The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-05-15 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

over as read, but that in any discussion which might arise
on them they might be referred to, and if called upon the
Town-clerk should read such portions as might be re-
quired.
Mr. DRIFFIELD then read the proceedings, resolutions,
&c., of the committee from the 9th of March last ; and
on coming to that portion of the proceedings which re-
ferred to the late statement of accounts of the Water
Committee, a short discussion ensued as to whether this
portion should be read. Finally it was agreed that if
required the reporters should make such extracts as they
might think fit.
Mr. Procter then rose to propose the confirmation of
the proceedings of the water committee, and in doing so
said there were two or more points upon which he felt it to
be his duty to remark. The first was as to the storage of
the forty-tour inch-pipes at Birkenhead. And in answer
to a question put by Mr. Ferguson as to the terms upon
which they had been stored ; he might say that their sur-
veyor, Mr. Weightman, had been requested to ask Mr.
Hartley, surveyor to the docks, upon what terms they
would store them. He made the application, and Mr.
Hartley's reply was, that they would allow the committee
the free use of as much land as might be required, but as
to storing and weighing the pipes they would have nothing
to do with that.
Mr. FERGUSON said he should like to know the cost.
The MAYOR said Mr. Procter could name the sum
without reference to the report—he believed it was eight
hundred and odd pounds.
Mr. PROCTER said it was to be Is. 2d. per ton for
weighing, marking, storing, and also re-shipping them
when they had to be brought back again, and bring-
ing them back again. That was to be the price for pipes,
which cost under £l4 per ton, but for all above that sum
the price was to be ls. 3d.
Mr. THOMPSON.—For what time ?
Mr. PROCTER.—For one year. We considered it a
fair price.
Mr. Nicol, inquired whether any question had been
asked the Dock Committee on the subject.
Mr. PROCTER was not aware of the fact. On that
subject Mr. Hartley was considered the proper party to
apply to.
Mr. NICOL said Mr. Hartley had no right to answer
for the committee, and he wished it to be understood that
Mr. Hartley was not the representative of that committee.
Mr. PROCTOR said it was the duty of the water com-
mittee to obtain land upon which to place the pipes, and
the weighing, marking, and storage of them in the best
way they could. He considered they had done so, and
what had been done had received the sanction of their
surveyor, Mr. Weightman, Mr. M'Gregor, and Mr.
Hawksley. The next point to which he wished to call
the attention of the Council was the dismissal of Messrs.
Campbell and Francis, which was recommended by the
report, and next the acceptance of the resignation of Mr.
Scott. If the report was confirmed, the committee
would be without a head, but, all those questions
the committee left the Council to deal with as they should
think proper, and to instruct the committee thereon.
With these observations he should move the confirmation
of the proceedings.
Mr. BENNETT seconded the motion.
Mr. COOPER, with reference to one'portion of the re-
port, said he attended the Water Committee on Saturday
with reference to the subject, and re-asserted what he
then stated, that he had never received any tender or pro-
posal for those works whatever. He then recommended
what he would now state, that if the account was wrong
it should be referred to Mr. Weightman, and as the par-
ties were highly respectable he had no doubt it could be
satisfactorily arranged. Mr. We ns a L's report was
now in the room, and the Council could see it.
Mr. HostsFsm., said the report contained a statement
from Messrs. Harbord and Bennett, in which the dis-
missal of Messrs. Campbell and Francis was recom-
mended. He wished to know, as that report appeared
upon the proceedings, whether it would receive the sanc-
tion of the committee.
Mr. PARKER said the committee had not dealt with it at
all, further than bringing it before the Council, and leaving
it for their decision.
Mr. HUGH HORNBY said it appeared the report of
Messrs. Harbord and Bennett had been obtained without
any authority from the committee, and if entertained by
the Council he thought it would be setting a dangerous
precedent. He understood those gen lemen proceeded to
Glasgow, not only without authority, but against the
wishes of the committee. If the report of those gentle-
men was adopted, they might be setting the example for
further expenditure of money without authority, and
he (Mr. Hornby) would rather subscribe to pay the ex-
penses of those gentlemen out of his own pocket.
Mr. HARBORD rose to order.
The MAyoa.—Mr. Hornby is perfectly in order.
Mr. HARBORD said, there was no question as to their
expenses before the Council. Not one shilling had yet
been charged by Mr. Bennett or himself, and it would be
time enough to make the observations Mr. Hornby was
making when they made any claim.
Mr. HORNBY said, the fact of there being no claim for
expenses did not alter his opinion as to the reception of
the report. He still objected to its reception.
Mr. Moarits said, the appointment of Messrs. Camp-
bell and Francis was made by Mr. Ilawksley, and must
be left for him to deal with.
The MAYOR said, the best means of dealing with the
subject would be to ask the Council to decide, in the first
instance, whether they would adept the report of Messrs.
Harbord and Bennett, as part of the proceedings of the
Water Committee, or not.
Mr. Nicol, said the report recommended the dismissal
of Messrs. Campbell and Francis. If, therefore, the
Council adopted the report, it would adopt the dismissal
of Messrs. Campbell and Francis without the interference
of the Water Committee at all.
The MAYOR.—Just

Mr. NrcoL was then ;referring to the dismissal'of Mr.
Scott, but was requested by the Mayor to confine himself
to the question of the adoption of the report, and he re-
sumed his seat.
Mr. PARKER said it was much -to be regretted that the
matter was not brought in a more straightforward manner
before the Council.

The MAYOR.—WiII you be kind encugh to confine
yourself to the reception of the report._ _

Mr. PARKER.—Then I think it ought to be received

Mr. BENNETT wished to say a few words before the
question was put. He was Chairman of the Water Com-
mittee, and in that position he conceived it to be his duty
to make an inspection of what was going on with reference
to the works. If the proceedings of other committees
were analysed, he had no doubt it would be found that if
the chairman of any other committee bad done what he
had, the decision of such committee would be just the
reverse of that come to by the Water Committee. He,
therefore, hoped the Council wonld adopt the report, more
especially as the Water Committee must have felt it to be
of some importance or it would not appear upon its pro-
ceedings. He certainly should move its adoption.

Air. PROCTER.—I hive moved that already

Mr. TuomesoN wished to know if the report was
adopted, whether it would vitiate the contracts entered
into by those gentlemen ?_

The TowN:CLERIC.—No

Mr. Alderman HonsFALL said he should propose to
adopt a middle course, and he therefore moved that the
proceedings of the Water Committee be confirmed, except
the report of Messrs. Bennett and liarbord, which should
be received as a communication from those gentlemen.
Mr. Nicol., seconded it.

Mr. BENNETT spoke in favour of the report. He said
had he and Mr. Harbcrd not xiisitcd Glasgow, several
matters would have been treated as facts which turned
out not to be so; and thus, in arranging with parties,
in the event of the Pike scheme being discontinued, the
Council would have been put to a very considerable ex-
pense. They found that Mr. Hawksley had never visited
Glasgow since the contract was entered into, and that all
the information he had received was obtained from Messrs.
Campbell and Francis. They were told also that a large
number of pipes were ready for delivery; but so far from
that being the case, there were none ready. All an in-
formation they received was of the same character, and
would in the end save the Corporation many thousands.
He was -quite willing to adopt the suggestion of Mr.
'Horsfall, but he wished it to be understood that all they
did was to recommend the dismissal of Messrs. Campbell
and Francis. He could mention many more facts, show-
ing the value of the report, but should refrain at present,
further than to state that there was a letter before the
Water Committee, which showed that nothing had been
done for the benefit of the Coryoration.

Mr. HARMED said he could confirm all Mr. BENNETT
had stated.

Mr. THOMPSOIT rose to put a question to the Chairman
of the 'Water Committee, relative to the waste of water
from the Kensington reservoir.

The MAYOR said the question would come more pro-
perly by and by, and then proceeded to put Mr. Hors-
fall's motion, which was carried unanimously.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE wished to know how the Coun-
cil stood with reference to Mr. Scott. The Water Com-
mittee had recommended his dismissal, but he understood
that was withdrawn on Mr. Scott withdrawing a letter he
had written to the committee. He (Mr. Lawrence) knew
little ;of Mr. Scott personally—indeed he hardly knew
him at all—but he heard it stated on all sides how hardly
he had been dealt with, and how excellent and good a
man he was to carry out the works they had for him to
do. Mr. Scott cane into their service strongly recom-
mended by gentlemen whose opinion was entitled to
weight and consideration, and he (Mr. Lawrence) should
like to know how the Council stood with reference to his
services. If they were to lose them merely because of
some personal feeling between him and the committee,
be thought that ought to be done away with, as it was
important to the town that his services should be retained.
Mr. PARKER said if this recommendation were carried
out, the Council bad better resolve themselves into a
Water Committee at once. He should like to know, if
they were to interfere in the same manner with the Fi-
nance Committee, what would be thought of it. He
hoped Mr. Scott would be allowed to act as a free agent
in the matter.

Mr. PROCTER said it was quite impossible things could
go on as they were. All was confusion, and Mr. Scott
found it impossible to carry out the wishes of the com-
mittee. He had told him (Mr. Procter) that he would
rather be a slave in a galley than where he was, and had
frequently begged of him to induce the committee to
make such arrangements as would enable him to go else-
where, and obtain a situation where his services would be
properly appreciated. He (Mr. Procter) believed Mr.
Scott to be quite competent to perform the duties he had
undertaken in a most efficient manner; but somehow or
other the servants under him had gotten the upperhand,
and it him to go on.

quite impossible t.

HAR- BORD demurred entirely from the opinion
ed by the chairman of the Water Committee. It

with a bad gr

iation c

Mr. HARBORD.—You said it was impossible for him
to go on with the present staff.
Mr. PROCTER called attention to the recognition of
Mr. Scott.

Mr. HARBORD said Mr. Scott had let the Kensington
reservoir run dry three times within one month—in fact
he was not the man who ought to occupy the post he did.
Mr. THOMPSON wished that part of the proceedings
which related to the water from Kensington reservoir
being emptied, to be read.
The MAYOR said they were getting astray—they must
get into some kind of order. •
Mr. HUGH HORNBY said, after the statment made by
Mr. Harbord, something ought to be said. Mr. Scott
was a professional man, and if gentlemen were permitted
to bring forward statements in his absence, which it was
impossible for them to discuss, the character of no pro-
fessional man was safe. A most irregular inquiry had
been gone into by the water committee, wherein the cha-
racter of Mr. Scott had been assailed without a proper
inquiry being instituted for the purpose of giving him an
opportunity of vindicating his conduct. This was doing
great injustice, and an injury to the character of a respect-
able professional man.
Mr. HARBORD said his object was merely to pa
council in possession of the real facts of the case_
not with a view of injuring the character of Mr.
at all

Mr. BENNETT said, in justice to himself, after what bad
fallen from Mr. G. H. Lawrence, he must say that as

deputy chairman of the water committee, and as chairman
of the Sub-committee of Works, be had been brought
into close connexion with Mr. Scott

every member of the Water Committee whether he had
acted in any degree calculated to wound the feelings of
Mr. Scott, or had treated him in any other way than be-
coming the station be held under the Corporation.
Mr. BENT most emphatically asserted that he had never
acted towards Mr. Scott in au unfriendly spirit, or so as
to prejudge his much questioned conduct. Mr. Scott had
left the committee to deal as they could with the many
difficulties which their predecessors had left them in, and
then, when complained of, wrote a letter which, if it had
emanated from the foreman or any chief clerk to his
principal, the party so guilty would have met with instant
dismissal. It was absolutely necessary, for the carrying
on of the business of the Corporation, that the committees
should be well supported in that room ; and with regard
to Mr. Scott, although lie had no intention of acting vin-
dictively, he was of opinion that his resignation ought to
be accepted.
Mr. PROCTER said Mr. Scott had that morning placed
a paper in his hands, which he wished to be read if his
conduct was remarked upon in the Council. He had
only received it that morning, and what its contents were
he could not say.

Mr. THOMPSON wished his question answered respecting
the waste of water from the Kensington reservoir.
Mr. PROCTER thought it was most likely the subject
was referred to in the paper he had produced from Mr.
Scott.

Mr. HAgnonn said he charged Mr. Scott with a waste
of water last Saturday week. Last Saturday the com-
mittee met again, yet that was the first time any explana-