Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-02-02 00:00:00

WATCH COMMITTEE.

The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the-Watch,
Lighting, Fire Polide, Fire Prevention,'llackney Carriage,
Licensing,: and Gas Comniittees, comprised' a recom-
mendation to enter into-it new contract with the Liverpool
Gas Company, in reference to the public lamps for five years.,
Mr. CLINT, in ' moving the confirmation or the pro-
ceedings, explained that the contract was based twon, the
pre,Sent price of 3s. 9d. per cubic foot.
Mr. JOHNSON seconded the motion.

Some objection was taken to the contract, and
Alderman PARKtit moved the appointment of a speCial
comniittee,to consider the subject: But it was explained
that the sub-committee of the Watch ComMittee had
fully investigated the-matter,-the amendment was with-
drawn, and the contract was confirmed...
Mr. JEvrEitk inggestedihat it would. be very satis-
factory if the committee would -be good enough to have
on their.prdoeedings the illuminating power of the gas,
taken, say-four times a month. They were told that
they were receiving gas at a much higher illuminating
power than the act of Parliament required, and he did
not dispute the fact; 'but there had been. complaints of
late that the, illuminating power was not good.
Alderman BENNETT -thought ,the illuminating power
was good; and that if it were not so, there was an in-
fallible instrument in use that would detect the want of
brilliancy.
Mr. CLINT said, the want of illuminating power in
the gas lately had probably arisen from the frost, be-
cause not long since, when Mr. Newlands tested the
gas, its power was fully up to what the town was en-
titled to receive. _

The proceedings were then confirmed.
HEALTH COMMITTEE.
The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the Health
Committee were read, comprising the following recommen-
dations : 1. To appoint Mr. Abraham Ascroft, clerk in
the Inspector of Nuisaneei Office, at 30s. per week; in the
place of Mr. Cowan, deceased; 2. To promote Mr.
James- M'Donald to Mr. Ascroft's present situation in
the Borough Engineer's Office, at £7O per annum; 3.
To re-arrange Treasurer's staf, in consequence of the
death of one clerk, and the resignation of another ; 4.
To appoint Mr. J. N. Chard and Mr. A. Irwin, 'clerks
in the Treasurer's Office, to supply vacancies, at £6O
per annum each; 'A- report on the proposed Bye-laws
under the " Local Government Act, 1858," and a recom-
mendation to make and ordain the same as amended.
The four recommendations of the committee were
confirmed, on the motion of Mr. Sheil, seconded by Mr.
Beckwith.
Mr. SHELL said, with regard to the bye-laws, he
thought hasty legislation undesirable, and should move
that they be considered at the next monthly meeting of
the Council. • .

The Towbr-cLEnK said there were several memorials,
but they only requested delay in consideration of the
bye-laws.
Mr; JOHN STEWART hoped in the meantime the com-
mittee would consider the whole phraseology and word-
ing of the bye-laws; He had a very strong opinion
upon the absurdity of some parts of the bye-laws, and
he had very good information that they were very loosely
drawn up, and would hereafter give rise to very serious
legal difficulties. Before the Council put this sort of
regulations into force, which were to exercise such a
great power over the property of the people, they should
be well ,considered ; and he would say that whilst he
would be ready at all times to dueverything in his
power that was necessary for the protection of life and
the safety of the public, yet he would never Consent, if
he could ,possibry.prevent it, that any power of inter-
ference with the rlghts of property should be conferred
upon the health or any other committee of the Connell.
Alderman BENNETT said no gentleman of common
sense would have any difficulty in showing that the pro-
posed bye-laws were positively absurd.
The memorials were referred to the Health Commit-
tee, and it was agreed that the bye-laws should stand
over for consideration until the March Council, the com-
mittee in the meantime to be at liberty to revise and
alter them.
Mr. Sheil moved, and -Mr. Beckwith seconded, the
confirmation of the general proceedings.
Mr. CLINT called attention to the fact that the appli-
cation from Mr. Hardisty, clerk in the treasurer's office
at Cornwallis-street, for an increase to his salary, had by
mistake been referred to the Health Committee alone,
instead of to that committee and the Watch and Water

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Committees jointly) and he moved to amend the error

accordingly.'
Mr. HODSON said he hoped Mr. Ihrdisty's claims
would be thoroughly investigated, for that gentleman
was a most excellent servant, and had discharged his
duties faithfully and assiduously.
Mr. SHEIL said the Health Committee had considered

the application, and had unanimously refused to grant
the request made.

The application was referred, as moved for by Mr.
Clint.
Mr. Caorruit asked if the attention, of the committee
had been called to the prevention
.(j.f. Smoke from puddling
furnaces, and, if not; whether they would entertain "any
invention for that object; Thd 'sugar refiner, if CB'
chimney smoked •for any length of- time, was fined,•
whereas these puddling furnaces,. which smoked all day
along, were ex.empted. It appeared rather unfair that,
such an anomaly should be suffered to exist.
16. .13eKwrrit, as chairniiin of thiSnielce ComMittee,
replied that that committee would be very glad to receive
all the information that could be brought before theth to
enable them to deal -with the puddling.furnaces; and he.
could only say that up to the present time, after every
inquiry, had been made, both in London and elsewhere,
the committee could arrive at no satisfactory resultasto
dealing with the puddling furnaces. It was the wish of
the:committee to deal even-handed justice-to one and
all ; and nothing would give him greater pleasure, were
it. in his power, or ,in the power of •the committee,
to get that information from any our, no matter in what
Way it came, to enable them to deal with the puddling
furnaces. The committee had received a letter from '
Mr. John Clare, jun., stating that .a puddling manu
facturer of great distinction in, some place had fully
conquered , the smoke. . The deputy Town-clerk was
requested by (Mr. Beckwith) to write to Mr. John'
Clare. jun., on 'the subject, stating 'that thecommittee
would be extrerhely obliged to‘ him if he Would give the
address.of the party,' that he might by letter. or by any
other, means satisfy the committee that these furnaces
could be dealt with. If the committee were thoroughly
convinced that they could deal with time- places, he
could' assure the Council that there
.was no committee
more anxious than the Smoke Conimittec- to show 'no
distinction between any trade or any person.: The com-,
mittee certainly would take every means in their power
to remedy the abuse. complained of.
Mr.. BOWILING said the fact was the .parties-could not
be reached by the act of Parliament. If the persons who
made the smoke were brought before' the magistrates,'
the gliestiOn of proof of,their not having used the -neces-
sary appliances to prevent thesmoke CQUId not bebtouglit
by the committee, and.the ineermation would failugainst
the parties summoned. That was the only reason why
the puddling furnaces- in this neighbourhood had.tiot
been proceeded against. • -
The MAYOR-1S the'explunation satisfactory-to, you,
Mr.' Chopper ?, • . •.
Mr. CnoPeEn--The•eiplanation is satisfactory, to me
so far ass it goes. Pi only want it to be,known tothe
public, that in Toxte.th-park, where these paddling.
furnaces are,' that they will have to put up with the
,ahominable nuisance:. _ _ _

The proceedings were then confirmed.
The yroceedings of the-St. George's-hall Committee,
of the Edupation Committee, of the Gaol and 'Muse of
Correction Coinmittee, and of the Town-hall Erstablish-
ment Committee, Were -read and, confirmed.

MMtKET& COMMITTEE.

The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the
Markets Committee,. were read, comprising. • a:. recom-
mendation to appoint Mt.. William 11. Lockhartfts col-
lector at 'St. John's Mhrket, at the salary of £loo'per
, annum. _

On the motion of Aid; Woo4truff, the proceadii►g of
the committee were confirmed.

GARDENS AND <LIBRA.RY COMMITTEE.

'The proceedings, resolutions; and reports of • the
Gardens;-Library, and Miisetint Committee, were read;
comprising a letter from John Shaw Leigh, Eq., on;
the subject of the, memorial for the : extension of
Wavertree-park ; and resolution on the memorial
Tarb uncil relative to Ch3nges,
.new library; Shaw!,s!, Brow. . The letter stated; thatthe.
committee having carefully considered the allega'lons and
suggestions in the memorial were of opinion thatthe pro-
pOsedchanges were neither practicable nor desiralrle. The
onlyprinciple on -which an institution like the Free Public
Library could be suceessfully conducted was that:of pro-
vision for all classes- alike, and that any infringement
on this great principle would, in the opinions of the
committee, be fraught with serious evil, and would
frustrate the great object far which the institution had
been established. -
Mr. PICTON, •ia-moting the confirmation,of 'the pro-
ceedings, said theletter from Mr. John Shaw Leigh,
on the question of the extension of Wavertrce Park,
was a sufficient ,reply to the memorial in reference to
that park, for it stated that the scheme was impracticable
because his land had been scheduled for the purpose of a
railway company:.
Mr. WoonauFF—Then extension in any other direc-
tion is almost impossible ?.
Mr: PlCiox—There is nO,other direction,. All the
land belongs to Mr. John Shaw Leigh.
The proceedings. were. then .confirmed.
The. laying of, a rate under the prmieions of the
Library and Museum ,Act, .• 1852, was moved by, Mr.
Picton, seconded by Mr. i'ob, and unanimously agreed to.

WATER COMMITTEE,

The proceeding, reiolutions, and reports
.of the
Water Committee were read; comprising a recom-
mendation to appoint Mr. W. E. Edkins and Mr.
Hornsby Bittinge to the vacant situations of collectors
of the third class of water rents and charges, their salaries
and poundage money being calculated to realise £l5O per
annum each; and the consideration of a bill now before
Pirlianient for empowering the •Mayor, Aldermen, and
Burgesses of the borough of Liverpool, to construct an
additional . reservoir on the river Riddlesworth, and
other works, and kir' other purposes. •
The confirmation of the re,commendation of the com-
mittee was moved by Mr. Hodson, seconded by Mr,
Jeffery, and agreed to.

TILE WATER COMMITTEE BEPOILE PARLIAMENT.

The Council then went into committee to consider the
bill above referred to.

Mr. HoßsoN said the question that was now before
the Council was one that had been so frequently before
it that he believed the least he could say would be the
best, but it would be necessary for him nevertheless to
give some explanation why the Council were going now
to. Parliament for powers to build a new reservoir. The
works at Rivington, when they were first commenced,
many efforts were made on the part of the millowners
in the district to force as much water as they could
from the Corporation of Liverpool for compensation
water. No doubt it could be said that the reservoirs
which had been made had .not been found sufficiently
capacious.for those dry seasons that we unfortunately
had, felt during the last few years. It had been
evident to the committee and more especially to the
engineer, that it was necessary to make some provision
for those mills demanding from the Corporation water—
compensation water—for every working day. They
would find, upon examining the plans before them, that
the Rake and the Roddlesworth, which are the upper
reservoirs of the Rivington works, are seventy feet deep,
but that to a certain depth the water passes over in
Roods down the goit, and thereby gives to the mills in
the, district their necessary quantity of water. But in

the dry season of summer the Rake brook, the Rake and
the Roddlesworth, would only flow down the goit, at a
certain depth, a certain quantity of water. For the
purpose of preventing the Corporation being unable to
discharge the duties enforced • by the act of Parliament,
the committee propose now to make a reservoir above the
Rake and Roddlesworth at a different level, so that
when, in the summer months, the other .reservoirs were
below the point of delivery of water into the goit, they
Would be able to make up the deficiencies from the new
reservoir that they were about to construct. That re-
servoir would cost somewhere about £30,000 or £46,090.
It would impound a large amount of water, and would
hold sufficient to make up the deficiency during the
severest drought in summer. These were the reasons
which compelled the Water Committee to come to the
Council and ask for power to make the new reservoir.
There were other parts of the bill dealing with financial
matters ; and as Mr. Jeffery and Mr. rarnworth had
devoted more attention than any other member of the
committee to that part of the question, he would ask
Mr. Jeffery to open it to the Council; but first he would
move the adoption of the preamble of the bill.
Mr. JEFFERY and Mr. WAGSTAFF rose to sogond the
motion, which was at once adopted.
The Tows-CLERK then proceeded to read the mar-
ginal notes of the clauses. Clauses 1 to 7, which had
reference to the new works, were passed without com-
ment. Upon clauses 8 and 9, which were as follow :
VIII.--Upon the passing of this act, section one hundred and
eleven of " The Liverpool Corporation Waterworks Act, 1847,"
prescribing the rates to be demanded for a supply of water for
domestic purposes shall be, and the same is hereby, repealed :
provided, nevertheless, that the Corporation may recover all
sums due and owing to them at the passing of this act, in re-
spect of any charges lawfully made under the repealed section,
in the same manner as they might have done if that section
had not been repealed.
IX.—From and after the passing of this act, the Corporation
shall, at the request of the owner or occupier of any house or
part of a house in any street in which any pipe of the Corporation
shall be laid, or of any person who under the provisions of " The
Liverpool Corporation Waterworks Act, 1817," or any act in-
corporated therewith, shall be entitled to demand a supply of
water for domestic purposes, furnish to such owner or occupier,
or other person, a sufficient supply of water for domestic uses
at rates not exceeding the respective rates mentioned in
the schedule to this act ; and the rates by this act authorised
shall, for the purposes of any of the acts relating to the Liver-

ORTIIERN ri A I.L'V TIMES.