The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-05-14 00:00:00

tili TriiiitreOL stikiiitii,

RAGGED GIRLS SCHOOL.-.-A meeting of ladies was
held on Saturday morning last, in the Everton National
School-room, Mill-lane, Everton-road, the Rev. W. NVe
Ewbank, in the chair, in order to give an opportunity to
Mr. Sheriff Watson, of Aberdeen, of stating his views
respecting the establishment of ragged schools for girls.
The meeting was most respectably attended by the ladies
of Everton and the neighbourhood, to whom Mr. Watson
detailed at considerable length his plans and objects. He
gave a very interesting account of a ragged school founded
and supported at Huntley by the Duchess of Gordon. We
understand that a committee of ladies has already been
formed for the purpose of establishing a ragged girls'
industrial school in Liverpool.. A part of the necessary
funds has already been collected, and we trust that what-
ever may be necessary to carry out this excellent scheme
will be liberally supplied by those who feel an interest in
the improvement of this most interesting but most desti-
tute class. Contributions will be received by the trea-
surer, T. D. Anderson, Esq., India-buildings.
Dome COMMITTEE.—At the meeting of this committee
on Thursday, Mr. Molyneux presided. A memorial was
read from the crews of the light-ships and buoy tender,
requesting a reconsideration of the resolution reducing
their weekly allowance for provisions from 12s. to 10s. a
week.—Mr. Robinson explained that the allowance was
raised three years ago in consequence of the high price of
provisions, and now that provisions were lower it was
thought right to return to the old amount.—Mr. Tobin
proposed that the men should have the same allowance as
before.--Mr. Jones seconded the motion, and on a divi-
sion it was carried by a majority of one.—A letter was
read from Lieut. Lorl, thanking the committee for their
services on the occasion of his recent application to the
admiralty.--A communication from the postmaster, re-
questing that the floating receiving house for the letters
from the American mails might be allowed to remain on
the landing-stage, was referred to the in ‘rine sub-corn.
rnittee.—A letter was read from Mr. J. Davenport, chair-
man of the Liverpool Provident Clerks' Association,
pointing out the advantages of this local institution, and
soliciting the countenance and support of the dock com-
mittee by recommending the clerks, warehousemen, and
other officers, to avail themselves of the advantages of
the association.—A letter was read from Mr. Wm. Laird,
offering, on the part of Messrs. Fox, Henderson, and
Co., to allow every facility to any officer of the trust for
viewing the progress of the works in fixing the pile beacon
opposite Kingstown harbour. Referred to the sub-com-
mittee of works.
PROTECTION TO EMIGRANTS.—A meeting of clergymen,
merchants, and others, was held at the Clarendon Rooms,
on Monday, to take into consideration a' propesition for
providing an emigrants' home in Liverpool, the Venera-
ble Archdeacon Brooks occupied the chair. Lieutenant
Hodder, the government emigration agent, stated that
when the Irish emigrants landed at the Clarence Dock, of
this port, they were beset by a body of men banded toge-
ther, who were known as the " forty thieves," the most
unscrupulous set of scoundrels that could possibly be con-
ceived. These men acted as porters, and handed the poor
emigrants over to " land-sharks," who obtained a per-
centage from the passenger-brokers for each customer
they obtained. The lodging-house keepers and provision
dealers also gave a further commission to these unprinci-
pled agents ; and the emigrants were plundered on all
sides to the greatest extent. He characterised the emi-
gration system as one vast combination of fraud, with the
most extensive ramifications. Mr. Burchardt, the Prus-
sian Consul, said that his countrymen felt it their duty to
discourage emigration through this country whil-t such
extensive frauds were practised ; and he referred to in-
stances in which parties hail taken their passages in Ham-
burgh, to sail by ships from this port, and when they ar-
rived here they found there was no such vessel as the one
named in the river. The Rev. Dr. M`Neile moved a resolu-
tion to the following effect:—" That this meeting, feeling
the great influence that emigation has on this country, as
well as on the colonies, deem it of the utmost importance
that measures should be taken for the protection of the
emigrants. and for the improvemene of their temporal and
moral condition, especially in this great port of Liver-
pool." The motion was unanimously agreed to, and a
committee appointed to devise a plan, it being the general
opinion that one large building should be fitted up for the
reception of the emigrants, and that such an institution
would not only be self-supporting when once established,
but would afford the emigrants greater comforts and much
greater advantages, at much smaller cost, than those they
at present derive from the doubtful sources which are open
to them.
THE OPERATIVE TAILORS--A public meeting, con-
vened by the Mayor, and presided over by his worship,
was held on Tuesday morning in the Amphitheatre. The
meeting was numerously attended, chiefly by operatives,
and speeches by working men in the trade were delivered
in support of the following resolutions, on which a peti-
tion to the Lords and Commons was founded. The peti-
tion was signed by the Mayor and the Earl of Harrowby
has undertaken to present it to the House of Lords, and
the members for the borough will support its prayer in
the Commons :--" 1. That this meeting strongly deplores
the thickly-spread evils of destitution, misery, and crime
engendered by the slop, sweating, and middlemen system
in the tailoring trade ; a system which is at the same time
ruinous to the honest tradesman, and which, if not held
in check, is calculated to convey disease and death amongst
the highest and noblest families in the empire, and ulti-
mately to affect the well-being of the community at large.
2. That it• is the duty of the clergy to uphold the moral
and spiritual rights of the community, more especially of
the working classes, and that this meeting earnestly en-
treats that influential body to exercise its admitted powers
to assist in ameliorating the condition of the operative
tailors by otscouraging, as tar as possible, the home-
working system, as destructive of their social and physical
comforts, and prejudicial to them in supporting their fami-
lies by their labour; and this meeting hopes that the
clergy will urge the necessity of every man having the
right of observing the Sabbath as a day of rest, which,
under the present system of home-working, it is utterly
impossible for them to do.-3. That this meeting is fully
convinced that the only means of effectually dealing with
an evil of such magnitude as the slop, sweating, and mid-
dlemen system is by obtaining the sanction of Parliament
to a law compulsory on all employers to have their work
done on their own premises, including government cloth-
ing." The statements of the speakers as to the low rate
of wages paid were heartrending. The slop system was
denounced as leading to peuperistn,and cauQingan increase
in the parochial rates. whilst the public health was en-
dangered and no benefit accrued to the purchaser. A man
produced a pair of trowsers which he would be paid a
shilling for making. It would take him nine hours to
make the trowsers, and out of the shilling he had to buy
silk, thread, and twist, which would cost twopence, leav-
ing him tenpence for labour, coals, candles, and rent.
Mr. Turner described the condition in which he found
several slop-workers. They were without clothes, lived
in miserable garrets, and were compelled to work day
and night, Sundays not excepted, to procure sufficient
money to provide food. These people were prituepally
in the employ of Messrs. Hyam and Earp, who fined
them in considerable amounts for the most trivial causes.
THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.—At the weekly meeting on
Thursday, Mr. Bennett presided, and ten members were
present. Some conversation took place relative to the
deposits of manure on the Harrington quay- at the south
end of the town, and also other depots at the north end.
It was agreed that this should be inquired into. The
mortality of the week ended was stated to have beer. 175
deaths, against 125 on the previous. T:iis was attributed
to the unusual cold for the season. The mean tempera-
ture was below the average every day in the week. Mr.
Shaw wrote, offering to dedicate to the public the sewer
in Clarence-street, Everton, provided the committee
would remit a charge of £46 ss. for the drainage of two
houses, which are his property, in Everton village.—Ac-
cepted. The sub-committee appointed to confer with Dr.
Sutherland on the subject of what is called "extra-mural"
interments, submitted their report. Dr. Sutherland had
stated to them the provisions of the proposed government
bill. It would provide that compensation should be given
to clergymen, sextons. and other parties receiving bene-
fit from the present burial grounds ; provide for the pur-
chase of suitaele cemeteries in the country, with easy
transit by railway, or otherwise, from town ; provide for
houses for the reception of coffins, where the funeral ser-
vice could be performed over a whole number at the same
time, all necessary attention being paid to religious scru-
ples ; each body to be interred in a separate erave, and
remain undisturbed for at least twelve years. It was pro-
posed that the whole of the details should be under the
control of a local board, and the expense defrayed out of
the funds which will come into their hands, the outlay
necessary for the measure being provided for by a rate to
be lvvied upon each particular district, in addition to the
proht it is supposed
Dr. Sutherland had asked- advice as to what local board
could best be ihvested with these powers. Mr. Archdea-
con Brooks and some other gentlemen thought that the
act would be better carried out by a distinct board for
each burial district, to be elected the same as poor-law
guardians are ; other gentlemen had thought that the
Town Council would be the proper parties—(laughter)—
others suggested that the proposed powers should be en-
trusted to a joint board, composed of members of the
Council, the select vestry, and guardians. Dr. Suther-
land assured the sub-committee that the various represen-
tations would be laid before the government.—Mr. Hod-
son said the details were the most absurd he bad ever
read;—Mr. Walthew asked what would be the probable
amount of taxation ?—Mr. Dover said he had made some
calculations in respect to that, and found that the com-
pensation which would have to be paid on one church
alone, that of Everton would be at the lowest £20,000.
His objection to the bill was that it entailed upon, the
town an extra trammel of centralization ; they had got
hold of the living, and now they were going to the dead ;
but it should in fairness be mentioned, that Dr. Suther-
land stated that one reason of the bill was the application
made to government from various large towns for them to
interfere, and more than one application had been made
from that (the health) committee. (Hear, hear.)—After
some observations by Mr. Lloyd, on the burying of the
deceased poor in pits, and the refusal of the poor-law com-
missioners to permit the people of Toxteth-park to pur-
chase a piece of land for a cemetery,—the sub-committee
were instructed to communicate with the parliamentary
sub-committee of the finance committee, and act with
them in watching the bill.—New contracts for carting in
the engineers' department were to be advertised for, the
previous contracts having expired.—lt was proposed to
macadamise that part of Brownlow-hill in front of the new
parish offices and sick sheds. This was strongly objected
to, as incurring three times the cost of paving, and the
matter was referred to the borough engineer.—At the
request of Mr. Dover, Mr. Driffield, deputy town-clerk,
stated what steps had been taken to exempt Liverpool
from the operation of the new highways act. A clause
had been. framedeand printed, and entrusted to Mr. Card-
well to procure its insertion:—The offer of Mr. Thomas
Shaw to.give 500 yards of land, provided the committee
would pavo the new street near the Collegiate Institution,
was accepted.

RHUDDLAN EISTEDDTODe-011 Tuesday, a meeting
was held at the sehool-room in Russell-street, for the
purpose of aiding this- national meeting in Wales., The

Rev. D: Jtirsies took the chair, and urged upon the meet-
ing to support this literary assembly as a means of raising
the national character of the Welsh people. Mr. Jones,
the secretary, read the names of a list of subscribers to
the fund, at a preliminary meeting, amounting in all to
abosttt twenty-five guineas. Robert Wynne, Esq., was
called upon by the chairman, and gave a brief history of
the castle where the eisteddfod is to be held, and who, as
treasurer, solicited subscriptions. Rhuddlaa Castle was
built eight centuries ago by Edward 1., and was with
similar erections in the country, intended to subjugate
the Welsh. This object, however, could never be attained
until he craftily presented them with a native prince, born
in Carnarvon Castle. A parliament was held by Edward at
Rhuddlan in 1283, at which the rights and liberties of
Welshmen were secured to them. Mr. Briscoe was next
called upon, and gave a subscription instead of a speech.
Mr. Evans promised his support to thecause, and instanced
benefits which had accrued to persons who had attended
them. Mr. Roberts expressed his admiration of the
Welsh character and ability, which be thought only re-
quired to be cultivated to produce Shakespeares and
Burnses in that country. The Rev. William Hughes
enumerated the prizes to be accorded at this eisteddfod;
amongst which it was curious to remark, as a sign of the
times, that premiums were offered for proficiency in En-
glish. There were also prizes f,r those skilled in the
industrial arts. The number of prizes were fifty-six, for
poetry, prose, history, arts, and sciences, cultivation of
land, manufacturing industry, &c. The Rev. D. James
made a telling speech, dwelling upon the national excel.
leneies of the people. The Rev. T. Davies, Llandilo,
South Wales, addressed the meeting in Welsh. Several
other speakers also addressed the meeting, and a subscrip.
tion was entered into to further the objects of the eistedd-
fod. and a committee was appointed.
BI RICENHEA DCOMMISSION ERS—Theusual weekly meet-
ing of this board was held on Tuesday. Mr. Howe Green
occupied the chair. Mr. Ravenscroft called the attention
of the committee to the state of Claughton.road. He
said it was overgrown with trees to such an extent that
the tootwalks were almost destroyed.—A motion was
made to lay the usual yearly township rates at the same
amount as last year, namely, ls. 6d. in the pound for im-
provement : Is. for lighting and watching ; and 4d. for
sewerave. Mr. Gough thought, before any more rates
were laid, they ought to have a statement of the amounts
laid be ore them, so that the ratepayers might see how
the money had been expended. He had before him an
account which embraced the expenditure of the Light-
ing and Watching Committee, and from that statement
it would appear that there were funds enough, although
one-half the rate was not yet collected. He should like
to know what had become of the rest. Mr. Fox : It is
uncollected. Mr. Gough : Is it not better, then, to have
a smaller rate well collected ? He concluded by moving
that the improvement rate should be Is. in the pound,
and the lighting and watching 9d. Mr. Fox, after stating
that he should wish the improvement rate to remain as it
was, moved a further amendment, that the lighting and
watching rate be 9d. The chairman said they would
hardly be doing justice to their creditors in carrying out
such a reduction. Mr. Hughes felt confident that a nine-
Penny rate would be quite sufficient to support the light-
ing and watching of the town, more especially as there
were now between 700 and 800 more houses tenanted than
at this time last year. After some discussion Mr. Gough's
amendment was put and lost, the mover and seconder
only voting for it. The amendment of Mr. Fox was then
nut, and lo.t.—The Ferry receipts for the month ofApril,
1849, were £1.552 13s. 7d., and for the same month,
1850, £1,762 17s. 7d. The total receipts for the year
ending April, 1849, were £16,092 6s. Ild., and for the
like period ending 1850, £19,021 Is. 6d. The total or-
dinary working expenses for the same period were
£13,128 7s.