Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-08 00:00:00

THE LAW SOCIETY AND THE MAGISTRATES.

A letter from the President of the Liverpool Law
Society, enclosing correspondence between the society
and the Secretary of State for the Home Department,
relative to the qualifications of John Crosthwaite, Esq.,
and William Dixon, Esq., magistrates for this borough,
was read.
Alderman PARKER was quite at a loss to know what
the Council had to do with the qualification of the
magistrates. It was as plain as A B C that these two
gentlemen were disqualified, but the matter was one that
was, for the bench itself to deal with.

Mr. JEFFERY said the question was, whether the Cor-
poration, as the representative of the municipality, ought
not to see that the municipal laws were administered
with a due regard to legality. The Mayor, who was
her Majesty's representative here, should call the atten-
tion of the home Secretary to the matter.
Alderman DOVER protested against the time of the
Council being taken up with discussions with regard to
a body of gentlemen so well able, to defend their own
honour.
Mr. AVISON concurred in, the observations of Mr.
Jeffery.
Mr. KITCHEN said the mat;er had been referred.to
the Town-clerk, and he wished to know what had been
done.

The Tows-CLERK said he had not taken the opinion
of counsel, because it would have been a waste of
money to have done so, for he found, on referring to
the Queen's Bench reports that Lord Campbellhad
decided that " place of abode," meant " residence; "
and that "residence" meant "the place where a man
lives with his family and sleeps at night." (Laughter.)
The letter was then referred to the bench of magis-
trates..

The TOWN-CLERK read a memorial from the Liver-
pool Early Closing Association, requesting, that as
Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, the following
day may be kept as a general holiday in the borough.
Mr. Alderman PARKER moved that, as far as practi-
cable, a holiday be granted to the men in the employ of
the corporation on the Monday after Christmas Day.
Mr. Alderman GARDNER seconded the motion.
Mr. JEFFERY thought it was deirable that it should
go forth to the public what was the tone of. the Council.
When Christmas Day fell upon a Sunday, it had hitherto
been the practice to keep the Monday following as a
holiday, and the same practice ought to be continued.
Mr. Alderman Dover, while speaking on the subject,
requested the mayor to call Mr. Jeffery to order, stating
that Mr. Jeffery had said, that after the way he (Mr..
Dover) had conducted himself, he should be driven out of
society; and after a "scene" between Mr. Jeffery and
Mr. Dover, during which Mr. Jeffery wished to give an
explanation ; but the mayor said, that as the words
alleged to have been used did not come to his ears, he I
could not interfere. The matter then dropped. And it
was resolved, that as far as possible, a holiday should be
given to the men in the employ of the Corporation, and
that the public be recommended to follow their example.
It was understood that the Corporation would pay the
men in their employ their wages.
Application from the Committee of the Royal Mersey
Yacht Club for the use of the Town-hall rooms, for a
ball inaidCoomf thetteofrom
the National
for the Education of Children of Distressed Fremasons,
for the use of the Town-hall rooms, for a ball in aid of
Committee
ofthelsr Le is fte boat
Lancashire In st i Institution, and
Institution
the Funds of that Charity, were read and referred to
the Town-hall Establishment Committee.
An application from the committee of the Liverpool
Chatham Society, for the use of the Town-hall rooms
for a ball in aid of the funds of the Bluecoat Hospital,
was
n referredap pat
toi
otnh e
frrfoomw Town-hall llTChoommma
s White,
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treasurer