The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-11-06 00:00:00

COUNCIL MEETING.

The last meeting of the municipal year was held on Wednes-
day, in the Council-chamber. Present,—the Mayor, Messrs. J.
Holmes, T. B. Horsfall, Gardner, G. H. Lawrence, J. Lawrence,
Hornhy, Thomson, J. Aikin, W. Nicol, Swainson' Mann,
Beckwith, Langsdale, Freme, J. It. Lloyd, Sands, W. Bennett,
J. Parker, Wagstaffe, Johnson, Briscoe, Bent, Robinson, Bell,
Hodson, Rogers. Hindley, Watson, Morris, Rimmer, Jones,
W. Fisher, Walthew, It. Henderson, Stitt, Turner, Chilton,
H. Neill, Woodruffe, Procter, Ferguson, S. Holme, Jas.
Holme, Benn, Molyneux, and G. H. Horsfall. Mr. Driffield
having read the accounts for the past year,
In the proceedings of the Finance Committee a recommenda-
tion was conveyed to the Council that application be made to
the Lords of the Treasury to sell a plot of land, in Hope-street,
to he applied as a site for a school, in connection with the
Unitarian chapel.
Before the pioceedings of the Finance Committee were
confirmed,
Mr. THOMSON asked if there was no chance of getting the
Birkenhead Ferry let?
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE replied that he had not heard.
Mr. TnomsoN wished to know if it were true that during
the last week several accidents had occurred which would en-
tail considerable expense on the Corporation?
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE thought not.
Mr. THOMSON then asked if sufficient passengers were ob-
tained to pay for the coals consumed in working the engines?
Mr. J. PARKER rose to answer the honourable member for
Scotland Ward, whose conduct lie characterised as that of a
little cur dog. He referred to little insinuations made by that
gentleman at the last meeting of the Council. He(Mr. Parker)
did not, like the honourable member for Scotland Ward, take
his hat and run away before important divisions involving the
expenditure of hundreds of pounds came on. Mr. Parker then
entered into thehistory of the Birkenhead ferry. A disputehad
arisen with Messrs. Willoughby, the former lessees, and, in
consequence. it was under the authorisation of the Council
that two boats were purchased; therefore, the Council, and not
the ferry committee, ought to be blamed, if blame were due to
any one, for the change that had taken place in the manage-
ment of the ferry. With respect to the purchase of the
boats, the reason they were built here, instead of being brought
from Scotland, was that it was found that our own builders
could furnish better vessels than could be got from Scotland.
Now that the boats were obtained, it was intended to submit
the ferry to public tender. Mr. Parker thought Mr. Thomson
had taken a most unmanly course in thus attacking the
management of the ferry, but that gentleman spoke without
knowledge of the subject—indeed he always spoke without
knowledge.
Mr. Ai KIN rose to say that a simple question had been asked
and a very long time had been occupied by Mr. Parker, but,
during all that time lie had not given an answer to it; a good
deal that was personal had been heard, but not whether the
boats paid or not. (Hear.)
The MAYOR observed that the question from Mr. Thomson
was as to whether the boats were paying for the coals they con-
sumed.
Mr. THOMSON explained that his meaning was, whether the
boats paid the general expenditure they occasioned. He went
on to say that Mr. Parker had thought fit to compare him to a
cur dog, he (Mr. Thomson) should not retaliate in a similar
manner, personalities should never be resorted to by him. He
wished to observe, that £2OOO more bad been paid for the
boats in question, than the sum for which they could have
been procured from an eminent firm in Scotland.
Mr. MANN understood it was intended to offer the ferry with
the boats for public competition. (Mr. G. H. Lawrence
thought Mr. M. rather premature in his observations.) Mr.
M. said he merely rose for the purpose of saying that it was
exceedingly desirable that, if possible, the Council should let
the ferry. (Hear, hear.) They must make their minds up to
submit to a considerable sacrifice; but let the terms be what
they may, he should advise this course for adoption. The
proceedings of the Finance Committee were then confirmed.

WATCHING AND LIGHTING COMMITTEE.
These proceedings were likewise confirmed.
DOCK COMMITTEE.

The accounts of this committee having been read,
Mr. It. HENDERSON, the chairman, said that the marine
surveyor had completed his survey of the Victoria Channel,
and the little change that would be necessary in the chart
would be made very shortly. The receipts for the past finan-
cial year exceeded those of the previous one by £3,000.
The MAYOR enquired the amount of the tonnage, and
Mr. HENDERSON stated it to be 1,345,727 tons ; the amount
for the previous year was 1,358,710, by which it appeared that
in the matter of tonnage there had been a decrease during the
past year. The balance on this account, as it appeared by the
published statement, was £4,500.
Mr. MANN explained that really it was £18,500, and the
reason it was not atonce perceptible was owing to a peculiarity
in the mode of keeping the accounts.
Mr. HENnEasoN having moved the confirmation of the
accounts, the motion was seconded, and confirmed by the
Council.