Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-06-02 00:00:00

g to be carried out

ments that were f.

He thouglit the

owners of property 'had been dealt
in that neighbourhood The
tion in which that place had been kept
old wall and the stone yard, which were • kept in e
on Shaw's-brow, had depreciated the property there con-
siderably. He did think that, the inhabitants had just
the neglected condition of that

very unfairly with
delapidated • condi-
and the

to con

neighbourhood. He believed a great deal of the dissatisfac-
tion arose from the ignorance' the people were kept in,
as to what was going to be do%O with the locality. For
that reason, he should have been glad that a plan of the
whole of the locality, as intended to be dealt with by the
finance or other committee, should be made known to the
people in the neighbourhood. He thought this was only

aid, he thought it would be a very great pity
er should be delayed. If it was likely to
h leVel bridge—on that subject he had very

invoh:e the h

strong opinions

It he the

ter the assurance of

deputy-chairman of_thefinance comm.ittee, that that question
was not at all involved in any way whatever, it was not
fair to keep the question open unnecessarily before the
public. -An objection had been made as to the building
being for the working classes especially
classes to visit th

He wanted all

?lace, both working classes and gentry,
if there were such things. (Laughter.) Thu former would
be advantaged by mixing,- and no harm would accrue to
those who were, more largely blessed with pecuniary means.
It would be an improvement which he thought would be
for the advantage of everybody.

Mr. Stitt said, after the difficulties which the council had
in finding .a site for this building, and the unfortunate delay
which had followed that, he should be very sorry that any-
thing should be done to stay' the completion of the building.
The noblehearted donor was in old age and declining
health, and was wishful, and anxious no doubt, to
see it finished, before he departed this life. He was very
much surprised in reading a copy of the memorial which
had been read to the council from the inhabitants of the
neighbourhood. He thought they took a very short view
of the matter. A good road would be given instead of. an

impractical one, as at present, fur every u-u.e vikloa

brow, that could, on account of its steepness.
Mr. Alderman Cooper said, the plans had been before,
and passed by, the council, nearly two years ago ; also
before the public. It was then very strange, he'thonght, to
ask for a further delay. He was quite satisfied that the
surveyor had laid down plans that would be extremely satis-
factory. He thought there had been delay enough in this
matter: (ilear,.hear.)
Mr. Gladstone said, he believed he was correct in stating,
that these were the same plans as were before them about
two years ago. (Yes.) If that were. so, they came now
before them under very different circumstances; and, there-
fore, he perceived they were not justified in coming to a
conclusion to-day in reference to this change,,whiCh was
. .

calculated, in hi.; opinion, to inflict very serious injury on
the property in the neighbourhood. They were told that,
on account of Mr. Brown's health, and 'his advanced years,
that it was 'desirable to 'bring everything connected with
this new library, to as early completion as possible. In
that opinion he most cordially concurred. , But with all
due respect to Mr. Brown, and entertaining a very
high opinion of his character, both private and
Public, as he • did, he begged, leave

to say

that there were other interests of imeh greater import-
ance than there was connected with any which could be
put forward on the part of Mr. Brown, A very large num-
ber of owners of property, and gentlemen resident in the
locality at the bottom of Shaw's-brow and the

immediat
Old-haymarket

who were. engaged in business, and who
were competent, if any men were, to deal with the matter,
to decide for themselves whether this change were desirable
or hot, in reference to its ultimate designation. They were
of opinion that the idea of a high-level bridge was calculated
to depreciate their property to a fearful extent. On the
other hand, he differed with those, gentlemen connected
with property in that neighbonrhood, who memorialised the
council as to the carriage way. He did admit that it would
be a very strange proceeding on the part of that council
if such a structure were to be completed, and yet that there
should not be ample room and space for the accommoda-
tion of carriages and vehicles. It was just like the man
who built a house of several
.stories high, but failed to
introduce the staircase. :He felt that the.two, points which
. .

bore upon the council most materially were, first, that in
reference to Mr. Brown and secondly, the position of
owners of property in that locality, who considered that
there was mischief brewing towards them. He said, taking
these two matters into -consideration it did appear to him
a reasonable proposition to ask that 'this subject should be
deferred for a month from this time. It, had been stated,
and he had no doubt with perfect truth, that at present there
was no intention of carrying. out the ultimate design of
a high-level bridge, but still, when this platform was
erected, there was no dc:kubt stones would be laid in order that
that this platform could be made available for a high-level
bridge. Before they came to a conclusion on the subject,
he thought it was desirable to leave time for reflection, both
for themselves and those out of doors. He thought it was
due to those who had property in that locality that they
might be able to satisfy themselves with regard to the
intentions of the council. There were many gentlemen in
the council who thought that the high-level bridge would
not be injurious to property; others were of the contrary
opinion. Taking the importance of the matter, and the
fact that they had, for the first time, these plans brought
before their notice for, consideration, be could not think it
reasonable, even ,on the ground of Mr. Brown's health,
to be called upon to say yea or nay on the propriety of this
scheme that day. Under these circumstances, he did hope
that the council would delay, for a month, giving their
sanction to this scheme. In the meantime, conferences
might take place with those gentlemen who were owners of
property, and they might possibly feel assured that no change
would be ultimately made to injure them in any shape or
form. If such an understanding could be come to in this
matter, he thought it would be well, and an opportunity
should be given for that purpose ; and if they came to a
conclusion that day, such a desideratum would not be
obtained. •
Mr. Piston said, ho quite agreed with almost all the
statements made by Mr. Gladstone, and if he differed from
him at all, it was with 'Tigard to the question of postpone-
ment. To the question itself, he had no particular
objection, but he had a great objection to any delay, as they
had had nothing'but delays and postponements from the
beginning of the building, ten.years ago, up to the present
time, and they were now getting weary of such postponements.
He thought the time was now come when they should get
the work completed. It would be remembered that, when
the plans were made by their own surveyor in April, 1857,
a memorial was sent to the' council, signed by some of the

TRE NORTHERN TIMES,

most respectable bankers and merchants in' town
begging that the site of the library should not
be on Shaw's-brow, That,'however, was not agreed to, and
on the motion of Mr. Tobin ajoint committee was appointed
to consider the whole question relating to the platform.
The subject lay over till August in that year, and the com-
mittee recommended, that a platform should be made, and
that the building should be raised several feet above the
teen level. According to the resolution of the committee,
the width of the platform was not' at that time specified.
When the consent of Mr. Brown was asked to have a
carriage road in front of the building, he at once sanctioned
the proposal. The council had given their sanction to the
formation of a platform, and also of a carriage road in front
of the building. The only question he thought to lie
answered was the width of that platform. It was proposed
to give twenty-four yards to the platform, and twenty to the
street, making, in all, forty yards, and if it should be thought
better to divide it equally, and give twenty-two to each, he
should not object. But they were told that the building
was for the working classes, and they did not need, a
carriage entrance—the working classes ! anything may do
them! But the better class of people must be indulged in
a carriage way, and because it was for the poor working
man, he was not to have the opportunity of
driving to the door if caught in a shower of rain, and
simply because he was a working-man. Let him get in at
any hour he could, was the doctrine of some people ; but
was the Town-council to adopt such a doctrine ? It was
for them to take care of th

themselves, and, for

That . institution

and all

se who could not-take care of
he repudiated such a doctrine,
the: benefit. of all classes,

I to equal accommodation, for the time

of the owners of propert
the existing channel?, a

But, I

when sad
rer. It was

that traffic would be driven from
I ,would lessen the vat

of pro-
m one of the

6haw's-

existing channels of traffic ? It had long been
deserted, though it had once been such; but that
traffic had gone into other channels. It was
now a street of low competitors, and no gentleman

ever thought of coming down it. There was mention made
of the property above, and the property below, but he looked

iri vain foi stfch p
that of the corpora'

lefty, a

le property above was
rd to the prOperty

en, with r

below, he happened to bean unfortunate owner of property
r of one of the men that had signed the

within a c