No. 52.-Charity for a Schoolmistress, Parish Clerk, &c.

The donor, who died in 1798, devised to his son-in-law and his heirs three tenements in trust to permit the same to be occupied by the parish clerk, a schoolmistress, and a poor widow.

The clerk to repair his own house and pay quit-rent.

The three tenements to be at the disposal and under the management of the rector of the parish for the time being.

The son-in-law of the donor succeeded him as rector, and died about 1843. The family of the latter, on leaving the neighbourhood, left the management in hands of the succeeding rector, who is now the incumbent.

He found three rooms occupied by labouring men, and another used as a Sunday-school.

The whole was going to decay.

He repaired the two tenements at his own expense, and converted two rooms into one for a day-school, and the other two for residences of a schoolmaster and his wife, they living in them rent free, and the rector paying the rates.

The rector has written to us stating that there had been no schoolmaster previously, that one was much wanted; and inquired whether, after repairing the property, he should be justified in converting the two tenements into a school and schoolmaster's house.

It will be observed that there was no fund for repairs, and that the heir of the person named as trustee has left the neighbourhood, relinquishing the property to the succeeding rector of the parish.

This case is not mentioned as one in which there has been mismanagement; but the rector has applied for advice, feeling that he is not justified in altering the objects of the foundation. It is an instance in which power to give advice and a cheap mode of obtaining a scheme would be useful; and trustees are required.

No. 53.-General Charity for Poor, same Parish as the preceding.

It appears by the Parliamentary Returns under Gilbert's Act, that one house was given in 1558 to the poor, and that another had been given by an unknown donor.

At the date of report of the late Commissioners (1836), the houses were occupied by parish paupers.

The buildings being dilapidated, the parish attempted to sell them as parish property, but were prevented by the rector, who applied to us. He was supplied with a copy of the report of the late Commissioners in reference to this Charity; and such report being shown to the parishioners, they were convinced that they I could not sell the houses.

The rector states that, if let at a trifling rent, and money placed in savings' bank for a few years, he should be able to rebuild them.

He also states that the parishioners are well disposed, and that if we would state authoritatively how the property should be managed, our advice would be strictly attended to.

We have no power to give such advice. The case shows that such power might be useful.

Trustees should be appointed.

Gift of rent-charge of 20s. out of land to the vicar for the poor、
The rent-charge has not been paid for the last 25 years.

The vicar has applied to us on the subject.

The rent-charge is probably lost from neglect.

Built by founder short time prior to 1705; vested in trustees by deed of that date.

1007. given to trustees by founder.

Schoolmaster to be appointed by founder or his heir.

His salary to be 31. 12s. per annum, to teach 12 poor boys.

Each boy to have 4d. per annum for encouragement.

Nothing was paid to children at the time of the inquiry in 1830.

5s. for vicar, schoolmaster, and trustees, to drink, was paid by the Master to the trustees.

By deed of 1752, the then sole surviving trustee appointed others.

In such deed it is stated that the 100/. was then due on bond from Richard Jones.

Since 1752 new trustees appointed, and names entered in school-book, but no deeds executed.

Interest on the bond has been paid up to 1845.

The bond for 954, dated 25th May 1739, is in possession of the vicar.

Representative of Obligor known and able to pay, but there are no trustees who can apply for payment.

The Charity is too small to bear the expense of legal proceedings requisite for placing it on a proper footing: on the other hand, if no steps be taken, the endowment will probably be lost.

No. 56.- Charity in Lincolnshire.

Rent-charge of 6s. 8d. out of house and land for bread to poor widows. Donor unknown.

Owner refuses to pay it, and expresses his determination to contest the claim. Incumbent and churchwardens have applied to us for advice.

No trustees.

No. 57.-A School in Yorkshire.

Schoolmaster's house, which constitutes sole endowment, and which he is bound to repair, is going to decay, and no one empowered to compel him to repair.

The parties interested do not apply for appointment of trustees on account of the expense.

No. 58.-A Charity in Chester.

Rent charge of 30s. out of house and land; date and mode of gift unknown. Was paid till within the last few years, and distributed in money to poor. Payment now refused by owner of Property.

No trustee to enforce payment.

The rent of 12A. 1R. 8P. of land (327.) stated to have been left for repair of eight cottages for poor is applied as follows: 10l. to poor-law guardian; 127. to a person to collect the parish rates; remainder to church-rates.

Application stating the above circumstances was made to us by the overseer and surveyor of highways, with the concurrence of the parish officers, and re questing our intervention.

The establishment of a cheap tribunal for settling a scheme would place this Charity on a proper footing.

No. 60.-A School in Berkshire.

In this case application has been made by the trustees to us for advice as to na

exchange which seems desirable, but which we have no power to authorize or entertain, and which in the present state of the law cannot be effected except at a very considerable expense.

No. 61. -A small Town in the County of Derby,

Is entitled to participate in 28 Charities, the total income of which is only 1037. 11s. 4d. Of this amount 247. 10s. is for educational purposes; 561. 3s. 10d. for the general benefit of the poor; 15l. 12s. 6d. for apprenticing; and 6l. 15s. for the minister of the parish for his own use.

Nearly the whole of these charities are mismanaged, many of them in danger of being lost for want of trustees, the appointment and continuance of whom would be too expensive for these small Charities; and few of the Charities are of much practical use.

The parishioners, in a communication to us, stated that they were desirous that all the Charities should be consolidated and vested in the minister and churchwardens, in order to avoid expense in the continued appointment of new trustees to each; that the moneys in the hands of individuals should be invested in Government securities, and a scheme obtained for the future application of the funds in one general beneficial object.

Such a measure would be very desirable, but it cannot be effected at present without a private Act of Parliament. An alteration of the law, by enabling the ordinary tribunals to consolidate small charities in one place, would meet the requirements of this parish.

No. 62.-Charities in Wales.

Three separate charities, all intended for purposes of education, and producing respectively 243l. 68. 4d., 1147., and 105/

Consolidation desirable, and a scheme for improved management. tees applied to us for advice.

No. 63.-Parish Lands.

Situated in a country parish.

Consist of eight old cottages, with gardens, and about 12 acres of land.
Date and object of gift unknown.

Managed by churchwarden and overseers.

The trus

Cottages inhabited by poor persons rent free; some repaired by tenants, others by parish.

Question arose at vestry meeting as to repairs, and it was determined to charge rents on tenants for that purpose. Demand made by parish officers for rent, which was paid by some of the tenants and refused by others.

Those refusing to pay were summoned by parish officers under recovery of Possession of Tenements' Act. The application was dismissed by the magistrates, the parish officers not being able to prove title.

Defaulters have since been served with notices under Poor Act, 59th Geo. III. Application has been made to us, stating the above circumstances, and asking for our interference.

No. 64.-A General Charity for the Poor.

Deed of feoffment, dated 1612, states that an inn and an acre of meadow land had been given for the poor of the town.

The donor, and also the date and mode of gift, are unknown.

The inn was afterwards pulled down, and a malt-house and buildings erected on the site.

At the time of the Inquiry by the late Commissioners (1834), the same were let on lease for 21 years from 1825 at the rent of 150%., the lessee being bound to keep and leave the same in good repair.

The lease of the malt-house expired in 1846.

A survey was made of the state of the property, and 250l. paid by the executors of the lessee in lieu of executing the necessary repairs.

That sum, with other moneys, was expended in altering and repairing the property.

Synopsis of Cases by Charity Commissioners.

469

During progress of repairs, the dilapidations were discovered to be more extensive than anticipated.

The malt-house was therefore pulled down.

The income reduced by that means from 150l. to 1071. per annum.

In 1847, 1848, 1849, above 1,300l. was spent in repairs, &c.

There are from 50 to 60 feoffees, two or three of whom hold property as tenants or lessees of the Charity.

The income of this Charity, with that of seven small Charities (making altogether, at the time of the Inquiry by the late Commissioners, upwards of 2401.), is distributed annually among the poor of the parish generally, in sums varying from 31. to 2s., a preference being given to those not receiving parochial relief. Application for advice has been made to us by one of the feoffees.