EXTRAORDINARY PROPOSALS TO GUARDIANS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2778, 3 May 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

EXTRAORDINARY PROPOSALS TO GUARDIANS.

The following extraordinary, letter, addressed to the chairman, caused great amusement at a meeting of the Richmond Board of Guardians lately : —" The Hermitage, Barnes, Feb, 19. Dear sir, —The small number of inmates attending the Sunday services at the Richmond Union Workhouse chapel is a deplorable fact, and the guardians have acted wisely in discussing the subject, and suggesting means for the improvement of the present condition of things. I have no desire to

interfere in any way with your chaplain, though I would be glad to help hiin in making his congregation more numerous. With that view I beg to make application for the post of assistant chaplain, which I am willing to fill without any fixed salary. I have had considerable experience iu reforming the worldly, and I believe I could solve the great problem which is now troubling the guardians. I only ask for payment by results. If there are three hundred inmates, I think in the course of a few months I could get two hundred and fifty of these at the Sunday services. I would only stipulate that the guardians should pay me fourpence per head for every addition to the present number regularly attending the chapel, with an extra penny per head for each ease in which I bring a Roman Catholic to the Established faith. I would also under, tike to make the musical services attractive, if the guardians would allow me to put the best singing inmates in surplices, which the lady visitors might make for them. I would, with your permission, introduce full choral service, with an occasional orchestral accompaniment. This I could make easy, as one of iny sons plays the oboe and the other the fife, while my daughters are proficient iu tbe 'cello, the comet, and the double bass. I can also do a little on the trombone, and I would willingly undertake the conductorship. Ido not doubt that in a very little time, with bright and cheerful services, I could bring the wholo of the inmates to chapel regularly. As a minister of the Establishment, I am very anxious to commence my duty forthwith, and shall be glad if you will lay my letter before the guardians at their next meeting, feeling assured that my inexpensive offer will be gladly accepted. —Believe me, yours very truly,

"Petkr Thomas M'Ccllijm." The guardians declined the offer with thanks.