The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-05-08 00:00:00

progress of Liverpool for the last few years, the immensity
of its accommodation, the boundless prospect which was still
befbie them, the position which that port filled in the corn-
Meree Of the world, when nearly half the exports of the whole
country, in poltit of value; tossed through it; he asked whether
2s 6d per square yard wits a fair consideration for land in the
very centre of a town where such mighty deeds were going
forward ? (Cries of hear, hear.) He had such a strong
opinion on the point, that, it' he stood alone, he would in his
own person, petition the Treasury to interfere with that an st,ige—
meet. (Hear, hear) He had himself very strong perso.,ll
interests, which ought to lead him the other way. Ono of his
owr family wits largely, interested in the Lancashire and York-
third R illway but lie hoped that; without making a boast of his
honour, he should, at least, be docently honest, without talking
about it. (Hear, hear.) It disgusted him, abode all things,
when he heard people talking about their honour and their
conscience. It was the man who did what was right who should
hold* the high position, not the man who was always
talking about what he was, and what he did. (Hear, hear.)
It nauseated him to hear such things. (Hear, hear.) Ile
asked the, totincil calmly to reflect whether that was the
moment when a poPtion against their proceedings should go up
to Parliament, already sitting in judgtnent upon them, and
whether that was the time, of all others, when they ought to
sell property for ever. Mr. Gladstone concluded by support-

ing the amendment.
Mr. J. B. Lloyd supported the finance committee, on the
ground that, Since 1834, he had been engaged in endeavouring
to dispose of a plot of land a little more to the north, but
containing the very 8,000 square yards which the Lancashire
and Yorkshire Company iauw intended to exchange with the
corporation, and up to that moment it itas Unsold.
Mr. Alderman Parker vehemently supported the finanec

committee.
Mr. Aiken said if the committee won:d be in the same posi-
tion as regarded the offer a month hence, he would support the
postponement. He felt quite convinced th tt the threat which
Mr. Gladstone held out would not influence their decisions, and
he trusted that it had not been offered in the spirit of
intimidation. (Hear, hear.) He regretted that personal
remarks should have fallen from Mr. Gladstone and from
other gentlemen, more especially as the ether remarks of
Mr. Gladstone Were entitled to very great weight., few being
more competent to judge tither of the value of land, property,
or of the rate of interest on money. If, in the opinion of the
Chairman of the finance committee, they would not be in the
same position a month hence, then he should support their
recommendation. •
Mr. Woodruff urged the postponment for a month, taking
into consideration that less than half the members of the finance '
committee were present on the occasion when the recommen-
dation was adopted.
Mr. Alderman Bennett thought there were so many advan-
tages :o be derived, arid the general property would ha so much
benefitted in the neighbourhood if the railway company were
allowed to occupy that site, that the mere money considertttion
should be held a secondary one. He considered the proposed
arrangement a fair one, and one which would be a great benefit
to the town in general, as ho hoped and trusted to the spirited
proprietors of the railway thediselves.
Mr. Anderson supported the postponement.
Mr Banner,. while in favour of the finance committee's viewp,
approved of the postponment.
11r. Godfrey contended that if the property had been put
tip to auction on a perpetual lease there would have been
scores of bidders. (Hear, hear.) Ile supported the amend-
ment, and gave notice that if it were lost he would move

another.
Mr. Hornhy then proceeded to reply, and in doing so, pro- I
tested against the spirit and tone in which some gentlemen
had made their remarks, and declared that if the sentiments
expressed by Mr. Gladstone were generally entertained, and
that the finance committee was so undeserving of confidence
as he represented them, it was the duty of the council at once
to appoint a new committee. He stated that if the council
postponed the consideration of the question for a month, it
would at once liberate the railway company from the offer
they had made. He for one was not willing to liberate
them from that offer. (Hear, hear.) He replied to
several of the arguments used on the other side, and
stated that Mr. James Holtue appeared in the nego-
elation only as a director of the company, and
was received by the committee as any other director. He
asked how it happened, if the Pict of no bidder appearing for
the borough gaol property was explained, as other gentlemen
had done, that other lots sold for 20 or 30 per cent. more than
was expected? Finally, Mr. Hornby urged on the council the
advantage of adopting the arrangement.
A division was taken, but some discussion arose as to
whether shareholders of the Southport railway were entitled to
vote. The law clerk finally decided that such shareholders
could vote, and a second division was taken, when there
appeared—twenty-two for tho original motion, and seventeen
for the amendment. The amendment was accordingly lost.
Mr. Godfrey proposed a second amendment, to the effect,
that the proposal of the company be negatived, and that the
property be put up to auction on a perpetual lease, condition-
ally, with the approval of the Treasury.
Mr. Woodruff seconded tlie amendment, and a second debate
arose, which resulted in the following division on the amend-
ment :—For, eleven ; against, twenty-four.
Mr. Robertson Gladstone then moved as an amendment, that
the land ho divided into lots suitable for the erection of ware-
houses, and that they be put up to public auction in the usual

manner on 75 year leases.
Mr. Beckwith seconded the amendment.
Mr. Hornby offered to postpone the matter for a month if
any gentleman of capital would undertake to put the corporation
in the same favourable position they were now in, in the event
of the railway company going back of their offer.
Mr. Hodson thought Mr. Hornby was not justified in
making such a proposition, or asking any gentleman to give

such an undertaking.
Mr. Beckwith observed that ho never knew a man refuse to
give 15i. 91. for a sovereign. That was precisely the character
of the present sale, and Mr. Hornby need have no fear that the
company would ever reftrie to give their 15s. 93. for the corpo-
ration sovereign. (Hear, and laughter).
Mr. Gladstone's amendment was then put and lost by 14

to 22.
Mr. Kitchen, Mr. Haydock, and a number of other gentle-
men having given notice of other amendments, the following
amendmeut, proposed by Mr. Hornby, and seconded by Mr.
Alderman S. Holme, was eventually adopted. It was opposed,
in the first instance by Mr. Roberston Gladstone, owing to a
misconception on his part of its meaning :—" That, in conside-
ration of the necessity that there is for proceeding with the
dock committee proceedings and laying rates under the health
committee, the further consideration of this matter, and all other
matters on the council list, be postponed un'il this day week."
The dock committe's proceedings were then read and con-
firmed, and the paving, snnitory, and fire and watch rates struck
after which the council adjourned to next Wednesday. •