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

WATER COMMITTEE.

From the perusal of the proceedings of this committee it
appeared that, at their last meeting, a vote of thanks was
unanimously passed to Mr. H. G. Harbord. Before confirm-
ing them.

Mr. BENNETT made a few observations; he regretted the
absence of Mr. Harbord, who, he was sorry to say, from a
note he had just received from that gentleman's brother, was
dangerously ill; lie was sure his friend would have experienced
great pleasure, had he been present, in hearing that resolution
read over, but he feared he had attended in that place for the
last time.

AIR. HODSON seconded the report of this committee, and
entered into details relative to the dismissal of Mr. Macdonald;
be had applied for a month's leave of absence, which bad been
granted to him, but at the expiration of the term he did not
make his appearance. After a lapse of time he sent in a sur-
geon's certificate, shewing that he was in a weak state of health;
accordingly Dr. Duncan was requested to have an interview
with him, and for that purpose the medical officer went to his
residence, but failed to see him ; in fact it was well known that
Mr. Macdonald had been seen about the streets in his usual
health. Under these circumstances it was thought necessary
to dismiss Mr. Macdonald.

Mr. FREME thought it was extraordinary conduct on thepart
of Mr. Macdonald, and must attribute it to a failing in mental
as well as physical health ; he, therefore, should advise that
some further inquiry be made into the matter.
Mr. HODSON wished to inquire then if Mr. Freme considered
Mr. Macdonald a hydro-monomaniac ? The question was nul-
lified by the confirmation of the accounts.
Th Church Expenditure proceedings were next confirmed, as
were the proceedings of the Observatory Committee.
A communication to the Mayor was then read ; it purported
to be a memorial from a number of persons, who had during
many years been summoned on juries at quarter sessions, com-
plaining of the withdrawal of the usual allowance of refresh-
ments.

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said their attention had first been
drawn to this custom by Mr. J. B. Lloyd, the chairman of the
committee, who showed that it was illegal in the first place,
and explained how it became a custom. In old times the mayor
used to regale the jury with a dinner; at length that coursewas
commuted to a money payment • this was the course when the
reform party came into power; but really they had no right to
pay jurymen, who were discharging a duty they owed to their
country; they should also bear in mind the exemptions and
privileges which jurymen now enjoyed; formerly they were li-
able to be dragged to Lancaster (hear, hear) ; there was no
instance in any other part of the country of juries being paid.
Mr. Lawrence went on to state that it had been found avisable
to withdraw the allowance formerly made to coroner's juries on
the same ground that the allowance of refreshments in the case
of juries at quarter sessions had been withdrawn. He appre-
ciated the kindness of the Recorder, who was in favour of the
allowance being continued to juries, but he (the Recorder) had
never said it was legal.
Mr. R. HENDERSON thought the custom referred to was
sanctioned by usage. He then went on to shew that it was ne-
cessary for jurymen to have refreshment, and if it was not pro-
vided for them they must leave the court, to the hindrance of
public business ; further, it was to be presumed, when they left
the court they went home for the purpose referred to ; but now
that the town had extended so considerably, this course would
in many cases be impracticable: for these reasons he thought
a change was desirable in the course, and that laymen ought to
be remunerated just as well as the professional ; he saw no
reason why the old practice should be abandoned,
Mr. THoatsoN took the same view of the question.
Mr. HORNBY opposed this view, and asked why jurymen at
at Quarter Sessions should enjoy a privilege not known to those
of Assize.

Mr. LLOYD opposed it on the general grounds, as well as
from the abuse it was liable to; and indeed which had formerly
existed.

Mr. SAMUEL HOLME gave an instance of the way in which
juries managed these matters in the good old times. When he
was a young man he happened to be a guest at one of these
dinners, and he observed that one juryman and then another
introduced a friend, until the number amounted to 30, and
these thirty carried the thing so far that the funds granted were
insufficient, and a general contribution had to be made; he
rembered his share was 235. or 245., so he thought it would
have been more economical for him to have gone home to dine.
Mr. R. HENDERSON withdrew his opposition, and the pro-
ceedings were confirmed.
Mr. Nicol then rose and said there remained one duty to be
performed, which he claimed as the senior alderman of the
borough, and which he felt great pleasure in rising to perform,
but which he was sure was a pleasure that would have been felt
by any member of that Council who might have been called
upon to undertake that duty. It was to return thanks to the
Mayor, not only for his exemplary conduct as chief magistrate
of this town and Mayor of this Corporation, but also for the
manner in which he bad dispensed the hospitalities of the room
up stairs. He thought there could be no dissentient voice.
He alluded in graceful terms to the elegant manner in which
his worship had entertained Royalty and the other distinguish-
ed personages who had visited the town during his mayoralty,
and especially to the circumstance of the change he had
brought about in the matter of deficient weights and measures,
and the manner in which the honest tradesman had been dis-
tinguished from the dishonest. Mr. Nicol then referred,
amidst much applause, to the subject of the relief that had
been afforded to the public charities. He was about to con-
chide, when he said he was reminded that he had passed over a
subject he had intended to refer to before; that was the popu-
larity his worship had gained by setting the example to future
mayors of introducing ladies to the Town hall. (Applause.)
He hoped to see that example followed. He regretted not hav-
ing mentioned this before, as he wished the last remark he
made to be on the subject of the charities, for the healthy re-
suscitation of which they were beholden not only to the Mayor
but to his excellent lady. (Loud applause.)
Mr. PARKER, as one of the senior members of the Council,
briefly seconded the motion, he passed a high eulogium on the
Mayor, who, he said, had gained the good wishes of 999 out of
every 1000 of the ladies of the town. (Applause.)
The MAYOR responded, apparently labouring under deep
emotion ; he said he was sure every gentleman in the room
must feel and sympathise in the embarrassment he must ne-
cessarily feel at the kind manner in which Mr. Nicol and Mr.
Parker had referred to him. He could only say he felt an
ample reward for every exertion he had made if he had met the
approbation of that Council and the approbation of his fellow-
townsmen. It had been his endeavour in that Council to
direct its proceedings with impartiality, and he could truly
say he had known no man's politics. Mr. Nicol had
alluded to the good he had been instrumental in bringing about
in reference to the weights and measures ; but he must be
allowed to say, that by far the greater merit in this matter
should be claimed by their excellent officers. The cases brought
before him at first were of a very general and aggravated cha-
racter; but now, he was pleased to say, they were confined to
the lowest class of shopkeepers and those who make it their
business to prey upon the poor emigrants who resort to the
town. His worship here became much affected, and express-
ing himself unable to say more, sat down amidst general ap-
plause. He was afterwards cordially shaken by the hand,
previously to leaving the chair at the close of the meeting.