Ennistymon Union Minute Books

Book No. 2 

Meetings held from 19th December 1845 - 9th January 1846

[440]
Meeting held on Friday the 19th December 1845.

The register book was signed from No. 1465 to No. 1484.

The clerk reported that Pat Lynch and securities have perfected their bond for supplying meat.
[441]
The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was produced by which it appeared that there had been

Read Commissioners' letter
- of 8th Dec inst. accompanying queries to be answered by guardians & medical officers with regard to the disease among potatoes.
- of the 11th inst. accompanying a return of paupers to be made up and forwarded on every Saturday distinguishing those placed on electoral divisions from those placed on the union at large.
[443]
- of the 13th inst. as regards the additional allowance given to women at work in the fever hospital.
- of the 6th inst. accompanying a return of paupers to be amended by the clerk.

Resolved that a check for 30 be drawn in favour of the master to purchases potatoes, 2.6.7 only remaining in his hands of 10.0.0 advanced him for that purpose.

Resolved that checks be drawn in favour of the following persons viz.

Medical Report:
We had 2 deaths in the fever hospital on the 16th December namely Pat Gallagher and John Carmody and 33 still remain in the house. We had 2 deaths in the infirmary from chronic diarrhea, both came into the house in a dying state some short time since. One named John Quinn died last night, the other Biddy White died this morning and 23 still remain under medical treatment.
The fever hospital, I am sorry to say, is not kept as well as I should wish, as it is, generally speaking, in a filthy, disorderly state and would recommend the board to have the nurse tender brought before them and cautioned.
[444] The ticks are too small to fill the boxbeds and would require to be enlarged or new ones had, as the present ones are very uncomfortable. We require the medicine named in the accompanying list for the surgery.
                                    James Shannon M.D.

With references to the Commissioners' letter of the 13th inst. I think the extras allowed the attendants in the fever hospital very necessary for their health and would recommend a quart of tea for the persons staying up at night.
                                    James Shannon M.D.

Medicine required for the use of the workhouse Dec. 19th 1845.
Castor oil, one gallon; Rheubarb [sic] powder, 1/4 lb. with bottle; spirits of turpentine, one gallon; white ointment, 6 lb; Bazelicon ointment, 2 lb; senna leaves, 2 lb; cream of tartar, 2 lb; oil of peppermint, 2 ozs; compound tinture of cardamon, half pint; tinture of opium, 2 pints; tinture of digitalis, one pint; vinegar, one gallon; lint, 6 lb; arrow root, 1/2 a stone; linseed meal, 2 stone; threacle [sic], 4 stone; adhesive plaister [sic] spread, 4 yards; alodic pill mass, 4 ozs; hydrodate of potash, 4 ozs; sulphat [sic] of zinc, 1 ozs; borate of soda, 2 ozs.
                                James Shannon M.D.

Resolved
- that we accept Mrs Moran's tender for new milk for 12 months at three half pence farthing per quarter.
[445]
- that we accept Pat O'Dwyer's tender for 175 yards of linsey check at 8 3/4d per yard for girls' safes.
- that we accept John Fallon's tender for leather and shoemaker's findings.
- that in accordance with the recommendation of the medical officers a quart of tea be supplied each night to the fever hospital for the women who remain up in addition to the extras allowed on the 5th inst.
- that 40 yards of tick be brought from Mr O'Dwyer for the purpose of enlarging the beds in the fever hospital.

No meeting on the 26th December 1845 as no guardians attended.

[446]
Meeting held on Friday the 2nd of January 1846.

The register book was signed from No. 1485 to No. 1518.

The clerk reported
That Michael Guthrie, collector for Ennistymon Electoral Division, did not attend to settle his accounts previous to this meeting
[447]
The treasurer's book of receipts and payments was producedby which it appeared that the

Read:
- Commissioners' letter of the 16th ult. accompanying instruction for the master of the workhouse which instructions were lead before the board.
[449]
- letter from Mr James Hayes, solicitor, bearing date 19th Dec 1845 claiming the sum of eight pounds being the amount of costs (as he stated) attendant on the late transaction with Mr George MacNamara.
The clerk laid the bill of costs the board.
- letter from the Commissioner of Education of 19th Dec 1845 enclosing the guardians check for 18/- issued to them for books on the 12th inst. and requiring in its stead some other order that would be payable in Dublin.
- letter from the Mansion House Committee, bearing date 3rd of Dec. last, on the subject of the means of giving employment to the labourers.
- Commissioners' letter, bearing date 23rd ult. acknowledging the receipt of the guardians replies to the queries with reference to the potatoe crop and conveying their thanks for the communication.
- Commissioners' letter of 24th ult. with respect to the discharge of female paupers on the 12th ultimo.
- Commissioners' letter of the 26th ult. with reference to the nurse tender.

[450]
Resolved
- that a draft be drawn in favour of the master for 3.11.4 1/2, balance due to him in reference to the resolutions of the 28th November 1845 and 5th December 1845.
- that a check be drawn in favour of the master for 10.0.0 to purchase meal, bread, candles, soap, salt etc. for the next week.
- that checks be drawn in favour of the following persons for the folowing sums viz.

It appearing that the former salaries of the medical officers was payable quarterly, that is to say on the 25th of March, 25th of June, 29th Sept and 25th December, and that the additional salary for attending the fever hospital commenced on the 13th Oct. last and it being desirable that their salaries in future should be payable quarterly on the same days,
Resolved that a draft be now drawn in favour of each for 9.5.9 to discharge the original and additional salary up to the 25th of Dec last.
[451]
That we forego the sum of 1/11 1/2 rate uncollectable in Kilshanny Electoral Division and the sum of 10/5 1/2 rate uncollectable in the Liscannor Electoral Division, first having had the collectors' declaration before a magistrate to that effect.
The master having stated that the schoolmaster is in the habit of absenting himself on Sundays and other irregularities,
Resolved that said schoolmaster be dismissed unless he shows sufficient cause to the contrary on this day fortnight and that our clerk do furnish him with a copy of the resolution.
The letter of Mr Hynes to the clerk being read, requiring payment of 8.0.0 the amount of his bill of costs for sueing the sureties of James Callinan, one of the collectors of poor rate, and Mr Hynes having intimated to the board on a former occasion that the settlement proposed by Mr MacNamara, one of said sureties, might be accepted without costs and the settlement having taken place accordingly,
Resolved
- that our clerk do in his reply merely express the regret of the board that Mr Hynes' memory is defective on the point referred to.
- that Mr John Herbert, architect, do inspect the trade workshop at the Ennis Workhouse and give a plan and specification for a similar building to be attached to this workhouse and that he be requested to have the same before the board on this day fortnight.
[452]
- that in reference to the master's report, respecting the contracts for building the piggory [sic], supplying milk, turf and meat to the workhouse that proceedings be forthwith taken against the several contractors unlessample compensation be made this day fortnight and other good causes be shown to the contrary and further resolved that the board will not in future admit any excuse for breaches of contract and that our clerk do send a copy of this resolution to each contractor,
In reference to the Commissioners' letter of the 6th inst.,
Resolved that the nurse tender of the fever hospital be dismissed upon the next complaint of the medical officer or master of the workhouse.
In reference to the master's journal,
Resolved that 3 tin vessels, each to contain 4 quarts, for the use of the fever hospital, 50 chamber utensils, 100 saucepans be advertised for against this day week and that the master do procure 500 nets for potatoes. Also 10 barrels of lime and 2 loads of scouring sand for which a check for 11/8 is this day drawn.

Medical Report
There are 25 patients in the infirmary and 35 in the fever hospital, some of them bad cases.
                                            Charles Finucane M.R.C.S.L

[453]
Resolved that the answers to the queries respecting the potatoe crop be put off for a fortnight with the view of acquiring more information on that subject.

The clerk reported that he examined the accounts of 5 out of the 6 collectors for the past month and he laid before the board on return of the state of the union funds for the month of December and also the collectors' monthly return books Form F from which he drew up the following abstract of the state of their respective collectors for the month.

[454]
The meeting of the 9th January 1846 is adjourned to the 16th of January 1846.

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