Alston Herald, and East Cumberland Advertiser. — 1877-02-10 (Alston, Cumbria, England)

THE VALUATION QUESTION.  Mr WELFORD proposed the following motion of which he had given notice :—" That the Clerk of the Hexham Union furnish the setmated expenditure for the next half year for the whole of the Union, to be laid before the guardians for their consideration, so that the amount to be contributed to the common fund by each parish or township in the Union shall be shown separately, as the rateable value of each township or parish as shown by its valuation list, t)gether with the acreage of each township or pal-h, the gross estimated rental, so that it m.ty be MO what each township or parish in the Union separately contributes to the common fund each year according to their rateable value and acreage, for the purpose of drawing attentisp to matters which require to be investigated and altered in conformity with recent alterations aid_ decisions made in the rating during the last year. and with a view to the general reduction of the rateable value in the whole Union, so that uniformity taay be obtained." lie would like to have this informatiou for the purpose of seeing whether there was a sufficient number of guardians for the various districts. Sonic of the larger districts were not properly represented both as regarded the population and the amortat of money. Since 1847, when the number of guardians were fixed, there bad been great changes in the rateable value of several townships, and they were, therefore, entitled to be represented by a greater number of guardians. Mr Welford then referred to several townships, giving their rateable value, to show how, in some cases, there was a guardian to represent a very small an.ouut, while in larger districts there was not a large enough number. He thought all the townships should be fairly represented. It would be better if the townships would follow the example of Chollerton, where the overseers had gone to work like men, and increased the rateable value 30 per ceut.—Mr Wuxi:Mow said that Mr Welford had better contradict his statement in regard to Chollerton having been increased 30 per cent., as it had not.—Mr WELFORD said that he had been told that it had.—hir Jouxsow said that be was glad the motion had been brought forward, and thought that if it was carried:it would be of great use. Many of the townships ought to be classed together and represented by two or three guardians.—The CHAIRMAN remarked that they would intend Mx Welford's motion to mean simply the return of each township in order to ascertain what each gave.—Mr JOHNSON: To get the rateable value.—The CIIAIRMIN considered that it was intended that they might increase the number of guardians in one case and decrease them in another, as required. There was nothing objectionable in the motion.—Mr J. PkattSON seconded the resolution, which was carried unahimously. The Board then proceeded with the out-relief lists.  Mr Gibson snooped' to tho vacant Attorney. Generalship for Ireland, and in cousequenee a fresh election will be necessary for Trinity College. Mr James Merry, for many years representative of the Falkirk Barghs in Parliament, bet better known as an ardent and successful patron of the turf, died at his London residence, in Eaton Square, on Saturday. SUICIDE FROM TEE VENDOME COLUMN IN PARIS: —A young woman, aged 25, respeotably dressed ' in mourning, threw herself at dusk on Snnday from the top of the Column Vendome. Her mangled remains were picked up, yet breathing, but she died in a few minutes.