The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-25 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

FILIDAY.

The Council again tuet at eleven o'clock. on Friday, to re-
sume the consideration Of the bve-laws. Before proceeding to
the bye laws, however, the Council agreed to a recommendation
of the Watch Committee, th it Mr. William Williams, of Bold-
street, and Mt. Edward Simmons be appointed Commissioners
for lighting and cleansing the old Borough, and lighting the
new. The Town-clerk stated that the amount to be levied for
for a Watch Rate was now under the consideration of the
Pirish authorities. This subject, therefore, was adjourned.

•BYE-LAWS.
•
The Council then proceeded to. the. consideration of such of
the bye-laws as had been referred to the committee at previous
meetings. The first bye-law taken was No.-4, which refers to
nuisances in streets, and prohibits persons throwing or leaving
offensive matters upon the streets.—The law was divided into
two parts—the first prohibiting the throwing of such matters in
the street, and the second prohibiting the leaving of such matters
in any covered place, so as to be a public nnisance.—Penalty
ss. 10s: and 205., for first, second, and third offence.
Mr. Sault, thought that they were trenching on the province
of a jury, and giving undue power to individuals.
The TOWN-CI-mix said, that Mr. Sheil's objections would
apply to all the bye-laws.
Tile 13,h law was thee adopted, impoiing fines of 10s. and 20s.
upon persons killing or dr“ssing'cattle in the streets, or permit-
ting any offensive matter from any 'slaughter houses, butcher's
or fishmonger's shops.
Mr. Hope remarked that the bye-law, as now worded prohibi-
ted the killing of any animal, or any part of an animal (Great
laughter.) The Town-clerk on again referin, to the law Num'
it, to be so worded; and said he would remove the anomaly by a
little repetition, se as to prohibit the singeing, scalding, or dress-
ing of any.parts of animals.
• The law (No. 16) prohibiting the hooping, firing, &c. of
casks in the streets.gave rise to some discussion. Mr. liornby
wished cooperages to be glazed so as to prevent accidents from
fire.--This was objected to. Ultimately the subject was referred
back to the committee for reconsideration.
The 21st bye-law was divided. into two, it prohibits persons
keeping swine sties to the street, and keeping swine in the rooms
or cellars of dwelling-houses.
The next bye-law was the '29th, against placing lines across
the street for drying clothes, or hanging clothes to he dried in
the streets—Mr. florzr said, that the hoisting of corn and flour
by horses which went across the streets, was a great nuisance.—
Mr. J. CROPPER thought the nuisance was less than if the cart
stood in the street white the Sacks were carried up.-Referred
to the committee, so far al the hoisting by horses is concerned.
Mr. MaxwEr.l. said it had been the practice of poor persons
to hang wet clothes upon rails, as at the front of Leyland's
Bauk, which was a great nuisance.—Mr. J ottnaN said, if the
clothes flapped about, they became a public nuisance.—Mr.
RoaiNsoN said, the parties could get quit of the nuisance by
- placing,the- clothes on the ground.—Mr. JORDAN said this
would subject th'em to an action:—The TowN-chenK said, he
should re,el no hesitation in taking the clothes from the rails and
gently lay iug them on the ground, as the rails were private
property.—The Ma Yon—ln the dirtiest place you could find
(laughter.) The prohibition against the use of lines was then
agreed to.
The 36th bye-law wis then amended so as to make it legal
for the. inhabitants to blush the dirt from the footpath clear of
the water` course, which another bye-law would have fined them
for doing.
A new law was introduced making it penal for any person to
expose his or her person in bathing. '1 he fine to bo 2s. 61, 5.,
and 105.—Mr. BOLTON thought this bye-law very hard.—Mr.
[lore remarked that the. practice of bathing in exposed situa-
tions had been carried to "an awful extent.".. He would even
go so far as to apply the penalty to persons bathing on the
strand.—Mr. RATHBONE thought this bye-law should be recoil-
sidered.—The 'Toivs-CLERK said that when children bathed
there was no exposure.—M r. EVANS thought it very wrong to
fine and imprison boys for this,whose incarceration along with old
offenders would do much harm.—The law was agreed to.
he 44th law against persons playing football or throwing
stones or, playing. at pitch and toss was then considered. An
addition was made forbidding the slides.or making of slides on
the footpaths or crossings. Penalties 2s. 6d., 5., and 10. The
same law existed in the old local act with more severe penalties.
The 45th law against persons letting' off squibs, &c. and
making bonfires, was agreed to with an addition against firing
pistols and guns, either in_ the streets or in the neighbourhood
of any highway, to the danger or annoyance of any person.
The penalty not to extend to places of public amusement or on
special occasions sanctioned by the Mayor.
The 46th law was then considered. The Committee reported
that they had found a difficulty as to the carrying of meat by
butchers in the streets. A long discussion
.took place, and it
was ultimately agreed that butchers should not carry meat on
the footpaths at all, and that in.carrying it on the carriage way,
they should cover it with a clean cloth, according to the prac-
tice in London, Paris, and other large towns. Mr. LEATHOM
said that a fellow carried a bloody sheep across the Exchange
area the other day, dispersing the merchants in all directions.—
Mr. RATHBONE complained that if his servant or himself carried
a piece of meat in their hand without a cloth, he would be fined
fur indecency.-7 Mr. JORDAN, "very properly, it is very indeli-
cate; he ought to put it in his pocket-hanakerchief." (Loud
laughter.) Mr. SHEIL said he had a good coat spoiled by
.a
person carrying a shoulder of mutton against it. Whilst in
London, the Londoners were not so much more refined than
they as had been stated by the Mayor. Mr, Evaras had a no-
tion that a leg of mutton' was not such an odious object.
(Laughter.) He thought the bye-law ought to be confined to
quarters of a beast.
Laws 47 and 48, referred to persons keeping cookshops open
at improper hours and harbouring improper characters. An
addition was made extending the prohibition to places where
tea and other refreshments were sold, perMitling thieves, pros-
titutes, or disorderly persons " assembling at and continuing in
such place, either by day or night.—Mr. BROWN said that this
addition was proposed in consequence of its being well known
that persons who could not obtain wine and spirit licenses, sold
other sorts of refreshments, in order to have au excuse for the
assembling of improper characters, particularly in the neigh-
bourhood of the places of public amusement.—Mr. RATHBONE
thought the prohibition should be confined to the night, as it
was very hard to prevent even thieves and prostitutes from ob-
taining provisions in a decent manner during the day.--Mr.
Cnoeenn said a great deal of mischief was done before twelve
o'clock at night by young men being entrapped into such haunts
on their way home from their offices.—Mr. Morecruft, Mr.
Brown, and other gentlemen supported this view of the matter
and the law, as thus amended was ultimately agreed to.
THE BYE-LAWS FOR THE OLD BOROUGH.

The bye-laws and local acts referring only to the old borough
were then considered, and the following regulations adopted:-
PORTERS.

1. Porters to wear badges on arm.-2. To be appointed by
the Council.-3. To be registered at ,the Town-clerk's office;
fee of Is. fo be paid for registering.-4. Not to go on board ves-
sels. without being called under penalties of 2s. 6d., 55., and
10s., and if a licensed porter his license to be discontinued, if he
persisted in repeating the offence.-5. Porters using insulting
language to be lined 55., 10s., arid 205., and to have license dis-
continued after the third offence.—G. Porters refusing to go any
errand or' message within the borough to be fined 55., 10s., and
205., and deprived of license if repeated.--6. No extortionate
demand to be made under increasing penalties of 55., los., and
20s.
Mr. J. CM/MR wished to know whether the Council had the
power to prevent masters employing porters paying them in
public houses ?—The TOWN-CLERK thought that tiny provision
of this kind should come from the legislature, and as they were
about to apply to parliament it might be taken into'considera-
tion.—The MAYOR said that it was a scandalous oppression on
the pour man and his family, as half his wages were fie-
quently spent in the public-house. The magistrates might
refuse to license any public-house where wages were paid.
Mr. Evens hoped that this prohibition might be extended to
he payment of all classes of mechanics.
LIGHTS IN WAREHOUSES,
The TOWN-CLERK said the next class of bye-laws would ap-

ply solely to the old borough. The'first was, that persons using
uninclosed lights at or near any warehouses or quays, should
forfeit 10s., 20., and 40s.—Mr. DUNCAN asked if shops we in-
cluded in this law.--Mr. ',Assiut, said this law would prevent
him from going into his own warehouse without a lantern.—The
MAYOR said very properly so. The law had its origin in the
fire at Lancelot's Hey which it was supposed was caused
by. the careless use of unenclosed lights. Mr.. Bot.ToN said
that under this law tt would be impossible for •Mr. Lassell
to carry on his trade, as fires were required to ventilate
the cellars. [Mr. Lassell is a wine merchant.] The MAYOR
said that the law did not apply to fires, but to candies, and was
intended to apply to porters in warehouses, and not in shops.
Mr. RA WDON said that as his office was in the same building as
his warehouse he would not be able to light a candle for the
purpose. of sealing a letter.—Referred to the committee for revi-
sion. The lantern containing, the light to be locked. Penalty
55., 10s., 20s. Subject to revision. Persons smocking tobacco
at or near warehouses, dock quays, &c., to be fined 10s., 205.,
and 40.5. Under the same revision.
At one o'clock the Council adjourned till Monday at twelve.
• MONDAY.
The council sat again yesterday by adjourment, on the sub-
ject of the bye-laws.
The Towsi-cLERK said he was sorry that he was not so pre-
pared as he ought to be, but it was entirely owing to some par-
liamentary proceedings he had had to prepare, and to the
sessions making him so busy. They would, however, proceed
with some alterations which had been made by the committee.
The first bye-law that required some additional alteration
was No. 16, in the general bye-laws, on the suggestion of Mr.
'l'. liornhy. " That if any person shall, in any of the streets,,
place any stone, straw, &c." The alteration in this bye-law rip
framed by the committee would be as follows : "That if any
person should, in any of the streets, make, trim,' fire, or burn
out, hoop, cleanse, wash, or scald any casks, or cooper any
casks, except such as required to be done immediately, on the
spot, or should hew any stone, &c., except in cases of accident,
requiring such to be done on the spot." The fine to be 2s. 6d.
for the first offence, 55., for the second,.and 10s. for the third.—
Agreed to.
'*'he TOWN-CLERK said the next was an additional bye-lhiv
on the suggestion of Mr. 'l'. Hornly. "'That if any person
should make, fire, or burn out any cask, within 15 yards of any
part of any street, Ste., without the building of a wall sufficient
to screen the firing or burning out thereof', from such street, he
shall forfeit, for the first offence, 55., for the second, 10s., and
for the third, 20s.
The ToWN-cLERK said the terms "building, wall, or screen,"
were taken from the general highway act.
Mr. Councillor Hors said the restriction appeared to him to
be too great.
After some discussion the words " closed.pailing, closed gate,
shut, or other sufficient screen, " were introduced, and the bye-
law was passed.
"That if any person should, for the purpose stf hoisting, or
whipping any goods into any viarehouse, use any rope drawn
out by any horse or horses, across any street or footway, to the
restriction or annoyance of any person. The penalty 2s. 6d. for
the first offence, ss. for the second, and 10s. for the third."..._
Agreee to.
"That if any poison shall maliciouslylor wantonly pull down,
or deface any board, giving notice of the sale, or letting of any
land, house, or building, or any board which should be fixed up
by the owner or occupier of any such land, or building." Fines,
2s. 6d., 65., and 10s.
Mr. Councillor DUNCAN enquired how that would ay where ppl
the owner of a:house chose to put up a board of that descrip-
tion against a house without consulting the occupier ; it would
be a great nuisance.
The TowN-CLERK said, if the occupier of a house being the
owner for the time being, were to put down any such board, he
would not be acting in a malicious or wanton manner.
Mr. Alderman BnoWN said au impression had got abroad,
that the bye-law committee were making bye-laws which would
press heavily on the poor. The tact was quite the reverse.
'wfihtehy
dhhaidhamaawdie,
yenvue
trsyaphecensalttyo
the 7slight as possible, consistently
town at .large. The laws
were not severe; they were only carrying out acts of parlia-
ment already existing, in as modified a form as they couldthere
The TowN-CLERK said, it had been suggested that
should be erected a protection for foot' passengers were a fence
was erected around buildingitalten down by any person that
a hand rail.should also be' erected. The penalties 10s., 205., and
40s. It was proposed fo' endet " That if any Person so putting
up a fence should not, in all streets in which the sante reioht
reasonably be demanded, for thd convenience of loot Isn•