Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-10 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL

The adjourned meeting of the Town Council was held
in the Concert Reom, Sr. George's Hall, at eleven o'clock
on Saturday. The Mayor, Francis Shand, Esq., presided.
The Mayor stated that he hid received a telfg:aphic
communication the previous night, to the effect that the
Committee of the House of Lords had been all day discus-
sing the proposals and the counter-proposals, and had
adjourned until Wednesday night in order that clauses
might be prepared. In tee meantime, Mr. Hartley and
Mr. Brunell had agreed upon the plans. (Hear hear.)
He had received a letter from the Tewn Clerk with a copy
of the proposals and counter-proposals, bat as these were
-wide?' consideration, tie did not think it would be con-
venient to enter upon them. (Hear hear.) Their con-
clusion seemed to have reached the public in some way,
inc3rrectly, he understood, in many points, as would neces-
sarily be the case under such circumstances. He had
received a letter from tie Town Clerk that morning, in
which he stated that their opponents had
agreed to the articles which rela•ed to the Town
Dues, and to the transfer of Birkenhead. What was
very material was that Mr. Brunel had agreed to accept
Mr. Hartley's plans without any alteration except what
21Ir. Hartley himself proposed The engineers' had also
settled the location of the Great Western Railway; and thus
it would appear that the questions about which so much
discussion had taken place had been settle I in a few hours.
A hope was felt that this important question might be set-
tled this session. (Hear, hear.)

TUB WATZR COM3IITTES.

The proceedings of this committee centained the f,l-
- recommendations :—" Recommendation that Mr.
Thomas Morris, Mr. William Bryan, and Mr. William
Jones, jun., be promoted from the rank of third-class
collectors to that of second-class collectors, and that their
respective salaries and poundage be cllculeeed at the rate
of £lBO per annum ; that Me. J B Roberts and. Mr.
Charles G,bson be promoted from the rank of second-class
to that of firse-class' coiectors, and that their respective
salaries and poundage be calculated at the rate of £230
per annum, and that the respective salaries and poundage
of Mr. Thomas Ashcroft Ald Mr John Jackson be cal-
culated at the rate of £220 per annum, the consideration
of which was postponed at tha last monthly Council, pur-
suant to the standing orders. Recommendation to accept
the tender of Messrs. D. Y. Stewart and Co. for a supply
of pipes for extending the supply of water. Recommenda-
tion to accept the tender of Messrs. John and Matthew
Chester for the Cottages at the Rake Embankment for
£453 6s. 10d , Heapey Embankment for £472, and at
Knowsley, Rivington and the Filter Bads at £383 13s. 31
each ; and the tender of Messrs. Lyon and Greenwood f)r
the cottages at Aspull £347, Mountry House £591, and
Prescot a 467, and the Superintendent's house at Horwich
at £1,207."

The proceedings also contained the following reports
TO JOSEPH COOPER, ESQ., CHAIRMAN OF THE WATER
COMXITrEII, TOWS HALL, LIVERPOOL.

20, Devonshire-street, Manchester,
Ju'y 24, 1857.
Sir,—l received the resolution of the Water Committee,
desiring Mr. Spencer and myself to report on the progress we
have made in our experiments on the filtration of water.
I confess" was quite unprepared for such a sudden demand.
The subject was by no means new to me ; I had made frequent
experiments, and I knew the difficulties. I may aid, also,
that I had not had time to get myself disentangled from my
engagements sufficiently to allow me to devote a certain time
entirely to the suhj .ct, and this of course I shall feel it
necessary to do before venturing to report on such an important
subject to a body such as the Liverpool Corporation.
I have, however, been engaged, in co .junction with Mr.
Spencer, in waking certain experiments at Horwich. On
these experiments it was my intention to send a report
jointly with Mr. Spencer. I found, however, that his mind
had already been turned to the subject by the Liverpool
Corporation, and that as far as his own invention was
concerned he had made experiments previous to our joint
ones. On these experiments, therefore, I thought it better
that he should report, and that I s'too'd take none of their
credit. I have read Mr. Spencer's report, which you will
receive by the same post as this, and as far as our operations at
Horwich are concerned, I believe he has characterised the
result of his discovery in correct terms. The water passed
through his small filter was perfectly colourless, and all the
objectionable taste removed. This filter was used almoe, daily
for nearly a fortnight, and its power seems scarcely diminished.
It must, however, be carefully compared with every known
plan which is found successful, as well as with others not
hitherto tried ; and it is our wish to have all the best
operations side by side, that we may come carefully to tha
results.

The artificial filters have bsen fully, and, I believe, as
to some of their properties, finally tried, as Mr. Spencer
reports.

I should have wished to be somewhat further advanced be-
for3 s nding ev,in this short account of our progress, as we
labour u .der the dia Lvantage of appearing to give prominence
to one particular plan before others are compared with it. But
that we should begin with it is not to be wondered at, as
it is the most novel and peculiar, besides promising great
success.

I must, however, refrain from giving any opinion at presen
that may not be altered by the result of the inquiry.--E am
sir, your obedient servant,
ROBaItT ANGLS SMITH, F R.S.