The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-10-30 00:00:00

k tot :11114°411 expressed a hope that thi s su b jec t wou ld .A t : e re b ac k to the committee. lia le r , I foltne said he could not agree to the very injud icious the co il ', T nt proposed by Mr. Woodruff. He hope d . 6f Pil6,7 °lll d agree with the committee, as to the necessity 8 110, 41 0 an end to the Contract at once, and, therefore, he booA di ress the question to a division. tiler 's on was then taken upon the amendment, when _ aPPear ed:—Por the motion, Councillors : John th e ~,roff, William Nicholson, Roger' Haydock. Against _ Asle;°tien, Councillors : Daniel Crosthwaite, .Thomas. P . eglnT, Archibald C. Stewart, Richard Shell, Joh n B . tiri, i gite, Thomas Godfrey, Charles Turner, Joseph g_ l ' g "" .I Holme,Harmood. Banner, John C. ertliti miles r lYi ll N il ' Walter P. Jeffreys, John Gladstone, jun!, 1,,m441,-„,,41.3n0, Alexander Shand, Thomas Wagstaff, John 741.%%:, 'Tames As inall Tobin, John B. •Brancicer, ; 4111‘la i ''.,,,irie, John rj Abraham Tinne, James Johnson, ;4 4 i, - a -L- 'eton, Joseph Kitchen, 'l'. Llewelyn Hodson, v,ntl ee e- ",,- 4. Clint, Richard M. Beckwith, John Atkin, nate trnobertson John Farnworth. Matthew Gregson, . lia4l 4 f alll cad. ' Against the motion, Aldermen : Wil- Dorp„-annett, William Preston, Thomas Bold, Thomas Ili elni n rl a n ni es Parker, Thomas Robinson, Joseph Cooper, arld th e G ardner J Bramley-Moore, Samuel Holme, The r Ai a ,J. )Or. k r by elnmendation was then confirmed. NI p "dna moved, that the letf- - fo r th e ovvler he referred etteeenrpose,Of investigating t,raeto„ cal justice- done to the 0... aittic. the charges were true, let tn.. t heft 8 0 Ci * If the charges were not true, tht Mr' 'Olt to be punished. !Ir. E ar Rolnie seconded the motion. ton tleil -11. ` e t hought, that gentlemen who held seats in of tbii Ri le very injudicious in listening to 'kail Be tie d, *here there weilt any causes of reprle o n m ta p t i i a i ii Ilte r ritractors. It would be better to enquire in , natte r taal : . : ir 1 , -- be con arged be a who mad ;r, f . Earl °N ara. u elsAetr. Woodruff : An act of justice, as I would for any one fl ot t ' o n - Tr :I do not see what act of justice you have don t e o . 'e R 7, " have done an act of justice if yhu had gone eotamittee and conversed with them. ;41""(114.41"I2011ruff: If 111 r. Earle had mad I a little mar ' solf, h e would hare found that had no 0 g so, and would not have a.vc Air, w oo d ru ff had done so, , odrnir e ! posed 4-1: N o friends of mine, sir. . When I am surprised you bring ata net T Y Cin r_ k". ail eacivAeil urged th e counc il not to shrink from enquire k N i taige so di rbetly made, and signed with the ne- K r tt er e,;,:, remarked, that-when th e p ar ti es came before,:trcil Ira hey made no such charge. H e consen t e d , h ow. Th e fit the letter s h ou ld b e referred to the committee. en; kr, i ri t ° , t irm Nves accordingly carried. ar. ° HIle said, th e next motion he had to make was the iz t , ee e ' i 4 tion of the recommendation to purchase a freehold reZ r y_ l(l 9. ll -place, from . lir. William Wright, for £3OO. ~ Pre ? , ''e.o that this house had been put into many req . -tent acts. It stood directly across the top of the e t°l fl ' ? , 4 , 1 141 eta off the communication between Vauxhall "ealtawilkievington-st,eet. The owner, Mr. Wright, had The committee in a very liberal way. I Met t i -tr. l °n was seconded and carried. t, 411 . 0 n, i n "lne then proposed the adoption of the recommen ,Ae .• .(!ference to the extension of the chain-ca_bl s e e'rtiPhecerTaEtienblin,e arrangements... ll° explained that delay e ote taking place, in consequence of the inadequacy ' eviaee which they already had for the purposes of elelit,D44 the chains required. thltett* 'lB,Bolf-sustaining, or nearly so, and . the cost . "e? `",e7 pro ed to make, and the additional machine kr v7-° aDeut to erect, would be about £3,200. b 'Ald er giderroa nCo e opeiseconded the motion. Haanine;d Bennett thought much less expense would wl, aving the machines at the north end of the s AI, - Z? the site would not have to be purchased. 117(1 over 811 - VI that the recommendation should t ey to the g nl e x ' t Meeting . of the council, in order that t ite a t t al Zht co •t i nvede r how far it might be possible to find a tlenhead, and the relative advantages of it. 1 111 1 1 4 :(1 13 th () ; s ci f s uPported Mr. Aikin's suggestion. He re ehei, 'a at the present moment, not . one-sixteenth of l ehi t p . ' s used in Liverpool were tested in the Corporation The expenseof taking a chain to that place and he, sa ton. Very few chains were made in ;tesi.n.' at. Present, and he believed the number was de `'lt th e g every day. By havi-g the chain testing machine ';B,,ketc?,,Pilstte Side of the water, he believed chains could Vo'a for about 2s per ton. 1 11 te i,„lmes replied, stating that, at present it would be "e Pe uieseible,while the arrangements of Birkenhead The'‘)ric'l3lPlete, to fix upon a site there. kr. ile°Moiendation was confirmed. 43 -ra e moved the confirmation of the general urn „•thed ° ': ate said there was one subject to wL '4Qttati on ho attention. In one. of the newspapers of .4..ted Lizal tine eueeen aoo g- tate. Such an idea could only ea. existed in 1. b ed T ,I,Rtnation of the writer in the newspape,. ' 4tf eetl 4° ba d given him the information, because it Aetelitioy incorret. (hear, hear.) 1 4.-- Th e „n. Meal., hear.) proceedings were then confirme ales of The eatablishinent at of the hich he ~ or of some yr r. council, Mr. Holt's determination to retire from among them. (Hear, hear.) The procedings were confirmed. THE LIBRARY AND MUBT.UM COMMITTEE. Tha proceedings of this committee were read. They stated that, in conformity with the resolution of the council, the plans for the new library and museum had been submitted to the examination of the surveyor • and that he had re ported that Con Amore's plan would cost, without the ornamentation, £32,000; and Alma's £76,000, including the contemplated additions—which will amount to £19,000. Mr. Piston, before moving the confirmation of the pro ceedings, requested that a letter, addressed to the Mayor by William Browne, Esq., M.P., might be read. The Town Clerk read the letter. It was as follows : Richmond hill, Liverpool, October 27, 1856. MY DEAR SlR,—Having had occasion to go into the Town ball a few days ago, I asked Mr. Weightman what was his estimate of the cost to carry out Con Amore's plan of the library, &c., he said about £32,000. I entertain no doubt that it is the cheapest and best of any that was brought before you, taking into view the accommodation it would afford ; and, as you see your way to £20,000, and that £12,000 more is required to erect such a building, I have no objection to furnish half of it, provided the corporation will furnish the other half. When I informed the Mayor, Mr. Holme, in 1852, my wish to contribute to the cost of a Free Library that would he useful to my fellow . . -townsmen, it was my lotion and expectfition that a building would be proceeded with almost immediately; but so long a time has now elapsed, if the corporation decline to meet the suggestion I have made, and further obstacles present themselves—although I have no intention to witheraw the sum, I have named, £12,000, from, the objec% intended,—l am desirous that no further delay should take place, and you will be good enough to look out for a suitable site for a library. I hope, however, that Mr. Alloan's plan may be carried out for attaching the museum to the library, as it would increase the induce ment to visit both, and, I trust, be the means of affording much useful instruction to those for whose benefit it is intended.— E ver respectfully, WILLIANI BROWN. His Worship the Mayor of-Liverpool. Mr. Piston then proceeded to move the confirmation of the proceedings. He observed, that it would be his duty. first, to say a few words on the subject of the question of the premiums. They had heard the report of the surveyor on the subject. They had heard that, in his opinion, the cost of the plan, signed Con Amore, would, without the erne mens, cost £32,000; and the one signed Alma, £76,000 in its present condition; but which might be reduced, by comparison to the other plans, to about £57,000. In order to enable the council to arrive at a just conclusion, with regard to the appropriation of the premiums, it was neces sary that they should have a few facts laid before them. First, as regarded the comparative cost of the plans sent in. They bad sixteen designs on the list of competition, and the surveyor was directed to report on the two plans sent in by CJ:n Amore and Alma, and to furnish the areas of the other plans. The surveyor had done so, and he (ilr. Picton) held in his hand the list of areas so furnished. The surveyor was asked, " Is it your opinion that, area for area, the plan of Con Amore can b e execute d as cheaply as any of other plans ?" His reply was, " Certainly." He was also asked, " Are there any of the plans which could be executed for £20,000 ; and if so, which ?" The reply was, " None—probably for £25,000 to £26,000 for the lowest.". He vier also asked, " Does this plan, Con Amore, comply with the conditions as to the separation be tween the library and museum ; and as to the accommodation in each department ?" The reply was, " Yes." He (Hr. Picton) concluded that these answers were conclusive as to the superiority of Con Amore's plan; but ns a specimen of the discrepancy in the cost of plans, as estimated by their authors, he would give one instance which had come under the committee's notice. Amcing the plans were two of nearly similar area. The cost of one was estimated by its author at £20,000, but by the surveyor at £40,000; the cost of the other was estimated by its author at £40,000, but by the surveyor at £55,000, and yet both _plans covered nearly the same area. Some conversation had taken place in the committee with reference to the propriety of granting any premium at all under the circumstances, inasmuch as none of the plans complied exactly with the requirements of the committee. Now, he questioned whether, even if it were legal, and could be done without any imputation upon them, it would be right to take the labour, skill, ability, and cash out of the pockets of so many gentlemen who had done their utmost to keep within the amount stated, and not remunerate them for their work. (Hear. and cheers.) To do so would certainly not be conduct for the Corporation of Liverpool. (Hear.) He, therefore, begged - to move the confirmation of the proceedings, and that the two prizes, of 150 guineas and 100 guineas, be awarded to Con Amore and Alma for their plans. Mr. Hodson seconded the motion. Mr. Brancker could not understand why they should give a prize to Alma, the cost of whose plan was so much in excess of the sum stated, £20.000. (Hear.) Mr. W. Earle admitted that he was one of the corn mittee of bungler , :—(hurrhterN_wh n h a d i.med tha advertisement, which was, in fact, merely calculated to lead architects into error. It was a farce to suppose that all that they required, as by the advertisement, could he cxecrited for £20,000 and he therefore took blame to himself in not having examined it more carefully before t was sent out to the public. The best thing they could ,ow do was to divide the 250 guineas among the compe -(laughter)—and to begin de eiovo. At the same the liberal manner in which Mr. Brown met them ved every consideration, and he had no doubt that t would receive such. (Cheers.) I r Alderman Parker and Mr. Alderman Cooper objected to the prizes being awarded, all the prizes being so much in excess of £20,000. Mr. John Aikin supported the motion, and contended that both Con Amore and Alma were entitled to the prizes. The corporation were not bound to carry out the plans, but it was only just they should remunerate those gentlemen for their skill and labour. Mr. Sheil, on the other side, urged that it would be a manifest injustice to the other competitors to award the prizes to the gentlemen whose plans had been selected by the committee. Mr. Alderman S. Holme regretted that, instead of issuing the advertisement, the committee had not employed an archi tect, in whom they would have confidence, to draw up a plan which, while accomplishing all the requirements; could yet be executed for something near the stipulated sum. None of the plans sent in could be built for £20,000, and, there fore, none had fulfilled all the reqUirements. (hear, hear.) The Council, however, had got into a quandry, and the only way they could get out of it was by paying for it. He, like Mr. Brown, looked upon the design of Con Amore as a most beautiful one, and as the very best of all the lot—(hear, hear, and cheers)—and he considered that they could not properly refuse to enmp2nsate him for the classical taste and skill evinced in it. Under all the circumstances of the case, he thought they would do best to award the prizes to the two gentlemen whose plans were before them. Mr. C. Turner thought the competitors should have observed the conditions, and, having failed to do so, were not entitled to the prizes. It the conditions were not to be observed, what was the use of advertising at all ? (Hear, hear.) If they adopted either of the plans before them, it would involve them in an expenditure of £40,000, and to that they were evidently driving. (Hear, hear.) As to the second plan, it was still more monstrous than the first ; and it was absurd to say that they were bound in honour and justice to award a prize to it. The town was, no doubt, deeply indebted to Mr. Brown for his liberal aid towards this object; but still they had all a taste as well as Mr. Brown ; and they also could not forget that both the plans were enormously in excess of the stipulated cost. (Hear, hear). Mr. A. C. Stewart defended the committee, and con tended that the prizes were justly earned by Con Amore and Alnza. After slme further discussion. Mr. Brancker moved, as an amendment, that, inasmuch as neither of the plans complied with the conditions of the advertisement, the council did not feel justified in awarding the prizes. Mr. Clint seconded the amendment, which, on being put to the vote, was lost by ninct,:en to twent-four. The voting was as follows : —For the motion, Coun cillors : Thomas D. Anderson, Richard Sheil, Roger Haydock, Charles Turner, Joseph G. Livingston, Harmood Banner, John C. Fernihough, Walter P. Jeffreys, John Gladstone, jun., John B. Brancker, William Earle, Francis A. Clint, James Robertson, Matthew Gregson. Aldermen : William Preston, Thomas Bold, James Parker, Joseph Cooper, Francis Shand-19. Against the motion, Councillors John Wooddruff, Archibald C. Stewart, Willi am Nicholson, John R. MeGnflie, Thomas Littledale, Jam es Holme, Thomas Wagstaff, John Lawrence, James Aspinall Tobin, Robertson Gladstone, John Buck Lloyd, James Johnson, James A. Picton, Joseph Kitchen, T. Llewe,lyn Hodson, Richard M. Beckwith John Aikin, John Farnworth, Hilton Halhead, Aldermen • William Bennett, Thomas Robinson, Ri c h ar d C. Gardner,' Samuel Holme, and the Mayor-24. The original nioticn was then put and carried, and the Town Clerk was affected to cornmu.nicate the th an k s o f t h e council to Mr. Brown for his munttteeni; donatio n , an d to inform him that the subject of his letter would receive every attention. The proceeding of the hackney carriage's committee were confirmed. BATHS' COMMITTEE, ~r i ~., ~~ accused hiM of intemperance, an imputation which was denied by Mr. Fernihough and Mr. Wagstaff. ECobertson Gladstone Is Clark a sober man ? Mr. Wagstaff : What do you mean by sober ? (Laughter.) Do you mean that he does not take a glass of grog ? (Laughter.) Mr. Gladstone : Is he a drunken man ? Mr. Wagstaff : He is not a drunken man. I will say no more. (Hear, hear.) Mr Beckwith : Had not one of the committee to lock him up in his room on the occasion of the Duke of Cambridge's visit to the Cornwallis street baths (Laughter.) Was he not on that day so drunk that the committee were afraid to let him out lest he would disgrace himself? _ Mr. Hodson protested against such questions, and declared that Mr. Beckwith should be the last man to cast such imputations on any man's character. Mr. Reek‘with : Does Mr. Hodson mean to Itavetit inferred that I am a " drunken charactert " "(Great laughter, and noise.) IClr. Alderman S. Holme : If we ought to have all ber servants, we . ought to have all sober councillor's. Mr. Hodson explained that he cast no itnpt;tation on Mr. Beckwith. He merely protested against such an inquisitorial line of questioning, and the more especially as Mr. Clark had been before honourably acquited, after a full investigation of this charge. After a lengthened and noisy discussion, the motion was carried on a division. The proceedings of the gas committee were con firmed without remark. BIRKENHEAD DOCK COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this committee contained a re commendation that £l,OOO be paid to Mr. J. Hartley for his services in connection with these docks since their purchase by the corporation; and that Mr. Bartley be appointed engineer of the Birkenhead docks and works at a salary of £750 per annum. ' l- - Alderman Holme moved the confirmation of the In doing so, he stated that Mr. Thomp. Mr. A proceed son had commenced the excavations of the great float, and expected to have a lame body of men at work there in a week or two. Negotiations were proceeding with the parties who formerly appeared in opposition to the bill, and the committee would shortly have a second conference with them, after which they hoped to be in a position to report to the new council that the negotiations had come to a favourable termination. A recommendation had also been made to the council, to which he begged to direct attention, on the subject of remuneration to. Mr. John Hartley for his past services. Looking to the close attention Mr. Hartley had paid to the important works now about to be constructed, and to the proper development of the estate-to the most able evidence given by him in Parliament—to the prepa ration of the plans and sections necessary for that extend ed enquiry, and to the valuation and arrangement he had • made of all the plant, the committee had ,decided to recommend to the council that, for these special services, the sum of .1,000 be paid to him, which they believed fair remuneration and no more, for the very important services lie had rendered since that period when the docks at Birkenhead came into the possession of the corporation. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the other question mentioned, this committee also recommended that Mr. Hartley should be 'the engineer appointed to carry out the works, and that his remuneration should be £750 a year. Looking at the enormous amount of the works, and at the ability which had been exemplified by Mr. Hartley in the works at this side of the water, and his known talent, they believed that it .would be only fair and reasonable compensation tor the important services which would be:required. Mr. Gladstone seconded the resolution. He said he was very happy to learn that the services of Mr. Hartley had been secured. They all knew his great worth and ability, and he Was satisfied that a more faithful and efficient servant could not be got. (Hear, hear.) The motion was carried. The general proceedings were then confirmed. The Coroner's account, amounting to £33 Os 6d, was passed. Tlrpvp - yyrprif - Ny 9 be redeemed within a period of 28 years, which involved a very large annual payment of 21 per cent as a sinking fund, beyond the interest upon the money which they were obliged to pay. In consequence of the rise in the value of money, they had had to borrow money, and should probably have to do so for some time to come, at a much higher rate than they had been in the habit of borrowing it, so much so, that upon the amounts they had recently borrowed, they had an increase of 15s in the pound, three-fourths. They should want from £90,000 to £lOO,OOO for the landing stage. They were about to erect daily courts, which was of imperative necessity, for it was utterly impossible to cram their prisoners any longer into the bridewell. When they looked at the engagement they had entered into at Birkenhead, having issued £1,143,000 in bonds, for which the corporation would be liable, and to the surplus income they were likely to have, and particularly, when they recollected the investigation into their Town Dues before Parliament, then it became the duty of the council to pause before they entered 'al projects of such magnitude, with the 6S • 'hey had already assumed, a n d i n t en d e d bly to fulfil, without coming upon the town for a at all. .(Hear, hear.) When the chairman elittee asked them to enter into engage- Jtint of :5220,000, which would probably ,0,t300, and to go to Parliament to ask for without being able t 6 show the possibility of a sufficient surplus, be contended that the council 'est until at least some of their large liabilities swe pt away, and until they knew the exact 'e which the corporation stood. (Hear, hear.) man having , such liabilities to meet in his 7s, would think of encouraging such Tonal responsibilities. Their Birkenhead "perfectly unieveloped—a mere mudbank— ,es, he strongly urged upon the ore they increased their engagements s they must do, in order to which he fully admitted to be (Hear, hear.) Finally, Mr. .oitowing amendment :—" That the ,at, owing to the heavy engagements and 'ed upon previously, under the authority into ad undert aki hone I,jor of II men to the E extend to •425' such a bill should r No prud private busin e - cireumstanc an enormous extent, a improvemen and a desirable ouc THuRsDAy. ,her that repo! on this occalion no inly it is a mo. is correct or otherw tiles Nlonday, port of the proceedings add, tbose questions are of daily occurrence, by private viduals, and by professional men; both solicitors and surveyors; and can and :ire, in all cases, readily answered ; so much so, that - if Hr. Gladstone were to canvass the two professions on the subject, I venture to believe he would find it difficult to meet with any member of them who could endorse his assertion. The plans of the Corporation estate aro regularly laid upon the Council table at every sitting of that body. These; with the registers, give an accurate description of every existing lease, and also of every property of which the fee simple has, unfortunately, been granted; and I should have great pleasure in testing the questions' to which Mr. Gladstone refers. With regret at thus far trespassing upon your valuable time, or that of the Council., I have the honour to be, sir, your, obedient servant. Jolil WHIG HTMAIi. • The Worshipful the Mayor. Mr. Gladstone: Mr. Mayor, that would appear to me to be a very extraordinary, and, I may add, most injudi cious communication on the part of the surveyor. I think, sir, you will hear me out in the correc'ness of my asser tion when I say that it is usually customary, on such occasions, to transmit to the party making a statement a of the report, for the nurpose t aso Now, lei rale has been observed ; a 'dinary circtimstano remarks made by me were spoken on the evening of Thursday last—on Friday, I suppose, in all the papers published, the report appeared. I have not looked at them, and, therefore, merely presume such was the case. The Saturday's papers would also have had what took place. We have then the interval of Sunday. Then one paper having that day smile sort of Tuesday passes by, and nu to just as I was leaving for home, about five o'clock, I received an intimation that this letter had been transmitted to his Worship the Mayor. Now, how in the name of fate, could the surveyor, who professes to feel himself aggreived, have hesitated from Thurs day until Tuesday, when he transmitted this communication? Somebody will, perhaps, state who was his friend upon this occasion. Now, sir, I have not read the report in the Mercury, although I generally do read that paper, hut from the pressure of business, I had not been able to do so on that occasion ; and I need scarcely say no opportunity has been offered me in the short interval of ascertaining what was stated there, or what precedes, or what follows,- the passage to which the surveyor has directed the attention of the council. I would merely remark that my statement—the words of which I cannot at this moment give you exactly, on account of the short ness of the interval—was to this effect. I was referring to the want of that return which I have already moved for, and which has been ordered by a majerity In this council. I stated, with reference to that return, and the particular information required by its terms, that if you applied to the officials foran answer to any particular enquiry, with reference to the extent, the situation, the number of square yards, the right of area, whether held on lives or on lease, or on freehold, they could not give you the information when you askodfor it, but that, by a process of- time, and by that course alone, they were enabled to procure the information. And is that not the correct statement? What have the council done? They have ordered a return which I moved for, and which has for its object the supplying of this information. Now, sir, it does so happen that my reference was not in any way intended to point to the surveyor. When I want information with regard to leasehold or freehold property, or how it is held, I consider the proper place to apply for the information to be where the leases, deeds, muniments, and conveyances are deposited in duplicate. This par ticular department is not presided over by the surveyor. He has, I believe, no earthly connection with it whatever. He performs the surveyor's duty—his business is to make plans. He is not the party to whom I referred, and, therefore. he has at least been premature in writing this letter. Now, sir, supposing for a moment this version of: my remarks, which the surveyor supposes me to have used, to be correct—which I do not admit—what does it prove ? That the very information which was to have been furnished within twelve months, he has been occu pied upon for a period fast approaching two years, and yet we have never been told, up to this day, how large or how small a portion of the labour has been performed. If my memory serves me correctly, when I brought `forward my motion in the council-room, I held in my hand an offer from one of the most respectable architects in Liver pool, to have the whole work completed within a period not exceeding three months. 7 believe at the time I drew the attention of the council to that circumstance. Now, sir, I contend, that if I had made such a statement as the surveyor informs us he has taken it word for word from the Mercury—if I had made such a statement, his duty was to confine himself to a protest against being included under the Know-Nothing denomination. But, sir, what does he do ? The servant of the corporation—an official, draw ing a salary—he takes upon himself to lecture me —to tell me what I ought to know, and ought not to know. And, not satisfied with that, he gives the council a kick as well, for he talks of the want of wisdom, in selling reversionary . interests in the property of the corporation. It does appear to me, that I can view this in no other light than as a most unnecessary, uncalled-for, and injldicious, if not impertinent, interference with a member of the coun cil, and a member of the community, who, actuated, by no other principle than the principle of right, discharging his , luty as in his conscience he believes he ought to do. I have no_other remark . to matte upon the subj,:t. — The as it appeared that the remarks did not intend to apply to the surveyor, they must apply to his department. __ Mr. Gladstone: No; I beg your pardon. I alluded to the department which Mr. Topping presides over, for whom I have a very great respect, but who is a stranger to Liverpool. and has not local acquaintance sufficient with the property, and whom, for that reason, I do not think competent to give the information, and manage the department as it ought to be managed. The Town Clerk said Mr. Topping was one of his subor dinate clerks, for whom he considered himself responsible. and he had no hesitation in saying, without disparagement to the gentleman who preceded him, that the registers and documents were in fat better order now than they had been before. (Hear, bear.) He would state further, that if any solicitor, surveyor, or any other occurrence, into the t t l n i e ounder standffice the position of any particular property, he could sdaily information, at once get the information he required. (Hear, hear.) for any person, went,a mount of ". It was done daily, and by members of the council, He believed that all the business there was arranged in the most strictly business-like, and me thodical, order, so that Mr. Topping could at once tell all the particulars connected with any property. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Gladstone : Very odd we have not had the infor mation I required sooner if that be the case. Mr. Alderman S. Holme did not think the tone Mr. Gladstone had assumed, in attacking Mr. Weightman as he had done, was one in which Mr. Gladstone was justified. The character of Mr. Weightinan, profes. sionally aad morally, was as dear to him as the character of Mr. Gladstone, or of any one of them. He (Mr. Holme) stood there to say, from the experience of many years of one of the most faithful and able offic ers th e corporation had ever possessed, that the remarks which were made by Mr. Gladstone, at the meeting in question, did that gentleman great injustice, and that Mr. Glad stone himself ought to have been thankful that the surveyor, in so temperate, proper, and gentlemanly a manner had given to him an opportunity of giving an explanation as he had done—an ex planation, however, which he thought did n o t make the matter very much better. (Hear, hear.) F or years he (Mr. Holme) had been in the habit, profession ally, of coming to the Town Hall, for tits. , purpose of acquiring information, and was still in the habit of doing so in connection with his business, and he would venture to give a direct contradiction to everything which had been said by Mr. Gladstone. Long before he was a member of the council, whenever he came into that building for the purpose of obtaining any informa tion as to property, instantly the officers of the corpora tion turned to the books, and be never had occasion to lose any time in receiving the information he sought. He put it to every surveyor, or professional man in Liverpool, whether they ever had occasion to remain there five minutes without getting full information. (Hear ) Mr. Gladstone had thought proper to use bard words, and had designated the letter 4s an " impertinent inter ferance" of the surveyor ; but he (Mr. Holme) should say that when a man was so attacked, it was not imper tinent of him to vindicate his character, and set himself right with the council, his employers. (Hear, hear.) He had read the remarks of Mr. Gladstone on the occa sion with the greatest pain, and he could not but say, that a gentleman who was so apt to take offence, should be exceedingly careful that lie did not himself fall into the same error. He knew that gentlemen, sometimes on a public platform in the heat of a discussion, cr when at a loss for words, even when delivering a prepared speech, let drop expressions which they afterwards regretted. lie hirribeiC had frequently done so, but, prompted by the feelings of a gentleman, he had, he hoped, always made the amends honourable, and apolo gised for the unintentional offence. (hear, hear.) He thought it only an act of justice to say, that if there were eter a body of officers, who were attentive to their duties, it was the officers of the corporation who had been characterised and stigmatised as " princely paid officials, who knew nothing of their duty," Such remarks ought not to have fallen from the lips of any considerate man, or if inadvertently used, o the toe council g o obtained t tle i should h ave b een at once w ithd rawn , more especially as Mr. Glad Stone himself ought to have k nown t h at it was utterly i l m n p r o uc s ro s nn i i h os l hl e ue saif,no him b iy o e e yoe I o t, r To i. p ngsruertpoyeeamta.rd; dha , Mi.. k e t al o an u t t lt o o t n ie gt b single doer' . without all the dimen s i ons o f the property e e oib t v ete e f ‘ii \o r ne. y rarges. i first cif he o u r bi t te i ca impossibleat ne a member bm forer fon b as to the corporate property from th e l i t b i f l a e r for inu sd Mr. duties, W officers with the gr ea t est readiness, and that it was utterly an, with his other to the time requi site for tile prepa rat i on of the return moved for by Mr. Gladstone. I t was not inability, or igno r ance of the corporate estate, th at p urgent prevented Mr. Weiohtmaa, whose duties often kept mp him e lod even atntil late in thnight , his own house, u ye, e from furnishing the return, but want of time, and the p ressure of other m ore important business. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Alderman Cooper said he could state, after an experience of forty years, that he had never gone to the Town Hall without almost immediately obtaining the no such pto,, WATCH COMMIITE B. 4 litle 1 ""uings of this committ?e were re -111(.` resolution of the committee, expre;s• 4itttal;ttle ability with which Mr. Gregsoi., “tc,. %O d etif4 4lB charged th e d ut i es o f the office, and regretting a to retir e f rom t h e Council. ' I ;th. !notion of Mr. Gregson, d seconded by Mr. John- Proc eedings were confirme. ye of th n I MPROVEMENT COMMITTEE. '1111).• Dr Yeeedi n this committee, which were read, % to gs of Platio„' reco mmendation, that the land necessary for the t4 e llaa ed ",°F the site for the new Library and Museutn l, be titta 6 ' r olu the representatives of the late Mr. Bra ati 4 4 ,, ° 4 v the cost to be borne out of the E.._ C el s for th e laseum Committee, the Corporation repaying th e 4 ave a b and which may be used in their improvement , t ii a o , Thla rro vi .. It also appeared, from the mien 11 1 : t t . ta ti o ,, lt ee are about having an interview to .tats Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company, and th te a if ire and Yorkshire Railway Company, with a view 4 a, arran tow ha typ al gements could be made for the making theofa a. "al Great Howard street to the North end of 1 4 ()11 te Alder4l°tien of lir. Alderman S. Holme, seconded by e,. rotneaa)3enneft, ' the proceedings were confirmed !t1) also pro ne Bennett, of the St. George's Hall Cot tti l t ) .°llfirnied. From them it appeared teat the t ' t l i or the Hall and new Concert Room are becotn- N t. are numerous. tt, t ,t, to p o e t nl ', an Parker mentioned that, from October last tbie 0rr,,00,r this year, the receipts of, and attendance (78" I performances were as follows :--Gross re !tpLa,et krformances at Cd and 20 at 3d) £1,900 163 3cl; IN' 4l e ate -ilet* l 3 of printing, &c., £512 2e 3d •, paid to the t eo ,,da t ,4, all nett. proceeds, £1,388 14s. The average d le; e tta, the 8 , 1 concerts was 850, and at . the 3 1 )2 7 0 " 120 ; total at the performances during the , 0 pr oee '‘ed, e ' l ligs of the Markets' Committee were also ds of th with the ma3ittee l' he h of CO Itt3UTT EE. vrOce • .. edtngs of this committee were ead. ti, iitt,, , g l e Pler, i n position prof moving the confirmation r of the pro-, 1 (1 ° ear., snrcratulated the Con= the ?,... 1 (1 t'mratlon schools, and declared that nothing 16,7t 1 d ) l e u e a greater benefit to the town in their fetli t. 1(1 ,, the burgesses than art increaseeat more ac pleasure if ta.:4414-11 Would give the committee 'or future gr day, this rAn t ,, 12, assured that, on some It r , ge p.'4oset would be taken into consideration. fon c of correc i , o.ll4,seeedings of the ael and hou.e . ' l '-• s i) health ( i ncludingrecommendation to increase Let ty; karl, of i,.. a r borough chief in the krestie d e "' mr• Allen Blount, __... annum), A de Partment, from 454 12s to 4:6,, per., (IN as' eo - confirmed. Whey comprised lit, at , . minittees, were interest. t tP,,,, (1 D O„elltqlon EXPENDITURE comsfirmE n . a nem. 11 C 4t io t— ,t e dings of this committee contai ed itl.44%r,,‘Liat tb,e corporation place a new stove in St. 11,i.. Nti,eureh. i,ilt,,, h, tier, in moving the confirmation of the proceed oltlretve ti., 1, not know whether the council , NA 1,,, hat Lie did ~nse involved in the recom kotion."Y ,Ineur the op, the Town Clerk drew up a ce; 11 11q „, tilt with lally chargea hes the corporate chure , Ite,,,tholb;',ln connection i self believed that this i. th,"'teoq..fitie (Ali:. Banner) himself list, yet a majority the ~..nri,Nael i t n t t be included in to do e n dere 1 that, before refusing Thomas's kliti‘.(leala_ , e on•-i , cens Of St. to tl r th, i t 1 / 1 d by the churchwari ned w ould he right to take the opinion of the Alp aa il l • • al ieh • p iet _ e suoject. tlef-Al h a `°ll expressed surprise that the committee in 'alio e submitted such a recommendation, 4 ex -e of theTClerk's known opinion, that such ghat tt4e oUld"1:1 improper and illegal. He hoped : 4 the rietenname de twould not be persevered in, e ll..ti rtt -- Ivo to a uni •ii be brought before the 0 ) -.1, ~,. -U., never &Tat e, eeltee_ yiear, hear.) He would move, then, as an tiN)ptio 41, that the proceeings be c n o firm ' ed, with the 4 4 4 I ba t Minion of d them relating o t the placing t. el, stovetc s 't'i 's Church. v„, A., t. ~, aomas '`k 4 ; C. wart sceGneed the amendment, which the —e ' nem eon toAtoce di t,pl'iu d e rigs h , s • a 1 41 e• vroceed• comprised titihtitton, ........I.ngs of this committee! th,`L, aiad 1 ,`„" E lly!mg• to the public . . services of Mr. George Ili Ntacii, gretting his determination to retire from ho Ntt ' They also mentioned that tbli kti (41 had b • and had su e th e . een recently tiled, r. Lest. °fi' T. t;th2t 4 0t is .Ilitie begged to be allowed, in c.. of.mit,t4ltte:llll4?,' been present at the last meeting v tr',,_"an, t to state how cordially he agreed to the o. he"A the ~W,llleh had been given to Mr. Holt, in rettran i , rearet,-uairmanship of the committee, and howdeep y 'et', ill COM MOU with other members of the of the Observatory Committee were ~_ R COMMIT. proceedings, The proceedings of this committee composed a recom mendation to increase the salaries of Mr. Andrew Clark, , I SUP intendent of Cornwallis street baths, from £l2O to from ; and of Llr. David Morris, superintendent of the consideration of which was head b aths, from £lOO to £l2O per annum, the sequence I council, pursuant to the standinff -- ' Postpani3d Qt t 1 ,,, 1- tlllolltl Waptaff moved, and Mr. Fernihou7ll seconded, he confirmation of the r ecommendations and the general 1 A very noisy discussion took place on the question of Mr, Clark's salary, Mr. Beckwith and other gentlemen MAY'OR'S COMMUNICATIONS, A letter was read from Mr. John Wybergh, requesting to be allowed to resign his situation as treasurer of the borough The acceptance of Mr. Wybergh's resignation was post poned until the next council, as the Act of Parliament requires such a vacancy to be filled up within 21 days, and, if the resignation were accepted at once, too short a time to fill up the vacancy would be left to the new council, which will not assemble - until Monday, the -10th of November. Applications from Mr. Capes Ashlin, Mr. Archibald Tweedie, and other gentlemen, for the situation about to be vacated, were postponed until the same period. A letter was read from Mr. W. L. Beaufort, Surveyor General of the Post Office, stating that the Postmaster General had received, from the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, a letter, suggesting that the Post Office should be placed on the site of the new Public Offices street, and requesting to know whether the Chapala, Commerce reiresentl the town of Liverpool generally, and whether the Mayor and council concurred in the vioys - _ - Hodson moved that the letter be referred to the health committee, which was seconded and carried. WIDENING OF THE STREETS ALONG THE DOCKS,-THE APPROACHES TO THE LANDING STAGE. The letter of the Chairman of the Dock Committee to the Mayor, was read, on the subject of widening the streets on the east margin of the docks mentioned previous letter of the 15th Sept. 1854. Mr. Charles Turner said he had written that letter in obedience to an unanimous resolution of the dock com mittee. That committee entertained the same strong opinion which, he believed, was entertained by everybody merchant, tradesman, or whoever else, that this improve ment was one of the most urgently required of all public improvements. The council were aware that a bill was sought for, in 1854, to effect the principal improvements to which'his letter referred, which was withdrawn only in consequence of the council having obtained possession of the Birkenhead docks. The cost, as it was estimated by the Mayor, would be about £222,000. He therefore moved that the town clerk be instructed to take the necessary steps to obtain parliamentary powers for the purpose of carrying out these improvements. Mr. Alderman Bola seconded the motion. Mr. Alderman Parker thought while the council had the Birkenhead clog around their necks they ought to pause before they too hastily adopted such a motion. They had also to meet the wants of the Cheshire people, and if ;,they loaded themselves with all these responsibili.; ties, they would be driven to a borough rate at last. Mr. Earle hoped the motion would not be rejected without the council giving it more consideration than Mr. Parker had done. Nobody could doubt the vast impor tance of the improvement. He would, however, remind Mr. Turner that there were other improvements as important. This improvement proposed was all for the shipping interest alone. Now, he hoped that if the cor poration were disposed to do anything to please the dock committee, the dock committee would not set their faces against the corporation carrying out another improve ment. He looked upon the approaches to the pierhead as being quite as important. The dock committee had set their faces against it, although they had usurped the whole shore for five or six miles. There was no possibility of getting to the Cheshire side now, except by the outlet left to them. Every female and every child who went there, incurred the risk of their lives every time they went. The pier-heads were perfectly useless. The idea was, that the George's Dock could not be filled, and the evidence was asked of a parcel of people who, of course, followed the views of their employers. Mr. Turner placed great reliance upon dock-gatemen, upon pilots, upon a parcel of ignorant people who knew nothing at all—people who always ran in one groove, and never thought of ad vancement. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Evans, also, was opposed to his (Mr. Earle's) views, but they all recollected the Gill-street market, and remembered that Mr. Evans was not all-wise. Ile hoped the Cheshire people and the town's people would'continue to keep the subject before the public, and if he had the honour of a seat in the council next year, he should certainly move for some com mittee to take it into consideration. He looked upon it as the greatest improvement they could have in Liverpool ; and he denied that the millions of people who crossed there were to be subjected to continual inconvenience and danger, for the convenence of the comparatively few ships which used the George's Dock basin. (Hear, hear.) It was suggested, that Mr. Laird's letter to the council upon this subject should be then read, which was done accordingly. It was:accompanied by a memorial from the Cheshire side, upon the same subject. The memorial, however, was not read, it not having arrived in time to be presented according to the standing orders. Mr. Alderman Holme said, he very much regretted the position of responsibility he found himself placed in, by the absence of the able chairman of the committee, and which obliged him to oppose the motion of Mr. Turner, and the more particularly so, because he was of opinion that every imnrovement proposed, which would very much conduce to the benefit of the commerce of the port, would conduce to the benefit of the inhabitants of the town generally, and he had long been convinced, that the avenue which led to the former, was already sadly too narrow for the trade of the port, and that it was a most desirable improvement, if they were prepared at present to go to parliament. (Hear, hear.) But he should have to call the attention of the council, first, to the amount they were asked to spend, and next, to the late period 'at which the application was made. It would become his duty to state to them a few of the responsibilities upon which they had already entered, and, when he had done, he was sure the council would agree with him, that to proceed to the discussion and decision of a question of such importance, at that late hour of the night, when their plans must be deposited almost immediately before a Parliamentary committee, would be most imprudent at the present time, however desirable it might be at some other period to entertain the proposition. They had, in the first instance, been saddled with the Birkenhead docks ; and if, indeed, the chairman of the dock committee came to ask them to go to parliament conjointly with that committee, and stated that the latter would go to parliament to apply for a bill t o t a k e the Bi, kenhead dock estate e n tirel y off the hands of the counc il, an d re li e ve them wholly of that heavy resp ons ibilit y ; then, indeed, he should be v er y to have the propositi o n en tertained. (Hear, hear.) to go on with th ose enorm ous works connected C. Turner: ?erty, wor:cs, art benomn n sr." r not (bout, as the duty IllVto .. and not to rusb into an expenditure of over £200,000. (Hear, hear.) They had an ac. - mrau.laeng f:nd to pro vide for, of 6 per cent, on an average fol. the amounta they had borrowed, for the purpose of erecting their new assize courts, and their borough gaol, all of which must Mr. C. Turner : That is not primarily the object. The real object is, to facilitate the traffic north and south, s in the carrying out of those improvements certain vill be placed at our disposal, it will be our business if out to the best advantage, probably, by erecting , Dale- I warehouses on it. _ Mr. Picton continued to say, that such an improvement would be chiefly for the convenience of the shipping and commerce of the port, and that being the case, he con• sidereil the matter would be t a k en u p „ with much greater propriety by the dock committee than by the council. (Hear, hear.) It was for the dock committee to co-operate with the council in the matter ; but, under the circum stances, he thought it would be prudent to give the notice, and so place themselves in a position to act as occasion might require. Mr. Tobin said that he felt great difficulty in dealing with the question, and for this reason—that he could not separate this improvement from the improvement of the i ar e p r t o ti a o e l h i g e h s t t t o h t a h t e s r o i v m e e r , v t , o e w l h d e i c ri h n e ll 4 l r. m E e a a r s l u e r e h a s d h a o u l l u d d e b d. 0 brought forward including both improvements, and that they should not now go to parliament, and subsequently the dock committee, for another. (Hear, hear.) He was very much afraid of any hasty measures which might be brought forward on this subject. He felt that it was an exceedingly difficult one, and it was therefore desirable that it should be brought prominently before the public, in order that they might carry out some well-defined scheme worthy of the town, and commensurate with the commerce of the port. (Hear, hear.) It had been urged that this question involved, principally, Cheshire interests. He denied that entirely. The question involved the interests of Liverpool as well as of Cheshire. What should he say of the thousands of passengers from America and elsewhere who landed here ? of the tens of thousands of excursionists and visitors who came here from the manufacturing districts ? What was it that they were proud of ? It was their river—(hear, hear),— and yet, from want• of proper approaches, they virtually debarred the inhabitants of the town from it. (Hear, hear.) He was aware of the difficulties of their financial position, and that was one of the reasons why he was anxious that no hasty d ec i s i on s h ou ld b e come to on the subject. At the same time, the present inadequacy of the approaches to the river was a crying evil. (Hear, hear.) It was a question which would be forced on public atten tion ; and he did not hesitate to say that, at no distant time, it would be the great question of the people of Liverpool. He could not consent to go to parliament for a partial improvement, and he should therefore support the amendment. Mr. Ald. Bold suggested that both improvements should be included in the notice. As to the high—level road to the stage, it was th e op i n i on of a gentleman well to forma lodgm en t on i t, that, by erecting b lqau u na i d l l d iifin in ge g d s on each side of the new street—which would be the finest they had in Liverpool —they would defray nearly the whole cost of the improvement. According to Mr. Hartley'sei plan, the st reet would be 60 feet wide, and the u e would be just th e same as Bold-street—that was incline St. James's -street was 1 in 19, Water-street I in 24, and Chapel-street 1 in 20, so that they would see how easy, by this improvement, the approach to th e l an di ng s t a ge would he made. (H ear, hear.) As to the shortness of the time for giving the notice—in 1854 they had f u ll y di s cussed the subject on the 4th of October, and it was only on the 10th of the November following that the notices w , re first submitted to the council. He did not see that they were now so much behind hand ; and even if th e y were so, the council being nearly the same as in 1854, all Of them were well acquainted with the merits of the subject. gr. Bramley Moore, M.P. matted them to anything ? asked if the notice com- Mr. Alderman . C9oper : It merely gets the wedge in, that is all. It will get you into Parliament. Mr. Bramley•Moore replied, that if the notice left it open to them to discuss the question at any time, the council might think fit, after the 9th of November, he would vote for it ; if not, he would oppose it, The Town Clerk replied that the resolution left them no such power—it was express in its terms. Mr. Bramley-Moore : Then, in that case, I must vote against it. It was here agreed that the resolution should include notice for the improvement of the approaches to the river as well as the widening of the streets, but on a poll it was negatived, Mr. Alderman Holme's amendment being carried by a majority of 29 to 15. The voting was as follows : For the amendment—Councillors : D. Crosthwaite, Wm. Nicholson, R. Haydock, Godfrey, Banner, Fernihough, Jef freys, J. Glad s t one , jug., W ags t a ff, L awrence , T o bi n , Brancker, Earle, Tinne, Lloyd, Johnson, Kitchen, Clint, Beckwith. an d Hothead ; Aldermen : Preston, D over, Parker, Cooper, Gardner, Bramley-Moore, Toulmin, S Ilolme, and the Mayor.-29. Against it—Councillors • Anderson, A. C. Stewart, Shell, ,lain, Rob L o i r t t t a l o e n ci , ale a'nd Liv G in r g eg st s o o n n ;RA:lGladstone, Aldermen Penienteotnt: UR. GLADSTONE AND THE CORPORATE OFFICIAL 9. The following letter was read from the Corporation Surveyor Town . ball, Oct. 28, 1856 take the liberty to ask your attention, and through you that of the Council, tow statement made by Mr. Robert son Gladstone, in an addess to the electors of Lime-street Ward • on Thursday evening last, as repotted in the Mercury on Friday, of with the following is a copy :—" If they asked any of the officials which was leasehold property and which was ,Aso had to run, he pledged himself who could answer the question." To 10, or bow fp. the he most unqualified contradiction; i•, diadstc h•Ms ever taken occasion to ask e officers whose duty it is to givo la ho made at the mee ing was inc toot ; and if he never had occasion to ask those questions, or either ,r,f thew, then ho mast have been equally aware that ho was maki ng an assertion totally without foundation, and, therefore, for whatever purpose made, unjustfiable, I may and, unc MACH to t to a great council re; of Parl iament, in respect of the Birkenhead docks and works, coupled with the attempts which have been made to deprive the corporation of a large portion of their pro perty, the council do not feel justified in underti.king the improvement suggested in the letter of the chairman of the dock committee, calculated, as that improvement undoubtedly would be, to give facilities to the trade and commerce of the port." Mr. Alderman Parker seconded the amendment Mr. Robertson Gladstone said that he quite concurred in the remarks which had fallen from Mr. Holme and Mr. Turner, with regard to the necessity for widening the approaehes to the river. There could be no question that their responsibilities were of a most terrific character — (hear, hear,)--but still he put. it to the council whether there . might not be an advantage in giving the notice. (Hear, hear.) It would show that they were prepared to carry out such improvements, and would do so at the proper time ; and then, if the Town Dues should be again attacked, it would be a simple matter for them to with draw the bill altogether. Be would like to know what the expense of giving the notice would be ? The Town Clerk replied that, including the cost of plans and all other items, the outside expense would be about £2OO or e3OO. Mr. Gladstone continued to observe that, if the Town Dues were placed in jeopardy, they could say to Par liament, you are depriving us of the means of supporting that trade, which it is our duty to encourage. (Hear, hear.) You are taking away the means that would enable us to widen the thoro ug hfares for the necessities of that trade—the trade of the whole kingdom—and if you chose to obstruct the trade of the, country, let it be at your peril. (Hear, hear.) If they gave the notice, they could properly make that retort to any attack on their property, and then, in the event of such an attack, withdraw the bill. Mr. C. Turner remarked, that the cost of the notice would be less than usual, from the fact that their previous plans could be made available. Mr. Pieter' concurred in the remarks of Mr. Holme, but at the same time thought there might be'some advantage in being prepared to take either alternative—to go on or not —in the coming session of Parliament. (Hear, hear.) There might be an advantage in being able to show that they were willing and ready to make all requisite improve ments, and if the notice did not bind them to prosecute the bill, he thought it might be given. There was one remark, in reference to the prospective dock improve ments, for which he should ask the consideration of the council. If he understood aright, that portion of the line of improvements which lay bet Ween Water-street North, and James -street South, was:intended to be taken down, not merely for th e p ur p ose of widening the thoroughfares from north to south, but also to enable the dock committee to extend the George's Dock eastward, and if not to extend the dock, at all events to enclose it within walls, and erect warehouses within the enclosure. in formation'he _desired abant any portion of; the corpo• ration property. He could, from his own knowledge, confirm all that Mr. Alderman Holine.had said as to the attention and knoWl e d ge o f th e i r d u ti es o f the corporate officers. (Hear, bear.) Mr. 'Pieton observed that with the exception of the Mayor he had had as much experience of the business dope in the T own Hall as any other man in the community, and h e could, therefore, bear willing testi loony to the acPu racy w i th which the various portions of the corporate estate were described, and the registry books kept. He had never applied for information about it that he did not obtain it, and that without any delay or 'difficulty. And so far as concerned Mr. Weightman and Mr. Topping, he had never met in any - office or place of business greater courtesy or more ready and full information on the business - of their department than from them.- (Hear, hear.) Mr. Alderman Toulmin said that, as a solicitor of thirty years' standing - , he could add his testimony (laughter) to what had been said as t o th e admirable manneriu which the public business w as con d ucted aTown Hall. Mr. Shell said that the council should congratulate itself on having such an excellent body of officers ; but he had observed that the corporation, and, indeed, all other. public bodies, were invariably in that happy posi tion in regard to their servants. They had not only the best possible servants, but they had, the men who could by any possibility be alone found fit to perform the duties which thy were required to discharge. (Laughter.) He recollected when the predecessor of Mr. Topping was in. office, and how; when they asked for any return, they were told that they should feel happy in having such a man—(laughter) —and that if he were by any chance removed, it would be impossible to replace him. How gratifying, then, was it for them to learn that day from the Town Clerk that, fortunate as they were before, and well as their affairs were managed, they were now much more fortunate, because of their affairs being so much the better managed. (Laughter.) They, acted very the inconsistently, r4ric, m were told by Mr. iloime that th e i n f orm . atioa as to the corporate es t a t e - c o u ld b e at fhthadatwere ooneveng the ascertained, i return, had not only incurred unnecessary expense, but had thrown needless labour on that excellent man, the surveyor. (Laughter.) Ile (Mr. Steil) could not comprehend it. If they did not want the return, they should not have ordered it ; if they required it, it should have been long since supplied. (Hear, hear )' THANKS TO THE AiA Von. Mr. W. Earle : I believe, sir, the business of the day is"now over. I am not going to make a sarcastic speech, though I could reply to some of the observations of Mr,, Sheil, were I disposed to do so.. It did not occur to me, when I entered the room to-day, that this would .be the, last time - we Would have the pleasure of seeing you ,ha that seat,. I did n o t k no w that the usual ei)mpliment, was to he paid to the Mayor,' and still .more.that.4 was to devolv3 on me. The task is a very agreeable one, from the high esteem in whieh I hold you, not only in, your public capacity,. but still more in your private capacity as a gentleman. I have great plasure in palling you my friend. It is unnecessary to pass my encomium on your conduct: Yon are too well known in this town, to render it necessary for me to detain .the council one moment in making a speech. (Hear, hear.) I think the burgesses at large are-most fortunate. in having parson in the council of you knowledge, your honour, arid Your integrity. I beg leave to move the thanks of the council to you for the exemplary manner in which you have discharged the duties of your office,. and the courteous manner in which you have behav e d t o a ll classes. (Applause.) Mr. Shand said, having sat . throughout .a meeting; where some of thodebatei had been ..of the least-plea surable kind almost he had ever listened to•In that council chaniber he had great pl easure i n having now, an opportunity of seconding that motion. He did-se) with a heartfelt concurrence in all that had fallen from Mr. Earle, and be felt that he need not add a word to ensure for the motion a cordial reception. (Hear.) The motion was carried by acclamation. The Mayor, who seemed much affected in replying, said : G-ntlemen, I can scarce l y f i nd _words to express my thanks to you, not only for your kindness upon this occasion, but. Upon every occasion since I have been a Member of the council. I can only assure you I have endeaeottred to discharge the duties of the high office in which,:by your favour, Thave been placed, and if I have perfortned then to ,your satisfaction, it is a matter of great gratification to me.. I have endeavoured to dis- . charge then). faithfully —I make no boast of it. I think every man placed in that position has duties lo 'perform who have so highly honoured him. I have endeavoured to discharge my (lilies. and if I have die, charged them to your satisfaction, I too am satisfied. (Applause.) • The . eouncil then, at half-past five o'clock, broke up. to thos THE PIRACY AND MURDER ON BOARD MR GLOBE. 01 34 ; tn o s( n m,, d na a tn y i td , h t hmme Matted prisoners ec t i s aw e r p eg p ree e d r L ew a .e g i tx a ha v I n a p , ie G rda i c o by v e a af n on n rae i B theaOr bni murder on board the Globe. Daniel Cullen, one of the f c i F ia tn g s w l i i d la s o e i s i s r s a a s i considerable s f ailors r el s oun 0,7 ol blood, wheel board ao wsd htseo, when eaet ten na v ve minutes attacks ' n l u, passed t.e a s va afterwards reo e uo v nn i d a en ratherc e ti himself.et wu b n e a l ds i behind rdt stabbedii him, e e s raitnnedat a witness ck ffe d immediately rew afterwards h s h rt o wasshot ver his intodown, t,h the and becamehis n another ot to h stop very t i h l e l wound in the right side of his neck from a knife. At shoulders, and put h lr is e fio r g e e l : bleeding. Slirtly afterwards he received A se t v t e i r l e e time he got that wound all the five foreigners were close to him, and he heard them talking among them selves, but he did not understand their language. He crawled to the p.)on, and when he got there was taken into the captain's cabin by the captain and mate, and put into the sail cabin. While there he heard Angelo tell the captain he wanted money, and heard the captain say, " Here is my pocket-book." Afterwards he heard Angelo come down and open the. chests. He recollected nothing more till he was told the foreigners had left the ship. George Nellegan, a boy, l. flown into the ro said that he sl e pt i n t h e f orecast l e of the vessel, and on the ni g ht re f erre d to had turned into his bunk, and had been some time awake, Josephei whenhe Pattinsonsawtwo men come and David Thomas were then in their bunks. When the men came down, they had a piece of lighted candle, and the; went to the bunk 'of Joseph Pattinson. A few seconds afterwards the candle was blown out suddenly, Aftee that he heard a heavy substance fall out of Pattinson's berth on to his chest, and roll on to the deck. He then heard a groan, and a noise as in a person's throat, and ,a noise of struggling. After Pattinson had fallen out of his bunk, the two men came and sat down on the chest in front of witness's bunk fora few minutes. They talked in their own language, and Pettrich put his hands on witness's legs, and said " Piccolo." They then went up the ladder on deck. The witness deposed to the subsequent movements of himself and the prisoners, and to his seeing David Thomas coming down the hold with his hand to his neck, and the blood streaming from it, Witness returned to his bnuk, and remained some time, he could not say how long, hut it seemed a long time to him, Before Thomas came down,witness heard noises on deck, as if some one was being chased round. When it got light witness saw Pattinson alongside of the hunk dead, with his throat cut. Afterwards Pettrich and . Barbalona came down the fore hold into the forecaskl AL Pettricli had a pistol an his hand, and Barbalprm a l ong knife. Witness jumped from his bunk and implored' them to save his life, as be had nevP-,. hurt them. Pett r i c h caught hold of hi m , kissed b; : s c h ee k , and said, " Me no touch you." The prisoners and the other two foreignera having plundered. the vessel, went on shore in a boat. After some f'.lrther evidence from this witness the pro. ceedings were adjourned. THE PAPER DUTY.—The Committee of the Association for the Repeal of the Taxes on Knowledge, resolved last night, " that the time is now come for recommencing active operations for obtaining the tot a l an d i mmediate repeal of the paper duty." Mr. Milner Gibson will be requested, at th e oarliest opportunity, to bring the subject again under the consiceration of the House of Commons. MoNTENLono.--."" edona ue harp ent co h h e a m ve li t t a a k r e y n question of Uontenegro appears to lea _0; oe, great ar P 3 l : as El t s_ t e hp • co T wce h or e : g ai o esr v ac e r r e n ita na i e nu n tae t nr o eso f toe t f h d e v S ie n ti lta n z e to a resolution to submit the affair to the arbitra- Divan and the French and Austrian Ambassadors in order to bring about a definitive settlement of the differences. movementsraeeat Constantinople hay• e been su s b p e e t n w d e e e i d n n , andttoe. and Princ have c PARISIAN SPECU LA T IO N.—A question of considerabl i s in ul -P )m or it ta te n d ce to in tho Stoc e M. Roblot, stock broke r , o n th e 17th September, last year, wro t e to M. Parisk Exchangel ooperationsCommerce w . a a on F r id ay Paulian, one of his' clients, to demand payment of 1,928 which were doe to him, and to inform hint that if before the end of the month he did not bring to a 'close an operation on fifty shares of the Credit Mohilier Company, he would sell the s h ares . To this letter M. Paulian paid no attention: and lloblot accordingly sold the shares on the 30th September. The sale caused a loss of 9,522 fr., so that M. Pathan owed him altogether 11,450 fr. ; and it was to obtain payment of this sum that he brought his action. M. Paulian not only disputed the demand, lint brought a cross-action against M. Roblot to obtain from him the value of the shares in question, on the ground that he ought not to have proceeded to the , sale without sending him a summons by huissier, a simple letter not being in the eye of the law a sufficient notification. The Tribunal, however, decided that the notice by letter was quite sufficient, and it therefore condemned M. Paulian to pay M. koblot 11,450 fr. with costs, at the same time dig. missing his action against that gentleman.