The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-03-18 00:00:00

TOWN-HALL.

The TOWN-CLERK :read this part of the report:—The clause
recommended a proper degree of hospitality at the Town-hall,
but that the number of entertainments given should not be so
great, and proposed an allowance to • the Mayor of £1,300 per
annum, which they calculated would defray the expense of
lighting the rooms with wax-lights, waiters, and wine. the cost
of whicliathey suggested should he deducted from the allowance
of the mayor. They also recommended that the carriage and
horses should he continued. -
'Nit...Councillor Jon DA N would move that the report be adopted.
air. Councillor ft A WDON objected to the article of wine being
deducted front the mayor's salary.
Mr. Councillor Sri tgu was of opinion that the whole of this
report was decidedly contrary to law. He could not think that
the 58th and sections of the• municipal act •,relating to this,
subject-authorised the application of funds for any such purpose.
He would beg to refer to the town-clerk to read those sections.
The TOWN-CLERIC said the 58th section authorises the nuns:
oil to grant the mayor a " salary or allowance." The 924 sec-
tion prescribed f6r the legal application of the borough funds,
On-eluding with a discretionary, application of the funds. He
should apprehend that it was n the power of the council to
make the mayor an allowance and to make regulations for the
due application of that allowance.
Mr. Simi. wanted simply the words Of the act; presuming
that the•gentlemen of that council were capable of miderstand-
ing English themselves. Mr. Shiel then objected to its being
said that the mayor would be in the situation of a salaried clerk
if he were to receive a " salary or allowance."- He objected to
a committee of five gentlemen being appointed to look after the
wine of the Town-hall, as undignified. lie thought. the mayor
should have the entire control of his servants and establishment.
'He concluded by moving " that a fixed snip be voted to the
mayor annually, to defray the usual charges, under the follow-
ing heads, viz.:—entertainments, including wine, lighting the
room, extra waiters, &m.; wages, keeping the wine account,
dishes, glass, table linen, &c. ; mayor's carriage, harness,
horses, &c.; and all appertaining,- thereto." He did not pro-
pose any fixed sum, but he thought they would place the mayor
to a more satisfactory position by voting hint a certain sum at
his own ;lisposal, for all his expences, and that it would also be
a great saving.
-Mr. Councillor WA LMSLEY seconded the resolution.
Mr. Councillor EARLE believed their appointing a committee
would amount to the same thing. They recommended that fur
lreater economy, and in order to save the may or the trouble of,
ooking after all those things.
The MAYOR said the wines..had formerly been provided by
the mayor; but gentlemeu's,tastes differed, and the wines were
some years very bad, and in others very good. In order to ob-
viate this, it was thought betterto provide a stock, in order uni-
formly to have good wine.
Mr. Councillor RawnoN thought the whole concern of keep-,
ing an account of the wine was very undignified. He thought
_
to
they would be amenable to the Excise for. selling ,wine the
Mayor, if he wet e to pay for it. -•- • ''
After a good deal of discussion en this subject, Mr. Alder-
man Barclay moved " that the report- be adopted." which, was
seconded.by Mr: Booth.
Mr. Councillor MAXWELL was a member of that committees
antithought he should not be subjected to the charge of mewl.-
sisteuey if he voted against the report,as he had divided the
cmionit tee on that. report. and had been in a minority. (Hear.)
lie would move that V,200 be the sum allowed.
The M A Yon thougptrt would be better to fix the principle;:
and leave the SUM to the committee afierwards.
• SurEL quite concurred in this, and replied, *ftet some.

-1;
further __seussidd that it wont `d e un air to romp thaws, a 7,
the.articles,of linen, glass„&c. wouldrxequire renewing on some
y4ears and not in others, mid; therefore; that- those things should
not be taken into consideration: The amendment now stood
tbns
Moved by , Shiel, seconded by
.Mr. Maxwell. " Thi*it
fixed altowance - tie annually made to the mayor, who,
having that allowance, shall nave IV} (laim oti the Mmnigh fund
bir expenses heretofore charged under the following heads;
namely, entertain, the room, smayor's servants,ueots, lightiqr
extra waiters, clerk for .t:eeping wine account. iiishes,
table linen, &c., caniake horses, harness, livery servants, or
any other casual expenses: and. that it he referred to a commit-
tee to propose the necessary arrangements fur earrvin:z the
spirit of this resolution into effect in all necessary qua lilies rioug,
as to the stock of wine in handOinen, tk.c., and zo moue the
sum to be allowed."
On the amendment being put, there- appeared '22 for it, anti
24 against it. Amendment lost.:
Mr. Councillor MAXICELI, wonld propose wither amendment,
" that the present, allowance given to the mayor far what he
now provides shall be .et,200 instead of L'1,31).'
Mr. Councillor tiincit
,seconded this amendownt.
A division was taken, when there appeared '2' i'ur the amend-
ment, and 21 against it. kinendment lost, there being a cona.,
derable difference in the parties, who voted for this and the
previous amendment.
The original motion was then put, " that the general plan of
the report on the subject of. the Town-hall establishment be. ap-
prtiveik and that it ne referred back to the committee to bring
-forward at the next council meeting the requisite arranve-
Ments." On a division, there appeared cur the motion 23;
against it, 15. Majority lot the motion, 13.
Air. Councillor L' AttLE then move,/ ao adjournment tilt Wed-
nesday. ueNt. the 21st instant, which was agreed to, and the
council,separated at i quarter to :our o'clock, haviul Sat neatly
live honrs.