Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-10-05 00:00:00

TOXTETH-PARK BOARD OF HEALTH

An ordinary monthly meeting of this board was held
yesterday at the 1'111)1k-offices, Park-road, Mr. H. S.
Alpass presiding. The other members present were—
Me.isrs. Hughes, Evans,•- Walker, Hargreaves, Hill,
Boult, Mason, Siddiley, Darcie, . and Rogers.

peared from the minutes of the—ExeeutiveComm

instruct(

o write tc

Brancker, requesting him to restore a foot-walk, lea
to Snaithdown-lane, from a field in his occupation,

of rears

and also to Mr. Cleworth, relative to his haling drained
some houses into a sewei,belonOng to the commissioners,
without their consent.
• The CLERK stated that in both cases the, orders of
the board'had been- cornplied with, and Mr. Cleworth
answered-that he had obtained authority, from the late

surveyor

The CHAIRMAN said that the surveyor denied having
given authority.

.7' The CLERK replied that, even if the surveyor had
given any such authority, it was not binding on. the
board, as it not received their sanction.

. . ~
Mr. BOULT
,sugg:ested that the sewer should be opened
to see if it were'properly constructed. -
The SUIViEY6R said the proper course` would be to
summon the party before the magistrate for draining
into a seder unauthorised.

Ihis suggestion was ordered to be carried out.
The SITRVEYOR reported that Mr. Browne had not
constructed his drains accoreing to the plans submitted
by the board
Th(

CHAIRMAN did not think that Mr. Browne,was

to blame.

The Clerk was directed to inform Mr. Browne that he
should be required to form his sewers according to the

AUDITOR'S REPORT

The following report from the auditor was then

TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL BOARD' OF

lIRALTII OF THE DISTRICT OF TOTTETII-PARK

I 7th September, 1; 59.

Gentlemen,—l have to report my having completed
the
annual examination and audit of the accounts of your board,
and, as the result, to forward you herewith a summary, which
I have re=cast as as in some measure to differ in form from the
one submitted to me by your clerk.
I have Iran- fer:•ed from the highways account to the general
district rates account a balance of £lB4 Ps. 24., the last high-
Way rate which the board had power to lay not having sufficed
to meet the payments • but asthe expenditure under this head
is now provided for out of the general district rate, this transfer
will not be deemed very objectionable. The balance of the
general district rate account, it will be seen, is by this process
increased to £4Bl Bs. id., to be paid out of the rate laid in
May last.
I have also separated in the summary the receipts and pay-
ments on account of St. Michael's sewer from those on account

Of Smithdowa-lane sewer, and have shown under a separate
head the receipts and expenditure for Grove-park-road. It is
true that they are distinguished in the books, but the summary
as now constructed exhibits the accounts far each work sepa-
rately balanced.
There is a small7balance of £34 4s. 2d. remaining after com-
pleting the Grove-park-road, which is transferred to. the
general district rate, thereby closing the former account.
The summary shows distinctly the disposal of the special
district rates, which, as the board are aware, are'only available
for instalments and, interest payable in respect of money_ bor-
bor-
rowed for permanent works. -
I beg to call the attention of the board to the-Inconvenience
of having these general district rates , open .at once. One
practical evil arising out of it is that until it is ascertained
that nothing more is Ao be got out of any given rate, that rate
is not balanced. At this audit several rates are balanced-and
closed; and now only, some errors are discovered, of no great
magnitude it is true,
.but which would hai-e been fauna out
long since, and both trouble and time saved, if the rate had
been closed, and the arrears- carried forward as each new

rate was opened. •
Besides, where the practice has been adopted of haviu,
one rate open, the amount owing by each ratepayer is seen by
reference to one rate-book, whereas, under the existing system;
it is in some instances necessary either to refer to two, three,
or even more books, or else to rim the risk of losing an arrear.
My attention has been called to the somewhat heavy costs
which have been incurred in some Parliamentary proceedings.
It does not appear to me quite clear that these proceedings
could lawfully be paid for out of the general district rates.. In
adj adicating, upon an appeal against a general district rate,
made by the Worksop Local Board of Health Lord Campbell
says, however, "Cases may arise in which it will be proper
that a private bill should be so opposed ; but in such eases the
benefit to the ratepayers from the opposition will be manifest."
It was rearesented to me that the proceedings in que•stion
would in all probability be attended with considerable
advantage to the ratepayers, and perhaps this consideration is
sUfficient to justify the board in the matter. Lord Campbell
goes on, however, to say in the case I have referred to Even
should be obtained, at a meeting of them, eon-
insuch eas:*; however, I think it advisable that the assent of
the
purpose a considering whether it will be prudent
ye:led far the
._
" I venture to recommend this ease to
for then
• to
of pose."
the board, and I would also advise them
erat TT 0
ratepayers
the c 0... id £5 "n
to have bills of costs, exceeding amount, taxed by the
gentlemen your obedient servant,
proper officer.-1 am, g .

WILLIAM REES, District Auditor. •
.-Mr. HUGHES said he was much pleased 'to find that
the opinion which he held, relative to parliamentary ex-
penses, was Confirmed by the auditor. He tliought no