The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-12-07 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

On Wednesday the usual monthly meeting of the
Council was held.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

It appeared from the proceedings of the Finance Com-
mittee, that Mr. G. H. Lawrence had been appointed
chairman, and Mr. Hugh Hornby deputy-chairman of
that committee, for the present year.
The TOWN-CLERK reported that a rule nisi had been
granted, to set aside the verdict obtained by Mr. Norris
at the last Liverpool Assizes.
The Magistrates reported that Mr. Rounthwaite, one
of adjusters'of weights and measures, was in the habit of
discharging his duty by deputy, he, himself, being engaged
in the guano trade; that the inspectors of weights and
measures had charged more fees than they were author-
ised to do ; that the out-door department was much neg-
lected, as was proved by only 154 convictions having taken
place during the past year, realizing only to the borough
fund a sum of £5B, whereas in Manchester the sum of
£954 had been realised to the borough fund in the same
period. The cost of the establishment in. Liverpool was
£BB9, while in Manchester its cost was £233. The ma-
gistrates recommended that in future there be one central
establishment for the supervision of weights and mea-
sures, two out-door inspectors; that the receipts be fully
accounted for to the borough fund, and.that the lead, &c.,
be supplied by the Corporation. They further recom-
mended that Mr. Arstell be appointed an inspector at
£2OO a year; Mr. Walthew at £l5O a year; a clerk at
£lOO a year ; two out-door inspectors at £l2O a year ; and
that the services of Mr. Rounthwaita be dispensed with.
The Finance Committee adopted these several recomenda-
tions.

Mr. Andrews informed the committee that he had pur-
chased the Scotch Church, Rodney-street, and that he
was desirous of converting it into a Wesleyan Chapel.
He wished to obtain a new lease of the premises, with
new covenants, but the committee decided that they could
not entertain the application.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE, in moving a confirmation of
the proceedings, said that Mr. Franklin, the surveyor, had
intimated his intention to retire, and to seek that relaxa-
tion and repose in a country life which his declining years
required. He, (Mr. Lawrence,) parted with Mr. Frank-
lin with some feeling of regret, because he was a man of
usefulness and integrity, and had never evinced any party
feeling in his situation. The Finance Committee would
take a broad and general view of the surveyor's office
before they recommended any one as Mr. Franklin's suc-
cessor; and, in the mean time, he might observe, that
Mr. Franklin would continue in office until his successor
was appointed.
In reply to Mr. DANSON,
Mr. G. H. LA WRENCE said that no communication had
yet taken place between the Finance Committee and the
Select Vestry, on the subject of the magistrates' clerks
fees, but he probably would be enabled to report at the
next Council meeting such an arrangement as would meet
with the concurrence of all parties.
Mr. DANSON admitted that the question was one purely
of a financial nature, and said that when the proper time
arrived he would be in a position to prove that there had
been a real appropriation of the public money to the
extent of between £4OO and £5OO.
The proceedings were confirmed,
THE WATCH COMMITTEE.
Mr. HUGH HORNBY has been appointed chairman of
this committee for the present year.
A report was read from Mr. Dowling, the head-consta-
ble, to the effect that he had lately visited Manchester
and Birmingham, with the view of ascertaining how the
police in these respective boroughs were managed. He
ascertained that Captain Williams had the full command
of the Manchester force ; that he heard all complaints,
appointed and dismissed officers, &c. ; and that the same
plan existed in Birmingham. Mr. Dowling having been
called before the Watch Committee, gave it as his opinion,
that if the entire management of the Liverpool police
force were entrusted to his hands, with full power to
exercise the same functions which were now exercised by
the Daily Committee of the Watch Committee, the
borough force.would be rendered much more efficient than
it was at present.
The Watch Committee recommended that Mr. Dowl-
ing be invested with all the powers he solicited,—that the
meetings of the Daily Committee be discontinued,—that
the Committee meet weekly at the Town-hall, and that a
right of appeal to the Committee be given to any officer
who might consider himself aggrieved by the decision of
Mr. Dowling.
The Committee thought the newly-purchased house in
Duke-street was too far removed from the Police-court,
and they recommended that the buildinc, now occupied by
the indoor superintendent be converted into offices for
watch and police purposes.

Mr. TINNE moved the confirmation of the proceedings,
and said that since the original appointment of the watch
committee more important proceedings had never before
been submitted for the consideration of the Council. It
was now recommended to do away with the daily boards
—to transfer the duties of the daily boards to the head
constable—to empower the head constable to reward and
punish the men, and to select and dismiss the officers.
These recommendations were passed unanimously by the
committee, and, if they were adopted by the Council, the
labours of the committee would be very materially di-
minished. Besides the concentration of these duties,
which he (Mr. Tinne) thought would effect a very great
improvement in the management of the police business, it
was further recommended that an amalgamation of the
Watch Committee with the Health Committee should take
place, with the addition of some more members. He
contended that the duties of both these committees were
so completely blended in a variety of matters that it
would be an injury to the public if the committees were
not amalgamated.

Mr. EVANS complained that the subject was entirely
new to him that they were about to invest the head con-
stable with such dictatorial powers. He thought the
matter ought to be postponed until the next monthly
Council.

It was here agreed, that the discussion of the subject
should be postponed until the proceedings of the Health
Committee were read.

A long and very humorous conversation here took place
with reference to the condemnation of 789 pairs of panta-
loons which had been furnished according to contract for
the police force, but which were not considered equal to
sample.

Mr. HARBORD designated them breeches (breaches) of
the peace, and said that a sub-committee of the Watch
Committee had condemned them, although 500 pairs of
them they had never seen.

Mr. PARKER said it was not the practice of the sub-
committee to examine the pantaloons themselves; that
duty was discharged by competent judges. Mr. Harbord
might condescend to examine them himself ; and indeed
he was as likely as any one to examine gentlemen's
breeches. (Loud laughter.)
Mr. ROGERS said that, although all were condemned,
only 483 pairs of the breeches were examined. He com-
plained that one of the judges was himself an unsuccess-
ful candidate for the contract.
Mr. S. HOLME was given to understand that the con-
tractors were formerly shopmen to Mr. Rogers, and,
therefore, it was not to be wondered at that that gentle-
man should feel a little sore at the report of the judges.
The proceedings were confirmed.
Mr. JOHN STEWART was appointed chairman of the
Improvement Committee, and Mr. J. B. Lloyd chairman
of the Courts of Law Committee.
MARKET'S COMMITTEE.

This committee, of whom Mr. James Lawrence was
appointed chairman, recommended that gas from the
new gas companies, be introduced into the markets.
This recommendation excited a good deal of conversation
—some contending that the old companies ought to have
the contract, and others that the new companies ought to
have it. Eventually the Council divided, when there ap-
peared—for the recommendation, 20 ; against it, and for
referring the question back, 13. The recommendation'
was accordingly confirmed.

WELSH MUTTON.
Mr. DANSON complained that a number of country
persons were in the habit of selling Welsh mutton in St.
John's Market, at a penny per pound under the market
price, to the injury of the regular butchers.
Mr. S. HOLME explained that small legs, like the Welsh
legs of mutton, were a very great convenience to the
working classes, and that a saving of price was effected
by purchasing them.
A copy of a bye-law was drawn up by Mr. Drieffild,
authorising Welsh legs of mutton to be exposed for sale
in the public markets by country farmers.
The Mayor was appointed chairman of the Town-hall
Establishment Committee ; and Mr. Lace was appointed
chairman of the Health Committee.