The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-10 00:00:00

THE TOWN COUNCIL.

An adjourned special meeting of the Town Council
was held yesterday, in the Council-chamber, in the
Town-hall. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair,
and there was a full attendance of members of the
Council.

The business before the Council comprised the fo'
lowing matters :

The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the Water
Committee, Baths Committee, and Improvement Com-

mittee.

The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the Audit
Committee, comprising a recommendation to increase
the salary of Mr. P. S. Rhind, the Corporate Auditor,
from £3OO to £4OO per annuni, the consideration of
which was postponed at the last monthly Connell, pur-
suant to the standing ordei's.
.The Cormier's Account; aniounting to £79 16s. 4d.
iv-ote..--by order of the Couit of qUarter, Sesiieni; the
coroner has Veen Paid the Cf t 73 for tees on inquests
betel b hint betsbeli the 24th day of October and the
7th day of December, 1860.

The Mayor's communications. The following mo-
tions; of whi.',;n notices have been given. By Mr.
James R. Jeffery :—" That as the Council has
now decided that the new public offices shall he limited
to accommodation for the departments under the direc-
tion of the Health, Watch, and Water Committees, and
as a majority of the Special Committee appiinted on
the 9th of November last, to consider plans for new
public offices, is of opinion that such limitation will be
insufficient to meet the exigencies of the case, and be
prejudicial to the public service, the resolution of the
9th November last, appointing such Special Com-
mittee, be rescinded." By Mr. Alderman Parker :
" That the galleries of St. Michael's Church be free
to the public, as was done in respect to the galleries of
St. George's Church, in 1853." By Mr. Robert
Hutchison :—That the following resolution, passed by the
Council on the 9th November, 1860, be rescinded, viz.,
" That no member of this Council, except the Mayor for
the time being, who is a member of the Mersey Docks
and Harbour Board, shall be placed upon the Finance
Committee."

THE WATER COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of this committee were read, after
which

Mr. VARNIVORTH rose to move their confirmation.
He said that there was nothing of any great moment in
the proceedings, to which he should have to call the
attention of the Council ; but he would observe that
the committee had had under their very serious con-
sideration the subject of the levying of the rates; but
they had not yet come to a final decision in the matter,
and they would have to bring it under the notice of the
Cpuncil at a future time. He had scarcely stated that
to meet the very large deficiency which appeared in the
accounts of the Water Committee the Council, some
months ago, authorised, and in fact compelled, that
committee to levy an uniform rate on the inhabitants
for the water supplied, which would account for the fact
of their being so heavily taxed for water at the present
time.

Mr. Alderman COOPER asked did the provisions of the
Act of Parliament empower or allow the Water Com-
mittee to levy a rate of 6 per cent., as mentioned by
by Mr. Farnworth ?

The MAYOR said the subject was not yet before the
Council.

Mr. Alderman aopEn replied that, in moving the
mg:inflation of the proceedings of the committeee, Mr.
arnworth said that they had levied a certain rate, and
he wanted to know was it imperative on them to do so ?
The MAYOR thought that they would have an expla-
nation of the matter in the proceedings of the Water
Committees which should be submitted to the Council at
the next meeting.
Mr. Alderman COOPER wished to ask a question of
the chairman of the Water Committee, Who had been of
late in the habit of turning off the water by means of a
tap being placed outside the houses ? To his great
surprise the other day he had had a large number of
bills sent to him, calling on him to pay the expenses so
incurred for this tap at the outside of the houses belong-
ing to himself. He wanted to know was it fair that the
landlord of premises should be made to pay for these
things. He thought that to charge for the tap outside
the dwellings was very unjust, illegal, and he believed
it was not right. (Laughter.) He considered that
such a way of raising money was very unfair and
unjust. If the Water Committee could not get the

amount they wanted to pay, and of meeting their
deficiency, they should certainly not resort to a strata-
gem of this sort9'or the purpose of collecting money.
He said that for the future ho would not pay such a
demand, unless he were compelled by law to do so.
(Hear, hear.) Last year (they would probably recollect
the circumstance), the members of the Water Commit-

.. . _ _.
tee refused to compound with the landlords for houses pay-
ing a rental of above £l3 a-year. He then referred to the

ease where the occupants of small tenements were sum-

moned before the magistrates for not paying their water

rate, and when they pleaded in extenuation their inability

to meet the demand of the rate collector, the magistrates

good-naturedly advised the parties to go to the landlords
and make them pay the required sum. (A laugh.) It
Was, however, fortunate for him (Mr. Cooper) that his
tenants who were unable or unwilling to pay the water
tax were also not in a position to pay their lawful rent.
(Laughter.) He thought the course adopted by the
Water Committee, in this matter, not a fair or justifiable
course.

Mr. Alderman BENNETT remarked that at the very
time that this course, now deprecated by the worthy
alderman who had last spoken,' was authorised to be
pursued, Mr. Alderman Cooper was chairman of the
Water Committee.
Mr. STEAINS wished to know if there had been any
alterations made in the law relating to this subject since
Mr. Alderman Cooper presided over the deliberations of
the Water Committee.
The Town-clerk replied in the negative.
Mr. Alderman BENNETT reiterated what he had already
stated as to Mr. Cooper not objecting to the adoption of
the course pursued by the Water Committee at the time
that he acted as chairman of the committee ; and said
that Mr. Cooper did not care whom they mulcted with
the payment of the water rates, so that he himself was
let escape. (A laugh.)
Mr. NicKsos was astonished to hear about the large
deficiency of the Water Committee. He had thought
it was only a few hundred, but it seemed to be some
thousands.

Mr. BELOE said that in 1859 the total deficiency was
only of small amount; but now, in 1860 (last year), it
amounted to many thousands.
Mr. Alderman Barompr seconded the motion of Mr.
Farnworth, as to the confirmation of the proceedings of
the committee.
Mr. Fanzrwonra said that he had been saved the
trouble of replying to the remarks of Mr. Alderman
Cooper, by the observations which had fallen from Mr.
Alderman Bennett, who had taken the same course that
he (Mr. F.) himself intended to have pursued. Mr.
Alderman Cooper had had a great deal of experience in
the business of the Water Committee for the length of
time he had the honour to preside over that body. And
he was, therefore, in a position to know how the law
stood with respect to the matter. He should have said
to him that of course if there were anything wrong or
unfair in the amount with which he (Mr. C.) had been
charged, or any sum in which it had been sought to
make him responsible for and which he would not con-
sider reasonable, the proper course for him to adopt was
to apply to the Water Committee, and represent his
grievance to them for the purpose of having it removed.
(Hear, bear). Just in the same way if a tradesman
essayed to overcharge a customer for any article of
goods which he had sold, the legitimate plan to be pur-
sued by that customer would be first to go and make
the tradesman acquainted with the fact, and if he
received no satisfaction he had other means open to him
to follow. (Hear, hear).

The proceedings of the Water Committee then
received the confirmation of the Council.

THE BATHS COMMITTEE.

In moving the confirmation of the proceedings of this
committee, which had been previously read,
Mr. WAGSTAFF drew the attention of the Council to
the erection of baths at Everton, which, he was happy
to inform them, was in a satisfactory and forward state
of progress.
Mr. STITT spoke of the desirability of having one
plunge bath and two private baths erected in the
locality named, instead of, as was the original intention
of the committee, one private bath and two plunge
baths, which would have the effect of not excluding a
certain class of the community from participation in the
benefits which would necessarily and most assuredly
accrue from these useful and most requisite works. He
suggested that plans should be prepared for the con-
structiox of one plunge and two private baths.
Mr. JEFFERY asked to be informed, for his own sake
as well as that of the Council, what had become of the
memorial presented by a large number of the inhabitants.
from the neighbourhood of Gill-street Market, referred
by that Council to the United Committees of the Baths
and Markets, to report to the Council if they thought it
so desirable, the advisability of converting Gill-street
Market into baths, or some other purpose, for the bene-
fit of the inhabitants of the town and locality. He was
not sure, but some years had passed by 'since the
memorial in question was presented, and he believed
that no action had ever been taken in the matter.
Mr. Alderman PARKER was understood to say that he
did not think any such subject had ever come before the
notice or consideration of the council.
Mr. WAGSTAFF-1 beg your pardon. He then re-
ferred to the books of the Town Clerk, and read there-
from an item, from which it appeared that the subject
had been referred to a united committee of the Baths
and Markets Committees in the year 1857 ; but since
that periOd the matter had remained dormant, and no
steps had been taken with it.
Mr. JEFFERY said that now that some two or three
years had been allowed to pass by without any notice
having been taken. of the matter, he thought that it was,
as a matter of courtesy to the memorialists, expedient for

the Council to direct their attention to the carrying out
of the prayer of the memorial ; and if they could not do
so, to assign a reason why they could not do it. After
a lapse of many years, no attention whatever had been
paid to the memorial, signed by a large and influential
number of the ratepayers from the district alteady named ;
and he thought nothing could be more discourteous on
the part of the Council.
The MAYOR suggested to Mr. Jeffery that the better
way for him to act on this matter would be to give notice
that a united body of the Baths and Markets Commit-
tees should take the subject into consideration, unless
the chairman of the Baths or Markets Committee agreed

to take it into their cotisideration.•
Mr. WAGsmie remarked that his committee should
be indst happy to do so, proided that the Council granted
them the money.
Mr. Jrx:Eiti replied it was inipossible to estimate
What sum of . money the Carding 6f the PidpCied
scheme would cost before the chairman of the committee
Hod taken it into his consideration.

Mr. Alderman DOVER thought that for the apath]
displayed in this particular case there was as much faul
to he attributed to the Markets as to the Baths Coro.

mittee.

In reply to question from a member of the Council,

The TOWN-CLERK said that if a committee did not
bring up a report to the Council on a subject which had
been referred to them, within a reasonable time, it was
quite competent for any gentleman occupying a seat at

he Council to more that the said committee be directed
o bring up a report.

Mr. JEI'VElit therefore, dd so at the ne±t
meeting of the Council.

The proceedings of the committee were then seconded
and confirmed.

THE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of this comr:ittee were read.
- -

Mr. JEFFERY should like to be informed with respect
to the bill which they intended applying for the next
session of parliament, and what powers they sought to
be invested with, regarding the making of certain im-
provements in the road from Smithdown-lane to West
Derby-road, which would, doubtless, be a great public
convenience, and an improvement much to be desired.
But he should like to know whether the Council had, in
this matter, taken steps to buy in sufficient marginal
land to secure the erection of premises, &c., on that
road, and if it would be agreeable to the inhabitants.
He asked this question because he thought it not at all
improbable that Parliament might refuse to grant the
Council more land than was absolutely necessary, for
the purpose of making the road in question.

Mr. EARLE rose to order, because the matter referred
to by Mr. Jeffery had baen laid before the Improvement
Committee, and had not yet come before that Council
for consideration. He therefore thought it would be
waste of time to be discussing the question at the
present time.
_ _

Mr. JEFFERY—Am I not in order, when the Improve-
ment Committee proceedings are before the Council for
their consideration ?

The MAYOR—Not in referring to the subject so much
in detail. The bill to which you refer has not come up

Mr. JEFFERY—I shall, therefore, reserve my obser-
vations for another time,

The 111& ox—lf you please.
The proceedings then received the approval of the
Council.

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.

The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the Audit
Committee, comprising a recommeHdion to increase
the salary of Mr. P. S. Rhind, the Corporation Auditor,
from £3OO to £4OO per annum, the consideration of
which was postponed at the last monthly Council, pur-
suant to the standing orders, were then read.
Mr. JEFFERY then called the attention of the Council
to the notice on the paper, which bad stood over from
the last monthly meeting of the Council. He alluded
to the recommendation to increase the salary of Mr.
Rhind, the corporate auditor, from £3OO to £4OO per
year, the consideration of which had been postponed
from the last meeting. He did not think that there would
be any objection to the granting of the increase here
proposed, when the Council had been informed of what
bad passed in that chamber at the time that the Council
resolved on appointing Mr. Rhind. On referring to the
debate of that day, he found that the prevailing opinion
of that Council was that the £3OO a year was too small
a salary to command the necessary talent for the dis-
charge of such important duties. He found that their
late friend, Mr. Riley, suggested to the Council that it
should at once make the salary £4OO per annum. He
found that Mr. Mozley moved a resolution to that effect,
which was seconded by Mr. Alderman Bennett, and the
reasons were then assigned why the £4OO a year should
be the salary of such an officer. Mr. Richard Sheil
said that he considered £3OO a year quite insufficient
for the duties and responsibilities of that important
office. Mr. Charles Turner hoped that the Council
would leave the matter in the hands of the Finance
Committee, when Mr. Steains said that the Finance
Committee would not fail to do their duty, so soon as
the services of the gentleman who held the appointment
were ascertained to be valuable. The Council being of
a certain opinion were rot disposed to appoint any
zentleman at a higher salary than his predecessor had
been receiving until his services had been tested,
although the predecessor, as was a notorious fact, had
failed in the discharge of his duty. He (Mr. Jeffery)
believed it was the prevailing opinion of the Council at
the time that they should expend something more than
£3OO a-year to get a competent person to discharge the
duties of the office, but still they succeeded in securing
the services of so efficient an officer as Mr. Rhind at the
sum originally named. sow, that gentleman had given
every satisfaction by the manner in which he had dis-
charged the duties of his situation for a considerable

time. He thought he spoke the unanimous opinions
and sentiments of the members of the Audit Com-
mittee and the Council generally, when he said that
they had not in their service a more efficient or supe-
rior officer :of the Corporation. (Hear, hear.) He
was a most gentlemanly person, a man of close and
unremitting application to his duties, and compe-
tent in every respect to discharge them. He then pro-
ceeded to say that he had read with some degree of
surprise and regret the speech delivered some time ago
by Mr. Shimmin, referring to the comparatively small
amount of duties performed by the auditor. Now, in
reference to this allegation, he (Mr. J.) could go into a
vast amount of details, and show that the services of
the auditor had, on the contrary, been very valuable,
and exceedingly useful, if the Council choosed that he
should do so. But to do this would, he felt, be to
impugn the efficiency of other servants of the Corpora-
tion, which he considered most undesirable. Under
the old state of things, certainly nothing could have
worked more injuriously than the course pursued by an
officer of theirs, whose defalcations formed a contrast to
the orderly, honest course adopted by Mr. Rhind. He

then referred to what had been expected at the last
Council day, whether the Watch or Health Com-
mitte had made any report as to the amount of saving
in Cornwallis-street. They had, however, received the
report of Mr. Tweedie, from which it appeared that a
saving of some £7O in the year had been effected

in dispensing with the services of one clerk.
It also occurred to him ( Mr. J.) to draw

the attention of the Council to another amount of £l2O
saved by the removal through death of a clerk of the
Corporation, the late Mr. Mills. If the Council thought
proper, or if Mr. Shimmin refused any further informa-
tion, he (Mr. J.) should be most happy to answer all
questions put to him in relation to the subject. He
believed that Mr. Rhind was an under and inadequately
paid officer of that Corporation ; and though there was
no member of the Council more wishful for economy in
all things than he himself was, still he believed the best
and soundest economy was to have a sufficient staff, and
to pay that staff—each one in proportion to the services
rendered and to the full ability given by him. On that
principle he ventured to act, as a member of the Council
—and acting now as he had ever done, and as he hoped
he should always continue to act, he begged leave to
move the confirmation of the proposed recommendation.
Mr. STRAINS rose to second the motion. He stated
that the majority of the Finance Compittee agreed in
opinion, and a strong feeling was expressed, that the
£3OO paid to Mr. Rhind was inadequate, and that his
salary should be raised to £4OO per annum.
Mr. Alderman PARKER said he did not rise to oppose
the increase of salary to Mr. Rhind, but he did rise to
make a few observations on the remarks that had fallen
from Mr. Jeffery, who had now admitted the principle
that all salaries should rest upon their own merits and
bases. (" Hear, hear," from Mr. Jeffery.) He then
alluded to what he called a curious statement made by
Mr. Jeffery, who, as a member of that Council, and
Mr. Rhind as a servant of that Council, if they knew
anything derogatory or unfair in the transaction of the
public business of the Corporation, should have made it
their duty to make these things public. If they knew
anything going on that was wrong it was their duty to
make it known.

Mr. Siiimmix said that as his name had been referred
to by Mr. Jeffery, he begged to state that he never
impugned the respectability of Mr. Rhind, nor the
efficiency of his services ; but he did maintain that the
proposal to increase the Auditor's salary from £3OO to
£4OO is the most extravagant proceeding that had ever
come under his notice since he had the honour of a seat
in the Council.... 11e well understood the duties • he had
no responsibility. in the receipt or payment of 'money •
and no professional attainments are required at his
hands to entitle him to a high amount of salary; but he
was merely employed to cast up accounts after other people,
and see that they are correct—a duty which any intelli-
gent clerk is capable of discharging—one which could
be efficiently performed by a sharp boy from the corporate
schools. (Oh ! oh!) In this town there are hundreds of
respectable men in the offices of bankers, merchants,
brokers, and accountants performing similar work for
less than half the present salary. There is no increase
of revenue to warrant this proposed increase of salary,
which is more than 33 per cent., and the Auditor has
more clerks to assist him than his predecessor had. The
only ground whereon his warmest friend could ask for

an addition to his salary, would be length of service ;
but William Rhind has only been about a year in his
office, while I could point to a score of old and faithful
servants who, if any body is entitled to consideration,
should not be passed over. This, sir, I presume, is
Another of kr. Jeffery's it4reellientS; affother instance
of his care for the public purse. I can only account for
it on the supposition that the auditor has taken good
care to please that gentleman. And the Council will
not forget the ridiculous statement with which the walls
in the town were placarded, that we were paying £40,000
a year in salaries to officers, when the truth is, that the
amount was made up by includirg the wages of work-
peoples watchmen, and old charwomen. Sir, I feel
botind to facet the proposal With all the opposition in
my poWer, and I declare; it carried, it Will lie a positive
outrage on the iatepayers: For, What are we doing
purchasing pi operty ; palling it doWil for an idea,—
destroying revenue— paying a large amount of interest
and sinking fund—creating and raising unnecessary
salaries—and burning the candle at both ends.
Mr. Alderman WOODRLIT said that in the report
made by the Chairman of the Audit. Committee reasons
had been shown to justify the inereaseof salary to Mr.
Rhind. He drew a contrast between the way in which
the old auditor bad performed the duties of his office and
.the manner in which they had been discharged by Mr.
Rhind, which, on the whole, was most satisfactory to the
latter, showing how the affairs of that department had
progressed under his management. The methodical,
and precise, and business like manner in which the
books were now kept, showed unmistakeably the
talents and the abilities possessed by Mr.. Rhind.
He Was surprised at the lamentable ignorance
displayed by some members of the Council of the state
of affairs of the Corporation, when they stated that the
important duties of this office could have been performed

by a boy from the Corporation schools. Now, he did
not regret to find that they had such clever boys in those
schools; but he thought it betrayed some want of judg-
ment on the part of the members of that Council. It
should be obvious to every gentleman of common sense
that £4OO a year was nothing compared with having
their accounts kept in an accurate and correct manner.
They all knew it was next to impossible that chairmen
and members of the various committees could go into
details in examining the several books and departments
of the Corporation ; and if they were fortunate enough

to get a man of ability and efficiency, instead of con-
sidering an increase of salary to him for the discharge of
his duties being a tax inflicted on the inhabitants, it
should be looked upon as a desirable concession. (Hear,
hear.)

Several members of the Council called out, " Vote,
vote."

The MAYOR said there was no amendment before the
Council.
Mr. SHIMMIX—I then move that it be not allowed.

The MAYOR—That is a direct negative. You must
vote on the original motion.
Mr. JEFFERY then replied, and produced a statement
of the various improvements made in the audit affairs
by Mr. Rhind, as compared with the state in which the
books had been kept by his•predecessor. He referred
to the rental book for the water rates and charges,
showing arrears from the previous year and assessments
for the current year, and also showing that the items in
the cash column had never been added up anterior to
Mr. Rhind entering on the duties of the office. This
he took to be a very important matter indeed. The
ledger had also been used as a journal in Cornwallis-
street; all of which unnecessary trouble had been saved
by the system introduced by Mr. Rhind. The police
regulations had been altered, and Major Greig had
stated in his report that by the regulations of the Audit
Committee great convenience was afforded to the police,
and which saved considerable time. Now, if con-
venience had been afforded and considerable time
saved to a thousand men, surely that was a matter
'of congratulation, on the part of that Council,
towards their energetic officer, Mr. Rhind. But
he thought, from the tone of the Council, that any
protracted remarks from him, in favour of the increase
of salary to Mr. Rhind, would be a work of supereroga-
tion. He then referred to the statement made by Mr.
Shimmin•in his speech at the last meeting of the Council,
and said it was perfectly clear that that gentleman
did not state the facts he then adduced from his own
personal knowledge, but rather from information ob-
tained. He concluded by expressing a hope that the
Council would concede the proposed increase.
Mr. SHIMMIN asked the last speaker where he had
got the report of his speech.
Mr. Jeffery's reply was not distinctly heard by the
reporter.

The MAYOR then put the original motion to the
meeting, when there appeared the following result :
For—The Mayor; Aldermen John Buck Lloyd, Wil-

liam Bennett, 'William Preston, Thomas Dover, James
Parker, Joseph Cooper, John 'Woodruff, Raymond W.
Houghton ; Councillors Thomas D. Anderson, John
Johnson Stitt, Daniel Crosthwaite, Richard Sheil, Clarke
Aspinall, James Crellin, Charles Turner, Thos. Avison.
James Steains, Edward Estill, David Rae, Henry C.
Beloe, Charles T. Bowring, Thomas Ridley, W. P.
Jeffreys, John Rogers, T. Bulky Job, William Earle,
James A. Picton, James R. Jeffery, James Johnson, R.
M. Beckwith, John Farnworth, Joseph Steel, Thomas
Vernon.

Against—Councillors Roger Ilaydock, John Shimmin,
George Nickson, Joseph Kitchell, Samuel Siddeley.

THE CORONER'S ACCOUNT.

The Coroner's account, amounting to £79 16s 4d.,
was submitted. By order of the Court of Quarter
Sessions, the Coroner has been paid the sum of £73 for
fees on inquests held by him between the 24th day of
October and the 7th day of December, 1860.

Mr. Sheil moved the confirmation of the above recom-
mendation, which was seconded by Mr. Alderman Lloyd,
axd carried.

THE MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS.

A communication to his Worship the Mayor, relative
to the granting of the Town-hall, on the 11th February,
for the holding of the annual Catholic ball, was referred
to the Town-hall Committee.

A letter was also received from Henry Fitzpatrick,
informing the Council that he had been in the employ
of the Health Committee for about seven years, as
Inspector of Nuisances, at his original salary of 235. per
week ; and whereas his fellow-servants, who did only
the same amount of work as he performed, received 30s.
a week, he had never received an increase up to the
present tine. He hoped that the Council would increase
his salary from 235. to 30s. per week.
A similar application from Geo. Fale and others of the
officials of the Council, asking for an increase of salary,
were read, and referred to the Finance Committee.