The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-23 00:00:00

THE NEW POST-OFFICE.

The MAYOR said be had a letter which bad been received
by Mr. Okill from Mr. Banning, the postmaster, on the
subject of the ['oat-office in Revenue-buildings. The De-
puty Town-clerk would read it if the council thought proper.
The DEPUTY TowN-cLERK then read the following, letter:
" Post of/ Liverpool, 191/i Nov., 1838
"DEAR SIR,—In reply to your inquiry, What progress
has beets made towards the completion of the new Post-
office?' I beg to state, for the information of the Custom-
house Committee, that specifications and estimates for the
fittings of the new offices have been transmitted by the Post-
office department to the Treasury, and when the decision of
the lords of the Treasury is received, the Post-office depart-
ment will, I believe, take measures to prepare for the occu-
pation of the premises at as early a period as possible after
the corporation can put the department into possession.
" I informed the Surveyor of the General Post-office that,
in conformity with the resolution of the Custom-house Com-
mittee, a key of the western door had been delivered tome
about the middle of September, which gives me access to
most of the rooms, but not exclusive possession of any part;
and I am requested by the surveyor to ask at what period that
full possession of the premises can be given to the Post-
office department?
" I am, dear sir,
" Yours faithfully,
" Charles Okill, Esq., &c." "-WM. BANNING.
Mr. Councillor JORDAN said, Mr. Banning had had un-
controlled possession of every part of the buitiling to be ap-
propriated for a Post-office, but he had not a key of the pub-
lic door. The place was quite ready for the commencement
of operations, and had been so for some time.
Mr. Alderman SHEIL said he understood that, about the
middle of Sept. last, all the work was completed ready for
Mr. Banning to proceed to prepare the place for business.
The key was delivered up to him for that purpose, and be
thought the public ought now to have that accommodation
for which they had paid such an enormous amount of money.
Some of those individuals who were so well paid for perform-
ing public services had been guilty of neglect. Much delay,
it appeared, had occurred at the -Treasury since application
had been made there. He thought the council would not he
doing their duty to the public if they did not apply imme-
diately to the lords of the Treasury, to have that accommoda-
tion given to the inhabitants of this town, for which they had
already paid such a vast price. He should therefore move,
"That the mayor be respectfully requested to inform the
lords commissioners of her majesty's Treasury that the build-
ing intended fin a new Post-office, has been ready for the oc-
cupation of that department since September last, and beg-
ging that the necessary orders may be given to remove the
establishment thereto, in order that the town may be no
longer deprived of its accommodation."
Mr. Councillor CURRIE said Mr. Banning seemed to say
that be was not in
full possession. He thought it would be
proper to give him a key to the outer door, that he might
have nothing to complain of. Mr. Banning ought to be put
in full possession.
Mr. Alderman LEATHOM said Mr. Banning had a key of
the outer door, and was in full possession.
Mr. Alderman EAR LE.—lt's all a mere excuse.
Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN could not see that any blame
attached to Mr. Banning. Two months since he had had the
key given to him, and he had plans and specifications to pro-
pose and transmit to the Treasury. Two months was not so
long a time to complete the arrangements for such a suite of
apartments as those were. He thought they ought to be
careful in casting reflections on public officers.
Mr. Alderman- SHELL said, as Mr. Blackburn spoke, it
might be supposed they were complaining that the arrange-
ments were not yet completed, but they were complaining
that they were not yet commenced. But he did not blame
Mr. Banning. He had no intention of doing so, for he had
done all probably that could he done. There was a great
deal of neglect; however, about those at the head of affairs in
London. . _

Mr. Alderman I.EaTHom said he believed Mr. Banning
had sent the plans and specifications four months ago, and
he_had not yet received any answer. _

Mr. Couucitlor JoitosNsaiTih;y had written to the lords
of the Treasury in,April last, about heating the rooms, and
they had never yet even replied to the letter.
The resolution was put and passed unanimously.
The TowN-CLERK read the following report of the Gaol
Committee.

" General report relative to the Gaol and House of Correc-
tion of the borough of Liverpool, prepared by the clerk of
the peace, pursuant to the act of parliament, 4th Geo. IV.
c. 64, s. 27, and laid before the Court of Quarter Sessions

of the Justices and the Council of the buro-ugh --------
" It appears front the report of the justices for the borough
who have acted as visitors of the prison, front the report of
the chaplain of the prison, and front the certificate of the
gaoler;
"'l' at the additional buildings within the walls of the pri-
son, comprising a residence for the matron and female turn-
keys, hospital, wash-house, laundry, disinfecting, cleansing,
and examination room, and baths, which, on the recommeda-
tion of the Visiting justices, were ordered to be erected by
the town-council, are in a state of forwardness, and will be
ready for occupation and use about the end of November.
That the general plan of these buildings, on which an opinion
can now be formed, appears satisfactory, and likely to secure
the expected advantages both in the better accommodation
of the female officers, and in the inure complete separation
of the juvenile females from the adults, as also in the general
prison discipline, by affording means of carrying the prison
rules applicable to criminal prisoners, on their first coming
into the prison, into strict execution.
"'That some minor improvements are intended in these
new buildings, on the report and estimate of the surveyor of
the corporation, first., by heating the drying stoves, the dis-
infecting apparatus, the bath, and cleansing room with steam,
—a method which is strongly recommended by the surveyor.
The expense will be £35 more than the original estimate;
and, secondly, by flagging the area in front of the new build-
ings front the examination room to the north door of the
hospital, the cost of which will be £l6.
"That it is also proposed that a bath and cleansing room
for males should be erected in receiving yard, No. 7, the cost
being estimated at £3l, and that a spare room in the lodge
should be converted into a store-room, at a cost of £7.

"'That these estimates amount together to £B9, and the
proposed alterations appear necessary and fully to justify
the expenditure.. •
"'That the prison has been found in a state of great clean-
liness and excellent order on the various occasions on which
it has been inspected by the visiting justices.
"'That with regard to the prisoners, and as to morals, disci-
pline, employment, hard labour, and observance of rules, •
" It appears—first, that on the criminal side a more com-
plete separation of the male juveniles from the adults has
been carried into effect; which arrangement, with the benefit
that may be reasonably expected to result from the school,
will, in the opinion of the visiting justices, tend to general
improvement, although the short terms of imprisonment for
which many of the juveniles are committed may prevent
much being done for their ultimate reformation; yet the
employment for the mind, and consequent division of the
labours of the day between the school and work-room, assist
in the maintenance of discipline, and lessen the necessity of
recourse to punishment.
"That the classification of the criminal prisoners generally
requited by the gaol acts, and a strict system of discipline,
have been observed and maintained; and it is satisfactory
to notice that these great objects have been accomplished at
a small proportion of punishments as compared with the
returns of some other prisons. That the daily average of
prisoners is 425%, and the daily average of punishment 81.
" That the seventh rule, as amended in the early part of
the year, has, in restricting the visiting to every third month,
facilitated in a great measure the preservation of good order.
" That, secondly, on the debtor's side, the rules of the gaol
are enforced, and that, notwithstanding many complaints
made by the debtors in the first instance, as to the supposed
harshness of some of the restrictions, it is evident that a most
beneficial result has ensued in the cheerful obedience of the
prisoners to the necessary discipline, in the absence of com-
plaints against them for drunkenness and gambling, and as
between themselves in the social order which prevails, instead
of quarrels and complaints, which formerly came too often
under the notice of the justices."