The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-05-15 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

The adjourned monthly council meeting was held on
Wednesday morning at eleven o'clock. About thirty mem-
bers were present at the commencement of the proceedings.
The mayor presided.

PLANS FOR THE ASSIZE COURTS

The TowN-cLEux, having been called upon by the mayor,
read the following report:—
" At a joint meeting of the Finance Committee and Im-
.provement Committee, held on the 12th of May, 1840, for
the consideration of the memorial of Messrs. Cunningham
and Holme, on the subject of the Assize Court plans, re-
ferred from the last council for their consideration and
report.
" Present, of the Finance Committee, William Wallace
Currie, chairman; Thomas Bolton, deputy chairman ; John
Holmes, James Moon, William Thornhill, Edward Filcher,
Enoch Harvey. Of the Improvement Committee, Thomas
Brockhurst Barclay, chairman ; Willigm Earle, Henry
Holmes, H. R. Sandbach, John Woollright.
"The memorial of Messrs. Cunningham and Holme hav-
ing been read and considered, and the following report sub-
mitted by the surveyor having been considered and approved—
..

REPORT.
"The memorial of Messrs. Cunningham and Holme on
the rejection of their plans for the proposed law courts hav-
ing been referred to the surveyor for his report as to the
different adMeasurements ther,ein mentioned; that officer has
now to lay before the Finance Conimittee and Improvement
Committee the following report :
" The committee have probably seen the lithographic
sketch attached to the instructions describing the land and
its vicinity. with the site for the Assize Courts, which site
extends 220 feet in length by 100 in breadth ; one of these he
herewith submits.
" The first
.prize measures in length 220 feet, and in breadth
100 feet ; projection of portico 7 feet.
" Second prize, length outside face of walls, 221 feet ;
portico, one at each end, 14 feet-29 feet ; breadth 101 feet,
front portico 14/ feet.
"The first prize plan is strictly, as to limits, in conformity
with the instructions, the portico being admissible.
" The second prize exceeds the limits one foot in length,
and a few inches, or say one foot in breadth.
" MESSRS. CUNNINGHAM AND HOLME'S PLANS.
" No. 72 A—Length outside of walls 327 feet ; portico at
each end 15 feet-30 feet ; breadth 132 feet, portico 30 feet.
Excess in length 1074 feet ; and in breadth 32 feet.
" No. 72 B—Length outside of walls 281 feet ; portico at
each end 17 feet-34 feet; breadth 130 feet; portico 25 feet.
Fxcess in length 91 feet, and in breadth 30 feet.
" With regard to the internal arrangement, the courts in
the plan chosen for the first prize are something less than re-
quired in the instructions ; viz :—the crown court by 354
square yards, and the civil court by 13-1 square yards, which
Could scarcely, however, be made a matter of serious consi-
deration, as the plan evidently allows ample space for exten-
sion of the courts, without passing the exterior limits pre-
scribed.
" The surveyor refers the committee to the before-men-
tioned sketch for the guidance of the architects. In it the
lines verged with blue and red describe the extension of
Messrs. Cunningham and Hohne's plans beyond the pre-
scibed site, and show, had the committee made choice of
either, the impractibility of placing the building in the situa-
tion intended for it, without forcing St. George's Hall off the
ground.
" Resolved unanimously—That the departure on the part
of Messrs. Cunningham and Holme from the printed instruc-
tions appears to be completely established, and that the com-
mittees feel called upon to state their opinion that the sub-
committee, to whom the selection of the prizes was referred,
were, in consequence of the extent of that departure, fully
justified in the course which they deemed it their duty to
adopt.
" Resolved—That these proceedings be laid before the ad-
journed council at their meeting to-morrow."
Mr. Alderman HORNBY moved the adoption of the report.
Mr. BLACKBURN seconded the motion, which was then
agreed to without opposition or observation.
POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE ERECTION OF THE
ASSIZE COURTS.

The TOWN-CLERK stated that this committee having been
requested to submit a preliminary report on the powers re-
quired by them, had done so. The report was as follows :
" The committee for the erection of the courts of law ap-
pointed by thr council of the 6th instant, having been re-
quested to submit a preliminary report on the powers required
by them, and any other matters relating to their appointment,
to the adjourned council on Wednesday next, begged to sug-
gest to the council that the powers of this committee should
be such as the improvement Committee now have and exercise
with the approval of the council—such powers being limited
to the particular erection of the law courts, and to the take-
ing up, for the purposes thereof, fifty thousand pounds of the
money authorised to be raised on bond by the improvement act
of one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven, to the extent
of which amount this committee will, as they are advised
by the town-clerk, required to make orders from time to
time on the borough treasurer, and to the like extent the
financial power will be transferred from the Improvement
Committee.
Mr. JOHN HOLMES moved that the report should be
adopted.
Mr. BOLTON seconded the motion, and suggested that the
sum to be at the disposal of the council should not exceed
£50,000.
The motion was adopted.
GAOL BUSINESS.

The TOWNICLERK laid before the council a report of the
clerk of the peace, containing—l. Resolutions adopted by
the Gaol Finance Committee, which have been approved by
the Gaol Committee, and are recommended by them to the
council for confirmation, relative to-Ist, the appointment of
an acting turnkey at the weekly wages of £1 Is. ; 2d, an in-
creased diet for prisoners confined for periods of from three
to fourteen days ; 3d, the taskmaster's fixed salary, which
was recommended to be £9O a-year, he no longer taking an
allowance of the profits ; and 4th, au increase of the matron's
salary from £5O to £75 a-year. 11. The resolution of the
Gaol Committee, recommending that the salary of the
chaplain, Dr. Buck, should be increased from £l5O to £2OO
per: annum, besides the allowance of £5O per annum for
house rent, as heretofore. 111. 'The report of the Gaol
Committee, recommending that a fund should be set apart
for providing boys, on their discharge from prison, with
berths in ships, and necessary outfit.
PRICE OF THE LAND SOLD BY TAE CORPORATION TO THE
DOCK COMMITTEE. _ _

Mr. Alderman EARLE, having been called upon by the
mayor, brought forward the following motion, of which he
had given notice :—" That the Finance Committee be re-
quested to make a full report to the council of the nature of
the calculations upon which they arrived at the conclusion of
recommending, that the land, belonging to the corporation,
should be conveyed to the dock trustees, under the contem-
plated act of parliament, at the price of £2 13s. Gd. per square
yard." He said that he had a twofold object in placing that
notice on the books, one of which was that the Finance Com-
mittee might have an opportunity of explaining the nature of
. the calculations a hich had induced them to recommend the
council to cede so valuable a part of their estate to the dock
trust at the price of £2 13s. 6d. a yard, and thus to show the
public how far they (the council) were faithful guardians of
the estate which they regulated and governed. He had some
elaborate statements in his possession which rather induced
him. to believe that the land had been ceded at too low a price ;
but it was quite impossible to say with certainty, whether
this was the case or not, unless they had the report which he
should move for, and which, in his humble judgment, should
have been placed on the table before the council had been
called upon to vote on the subject. The question as to which
was the most advantageous way of laying out the land at the
Salthouse Dock had been agitated before. It was well known
that there was an urgent want of accommodation of that na-
ture. In his opinion, the land in question was peculiarly
adapted to that, and would yield a much larger sum, if con-
verted. to that use, than if devoted to the purpose now con-
templated. The Dock Committee had had conferences with
the Duke of Bridgewater on the subject of extending his pier,
and he would like to know what was the estimated amount of
the land that would be gained by the extension, and whether
the committee had not put upon it a greater price than that
charged to themselves by the corporation. He thought if a
higher value than £2 13s. Gd. had been placed by them upon
land in front of the Duke's Dock, the council ought to place
a higher value upon that at the Salthouse Dock. The prin-
ciple of ascertaining the value by reference to a jury was a
very good one, and ought not to have been dispensed with on
the present occasion. The Finance Committee seemed
to him to have sold the land at this price, in order to
make the estimates of the Dock Committee fit ; but they
ought to have been particularly cautious in this case,
placed as they were between two bodies, before they did so.
Some gentlemen had expressed surprise that the recommen-
dation of the Finance Committee, as to the price of land,
should have been allowed to pass in council without observa-
tion. The proceedings had been partially read when he en-
tered ; he caught the words " £2. 13s. 6d.," but before he
had time to collect his senses, or to say a word on the sub-
ject, the proceedings were confirmed. Besides, there had
, been no intimation in the council summons that anything of
this kind would come before them on the council day, though
there was a standing order which set forth that the heads of
all matters of. more than ordinary importance, comprised in
the proceedings of committees, should be inserted in the
summons. This was extraordinary conduct on the part of
the Finance Committee, and he could not but feel exceedingly
happy to see the strict attention which had that day been
paid to the standing orders. They could not possibly—oh,
no not for the world !—grant a single shilling to the chap-
lain of the gaol, without a strict attention to the standing
orders; but on an occasion of very great importance indeed,
such as this was, the standing orders had been altogether
forgotten; for he supposed that no gentleman would pretend
to say that the alienation of a portion of the corporate estate,
to the value of £220,000. was not an extraordinary occasion,
calling for a strict observance of the standing orders. The
committee now said that there was not time to give the notice
in the summons that was required by the standing order.
If that were the case, could not they have called a special
council? But that would not have answered the purpose ;
it would have called too direct an attention to the subject.
The town-clerk might certainly have sent short notes round,
as he sometimes did. He did not know a more flagrant in-
stance than this of neglect of the standing orders ; and he
could not conceive that there would be any opposition to his
motion. His excellent friend, Mr. Rathbone, had expressed
a wish that he would not bring the motion forward, because
he (Mr. R,) was afraid that he should have to vote against
it. He (the alderman) cared not who voted against it; but he
hoped that Mr. Rathbone would keep up his well-earned re-
putation, and not spoil it by voting against the motion. He
had voted for the admission of reporters into the dock-trust
Now, he (Mr. Earle) said, that if ever there was an occasion
when the presence of reporters would have been valuable, it
was when this subject was being discussed in the Finance
Committee, because it was one the nature of which made it
immaterial whether the public were made acquainted with the
proceedings upon it or not ; and if Mr. Rathbone voted
against the motion, he (Mr. Earle) hoped that Mr. Rath-
bone would vote for the introduction of reporters into the
Finance Committee, for he would bring the subject forward
himself. Having read his motion, Mr. Earle said he anti-
cipated an opposition ; he hoped that every member would
vote for it for his credit's sake.
Mr. PRESTON seconded the motion.
Mr. CURRIE said Mr. Earle had stated that he had only
entered the council chamber when the proposed price of the
• land was being read ; but he (Mr. C.) thought he saw him
in the room before.
Mr. EARLE.--Not many words. But, however, that does
not matter.
Mr. Curtea E.—No ; for you had the opportunity of hear-
iag the whole, if you had come in. Mr. C. then requested
t Town-clerk to read the report of the Finance Committee
of the 31st of March.
The TOWN-CLERK having done so,
Mr. BUSHELL asked what was the former valuation alluded
to in the report ?
The TOWN-CLERK replied-£3, with a reduction for pub-
lic improvements.
Mr. CURRIE then said that there had been no wish on the
part of the Finance Committee to conceal anything from
the council. They made a straightforward statement of the
reason of their coming forward and deviating from the for-
mer course. Their report was confirmed by the council
without opposition ; it had since been acted on, so far as
to have the sum of £2 13s. 6d. inserted in the blank ;
arid he certainly thought that it was somewhat late, at this
hour of the day, when the bill had had to encounter amongst
all its opponents, none fiercer, though at the same time
more straightforward and honest, than his friend Mr. Earle,
who had never concealed his determination to do all he could
to defeat the hill—it seemed rather singular, he said, that
he (Mr. Earle) should think the council would fall into his
trap, and give him information which might be used to the
disadvantage of the bill now before parliament. But he (Mr.
Currie) wished to say that the price was not a precipitate
price, or to favour the Dock Committee. Mature ealeula-
• •