Winter having retired from the office of overseer, which he had filled with great satisfaction to the parishioners for three years, a special vote of thanks was unanimously agreed to. Messrs Bromley and Amoore both spoke of his valuable services in eulogistic terms. In acknowledging the vote of thanks, Mr. Winter expressed a hope that during the ensuing year some scheme would be adopted for the better distribution of the Magdalen Charity. He believed that the £90 then distributed annually in the parish was the foundation of much pauperism; that it encouraged certain ideas in the minds of parties three or four months before it was given away; and that, in fact, it was doing more harm than good. He knew that the churchwardens, with whom the distribution of the money rested, were anxious that some other scheme should be adopted, and he believed that if the vestry were to devise a reasonable one, the Charity Trustees and the Lord Chancellor would assent to it. He thought if they were to increase the amount of the several distributions and reduce the number of recipients, it would be much better; or they might borrow £200 or £300 and build two or three alms houses, which they might endow with £15 each, by which means they might be rendering great relief to those who were really deserving of it. As there was a probability that the charity money would greatly increase, and might ultimately be as much as £500 a year, he thought now was the proper time to take steps in the matter. – Several persons expressed opinions favourable to Mr. Winter’s suggestions, and it was arranged to specially consider the matter at the next vestry.
The All Saints meeting was held in the church vestry-room, on the 27th of March, with Mr. C. Moore in the chair. Mr. H. N. Williams and Mr. A. Harvey were re-elected churchwardens; Mr. D. Wood and H. Grisbrook, sidesmen; Messrs C. Moore and E. Welfare (nominated) as overseers for another year; Messrs T. Lock, E. Coussens, and Joel Richardson, assessors; Mr. G. Meadows re-elected vestry-clerk; Mr. J. Lettine re-appointed parish-clerk; Mr. G. White appointed sexton; and Mr. W. Giles, organist.
St. Clements. At a vestry meeting of this parish on the 18th of April, a poor-rate at 1/- in the £ was agreed to, and Mr. George Gorley was appointed to the office of assessed-taxes collector to succeed Mr. Ainslie Harwood, who had resigned.
All Saints held another vestry on the 10th of July, and agreed to a poor-rate at 1/4. The “empties” were the smallest in number for many years past, and the persons on the “black list”, were ordered to be summonsed if their defaults were not made good within a month. – Mr. H. N. Williams applied to have the rating of his house at High Wickham raised £13 a year, as an act of justice to the parish, the property having risen in value since he became the tenant, and would in his opinion, if vacated, fetch 50 per cent more rental than it would a few years ago. The application was granted, with thanks to the applicant.
