Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-11-27 00:00:00

REPORT

Of the Finance Committee of the Local Thard of Health
of the Rural District of Toxteth Park, presented to a
meeting of the Board, held the 3rd day of November,
1857, and adopted by the Board.
Your Finance Committee having taken into their con
sideration the important subject referred to them by the
board at their meeting of the 7th July, 1857, namely the
desirableness of having the rural district incorporated
with the b rough of Liverpool, beg to report as follows :
That in 1842, by 5 and 6 Vic., chap. 105, the extra-
parochial place of Toxteth Park was divided, for the
purposes of sewering, paving, and cleansing into two
districts, in the larger and more populous of which only
the commissioners under that act had power to execute
drainage works. That district was made a portion of the
borough of Liverpool by the Municipal Corporations Act,
1835, and in 1840, by 0 and 10 Vie., chap. , commonly
called the Liverpool Sanatory Act, the powers of the
commissioners of Toxteth Park within that district were
transferred to the 'Health Committee of the borough. In
1855, by 18 and 19 Vic., chap. 125, the board of Com-
missioners, the functions of which were restricted to the
rural district, was transformed into the existing Board
of Health.

The area of the whole of Toxteth Park, according to the
ordnance survey, is 2,35] acres, 3 roods, 37 perches, of
which only about 1,40 J acres are included in the rural
district.

The position and shape of the rural district are peculiarly
disadvantegAous to the ratepayers who are thus laid under
the obligation of maintaining a large extent of road sur-
face, including the Aigburth-road, Smithdown.lane, Green-
bank lane, and part of Ullet lane, the use of which is
enjoyed chiefly by persons wh r reside without the district,
and do not in any way contribute to the cost of mainten-
ance. They are for the most part residents in the borough,
and in the suburban districts of Garston, Wavertree.
Allerton, and Woolton, who piss over the roads referred to
as they proceed to and from Liverpool. It appears worthy
of consideration whether the board of health of a district
so situated should not be empowered to obtain from the
borough and the adjacent townships some relief from the
oppressive burden thus im::osed upon the ratepayers. In
the ease under consideration, the weight of the burden
would be reduced, if the area of rate-contribution be
enlarged, by re-uniting the two districts into which
Toxteth Park has been arbitrarily divided.
Your committee have been informed that the inspectors
of the general board, when surveying the limits of any
district into w- ich the Health Act is to be introduced, are
instructed to pay especial attention to its local and physical
features, in order that its limits may coincide as nearly as
possible with these of the natural drainage area. The object
in view appears to be that all the ontfall and other sewers
may be entirely within the limits of jurisdiction of the board,
under whose authority they may be constructe.l. It is
remarkable, therefore, that the great southern outfall of the
borough of Liverpool, for 3,346 yards of its course, lies
wholly or partially within the rural district of Toxteth park.
Commencing at the outfall on the arand of the Mersey at
the west end of Dingle-lane, that part of the sewer thence
to the junction of Lodge-lane with Ullet-lane, a length of
yards, is on the boundary line between the borough
and the rural district, and is, therefore, partially in both.
From Lodge-lane through Ullet-lane, and across the Earl of
Sefton's fields to Smithdown-lane, a length of 1,255 yards,
the sewer lies wholly within the rural district. It is to be
ob,erved that the Health Committee of Liverpool cannot
make any u e of the latter portion of their sewer, by
lateral connections, with, ut traversing some part of the
rural district—a contingency aptly illustrated in the case
of their sewer now being constructed fcr the drainage of
that part of the borough which borders upon Lodge-lane.
It was found most expedient 'o connect this sewer with the
southern outfall through the sewer in Grove Park,
belonging to the Toxteth Board of Health. On the
other hand, the only feasible outfall for the drainage of
Grove Park was into the Livarpool outfall. Where the
southern ontfall sewer lies partially in the two districts, it
is sometimes found most desirable that the property which
is within the rural district and adjacent to the sewer
should be drained into that outfit'', as, for example,
property on the southerly side of UPet-lane and that on
the easterly side of Lodge. lane. Tires the anomaly arises
of propetty which lies in one district being drained into
the sewer of another district. in the management of which
the owner of that property has no voice—a contingency
which appears to be wholly at varilDCB with the spirit of
the General Health Act, and with the old constitutional

principle of local self-government. A further practical
disadvantage it entailed upon the owner of property thus
drained ; he is compelled to pay for the privilege in one
sum, according to the assessment for poor rate, when, if
his property were in the same district -with his sewer, the
payment would be distributed over a series of years, and
levied in part upon the occupier, instead of falling entirely
upon himself.
In respect to police, the rural disirict is dependent
for the most part upon the county constabulary ; it is,
however, doubtful, considering its close proximity to so
large a town, and with the great increase in those residen-
&es which offer strong temptation to the evil disposed,
whether the protection thus afforded will be sufficient for
any length of time. It is probable that any additional
protection which may be required will be obtained at the
least cost, and at the same time most efficiently, from the
borough police
In a financial aspect, it does not appear that incor-
poration with Liverpool would be injurious. In that part
of Toxteth•park which is now included within the borough
boundary, the rates for the year ending March 31, 1858,
are as fcllows

s. d
Lighting and fire police....
Paving (including flagging, cleansing, &c.) 1 0
Sewer (one half to be deducted from the owner
out of rent)
Water (for public purposes, extinguishing
fires, &c.)
General 0 l;
•
Watch

Museum .. , .

. 0 2

Total in the bDrough . 2 5
The corresponding rates levied within the rural district for
.the current year are as follows :--
1. d.
Highway
General district
County (police, &c ) . .

Total in the rural district .) 3
To the latter, however, must be added the cost of removing
nightsoil (included in the borough rates), which, under
the present system, is probably not less than ld. ; an-I
also the rates for sewers, which is only paid in those parts
of the district in which sewers have been ccnstruc'ed. If
Grove Park be taken as an illustration—it is the only one
the district at present offers—the rate there will be sid for
thirty years, exclusive of any addition to the general rate,
which may ba required to pay the cost of maintenance.
As the sewers of the district are likely to be largely
extended within a short period. it is probable that the
greater portion of the rateable property of the district will
be brought under a charge similar to that now imposed
upon Grove Park. Adding the items estimated for sewers
and nightsoil to the sum given above as the total in the
rural district, that amount will be raised to 2s 91d, or 31d.
in excess of the rates paid by that portion of Toxteth Park
which is within the borough
There are several places within the district in which the
highways are susceptible of very great improvement ; and
the Board are empowered to effect such improvements as
they may consider expedient, provided they h lye the con-
sent of those persons whose property is required for the
purpose. But, as before observed, 'a considerable part of
those highways are chiefly used by .the people who do not
reside in the district, and consequently do not contribute
to defray the expense. In many cases, therefore, it would
be unjust to saddle the ratepayers with the costs of
improvements by which they are but very partially
benefitted. The force of this consideration is greatly
strengthened where improvements cannot be effected
except by compulsory powers specially conferred by
Parliament. The costs of an application for such
powers would in themselves be a considerable addition

to the rates in any year, and swell the aggregate expenses
of improvements to an amount, for which in general it
Would be unreasonable to tax the ratepayers. If, however,
these improvements were undertaken by the council of the
borough, the proportion paid by each ratepayer would be
insignificant, as compared with the advantages conferred
upon the community at large.
These facts and considerations appear to show that
the suggested incorporation with the borough would be in
no respect injurious either to the owners of property or to
the ratepayers. On the contrary, many minor advantages
may be anticipated, in addition to those before referred to,
as, for example. unity of management, additional foot-
crossings and lamps, the watering of the roads, tSse ;
these latter conveniences the board have not felt jus-
tified in providing, though the cost is small, as the area
of taxation is so limited. If it be further considered that
there is very great difficulty in securing upon the board
the services of the number of gentlemen specified by the
act, your committee think that the suggested incorporation
will appear to be very desirable ; and that year by year, -as
the population increases, and the district becomes more
and more assimilated to Liverpool, the expediency of such
a measure wilt grow into an urgent necessity.
Your committee, therefore, recommend that a special
meeting of the ratepayers be convened for the consideration
of the subject, with a view to the opening of the requisite
negotiations, should the suggestion of incorporation be
approved of by the meeting.
Signed on behalf of the committee,
THOMAS URQUHART, Chairman.
Committee-room, Oct. 17, 1857.
The CHAIRMAN said, it was in consequence of the last
sentence of the report that the meeting was called, to
express approval or disaproval of the line of conduct
recommended by the Committee, and adopted by the Local
Board of Health.
Mr. THOMAS URQUFIART moved the first resolution, as I
follows :—" That the report now real be adopted, and that
the Local Board of Health are hereby requested to com-
municate with the Town Council of Liverpool, and in
conj'.nction with that body to take such steps as are
necessary to the attainment of such a desirable object."
He had some intention of giving further reasons than those
embodied in the report, with a view to influence their
minds to its adoption, but when he saw that the meeting
was so exceedingly small, and took into account the fact
that the report had been delivered to every ratepaeer, he
came to the conclusion that the ratepayers were satisfied
with the report. If they were not satisfied, the subject
was such an important one th it they would certainly have
made their appearance there. Moreover, when he looked
around him he saw that the greater proportion of those
present were members of the Board who originally
adopted the report. He, therefore, merely moved the
adoption of the resolution, reserving the right of making
some remarks in case any one present should oppose the
motion.
Mr. BOULT had very great pleasure in seconding the reso-
tion. As the reasons were set forth so fully in the report, he
would not detain the meeting at present, with any obser-
vations, unless something were said in opposition.
Mr. GREGSON said, that portion of the district, referred
to in the opening sentences of the report, which was
attached to tho Borough of Liverpool, was within the par-
liamentary boundary of Liverpool, and that was the reason
why the corporation took that portion of Toxteth-park.
Of the 1,400 acres in the rural district of Toxteth-park, at
least 1,000 acres must belong to the Earl of Sefton, so that
they had only to deal with the rural district, to the extent
of 400 acres. The principal portion of it lay to the
westward of Aigburth•road. He understood from Mr
Stewart that there was no intention whatever upon the
part of the Earl of Sefton to break into any portion of his
land for any purposes, except those of agriculture. The
fact that a large extent of the road surface was enjoyed
chiefly by persons residing without the district, was, no
doubt, to a certain extent, disadvantageous, audit seemed
natural that the parties passing over the road
daily from the outer townships ought to
contribute towards the expense, but then the
district had no means of campellirg them, and roads
similarly situate in other parts of the country were
invariably in the same position. The situation, therefore,
must submit to that inconvenience, and he thought he
should show by-and-bye that they did not pay more for
that road than they would if they were to amalgamate with
the borough of Liverpool. Neither the out township nor
the borough would contribute towards that expense, nor
would there be any means of laying a rate to compel
them Now there was no portion of the country better
adapted for drainage than Toxteth Park. Naturally,
within itself, it had every facitity for drainage, and was
not requires to go into any district whatever. Other
townships might have to go through Toxteth Park, but
Toxteth Park did not require to go oue yard into any other
district. Liverpool had come through Toxteth Park, and
Toxteth Park through Liverpool, So far as the sewers
were concerned, ho did not see how they should be benefited
at all by placing themselves under the Town Council of
Liverpool. Let Isom take, for instance, the sewer about to
be made for St. Michael's and Parkfield, down to the river.
This district must be cowered in any case, whether it was
under the Town Council, or under their own beard, and he
did not see how, by its being under the Town 'Council
they csuld save anything. The Council could not do it
cheaper or better than the Board could, or take it in a more
direct way to the river. The next work would probably
be the sewering of the very property they were now on.
The CuAui'eAN : It is part of the same scheme.
Mr. GREGSON said he should like to know what other
part of the rural district, beside that, .would require to be
sewered, for the present time or for many years to come
They would recollect that the remainder of it, with the
exception of that portion of the property, and that at
Lodge-lane. had all seperate and die' inc` houses, with their
own drainage. The drainage of most of these houses had
been made for years, and he did not know any houses
which required it By-and-bye it might, perhaps, be
desirable. The Garston district required to be sewered,
and it might possilely be an advantage to them to carry a
sewer down Aig,burth-vale, being part of that township.
He did not suppose that if that was thought a desirable way
cf draining that portion of the township, the Garston Board
would have any objection to meat them in a liberal way,
and to pay a certain portion of the cost of that sewer. He
understood, however, that the Garston Board were going
to take a different direction, and to make sewers independent
of Toxteth park. One portion of a sewer might be required
before long. but it was one straight piece from the new
workhouse, and would require no surveying. The main
drain of the Town Council was within a couple of hundred
yards off.
A gentleman remarked that if they were united to the
other portion of Toxteth-nark, a general rate would be
laid upon the whole for their relief.
Mr. GREGSON said the principal portion of the town
district of Toxteth-perk was sewered already, and the'
sewerage was paid for, This district could only unite
itself to the toen portion of Toxteth-park. It could not
levy a rate upon Liverro 1, or extend is rates beyond
Parlisment-street, which was th naturel boundary
of
Toxteth-park. Ile had contributed considerably towards
making the sewers in the town district of Toxteth-park,
and lie believed that district was now nearly altogether
sewered. The present meeting might say, "We will
join you now that all your sewers are made, nod ynu will
have to contribute towards making ours." But lie
apprehended the answer would be, "If you will come
end join us, come and pay your proportion of the cost of
ours fist sf all." (Loud cheers anl laughter.) He thought
he shoeld presently be able to show that they would
have to pay a great deal more than they now did ; with
resist-et to the question of police, the rural district was
dependant for the most part upon the courty constabulary.
As to the ncces--hy for further protection to the rural
districts, he thought there probably were fewer robberies,
assaults, or lessons for the emrl yea nit of their police
force in that district, than in any other portion of the
country, much less than in. Liverpool. It was very seldom
that he heard of any robberies or any assaults in Toxteth-
park, he did not think he had heard of any assault
there for years. He had lived there twenty or
thirty years, and scarcely heard of any assaults.
If they wanted more protection they had only to apply to
head quarters at Preston, and all the protection they might
require would be given to them, and the expense would
become a general charge on the hundred, and not on their
district alone. The County Police would not be more
expensive than the Borough Police.
The CHAIRMAN : The watch rate is extended over the
whole borough.
Mr. GREGSON continued—if they amalgamated with the
town district of Toxteth Park, and with that alone could
they amalgamate, their rate would be increased 2J,
because they could not ask the town district to
pay a portion of their rates, unless they paid
a portion of the csst of the works already
done by that district. Now as to the police ; some
persons supposed that the rate of id in the pound paid all
the expense of the police. It did no such thing. Did they
suppose that £6OO, the amount which Id in the pound
produced in the town district would pay all the police in
the town port of Toxieth-park ? It would not find them
ten men—five by day and five by night. The police were
paid by a grant from the borough, in c insideration of the
water works and the corporation property generally in the
township not being assessed to the poor rates. Now all the
corporation property in the township was in the town part
of Toxteth-park, so that in that respect they would
derive no advantage from the amalgamation, because
the corporation would charge the expense of every police-
man sent into the district, as well as a certain portion of
the establishment in Liverpool. Attain, they would have
to pay a museum rate of 2,1 in the pound, from which
they were now exempt. As to the general district rate of
_ 8d in the pound, they never had such a charge until the