Ennistymon Union Minute Books

Book No. 2 

Meetings held from 28th November 1845 - 12th December 1845

[419]
Meeting held on Friday the 28th November, l845.

The register book was signed from No.l396 to No. l430.
The clerk's report was read to the following effect:
[420] That he has invited tenders for provisions necessary and according to the order of the board at the last meeting.

The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was producedby which it appeared that there had been

[422]
Read:
- letter from Walter B. Moore which bears no date recommending a machine for grinding potatoes.
- letter from Dublin Castle accompanying 25 copies of report on potatoes.
- Commissioners' letter of the 22nd inst. recommending the boys' workroom the most proper place for a workshop for the master shoemaker and tailor and not the probationary ward.
- Commissioners' letter of the 22nd inst. sanctioning the appointment of Mary Leyden schoolmistress.

The clerk laid the 1/2 yearly abstract of the union accounts ending the 29th September, last before the board and they were signed by the chairman.

The clerk read report of Mr. Mathew, auditor, on the absence of Micheal Kerin and William Conole, collectors at the last audit.

Read:
- Commissioners' letter of the 26th November, inst. with respect to the report of Mr. Mathew, auditor, of Michael Kerin and William Conole, collectors.
- Commissioners' letter of the 24th Nov, inst. with respect to an order of the House of Lords, bearing date 5th August last, requiring certain returns in reference to the Commissioners' letter of the 22nd inst.
[423]
Resolved that our clerk be directed to state that the boys' workroom is unsuitable for the shoemaker's workshop, it being from its situation exceedingly cold with 2 doors and no fireplace, and submitting, on the part of the said board, that as no use is at present made of the mens' probationery ward that the same is better suited for the purpose, and further, in reference to their letter of the 26th inst., to state that the absence of Michael Kerin and William Conole arose from the circumstance of them residing a considerable distance from their respective post offices and not having received the clerk's letter until after the day of the audit had passed by.

With reference to the motion of Daniel Considine for raising the salaries of the medical officers and master of the workhouse in consequence of their increased duties attendant on the fever hospital.

Proposed by Cornelius O' Brien Esq. M.P., chairman, seconded by Mr. MacNamara, that the salary of each of the medical officers of this workhouse be 40 a year and that the salary of the master of the workhouse be 40 a year.
Carried unanmiously.

Medical Report:
Since last Friday, we have had one death from fever, Michael Conole. There are now in the hospital 36 patients in fever. Of nearly 80 patients attended since the opening of the hospital one only was an inmate of the workhouse. There are in hospital now 36 in fever, in the infirmary 21 labouring under chronic disease.
                                        Charles Finucane.
                                        M.R.C.S.L.
[424]

Read tenders for building fireplaces in the schoolmaster and schoolmistress's room.
Resolved that same be abandoned and that the expense is unnecessary.

Resolved that the tenders for supplying meal are too high and that it is therefore expedient to purchase meal from week to week and that a draft for 10 be drawn in favour of the master for that purpose. Also, that a draft for 20 be drawn in his favour to purchase potatoes.

Read tenders for groceries.
Resolved that we accept Pat O'Dwyer's tender, it being the lowest.
Resolved that John Molony gets a check for 2.9.9 for repairs of iron work and metalworks.
[424]
Resolved that checks be drawn in favour of the following persons, viz.

[425]
Resolved that the consideration of meat, bread, soap, candles, salt and milk be postponed and that further tenders be invited for those articles against this day week.
The chairman gives notice that he will, on this day fortnight, call the attention of the board to the supervisors' books and enquire whether the same be satisfactory.

Resolved that the following dietary be adopted hence forth for the sick as submitted and approved of by the medical officers.
No. 1 - ordinary house diet.
No. 2 - ordinary house diet with a pint of milk every day instead of molasses or gruel.
No. 3 - 16 ozs of bread and 1 qt of milk
No. 4 - 12 ozs of bread and 1 qt of milk.
No. 5 - 8 ozs of bread and 3 pints of milk.
No. 6 - 4 ozs of bread and 2 qts of milk.
No. 7 - 3 qts of milk .
No. 8 - 8 ozs of bread and half pint of milk in the morning. Potatoes and 1/2 pt of milk at night, with liberty to add a pint to tea or coffee, 6 ozs of wine, a small bottle of porter, 1/2 lb of meat or a pint of soup to any of the above.

I beg to submit the above diet for the consideration of the board of guardians and very strongly recommend their adoption, if sour milk be contracted for it would be advisable to give whey in Nos. 6 + 7 instead of milk and if the board would order flummery to be made, I would prefer it to bread in No. 6.
                                                            Charles Finnucane
                                                            M.R.C.S.L

[426]
Meeting held on Friday the 5th of December 1845.

The register book was signed from No. 1431 to No. 1442.
The clerk report was read to the following effect:
That Michael O'Brien, collector of rates, did not attend him previous to this day's meeting to settle his monthly accounts as required by the Commissioners' order.

The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was producedby which it appeared that there had been

Read:
- Commissioners' letter of the 27th Nov. last with regarded to the monthly return of the union funds.
- letter from Fermoy Union of the 26th Nov last containing a resolution of the board entered into on Wednesday the 19th Nov. last.
- letter from the Bandon Union dated 26th Nov. last. accompanying a resolution of the board entered into on the same day requesting the co-operation of this board in memorialing goverment and praying for employment for the labouring classes in Ireland.
[429]
Medical Report
There were 24 patients in the infirmary and 40 in the fever hospital suffering from mild typhus. I would recommend the board to contract for sour milk, a good deal of which would be wanted for making whey.
                                                    James Shannon
                                                        Medical Officer

Resolved that the paupers employed in the fever hospital for washing and other purposes require, and ought to be allowed during the continuance of their services there, 1/2 lb of bread, a pint of milk per diem with 1 1/2 lb of meat per week in addition to the dietary of the workhouse.

Resolved that the undernamed guardians, collectors and others be requested by our clerk to make strict enquiry in their respective localities as to the state of the potatoe crop and whether there is or is not a sufficient quality of corn in their respective localities to guard against famine during the next summer and that the respective guardians, collectors and others do report the issue of such enquiries to this board on Friday next for the information of the central committee.

The clerk reported that he had examined the accounts of 5 out of the 6 collectors for the past month and he laid before the board a return of the state of the union, funds for the month of Nov. and also the collectors monthly return books from which he drew up the following abstract of the state of their respective collections for the month.

[432]
Read tenders for meat.
Resolved
- that we accept Patk. Lysaght's tender for best beef at 4 1/2d and best mutton at 5 1/2d per lb- that the consideration of the tenders for meal, milk, bread, salt and soap be purchased to this day week and that the master do receive a draft for £10-0-0 to purchase such articles as may be necessary for the use of the house until this day week and that he furnish a bill of such articles and that tenders be invited for those articles against this day week.

- that cheques be drawn in favour of the following persons.

The board having taken into consideration the report of the master and Mr Bradford, the Inspector of National Schools, have resolved to enquire into the cause of the irregularity in the male and female schools of the establishment and have for the purpose appointed Mr Kenny & Mr Michael Considine a committee to report to the next meeting.

[433]
Meeting held on Friday the 12th of December 1845.

The register book was signed from No. 1443 to No. 1464.
The clerk's report was read to the following effect:
That he invited tenders for bread, milk, meat, soap, salt etc. according to the board's order at last meeting.

The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced by which it appeared that there had been

Read:

- Commissioners' letter of the 3rd Dec. inst. containing the copy of an order of the Court of Chancery for the payment of rates.
- Commissioners' letter of the 4th inst. stating that in cases where the post office cannot be relied on for the delivery of letters, messages should be sent.
- Commissioners' letter of the 6th inst. containing their approval of the increase of the medical officers and master of the workhouse.
[436] - Commissioners' letter of the 6th inst. containing their disapproval of use being made of the male probationary ward as a workshop for the master shoemaker, and also stating that, in their opinion, he should not be provided with a bed in the workhouse.
- letter from Enniscorthy Union containing a copy of a petition of parliament for the purpose of giving out door relief in case of a scarcity in the Commissioners' session etc.
- letter from Mallow Union containing a copy of a memorial to the Lords of her Majesty's treasury.

Medical Report:
A woman named Hanora Connealy aged 70 years died in the infirm ward of chronic diarrhea on Sunday last. We have 23 patients in the infirmary and 34 in fever hospital.
                                                            James Shannon M.D.

Resolved that our clerk do transmit to the secretary of the Central Committee at Ennis a copy of our resolution of the 5th inst. and intimate to him that very conflicting accounts on the subject of the potatoe crop have been given by the several persons whose opinion be required, even concerning the same localities, and that it is the opinion of the board that it is at present impossible to acquire any thing like accurate information on the subject and that it cannot be reasonably expected until it shall be fully examined whether the rot has ceased or not.

[437]
- that it is the opinion of the board that the medical officers, or one of them, shall henceforth visit the fever hospital at 10 o'clock in the morning and 4  o'clock in the afternoon on every day and that this resolution be communicated to them.

It appears to this committee that the boys in the school appear clean and orderly with the exception of one boy who is punished and reprimanded. The girls' school appears clean and regular and the committee recommend some check for safes for the whole number.
                                        Mathias Kenny.
                                Chairman of Committee,

Resolved:
- that an advertisement be posted calling for tenders again this day week for all matters connected with the shoemaking trade, of which the master will give the particulars. Also for 175 yards of check 1 yard wide for 140 safes for girls, and that a draft for 18 shillings be drawn in favour of the Commissioners of Education for books, and that an advertisment for 12 buckets be posted.
[438]
- that Nance Byrth, Betty Downes, Nance Doherty, Catherine Flahavin, Margaret Fitzpatrick, Mary Daxon and their families be forthwith discharged for having refused to wash the clothing at the fever hospital.
- that each pauper be supplied with 1 lb of bread and 1 pint of milk on Xmas eve, 1/2 oz coffee, 2 ozs sugar and 1 lb of bread on Xmas night and 1 lb of well salted pork on Xmas night and that an advertisment for the meat be posted inviting tenders again this day week.
- that the contract for salt, soap, candles, meal, bread, milk etc. be adjourned to this day month.
- that checks be drawn in favour of the following persons viz.

- that the Chairman's notice of motion as regards the revisor's books be postponed for a month from this day.
[439]
That in consequence of the favourable report made by the committee appointed to enquire into the complaint against the schoolmaster and schoolmistress, that the chairman do warn each that in the event of any further complaint the defaluter or defaulters would be dismissed, and further,
Resolved that both are bound to attend the workhouse on Sundays.

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