The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-01-04 00:00:00

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

After the proceedings of this committee had been read over
by the Deputy Town-clerk,
Mr. Alderman EARLE said that, before they were con-
firmed, he should wish to say a word or two with respect to
the sale of the churches. If there existed a necessity for the
immediate sale of the advowsons of the different churches, it
must of course be done; but he begged to suggest the pro-
priety of postponing the sale of the advowson of St. Ann's
Church, and for this reason. It had long been under the
consideration of the old corporation to takedown that church,
and continue the road through from St. Anne-street. That
improvement, he thought, would be a very desirable one ;
and he should therefore suggest the postponement of the sale
of the church until the question of improvement had been
taken into consideration. There was an objection on the
part of many, owing to the burying ground; but that objection
had been got over in London and other places, and be thought
it might iu this instance. A day might come when this im-
provement would be rendered necessary.
Mr. Councillor BOLTON could see no propriety in post-
poning the sale of the church. The pews in St. Ann's be-
longed to private individuals, and that circumstance might
cause some d►fficulty in carrying into effect the improvement
alluded to by Mr. Earle: He thought there was nothing to
do hut to proceed with the sale of the advowson.
Mr. Councillor JOHN S/411TH was of opinion that there
would be an objection to taking down the church, on account
of the burial ground.
As Mr. Earle had not made any motion upon the subject,
Alderman BARCLAY said that, thinking the suggestion a very
good one, he would move that the sale of St. Ann's be post-
poned. _ _

Mr. Alderman EARLE seconded the motion.
Mr. Councillor CuRRIE said that if the contemplated im-
provement could be carried into effect, it might be as well
to postpone the sale; but if not, what was the use in so
doing ?
Mr. Councillor I. HOLMES suggested that the improvement
might be carried into effect without interfering with the
church. There was some property in Cazneau-street, the
owner of which might, perhaps, be prevailed on to dispose of
it, and in that case they might carry on the line of St. Anne-
street quite as well, if not better, than by removing the
church. . . . . • .

----
Mr. Councillor D. HoDGsoN wished to know whether, in

the plan of improvement spoken of, there had been any pro-
vision made for erecting another church in lieu of the one
that was to be taken down. The discussion seemed to be
growing, and perhaps the best plan for facilitating a decision
would be to say where it was intended to remove the church
to.

It was stated that the improvement spoken of was a mere
suggestion that bad been thrown out, and was not a plan that
bad been taken into contemplation by any committee.
Mr. Alderman EARLE thought that it would be a great
advantage to have a continuous line of road, especially as
they were about to have a haymarket beyond it.
Ihe vote was then taken on the motion of Mr. Barclay.
For the postponement there were 21; for the entire confirma-
tion of the Finance Committee's proceedings, 23.
Mr. Alderman SHIEL said that a committee ought to be
appointed to take this subject into consideration, because it
was very imprudent to allow a portion of the public property
to lie in suspense. That suspense might be more prejudicial
than they then imagined. The present incumbent of St.
Ann's was a very old man, and it might happen that, whilst
they were deliberating, a very young man might be placed
in, and the interest of the council suffer. It was not proper
that the town should lose the advantage which it at present
possessed, and the council should, therefore, be prepared to
say whether they would run the. risk he had alluded to or not.
The TOWN-CLERK wished to know whether the name of the
St. Ann's Church was to be left out of the advertisement
offering the various endowments for sale.
Mr. Councillor T. CASE hereupon inquired whether the
committee had published au advertisement before the council
had sanctioned the sale of the property.
After some conversation, it was stated that the town coun-
cil had actually authorised the finance committee to take steps
for the sale of the advowsons, and the publication of the ad-
vertisement was one of the necessary steps towards carrying
that object into effect. The deputy town-clerk read a minute
of the council. dated Oct. 3, authorising the finance comtnitte
to sell the-eight churches.
Mr. Alderman SHEIL then moved that the finance commit-
tee should be instructed to report, at the next council, whether
it was advisable that the sale of St. Ann's church should be
postponed, and if so, for how long a time.
Mr. Councillor MORECROFT seconded the motion.
Mr. Councillor 'l'. HARVEY inquired whether such a motion
as that of Mr. Barclay could be brought forward without giv-
ing the customary notice.
Souse discussion took place upon this point, and the town-
clerk stated as his opinion that the motion was out of order,
inasmuch as the finance committee had been met ely carrying
into effect a previous order of the council.
Mr. Councillor MAsoN thought that it would be very inju-
dicious to check the right which the council had of re-hearing
and revising reports.
Mr. Alderman EVANS was surprised at the opinion which
had been given by the town-clerk, and referred to the case of
the warehouses upon the dock quays, in which the course had
been pursued which was now pointed out as irregular.
The Town-clerk replied that that was a special case. Be-
cause an irregularity had been practised upon a former occa-
sion, that was no reason why it should become a rule, or be
practised upon another occasion.
Mr. Councillor Bourori suggested that, as there had been
an irregularity, Mr. Barclay should, withdraw his motion.
The sale was not to take place until the first of March, and
there would consequently be enough of time for Mr. Barclay
to give the proper notice; and by the time it again came
before them, the council would be better able to vote upon
the subject.
Mr. Councillor GLADSTONE said if they were out of order,
if the Town-clerk would check them a little earlier another

time it would be much better.
Mr. BA BPI. itic ultimately consented to the withdrawal; and
as his motion had been carried, it eras formally rescinded.

VII the tavirkiit.-toac-I,lte pruceetllngSLOt 0115
should be confirmed,-
Mr.' Councillor COOPER rose and said that he wished to
draw the attention of the council to that part. of the report
bavin reference to the improvements in Temple-street. lle
4ad the day before gone to look at the splendid improvements
which were then to have been effected, and he found that,
instead.of-the street having been made straight, and parapets
laid down,for trier convenience of passengers, there actually
had 'been Very little alteration made. The warehouse was
being rebuilt, and the only difference was that it now pro-
jected five yards instead of six arid a half, so that the sum of
£l6OO had been expended for little or nothing. Only an ad-
ditional *width of one and a half yards had been gained; and,
as heretofore, there was to be but one parapet. He had
never heard of a snore improvident piece of business; the
improvement, as it was called, would stand en everlasting
monument of reproach to the committee and, to the council.
Mr. Alderman EARLE said that a more contereptihle piece
of economy had never existed than the improvementof 'rein;
ple-street.
Mr. Alderman EvANs maintained that they had every way
provided for the• convenience and perfect safety of passen-
gers; and he had no doubt, that when the warehouse was
completed, every body would be better pleased than if they
had opened the whole street. To have done so, indeed, would
have been to expose one of the meanest streets in Liverpool
—one that had not the slightest claim to be considered a
thoroughfare. He also maintained that they expended a
larger portion of the corporate revenue on that fraction of
the town than they were Justified in doing; and, instead of
having exposed a little mean street, there would now be a
handsome building erected, that would contribute greatly to
the embellishment of Dale-street.
Mr. Councillor BOLTON met with a direct negative the as-
sertion of Mr. Cooper that £1,600 had been expended with-
out any improvement. There had been an express stipula-
tion made that offices should be erected instead of a ware-
house. £1,600 was a very large sum for a small improve-
ment; but still the safety of the people was much contributed
to by the removal of the cellar lid and the jigger rope.
The proceedings were then confirmed.
The proceedings of the watch, market, town-hall esta-
blishment, church expenditure, and dock committees, were
then successively read and confirmed.
CORPORATION SCHOOLS.

The following were read amongst the proceedings of the
Education Committee :