The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-10-11 00:00:00

Yesterday, the usual monthly meeting of the council for
the city and borough 'of Chester, was held at the Exchange.
The Mayor (Major French) occupied the chair. The atten.
dance was more numerous than usual. Amongst the
absentees was Alderman Tilstone, who has never been
enabled, for upwards of two years, to discharge hi 3 duties,
owing to advancing years, and absolute infirmity.
The Deputy Town Clerk announced that the following
members of the council had been fined for non-attendance--
Alderman Humberstone, Alderman Brown, and Mr. S.
Seller.

The minutes of the last meeting were then read over and
confirmed in the usual way; after which, the city treasurer
read over the various bills, which were ordered to be paid.
The general account was £167 els lld ; improvement, £146
188 6d ; lamp, £23 18s 7d.
Alderman Brown, who is the chairman of the finance
committee, then rose, in order to make his usual yearly
statement of the finances of the town, which he went
through with much clearness and ability. It appeared that
the sum of £3,800 was owing by the corporation to its
bankers in 1846 ; in the following year, however, the
amount became reduced to £2,700, but, owing to the
expenses of the police force, and the alteration in the city
gaol, the account again got up to £3,369 ; and, last year,
over £3,000 was due. The finance committee had taken
the whole matter into its most serious consideration, and
the opinion of the Recorder had been asked with regard to
the resolutions which had bren conic to unanimously on the
subject, and quite fortified them in the course adopted. The
watch rate, granted last year, had not yet been collected,
and might not until Christmas. under all the circum-
stances. New rates were recommended to be levied as
follows, viz. :—A b3rough rate of £2,700 ; improvement
rate of one shilling in the pound ; a lamp rate of sixpence
in the pound ; and a watch rate of sixpence in the pound,
to be collected in March next.
Mr. Glover said the proposed resolution was nothing
more nor less than extra rates upon the inhabitants.
Alderman Brown denied that such was the case. The
committees of the town desired only to reduce both the debt
to the bank and the general expenditure.
Mr. Glover then moved that the borough rate be £2,000.
Mr. Robert Frost expressed his surprise at such a propo-
sition, inasmuch as Mr. Glover had been unanimous with
the other members of the committtee, in recommending the
resolutions proposed by Alderman Brown.
A Councillor wished that Mr. Glover would supply his
reasons for opposing the resolutions of the committee of
which he had been a member, and evidently sanctioned.
Mr. Glover replied that he did not consider the town was
in a position at present to pay the old balance due to the
bank. (Laughter).
Mr. Temple thought all kind of difficulties ought to be
grappled with at their very commencement. The defering
matters of this kind was always mischievous. In short,
allowing the debts to accumulate was an unwise policy.
Mr. Glover's amendment not being seconded, the resolu-
tions moved by Alderman Brown were carried—Mr. Glover
being the only dissentient

THE CITY SURVEYOR.
Mr. Bell, who has held this office for about twelve
months, some time back tendered his resignation, owing to
circumstances, which, although unjustifiable, strictly speak-
ing, may hereafter prove of great benefit to the town,
received a very high testimonial under the common seal of
the Corporation, preparatory to his retirement from office.
Alderman Brown then rose, and, in a lucid and able
speech, contended that Mr. Bell had incurred expenses of
various kinds, which had been wholly unauthorised by the
orders given to him. The sum of £1,300 had been voted
by the Council for certain improvements, and the amount
expended had been £2,359, which ought to call for the
deepest censure.

Mr. Peacock fully confirmed the statement of Alderman
Brown, and said Mr. Bell had been repeatedly warned that
he was exceeding his duty.

Mr. Temple, kr. Robert Frost, and other gentlemen,
strongly urged the necessity of appointing a committee of
investigation, who were to report to the council.
Mr. Bell then entered into an explanation, the tendency
of which was to show that he had acted under a miscon-
ception of his duties.

The committee was then appointed, consisting of Alder-•
man Brown, Mr; Temple, Alderman Griffith, Mr. Glover,
Mr. R. Potts, Alderman Williams, Alderman Humberstone,
and Mr. R. Frost:

Mr. Glover urged that no member of the improvement
committee should be present at the enquiry.
Mr. Robert Frost : Oh, yes, there will, as witnesses.
Some routine business was then disposed of, and the
council broke up.