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THE AVAR.I

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..-.--EASTER VESTRY. I

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I MONTHLY MEETING OF THE TOWN…

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NORTH SHROPSHIRE ELECTION,…

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! SIR BALDWIN AND THE DISSENTERS.

MR. HODGES AND THE POLICE.

ELECTION FOR THE DENBIGHSHIREI…

I-LATEST -MARKETS. I

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GREAT WESTERN TIME TABLES…

THE BALLOT,

WREXHAM BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

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WREXHAM BOARD OF GUARDIANS. THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 18o9. Present-Captain Panton, R.N., chairman; Mr. Chaloner and Captain M'Coy vice-chairmen; Messrs. AVright, Ruabon; Burton, Minera Brough, Esclushcm Above; Beavan, Sutton; Rowe, Ruabon; Hughes, Ru- abon; Weaver, Erbistock Richards, Worthenbury Wood, Ruabon Roberts, Ruabon; Jones, Ruabon; Clay. Bangor; Manley, Burton; Woolrich, Marfonl and Hoseley Parsonage, Marchwiel: Roberts, Eyton Dixon, Sesswick Sanderson, Broughton Lewis, Pick- hill; Parsonage, Dutton Diffeth Ellis, Abenbury Fawr j Edgworth, Wrexham Regis, and Parry, Hope. THREAP WOOD.—The clerk read a letter from the Poor Law Board in reply to a communication asking what Union Threapwood now belonged to. The reply stated that the subject was under the consideration of the Poor Law Board. GWERSYLLT.—A letter was also read which had been received by Mr. Thomas Parsonage, of Gwersyllt, from the Poor Law Board, stating that they could not au- thorize Mr Poyser to act as guardian for the township of Gwersyllt without being elected. The communication also contained a form to be filled up by Mr. Parsonage if he wished to resign the office of guardian to which he had been appointed. A communication was also read from Mr. Parsonage in which he stated that he had no- minated Mr. Loyser as guardian for the township of Gwersyllt, but the nomination paper was lost either through the carelessness of his servant or Mr. Poysor's. He had no time to attend to the duties of the office himself and on that ground had tendered his resignation to the Poor Law Board. MEDICAL OFFICERS' VISITS TO THEIR PATIENTS.— Captain M'Coy called the attention of the board to the medical relief list of Mr. Dickenson. He (Capt. M'Coy) in company with the relieving officer, had been round to the paupers in Wrexham Regis and Wrexham Abbot during the last week. and every papuper on Mr. Dickin- son's list in Wrexham Regis said it was two months since they had seen Mr. Dickenson. On asking one of them who did visit her she said she had only seen the journeyman, as she termed him, for some time. If they were to pay 170 a year fur a journeyman let them adver- tise for some one who would do the work for journey- man's wages. He considered it outrageous that they should be paying the salary of a qualified practitioner for work done by an unqualified assistant. If it was two months since Mr. Dickenson had seen his town patients what must it be since he had seen his country ones. The chairman then referred to the case of Mary Jones, a pauper on Mr. Dickenson's list, whose case had been be- fore the board at an esrlier stage of the proceedings; Capt..M'Coy said as he had been the means of calling the attention of the board to the medical officers, he was glad to be able to otate that Mr. Lewis had been most attentive to his patients for the last three months-visit- ing them all himself. MR. ROWLAND.—Mr. Rowland, one of the medical officer, was then called into the board room, when the chairman said, Mr Rowland, there is a complaint against you, that on the 7th of Aprl, about half past nine in the evening, a man of the name of George Lemington, was brought into the house, and a messenger seut for the medical officer, but two persons named Roach and Ed- isbury attended George Lemington. The next day Geo. Lemington was again visited by Roach and Edisbury at eight o'clock in the morning, and George Lemington did not appear to have been visited by the medical officer until haalf-past twelve or a quarter to one on the 9th of April. Mr. Rowland: The messenger came to my house about ten o'clock—just as I was going to bed. I was not sent for personally, and I sent my assistant, who usually attends. The case was not of a serious nature. The Chairman It was an accident. Mr. Rowland: But a trifling one. The Chairman: It has been laid down distinctly that the mediaal officer is to visit every case himself or by his known substitue. If you did not choose to come yourself you ought to have sent Mr. Lewis. Mr. Rowland: The master ought to have informed me if he considered the case an important one. The chairman then turned to the medical officers' in- structions, when Mr. Rowland (opening a book) said he had those instructions himself, and unless some of them had been put a one side, he was not wrong. The chairman then read article 195 and article 199 for the purpose of showing that the medical officers are bound to visit all patients personally or send their ap- pointed substitute. He then added that Mr. Rowland's letter to the board was not at all satisfactory, and the law as laid down by Mr. Doyle, the assistant commis- sioner, in the case of Mr. Lewis, was that the medical offictr was to visit every case himself, or send his known substitute. Mr. Rowland: That's now to me. The chairman: It's no use bandying about words* We have a duty as guardians to perform, and we shall do it. Mr. Rowland It's impossible for me to visit every SD myself. The Chairman Then you bad better resign. Mr Rowland I shall think about that first. The Chairman I consider you have been guilty of great neglect in the performance of your duty. Yon allowed two days to pass without seeing this man at all. Jr. Rowland: One day. The Chairman Two (fays, Mr. Rowland Not quite. The Chairman made a remark that we did not catch, and Mr. Rowland left the room observing that there was no complaint against him, and that he had not been guilty of any neglect. After he had gone, the chairman observed that Mr. Rowland had treated the board with very great disrespect —and moved that the Poor Law Board be written to re- questing them to send down an official to investigate the whole matter. This was seconded by Mr. Burton. illit. DicyRN-)-.z.-The chairman observed that there were iha laches of another medical officer to be consider- ed. After a few observations it was agreed that Mr. Dickenson should be written to. FORTNIGHTLY BOARDS.—\Tr. Jonathan Jones then rose to propose the motion of which he had given notice that day fortnight—" That the board meetings should be held fortnightly instead of weekly." Mr. Jones said he should consider the question under two he ids. 1st— the arguments in favour of the alterition 2nd-What were likely to bo the objections to it. The arguments in favour of his motion he arranged under nine heads. 1st It was the custom to hold the meetings of the guard- ians forrtnightly throughout Wales, if not throughout England, and old custom is equal to law. 2nd. They had a good c- ork who had given every satisfaction sinre the Union had been established. 31d. They had two good active vice-chairmen—who were very attenlive to their duties. 4th. We have three relieving officers of lon standing who understood their work, and if they perform their duties the fortnightly meetings will answer as well as the weekly one?. 5th. It will be a great hclp to the country guardians—less expense, as well ai a sa- ving of time. 6th. The attendance of the majority is in. favour of the motion, as;nearly two-thirds of the glurd- ians do not attend under the present plan. d tli. The Board has been once or twice adjourned for a fortnight and no inconvenience was felt in consequence. SCti. it we had fortnightly meetings it would be easier to get intelligent gentlemen to become guardians-many de- clining at present because they could not attend weekly- 9th. Many useful guardians were in favour of the motion. Mr Jones then adverted to the arguments likely to be brought forward against the motion, which he arranged under six heads replying to each as he went on. 1st. It was said we should be giving too much power to our relieving officers. This might be remedied by the guardians doing their duty. They were guardians at the Board and they were guardians from the Board, and if they would act the part of watchmen, assist the re- lieving officers, and report them when they did not do their duty, every purpose would be answered. 2nd. It was said a fortnight's pay for the poor was too much to entrust in the hands of the relieving officers at once. This objection he met by observing that the board held bonds from the relieving officers, and if other boards entrust them for a fortnight why could not we ) 3rd. It was said we could not get through the work if we allowed it to accummulate for a fortnight. To this ob- jection Mr Jones replied: The business now occupies two hours on an average, and if they cannot get through the fortnight's business in that time let them come an hour sooner as they used to do. It was better to lose one hour hour than one day. 4th. It might be said the master would have too much power. This might be remedied by appointing a good visiting committee. 5th. There would difficulties arise in regard to coffins and funeral expenses. These cases he observed were but few, and might be safely left to the discretion of the Ie- lieving officers. 6th. It might be said that the board was not prepared for such a change. To meet this ob- jection, let them appoint a committee of six guardians to put the machinery in perfect order to start. Mr Jones then moved that the board commence on the 2nd o<, June to meet every fortnight, and continue doing so until the 2nd of December, as a trial, and if after that the guardians be of opinion that the fortnightly meet- ings do not work well the weekly meetings to be re- sumed. Mr Roberts, (Ruabon), seconed the motion. Mr Parsonage said he agreed with some of the obser- vations of Mr Jones, at the same time, if Mr Jones had been as long at the board as he had, he would have known that the thing was impracticable. It had been frequently mooted during the last three-and-twenty years, but it was always decided that it would not work. The principle was bad. It put too much power in the hands of the officers. It was of very little consequence whether all the guardians were present or not at their meetings, the business was done all the same. If the guardians were forced to attend every meeting the thing would be different, but then it was quite optional. He begged to move that Mr Jones's motion be rejected. Mr Chaloner seconded Mr Parsonage's amendment. Fortnightly boards might answer for the agricultural district of the Union, but in the other two districts the plan would not answer at all. With regard to meeting at ten o'clock in the morning he did not believed it would be possible to get a board at that hour. He remembered the difficulty they had to get three guardians together at that hour some years ago. The Chairman spoke at some length against the pro- posed change. Allowing that it would take half as much time again to transact their business which would make it two o'clock before they finished. Most of the guar- dians would then be gone to the market when the guar- dians of particular townships being h a majority would have thiugs all their own way. With regard to one remark made by Mr Jones, he would just observe that they were only guardians in their own capacity in that room and out of that room they ceased to be so. Fort- nightly boards might answer in agricultural districts, but not in mining ones. If four or five hundred men were thrown out of employ, or a strike took place on a Friday evening it would be throwing a great responsi- bility on the relieving officers. The amendment was then put, and 22 hands lifted up for it, only one (the proposers) being held up for the original motion. A NEW VALUATION FOlt RUABON.—Mr. Rowe said they wanted a new valuation in the parish of Ruabon. With the valuation they were working upon at present there were many persons omitted and excused who onght to be paying largely to the rates. Air. Walms- ley's line of railway paid, while others again were ex- cused. In reply to the board, Mr. ltowc said the val- uation they were now working upon was made in 1809. Along desultory conversation followed in which it was agreed that Mr. liowe ought to have got the conscnt of a vestry before he came to the board. Mr Rowe admit- ted there had been a valuation made since 1809 by Messrs. Staley and Fumival, but they were not acting upon it. He could not say why-most'of these matter were sett" cd by a few individuals at Charles Roberts's house. Mr. Wood Mr. Rowe is as regular a visitor as any one there. The chairman said he had some faint recollection that the valuation referred to did not suit the mineral gentlemen in the district, and that was the reason it was pat aside. Mr. Rowe made some further remarks which were brought to a close by a sort of a count out" of the board. Number in the bouse-195-2 more than last week. Vagrants reiieved 35.

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