The Potteries Examiner : — 1877-09-01 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

STOKE BOARD OF GUARDIANS.  A fortnightly meeting of the Stoke Guardians was hetet on Wednesday; Mr. J. R. Cooke, Mayor of Hanley, presiding. There were also present Messrs Gilman. Minton, Wenn:mall, Bebbingtou, Carryer, Moss, Leadbeater, Snow, Hallam, Bagnall, Skerratt. and the Revs. J. S. Maclean, and Rev. W. Molloy.— Mr. Gicsaata referred to the subject to the Workhouse children having a day's outing shortly, as they could not this year attend the Stoke athletic sports.—The • clerk was instructed to make the necessary arrange. meats with the master to provides "treat" pt an early date.—A letter was read from the County Asylum with respect to Richard Elijah Leak, who recently committed suicide at Longton. The letter stated that the man was discharged on the authority of the Committee of Visitors upon the application of his wife and mother, and upon the latter signing an undertaking that she would prevent his injuring himself or others, the form of the undertaking being that recommended by the Commissioners in Lunacy in such cases.—The agent of Messrs. Huntington and Co., of Liverpool, the contractors for the supply of flour to the workhouse, attended before the Board, and pronounced a portion of a loaf which he said was baked from the flour complained of as unsatisfactory.—The CHAIRMAN said he did not consider the sample produced satisfactory. The flour from which the bread was being made during the present week was of better quality.—The Agent said it was from the same bulk.—The Crtatemas said the Board had also caused a sample to be baked by an independent baker, and it not only showed unsatisfactory results, but the baker reported the flour was in. ferior—it was not seconds. The flour supplied this week was of an improved quality, and at least the same quality must be maintained.— The Agent intimated that this should be done.— The Finance Committee reported that it met on the 23rd of August for the purpose of considering the auditor's report on the irregularities of the Hanley Relieving Officer. Ins former report made by the committee reference was made to the fact that the committee had found it necessary to call the attention of the Board to the manner in which Mr. Brook had performed the duties of his office. Since that time the District Auditor had reported to the Local Government Board upon the way in which the duties had been performed and the books kept, and a copy of that report had been forwarded to the Guardians. The report bad also been forwarded to Mr. Brook, who had furnished a written explanation in reply thereto. After fully investigating the matter, both us to the complaints and the Relieving Officer's reply, the committee reported as follows (—The committe are of opinion that the explanations submit- ! ted to them are in each case most unsatisfactory, and ! prove on his own showing gross carelessness and inattention to his duty on the part of Mr. Brook. The committee have also felt it their duty to direct their ! attention to the books of Mr. Brook since their previ! ous report of May last, and regret to find that irregn! larities such as they then complained of have not ceased , to occur in the present half year; and farther, the ! committee have to report that the relief list for the quarter ending June 20th last, which ought to have been closed immediately after the expiration of the quarter, still remains open. The committee are compelled to report to the Board that the painful conclusion is forced upon them that Mr. Brook continuing to hold the office of relieving officer would be prejudicial to the interests of the parish, and they beg to recommend that the following letter be addressed to the Local Government Board (—" I am directed by the Guar. diens of the Poor of this parish to acknowledge the receipt of the Board's letter, No. 31,581 G, of the 10th inst., forwarding for tin ir information an extract from a report which the Board had received from the district auditor of the accounts of Mr. William Brook, relieving officer, for the half .year ended at Lady Day last. The Guardians have, since the receipt of the letter, furnished Mr. Brook with a copy of such extract, awl received frees him his explanation in writing (which is trans. nutted herewith) of the irregularities mentioned by the auditor. The Guardians regret to be compelled to state that, in their opinion, such explanation is totally unsatisfactory; they have for some time past been exceed, ingly dissatisfied with the manner in which Mr. Brook has discharged his duties, and they have had several times to point oat to him the irregularities complained of, and to urge upon him the necessity of devoting greater attention to his work. The Gnardians, after carefully considering all the circumstances, have reluw tautly come to the conclusion that it is desirable that Mr. Brook should cease to hold the office of relieving officer, and that a fresh appointment should be made with as little delay as may be convenient."—Mr. Illorros thought there was nothing more to be said on the subject; indeed the less said on it the better. He would move the adoption of the report, but with very great pain and reluctance, and he did to with a sew e of what he thought his duty to the parish.—Mr. Waun. LiAiA is seconded the motion, which was carried annulmousls-.  A CI: