Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-04-04 00:00:00

if i r

-

THE GREAT WATER CONTROVERSY IN
TRANME

Counter creation
Tr rates too toono
we excessive s
ground
vreo
utnodb edo borneyou?.
Property, or
either ratepayerslvthe
ouiodneio knownte
Woodward,
other
wearas being i
injureno gr
lit iheredml
selves
thesys
etown.sobry thre
that others are not equally economical and reli-
,adbWalreeo.
aut.l,odthMesyary?..
bdaoriets?upposition is a libel on the common sense and
dTGihsilcelretion of the people.abl We want sewerage, doubtless,
arean could tae
and
might
t thee existinguppierd
extension
bduucteidiotthebyefnoaruest wbee,fe to dtoesiat.re Trehdeureeeda_reapnrdivarete-
notoexpenditure of the public
,olunder the Local Act—
nuisances to abate, callinc,
adual sewerage. The
about " forcing
pr;at,tle
sewerage," is a lie
unworthy of the men that uttered it.
I have felt a deep concern in this matter, and, though
very humble individual amongst you, and painfnl as
money
ntre jy difference
t
to me to differ with gentlemen, some of whom I have 1 1;
applauded and admired, and with whom I agree on manyon
I public questions, still, having some little interest in the
I township, and feeling that that interest, and the general
•
interests of the public would be imperilled by the rejection
of the Local Act, I could not hesitate to give whatever
earnestness and power of advocacy I possess in furtherance
of an agitation which, I venture to think, is bound up with
the popular cause, and must remain inseperable from its
consolidation and success. I have spoken at your two large
meetings, and endeavoured to set forth what appears to me to
I be the reasonable side in this discussion ; and I appeal to you
now, as though it were to be the last word I should write,
to sweep away the wretched and barbarous system I have
described. Adopt the local act; establish a legitimate and
responsible ,ward, electable annually—and you will thus
recall quiet to your distracted township, and make it what
it ought to be —a peaceful and prosperous community,
within the borders of which it will be a comfort and happi-
ness to live.---I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
Tranmere, March, 1859. T. M. DOWNHAM.
P.S. Since writing the above, I have seen an abstract of
the new Highway Act, now before Parliament, and which
will become law this session. It takes the management of
the highways from the people, and hands it to the justices
of the peace. The latter cut and carve each county into
districts, form themselves into a board, levy rates, abolish
the present surveyors, and inflict upon us any change they,
"in their wisdom," may think proper. We should then
not only have "justices' justice," but magisterial govern-
ment. The same principle is contained in the Constabulary
Act, by which Tranmere has to pay for constables for other
places, and under which our rates have increased 8d in the
pound. The adoption of the Local Act exempts us from
the operation of this new tyranny. Let us be wise in time.
Let us not be deceived. These compulsory acts are a
curse. The Local Act may be made a general and perma-
nent blessing.---T. M.D.

TO THE RATEPARERS OF TRANMERE.
by adopting the Local Government Act of 1858, the other
for retaining the old system of action and opposing areimprove-
etTehrmeriened
upon twoim opposingprnving
theparties
administrationin the township,
ofita affairs
one
determined j
e
ment altogether.
ship ; the latter, preferring a private company, reject the
act, but do so on the alleged ground that such adoption
strict water formerwater t
exclusivet he
advantageobtain
eto t
ncwo nn--
workswou i
fdo ra thedop
would entail pecuniary incumbrances prejudicial to Tranmere
interests.
The paramount question to be decided appears.to me to
be this : Is the adoption of the local act a sacrifice to public
good? That will depend on the previous question, would
the works prove a remunerative investment to the township ?
or in other words, would they pay.? 'ln determining this
matter, all will depend upon three things. Ist. The original
outlay. 2nd. The public demand. 3rd. The management
and administration of the works.
With respect to the first question, the evidence of
Mr. Doweray, the very eminent and wealthy contractor, of
London, given to the parliamentary committee, puts that
at rest. His answer : " I will be glad to complete
all the works in eight months for less than £15,000" (say
£13,200 the c. e. estimate) is final and decisive. That offer
scatters to the winds the wild fabrications of £2O, £25, and
£30,000 concocted and spread by the votaries of private
speculation. Two or three points are worthy of consider-
ation.
1. If a private company promise a large per tentage upon
their scheme, why cannot the township derive an equal
benefit i
2. No water supply in the kingdom has turned out a
failure. Why should it do so here? Why should Tranmere
be the exception ?
3. The company take absolute powers to construct, and.
do not allow Tranme;e, if it wished to do so, to compel the
sale of their works, or to erect its own. In fact, there is no
clause saving local rights, and, therefore, if the population
increases twenty fold, and the scheme becomes a princely
investment, we and our successors lose all the good, because
a private company have been permitted to enjoy the mo-
nopoly.
4. Nearly all the active promoters of the private company
are either shareholders, or are supporting it blindly through
ties of party, or interestedly through dependence upon others.
5. Some of these shareholders have stated their readiness
to support the Local Act if their pet project of the com-
pany is not opposed. The reporters notes of our public
meetings prove this.
6. If Tranmere, with it.; ever-increasing population, is not
essential to the success of the company, why not save the
expense of parliamentary warfare, and strike it from their
will? The company know why.
Secondly. As to the number of persons taking water,
that, in any case, must remain a matter of speculation.
Bnt, there is no *doubt, the demand. is exceedingly great,
and will be more steady and large if met by the public,
rather than a private company. Bearing this in mind, let
the company answer a plain question ; If you can realise
81 per cent., why may not the township obtain much more ?
Thirdly. As to the management—it is worse than
absurd to say that public management is not so profitable
as private—that depends on the men elected to manage.
We are told that private individuals are influenced by sel-
fishness. Have public men no such passion in its nobler
form ? No Englishman will dare the utterance of a libel
so intensely gross.
Were that the case patriotism and public spirit, and devo-
tion to the popular weal must be unknown. The priceless
fame of our national and municipal rulers is a flimsy sham.
and England's best honoured sons are shriven of their
fairest crown, and our proud public rectitude is nothing ELECTION Russorras.—An on dit is current in Yohglial
more than a name. Are the advocates of " private" enter- that John Francis M'Guire, Esq., M. P., will seek the
prise prepared for the logical deference of their own reason- suffrages of the electors of that borough in the event of a
mg ? The facts are against you, gentlemen, and if honest dissolution of the present parliament.
to yonr own experience, you will say so. CLUB RUMOURS. —We are authorised to state that the
My position in this matter is this—l am not opposed to paragraph which we gave as mere club gossip, mentioning
tht company, but I prefer the township. Any opposition I the names of gentlemen who, it was asserted, were to be
give, therefore, is a negative opposition, based upon a created baronets, is totally without foundation.
stated preference for the public. I should in the absence of FRIGHTFUL Surcinu OP AN OLD LADY. —On Wednesday
the local act, and the consequent right of the township evening, in London, an inquest was held on the body of an
to adopt it, and under it to erect public works, have advo- old lady, aged 88 years, who committed suicide by cutting
cated the company as not only legitimate but laudatory, her own throat. The jury returned a verdict, "That
and deserving of all support. My convictions as to the ad- deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary
vantageous character of these works, and the exclusive right insanity."
of the township to possess them has prevented. me giving Tim BALLOT AND THE HOUSE* OF Coln/mg.—We are
that support. informed that, in accordance with the advice of his leading
There has been much said about the local act. My supporters, Mr. Berkeley will as early as possible bring on
reasons for its adoption inter alia (as the lawyers say) are the ballot as a substantive motion, under circumstances
as as follow : more likely to ensure a regular debate and full attendance at
Ist. We think the present threefold division of manage- the division.—Star.
ment in a population of 10,000, injurious, and likely to RESTORATION OF HEREFORD CATHEDRAL.—The resto-
foster feelings of hostility and estrangement. rations which have been old
on during the last six or
2. We think it is time to introduce a system of gradual seven months in this fine old building are beginning to show
sewerage. The gentlemen in Clifton-park and St. Paul's- satisfactory progress. The Dean and chapter have con-
road may have some of theirs already, but that is no reason tracted for the execution of repairs which will entail an
why the ' vulgar masses " should be allowed to welter in expenditure of nearly £14,000.
,i miasma,m rr comes,and
wherepesh willthrough
the fevergent l
eamn
ednof
disease.theSouth-end If
a h
of a hot SUICIDEboy wasll fYoAunßd ovs
u.—spOennaTeduebsy a
dayrfoopreen
from
oonmt the
ed dead
fbnofd
ay
s
be, with the scores of cesspools and open drains that pollute loft belonging to his father, who resided at Leith. De-
its atmosphere and vitiate its air ? ceased, who was scarcely 14 yearsof age, had d been found
a,,e, a
3. We beiieve that this act is preferable to the " Health fault with by his father on Monday
of Towns Act," because of its optional character and its and soon after this he was seen afternoonite
direction
misconduct,
great principle of local self-government. By the one you loft where his body was discovered.mg This wasi theectiL
last
toftitmhee
can and may sewer when and as you are able, by the other he was seen alive, and the presumption is that he then
you must, with the additional benefit of government iuspec- terminated his existence.
1 torship and dictation. Is Sir Henry Rawlinson to come At an inquest held on the remains of the late Marquis of
down ? There are hundreds of people who will sign for Waterford, a verdict in accordance with the facts of his
that, if you finally reject the local act. We pray you to melancholy death was returned. The writer of an obituary
remember this. It is no fallacy, but a sure bone fide truth, notice in the Press remarks that in personal appearance the
and has been done in scores of cases to the wretchedness late marquis was "a genuine Beresford, with the clear, the
of nearly all. The Health of Towns Act searching eye, and regularity of features, hereditary for
forced upon a community is a species of generations in that noble race. In bodily form he was
imperial coercion' without any redeeming principle. Are conspicuous for a chest and shoulders of rare development.
you prepared for its martial law ? Mr. Ross talks about At thirty years of age Lord Waterford was probably the
preparing his notice to quit." He may well do so if this strongest-man in the kingdom, and his activity was equal to
is to be the fate of the township " he loves so well." his vigour."
4. We dread incorporation with Birkenhead, with its THE REV. MR. CAIRD.---We understand that at a private
terrible inflictions in probable increased taxation, and am meeting of the Presbytery of Glasgow, held on Wednesday,
told on the best anthority in the neighbourhood, and the something like a vote of censure was passed upon the Rev.
intelligence comes from an important quarter in London, Mr. Caird, of Park Church, because he had on one occasion
that some such step will be taken if we are not under a recently allowed a United Presbyterian minister to officiate
definite and Proper management. This may sound like in his pulpit ! We can hardly believe that such an instance
intimidation, but what has been maybe again, and instances of bigotry and intolerance could have been manifested by a
are not wanting to prove that such incorporations are body who are remarkable for being the least bigoted of all
favoured by the parliament of the country. the sects among us ; but our authority assures us of its
5. There are many other reasons why this act should be truth. Dr. Buchanan, when in Jernsalem recently,
adopted. I mention only one. The clamourous and unfair was not allowed to preach in the English Church
proceedings at our public meetings, and the necessity of there, because he lied not been prelatically or-
putting an end to them by the appointment of a representa- dained ! And here we find a reverend body
tive government like Birkenhead, all of which is pro- presuming to censure one of their number for
vided for by the local act. We have an "unenviable exhibiting more of a Christian character than their own
notoriety," and it can only be wiped away by the bigotry would allow them to do, by merely inviting a
substitution of some other mode of management brother clergyman, of another and as worthy a sect, to
than that of excited public gatherings. Some officiate in his pulpit. In a return of the 117 superior
delegated executive more in accordance with the demands of employes of the IriSh National Board of Education, just
reason, and the era of enlightenment in which we live, presented to Parliament, the religion of each is given.
Our public meetings have been visited with a scourge— There ale so many of the Established Church, so_ many
"gentlemen in broad cloth and cambric," have descended Roman Catholics, so many Presbyterians,
and
ONEtlUiantß"-
to the basest vulgarities, and perpetratd outrages, and TIAN. We should now be almost inclined 0 tosay
f Christ is one
insults upon speakers, fit only for the vilest fish-hag of real Christian in 117 professed followers
rae tice, be found h a
ere.—
Billingsgate. Gentlemen calmly and fairly expressing larger proportion than will, in P
their sentiments, have been grossly insulted, and hirelings Daily Mail.
LATEST F isirioNs
and dupes have done the work of insult and assault. This . - ..
_several novelties in cloaks have
They a •
was the case when Mr. Williams, in his clear and vigorous reached us from Paris. are especially intended for
manner, was stating his opinions on Thursday last, in the season now Boffin.'
for description. in, and we therefore select some of
'
favour of an adjournment of the meeting. The first dis- the most approved The mantelets La
turbance came from the friends of the company. They Valliere, oomposed of puce-colour silk, is slightly pointed
began at the very moment Mr. Williams rose. The news- at the back, in the shawl form. It is trimmed with two
i paper report says so. Mr. Baxter talked indeed about deep flounces of black guipure ; the lower &nee is headed
"packed evening meetings." If he means that we pack with a row of guipure insertion. On the shoulders there is a
meetings, I tell him it is a base falsehood. His friends trimming in the form of a small fichu, consisting of guipure
have ben beaten in fair argument, in undeniable fact, in insertion and black velvet, with loops of puce-coloured _
clear unchallengable statement. Who packed the meeting ribbon intermingled. From this trimming the upper flounce
„on Thursday morning? Why were the two old men off of guipure descends a little below the waist. The Ninon
the highways, " Bob and Jack" brought into the room de guipure
is a basquine not fitting close to the waist, and
marshalled and dressed to vote for their paymasters ? it has the addition of deep pelerine or cape. Th'e one we
Answer that. How comes it that every publican, at have seen is composed ofe black silk. The skirt and front of
1 whose house the company's committee meets, was present the basqeinnenartehterim d with
d throatm there bouillonnes of silk, in three
'to ."lift a hand ?" How is it that the chairman rows. R
° The pelerine i are two rows only of these
refused to put our amendments ? How was it that he stated beuillonnes.
guipure, headed b 8 edged with a deep row of
that never, in his experience, had a meeting been adjocrurieend black The Caprce is a bas ui y two rows of bouillonnes.
till evening ; and how that, on Mr. Hogarth remindinb In q ne fitting Close to the figure.
Rows of trimming
of the "precedents," he faltered out an admission of the are placed t
tor- from the edge to the •regular intervals
a ,
actual facts ? How is it that when we denied the . waist. This trimming. consists
l of a series of
rectness of the numbers voting, he refused, as is frequently thy
Very narrow done, to call again for a show of hands ? How is it that
werec ,
!is nish o.w, lace edging. At the throat, the bas nine
declined to pay attention to our protest, that all present e. by a row of the same trimming, and
•
not ratepayers ? How is it, if faction is not at work, t
that
;two rows disposed
as bretelles meeting in a point at the
of time abortive 1 waist,
one gentleman proposed the re-appointment
tin a , both before and behind. The ends of the sleeves are
Nuisance Committee, when, at the public mee
,g• few cut out hi deep vandykos, which are edged with trimmings
nights ago, he declared it to be a " completefarce 'Mow of rosettes and lace. The spaces between the vandykes are
is it that the paid official of the township tells the ratepayers filled up by double sleeves of black spotted tulle, descending
that aSs rate will result from the local act—an unpardon- no lower than the points of the vandykes. Some beautiful
able lie ? Who but the leading men in the Company's novelties in pocket handkerchiefs have just made their
favour attended a tins-mee called oho
those "favourable to appearance. Those suited to evening dress are circular in
to the Local Act," dted the proceedings by the form, and are bordered with a row of insertion running in
most unseemly and Burin conduct ? Which of them anundulating line. At the extreme edge there is a row of
smoked cigars in the room g the speaking ? Disgrace- ' Valenciennes corresponding with the insertion. For morn-
fnl meetings ! ! These are the sort of things thatmake in •andoutdoor d
ing
them disgraceful, and these the men who, not able to speak . extremely fashionable. They are made of very tine batiste,
intelligibly themselves, extinguish argument by clamour and are either round or squire. They are edged with a
and drown reason. in riot. I make an appeal to the rate- borderof lilac blue -• k consisting of a running
a.c, or pin , l
payers. I ask, in all earnestness, h 1 • f handkerchief, also
ow ong is this to arabesque dep. Another st e o
continue? tartan border printed on the
suited to morning dress, has a
Are we everlastingly to suffer under ourequally vivid,
discre- ' cambric and on both sides the colours are
Bitable system ? Is the bursting dissatisfactionpresent ,
isside. These tartan borders are
of the that there no wrong . ,
and ladies handkerchiefs ; but
township always to exist ? When
shall we put an end to printed both on gentlemen'sthat they are strictly confined to '
these intolerable scenes ? The
the Local
can settle the it must be observed
matter now ; the adoption of tha LoaTars -Its in costume. Other handkerchiefs, confined to the
e cal Act assumes. ii? fn g
:1111 io ttle of morning dress, are of White lawn, with
settlement. Sewerage is the great bugbear flaunted in e p aines s y
ofsmall white, blue, or red spots.---Lady's
eyes of the people—it is a trick. o can sewer ? The borders formed
men the ratepayers elect, Who will they be ? Owners of Neuvapar.

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