ST ALBANS

BOARD OF GUARDIANS

At the usual fortnightly meeting of this board on Friday, the 24th ult., J. Bennett, Esq., presided, and there were also present - H. J. Toulmin, Esq., W. H. Selly, Esq., G. R. Marten, Esq., and Messrs Edwards, Dickenson, Gough, Wiles, Symons, Beaument, Grange, and Cox.

The Board of Guardians was made up of local (mainly business) men who met at fortnightly intervals. They were responsible for what we would now describe as "Health and Welfare" for the St Albans Union, which included St Albans and surrounding parishes. Much of its work was connected with the running of the workhouse, although there were poor people who got relief while living in the community.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

RETURN

Mr. Baker's fortnightly return showed that there were in the house on that date:- aged men, 52; last year 53: aged women, 40; last year 37: able men, 2; last year 2: able women, 2; last year 7: boys above nine, 5; last year 12: under nine, 14; last year 15: girls above nine, 5; last year 6: under nine, 7; last year 10; infants, 3; last year 5: total, 140; last year 147; decrease, 7. Tramps admitted sine last meeting 92; corresponding time last year 84; increase, 8.

THE VACCINATION ACT

Mr. Balson reported, in reference to the resolution passed at last meeting instructing him to summon half a dozen of those who refused to comply with the provisions of the Vaccination Act, that he had only found it necessary to prosecute one, and in that instance, as the child was certified to be unfit to undergo the operation, the charge had afterwards been withdrawn on payment of the expenses. The vast majority of the parents whom he had visited had had their children vaccinated, but had neglected to see that the certificates were duly forwarded to the registrar by their private medical practitioners, while the other had expressed their willingness to have the operation performed at the earliest possible moment.

Mr. Toulmin enquired if it was true that two persons died of small-pox in St. Alban's on the previous day.

Mr. Balson replied he was not aware of it.

After some conversation the relieving officer promised to visit the others referred to by the register as not having complied with the provisions of the Act, and the subject then dropped.

THE NEW WINGS.

It was intimated that the walls of the new infirmary wings were now quite dry, and that the building, after receiving the finishing touches at the hands of the contractor, would be ready for occupation.

THE ASSESSMENT

A resolution passed by the Assessment Committee awarding Mr. Lowe £30 for his services in connection with the assessment business, from Lady Day, 1870, to Lady Day, 1871, and £7 8s for a copy of the new valuation roll, was submitted to the board and confirmed.

This relates to the valuation of property so that rates could be charged to finance the work of the Union.

CONTRACTS

The following tenders for the supply of meat and bread for the next six months being the lowest were accepted:-

All goods brought by the workhouse had to go out to tender, normally for a six month period. Most goods were brought from local traders.

Mr Bartholomew, St. Alban's, best bread in 4lbs. Loaves, baked 24 hours, at 13s. 10d. per cwt.; ditto for out-door poor at 6d. per 4lbs loaf. Flour best seconds at 42s per sack.

Mr. Stone, Watford, beef in clods, stickings, chucks, leg of mutton pieces, thick and thin flanks, and buttocks in equal proportions at 4s. 5d. per stone of 8lbs.; beef, on relieving officer's ticket, at 6½d. per lb.; legs and shins of beef weighing not less than 40lbs. per set, 10s.; fore-quarters of mutton weighing between 18lbs. And 24lbs., per lb., 6¾d.; beef and mutton best suet, in equal proportions, per stone 3s.; till the 30th March, 1872.

Mr Stroften, East India rice, per cwt., 12s.; moist sugar, per cwt, 30s.; loaf sugar, per cwt., 46s.; salt, per cwt., 1s 9d.; soda, per cwt'; 5s.; split peas, per bushel, 6s. 4d.; Scotch oatmeal, per cwt., 14s.; cheese, per cwt, 59s.; blue, per lb. 5d.; linseed meal, per lb., 2d.; pearl barley, per lb., 2d.; arrowroot, per ld., 4d; stare(?) dips 5s. 4d. per dozen lbs.

Mr. Edward Martin, melted soap, per cwt., 28s., good butter, sound, sweet, ???ed, well-scraped and cleaned, per cwt., 98s., black tea, per lb. 1s 5½,; good roasted coffee, per lb., 11d., pepper, per lb., 7d.; mustard, per lb., 5½d., lard, per lb., 8d.; treacle, per lb., 2d.; starch, per lb., 3d.; ginger, 6d. per lb.; vinegar, 10d. per gallon.

Mr. Peppercorn, wheat straw, 34s. per load.

Dixon and Co., Best Icce Hall coals, 16s. 4d. per ton.

Fish and Son, Wigan, 13s 6d. per ton.

Mr. William George, new milk, 9d. per gallon.

Mr. Balderson, gin, 11s. 6d. per gallon; brandy, 19s. 6d.; port wine 1s. 6d. per bottle.

Messrs. Edwards, Redbourn, X ale, £1 10s. per barrel.

Mr. Hartwell, coffins and funerals at 19s. 6d., 14s. 6d., and 5s. 6d., respectively, according to age.

Messrs. Atkinson and C0., men's coats 9s., waistcoats, 3s., trousers, 7s. 6d., boys' suits, 8s., men's round jackets, 6s., women's cloaks, 11s.

Mr Horne - Men's hats, 11s. per dozen, boys' cloth caps, 8s., men's 12s., women's straw bedsets, sorted sizes, 16s. 6d. per dozen; men's shoes, 9s., women's 5s. 2d., boys' 5s. 3d., and girls' 4s. 9d. per pair.

Mr. William Smith, shaving and hair cutting, £14.

Mr. Titmass, window glass at 6d. per square foot; plumbers' work £15.

For almost the whole of the drapery the tender of Messrs Collings and Reynolds was accepted, while the ironmongery was pretty equally divided between Mr. Charles Manlove and Mrs. Julia Manlove.