gas free, in consideration of the assistance to be rendered in the shop by his wife." A reading-room was also opened in February, 1867. During 1901 and 1902 very considerable extensions were made to the premises, which now forms one of the largest of the society's branches, and comprises grocery, butchering, drapery, and boot and shoe shops, and a large bakery. an Two notable events occurred during this year (1861); one was the decision to allow a dividend of 10d. per £ on the purchases of non-members. This was entirely new departure, and was done with the evident intention of attracting custom from persons who did not care to join as members. The other was the commencement of what is known as the " Leakage System" of accounts in connection with the branches. The resolution puts it in the form, "That an account of the goods sent to Golborne be kept at the Retail price and balance struck at the end of the Quarter in the usual way." The leakage system, in a much more elaborate form, has been continued to the present day; a complete record of the leakage account of each shop from 1875 to the present day is still preserved. BRANCH SHOPS AT ATHERTON, WESTLEIGH AND NEWTON-LEWILLOWS; FIRST DELEGATES TO A CONFERENCE; THE SOCIETY AS CATTLE KEEPERS; THE COTTON FAMINE. IN June, 1862, the first branch shop in Atherton district was opened in a warehouse, in Churchstreet, at the corner of Mealhouse-lane, owned by Mr. Wm. Hesketh. The first attempt at co-operation in Atherton had been made about eighteen months earlier. The committee of this society consisted of Messrs. James Yates, Thos. Smith Adam Bowker and Allan Hodson. The shop was next door to the "Jolly Nailor Inn," Marketstreet, and is now occupied by Mr. Howcroft, butcher. The old shop, however, has been pulled down and rebuilt. William Marsh was the manager. The effort however, was a failure from the beginning. After about eighteen months the manager left and opened a shop on the opposite side of the street. The Leigh Society was approached and asked to take over the business, and the old stock and utensils were bought for the sum of £76, and transferred to the old warehouse in Church-street, previously mentioned. Mr. Allan Hodson, one of the committee-men of the old society, was appointed the first manager of the shop, and he kept the position for nearly twenty years. Prior to this appointment he had been assisting in the old shop in Brunswick-street, Bedford. Mr. Hodson was brother to William Hodson, who is still managing the central grocery shop in Albion-street. The old warehouse continued to be occupied for nearly three years. In February, 1865, the business was removed to the shop at the corner of the commencement of the Old and New Bolton-roads; the owner being Mr. Philip Manley, and the rent paid £10 per year. The shop is now occupied as a stationer's shop by Mr. Broadbent. In February, 1872, the business was again removed to a shop in Church-street, owned by Mrs. Norbury, and was taken on a seven years' lease, at £21 per year. The site is now occupied by the Manchester and County Bank. In 1881, the site now occupied by the grocery and drapery shops was taken on a 99 years' lease from Lord Lilford, the old building on the site being given in free. About £260 was spent on the building to make it suitable for the society's business. This building was entirely demolished in 1899, and the present commodious grocery and drapery shops erected. During the rebuilding of the premises, a shop in Market-street, next to the Parish Church, and now occupied by Mr. Baxendale, was taken on a short lease. As a proof of the courage and the confidence of the committee, witness the following resolutions passed by them in July, 1862, only five years after the society commenced business, in the simple and modest way previously described : Resolved: "That the question of having an agent in Ireland for collecting Butter and Eggs be further considered at the next meeting.' Resolved: "That Adam Smith and James Roach go to Ireland on Monday next." The two persons named went to Ireland, and their joint expenses for the journey was the modest sum of £5. os. 3d. |