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

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday, a Court of the members of the Corporation
"in common council assembled," was held at their
Chamber in the Guildhall„ for the_ despatch of pnblie
business. The Right Hon. the -Lord Mayor took the
chair at twelve o'clock at noon precisely.
Mr. WoODTHORPE read the minutes of last sneef•
ing, _which were-allawed to have been correctly tran•
scribed on the journals of the Court.

REFORM OF THE CORPORATION.
The REMEMBRANCER.--I have, my Lord Mayer, to
report to this Honourable Court, that Sir George drey
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. JOLT WOOD, the Chairman of the Consolidatc4
Committee, and Mr. WILLIAM Jorms, the Chairman 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 tears 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 appeared
upon the paper of business.
In the midst of loud cries of "John Wood" and
" Jones," and much clamour, the LORD MAirou said,
" The bekl, way of disposing of the ,difficulty will be to
put the question as to which-of the gentlemen should be
first heard." This was done, when it was decided by a
large majority. that Mr. Wood,should be heard fast.

Mr. Woos then said—My lord and gentlemea, if ever
there was a time when it was necessary that the memo-
bars of this court should be cool and collected this is
the time. (Hear, hear.) I can assure the court that it
is not my intention upon this occasion to make any state-
ments in opposition to the reception of the report of the
Conference Committee, with the charge of which my
friend Mr. Jones is entrusted ; indeed I do not know
what that report contains, tho'igh I have had a good
deal to do with the subject matter of which I may sup-
pose it to treat. lam anxious, my lord, to say a few
words to the court, so as to suggest to the members of
the corporation what I would propose tor 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 " strangers
should withdraw." This was followed by continued
shouts of "No, no." _

Deputy HOLT—Perhaps, my lord, it might be eon.
ven'ent to ascertain the opinion of the court upon that
propcsition. (N..)
_ _

• Mr. ANDERTON—If the court COMM 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 upon Mr.
Wood to proceed became general.
Order having been at length restored,
Mr. WOOD said—My lord and gentlemen, I have again
to say that' it is necessary, absolutely necessary, that w•
should calmly and dispassionately consider the matter be-
foreus. Wecannotdiscues the proposals of reform intro-
duced by the Government into the bill to which the Ite-
membrancer has called the attenVon of the Court; indeed,
up to this time; we have not obtained a copy of this
bill ; still, I have no doubt yon 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 i
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 hands 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 between 50 and 64
members,' acid ha 3 upon it 14 aldermen, a commoner
from each of the wards, the chairmen of the several
committees 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 dis-
cussed in a committee of the whole court. (Hear, hear,
mid cries of". Tile 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 rny motion--" That the question be referred to
a committee of the whole court, to take such steps with
reference tp the communication made ,by , the Remenv-
brancer as may be considered necessary." (Cheers.)
Mr. JONES—I second the motion. (Applause.) I
male an attempt to obtain a hearing, considering that if
the repert.of the Conference Committee had been read it
would have been a convenience to many of the mesnbe
of the Court, Who do not belong to the committee, by
their being put in possession of many of the facts of
ease The committee had not decided anything ; they
bad only made suggestions. I repeat that I have great
pleasure in seconding the motion, and I hopo we shall,
all of us, enter upon the consideration of the question
with good feeling towards each other, and the Govern-
ment, and thus agree to give the whole subject our
serious consideration. (Cheers.) The bill contains—
(A. VoieeDon'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 require our serious attention, and I do
hope that we shall not be carried away with the com-
plimentary manner 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 and carried.
Alderman WIRE--I move, my Lord Mayor, that any
five members of the Court be enabled to maths oom,
mittee together'; and. I hope the bill will, be fully con-
sidered by every member of the Court.

Mr. R. WidiAms 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 su2h deputation do consist of the Lord Mayor, two
aldermen, and three commoners, together with the
6liriffs, and Mr. 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. ANDERTON then moved that the deputation to her
Majesty's Ministers consist of the Right Hon. the Lord
Mayor, Alderman Wire, Mr. Deputy Dakin, Mr. De-
puty Pewtress, Sir Chapman Marshall, and himself.
Carried unanimously.
TIIE METROPOLITAN CATTLE-MARKET.
Mr. H. L. TANTA* then brought up two reports rela-
tive to the proceedfigs of the committee in respect to
the New Metropolitan Cattle Market, in Copenhagen-
fields. 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 20,0001. to com-
plete the new market. Without asking the Court to
hear the report read that day, or to consider it, he
thought it would be more judicious on his part, as the
organ of the committee, to ask the Court to have it
printed.
After a sitort discussion,
The motion for the printing of the report was put, and
carried unanimously.

Mr. U. L. TAYLOR then brought up another report
" relative to the revenue account of the Metropolitan
Cattle Market ; for authority to pass bills, &c., and for
transferring the management of the market to the Markets
Committee," which he moved should be read. He stated
that he bad 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 ofndthtehneecwommmairtkteeet
had much increased since its opening, a
considered that the time had arrived when it should be
transferred to the Markets Committee, appointed for
the special government of the several markets under the
control of the corporation. It appeared that, after the
payment of the expgrAecipctured for rates, gas, water,
&c., wages, and incidental charges, there was a balance
of out S,OOO/., 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 for control to the other body,itis the Markets Im•
provement Committee bad done their duty as to its
erection, and had nothing to do with the management
of it.

The consideration of the subject was adjourned.
ELUCTION OF A JUDGE OF THE SHERIFFS' COURT.

In consequence of the elevation of Mr. Russell Gur.
ney t 9 the Common Sergeantship, vice Edward Bullock,
Esq., resigned, a vacancy in the judgeship of the Sheriffs'
Court has taken place. Yesterday was the day ap.
pointed for the election, when Mr. Prendergast, Q.C.
was the successful candidate.
The proceedings then terminated.—Adjourned.

ACTION AGAINST A RAILWAY COMPANY FOR DELAY.
—ln the Manchester County Court on Tuesday an ace
tion was brought by Mr. Gibbs against the Lancashire
and Yorkshire Railway Company to recover.dareageo
for loss of time and expenses occurred through the aegll•
gence of the defendants. Mr. Fernley, barrister law,-a
stated the case for the plaintiff. He said Mr. Pi was
a metal dealer at Wolverhampton, and same time since,
having occasion to go to Newcastle upon important busi.
ness, he took a ticket at Manchester and
,proceeded by
Past 11. It appears
.
the train which left Manchester at 15
morning, and which was advertised in the company's
bills to arrive at Newcastle at Wt.-
ast
there was no time lost when the trans reached Norman.
ton, but between there and York there was considerable
delay, and on getting to the latter place the plaintiff
found that the Newcastle train had left half an hour,
and he had to remain for the next, which was a slow
train, 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 be came, and he ciAimed
61. for the expenses of the journey and 4/. for loss of time .
Mr. Cobbett, for the defendants, contended that the
company were not liable, as it was not on their line the
delay took place ; but his Honour overruled the objec-
tion, on the ground that tie company granted a ticket
through to Newcastle. Mr. Cobbett then addressed the
jury in mitigation of damages, and, his Honour having
summed up, the jury retired, and in about half an hour
returned with a verdict for the plaintiff for lel., the
amount claimed.—ilcuichcaer Cluardi"