Clifden Poor Law Union, Minute Book, 1855-1857
Includes:-
-Poor Law Commissioners ‘agreed to the feelings of the Board as regards the amalgamation of Clerk and Master. The Guardians wish to express their pleasure at the Commissioners having assented to this proposition as they are of opinion the duties will be efficiently discharged by one competent Officer….’ (13 Feb 1856,p14).
-‘The Committee appointed to examine into the proposed new Medical Relief District beg to report for the information of the Board their opinion of the several objections which they consider would make the proposed arrangement a great hardship instead of benefit to the inhabitants of the Renvyle Medical Relief District and the reasons for which they would recommend the Board to adhere to their former proposition….’ (20 Feb 1856, p11, see also 9 Apr 1856, pp7-8,9 Jul 1856, p10, 30 Jul 1856, p11).
-Discussions regarding proposal to ‘dispense with the services of a local Treasurer’, and favour of using a Bank in Galway instead (27 Feb 1856).
-Letter from the PLC ‘stating that from a Report made by Dr Brodie it appears that there is a charge amount of rates due in the Union and requesting the Board will urge the collector to exert themselves with their collections etc’ (9 May 1856, p8).
-Letter from Poor Rate Collection stating ‘that he had been on the property of Mr Lynch of [Barna] and that all the tenants rated under four pounds have been instructed by their Landlord (as appears to him) not to pay any rate and as he is evidently trying to baffle the Board he suggests that the Board will take steps for compelling him to pay his rate’ (15 Jul 185, p8, see also 6 Aug 1856, pp9-10).
-Extract from report of The District Inspector of Schools stating ‘Sometime since the Board of Guardians came to the resolution of dispensing with the services of a male teacher and of requiring the female teacher to discharge all the duty which she has since done, giving three hours to the boys and three hours to the girls daily. This arrangement seems to work very badly. The literacy proficiency of both boys and girls is at the lowest ebb, and what is still worse all order and decorum seem to have vanished. The boys especially are free from all restraint and exercise no respect either for the teacher or any other person. It would require a woman of much firmer character than Miss Kelly, the teacher, seems to be, to teach these mischievous lads with efficiency. I much fear that until a male teacher is appointed matters will become worse and worse' (30 Jul 1856, p9).
-‘Resolved that the duties of Matron and Hospital Nurse be amalgamated and that the hospital nurse be dispensed with for the future, and that the duties of the hospital nurse be entrusted to the Matron along with those she has already to perform. Her salary not to be more than £20 a year and first class rations. This can be safely carried out from the reduced number in the house’ (7 September 1856, p11, see also 24 September 1856, pp8-9).
-Details of salary payments (1 Oct 1856, p5).
-‘We propose that a further revision of the paupers of this house take place on this day week for the purpose of expelling such of the inmates as shall appear to be able to support themselves outside and that the revision take place at 11 o’clock on said day’ (29 Oct 1856, p 11, see also 5 November 1856, p8).
-‘Stephen Moran an orphan boy 11 years of age applied for workhouse relief stating that he wanted to be at school. The Board divided and there appeared for his admission Mr Hart and Mr Shea, against his admission Mr Prior and Mr Bodkin. Applicant refused’ (6 Nov 1856, p10, see also 12 Nov 1856, p8).
-Votes taken on three applications for admission to the workhouse (6 Nov 1856, p11).