
cupied by James Aikin, Esq., who stated that the success
they had met with was evident from the statements that
had already appeared in the newspapers, showing an
amount of £12,000. He was happy to say that, within
the last few days, that sum had been increased to £13,190.
Amongst the donations they bad received was one of
£4OO, from Messrs. Brocklebank. Those gentlemen, too,
had made an arrangement which rendered such amount
the less necessary, as they had adopted a system which he
should like to see more generally carried out, namely, that
of training boys in their employ to become officers and
masters, and continuing them in their service. He had
no doubt additional sums would be forthcoming, and
there was now, he conceived, no doubt that an institution
would be brought into existence in every way worthy of
the town. On the motion of Mr. Cotesworth, seconded
by Mr. Henderson, the following gentlemen were elected
trustees : Mr. Robertson Gladstone, Mr. Ralph Brockle-
bank, Mr. Wm. Potter, Mr. Duncan Gibb, and Mr. Ro-
bert Rankin. A list of names, consisting of thirty of the
most respectable gentlemen belonging to the town, among
whom were eight shipmasters, was then read by the chair-
man, and, after some discussion, approved of. It was
resolved to solicit the patronage of the Queen to the in-
stitution.

On Saturday, one of the Bootle omnibus drivers was
fined £1 6s. for furious driving.
A new Baptist chapel was opened at Bootle on Thurs-
day last.
The first lot of tea bonded in Manchester—a thousand
chests—has been placed in one of the warehouses.
Mr. Grose, superintendent of Pownall-square and St.
Mart:n's markets, has resigned his situation.
The Rev. F. R. Raines, incumbent of Milnrow, has
been appointed a magistrate for the southern division of
Lancashire.
On Christmas day, James Lawrence, Esq., Mayor, pre-
sented to the debtors confined i❑ the Borough Prison, a
supply of beef, bread, plum pudding, and ale.
A man named John Edgar fell from the paddle-box of
the Nottingham steamer into the Clarence Dock, on Tues-
day, and was drowned.
A new chapel, belonging to the Wesleyan Methodists,
lately built at Upper Trannaere, was opened for divine
worship on Christmas-day.
Mr. WALKER'S CASE.—A petition to the Home Se•
cretary is being extensively signed in Liverpool at present,
representing the whole of the circumstances of this case,
and praying for a remission of the sentence.
A sailor of the name of Henry Stevens, stated to belong
to this town, fell from the mast of a ship at Glasgow, on
Wednesday, and was so much injured that he is not ex-
pected to recorer.