Auction at Ballinasloe Workhouse

Western Star, December 16, 1854.

On Tuesday last by order of the Board of Guardians, Mr. John M'Nevin commenced to sell by public Auction in the Dining Hall of the Workhouse a large collection of clothing materials and bedding which had become useless to the Institution, in consequence of the decrease in the number of Inmates. Those necessaries in the shape of Blankets, Sheeting, Ticks, and Furniture, had been procured when the union was obliged to support three thousand paupers — now the number of inmates is little more than four hundred, with no likelihood of a great increase. Intimation of the auction having been widely circulated throughout the district, the peasantry of both sexes, flocked in large number to the sale. A most important feature in the improvement of the condition of the lower classes was manifested on this occasion. Many of the bidders for blankets, had themselves only a couple of years previous, slept beneath them, while recipients, of Union Relief! Now they came forward to purchase for themselves the very blankets which covered them when they were paupers. With a more prosperous condition however, there is little improvement in the moral tone of the peasantry. Tuesday was dispensary day and several parties who had as beggars got medical relief, subsequently attended the Workhouse and purchased blankets. This is not as it ought to be, and with a four and nine penny rate on this Electoral Division, we tell the Poor Law Guardians, and the Dispensary Committee that they are not fulfilling the trust reposed in them in granting tickets to parties who are better able to pay for medicines than many others who do so, and it is to be hoped that the Dispensary Committee under such circumstances will enter into a proper scrutiny of the parties who are at present obtaining relief.