The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-02-22 00:00:00

LOCAL MEETINGS.

WEST DEEM' GVARDIANS.-011 Wednesday, the usual
weekly meeting of this board was held at the Workhouse.
From Toxteth-park there were no fewer than 204 appli-
cations for relief, which occupied the board five hours.
Thirty-eight cases from Toxteth-park were ordered to be
, admitted into the workhouse. The Chairman read the
fever-hospital report, from which it appeared that there
were in the house last week 94, admitted during the week,
8, dismissed cured, 12, died, 4, remaining in the house,
86. Mr. Johnson was elected medical officer for 'Walton
district, in the place of Mr. Hanning, deceased. Mr.
Roskell brought forward the resolution of Jan. 26th, re-
lative to the separation of Toxteth-park from- the West
Derby Union, and moved that the Poor-law Commis-
sioners be requested not to ettertain the separation. Ort,
a show of hands being taken, twelve were held up in fa-
vour of the motion, but the patty opposed to it declined to
vote, contending that the motion had' been previously dis-
posed of.

LIVERPOOL GASLIGHT COMPAZTY.—The annual meet-
ing was held on Tuesday, Mr. W. It, Sandbach in the
chair. Vie report recommended a dividend of £5 per
share fir the half year ending 31st December on the £lOO
shares; 12s. 6d. per share on the quarter shams paid up
on the Ist day of October last; and 4s. 2d. per share on
the quarter shares paid up on the Ist of December last,
the dividend' on the quarter shares being at the same rate
as the dividend on the £lOO shares. It was slated that
the amalgamation bill had been read a second-time, and
was waiting a committee. Their bill would be laid before
the shareholders at a special meeting on the 16t1r of March.
The amalgamation was on terms of equality, on the prin-
ciple of preserving to the proprietors in each company
their property as it now stood. The vroprietors of the
original shares in the old Gas and Coke Company were
entitled to quarter shares, which was the reason they
bore an additional price in the market; but all the stock
would he alike except as to those particular shares. Mr.
R. Earle, Mr. G. 11. Lawrence, Mr. L. Mozley, and Mr.
Jonathan Varty, the retiring directors were re-elected;
and Mr. C. Mozley and Mr. S. Stitt were appointed
auditors for the ensuing year.
DOCK COMMITTEE, THUESDAY.—A letter was read from
George Evans, the acting conservator of the river Mersey,
conveying the thanks of the Lords Commissioners to
Lieut. Lord, the marine surveyor, for his new and beau-
tifully executed chart of the port of Liverpool, and also
expressing their high approval of the zeal, ability, and in.
telligence exhibited by Lieuter.ant Lord in the discharge
of his arduous duties as marine surveyor of the port of
Liverpool.—Edward Ward, landing clerk at the Albert
Dock, was dismissed.—The tenders of Mr. M'Cerquodale
for stationery, and of Messrs. Harris and Co. for printing
for twelve months, were accepted. Mr. Mann said these
were the lowest tenders, except that Mr. M'Corquodale
tendered also for the printing, and was the lowest ; but,
as it was understood that none but bond fide printers
should be employed, the tender of Messrs. Harris, which
was nearly as low, was accepted for the printing. The
Chairman said that some of the tenders were nearly 100
per cent. more than those which had been accepted. The
saving would be enormous, if the work was executed satis-
factorily. It was ordered that a clause should be inserted
in the contract, inflicting a penalty in case of the non-
performance of the stipulations. Samples of every article
had been kept, and all goods supplied must be equal to
them.—A letter from Messrs. Preston and Watson, com-
plaining
of the want of shed accommodation on the north
quay of the King's Dock, was referred to the harbour
master's sub-committee, the chairman remarking that any
shed erected there could only be temporary, as it would
have to come down again as the works at Wapping Dock
progressed.— A letter was read from James Hutchinson,
complaining that in consequence of one of the stone ves-
sels belonging to trustees having been improperly moored
too near the entrance to the Clarence Basin, the steamer
Hercules, in proceeding to sea on the Bth instant, came
into collision with her, and was considerably damaged.
It was also stated that the stone vessel did not exhibit a
light which could be seen from the Clarence pier, and that
she was not seen either by the pierhead master or the
captain of the vessel till too late to prevent the collision.
Referred to the harbour masters sub-committee.—A let-
ter from Mr. Dowling, complaining of the conduct of one
of the dock-gatemen, was referred to the harbour master's
sub-committee. .

LIVERPOOL AND LONDON FIRE INSURANCE COlof.•
PANY.—The annual meeting of this company was held on
Tuesday ; W. Earle, Esq., in the chair. The report
stated that, by a further issue of shares, the capital of the
company had been increased to £188,097. of which the
sum of £69,093 was represented by the shares on which
£2 10s. per share had been paid. The fire business of
the company had been larger in 1847 than in any previous
year, as had also the life department. In the latter, 181
policies, insuring £124,878, and producing in premiums a
revenue of £3,687, had been issued during the year. In
the shares issued during the year, the premiums amount-
ed to £3,557 10s. ; and this sum added to £355,901 55.,
the amount of the reserved fund at the end of 1846, gave
£129,458 15s. as the present reserved fund. There re-
mained to the credit of the profit and loss account a sum
of £67,408 103. 2d., as a balance from which to take the
dividend. From this there had been already taken a di-
vidend of ss. per share, which was declared for the first
half-year, payable on the Ist September, and subject to
the approval of that meeting. The directors now begged
to declare another dividend of ss. per share, deducting
income-tax and interest at the rate of 5 per cent. in the
case of those shares on which the £2 10s. had not been
paid ; when those deductions had been made, the balance
of £31,029 4s. 2d. would form the guarantee fund. The
report concluded by stating, that the directors would
have had pleasure in recommending the payment of a
bonus, but having reference to the circumstances of the
tunes, they were of opinion that a due regard to the in-
terests of the institution required that the fund retained
as a guarantee against existing liabilities should not be
diminished.—Mr. J. B. Neilson considered, that under
the existing circumstances of the company. the utmost
economy should be exercised, and the directors ought to
take into their consideration the propriety of making
some reductions in salaries, &c. He proposed a motion
to that effect, but on being put to the vote it was lost,
only one or two hands being held up in its favour.—The
report was then adopted, and the dividend, as declared
by the directors, agreed to.—The following gentlemen
(retiring directors) were re-elected :—Messrs. W. Earle.
G. Holt, Hornby, G. H. Lawrence, L. Mosley, W. Nicol,
and H. Stolterfoht. Messrs. James and Blackburn were
appointed auditors. The sum of £BOO was voted for dis-
tribution amongst the directors.

SELECT VESTRY.—The usual fortnightly meeting was
held on Tuesday. Mr. Ferguson complained that Mr.
Gray had so often to attend at the Police-court. If Mr.
Rushton had any complaint to make, the overseers should
be sent for and not their servants. He referred to the
remarks made by Mr. Rushton relative to the case of a
man to whom relief had not been given, and which were
reported in our last. He would wish to pay honour where
honour was due, especially to the stipendiary magistrate
of this borough ; but he really thought that if Mr. ush-
ton would communicate directly with the parochial au-
thorities, it would be very much better for those parties ;
and he certainly disapproved of the uncourteous treat-
ment on his part. Mr. Avison did not think there was
any ground to bring a charge of discourtesy against Mr.
Rushton. Who did he send for ? He sent for the as-
sistant-overseer of the poor, a person appointed by the
Vestry themselves, and whom they had authority over,
and whose duty it was to relieve the poor. The case re-
ferred to appeared to him to be a very gross one. A poor
cripple applied for relief. Mr. Gray did not give it to
him ; but, although lame, he was given an order to break
stones ; and had broken a window in order to be sent to
bridewell. He was sure Mr. Rushton was perfectly right
in sending for Mr. Gray. Mr. Steains thought Mr. Rush-
ton quite justified in his remarks, if the case had been
reported truly. If such a cripple was sent by their over-
seers to break stones, a task for which he was incapacitated,
it was evident Mr. Gray or his servants were to blame, or
the report was very false. The Chairman said if it was
understood by Mr. Rushton, that it would be more con-
venient for the overseers themselves to attend, it would
be better for all parties. It did not appear that Mr. Gray
had denied the facts.—Mr. Cafferata called attention to
the necessity of having the workhouse yard flagged. Ho
likewise complained of a deficiency in the supply of water,
and he hoped that the new building would be provided
with adequate bathing accommodation for the inmates.—
Mr. Woodruff asked whether the fever-sheds in Great
Howard-street were yet dismantled, now that all the
patients were gone. Mr. Ferguson replied that the fur-
niture was now removing, and he hoped the Vestry would
not have occasion to occupy the buildings again.—Mr.
Urquhart opened a short discussion on the question of
interference by the Privy Council in the recommendation
of masters to the Industrial Schools, and moved the
adoption of the minutes read, " with the exception that
it was the opinion of that board, that it was inexpedient
to place schoolmasters under the pay of the Privy Coun-
cil, and under the superintendence of Government In-
spectors." The Chairman briefly explained, and as no
one seconded Mr. Urquhart's motion it fell to the ground.
—Fiern Statistics read, it appeared that a total of £175 4s
had been expended in bread and soup from the 7th till the
12th February. The Chairman expressed his conviction
that there was more distress at present amongst our local
mechanics than last year. He knew many, once respect-
able parties, who had not now the means of getting
bread.—A letter was read from Mr. IL S. Taylor, and
Mr. Thos.. Challoner, jun., requesting to know what the
Vestry had done respecting the vaccination fees to which
they were entitled, for the six months ending September
last. The Chairman suggested that the gentlemen should
be requested to wait upon the Finance Committee at their
next meeting, that the true nature of their claim might
be investigated.

Goou WRITING.—Mr. Thompson, of CElanygtloann-d. squalyere,
has made more good writers than any in
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RUNCORN BONE WORKS.—
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SUICIDE.—On Saturday an inquest was held before the
borough coroner, on view of the body of John Murray,
who was about 33 years of age. Deceased was a waiter,
and lodged, with his wife and two children, in Livesey's-
place, Shaw's-brow. Shortly before ten o'clock on Sa-
turday morning, his wife left the room in which they lived
for a short time, and on her return found him lying on the
floor, and a pool of blood near his head. A razor without
a handle was found near his head. The two children
(the youngest three years old) were in the room when the
act was done. A surgeon was sent for, but he died in
about an hour, after moaning heavily, but not speaking.
It appeared that deceased was about eight months ago
sent to the lunatic asylum, he being insane, aad for the
!sat fortnight he was observed to be in very ktyv spirits,—
Verdieti—temporary insanity.