Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-11-07 00:00:00

Ll of a rat

in laying the rates in liirk-
dale, also busied himself as an active—indeed, officious
—canvasser in the interest of Mr. Stitt. Our informant
in this instance states that his is not the only case of a
similar kind, occasioned by the same agency, which has

vho, in addition to-as

:ome to his

:nowledge.

boy aged 7 years, named
in Fontenoy-street, was run over

Quin, resi

by a car in that

sustainer

e thigh

a severe compound

a labourer,

med Christopher Graham, residing in Dean's-court,
az a ladder to net into a loft

rely fra

in elm

per, 'wb.

was thrown to the
He had his thigh
une day ,a labourer named

resides in Lower Boundary-street,
Lie New North Dock, was severely

on going over him.—Llewellyn

ri the leg, by

VIE

Is were con-

tal, whe

they received

t debt!)

at Lancaster

9, before

—William

PUBLIC MEETING IN BIRKENHEAD.
PROPOSED NEW TOWN-HALL.

In compliance with a requisition signed by a numer-
ous and respectable body of rate-payers, a large and in-
fluential public meeting was held in the Town-hall of
Birkenhead, on Saturday afternoon, for the purpose of
considering the propriety, and adopting resolutions, for
the erection of a new Town-hall, for the bat,
modation of the increasing business of the township.
John Laird, Esq., chairman of the commissioners, pre-
sided. Among other gentlemen present we observed—
Messrs. Conway, Hind, Cowie, Ravenshaw, and Sear.
Mr. A. WALN, clerk to the commissioners, read the
following requisition :

,bserve I

of Birkenhead are unabi_ _
for the building of a town-hall
We feel tl.at the neceasti
Birkenhead in one central
Commensurate with tt

apparent to every one
Further,

said of a neighbouring township, that they could find
Money to build an assembly room, but could not find
money to build a church; Birkenhead, however, is well
provided with places of worship ; having fulfilled oar
first duty, let us fulfil our second. People must have
amusement, let us then have a room where we can have
a decent concert, where we can take our wives, and
where those who have daa,ghters can take them also,
without being under the necessity of going across the
T accom-
I water.

A Gentleman, in the room, ben;
make an amendment. He thought it -was time to
say a word in objection, when this proposal was made
a question of rates. Ile therefore thought it was pre-
mature to urge this motion upon a public meeting—for
his part he thought Birkenhead had no more need of a
town-hall than a cow had for a side-pocket. He would,
therefore move that. this meeting be adjourned sine die.
The amendment, however, fell to the ground, un-
seconded ; and the original motion, having been put,
was carried unanimously.

,;:,d leave to

Mr. HALSALL SEGAR moved " That the vacant piece
of land in Hamilton-square is the most suitable

been reserved for the purpose of erecting the town-
hail upon it, and it would be, when completed,
a very great ornament to the square. He would ask if
it consisted with the dignity of the commissioners to be
so 'miserably housed as they are. He took part in the
company who made the proposalto build a town-hall,
but he did so merely for the credit of the place.
The motion was seconded by Mr. BOURNE, and, on
being, put to the meeting, was carried with the same
unanimity.

Mr. laynNsnAw proposed the next resolution :
. " That it is fully expected the building will be self-
'sustaining • but to meet any deficiency, a rate-in-aid,
not exceeding one penny in the pound, should be laid,
which would be amply sufficient to pay the interest of the
capital invested, and provide a sinking fund." The meet-
ing had already heard, he said, that the commissioners were

not in a position to expend any money without infring-
ing on the rights of the ,bondholders. He thought the
rent paid by the commissioners, the public library,
savings' bank, and the sums drawn for public meetings,
would make the buildings self-supporting. But they
must be prepared to make some sacrifices ; and, there-
fore it is this resolution has been proposed. In order
to raise money, it would, be necessary to have a rate,

£lO,OOO or £12,000 would be required, but should we
choose to spend £15,000, we, should have a splendid
building; and the interest would only be £750 per
annum. Birkenhead is like no other township, every
house erected in this place pays rates itself. He thought
therefore,they were pefectly justified in concluding that
the time has come for the erection. of such a building.
Mr. PAnsoNs seconded this .resolution.
Mr. STAUNTON BAILIFF wished to know if an act of
Parliament would be required to impose the rate. He
perfectly agreed with every sentiment expressed by Mr.
Ravenshaw. Every one would.admit the necessity there
was for the erection of a public building in Birkenhead.
The only difficulty was in their financial position, which,
however, he admitted had been greatly improved of late.
He urged the necessity of keeping faith with the bond-
holders, and expressed his entire confidence in the suc-
cess of the undertaking, and cordially supported the
proceedings of the meeting, so far as they had gone.
The CHAIRMAN said nothing would be done to
interfere . with the bond-holders, and explained
that it would be nec

v to have an

Parliament to impose the rate. He also stated, if
the motion was favourably received by the public, he
would use all his influence to carry it through; if,
however, on the contrary, it met with general opposition,
he would not feel
,disposed to go on with it.

The sixth and last resolution was moved by Mr.
Spf —" That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be laid
before the commissioners, and that they be requested to
adopt such measures as they may deem necessary for

carrying their object into effect." He did not knoiv, he
said, why he should have, been selected to move this
resolution, as he was only a periodical resident in
Birkenhead, but lie remembered when there were scarcely
any houses, no cabs, and, if there had been, no roads to
drive them on. He was one of the bond-holders, and
has often been grieved to see the way the money was
spent, but was happy to think there had been an
improvement of late, and had now no fears of the money
being misdirected.

Mr. EDWIN THOMSON said he had much pleasure in
seconding the resolution. He bad heard some of the
commissioners say "that the time had not yet arrived;
let us wait tilt We arc able to spend £40,000;'? but it is
always easy to spend that amount. The man must be
sanguine, indeed, who would wait till we could pat such
a building on that land. He was the other day in a
Scotch town named St. Andrews—a town of three streets
—and he there saw a most magnificent hall. Southport,
too, which was recently a fishing village, has now a
town-hall. Taking the, population from New Brighton
to Oxton, they will be sufficient to support all our con-
certs; &c., and a hall in Birkenhead will be in a more
central situation than the Philharmonic is in Liverpool.
As for rate-in-aid, he thought they would rather have
a profit. The opinions of the meeting -would be con-
veyed to the commissioners, and he hoped they -would
feel that the people who had elected them meant what
they said.

A vote of thanks having been proposed to the chair-
plan, and heartily responded to, the meeting broke up.

.

AMERICAN SWINDLERS,

Some months back a peculiar system of swindling,
invented in America, and practised in that country on
persons in England, was detected and stopped. The
plan was to send letters to the address of individuals
whose deaths appeared in the obituary of the London
papers, purporting to come from some youthful protege
who had fallen into misconduct, and been sentenced to
prison, and who, in terms of the deepest repentance,
solicited his old and "kind benefactor" to transmit him
£lO to some United States post-office. Many execu-
tors, upon opening these communications were led to
comply with the appeal Imdet the desire to act in
accordance wlth any possible wish of the deceased person ;
and there is reason to believe that the trade proved very
lucrative. It was completely brought to an end,
however, by the publicity given to it. The parties have,
therefore, been driven to new expedients; and their
plan now is to transmit letters to the address of deceased
persons, purporting to come from a woman they have
deserted, and who claims aid for a dying child. This
has probably brought more success even than the former
plan, since it has awakened the fears of families and a
desire to avert scandal. About a fortnight back, two of
these communications reached the bands of mutual friends,
and the imposition being thus apparent a copy of the
production was inserted in a daily journal. Each sub-
sequent mail, however, has brought a fresh supply, all
worded nearly in the same manner; and it is therefore
desirable to remove by a further exposure the pain they
may have occasioned. Annexed is one recently received.
The writing is apparently that of a man who has as-
sumed a female hand :

" • " Lockport, Niagara County, New York,
United States, Sep. 29, 1859.
"Dearest, best Friend,---Why, why have you not sent the
usual remittance? Poor Tom is dying, and we are in the
extremest want. You requested me not to write, but .after
waiting till I am penniless, I am, at this moment of crushing
misery, compelled to do so. Your poor dying son sends his
fondest love ; poor dear fellow ! he has never known a
father's care. Still from a boy I have taught him to pray
for, and love you. Little did I think when, years ago, I dis-
covered all and fled, that you would fail me m this houi• of
terrible affliction. Yes, that you might be free and happy
with those so dearly loved, I left all, and fled with my poor
fatherless boy to' this distant and strange land, and daily
since have we prayed fdr blessings on you and yours. ~
" Dearest, only friend, unless you send soon, your poor,
afflicted, unoffending son will starve to death. lam now un-
able to do more than Wait upon him, and cannot'much longer
bear up against poverty, sickness, and your unkindness. But
or take
my euty has been to suffer ;
yezotruriaer,;..not Ankind : you must have sent, and the letter mis-
God knows I would not cause you a moment's pain,
_ . . your attention from those you love. No, in this world
by return mail a
beloved and idolised still I cannot tamely see my
Ea son die in misery and want. Do send me
away from where I ank of England note, for lam now miles
could get other funds changed. I came
here for the benefit of poormdear Tom, but fear it has done him
abjec goo
no
he goodt
want.. WYou r
e are nodw
,a kladg:,trangers, and in the most
let him die in want. When
cart will not permit you to
is gone / will trouble you no
more. _
.

inst nt's delay, and pay
tnilioeutoranl shalol'nnetbe able tOobtain
a to
mnley. knees I beg of
the post aGged. 01 syaoktler lseetntderwito
it, for I am selling everything to' live.wn
you; and for your dying son's sake,
I shall go mad. God bless you 'and yourslnlediately, or
supremely happy, bless you.. In mercy send B:,Y You be
farewell. May pod bless you is the fervent praienr, and so
unhappy but true friend, MARY A. S , - O. YOUr
1•ANIIOPE.