The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-11-06 00:00:00

IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of this Committee being read,
Mr. SAMUEL HOLME rose and said, before moving the con-
firmation of accounts of the important character of those
just read he would give a short synopsis of what had been ac-
complished by the committee with which he had been con-
nected; he did so because in the present flickering condition of
public feeling events might occur which would deny to him the
opportunity of making that statement there at a future period.
The Corporation had power to borrow £250,000, to be applied
in a manner subject to the approval of the Council ;—(hear)—
of this sum £ 67,600 had been already laid out in the
erection of the Assize Courts. A considerable amount had been
expended in improving Cooper's-row and Fenwick-street, within
the last six years. They had spent £55,564 in purchasing pro-
perty in various places in the town, which though not wanted
at the present time, would ultimately be required, and it bad
been secured before its requirement by the Corporation became
matter of notoriety, for it was well known how the value of
property rose in the estimation of owners when they were ap-
prized of its being required by the Corporation. Of the above
sum £15,330 had been expended within thelast fewyears. To ena-
ble the committee to complete theimprovements now in progress,
they would have to purchase some property at thecorner of Han-
ley-street, and a warehouse in Lime-street; the latter had been
satisfactorily arranged, owing to the co-operation of Mr. Rim-
men he Mr. H., wished all parties concerned in such tran-
sactions would be as desirous to meet the Corporation in their
advances as that gentleman had been. (Hear, hear.) With re-
spect to the property in Hanle)-street, he feared the committee
would have some trouble ere a satisfactory agreement could be
concluded. Then there was the great thoroughfare, Elliot-
street, the widening of which was rendered necessary by reason
of the great number of omnibuses which were continually pass-
ing and repassing there. He was happy to say it had only been
necessary to purchase in this street three shops and
houses. To carry out these improvements it would be ne-
cessary to shorten the Pedlars' Market. In Dale-street
they only now required three houses and shops; and he re-
commended the improvements contemplated there, because the
Corporation being the possessors of the Saracen's Head, for
which a nominal rent was only paid at present, would thereby
become gainers. There were two other reasons why this im-
provement should be carried out: first, the great thoroughfare
required it, and, secondly, it would enable them to open
Peter-street. Thus they would leave the improvement com-
mittee a large quantity of land, and would also bring money
into the exchequer. Other property had been secured at the
south side of Shaw's-brow and in the Old Haymarket, which
it is intended ultimately to take down ; thus a great number of
dilapidated houses would be removed, and a view of the Assize
Courts would be thrown open to Dale-street. In Old Haymarket
three houses had been secured for the purpose of carrying out
the improvements in the vicinity of the Assize Courts. Nothing
had yet been done with regard to Preeson's-row. These were
some of the matters which had been accomplished, although
there were various other blocks of property which might be
got at a small expense, and which would be a great acquisition
to the corporation, but which, for obvious reasons, he refrained
from indicating. Were he to do so, probably a number of
speculators would rush into the market. Mr. Holme concluded
by paying a compliment to the courtesy of his colleagues, and
trusting that the same politeness would be shewn to his suc-
cessor.

MR. TitomsoN asked if anything had been done with respect
to Burlington-street, and remarked that there need be no ap-
prehension of speculators rushing into the market, as far as
that locality was concerned.
Mr. HOLME replied that it did not come within the power
of the Improvement Committee.
The proceedings were then confirmed.
LAW COURTS COMMITTEE.

Mr. J. B. Lloyd said he believed that Mr. Kaye had some ob-
servation to make, and he would afford that gentleman the Op-
portunity of doing so before he moved the confirmation of the
accounts.

The MAYOR.—You can make your statements first.
Mr. J. B. LLOYD then entered into some details, to show the
advisability of retaining Mr. Wordley, the draftsman of the
late Mr. Elmes, in the service of the corporation, at an in-
creased salary, viz. 4240. He also explained that the com-
mittee bad confirmed the purchase of certain books of refer-
ence, amounting to a little more than 4100, made by Mr.
Weightman, although he deprecated the fact of the purchase,
without the sanction of the committee.

Mr. KAYE then rose, and having thanked Mr. Lloyd, pro-
ceeded to make a recommendation to the Law Courts' Com-
mittee, the purport of which was to induce them to furnish
more ample accommodation in the new Assize Courts, for the
public, and especially for the reporters to the public press—the
reporters had an arduous duty to perform, and unless they had
facilities offered to them, it was impossible they could dis-
charge those duties efficiently. Mr. Kaye then went into de-
tails of the style of architecture adopted in the erection of the
Hall, as well as with regard to the space in the interior, and
complained that all the accommodation afforded to the public
was a flight of steps in the back part of the court—not a single
seat except two forms in a small gallery, capable of seating 32
persons. He asked how females were to be accommodated
under the circumstances, and thought that the public ought to
have been consulted, as well as the judges and barristers.
Mr. THOMSON rose to second the motion.

The MAYOR advised Mr. Kaye to abstain from putting the
recommendation formally as a resolution, but to lay it before
the chairman of the committee, who he had no doubt would
attend to it as Mr. Kaye desired.
This was acceded to, and
Mr. J. 13. LLOYD hoped Mr. Kaye would take his assurance
on behalf of the committee, that it was his most anxious desire
that the public should have every accommodation it was pos-
sible to give them. With respect to the reporters a whole box
was appropriated to their use—a box similar to a jury-box—the
entrance to which was so arranged that the reporters would
have ingress and egress without the necessity of going into the
crowded court.—(air. Kaye was glad to hear that).—Mr. Lloyd
then went on to spew that if seats were placed on the steps
spoken of by Mr. Kaye, they would be the means of obstruct-
ing the entrance of the court; he said there were several cor-
ridors which would be capable of accommodating a large num-
ber of persons, and in this respect St. George's Hall possessed
accommodation that did not attach to that of Westminster
Hall, with itsgreater demands in that respect. He concluded
by promising Mr. Kaye that everything. practicable should be
done for the public comfort and convenience.
The proceedings were then confirmed.
MARKETS' COMMITTEE.

Mr. PARKER moved and Mr. WOODRUFF seconded the con-
firmation of the proceedings of this committee, which were
accordingly confirmed.

- ..
GAOL COMMITTEE.
The accounts of this committee were next confirmed.
TOWN-HALL COMMITTEE.

From the proceedings of this committee, it transpired that in
future the admission to the Town-hall would be limited to
Monday afternoon, when a charge of 6d. each person would be
made, unless the visitor were introduced by a member of the
Council. The stock of wines was announced to be very low,
and it had been agreed to grant .4'loo to replenish the corporate
wine cellar.
In answer to a question from Mr. SAMUEL HOLME,
The MAYOR said the wine by his direction had been sent in
in cypher, and consequently it wasimpossible to know to whom
the different samples belonged. The proceedings were then
confirmed.