The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-07 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL-YESTERDAY eee men who have spoken are taking up this matter very -e• . properly, indeed—talking about rights of property, and The usual monthly meeting of the Town Council, w as so sensitive upon them. I llopewhen the gas question is held at eleven o'clock yesterday. John Stewart, Esq., taken into consideration, when the council is attacking Mayo r , i n the chair. private property in the same way, w e s h a ll have the same langu age ,use d by Mr. H orn b y and Mr. Picton. lt The pecial (Laughter.) vo ettil, wer e read. minutes of the last m ee ti ng, an d of the s Mr. Robertson Gladstone : I always thought the THE LIVERPOOL TOWN DUES. question of town dues would sooner or later come under Before the minutes of the finance committee were discussion, in a way which would lead to a final settle- Mr, ment of it. We are not, upon this occasion, I suppose, Mr. Picton rose and said—Mr. Mayor :It has always to enter into a discussion as to whether the town dues b een considered, ever since I had the honour of a seat are a legal charge or not on trade, but I may say, that I in this council, that any question affecting the privileges do complain, and complain very bitterly, of the manner 'of this body, should take precedence of all other subjects, in which the rights of this corporati in hate been I waited to see whether any other gentleman, more attacked. If we are to have an in airy into our rights, ft , In fluentia l than myself, e sp ec i a ll y t h e c h a i rman of the if we are nut justly entitled to them, let us have the ` lance,l committee, would have made som e remar k s to principle fairly discussed, but do not let us countenance uncil upon th e su bj ect o f t h e portentous attack an attack Upon us by means of a ladder, and a man obih has been declared against our rights and nrivi- getting in at the window. (Hear, hear.) Let it be a I ckes, and our property, as we conider it, in the House straightforward proceeding. Now, we know very well, psenl3lCoMmons. (Hear, hear.) No gentleman having that it is a very favourite, and a very common practice to speak, I cannot resist rising to allude to the sub. with the government, when the business of the session Jec t• It appears u to my mind, that it is a subjectready;paramount before very frequently, it refers to a subject of which thry know us, until every effort has been made upon our part. to precious little. (Hear, hear ) Jut let tie look for one avert the threatened injury to our rights and properti:s. mom en t at what is Proposed by tlefi vice-president of the - Lear, hear.) It will he for the council, sir, to consider Board of Trade. He, at I understand, intends that the wh at steps oug h t to b e taken. The finance committee, town dues Shall be placed in the hands of government or any other comm i ttee w hi ch may he appointed commissioners! Well, I can understand anything in !heiranecially to look after the business, will no doubt do the wide world but that. To place the charge of poitnds; utmost. But we, as a council, representing the shillings, pence, in the hands of a gOVernment who Inha bitants of Liverpool, have a duty to perform. of a cann o t manage their own, whose own accounts will not Pnh liu nature, and from that duty, - sir, we must not tally, wh o can scarcely make an addition in a debit or Ad 1, ;int i te• (Hear, hear.) The inhabitants of this town can- credit account - correctly ! (Hear, hear.) These are the beentamely sit down, and allow a property which has men wile propose, after all their blunders in the east— handed down from generation to generation, pur- men starving on the right ; and food lying rotten upon c hsed and paid for by our predecessors, granted by the the left—these are the men who propose to take your b r o wn—sold by the Crown, indeed—traneferred from property and manage it for you. Well, now, I cari un and to hand like any other property, and finally pur- derstand anything but that. If we were obliged to place chased by the corporation of Liverpool —surely the the town dues in the hands of those who are prictical nhabitants of this community cannot tamely sit down men of business, Which I contend the Liverpool men are a nd allow themselves to be robbed and plundered of with all their faultse it would be some satisfaction, but bear) Now, sir, I shall not make a long speech upon pretend to take our ways and means from us, and tell us -8 aUbjeCt I hould rather listen than speak. My that they can spend them better than we can, and more o b ject is, simply, to bring the subject before the council judiciously, is so absurd a proposal that I have too '''',at the matter may be immediately taken up, and that much confidence in the country to believe it f ll Ivnatever measures the council may consider ever entertain it. (Hear, hear.) It reminds me o the i l tessary for the town and the community to be case of the boy who goes to school, and after spending l als ett, that they should be promptly and all the money he has brought from home, he finds ,%.ctiently commenced- My own view upon the matter another boy who has got something left and fancies it -' mat y ou , as chief magistrate, should call a town's- would be a very agreeable thing to go shares with him, flee at in s order that the opinion of the inhabitants and therefore suggests a way in which the mon h ey may mild be fairly and properly taken. (Hear, hear.) If be very economically laid out so that he mayhave a at b e xi , A the wi s h o f t h e community patiently and quietly t o d irect i nterest in it. (Hear, hear.) That is the sort of '-` do wn unde r th e threatened injury,' then be it so. We, feeling which appears to actuate the government. A ... .i l l a council representing the inhabitants of the town, more childish speech than that of the vice-president of ',.a1l at least have done our duty. (Hear, hear.) But, th e board of trade I never read. If the government ;, on the other hand, there be that spirit which Ibe propose this as the way in which they would manage -fl_teve there is, among the inhabitants of this town, in th e trade and business of the country, after the lesson r . e ol e ft e r : l th t e o y this matter, they will petition as with one they have learned, after the late complaints and the went, lila— thewyill besiep•the doors ofthe houses ofundoubted exposures which the administrative reform _,C - Prop er l y - will gnt up a case representing fairly and association have placed before the country —if they , and trittakfully, the real nature of the circum- propose to go on in this way, I can only say that the stances attendity; the whole of this question as connected sooner they are displaced the better. (Cries of hear, e e h cur t°wr, dues and our property ; they will petition hear.) evilletakeeard '° counsel at the bar of the house, and they Mr. Picton moved a resolution to the effect that the the 'ever ) ; means in their power to bring forward Mayor be requested to convene a public meeting of the e a - .., in that light which I believe is the true and inhabitants of the borough, to be held in St. George's ;t e l 'at one, not the very different point of view in which hall on an early day, to consider the course to be pursued . is at present represented by the ad captandum manner in con,equence of the bill introduced into the House of . 4 -4 which, lam sorry to say, it has been made to appear Commons by the government for the abolition of passing an the speech reported in the Times of yesterday as tolls and the regulation of charges on shipping or on !delivered in the house of commons. (Hear, hear.) goods carried in ships, inasmuch as the proposal to ' l t aPPears in the speech made by the vice-preside n t of abolish those dues without compensation, or equivalent, fthe Board of Trade that every receipt, whether it be to this or any other corporation entitled to such dues, r om the dock dues or whether it be from the town was a measure subversive of the rights of property s, or from any other source, is debited to the account hitherto held sacred in this country. (Hear, hear.) of the corporation, whilst for expenditure upon the Mr. Earle: Will you just allow me to ask a question ? other side no credit at all is given ber.riu - ' a fee', paltry Mr. Pieton proposes that the meeting be held as early matters which are really of no moment whatever. as possible. Should we not wait until wo have . the bill usedinstances are given of vessels havivg taken on in the first instance, in order that we may know the lona.rd part of their cargo in the Birkenhead docks, and particular form of it? Ivthmg taken a no th er part in the river, and being sa ddl e d M r. Picton : That will of course, b e i n th e M ayor ' s the i Liverpool d oc k d ues. This is put to the d e bit o f h an d s. theLiverpoolLivr corp ora ti on, w h o have nothing to do with L So in re gar d t o several other instances. It tl,' in in a leadin g ar ti c l e i n the Times in regard to subje!t, that we ne ver l a id out anything on behalf of the commercial interests of the p or t, except i ng some il;nltr £3 000 or £4,000. Wh at, then, have all ow. o Pr Y ovetnents been made for during the last thirty or p r i , t Y Years ? Have th e y not expressly been for the pur e4f of improving the commercial avenues of the town ? l a l ar, hear.) To give increased accommodation and rclities for the working of the docks? (Hear, hear.) esat the amount of money expended in building the and :ue buildiuogs, the custom house, the excise offices, to o; 7 portion of which was never returned t h e ,_ by the government (hear, hear),ooo, besides Th e Z a d, pe.:haps worth two or three times as much more. i n L owi griin, all these these things, let it be understood, Rovern• .in and many other places, are done by the butt ment. H ere • tve have not only to pay customs, ar e Provide a building where the customs duties s ea to be received. Then there is the great landing- Ore t :l e ' w hich will cost an enormous sum of money liun'eu altogether from the revenues of this corpora 'Get; (Rear, hear.) Reference has been made to St. and ge's-hall as having cost an enormous sum of money, and bee n H. taken from the pockets of Manchester buil i?`"er manufacturing districts ! 'What has that e nst. .` ing been erected for, but to facilitate the ends of shi r l e ce .in the southern division of the county of Lanca all tf: lw hich Manchester, and Bolton, ane Bury, and quit e a lar ge manufacturing towns of the county are Ill ieht,,r tir ;, tl eh interested as we are ? (Hear, hear.) One o f cha r ti me would p-rmit, go through the whole list e quan e ges brought against us, and show that they are sir, Der t ' ntlfounded. But I hope, the time will come, enereY shortly, when we shall have an opportunity of ( iztear Ptli elY stating our sentiments upon the subject. ei euia _ ear,) I feel glad and proud that, at this par serer rnetnaergency, we should have a gentleman presiding aeg nain s , A s chief magistrate who is so thoroughly itot, th'',e,l in all our affai:s; and, I doubt /vhiele it Willin the various matters of business Nsite, , be necessary to transact, and the interviews pl ace eere n _ , oh es in high office which will have to take servi c e - s the subject, the value of our chief magistrate's thou ?, , h ; Will b acidly made apparent. (Hear, hear) I t hqs to take toy yM Mayor as nobody else got up, attbj eet the very earliest opportunity of bring this !hat 1 t 'iPti e er the notice of the council. I shall only add I. ° Pre h in some measures ought to be taken at once b e "re ourselves for the coming battle. (Cries of b ear, ha ) k r. ,.ar. that thPaa hr lornby : I quite_ agree w i t h M r . Pi cton bik e , s queseion which it is the duty of the council to etc h al !' e with the least possible delay. As a corporation Nvi l i ol vi.u.o beneficial interest, sir, in this large property lest f eu , centuries centuries I may almost say, until within the ie u h e lw Years has been considered the indefeasible and bear. ,"able right of the inhabitants of Liverpool (Hear, bu t d We have no beneficial interest in that e . troperty, en ,i wtheiar.e the trustees of the inhabitants of Liverpool Xed h s a question , sir, which interests every owner of iteor,urronerty w ithin ' the ' borough of Liverpool. (Hear, do es ' a _ I think lam not going too far to say that this eißhts,Ppear to me to be a wanton infringement of their fights, ord.one which I can scarcely believe the parlia eq,yar this country will sanction. (Hear hear.) Mr. te tvtee' tit 4 l a ttempt has bee n ma d e to draw , a distinction age co an e individual ow ners , i f property throughout n e e . ee uirY, and communities, which, in fact, are only als o o ': , :legate of individuals, and whch are the possessors the er , ) laPerty. In the former case it is maintained that t ight s - o t 7tution of the country requires that the equal ceetian ainlividuals should be regarded with the utmost Society re reverence, and that where the interests of Shall be quire their infringement, ample compensation lo v e () zioi,e n r t t ;d j e s e nae ibt. But in any easewhete the owner ugh situated like Liverpool, it ga e rn t:na a tn Pr a a y r t c h_ nt,. evsit:lioat the slightest reluctance par ceeleu_aensatoe their property without giving the first '.itrie inPernb life.i n whatever! Mr. Mayor, this is for the rich and poYw that I learned we had one law and weak. It is eer er ful, and another for the humble property in Liverpo o Y i, t t r a u k e e • n sir i that the owners of this iiatne without much infiuendtvidually, are without ' i atne, and whilst if the slightestnee in:fttenlthe houses of par !l. intentave e n C i e ' wi th individual owners pt were made to an 0 t le whole of the nobility tri,lroperty you would siler.l wners of the country, rising e .eotry, and the , av h e an attempt. (Hear h a_ e._ that this measure' i n to) ear. The parties who up in arms against ely Parliament o he offered know i nv theery f hat.no such oppos Arose nt Instance. We il" is I!B:oXcertlingly unpopular tl k now very well that Liverpool t or w that she is regarded roughout the country. We I v ° ogh in Lancashire aul l % l i e "v3r, by almost every toennare. told sir, and I am Cheshire, (Hear, bear.) 100 k urable member for Manchest sorry to see it, by the be, n l 7 i til great satisfaction o° tehr ;that his constituency 1,.3, %introduced by her Majesty's govmerenasure which has ti 7L s ot e r, t but lam not astonished at it, ;Teem. I regret teat _ l l i a feeling of envy does exist, on the I know th e ne n i umber of boroughs in this county e e n f i a et u e a viee_e_get.t!tonting county of Cheshire. Therefoalso in itolititrhelnent of the board of trade has nothine• r t e, the On t h e e ° Pposition of members of that descriptionf:e to inaiet"trarY, he will be cheered on ' in this attempt, (hear, heat)au inquiry up on the inhabitants of Liver o p 01. questio n . I think, sir, with Mr Picton,• this is a tO b e nof so much importance, that . an 0 called together nn an early d the council ought befoPPortunity of readint; the bil ay,.when we have had ... r . e the House of COH.I for , Which will be brought s hieri o mous, the uprop se of con- Lop thinking the steps which. ought to be take inter est ink ing, sir, that this n, and I cannot being an attempt which it would every ownerof property throughout the borough, Inhabitants be very desirable that a publi • tieoltants sho Id b called ' meeting of the Mr, vv. Earle u (..! together. (Rear hear.) : I a m very happy to see that the gentle- l'he Town Clerk stated, that he inquired at the latest hour the previous night, before leaving London, for the bill, which stood upon the paper for a second reading that clay, (yesterday.) It had not then been printed, and he was told that it would be in the hands of mem bers at one o'clock that day, when it was proposed to take the seeceed reading at two. (Hear, hear.) He ascer tained, however, that this intention would not be pressed. He had a note from Mr. Ewart that morning, in which be informed him that it was proposed to fix the second aor the bill for Monday week. This would he .csisted in the House, as not giving suilicient time to those constituencies, which were largely interested in the subject of the measure. He had made arrange ments to obtain copies of the bill as soon as it was printed and delivered. Mr. Hodson said he rose wit`► great pleasure to second the resolution proposed by Mr. Picton, and he was sure a debt ofgratitude was . due to that gentleman for having brought the subject forward in the manner he had done before the council. (Hear, hear.) He himself came to that meeting, five minutes before the usual time, antici pating that a subject of such vast importance to the town of Liverpool wouldthave taken precedence of every other question. He expettetl this because he thought that some member would have taken upon himself to bring before the •ouncil a subject which he considered of such vast im *mice to the town. Upon that point were contingent - hieh had been under discuesion, and he, there • e, thought that some gentleman of weight and influence would have got up in that room and stated plainly the whole position of a question which was one of so serious a character to the interests, the liberties. and the pro perty of the people of Liverpool. He, like Air. Picton, had waded through the speech of Mr. Lowe, and cer tainly, although not being himself a parliamentary man ot• in a commercial sense a practical man, yet he thought any gentleman who had known Liverpool for five or ten years could have replied to almost every point raised, and chewed the fallacies and the utter want of knowledge of the facts of the case which it exhibited. He would not go into the sui,ject there, because he hoped a town's meeting would be called, when he trusted some of the merchant princes of the town would show to the world at large, that every word the vice-president of the board of trade had uttered, was not the fact. He could not help remarking on one point alluded to by the vice-presi dent of the board of trade, who said that many ships were obliged to go to Chester, because they could not get room in the town of Liverpool. (Laughter.) Now, he asked, was it possible that in this age and in the British House of Commons, there was a member and a minister who could make such an assertion, if he knew what Liverpool was ? The only excuse he could find for Mr. Lowe was, that he had never been in the town of Liver pool or the city of Chester. It appeared also from the speech, that London was to be exempted. London, there fore, was supposed to be the perfection of a seaport. Now, he understood that the London docks were private docks, and paid six per cent. to the proprietors. He also understood, that the dock dues of the city of London were nearly double those of Liverpool. In Mr. Lowe's speech, he said, those dues had been a detriment to commerce. How then was it that London was going back so fast, and that that town was getting on? Every one must observe that the vice-president of the board of trade had been crammed, and had evidently been very badly crammed, and if ever a gentleman got up in the House of Commons to make a speech who was totally ignorant of the subject, that gentleman was Mr. Lowe. (Hear, hear.) He hoped there would be no di►d'erences upon this question. He hoped that any differences which had existed in Liverpool between contending parties would be for a time laid to the ground, and that they would all unite hand in hand, forgetting all minor differences in the one great question of the good of the town. (Hear, hear.) The Mayor suggested that the calling of a public meet ing should be postponed until the bill was printed, as at present they should be only dealing with what Mr. Lowe put forward in his speech. The bill, when delivered and printed, might be completely at variance with many very material points of that speech. For instance, he was now informed by the Town-clerk that it was not proposed to exempt the port cf London. It was intended to have a private bill for London, to regulate the dues derived by the Corporation of London, the dock dues being different things—a joint stock company—and the dues of the corpo ration were to be dealt with by a municipal reform bill for the city of London generally. He urged, therefore. the propriety of waiting until the bill was printed, so that they should really have some substance to deal with, rather than the flashy speech of Mr. Lowe, with neces sarily a great many ►ni,tal:-s and errors, whichtook place before the bill was correc• ed. read in Mr. Aldermin Dover said the only argument in Lvour of an early n, was that the c - tuncit might, as soon as possible, disabuse the public mind of Liverpool and the country generally. The long speech made by Mr. Lowe, and the necessarily short speech made by one of their members, did not. put the question fairly into the hands of the community. In addition to what Liverpool had done for the shipping interest already, in the landing stage and other matters, and the money they were now about to lay out upon the other side of the water, he asked if they had not for ages exempted the Liverpool docks from parochial and local rates ; had they not exempted the docks from what they really ought to have paid—some 20,000140 r 30,000/. —for a number of years past ? It was really amusing to see the way in which Mr. Lowe spoke of the title of the corporation to the dues He said, "It is said they were purchased from the Earl of Sef.on,'' as if it was not a fact well known. The public generally, not• merely out of the town, but really many in the town, did not fully understand the question, and his object in rising was to suggest whether it would not be very desirable with a view of bringing the subject fully and fairly before the public, to have an early meet ing called even before the bill was printed. Mr. Gardner agreed with the Mayor in thinking it would be premature to call a public meeting at present. He thought it desirable that the council should first be in possession of the bill, because there was much harm done by ridiculous and nonsensical speeches before the public in that room prematurely. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Sufficient had been said by the gentlemen who had so well t understood the su bj ect, and sufficient would be recorded o satisiy the minds of the inhabitants of Liverpool for the present. Mr. Charles Turner thought that probably the object of Mr. Picton and of the council would be answered by NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY /, 1856. I market would be laid before the council, which, the com mittee hoped, Would be found satisfactory. Mr. Robertson Gladstone regretted that the south-west corner of St. John's Market should be appropriated to wholesale purposes, not only to the injury of the public, but at a loss to the corporation of some 4001. or 5001. a year. No competition was more healthy or beneficial to the public than that which existed in a market like St. John's, and therefore he 'regretted that any portion of it should be deviated from its original use, by being appro priated to wholesale purposes. He also regretted that the Pedlar's Market should ever have been sold, and in conclusion requested that the letter addressed to the Mayor by Mr. Evans on the subject should be read. (Hear, hear.) The following letter was then read : having it understood that ;.t was the wish of the inhabi tants to have a meeting called, leaving it to the discretion of the Mayor to flx the time. The Mayor : As I may be advised. Mr. Kitchen suggested that a special committee should be appointed to take charge of the subject. Mr. Turner suggested that Mr. Picton should withdraw his motion on the understanding he had mentioned. Mr. Alderman Bennett hoped Mr. Picton would not withdraw his motion, contending that delay was danger ous, and that the sooner a public meeting was called the better. Mr. Halhead suggetited that day week or Thursday week. The Mayor said he should feel it his duty if a com munication came to him upon so important a subjecet to call the council together upon the shortest possible notice, without fixing a day at all. (Hear, hear.) He con sidered it too important a subject to be shackled by forms. (Cheers.) After some further conversation, Mr. Picton's resolution was carried without any day being fixed as yet for holding the meeting. A question then arose as to the formation of the corn. mitten to take charge of the question. Mr. Alderman Doter suggested that the committee shoUld not be confined to mercantile men, as any owners of fixed property had an equal interest in it. Mr. Hodson agreed in that opinion, and added that some mercantile men would be the worst persons in the world to have on the committee, as the Inter6sts of many merchants were oppdsed to the present laws. (No, no.) He spoke of what had been announced publicly in the town, and in reference to which articles had appeared in one of the leading newspapers. Mr. Earle was sorry any observation should be made calculated to sow disunion among any parties in Liver pool. It would, however, be necessary i to have some mixture upon the committee, and he thought a medical man ought to be on it to feel their pulses. (Laughter.) Finally ; Mr. Ficton proposed, on the suggestion of Mr. Bornby; that the charge of the subject be referred to th.: committee of the Birkenhead docks, with power to add to their numbers, who should be empowered to take all the necessary steps in reference to it. This resolution was unanimously adopted. YINANC E COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this committee were read. They comprised a recommendation to increase the salary of Mr. John Surr, (auditor in the Town Dues Office,) from 1501. to 180/. per annum; and a recommendation to con tinue the contract with Mr. Fraser for printing, for one ye ir, from Ist March next. Mr. Hornby, in moving the confirmation of the first recommendation said, that Mr. Surr had memorialled the council for an increase of salary, and that the memorial had been referred to the finance committee for considera tion. The committee had investigated the subject, and they had found from the nature of Mr. Surr's duties, and the time to which he had to devote to them, he was justly entitled to the increase recommended. Mr. Robertson Gladstone asked if the committee were satisfied that they _rould not get the work done for 150/. ? Town Hall hours were very short, and for those hours he thought the salary, nearly 31. a week, quite sufficient. Mr. Hornby replied, that from Mr. Surr's long experi ence of the duties of the office, it would be difficult to replace him. Mr. Alderman Dover thought that when the auditor of the dock committee, whose business occupied him only three hours a-day, received 1501. a year, Mr. Surr, whose duties took up his undivided time, from nine o'clock In the morning until five o'clock in the afternoon, was deserving of something more. The matter was adjourned to the next council, in accordance with the standing orders. Mr. Hornby in moving the second recommendation, testified to the satisfaction which Mr. Fraser had given in the fulfilment of his contract. Mr. rernihough seconded the motion. Mr. Robertson Gladstone, though lothe to interfere with the minor details of any committee, yet considered that the principle involved in the recommendation, the renewal of a contract without tender, was one pregnant with mischief to the future interests of the committee. It was, in point of fact, to reestablish a monopoly. (Hear, hear.) If he was not in error, Mr. Fraser had enjoyed this monopoly, for he could call it by no other name, for three or four years, and he had been informed that the business of the Town-clerk's department and of the cor poration, taken in itself, was a perfect fortune to a printer. The principle at stake, he contended, was directly at variance with the spirit. it not the letter, of the Municipal Reform Act, which placed all men on an equal footing, and gave them all equal rights ; and he did not see why the sound principle of public advertisement and public competition should be departed from. (Hear, hear.) He would therefore move that the matter be re ferred back to the finance committee, with instructions to procure tenders from a number of respectable tradesmen. Mr. Beckwith, disliking monopoly, seconded the amendment. Mr. Alderman Parker observed that corporation con tracts, from the manner in which parties were tied down in them, had been ruin to many a tradesman. He was in favour of competition, and he hoped that it would be generally practised by all committees. Mr. Woodruff inquired if other printers had been afforded the opportunity of tendering for the work ? Mr. Hornby replied that they had been afforded the opportunity in the first, but not in this instance. Mr. Picton said he would not offer an opinion as to the best mode of getting printing executed by the finance committee, but he held in his hand two reports, one printed in 1854, and the other in 1855, for the library and museum committee, which he considered in some measure affected the matter. The report of 1854 was printed under the contract of the commotion, in the belief that, it would be the cheapest. There were 250.. . numbers struck off, and the cost was 61. Next yea r , the committee thought they could get it cheaper, and they accordingly went to another party, who supplied the same number of copies, the quantity of matter being also the same, for 41 2s 6d. The paper was better, and the type as good as in the report of 1854. He would make no comment on the matter, but he thought the fact would help theta to a conclusion in the matter. Mr. Hodson thought that every tradesman should have the right and privilege of competing for every description of corporation work. He had no doubt that Mr. Frazer was a very respectable man, and did the work well, but there were others in the town as respectable, and as able as Mr. Fraser to execute the printing, and give satis faction. Mr. Fernihough observed that the system of contracts by tender for the printing and stationery of the corpora tion, had not worked well, though fairly tried. There had been frequent disputes with the contractors, and, in fact, one remained still unsettled. The type required for corporation work should be very varied, and being possessed of that description of material, and the neces sary forms, Mr. Fraser was able to do the work cheaper than nearly any other person. Mr. W. Earle remarked, that by the principle of open contracts, some one person, not respectable, was certain to get the work, and then leave it unfulfilled. The Riv ington pike scheme supplied illustrations. The system which he would recommend was, that some half-a-dozen respectable tradesmen should be sent round to, and asked to compete for the work. Mr. Sheil expressed himself in favour of open compe tition to all tradesmen. Mr. Alderman Dover thought the council should have some confidence in the committee in believing that they cot the work done in the best and cheapest manner. Before Mr. Fraser got the c - ntract it was competed for by a number of tradesmen, and he being the most eligible person, obtained it. He had given every satisfaction, and when they found, from the experience of several years, that he had served them well and at the same time cheaply, they should be satisfied Mr. Fraser's prices were low; and he (i'lr. Dover), had heard several persons wonder how he lived out of them. Mr. A. C. Stewart said there was an important prin ciple at stake, and he thought right that it should be preserved. If Mr. Fraser's contract was the lowest he would get the work; if not, the public should have the benefit of other competition. Mr. Banner and Mr. Alderman Bennett also expressed themselves in favour of competition. Mr. Hornby, in reply, said that he fully agreed in the principle laid down by the various speakers. It was desirable that every tradesman should have the opportu nity of doing the business of the corporation, but the printing was rather an exceptional case Uuder the old system very low tenders were made, and the consequence was perpetual disputes, one of which was not yet settled. Since Mr. Fraser had the contract till work had been done well and satisfact or y, an d as h e had the " forms always standing he was now able to do the work cheaper than any printer who would have to set type auew. The matter had been much magnified, for if he had been sooner allowed to speak he would have told the council that the council had no objection to having the question referred back to them, with the instructions contained in Mr. Gladstone's amendment. The subject was accordingly referred back to the com mittee with instructions to procure tenders for the work. The general proceedings of the committee were thLn confirmed IVATCII COMMITTEE. Mr. Gregson, in moving the confirmation of the pro ceedings of this committee, stated that it was the inten tion of Sir George Grey to introduce into parliament this session a bill for the regulation of police all ove r th e country. It was the same as the bill of last year, and if it were carried the management of the whole po li ce force of the country would be centered in a committee in Loudon. (Cries of" Oh ! oh !") Mr. Robertson Gladstone : This is another attempt at centralisation, and to take from us that which we, I hope, are infinitely more competent to manage th an govern ment. (Hear, hear.) If this principle is to go on I d 3 i not know where it will end—they will n fact at last walk into our offices and take the management of our b us i ness and shipping. I hope that resistance will be made to this attempt. It is impossible that it should go on and no termination be put to it, unless they want us to ascer tain whether there is room for another star on the banner of the United States. The Town-clerk intimated that he had made arrange ments to get the bill as soon as printed. The proceedings were confirmed. The proceeding s o f th e d oc k committee a n d of the improvement committee, comprising a recommendati on to sanction the pr opos i t i on of the l ib rar y a n d museum com mittee, as to the site for the new building on Shaw's-brow, In were also confi rmed. the confirmation of the St. George's H a ll committee, Toying which were a d op t e d, Mr. Alderman T urner stated, that within the last month 119/. Is. 6d. had been received from the cheap concerts, and 1091. for the use of the hall. MARKETS' COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this committee were read. Mr. Johnson moved their confirmation, and in doing so stated that in a short time arrangements for a wholesale TO HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR & - ,—Petaining the feelings of interest in the — prosperity of this t iwe, my residence from boyhood, and which should attach to one who, to: a long term of years, had the honour of a seat in the Town Council as a mourn member to consult the interest of the commu nity, I feel it a diity to call the attention of the 1:own Ceinctl to the destruct ye perire,sion of a portion of St. John's Market from its special le.e - .1 purposes, of a retail provisien marissit, to tid a Whole sale veatehierse for pack eees of foreign fruit', and a depot for empty barrels Sot hampers, being, in tact, a desert as to market purpos,:s, and dis-reditable in every twit/ to a market hitherto an o' jest of admiration to straneeis, as well from its appotrathe end syinme trica! fictines as for the m.gnitude of retail bus 'less transacted therein. 'l'h2 spare thus despoiled of its p,oper market fittings, which contaieed 43 shops or st :11s, besiles b •nches for the s tie of butchers' inetit, tibrk,bacon, cheese, and butter—the to Is and rents of wh'ch produced, on an averaze, 4535 per annum—is now occupied, in warehouse fashion, by three wholesale dealers in foreign frui who pay for this monopoly of space an average of 415 d—the same amount which they paid for their standings in the open air, and therefore showing a loss to the Corporat on income of the futl amount-4535 per annum. For thi s despotic expulsion of tenants, an:t dest uction of property Its compare great things with small), there is no m re suitable parallel than the celebrated clearan,.e of the traCt of country ca led the New Forest. The ostensible pretence of prectelite,s so stlicclei on the part of the ed , por ,tion snd town, by the present market c mmittee was; I understand, to accommodate within the market the business now carried on out of doors, and thereby to relieve Great Charlo•teonreet of its thronged state on mareet days. That tbis prrtencewas with out its elledged foundation is to be seen in the fact that the space inside the marker, eieared by the razure of so tritely va uable shops, slabs, &c., coMd, if so appl ed, affo d no sensible diminution of the outdoor bus 'less or relief to the street throuzli wh'ch, whatever rirght be its crowded state, a carriage -way wes always preserved; while it should also be noted that there are two other streets running ',rand with Great Charlotte-stre t that afford equal and ample thoroughfare accommodation in the same direction with that street, %bleb is itself crowded only once a week during a few h. ors in the day that are devoted to public purecees of the dtmost donvenieride and value to the community, as shown in the fact, that those who throng the street, and frequent the market, are the sellers and buyers of those provisions whi h the market committee, to a great extent, are banishing from St. John's Market, —net, it would appear, with the intention of admitting into the covered Market the excess of indigenous vegetables and perishable frUits, now excluded, bet to afford warehouse room to wholesale dealers, as before observed, at a loss to the public of ger eral convenience, and to the corpora. tion of 4538 per annum. This loss, aria ng from the destruction perpetrated in one corner only of St. John's Market, affirds an idea of what would be the resu.t of a further expansion of such evil doings. '1 he value of large retail provision markets is seen by their hay biz place in all civilised communities Liverpool in partic tlar has attained celebrity for her splendid markets, where large supplies of provisions 'felt sorts are concentrated, where proximate competi tion ensures quality with equable prices, where weights an 1 mea sures Can be more strictly kept to their legal wandard, and where Character for honest dealing is mast neces-ary for success. To such central and protected arena the poor and un , killed in marketing may resort with safety, economy of time, and with confidence to supply their wants, instead of brine left dependant upon isolated badly supplied hucksters, unrerecked by proximate cone ition. Markets are amongst the eternal, social, and legal institutions of this country ;—they are specially provided for in the charter of the Borough of Liverpool, and should be a principal object for preser. vation and improvement by the authorities of this town. The desire, therefore, more than once expre,sed in the Town Council, openly abetted by several of its mentbers, and now apparently me tered i to design, to drive the retail provision business from the market to private shops, for the advantage of priVate propeite is Virtual treason against the commun i ty a n d t h e l aws. The first step in th s ideeat direction has been the sale of the Pedlars' al er ket, the property of the Corpora,ion, by auction, fur 45,400, which, at four per cent., the interest current at the time of sale, gives en income of 4218, against that previously derived from the of 4453 per annum market, "[tie complaint against the ancient Pedlars' Market, and which should have been deemed , ts Greatest reemimentiatian was that its tenants supplied its wares to the public on cheat) q• terms than modern private shops elsewhere, less acted upon by competition, would do; end, strange to say, that the purchaser of the Pedlar's Market, himself a member of the council, and a strenuous advocate for its s.le, continues, wi h a small deduc ion of space, but increased accommodation, the same market or assemblage of stags, standings, &c., which, in the possession of the corporation, were so strongly objected to as being inj irion3 to outside shops. The same gentle man is known to inveigh against what he calls shops in St. John's Market, and has credit with those who are a, quainted with council tactics, for being the intluendal author of the described partial wr,ck of St. John's Market. As concerns this allusion to a mem ber of the council, inseparable from a narration of circumstances will which he was connected, I disclaim all personal ill-feeling towards himself ; I ssosh to see a stop put to those apparent , y con templated encroachments of individual inie est on public rights and prop rty, which if unopposed, may in time convert the markets themselves into b dng private possessions. In conclusion, I take leave to express the hope that the Council wi 1 a ••cept as an apology for the length of this address, that it comes from a tormer member of their market committee, who, as such, had the active superintendence of St. John's Market for above twelve years, and therefore, may have some credit for a knowledge of the market affairs, respecting which he has the honour to address the Mayor and Town Council. I am, sir, with profound respect, your most obedient servant, Ch pel-street, WI February, 1856. EYRE EVANS Mr. Banner concurred with Mr. Gladstone, and con sidered the act of the committee in appropriating any portion of the market to wholesale purposes as illegal. Mr. Shell took the same view of the subject, and declared that there was not a statement in Mr. Evans' letter which was not founded on fact. Mr. Picton thought that what they wanted was open space, like Covent Garden in London, for wholesale pur p lse3, and then to have the retail business spread through out the town. That was the case in London, and resist it as they would, they should eventually adopt the same Gladstone Alderman r t C h o o s o o p e g r e n d t e l e n m i e e d n that o the e a e r d g u w m i t e h n h t m o Mr. system in Liverpool A . lr or the statements in Mr. Evans' letter were correct. Cer tain stalls had been for a length of time unoccupied in the market, and the committee observing it requested the per sons in the south-west urner to remove to them, in order that, as they had the opportunity of letting that portion of the market, no part cf it might be untenanted. That was the cause of the committee acting as they had done, and he denied that the change would be any loss to the corporation. He also denied that it was for - the benefit of the public that the retail business should b ;entiat in any market, and contended that the people themselves felt this in the spread of retail shops throughout the town. As to Mr. Evans, he was the originator of Gill-street Market, which had proved a decided failure, and the market committee should, therefore, be excused if they did not take him as an authority in the matter. Mr. Johnson, as chairman of the committee, also denied that the statements in Mr. Evans letter were correct, and said that ho would be fully prepared to discuss the ques tion when the committee brought up the contemplated plan of a wholesale market. _ The proceedings were then confirmed, and Mr. Evans' letter referred to the committee. The proceedings of the Elucation, Gaol, Health, and Gardens Committees were also confirmed. CI :MICR EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this committee were read. They recommended that the salary of Mr. Hackett, organist of St. Peter's Church, who was lately dismissed by the Rev. Rector Campbell, be paid µpi to July, and also that the clock of St. Michael's Church be lit with gas. Mr. Banner explained at some length that the Rev. Rector Campbell had the power of dismissing the organist, and quoted the opinion of Sir William Scott, brother of Lord Eldon, and afterwards Lord Stowell, in support of this view. Mr. Alderman Dover contended that Mr. Hackett having been appointed by the corporation, and his salary paid by them, could not be summarily dismissed by the rector. He had been churchwarden of the church for two years, and during that time no man's conduct could have been more proper, or the discharge of his duties satisfactory than Mr. Hackett's. Mr. Hackett had effi ciently filled the olice during A rc hd eacon B roo k e 's time, and it was hard that he should be dismissed immediately after the death of that divine. Mr. Robertson Gladstone. This is a plaguy subject, and ever will be so. The question is in what manner are the churches to be rendered really serviceable to the people ? and not have them as at present bare walls, empty penis, and no flame of righteousness to warm them. It is sad, sad work, and the best thing this corporation can do is to endeavour to suggest some means of getting free from them altogether ; for as I said before they are a " plaguy spot," and no credit to the members of the church —nor to Protestants generally can it be a matter of satisfaction to see these churches maintained as they are. Actually the whole rental of every church in con nection with this corporation barely produces a main tenance for one individual. The whole pew rental of any one of the churches barely pays as much as wou:d repay the expenses of sinkers and organist. Truly this a lamen table state of things. How is it that the Dissenters, Roman Catholics, and others, do not appear before the public questioning and quarrelling as to who is to pay the organist' or whether an organist is desirable ? or whether in point of law the organist is to be dismissed as a nui sance, and liable to 17) removed by the police by force from his seat ? it is sad, sad work, and the sooner we are free of these churches the better. The proceedings were then confirmed, bat the recom mendation with regard to lighting the clock of St. Michael's Church was roferred back to the committee. The council then adjourned till eleven o'clock next Wednesday. Accounts from Havre state, that many orders for American breadstuffs have been recalled, in anticipation of a considerable decline in the United States, when it becomes known that the Russian ports are about to be thrown open. DISSOLUTION S OP PARTNERSHIPS.—J. Barber and B. Smith, Cartworth Moor, near llohnfirth, Yorkshire, woollen cloth man u f ac t urers. James Duckworth and John Duck worth, Manchester, boiler makers. E. Taylor and R. Aveyard, Sheffield, Yorkshire, general printers. J. Lamb and J. Bellamy, Sheffield, Yorkshire, button manufacturers. G. Tolson and B. Hague, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, rag merchants. Joseph Robertshaw, John Robertshaw, It. Crabtree, J. Sugden, and B. Murgatroyd, Halifax, York shire, commission wool combers, so far as regards It. Crab tree, J. Sugden, and B. Murtgatroyd. T. Nelson, E. Emmett, and R. Emmett, Edenfield, Lancashire, cotton manufacturers. J. Dyson, W. Helm, T. Summerskill, and J. Wormald, Halifax, Yorkshire, masons. S. E. Carlisle, A. R. Capel, G. Norbury, and S. J. Hallam, Mincing-lan e' City, and Liverpool, tea brokers. E. Done and J. Done, Manchester, hessian dealers. W. Smith and K. P. Fi tton, Huddersfield and Kirkbeaton, Yorkshire. S. Hall,_ L. W, Hall, D. Hall, an d B. Hall, Marsden and liudalsrdeld. -9 Yorkshire, cloth manufacturers. I CALEDONIAN RAILWAY COMPANY. Yesterday afternoon, the shareholders of the Caledonian Railway Company met, by invitation, at the Clarendon Rooms, South John street, for the purpose of considering the position of the company in reference to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company, and the steps which should be taken to bring about a pacific policy, and put a final stop to the existing competition, which is alike injurious to both com panies. Shortly after two o'clock, Mr. Gillow was called to the chair: The Chairman opened the business of the meeting as follows :—According to the purport of the advertisement which has called us together to-day, we are met to consider what steps should be taken to bring about it pacific policy, and put a final stop to the existing ruinous competition be tween your company and its rival, the Edinburgh and Glas- Until this be done, it is quite clear nothing Ike pros perity can accrue to either company. I think you will admit with nee, that we have had fighting enough, and that it - is now time to establish peade. That such will not be done without your intervention is pretty clear, fot this week your directors hav e re d uce d t h e f ares on your line to 2s, first class, and Is, second class, between Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Edinburgh and Glasgow Compatty, in self-defence, must of course do the same, and the result will, doubtless, be a heavy loss to both companies while such insane work is carried on; and as to dividends, if we are to have any, they must be paid out of capital, as I fear they have been for the last eighteen months, if revenue had been debited with everything it ought to bear. I may mention one bargain your directors have made, which such foolish competition leads to, viz., that a firm who have ironworks at Coltness, thirty-one miles from Edinburgh, paid the joint companies, before the agreement was broken in 1854, 4s 4d per ton for the conveyance of pig iron, and which your directors are now carrying at 2s 2 , 1 per tons and under a contract for five years. How many more agreenlents of a similar character, under the pressure of competition, your direetors have made, is best known to themselves. You will have lately noticed that a joint working agreement has been formed between the Scottish Central and the Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee Companies, and which is much ap proved ofi as likely to be most beneficial to both concerns., Why then should not such an agreement be formed be tween yodr company and the Edinburgh and Glasgow ? You may rest assured that any other arrangement, than than that of a joint working agreement, would not b: lasting or beneficial to either company. I would suggest that com mittees of shareholders in both companies be appointed to endeavour to arrange terms, and they might be empowered to call in parties of high standing in railway matters'to assist them. I will now refer to the proceedings of the half yearly meeting held last September. Your chairman, Mr. Johnston, stated that the dividend of three per cent had been fairly earned. If that was correct, how does it happen that a less dividend is spoken of for this— the best half year? Let the plant be valued by a disinter ested engineer, and then you *ill see where your dividends have come from for the last eighteen Months. A committee of inquiry would solve this quest'on, and they woulel solve another, namely, that with proper fares and rates, and economy, the result of a joint working with the Edinburgh and Glasgow, your line is capable of paying five per cent, dividend within two years. At the half yearly meeting referred to Mr. Brancker and myself proposed, that before the raising of further capital should be sanctioned, a committee of inquiry should be appointed to examine into the affairs of the company. We were outvoted, and in demanding a poll, I stated distinctly`my object was simply that it might be recorded for the information of absent proprietors, how feW shareholders attended the half yearly meetings to vote their money away. The state of the poll was as follows :—Against £10,250 of stock hold by Mr. Hrancker anti myself, seventeen proprie tors recorded their names against us, and their united hold ings amounted to only £49,000 of stock. Now, after this, was it fair to us and the absent proprietors that the directors instead of giving the state of the poll, should insert in their report, that " Messrs. Brancker and GilloW opposed the motion, and polled the meeting, which, themselves excepted, was unanimous in favour of the chairman's motion," wishing it, no doubt, to be believed that there was a full meeting ? The directors did not record their votes; for, if they had, we should have known the amount of their holdings, which are believed to be small. I see, in the notices of bills that are to come before parliament, there are several to which the Caledonian is to subscribe capital I Now, are you prepared to sink further capital in worthless schemes ? If not, you must organise yourselves in time, or such ruinous propositions will be carried, when the time comes, by shareholders at the meeting holding £49,000 of stock, and backed, if need be, by proxies, which many shareholders are in the habit of signing and returning to the directors, without considering at all the merits of the ques tion before them. If your directors be allowed to go on unchecked in the policy thl have been pursuing, you will very soon find the company again on the verge of bank ruetcy, from which it has so lately emerged ; and then you will find out that, in negl ec ti ng t o support energetically the committee of shareholders that addressed you in April and August last, you neglected your best interests. I attended the meeting in September, 1854, held in London, and to my utter disgust, the real interests of the company received no attention. The discussion altogether tended to one object only—a fight for plac e . I p ropose d t h e following resolu tion, hut it was drowned in the tumult of this party squabble—" To avoid competition, it is resolved that the directors of the Caledonian Company, communicate with the directors of the Edinburgh and Glasgow for a renewal of the agreements for one year, and, during that time, endeavour to come to a permanent settlement of all dif ferences between the two companies." Had I succeeded in getting that resolution passed and acted upon, we should have had none of the disgraceful and ruinous competition that ensued, and still exists as fierce as ever. Surely an umpire could have been found to have settled fairly all differences. Hail this been done, yonr dividend would have gone on improving, and your stock, instead of being quoted at 56, would probably have this day been at 80, and which price you may with confidence look forward to its very Shoal) attaining, if you will now insist upon a joint working agreement being entered into. Clever they prove themselves at such manoeuvres ; but is this the way that the proprietary of £7,000,000 of property should be dealt with by the parties whom they have entrusted to manage such an important undertaking ? lastead of dealing with argu ments, the directors relied for their success in obtaining proxies from the shareholders, by casting false insinuations upon the parties who addressed you, telling you they had foreign interests at heart, and would drive you to make peace at any price. The following was in print before the directors' circular was issued :—" If the directors should concede a committee of inquiry, which several companies have done at late meetings, we would suggest that the gentlemen comprising it should be appointed, neither by our party nor the directors, but in the following way : The secretary should address a circular to two hund:ed of the largest proprietors, inviting to meet at some place most convenient to the majority of them : and those who attend should fix upon the committee, either from amongst themselves, or any of the other shareholders. A commiiteo formed in this way could not be said to be a partisan committee ; and hence it would be satisfactory and fair to all parties." The chair man, or deputy chairman, I forget which, laboured hard to prove that the interests of the Lancaster and Carlisle, and Caledonian Companies were not identical, by the latter having an east and west traffic. Now, how do matters stand in regard to this ? The Caledonian line between Glasgow and Caledonian is 105 miles long. Hence, if your directors allow traffic to go from Glasgow to Edinburgh, on its way to London, forty-eight miles over the Edinburgh and Glas gow, that, with a proper joint workinc' agreement with that company, would be secured to the western route, wh:it would be the compensation that the Caledonian should receive for this diversion ? Why, positively more than double the Edinburgh and Glasgow would receive far traffic, the distance being 105 miles against 48. The true policy for the Caledonian, or any other company . - to pursue, is to endeavour to get as large a traffic as possible over the longest distance, and that without competition. Then what is the competition which your directors speak of as being more powerful for good or evil than the Edinburgh and Glasgow ? Simply between Edinburgh and London ; for how Could it affeci Glasgow traffic, or"that of the north of Scotland, if a mutually beneficial arrangement between the Caledonia,' and the Edinburgh and Glasgow, were entered into ? And, until that be effected, I say again prosperity will never dawn upon either theCaledoniano,f a or Edinburgh and Glasgow Companies. I have a P letter in my possession from the Caledonianoffic e e o ,Which concludes by stating that the eastern lines had no English and Scotch traffic before the competition began. This being so, what could induce your directors to cede to the easternroute, under the new octuple treaty, one -h a lf t h e tra fficof the north of Scotland, a large share of Glasgow and London traffic, and more than half of Edinburgh and London traffic ? In remarking upon this treaty, your chair man states that it is an extension of an arrangement under which, for nearly five years, the traffic between England and Scotland had been satisfactorily regulated. What objects or motives your directors could have in making such an agreement, so manifestly detrimental to your interests, is for them to explain : but, that they should make it, and for a term of fourteen years, and begin to act upon it, without ever consulting you, is, to say the least, dealing with your property most unwarrantably. Fortunately, this treaty is illegal, and hence you can deal with it as you may deem fit. I shall now conclude my remarks by reading you a letter from your late chairman, Mr. Baird, to whom I wrote on Saturday last, to ask his permission to give you the benefit of his sen iments, and yesterday I received his rep'y permit ting me to do so : Rosemount. , 12th ry, 1856. Dear Sir,—l h ave yours o f the 7th. I Bionkton quite alive Janua with you in deprecating the contest between the CaledoLian, and Edinburgh and Glasgow railways, which has been so detrimental to the interests of the sha eholders. I have always been the advocate of peace and economy. Tinder that policy the Caledonian was carried from bankruptcy to solvency, and from a non-paying line to a dividend of three ter cent. It is for you and other shareholders to decide whether the system pursued since a contrary policy has prevailed has been conducive to their interests. I should like to see the peace policy reverted to, but I shall not readily take any further trouble in the management of Caledonian matters. Had the shareholder* united to maintain the agreement between the Edinburgh and Glasgow, instead of exlibiting the Inkewarmness they did, both companies would now have been in a different position.—l am, dear sir, yours faithfully, Thomas (Allow, Esq. WILLIAM BAIRD, The Chairman concluded his address by proposing the following resolution :—Resolved, that a committee be stp-7 pointed to address a circular to the shareholders; soliciting their support to the following resolution, to be proposed at the next half-yearly meeting,—That a committee of gentle. men, in whose judgment and principles the shareholders!' may have confidence, be appointed to examine into the present position and management of the company, and through whose intervention an attempt may be made to conclude a fair and mutually beneficial joint working agree ment with the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company, similar to that lately entered into between the Scottish Central and Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee Companies, and in effecting this, it should also be aimed at that the best under standing should be maintained with the last-named companies. Mr. Joynson seconded. the motion, which was carried unanimously, and the meeting separated. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENP. HOUSE OF COMMONS --WEDNESDAY The House met at two o'clock. Mr. LABOrCHERE took the oaths and his Bee f on his i.e- election fur Taunton PARTNERSHIP, JOINT STOCK, AND LOCAL DUES BILLS, On the order of the day for the second reading of the Part— nership Amendment BLI, the Joint Stock Companies Bill, and the Local Dues Bill, Mr. LowE proposed that it should be postponed till Friday. Mr. HENLEY and Mr. SPOONER objected to this, on the at by such an arran gewent sufficient time was not allowed for the due consideration of the measures. Bruus considered the three bills were of the utmost importance, and expressed a hope that the Government would not allow them to be delayed. Mr. MUNTZ said many honourable members had not yet had an opportunity of even reading the measures. Mr. CRAWFORD hoped the arrangement proposed by Mr. Lowe would be adopted. Ultimately the two first measures were postponed till Friday, and the last till the 21st inst. POLICE ACTS. Metropolitan Police Bill, after a brief diEcussion, was read a se cond time. SUPPLY. On bringing up the report of Supply, Sir H. WILLOUGHBY asked whether it was intended to make any financial statement before proceeding with the estimates on Friday night. He wished for explanations as to bow far the Government had availed itself of the power given last session to issue Exchequer Bills to the amount of £7,000,900, and upon other matters Mr. WILSON replied that he was happy to state that the financial transactions of the country had been such as to render it unnecessary to make any statement before the estimates, The subject touched upon by the right Hon. baronet would, more properl come before the House when the annual state- went was made Tile report was then brought up, and agreed to, WAR. ESTIMATES, On the motion of Mr. WILSON, it was ordered that the naval, army, and ordnance estimates, f or th e y ear en di ng the 30th of March, 1857, should be forthwith prepared The House adjourned at a quarter to three o'clock TEADE WEDNE SDAY REPORT.- COTTON : There is no change to report in the Cotton market to-day, the demand continues moderately active, the supply quite ample, and prices are the same as yester day. The Bales—including 150 Pernambuco, 60; 100 Bahia, 5,- 7 . i d to 6d; 100 Maranham, ; 300 Egyptian, 5-id to 7,1 d ; and 1,500 Surat, 4d to sd—are reported 8,000 bales, of which 2,000 are on speculation and for export. PIG IRON : Our market for Warrants closes at 75s cash ; three months open 765. A few thousand tons sold. TALLOW : Qqiet ; spot 58s. February, March 68s, Octo ber, December 676, delivery 137 casks. SUGAR: The demand for home use still remains extremely limited, the business being confined to 1,300 mats Mauritius, for refining, at 369 41d, and 200 bags damaged Cossipore, at 42s to 42s ad; but 2,100 mats Mauritius have also been taken for export at 39s per cwt. RITM: 75 puncheons Demerara are reported, at about previous rates. CoFFEE: There aro no sales to notice. Cocoa : 40 bags Bahia, part all faults, have been taken at 38s per cwt. for sound. PEPPER : 120 bags white, at 7d per lb. TEA : A large amount of business was concluded yester day, out of the Great Britain and Adea, principally in medium and fine Itaisow and Atoning qualities; common Congon rules nominally at 91,d to 9P per lb; there has not been so much done to-day. RICE : Nothing has taken place. SALTPETRE : 110 bags Bombay have been purchased at 18s per cwt., for 25 per cent. refraction. heatedCurcx : 600 b ags , a ll faults, were disposed of; et 30s for SAGO FLOUR : Some small lots of all faults, at 18e 9d. GUM GEDDA : 280 serons damaged, at 18s 6d to 19s 3d per cwt. Wool, The buoyant feeling in the Wool Market, noticed in our circular of the 19th ulto., still exists, and prices have further improved. The accounts from the manufacturing districts are cheerful, and this, combined with the decreasing state of our previously light stocks, gives strength to the opinion that the present value is likely to be sustained. Short kinds of low quality, such as East India, Peruvian, Cordova, Mediterranean, &c., are not quotably higher than at our last public sales, but the tendency is upwards. The most marked rise has been in English and Irish eombing kinds, which are saleable at 2LI per lb. advance upon the rates current early last month ; part of this change is attributable to the improved state of trade at Bradford, but great stimulus has been given to these long stapled sorts by the material reduction in the import duty hitherto paid by French consumers, by whom such wools are largely used. Other descriptions, s citable for export as well as home con sumption, are much wanted, and River Plate Merino and Mestizo, from 10d upwards, may be quoted Id to 2d per lb. dearer. Public sales are advertised to commence in London 14th instant, and the quantities already arrived, consist of about 24,000 hales Australian, 16,000 Cape, and 3,200 East India. An active competition is expected, and an advance in the value of the two former kinds is looked for. ABRAM GARTSIDB & CO. FRUIT.— Currants : Our market during the past month has continued inanimate, and although holders have mani fested a disposition to meet buyers, very little business has resulted. The duty paid clearances again shew a consider able decrease in comparison to last year, being only seventy tons against 130 tons; they are, however, twenty tons in excess of January, 1854, but ten tons less than January, 1853 ; this apparent falling off in consumption is no doubt principally attributable to the general depression in Colonial produce, and a determination on the part of the grocers not to purchase until their stocks are completely exhausted. An improvement, however, ought now to be looked for, as Easter approaches, and our stock being unusually light, an average demand would soon produce a favourable impres sion ; good fruit is yet held for high rates, although fully lOs under the opening quotations ; medium and low quality have fallen more in proportion, but not being, holders have been desirous to quit it. The arrivals are about the same as last year, namely, 280 tons ; the exports also remain about the same. Raisins and Almonds : We are without any arrivals of Valencia!, and although the stock is only small, prices tend downwards, principally on account of the bad keeping quality of the fruit. Smyrna : The supply has only been limited, but the quality being generally fine. it has met with a ready sale at our quotations. Blacks : Our market is almost clear, but in the absence of demand, holders are disposed to take rather lower rates. Sultanas: The arrivals have again been large, and prices having somewhat given way, a speculative demand has taken off a fair portion. Muscatelles remain 'exceedingly dull. The duty-paid clearances reach only 110 tons, against 160 in January, 1855. Almonds, of all descriptions, remain with out alteration, but very little doing. Figs and Prunes : The demand for Turkey figs has improved, and the quantity now on the market is in a small compass ; other descrip tions have maintained their value, the imports only being trifling. Prune s b e i ng en ti re ly in the hands of the dealers, there is nothing to report. Oranges, Lemons, : The supply of the former has been unusually small, showing a deficiency, as compared with the corresponding month last year, of seven cargoes of Island fruit, and 10,000 packages of other descriptions; prices have consequently been well maintained, in proportion to other markets, and the late arrivals commanded a considerable advance. Bitters: We are yet without any arrivals of Sevilles, and Sicily fruit goes off slowly. Lemons : The arrivals are about the same as last year, and with a limited demand a fall of 2s per case has taken place. _Nuts : The arrivals of Barcelonas consist of 3,393 bags, against 5,799 in January, 1855. Holders generally ate firm at 40s, but several small parcels having been offered at a lower figure, dealers have been able to sup ply their immediate wants. Black Spanish have been freely taken, and our market is now bare. Brazils : London buyers have taken the principal portion of our stock at an advance of is per cwt., and the remnant is now held for 19s to 20s, Chesnuts being in very large supply and the quality generally inferior, have had to be sold at low rates. HOUGHTON & LZVY.