The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-11-03 00:00:00

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the council was held on Saturday in
the Town-hall, for the despatch of business on hand, previ-
ous to the election of new councillors. The mayor, Sir Joshua
Walmsley, presided.
The proceedings of the several committee meetings of the
council were confirmed.
THE ASSIZE COURTS AND ST. GEORGE'S HALL.
The minutes of the Law Courts'Committee embodied a detail
relative to the junction of St. George's Hall with the new Assize
Courts. On the Bth October the committee met and inspected
certain plans submitted by Mr. Elmes. It was at that meet-
ing resolved, that Mr. Elmes should be appointed architect
to the corporation for the erection of the courts. Mr. Elmes
stated, the remuneration which he expected to receive was 5
per cent. on the amount of his estimate, including travelling
and other expenses, the premiums already paid forming part
of the remuneration. A clerk of the works to be appointed
and paid by the corporation.
At a meeting the 23d Oct. Mr. Elmes submitted five plans
for laying- out the site of the Old Infirmary yard. It was re-
solved that the Committee of St. George's Hall should be in-
vited to a conference with this Committee, for the purpose of
further considering the plans.
On the 27th Oct. the Committees met. There were present
of the Corporation Committee, Messrs. H. Hornby, Earle,
Currie, Rathbone, Sheil, and Barclay ; of the St. George's
Hall Committee, the Rev. Jonathan Brooks, Messrs. Hard-
man Earle, J. Hornby, Booth, Stewart, Kearsley, S. Holme,
and Eyre Evans. The Rev. Jonathan Brooks was appointed
chairman. After considerable discussion, a design' submitted
by Mr. Elmes, showing a combination of the Law Courts
and St. George's Hall, in one building, was approved of, and
the resolution was passed which is already before the public.
Mr. H. HORNBY said, as the proceedings of the Assize
Courts' Committee embodied a proposal which had yet to be
submitted, by the St. George's Hall Committee, to the body
of the subscribers, he thought it desirable, that the motion
submitted to the council should be framed with due regard
to that condition. He therefore proposed, that the proceed-
ings of the Law Courts' Committee be approved and confirm-
ed, excepting that. so far as relates to the proposal agreed to
at a joint meeting of this Committee and the Committee of St.
George's Hall, the confirmation of that part of the proceed-
ings be conditional with the acceptance of the proprietors of
St. George's Hall of the said proposal. Mr. Hornby said,
that the Committee, on consulting as to the laying out of the
land, had found it quite impracticable to do so on the plan
originally proposed so as to preserve the beauty and harmony
which were so desirable. They had, therefore, requested
Mr. Elmes to furnish them with designs for the two buildings
under one roof. This would cause a saving to the subscribers
to St. George's Hall, but the sum at first mentioned for the
Assize Courts would be found insufficient. There would,
however, be no increase of expenditure in consequence of- the
new designs, for these would be furnished by Mr. Elmes.
Mr. EARLE said, from the manner in which Mr. Hornby
had put it, it would look as if it were in consequence of the
union that the expenditure would be greater, whereas it was
in consequence of the increased magnitude of the design.
The MAYOR (to Mr. Hornby.)—Have you had any esti-
mate of the amount of the increased expenditure ?
Mr. HORNBY.—I believe it will be about £65,000.
Mr. WOOLLRIGHT wished to know whether the designs
for the new building would be left again to open competition.
Mr. HORNBY.—No. If Mr. Elmes be the corporation
architect, that is not necessary.
Mr. JORDAN thought the town was greatly indebted to the
committee for the arrangement which they had made. The
double building, as proposed, would have been a most un-
sightly object.
Mr. BOLTON said, the council would distinctly understand,
that there would be no outlay of the public money till the
proportionate amount to be paid by the subscribers of St.
George's-hall had been received.
Mr. WOOLLRIGHT, as a subscriber to St. Georges'-hall,
wished to know whether the corporation intended to take the
profits of that portion of the building under the new arrange-
ment.—(Mr. CURRIE, " No, no !") for many of the sub-
scribers to St. George's-hall had contributed under the
impression, that they were not absolutely giving their money.
Mr. HORNBY.—The conditions respecting St. George's-
hall remain precisely as they were before.
Mr. GEORGE HOLT said, it appeared manifest, that it
would be for the benefit of the corporation to carry out this
proposition, as the hall would be required for many muni-
cipal and other public purposes. As a subscriber to the St.
George'-hall Fund, he could not say as much, for he thought
the proposal did not offer the proprietors any advantages, but
the contrary; and he thought they would have been better
off, as far as the objects of making the hall a place for musical
and other assemblies is concerned, if they had purchased a
piece of land in another situation, and erected a plain and
spacious building upon it.
Mr. RATHBONE could not agree with Mr. Holt on the
point last named. The £25,000 which the St. George's-hall
subscribers were to pay would ensure the carrying into effect
of their object ; and he was of opinion that, notwithstanding
the grant of land, the building would never have been erected
at all but for this arrangement.
Mr. EVANS said, nothing in this matter could be consi-
dered decisive just now : all must depend upon contingencies.
One of the most important of these was, that all the money
should be subscribed.

Mr. ROBINSON.—The council ought to see the plans. The
committee has decided upon a new design without consulting
the council.

Mr. HORNHY.—No : there is no such decision. Of course,
no new designs will be decided upon till they have had the
confirmation of the council.
The motion was passed.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PARKS.
The Report of the Special Committee appointed on the 10th
June last to inquire into the practicability of obtaining land
for the formation of Parks for the public was read by the
Town-Clerk, as follows :

Report of the Special Committee appointed on the 10th of
June last, " to inquire how far it is practicable at the present
time to obtain land either within or contiguous to the boun-
dary of the borough, for the purpose of forming parks, to be
for ever kept open for the benefit and enjoyment of the increas-
ing population of the borough, and to what extent and at what
probable cost such land may be procured in suitable situa-
tions, and to report to the Council the result of their inquiry,
after conference with the Finance Committee on the financial
considerations requisite."
In the prosecution of the duty imposed upon them, your
committee commenced by inviting the co-operation and ad•
vice of the principal noblemen and landowners in the neigh-
bourhood, who generally expressed their entire approval of
the object, and their willingness to promote the views of the
Council.
Your committee also directed the surveyor to submit a
'copy of Bennison's plan of the environs of the borough, with
his remarks and suggestions as to particular sites, which
might be converted to the desired purpose, and after mature
consideration of the subject, and the various sites pointed
out, your committee came to the conclusion, that it Gould be
advisable, with a view to the cost of the future establishment,
to confine their consideration to the formation of one park
only of sufficient dimensions, such park to be in a central
situation as regards the borough, and as near as may be to
the great mass of population.
With this view the surveyor submitted a plan of the land
between Wavertree-lane and London-road, containing about
200 large acres, the principal entrance to be at Mount Ver-
non, but owing to difficulties, arising from the improved
state of part of the land in this vicinity, and the objections on
the part of some of the proprietors to the proposition, your
committee were under the necessity of abandoning this most
favourable situation.
Your committee then turned their attention to the north
and south ends of the town. With regard to the former,
your committee are of opinion, that no favourable site offers
itself on the west side of Everton-hill, as the exposure to the
westerly gales would present insuperable difficulties to the
formation of a park, and the vale at the back of Everton your
committee consider to be too remote for the general use of
the public.

To the southward, however, your committee were more
fortunate in finding an unbuilt space of about 90 large, or 200
statute acres, possessing fine views of the Welsh and Cheshire
lands, with the advantage of a variety of soil and surface,
and two small streams of water, wholly the property of the
Earl of Sefton, who had expressed himself favourable to the
formation of such an addition to the convenience and comfort
of the inhabitants of the borough, as would be thus afforded.
After personally viewing the situation, and ascertaining the
boundaries of the proposed allotment, your committee stated
their views to his lordship, and in reply his lordship was
pleased to signify his willingness to dispose of this land for
this purpose at the rate of £1,200 per large acre. The
nearest point of this land is about 14 miles from the centre
of the town, a distance which, in the opinion of your com-
mittee, would not be inconvenient to any part of the old bo-
rough, except the extreme north, which has already the ad-
vantage of the open sea shore, as well as of the late improve-
ment of Great Howard-street, and its continuation by
Victoria and Derby-roads through Kirkdale and Bootle.
In the course of their inquiries, the attention of your com-
mittee was directed to the possibility of making a boulevard
round the town, from the neighbourhood of the southern
docks, by St. John the Baptist's, in Toxteth-park, along
Crown-street, below Netherfield-lane, Everton, and by the
North Bofindary-street to the river, with a view not only of
effecting an easy access to the place of exercise and recrea-
tion from every part of the town, and from one part of the
town to another, but also as means for more effective ventila-
tion of the eastern portion of this increasing borough. The
formation of such an accommodation appears to be so desir-
able, that your Committee venture to submit for your con-
sideration the propriety of suggesting to the public, and to
the proprietors of land in this line particularly, in the future
laying out and disposal of their land for building purposes, to
bear in mind the public health and convenience, and to make
arrangements for the forwarding of this desirable acquire-
ment, so far as their respective unbuilt property may enable
them.

Your committee have, to the best of their ability, ascer-
tained the object of their appointment, namely, that a park
of 200 statute acres, (one half of which is within the parlia-
mentary borough) may be obtained at a cost not exceeding
£lOB,OOO.

Your committee are of opinion that sites for the erection
of villas may be disposed of on leases for 75 years, to meet
the requisite outlay for the making of drives and roads,
planting and otherwise improving the land, and that such a
rent may hereafter be obtained from the remainder laid out as
park ground, as would exceed any annual expenditure, which
may be required for the protection of the property and keeping
it in repair (the land being at present let at a rent of about
£lOOO. per annum.) Your committee beg also to state that they
are not without hopes that some public-spirited individuals
may be willing to forward the views of the Council by liberal
subscriptions, intimation to this effect having been made to
your committee, and also that the Earl of Sefton may be in-
duced to aid the undertaking by a proportionate reduction
for the land necessarily required for commodious roads and
drives. _

With these views and expectations, your committee, in
i
conformity with theinstructions of the Council, proceeded
to a conference with the Finance Committee, for their con-
sideration of the subject in its financial department ; but that
committee being of opinion that they could not proceed to a
consideration of so large an expenditure without a more cir-
cumstantial detail of the probable cost and return, and as the
preparation of such detail would necessarily require consider-
able time and labour, your committee have deemed it expe-
dient to submit the present result of their deliberations to the
Council, in full confidence that the subject may hereafter be
met by the council with the same unanimity with which it
was received on its first proposition in June last.
Your committee cannot conclude without calling the at-
tention of the Council to the report prepared by the parlia-
mentary committee for the consideration of the " health of
towns," in which parks and open spaces are particularly re-
commended, and in which it is also recommended that a
public bill should be brought into Parliament to authorise,
on certain. conditions, the imposing of a rate in boroughs for
this desirable purpose. And your committee, referring with
regret to the particular unhealthiness of Liverpool, alluded to
in this report and in that of the registrar-general, beg stre-
nuously to recommend that a memorial should be transmitted
by the Council to the government, urging the adoption of a
measure so well calculated to promote the health and com-
fort of the people generally. And your committee beg also
to refer to the copy (herewith) of a letter received, in reply to
the inquiries of your committee, from R. A. Slaney, Esq.,
M.P., chairman of the parliamentary committee above al-
luded to, recommending the adoption of such a memorial,
and further, that, in the event of a bill being brought in, pe_
titions to both houses of Parliament be presented forthwith.
HENRY R. SANDBACH, Chairman.
COPY OF LETTER FROM R. A. SLANEY, ESQ., M. P.
Walford Manor, near Shrewsbury, Aug. 3,
Sin,—l am honoured with your letter of the 30th July,
as chairman of the Parks Committee of the Town Council of
Liverpool, and assure you your communication gave me great
. pleasure. I am happy to hear an intention entertained,
of endeavouring to provide parks or open spaces to improve

the health and add, to the enjoyment of the crowded popula-
tion of your spirited and intelligent community ; and the
more so, because it was with deep regret, the committee over
which I had the honour to preside, found themselves com-
pelled to report a melancholy account of the unhealthy dwel-
lings, and neglegted residences of a very large portion of the
working classes in your prosperous and opulent city. As
in former days you took the lead of all great commercial
cities of the empire, in the formation of literary institutions
for the rich and middle classes ; so I trust you are about to
set (in this matter so advantageous to all classes) an example
to the other great towns of the kingdom, which we truly
hope will be extensively followed.
In answer to your inquiry, I beg to state that it is my hope,
the recommendations of the report will be taken up, and
acted upon by government, and I am confident, it will have
their careful and favourable consideration. In the event of
their declining it, (and I intend to press the matter urgently
on their intention), it is my full intention to bring in bills
founded on the report early next session, and to do my ut-
most to pass them, and 1 am confident that I shall meet
extensive support. I have always brought in a building act,
(relative to houses under a certain value) as recommended in
the report, (which is ordered to be printed, and will be pro-
ceeded with next session), to prevent such a construction of
houses as is highly injurious to the community. It is of
great consequence in this subject to avoid anything of a
party character ; and I am happy to say that has hitherto
been the case ; and many who differ from me in general
politics, give their hearty and zealous support to these pro-
posed improvements.
I should, however, humbly submit to the consideration of
your committee, that they should not remit or delay their
exertions to obtain the requisite places you desire ; either
by rate or local grants in aid or subscription, I feel confident
the means will not be wanting ! I should think Lord Derby
or Lord Sefton, (the former of whom I have the pleasure of
knowing would) assist you. I transmitted my account of the
state of large towns (and especially Liverpool) to the former,
and he used to take much interest in your improvements. I
shall be glad to have my humble efforts backed early next
session by any petition from your powerful and influential
body, and also by the aid of your able representatives, espe-
cially Lord Sandon, who assisted me much in the education
committee of 1837, and who concurs, I know, generally in
the recommendations of the late committee.

A memorial to the government before next session, urging
them to take up and act on the report would be of great ad-
vantage, and if commencing at Liverpool, might surely be
followed by other large towns in Lancashire and. elsewhere.
Mr. Tufncll, the member for Devenport, who is connected
with government, and was placed on the committee by them,
rendered me every co-operation; and with the Hon. Win.
Cowper, (Lord Melbourne's nephew) M.P. for Hertford,
assisted me in drawing part of the report. Several gentle-
men of different politics, among others, Mr. Wilson Patten
and Mr. Green gave me assistance, and I feel confident, if
the great towns will only speak out, the practical recommen-
dations of the report will be carried.
I intend to visit Liverpool next summer, at the Royal En-
glish Agricultural Meeting, and I hope to find your public
walks making much progress.—l have the honor to remain,
your obedient servant,

(Signed) ROBERT A. SLANEY.
11. R. Sandbach, Esq.
Mr. SANDBACH moved the adoption of the report, which,
.be said, it would be seen, pledged the council to nothin,;. He
had no objection, however, to postpone the matter till the
next council.
Mr. HENRY HOLMES seconded the motion.

Mr. EVANS expressed his opinion, that the bargain had
been too much hurried, and that the committee were about
to buy a large lot of land at a retail price. There ought to
be a great difference made in the price of land purchased in
the bulk and purchased in small lots. He could not help
thinking, that, in this case the landlord was likely to get, at
least, one half more than he ought to get for his land.
Mr. COGLAN, Mr. RATHBONE, and Mr. HODGSON. sup-
ported the views of the committee ; and, ultimately, the re-
port, which merely professed to be a view of the proceedings
of the committee for the information of the council, was
adopted.