{17b} It seems desirable to mention that in both the years 1844 and 1845 the benefits of the Coal Fund have extended over the whole of Kensington—St. Mary Abbots, St. John’s, and St. James’s. A Coal Fund and Clothing Fund have also been established in St. Barnabas’ District supported by local contributions. {19} “It very gratifying” writes a visitor, “to observe the alacrity with which the women went to their boxes to get out their Clothing Fund cards and money. [The deposits were collected weekly by the Visitor in person.] The exchequer of the poor in this, an Irish district, generally consists of a few shillings deposited within a very small box carefully kept within two or three other boxes, or at the bottom of an old chest. On no one occasion has any bad money been offered to him. The money is generally, indeed invariably, paid by the females. The confidence with which they give their money is a trait not to be unnoticed; it being often difficult to prevent them paying their money in the street, and without any card or check. When the Visitor has been prevented from calling at the time appointed, they have very frankly and very properly reminded him of it.” {20a} It not unfrequently happens that residents have needle-work, charing, or other work to be done, and are at a loss to know where to find respectable persons to undertake it. A reference to a District Visitor will both supply their want and at the same time obtain employment for some deserving individual to whom it may prove an invaluable assistance. A large number of sempstresses, charwomen, laundresses, &c., depend solely upon the work which they are casually able to obtain. {20b} The intervention of the Visitors has been productive of most valuable assistance in many other respects. The following instances have been reported as occurring in a SINGLE district: Mrs. A. came to me in great distress in consequence of her goods being about to be seized for rent. She owed about a pound; she begged of me to save them. She stated that in about a fortnight she should go out as a monthly nurse, and then she should be able to pay. She had told her landlord this but he was inexorable. In consequence of my opinion of her character, I called on the landlord and reasoned with him, and begged a little time for the poor woman; which he granted me. _She has since discharged the debt_.