The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-02-17 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1852.

ROYAL IIiSTITUTION.—The annual meeting of the pro.
ptietors of the Liverpool Royal Institution was held on
Friday, Mr. Theodore Rathbone in the chair, by whom it
was stated that the committee intended to throw the
museum open to the gratuitous admission of the public.
LIVERPOOL AND LONDON FIRE AND LIFE INSU-
RANCE COMPANY.--The annual meeting of the share-
holders in this company was held on Thursday, at the
offices in Water-street, Mr. W. Nicol, president of the
board of directors, in the chair. The report contained
the usual summary of the company's affairs, which are in
a highly satisfactory state. The establishment of a board
in New York, the acquisition of the business and connec-
tions of the Australasian Life Assurance and Annuity
Company, the opportunity of adding to the proprietary
gentlemen of influence in their respective neighbour-
hoods, have led to an increase in the number of shares
issued, which now amount to 78,670. A dividend was
declared of 10s. per share, less income tax, and five per
cent. on the uncalled capital in the case of those shares
on which £2 10s. have not been received. The follow.
ing gentlemen were appointed directors for the ensuing
year :—Messrs. T. Brocklebank, G. Grant, J. C. Ewart,
F. Heywood, R. Higgin, W. Lowe, and A. M`Gregor. A
sum of £BOO was placed at the disposal of the directors.
The chairman took a brief review of the present favour-
able position of the company, and congratulated the share-
holders on the promise of a continuance of such prosperity.
THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.—On Thursday, the weekly
meeting was held at the Town-hall, after the close
of the Council. Alderman Langsdale presided. After
the usual building and nuisance reports, the medical
officer submitted his return of the sanatory state of
the town. The total deaths, for the week ending
on Saturday, were 215 ; being six more than in the
previous week, and exactly corresponding with the average
mortality of the same week of the pre-eding four years.
Deaths from zymotic diseases, 52—one more than in the

week previous; scarlatina, 22; typhus, 12; hooping
cough and croup, each 5 ; mortality from bowel complaint
lower than in any week of the previous nine months.
Diseases of the lungs caused 69 deaths-10 more than in
the previous week, and 22 less than in the corresponding
week of last year. The deaths of two licensed victuallers
are registered from excessive drinking, Of the total
deaths, 86 were below five years of age—a larger propor-
tion than in any week of the preceding three months.
Complaints having been made of a nuisance from stag-
nant water on the east side of Grove-street, the engineer
was instructed to have the sewers cleared, which might be
done at a trifling expense. A recommendation from the
general purposes committee to suspend Mr. Harding, a
clerk in the engineer's office, was confirmed.

EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY.—The general half-
yearly meeting of shareholders of the East Lancashire
Railway was held on Wednesday last, at the company's
offices, Bury ; Mr. Thomas Dugdale, the chairman, pre-
sided. An abstract of the report of the directors has
already appeared in this journal. The chairman, in mov-
ing the adoption of the report, stated that during the half
year they had paid off loans to the amount of £lBO,OOO,
£20,000 of which was at 5 per cent., and £160,000 at 41
per cent. ; and this sum bad been rehorrowed at 41 per
cent. The directors had for some time been obtaining
money at 4 per cent., and as the affairs of the company,
financially considered, were now in a satisfactory condi-
tion, it had been determined not to give more than 32
per cent. in future, at which rate they believed they would
be able to obtain such amount as they might require.
The mortgage debt, on Dec. 31, 1851, was £778,985, a nd
in June, 1850, it was £726,381 ; so that there had been
an increase of £62,604. The Great Exhibition, last year,
instead of increasing had diminfshed the company's
receipts from pleasure traffic. He also made some further
explanations, and the report was adopted. The retiring
directors were then re-elected, except Mr. Goodman, who
wished to retire, and in whose place Mr. John Holt, of
Stubbilee, was appointed. The auditor was also re-elected,
the dividend recommended by the directors declared, and
the thanks of the meeting were given to the directors.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY.—The thirty-
third annual meeting of this company was held in London,
on Thursday. Mr. Russell, chairman, announced that
the directors had encouraged local parties to make a rail-
way from Gloucester by Ross to Hereford, and also a line
from Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth. Referring to the
alliance with the Shrewsbury companies, the chairman
said—" We have since completed that arrangement by
entering into an agreement with the Birkenhead, Lanca-
shire, and Cheshire Company. I regret that that agree-
ment should have assumed the form of a guarantee, and,
for myself, T should rather have preferred that it had been
a mere traffic arrangement. (Hear, hear.) But the
gross receipts of that line already nearly equal the annual
amount that is guaranteed to it by the three companies.
The question, therefore, is little more than one of the
working expenses ; and there can be no doubt that, when
it shall be completed and in operation together with the
other companies, its income will be fully sufficient to
meet this additional expense." (A Shareholder : Never.)
The new line from Birmingham to Wolverhampton would
be completed in twelve months; and to meet the exigen-
cies before the traffic arose, the directors unanimously
recommended them to reserve the large balance of
£lOO,OOO. The chairman moved the adoption of the
report, which, after some grumbling on the part of one
proprietor, at the prospect of having a contest with the
London and North-western Company, was unanimously
adopte3.

DOCK COMMITTEE.—The usual weekly meeting was
held on Thursday, Mr. Charles Turner in the chair. A
letter was read from Captain Patey, R.N., emigration
agent at this port, respecting the intention of the coin-
...lace tv Null tlown LIIC weilii.al r.ffi.. Co. fl,c.
emigrants at the north end of the Prince's Dock. The
writer submitted that the committee should erect a
small building close to the Waterloo Dock. The letter
was referred to the harbour master's sub-committee. A
letter was read from the owners and occupiers of the
several ferry stations on the Cheshire side of the Mersey,
calling attention to the evils which arose from the an-
chorage of vessels in the vicinity of the landing-stage.
The memorialists suggested that 500 yards, north and
south of the landing-stage, should he kept clear for the
convenience of the ferry-steamers, and, in support of their
proposition, alluded to the immense number of persons
who annually crossed the river. The following are the
numbers that crossed last year :—Seacombe, 744,646 ;
Woodside, 3,928,544 ; Monks' Ferry, 315,961, ; Birken.
head, 720,000; Tranmere, 1,680,000 ; Rock Ferry, 950,000;
Eastham , 20,000. Total, 8,359,151. The letter was re-
ferred to the marine sub-committee. The secretary read
a memorial from John Dawson, shipbuilder, praying for
compensation, in consequence of having to give up the
land rented from the committee. The memorial was re-
ferred to the works sub-committee. A memorial was read
from Mr. Wm. Rose, contractor for the removal of night
soil, praying that he might be allowed to occupy the Har-
rington Dock as a depot for manure for some time longer.
It was stated that Mr. Rose had notice 18 months ago to
clear away the manure. It was decided that the resolution
of the committee should be carried into effect. The finan-
cial business was then proceeded with.
LADIES' CHARITY.—The annual meeting of the sub-
scribers and patrons of the Ladies' Charity was held on
Wednesday last at the Blue Coat Hospital. Three ladies
and three gentlemen only were present. The Venerable
Archdeacon Brooks presided. The report of the com-
mittee stated the number of patients last year was 1,329
only, while in 1848 it was 2,325. This was occasioned by
the pressure of debt upon the charity ; and hence the com-
mittee appealed for aid to the public of Liverpool.
Patients relieved in 1851, 1,329. Children vaccinated,
1,095, From the statement of the accounts, it appeared
that the cash paid to individuals was £265 165., and for
relief, £166 2s. 6d. The total expenses were £845 14s. 7d.,
and the receipts £1,050 18s. Id., of which £512 lls.
only rose from annual subscriptions, and the remainder
being from casual sources, including £214 2s. Bd. from
the ball. The reports and accounts were both unani-
mously agreed to, and ordered to be printed. It was
also resolved that the following be the Ladies' committee
for the ensuing year :—Mrs. Thomas Hornby, lady pa-
troness; Mrs. Naylor, Mrs. T. Moss, Mrs. Wm. Fletcher,
Mrs. Mozley, Mrs. Langton, Mrs. Adam Gladstone, and
Mrs. Arnaud. The following were also appointed as
the Gentlemen's Committee :—Harmood Banner, Esq.,
president; C. F. Cameron, Esq., vice-president; James
Bold, Esq., treasurer; E. H. Roscoe, Esq.; Thomas
Littledale, Esq. ; John Orred, Esq. ; James A. Tobin,
Esq.; Henry Royds, Esq.; J. W. S. May, Esq., secretary.
In answer to the chairman, a lady said that several per-
sons had been refused the benefits of the charity for non-
compliance with its rules, such as not getting their
children vaccinated, and bringing back their tickets when
their childred died. It was also mentioned that the charity
did not participate in the simultaneous collections for the
different charities of the town. A vote of thanks to the
chairman was unanimously carried, after which the meet-
ing separated.

DISTRICT PROVIDENT SOCIETY.—The twenty-second
annual meeting of the subscribers and friends of this so-
ciety was held on Tuesday last, in the Savings' Bank,
Bold-street. Thomas Littledale, Esq., the Mayor, pre-
sided. The report read by the Secretary stated that,
though the donations during the year had been conside-
rably less than those of 1851, the deposits had increased
by £1,066 1 ls. ld.' making a total amount of money de-
posited of £9,658 14s. sd. Legacies to the amount of
£ll3 2s. had been received, and sums of £1 18s. 6d. and
£ll 3s. 3d. derived from the sales of relief tickets and
depositors' cards respectively. Adding to these several
items £8 17s. 4d. received for bank and railway interest,
there was a total income of £1,189 2s. Id., falling short
of that of the preceding year by £467 4s. ld. The appli-
cants for the society's bounty, relieved during the year,
had numbered 4,962, of whom 2,638 were English, 1,956
Irish, 108 Scotch, 235 Welsh, and 25 country unkno‘i n.
Upon this object of the society a sum of £552 4s. 9d. had
been expended. In concluding their report, the commit-
tee " take this opportunity of again expressing that re,,ret
which they have already recorded in the minutes of their
proceedings, that circumstances should have occurred to
deprive the society of the valuable services of their late
treasurer, Mr. T. W. Rathbone. At the same time,
however, they consider themselves fortunate in having
secured the assistance of Mr. Joseph Wagstaff as his
successor, a gentleman on every account most eligihle for
that important and responsible office."—Mr. Wagstaff,
the treasurer, having then read a statement of the ac-
counts, the Rev. Mr. Bold moved that the report be
adopted, printed, and circulated.—The Venerable Arch-
deacon Brooks, in seconding the motion, regretted the
falling off in the annual subscriptions, on which, and not
upon casual sources, the welfare of such societies must
principally depend. At the same time, he was glad to
find that the wants of tile poor had not been so great in
the present year • provisions had been cheap, and there
had been no epidemical disease.—The motion was carried
unanimously.—The officers and committee for the ensuing
year were subsequently appointed ; and votes of thanks
were pasee.4 to the managers for the past year, and to the
chairman.

LIVERPOOL TOWN COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of the Town Council of this
borough was held on Wednesday last, when the Mayor,
T. Littledale, Esq., presided.

ASSESSOR OF THE COURT OF PASSAGE.
Mr. Av'sox, previous to the commencement of the
regular business of the Council, observed that although
no official intimation had yet been received by the
Council of the elevation of Mr. Crompton to the office
of judge, he hoped the Council would pass a compli-
mentary resolution to a gentleman who had so ably filled
the office of assessor of the Liverpool Court of Passage
for a space of fifteen years, and who, in his (Mr.
Avison's) opinion, would make a judge equal in every
respect to Baron Parke.

A discussion ensued with respect to the course which
the Council should take in recommending a successor to
Mr. Crompton.

The TOWN-CLERK having stated, in answer to a ques-
tion from Mr. Bramley-Moore, that he did not think the
Council had the power of recommending,
Mr. FERNIHOUGH remarked that he was opposed to
the Council paying the salary without having any choice
in the nomination ; and he thought that a committee
ought to he appointed to take charge of the matter. He
might take that opportunity to say that the appointment
had been made three months ago : it had been altogether
an arranged matter with Mr. Crompton to retire, in
order to make way for a certain gentleman.
Mr. BENNETT supported, and Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE
opposed, the appointment of a special committee. The
latter gentleman observed that the Council might depend
upon it that they would have a good man, for the law
made it imperative that the gentleman to be appointed
to the office should be a barrister of seven years' standing ;
there were good men to be had, too—Mr. James, for
instance, and others.

Mr. THOMSON.—Mr. Henderson, too.
Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORS continued.—Gentlemen who
had practised many years, who were well known, and
well qualified. If the appointment rested with Sir
George Grey, he (Mr. Moore) had perfect confidence;
but if with the Lord Chancellor, he had non•.
No motion was made on the subject, and the discus-
sion closed.

WITHDRAWAL OF THE NEW SANITARY BILL

Mr. LANGSDALE, as chairman of the Health Com-
mittee, said that the Council, after a mature deliberation
on the subject, had, in consequence of the opposition to
the measure, principally from the agents of the large
landowners, and from the House-owners' Association,
deemed it the mostdesirable course, for the interests of the
town, to withdraw the new Sanitary Bill for the present.
Mr. BENNETT reproached the Health Committee for
having given way to the opposition of interested parties,
to the prejudice of the health and comfort of the inha-
bitants of the town.

Mr. JOHN STEWART defended Lord Derby and other
landowners.

After a long discussion, a vote on the motion whether
or not the bill should be withdrawn was taken, which was
carried by a majority of forty to three.

THE OBSERVATORY : MR. HARTNUP'S SALARY.

Mr. NEIL, chairman of the Observatory Committee,
in moving the confirmation of the proceedings of that
committee, moved that the salary of Mr. Hartnup, the
astronomer, be increased from £2OO to £3OO a-year. He
thought the present salary was not an equivalent for the
position which Mr. Hartnup held, nor for the labour de-
volving upon his office. _ _

Mr. GLADSTONE seconded the motion, and after a dis-
cussion, it was carried without a vote having been taken.

WATER COMMITTEE : THE NEW BILL

The proceedings of the Water Committee having been
read,

Mr. HOLT, the chairman of the committee, moved their
adoption. He said a new engine for the Green-lane works
was started on Tuesday week, and had given the most
entire satisfaction. They had had their contract well
executed, and at a reasonable rate.
Mr. Alderman COOPER seconded the motion.

Mr. Alderman PARKER having represented that the
contract for the laying down of pipes was too low, the
proceedings were confirmed.
The bill to be taken before Parliament for the deviation
of the line of pipes for conveying water from Rivington
was then discussed at considerable length, and the pre-
amble and clauses passed seriatim, with an order from
the Council to the committee to prosecute the bill.