Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-05-18 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS

The annual meeting of the Birkenhead Commissioners,
previOus.to the election of the new board, was held in the
offices, Hamilton-square, at seven o'clock last evening.
Mr. John Laird presided, and the other members present
were—Messrs. Bell, Baylis, Bailiff, M'Whirter, Rae,
Aspinall, Golbourne, Barnett, Willoughby, KUM,
M'Donald, Bradley, Keightley, Harrison, and Gough.

MR. BAILIFF AND MR. BRADLEY

Mr. Bailiff claimed permission, before the business
commenced, to speak to a question of ..privilege. At the
last meeting, a discussion arose as to the propriety or
inpropriety- of gentlemen who acted as commissioners
supplying the board with goods. During the discussion,
Mr. Bradley made a charge against him (Mr. Bailiff) which
had appeared in the public prints, and of which, he then
stated, he should require him to produce evidence. The
charge was that, during the previous month or six weeks, he
(Mr. Bradley) had signed bills of his (Mr. Bailiff's) for
work done for the commissioners. Now, without further
comment, he should call upon Mr. Bradley to produce
evidence to support that statement. Since the last
meeting, he had written a letter 'to Mr. - Bradley,
asking him as respectfully as one gentleman
could address another, either to produce evidence of his
assertion, or to withdraw it, and acknowledge that he had
been mistaken. Up to the present moment Mr. Bradley
had not had the courtesy to acknowledge the receipt of that
letter. Had he done so, the matter, possibly, might not
now be obtruded upon the time of the board.
Mr. Bradley said, he was quite willing to give Mr.
Bailiff every information respecting the charge. He had
not, however, stated the thing quite correctly. He.(Mr.
Bradley) did not say that he had "signed," but that he had
"passed," an account of Mr. Bailiff's during the previous
month or six weeks. Now, he held in his hand a copy of
'a receipt as follows :—" Birkenhead, February 9th, 1859.
Received from the Birkenhead Improvement Commissioners
gas and water committee, the sum of 11s 7d, amount of
account rendered. Signed. S. Bailiff." (Laughter.) He
had not one word to add to that, except to say that as he
left for London immediately after the last meeting, he had
not been able to reply to Mr. Bailiff's letter, else he should
certainty have done so.

Mr. Bailiff said, it was in the public prints that Mr.
Bradley stated he signed the account, and he believed the
reporters present could corroborate that fact. Now, Mr. Brad-
ley knew, or, as a member of the gas and water committee,
ought to know, that what he had just stated was a false-
hood in false colours.

The Chairman : Well, I think that is rather strong
language. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Bailiff : It may be strong, but it is not stronger
than the charge made against me.
The Chairman : I think the better way is to make any
statement you have to make.

Mr. Bailiff said, he never minced matters in defending
his character, when assailed. The facts were, that on July
sth, 1558, he did work for the Birkenhead gas and water
company, to the amount of 3s 7d ; and on August the 4th,
he supplied the company with brass work, to the amount of
Bs, making in all Ils 7d. The works were not transferred
to the Birkenhead commissioners until October. The
money was not due to him from the Birkenhead commis-
sioners, but from the gas and water company, previous to
the transference of the works. It was true the receipt was
drawn out in the name of the Birkenhead commissioners,
because he (Mr. Bailiff) was bound to give the receipt to
the parties who paid him the money, and not to those for
whom he did the work.

The Chairman 'said, the Birkenhead commissioners pur-
chased the works from the Ist otApril, 1858, and it must
have been known to every member of the board that, any
work done after that time, was done on account of the
Birkenhead commissioners. (Hear, hear.) Individually he
thought it was desirable that no member of the board should
do any work for, or supply, even 6d. or ls. worth of goods, to
the commissioners. It appeared to him that, although the
amount in this instance was very small, vet, Mr. Bradley,
in producing a copy of a receipt which Mr. Bailiff did not
deny, had clearly proved that, so far as that amount went,
Mr. Bailiff had received during the last twelve months from
the board, a sum of money for goods supplied. (Hear,
hear.)

Mi. Bailiff declared vehemently that such a conclusion
was merely trifling with words.
The Chairmain said, it would be trifling with words, and
with the public, if he did not state that Mr. Bailiff, as
a commissioner, must have been perfectly aware that the
gas and water works were transferred to the board in
April, 1858.
Mr. Bailiff : I deny it, sir.
The Chairman : Then you ought to have known it.
It was your business, as a commissioner, to have
known it. You yourself admit that, in August, you
supplied certain goods, and be the amount ever so trifling,
you must have been perfectly well aware that you were
supplying not the gas and water committee, but the com-
missioners of Birkenhead. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Bailiff again denied, in vehement language, that he
knew of anv such fact.

The Chairman said the Board had better now proceed
with the regular business.
Mr. Bailiff shortly after put on his hat and left the
room.

A statement of accounts was then read, of which the
following is an abstract:—

TOWNSHIP ACCOUNTS

RECEIPTS

Improvement rate.. .... .
Lighting an.] watching rate
Sewerage rate ...... .

£8,930. 2 6
5,454 1 6
•• 2,965 8 0

Market account

2,078 19 8

expenses, they would wave a surplus balance of X 8,496 on
the year." It was 'proposed by the bondholders bill, then
under consideration that this om of L 8,500 should be se
aside as a reserve fund, the purpose of which would be
_te,
equalise, if necessary, the payment of interest in futT,
years. With regard to what the accounts would show
,t:lf
present year, without troubling, them with any figures— ,;%
their surplus next year was equal to what it had been trio
last year, they would have sufficient out of the serf
ea
revenues of the, township to pay the interest on the bon'
debt,- without resorting at all to the reserve inte.r;
fund." That would satisfy Mr. Gough, who ;as
surprised at the statement of accounts, that it ig
not altogether. unexpected. They had been advallege
gradually and steadily for the last few years buck'
begged to move that the accounts be adopted.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Bell.
Mr. Gough asked if there were any outstanding sec "1,"„ e
such as. parliamentary and law expenses, that would

• 7
to be paid out of the surplus.
Mr. Rae said he believed all the accounts were paid
to the 31st of last month.
The Town-clerk in reply to Mr.. Rae, said all the
expenses were paid with the exception of some law in,
which did not come in to the end of the year. To 010„ of
rough estimate of the amount, there would be Vv
£6OO at the outside required. 1;.0
Mr. Rae said there was a little set off that was not ta,eB
into account, on the other side, and that was £1,200 of la' t
due by the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board which hadil
been paid for the last year. This. was a very fair set °
against anything that might be owing: 1, tic'
After some further conversation, in reference to the
counts, . ' ton
The Chairman said, it was fairly proved
they had enough in the bank to pay the interest
et
their bonded debt without putting anything wb3t,eh(eir
to the sales of land. If they were to sell all es
property, he believed there was no doubt what°,
they should be able to sell these properties- for
greater amount than would pay off all
That was an estimate which some
verify, but the
their interest last yea

satistactor

riflemen might 111
that they had Pal"
u other charges.

THE ACCOUNTS.
The following is an abFEßlLYstract of the ferry accounts, I/
was then read :--
At the Woodside and Monks' ferries, co

h,
iencing on t 201

April, 1858, and ending on th

April, 1859, it appearea
ths'
the total expenditure during the year has been £23,610 l9s 2cl'
that there is a balance in hand of £7,83916s ld, against £4,00 ed
2d last year. Of the balance in hand, £5,514 9s 6d has been Plt:ny,
to the credit of thenew boats fund account, £798 Is 5d to the 9,
ing fund account, and £9OB 7s 10d to the contingent fund a' e°o
tO

Amongst the items of expenditure are the followin

.„
r0...-g
,
19s 8d; general wages, £6,706 is 2d ; coals, £3,261 2s 2d ;
sation and damages, £328 16s 9d ; rent (less income tax), P- a
Ils 8d; interest paid to corporation of Liverpool, £195 163 Bd'

steamers, £4,882 9s sd; repairs to slips, and alter

cash transferred to the township, £3,300. A fla
Mr. Harrison moved that the accounts be PassrA3be
mentioned, for the satisfaction bf the ratepayers, ta-ittee
believed it quite possible that, next year, the corniniast.
would be able to hand over a much larger surplus than
(Hear, hear.)
these
Mr. Gough said he was very much dissatisfied with
accounts. He never would be satisfied until the coron'wo
handed over £lO,OOO to the general account, and he
certain that, with good management, it could be don,e'r of
Mr. Harmon said, when Mr. Gough was a ineouf or
the ferry committee, they never provided new bc'a';;lte4
anything else. When he (Mr. Harrison) was aP.P.debt•
chairman of the committee, he found them .El 3 000 10,00 or
They worked round, they handed over some 1:16::-fit of
£17,000 to the commissioners, and they had now a C"-
£6,000 or £7,000 in bank. (Hear, hea_
Mr. Gough, said, Mr. Harrison's statement
debt of £13,000 was an untruth. llO/
The Chairman said, he would not sit there an- 3 not
such remarks to be made. (Hear, hear.) That 5c,35411
proper language to be used, and he called upon Mt. "-
to withdraw it. (Hear, hear.) Sir
Mr. Gough : Do you know that it was not correct, A
The Chairman : The language you used was s°l' shell
ought not to be used in respectable society, and 1,03 r,
not allow you to proceed until you withdraw it. v."
hear.)
Mr. Gough : I shall not withdraw it, unless Mr. A-113fri°
qualifies his statement. o 0 on.
The Chairman : Then I shall not allow you toe 0
I shall not allow language of that kind to be used 100
Mr. Harrison : I do not think, that when 'Mr' (gel'
said it, he intended to give any offence to me•

h~
,n~rdltiD t

hear.) • here°
The Chairman : Mr. Harrison, so long as I sit ea
chairman, I shall not allow such language to be 11'

any one gentleman to another. ice the
Mr. G0u5...h : Mr. Harrison had no business to nr,borae,
assertion ; it is not true. (" Order, order," and
shame.")

The accounts were then passed.
1
LIBRARY AND MUSEUM ACCOUNTS. ,„re
The library accounts showed a total expen?,\lci
£731 Os 10d, and a balance in hand of £332 13s witw
On the motion of Dr. Baylis, they were confirmed'
out comment.

COMMISSIONEILS SUPPLYING GOODS TO THE 130119tc; the
The Law-clerk gave his opinion in reference IV
question raised upon this subject at the last Ineetnillionclie
opinion was, that the circumstance of Mr. "" Jaye
having supplied coals to the commissioners' office did Ow" °f
him a person interested in a contract under the meafrollei'
the statute. The same remark applied to Mr.
a
having supplied articles of furniture. ~n- to
tt
Mr. Bradley rose to complain of the unmanly ni—broup
which his name, and that of Mr. Golbourne, were,. f
before the board at the last meeting by Mr. Goug'" order
Mr. Gough contended that Mr. Bradley was out OA.O oi
in making any statement now, not having given no
his intention to do so. order,
. The Chairman ruled that Mr. Bradley was is
whereupon

Mr. Gough took his hat and left the room. to ri9`l
Mr. Bradley said, he was prepared, if nccessarY,
articlo"
that five othergentlemen had supplied the board witll,-,,d 13'
but, as he felt sure they, like himself, ';houldf
idea that they were doing anything incorrect,
_,lle,siotl:e
not mention their names. But he was in Po."`"ise t"
documents which he thought would rather surpr Sol,
board. Mr. Gough was a commissioner in iSs4.6ouglj'
yr
he had a bundle of bills in his hand beaded "
„f

Woodside Hotel." (Hear, hear, and laughter.) (eh
Mr. Bell thought this was scarcely fair. k
" Quite right.") This had nothing .to do with the
against Mr. Bradley.
The Chairr-

aop
ordeAa

_man thought Mr. Bradley was in
a question of privilege, as his character was iniPa'
the charges made against him, and as the
made on the last night had been impeached. -Rae •ilskpe"
Mr. Bradley said, on the last night Mr. f
roul
whether Mr. Gough would supply refreshments
hotel in a certain case, and Mr. Gough said, his c- ;t baa
would not allow him to do so. His conscience NU - Tine .
been of a different character in 1854. (Laughter') ere jbcf
bills were addressed to the ferry committee, and oNvtbers.,;,
various sums—one signed in his own name, an. „if tb"e',..
his servants on his behalf. There were five or ei:cf;c.
and they were for such sums as £1 is to £2 11%7 Goti,
Bradley concluded by saying, that if hereafter trio,
should offer any other personal remarks regardino
should treat them with the contempt they desery
taking no notice of them.
The board then adjourned.

statelDents

THE COURT. The
•
ROYAL PAVILION, ALDERSHOTT CAMP, :ha.,„ 1 e L-1111
Queen reviewed the division at Aldershott, under th go
mand of Lieut-General Knollys, this morning. I.Pra
Highness, the Duke of Cambridge, attended hi,c
Burghersh and Lieut.-Colonel Clifton, arrived at file
at ten o'clock, from London. Shortly before eleven f fouril
her Majesty left the Pavilion in a carriage fir;,e
accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess It".;-.pria;
attended by Lady Macdonald. Her Royal Ifighne—by tby
eess Helena followed in another carrage, attended ofiace
Hon. Eleanor Stanley and Miss Hildyard. The tj;flt d,/ea
Consort rode on horseback. The Queen was al° °Geom."
by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, impel
Commanding-in-Chief ; Major-General Forster, iseing
Adjutant General; Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon: 01
Quartermaster General ; the Equerries in
staff at Aldershott. Her Majesty returned to the London
at the conclusion of the review, and left again for
the
at five minutes past four o'clock. a by ••5
The Queen and Prince Consort, accompanie tf,che
Waitiltajoa
Princesses Alice and Helena, and attended by the_ palace
and Equerries in Waiting, arrived at Buckingham ate;
at twenty-five minutes before six o'clock yestcrei tie
noon, from Aldershott, haying travelled by a 'PI to tlj
on the South-Western Railway, from Farnborou„ pra;
private station at Vauxhall. A detachment of Lsigtaio'n to
goons escorted the Queen from the railwaZ 130 print
Buckingham. Palace, where her Maje_sty Lula arquis
Consort were received by Earl De La Warr,
Abercorn, Lord Crofton, Lord Bagot, Lord Colville, 0.1),
Or, io•
the iron. A. Liddell, and Colonel Francis Sern .01
Aki
Her Royal. Highness the DuOtessi of Rent din.
the „0100

SECOND EDITION

WEDNESDAY, 9 A.M.

N OILTILIIIIN TIMES 0 FFIC

THE WAR.
The
tothe of political feeling in Germany continues
foetWatched with much interest. The putting on
th: fYe Russian army corps is expected to increase.
pro),/irar -agitation in Germany, and may not ma-
k 1) y cause it to burst into a blaze.
the despatch,l in the Advertiser says, an address of
for deputies to the Grand Duke of Baden declares
thr the Peasantry of all Germany participating in
APtresent struggle.
Munich there is much popular exasperation
las ,
t tue hesitation of government.

orn COMMERCIAL.
tzeh P ete stagnation prevailed to-day in the Stock
kve,fatige• The Funds remain firm. Numerous small
tioilnents are made by the public The closing quota-
those Consols were 1-16 to 1-18 per cent. above
the 0f yesterday. An impression is entertained that
Tf action of the Bank in raising the rate of discount
heuur and a-half per cent. was somewhat precipitate.
taiit sums
of money on offer is extremely large.; impor-
First.l4;as are daily refused by the leading establishments.
abdclass bills are readily negociated at 4 to 41, per cent.,
toldbi
exceptional instances at lower rates. There were no
/lost, °Aerations at the Bank to-day. The £135,900 in
take align gold, by the Maidstone and Syden'iam, was
effee; for transmission abroad. Insurances have been
tran-ed on large amounts of Russian gold, about to be
ig2-sMitted to- this country. It is believed that the
PoittierPte will reach £400,000 or £500,000. A large pro-
-40;41 is on account of the Russian government.
The
colue"ll4e at St. Petersburgh on London has risen, in
214 e queuce, from 31i d to 33 d.—Daily News City Article,
I,IIY -Evening.
Dtee,. e, Movements of the English funds to-day have been
kor,-,elY such as have been witnessed nearly every day for
411j'an a week. Consols advanced, recebed, and finally
ed to their first price. The arrivals of Australian and
t93epriean gold during the past ten days has amounted to
for 4000, of which the greater part has been already taken
folio a continent, and the remainder will immediately
%hi I'l'. The Indian Council will not snake any specie
3i)c4,,ents to India. The total sent has been about
ther:Q,ooo. In the Foreign Exchanges this afternoon
%vas a slight improvement in the Austrian rates.
d4niquarisch was quoted lower than last post, and Amster-
en a
v shade higher.—Daily News City Article, Tuesday
eni.
-

t 4). new Bishopric is spoken -of for the North of England,
teLereated out of the see of Durham.
helee forty-third anniversary of the Peace Society has been
to his Mr. &urge was to have taken the chair, but owing
a unexpected death it was occupied by Mr. J. Pease.
ttea,„llleriea, the Times says, is weeping for her ocean postal
dei,',ets, and will not be comforted. A leading article
441‘ed to the subject shows why this department of ocean
TFation has fallen into the hands of the English.
joste Advertiser asserts that an angry correspondence is
goverll°W going on between the French and English
governments, relative to the permission granted by our
lnent to Austrian vessels to take shelter under our
Tsil at Malta
decii e
•Phancellor of the Exchequer, although he has
(44 Reu to postpone the collection of the hop duty, has
be red that no distress during the period of collection will
defaed on slefaulters. After the collection the list of
is Ituilters will be carefully examined.
tr,e,-Advertiser already shows how the present Ministry
teeo; r disposed of. If the Queen's speech contains no
ttiee.tion of the expediency of party reform, an amend-
kir, 'slit be moved to the address affirming the necessity of
Prollll. If not carried, a substantive resolution will be
The expressing want of confidence in the Government.
the g return from Kilkenny is alone wanting to complete
Tipp "mils° of Commons. Out of 652 members, the Herald
t:s 304 to the Ministerialists, but divides the other side
Th 69 independent Liberals and 279 Oppositionists. The
The total nett ministerial ouins are put down at 30 seats.
B@e,Times apportions 353 to the Liberals, and 299 to the
all'rvatives, and gives the Ministry a nett gain of 21

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

FRANCE.
4?/tENCTI SQUADRON BEFORE VENICE.
th IIIEsTE, Tuesday, May 17.—Yesterday afternoon
° French squadron was before Venice. Since yes-
terday the Austrian Lloyd's have ceased the running
ot
all their steamers. It is announced the National
at* of Vienna has granted to the deputation from
th
Bourse of this place, an advance of 1,000,000

THE FRENCH FUNDS.
ittls, Tuesday.-11.45 a.m—Rentes commenced
at 61-10, rose to 61.15, and are now 61.5.
12'47
p.m.—The Bourse opens firm. Rentes 61.30
.2o
P.m.—Rentes fell to 60.85, tendency very
°3
3'25 p.m.—The Bourse closed flat. Rentes 61.
oney, and 60.85 fr Account, being only a
fra .
ctlonal decline since nest3rday