Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-08 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL. A monthly and special meeting of the Liverpool Town I Council was held in the Council-chamber, at the Town hall, yesterday; T. D. Anderson, Esq., Mayor, presiding. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the Finance Committee were read, comprising a recom mendation to accept the tender of Mr. John H. Mullen, being the lowest, for the erection of an engine-house and store-room at the 'Borough Gaol ; also, a recommendation that the fines on the renewal of lease of property in Wood street and Fleet-street, amounting to £lO6B 19s. ld. be commuted, on the principle adopted by the Council, by - the payment of £6B 19s. Id. in present money, and an annual rent of £4B 155., payable half yeaily during the currency of the lease ; another recommendation to direct the Surveyor to take measures for 'illuminating the north dial of the Town-hall clock; and a further recommendation to allow the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board to take charge of and work the chain-testing machine for six months from the Ist of January next, the board guaranteeing the Corporation from loss, and keeping the machine, buildings, and premises in repair. Alderman JOIIN STEWART moved, and Alderman Pn i nsToN seconded, the confirmation of the first recom mendation, which was agreed to. - Alderman STEWART, m moving the eonfimation of the second recoraniendation, said this was not a case in which the granting of a new lease was involved. The more valuable part of the property, a corner lot, had sixty-six years to- run of a seventy-five years' lease, and therefore the Corporation would receive nothing during that time, but by the consolidation of the two pieces of property, and the renewing a lease over the whole of the property for seventy-five years, the fines would amount to £1,068 193. ld., 'which, when commuted to a yearly payment, would give them £4B 15s. annually over the whole seventy-five sears, £6B 19s. ld. of the fines being paid in cash. Alderman PRESTON seconded the motion. Mr. J. R. YEPPEnY did not rise for the purpose of negativing the . proposition which had been submitted by the chairman of the Finance Committee on this question, because the Council had previously decided on the adop tion of the principle. But, seeing that there were still two opinions Upon the desirability of this principle being acceded to, he would suggest the propriety that the Council should riot be called upon to sanction such a proposition as this, upon the mere motion of the Finance Committee, at the first meeting of the Council after the proposal was made by the committee. The Council held it necessary, when an advance of salary teak place among any of its officers, that the consideration of the question should stand postponed for a month, so as to give members of the Council an opportunity of coming to a cor rect conclusion as to the propriety of such increase. If that was necessary where a small increase of salary was involved, how much more necessary was it when the Council was called on to decide on the propriety of commuting the purchase money of property on lease. He would suggest that the matter should stand over for a month, and moved an amendment to that effect, at the same time expressing his determination to place a notice on the books, making it a standing order that such questions as this should be disclssed only after a month's notice. Alderman WOODRUFF seconded the amendment. Mr. BELOE asked to what account the sum of £6B 19s. id. would be carried, whether to capital or to income ? Mr. STEWART said it had always been usual for the Council to set apart £20,000 a-year as representing the ainount of fines paid for the renewal of leases ; and the slim of -X6B 19s. ld. would go to the account of income for the year. Mir. 'STITT asked whether, if Mr. Jeffery's proposal were agreed to, any difficulty or injury would result to the corporate estate ? Alderman STEWART could not anticipate what might arise upon a'question of this sort, but certainly it might be that some difficulties would arise, and he confessed that upon a mibject of this sort, which was one rather of principle than of particular detail, he could not see what advantage would arise by a month's delay. He for one felt that a great and important interest of the Corpora tion was involved in toe principle, and he trusted the amendment would be negatived. He would, however, be delighted if a small committee sat and sifted the principle, because it would then be found that it was a good one. The amewhrert- was put, and lost-by a majority of n.ricrin nu n +1 nil moo agreed ty( without a division. The following was the voting on the amendment : Foc': Councillors, Messrs. Richard Sheil, Clarke Aspiuull, John Shimmin; Edward Estill, Thomas Avison, HenHeni Christie Beloe, Charles Mozley, James Johnson, James R. Jeffery, Joseph Kitchen. Alderman; Mr. John Woodre.;-11. Against : ' Councillors. Messrs. Daniel Crosthwaite, John Johnson Stitt, James Crellin, C. J. Corbally, William Barton, Oliver Holden, James Steams, W. P. Jeffreys, John Hays Wilson, James Aspinall Tobin, Robert Hutchison, William Earle, James A. Picton, George Nickson, Joseph Steel, John Farnworth, James Robertson, Thomas Vernon, J. W. Cropper, J. Gibbons Livingston, Aldermen, Messrs. William Preston, Thomas Dover, James Parker, Thomas Robinson, J. Hayward Turner, Richard C. Gardner, John Stewart, the Mayor ;-28. Mr. STEWART then moved the third recommendation. He stated that the expense of illuminating an additional dial of the Town-hall clock would be about £EO or £7O, and the annual expenditure would be about £l7 for that partioular dial. Mr. BARTON seconded the motion. After HOME further discussion on the subject, the re commendatiox was confirmed. Mr." STEWART, in moving the fourth recommendation, said it appeared that in the year 1830, when the Cor poration were in receipt of the town dues, they were in duced to put up a machine at the docks for the purpose of testing chain cables. That was one of those proceed ings taken by the Corporation, not as a matter of profit, but as a part of theii duty, being then in the receipt of a large income from the town dues; and in a return made to the House of Commons, as to the appropriation of the town dues, they took creditto themselves forhaving erected an establishment for the testing of chain cables. The Town-dues having been taken from them by Par liament, and vested in the Mersey Dock Board, the Finance . Committee thought it proper in July last to give notice to . their servants engaged at the chain-testing machine that their services would not be required after a certain date; and they also gave notice to the public associations, including the Dock Board, that the Corporation would not feel bound to maintain the establishment in future. There was, no doubt that the Dock Board were the parties to_ maintain the establishment ; and with the view of leading to that result, the Finance Committee had agreed to the recommendation which he now sub mitted for confirmation. Alderman TURNER seconded the resolution. Mr. C. TURNER said that in consequence of a letter from the Finance Committee, the whole subject was referred to the Works Committee of the Dock Board, and they instructed their surveyor to consider what was the best place for the erection the testing machine, with improved machinery. They were fully aware how desirable it was to the trade of the 'port that a test ing machine should be kept up, and the application they had now made JD the corporation was as a temporary measure only. - They had applied t o t h e Finance ely them po ss possibly Com mittee for twelve monthi. They had grau t te months ; and they should endeavour, if they could, to have the machine erected in a more suitable locality and, 'with improved machinery in the course of that time. Mr. JErrnny'did not see why the Dock Board should not take the machine at once at a valuation, if it was no longer of use to the corporation, but necessary for the purposes of the dock estate. He moved, as an amend ment, that that portion of the finance proceedings be referred back _with a view to the establishment being transferred to the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board, at a valuation. Alderman DovEn seconded the amendment. The subject had been before the Finance Committee for the last two years ; and he, along with Mr. Sheil, had not ceased, in calling upon the Finance Committee, to request the Dock Committee to take this losing concern off their hands. He contended that the object of the Dock Board was delay; and. he denied that the Dock Board, in fact, did guarantee the Corporation from loss. The land on which the machine stood was worth £5,000 ; the buildings and machinery would be worth £2,000 more ; and as no rent was paid, the Cor poration mould be losing £4OO a-year. Mr. Vta-Nox considered that the chain-cable testing machine involved matters of the highest moment, when they looked at its bearings upon the shipping interest, and, upon the savin g of human life. Alderman PARREI. said he would support the amend ment ; but the establishment, he admitted, was of the greatest importance to the port, for it was found that 7o per cent. of cables tested were ascertained to be defective. Mr. TOBIN said he must do Mr. Dover the justice to say that he had been persevering in his efforts to carry out the transference of the testing machine to the Mersey Board ; and he (Mr. Tobin) had always thought, now that the town dues were transferred to the Dock Board, that it was the duty of the Dock Board to take this machine under their charge. No one doubted the importance of the establishment, and the immense saving of life and property which accrued by means of it could not be estimated by human calculation. He denied that there had been any delay in the matter on the part of the Dock Beard, except such as was neces sary to give the surveyor time to mature the plans. With respect to Mr. Jeffery's remark,—that he saw no reason why the land and machinery should not be transferred to the Mersey .Board, he (Mr. Tobin, should be an advocate for such a course being pursued if he thought the locality and the machinery were capable of efficiently performing their work. But some time ago there was a report from the corporation Surveyor, which showed there was not space enough in the present locality, and that it would be necessary to go to considerable expense in order to make the estab lishment complete or efficient. If it was inefficient at the time, it must be more inefficient now, because the commerce of the port had considerably increased since then. Neither the locality nor the machinery were suitable; and, therefore, it was quite clear that the Dock Board would not be justified in taking them, even at a valuation. But the earnest desire of the Bock Board was as early as possible to mature their plans, and he was sure that if any of the present machinery was available, they should be very happy to take it at a valuation. Mr. SIIEIL thought that the Dock Board were guilty of delay in the matter. He stated that the balance of loss on this concern during the last six years was £341 ; and the £4OO a-year for land and buildings during that period made a total loss of £2,700. He could not see any objection to the machine being handed over to the Dock Estate now, and he was sure the Council did not wish to make 'a hard bargain with the Dock Board. Mr. EARLE questioned the wisdom of the Council forcing upon the Dock Board inefficient machinery; but that the Dock Board should pay some rentfor the use of the establishment. Mr. TURNER was surprised at Mr. Sheil's re marks. He could assure them, when the subject was brought before the Dock Board, it was immediately taken into consideration. Their surveyor was oppressed with business of all kinds ; but he had applied himself to the matter, and had most anxiously considered what was the best locality for a testing machine, and what would be the best machinery applicable for the purpose. The machinery at the Corporation testing machine was not such as they ought to have in this port for the pur pose, and he believed there was also a doubt whether the locality was suitable. The Corporation said that they ought to hand over the establishment to the Dock Board on the Ist of January; but they did not mean to say it was their duty either to stop this machine or to force the Dock Board into the purchase of machinery part of which was known not to be - adapted to the purpose. He could not conceive that was the duty of the council. It was their duty to take care that the Corporation was not damaged by the delay—that they were in as good a position at the end of the six months as on the Ist January. The Dock Board, there fore, had offered to guarantee the Corporation against any loss. They could not realise any rent for the land during the next six months, if they stopped the machine to-morrow. He hoped the Council; therefore, would not act in a sort 'of dog in the manger spirit, and do that which would lot benefit themselves, but damage the trade of the town, and be an injury to the Dock Estate. Mr. PICTON considered the amendment merely an expres!ion of opixion on the part of the Council, that it was desirable to get rid of the whole affair at the earliest possible period. (Hear, hear.) He blamed the Dock Board for delay ; and saw no reason why they should not take the machine at a valuation. The machinery, however imperfect, was worth something ; and if it were worth nothing, and the matter were left to valu ation, the Dock Board would have nothing to pay for it. Mr. GRAVES did not think they were arguing the pro priety of the continuation of the machine by the Cor poration ; if Mr. Jeffery pushed the matter to a vote, he should feel bound to vote for his amendment, but he looked at it as a matter of expediency—whether that Council should keep on the chain-cable testing machine fn.• aiv rytnnfila (Andy , ) Te woe ilfforl y impoo sible that a decision could be come to in time to prevent the closing of the machine, and he thought it would be a great misfortune if between both parties so valuable an institution should be allowed to be closed. If it went into the hands of the Dock Board for six months, that board would have the opportunity of ascertaining whether it was suitable to the public wants in machinery, location, and extent of buildings; and if it did not go into the hands of the Deck Board, the Council would have it on its hands for six months, because it did not follow that if it was closed by the Corporation it would be continued by. the Dock Board. In order to avoid the closing of the machine, he would suggest that Mr. Jeffery should allow to be inserted in his amendment, that, if the Finance Committee were unable to make terms with the Dock Board an the Ist of January, the machine should be continued for six months. Mr. MOZLEY thought that Mr. Graves had narrowed the matter into its proper limits; It was quite clear that, so far as the interest of the Corporation in the machine was concerned, it should be given up ; but he appealed to the Corporation whether it would be desirable to do so, looking at the vast interests which were at stake, and bearing in mind that the prosperity of the port de pended in some measure upon the value of the material which this machine was designed to test. As the Cor poration estate would be preserved from loss by allow ing the Dock Board to work the machine for six months, it would be rather an advantage to permit the motion of the Dock Estate to pass. (Hear.) If they attempted by any means to force the Dock Estate to buy the property, he thought it was placing the matter in a position in which that Council was not called upon to place it. He thought it would be more desirable if Mr. Jeffery would withdraw his motion. Mr. Alderman WOODRUFF hoped Mr. Jeffery would not withdraw his motion. The Dock Board ought to have taken this property into its care long before this time. They did not object to take anything which would bring grist to the mill. They took the town dues at once, probably because they thought they had, a nice piece of picking, which they were glad to get hold off, but anything which they thought involved expense they declined ; and, therefore, they did not want the chain-cable testing machine. They wanted the Council to keep this machine until they could get something better, and then they would throw it upon their hands to be sold for old iron. Mr. STITT regretted that any remarks should be made which would create ill-feeling between the Corporation and Dock Board. (Hear, hear.) If it was their duty to terminate that interest—the interest of the Corpora tion in the machine—they had no right to take so precipitate a step as to land the community in such disastrous results. If Mr. Jeffery's motion was pressed, and they could not get the Dock Board to take the machine, they would be compelled to discontinue a most useful institution ; whereas if they gave the Dock Board six months' trial of it, they could then apply Mr. Sheil's principle and sell it, for what it was worth. Mr. Alderman STEWART, in reply, said the Finance Committee would be placed in an exceedingly awkward position if this matter was referred back, unless certain powers were given to them, as they had given notice to the parties employed at the machine, and as they could not again come to the Council before that notice was expired the service would be renewed. If they allowed the Dock Board to have the machine, they would have a chance of selling it to them at he end of that term, and that chance, he considered, was worth £1,500, as their they present would ptlinerpnosseel,lanthd not ema s c e h p i a n r e nt a el n y d . buildings for in e xp l anation, said he did not want the Mn Dec j k E ß Fr o E a ß rcP to buy th e l and, but that they should take the machine, and if it Was antiquated, it would realise an antiquated price. The amendment was then put, and lost by a majority' of one, the voting being as follows : For : CoUncillors—Messrs. James Crellin' Richard Shell, C. J. Corbally, Roger Haydock , John Shimmi n , Oliver Holden, Edward Estill, Henry Christie B e l oe Samuel'R. Graves, Thomas Ridley, John Rogers, John Hays Wilson, James Johnson, James A. Piston,Ja4 o n e es R. Jeffery, Joseph Kitchen, T. Llewelyn Hodson, Nickson, and J. W. Cropper. Aldermen—Thomas Dover, James Parker, and John Woodruff.-22. Against: Councillors—Messrs. John Johnson Stitt, Clarice Aspinall, 'William Barton, Charles Turner, Thomas Avison, James Steains, W. P., Jeffreys, Chas. Mozley, James Aspinall Tobin, Robert Hutchison' William Earle, Francis. A. Clint, Joseph Steel, John Farnworth, James. Aobertson, Thomas Nrernoupand J. NORTHERN DAILY TIMES Gibbons Livingston ; Aldermen William Preston, Thomas Robinson, Hayward Turner, - Richard C. Gardner, John Stewart, and the Mayor.-23. Mr. 'Alderman STEWART moved the confirmation of the proceedings, which was seconded ?ley Mr. Alderman Preston. Mr. 'Cuorrtn alluded to an answer of the committee to a letter from the Vestry-clerk, ,and he was sorry to notice that the committee had no power to request their surveyor to furnish the measurements for the work house contractors. The Vestry had not settled the accounts with the contractors, and had done all they could to obtain the measurements from Mr. Weightman, but it appeared that his business was so large that he could not supply them. Mr. Woonnurp thought it a great injustice to the sub-contractors that these accounts should have been withheld for nearly ten years. If Mr. Weightman had neither the power or the inclination to furnish these accounts, he ought, with the sanction of the Corporation, to appoint extra persons. If the Coporation had known that the matters in connection with the workhouse would have remained for nine years, he was sure that Mr. Weightman would not have been appointed. Mr. HODSON said that one or two of the parties con nected with the buildings had, he understood, been nearly ruined, in consequence of these accounts not having been brought forward, and he thought it a hard case. The MAYOR, in putting the confirmation of the pro ceedings, remarked that the Finance Committee had no power to interfere in a private arrangement. WATCH COMMITTEE. The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the Wateh, Lighting, Fire Police, Fire-prevention, Hackney Carriage Licensing, and Gas Committees, were read, comprising a 'report on the strength of the police force, and a recommendation to appoint twenty additional constables. The following is the report above referred to : Liverpool Constabulary Force, Central Police Office, Wednesday, November 23, 1859. The Head Constable has thC hononr to report, for the infor mation of the Watch Committee, that on the 6th February, 1857, he submitted to them a report on the state of the police, setting forth the strength, and duty of the force. In that report, with a view to meet the growing requirements of the borough for police protection, the Head Constable ventured to suggest to the Watch Committee that a proportionate annual increase to the force might be smore desirable than an applica tion fur a large number every four, or five years. This sugges tion of an annual increase was adopted by the committee, but was not acted upon last year, the force having been increased fifty men in May, 1857 ; and the Head Constable was unwilling to ask for any addition, although five men were appointed to special duties, who were taken from the ordinary strength. During 1857, 1858, and 1859, much vacant land has been built upon : for example, the top of Scotland-road North, the north end of Great Homer-street, Everton, Spencer-street Fields, Edge-hill, Toxteth-park, &c. From the Ist. January, 1857, to the Ist October this year, there have been 4,737 dwelling-houses erected, besides warehouses manufactories, stables, &c. ; and the population hstA increased daring the same period (based upon former calculations) 30,000. This addition to the borough has necessitated a re-arrangement of the beats, especially for night duty. Considering the increase of the population, and more especially the number of additional new streets, the Head Constable ventures to ask for an increase of twenty men. (Signed) J. J. GREIG, Head Constable. Mr. CLINT moved the confirmation of the proceed ings, and the motion having been seconded by Mr. Johnson, was agreed to without comment. HEALTH COMMITTEE The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the Health Committee were read, comprising bye-laws under the Local Government Act, 1858; and a report on com mon lodging houses, recommending appointment of three inspectors, at 30s. per week each, and one chief inspector, at 335. per week, (in addition to one inspector already employed,) to attend exclusively to those places. Alderman DOVER, in moving the confirmation of the procee4ings, said that, according to the standing orders of the Council, the bye-laws above referred to would stand over for a month. In reference to the lodging house question the committee had appointed a deputa tion who had gone to London to inspect the common lodging houses there ; but, Re understood, some one was about to take exception to a deputation being sent out of town without the consent of the Council having been previously obtained. Xow, if there • had been neglect on the part of the officers of the committee, and if the lodging houses were in the disgraceful state that they were said to be, he was sure the Council would not think it money spent in vain when a deputation was sent to London, to see how the. law was carried out there, and especially so when time was everything. Mr. SHE'LL seconded the motion. Alderman PARER supported the appointment of the officers referred to in connection with the lodging-house inspection movement; but was opposed to a deputation havrans boon oont to London without the ennsout of the COW Cil. Alderman Woobnurr hoped the visit to London would lead to the adoption of very stringent regulations for the guidance of the officers. He believed the com mittee were alive to the necessity that existed for looking well after these houses, which were the pests of society, and the source of a b o•reat deal of filth, evil and diseases. Mr. EARLE said the inspectors could do a great deal ; but everywhere else than in in spection of the of these houses was a regulation of police, and therefore he moved that at present the resolution of the committee be not agreed to. Mr. PICTON seconded the amendment. Mr. HODSON said there had been a great improve ment within the last ten years in the condition of the common lodging-houses, and in proof of it, pointed out, that whilst epidemic diseases were generally engendered in those houses, the health of Liverpool had greatly improved. He believed that although the law had not been carried out to the very fullest extent, yet it was very efficiently carried into effect ; and the result had been, that great credit had accrued to the Health Com mittee. He thought, however, that the police would best carry out the inspection. Mr. STITT believed that the introduction of the police element at all in connection with the matter, would be extremely offensive to the people, and that the law would be better enforced without their presence. Mr. CLINT supported the recommendation of the committee. Mr. CROPPER supported the amendment, on the ground that four or five constables could not effectually watch five or six hundred houses, to say nothing of an immense number of. common lodging-houses, which it was very desirable should be brought under the opera tions of the act. Alderman WOODRUFF contended that the reason why, the inspection of common lodging-houses had hitherto failed was, because it had beenosntrusted to the police ; but it would now be effectually done by men appointed specially for the purpose, to act by day and by night. Mr. Avisox said no instructions were given to the deputation as to, the time when they should go to Lon don,_ and therefore the fault was their own, and not that of the Health Committee. He believed great results would flow from the visit of the deputation to London, but it appeared to him that the cart was being placed before the horse, when the Council were asked to appoint inspectors, before the deputation to London had reported on the matter. Mr. SHEIL supported the motion, and protested against the police being called upon to interfere in a duty so delicate as that of the inspection of the houses of the poor—common lodging-houses. Alderman DOVER, in reply, said the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Duncan, who understood the subject, had reported that five inspectors would be suffi cient, but. if the Council thought ten were needed let them_do SO. They would, however, have to account to the burgesses for such an outlay, when they were told five men were sufficient. The amendment was put, and lost by six votes for to thirty-five against. The following was the voting : For : Thomas Avison, William Earle, Janies A. Picton, T. Llewelyn Hodson, J. W. Cropper, Alderman William Preston-6. Against : Daniel Crosthwaite, John Johnson Stitt, James Crellin, Richard Sheil, Clarke Aspinall, C. J. Corbally, Roger Haydock, John Shimmin, Oliver Holden, Thomas Littledale, Edward Estill, James. Steains, David Rae, Samuel R. Graves, Thomas Ridley, W. P. Jeffreys, John Rogers, John Hays Wilson, James Aspinall Tobin, Robert Hutchison, James Johnson, Joseph Kitchen, George Nickson, Franci s A. Clint, Joseph Steel, John Farnworth, James Robertson, Thomas Vernon, J. Gibbons Livingston ; Aldermen John. Buck Lloyd, Thomas Dover, James Parker, J. Hayward Turner, John Woodruff, and the Mayor-35. The original motion was then agreed to. ST. GEOIWE'S-HALL COMMITTEE. The proceedings of the St. George's-hall and Law Courts Committre were next read. Alderman TURNER moved the confirmation of the proceedings., Alderman J. B. LLOYD seconded the motion. Mr. STEAINS expressed a hope that the committee would re - consider their resolution to charge the Historic Society a guinea i ns t ea d o f 15 s . a week f or th e use of j .the grand ury-roo m in St. George's-hall. Alderman PARRER said the charge was the usual charge, and the society had additional accommodation affordedto them. _ Alderman WOODRUFF wished to know why they were ;called upon to pay nearly £2,000 over and above the .money paid into court in reference to gates at St. 'George's-hall. 'The chairman ought to explain to the , Council how so serious a difference between the con -tractor and the committee could take place. He did not like these things being smuggled over. Alderman TURNER replied that it was left to Mr. Baron Channell to say what sum should be paid ; and he had now made an award against the committee, but he had not made any charge for his professional services. The TowN-CLERK stated that the Corporation, under the advice of those whom they consulted, paid into court a sum which they supposed to be adequate to meet the fair claims of Mr. Potter, in respect of the gates. The matter was referred to Mr. Baron Channell before his elevation to the bench ; he had had it underhis con sideration some time, and he had now made his award. The Corporation, being parties to the reference, were bound by the_award. Alderman LLOYD—I think even this award is under the demand of Mr. Potter. The TOWN-CLERK—Yes, it is nearly £2,000 less than he demanded. Alderman WOODRUFF complained that these things were not brought before the Council. The TOWN-CLERK said that the fact that the action was brought by Mr. Potter was reported to the Council; and the fact of the reference was reported, and the Council being cognisant of the reference were bound by the award. Mr. SHEIL thought it might be interesting to the public to know what the amount paid into court was, for that was in addition to the award. Ile would also like to know if there was any reasonable probability of St. George's-hall being finished at all—(hear, hear, and laughter)—and if so, within what time they might expect .to have some chance of - seeing it. completed. There was a magnificent building which had taken 20 years in its erection, and yet the approaches to it would be discreditable to the smallest town in the kingdom. Mr. Pic-roN said a few words would give the simple history of those unfortunate gates. In the first instance, the gates were to have cost £1,500. They were charged £5,500, without any communication being made to the committee by the contractor, and without any instruc tions from the. Council. They were advised that they must pay at least a fair sum for the gates. That sum was the sum paid into court; and they had now to pay a further sum. Mr. KITCHEN approved of Mr. Shiers remarks, and trusted the committee would get the approaches to the hall finished. Alderman Tun/gm assured the Council that the St. George's-hall Committee were as anxious as any one could be that the approaches should be completed. There had been a great difficulty in the levels ; there had been a great difficulty in getting gravel, the Gardens Committee having forestalled them in that respect. (Laughter.) But he had every reason to hope that everything would be completed in about three months. He could not agree with Mr. Steains in recommending to the Council to reduce the charge made upon the Historic Society for the use of the grand jury room, and the room adjoining. The proceedings were then confirmed. MARKETS COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this, committee having been read, Mr. Alderman WOODRUFF moved their confirmation. The committee had, he said, caused various inquiries to be made, and hoped to be able in the course of a month to lay the result of thOse inquiries before the Council. This would show that the committee were more alive to the welfare of the town, and would probably prevent the difference of opinion which had existed with regard to the management of the markets. The committee had felt themselves compelled to dismiss one of the newly-appointed officers on Monday last. This man •had been in their service for about three months, receiving a salary of £125 per annum. He was in, such a state on Saturday night last as to render him unfit to perform his duty, which had to be done by a common policeman. This matter, in the ordinary course, would not come before the Council till next month,-but the committee had taken steps to fill the place of the person who was dismissed. Mr. WOODRUFF, in reply to Mr. Wagstaff, said that it was intended as soon as the state of the weather would permit, to renovate both the inside and outside of St. James's Market. Mr:HODSON protested against any money being ex pended on the markets. _ The proceedings were then confirmed. EDUCATION COMMITTEE. The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the Edu cation Committee were read, comprising a recommendation to increase' the salaries of the following teachers at the South School, in consequence of the resignation of Mr. Owens, viz. :—Thomas Robinson from £5O to £65, Win. Hignett from £4O to £5O, James Forsyth from £3O to £4O per annum ;. also, a resolution stating that the half yearly examination at the North School will take place on Monday, the 19th inst.; and at the South School' on Tuesday, the 20th inst., at ten o'clock on those days. Alderman GARDNER, in moving the confirmation of the proceedings, said the recommendation would stand over for a month, in compliance with the standing orders. He might say, however, that by the changes proposed about £ll a year would be saved ; at the same time, he regretted that the teachers, who were such deserving persons, were not better paid. Everything at the schools was going on well, and he hoped persons taking an interest in the children would visit the institutions, and see for themselves the great amount of good that was being done. The•general proceedings were then confirmed. GAOL COMMITTEE. The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the Gaol and House of Correction Committee were read, com prising a recommendation to accept the tenders of the following parties for articles required at the gaol during the ensuing year :—Messrs. Etches and Wilson and Mrs. Catherine Close for butchers' meat ; Mr. John Philips for white and brown bread; Mr. Bryan Henshaw for oatmeal ; Mr. Charles Whitfield Harvey for milk ; Mr. Thomas Milner for grey cloth. On the motion of Mr. EARLE, seconded by Alderman PARKER, the proceedings were confirmed. TOWN-HALL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this committee were read. The MAYOR said as there had been some misappre hension on the part of the public as to the power of the Mayor; to give the use of the Town-hall rooms to the public, he might state that it rested with the Town-hall committee, =and that the Mayor only acted as one of the committee. Being the first time he was upon that com mittee, and being a pretty large committee, he took very little part in the proceedings , but it was the unanimous opinion of the gentlemen who met that it was not de- - sirable to let the Town-hall be used for other purposes than they had been used before. He expressed himself at the time willing to suffer any inconvenience person ally to accommodate the public, and he was still pre- . pared to do so. (Hear, hear.) His duty was to accom modate the public, but it was thought desirable that the application from Mr.. Howard in reference to the :Rifle men's ball shbuld be refused. For the information of the public, he might say that the Town-hall rooms would have to be shut up in about two months herice to be redecorated, and that in the meantime he would like to have the use of them as much as possible, so that he might entertain his friends. (Hear, hear.) - ;Alderman PRESTON, in moving the confirmation of the proceedings said, he was unavoidably absent on the occasion. of the discussion on . Mr. Howard's letter • for had he been there, he should certainly have entered his protest against the Town-hall rooms being closed against the public, especially when the purpose .for which the rooms were to be used was a charitable one. Alderman WOODRUFF urged that the Town-hall was the property of the people ; and he hoped it would be made largely available for all public occasions, and espeCially for charitable purposes, when it could be done without serious inconvenience. With respect to Mr. Howard's application, he had thought that it could have been granted without the slightest hesi tation, considering the object for which the riflemen's ball was to be held. Mr. JEFFERY moved that the use of the Town-hall be granted for the use of St. Anne's Dispensary Ball, and said that he thought that if the rooms were to be granted for any purpose, it should be for charities, and that the Council ought to know the rules for granting the Town hall. Mr. Nicxsox seconded the motion. Mr. Alderman PARKER doubted whether the Town hall Committee or the Council had power to grant the use of the Town-hall without the consent of the mayor.; The Towikr CLERK read the standing order directing thatall applications for the use of the Town-hall should' be referred to the Town-hall Committee, and added that the practice had been for a great number of years for the mayor to have the use of those rooms on any day he , thought proper, and all applications were granted on a day convenient-to the mayor. The Council had never attempted to interfere with the right of the mayor to the use of the rooms :whenever he thought proper. Mr. sExmmiN thought that the mayor had just as much right to the control of the Town-hall as the Lord Mayor of London had to the Mansion-house. Mr. Picrox said that entertainments were becoming very numerous, and if they were all to take place in the Town-hall, they would interfere with the duties of the Mayor. It might have been very well before the open ing of St. George's-hall, but when they had such a magnificent building, and at no greater expense, he did not see any reason why that building and the Mayor's arrangements should be disturbed. Some five or six charities had a sort of prescriptive right to the use of the Town-hall ' • but he thought that all oth er p ar ti e s should be referred to St. George's-hall. The MAYOR was very sorry that several of the experi enced members of the Town-hall Committee who took part in the discussion were not present, or they would state that the question was not decided on the considera tion as to whether it would be convenient to himself or not, and he would not wish it to be decided upon that ground then, for he was prepared to put himself to every inconvenience to accommodate the public. With regard to Mr. Howard, there was something peculiar in his application. He was sure the committee would have been anxious to have done all they could to show their appreciation of the volunteer movement but as it was an application from one corps, the committee felt that if they granted the application they would have to grant similar applications by all other corps. Since that time he heard that Mr. Howard was disappointed, and le told Mr. Howard that if. he could assure the Town-ball Committee that it was a general ball for the whole volunteers, he should consider it his duty to call a special meeting. of the Town-hall Committee, and he had very little doubt that the rooms would be granted. Mr. JEFFERY said that, after the discussion which_ had taken place, he would withdraw his amendment. The proceedings were then confirmed. GARDENS AND LIBRARY COMMITTEE. The proceedings of the Gardens, Library, and Museum Committee, comprised a recommendation to carry out plans for draining and remodelling Falkner-square Gardens, at a cost not exceeding £80; and a recom mendation to eicpend £3O in trees and plants for plant ing in Wavextree park. On the motion of Mr. Picton, the recommendations were confirmed without discussion. At the request of Mr: Hodson, a memorial was read, signed by a considerable number of the inhabitants, praying for an extension eastwards of Wavertree-park. Mr. HODSON moved that the memorial be referred to the committee. Mr. JEFFERY, in supporting the motion, suggested that the committee should place themselves in commu nication with Mr. John Shaw, Leigh, whose land ad joi4ed, and no doubt he would sympathise in the move ment. (Laughter.) Alderman WOODRUFF had no objection to the memorial being referred to the Gardens Committee, and he hoped they would see their way to an extension of the park. At the same time, it was extremely de sirable to secure the fields at the north end, between Scotland-road and Everton. Wavertree-park was too far removed for a large portion of the population ; and as the southern division of the town was represented by Prince's-park and Wavertree-park, he thought it was the bounden duty of the Council to make a timely pro vision for th 6 great masses of the people who lived northward. (Hear, hear.) Mr. EARLE was sure these improvements could only be carried out by laying an improvement rate. Alderman GARDNER was quite convinced that every member of, the committee would go into the subject of the enlargement of Wavertree-park heart and soul. Mr. STITT confirmed Mr. Woodruff's remarks, and the memorial was then referred to the committee. Mr. Slaw wished to call the attention of the Council to the platform erected opposite the New Free Public Library and Museum in Shaw's-brow. Why should the platform be of red stone and the building of white ? At the suggestion of the MAYOR , a letter on the subject was read from Mr. Cliff, and, after some dis cussion, it was referred to the Finance Committee. The general proceedings of the committee were then confirmed. WATER COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this committee having been read, they were confirmed, without any discussion, on the motion of Mr. HODSON, seconded by Mr. EARLE. BATHS CO3I3IITTEE. The proceedings of this committee were confirmed on the motion of Mr. WAGSTAFF. IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this committee, which were of a preliminary character, were confirmed, and Mr. Clarke Aspinall was appointed a member of the committee. THE CORONER'S ACCOUNT. Alderman PARKER moved that the Coroner's account, amounting to £7O 2s. 6d., be referred to the Finance Committee for payment. Tie complained that, although the account was for nine weeks, it was very large ; and he moved that in future the accounts should be passed by the auditor before they were allowed to come before the Council. Mr. BELOE, in seconding the motion, said he must confess that the amount paid as fees to the surgeons in the Coroner's Court was not only large, but it was re markable from this circumstance that wherever a death occurred, in the north, south, east, or west, one particular surgeon only seemed to.be sent for on the occasion. The account was then pasied, - subject to the recom mendation. THE LAW SOCIETY AND THE MAGISTRATES. A letter from the President of the Liverpool Law Society, enclosing correspondence between the society and the Secretary of State for the Home Department, relative to the qualifications of John Crosthwaite, Esq., and William Dixon, Esq., magistrates for this borough, was read. Alderman PARKER was quite at a loss to know what the Council had to do with the qualification of the magistrates. It was as plain as A B C that these two gentlemen were disqualified, but the matter was one that was, for the bench itself to deal with. Mr. JEFFERY said the question was, whether the Cor poration, as the representative of the municipality, ought not to see that the municipal laws were administered with a due regard to legality. The Mayor, who was her Majesty's representative here, should call the atten tion of the home Secretary to the matter. Alderman DOVER protested against the time of the Council bein g taken up with discussions with regard to a body of gentlemen so well able, to defend their own honour. Mr. AVISON concurred in, the observations of Mr. Jeffery. Mr. KITCHEN said the mat;er had been referred.to the Town-clerk, and he wished to know what had been done. The Tows-CLERK said he had not taken the opinion of counsel, because it would have been a waste of money to have done so, for he found, on referring to the Queen's Bench reports that Lord Campbellhad decided that " place of abode," meant " residence; " and that "residence" meant "the place where a man lives with his family and sleeps at night." (Laughter.) The letter was then referred to the bench of magis trates.. The TOWN-CLERK read a memorial from the Liver pool Early Closing Association, requesting, that as Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, the following day may be kept as a general holiday in the borough. Mr. Alderman PARKER moved that, as far as practi cable, a holiday be granted to the men in the employ of the corporation on the Monday after Christmas Day. Mr. Alderman GARDNER seconded the motion. Mr. JEFFERY thought it was deirable that it should go forth to the public what was the tone of. the Council. When Christmas Day fell upon a Sunday, it had hitherto been the practice to keep the Monday following as a holiday, and the same practice ought to be continued. Mr. Alderman Dover, while speaking on the subject, requested the mayor to call Mr. Jeffery to order, stating that Mr. Jeffery had said, that after the way he (Mr.. Dover) had conducted himself, he should be driven out of society; and after a "scene" between Mr. Jeffery and Mr. Dover, during which Mr. Jeffery wished to give an explanation ; but the mayor said, that as the words alleged to have been used did not come to his ears, he I could not interfere. The matter then dropped. And it was resolved, that as far as possible, a holiday should be given to the men in the employ of the Corporation, and that the public be recommended to follow their example. It was understood that the Corporation would pay the men in their employ their wages. Application from the Committee of the Royal Mersey Yacht Club for the use of the Town-hall rooms, for a ball inaidCoomf thetteofrom the National for the Education of Children of Distressed Fremasons, for the use of the Town-hall r ooms, for a ball in aid of Committee ofthelsr L e i s f t e boat Lancashire In st i I ns titution, and Institution the Funds of that Charity , were read and referred to the Town-hall Establishmen t Committee. An application from t he committee of the Liverp oo l Chatham Society, for the use of the Town-ha ll rooms for a ball in aid of t he funds of the Blu ecoat Hospital, was n referred ap pa t t o i o t n h e f r r f o o m w Town-hall ll T C h o o m m m a s White, i t \ee . treasurer DECEMBER 8, 1859. under the Health, Watch, and Water Committees, for - an increase of his salary, was referred to the Health, Water, and Watch Committees. Mr. JEFFERY moved the appointment of a committee to be called " The Audit Committee," to superintead the audit, by the corporate auditor, of the accounts of every departme,nt under the Corporation, such com mittee to consist of six members. - Mr. HODSON seconded the resolution, which was agreed to ; and the following gentlemen were named on the committee :—Messrs. Shell, Mozley, Beloe, Clint, Farnworth, Woodrtiff, and Jeffery. The Council then. adjourned, having sat five hours and a-half. BOROUGH SESSIONS. The Liverpool Court of Quarter Sessions was opened yesterday, at St. George's-hall, by I. B. .Ispinall, Esq., deputy-recorder, the recorder being ill. The following are the names of the GRAND JURY:-- Robert Crosby, tobacco broker, North John-st. (foreman). James Alexander, merchant, York-buildings. John - Bingham, merchant, 12, Brunswick-street. T. 31:Blythe, merchant, 64, Tower-buildings South. Jeremiah Bower, broker, 4, Oldhall- street. George Cunliffe, merchant, 9, Brunswick-street. H. K. Claypole, merchant, 41. Lord-street. Charles Cummins, merchant, 7, Exchange-buildings. Charles H. Cox, broker, 4, Oldhall-street. Thomas Darcy, merchant, 11, Covent-garden. Frederick Edwards, merchant, 7, Cook-street. F. J. Eaton, broker, 7, Tithebarn-street. Edward Evans, wholesale druggist, 52, Hanover-street. Edward Glazebrook, wine merchant, 7, Brunswick-street. Robert Gill, jun., broker, 1, Chapel-street. Thomas Joynson, broker, 1, Tithebarn-street. Charles Langton, insurance broker, High-street. H. B. Molyneux, share broker, 4, York-buildings. W. F. M'Gregor, ironfounder, 50, Vauxhall-road. Hugh Perkins, woolbroker, 21, Hackin's-hey. The Grand Jury having been sworn, and the procla mation against vice and immorality having been read, The Deputy Recorder said, that in the unavoidable absence of the learned Recorder, the duty of conducting the sessions devolved upon him. Although the list was a very long one, which was almost inevitable at this time of the year. There was no case, in a commercial sense, of any great importance excepting one, and he thought there was no other case which required any observations from him. The only case which he thought it was in the slightest degree necessary to mention, was that of a captain of a vessel, whom they would find char . ged with embezzling considerable sums of money receive =1 by him on account of his employers. It was a sort of embezzlement which arose under somewhat novel circumstances, and it might be" that, in the event of their finding a bill, some questions of law would arise ; but he should recommmend them to confine their enquiry to the question whether in their opinion there was a priind facie case to shew that the sums of money, which he, (Mr. Aspinall,) did not know that there would be any . doubt that he did receive, were fraudulently appropriated by him, with the intention of cheating his employers, and with the knowledge that he had no right to retain the money. For even supposing a man to be mistaken upon a question of right, yet if he had a real bona fide opinion that he had a right to retain the money, it was not embezzlement ; there was a great difference between a mistake and a felony. Therefore, before they brought a bill, he should recommend them to see that there was a prima facie case, chewing that at the time he retained the money and neglected to account for it, he knew that he had no right to do so, and intended to defraud his employers. If they sere of opinion that there was a prima facie case, they ought to find a bill, and leave the matter to be settled by a common jury in open court. The Deputy Recorder concluded by expressing his readiness to lend them his assistance if any question should arise in the progress of their inquiries ; and, shortly afterwards the trial of prisoners was commenced. THE CALENDER. The calender contains the names of 121 prisoners, of whom 108 are charged with felonies, an 4 13 with mis demeanours. With one or two exceptions the felonies are of the ordinary class, the great majority of them being of a very trivial description. The case alluded to by the Deputy-Recorder in his charge is that of William Benson, who is indicted at the instance of his former employer, Mr. Robert Andrew Munn, with having embezzled the sums of £3O and £BO which, it is alleged, he had received on account of his employers. These, with other monie3 to a considerable amounts were received by Captain Benson as discounts from persons who had supplied the vessel with stores in Cal cutta ; and, as the case involves the question as to whether a captain has a right to retain money so re ceived, it is of considerable importance to shipowners. The calender also comprises two charges of felony against clerks—one being the case of John Hart, aged thirty three, book-keeper, who is charged by his employers, James Fletcher & Co., with having embezzled nearly £6OO. The remainder of the cases possess no public interest, Mr. Aspinall is assisted in his duties by Mr. Leofric Temple. LIVERPOOL' POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY. (Before J. S. MANSFIELD, Esq.) SHARP PRACTICE.—Mary At'Grath, a young woman,. with a child in her arms, was brought up on the charge of stealing from eighteen to twenty yards of green velvet, and a pair of trousers. It appears that she first too] the ielvet from a shop in Highfield-street, and having gone to a pawnbroker's, in the same street, to dispose of it, stole from him the pair of trousers. She was corn' nutted for trial. BRUTAL CONDUCT TO- A WlFE.—William Taylor, 3 watchmaker, was brought up, charged with having con; mitted an assault on his wife. Mr. Bluck, who appeared for the prosecutrix, stated that the prisoner left his wife about three years ago, and went abroad, leaving her a state of extreme destitution. Last Tuesday he entered the house, knocked her down, and held a carving-knif e to her throat. She managed, however, to escape fro:c hic brutality before she was 'severely injured. The magistrates ordered him to find two sureties of £25 eaeol.. and to enter into his own recognisance in the sure 01 £5O, to keep the peace for six months. THE MARKET BYE-LAWS.—The magistrate decide,* this case, which, it may be remembered, was heard 011 Wednesday last. Mr. Blackhurst then appeared 1131 Mr. Robert Isaacs, who was summoned for causing 0 obstruction in the Fish-market. It was contended b 9. the defence that the bye-laws for the regulation of t"," market were not made according to act of Paliamc% end that the obstruction was no more than had take place every day for the last 24 years. It was also ill: sinuated that the question was really one of toll. With th is insinuation Mr. Mansfield had nothing to do; he had onl to decide on the question before him. He u'as, ° o opinion that the Corporation were endowed with t power of making bye-laws previous to the act on w O l ;i 4 a , Mr. Blackhurst had grounded his argument. t o phase of the question was therefore disposed of. *%,,,,5 the obstruction, he held that it was proved, but as it ",/ certainly very small, and had taken place for so lut e years, he would fine the defendant in the sum of ss. in regretted that there was so little convenience o f Liverpool for the disposal of large quantities fish and such merchandise till they could be -° th e Mr. Blackhurst then applied for a summons ag ainst . .„ 4 Corporation for allowing an obstruction of the-footpat% in Great Charlotte-street every Saturday, which wok completely blocked up by persons from whom they t . °`!_ c i toll, and, according to the bye-laws, they were to keep the foOtwayS'clear. Mr. Mansfield said that r: bye-laws gave the Corporation power to give every _o venience to persons selling goods on market or fair On con n a e d n cietcould n °4 _ wlle dara ther the cas l s e id ss y e therefore mustw (Before Messrs. J. B. LLOYD and L. PEEL.) te r COLLISION IN TUE of the schooner Bardsea, summoned Captain ope- to as grant n on o tl theygiav s e u ci wayumitems RIVER. to su o n n.. the latter. He of the ship Australia, for damages done by collision v h he apispescahreodoneforr theto the de a f m en o d u a n n t t, of an /13 31 1 r 5 , complainant. It appeared that on the 2Gth of N .1: 0 last the Australia was being towed up the river on the river, but, being obliged to " tack," Cheshire side. The Bardsea was also going 4.v t o the vir ' vessels came in collision, in consequence, it o , t he alleged of the Australia being out of the wake 1 , he steamer. It was stated in defence that when o .' o Bardsea was first seen from the Australia sbe acto iri standing over to the Liverpool side ; in tacking , Into collision with the Australia. The magistrates oi iv elear -, ,. she missed stays, and was consequently drifted pot - consider the case one for compensation, resulted from the schooner not having kept as i the tack. The case was accordingly dismissed. s Block jlrr for il t The I ASIA. tA NA 4 RAE Ll:rnc C ANA APItI4 41,1yR c et RS MEll The landed 104.63 These Then Seco t Pass* the of 1 4` , Nr 'sPect 4, lowed Passe t hat COI Farce 2 t~o'cli ( Lette ‘ i tce. Ap T) l 3 1 2 2 Plal The i a t eth , tj As, at A. -___ , AYE_ NIONi 111 1 -ns; oo 6l o ne d nw s e 1:2'19 at t 4 , o o li tee it ; 4PPlygto LltITl Juk tTN PAL bAN 4 ,,ATL e Br 11° ' 4 ?(1 n3' 1 Elto . 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