The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-08 00:00:00

WALLASEY LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH

The usual monthly meeting of this board was held at
the public offices, last evening. Mr. Pooley presided.
The other members present were, Messrs. Robert Cairne,
E. W. Coulborn, Fishwick, Penny, Littledale, Hill, Wil-
son, Odell, Ball, Nevill, and W. R. Coulborn.

THE WORKS' AND HEALTH COMMITTEE.
Prom the proceedings of this committee it appeared that
the sUrvtyor had made a report upon the subject of lower-
ing. Tobin-street and a part of Church-street, plans of
which had been submitted and fully deliberated upon, but
the committee would not recommend that the plan should
be carried out at present.
Mr. Cairne moved the adoption of the report, except so
far as related to the lowering of the streets. Against that
part of the report he most strongly protested.
The Chairman suggested that the adoption of the report
should be moved, and then Mr. Cairne could move an
amendment.
Mr. Penny : I will move the adoption of the report as a
point of form.
Mr. Wilson seconded the motion.
Mr. Cairne protested against the lowering of the road
being further delayed, as the road was a disgrace to the
road-making of the present day. He concluded by moving
that the surveyor should make an estimate for another
plan, which plan he explained from the map.
After some explanatory observations, from the chair-
man,
Mr. Odell requested to know who were the parties who
complained of the hill.
Mr. Cairne : Everybody who had to ascend it.
Mr. Nevill said there was a much more important
question he should wish to have answered, and that was,
" Where was the money to come from to make the altera-
tions ? " If they increased the rates, he thought they
would find that the ratepayers would remove from the
district.
Mr. Cairne strongly urged that the road should be
altered—the commissioners had a duty to the public to
perform, and they had a right to do it irrespective of the
opinion of ratepayers.
Mr. Odell protested against such a principle being
entertained by the board.
Mr. Littledale : But we are old ratepayers, and surely
have a right to express an opinion.
Mr. Penny thought that until something had been developed with regard to the sea wall from New Brighton,
it would be premature to take any steps in the matter,
utterly regardless of the state of the finances ; although
he would admit that it would be desirable that more
improvemement in that locality would be desirable.
Mr.:Cairne said they had a right to legislate for pos-
terity as well as for themselves, and, therefore, he should
press the subject to a decision.
Mr. Odell: And let us see who votes for posterity.
(L uthter.)
After a brief desultory conversation, the board divided,
when the motion for the adoption of the report was car-
ried, the only commissioners voting for the amendment
being Messrs. Cairne, E. W. Coulborn, and Littledale.

FINANCE AND WATCH COMMITTEES.
The proceedings of this committee were next read.
They comprised the recommendations to pay a number of
bills, amongst which was one for 2001. from her Majesty's
treasury towards the expense of introducing the Public
Health Act into the district.
Mr. Hill, in moving the confirmation of the proceedings,
requested to know whether the board would pay it in one
sum or by instalments. If by the latter course they
would have to pay interest.
Mr. Littledale : At what rate ?
The Clerk ; At five per cent.
Mr. Odell: All by instalments.
Mr. Fish wick seconded the motion, and it was decided
to pay the 2001. by instalments.
LIVERPOOL AMALGAMATION COMMITTEE.
The Clerk explained the clauses in the Liverpool and
Birkenhead docks bill, which would affect the interests
of the parish. He at some length detailed the various
parts that WORM act prejudicial to the district, and sug-
gested the insertion of some additional clauses, so as to
preserve the rights of the commissioners of Wallasey.
On the motion of Mr. Littledale, a special Parliamen-
tary committee was appointed, and entrusted with power
to fix the seal of the board to a memorial to Parliament,
to take such steps as they may deem necessary for carry-
ing out the recommendations, suggested in the report of
the clerk.

Mr. Nevill seconded the motion.
Mr. Odell thought the board had no locus standi, as the
alterations contemplated in the bill were purely a land-
lord's question, and let the landlords look after their own
affa i Ts.
After a few observations from Ur. Penny, contending
that it was of the utmost importance that the hoard
should take steps in the matter, for many great points
were involved in the bill, the motion was unanimously
carried.

SPECIAL CO.
Th's committee had held sever MMITTE
al meetE
ings, at which
Mr. Coulborn had aitended. It was unanimously resolved
that the ferry and the boats were in a most disgraceful
state, and quite incompetent to meet the necessary
accommodation for the public, and that it was necessary
that there should be new boats, which should go between
Liverpool and Seacombe in seven minutes, and between
Liverpool and Egremont, in twelve minutes. They also
recommended that there should be a luggage boat, to ply
daily for the accommodation of all the ferries, and that all
the landing-stages should be kept in better order. A copy
of the resolutions, adopted by the committee, were for-
warded to Mr. Coulborn, with a request that he would attend
the next meeting, which he did, when he stated that in
order to prevent any unnecessary discussions on the sub-
ject, he, with his brother, was willing to lease the Egre-
mont ferry for 10 or 20 years, at 10001 per annum, and the
Seacombe on the same terms as he had it from the former
lessee, but with regard to the New Brighton ferry, he
would consult with his brother on that point. At a sub-
sequent meeting of the committee, to which Mr. Coulborn
had sent his offer in writing, it was decided that the whole
subject should be referred to the board for their opinion.
There were also certain offers made with regard to the
commissioners taking the plant at each ferry.
In answer to Mr. Littledale, Mr. Coulborn said he did
not think that a public company, or a board, could object
to take the ferry on the same terms as he and his brother,
as private individuals, had done 10 years since. He also
declined (because he could not speak with any accuracy)
to state the exact per tentage the plant would yield, and
stated that he had acted rather out of order in making an
offer, and should not take any further steps in the matter
until he had had the opinion or decision of the board in
the matter.
Mr. Hill said that he had canvassed the inhabitants, and
he found that there was a great diversity of opinion on
the subject. Some thought they should only have one,
others two, and others thought that they should take all.
Before any decision was come to, he conceived that they
had a right to ascertain the feeling of the ratepayers on
the subject, and the only means to do that would be to
call a public meeting, and then let it be decided by them
whether they would have one ferry, or more, or any.
Some desultory conversation ensued, the result of which
was, that the clerk read two opinions given by Mr. Cow-
ling, and Mr. Welsby, and the Attorney-general, taken by
the board in January, 1854, from which it appeared, that
the latter learned gentleman had given it as his decided
opinion, that the board had no power whatever to apply
the public money for the purposes of leasing ferries, and
concluded by asking the question, " what have local
boards of health to do with ferries ? "
The Chairman was of opinion, that if the board had a
wish-to take the ferries, the only means by which they
could do that, would be by getting a short Act of Parlia-
ment.
Mr. Odell moved, that the offer of Mr. Coulborn be not
accepted by the board.
Mr. Penny conceived, that even before they could carry
out Mr. Hill's suggestion, it would be necessary to have
further information on :the subject; therefore, he consi-
dered it would be desirable that the subject should be
again referred to the committee for them to try and nego-
ciate with Mr. Coulborn, and report thereon, at a future
meeting of the board or to a public meeting.
Mr. Hill thought, after the legal opinions the board had
obtained, that the whole thing was a waste of time. It
had been settled two years ago, and why renew it when it
was well known that the board had not the power of
aanwaacyt,orn opracr
Parliament
etnhte. y even
eexxppeennddionngetshheiiTionngern
in
Some further discussion ensued, but eventually the
ge suchtti n g
further consideration of the subject was, we believe,
postponed.
The business of the board had not been completed when
the ferry-boat left.