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

Itions off hand

The proceedings, with the ex

It was recorded on the proceedings of this committee that
a letter had been addressed to the Mayor, by the marinr
lepartment of the Board of Trade, and referred to th
aittee, inquiring whether the duty of inspecting s.
sssels with passengers at this port, which had hitherto been
,harged by officers appointed by government, and paid
_,:reantile marine fund, could not be executed
n.ine constables of the borough.• The committee
•-• had made the necessary inquiry upon the
'-,t the duty of inspecting passenger

for out of the
by th-

ted-that the
ct, and foi

empowered to
t he carried it

Le com-

y the number of passengers which

ay such ship ; and that fees were

illations of the board, the whole

upon them which was
s, and, finally, that the bur-

es, wh

he proceeds

re to be paid to 4o:eminent
Mr. Clint moved the confirmation of the proceedings

words upon a recent occasion when he stated that there was a
prevalent opinion out of doors that the whole system of the
management of the markets was rotten to the very core.
, (Hear, hear.) He had taken down these words, but omitted
would take the opportunity of to take down the words which followed, in which he (Mr.
matter before the council, which was seldom Steains) added, that he did not stop to enquire whether that
d upon without much discussion. He alluded to the night opinion was rightly or wrongly formed. Certain circum-
. The other evening, in visiting one of these places, stances had come to his knowledge which quite justified
accompanied to the outer door by one of the police him in saying, that the opinion which existed abroad was
a very intelligent man ; bat without occupying the most justly founded. There was no &edit due to the special
time of the council in the matter, he would take that oppor- committee for the discovery of this embezzlement. It was due
;unity of stating that he did think if magistrates, in turn, to their excellent treasurer, and he was happy to have that
would visit these houses occasionally, a great deal of the public opportunity of paying a just tribute of admiration
:vil might be done away with. It might be a very unpa- to his zeal, his ability, and his energy. (Hear, hear.) A
atable proposal, which several of the magistrates might be better treasurer no corporation possessed than the council
indisposed to entertain, but he was satisfied that a great had in Mr. Tweedie. (Hear, hear.) It was Mr. Tweedie
deal of good would arise from it ; and if there was any real who had discovered the defalcations now in question. (Hear,
pretence for the existence of these places of resort, the hear.) The report of the special committee stated that the
occasional presence of a magistrate, calling night after night honor, the integrity, and the • sound principle of
won those who keep those places, it would have a very Mr. Luya, were unimpeached. It appeared that
lesirable sanitary effect. (Hear, hear.) a new system had been commenced by the mar-
The proceedings of. the health committee, comprising a kets' committee, so recently as the Ist of March,
report on the sanitary rates for 1859-60 were read. 1859 ; and certainly, by that new system, a foundation was
Mr. Dover moved the adoption of the report. laid which enabled the treasurer to detect the embezzlement.
Mr. Earle : Before you adopt that report, I wish to say a But, previously to that, it would appear that there was no
word, not that I may oppose it, but to remark that it does 1 system at all. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Luya had simply to
not give us all the information required as to what step I receive the money, and put it into his pocket It was
ought to be taken, so as to improve these lodging-houses. quite impossible that the affair could rest there.
In the statement I made when I last referred to the sub- E The Mayor : Mr. Steains, I think this is very strong
ject, I find I was considerably in error, and that seems ' language to use. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Lnya will be tried
to. be a God-send to the health committee in making so before a proper tribunal; and I think the remarks you are
much of this report. It was only an error in number, making are certainly vory strong. (Hear. hear.)
bowever, in those four streets, stated. to be types of many i Mr. Steaks was only speaking of the facts as they came

under his knowledge; and he thought it was only due to
the gentlemen who had recently resigned their seats, when
the council refused to appoint a general superintendent, to
admit now that they were quite justified in taking such a
course. (Hear, hear.) The chairman of the markets'
committee had urged that the case for the present should be
allowed to rest there. He gave him notice that he was one
of those who thought the case should not rest there. (Hear,
hear.) He should make no further remarks for the present.
Mr. Jeffery : Is Mr. Luya in custody ?

Mr. Luya with having altered the figures before seeing Mr.
Johnson.

Mr. Anderson said, he did not amree with Mr. Gladstone
in stating that, when he was told by the treasurer that Mr.
Luya was in default, it was the duty of the chairman then
to give Mr. Luya under arrest.

Mr. Gladstond denied having made such a statement.
What he said was, that the chairman ought to have taken
such steps as would have led t 9 his arrest.
Mr. Anderton'said, he had misunderstood,Mr..Gladstone,
and lir. Johnson would have been acting rather severely,
if he had done so, under the circumstances.
Mr. Johnson asked the town-clerk whether, on the infor-
mation he had received from the treasurer, he would have
been justified in giving Mr. Luya into custody.

The Townd-clerk : He wits not in cuitody yesterday.
Mr. Jeffery : The Mayor stated that Mr. Luya will be
tried before the proper tribunal. I presume he must be in
custody before he is tried. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Beckwith demanded upon what ground the chairman
of the markets committee had suspended Mr. Luya when
he found that he had robbed the Corporation. (Hear,
hear.) The first thing he ought to have done was to give
him into custody, instead of which he allowed him to slip
through his fingers. (Hear, hear.) The police did not get
any information upon the matter for a day or two, until
Mr. Luya had had an opportunity of escaping from the
hands of justice, in which he would be, if the chairman had
only acted
.properly. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Steams said, the instant the embezzlement was dis-
covered, the Town-clerk gave information to Mr. Keogh to
arrest Mr. Luya. Mr. 13(
upon that point

The Town clerk said, unless he bad seen the books he
would not have been.

Mr. Johnson then asked, supposing the books had been
made up by another person, or found out to be correct, when
Mr. Luya was in prison, what position would he have
been in. -

The Town-clerk said, the • only answer he could give to
that was, that if any person charges another without
reasonable grounds, he was liable to an actien.
Mr. Ryley wanted to know, did the treasurer tell Mr.
Johnson that he taxed Mr. Luya with defalcations..

with was quite misinformed

Mr. Johnson said there was a probability that he said
that, and stated also that Mr. Luya denied the charge.
Mr. Charles Turner said it was unfair to tax Mr. John-
son in this way, as he had acted, no doubt, to the best of
his judgment on the matter before him. The town-clerk
stated to him the next day that he was not aware that Mr.
Luya was guilty of any criminal offence, and he certainly
could not have sufficient evidence the evening before
to give Mr. Luya into custody. The treasurer
called on him the evening before, and on
the next he asked the town-clerk, who said he was not
aware of it, and he (Mr. Turner) thought that, in fairness
and charity, no blame ought to be attached to Mr. Johnson.
For if it had turned out that there had been no reasonable
charge for giving Mr. Luya into custody, the result would
have been that the public would have universally condemned
him for such a precipitate step. He thought most of them
would have hesitated before giving him into custody under
They ought not, because Mr. Luya was
.Tnhnerm hart

The To in-clerk said, at the time Mr. Luya was sus-
pended, there was no knowledge upon the mind of anybody
that Mr. Luya had committed anything beyond the act of
not paying over the money he had received at the proper time.
Mr. Beckwith : Then I am misinformed upon that point.
The Town-clerk : It was noLknoWn until eleven o'clock
on last Thursday morning.
Mr. Gladstone thought the council had a right to know

the whole of the circumstances. The chairman of the mar-
kets' committee ought to state the reasons which induced him
to suspend Mr. Luya. A certain sum of money, which
ought to have been paid in, had not been paid. Where
was the distinction to be drawn ? What did they wait for ?
It surely was unnecessary to look at the books when that
palpable. fact was known—the fact that certain collections
had been paid into Mr. Luya, and that these collections had
been withheld by him. (Hear, hear.) If that fact were a
ground for suspension, it was surely, a ground for arrest.
(Hear, hear.) He agreed with Mr. Steains and other gen-
tlemen, that there was a good deal to be said upon this sub-
ject, and by-and-bye it would be seen who were in the
right position and who were in the wrong. Gentlemen had
boasted of being eleven years on the committee, and the
world would now ascertain how those eleven years had been
spent. (Hear, hear.) The corporation had a paid auditor,
and if he chose to imperil his reputation by leaving the ac-
counts of the markets liable to error, he must abide the con-
sequences. It was not the business of the markets' com-
mittee to follow up every pound, shilling, and
penny !laid out for the purposes of the markets,
and to see whether the money was properly expended. No
committee in the world could undertake such a duty, unless
they made it their sole' occupation. The responsibility
rested upon their auditor, and he declared that the auditor
had grossly, very grossly, imperilled his reputation by the
manner in which the accounts of the markets committee had
been dealt with. It would have been satisfactory to the
council if, at this moment, nothing had been concealed. If
justice was to be done, as he hoped it would be done,
nothing which could be said in that room would imperil it.
They had a right to know the whole circumstances of the
case, and he, could not see why the fact, that money which
ought to have been paid had not been paid, was not deemed
sufficient to justify the promptest steps being taken. He
wished that the council should take the highest possible
tone of honour and of conduct in every respect. Here was
an occasion which Offered an opportunity of doing
what was right and just for the protection of the
public interest, which were far beyond any
considerations of private individuals whatever. What
justification was there for the delay which had taken place ?
He once subjected himself to considerable ire in that
council for caning in question the conduct of certain officials.
He knew what had been said at the time, and he now knew
very well' hew perfectly justified he was in his remarks.
Seeing that Mr. Luya was not in custody, and from all
he could learn was never likely to be, he asked whether
it was not unjust to the public to withhold from them the
full information, to which they had an absolute right.
(Hear, hear.) This was the moment for making a clean
breast of all past errors, and letting the public know what
had been actually done. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Earle thought Mr. Gladstone a little misunderstood
the matter, when he spoke of the- auditor. As he (Mr.
Earle) had heard the case, Mr. Luya received certain
amounts from .the persons who collected the rents, and
when the accounts were brought to the auditor he examined
them, put them down in a line, and added them up. The
auditor was certainly deficient in one thing—he ought to
have put down the money, pounds, shillings, and pence, in
writing. (Hear, hear.) So far as that, he thought the
auditor was in error, but he thought that was the only
error, because there was no gentleman in the room who
-might not be more or less robbed by having dishonest
persons about him. Mr. Luya appeared to have altered
certain figures -'s initials there. The
books we- urer, who was a very sharp-

the eireumstane,

afterwards four

been aware of all the circumstances previously.
They would see by the event. The town-clerk did
not order the arrest of Mr. Luya on the viva voce state-
ment of the treasurer, and not until after he had examined
the books.
The Town-clerk said, he went over the books himself to
see whether a criminal offence had been committed, and
when he did examine the books he came to the conclusion
that a felony had been committed. That was eleven o'clock
on the Thursday morning, and he gave instructions im-
mediately to the head of the police to have Mr. Luya
arrested. He took the responsibility on, himself and did
not wait till three o'clock when the committee met.
Mr. Bennett thought, Mr. Johnson did everything the
council should desire. Mr. Johnson had not an opportunity
of going through the books.
Mr. Jeffery said, Mr. Alderman Bennett and Mr. Turner
appeared altogether to justify the 'course which had been
pursued, in ignoring the deputy law-clerks. They had two
deputy town-clerks when the town-clerk was not in town.
When the treasurer had discovered this defalcation, if Mr.
Johnson had gone to Mr. M'Gowan, or Mr. Walter, some
steps could have been taken there and then that were
deferred till the next day. The great irregularity, there-
fore, had arisen from ignoring the existence of the deputy
town-clerks. That was a dereliction, and he should have
considered himself culpable if a mutter came before him,
and he ignored the existence of the deputy town-clerk,
simply because the town-clerk was not in town.
Mr. Johnson then moved the temporary appointment of
Mr. Hutchinson, as superintendant of St. John's-market.
The motion was confirmed.
Mr. Robertson asked what provision was made for St.
James's-market, while Mr. Hutchinson was superintending
St. John's-market.

Mr. Johnson said
both.

Mr: Hutchinson would•superintend

Mr. Gladstone said, that very natural question only proved
that a general superintendent was the person to manage the
markets.

Mr. Johnson said, in accordance with a notice of motion
for the filling up of the vacancies in the markets' com-
mitte, he would move that Mr. Houghton be appointed.
Mr. Ridley said that, previous to this confirmation, he
begged to tell the council that ho had purposed to move an
amendment, to the effect that these vacancies should not
only be filled up, but that the committee should

be 'entirely re-orga'nised. (Hear, hear.) He had sundry
good reasons for inducing him to think that that would
be the best course to be pursued. However, he had changed
his mind on that point, although he thought, in justice to
the corporation, he ought to make that amendment.
("Go on, go on.") The great consideration was, that
there was no harmony iu the committee. It had not pulled
together, and there had been a great want of cordial feeling,
which was desirable in every committee of that corporation.
Soon after the formation of that'committee, it was thought
desirable to appoint a sub-committee, to investigate the
mode of collecting rents, and of the general management of
the markets, and report thereon. That special committee
met over and over again, and, without fear of contradiction,
he would say there was not a suggestion made by that
committee, that was fairly and cordially met by the com-
mittee.

leaving the audit
brought to the t
sighted man; and who detected the error_
Mr. Job thought, if Mr. Luya was suspended, he ought
to have been taken into custody.
Mr. J. R. Jeffery thought the auditor ought not, in such
cases, to hand back the accounts to the individual who had
brought them, but send them straight to the treasurer. The
individual should not finger the accounts again after he had
delivered them into the auditor's hands at all.
Mr. Johnson said, on Wednesday last, at four o'clock in
the afternoon, the Treasurer came up to his place of busi-
ness, and stated to him that circumstances rendered it
necessary for him to report that he was afraid there was
something wrong in Mr. Luya's accounts, and that he had
had some difficulty in getting Mr. Luya to pay over his cash
as regularly as he ought to have done, for the last week or
two. He stated that he had sent for Mr. Luya that day
to balance his cash, and Mr. Luya brought his books in
such a state as to lead him to suspect that some alteration
of the figures had been made. The treasurer thought it
was necessary that he (Mr. Johnson) should take some
stens. He stated that he had himself endeavoured to con-
sult the town-clerk, but that gentleman was in London,
and he thought some steps should be taken before the close
of the evening. He (Mr. Johnson) consulted the treasurer
as to the course he ought to take, and the treasurer thought
it would be well that Mr. Luya should be suspended, until
the subject could be brought before the committee. He

Mr. Jeffery: ..t3y whom ?
Mr. Beckwith: By the chairman

(Laughter and cries

of order.)
Mr. Ridley said, whenever a suggestion was made,
it was either obstructed, or met in such a way as was

- -
equal to an obstruction. There was no heart in
the unanimity of the committee. He was quite of
opinion that the revenue of these markets could be very
hear) --and there was no such
unanimity in the committee as to secure that. He con-

greatly inereaserl

fessed he'felt, and when he expressed his opinion -in
reference to the committee, he must express his opinion of
Mr. Johnson as a gentleman; but with regard to the
committee, he (Mr. Ridley) and Mr. Johnson did
not agree. Mr. Johnson might be the wiser man, as
he was an older man than any other member. For his
part, he was quite a young member of the eommittee:but he
put his shoulder to the wheel ; but, at the same time, he
never was met on any suggestion as he should have been.
About three-fourths of that committee were of one mind.
On one particular occasion, there was a serious complaint
made against:the superintendent of St. John's market. The
charges were clearly proved, and he (Mr. Luya) fully
admitted them. A strong resolution was passed
condemnatory of Mr. Luya's conduct. The chair-
man did not agree with that, however; he was
bound to yield. At tile next meeting they had the honour
of the gentlemen of the press ; there was previously no
inducement to make a long speech, but some members
thought the reporters ought to be admitted. On that occa-
sion, when the minute book was presented to the chairman
for signature, Mr. Johnson said he was glad of the oppor-
tunity of explaining matters, and said he thought the com-
mittee were a great deal too severe in the resolution they had
come to. He (Mr. Ridley) enquired what was the reason
of this, and he was told that Mr. Luya was a man of very
great influence over the tenants of the markets, who had
nearly all votes in Lime-street Ward, and had a great deal
of interest in that quarter. Mr. Ridley then mentioned the
conduct of the chairman at the last meeting of the commit-
tee, when he (Mr. Ridley) proposed to send back an account
in which there was a mistake of £lO made by Mr. Luya.
He (Mr. Ridley) objected to Mr. Luya being called in to
correct the account ; but when he turned round to speak to
a gentleman at the window, the chairman had Mr. Luya
bronght in, and got him to correct the bill. He thought
that was another act of leniency towards Mr. Luya. Con-
sidering all these matters, he thought the best course would
be to re-organise the committee. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Steains thonght, after the statement of Mr. Ridley,
they ought, in justice to the council and to Mr. Johnson,
re-organise the committee. He gathered, from what Mr.
Ridley said, that the committee had been used as political
tools; and, without the slightest disrespect towards Mr.
Johnson, he could not help remembering that Mr. Johnson
was a member for Lime-street Ward. He moved that the
committee be re-organised.

(Mr. Johnson) went at once- to the market to look for Mr.
Luya, but Mr. Luya was not there; and he therefore wrote
him a note, stating that he must stand suspended, in conse-
quence of irregularities which had taken place, until the
subject could be brought before the markets' committee.
He went next day to the town-clerk, who had, however,
before his arrival, taken action by putting the affair in the
hands of the police, and directing them to arrest Mr. Luya.
He (Mr. Johnson) afterwards called a meeting of the
committee at three o'clock in the afternoon, and there the
resolution was paased which was now upon the books. The
old system was to have quarterly balances of the books, but
under the new system the balances took place once a week.
If the balances had still remained quarterly, Mr. Luya
might possibly have managed, out of his quarter's salary,
which was falling due, to recoup what was deficient in the
account. Mr. Gladstone had made allusion to gentlemen
who boasted of being eleven years in the council. He (Mr.
Johnson) presumed that that allusion referred to hira-

Mr. Gladstone : No; it was not to you I referred.
Mr. Johnson said he found a certain system established
when he first came into the committee, and the same system
was continued. He had nothing to do with the keeping of
the books. He always thought it was the business of the
auditor to see that all the money paid in was entered in the
books, and that it was paid to the treasurer. It had not
been, as far as he knew, through any neglect upon the part
of the committee that the irregularities had occurred.
Mr. Shiel asked what the amount of the deficiencies were ?
Mr. Johnson : So far as we have ascertained, abOut £lOO.
Mr. Shiel: Then he could not have recouped that
amount out of his quarter's salary ?
Mr. Stitt asked if the Town-clerk possessed any further
information, beyond that known to the chairman of the
committee, at the time he ordered the arrest of Mr. Luya ?
The Town-clerk : Yes ; when I left for London on Tues-
day afternoon there was no evidence of any criminal offence
having been committed. It was not until Thursday morn-
ing when I went over the books that I found there was
reason to believe a criminal offence had been committed. If
I had been here, and had had the books before me the pre-
vious afternoon, should have arrived at the same conclusion
as upon Thursday morning; but the treasurer was not
aware of it at the time.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Beckwith.
Mr. Charles Turner thought it was a most unfair thing
to make an attack on a chairman of a committee in this
way, without any notice whatever. If this amendment
were carried, it would be a vote of censure on Mr. Johnson,
and they ought not to do that without more mature con-
sideration.

Mr.ley contended that they were there solely for the
purpose of doing the best for the good of the estate, and
nobody had made charges against Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Turner : It is tantamonnt.
Mr. Jeffery : Perfectly right.

I Mr. Gladstone asked why Mr. Johnson did not consult
Mr. M'Gowan, who was the person to advise in the absence
of the Town-clerk ? (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Johnson said it did not occur to him that it was
necessary. The treasurer did not lay the information before
him in such a light as to lead him to believe it was necessary
to do more than to suspend Mr. Luya, until the town-clerk
had returned home and the opinion of the committee taken.
Mr. Bowring asked whether, at the time Mr. Tweedie
saw Mr. Johnson. upon .the subject, the books altered, as
they were how altered, ware mit before him.
Mr. Johnson : Certainly not.
Mr. Sheil said' he' understood thai the `treasurer had taxed

Mr. Ryley-said, he made iio charges. He thought it was
tantamount to a want of judgment.
Mr. Mellor said he agreed with what fell from Mr.
Turner. He thought the council had been too severe.
Mr. Graves suggested that the matter be postponed until
next month, when it would be taken up in a more calm and
impartial spirit, and the result would be far more satis-
factory_ factory.
_ _ _

Mr. Earle said he just rose to move what had been sug-
gested by Mr. Graves. It was Plain that there was a set

against Mr. Johnson. Nobody could be blind to that, and
he had no doubt that gentlemen, wishing reforms, had met
with opposition.
Mr. Bennett made some remarks on behalf of Mr. John-
son ; after which
Mr. Sheil contended, in opposition to Mr. Chas. Turner,
that they should not let their feelings have any weight ill
this matter, if so, they were not fit to hold their offices.
In conclusion, he said the council would not be doing their
duty if they allowed Mr. Johnson to nominate a committee'
Mr. Johnson was totally unfit to direct a committee having
the charge of so large a part of the property of the corPe_:
ration. The revenue derived from it was much below Aril"
it ought to be, and the public did not derive that accome"
dation which they ought to do.
Mr. Avison said it would be dangerous to establish such
a precedent as that proposed by the amendment.
Mr. Parker said, at the last council meeting, Mr. shell
endeavoured to throw a mantle over Mr. Luya in a peculiar
Irish way. (Laughter.) If Mr. Luya had been a Tory be
would have been got rid of long before.
Mr. Tvrer, believing that the object was rather to teak°,
an attack upon Mr. Jellison than to serve the interests e'
the corporation, 'hoped the council would proceed to fill uP
the vacancies.
Mr. Bowring contended that, the chairman had more
influence than other members—that he was, in fact, the
executive of the committee, and instanced the fact, that
an order was made in November last, that certain measures
should be taken for the destruction of meat seized bi
the officers as unfit for human food, which order it
,„1
found last February, had never been carried out. Col
water had been thrown upon every movement made 1-v the
committee, and the whole action of the committee had been
entirely stultified and nullified by its executive.
Mr. 'Vernon, in tremendously energetic style and lang,uage
opposed the amendment.
Mr. Yohnson said the charge made against him was Wc;
contemptible to reply to. Seeing that he bad been retureid
for Lime-street ward four times without opposition, he d
net see how he could have made use of the markets for
political purposes. (Hear, hear.) The charge bore upon
itself its own refutation. (Hear, hear.)
The amendment was then put, when there' appeared--
For : Alderman Houghton ; Councillors Stitt, Sheil. e°,l'
belly_ Steains_ Rvlev. Bowring. Ridley. Rorrers. Job. Glad"

. ,
stone, Jeffery, Clint, Beckwith, Aikin, Anthony.
Against: The Mayor ; Aldermen Bennett, Bold, Doce4
Parker, Cooper, Gardner ; Councillors Anderson, Shilualior
Haydock, Holden, Barton, Turner, Tyrer, Avison, Gravest
Shand, Wagstaff, Earle, Hutchison, Johnson, gell°4
Robertson, Farnworth, Vernon, Cropper.
The amendment was, therefore, lost. a' et
Mr. Graves moved a second amendment, to the e--e
that the appointment of additional members be postpon'"
until the next council, and that the propriety of entirely' re-
organising the committee be also considered.
Mr. Earle seconded the amendment.
The council divided, and there appeared
Shell,
For : The Mayor ; Councillors Stitt, Anderson, ,f
Corbally, Barton, Steains, Ryley, Bowring, Graves,
Wagstaff, Rogers, Job, Earle, Gladstone, J. R. Jeffery''
Piston, Beckwith, Vernon. I.ert
Against : Aldermen Bennett, Bold, Dover, Pl,r,„
Cooper, Gardner, Houghton ; Councillors Shimmin,
dock, Holden, Turner, Tyrer, Avison, A. Shand, Hatchis°l"'
Johnson, Mellor, Clint, Aikin, Robertson, Farnwor"
Anthony, Cropper.
The amendment was lost.
Mr. Houghton was then appointed a member °' the
committee. Mr. Mellor was also appointed a member.
Mr. Johnson said the committee now stood at its origines
number, 9 ; and he did not propose to add any other nain
to it.

The proceedings were then confirmed.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
Mr. Anderson moved that the proceedings be co.
includingan increase of £lO salary each to Mr. Glovt,
Mr. Bunting, teachers at the north school.
Mr. Dover complained that the education in the corref',,
tion and other public schools was too high. It was mot
• education of common people. In some charitable selle°o
the children of tradesmen were being educated. Ile
shocked on going into a school, supported by public f 0
' to see parasols carried by the children, and to see 01'
working at crochet. (Laughter.)
011,
Mr. working-at
asked if the whole proceeding was not illenv,
considering the 92nd section of the municipal reform bi„b
'The rules under which the schools were managed were sea'ae
as to exclude a portion of the population. If they o,a
rules of such a nature that many people could not ellc,-at
without a violation of the conscience, he would sabmit tl4
it was illegal. He would, therefore, protest against'`
Mr. Stitt said he Was of opinion that the re,-
• before the council was whether the teachers salaries
• be advanced or not.
made
Mr. Gardner expressed his surprise at the statements 10.
by Mr. Dover and Mr. Cooper in referen.ce to these sch°°
If Mr. Dover would take the trouble to meet him at these
s
schools he would show what would surprise him and the ivboooo
council. Within the last seven years not less than 10'
children had passed through these schools.
Mr. Mozley was of the same opinion as Mr. ,e
the question before the council was the advance or otherny
of the salaries of the teachers in these scoools. The °Phe
thing that he would express his regret at was, that ,
question of salaries was brought before the board s;
often, and in such a manner as was the custom eleft
since he had been a member of the council. It was be
matter of regret, that the time of the council was to
s.
taken up in the discussion of the question of the salerga
With regard to -the opinions that Mr. Dover ,at
expressed, he would not say anything more than rif
if the corporation schools were admitted by law, an
they had the means to support them out of the funds. id
greater portion of the funds expended on the schools shell„d
be on those placed under the charge of the teachers, 31'
not on the teachers themselies. the
Mr. Anderson could not agree with those who held.to
opinion that the- education given in these schools was e 1 ni
high a character for the working classes. It was genelug
admitted that the standard of education among the vintl'ihe
classes was much too low. He would move "That
03
general proceedings of the committee be confirmed;
also, that the salaries of the following teachers in the s°o to
School be increased, viz.:—Mr. James Ellie, from 1:'p,‘
an
£B5 per annum ; Mr. John Dalziel, frr
Mr. Wm. Owens, from £5O to £65.
The proceedings were confirmed.
The proceedings of the gaol and house of correct
°
committee were read, and confirmed.
The proceedings of the Town-hall establishment
rniittee were read and confirmed.
cotn-
The proceedings of gardens, library, and museum
mittee were read and confirmed.
The proceedings of the water committee were read. that
Mr. Jeffery said, there had been a resolution from 001
committee, brought before the council twelve months 1,0510
recommending that troughs were to be put up, at the vfird to
fountains, for the use of dogs. That had been re= 01
the health committee, and he wished to ask the chaillnao
that committee why that had not been attended to.
To
Mr. Dover said, he thought it very strange that he lot
be called upon to offer any explanation on what the 11,ar
committee should have done. He knew that the 'lbe
committee had put £6OO for the supply of water totoil
fountains, and he had no doubt, if the water committee
not got the water they would get it.
Mr. Jeffery said he was not complaining of the su-teet
of water to the many fountains, but he understoodgang
these troughs were ready cast, and he only wished t°4lo
the chairman of the health committee—who was resre' fie
for the proceedings—why it had not been attended te'ot.jer
thought he was in order, when the proceedings of the gold
committee were read, and he hoped the committee
report on it at the next monthly meeting of the cone'
The proceedings were then confirmed. • ing
The proceedings of the baths' committee. comPrl°4oo,
report on the memorial from the inhabitants of Eve rod
for the establishment of baths in that district, were
and confirmed, on the motion of Mr. Wagstaff.
Mr. Earle moved that the council adjourn, but itol°
mooed
finally agreed that a special council should be suintaild
for Wednesday next, to discuss the report of the sr'
improvement- committee. ist
The , following report was read from the sPTechnt
___
committee, on the equalisation of rates ; by
after the explanation laid before this commit hat the
the town-clerk, it is the opinion of the committee' resenT'
aasimilation of the poor-rate is impracticable in die ro f tbil
state of the law. Resolved : " That in the opinion istel33
committee, it was not expedient to alter the present b.
of levying the local rates."
Mr. Stitt moved the adoption of the report, which
agreed to. itetll
A letter was read from the Chairman of the hate
Park board of health, inviting the co-operation 4
council for the widening oeSmithdown Lane,
which, the writer stated: was within the borough. tbe
Mr. Jeffery moved that the letter be referred
to
finance committee, which was agreed to. nth/
easAti,r.anßdYlwe yesttn
do viaelds,
factchoordTinogwtno.
lolticcleo,oktlibaetatiliawie_:neesied,
ender the direction of the surveyor.
After a short discussion, the motion was carried.
The council then rose.

Stitt. that

m£66 to £is+