The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-25 00:00:00

TOWNSHIP OP TOXTRTH PARE

A special meeting of the Vestry of the extra parochial
place of Toxteth-park, was held at 10 o'clock on yesterday,
in the Public-offices' Park-place, pursuant to a requisition
of the ratepayers, "for the purpose of determining whether
a burial-ground should be provided for the said extra paro-
chial place, under the acts 15 and 16 Vic., cap. 85, and 16
and 17 Vic., cap. 134, and if at such meeting it were de-
termined to provide such burial-ground, then for the vestry
to take such steps as by law was required for carrying such
determination into effect."

Mr. GREGSON, T.C., was in the chair

The other gentlemen present were—Messrs. Halhead,
T.C., Robertson; T,C., M'Nicol, T.C., Ewing, Ogden,
Harrison, Aljass, Mountfield Smith, Cleaver, Wilson, Gregg,
Gilbert Harrison, Roberts, Hetherington, Richard Miller,
Smith, J. Dickenson, Thomas Dunnett, Sailes, Fisher, Wat-
son; Carter, A. Horsfall, and Rev. Mr. Roberts.
After the Clerk had read the requisition convening the
meeting, •

The CHAIRMAN said that they were all aware of the very
great difficulty of obtaining accommodation for the inter-
ment of the poor throughout Liverpool, but especially in
that township. Walton, and in fabt all the burial-grounds
around the town were completely filled, and it was there-
fore now absolutely necessary to adopt some measures to
remedy the evil.

Mr. WILSON thought the attendance of ratepayers was
not sufficiently large to determine the question, and sug-
gested an adjournment.
Some discussion took place on this -head, but it was
eventually resolved that the meeting should determine the
question before it, inasmuch as the usual notice had been
given by advertisement in the papers and placards.
Mr. TlAnntsort then proceeded to show the necessity
that existed for extra-mural burial accommodation,
particularly in the district of that township. In proof of
this necessity he referred to the increase that had taken
place in their population, which had increased from 2,300
in 1801, to 61,326 in 1851. And if they looked forward to
the next eighteen years, as they should do ; if they intended
to meet the requirements of the township in this particular ;
they should calculate on a population of no less than 120,000 ;
so that unless something were done immediately, they would
have no burial-ground at all. He had had a conversation
with Dr. Sutherland on the matter ; and from the facts
stated to him by that gentleman, he believed that if they
had a proper cemetery, it would be not only an accommoda-
tion to the public, but a source of revenue to the rate-payers.
In support of this belief he instanced the cemetery of Glas-
nevin, near Dublin, where, in 1841, a company established
a burial-ground of nine acres, and such were the require-
ments of the place, that they had to extend it in 1846 to
forty acres; and ut! to 1853, they had buried 116,000 bodies
there. In conclusion, he moved that a burial-ground should
be provided for the extra parochial place of Toxteth-park,
in conformity with the terms of the act.

Mr. ALPASS seconded the motion, and in doing so also
pointed out the necessity for this step.

Mr. HALHEAD askedif it were intended that a commit-
tee should be appointed for the purpose of buying the ground?
The CHAIRMAN explained that by a change in the act it
was enacted that when such a resolution as that moved were
carried, the vestry. should appoint a committee of not less
than three and not more than nine members, to constitute a
parochial board for this purpose ; one third of them to go
out of office annually, but to be eligible for re-election.
Mr. HALHEAD inquired if such a board would have the
power to purchase any quantity of land they might think
proper ? _ _

- Mr. CLEAVER replied that by the act they were limited to
£15,000.
Mr. HALHEAD said that it would be more in accordance
with the feelings of the inhabitants if a sub-committe were
appointed to treat for the land, and then bring the matter
before the rate-payers for their assent. He had no objection
to the proposition before the meeting, but, on the contrary,
he concurred in its necessity. For, from a conversation lie
had had with Dr. Sutherland, he gathered that the greater
portion of the burial-grounds within the town would be
altogether speedily clo3ed. He wished to know, however,
if it were compulsory to pay the money borrowed within
twenty years ?

Mr: CLEAVER ',bat, ordinarily speaking, it would
be compulsory in them to do so, but there were circum-
stances under which they might get the time extended.
The o±ininnANT said they would have to pay 9 per cent.
every year-4 per cent. as interest, and 5 per cent. in liqui-
dation of the principal.
Mr. .ALPASS : But that will grow 1p.2 0.707 year.
A brief diQouoaion then took place as to the requirements of
the general extra-mural burial act —namely, as to whether
each grave could not be re-opened until after th 2 lapse 'of
fifteen years. This point did not seem very clear.
Mr. ALPASS said that there had been some calculation
made at a preliminary, meeting, and that they were satisfied
that between 37 and 40 acres, which could be had under
£15,000, would be quite sufficient. This sum would, in
addition, wall in and lay out the place—build two chapels,
and drain the ground ; and if this sum was not sufficient,
there would be nothing to prevent the board from coming
before the vestry and asking for an additional thousand.
If they could get the above quantity of land for the sum
specified, there could scarcely be any doubt but that the in-
come of the cemetery would meet all its expenses. He
might as well mention, also, that it was the opinion of the
preliminary meeting to which he had referred, that £15,000
would be ample enough to provide sufficient burial accom-
modation for the next twenty years.

Mr. FISHER asked if they were confined to the township
of Toxteth Park in which to purchase the land ?
The CHAIRMAN replied that they might purchase it any-
where, but it would be desirable to purchase it as near the
township as possible.

Mr. observed that, from what had been said with
regard to the necessity of additional burial-ground, it
mattered very little as to whether they exceeded their limit
of £15,000. The necessity existed, and the accommodation
should be provided, no matter what it cost ; but he was sure
that if= they appointed a proper committee according to the
provisions of the act of parliament, with the chairman at its
head, they would not have to pay too much for the ground.
It was not then necessary to go into details, but let them
have the largest amount of ground at the smallest possible
cost ; and no gentleman could suppose that the board would
act in any other way. (Hear, hear.) The poor could not
pay for this accommodation, and therefore the rich shonld do
so, and he, as a rate payer, was quite willing to bear his
proportion of the expense.
The CHAIRMAN observed that they were then arguing on
the necessity of such accommodation. When they had de.
terrnined that, they could appoint the board and fix the

Mr. WILSON begged to 'be understood, that though he
Moved the adjournment, he was not opposed to the object
of the meeting. He had lived too long in the district not