Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-07-08 00:00:00

WALLASEY BOARD OF HEALTH

Yesterday the first meeting of the new board was held,
at the publid offices, Egmont, Mr. Pooley presiding. The
other members present were, Messrs. Hill, Holmes, Parr,
Harrison, Ball, Caine, Fishwick, Kerford, Hughes, and
Byerley. The law-clerk read the result of the late election
of commissioners, which we have already published. The
expense of this election was £lO 14s. 6d, and Mr. Hill
moved that a cheque to that amount be granted for
the payment of that expense.
The Chairman said, as the notice paper, calling the rneetin
was much shorter than usual, it would occupy a very short tin
t) transact the business, and with that knowledge he wou
venture to ask their indulgence while he addressed a fe
observations to them at greater length than was his custo
usually to do. He hoped they Would do him the kindnei
to bear with him while he addressed himself to some of the
most important duties. • :He then proceeded as 'follows
The first meeting. after the election appears to me th
proper time to review the functions of this board, its power
for their discharge, and the extent of its past proceedings
combined with something like a programme of futnr
operations; and this is the more seasonable because, althougl
the public confidence has been manifested very clearly by thi
re-election of the retiring members, yet several gentlemen
elected to fill vacancies are, quite new to their position, an(
others have not, perhaps, had their attention drawn
comprel:ensively to the important and varied works whicl
we are appointed and empowered to do in behalf of ou
district. The board is constituted under several acts o
Parliament, each of which embodies, in whole or in part
several other and general acts. Our first is the Wallase
Improvement Act of 1845, so far as unrepealed by subsequen
Alta. Our second is founded on the Public Health Act
1848, applied to this district in 1853. Our third is th
Local Act of 1858, which extends the powers under the t,
former special acts in several important particulars •
our fourth is the Local Government Act of 18"

58, whi

confers some valuable faculties not embraced by

former acts. I take the liberty of very earnestly advisinz
every member to procure and carefully study all thes,
statutes, without which I venture to say he cannot posses
an adequate knowledge of what he undertakes to administe
when he consents to become a commissioner. On the presen
occasion I do not intend to enter into particulars, but dwel

only on the'several features of our work, and these may bE
classed under the several denominations of external and
internal communications; sanitory arrangements, preventive
and remedial; public order and convenience; general im-
provement ; finance. With regard to our external commu-
nications, I may remark that we possess the fullest powers to
deal with the ferries of Seacombe, Egremont, New Brighton,
and any other which may be hereafter commenced between
this parish and Liverpool, so as to provide and maintain
everything necessary to a safe, frequent, regular, cheap, and
convenient transit to and from either shore. So vital to every
public and private interest is such communication, that he
who does most to accomplish it will deserve best of all classes
of the inhabitants. Towards this object much preliminary
work bas been done; the first and greatest difficulties arc
removed, and the present proprietors of the ferries are
brought into a position of treating for their transfer. Par-
ticulars of the negotiation will come under immediate review
by the new ferry committee, who no doubt will steadily
follow up the_ course of action begun by their predecessors

.esired consummation

upon become our duty t° take the
improving the landingplaces, purchasing steambo:,
best construction, and placing the whole department u,
such a bnsiness-like: system of management as will ensure
in the first place the great desiderata of comfort, safety and
regularity of passage to and fro at all times; and in the
second place, at the earliest practicable period pay its own
expenses and yield a revenue for reduction of rates. Akin
to communication with Liverpool is that with Birkenhead,
which since it has become at peace with its great neighbom
and its docks amalgamated with those of its parent town
bids fair to advance to importance and prosperity. Beside
our road to Birkenhead over what has been Popp
where a toll is still levied both on foot -

most efficient means of

vehicles (which impost must be watched and Caused to cease),
we are to have aood roads not only across the entrances to
the docks hut also across the central embankment dividinc,
the treat Float, as part of the present dock plans. Up to the
present time we have no reason to doubt the intention of the
Harbour Board or their engineer to give as much accommo-
dation both to foot passengers and carriages as is consistent
with the proper working of the docks ; and if this be done,
it will give great advantage and convenience to both Birken-
head and Wallasey. Our internal communications, that is
to say, all the roads thoughout the district, are absolutely
vested in the board, and it is our duty to see that they are
maintained and improved where necessary, so as to
preserve them in an efficient state for public use.
Other roads may constantly bo expected to be opened in such
a district as ours, which is a combination of the rural and
the urban. Before adopting such for maintenance at the
public charge, we must be careful to use our powers in
adjusting their width and levels carefully to the public cor
venience, and also that their construction is of, such
substantial character as to be upheld without undut
the ratepayers, and tbeir surface such as, under all cit.(

stances, is most favourable for cleansing. • Since 1855, the
board. has constructed, at the expense of the adjoining
owners of land, three miles of roads, which will bear com-
parison with any in the county, the total expense being
£7,664, rather more than £6OO below the proximate
estimate of the surveyor ; the lowest tender has in every
case been accepted if the contractor was a responsible man.
The sanatory arrangements for the district are our special
charge ; these consist partly of the main drainage. which is
much connected with the roads. Its chief scheme of con-
struction, embracing its general courses and points of outfall,
are settled; and they are accurately delineated on the

excellent survey of our district, which was our first great
work , but the scheme has received cansiderable modifica-
tion and improvement by the formation of a marginal sewer
along great part of our southern boundary current with a
great road which is in• course of execution by the Mersey
Docks and Harbour Board, with its outfall at Seacombe.
This sewer will convey the entire drainage of more 'than
half our district, and have ample means of flushing. With
this exception, all main drains which have been constructed
within the last six years, and all that are now in progress,
forms parts of the general plan, which had in the whole a
length of three miles and one-third of large brick sewers, and
than all

are alrea

ipe drains are laid; at

authorised estimate

forward these works with all diligence till the wh
facilities open to us for comprehending all those parts of 1

district to which the general scheme did not extend, and this
keep pace with the progress of building and the increase of
population. House drainage requires our constant. attention,
in order that the sanitary advantages of our main drainage
may be effectually realised. Already much has been done
in this way, 594 houses having been drained under the
supervision of the board, either by new drains formed,
rmer inefficient branches with our
- of ashpits and cesspools has
'er our own direction, and by

ory evils whic

streE

and 14hol

to this

ergy can

pipes, which are
1 in their places