Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-02 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Council, alas held
In the Town Hall at eleven o'cllek yesterday, the Mayor,
FRANCIS SHARD, Egq. , in the chair.
The minutes of the last Council meeting were read..

TIM PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARLIAMENT %fa COM-WETTER!.

Mr. WO : Mr Manor, before we proceed
'with the business of the day, if I am in order. I should
like taaele the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee
whether he has anything to report to the Council in refer-
ence to the recent proceedings in the House of Commons?
I need not go into toe question at present, but you are
quite aware that certain changes are about to be made
which will deprive the Council and the town of a very
large amount of their income. in a manner most unconsti-
tutional and unjust. I hope the Council will receive some
explanation from the chairmen of the committee of what is
going on.
The MAYOR said : I think as much of the proceedings
as it is convenient to state to the Council at the present
moment, have alrea 'y been made pubic by the news
papers. (Hear, hear.) The proceedings of the Special
Committee of the House of Commons have been
generally detailed briefly and tolerably correctly—
very correctly, I believe, as fax as they have been
stated by the public newseapers. You all know ,
pretty well what is the position in which we relatively
stand now, under the circumstances f the case. I should
wish to observe that last night late I received a telegraph
from the Town-clerk, stating that they themselves having
'withdrawn from the proceedings before the Committee,
and having considered that they (mid not interfere with
the proceedings before the House of Commons in any
way which might prejudice them in their future course of
protection in the upper House, there were certain proceed-
ings, negociations, or arrangements suggested in a parti-
cular quarter, and requesting that the Birkenhead Com-
mittee would come up to Load imm -diately to take the
matter into consideration. I think, therefore, that being
the state of the case, it would be better, probably, that we
did not enter into any argument upon the matter. (Hear,
hear.) I should also say that, as we are Dressed upon
so very serious and important a subject, I should wish
that, after we proceed so f-ee with the business of the day
as is absolutely necessary, it would be convenient to
adjourn the Council—(hear, hear) —to some thy next, week,
when probably we should be more able to give you the
information which, I am sure, you must alt so anxiously
desire. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Wo .DRUFF: Then am I to understand—
Mr Alderman HoLmE : Mr. Woodruff, be kind enough
to sit down.
Mr. W.,ODRUFF : Ain I to understand that while this
Bearer is being debated by a certain number of gentlemen,
the Council, a. a body, is to know nothing of it until the
matter is c, nfirmed—that, whether it is correct or not,
whether we like it or dislike it, whether we are robbed of
£lOO,OOO a year or not, we are to know nothing about it
until the thing is settled and past redemption ? I disagree
entirely with such a principle. I think the quiet system
has done exceeding harm. I think the C, uncil and people
ought to be roused, and not to suffer themselves quietly to
be deprived of their legal rights.
Mr. EARLE : I think Mr. Woodruff may be well assured
that the Committee of this Council Nell do every thing for
the good of the town, without making a speech of that
sort. (Hear, heat.) He is told he may injure the matter,
and yet he proceeds.
Mr. WOODRUFF : Ws were told that a year ago, and we
gained nothing by following the advice.
Mr Alterman Hoetts : I mast certainly deprecate
any discussion in the present state of the proceed-
ings. (Freer, hear.) It was to be exeected that some-
thing would have been said wide reference to the
extraordinary proceedings of the H ,use of Commons' Com-
mittee, but I think neirber Mr. Woodruff nor the Council
needs to be assured that the numeer of gentlemen who
form the Council Ccmmittee have paid to the subject
every possible attention ; have devoted to it an enormous
amount of their time, and will continue to take such steps
as may be deemed m Ist prudent and most advisable for
extoicaring us from the clitculty in which the decision of
the committee of the House of Commons has plaeed us.
(Hear, hear) I would ge a little further. and say, that as
there is a number of subjects, some special, in the Finance
Committee's proceedings, which I would not venture to
press at the present peculiar juncture, and as it is requisite,
I believe, 1. r the Dock Committee's proceedings to pass
this Council that they may be confirmed within the time
specified by law, and as there are other subjects upon the
Council paper which ought to remain in abeyance until
this great question is settled—and as it is absolutely
necessary that the Parliamentary Committee should again
proceed to London, many of them having been there for
some time, and most of them having some private
arrangements to make before they can return. I would
beg to suggest that, immitating the prudent reserve
of which our able Council have so wisely set
the example, before the Committee of the Hone.
of Commons, that the Council, after hearing the D ,ck
Committee's proceedings, should adjourn the meeting
(Hear, hear.) I beg to move, and I hope some gentleman
will second it, and that the Council will agree to the
proposition, that the proceedings of the Dock Committee
be read, and that the Council then adjourn to eleven o'clock
next Wednesday, when we shall probably be in a position
to have something to communicate. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. FERNMOUGH seconded the motion.
Mr. Joule STEWART : I think Mr. Woodruff labours
under a mistake when he supposes that any committee or
body of gentlemen would commit the Council on so ve y
important a matter to any step which they cannot possibly
recall. (Hear, hear) No C)mmittee would ever take
upon itself any such onerous duty. From having been in
London myself for the last fourteen days, and from the
telegraphic communication which I only received at half-
past seven o'clock this morning, I am able to say that the
position of circumstances is such that it would be exceed-
ingly unwise indeed for any di4cassion to arise in the
critical state in which matters stand. (Hear, hear.) The
arrangement of anything conclusive by the Committee
is out of the question. There, surely, is the House cf Lords
to appeal to. But certainly, from the telegraph which
has been received, it seems necessary that certain
gentlemen should be in London who are immediately con-
versant with the question. There need be no fear of their
binding the Council to anye in.; or taking any step what-
ever without giving to the Council every explanation to
-which it is so fully entitled, but great harm may arise from
any public discussion of the course to be adopted or the
polity to be pursued in the present very dangerous and
critical state of circumstances, and is, in my opinion, very
much to be deprecated as highly injurious to the proceed..
ings of the Committee an : the general advantages of the
Corporation. (Hear. tear.)
Mr. WooDituee : Then, Mr. Mayor, am Ito understand
from Mr. Stewart that the gentlemen in London will
commit themselves to nothing without consulting the
Council ?

Mr. STBarAnr : Certainly.
Mr. WOODRUFF : I am satisfied with that.
The MAvon : We are before a Parliamentary Committee?.
Mr. WoonauxF : We were told that long ago.
Mr. STRAINS, as a member of the Council, expressed
himself perfectly sat-1, fied with the explanation.
The discussi n was then allowed to drop.
The proceedings of the Dock Committee were read, and,
on the motion of Xr. Robinson, confirmed.
Mr. HoLME then moved the adjournment of the Council,
which was agreed to without a division.
The MAYOR stated that he had received a letter from

Sir JOHN RAmspgx announcing the presentation to the
town of two Russian iron guns, with their carriages, as
trophies of the late war.
The Council then adjourned to 11 o'clock on Wednesday
next.

THE COUNCIL BUSINESS.

The following is the business to be disposed of at the
adjourned meeting of the Council en Wednesday :—The
proceedings, resolutions, and reports f the Finance Com
mittee, roprising —1 Recommendation that the discre-
tion given by and contained in the Act of 7 Wm. IV. and
1 Vic. c. 19, should at the next quarter sesei ns be exer-
cised by the Recorder. 2. Recommendation to purchase
from the Earl of Derby a plot of freehold land in Hacking
Hey, adjoining the George-hotel, containing about 102
square yards, for £1,200. The pr,teedirgs, resolutions,
and reports of the Watch, Lighting, Fire Po.ice, and Fire-
Prevention Committees. The proceedings, resolutions,
and reports of the Courts of Law and St. Genres Hail
Committee.
,The proceeding.., resolutions, and reports of
the Markets Committee. The proceedings, resolutions,
and reports of the Education Clnrnittee. The pro-
ceedings, resolutions, and reports of the Gaol
and House of Correction Committee
comprising—
Recommendation to appoint Thomas Guy as' png'neer, at a
salary os 355. per week,. deducting the usual amount for
uniform. The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the
Town-hall Establishment Cummittee. The proceedings,
resolutions, and reports of the Health Committee, com-
prising-1. Recommendation to increase the salary
salary of Mr.
J. P. Wilson, clerk in the Borough P..ngineer
from f 70 to £BO p'r annum, the consideration of -which
was postponed at the last monthly Council pursuant. to the
standing orders. 2. Recommendation to authorp,e the
requisite steps being taken for carrying out the plan for
new public offices in Dale-street, and for effectingim-
provements there. • The proceedings, res&utions, and
reports of the Gardens' Committee. The proceeding',
resolutions, and reports of the Church Expenditure Com-
mittee. The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the
Observatory Committee. The proceedings, resolutions.
and reports of the Water Committee, comprising 1.
Recommendation that Mr. Thomas Morris, M.r.• William

Bryan, and Mr. William Jones, jun., be promoted from
the rank of third class collectors to that of second class
collectors, and that their respective salaries and poundage
be calculated at the rate of £lBO per annum ; that Mr.
J. B. Roberts and Mr. Charles Gibson be promoted from
the ramk of second class to that of first class collectors,
and that their respective salaries and poundage
be calculated at the rate of £2OO per annum,
and that the respective salaries and poundage of
Mr. Thomas Ashcroft and Mr. John Jackson be calculated
at the rate of £220 per annum. 2. Recommendation to
accept the tender f Messrs. George Forrester and Co. for
a supply of valves ; the proceedings, resolutions, and
reports of the Library and Museum Committee ; the pro-
ceedinw, resolutions, and reports of the Hackney Carriage
and Licensing Committee ; bye-laws for regulating hackney
carriages. The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the
Baths' Committee. The proceedings, resolution?, and
rep trts of the Birkenhea3 Docks Committee. The Coroner's
account, amounting to £3O Gs 61. The Mayor's communi-
cations, comprising applications of Mr. J. H. Bally, Cor-
porate Auditor, Mr. John Rodgers, In-door Manager of the
Water Works, and Mr. J. B. Pedler, Schoolmaster of the
Borough Gaol, for an increase of salary. Toe following
motion, of which notice has been given by Mr. Alder-
man Parker : That the meeting of the Council for August
next, be held in the Concert Room, St. George's Hall.