Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-11 00:00:00

CHURCH RATES

Sir A. Elton moved the following resolution?...
That this House, considering that church-rates
are productive of frequent strife and litigation, and
have ceased to be levied in an increasing
number of parishes, deems it advisable that they should
be wholly discontinued, except for payment of existing
charges thereon, and that the maintenance of the fabric of
the church be confided to the zeal and liberality of the
clergy and laity. 2nd. That in order to afford facility for
the free exercise of that zeal and liberality, it is expedient
that in every parish the incumbent aid churchwardens
should form a co-operation, with power to take hold and
manage all property given or appropriated for purposes
relating to the parish church, and to administer the income
thence arising. 3rd. That the authority of the present
vestry in every parish with reference to the parish church,
should be transferred to a new vestry to be termed the
" Church Vestry," to consist of the incumbent and
churchwardens, and those owners and occupiers of
property in the parish, who give not less than a
fixed yearly sum to the parish church funds, the
present vestry retaining its authority in secular affairs.
4th. That the churchwardens should be chosen exclu-
sively from the members of the church vestry, and their
purely secular duties be' performed by the overseers.
Mr. S. Estcourt objected to abstract resolutions when
serious bills were before the house, and did not see the
utility of providing a substitute for Church Rates, before
they were actually abolished. He trusted that the :hon.
baronet would be satisfied- with having pointed out the
mode which might be adopted if the rate was actually
destroyed.

Mr. Cowper thought that the resolutions suggested an
efficient machinery for the management of the Church

fabrics

Mr. Newdegate objected to the limitations of goodwill
towards the, Church on the part of dissenters, contained in

the resolutions

Sir A. Elton withdrew his motion

NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES,

Viscount Bury called the attention of the 'house to the
Newfoundland Fisheries, and moved an address to her
Majesty, for copies or extracts of any correspondence
between the English and French authorities in Newfound-
land, or between the government of Newfoundland and the
Secretary of State for the Colonies, or between:the "English
and French governments, which may show the construction
placed by the French authorities upon the treaties which
now regulates the Newfoundland Fisheries. His object was
to discover whether the pending negociations were intended
to end in the making of new treaties on the subject, or in
the explanation and modification of the old. There were
many chances of collision under existing circumstances,
between the fishermen of this country and those of France,
mainly owing to the violation by the latter of existing
treaties, and the injudicious privileges conceded by England
in 1856.

Sir E. B. Lytton said that a mixed commission had been
appointed for the purpose of making enquiries on the spot.
Meanwhile the captains of vessels belonging to both nations
were instructed to act with the greatest forbearance.
While the negotiations were thus going on he was pre-
cluded from giving further explanation, and he trusted that
he should not be asked for the production of papers which
at present would not be advantageous to the public service.

Mr. Labouchere said that the difficulties of an agreement
with France were complicated by our reciprocity treaty with
America. The negotiations now on foot could only lead to
a satisfactory arrangement by mutual concessions.
Mr. M. Gibson hoped that the rights of the people of
Newfoundland would not be abrogated without first con-
sulting the local legislature. He condemned strongly the
convention of 1856.
After some observations from ➢ir. Wilde,
Lord Bury repeated his inquiry as to what were the in-
structions of the commissioners.

Mr. S. Fitzgerald said that one of the British commis-
sioners was to be nominated by the legislature of Newfound-
foundland. The commissioners were to proceed to the spot,
and ascertain the actual rights or all parties under existing
treaties, and how far these had been exceeded, but they
were not empowered to make any definite arrangement for
the future. As to the papers, it was not desirable to pub-
lish them at present.

THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY'S CHARTER,

Mr. C. Fortescue moved an address for copy of any cor-
respondence between the Colonial-office and the Hudson's
Bay Company, with reference to the charter, or to the
license of trade, of that company, since the 22nd day of Feb-
ruary, 1858, being the date of the last returns upon the

subject.
Sir E. B. Lytton promised the production of the papers

at the proper time.
The motion was withdrawn,

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS BILL

The Municipal Elections Bill passed through committee
A division took place on an amendment moved by Mr
Divett, raising the penalty for bribery from 40s. to £5O.

The amendment was negatived by 261 to 13.
A second division took place on a clause, moved by Mr.
Hadfield, reducing the residence qualification from three

years to one.
The clause was negatived by 187 to 99.
A third division took place on a clause, moved by Mr.
Fox, abolishing the property qualification.
The clause was negatived by 181 to 108.
Mr. Berkeley proposed a clause enacting that votes should
be taken by ballot.
The chairman ruled that it could not be then entertained.
Mr. Berkeley gave notice that he should move the clause
on the report.

CHURCH BATES ABOLITION BILL.
Sir J. Trelawney moved the second reading of the Church
Rates Abolition Bill. . . .

Mr. Hope, urging the lateness of the hour, which was
twenty-five minutes to one, moved the adjournment of the
debate. _

Sir J. Trelawney said that he had postponed his. bill to
suit the convenience of the Government. The subject had
been exhausted, and he appealed to his opponents to allow
the bill to proceed. _

Mr. Hope persisted, and the motion for adjournment
was put and negatived by 173 to 108.
Mr. Bentinck moved the adjournment of the house.
Sir J. Pakington urged the postponement of the bill.
Sir J. Trelawney postponed the bill till this day (Friday).
The house then adjourned at one o'clock.

HOUSE DEMOLISHED BY A RAILWAY ENGINE.—A very
singular accident occurred on Tuesday on the East
Lancashire Railway. The Hurricane engine left the
Preston Station about three o'clock; with a tender and 16
waggons attached, and proceeded safely on the way to
Blackburn till it arrived at the Bamber Bridge Station,
when the engine suddenly bolted off the metals and ran
against the gate at the level crossing there. It broke down
the gate and posts, and then caught the corner of a house
abutting on the railway, knocking the gable down entirely,
and carrying away a portion of the front wall. The whole
interior of the house was thus displayed to view. A woman
who was washing in the back kitchen was unhurt ; and the
engine driver, who shut off the steam as soon as possible,
also escaped injury. The chimneyof the engine was
crushed by the falling debris of the house, and was other-
wise seriously damaged; and the tender was smashed to
atoms., Not a single waggon left the line, the eouplin• 0.
chain next to the tender having broken. A bllffer laic ,cll
' was afterwards found upou.thc rails, and it is supposed 'that
it had fallen from one cf the carriages of a previous. ..ran
land that this obstacle threw the engine of the ro3
is a
occasioned the accident. The damage cif:Mq is not
420.—.Pred.31,016,401, 1 Less than

THE
WIRRAL WATER WORKS

BILL.

FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, 'Thursday
THE PREAMBLE PROVED.

The following evidence was given on this bill alter the
dispatch of my parcel yesterday :
Mr. William Webb was called and examined by Mr.
Calve= t, Q.C. He said : lam an estate agent and account-
ant, hav;:ig a place of business at Liverpool. For the last
17 years h2ve resided at Tranmere, the population
of which is about 10,000. It is, however, a rapidly
incteasing township, and reqni :es many sanitary improve-
ments, r was not acquainted with the provisions of the
Local Government Act of last year until a few months ago.
Upon examiiiing it, I thought it was a very good act, and
that it was desirable to put it in operation in Tranmere.
There are at present neither gas nor water works at Tian-
mere. I have made calculations showing the expense of

supplying Tranniere with water under the Local Govern-
ment Act, and also, und,er the bill now before the committee.
I find that under the Local Government Act the township
would be supplied with water at an expense of £15,000;
but under the company's bil2 the expense would be upwards
of £17,000'.. If the works were established by tho township,
the money could be easily raised, at 4or 4 per cent., on
the security of the rates. There are no baths and wash-
houses in Tranmere ; bnt we look forward hopefully to
their establishment. Very extravagant statements have
been put forward by the company, and others, with regard
to the enormous expense of adopting the Local Government
Act as compared with the adoption of the company's
bill. At the meeting of the 4th March, everything
that could be said in favour of the company
was said. The majority at the
the bill was certainly eight to one. Ti

meeting
MP -whit

against

it were mixed up with the scheme in some way or other.
With regard to the character of the meeting, it was com-
posed almost entirely of ratepayers. I saw one or two who
were not ratepayers, and I turned them out myself. I have
been informed that the subscription list of the company is
not filled up, and that Mr. Gill has found it impossible to
fill it up.
Mr. Rodwell objected to evidence of this nature from a
witness who had taken an active part against the company.
His learned friend had had an opportunity of eross-examin-
_

ing the witnesses cal

he. promo'

bat point,

the promoters had very studiously ab-

stained from calling any witness from whom any fasts re-
specting the position of the company, could be obtained.
The Chairman said the committee would only take the

evidence for what it was worth. At the best, it only a
statement of what the witness had heard
Examination continued ; If the

present bill were sane-

tioned by parliament,

and the company were unable to
onsequence would be ruinous to

complete their works, the

Tranmere

Cross-examined by Mr. Rodwell : In 1842 I was a bank-
rupt, and since that time I have been in an attorney's
office, and I am now an accountant. I have interest
in land, at Tranmere, to the extent of £B,OOO, of which I
have already paid £3,000. The meeting at Tranmere was
not different in its character from ordinary meetings there.
It was somewhat noisy, but so are all Tranmere meetings.
I had a water scheme of my own some time ago, but I
gave it up because I could not see that it could be rendered
a profitable speculation. I did not abandon it because
there was a total absence of local support. We propose
now to construct works for ourselves, at a cost of £15,000.
We could raise that sum for 4 or 41 per cent. on the security
of the rates of the township. No burden would fall upon the
ratepayers in consequence, because we believe that the
works would be completed in nine months, that the sub-
sequent quarter's rent would pay the interest of the borrow-
ed capital, and that if it was insufficient the £15,000 would
leave a margin from which the surplus could be supplied.
At the meeting on the 4th instant, an amendment was re-
jected and declined to be put by the chairman, because it
was contrary to the act. Mr. Lloyd advised the chairman,
that the amendment was irregular. I have been asked to
sell shares for the company, but I decline to mention the
name of the gentlemen who made the request, as they are
private friends of my own, unless I am pressed.
Mr. Rodwell insisted u.on having an answer, and
Witness said: M-. George Atkin told me that I might
as well sell some shares for the company upon a com-
mission. A rinillar request came from Mr. Dobson.
Mr. Thomas Dockwray, examined by Mr. Johnson, said :
I have been a contractor for the sinking of wells, and I
sank. the well !'or the IV-Icenhead Dock Company. I have
no doubt that a supply of water to the extent of a million
gallons per day could be obtained at the site selected by Mr.
Fulton in Tranmere. I should have no objection to com-
plete the works within the estimate of £15,000 furnished by
Mr. Fulton.

Cross-examined by Mr. Rod*ell : I am acquainted with
the district in which Mr. Fulton's site is situated. It is in
the red sandstone formation, which abounds in water. I
think it very probable that a well within a mile of the
Birkenhead works would perceptibly diminish the supply of
of water to be obtained from those works.
Re-examined : I would undertake to sink a well. in
Tranmere within eight months, and I think it would be
done in less time than that.
At this stage of the proceedings, the committee adjourned
until to-day at twelve o'clock.
The committee re-assembled to-day, at noon. Mr. Ker
Seymer in the chair. The following members of the com-
mittee were also in attendance: Major Stuart Knox, Sir
Graham Montgomery, Mr. Whatman, and Mr. R. J.
Bagshawe.
Mr. Thomas Henry Fulton, examined by Mr. Martin.
lam a civil engineer, and have had much experience. I
have been , engaged by many of the metropolian
water companies. I surveyed the Wirral district,
with a view to a water supply, in 1858. I prepared
a plan. That was before the Local Government
Act came into operation. I have no doubt, looking at the
area of the district and the population of Tranmere, that
Tranmere is able to support a water works of its own ? and
I think that to supply Tranmere along with other districts,
by a private company, would be a --tax upon Tranmere.
I have made an estimate 'of works, which I consider would
be necessary to supply Tranmere. My estimate is £15,000.
I believe £40,000 is the estimate of the proposed company,
which I think would be quite absorbed. The working
expenses of separate works for Tranmere would be £650
per annum. They would be self-supporting, and would.
leave a balance for the purposes of the township.
Cross-examined i I have never erected any works myself,
but have made estimates. I made one for Leeds. , I never
made any estimates for works that were afterwards brought
into parliament. The estimate I made for the Wirral
district, in 1858, was for the supply of water to all places
in the district, with the exception of Stourton and
Noctorum. The estimates included Tranmere. I have not
altered my views. If the inhabitants want a supply, they
ought to have it under conditions. The conditions are, that
the parties who take the water should pay for it. That is
the test. Their taking shares is a good test. In the pro--
posed works at Tranmere, I propose a pumping-engine of
thirty horse-power. The proposed works would be one
mile and a half from the Birkenhead Commissioners' Works.
In the working expenses of £650 per annum, I do not
include interest. That I put down at £950 per annum,
making £1,700- per annum. The rental I estimate at
£1,960, on the assumption that all the existing houses take
the supply. If my proposed works are carried out, under
the local government act, the estimated rental assumes
that every house pays for the water, whether they. take it,
or not. Should the rental not cover the expenses,. the
difference would have to be made up by a. rate upon the
township ; but I do not think there would be any necessity.
for a rate, because, according to my calculations, the rental.
would exceed the expenditure. I selected a site, with a
view of my well not affecting the Birkenhead,Commissioners'
well ; and, in order to supply Tranmere, amile and a• half
from the Birkenhead wells was as. far • as I considered I

could go.
Re-examined: It is a very speculative question as to how
far one well will affect another. Eselected my siteas much
with a view to a supply by gravitation as from any other

source.
This was the case on behalf of the Tranmere opposition.
Mr. Calvert addressed the committee in support of the
Tranmere petition against the-bill,.and said, that fromclear the
evidence which had been adduced,uced, it was perfectly
that this was an attempt on the part of the promoters of
the bill, to force an act of parliament for the benefit of a
private company, upon an unwilling township. The
people of Tranmere wished to avail themselves of the local
government act of last year, and under it to supply them-
selves selves with water. That act held out very great advantages
to townships like Tranmere, where there was now an or-
ganisation going forward to avail themselves of its plivi-
leges. He (Mr. Calvert) hoped that the co
would not discourage such an organisation, and encourage
far the it own advantage —he did not
a body. of speculators who wished to establishrawmateeerr: He
works
blame them
i wfolriicih it
wv sit
that awcibroi eyidt,te
es would
r,
aot
bhu
llaedt
temherberawceertehenutmownereshusipi of Tranmere.
water works should be established on a
greater guarantee to a regular
supply,
cheaper supply, but this was
antral saynstdem also
a u s affordinggg
a a
not one of those cases. The argument did not at all apply
to the red sandstone formation, because the red sandstone
measures contained such an abundance of water that it was
easy and beneficial to establish works in many individual
cases. The learned counsel endeavoured to shew that
inshtehuilsd p
notosits
Tranmere etrheaton, and urged upon the em-
powers to supply Tranmeregiwvieththt
theywaswater,he
the inhabitants and and
ratepayers of that township of the

' advantages of obtaining a Sll ppik
,for thehiseltA
under the provisions of the Local Goverthheiit Act,
The learned counsel concluded by stating that the promoters
had notishown themselves to be a substantial company, nor
that they could complete the works for the sum named, ar d
he therefore hoped the committee would strike Tranmere
out of their bill.
Mr. Hope Scott, Q.C., then addressed the committee in
reply, on behalf of the promoters. He said no one had
ventured to come forward and say that there was a sufficient
suppy of water in the district named. There was an ad-
mitted necessity, and the only question was, who was to
supply it? Now, when the proposed company was pro-
jected, no one—no body of men —had attempted to avail
themselves of the Local Government Act, and there-
fore it might be assumed that it was only
by a company that the wants of the district could be supplied.
The question which the committee had to consider was,
whether an opposition, got up as this opposition had been,
in Traninere, was to prevail as aganst the other districts,
such opposition having been got up rather to defeat this
bill than to supply Tranmere with water at all. The learned
counsel then cited the provisions of the Local Govern-
ment Act, with the view of showing that under it a township
could not necessarily supply the inhabitants with water.
They had compulsory powers, in so far as tegarded tene-
ments, which they could charge twopence per week for the
supply, and for public purposes, but no further, and in order
to supply the inhabitants of a township generally with water,
it was necessary that they come to parliament like a private
company. _ _ _

The Chairman : There is no power given in the Local
Government Act preventing a private company from com-
ing into a district.
Mr.- Hope Scott : No, not a word in the act. It never
was the intention of parliament that local boards should
have the power of supplying water to'the public generally.
They had, as he had already observed, compulsory powers
as to small tenements at a charge of t*opence per week,
but if they proposed to supply the inhabitants of a district

generally, they could effect that object only by coming to
parliament for a special act. He named this more parti-
cularly because regardinc, this point there Was a general error
prevailing in the minds' of the public. as' regarded the
powers possessed by local boards. ihey mast either
come to parliament for special power, or otherwise
must have purchased tke rights of a, company
already in existence. Now this oppositibti on the,
part of certain parties in Tranmere, had not riseti.out of any
well defined plan for supplying Tranmere with water, for
`Thad-not shown any plans or proposal with which they

hut, in fact and

g3VerTIT

the
)een put in motions for"

purpose of tnrowmg ant tins nut in order to make way for
some other project by Mr. Webb, or Mr. Perrey, ar other
parties who were acting-with them. The opposition -was not

commenced until atter the bill was in the house, anci'when
it was plain that the decision of the ratepayers could not be
known before the billhad been investigated by that committee.
The opposition, indeed, was a mere sham, and he felt

quite sure that parliament would not listen to it for a mo-
ment, especially when, it was considered how the opposition.
had been got up. If the opponents of the bill had been-
honest in their hostility—if there had been simply a desire-
to introduce the Local Government Act into Tranmere,
they ought to have commenced their proceedincq long before
the time they actually did; but their hostility did not com-
mence until the last moment, and that, he contended, was
not a fair way of opposing a bill. From what the com-
mittee had heard of the people who were pulling the strings,
and from what they had heard of the local politics and bick-
erings in the district,he repeated that the whole opposition
was a mere sham to gratify certain parties in Tranmere,
and not only to deprive that township of the supply of
water, but also to do so at the expense of five other town-
ships. The ground of opposition preterred against the
promoters was, that the capital was not subscribed, but
who had prevented it ? It was the very opponents
of the bill who had brought that about by their
hallooing for the last few weeks in Tranmere. It wag
they who had prevented the shares of the company
from being taken into the market, and now they wiped
their mouths as if they had had nothing to do
with it, whilst, in fact, they were the very parties who had
prevented that of which they complained. But let the>
decision of the committee be given in favour of the bill, and
tlAn they -would see that the shares would be soon taken
up. Having alluded to the opposition of the Birkenhead
Commissioners, and contended that the evidence showed
that it was unfounded, he concluded by saying that he had
every confidenq that the committee would give the bill
a favourable consideration on account of the unreason-
able opposition which had been set up. With regard
to the Tranmere opposition, they knew its history
and its origin. And they also knew this, that if the pre-
, sent issue was adverse to the bill, it would involve the re-

opening of a fresh agitation next year, either on the part of
this company, or in favour of another bill perhaps by Mr.
Webb or his friends. In any case an application to Parlia—
ment must be made, for otherwise they could not obtain
power to supply the district with water. Putting aside the
factiaus opposition which have been offered, he hoped the'
committee would have no difficulty in passing the bill.
The room was then cleared, and on the re-admission of
strangers,

The Chairman said : We find that the preamble of the
bill is proved, but we shall limit the time for the completiOn
of the works. The committee then proceedad to the con—
sideration bf the clauses.

On arriving at clause 28, which fixes the site of the
proposed well at Prenton Valley, ➢Zr. Webster moved that it
be struck out and another clause introduced, placing the
well at a greater distance from the Birkenhead works.

Some discussion took place, in the course of which Mr.
Rodwell protested against the proposal, as re-opening the
whole question of the preamble.
The Chairman • I have consulted the committee, and we"
are unanimous of opinion that this an attempt to unsettle a
decision to which we have already come.

Major Stuart Knot : Have you agreed as to the time roc
the completion of the works ?

The dhairman: In Owning to their decision, the com—
mittee took into consideration the desirability of an early

completion of the works at Tranmere.
After a conversation with the promoters,
➢Tr. Rodwell said they undertook to complete the works
as regarded Tranmere in two years, and the works in the
other districts in three years.

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY:
AND OTHER RAILWAY COMPANIES
(WORKING AND TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS)
BILL.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMITTEE .ON PRIVATE;

BILLS.-GROUP SIX

[FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS, THURSDAY.
The committee re-assembled at eleven o'clock, Air.
in, the- chair, for the purpose of considering clauses.
Clauses in accordance with the resolutions of the com—
mittee of the day before were submitted and agreed to.
After some discussion and alteration the other clauses were
agreed to, and the commtttee, shortly after two o',clocki
adjourned.

THE REPRESENTATION OF
SOUTH LANCASHIRE.

Yesterday, a deputation consisting of Mr. Thomas
Brocklebank (president of the• Refortn Association), acconi-
aSlioaumthterrnowdinv.isiou a
accom-
panied by Messrs. William Earle, James. MuHellen"-, T. B.
Barclay, J. H. Macrae, 3 R. Jeffery, W. F. Macgregor,
T. S.. Raffles, S. G. Rathbone, Thomas Gair, Charles.
Moeley, &c., waited upon. Mr. J. Pemberton Heywood tok
upon him, to
nominated for
mforr.tirhe
receive his reply to the. requisition calling
elread in
Mr. lieywroo- reply the, following 1 t which
tahlleow county hims
himself
fi
ttoli the be
he handed to Mr. Broaklebank : e ter-,
“To WILLIAM BROWN.ESQ,, M.P,

A. TURNER, ESQ., M.P.,

AND,OTIMs

you have presented. to me," Liverpool, March 10, 1859.
~ Gentlemen,--I feel highly flattered by the requisition
and by the warm expressions or
have
nu"
occupation reg,a4ti d by which it was accompanied.
Mupation which I cannot at once relin-
quish, am quite unaccustomed to take part in public life,
and have no ambition to enter Parliament; but, encouraged
by your good opinion, and understanding that my firm,
although moderate, opinions in favour of steady progress
may prove acceptable to a majority of the electors of South
Lancashire, I,place my services at your disposal, and shall
hold myself i readiness to become a candidate for our
county whenever a dissolution takes place.
" In the event of my becoming your representative, I eau
only hope that my habits of business and strict attention to
the details of my duties may in some degree compensate for
my want of ability in other respects.—l am, gentlemen,
your's faithfully, J. P. Hsywoori.
Mr. Brocklebank expressed in warm terms thertah:riaofitali
tion with which, he felt sure, Mr. Heywood'srep y
myre.arßsrowiwtnh,
likely to be
wasbe receivedhap py tob yoai
think
k partiestha t there; an remarkeddwase
y especiallyobability that the
hiyesteemed throughout the
occupied by a Liverpool gentleman,
such
hh
eposition
satisfactionfi l led by3tior.hißrownhis
coconstituency tf.otvwureehrsnooc,pyrmlwiakanesy
was so well known and highly

country.
Mr. Heywood stated that since the presentation of th•
requisition he had received many very gratifying assurances
of support from gentlemen of conservative political opinions.
The deputation again thanked Mr. Heywood, and retired.

HEALTH COMMITTEE,
The board met yesterday, Mr. Alderman Dover in the
chair. The other members present were—Messrs. R. Sheil,
J. Crellin, Crosthwaite, Anthony, Haydock, Bowring,
and Avison.
The borough engineer, building surveyor, and inspector
of nuisances, reported various particulars of the operations
in their several departments during the week, from which
it appeared that 198 nuisances complained of by inhabitants
had been inspected, and means taken to remedy them, 1,279
houses in the unhealthiest districts, containing 3,912
apartments, and 750 cellars, had been put under examina-
tion, with the view of improving their sanitary condition,
and 85 lodging-houses had also been examined and reported
upon.
_ Mr. Sheil, before the business commenced, lizould wish to
call the attention of the borough engineer to a paragraph in
the papers of that day, in reference to the body of a man
said to have been found in an open sewer in Huskisson-

rtreet.
Mr. Newlands said that the report was incorrect. There
was no open sewer in Huskisson-street, but there was a
small excavation near the corner of Falkner-square, about
21 feet deep, into which the man had evidently fallen by
accident. [The report alluded to was furnished by the
police to Mr. Blake, the coroner's beadle.]

LODGING-HOUSIN.
r. M Gowan referred to the council proceedings of the
previous day, and a return moved fcr by Mr. W. Earle, in
reference to the lodging-houses, Scc-, when
Mr Sheil moved that the returnbe prepared by the proper
officers for that day week.

Agreed to

HEALTH OF ME TOWN

The Medical Officer's report stated that in the week
ending last Saturday, the deaths registered were 235., being
11 more than the previous week, but 20 less than the cor-
rected average of the same week of the 10 precious years.
The deaths in the parish were 163, and in the out-town-
ships 72.. The mortality from diseases of the zymotic
class was lower than in any-week since the year 1857. The
deaths from scarlatina having been fewer thaninany_former
week of the same period, with one exception. Hooping
cough caused 13 deaths ; typhus, 9 ; scarlatina, 7 ; diarrhoea,
6; smlllpax, 6 ; erysipelas, 3 ; measles, croup, diptheria,
and pnrpura, each 1. Diseases of the lungs caused 74
deaths including 26 from consumption, being 6 more than
hi the week previous. A master tradesman died from
delirium tremens. A larger portion than usual of the
deaths occurred at themore advanced periods of life ; 38
males and 27 females having been registered between the
years of 60 and 80, and of these 9 were attributed to the
infirmities of age, and 14 to diseases of the chest.

THE PROTECTION IN DALE-STRMET,

Mr. M‘Gowan read a report from the general :purposes
committee, in reference to the projection of the building in
Dale-street, which was before the police magistrates, and
decided last week, and the committee recommend that in-
structions be given-to the building surveyor to serve the
usual notices, under the act of parliament, in .such cases in
future.
Mr. Anthony thought a case ought to be submitted to
counsel for an opinion on the whole case. This was agreed
to, and the Town-clerk was directed to draw up the case,
and submit it to counsel, but it was allowed to stand for the
present.
Mr. M'Gowan brought before the committee, the follow-
ing passage in Mr. Mansfield's judgment in the case :
" This interpretation of the act of parliament may lead to
inconvenience to the owners of property by compelling them
to set back their premises. This is perhaps to be regretted,
because it gives occasion to summonses like the present,
whereby individuals may be annoyed, whilst the public
derive no tangible advantage.
Mr. Anthony said the censure on their officers was quite
uncalled for from Mr. Mansfield. The officers bad not been
guilty of any oppression. This was the opinion of the
members of the committee, who said the officers performed
their duty with strict impartiality.
The board then adjourned.