The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-04 00:00:00

COURT OF COMHON COUNCIL.

Yesterday, a Court of the members of the Corporation
"in con-111;10n council assembled," was held at their
Chamber in the Guildhall, for the despatch of publics
business. The Right Hon. the Lord Mayer took the
chair at twelve o'clock at noo❑ precisely.

Mr. WOODTHORPE read the minutes of the last meet-
ing, which were allowed to have been correctly tran-
-scribed on the journals of the Court.

REFORM OF THE CORPORATION.
The REMEMBRANCER.—T have, my Lord Mayer, to
report to this Honourable Court, that Sir George Grey
has brought into the House of Commons a bill for the
reform of the Corporation of the City of London, which
has been read a first time. (Hear, hear.)
Immediately after this announcement had been made.
Mr. JOHN WOOD, the Chairman of the Consolidated
Committee, and Mr. WILLIAM JONES, the Coairman of
the Conference. Committee, rose simultaneously to ad-
dress the Court. Mr. Wood struggled manfully to ob-
tain a hearing, standing upon his right of precedence as
the Chairman of a committee to whom the question
had for many years been referred ; while Mr. Jones
likewise maintained his ground in consequence of his
having charge of a report relative to the bill for the
reform of the corporation, notice of which appeartd
upon the paper of business.
In the midst of loud cries of "John Wood" and
",Jones," and much clamour, the LORD MATOn said,
"The bet way of di-posing of the difficulty will he to
put the question as to which of the gentlemen should be
first heard." This was done, when it was decided by
large majority that Mr. Wood should be heard first.

_
Mr. WOOD then said—My lord and gentlemen, if ever
there was a time when it was necessary that the mem-
bers of this court should be cool and collected. this is
the time. (Hear, hear.) I can assure the court that it
is net my intention upon this occasion to make any state.
ments in opposition to the reception of the report of the
Cenference Committee, with the charge of which my
friend Mr. Jones is entrusted ; indeed I do not know
what that report contains, teceigh I have had a good
deal to do with the subject matter of which I may sup.
pose it to treat. I ant auxiese, my lord, to Pay a few
words to the court, so as to suggest to the members of
the corporation what I would propose for them to do at
the present crisis—
Mr. JONES—My lord, I wish to draw the attention
of the court to--(Cries of "Order, order.")
At this juncture a member moved that " strangeri
should withdraw." This was followed by continued
shouts of " No, no."
Deputy HOLT—Perhaps, my lord, it might be con.
veneet to asc. rtain the opinion of the court upon that
proposition. (No.)
Mr. ANDERTON—If the court comes to a decision to
exclude strangers, I shall move at once that the court
be adjourned altogether. (Hear.)
Mr. Jones still remaining standing, the calls npon Mr.
Wood to proceed became general.
Order having been at length restored,
Mr. WOOD raid—My lord and gentlemen, I have again
to say that it is necessary, absolutely necessary, that we
should calmly and dispassionately consider the matter be-
foreus. \Vecannotdiscuss the proposals of reform intro.
duced by the Government into the bill to which the Re-
membrancer bas called the attention of the Court; indeed,
up to this time, we have not obtained a copy of this
bill ; still, I have no doubt you have seen the report in
the public papers of the speech of Sir G. Grey, which,
no doubt, is a correct epitome of the measure as pro-
posed by the Government. (Hear.) The question in
my mind is, the best way of dealing with the subject
when it shall come fully before us, whether it should be
discussed in a large committee, or by a committee of
the whole Court. (Hear.) It was but yesterday that
I put in the bands of the Town Clerk a notice of motion
to refer the consideration of the subject to the Consoli-
dated Committee. (No, no.) Why, gentlemen, that is
a large committee ; it consists of beta eon 50 And 60
members, and has upon it 14 aldermen, a commoner
from each of the wards, the chairmen of the several
c nnmittees and of the Commissioners of Sewers for the
time being. Since I gave the notice, however, I have
seriously reflected upon the matter, and I have thought
whether it would not be better to have the question die-
cussed in a committee of the whole court. (Hear, hear,
and cries of " Tire whole court.") I think it will be a
waste of time to refer it to the Consolidated Committee,
especially as the time presses ; and I shall, therefore,
take upon myself to move—and I hope some one will
second my motion—" That the question be referred to
a committee of the whole court, to take such stens with
reference to the communication made by the Remem-
brancer as may be considered necessary." (Cheers.)
Mr. JONES—I second the motion. (Applause )
male an attempt te obtain a hearing, considering that if
the report of the Conference Committee hai been read it
would have been a convenience to many of the members
of the Court, who do not belong to the committee, by
their being put in possession of many of the facts of the
ca.e. The c mmaittee had not decided anything ; they
had only made suggestions. I repeat that I have great
pleasure in seconding the motion, and I hope we shall,
ell of us, enter upon the consideration of the questioa
with good feeling towards each other, and the Govern•
meet, and thus agree to give the whole subject our
serious consideration. (Cheers ) The hill contains—
(A Voice—" Don't go into the bill, we have not got it
before us")—l will not then go into the bill ;I am not
going to do so ; but this I must say, from what I can
see of it, it will re quire our serious attention, and I do
hope that we shall not to carried away with the corn•
plimentery team er in which the measure has been
brought before Parliament. With these remarks, my
lord, I have great pleasure in seconding the motion.
(Cheers.)
The proposition was then put rind carried.
Alderman Wean--I move, my Lord Mayer, that any
five members of the Court be enabled to call the com-
mittee together ; and I hope the bill will be fully con-
sidered by every member of the C mrt.
Mr. R. Wieetaate seconded the motion, which was
carried amidst much applause.
PROPOSED ABOLITION OF THE OATH OF ABJURATION.
Mr. ANDERTON then moved as follows :—" That a
deputation of this Court be appointed to wait upon her
Majesty's Ministers, and solicit their support in obtain-
ing a repeal of the law requiring the oath of abjuration
to be taken by persons appointed to public offices ; and
that such deputation do consist of the Lord Mayor, two
aldermen, and three commoners, together with the
sheriffs, and lir. Remembrancer ; also, that a copy of
the petition by this court to the Houses of Lords and
Commons, to abolish the taking of the oath of abjuration
be printed, and a copy sent by the Town Clerk to all the
provincial corporations, requesting their support to the
same."

The motion was put and carried with acclamation.
Mr. ANDEIITON then moved that the deputaticn to her
Nlejesty's Mini-tern consist of the Right lion. the Lord
Mayor, Alderman Wire, Mr. Deputy Dakin, Mr. De-
puty Pewtress, Sir Chapman Marshall, and himself.
Carried unanimously,
THE METROPOLITAN DATUM MARKET.
Mr. 11. L. TAYLOR then brought up two reports rea-
tive to the proceedings of the committee in respect to
the New Metropolitan Cattle Market, iu Copenhagen-
field.. In support of the motion, Mr. Taylor said the
proposition which lie then brought before the Court was
from the Markets improvement Committee. relative to
funds with regard to the new market at Copenhagen-
fields, and also for authority to raise 20,000 i. to com-
plete the new marker. Without asking the Citirt to
hear the report read that day, or to con,ider it, he
thought it would be more judicious on his part, as the
organ of the committee, to ask the Court tl have it
printed.
After a short discussion,
The motion for the printing of the report was put, and
carried unanimously.
Mr. IL L. TAYLOR then brought up another report
"relative to the revenue account of the Metropolitan
Cattle Market ; for authority to pass bills, kc., and for
transferring the management of the market to the Markets
Committee," which he moved should be read. He stated
that he had no doubt but, when the Court heard the re-
port, they would be satisfied with the exertions of the
committee.
The report stated that the income of the new market
had much increased since i s opening, and the committee
considered that the time had arrived when it should be
transferred to the Markets,n tf
th
eCommittee,several r
k eappointedmarkets
under
thefor
the special gover,na
contr.,' of the corporation. I appeaiel that, after the
payment of the expenses incurred for rates, gag, water,
&c,, wages, and inciental. charges, there was a balance
uf about 8,0001., to be placed under the control of the
Markets Committee as the Court might determine. The
report recommended the immediate transfer of the mar-
ket fir control to the other body, as the Markets Im-
provement Committee had done their duty as to its
erection, and had nothing to do with the management
of it.

The consideration of the Fubject was adjourned.
ELECTION OF A JUDGE OF THE SIIERIFFS' COURT.
In consequence of the elevation of Mr. Russell Gur-
ney to the Common Sergeantship, vice Edward Bullock,
Esq., resigned, a vacancy in the judgeship of the Sheriff,'
Court has taken place. Yesterday was the day ap•
pointed for the election, when Mr. Prendergast, Q.C.
was the successful candidate.
Ile proceedings then terminated.—Adjourned.

ACTION AGAINST A RAILWAY COMFANY FOR DELAY-
—ln the Manchester County Court on Tuesday so ac •
tion was brought by Mr. Gibbs against the Lancashire
and Yorkshire Railway Company to recover damages
for loss of time and expenses occurred through the negli•
Bence of the defendants. Mr. Fernley, barrister-at-law,
stated the case for the plaintiff. Se said Mr. Gibbs was
a metal dealer at Wolverhampton, and some time sinoe
having occasion to go to Newcastle upon important huff.•
neo', he took a ticket at Manchester and proceeded by
the train which left Manchester at 5 o'clock in the
morning, and
which was advertised in the company's
hills to arrive at Newcastle at half-past 11. It appears
there was no time lost when the train reached Norman-
tou, the latter place the plaintiff
ton, hut between there and York there Was considerable
Newcastle train had left half an hour,
delay, and en getting
found that the
and be bad to remain for the next, which was a slow
t,ain, and did not arrive at Newcastle until half-past 4
in the afternoon, which was too late for the plaintiff to
transact the business upon which he came, and he cliimed
61. for the expenses of the journey and 4/. for lose cif time.
Mr. Cobbett, for the defendants, contended that the
company were not liable, as it was not en their line the
elay took place ; but his Honour overruled the objec-
tion, on the 1 r mnd that the company granted a ticket
hough to Nt weabt'e. Mr. Cobbett then addressed the
jury in mitigation of damages, and, his Honour .bavikg
summed up, the jury retired, and in about half an hour
returned with a verdict for the plaintiff for 101., the
amcount ckeiwed.—Mancltostcr auardian.