27 FEBRUARY 1864, Page 3

Mr. Rawlinson, C.E., has reported to the Poor Law Board

on the working of the Public Works Act passed for the relief of Lancashire. It seems that the cotton towns have either taken, or are taking, the whole sum of 1,500,0001., the actual amount already granted being 883,700/. ; that of the latter amount 65 per cent. is being spent on roads and sewers, another large per- centage on waterworks, and the rest on private enterprise ; that the works are very beneficial and very well done, but that they have employed fewer cotton hands than was expected. Those workmen who have been employed have benefited greatly in health, and one excellent effect of the scheme has been to popularize out- door labour.