Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-13 00:00:00

AFFLICTION OF RELATIONS

The friends of the deceased persons are in deep affliction,
and some of them were seen about the premises
weeping bitterly. Others attended at the Hospital, and
yet others at the coroner's court, to give all the informa-

tion they possess regarding their 'frien'is

WEDNESDAY EVEN I\

We have given in detail, all the particulars regard-
ing the melancholy and fatal accident in Great
George-street. Little remains to be added. Of course
there were some incidents that would necessarily
.(.s.!'eaPo observation and recording at the moment.
'Jae fact we have learned, and it shows the power of cool
self-possession which caused at least two lives to be
saved. One of the young men in the place had just
completed a sale to a lady, and was taking the
Money to the place where the cash-taker sits. He
°at as usual, "cash," but not seeing the cash taker
in his box, he lepked about, and happening to look up
at the ceiling, he actually saw it coming down. He made
a rush backwards towards the front door, grasped
one of the young ladies who was behind the
counter, in his arms, swept her out, and
also another lady, a customer in the shop, and before he
had reached the door, the whole falling flooring had come
down in the very place where the parties had been just
standing. In all probability, the three persons would
have been killed, but for the wonderful presence of mind
of this young man, who not only saved his own, but
two other lives at the same time. We think his name
ought to be published, but with the modesty of a truly
gave fellow, he will not permit it —well, his reward
i3in his own conscience.
, L.k) to seven o'clock last rlght, our 'reporter made
414tury, and so far, there 7fas nothing new to report at
the
havi-no been P.
of
safe. We
refrain, as usual, usingom any of the rumours that
Were afloat3' sterd-ay, the more particularly as
P

THE INQUEST
Nrill take place this day. The Coroner has summoned a
:PIT to meet on the case this day. The hour for the
agsernbling of the jury is half-past eleven, but from the
nature of the case, and the number of witnesses that
must necessarily be examined, there is hardly a chance
the case concluding this day. The details of the whole
CI
ar Will be elicited in the inquiry, and as the matter is
judice, we cannot say more Ala the inquest.

TOWN COUNCIL

The adjourned 'meeting Of :the Council was held at
eleven o'clock, in the Town Hall, yesterday. The Mayor,
William Preston, Esq , presided. •

COURTS OF LAW At(D sic. GEORGE'S MALL colistrrtm

'This committee had had'before them.an offer made in
the case of Mr. Potter's claims for the brass doors in
St:, George's Hall, The Town •Clerk read the cor-
respondence. between Mr. Coleridge and Mr. Millward,
and the committee having considered J the subject,
declined to consent to any compromise, ',thinking
it better to abide the decision Of the arbitrator, Mr.
Baron Channel. The 'resolution of the health Committee,
drawing attention to the dangerons condition of certain
houses in the vicinity of Lime-street, was, laid before the
committee, who directed the surveyor to obtain an' esti-
mate of the cost of that part of the property belonging to.
them. The 'letter of Mr. Banner, requesting a recon-
sideration of the resolution charging the sum of £l5 16s
tb the Orphan Boys' • Asylum,. ~,for, the , use of
St. George's Hall, .had been before the committee,
who resolved to adhere to their resolution of the 25th
of November, and not to recommend the Council to remit
the charge.
Mr. Alderman Parker moved:that the proceedings be
confirmed. - .
Mr. Earle-seconded the motion.

Mr. JohnsOn asked why a suspension of the works
had taken PlaVe at the north end of St.
GeoigeLi Hall, where the levels were being altered
at the lower end of Islington, and also. at the portion
opposite' the. old ' _lslington market. " The , work
was left off there, and 'there was no parapet by which.
persons could get in . a line from London Road down.
Shaw's Brow without walking. through the mud, and dire
of the road. . . •
_ Mr. l'arker said,, the levels at the north end were under
the .consideration of the purveyor and Mr. Newlands,
and they were about to arrano.e how they Were to be.
completed. They had been in. London last week, other
wise the subject would have :been before the last
meeting of 'the committee. • ..

Mr. 'Jeffery said, he had been favoured, by the courtesy.
of the chairman of the committee, Mr. Turner, with
copy of a resolution passed, with reference to the refresh-
ments supplied at St. George's Hall. That afforded him
an opportunity of
.communicating with the parties in the
neighbourhood ; and that morning a deputation waited
upon him to ask the. Council through him to refer the
question back to the committee, with a view to a con-
ference beteen the parties in the neighbourhood and the
committee, that the spirit- of the resolution may have
effect given to it, but not precisely in the form in which
it appeared upon the books. ,
The .Mayor said, the resolution to which Mr. Jeffery
zeferred, did not come proPerly before the Council,' as the
committee only met last weck. •

Mr. Jeffery : Then', it will come on at the next
Council.
The Mayor : Yes.

The proCeedings were then confirmed,

MARKET

COMNITTEI

The proceedings of the Markets Committee were read,
but referred only to matters of routine:
Mr. Jeffery asked if a memorial had not been received
from some of the country people with reference to market
accommodation?

The Mayor : Yes, there has.
Mr. Jeffery : Will you let it be. read, Mr. Mayor ?,
The Mayor : Yes, it shall be read.
The memorial was then sent for, and read by the Town
Clerk: It was signed by a large number of farmers and
market gardeners, and drew attention to the deficient
accommodation in Queen-scinare and'fo the serials in-
convenience and hardships to which the memorialists were
subjected from the spaces, which, not lowg ago, accommo-
dated 150 or 200 market carts, but which would now only
accoMmeidate 6.1; -and to secure a stand amongst the
favoured few, it was necessary to take up a position on
the Thursday preceding the Saturday's market, which
caused a serious expense and a loss of time. As a remedy,
the memorialists suggested the removal of some property
oft the west side of the space now occupied.
Mr. Jeffery moved that the memorial be referred to the
Markets' Committee.
Alderman Parker seconded the motion. He considered
it was a very cruel case for people who came to the
market the year round to be compelled to leave
home on the Thursday evening, in order to secure
a place for the Saturday's market. If a small
charge were made by the month, the space would let
remarkably well; and when persons hired a ,place in
which to stand for the month, they would not find it
necessary to come to the market before the ordinary
time.

, Alderman Bennett said this was a matter of great im-
portance in a sanitary point of view, as the prooluce was
liable to effervesce and deteriorate in quality by lying in
the 'carts from Thursday to Saturday.
Mr. James Holme said there was a financial difficulty
in the way ; and unless the finance committee were
prepared to find the means of getting the inconvenience
remedied, it was impossible for them to get out of the
trouble.

Alderman Gardner said, the owners of property were
not only ready but willing to pay any reasonable sum
to assist in remedying the inconvenience, and they would
not offer any objection to a plan, for that purpose, being
carried out.

Mr. Johnson said the committee were quite willing to
have the Matter referred to them, and would give it their
careful ccinsideration, becluSe they had long felt the
importance of the want of a wholesale market in Liver-
pool. (Hear, hear.) Ho moved that it be referred to
the committee, and that the proceJdiugs of the committee,
as read, be confirmed.
Mr. Woodruff seconded the motion, which was
carried.

EDUCATION' COMMITTEE

Thuroceeiings of this committee were read, from
which it appeared th•it, in the month of December, the
number that hid attended the North School was 1,650,
and the South School 1,623. The committee recom-
mended that the salaries of William Iguett be increased
from £3O to £lO per annum, and that of Thomas Robins
from £lO to £5). A vote of thinks had been passed to
the Society of Arts for having allowed the children to
visit their exhibition.

Mr. Anderson moved that the increase of salaries
be allowed to stand over until the next Coun-
cil. Some people had supposed that the case
that recently came before the magistrates had some-
thing to do with the corporated schools. That had been
publicly contradicted by. Mr. Harris, master of the north
school, in one of the new3papers ; and he (Mr. Anderson),
thought it advisable to contradict it again.
Alderman Gardner recorded the motion, which -was
carried.

The proceedings of the committee, with this exception
were then confirmed.

GAOL AND HOUSE OF CJAAECTION COMNIITTP4

The proceedings of this committee were read, and con-
tained a report from the governor, upon a suggestion for
introducing steam power for manufacturing purposes
into the prison. The governor stated, he was of opinion
that it would not be desirable to apply steam power for
manufacturing
.purposes, either in this or any other
prison, for various reasons which he stated. The
governor was directed to send a copy of the report to
Mr. Brown, and was authorised to engage a warder
in the place of Miss Hancock. The committee
also reported that the chaplain had enquired
whether a prisoner sentenced to penal servitude
and who had not been removed to a Government
establishment was to come under the regulations of the
Secretary'of State, Sir G. Grey ; if so, there was one
prisoner who had not been removed, and who had, un-
doubtedly, been in a worse position than if she had been
removed—who would be entitled to be discharged in
January next. Two other prisoners would have been in
the same position, had not their misconduct disqualified
them.

Mr. Anderson, in moving the confirmation of the
proceedings, said,. Mr. Brown's excellent letter and
suggestions had received the attention of the committee
and the governor, but they were of opinion that steam
power could not be introduced under the present system ;
and he believed Mr. Brown was quite satisfied that it
could not be done in the gaol. It might. possibly be
introduced into some of the large state prisons, and it
was certainly a very important' point to call attention to
—the question of making prison labour remunerative, if
possible—and it had always engaged the attention of the
oominittee, but it was a question which involved conside-
rable difficulty.
Mr. Alderman Dover seconded the confirmation of the
proceedings, which was carried.

TOWS HALL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE

Mr. Alderman Ilolme, in moving the confirmation of
the proceedings, begged to explain, in reference to a
question pnt at the last meeting by Mr. Cropper, as to
the employment of climbing boys to clear the chimneys
of the town Hall, that he was informed by the keepers
that, with the exception of one or two chimneys, which
were very large, boys were not employed. The Surveyor,
hoWever, had been directed to make a report. , •
Mr. dropper : I suppose the Surveyor will report to
the next meeting.
Mr. Holme : Certainly.
The proceedings were then confirmed.
LIBRARY AND MUSEUM COMMITTEE.
The proceedings of this Committee were read. •
Mr. Picton said, before moving their confirmation,
there was one special matter which ought to be brought
under the notice of the Council. He alluded to
the rate propoied for the gardens and museum.
The estiulato) which the committee had Aimed,

stood thus calculatino• the expenditure from
the iirervio4s- year. calculating
amount required in
each department; was, for, The Botanic 'Gardens £1,500,
:for the Derby Museum £1,250, for the Central Library
1£2;300, Of the lending Library '.£1,750, making a total a

£6,800. He should-be glad to answer any questions
that might be asked, but it became his duty to move that
a rate not exceeding one penny in the pound be levied,
under the provisions of " The Library and Museum Act
1855."
The motion was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. Karin then moved the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings. Carried unanimously.

WATER. COMMI TYEE

The proceedings of this committee were read
Mr. Hodson-moved:their•confirmation. •
Mr. James Ikolme.secondecl the Inotion.

Mr. Earle said he did not second the proceedings
bacausebe had an animulment to. move. It was, that so
much - of' the proceedings of, the water; committee as
related ,to the exclusive:supply of water from Rivington
for one month, be not confirmed, but that when the
reesrcoirs are full, 'it should be ,reported to the committee,
in 'order that the • council might, direct , the:manner in
which the supply , of water should be . given to
the. town. It 'might appear somewhat unusual in
the deputy-chairman of the committee to propose an
amendment, but the manner in which the resolution was
carried was very unusual. He was happy to say it was
so, for he did not think it was very creditable to the
parties who carriedit ; and he hoped .the. Conneil- would
be cif the same opinion: There was an amendment moved
on the occasion referred to—moved by himself .-to the
same .effect as =that he now proposed That amendment
was put, and was carried by the casting vote of the
chairman. One gentleman who voted for the amendment
was then called away on biisiness,:' and,, supposing that,
the question had been definitively settled, he left the
robin: <The,: chairman, however, had :neglected 'to
put the question as a substantive motion before
that gentleman walked out. A gentleman whom he
(Mr. Earle) had in his'eye now, with very great:alacrity
jumped up . and whispered • something into the, ear-of
another ''crentlenrin, and that led to an amendment being
proposed, which' the gentleman had a perfect right to do,
but whether it was very creditable, he should leave the
Council to judge ; and, of course, in the absence of the
gentleman who had gone out, that amendment was carried.
It was ' precisely the same proposition as that which
he made originally with some heeltap added just to make
a difference. Now, that proceeding surprised him,
beause the gentlemen to whom he was alluding was a
liberal of the first water. (Hear, hear.) He
knew that persons of that character piqued them-
selves upon doing right in all things.:. They could not
err. (Laughter.) In the commonest things,of life they
were-upright, straightforward -no guile, no deceit what-
ever in them. • (Laughter.) He believed that was the
creed of a liberal par excellence. Therefore, he felt rather
surprised that such a thing should have come from, such
a quarter, and he had no doubt that his liberal friends
around him would participate in .that surprise. :With
these observations, he begged to propose the amendment.
Mr. Rae seconded the amendment. He believed it was
owing to' his having left the committee room on the day
in question-that the resolution was.ultimately carried.
He considered the proceeding informal. When he left
the committee room,, the amendment had been put and
'carried, and `the chairman had proceeded to ,the other
business of the day. Under any circumstances, however,
he thought it was a question which ought to come di-
rectly before the Council for decision. It was a very
important one, and he should like to see it decided by
the whole Council.

Mr. Alderman Parker supported the amendment, be-
cause he was perfectly satisfied the reservoirs never would
be full. He gave Mr. Earle great credit for the manner
in whioh, as an old tactician, he had contrived to frame
his amendment. When the reservoirs were full they
were to have the water. Mr. Earle knew that never
could be accomplished. He knew it was not possible to
be accomplished by the present means. What were they
going to parliament for, but to seek for powers to
obtain more water to fill the reservoirs ? They
could not fill them at present. The committee know it,
and the chairman knew it. They were going to parlia-
ment to obtain further powers, in order that they might
fill the reservoirs with water.

Mr. J. R. Jeffery' said : Mr. Mayor, it will naturally
be expected that such a pointed referenee having been
made to myself, on the course I felt it my duty to
pursue in the water committee, that I should make some
remarks upon the amendment proposed by Mr. Earle.
Very severe language has been used by. Mr. Earle, and such
language, according to his own showing, should scarcely
have been adopted. Mr. Earle said, I was perfectly in
order. Then, I ask Mr. Earle, and I ask the Council,
what right Mr Earle has to object to that which
was done perfectly in order ? Is a gentleman to
be charged with deceit, who acts in order—to be charged
with having done what is discreditable to him, when what
he has done is perfebtly in order ? I submit that the two
things are not consistent. • Mr. Earle stated that I had
a perfectright to do what I did. I maintain I had a perfect
right. What were the precise circumstances ? I shall
proceed to tell the Council. I submit that the time has
arrived when we • ought to know whether the works are
capable of suppljing.water ; and I submitted to the coin-.
mittoe that, as a committee, it was our duty to
know whether the works were supplying the
quantity of water which we, were led to
expect. This season of the year, when the rainfall is
greater than at almost any other season, appeared to me
to be the most proper time for ascertaining .the quantity
of water which can bo raised: from the district. Now,
sir, the immediate question which pressed upon my mind
was one of ways and means. If there be a deficiency in
our revenue to the extent of £15,000 a year, as it will
be found to be, surely it becomes a question for the con-
sideration of thel committee how that amount can be
reduced. If Liverpool proper is being supplied, as
I submit it is, with almost exclusively water from
the Rivington district, then I say the remaining
portion of the water area should also be sup-
plied for a time from it, to see whether they would
receive the same water which is now being sup-

plied to the borough. Allow me to tell vou, sir, that
the Aigburth district is not supplied by the same water.
The Mossley-hill district is not supplied with the same
water. The Bootle district is not supplied with the same
water. A gentleman who recently went to live at
Aigburth, and who frequently complained of the quality
of the water while he lived in Liverpool, states that he
now finds it unexceptionable, and that he has no
complaint to make against it—in fact, that he can see no
difference between it and the old red sandstone water.
Nor can I understand how it could be otherwise. The
Aigburth district is supplied by the reservoir at Ilighpark
street, filled by the fountain at the Windsor station, and
the station at Water-street, in the Park. Therefore, it
is our duty to ascertain if the public of Liverpool be satis-
fied—as they are stated to be, and, as I admit from their
silence; gentlemen have a right to believe them—if they
are satisfied with the quality of the water, it is our duty
to ascertain whether those who are now supplied at the
cost of pumping would also be satisfied with it, and thus
allow us to abstain from pumping, and to save £6,000
a-year,• which the pumping costs. This, at least, would
diminish the £15,000 which we shall be called upon to
pay. It is an important feature of the ease, that
while the impure water ,is being supplied to
the Liverpool people, and the pure water to the
district beyond Livorpool, the deficit will have to be made
up exclusively by the ratepayers who have the impare
water, and those who are supplied with the pure water
are not called upon to contribute one'penny towards the
deficit, which will amount to 2 4 in the pound upon
every building rateable, within the power of our levying
a rate. In addition to that, one halfpenny was added last
year by the health committee, and therefore the total de-
ficit will be 3d in the pound. Now, I ask the Council
whether they are prepared to say that that state of things
shall continue; and that they will not permit the water
committee to alter it, if it be in their power to do so ? Mr.
J. Holm° stated, this time two years, when I called your
attention to the state of the water, that if we would,
allow the works to be in operation six months, and that
then, if there appeared no improvement in the quality of
the water, he should have his doubts of it. We have
now, had it, for two years. Subsequently to that I called
the attention of the committee to the necessity of having
an increased quantity of water from Rivington, and :the
answer was—" allow the reservoirs to be finished."
Before I made this motion in the committee, I asked the
question " whether the reservoirs were finished ?" and
the answer was that the works were completed. Then
saw no reason why we should not at once teat
the quantity of the supply. I was asked to allow
the reservoirs first to be filled. I thought
that a very reasonable proposition, and I consented to it.
I had no end whatever to answer but •to promote what
ought to be the legitimate duty and business of the com-
mittee ; but no sooner is any thing of the sort mooted
than such consternation is excited that every one is
puzzled to know whence such alarm comes. It is not,
therefore, now, a question about the propriety of the
works, or about the quality of the water, but it is a
question how you will pay your debts, and whether you
will now make the works as efficient in their practical
application as they are capable of being made ; and
I lig)°, therefore, the Council will not refuse to
pass the resolution which is recorded upon the books.
I will just toll you how this matter came about. I did
move a resolution, which was rejected by an amendment.
Immediately the amendment was carried, Mr. Rae rose
and left the room. Now, sir, I have yet to learn, that because
a gentleman leaves his seat at a committee, that therefore
the committee's* business must be brought to 1 doio on