The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-09 00:00:00

LIFER:POOL TOTV.N COUNCIL.

TILE monthly and also the quarterly meeting of this
council was held on Wednesday last, Mr. Alderman J. H.
Turner -presiding, in. the absence of J. B. Lloyd, Esq.,
Mayor.

The first business proceeded with was the report on the
local rates, which recommended the imposition of the
following :—./72 the District of the Parish of Liverpool:
Paving, 10d. ' • sewer, 2d. ; water, ld.; general, 4d. ; total,
ls. sd. In the• District of Kirkdale : Paving, 2s. ; sewer,
4d. ; water, ld. ;. general. 4d.: total, 2s. 9d. In the Dis-
trict of Everton : Paving, is. ; sewer, 5d.; water, ld. ;
general, 4d.: total. ls. 10d. In the District of West
Derby : Paving, .10d..; sewer, 5d.; water, ld. • general,
5d.: total, ls. 9d.. In the District of Toxteth-park :
Paving, ls. ; sewer; 4d.; water, ld. ; general, 7d.: total, 2s.
The report also stated. that the amounts now due and
those proposed to be' borrowed on the sewer rates are as
follow :

Amount now due. Amount to be borrowed
Liverpool
Kirkdale
Everton 11,070
West Derby 14,520
Toxteth-park ... 20,380

Total ...
Mr. Alderman LII(GSDALE explained that the increase
in the paving-rate from Bd. to 10d. arose from the increased
price of labour and material, and from the fact that last
year they started with a debt of £11,350, which they had
reduced to £2,000, and they were now proposing to do
£4,300 more work than they did last year, and £2,600
more in watering the streets, of which £1,700 was to be
laid out in Liverpool alone. They were very much under
what the borough engineer had stated, and they could not
manage under the additional 2d. for which they applied.
He first moved the appropriation of the usual sum of
£5,000 to the paving and sewering rate. A conversation
ensued, in which Aldermen Cooper and Parker took part.
It was ended by Mr. Alderman Langsdale moving seri-
atim the confirmation of the various rates for Liverpool ;
all of which were carried.

2110,115

The proposed pavement rate on the township of Kirk-
dale, of 2s. in the pound, gave rise to a desultory discussion.
Mr. Alderman LANGSDALE stated that the cause of the ap-
parently excessive rate arose from the great expense
entailed in keeping Regent-street in repair. The traffic of
carts was becoming immense, owing to the formation of
the new north docks.—Mr. BIGHAM proposed that the
matter be referred to the committee, recommending that
Regent-street be paved with square sets, by a rate of 3d. in
the pound.—Mr. Alderman COOPER seconded the proposi-
tion.—Mr. LANGSDALE replied that the Borough Engineer
had said that 3d. would not be sufficient for the paving rate
of Kirkdale.—Mr. BIGHA M'S amendment, which was shap-
ed to the effect that the money be borrowed, and the rate
reduced from 2s. in the pound to ls. Bd., to pay the interest
and sinking fund provided for that purpose, was then put
to the vote, and lost by a majority of 29 to 17. For the
amendment :—Councillors Mellor, Thomson, Bigham,
Woodruff, Bradley, Godfrey, Holden, Turner, Fernihough,
Tobin, Earle, Houghton, Stewart, Gregson ; and Aldermen
Cooper, Gardner, and Shand. Against :—Councillors
Aked, Moss, M`Guffie, Hornby, Avison, Banner, J. Glad-
stone, Mann, Jeffreys, Wagstaff, M`Nicoll, Shand, Fleming,
Brancker, Johnson, Hodson, Nicholson, Beckwith, Hen-
derson, Robertson, Halhead ; and Aldermen Langsdale,
Bennett, Preston, Bold, Dover, Parkiugton, Robinson, and
Turner. The original proposition, that the paving rate
for Kirkdale, be 2s. in the pound, was confirmed.
The remaining rates recommended in the report were
confirmed, as was a fire-police rate of td. in the pound, and
a watch-rate, the total assessment of which was £8,527
12s. ld., the proportion of Liverpool being a rate of one
penny and one hundred and ninety-one two-hundreths of
a penny in the pound.
The proceedings 'of the Finance Committee comprised,
recommendationto increase the salaries of the following
clerks in the surveyor's department : namely, Mr. William
Fox, from £250 to £2BO per annum ; Mr. G. H. Rollet,
from £l5O to £175 per annum; the consideration of which
was postponed at the last monthly Council, pursuant to
the standing orders ; recommendation to place the dock-
gatemen of the River Craft Dock on the same footing, as
respects wages and clothes, as the dockgatemen employed
by the Dock Trustees ; recommendation to purchase, for
a sum of £l,OOO, one freehold house in Duke-street, and
one freehold house in Henry-street ; recommendation to
appoint Mr. W. McDonald superintendent of the chain-
testing machine, at the salary of £lOO, with house, being
the salary and emolument of his predecessor, Mr. Cham-
berlain, resigned ; and recommendation to purchase pro-
perty on the south side of Breck-road, for the sum of £7O,
for the improvement of that street. The recommenda-
tions were passed seriatim, on the proposition of Mr.
HORNBY.
Mr. GODFREY expressed a wish to know why the Fi-
nance Committee had given the contract for the erection
of cottages in connexion with the Borough Gaol to Messrs.
Kilpin and Furniss ?—Mr. HORNBY replied that the com-
mittee, after again considering the question, had decided
that they could do no other than give the contract to
Messrs. Kilpin and Furniss, who had just performed a
very extensive work, and who, according to their own in-
terpretation of the agreement, were entitled to perform
the works—they have contracted to do "all the work in
and about the gaol." They contended these cottages
were "about the gaol." The Town-clerk, however, had
decided that they were not legally entitled to it, but the
committee had
.considered it desirable to place the work
in their hands.—Mr. GODFREY was sorry that Mr. Hornby
had not given more cogent reasons for the adoption of
this step, and moved that that portion of the report be
not confirmed, and that the contract be given to Mr. Mul-
len. —Mr. Alderman LANGSDALE seconded the amend-
ment. Mr. WOODRUFF supported the amendment,
believing that it was most essential that tie tradesmen of
this town should have implicit confidenct; that when the
committee advertised for work to be done, and a compe-
tent person offered himself, with good and efficient
sureties, his tender would receive attention. (Hear, hear.)
A scene ensued, in which Mr. T.tromsoN, Mr. BIGHAM,
Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. Alderman PARKER, and Mr. HENDEE-
sox played conspicuous parts, after which the amendment
was put to the vote, and carried by a majority of 25 to 22.
For the amendment : —Councillors Thomson, Bigham,
Woodruff, Bradley, Moss, M`Guffie, Godfrey, Holden, J.
Gladstone, Mann, Wagstaff, M`Nicoll, Shand, Fleming,
Johnson, Picton, Hodson, Beckwith, Horsfall, Robertson,
Halhead ; and Aldermen Langsdale, Bennett, Bold, and
Shand. Against :—Councillors Aked, Anderson, Tyrer,
Turner, Hornby, Holt, Banner, Fernihough, Jeffreys,
Brancker, Tobin, Earle, Hmighton, Henderson, Stewart,
and Gregson ; and Aldermen Preston, Dover, Parker,
Cooper, Turner, and Toulmin. The contract will, there-
fore, be given to Mr. Mullen.
Mr. HORNBY then moved the confirmation of the whole
proceedings of the Finance Committee.
Mr. WOODRUFF drew attention to the filthy state of
the Sessions'-rooms, which presented the anomalous posi-
tion that, while persons were daily corrected in it for not
keeping their houses clean, the building in which they
were thus corrected was in a much filthier condition than
their own houses, for which they were being punished.
(Hear, hear.) It was stated that the matter should be
placed under the notice of the surveyor.
Mr. Branix, in regard to the Wavertree-house Estate,
moved the amendment of which he had given notice :
"That the surveyor be instructed, whilst levelling and
draining the Wavertree-hall Estate, to construct the re-
quisite walks, with a view to this property being opened
as a park for the recreation of the inhabitants at the
earliest possible period."—Mr. HORNBY signified the wil-
lingness of the Finance Committee to the adoption of this
course ; and the proposition was adopted. The Finance
Committee's proceedings were then confirmed.
Mr. TOBIN having moved the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings of the Watch Committee, Mr. WOODRUFF, who
was out of the room, partaking of the Mayor's accustomed
monthly " hospitality, ' when the proceedings were read,
asked what course the committee were about to pursue
with reference to the fact that the borough engineer had
tested the quality of the gas supplied to the borough, and
found it inferior to the contract, and having referred to
the proceedings, blamed the committee for not attempting
to recover the penalties against the Gas Company, for
infringing the contract.
Mr. DOVER dfew the attention of the Council to the
fact that Mrs. Mullens, who kept a respectable public-
house in Great Norfolk-street, had been fined by the
magistrates for refusing to admit a police-officer into her
house on Good Friday. He explained that the officer was
in plain clothing, that Mrs. Mullens did not recognize
him, and that, consequently, she considered it extremely
hard that she should have been convicted. Some discus-
sion ensued, in the course of which Mr. TOBIN justified
the general principle of the men making the inspections
of the public-houses, though he deprecated, and asserted
that the committee would severely punish, any attempt to
"'entrap" publicans. The report of the Watch Committee
was then confirmed. The proceedings of the Dock Com-
mittee were confirmed, on the proposition of Mr. Turner ;
and of the Improvement Committee, on the motion of
Mr. Alderman Bennett.
The proceedings of the Courts of Law and St. George's-
hall Committee comprised a recommendation to increase
the salary of Mr. W. H. Wordley, architectural draughts-
man at St. George's-hall, from £240 to £2BO per annum,
the consideration of which was postponed at the last
monthly Council, pursuant to the standing-orders. The
proceedings were confirmed.
Mr. Alderman COOPER moved the confirmation of the
proceedings relative to augmentation of salaries.—Mr-
BIGIIA 31, as an amendment, moved —" That the conside-
ration of all applications for increase of salaries be post-
poned, and that the Town-clerk be instructed to prepare
and lay before the Council a return, showing the names,
ages, occupation, dates of appointment, salaries when
appointed, and present salaries of all the officers employed
or paid by the Corporation, with the names and salaries
of their predecessors, dividing the same under the various
departments ; also, a return, showing' the present cost of
the constabulary force, with the number of men and
officers, as contrasted with the years 1849-50, 1850-1,
1851-2, 1852-a; also, a return, in a tabular form, of the
names, occupations, and salaries of the various officers of
the Corporation for the past ten years."—Mr. THOMSON
seconded the amendment, which, after some discussion,
was carried, nem. dis.
The proceedings of the Markets' Committee-comprised a
recommendation to increase the salaries of the following
officers : namely, John Radcliffe and Thomas S. Tyrer,
collectors at St. John's Market, from £9O to £llO per
annum each ; Robert Tyrer, collector at the Fish Market,
from £7B to £9O per annum •, and William Appleton,
collector at Pownall-square Market, from 30s. to 335.
per week.

The proceedings of the Education Committee comprised
a recommendation to increase the salaries of Mr. John
Harris, master of the North Corporation School, and Mr.
James Riley, master of the South Corporation School,
from £llO to £l2O per annum each ; and the salary of
Mr. James Rigby, second master of the South School,
from £6O to £75 per annum, the consideration of which
was postponed at the last monthly Council, pursuant to
the standing-orders.—On the proposition of Mr. 8AN1,712,
seconded by Mr. WAGSTAPF, the increase in the salaries
were allowed, and Mr. Robertson was appointed on the
comniittee, vice" Mr. Molyneux, deceased.
The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of. the Health
Committee comprised a recommendation to increase the
salary of Mr. James Lothean Ascroft, in the boroughm
engineer's department, from £52 to. £7O
,per annum.—
Postponed, Postponed, in accordance with Mr. Bigliam s propositions,l
ted to the
until the return, moved for by him,
pres Bill had
LANGSDAIfE statgd theSanatory