Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-10-21 00:00:00

the meeting to, pledge i•self to use every lawful exertion
necessary for the purpose of securing that gentleman's
return to the Council as one of the representatives of
Nor h Toxteth Ward.

Mr. Joha Aikin seconded the resolution, and p'inted
especially to the valuable services which Mr. Avison ren•
dered when in the Council as a memb3r of the Library
and Museum Committee.
The resolution was carried by acclamation.
Mr. Avison then came forward, and was received with
loud applause. He said he felt very much obliged to the
meeting for their cordial welcome, and far having selected
him as a candidate to support liberal principles in that
Ward. When the chairman and the_ gentlemen who

accompanied him waited upon him (Mr. Arisen) last
Saturday, to request him to come forward, he felt some
difficulty, because. for many reasons, he should have pre-
ferred not coming forward as a candidate that year. But
when it was represented to him that the ward was in
want of a candidate to support liberal principles, he felt
that he had but one duty to perform, and that was, to
accede to the rcq test. (Hear. hear, and applause.) He
could not help thinking, that the time had arrived when
the liberal party should make an effort to claim a fair
share of rerrsentation. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
Hitherto, be was sorry to say, that the conservative
party had had it all to themstlyes. (II nr, hear) He
thought that was hardly fair, and he though' the liberal
party ought to endeavour now as much as they could, to
get a fair share of representation. (Hear, hear•) It was
usual, upon such occasions as that. for the candidate to--
give some explanation of his sentiments upon the various
leading questions which then interested the constituency.
He should not depart from that custom, although, per-
haps, he might be p2rcaitte 1 to say that, having already
occupied a seat iu the council for a period six years,
the best test of his merit, and of whether he was

worthy of their support as a candidate was to be found
in his conduct and his votes during the time he had the

honour of a seat in the Council. (Hear, hear.) The first
question upon which he would touch was the much-vexed
question which seemed to be almost interminable, namely,
the water question. (Hear, hear.) He thought it was
pretty well known to most there that in the early history
of the question he took a very active and a very decided
part in opposing the Rivington scheme. He felt that it
was unnecessary to go to so great a distance as Rivington
for an additional supply of water. Having taken an

active part in connection with the Booth water works, he
knew some little about it, and he was of opinion that a
supply of water could be obtained nearer home. But,
unfortunately, the Town Council hurried the scheme on.

It became arpet scheme, and it was so hurried on that it
became impossible to undo it. When he left the Council
two years ago the reservoirs were then approaching fast to
completion. At that time the water had not been intro-
duced into Liverpool, but the general expectation of the
supporters of the scheme was that they would have an
abundant supply of water, and not only that, but an
abundant supply of gJocl water. In regard to the
abundant supply, he believed the expectation had been
quite fulfillel. He believed they had an ample and
abundant supply, but he was sorry to say that the hopes
had not been fulfilled with regard to the quality. (Hear,
hear.) He feared there could be but one opinion through-
out the town of Liverpool, and that there was one feeling
of disappointment in regard to the quality of the water
brought from Rivington. (Hear, hear.) It had. to make
use of the popular phrase of the day, come into Liverpool
in a state of turbidity, which meant, he supposed, in plain
English, that it was riot fit for dietetic purposes. (Hear,
hear.) But the question remained to be considered, and
it was a very serious and important one, what was the
best step now to be taken ? They had spent upon the
scheme nearly, if not quite, a million of money, and
surely after having spent that amount they ought to turn
it, if possible, to some good purpose. (Hear, hear.) He
quite went along with the Water Committee to this
extent, that he thought they ought to make every effort
by means of filtration, and of every aid which science
could afford, to endeavour, if possible, to remove' the
objectionable colour of the water. But he agreed with
what was proposed by Mr. John Aikin, that during the
progress of the filtration process, th 3 committee ought to
"girt) back to the town of Liverpool the old well water.
(Cries of " Hear, bear.") He did not sea why they should
compel the people of Liverpool to drink the Rivington
water, so long as it remained in its present condition.
He was surprised, oa reading the reports in the papers
that day, of the discussion which took place in the
Council, to find that sb extremely moderate and sensible
a proposal as that brought forward by Mr Atkin was not
at once acceded to by the Cluncit. (Hear, hear.) He
could not but feel that the Water Committee did not like

to give back to the town the old well water. They were
probably afraid that if they once gave the spring water
again, the town would not he very willing to give it up.
(Hear, hear.) If he should b 3 fortunate enough to be
returned as a member of the Council, the watt r question
should receive his most serious consideration. If it was
decided and made gait° clear that the water could not
be filtered—and he was very much afraial that that would
be tha result; he did not see what other result there
could be (hear, hear)—then he thought there was but one
course for all the members of the Council to adopt, and
that was, to insist upon having a separate supply. (Hear.
hear, and loud applause.) Mr. Avison then referred to
the question of the town dues, upon which he observed,
that although there could be no difference of opinion in
Liverpool upon the injustice of the attack which had been
‘-1-"icaiii-
ttan7 caring in ruin that so ong as the dues ex's e

the Corporation would be always open to attacks, and
might be call.d upon year after year to spend large
sums in derending them—ha thought the arrangement
come to although not such a full m .asare of justice
as they ought to have, was one with which they
might be fairly an I reasonably satisfied. (Loud cheers.)
Inasmuch as it would have the effect of ♦ery seriously
diminishing the income of the Corporate estate, it would
devolve upon all persons entering the C uncil chamber to
exercise the most careful economy in the administration
of that estate. (Cheers) He hoped that, now that the
Finance Committee would have more time to look after
things which had been hitherto rather neglected, such as
the Newsham Hluse estate, the property in Dale•street,
and other prop. rties• which had been purchased by the
Council, they would develops them and make them
productive. At the time Mr. Robertson Gladstone moved
fora r-t urn of the whole Corporate property, nearly three,
years ago, he (Mr. Avison) was one of those who thought'
the return would take a good deal of time to prepare, but
he did not expect it would have taken the time it had
done; and he did think the statement would be more
important to be placed in the hands of all Town Coun-
cillors than was generally considered He believed that
many members of the Council, if not most, knew little
or nothing of what the property of the corporation con-
sisted. A statement such as that placed in the hands of
every member, would, therefore, be of very great service.
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Avison, in conclusion, promised, it' he
should be elected, to support all measures which would
have a tendency to promote the improvement of the town,
and 'all measures connected with the cause of popular
education, in which he had always taken a deep interest,
and which, while a me bbor of the Library an I Museum
Committee of the Council, he had always laboured to
serve. Raving again thanked the meeting, Mr. Avison
resumed his sera amid loud and.general applause.
An Elector (Mr. James Davis) complained of the
enormous salary paid to some of the corporate officials,
and especially of the increase in the,Town-clerk's salary,
and the sum of £1,003 lately given to him for only doing ,
what should be considered his duty. He asked Mr:
Avison's opinion upo.t those suejects•
Mr. Avison said he agreed, in to n-ral, that, in past
times, there had been too much increasing of salaries. In
regard to the Town-clerk's salary, he was one of the very
few members of the council who voted against the
increase. (Hear, hear )
Mr. D;gby Smith there proposed a resolution, naming a
committee to conduct the election of Mr. Avison.
Mr. John Wilson seconded the resolution, which was
carried by acclamation
Mr. C T. Bowring. who was introdUced to the meeting
by the Chairman and by Mr. William:, as the candidate
for St. Peter's Ward, and was loadly applauded• came
forward, and in a few words proposed a 'tote of thanks to
the Chairman.
Mr. Harvey seconded the resolution, which was
enthusiastically curried.
Time Chairman having briefly acknowledged the compli-
ment, the proceedings terminated.