The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-10-09 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS,

A meeting of the Council was held in the Town-hall on
Wednesday, for the despatch of business. In the absence
of the mayor, who was presiding in the court for the revision
of the burgess lists. Mr. Alderman EARLE was appointed
to preside.
A note was read from the MAyou., to the effect that his
worship " from the present mode of proceeding," in the
Revision Court, found it impossible to attend the council—
that it would in consequence of that mode of proceeding
require all the time allowed by law to cornplet3 the revision,
if, indeed, it could be accomplished at all. The communi-
cations addressed to the mayor, were in the hands of the
Town-clerk.
The proceedings of the last council meeting were read and
confirmed.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.
The deputy TOWN-CLERK having read the proceedings of
the Finance Committee, their confirmation was moved by
Mr. BOLTON, and seconded by another member of the
council. Amongst them were several payments for the in-
surances upon revenue building.
Mr. HODGSON inquired by what authority the corporation
were called upon to pay these insurances.
Mr. BOLTON explained that the commissioners of customs
wished to insure the several parts of the buildings distinctly,
but that the tire-offices had declined. The proceedings of
the Finance Committee related merely to the mode oedivi-
sion.
Mr. HoncsoN submitted that was no answer to his ques-
tion. He wished to know how it was that this council were
called upon to pay any parts of the expense of insuring the
Custom-house, as he understood they had nothing farther to
do with it. He wished for this information, not on account
of the expense involved in it, but on account of knowing
on whom the responsibility of payment rested.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the council were bound to in-
sure and keep in repair, the Custom-house for ten years.
Mr. HORNBY said that was not exactly an answer to the
question. The fact was the commissioners of customs paid
their own insurance, and the council theirs, for that portion
of the building which they occupied.
Mr. HonusoN was not aware that the council occupied any
portion of the building.
Mr. SMITH observed that they occupied the Town Dues
office. The conversation on this subject then dropped.
Mr. Isaac HOLMES, after complaining of the manner in
which he and several other members were systematically ex-
cluded from all the committees, moved as an amendment
that the accounts of the Finance Committee, now read, be
not confirmed until they had been investigated by those mem-
bers who were not members of the committee.
The amendment not being seconded, it fell to the ground.
The usual statement of leases was read and confirmed.
IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of the Improvement Committee was next
read, and confirmed without eliciting any remarks.

WATCH COMMITTEE.

Mr. TnonNuti.r. moved that the proceedings of this com-
mittee be confirmed. _

Mr. DUNCAN seconded the motion. Amongst the pro-
ceedings was a resolution► recommending the Council to lay
a rate of one halfpenny in the pound for the support of the
fire police for 1810-1. There was also a letter from Captain
Williams, inspector of prisons. stating that he had, in com-
pany with Mr. Whitty, inspected all the places in the bo-
rough for the tcmpoiary detention of prisoners, and found
them all in the best order. There was only one suggestion
which he wished to offer—namely, that no person be allowed
to make a profit by supplying the prisoners with beds, but
that the corporation should furnish them.
On the motion of Mr. THORNHILL, seconded by Mr.
SMITH, Win. Williams and others were appointed assessors
and collectors of the lighting, cleansing, and fire-police rates
for the ensuing year ; and a fire-police rate of one halfpenny
in the pound was laid.

MARKETS COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of this committee were read and con-
firmed.

TOWN-HALL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE.
This committee presented only a few bills, which were
confirmed.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

The proceeding;-of this consisted of only one
meeting, at which nothing particular was done.

COURTS ON -LAW COMMITTEE.

In the proceedings of this committee, a long letter was
read from Mr. Elmes, whose plans for the Assize Courts
were approved of, and took the first prize among those some
time since submitted for inspection. The letter was one of
respectful remonstrance, arising out of an impression that
the writer was not to be any further consulted respecting the
building. It appeared, by a letter from the Corporation
Surveyor, that he was averse to making any alterations in
those plans, while it did not appear in any part of the report
that the committee/had ever intended to proceed without
consulting Mr. Elmes. Subsequently, after an interview
with the committee, Mr. Elmes seems to have been per-
fectly satisfied, and he was proceeding with some alterations
in his plans.
On the motion of Mr. HonNny, seconded by Mr. LAw-
lIENCE, the proceedings of the committee were confirmed.

DOCK COMMITTEE.
The proceedings of this committee under the Dock Acts
were confirmed. It appeared that the plans of Mr. Gage
had been examined by a sub-committee appointed for the
purpose, and found not so convenient as those of Mr. Hart-
ley ; but that, as he had been at considerable pains, and bad
prepared one plan at the request of the committee, he be
requested to accept the sum of one hundred guineas.

NEW DOCK DILL.
Mr. LEATHOM, seconded by Mr. BENN, moved that the
proceedings of the committee be confirmed with regard to
the bill for the erection of warehouses upon the dock quays.
Mr. SANDBACII said perhaps the chairman of the Dock
Committee could inform the Council the amount which had
been expended in the late unsuccessful attempt to obtain the
bill ? _ . .

Mr. LEATHONf replied that the accounts had only been
received lately, and there was no doubt they were correct.
They were, however, now under revision. The expense in-
curred in the attempt to obtain the new dock bill was
£lO,lOO, and of the resistance to the Harrington and Her-
culaneum bills about £1,500.
Mr. HonosoN inquired whether the Council were to have
the particulars of this expenditure laid before them. This
information was absolutely necessary, as he supposed the
matter was not yet at an end. If the particulars were given,
they might be subject to inquiry in the course of the election
now about to take place.
Mr. LEATHOM replied that the information would come
before the council regularly, in the proceedings of the Dock
Committee.
Mr. HODGSON said that would not be sufficient, and he
should be glad to know whether there were any means by
which the accounts could be given, at once, to the public?
The CHAIRMAN replied that Mr. Leathom had answered
that question.
Mr. HODGSON rejoined that Mr. Leathom had only stated
that the accounts would come before the council in regular
course ; but he (Mr. Hodgson) was desirous of knowing be-
fore the particulars of what had been paid for this gingerbread
scheme.
Mr. LEATHOM again stated that the accounts would come
before the Dock Committee in the regular way.
Mr. HODGSON hoped that no longer time would elapse
that was absolute necessary before this information was given.
He trusted the bills would not be kept back.
The CHAIRMAN thought Mr. Hodgson's remarks were out
of order, unless he intended to conclude with an amendment.
Mr. HODGSON would always bow with respect to the re-
quirements of the chair. He did not wish to detain the coun-
cil unnecessarily, but as this was an important subject, and
one likely to attract great attention in the ensuing election,
it was due to themselves and to the public to know whether
what had been lost one year might not be saved in another.
He thought the public ought to have an opportunity of judg-
ing fully and completely what degree of opposition should be
made to the scheme in future, or whether all opposition
should be withdrawn. For this object they ought to know
what costs had been incurred—if they could get the informa-
tion.
Mr. SMITH asked whether the resolution was merely pro
forme, to enable the Dock Colemittee to give the necessary
notices, or whether it was understood as binding the council
to the principle ?
I\lr. LuATHom replied that the object of the resolution was
to enable the Dock Committee to give the necessary parlia-
mentary notices, which must be given at the end of Oetober
or the beginning of November.
Mr. JOHN HOLMES.—Then this is merely a formal pro-
ceeding ?
Mr. 13 ovroN . —Certainly.
Mr. ISAAC HOLMES enquired whether the £11,700 were
to be paid out of the dock estate, or out of the corporate es-
tate ?
The CHAIRMAN said that was not the question.
Mr. ISAAC HOLMES insisted it was the question. If this
sum were to be abstracted from the corporate funds the
council ought to know it, in order that they might be enabled
to appropriate funds for other purposes.
Mr. BOLTON said, the proper time for discussing questions
would be when it came before the council in the shape of a
recommendation from the Finance Committee.
Mr. EVANS rose under great excitement, and said he would
never consent to their being any understanding that the
adoption of this resolution should not be considered as pledg-
ing the council to the principle involved in it. With regard
to the expense, who was it owing to but to those who, to
their disgrace, had compelled the authorities to spend the
public money in a vain attempt to get the bill, for no other
but a vile, pecuniary, and interested motive?
The CHAIRMAN said the speaker had better not use such
terms as " disgraceful" and others which he had.
Mr. EVANS said he had been excited by Mr. Hodgson
having applied the term " gingerbread" to the scheme.
The CHAIRMAN observed that he should be glad to have
some gingerbread now for he was very hungry.
. Mr. EVANS admitted that he ought to apologise for the
language he had used.
Mr. HODGSON said as the term had given such offence to
the worthy alderman as he had described, he gladly with-
draw it. lie could not, however, himself see that there was
any cause for offence.
The motion was then carried.
MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS.

The Mayor's communications were next read and referred
to the respective committees.

BATHS, &C., FOR THE POOR.
Mr. BATHBONE read the reports of the special committee
on the subject of providing baths for the use of the poor,
with conveniences for the washing of their clothes, and
moved that it be referred to the finance committee to report
as to the funds. The report stated that about £2,000 would
be required for the erection of each of the establishments,
but that afterwards they would support themselves.
Mr. BLACKBURNE seconded the motion.
Mr. EVANS inquired whether there was any example any
where of establishments of this kind, observing that it would
be consolatory to know whether if tried they had succeeded?
Mr. RATHBORE replied, that as far as the baths were con-
cerned the present was an experiment ; but as regarded the
washing cellars they had been tried for five years in Upper
Pitt-street, and had succeeded admirably.
The CHAIRMAN believed that both establishments were
contrived for the use of the workmen, in some places where
steam-engines were used.
Mr. BATHBONE observed that a brother-in-law of his had
two of them in his factories, one in Lancaster and another in
Macclesfield, and they had been found of the greatest
utility.
The resolution was then passed, and at half-past one the
council adjourned till Friday the 30th instant—the last meet-
ing prior to the forthcoming election.

The will of the late Earl of Durham has been proved in the
prerogative courts of York and Canterbury. In the former
the personal property had been sworn to be under .£250,000,
and in the latter to a much smaller amount. The will, which
is entirely in the late earl's own handwriting, occupies merely
the two first pages of a common sheet of letter paper, the
attestations standing upon the head of the third page, and it
conveys to the Countess of Durham the whole real and per-
sonal estate of her lamented husband, without restriction or
control.
ROYAL ARTILLERY.-At seven o'clock on Saturday even-
ing an order arrived at Woolwich for the men selected from
the detachment recently returned from Spain, to proceed to
Constantinople, to brigade and instruct the Turks, to set out
without delay for their destination, as their services would
be immediately required. To show the readiness 4 British
soldiers, and what they can do in cases of emergency, it is
but justice to state, that in less than half an hour the men
had left the garrison for London, on their way to the terminus
of the railway at Vauxhall, to proceed with the first train to
Southampton, where they expected to meet Lieutenant A. S.
Dickson, and embark in a steam vessel for Constantinople.
The men appointed to this arduous duty consist of four non-
commissioned officers, and three experienced gunners and
drivers.