The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-01-12 00:00:00

LOCAL MEETINGS

A meeting of delegates from the Lancashire and
Cheshire Mechanics' Institute, was held in Liverpool on
Wednesday, when a resolution for a general union of the
different Mechanics' Institutes in Lancashire and Cheshire
was proposed. Dr. Hodgson was appointed secretary to
the meeting, with power to name the day on which it will
next assemble.

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.—This society
held their annual meeting on Tuesday, J. B. Brancker,
Esq., in the chair. The property of the society amply
covers the debt. The retiring members of committee and
officers were re-elected, with the exception of Mr. Leyland,
in whose place Mr. Thomas Littledale, jun., was appointed
on the committee. The new hall, capable of holding 2000
to 2200 subscribers, will be completed in about eighteen
months.

WALLASEY COMMISSIONERS.—At the monthly meet-
ing, on Thursday, Mr. Holland brought forward a motion
to rescind the resolution passed at the previous meeting,
" Confirming the proceedings of the Improvement Com-
mittee, except so much as related to the payment to Mr.
West, the surveyor, of £35, for assisting to prepare plans."
Mr.' Holland characterised the resolution as a personal
attack on the surveyor, which Mr. Goldsmith denied with
great warmth. Mr. Holland's motion was carried by a
majority of ten to seven ; and he then brought forward a
motion to rescind the resolution dismissing the sur-
veyor, and this was carried by nine to eight, and the
surveyor was accordingly reinstated. Mr. Crump sent in
his resignation, on the ground that he was unable to give
proper attention to the office. It was ultimately resolved,
to fill up the vacancy, along with that occasioned by the
resignation of Mr. Fisher, at the general election in July.
THE NEW HEALTH COMMITTEE.—This committee,
appointed under the new act for improving the sanatory
condition of the town, consists of the members of the
Watch Committee, of the members of the old Health
Committee, and of the special committee for sanatory
purposes, with the addition of Mr. John Holmes, who for
so long a period officiated as chairman of the Highway
Bbard. Mr. Ambrose Lace has been appointed chairman
of the general committee ; and it has been decided to
divide the committee into five sub-committees, viz., for
paving, scavenging, finance, construction of dwellings, and
general purposes. Alr. Tinne has been appointed chair-
man of the Paving Sub-committee ; Mr. Parker of the
Scavenging Sub-committee ; Mr. H. Hornby of the
Finance Sub-committee; Mr. A. Lace of the Sub-com-
mittee for the Construction of Dwellings ; and Mr. Josias
Booker of the Sub-committee for General Purposes.
DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—The plans for the
entrances and passages at the new north docks were ap-
proved.—There was a long conversation relative to the
new graving docks at the north end. The question to be
decided was whether, on the ground set apart for these
docks, five or six docks should be made. It was ulti-
mately decided, by a majority of ten to three, to build six
docks.—A letter was read from the Shipbuilders' Asso-
ciation, suggesting certain alterations in the arrangements
as to the graving docks, and calling attention to the defi-
ciency of dock space, especially in the centre of the town—
there havipg been lately three times as many vessels on
the list as berths. The letter was referred to the Harbour
Master's Sub-committee.—The marine surveyor submit-
ted his new survey of Liverpool bay, made during the
season of 1846, showing some alterations in the banks.
The survey was ordered to lie on the table for a fortnight,
for the inspection of the pilots, previous to the alterations
as to buoys and lights recommended by the surveyor being
made.

BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS, TUESDAY.—The Ferry
Committee had requested the manager to furnish plans
and specifications for a new boat, to be less than the Nun,
and larger than the Eliza Price, and with ten horse power
extra. They had also a more strict observance of the law
against indiscriminate smoking on board the ferry boats,
with a more defined space for the practice. They recom-
mended the division of the crews into classes, with an in-
crease of wages for long service. They also recommended
the increase of the salary of Mr. Young, the head engi-
neer, from £l3O to £lBO per annum. Confirmed.—The
report of the Postoffice Reform Committee complained
that, notwithstanding various additions and new arrange-
ments at the Birkenhead Postoffice, it still continued in a
very unsatisfactory state; partly because the government
did not appear to be fully acquainted with the rising im-
portance of Birkenhead in a mercantile point of view, and
partly from the present postmaster having no inclination
in any way to second the views of the committee as re-
gards improvement. The Committee were instructed to
take such steps as they thought proper to produce more
satisfactory results.
LIVERPOOL: MARINE SOCIETY.—At the annual meet-
ing on Tuesday it was resolved, on the motion of the
chairman, W. Potter, Esq., to increase the annuities to
the four captains to £27 10s. each, to the eighteen widows
£22 each, and to the orphans £lO each. The annuities
paid during the past year to 18 widows at £2O each, and to 4
captains at £25 each, had amounted to £431. The inte-
rest on the stock account had realised £453, the honorary
subscriptions were £l6 145., and from the marine mem-
bers, 35 in number, £142 had been received. The sum of
£11,965 was deposited in the National Debt Fund, and
there was a total balance now in hand of £12,268. The
average age of the annuitants was—captains 70 years, and
widows 66. The directors for the ensuing year were then
appointed, Mr. Potter being re-elected president, and
James Stitt, Esq., and C. Cotesworth, Esq., vice presi-
dents. The Chairman said, that from want of information
or some other cause this society was not popular among
the masters of vessels, though, perhaps, so far as money
went, it was richer than any society of a similar descrip-
tion. It was all the better for its own members that it
should continue in its present prosperous condition, at
the same time it was not of that extensive use amongst
the class of society for whose benefit it was designed that
he was sure all who took an interest in its affairs would
wish it to be.
WEST DERBY UNION.—The weekly meeting of the
Guardians, transferred from Tuesday, on which, from tne
formation of the Union, it had previously been held, took
place on Wednesday last, the day fixed for its future
weekly meetings. There were letters from the Poor-law
Commissioners. The first of them sanctions the appoint-
ments, recently made, of the four medical officers for the
districts, into which Toxtetll-park, for this purpose, has
been divided. The second inquired into the qualification
of a medical gentleman recently chosen to one of the
more northern districts of the Union, and a third, from
Austin, the Assistant-Commissioner, announced his in-
tention to attend at the board-room yesterday, at eleven
o'clock in the forenoon, for the purpose of investigating
the charge of neglect by one of the relieving-officers, of the case of a poor man on Edge-hill, who died the day
Lafter he. had applied for relief. Mr. Harbord, one of the
ourismedical officers of Toxteth-part lately elected, sent
the h duties resignation, of the
officealleging,
nt a his
sufficientlyras o reason,
etfihnaetdhteo deemed
the appointment worthynoiorhitrsretention ; and Mr. Draw-
bridge, who for many
district of the Park as Mr. Hartoarscti in
caa similart
e
appointment, announced himself, by
for the vacated office. The medical officer of of
the Fever-
house, under date of Tuesday, the sth instant, reported
that, in the course of the previous eight days, eight pa-
tients had been admitted—that five hadanbdeetnhadtisfcolarrtgeeend
cured—that there had been no death,
remainedthe
patients in h
weret e
likely
toHe d
of r aTdhded
ere, thatwasnmo
to most of
ny_
tt
hhiisn gs
totfinmga, taearirael
thatint e r et
hste tnoutinh eh
epruobfl i cpboeofrore applicants,t heboar de as
_t
pecially from the Park, were manifestly on the increase.
It was announced by the master that the workhouse,
which was calculated to accommodate 450, was nearly full,
there being then 444 inmates.
THE BENEVOLENT EDUCATIONAL DISTRICT SOCIETY.
—There is no
,subject of the present day of paramount
importance to that of providing for the sound education
of the growing classes, and ameliorating the condition of
our working population. We therefore hail with enthu-
siasm any effort, however humble, that may be made to
advance that object, feeling a confidence that the visible
wants and increasing thirst for knowledge—founded on
the true and untarnished Scriptures—will ultimately be
the means alone by which this country will maintain that
powerful pre-eminence she has hitherto held over other na-
tions. The Benevolent Educational District Society has
originated from the long-acknowledged want of an adult
and juvenile scholastic institution, in connexion with the
Church pf England, in the districts of St. Anne's and
All Saint's ; and as an earnest of their future efforts, a
tea party was held at Lassells' Rodms, Great Richmond
street, on Thursday evening last, at which there were con-
gregated nearly four hundred residents of the district.
The object of the meeting being to raise funds for the es-
tablishment of the society, the tea was simple, but the ar-
ticles composing it were so excellent that general satisfac-
tion was expressed. Several ladies volunteered their ser-
vices at table, and Mr. Massey, of the St. Anne's Coffee-
house, kindly prepared the tea. George Jones, Esq. took
the chair; and after the repast was removed, he called on
the Secretary to read the report, which fully illustrated
the lamentable condition of the districts—the wretchedness
and poverty, destitution and depravity, of the poorer
classes. It stated the objects of the Society to be the
establishment of a Sunday school for adults and children ;
the appointment of voluntary Scripture readers, who can
fully expound the Scriptures in the English, Welsh, and
Trish languages ; to form an evening school for children
and adults ; for the delivery of occasional lectures ; to
form a
strawlibrary; and to promote the soundest religious in-
con_ nni• The report was carried by acclamation. A
comma of sacred music from the " Messiah," was then
toGhfeoemfew:ecearnectidoby a choir of volunteers, numbering upwards
Mrs. Hiles
the greatest credit is due. Amongst
Hiles, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Lunt, Mr.
instrumental manyaV vocalists, male and female, as well as
Mr. Jackson sarie performers, whose names we could not learn.
but admirable comsong,
Every
" Eve valley," a difficult
position, La a manner passing excellent.

In the chorus, " And. Glory of the Lord," the deep and
sonorous tones of Mr. Lunt's voice, over which he has
every command, were powerfully contrasted with those of
Mrs. Hiles, which were sweet and beautiful ; and on no
occasion do we remember to have heard that lady to
more advantage. There was a warbling softness and
melody in every note that claimed a breathless silence
from the company. In the solo., " But thou didst not
leave his soul in hell," she was loudly and deservedly
encored. The choruses generally were powerful and
effective, particularly those of " For unto us a Child is
born," and " Hallelujah." " Why do the Nations," by
Mr. George Lunt, was well sung, and unanimously
encored. After the concert was concluded, the Chairman
moved a vote of thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who
had formed the powerful choir by which they had been
entertained, a • vote of thanks to the ladies who had
managed the tea, and a similar compliment to Mr. Windle,
through whose individual energies the whole affair had
originated. Each motion was carried by acclamation.
The choir then sang " God Save the Queen." We
should not omit to state, that Mr. Lassells gave the
room gratuitously for the occasion.

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

The usual monthly meeting of the Council was held on
Wednesday, the Mayor in the chair.
The proceedings of the Finance Committee comprised a
recommendation to increase the salary of Mr. Henry Wal-
ter, clerk in the office of the clerks to the magistrates,
from £llO to £l3O per annum, and a recommendation for
the following subscriptions:—The Dispensaries, £157 10s. ;
the Northern Hospital, £lOO ; the Southern Hospital,
£lOO ; the Opthalmic Institution, £3O ; the Refuge for
the Destitute, £25 • the Royal Institution, 100 ; the La-
dies' Charity, £3o.—The committee reported that the
nett income of the corporation estate for the current year
could not be estimated at more than £146,185, and the
obligatory expenditure at not less than £122,916, leaving
a gross surplus of £23,269. The continuance of oranches
of discretionary expenditure, hitherto sanctioned, were
stated at £1942, leaving a nett surplus of £21,327, out of
which £l3OO will have to be expended on the Observatory,
£l9OO on various improvements, and £4215 on the baths
in Paul-street, making a total of £7415, and leaving
£13,912 as available surplus. Existing contracts and en-
gagements, it was said, might more than swamp the whole
of this available surplus, and, therefore, the Council were
informed that there was no ability on the part of the
corporate income to meet any demands for new works.—
Sir T. BRANCKER moved the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings. He said the report relative to the finances had
been adopted after grave consideration, and that it was I
quite evident
wouldyearsidentmansywalolw up th
would not
wholeotela of thepsebefor inetlgne
e,x:
p
The present surplus had arisen in a great degree from the
' sale of property at Wallasey Pool and at the north end of
the town. He feared that, in a short time, the Corpora-
tion would be reduced to what might be called their dry
leasehold estate, and, therefore, he called upon the Coun-
cil to exercise prudence and to preserve the finances in a
sound state.—Mr. PARKER sympathised with Sir Tho-
mas, but could not sanction the woful, pitiable tales, the
worthy knight had been telling. He could not believe
that a Corporation, with an estate amounting to four mil-
lions and a half sterling, were in the condition of the poor
Irish. Thousands wtre annually spent in Parliament,
and in embellishments, and the publiceharities were al-
lowed to languish. He believed that if a subscription list
were opened that day in the Council Chamber, .the trifling
sum now proposed for the public charities would be spee-
dily raised. He disapproved of the principle upon which
the magistrates were recommending an increase of sala-
ries.—Mr. Robinson and several otherniembers thought
that the subscriptions to the charities ought to be in-
creased ; whilst others considered that even the proposed
grants ought to be rejected, because the funds of the Cor-
poration were not intended for charitable purposes ; and,
moreover, because the liberality of the Corporation
checked the flow of private charity. The discussion was
brought to a close in consequence of an opinion expressed
by the Town-clerk, that if the proposed increase were
carried the money could not legally be paid, and the pro-
ceedings were confirmed.
The proceedings of the Dock Committee having been
read, Mr. PARKER asked whether the Albert Dock ware-
houses were insured ?—Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORS said they
were not insured, but that they would be very soon.
Certain arrangements had delayed the insurance a little,
but it would shortly be effected.—Mr. ROBINSON ex-
pressed great approbation with the recent proceedings of
the Dock Committee relative to the Albert Dock. The
principle of the rates was now so fair and equitable that it
must impart general satisfaction. (Hear, hear.) The
warehouses imposed a great degree of responsibility upon
the Dock Committee, and with a view, to the security and
safety of property many advantages must be held out to
the proprietors of goods there. The charges on produce
placed in the warehouses would be found more moderate
than in any port in the kingdom, and by and by, when the
arrangements for working the warehouses got more ma-
tured, he believed the time predicted by Mr. Evans would
arrive when there would be a competition amongst the
merchants about lodging theirgoods there.—Mr. SANDS
bore testimony to the quick despatch he had experienced
at the Albert Dock with a very large cargo. He was sure
he could not have discharged his vessel in five times the
time occupied at the Albert Dock.—Mr. BRAMLEY-
MOORE.—Not nor in ten times. Mr. SANDS be-
lieved he might say ten times. She was discharged in
three days, and it would take three weeks in the ordinary
way. He was quite sure that when such advantages be-
came known they would be appreciated, and that there
would be great competition shortly as to who should get
into the dock.—Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORS said it was highly
satisfactory to' him to hear these statements. He had to
inform the public that the book of rates for the Albert
Dock was printed, and that it might be had by calling at
the Dock Office.—The proceedings of the committee were
then confirmed.
The Gaol Committee recommended an increase in the
e salaryneomo._f t
ne Greopvleyrutoor
Nof irt.h euGorasoflaifir,o mm
r. H 5 00
Dt oG fits 0
N 5 Ospaiedr
that out of fifteen governors there were only two with 'sa-
laries so low as the keeper of the borough gaol.—The pro-
ceedings were confirmed on the understanding that this
subject is to be discussed at the next monthly meeting.
The MAYOR read a letter from the Licensed Victual-
lers' Society requesting the use of the Town Hall for their
annual ball. The Mayor said that the use of the Town
Hall had been refused to that body, -as the society was
not so much a charitable society as a society for the pro-
tection of their own particular trade.—Sir THOMAS
BRANCKER said that, without particularising, he would
mention that great irregularities had taken place at some
of the balls of the Town Hall.—Mr. LITTLEDALE ex-
pressed regret that the Town Hall had also been refused
to the Royal Mersey Yacht Club for their approaching
ball.—A motion was then made that the hall be granted
to the Licensed Victuallers, but it was negatived by a ma-
jority of 33 to 15.—Mr. J. B. LLOYD then moved that the
hall be granted to the Yacht Club on condition of their
presenting 100 guineas to the Sailors' Home, but the mo-
tion was not pressed to a division.—The MAYOR said he
hoped it would not go abroad that the Town-hall would
not be granted for any charitable purpose. The room
would be given to the Welsh Society, and an application
froM the Roman Catholics would be taken into favoura-
ble consideration by the Committee.
On the Health Committee's proceedings being read,
Mr. LACE said he wished to state that there was no truth
in the report the Rivington Pike Scheme had been aban-
doned ; on the contrary, the Committee were perfectly
satisfied with the ample supply of water at the Pike, and
the excellency of its quality, and a report on the subject
would be shortly presented.
A memorial for certain improvements in Great Howard-
street, Oldhall-street, • and that neighbourhood, was pre-
sented to the Special Improvement Committee.
The consideration of the motion for the increase of Mr.
Rushton's salary was postponed until ap adjourned meet-
ing, to be held on Wednesday (to-morrow), the Mayor
having acknowledged the receipt of a memorial, most re-
spectably signed, praying for a reform in the Police Court.