The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-10 00:00:00

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE,

The Finance Sub-committee reported that the total
income of the Corporate Estate for the year was estimated
at £171,778; that the obligatory expenses were likely to
be £41,852. From the gross surplus, however, there
would have to be deducted several items of discretionary
expenditure, which amounted to £3,147 ; also for improve-
ments in West Derby-road, Everton, Mount-pleasant,
Brownlow-hilh, Chaloner-street, and Cable-street, £1,600 ;
and £lO,OOO voted for the purposes of the Free Public
Library and Museum. After deducting these amounts
there was still a surplus of £30,105. Out of this was re-
commended the payment of the following sums towards
the watch-rate, in lieu of poor-rates on the Corporate
property, namely, for Liverpool, £8,525 ; Toateth-park,
£1,583 ; West Derby, £685 ; Everton, £798 ; Kirkdale,
£298 ; leaving a balance! to be expended for the general
-benefit of the inhabitants; of £18,213.
Mr. HUGH HORNET moved the confirmation, of the
reports, proposing the varibus resolutions seriatim, coin.
men-m.llg with the recommendation of increased salaries to
Mestra. Walters and Ellis.. After some discussion, the'
resolution was agreed to ; as was also one for appointing"
Mr. Chamberlain superintendent of the chain-testag
machine.-

Mr. HOECCBY, after congratulating the Council on the
favourable- financial prospects of the. year, moved that the
report of the Finance Sub-committee' be printed, and a
copy sent to-each member of the Council.

"Sir. Aidtrialan PARKER second;li the-proposition, which
was confirmed.

THE PEOPOSED NEW LANDIITG-STAGE.

Mr. Ilona-ilea noxt moved that thwarrangement made
between the Dock Committee and the-Finance Committee
to provide a landing-stage for sea-goiagasteamers be con-
firmed. The Deck Committee proposed to give to the
Council so much of-the approach as wouddbeopposite the
landing-stage, abott half the length of the Prince's
parade ; the other hidf being paid for by thee Council at a
fair valuation, either in money or an exthatige of land
that might be wanted. The Finance Committee con-
sidered, in the first instance, that it world' have been
more liberal if the Dock-Committee had macreapresent of
tree whole of the land, considering the amount the Corp-
oration were about to expend for the benefit of the port.
(Mar, hear.) It was or 4 just in him to state'that the
Drs k Committee had granted all the Finance Committee
asked for. The Finance* Committee had only asked for
one means of access to thestage, but they afterwards con-
sidered rt advisable to extend it the whole lengtholthe
Prince's parade. Under these circumstances the Finance
Committee considered the arrangement a fair one, and. he
therefbre moved the confirmation of the recommendition,
Mr. STEWART seconded the-proposition.
Mr. Alderman PARKER rose-with a great deal of dfflt-
eolty, because this was the first time he had had occasion
to oppose- anything proposed by the Finance Committee:
But it was a duty which every 'member of the Council had
to perform, to carry out what' he thought best for the-
community at large. He must' oppose- the arrangement
which had been made with this- Dock Committee. No,
doubt, as- the chairman of the committee had said; the'
Dock Committee had granted all that they had asked fora
lint there- was a condition attached to the grant. Tito-
.ftict was, that there were 1,000 feet of land beyond that
which had been asked, and whielv, the- Dock Committee-
wished to 'dispose of, in order to make their dock straight,
and` as a • condition of giving up what the Council re-
quired, they were compelled to puachase that additional
land; so thatrvirtnally, before the Ckrporation got what
they-required, they would be compelled to pay for much
more which they did not want. At an expense of £140,000
this- • C,orporation, of their own free -will, were going to
erect 'one of the first landing stages in the world, which
wordePenablesea-going steamers, in case of necessity, to
land their -cattle or deck load. (" Neano c") Some gen-
tlemamsaid " no, no," but he said soon the authority of
Sir Win. Citbitt. The question arose, was this landing stage
to be fOr passengers alone, or was it te, he used for the un-
loadingtof these sea-going steamers ? He believed the Fi-
nance Committeewould tell them that it was to be a passen-
ger stagealone. (" Hear, hear," from M. Hornby.) Well,
if it was, what on earth did they require with the width of
land proposed ? 'They had thirty feet of land along the
Prince's-Pier, and what more than that' did they want for
passengeratraffie ? And this being the ease, he thought
there could be• no necessity for buying any additional laud
from the-Dock Committee. He did not like to move an
amendment to the proceedings of the Pia:l.m Committee,
but if any other gentleman would do saahe should cer-
tainly support him. He repeated, that the Corporation
had actualiberally in offering to erect the- landing stage
as they ware-not under the direction of:trustees or any,
higher power, and he thought the Dock Committee ought
to have met the proposal in a more liberal spirit. He
should object to the paying for laud which was of no use
to them, and which could be of no use except to straighten
the dock w-all.
Mr. Alderman BENNETT asked whether the resolution
was to the effect that the dock committee should meet the
finance committee, and make some arrangements, which
would afterwards be submitted to the council for approval.
Mr. Hoaiury said the resolution was-proposed to con-
firm an arrangement which had been already made.
The MAT OR said the council were now asked to sanction
the principal part of the arrangement, but the details
would come before them when they were completed. The
finance committee had made several propositions to the
dock committee- oil the subject of the landing-stage, and
the dock. committee wished to continue the line to the
Prince's-pier, asking the corporation to pay for a moiety of
the landa The finance committee hadiagreed to this, and
they asked The- council to confirm theirproceedings.
• Mr_ Alderman BENNETT inquired if the arrangements
which had been agreed to gave the largest space that had
been aaked for for the use of the publie.,
The-Maxon replied that it did.
Mr. CHARLES Tuaicsa assured the Council that the
Dock Committee, in discussing this matter, were anxious
to show courtesy to the Council, and to-do what they
thought best for the advantage of the town. They were
'all serving- the public gratuitously—they were all doing
that which they thought to be for the benefit of the public;
at large ; and as to the question whether the Dock Coma
mita*. shoukl give a little more: land, or the Council
should pay a little more for it, thezamight differ in opinion
upon . it, he thought, without any imputation being
thrown upon the members of either body. (Hear, hear.)
M:re Parker had observed that.the second thousand feet
proposed; to be appropriated to Abe landing stage would
be °X -no use; but he thought - that Mr. Parker must
have come to that conclusion without due consideration,
for - it must be obvious to every one that in erecting a
lauding stage of the extent proposed, 1,000 feet long:they
must-anticipate a very large traffic. The accommodation
for cabs and other vehicles would be very limited without
it ; and the moment it was mentioned to the Finance Com-
mittee they agreed that it would be very incomplete unless
the additional width proposed at one end were extended
the whole length of the stage. (Hear, hear.) Then,
with, regard to the stage itself, it was not intended that it
should be generally used either for taking in or discharging
cargo. That it might be used in very bad weather for
discharging cattle, to prevent them from smothering,
was very true, and no. doubt it would be used for that
purpose ; but all channelsteamers using the landing stage,
or almost the whole of -them, would have to-go into dock
to discharge their cargoes. It was only when they
brought passengers alone that they wouldnot be obliged
to go into dock. (Hear, hear.) That it, would be bene-
ficial to the Dock &tate there could he no doubt, nor
could it be doubted;that the Corporation would derive
very considerable benefits from it, inasmuch as they
would receive a large amount of dues from the goods
brought by the vessels to the town ; but he thought, on
the whole, that a very fair proposition had been made by-
the Dock Committee to the Finance- Committee, whicak
had been met equally fair by the Finance Committee, and
he hoped, therefore, that the recommendation would be.
adopted.
Mr. PICTON said as they had now, belonging to. the.
Corporation, but a very small portion of the margin of the
river, before they parted with any more of it, let them
have their- plans well matured, so that they might not
regret having disposed of what would have been of great
advantage to the public.
Mr. Alderman CoOrna said that, as a member of the
Finance Committee, it mast be painful to him to-differ
from, their recommendation k but, as he had reserved to
himself in committee the right of bringing this matter
before the Council, he presumed he was in order in doing
so then. In the first place, the Council should understand
that they were giving £150,000 of the public money in
building the landing-stage. They were going to keep it
in repair, which would cost £4,000 a year, and which
would make the whole expense upwards of £200,000. The
principle upon which the landing-stage should be built
had been already recognised. Mr. Turner had told them
that they would be benefited by the town dues which
would be received from the vessels arriving at the landing-
stage. Be it so. He (Mr. Cooper) might go so far as to
say that they ought to erect a landing-stage—he might go
so far as to say they ought to keep it in proper repair ;
but he could not think they should go so far as to pay the
Dock Trustees for a piece of Land as an entrance to the
stage—(hear, hear,)—and he thought the Dock Trustees
were not meeting them in a liberal manner in making
such a proposaL He would go no further than this in the
i matter—that on condition that the Dock Trustees gave
up the land to improve the entrance to the landing-stage,
they (the Corporation) should build the stage and keep it
in order ; but he thought the Dock Trustees should give
up the small piece of land required. (Hear, hear.) He
would, therefore, move the confirmation of the proceedings
of the Finance Committee regarding the building of the
landing-stage, and keeping it in order, on condition that
the Dock Committee would give up that piece of land, but
not otherwise ; and if the Dock Committee did not choose
to meet them, there would be no harm done.
Mr. THOMSON seconded Mr. Cooper's amendment. He
quite agreed with Mr. Cooper, that if they went to so
much expense in erecting the stage, the Dock Committee
ought to have given them the land in question. (Hear,
hear.)
Mr.
supportAlde to Alderman S.
original. Ho. Allusion had HO
.hesitationi:ionh
giving
his
been made to previous Col=ei 84 the greater

portion of the frontage. It was the sole circumstance of
the Corporation having sold the foreshore and received
the money, which had gone into the Corporate exchequer,
and been expended in the improvement of the town and
for the benefit of the inhabitants, which, in his opinion,
imposed upon them the necessity of providing a commo-
dious landing-stage for the inhabitants in lieu of the fore-
shore which their predecessors had sold. (Hear, hear.)
The present question was fraught with interest to both
estates. (Hear, hear.) The Dock Committee received
dues upon the vessels entering the port, and the Corpo-
ration received town-dues upon the goods which they
brought. (Hear.) In fact, the town, he thought, bene-
fited in a larger degree, because the benefit to it was
two-fold--the benefit received for town-dues, and the
benefit received directly for the passengers who filled our
hotels, and became great customers at our shops. (Hear,
hear.) He should have been glad if the Dock Committee
could have made a present of the land ; but the amount,
after all, was only £7,500; and looking to the benefit it
would cause to the town and port by increasing the com-
merce of Liverpool, he should give his support to the
original motion.

Scir. TOBIN would support the recommendation of the
committee, because he did not think that even if the
amendment was carried there was the slightest chance of
the resolution of the Dock Committee being altered.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. FERNIIIOITGII hoped Mr. Cooper would not press
the amendment, as, if carried, it would stop the scheme
altogether. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Alderman J. BEAMLEY-11100BE said he should not
have trespassed upon the time of the Council upon that
occasion, had it not been for a remark from the chairman
of the Finance Committee, upon which he felt it incum-
bent to say a word or two. They must never overlook
the fact that they were acting there in the double capacity
of trustees of the Dock Estate and also of administrators
of the affairs of that Corporation, and, looking upon it in
this light, he considered that the offer on the part of the
Dock Committee was not only a fair but a very liberal
one. (Hear, hear.) He was surprised to hear the- asser-
tion that they were- going to make the-landing-stage-with-
out any obligation to do so. He dissented entirely from
that remark of the chairman of the Finance Committee,
for he (Mr. Bramley-Moore) said that an imperative 4-
ligation rested upon time' Corporation of providing accom-
modation for the landing of passengers at this port. What
were they to do with the town dues, and what was the
proposed accommodation for ? It was for that which
brought more money-into Liverpool than anything-else in
connection with the port—the passengers who arrived ,by
the steamers, and who spent a large amount of money in
the hotels and amongst the shopkeepers. (Hear, hear.)
He would take the old landing-stage' now maintained by
the Dock Estate, and be did not hesitate to say that the
town had reaped the cost of that landing-stage 500 times
over by the facilities which it had afforded to passengers
tocome here and spend their money. They (the corpora-
' tion) ought to make this an attractive and cheap port,
amid one'of their first objects with that view ought to be
to facilitate-the transit of passenger's. The obligations on
thepart of the corporation to do this- was imperative.
They' received upwards of £lOO,OOO town dues, and
what were they to do in return ? They would not be
doing their duty if they neglected the opportunity now
afforded them of improving the condition, of their-port.
Since-thecha;rman of the finance committee had made
the statement to which he had referred, he- had had put
intolii-hands a statement (by a proprietor of the steamers)
of the town dues paid by the steamers, and befOmmd that
one singleboat from Glasgow paid them last year the suns
of £389 Is. Bd. in town dues. The corporatinn provided
no accommodation,- yet it received that large- sum of
money ; bat surely they were called upon to dosotnethina:
for that =Ailey.. From: this statement he also found:that -
the Dublin steamers paid during the last year £2OOO for
town dues, and they did nothing for it in return-1 when
they were receiving such large sums of money they. ought
to spend it frsely in a way that would benefit the-inhabi-
tants of the town at large; and he did not know a-better'
way in which they could do so than this. It had been
said that the support of the landing-stage would cost the -
corporation £4OOO a year; he believed it would, and,.
perhaps, a little. more ; • but he believed it would be.-the
best spent money which' had ever been expended Ly the
corporation. Holding these- views, he should support the
recommendation of the committee.
Mr. Tuomsoa- said he was not aware that the sum re-
quired for the purchase -of the land was only £7,500, but
as it was so he world recoMmend Mr. Cooper to withdraw-
Ms motion.

Mr. Alderman COOPEIi after. the general express
sion of opinion he had: heard: on the part of members of.
the Council, he was perfbetly willing to withdraw his
amendment. (Hear, hear:). This was unanimously agretwi •
to.

Mr. Ho] BY then said that the other recommendation
of the committee, to increase the salaries of Mr. Striak,
and Mr. Cowell, clerks- ins•the town-clerk's office, would_
have to stand over, in accordance-with the standing ordersi.
till the next monthly meeting.
The general proceedings•of the finance committee were,
then confirmed, on the motion of Mr. HORNBY, secondel:i
3`y Mr. Alderman Coops=