Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-18 00:00:00

tion with the Secretary of State, the petition was acceded
to, and an order in council was passed under the provisions
of an act of Parliament enabling the assizes for the southern
division to be held at Liverpool. The Southern division
comprises Manchester, Bolton, Wigan, and the principal
manufacturing districts of the county. When the Assizes
were removed, the corporation undertook to allow the
use of the courts which already existed in the town, and
which were constructed for the purpose of session courts;
and they also undertook to provide lodgings and accom-
modation for the Judges. The assizes were held in the
stssion house for several years, but the buildings were
found entirely inadequate for the enormous business trans-
acted, and the corporation therefore determined upon
erecting new assize courts.
Mr. Burke : I believe that at that time other persons in
the town proposed to extend the building you proposed to
erec, and lipply it to other purposes
Mr. Shuttleworth : About that time it was intended
by private individuals to erect a Hall for musical
testivals and purposes, of that description. Plans
were advertised for both by the Corporation and
by the gentlemen who proposed to erect a Music-
hall, and the architect selected in both cases—Mr.
Elmes—was the same. Subsequent'y the two buildings
were amalgamated, and the whole cost was incurred by
the Corporation.
Mr. Burke : What has been the cost up to the present
time ?

Mr. Shuttleworth : About £200,000 has been ex-
pended, and the building has been used for a considerable
time for holding the assizes, the local courts, and the court
for the Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine, but not
for the purposes of a Town-hall. The county fund did
not contribute one farthing towards the expenses of
erecting St. George's Hill, and, consequently, so far as
the county business is concerned, the corporation
of Liverpool have made a free gift to the county.
In 1830 representations were made to the corporation
respecting the dangerous state of the gunpowder magazines
at Liseard. It was said that the magazines were not in
accordance with the requirements of modern science,
and the Board of Ordnance inspected them, and
suggested numerous alterations. The corporation
expended £9,826 in the erection of new maga-
zines. In 1851 a representation was made to the
Home Secretary that the storage of gunpowder
in the immediate vicinity of Liverpool, where the popula-
tion increased so rapidly, was dangerous, and the Board
of Ordnance issued a commission to inquire into the
subject. They reported to the government, and recom-
mended the removal of the magazines. A bill was brought
in for that purpose. The bid contained a provision for
the payment by the corporation of £9,780 in the shape of
compensation to tne persons by whom the magazines had been
leased. The nr.rev Yeas paid out of the borough fund, and the
land is let for £lOO a year. In 1840, the Corporatian gave
Lind for the purpose of erecting a sailors' home and a
savings bank for saiiers. The merchants subscribed a
large sum of money for the erection of the building, and
the land, which was worth £8,500, was a free gift
on the part of the Corportion. The Corporation
also expended money in 1840, in commencing the erection
of an observatory. The cost of the bull ling and the instru-
ments was £10,342. The Corporation defray the expense
of maintaining the establishment, and charge a small sum for
the use of the instruments. There is an excess of expen-
diture over the receipts of about £6OO a year. At one time
fires were common in Liverpool, and as they
were suspected to be the work of incendiaries,
the insurance companies refused to insure buildings
in Liverpool, except at very heavy premiums. The pre-
miums ranged so high that 20e. was charged for the in-
surance of the same description of property as would be
charged 2s. 6d. in London. The corporation obtained acts
of parliament authorising the construction of warehouses
at a considerable cost, and the result was that the rates
charged upon the policies were greatly reduced. In 1848
the corporation gave land to the value of £30,009in widen-
ing a street at Wapping. They also took powers in 1855
to widen the streets near the docks, so as to make a street
five miles in length and 72 feet wide, but the bill was
abandoned iu consequence of the agreement to take the
Birkenhead works. In 1844 they gave land worth £6,000
for the construction of the Northern Hospital, which was
required in consequence of the accidents which happened
at the docks. In 1838 they erected a dock for the accom-
modation of the river craft, at a cost of £94,000,. which
produces an annual revenue of £2,500.
Mr. Shuttleworth was then examined by Mr. Burke in
reference to the conservancy of the river, and his examina-
tion was not concluded when the committee adjourned, at
four o'clock.

THE GREAT HANDEL FESTIVAL,

THE JOURNEY BY RAIL AND ROAD.

It is many years since the fashionable neighbourhoods of
Belgravia and the Vauxhall-bridge-road, Pimlico, presented
such an animated appearance as they did yesterday morning,
if we except a Derby or an Oaks day. From the early
hour of nine o'clock the carriages of the Foreign Ambassa-
dors and the nobility and gentry kept pouring in rapid
succession along the route and over Vauxhall-bridge, from
the West-end, whilst the scene at London-bridge station
was almost as exciting. The royal procession, which con-
sisted of eight carriages accompanied by outriders in scarlet
livery, and an escort of the 11th Hussars, left Buckingham
Palace a few minutes after twelve o'clock, and reached the
South Lambeth-road at half-past. Her Majesty occupied
the right hand side of the first carriage. The royal cortege
proceeded at a slow pace along the road towards Stockwell
en route by the private road to Dulwich. On reaching the
Crystal Palace her Majesty was received by a guard of
honour, consisting of a squadron of the 11th Hussars, and
was long and loudly cheered.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT'S

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE;

The arrangements for the educational conference, over
which his Royal Highness Prince Albert is to preside, have
been completed, and a large number of distinguished per-
sons from all parts of the country have intimated their
intention of being present. His royal highness will take
the chair at the opening of the meeting, which is to be held
on Monday next, at three o'clock, at Willie's Rooms—the
Earl Granville, president of the Council, acting as vice-
president.