The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-07-31 00:00:00

LOCAL MEETINGS.

DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—A communication
was read from Mr. Ledger, agent to the Earl of Sefton,
who wished to Know whether the Formby land-mark,
which had been given up by the Dock Estate, might be
pulled down. The committee could not give any direc-
tions in the matter, as the Admiralty were to be consult-
ed.—Another letter was read from Mr. Chapman, of
Southport, respecting the Horse-bank buoys, in which
he threatened to bring the matter before Lloyds' and the
underwriters.—A letter was also read from Mr. T. Key,
complaining of the extension of the dock works at Bootle,
as the present chief magistrate had given the inhabitants
of Bootle to understand that the works should not be
extended beyond the land-marks for twenty years to come.
The letter added, that a great amount of property would
be injured by the works which were going on. Mr. Mann
said that a mistake had arisen : the late chairman said
the works would probably not be completed in less than
eighteen or twenty years. Mr. Hartley, in explanation,
said that they were bound by the Admiralty to finish the
works at an early period, and before two months the wall
would be completed to the land-marks. Mr. Tobin said
the owners of property had no reason to fear, as the pro-
perty in the neighbourhood of the new works would cer-
tainly increase in value.—A letter was read from Mr.
Gage, recommending the introduction of an engine for
the supply of river water to the hoisting apparatus of the
Albert Dock warehouses, as a saving to the dock trust.
Mr. Hartley stated that the bedding for an engine and a
chimney had already been made.—A letter had been re-
ceived from Mr. G. H. Lawrence, intimating that it was
the intention of the officers of the Weight and Measures
Department to examine the weights and scales of the
Albert Dock warehouses. Mr. Tobin wished to know
whether the chairman was liable for any default. This
terminated the public business.
HEALTH COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—Mr. Tinne in the
chair.—A conversation took place as to the Medical Offi-
cer receiving assistance from the police force, in certain
cases where it was necessary to remove persons afflicted
with cholera, or bury the dead. It was agreed that the
Medical Officer should confer with the Head Constable
on the subject.—Mr. Bennett expressed his satisfaction
that persons were alive to the necessity of whitewashing
courts, many of which bad been done without ;he usual
notices being served.—The attention of the Board having
been called to the nuisance arising from smoke, the
Chairman intimated that measures were in progress for
compelling parties by information to do away with such
nuisances.—The Inspector of Nuisances reported the
cleansing of 1030 cesspools, the inspection of 99 nuisances
complained of by inhabitants, and a variety of other de-
tails of work done in his department during the past week.
The Medical Officer reported an increase in the mortality
of the borough, the deaths for the week being 640 against
463 the previous week ; in the corresponding week of last
year there were 197 deaths. The rate of mortality was
higher by 100 than during the rage of the fever in 1847.
The deaths from cholera were 375, and in the previous
week 233. There was little change in the mortality from
bowel complaints, the number of cases being 52 against
55 the previous week. The mortality was the highest in
Scotland and Vauxhall Wards. There had been in Scot-
land Ward 140 deaths, and 82 from cholera ; in Vauxhall
Ward, 112 deaths, and 81 from cholera. The system of
house visitation was now in operation, and 79 streets,
containing 10,000 inhabitants, had been visited. Night
stations for affording prompt relief had also been opened
in various parts of the town.—A great deal of desultory
discussion, which did not lead to any practical result,
took place relative to the measures of the committee with
regard to the visitation of cholera. The Chairman said
that every thing had been done which it was possible to
do, and the committee were desirous of carrying out the
suggestions made by the Medical Officer, or any other
regulations that might be necessary. In reply to a ques-
tion, the Medical Officer said he could not give correctly
the number of cases of cholera within the borough during
the week ; the number of deaths was principally from the
registrar's returns. The Chairman thought it would be
much better if the reports of cholera were not published,
as they only created alarm. This led to a conversation,
during which it was stated that the publication of reports
and the house visitations caused persons to pay more at-
tion to the premonitory symptoms of cholera, by which a
beneficial effect had been produced.—ln accordance with

the report of the Sub-committee, a reduction from 6d. to
4d. was ordered to be made in the price of admission to
the warm baths in Paul-street. It was considered unde-
sirable at present to extend the alteration to the baths in
Frederick-street.—The Borough Engineer stated that the
approximate estimate for the new baths in Cornwallis-
street would be £7,500. The model, which was spoken
of by Mr. Walthew as a most skilful and ingenious piece
of workmanship, is to be sent to the fancy fair.—After
some matters of a routine character, the meeting ad-
journed.
WEST DERBY GUARDIANS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 25.—
Present : Messrs. Roskell, (in the chair,) Ledger, Batten,
Tattersall, Mountfield, Smith, Harrison, H. Edwards,
Pilkington, Lightbody, Medcalf, Sidney, Lloyd, Bolshaw,
and James Birch.—The following grants were voted to the
relieving officers :—Allen, £BO ; Tomkins, £35 ; Potts,
£55 ; Latham, £35 ; Sheerson, £ls.—lt appeared from
the report of the fever hospital, that there remained in the
house last week, 9 ; admitted, 5 ; discharged, cured, 3 ;
at present in the house, 9.—A letter, in answer to one
forwarded by the clerk, was read from the Poor Law
Board, relative t 3 paupers refusing to go into the hospital
or infirmary for the purpose of having a limb amputated,
and whether, on such refusal, the medical officers of the
districts were bound to attend them and charge the ex-
penses to the union. It was the opinion of the Poor Law
Board that, if the institutions were out of the union, those
parties could not be denied such medical relief.—lt was
stated that, in accordance with the decision come to last
week, a medical gentleman had been appointed to super-
sede Mr. Bradbury, medical officer of the cholera hospital
in Toxteth.park, on the terms stated in the advertisement.
The most important business of the day was that respect-
ing the complaint made last week against Mr. Johnson,
medical officer of Kirkdale, who, it was said, neglected to
attend a child ill of cholera. As was agreed to at the last
weekly meeting of the board, the sub-committee met on
Friday to investigate the matter ; the result was, after the
examination of several witnesses, the production of a re-
port stating that the committee were of opinion.that Mr.
Johnson had, in that instance, neglected his duty in not
visiting the child the first time he was called. At the
request of Mr. Ledger, the evidence was read, after which
it was moved, seconded, and carried, that the report be
received and adopted. Conversation of a very protracted
nature here ensued, during which much was said pro and
con. ; and it is bat justice to Mr. Johnson to state that,
with his general conduct the board was satisfied, and,
consequently, thy did not wish him to be dismissed ; but
with regard to the case then before them, they considered
it their duty to call in the medical officer and admonish
him. This was done, when Mr. Johnson said, that as the
charge preferred against him had been published in the
newspapers, and in order to vindicate himself before that
board and the public, he begged to be heard. Mr. John-
son proceeded to say that the multiplicity of cases he had
to deal with, and their great urgency, prevented him from
attending the child when first called; and observed that,
under the present arrangements, it was impossible to at-
tend all the cases at the same time. The Chairman
expressed his regret of the painful duty imposed upon
him, but said that the board required that the same atten-
tion should be paid to the poor as to the richest in the
land. Mr. Johnson then withdrew.—A nurse was ap-
pointed at the yearly salary of £lo.—Mr. Batten called
attention to a letter he had received from Dr. Duncan,
recommending that house visitation be extended in the
Park, and that a night station be opened for the purpose
of vending medicines. He (Mr. Batten) bad had conver-
sation with the medical officers of the township, and several
Catholic priests, all of whom had stated that cholera was
on the increase in that district, and, therefore, additional
medical aid was required. He begged to move the follow-
ing resolution :—" That two night surgeons be appointed
for the district of Toxteth-park, to undertake the treatment
of such cases of cholera as may occur between the hours of
nine p.m. and seven a.m, ; and, further, that two addi-
tional special medical visitors be appointed for Toxteth-
park." Mr. Ledger seconded the resolution, which was
adopted.—After the disposal of some routine business the
board adjourned.
The following anecdote is strikingly illustrative of the
esprite de corps prevalent in Russia :—The remark was
made to a Cossack officer that the Hungarian rebellion
would not be so easily put down as was generally ima-
gined, the force of the Magyars being so great and the
people so fanaticised. " Silence, (exclaimed the Musco-
vite,) the great Czar has ordained a victory, rind his
orders must be obeyed."