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LOCAL BODIES.

CARLISLE GUARDIANS.- YESTERDAY

Mr. BLAIR presided.  There was a good attendance of guardians.   Mr. WANNOP
acted as clerk, in the absence of Mr. MOUNSEY.

     The Wetheral Assistant Overseer's Accounts .-The Deputy Clerk read a
report from the Finance Committee, who had had under consideration all the
correspondence and Mr. RUDD'S report relative to some alleged irregularities
in the accounts of Mr. EDMONDSON , assistant overseer for the parishes of
Wetheral and Warwick, recommending that Mr. EDMONDSON be suspended and that
the books be handed over to the overseers to collect the current rate.-A
letter was next read from the Local Government Board enclosing a letter from
Mr. EDMONDSON, and asking for any observations the guardians may have to
make on the subject.  Mr. EDMONDSON , writing on the 6th of August, said:-

     "Declaration as to the amount of rate had not been entered in previous
rate books and was allowed by the late auditor.   I was not aware that the
columns were incorrectly cast up.  The memorandum of rates I made out in the
presence of the auditor.   Rate Receipt Check Book:  The 23 receipts with
counterfoils were accidentally torn out, and I am sorry that I omitted to
adhere them to the book before taking it to the audit.   I was not aware
that the date of payment in one or two instances were not entered in the
notes retained.  Receipts in respect of recoverable arrears were detached in
one instance only, for rates collected from a railway company.   After the
closing of the rate they wrote and demanded them Collecting and Deposit
Book:  The day of the month has not been entered in any previous book, only
the month in which the money was collected.   I sincerely regret that any
irregularities should have occurred, but will in future carry out everything
appertaining to the collection of rates according to law and your
satisfaction.-Yours obediently,

                                                  "Joseph EDMONDSON."

-Mr. STEWART:   I move that the recommendation of the Finance Committee be
confirmed.   The whole of the correspondence was gone through and the
committee felt there was no alternative but to submit this
recommendation.-Mr. WALTON seconded the motion.-Mr. SCOTT was decidedly
opposed to the motion.   In the first place the auditor reported some
irregularities in Mr. EDMONDSON'S accounts.  Mr. RUDD, acting under the
instruction of the Board examined the accounts, and made a report, which, he
submitted, ought to be sent to the Local Government Board.   Mr. EDMONDSON
was one of the Board's officers now upon his trial, and they ought not to
sit as judges.  The resolution seemed to be going much too far.- Mr. WALTON
Would you collect the rates?-Mr. SCOTT:   That will come up as a matter of
course.  I object to us taking upon ourselves the position of judges.-Mr.
COWEN: What does suspension mean?-Mr. JOHNSON said the guardians had
discretionary power with regard to suspending their collectors.   He
regretted that some irregularity had taken place in collecting the rate, but
Mr. EDMONDSON did not owe the Board one farthing and they ought to give him
another chance.  It was all through carelessness.-Mr. RICHARDSON agreed with
the view expressed by Mr. JOHNSON and Mr. SCOTT.  No doubt Mr. EDMONDSON had
been careless, but after what had taken place it was to be hoped that he
would look better after the duties in future.-Mr. STEWART said the
recommendation was agreed to by the committee unanimously.   He felt
confident that if the whole correspondence were read to the Board, the
members could not arrive at any other conclusion than the one recommended.
Let the whole correspondence be read.-Mr. SCOTT:   The suspension is a
little dose of salt in addition to the charge already made against the
collector.-Mr. MOSS supported the committee's recommendation.   They out to
take some decided step, because they had had frequent experience of this
kind of thing in Carlisle.  It was quite a simple matter.  Owing to the
irregularities, somebody ought to be appointed to collect the rates.-Mr.
BRISCO urged the Board to give the collector another chance.  They were all
liable to err; give him another chance.  Mr. STEWART said it was not a
pleasant duty to move a resolution of that kind; but so long as he was a
member of the Board he would try to do his duty, and do it fearlessly.   Mr.
SCOTT:  I move that we simply send Mr. RUDD'S report to the Local Government
Board.-Mr. JOHNSON :  The Local Government Board is only a scarecrow.   We
care nothing about it.  (Laughter).   After the letter from Mr. EDMONDSON, I
would give him a chance.  He will do the work properly in future.-Mr. COWEN
said the books had not been audited so strictly before this new auditor
commenced his duties.  Perhaps Mr. EDMONDSON might be able to put things
right before the next audit.-After some further discussion, Mr. STEWART'S
motion was carried by six votes to five for Mr. SCOTT'S amendment.-It was
then decided to send a copy of the resolution and Mr. RUDD'S report to the
Local Government Board.-Mr. SCOTT raised the question of how the Board
should answer the letter from the Local Government Board.-Mr. COWEN:  I move
that the Board recommend to the Local Government Board that Mr. EDMONDSON
have another chance.-Mr. RICHARDSON:  I have great pleasure in seconding the
motion.-Mr. JOHNSON:  I have pleasure thirding it. (Laughter.)  Mr. STEWART:
I this it is very absurd.-On being put to the meeting half-a-dozen voted for
and a similar number against.-Mr. STEWART moved that the names be taken
down.-Mr. COWEN: Put mine up. (Laughter.).-Several guardians maintained that
only five voted against; and in the midst of a rather irregular, , if not
disorderly discussion, Mr. STEWART and Mr. WALTON left the Board Room.-The
names were not recorded; but the resolution will be sent to the Local
Government Board.

     The Cooking and Heating Apparatus.- The Deputy-Clerk read a report from
the committee appointed to consider the tenders for certain apparatus for
cooking and heating in Fusehill Workhouse.  It appeared that three members
voted to recommend the guardians to accept the tender of Messrs. HADEN and
Son, Tunbridge, and two voted for Mr. CORBETT'S.-Some questions were asked
as to the tenders having been altered, but Mr. COWEN suggested that the
discussion should be adjourned for a fortnight.-This was agreed to.-Mr.
RICHARDSON gave notice that at next meeting he would move that the tender of
Messrs. HADEN and Son be accepted, and Mr. DINSDALE gave notice that he
would move that Mr. CORBETT'S be accepted.

     Miscellaneous.-Cheques were granted as follows:-Mr. James DURES ,
relieving officer, £43; Mr. John NIXON, relieving officer, £70; Mr. Wm.
JOHNSON, relieving officer, £58; Henry DOBINSON, Esq., £408 13s 10d for
county and police rate; Miss LOWRY'S Trustees, £13 half year's rent of land
due at Lammas.-At Fusehill Workhouse during the week there were 200 indoor
paupers, compared with 213 in the corresponding week last year; at Harraby
Hill there were 89 indoor paupers, compared with 98 the same week last year;
there were 923 out-door paupers, as against 1059 in the same week in 1879.

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KING GARTH DINNER.

THE ANNIVERSARY DINNER, given by the Corporation and the Citizens to theMayor, on their pretty ground at the KING'S GARTH, at CARGO, will be held on Friday, the 20 th instant, at Three o'clock in the afternoon.-Tickets may be had at the OFFICE of the COUNTY HOTEL, CARLISLE, for which an early application is earnestly desired, to enable the Manager to make efficient and satisfactory arrangements.

Carlisle, August 12 th, 1880.
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CARLISLE ANGLING ASSOCIATION.

THE portion of the River Eden extending from the Foot of PARHAM BECK to KNOCKUPWORTH GILL, on the west side, is now in the hands of the Association, and is Open to the Guinea Members only.
Any Person found TRESPASSING after this Notice will be PROSECUTED.

J. BEDWELL SLATER, Hon. Sec.

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