The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-17 00:00:00

THE NEW CORPORATION ACT.

Mr. J. Woo ), as Chairman of the Consolidated
Committee, brought up the report on the reference
upon the Act of 11 George 1., cap. 18, relating to
elections in the City. In presenting it he merely
atute.tl that the euuiinittee were amtinfied with the
opinion of the law officers of the Court contained in
the report, and did not consider it to be necessary to
consult the counsel for the Crown upon the subject.
He was ready to answer any objection which might
be raised.

The following report was then read :
" Monday, Oct. 8.
"I❑ compliance with the request of your committee,
wo, the undersigned, have considered the late Act of the
12th and 13th Victoria, with a view to its practical
working, and for the purpose of its being carried into
effect according to its legal import. It is an Act to amend
the 11th George 1., and reciting the clause of that Act
relative to the right of election of aldermen and common
councilmen, which was thereby declared to belong to
freemen, being householders, paying scot and bearing
lot, and to none other whatsoever, provided their houses
were of the value of 101. a year, and they were the sole
occupiers, and had been in possession of a house of such
value for 12 months; and also reciting that the fight of
voting should be extended and enlarged, and that the re-
cited Act should be altered and amended.

"By the Ist section it is enacted, That so much of
the recited Act as regulates the right of voting in such
elections, and the time at which the polling should com-
mence, and the period during which it should continue,
should be repealed.' The El section substitutes in the
place of the regulations of the right of voting which had
been repealed, other regulations, which are extended
to the election of ward officers, still requiring that the
voter must be a freeman, but no longer requiring
that such freeman should be a householder, or should
pay scot or bear lot, nor that the house of a householder
should be of the value of 101. a-year, nor that the house-
holder should be the sole occupier or in possession for
twelve months, but gives a title to vote to any freeman
merely occupying, either solely or jointly, any house,
warehouse, counting-house, office, chambers, or shop,
and rated in his own name at 10/. per annum (with a
provision as to the joint occupation) to the police or
any other rate,' which, as it is an extending and enlare-
ing Act, cannot be construed to exclude, but rather to
admit, any person who, having the other qualifications.
is upon any rate in the city to the required amount. The
further requisite is, that the person to be entitled to vote
must be registered in the register of votes for the city of
Loudon, described as in use at elections for Members of
Parliament, and then in force, in respect to such pre-
mises. This title to vote, given as a substitute for the
former, took effect immediately upon the repeal of the
former, which was when this Act received the Royal
assent, namely, August 1, when the former right ceased
and the new right commenced. This, therefore, would
be the title to vote to be admitted at every election im-
mediately after the Act passed, and to be proved by
every elector whose vote was disputed at any such elec-
tion.

" but the 3d section, instead of such proof in detail at
the time of election, provides a shorter medium of proof
to be adopted for the future, and enacts that on the Ist
of .November in every year the aldermen and common
councilmen shall make an alphabetical list of all persons
entitled to vote as freemen occupiers under that Act,
such list to be signed by the aldermen, who then, on the
Ist of November next, will be the persons entitled to
vote ai freemen occupiers under that Act—the freemen
occupiers duly rated and registered in the register of
voters for the city of London, iu use at elections for
members to serve in Parliament, and then in force; not
any list, but the register, and only one register, for it
must be the register in force—that is, on the Ist of
November next, the register which came into force on
the Ist of December, 1848, and continues in force till
Ist of December, 1849. The list so made is to be the
list of freemen occupiers entitled to vote after the passing
of that Act, and none can vote after the Ist of November
hut those on the list. On the 4th section there can be
no material doubt. The 2d section having extended the
right of election to occupiers of houses, warehouses,
counting-houses, offices, chambers, and shops, freed
from many of the restraints in the Act of 11 George
1., it became necessary to make those who were thus
made electors capable of being elected as common
councilmen, and, therefore, this clause, in the same words
as the second clause, makes all freemen, having
the specified qualifications, capable of being
common councilmen, notwithstanding any custom or
usage to the contrary, These persons are, therefore,
now, for the first time, declared to be capable of being
elected common councilmen; but there are no words of
disqualifi,Vion (such as those recited in the preamble
from the 11th of George 1., and none other whatsoever),
therefore, all who were before qualified continue to b •
so, with the addition of these new parties. This being
only the election of au individual,. no previous list
was necessary for the purpose of ascertaining the eligi-
bility, but at the election any persoa might dispute the
qualification, and the necessary inquiry as to the requi-
sites of the fifth clause might be entered upon, and a
person establishing the qualification required by that
clause, and showing his name on the Parliamentary
register then in force, would be eligible at that election.
" On the 6th section there does not appear to be any
material eoubt.

"As to theith section. no question is likely to arise
after the Ist of November. No questions at present
arise on either of the remaining clauses. It is the duty
of the beadles of the ward to have their rolls of freemen
fully made up according to the annual precept of the
Lord Mayor to the wardmotes and the articles for the
inquest. From the beadles, therefore, should be ob-
tained the fist of freemen in the ward. The information
neeessa-y to complete the lists of freemen can he ob-
tair.e I from Mr. Sewel, at the Chamberlain's Office.
" HENRY ALWORTH MEREWETHER, Town Clerk.
" T 11031.1.8 SAUNDERS, Comptroller.
" NOWA AD Tutair4., Remenabrencer,"

Mr. BLARE said, it would be creditable to the Cor-
poration to appoint auditors who had no connexion
whatever with the Corporation, and he was sure that
every member of the Court would be desirous to shun
the least imputation of partiality or prejudice. He
should therefore move, as an amendment, " That 51.
ss. be given to each auditor, but that the auditors
should not be members of the Corporation."
Mr. OBBARD seconded the amendment.
Mr. Low said, his object was to appoint three
members of the Court to act as unpaid officers of the
Commissioners of Sewers. He deprecated the notion
of paying five guineas to a respectable person for the
performance of what certainly formed a portion of his
duties. The Bridge House Committee had three
au litors who never contemplated remuneration.

A few members here named a smaller amount of
remuneration than that proposed.
_ _

Mr. R. L. JONES said, it was quite evident from
the wording of the Act which provided that the remu-
neration should be settled before the election, that the
auditors should be independent of the Court. He
believed that there was not a member of the corpora•
tion who would accept of remuneration for the per-
formance of the duty.
Mr. Bowan was sure the amendment would, if
carried, have the effect of casting an imputation upon
those who did not deserve censure. He submitted,
too, that the Court could not be quite certain that
strangers, who could not be amenable, as the mem-
bers of the Court were, to the constituency, would
perform the duties of the office effectually.—(Hear.)
Mr. Deputy HAnnisoN hoped the amendment would
be agreed to. The due auditing of the accounts would,
he assured the Court, involve a large expenditure of
time, and ought to be properly remunerated. He be-
lieved, if the appointments were independent of the
Commissioners of Sewers, such an arrangement would
be satisfactory to the Commissioners as well as to the
public.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR asked out of what fund it was
contemplated to pay the auditors ?
Mr. Deputy HegrasoN Certainly out of the
rates.
_

The RECORDER having stated that the amendment
could not be put in the exact form in which it was
introduced by Mr. Blake, the mover,
Mr. Low rose and moved, as an amendment to
Mr. Peacock's motion, " that the auditors be not
paid."
The Court then divided, and the amendment was
carried by a majority of two ; the numbers being—
for the amendment 43, against it 41.
Mr. BLAKE then moved, as an amendment to the
last amendment, which had become by the result of
the division the original question, " that the sum of
three guineas be paid to each of the auditors."
That amendment was after some discussion nega-
tived by a majority of 4 ; the numbers being—for
the amendment 33, against it 37 ; and it was finally
determined " that the auditors should be unpaid."
Upon the motion of Mr. R. TAYLOR, the election
of the auditors was postponed.
Mr. R. TAYLOR then gave notice of a motion, that
❑o member of the Court be appointed auditor; and
Mr. ANDERTON congratulated the Court upon the
economical virtue it had exhibited in expending three
hours in a discussion about the sum of 15 guineas.
Upon the motion of Mr. WIRE, a petition of the
committee for promoting the building and permanent
endowment of King's College Hospital, for a grant of
money, was referred to the Coal, Corn, and Finance
Committee.

CITY DUES.

Mr. WIRE presented a petition from oyster breeders
and growers and proprietors of oyster fisheries, to be
relieved from the dues for metage, &c., of oysters.

The petitioners appeared at the bar, and were ques-
tioz.ed by several of the members, and they stated
that they considered themselves deserving of relief
from the metage dues, inasmuch as those oyster pro-
prietors who sent oysters by rail were subject to no
duty whatever. Upon being asked whether they had
not already resisted the payment of metage dues,
they admitted that such was certainly the case, where-
upon they were advised to withdraw their petition, to
pay the metage dues from the continuance of which
they had petitioned to be relieved, and to send in
fresh petition to the Court.
Mr. Alderman CoreLAND said, that in his mayoralty
he had been obliged to act vigorously in consequence
of the resistance of fruit owners and butter owners
to the dues which he, as a member of the corporation,
felt hound to support, and the consequence was that
the opposition completely dropped.
Mr. WIRE approved of the recommendation, and
advised the petitioners to come forward vaien they
shall have complied with the existing regulations.
THE NEW STREET FROM CANNON-STREET TO ST. PAUL'S.
Mr. T. H. HALL called the attention of the Court
to the report of the improvement committee relative
to the new street, which it was now evident to the
public would be proceeded with until it terminated
in a manner favourable to abundant traffic. It was
necessary to prepare the Parliamentary notices as
soon as possible, as well as to prevent the erection of
buildings which had already began to grow in the
very line which had been selected.
The following report was then read :
" We, whose names are hereunder subscribed, your
committee for improvements within this City, to whom,
on the 29th day of July, 1847, it was referred to carry
into execution the Act of Parliament of the 10th and
11th years of her present Majesty's reign, intituled, ' An
Aot for widening and improving Cannon-street, and for
making a new street from the west-end of Cannon-street
to Queen-street,' do certify that we have made consider-
able progress in carrying the same into execution, all
the premises required for that part thereof, commencing
at the western side of Turnwheel-lane to Queen-street
having been purchased and taken down under our direc-
tions, and we have recently directed notices to be served
upon the parties interested of our intention to purchase
the property in continuance of the said improvement
between Turnwheel-lano and Lawrence Pountney-hill.
That we have since taken into consideration the desir-
ableness of further continuing the line of improvement,
by extending it from Queen-street to St. Paul's-
churchyard, as agreed to by this Hon. Court on the 22d
day of October, 1846; and being of opinion that the
present is a suitable time for that purpose, as well as for
effecting some further improvements in Threadneedle-
street and Maiden-lane, now Gresham-street west, we
recommend this Hon. Court to direct the remembrancer
to give the proper notices, agreeably to the standing
orders of Parliament, for an Act in the next session
authorising such extended improvements; and also to
direct the City's architect forthwith to take steps for
preparing the proper schedule of the property which
will be required for these purposes, he taking to his
Assistance such aid as, with the concurrence of our chair-
mar, may be found requisite, to enable him to complete
the same within the time required by the regulations of
Parliament.
" All which we submit to the julgment of this Hon.
Court.
" Dated this 16th day of October, 1849.
" T. H. HALL. " JOHN BRITTEN.
" T. T. /lola. " BENJAMIN BOWER.
" Tuos. CORNET. " S. S. EDKINS.
" G. AITCHISON. " WILLIAM CHRISTIE.
" JOHN DITTON. " RICHARD TAYLOR.
" J. HARTLEY. " EDWARD HARRISON.
" EDW. HICKSON. " JEREMIAH EVANS."
" THOS. WATKINS.

Upon the motion " that the petition be agreed to,"
Mr. NORRIS said, the question involved the reputa-
tion of the City as to the carrying out of its projected
improvements, and it also involved a vast expense.
They should look to the probability of completing so
great a plan. The public were tired of such improve-
ments as they were of late accustomed to. He doubted
the propriety of going on with the new street, and was
desirous of a postponement until all the necessary
information could be supplied. He did not like the
suddenness with which reports of such importance
were got up, and he instanced Gresham-street as a
proof of the careless and injudicious manner in which
the funds of the corporation were expended under the
Jowl of iniproyonaerate. Iu ad) be was of opinion

The report was then agreed to, and it was referred
to the Coal, Corn, and Finance Committee to consider
as to the best means of raising a fund for carrying
into effect the improvements contemplated.
Upon the motion of Mr. HALL, a report relative to
Holborn-hill was ordered to be printed.
r Or
Mr. WurrE moved—