Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-05 00:00:00

he intended to do, because that building would extend
to another plot of land.
Alderman BENNETT said, that the property he had
purchased in Greenland-street was to have been pulled
down in a year. The property consisted of cottages,
which he had had thoroughly repaired, and which
were in as good condition as any others in Liver-
pool. Had he pulled down that property, there must
have been a serious loss to him. As regarded the piece
of land opposite the south portico of St.. George's-hall,
he' would state that he was a member of the Improve-
ment Committee when he objected to the sale of that
plot, as it was required for then contemplated improve-
ments, and he bought the property at public auction.
The Borough Engineer and' the Town-clerk were both
aware of what his object was in purchasing that laud.
Now, he had held that land unproductive for years, he
had lost hundreds of pounds-by doing so, he had coin-
'plained to the Improvement, Committee and to the
Finance Committee as regarded his position in reference
that land, and he considered it a great hardship that
the construction which was now put on the fact of
his'' not having built on the land, was :such as
that he had broken, a covenant. He, hoped the
gentlemen who moved in the Finance Committee
for this return, would move for a special committee
before whom he was prepared to prove— " That I
purchased the land in Lime-street with the under-
standing that it should not be built upon for
several years. , That I have lost many hundreds of
pounds by keeping it vacant for so long a time. That
I have refused to sell it, although offered a very con-
siderable profit. Thati have brought these facts before
members both of the Finance and Improvement Com-
mittees, complaining of the length of time I have had
to keep the land vacant. That these facts were all
well known to the gentleman who put the motion
referring to this land upon the books of the Finance
ComMittee." He met Mr, Skerving yesterday, who
recollected that five years ago, he offered to give for the
land in question any price that might be fixed by
Alderman Holme, Alderman Stewart, or any other
competent valuer. There was also another gentleman
—he was at present in the Council room—who wished
him,to sell the land, but he had declined to name any
price, although pressed to do so. He would ask Alder-
man Lloyd if that was not the fact.
Alderman LLOYD said he was deputed to purchase
not only Alderman Bennett's but much more property
in the neighbourhood of it for the purpose of having a
large hotel or dormitory erected near the Railway
Station for the convenience of the public arriving by
the rail. He bPlipvpd such a dormitory would be an
accommodation, ,and that it would yet turn out a good
speculation.
Alderman BENNETT—What was the reason I gave
for not selling ?
LLoter--s-I understood that you were hold-
ihg on -account of some I°OEO improvemeet.
Alderman BENNrir rj---Did I not refuse to name a
price ? -
Alderman LLoyD—I got no price from you.•
;'Mr: Slim said, had he not brought the clisgrageful
state of this land before the Finance Committee he
should have been guilty of a dereliction of duty. Alder-
Man. Bennett's answer was, in fact, no answer at all.
Alderman Bennett deserved credit if he bought the land,
as he said, to serve the Corporation in effecting a public
improvement ; but he did not deserve credit for the man-
ner in whick he bought the land from: the 'Corporation,
for he bought the land with a stringent covenant
attached, which he had not kept. He should therefore
'decline the honour of naming a ecnianiittee of inqUiry_as
'requested by Mt: Aldernaiin Bennett. -
Mr. PICTON did not feel' 'very much surprise that
Alderman Bennett expected some alteratio3.-to take place
in the locality, of St. George's Hall, for that Same piece
of land had been twice s,old, -once rebought in its
entirety, and on the second occasion a portion of .it was
repurchased. • There had been so' much vacillation.
that he did not wonder at Alderman Bennett's action in
thll matter.
Alderman IrOLVE, on behalf of the Finance Com-
mittee, utterly repudiated the sei4iment .that had been
'used, that the Finance Committee were partial in these
cases. They were not so, and would cOMpel every
party, in every instance, to fulfil the strict letter of his
covenants.
Mr.' TyrtEn'said, after Alderman Bennett's explana-
tion, no further disCussion was needed. (Hear, hear.)
Alderman Honiut believed that what Ald. Bennett
had said was strictly correct, blit after there had been-so
much delay en the part of the Corporation" in carrying
'out any improvement, he thought it Would not be Worth
Ald: Bennett's while to hold the land any longer, and
he ShOuld therefore advise him to erect his building upon
it at once. If at any future day the Council required
the land, then they,must kneck down the building upon
it and pay for it."
Mr. GLADSTONE did not think the Finance Committee
were partial in these matters, but they should be a little
more firm in enforcing the strict fulfilment of the
covenants entered into by the leaseholders. 'ln reference
to the question more immediately' before the Conned; lie
would have them to remember that here was an engage-
ment—had it been performed ? That Was the simple
queStion for the Corporation.
Mr.' Tonir was sure the Council would consider
further Comment unnecessary. An explanation had
been given by Alderman Bennett, and he believed,every
gentlin2an in that room 'felt that the ',objeethe alder-
man had in view was the forwarding of a great -.public
improvethent—(hear, hear)—and. that he had truly
delayed: carrying out those works which• he contem-
plated, in the hope that: that improvement would be
carried out. Now, when they eonsidered that gentle-
men were too apt to purchase property-if they saw.a
public inaprovement was to be made at the public
expense,- so that they might, got an
,exorbitant return
foi their outlay,' they ought rather 'to commend Alder-
Man Bennett, whose motive was sincere; nand although
he concurred in the opinion that covenants should be
fully carried out, yet he did not: think that that' gentle-
man was open to any odium being cast upon him in
-reference to this matter. Alder Man Bennett's motives,
he believed, were pure, and his desire was to *see a great
public improvement'carried out. (Hear; hear.)
The motion for the reception of the report was then
agreed-to:.
Alderman Honlin theunioied the adoption of the third
recommendation of the committee. The Council would
be aware that the Corporation would have a consider-
able sum,..of money. in hand by. reason of the Dock
-Board paying there on the Ist of January, and the. st
of July in each year, a sum -of £lOO,OOO on account of
the £1,500,000 compensation' for the Town Dues.
To carry out the improvement. voted 4. the Council,
the Health CoMmittee would require a. considerable
amount of :money, and the Finance Committee were of
opinion that 'it would be desirable for the Councitto
'agree 'to the request of the Health•Corainittee, and lend
them £40,000 for the purpose. of that improvement.
The bonde of. the Corpbratien 'were in such high repute
that the partieS.did not take' their money until the bonds
fell due. Under the circumstances he thought the recom-
mendation would be 'a, great convenience to- both 'parties,
and he, therefore, moved the confirmation of it.
Alderman ' 'said the next subject for con-
sideration was' the report which had been submitte4 on
the estimated incoine and eipenditnie, He Would
merely move in the first instance that ,the report" be
adopted.
Alderman.TUßNtlt seconded the motion.
,jrrepariX thOught there :)vere sortie items, which
the Council and the public should have home information
upon. . As to the estimated income, there appeared to
be discrepancies in the amounts- as received last,year and
the present year. The• first :item: was for, interest
£21,000 this year, andlaat year the ampunt was £31,000.
The, fines for leases last year. Were £20;583 ; this year
fhb)? were estimated at ,426,000. The tobacco ware-
houses last year £6,365; . and the present
estimate was £6,053. The river traffic dock last year
wa5.£2,635 ; present estimate, £1,672 ; , £l,OOO
less than in, the previous year. 'The Cornwallis-street
baths, last year, £592 ; this year, £250 ; and the Pier
head baths, last year, £1,019-; this year, £6OO. The
cottages at Walton last year„prodnged £274 ; and this
y6,rthefestimate was £2OO. The prosecutions at assizes
and sessions last year was £5OO, and for the. current year
it was estimated at £10;000. -
Alderman 119extn
,replied that the interest last year
was ltirger, because there was a considerable amount
receivable' from the Birkenhead Dock estate for money
they had advanced, and which was not in the regular
account. The next reason was, that they had been
paying off a considerable number :ef. 'bonds, and at the
same time they had received £200,000 from the docks on
account of the £1,500,000. In reference to the fines
fog leases, there was always an uncertainty about these
fines. Sometimes they had been down exceedingly low ;
but on taking an average.: of. ten years, he found the'
amount received was about £26,000. The difference
in the estimate for the tobacco Warehouses- arose from
the fact that they had estimated a certain amount which
would be expended in sewering, &c. The river traffic
dock required considerable repairs,' 'and hence the low