The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-01-06 00:00:00

vested in the Corporation, who would have no other in-
terest except that of the town. He did not mean to throw
out any imputation against the water company, as to the
keeping and maintaining the works for a profit, but it
was of importance to the town that both water and gas
should be in the hands of the authorities for the benefit of
the town and not for the profit of an individual. There
had been a long discussion going on respecting water, but
he had never been satisfied that a true answer had been
given to any one part of the company's engagement,
which was, that the mains should be full. It was not
that they should be full now and then, but always full.
That was the undertaking they gave when they incorpo-
rated. At a recent fire, which took place in Fdlkner-
street, water could not be obtained for several hours, and
the consequence was, that property to the amount of
£B,OOO or £lO,OOO was lost—millions had been lost for

the want of water at the proper time. Was that a state
of things which ought to be tolerated in a town like Li-
verpool ? He understood the Harrington Company were
applying for other powers, but let them see that they did
their duty under the present acts before they were per-
mitted to have any extension of powers. He concluded
by urgine that the three gentlemen appointed should re-
port on those points to which he had alluded, and the
Council would be in full possession of the circumstances.
The AI A YOE. observed that the gentlemen could not have
such powers given them as those suggested by Mr. Rath-
bone. They were appointed for the pnrpose of seeing
that the profits which might accrue to the Corporation as
Lord of the Manor were received, and that the affairs of
the Company with reference to that object were properly
managed, that the accounts were properly kept, and that
the management was that which the Corporation had a
right to expect, so far as their interests were concerned ;
they had no right to interfere in the management of the
concern in connexion with the distribution of the pro-
perty for the benefit of the parties concerned. As the
company were about to apply for extended powers, an
occasion would arise to bring the matter before the Coun-
cil, when it could be considered.

Mr. NICOL said that no appointment had been made
since the Municipal Corporation Act came into operation,
and then not until the formation of the Harrington Com-
pany. He bad on all occasions experienced the greatest
courtesy from the directors of that company, and had
been allowed to take part in all the discussions, whether
the Corporation were a party interested or riot. They
had also thrown open the books, and admitted a person
from the 'T'reasurer's office to inspect them ; and the re-
sult would, in a short time, be laid on the Council table.
The accounts showed the Corporation had no distinct
right to claim anything. Allusion had been made to the
comp inies that they were unable to give the supply which
the town necessarily required, but by the proposed bill
they intended to take further capital and extend their
works, showing they were desirous of carrying out the
principle of accommodation to the public as far as possi-
ble. The bill would be beore the Council, and then it
could be discussed. As to the accident which had taken
place he did not think it would be the province of the
committee to lay before the Council any report on the
subject, as it might, under present circumstances, have
an_ injurious tendency•

EvANs said, lie had never heard such laudatory
sentiments in a case where there was nothing to commend
and everything to discommend ; they had been told of the
great merit due to the companies for exhibiting their
books ; why the law compelled theme and the law would
make them if they did not. He complained of the defec-
tiveness of their pipes, which were insufficient for the pub-
lic convenience. They had, by the course they had pur-
sued, exposed themselves more to censure than to praise ;
and he looked upon it as a great aggravation that it was a
private concern. They got the shares up several hundred
per cent., and yet left the public reason to complain of
them. He contended that if the law gave them the right
to possess themselves of the company, they should do it
without any scruple whatever. In Manchester and other
places they had an example of the advantages accruing
from having the supply of gas and water in the hands of
the authorities; the rates were lower for those articles,
besides which there was a profit almost suffi dent, when
applied to public purposes, to exonerate the community
from every other charge. They ought not to sit with
their arms folded, and let those people poke the eyes out
of the community; but the Council, when they had the
opportunity, ought to use their endeavours for hsving
both water and gas supplied in the cheapest and most ad-
vantageous manner to_the community at large.

...., -z:.
Mr-. KAYE observed, that as he was a member of the
Highway Board, and they were applying for an act to sup.
ply the town with water, he might, by being one of three
members appointed, be placed in rather an anomalous
position, and what he was doing with one hand, he might
be knocking down with the other.

Mr. HORNBY thought the Water Company on showing
the books had only done what they had a right to do. As
to what they were now doing in seeking fresh powers and
privileges, it was because they were in danger of losing
in consequence of the management during former years.
No doubt they were anxious to do it, but they should not
have done all those things when the public did not make
them, and there were no complaints.
Mr. MANN thought they ought not to throw so much
blame on the Water Company, inasmuch as they had the
power of electing three members, who could have inter-
fered ; but it appeared the parties were doing all those
things, and nothing was done to prevent it. _ . _

M-r..G. H. LAWREECE.—Ana if they had not invited
us we should not have been there till this day.

Mr. HORSFALL did not conceive the Harrington Com-
pany were deserving of censure because they wished to
make a profit. The great mistake the Council had made
was in allowing the Water Company to go out of their
hands. With respect to the accident, he thought the
public should be in a position to know whether there had
bet:n any neglect as regarded the. construction of the tank
which had given way.

After a few remarks from the Mayor and Mr. Lace,
Messrs. Nichol, Rathbone, and the Mayor were ap-
pointed Directors in accordance with the act of Parliament.
The meeting broke up shortly after twelve.

INQUEST ON THE FIVE PERSONS KILLED
AT THE HARRINGTON WATER WORKS.

On Wednesday an inquest was held on Mary Ann
Smith, Sarah Eliza Smith, Catharine Gibson, John
Deaveney, and Catharine Gibson, the five persons killed
by the bursting of a tank at the Harrington Water Works,
in Rock-street, on Christmas Day. Mr. Jamieson ap-
peared on the part of the Corporation : Mr. Stauistreet
on that of the Harrington Company; and Mr. Miller on
that of the Hawarden Company.
Five witnesses were examined to prove the finding of
the bodies, and the cause of the deaths. We subjoin such
ipnotrteri
eons t
pf
rtehme
sai do dg i ttihoanta
wl
ee vairdee tot
bc el i
gaesd wv
ei lrly
ne
uoc fh
to general
con-
dense it. _ _ _

Thomas Thompson, sworn.--I am manager and chief
clerk to the Liverpool and Harrington Water Company.
During the summer of 1844, the directors of the company
resolved upon having a tank made, capable of containing
200,000 gallons of water, for their station in water-street.
The object of the company in having so large a tank was,
to have an abundant supply of water in case of fire, so
that the mains might be filled at a moment's notice, and
to supply the shipping at that end of the town. I was
instructed to send applications for tenders to several
engineers, and, amongst others, to Messrs. George For-
rester and Co., Vau;hall-road, to the Hawarden Iron
Company, in Flintshire, and, I think, to Pearson and Co.
There were four or five in all. We received several ten
ders. We had a tender from Bury, Curtis, and Co. to
make a tank capable of containing 200,000 gallons of
water for :11,441; to make a roof to it they asked £137
more. Forrester and Company's tender was for £1,243105.
The Hawarden Company's tender was for I:1,150, and, if
bearers were required for it, £lOO more, making a total
of £1,250, and they offered to make a cistern of any re-
quired size for 14d per gallon. The directors were not
pledged to accept the lowest tender. The Hawarden
Company had previously done a great deal of work for
the Harrington Company, and always very satisfactorily.
The tender of the Hawarden Company was accepted.
Mr. Stanistreet put in the contract by which Messrs.
I'. P. Williams and John Williams, trading under the
firm of the Hawarden Iron Works, agreed to erect for
the Water Company for £1.250, a cast-iron cistern capa-
ble of containing 200,000 gallons of water, together with
all necessary screws, &c., for fitting up, the same i❑ a
proper and substantial manner, according to the instruc-
tions of the Water Company or their clerk, and the Ha-
warden Company engaged to uphold the cistern in good
order for twelve months, and also to be answerable for
any loss or damage which might happen to the said water
company, or their works, or to any nt ighbouring property
during that time, by reason of any defect i❑ tire said cis-
tern.

Witness.—Mr. Howell, who is the manager of the
Hawarden Works, submitted a plan of a tank, which was
adopted by the Harrington Company. Plates composing
the tank were brought to our yard at various periods when
they were ready, and they were put together under the
direction of Mr. Howell. and his clerk Mr. Maine. The
tank was completed and ready for use about six weeks or
two months ago, and the reason it was not immediately
used was, because Mr. Howell had to make some service
and other pipes not connected with the contract, which
prey, nted it from being ready for use until Christmas day.
Mr, Maine waited upon me on Christmas eve, about eight
o'clock, and said all was now quite right, and he re-
quested me to attend at the yard the following morning at
nine o'clock to see it filled, and also to see what an ex-
cellent job they had made of it. I was prevented from
attending at the yard of the company the following morn-
ing, and did not hear of the accident until half past two
o'clock in the afternoon. One of our own workmen in-
formed me of it. There was no roof to the cistern. I
proceeded to the premises and there saw the houses in
Rock-street demolished, and both sides of the tank gone.
I had my own opinion as to the cause of the accident,
but it was a mere opinion. _ _ _

By Mr. Millen—The tank was to be erected on a founda-
tion to be prepared by the Harrington-Company, and that
foundation fixed the situation; the length, breadth, and
depth of the tank showed the quantity ~f water it was to
contain. Christmas-day is a sort of half-holiday at our
works, and the arrangement for filling the tank, that day,
was made between Mr. David Maine and David Hum-

phreys, an engineer, as being a most convenient day for
the purpose ; otherwise, it would have been filled in the
night time. No notice was given by me to either of the
Messrs. Williams, but Mr. Maine told me that Mr.
Howell was coming over on Christmas morning, and
hoped we should have the pleasure of meeting together
in the yard to see the excellent job. I think he said
nothing about going to Hawarden himself. During the
whole time that the foundations were being put in, Mr.
Howell superintended and gave directions about them.
In my opinion the foundations and tank were done in a
very complete manner. We always had great confidence
in the work of the Hawarden Company.
George M'Gill sworn,—l am foreman in the employ of
the Harrington Company, and have beard the evidence
given by Mr. Thompson. The filling of the tank was
under my direction. Oa Christmas eve I was in it
.with