The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-10-09 00:00:00

FINANCE COMMITTEE.-SITE OF THE BOROUGH GAOL!

The proceedings of this committee included a recommenda-
tion to the Council to authorise the sale of the materials and
site of the old Borough Gaol, the prisoners being now all
removed to the new gaol at Walton. On this recommenda-
tion, a protracted discussion ensued, in which several members,
including Mr. Alderman Bennett, urged upon the Council the
advantages offered by the site referred to in respect to improve-
ment in the means of traffic now carried on by Oldhall-street.
In the course of discussion it was stated by Mr. HORNBY, that
under present circumstances he considered it would be inex-
pedient to proceed with an Improvement Bill in the ensuing
session of parliament. It was also intimated, that when the
intended new buildings to be erected in connection with the
Police-courts and offices on the site of the Old Gas-office, in
Dale-street, shall have been completed, great relief would be
afforded as to the crowding of the new gaol at Walton ; and
it was also stated that the plans for those new buildings were
so far matured that it might be expected they would be laid
before the Council in a short time. The proceedings of the
committee were confirmed.
BIRKENHEAD DOCKS. .

Mr. HORNBY requested that the report prepared by the
special committee in reference to this subject be read. The
report, which was as foUows, was then read :
In accordance with the provisions of the Birkenhead Docks
Act, of last session, the bonds of the Corporation, as men-
tioned in that act, have been delivered to the Trustees of the
Birkenhead Docks, and to the Birkenhead Dock Company,
whereby their respective properties have vested in the
Corporation.
The Act provides that so much, and such parts of the
undertaking so vested, as are now completed, or as may
hereafter be completed, shall, as and when the same are
adapted to the accommodation of shipping, be managed by
the Dock Committee, and your committee, therefore, requested
the Surveyors to the Corporation and to the Dock Estate to
submit a report, showing what part of the undertaking is now
so far completed as to come within this provision, and, from
their joint report, it appears that this extends to the Morpeth
and Egerton Docks, and the Quays, and Railways, appurten-
ances thereto, with two gridirons in the Woodside basin, and
the Victoria wharf, all constructed by the Birkenhead Dock
Trustees, and the warehouses and wharf constructed by the
Birkenhead Dock Company, with the buildings connected

therewith.
This portion of the undertaking has, therefore, according to
the requirements of the act, been delivered over for manage-
ment to the Dock Committee ; who are required to keep
separate accounts of their receipts therefrom, and expenditure
in relation thereto, and to pay over the balance of such re-
ceipts to the Corporation.
As the act directs that the Birkenhead Docks shall, with as

little delay as possible, be completed in such a manner as may
render them most available for the commercial purposes of
the port in connexion with the Liverpool Docks, and that the
same rates should be charged at Birkenhead as in Liverpool,
and that both should be placed permanently under the same
control and management, and that the Corporation shall
apply in the next Session of Parliament to effect these objects,
the attention of the Dock Surveyor is now directed to the
consideration of such plans as will comply with this provision,
so far as respects the completion of the works.
In considering this part of the question, the attention of
your committee has been directed to the North Reserve, now
belonging to Mr. John Abel Smith, M.P., as assignee of a con-
tract from the Commissioners of Woods, &c., for the sale
thereof; and as the possession of this property seemed to be
most desirable, your committee have entered into negotiations
for purchase, which they now report can be effected for the
sum of £lOO,OOO, including the amount of deposits and pay-
ments under the contract already made, amounting to £37,000.
Your committee urge the propriety of effecting this purchase,
which would make the whole frontage available for dock pur-
poses and works connected therewith, and render the under-
taking more complete than it could otherwise be made.
A contract has been entered into by Mr. Smith with Messrs.
Brassey and M'Cormick, for the execution of works upon this
property, but your committee are in a position to state that
an arrangement can be effected with these gentlemen, so as to
avoid any difficulty in respect of such contract.
Your committee have taken into consideration the resolu-
tions of the Commissioners of Birkenhead, referred to them
by the Council. Your committee have also received commu-
nications from the Wallasey Board of Health, and from the
principal landowners in Tranmere, opening for consideration
the question of amalgamating these townships and places, as
well as Birkenhead and Claughton, with the borough.
Your committee have had interviews with gentlemen from
Birkenhead and Wallasey on this subject; and although much
' would remain to be settled in matters of detail, recommend

the Council to sanction the principle of such amalgamation,
provided those details can be satisfactorily adjusted, as to each
township or place proposed to be added to the borough.
HVGH HonNEI-, Chairman.
Mr. HonNEI', after an explanatory address, moved that
that portion of the report which recommended the purchase
of the North Reserves be adopted, leaving the question of
municipal amalgamation to be separately considered.
Mr. CHARLES TURNER seconded the motion.
The proposition gave rise to a protracted discussion, in
which Messrs. Cooper, Hodson, Shell, and Godfrey urged
delay, and Messrs. J. Stewart, Earle, and Holme contended
that the adoption of the proposal was highly beneficial and
urgent. Ultimately the resolution was carried, the opposi-
tion having been withdrawn.
THE PROPOSED AMALGAMATION WITH DIRfiENTIEAD, WAL-
LASEY AND TRANMERE.

Mr. HORNBY moved the adoption of the second recom-
mendation contained in the report of the special committee,
and in doing so remarked that all the Council were asked to
w
Mr. TYRER seconded the motion.
ado m agsa mtha tgiieovn, ai
fg en
practicable,e ra l asse nwt
astodetshireabplreo.position that an
Thseappexrolatsiioonn
ofof
ralesoxptroeseemdbrhiacse
the boundary of the borough upon the Lancashire side. The
Aemlde:rumnalenssßiEjrzrxe
extended line which he proposed,—proceeding from Bootle to
the lisrc.ll
Walton, from Walton to the Old Swan, from the Old Swan
to Wavertree, from Wavertree to Aigburth, and so on to the
river again,—would give a boundary quite extended enough
for the next half century. He believed it to be perfectly
practicable, and he thought the object so important that it
ought to be dealt with on its own merits, quite irrespective
' of the proposed amalgamation with the other side of the water.
After some discussion, it was stated that there would be
no objection to the committee considering Mr. Bennett's
suggestion in connection with the matter specially referred to
them, and conferring with the Health Committee and other
committees on the subject. A resolution to that effect was
proposed.
Mr. HORNET expressed a modified assent to the proposal of
Mr. Alderman Bennett, declaring, however, that he did not
contemplate any such large extension as that urged by Mr.
Bennett. Mr. Hornby's motion was carried, and the report
was confirmed.
The minutes of the Dock and Watch Committee were con-
firmed, the latter including a special report on the contract
for the conveyance of prisoners, recommending, as the result
of a very careful investigation, in which the committee had
been assisted by Mr. Mansfield, the stipendiary magistrate,
that the conveyance should remain, as at present, in Mr. Par-
kinson's hands, and that his offer, as reported at the last meet-
ing, be accepted.