The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-02-16 00:00:00

SUPPLY OF GAS IN LIVERPOOL On Tuesday, C. Ellison and George Lowe, the govern- 'rent officers appointed to make inquiries as to the sup ply of gas in Liverpool, resumed their sitting. The first of the Gua Mr. Swift, been accustei witness called to-day was / /dim Gas Company. He N _ . - sidered the c 3licitor forthecom knufactu r. Cox, engineer is examined by and said he had as, and had con- as to tl )se - d ere Guardian Gas Company is about 200 yards fa the t pany, produci n than the irop; sect new The wort had been in the creatior public lam! taken his d of heat content to sup per 1,000 feet, price. He wa. would the pric cost ot was als( and his cl The loss 1 - was a 1 Liverpo the comp coke mad that pt and to 235. M mated at 16: 12rs. per ton a ton of cam proposed ne' expendituro 100 millions a dividend of 7 boriowed. Ti thousand feet, on examinatior and the put twelve mon that he had co. town of the of the Okl Com- hick is a low situ the proposed new_ main ,ss whi to sell at. a lea the town lamps dso pri 100 feet of The patent v osed to 1 which ne for 1 light ar. He had Ain that, estimating the public t, the return to the proprietors the sale exceeded 100,000,000, r would be reduced. The total ke, and gas at 'I was is. 10d al were selling ti Land he had esti- the pit mouth was ited the profits of the residue of ;. 2d. per ton. The cost of the estimated at £115,4300 ; the total _, and the estimated produce of of eas at £24,825. This would yield ;ent. for money . .ge for the 1 3 10s. 6d. f for five mit contract to supply the town he had mentioned, at about Ling of the bill. He also stated Lstructed ett or twc ,s works fi various towns, and that his plan was peenliaily applicable to a place like Liverpool, where there was a large demand for- coke. If the company were to buy their own coal, and sell their coke, the cost of the gas would not be so much as his estimate by a shilling per thousand feet ; and at one manufactory at Bristol they made their gas for less than nothir from t their g Mr. Ov e great.profif to the company would arise of coke, and this would enable them to sell LLIAMS was the next witness, and the tendency of his evidence went to show that the Guardian Gas Company had made a provisional bargain for the land for their works, and he thought that if the landowner were to introduce gas into hous nual rental, it would b nants, and the consumpt , This concluded the cas. The TOWN-CLERK r Committee, which was ence would arise from great accommodation to the te m would be increased ten-fold. for the bill a resolution of the Paving he effect that great inconveni- taking up the pavement in the y be justified on the ground of the i could Intage, and that they wished to hear ti brought b.efore the court, before decidi g as to what steps ti should take WEDNESDAY Mr. CARSOIS. solicitor, at considerable length, ad dressed the court. in opposition to the Mr.- Swift. He denied that, as far as his e estab: concerned, there ha.c , rnpany wa been a forced reductior, price of gas, except the reduction which took place in 1841, in compliance with a clause inserted in the act of Parliament. It was quite clear, he said, that the present companies, with their present consumption and present mode of manufacture, could not produce gas at the rate of 3s. Bd. per 1,000 cubic feet. Mr. Cox's patent, al thoegh it bad been taken out for six or seven years, had not been adopted by any large town ; and he contended that the commissioners could not favourably report upon a scheme the success of which so much depended upon getting an excellent market for coke, any steady demand for which, he contended, had not been sufficiently proved. Mr. Carsbn, at great length, then proceeded to reply to what he called an imputation cast out by Mr. Swift, that the present companies (after being bound by the under stood agreement in the mons to amalgamal mrimitteeof the House of Com me the Guardian Gas' Bill re- jected), had only come down to Liverpool and "met to differ," so that no such arrangement had been carried out.—Mr. Carson, at his own request, was sworn, and gave evidence, from a transcript of the minutes of the company he represented, of the proceedings taken rela tive to the amalgamation. From his evidence it appeared that a meeting of the sub-committees of the two compa, nies was held at the office in Dale-street, on the 15th of Nay, 1845, (Mr. Thompson, (one of the deputation from the Newington company,) in the chair. The meeting differently interpreted the words of the printed paper brought before the House of Commons, and ti was that the, conferer - , broke up. Mr. Thompson considered that the object sought by the paper was that the committee should only make a preliminary inquiry into the subject of amalgamation ; Mr. Fosberry stated that his committee did not entertain this view, but held that the object sought by the paper was that the companies should consider how far the spirit of amalgamation might-be carried out in the present in stance, without any view to further parliamentary arrange, meat. Afterwards, the Liverpool Gas Company trans mitted to the New Gas and Coke Company a resolution, stating that tlie committee were strongly impressed with the opinion that the general spirit of the printed paper submitted to- the Commons, and especially the disth.et language of the assurance it contained, required the car- ' Tying out of the spirit of amalgamation and they much regretted that the New Gas and Coke Company did not think so. But, it added, if the other committee did not think this arrangement should be fully carried out, there might be some mutual arrangement made for the purpose of economy. In this resolution the committee, with the exception of Mr. Richard Earle, were unanimous. To this the New Gas and Coke Company returned a reply, that although they still held the view that the printed paper did not entail any obligation, they were ready to meet the other committee, with the view to economising, so as to enable them to reduce gas to the lowest possible rate. This was the last document which passed. Mr. LLoYI, in a very lengthy speech, then addressed the court, as solicitor to the New Gas and Coke Company. He recited the various acts which they had obtained, re ferred to the-amount and nature of the capital, and then entered into long details, in justification o his own com panyr in-reference to the question of amalgamation. The histery given by Mr. Carson, he thought, did not begin sufficiently early. The amalgamation contemplated was, the purchase of the two companies by the Corporation. The subject was considered by the Council; they approved of amalgamation, but declined the purchase. At a joint meeting of the members of both committees, held on the 15th March, 1845, it was resolved to recommend to their respective proprietors, who would be immediately con vened to consider the subject, that an act of Parliament should be applied for in the session of 1846, for the amal gamation of the two companies—that the terms of amal gamation, as to the capital, &c., of the two companies, should be agreed upon as soon as possible, any difference to be referred to arbitration ;—that until the act should be obtained, the affairs of the two companies, so far as they' referred to the outlay of further capital, should be under each other's control, so that the public might reap the advantage immediately the amalgamation might take place ;—that the committees pledged themselves to reduce the price of gas on and after the Ist of December, 1816, provided the price of coal did not exceed its present price ;—and that the foregoing resolutions were not to bind the preSent companies in_case a third company ob- tamed power to supply gas in Liverpool. These resolu tions were transmitted to the Corporation, a committee of which, together with the old Highway Board, resolved, that the three former clauses in the resolution sent were approved of ; but requested that the pro Posed reduction to 4s. 6d. should commence in July, and that it should be the maximum price, not contingent on the price of coal, nor any other event ; and also requesting that a councillor or councillors should be chosen on the com mittee of the amalgamated companies. The New Gas and Coke Company, met on the 22nd March to consider this , resolution, and wisely he (Mr. Lloyd) considered, came to a resolution to the following effect :—" That a letter be written to Mr. Earle, chairman of the T -4 Light C -nany, informing hiw. 4-1 Gas . tion received through him was this morning fully consi dered by the directors of this company, who unanimously decided that it was so far beyond the terms the companii could have anticipated, that any further meetings are un necessary." Mr. Lloyd, in continuation, said —" so much for amalgamation ; and if at this time the Corpo ration think the town would be better served by amalga mation, I am sure the companies are now, as in 1845, ready to sell their works to the public authorities ; but I am sure we will never consent, either the one company or the other, to have our funds placed under their control, while they have no personal interest in, and are not i:e sponsible for their administration." Mr. HENRY STEELS, secretary and manager of the New Gas and Coke Company, was then examined at length as to financial, &c., affairs. He stated that the company had a building nearly erected, which would enable themto supply double their present supply of gas, and the apparatus to which was to be furnished as the demand increased. To carry out these works, an addi tional capital of £105,000 would be required. The di vidend on the year eniting 30th June last was £6 13s. 9d. ; but this year, proportionately up to the present ti m e, -it would not e xceed £6ls. id. Mr. Steele was severely cross-examined by Mr. Swift, and:subsequently Mr. Reap. We subjoin, as somewhat amusing, a portion of Mr. Steele's cross-examination by Mr. Swift Ike you ,agree with Mr. Lloyd or not, that it is a good thing to have two companies ?—I thick it is better in se vered respects. la what respects conceive that the public are better satisfied by having two places to go 'to; because if they do not like the treatment-of one they can go to another. Then, if there be three, won't the advantage be greater ? (Laughter.) No. I think you may carry it top far. You will tear the streets up. I think two are better than three: (Loud laughter.) Did that occur to you when< you went for your own bill thought two better than any other number, of course. _ _ - But, how is it you fix that two should be a positive advan tage to the public, and three a disadvantage ?—Why, there are three companies there is of course a larger expendi ture of capital.—And when there ore two companies, is not there a larger expenditure than when there is only one ? Is not that true ? Yes. But there is competi tion. , Two companies excite a reasonable, a wholesome competition. (Laughter.) In consequence of the illness of Mr. Cox, the engineer, the inquiry was then adjourned till ten o'clock on Saturday. SATURDAY The-inquiry respecting the Guardian Gas Bill was again proceeded with this morning. Mr. John Rofe, examined by Mr. CARSON, on behalf of the Liverpool Gas-light Company.—As a civil engineer, and manager of the Preston gas works. Had superin tended the erection of gas works, in which coke Ovens At Reading and Guildford. In all they used ever attempted high heats. Charged every Should say they were not applicable for 0 0 rith cannel, for at Leicester, where they used coke ovens, when ,they began to make gas from cannel, to erect for them other ovens. At nls are close to the station of were used eight hour they came to witnes ri Railway, they e u - p . the use of coke over k coke ovens wer pool. Therejs:a vat want.of expans e facilitN furnace retorts naking jectioni .to the plan produced in evict ovens in The wor coke ov Mr. SWIFT s, and i' tried tin it.-had no , cry lard stated his c by Mr. Cox Re-exarni inapplicable.. ,nd were sir did not differ much from lk! by Mr. CA r. Cox's, th .—There is not mach 'een Mr. Cox and Mr. CAR pang mair iLyn.kn KING was then ealleci—e amined by M pool Gas Light ( the plans of the works and cl heard the evidence with ry bad an of the we and mains, and also to the estimates of Mr. Cox, which he had maturely considered. Had examined Mr. Cox's estimate of the expense of making this gas, and compared it with the cost of making gas at the Liverpool Gas Light Company's works ; putting down the items and cost of each in parallel columns. Mr. Cox's estimate comes to 29-95 d. His cost for the corresponding items are 26-94 d. Mr. SWIFT Less! Mr. KlNG.—They come to less. The witness then nded in a comparative statement, adding that he did not think that was the correct way of taking the accounts, but he had followed the plan of Mr. Cox. According to this account, the difference between them would be 2d. — Mr. Cox's 2d. less than his. Cross-examined by Mr. SWIFT.-1 don't say it is im- t the price stated 133 Mr. Cox mad sheVno you the xPoiente at the Liverpool Gas-light .1e to produce g but I have put dov result from - r any's works. —I have made up Re-examined by Mr. CARSON account for the charge of producing gas according to the ziven by Mr. Cox sere carefully New ( Air. Steel, manag s and Coke Com- party, gave similar evidence • Mr. CARSON said he was desirous of having the evi dence of Mr. Hawkesley, civil engineer, but found he was under examination .on the water inquiry, and likely to be for some time, and therefore he must forego the advan- Mr. SWIFT then replied at considerable length, con tending that his case, which was that gas could be af forded to the public at 3s. Bd. per thousand, had been abundantly proved, and so far from the evidence of his opponents having contradicted it, its tendency I th e. confirm i 4 The inquiry then closed, BIRKENHEAD GAS'INQUIRY. On Thursday, George Lowe, Esq., one of the Commis ppointed by her Majesty's Commissim?ers..of nd Forests, to inquiry at Birkenhead rela tive to the proposed New Gas Bill promoted by the Com missioners, held his court at the Town-hall. Cuthbert Ellison, Esq., barrister-at-law, was prevented from at tending in consequence of indisposition. Proof having been put in of the usual notice having been given, Mr. J. B. Lloyd stated that he appeared for the promoters of the New Gas Bill.. Mr. Mallaby said that he appeared in opposition to the proposed bill, for the Birkenhead and Claughton Gas and Water Company. Mr. W. Jackson appeared also in opposition, as a rate-payer and a person greatly interested in the township ; and Mr. Hicklin and Mr. Mortimer also said that they appeared in opposition as rate-payers, and also to represent a considerable body of rate►ayers who were strongly opposed to the Commis sioners proposed bill. Mr. Lloyd then said, the reasons why the promoters of the bill were anxious to be em powered to purchase the Birkenhead and Claughton Gas Company's works, mains, &c., was in order that they might have the sole power of supplying the township with ons ! anti he should show by evidence that the Coromici- ioners for the time being were opposed to the act obtained Jackson, and it would never have been passed had they been furnghed with the proper notices and a copy of the bill, before it was read a second time in the House of Commons, as then they would have been enabled effectu- ally to oppose it. hill, Staffordshire of Oxton, were s Mr.l\lees, gasometer maker, of Brierly and Mr. Henry Wood, iron merchant, ccessively called, to prove that at the time the Commissioners of the Township advertised for tenders for the supplying of Birkenhead with gas, in 1840, they put in a tender, and it was their impression when it was announced to them that Mr. Jackson had obtained the contract, that it was mainly owing to his having seen it, or a copy of it, prior to putting in his own tender—so that by offering £1 per cent. more to the Commissioners for the privilege than they had done, he was enabled to obtain the contract. Mr. Brodribb was called to prove that, as a Commissioner of the township at the time, he resigned his seat at the Board in conse quence of a meeting of rate-payers having determined, in opposition to his opinion, to support Mr. Jackson in obtaining his act. Mr. Laycock, who was a commissioner of the township in 1840 and 1841, was also examined at great length, and lie gave it as his opinion, that it would be for the benefit of the rate-payers if the power of sup plying the township with gas was transferred to the Com missioners • but he also admitted that he did not think the Commissioners were elected in a fair and honest man ner. lie was aware that the Commissioners were strongly opposed to Mr. Jackson obtaining his act; but they were prevented from opposing it in time, in consequence of their not receiving the requisite notices and a copy of the 4.-Arn M.llaln, in ywnnav times At harrnino ion of Mr Laycock's examination, the court adjourned SECOND DAY FRIDAY The Commissioner, George Lowe, Esq., C.E., resumed his inquiry on the subject of the above bill at ten o'clock. Mr.LL'ovo stated that, in order to save the time of the Commissioner, he should proceed at once to the table of requirements furnished by her Majesty's Commissioners of Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues. He then called Mr. R. G. SALTER, building surveyor, of Birkenhead, who stated that he considered the population of the town the COmmis - sioners) 18,145. He then gave a similar state ment of the statistics of the town as was lai before her Majesty's Commissioners on the inquiry respecting the Water and Sanatory Bills. He added, that there were 31,015 yards of streets lighted with public lamps, the num ber of which was 328. From a card published by the Company, it appeared that each lamp was lighted 3253 vate consumers, per Thousand cubic feet, was 7s. 6d. The present works he stated were situated in a neighbourhood likely to become densely populated, as already within a circuit of 500 yards of them there was a number of small houses building, and a population of 3689. They were by the present bill, were seeking to borrow £60,000 for the purchase of the works and making improvements. _ Al the conclusion of the evidence of Mr. Salter, Mr. LLOYD stated that his case, on behalf of the promoters of the bill, was closed, so far as the government_requirements were concernec Mr. MALLABY wished to know from Mr. Lloyd whe ther, if the commissioners obtained the bill, they intended to confine their operations solely within the jurisdiction of the existing improvement acts. If so, what provision would be made for furnishing gas to the out townships already lighted, or which the gas company had power by beyond the limits of the improvements, would entail a loss of gas, and had entailed an unnecessary outlay of capital, yet they were willing to go for powers to continue the lighting of all the districts at present supplied with gas. They, however, had no intention of lighting any other places out of the township. This closed the promoters' case. Mr. MALLABY then called Mr. Gregory, secretary to the committees of the Commissioners, to prove the accu racy of a great number of extracts from the minutes of committee meetings from 1840 down to the present time, and showing that the notice of the Birkenhead and Claughton Gas ComPtny of their intention to apply to Parliament for their bill was laid before the Commission ers, and approved of at the time, with the understanding that they should be supplied with a copy of the bill as soon as practicable. Mr. MORTIMER requested the Commissioners to call the treasurer of the Commissioners, in order to ascertain the exact state of the finances of the township. Mr. Milligan was then sent for, and upon being asked as to how much of the X 400,000 which the Commissioners were empowered to borrow under their present acts, said the actual amount on bond and open account at present expended was £307,563185., the annual amount of interest, as nearly ache could tell, was £17,800. _ . , At the request of Mr. Jackson, Mr. Milligan retired in order to procure an accurate general outline of the finan cial condition of the township. Dr. Brett, Mr. Cooper, of London, analytical chemist, Mr. Joseph Headley, chemist, and Mr. Rolfe, manager of the Preston gas works, .w.eo then examined as to the pu- THE LIVERPOOI STA-NDA;R:D. 7,10 M ==iVl ',SSL , M=IM'WI!4rtM2:eSEX.SMMIN rity and illuminating powers of the gas. Their evidence went to show that the• gas was both as pure and brilliant as in the best regulated and most extensive manufactories in the kingdom ; that.there was room within the premises of the company for the erection of additional works to supply four times the present consumption ; and that the price of gas for public lamps was exceedingly moderate, being no more than in the large town of Liverpool, where there were sa many private consumers. The price to the private consumer they also • considered very reasonable, considering the state of the town. _ _ _ Mr. Al - 01 Ea V then Y called Mr. Taylor, draper ' Mr. Willoughby, Mr. Nicholls, and Mr. Robert Hughes to prove that the present line of conduct of the Commission ers in seeking for their present bills was contrary to the wishes of the great majority of the ratepayers. Mr. Milligan not being prepared with the required statement of accounts, the inquiry was adjourned until seven o'clock, and in the mean time the. Commissioner visited the existing works, - in order to form his own judg ment of their efficiency. _ _ _ The inquiry was resumed at seven o'clock, when Mr. 14IALLAnv made a long and ahle speech against the pro posed bill. _ He pro. ted nearly as follows:-1 had anticipated, I con fess, sir i entering upon this inquiry, that very little uld e =been needful from me; ttat my learned friend uld 1 .re opened that kind of legitimate case which his bill ural.y called forth without the introduction of any of those ects calculated to excite feelings exceedingly painful to me, would =ould hay otaers-with whom I have acted, ana not at all calcu lated to promote.the. object which he had in view. ' Looking at the object of this inquiry,.which the Act of parliament under — I , You . sit prescribes, one- would have thought that the would have been, as my learned friend himself '-sion of this day's business —might have ery narrow. compass; and might have it must now be said on my part. You, will have seen how much I have been .4.rs of this township ; -and you will find that Ain received the office of clerk to the corn e year 1841, to the. present, the.most impor tant local acts for the improvement of this place have become the law of the land. I have acted throughout with those whose cordial and correct feelings were most important for the inte rests of the township. You will see that from Julie, 1841, Mr. Wm. Jackson, his brother, myself, and some others, entered upon the functions which were appointed .torus by the electors of the township, that some of the most vital.measures, which affect not the local interests of. this place only, but are ofim mense importance to this great estuary, have been devised — through all opposition carried, and, being now the law of the land, are in progress of being accomplished under these acts of parliament. To me it is an exceedingly painful thing that any dqviation from that cordial and unanimous feeling should ever have taken place ; but it is still more painful to find that that feeling could not arise between other parties, but that I, who had been the means of conducting. all these affairs through the troublesome sea, was to be involved in the struggle—that Imputations in the highest degree derogatory to' me as a man, ..necially as a professional man, have been insinn- Jc say that they have been avowed openly, for if seen frankly and openly avowed from the source .iley emanated, probably a very different issue would taken place among the commissioners themselves ; be- I believe that body would have shrunk from making the been cc spared very much rat' win although a stranger-here imputations which the daring malignity of others have done. It most have struck my friends with surprise, as it certainly did me, that a witness of the name of Mees should have ven tured to utter one of the most vile calumnies against any public officer, or the body of commissioners, for the imputation did not affed:inerely me, but the body under which 1 then acted. I allude to the daring falsehood- for I give it its proper name —that the tenders were postponed for a week, in order that Mr. William Jackson might have an opportunity of knowing their contents, and then delivering his in accordance with them. These tenders were delivered on the 7th April, and al though that witness uttered something worse than calumny of me and others in the postponement, yet I am glad that it was proved before you, from the mouth of that respectable man, Mr. A. King, as well as from his letter, entered on the records of the commissioners, that it was from his solicitations, and not for any other reason, that the . postponement took place. " the commissioners to obtain the heft King, which induced the postpone gentleman an opportunity of mated upon that day week. I union that as a new calumny, springing up at the moment, and without, I venture to say, any man who hears me or any of the commissioners having heard the slightest breath of it be fore. His daring led him to forget that a closer inquiry must naturally draw from him the circumstances of the case; and can it be believed that that man who could denounce such a proceeding as it deserved—that be could have denounced such a proceeding, and yet confess that no word of reproach, no word of complaint, had ever escaped his lips, to me, or the commissioners, or any other person in this world, up to the moment he revealed his sentiments before you.. [Mr. Mallaby denounced his conduct with great warmth, and then proceeded.] But another witness must be called, for the most extraordinary purpose that ever a witness could be called, and I dare say to the inconvenience of my learned friend; for it was just such kind of evidence, and just such result as might have been ex pected from such a witness, called to bolster up such a state ment made by Mees, .that conceived, contrary to the express wish of the commissioners, contrary to his own express tender, he intended to give the inhabitants of this township gas at the same price as theconsumers enjoyed in Liverpool—that large and wealthy community. Why the monstrosity revealeditself to your mind as soon as it was uttered, and it almost confounded and shocked me, who am so much accustomed to extraordinary statements from witnesses in courts of justice and other places. But Mr. Henry Wood, one of the gas and water com mittee, who was lately anxious, as appears from Mr. Wil loughby, to set up a rival company, and who, almost in the language of Mr. Mees ' was a disappointed gas contractor, came and was called up to say, not exactly what his intention was in making the contract, but that he heard Mr. Jackson, at he public meeting on the 30th of April, say, in reply to some mestion, by some person or other, at some time or other during that meeting—he could not tell what the subject was upon which they were talking, or what the question or what the answer was—but he hear Mr. Jackson say that we were to have gas here exactly at the same price as at Liverpool. Now a report in print—an excellent detailed report—of the proceedings of that meeting, as published in the Liverpool Mail, happened to be in the room at the time, and I was enabled to cross-examine him upon such an assertion. Not a word appears on the face of that report ; no, not a word ap pears on the face of that report of one of the most striking and important facts, and one of the most important ,gua rantees, if 'it were true, of the final success of the motion that was carried at that meeting. I could say of my own knowledge, if it were needful for me to asseverate my belief, that the majority present believe that there was no such assertion made, but the contrary. 'Without going much fur ther into the character of their testimony, I cannot abstain from adverting to that of Mr. Laycock ; but it will come more properly in the historical details of the matter, and therefore, if you please, I will advert to it in detail. Now you have it in terms, by the tender of Mr and having given that so, they were finally adju, in the year 1839 the Commissioners of Birkenhead liad several meetings, and considered the ques tion maturely of supplying the township with gas ; and, if I could carry your mind back exactly to the condition of the township at that time, and contrast it with its present condi tion, you would fully comprehend the character of the propo sals which were then submitted. You may now see this town, comparatively a large, and rich, and populous place, growing— and growing as I hope it will grow—on a much larger, more magnificent, and prosperous scale. You would that have seen it in a feeble and imperfect state, though on a growing scale; and, therefore, any man who thought proper to encounter the risk and contingencies of profit from any contract must have depended on a speculative result. Hence it was that the com missioners, crippled in their own finances, and, as it appears abundantly from the reports of the public meetings that have been adverted to—abundantly . so from the meetings of the commissioners themselves—crippled in their finances, and being only possessed of a most insignificant sum for public pur poses, felt the necessity - of resorting . to some contractor for that purpose. I will call your attention to the advertisement, which you will see is for the public and private lighting of the township of Birkenhead with gas. I will read a copy of the advertisement : re before you th, 4 ii; - &unnissioners of Birkenhead propose to grant the privileges of their Improvement Acts for publicly and privately lighting this township upon conditions which may be seen at the public-office, in Hamilton-street, Birkenhead, where further information will be given. —Dated 11th March, 1840. (Signed) "Jos. MALLABY, "Clerk of the Commissioners." Now, I call your attention to that particularly,—not that it would have been material for me to do so, if it bad not been for a little publication, signed by Mr. Laird, chairman of the Gas and Water Committee, that letter positively stated that the proposals were simply for publicly lighting this township—for lighting the public lights of this township—and that this was the sole object of the commissioners of the township. That any individull, could be found so audacious as to state, in the face of these f that he could have ventured to impose upon the public unWanding by stating that the object of the com missioners wasia•that time simply to light their public lamps, astounds the • belief at the audacity, the malignity, or any thing else you may conceive, of the individual who signed that - advertisement. It was so gross an untruth—it was done with so malignant an object—it was done so completely in the face of all truth that I cannot find language sufficiently strong to condemn any man who could thus sign an advertisement contrary to what he, as a public man, knew to be true. It was a fact that this is a part of the mis statement that has unfortunately accompanied this case ; but I have now before me fhe conditions Ilhlch were submitted to the contractors for, that purpose. (): will remember, taken from the e( , the commissioners " shall take " the gas contractor at a valuation to one calumny, which found I,y of the conditions, as you missioners' books, was that e mains and apparatus of Now, sir, having adverted ')me process very sudden has b • lavrely growth, I will come to another N7t - hich aeen more .argei circulated. That condition was one appearing in the gas com mittees' minutes, I think, of the 6th March, 1840, to be appended to conditions that were then submitted by me, from the very Ad"- I - of them, of what !thought ought t, best judgment t could for..._ be the conditions to bind any contractor.. You, I dare say, sir, are perfectly aware that conditions of that kind are conditions in favour of the lessee, to enable him safely to go on Investing his capital, because the lessees shall be bound to take his plant at the end of his term. In mining leases, and leases of that ways consi itions in favour of thi lessee against the lessor. The condition then proposed was for the benefit of the lessee, to induce him to undertake the lighting for a term of years. The tenders were made. It is said that Mr. Jack son's tender does not advert to that condition, but another ten der does. Nov, that tender which does was that of Mr. Henry Wood and Mr. flees. If the tender had been made in precise ..____ _he conditions, it would then have needed no mention of any specific one. Mr. Jackson's tender being made in conformity with the conditions 'did not mention any specific one, and it was because an alteration was engrafted upon the terms proposed by the commissioners, that it became necessary for Messrs. Nees and Wood to say anything, about conditions. (Mr. Mallaby here read a copy of the tender alluded to.) Now, sir, it was totally unnecessary for any man, who was complying with the conditions upon which he had to contract,. to enter into details of the conditions. lie might have recapitulated the s whole of them in the tender, without selecting that particular one.. But Messrs. Wood and Mees, knowing that the condition proposed was one obligatory upon the commissioners, and not obligatory upon the lessee, no doubt thought they were propos ing a great favour upon : commissioners. They offered the commissioners to have i., i option of taking, the plant. I only point out, and I really should not have noticed it if it had not struck the gentleum who instructs my learned friend that Mees and Woods' 1: ceder having _mentioned that was .a mot that they were to the obligation of the coninissi7 oners, and Mr. Jackson's tender was a proof that he was not submitting to the obligation. Now the reverse is the fact. It was something of a guarantee that Mr. Jackson, being the owner of houses and a landed proprietor, and having land un, built upon, in the best situation for making and dist ributin g gas, would use his contract in such a way as would be most be neficial to the public,—that for him to attempt to obtain very exorbitant profits—for him to attempt to Work that gas and water company inconsistent with the welfare of the township was fo do that which was suicidal of his own interest; whilst on the other hand, any other individual, who resided out of the town, and had no local interest, would necessarily attempt to abstract all the advantages he could for such a contract, and confer but little good upon the public. Now, that is just the state of things. With regard to Messrs. Wood and•Mees, they had the condition before them, and one of which was that the rent must be at least ..f6 to commence with, and there must be an increase of £3 per annum up to the expiration of the lease. Second, that they must supply lights at the some price as at Liverpool. These gentlemen, instead of stepping one inch beyond the least allowable tender, stop at the last limit, and confine themselves to the absurdity of at; that they were to have it, because they offered the lowest pos sible sum. If I were to offer to public competition awl say that 1 would not let a thing for, less. than ,elOO, surely some man would offer XlOl, if he desired to have it. I would not have troubled you at such length, were it not for the necessity of. making an exposition of these tenders, as I think you have seen that his contract, which was finally entered into, does not contain the obligatory clause—namely, that the corn- .41t7J , MW:mAll!ig . : missioners are to take the works:at the end of seventy-five years. I thought that the condition obliged them, whether they would or not. It was by my advice that they, after-the tender was accepted, got rid of the clause; and Lam proud to say that that advice was giyen, as. it was received, with the best feelings for the interest of the township. I could then perceive that there might be in seventy-five years modes of illuminating the township very different from that of distributing gas by mains and through smaller pipes into houses. I could conceive the possibility of every man registering his own mains and making his own lights, and taking the chance of there being any change in the mode of illuminating. It is not needful forme to say anything more than refer to Mr. Laycock, who was the only witness called adverse to that bill by the commissioners, who knew best what the feelings of the gas company was who had sanctioned that contract. Look you at what he says. What a triumph it was at the time that they had escaped from the clause. At the meeting of the 30th April, Mr. Laycock remarked that "he bad supposed at first that the clauses in the bill, in reference to water, would confer an advantage upon the township; and as to gas, if the act did not pass, Mr. Jackson will not be entitled to any pipes laid down, except those on his _ own e ' e Those in tb ,- 'blic sib ^t th grou and buildings. ie pm, .reets, a, -le termination of Mr. Jackson's lease, would below.' ' to the town- Thip..(Applause.) He thought it only fair that Mr. Jackson should have asked the commissioners' liberty to proceed with the bill. As they bad not done so, but in opposition to them carried it on so far, he would say—stop the bill until another session of parliament. In opposition to this, some might say, consider the expense already incurred in its progress. `l'his they had nothing to do with. It was their own duty to look to their own interests and those of their posterity, and resolutely to oppose every attr 'nt at monopoly; trusted that the present meeting would show - bytheir votes this evening their determination to do so. (Applause.)" Now, sir, this is just the effects of such a clause not being in troduced into the contract. You know something of the con struction which the Gas Committee of that day put upon the effort .of escaping from that clause. It was quite obvious why I advised this.. At the end of seventy-five years, Mr. Jackson would have the right of distributing any gas in this township. All the privileges which that lease conferred upon him become at once a dead letter. He would cease to light any lamps or public lights, he would cease to lay any mains, or to exact any rent for private lights ; and then, if 11.1 r. Jackson were the owner 'of these useless mains, what is his position ? It is quite obvi ous that he would not have the means of using that property; and if he had the ri g ht to tak e th em u p and sell them for old iron, he would get very . little for them, and he.would have been delighted for the commissioners to take them at a valuation I tl. - • iterefore said to the gas committee, "I advise ypu to get rid pf that clause which compels you nolens volens to take the gas apparatus and all the machinery, and see whether you can in duce Mr. Jackson to forego the clause." The gas committee were glad to get rid of it, and I told Mr. Jackson that as there had been an offer to give the comm issionters the option to take his mains or not, lie ought at all events to forego the compulsory power.• It is said that there is no record of that advice. It is true here is not, but there is conclusive evidence of their acting upo a it in the contract itself, and in thelanguagethat I havereadfroin Mr. Laycock. That shows you the thing was visible before the eyes of the commissioners, and that they were glad to get rid Of it. I have the original draft drawn by Mr. Crooke, one of the most eminent conveyancers in the district of Liverpool. Now, sir, you have had a copy of the contract delivered in, and I am ready to place this draft in you' turned as it may be required 13' It is in the hand ed accucately with wilting of Mr. Crook thecontract_execnted between the p: unlined to-day by one of the officers o, n(1 it is exactly a fac simile of the contract ex hasty - for it was proauctic Committee after by my clerk ecuted. The contract was ni gravely considered by the Ft considered by the gas commission That appears upclti tt. s under its various head proceedings that have been airea proved before you. The original Was then handed over to Mi. Jackson for his consideration ; and it appears by the minutes of the subsequent meeting of the committee, that that draft was returned to the gas committee with certain alterations, which they were careful enough to have noted on their minutes in detail ; and every minute word with respect to this alteration was finally approved of. That contract you will see, sir, at a subsequent meeting of the commissioners, was received by them upon the report of the Gas Committee and approved of, and ordered to be executed. It was finally so executed. Now, sir, I-think it would be quite sufficient for me to rest the case there. Thi,cnntract having been so considered in all its varia tions, the commissioners were perfectly aware of its nature and character to the extent of every minute idea that is to be found in it. Could it then be supposed, ,after such a conside ration of this subject, that it remained for this day, or for a few days agO, to see an imputation cast upon me of having wilfully omitted that condition for the benefit of -an individual, and against the interests of the township 7 Could it be conjec tured that six or seven years after that event, after such a close consideration of the subject as took place in 1840, appearing as it does that the contract was again read on theScl April, 1841,—could it be supposed that, under all these circumstances, a•clause - like this could have been forgotten or neglected, and that it remained for this day to have an imputation cast upon the contract on account of this not being found in it? Sir, I could have rested upon the evidence which has been given this day to have concluded the question of the integrity of this contract; but, sir, if this contract had to be impugned, and if those concerned in the framing of it had to be accused, would it have iemained to this day to have such a thing imputed? No, sir; the question was mooted by the commissioners. Igno rant of these facts, Mr. Brodrihb, at the very meeting I alluded to, made the statements he did. He did not see the drift of it, and ii was not so palpable to, him because he was not on that committee. He had not an opportunity of considering its effects, and he therefore looked upon the contract as one which would eventually give the comissioners the light to light the township without their having the necessary works and mains, and to Mr. Jackson the right of having the requisite works and mains, without the power of lighting the township, as was evidenced by his remarks at the meeting. Now, that was a construction that would very naturally arise in the mind of a man who knew nothing of the question mooed in the Gas Committee. That being the state of the contract, I think enough has been said to show that that contract deserved not at this day, to be charged, or that there should be the insinu ation of a charge against the integrity of it. Then, sir, we come to the notice for the bill on the Ist of December, 1840. I, as it appears on the commissioners' minutes, directed the attention of the commissioners to that notice, and it was read to them. You are aware, sir, no doubt, that by the standing orders of Parliament, these notices are obliged to be on the doors of every church and chapel in the district, as well as in the newspapers of the county and the Gazette of the Govern ment, so that it is one of those things of local character which cannot escape local scrutiny; but the pretence against all blind ness is removed by the fact of the attention of the Commis sioners having been called to it ; and it is stated upon these minutes—and it is a minute which was suggested by myself— that the print of the bill should, as soon airpos s ibi e , b e sen t to the commissioners. It has been already stated, that this was at the meeting of the commissioners, on the 24th of March. I explained to them the fact of my having received three copies of that bill as soon as it was printed, and how Iliad dealt with them. We know very well, sir, that the commissioners meei on the first Tuesday in every month, and that the committee could meet at any time; and however it might have happened that they did not meet, or, by whatever mischance this bill did not fall into their hands, the universal opinion of the commis- sioners is testified fit their approval of that resolution which I nronosed. as recorded in the minutes. that "Mr_ lirodribh WitlidreWhis amendment, and that the resolution, that a copy of the bill, as amended, should be sent to every commissioner seven days before meeting, anti that in the meantime no proceed ings -should be taken farther in the House of Lords, until the sen timents of the ratepayers had been ascertained by the commis sioners." I did that in order that no man should have the right of saying that there were not abundant means for them to prepare to attack it in any way they thought proper, and I need not tell you, sir, so well acquainted as you are with the practice of the House of Lords, that if there could have been the slightest speck thrown upon the candour and integrity . of a public officer upon the justness of that proceeding with reterence io the commis sioners, that it would have been rejected by that house, which takes care that all parties go there with clean hands. Sir, -in those times, whatever might have been said by a few, there was a spirit of confidence in me, and in the integrity and justice of my proceedings on the part of the rate payers of the township who-knew that my hand was never yet stretched out but in_ its defence, and that I never sought to enter into any speculation whereby I could deriy any personal advantage to the injury of the township; (and I believe there is, excepting . among a few individuals personally oppoied to me, a most implicit confidence placed in the justness of my proceedings.) Five days after, a meeting was held,. which was intended to be a direct blow at the bill, and in one sense a direct blow at the interference of the commis sinners but at that meetine von have heard a resolution directly , contrary was adopted. Again, on the 30th of April there was a meeting held, convened, as Mr. Broderibb stated, by fifteen commissioners of Birkenhead, with a view of ascertaining what were the sentiments of the township; at which Mr. Broderibb stated that if his constituents decided against him by voting in favour of the bill, he should resign. But the commissioners did, on the 14th of April, come to the resolution that the word "Birkenhead" should be struck out of the bill. So completely disgusted was Mr. Jackson, after hav ing consented to a reductionof the 12 per cent. profit clause to a 10 per cent. clause—and, I confess, I partook in that senti ment at that time—that on the 23rd of April I wrote to my agents in London to strike out Birkenhead from the bill, but having been called upon next day by Mr. Stansfield and some others, I, at their request, did again write to say that I had been induced by several inhabitants of the township to consent that the clause should stand as it did. At that very meeting of the 30th April, we find in the report published at the time, the following remarks "Mr. Stansfield But, as I said before, the Commis,sk:ners having struck Birkenlq out of the Operations of the um, u►e rig . to the agents in London to that ISMICH,VI We. ttvou. a effect, which would at once be depriving us froni 'obtaining or the present, and perhaps for a long time, those important mea sures. What was to be done in this dilemma? There was not time to convene a meeting of the Commissioners, as it requires three days' clear notice. There was not time to call a public meeting of the inhabitants, nor was there occasion, as the -• A ~.11 - . public meeting )le 01 the bill, leaving the revision of the clauses with the Can ,nissioners. What was then to be done? NothinT hut 1, av •sr 6 VW, 1, ercise that right which our free constitution gives us—that of petitioning. The merits of the question were so fully discussed and explained in the last meeting, that there is no occasion to repeat them here. A meeting, the most respectable and orderly I ever attended in Birkenhead, and which terminated in the way in which I hove this will terminate. in the ereatest bar- loony; a !motto but after the ex , withdrew their motion of opposition, and the amendment in its favour was carried unanimously. (" No, no.") I say it ap peared to me so, and also to many others." (Expression was here given in the affirmative.) I all - Ic it stF sigh him, and those with him, kt, too, especially conyeried to opp-a the bill ; ..elude to it because it was tin, that I. was induced to write the *wool' Liter. Tlw rc . ..vdis--e_ f that meeting you know. It has been alread y proyed.m.evidenco _ that. it was moved by Mr. Stansfield , t hen a commissioner, al though he no longer resides here, and that he was seconded by Mr. john Laird, who is a commissioner, and who does reside here, that a petition to the Lords be adopted. This was unani mously earned, and it was most numerously signed—by' the most respectable and the most influential inhabitants at that time, as has been shewn in evidence—yet so determined, so ac rimonious was the opposition of certain parties in respect of that bill, that an attempt was made to defeat it on standing orders. - After a caustic allusion to the paltry patriotism which could not afford the sum of 70 to defeat such a bill, if it were opposed to the wishes of the public, Mr. Mallaby proceeded to say,—The liberality of the Gas Coinpany is acknowledged by every man not individually hostile to the promoter of it. I can appreciate the views of the commissioners, and I can respect 'say of a body . of men, who,. upon a large public principle, say they are desirous of acquiring the dominion and regulation of two great articles of life - -alintist at this time—conceiving it to be for the benefit of the community that they should do so. I would have refused to do any business even for Mr. Jackson that I thought might prove hurtful to the community. I think it was on the water inquiry, to which there has been some re ference in this room—not hostile to the bill, that I was invited here from London exuressly upon a mission from this and itwas uponpropositions that seemed mutually agreed upon that I at once came down here with my friend, - Mr. - Lloyd, for the purpose of cementing the union." - So far from any hostility, I abstained from taking any active step. But I condemn the principle. I think it is as pernicious a one as can in the pre sent age be conceived. Mr. Mallaby then proceeded to say that he would give municipal authorities the power of furnish ing gas and water if there were not to be found private indi viduais of capital and enterprise who were willing to consult the public good; and he adverted to the change which had come over Mr. NI , illoughby and other large ratepayers of Birkenhead with reference to the bill of 1841. He next referred to a letter signed William Laird, in the Liverpool Albion, accusing him (Mr: Mallaby) of wilful and corrupt omission with regard to the contract which has been alluded toi and he read a letter which he bad received from Mr. Potter, the late chairman of the com - , mi6sioner,. to the effect, that the letter in question had not been published by the consent or with the knowledge of the commissioners. lie declared that the commissioners, even if they got their bill, could not compel Mr. Jackson to sell the the works, as there was no compulsory clause, and the bill would be just like so much waste paper, and the commissioners dared not introduce a compulsory clause in the bill, because arliament would reject it. After justifying his conduct inpub lie life, he noticed the improper and unauthorieed proceedings of the Gas and Water Committee appointed in 1846, solely to open a negociation with Mr. Jackson for the existing Water Works, but which committee had nevertheless abstained from entering into those negociations, preferring to adopt hostile proceeuings.at a most lavish expenditure of the township funds in promoting the two bills now before parliament, without ma king any report to the General Board of Commissioners until January just passed, when the greater part Of the expenditure had been incurred. Mr. Mallaby concluded by producing copies of extracts from documents already proved in evidence, as to the public meet ing on the 30th April 1841, viz.,—Motion made at the meeting of 30th April 1841, by Mr. Fowler : " This meeting expresses its satisfaction at tb,e opposition which the commissioners have already offered to 'the bill now before Parliamert, _brought-in by Mr. William Jackson and others, called the `Birkenhead, &c., Gas and Water Works Bill,' considering the same to be adverse to the rights already granted to the township respecting gas, and forestalling the ad vantages which ought to accrue to the township respecting water; and they respectfully reqaest the commissioners will continue to use their best endeavours to prevent the bill be coming law. The meeting also urges upon the commissioners the propriety .of their selecting . the b es t l ega l a d v i ce for this purpose, and they further recommend them to take the earliest opportunity of applying to Parliament themselves for a Water Bill for the benefit of the township at large." Amendment moved by Mr. S. Stansfield " 1 hat in the opinion of this meeting the Gas and Water Bill will be beneficial to this township, and ought to be supported uy me nate-payers signing the petition in fav,ur of it, now in course of signature, and that the revision of its clauses be left " Mr. John Laird seconded the amendment. " Several individuals instantly held up their hands, but on Mr. Meacock observing, that he thought some persons did not understand whether the original motion or amendment was put ti!st,_ " The Chairman, after a short explanation, put the amend ment, and afterwards Mr. Fowler's motion. " A show of hands took place on each separately, and the amendment was carried, as well as we could calculate, by a majority of at least two to one." 'Elie following is the prayer of the petition adopted:— " Under these considerations, therefore, your petitioners humbly implore your Lordships to pass the said bill, as it re lates to Birkenhead, for the supply of gas and water, subject to the restricted profit of ten per cent. per annum ; and all other clauses as may seem, in the wisdom of your Lordships, need .. id, also, that the con- ful for the prOtectic tingent funil shall not exceed one ihotisand pounds." Mr. HICKLIN also, addressed the court against the bill, and Mr. LLOYD having replied, the inquiry closed at a quarter -past eleven o'clock. CLERK Feb. 16, 1847. and if this was taken from them, they would throw out of employment many thousands of individuals. ' The TOWN-CLERK then called his next witnesses.• Mr. Capes Ashlin proved that the number of assess,' ments in the borough of Liverpool, in 1841, was 47,776► and in 1846, 60,205. The amount of assessment in 1841 was £1,075,147, and in 1845, £1,395,302, being an in crease of one-third over the assessment of 1841. David Thomas Ansted, Professor of Geology of King's College, London, submitted a report, which was read by the Town-clerk, on the condition of the strata in this neighbourhood, showing that it did not afford a sufficient supply. The professor was cross-examined by Mr. Sta nistreet and Mr. Rowlandson, but no new facts were elicited. Several witnesses having deposed to the present insuf ficient supply, the court adjourned. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11. • The investigation was resumed this morning, when the exa mination of witnesses was proceeded with. Their 'evidence went to show that the population, mit only of the parliamentary borough, hut the out-townships, was rapidly increasing; that the supply of water was intermittent, and not continuous ; and the only remedy would be to carry out the system proposed in the Corporation Bill. Mr. Edward Rushton, stipendiary magistrate, was called as a witness. From his own observation, he could bear testimony to the inadequacy of the supply of water, both for the purposes of health, and the extinction of fires. He had frequently seen fire consuming thousands upon thousands worth of property, without the possibility of extinguishing it, from want of a sup ply of water. In one case, that of Faucett's foundry, a vast de struction of property might have been prevented had there been an adequate supply, and no one was better able to give evidence on the subject than the manager of the Harrington Water Company, Mr. H. Al`Donitld. It was. fearful to contem plate the filthy state in which many of the poorer inhabitants were living, who had no possible means of cleanliness afforded them. He once gave evidence before the House of Commons, and stated that he was not acquainted with any place in Liver pool, especially by the docks, where a wayfaring man could get a drink of water with ou t b egg i ng or buying it. It Was stated on that occasion that there were pumps in the streets, but it turned out on inquiry that such pumps were eight feet high, and locked. If the Commissioners had a desire to inspect the town, he would send an officer with them, and they, would see that the condition of the poorer inhabitants was most lament able. If a supply of water could be obtained, it should be got at all risks and at any expence. During his experience as a magistrate, many cases had come before him i n w hi c h quar relling and fighting resulted from attempts on the part of per sons in courts to obtain the water, as there was only one tap from which the supply was drawn. He admitted that the quality of the water was excellent, better than could be obtain ed in any other town with which lie was acquainted. In reply to Mr. Stanistreet, he repeated that the quality of the water was unobjectionable, and said that, so far as he was concerned, it mattered little to him who supplied the water; provided it were supplied in its present excellent quality, in quantities. Mr. ilawkesley was then called by the TowN-cLEux.—The first . part of his evide nce was in effect similar to the retails given' in his report, brought forward on the preceding day. He de scribed the Bala Lake scheme proposed by Air. Rawlinson ; it was to bring the water to Liverpool, a distance of 56 miles, by a conduit elevated over the surface of the - country, 'across the valley of the Weaver and the Mersey at Runcorn. The works would have been exceedingly costly, and the engineering diffi culties great, and after an examination of the country by Mr. out COW, Mr. Rendall not be ma, and ~ i f himself, they th ought that such an ay should d onvenient smirepenniA ~ , ,unt nave involved an expense of a million and a half of money. The project was a grand one, and the water very good and had it not b een for the expense, would have been well worthy of consideration. He had examined the 1/11111 VI 1/111181116 ivin tne er 'rum runywell, to whiithere were objections, as the water could no t have been coyed without extensive machinery ; it was a sc h eme he couldnve not re commend for such a town as Liverpool. There was another plan for raising water from the Mersey for some of the purposes of the - town; but it would nut be of any advantage. All the . plans having been considered, amongst ethers one for bringing water from the Lake Windermere, it was-decided that the one now recommended to the Council was the most desirable. Several legal gentlemen appeared to represent parties, whose interests in Kivington and the neighbourhood were likely to be effected by the proposed water scheme. Amongst them were Mr. Hailstone, on behalf of the Leeds and Liverpool V.—, COinuanv. and the . _ .-•— t •s,. k., ... Lim priagew ater T rust; Mr.— Crook ,, for anai the Chorley Water Works Company; Mr. Worthington for Richard Cobden and Co.; and Mr. Easterby, Mr. Rowley, and Mr. Wat kins for other opponents. It was urged that the inhabitants of the township of nivington would have their roads interrupted, and other persons their water taken away by the erection of the Water Works, and there was no clause in the bill which would give them compensation for those disadvantages. Mr. PAGE said they would be provided for by the Lands Con have solidation state Act. The To wn - c l erk considered the parties would to their grounds of opposition before Parliament; he had no objection to the introduction of a general compensa tion clause in the bill. In reply to questions put by the Com missioners, the opponents said they were not prepared with any statements of the amount of their claims, and did not intend to put in such evidence, lest it might operate against them here after. • Mr. Hawkesley was then cross-examined at some' length by Mr. Hailstone, Mr. Watkins, Mr. Higson, and othergentlemen. The general effect of his statements was, that compensation would be awarded to all parties who might suffer injury, when such injury was fully substantiated. As to the Chorley Water Works Company, they would not be deprived of any right to which they would be entitled by act of parliament. Out of the .t 650,000 to be raised for carrying out the plan, a consider able sum would be appropriated for compensation. Mr. Ilawkesley did not go into details, although requested to do so by some of the opponents of the water scheme, and in this course he was confirmed by the opinion of the Commissioners, who considered that the amo un t o f compensation estimates, and. other matters, would come more properly before another tri bunal. Mr. STANISTREET, on behalf of the Harrington Water Com- • pany, and Mr. HOLT, who appeared for the Bootle Company, expressed a wish that the Town-clerk sh ou ld introduce in the proposed bill a clause compelling the Cor— _ A long discussion ensued, during which it was urged by the Com Missioners, that the scheme was based upon the, supposi tion of such arrangement being carried out, and the estimates. calculated accordingly. Th e T own -clerk said he would pledge himself that whatever engagements the Council had made they would carry out; but he could not undertake the insertion of a clause to the effect required on his own responsibility. Ulti mately Mr. Stanistreet expressfd himself satisfied, and the matter dropped. The inquiry was adjourned at six o'clock, until Saturday. SATURDAY. The court out, pureuunt w adjournment, thi s mornin at teno'clock precisely, wh en g Professor Rusted was c a ll e d, and examined by the Towic -I made an examination of the neighbourhoods of Ili geological position. I was there two day reporting on their and I made such an as Lai as the state or the weather would permit me, as the ground was covered with snow on both those occa sions ; but I was also there y es t er d ay, an d saw the surface o r the country. I made observations with reference to the capa bilities of the surface for drainage, on the principle of the scheme proposed by Mr. Hawkesley. The geological features of the country were a stratum of coal measures and mill-stone grit on the north, whilst on the south side there was nothing but coal shale so far. as I am awa re . Th e d i strict is very much elevated on the westward ; but it was not so much so on the eastern side of the surrounding country. Almost the whole of the district is surrounded by moors—that is of the area of drainage. The water is conveyed from those moors to the valley below, by a number of small channels running into the small streams or valleys, and these flowing again i nto the larger streams or littl e rivulets, and all of these running almost directly into one or other of the rivers from which the supply is to be obtained ; that is to say, the Riddlesworth, Black- nance map, which is the. only one I had at hand, I esti: I arl fh it was t THE WATER INQUIRY On Wednesday, the official inquiry into the bill for which the Corporation arc at present applying to Parlia ment was commenced at the sessions' Court, Chapel-st., before John Maurice Herbert, Esq., barrister-at-law, and Thomas Page, Esq., civil engineer. The TowN-CLERK appeared in support of_ the bill. " _ RELY, on behalf of the Liverpool and Harrington Company, and Mr. Holt, on behalf of the Bootle Company, appeared to watch the proceedings, but led the Court distinctly to understand that they did not Mr. STANIS attend in the character of opponents. A host of attorneys, from Manchester, n, Chor of claim- which the mills and factories, the properties of their re spective clients, would be rendered valueless if the Cor poration scheme were allowed to succeed. • The TowN-CLERK opened his case in an excellent ex planatory address of an hour and a half's duration. He commenced by showing the astonishing increase in the borough and out townships which has taken place within the last eight years, and by stating that the powers of the High Way Board had recently been transferred to the Cor poration, and that the corporation were, since the first of January last, the surveyors of highways, and the sole con trollors of the paving, sewerage, and cleansing of the whole borough. They also had ie control of the water works erected by the Highway Board at Green-lane, and which were capable of affording 800 gallons per minute ; and believing that the existing water companies had not sufficient capabilities adequately to supply the wants of the town at present, they were now seeking for powers to purchase the rights and interests of those companies, and to supply an abundance of pure water from the vicinity of Rivington Pike. lie stated that the water which was now supplied by the companies was not adapted for detergent purposes, and that the water from the Pike, after being analysed by Dr. Lyon Playfair, was found to be of a soft and excellent quality. He read a report from Mr. Hawkesley to show that the water at the Pike was most abundant fur the town, though it might become considerably more populous than it was at present, and contain 800,000 in habitants, and he stated that the intention of the Corpo ration was, to supply twenty gallons per diem for every in habitant. It was proposed by the Corporation Bill to take powers to borrow the sum of £480,000, in addition to any sum necessary to purchase the works of the exist ing companies. The water was to be on the constant supply system, and any revenue derivable from the sale was to go in reduction of the rates. The lands clauses consolidation act was embodied in the present measure ; and by that embodiment all those whose properties might be injured by a diversion of water from the Pike would be entitled to compensation, after the Lords of the Admiralty should have instituted an inquiry of which they had already given notice. The following is Mr. Hawkesley's report "The district from which the water is now proposed to be derived comprises the extensive tract of mountainous country extending from the River Roddlesworth, in the parish of Blackburn, to the River Douglas, in the township of Horwich, and including a total water shed of 10,400 acres, upon and from which the foilowing principal streams arise and issue, viz. Ist. The River Roddiesworth; 2nd. The Rake Brook; 3rd. The lleapy Brook ; 4th. The Black Brook ; sth. The Fill Brook 6th. The River Yarrow; 7th. The Rivington Brook ; Bth. The River Douglas. "The water yielded by these rivers and brooks it is intended to collect into two capacious reservoirs, proposed to he con structed in valleys affording remarkable natural facilities for the purpose, and thence to convey the same, by means of a large cast-iron main pipe or aqueduct, to the existing reservoir of the Corporation situated at Kensington, near Liverpool. " The Waters of the River Roddlea - ortliand Rake Brook are proposed to be raised by means of embankments to a sufficient elevation to enable them to be carried, by means of an artificial goit, across the intervening country to the head of the higher reservoir, at or near a place called Siddow Fold. This canal is four miles long, and passing (with little exception) almost level with the surface of the ground, receives the entire of the copi ous springs and streams intersected by its course. " The higher reservoir extends from Siddow Fold to a place called Leicester Mill, and is one and a half mile long, from 100 yards to upwards of 700 yards wide, and covers a surface of 185 acres. Its depth at the lower extremity, where it receives the entire volume of the River Yarrow, is 32 feet, and its total capacity about 169 million feet. " The lower reservoir commences about 100 yards below the higher, and terminates near Anderton Fold, in the township of Anderton, and is two miles long, and from 120 to 550 yards wide. The area is 268 acres, the greatest depth about 50 feet, and the total capacity 297 million feet. - " This reservoir will receive the River Douglas, the Riving ton Brook, and other streams, and the outflow when and as required of the higher reservoir already mentioned, and will :er beds proposed to be Con- _ .....,... ... inuposea water shades to be somewhere between seventeen and twenty square miles. I believe that Mr. Hawkesley calculates it at rather less than twenty miles. He says eighteen. The water, owing to the elevated situation of the district, falls _very rapidly into the principal streams mentioned before. I.consider that more rain falls , in - this dis trict than in the neighbourhood of Bolton. Taking the district pressure on the filter beds and mains, and will thence bt proposed to be drained into consideration, the water shades ran both north and west, as far as the rive rs are concerned ; and, passed directly into the pipe ? by which it is to be conveyed without further exposure to Liverpool. I indeed, 'with regard to the Doug7as, I should say sou th a l so . A • " I have also the satisfaction to observe, as respects the re- - great proportion of the water from the valves will-flow into the r tentiveness of the valley, that Profes sor Ansted, th e eminent reservoir of the water shades. Looking at the p os iti on o f the geologist, has examined the sites of the reservoirs, and concurs reservoirs on the plan, I should say that at no point will , tile ... with me in pronouncing . them perfectly capable of retaining water have to flow a .greater distance than three miles beie.`,, coming to the reservoir. That was after it had once fornien,. " The main pipe it is designedtdh e t to ba maximum i 1 4 n -t u i n n i c d h e e li s ,v delivering g velocity power the water proposed to be impounded upon them. . to make of sufficient magni- tself in the conduits. lam of opinion that a large quantity of water will be collected in the reservoirs because of the natural features of the surface of the country, and the way in which a g t i e ,,,,,d r . a u ts - e o trr u ,a l d i aan 1 , 1 ,,,,t 0 i flow. i nrieyteihraeaVntecteehXeatyM. are ehecedixr exceedingly eheedicnogilidy capabilities totfi for con " fcot favourable.hne 3 t u f d e e et . 6 The inch i e li s at p n e e r te s r ec i o s 20 million gallons per diem, or '25 per cent. iu excess of the n r d r , o a P r?d s e quantity likely to be required. . thero tai c i l i ( i ' n ' q " This pipe will pass through Hindley, Ashton, St. Helens, and Pres Cot, and will terminate in a stand pipe at Kensington, There would be no difficulty in impounding water In the reser i which the water will be allowed to ascend for the supply of voirs,._and also in retaining it, if or di nary precaution were to in w f I the higher levels of the town. be used for that purpose ; for the di s t r i ct an d t h e countrV is . " The Kensington reservoir is proposed to be 'enlarged. In uncommonly favourable for doing se. The plan Suggestedfor the event of the Corporation uniting the existing works with obtaining and retaining the supply of wat r seems to me to be the works now describing, some alterations of a convenient very well adapted for the purpose, as every advantage has been and economical character ? consequent on the adaptation of taken of the natural condition of the country to make it effec - parts of the present establishments, may probably be effected. t- AV/ me recommendations Of Govern ment, for the purpose of effectually detaining any matter casu ally suspended in the water. " These filter beds expose a surface of five acres, and will be found of ample magnitude for their intended purpose. " From the filters the water will be admitted into an equali zing tank, for the_ purpose of maintaining an anthlctuating ,ual. 1 agree with Mr. Hawkesleywicen — fie stated that the mineral 'products would be very useful in the 'construction of the new works. I believe th ere is an excellent supply of sand there, which is well adapted for filtering purposes. Judging estimatest c h o e uld be fromt hre I believe that niu m cl a t. d m t e h oF s b N . N y- p i water obtained .001fbi Liverpool; and than what would be required for that, from the absence of iron and from the absence of the salts of lime and magnesia in the rocks, the water would be excel- i and I thinU lent. It would be in the condition of pure rain water—pure soft water. .. the above-mentioned works, Ltd in providing or affording compensation to parties injuriously affected by the abstraction of water for the purposes of the undertaking, I have estimated at the sum of .€450,000 ; but Tam not without hope and antici pation that the objects of the Corporation may be effected for a considerably smaller amount. of Liverpool it may now be desirable to state, in general terms, as frfillnvra 10,400 acres of mountainous water shed will yield daily, at a very moderate } 233 million gallons computation And that the quantity required for the supply of 800,000 persons with 20 gal lons ner head per diem, will amount Cross-examineu oy mr. WATKINS.—There is no possibility of there being any coal mines under the position of the Angie)" ark reservoir,. but there may be beds of coal under the pro posed one at Rivington. I have no doubt of the fact from the general features of the country. lam sure that the propoge d reservoirs would not be capable of impo un di ng a ll t h e water e te strict ! hnf T 16 million gallons To Mr. Hi iuuiu say tney wciul —I am sure that the trfoar-tifths of it , t proportion of the The surplus applicable is, therefore, at least is poor taint. it consists of n very thin cui verb); of vegetable soil, with a very s ma ll port i on o f peat , bu principally of heather. " It may also be observed, that many very considerable ;reams available for future possible, though not very proba- Mr. MoorNs.—Approaching to peat? Professor ANsTEn.—I do not understand what you mean bC epproachiog .tt ,-- pcat,---I -know th at there i s a great - pandit)" ° decompbsed vegetable matter,—indted, scarcely any of it. To Mr. Row LANDSON.—At both th e reservoirs the depth of th e o strata is variable. All r o ck s t h at I know of are more or le fissured in consequence of th e organ i c disruptions which e from time to time occurred. Coal measures do not show lls . sures as rocks do. In the mill stone grit of this district ther e are many fissures. These fissures run principally from noe l ', to south, and in many places transversely, from east to wes t ' but with reference t o th e escarpment the inclination 01"„ chiefly to the westward. d 11.)ectiv Mr. eo P sn A s RT. —A or tn r ei e da not lel e a iv i n v e a aware i 3 : s h e. a o t ul e n a ht s ar t yv d west is not t he of them, but I d on ' t j ust now remember se th en e a gdiitc(tlionin most of the main faults in this country,—but, nevertheless , am of opinion that they generally run as I have stated. I aware that the district of Itivington is intersected by faults — one main fault in particular. Mr. PART.--Will any portion of the area, proposed to be pounded under the provisions of this bill, be intersected by to; main fault you , speak of ? No ; so far as lam able to form a Opinion, no portion will be intersected ; the reservoir will lit rather to the east of that line of fault.—Do I understand y 01 1 0( say that the reservoir will be oni or very_ close to,_ that fine l fault? Yes, it will be near to that line of fault ; but somel a e elevated above it.—Are you not aware that, being upon that of fault, the. Water will be very liable to run into the fissu which are to be found in that district 7 Not necessarily cause it will be much more elevated.—Then the fault you srite of is a mere dislocation of the millstone grit ? Yes ; both Ito have fallen down. —Are you not aware that, in all the o'i s faults, particularly connected .with the coal strata, there 2, 0 , great Space between the stratification and the dislacm! v io . which is thrown upwards and outwards 7 That is the . cat . , the coal beds, but not in the millstone grit, which is cit!su_!„ . o c to e , ? saY l Mn I to understand from you that no portion of the Rivisnnof reservoir will be on the line of fault where these fraCture , 0 : 0 t p b r ik ep en ar p e lli dat ea PACK.—What quantity of drainage have you calct t h h a a vie it h i e s t u s ci e t en th s e n c y as Prtion of it ; but I Aril in the district?—About 60 inches, or near to it. . di' s " Are you acquainted with trict in England, and the quantity of rain which falls as as o NI with that which goes to the reservoir 7—l an °` the proportions in any othei ci r par Assuming that there is calculation of the kind , _ quainted with any such calculation. k . _ A. ve: think that 36 inches would find its way to the reservoir ? _ 00 1 I believe that the fall on the hills near Bolton is inerel e y ; 50 inches. I have seen no returns from the district of Cy; f or but I have seen the rain guagere taking observations iv tai urnum - ben; salt Wu. we water s ed now proposed to be appropriated may, at compara tively little cost, be hereafter greatly extended. " With regard to the revenue which may be fairly antici pated, 1 am enabled to estimate the gross annual income at the sum of £75,926. " The annual expenditure in respect of conducting, main taining, and managing the undertaking, including the cost of filtering the water, may be,expected to amount to £21,004, which sum comprises allowances for wear and tear, and de predation, together with interest at the rate of five per cent. on the capital to be raised under the powers of the act." The following is the result of Professor Playfair's ana lysis : " I have, from the preceding data, not the slightest hesitation in Fiving my unqualified approbation to the waters you intend to introduce. The peculiar softness of the water is most, hu. portant to a town like Liverpool. Organic matter is never to be desired hi watei. but in the present case it is present in Very small proportions, so small as to be wholly innocuous. I_ nave not hesitatedin recommen ding water containing peaty atter sufficient to colour it, (which, in the waters riow under consi deration, IS not the case,) and I have never had reason to re gret doing so, its the purification has gone on with great ra pidity." He adds, after giving an .inlvs .s of the water supplied 'by the Liverpool companies,— "A comparison with these results will show that these waters are from eight to nine times harder than those with which you intend to supply the town." During the time the Town-Clerk was making his state ment, a number of attorneys from Manchester and - the neighbourhood came into court, and, at the close of the opening address, handed in their names, the names of the persons for whom they appeared. A long and de sultory conversation then took place, touching the rights of those who were likely to be injured by the impounding of - the water, and the compensation to be afforded them. At length it was decided not to go further that day than to prove the deficiency of the present supply, it being ex pected that the gentlemen representing interested parties would be able to furnish the court, on Friday, with a statement of the injury they were likely to receive by the proposed scheme. Mr: Thomas Morris, the Mayor of Wigan saidAlte River Douglas was the source whence the inhabitaitWof Wigan received their water for the cotton inanufactoriea, the va your q Mr. And not Mr. Water v in Suply u p ch d PVe an able to A ; 6:1 Power t To M. thorou g guaged take❑ s thesea , Mr. I t am Cross in the turf ace , Rivi n g, Shades. wheth er i , T e tt l ; e " l „ s t, is i; t-ace Smooth I;eser vo i , watt Entvrish Linton nio§t dis Foal mes It necess ferent st water it purposes water-tii lt.n way atble. and the torizont llortherr mile. V Which w take all i tons of 1 least 23} Re mav The tr, lion will, Worth) I On the r agcnild b Mr. H line of e Mr. PE particulm continue Mr. tive us a %at will b Mr. Bi glean wl Which th should a - Mr. P.. Of the di the owne fore this Mr. Re Our wor Mr. H Which vo Mr. fio - -that we n Mr. Hi tna?inet Mr. 13/ handed it Prope rty Arnount c Mr. H i T .Tq it h. "" know t W tid be "e To b e c Tar bill clam r" ) the • PA C/rj a h n)°ll O eanv whic Mr. H' h h here kr.B efret than bet refut Il lr r foa: Mr. hilt , ' r 4 be unfair t nuer the feelin Withholding itoceedefl Closed. Dr:bu:4 ppol, and Zion, altho tary of Sta , tory state ( of mortalit i t t : 4 o ::::l o g f t l o m an ° : ion to the v erY lirst is (1 „f the tow! W °1,1 (1 sav Ti mad, an d 44B , this ..,.. also e? tile „„,‘ , `"tli" 1 1 11 1 4, k 'r nee t b tit 1. 10, e V .. e °llßt e P tll ;e o etTez throu Thi Part, to tli What Mr, CLLR 'to be The p i forth