The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-01 00:00:00

TIIE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the Finance
Committee comprised a recommendation to let Mr. John
Laird, Messrs. Clayton and Co., and Messrs. Clover and
Co., for shipbuilding purposes, land and premises at Bir-
kenhead, for the term of twenty-five years, subject to
special terms and conditions ; and a report as to proposed
appropriation out of the surplus income of £lO,OOO towards
the erection of a building for the Public Library, Museum,
and Gallery of Arts ; and as to the funds for a proposed
improvement of Church-street.
Mr. HORNBY moved the confirmation of the proceed-
ings seriatim, taking first the proposed lease of land at
Birkenhead for shipbuilding purposes. He thought, if
those leases were approved of by the Council, they would
be beneficial not only to the Corporation of Liverpool, but
their proposed tenants. The land had been for a number
of years lying in an almost unproductive state, and would
under this arrangement bring in a considerable revenue ;
but what was of more importance, judging from the
character of those gentlemen as shipbuilders, an impetus
would be given to the shipbuilding trade which would be
of importance to the trade and commerce of Liverpool.
(Applause).
Alderman COOPER seconded the motion.
Mr. BIGILAN asked whether, on the terms to be paid
under these leases, the Council would lose or gain by the
throwing up of the contract of Mr. WiLsox ?
Mr. HoaNBY replied that Mr. LAIRD took the whole of
the land that Mr. • .11 had, and it was let on about
the same terms. t
The MAYon beli • or a little more.

Mr. R GlansToNiktasked if there was a progressive
increase of rent as the time advanced ?—which Mr.
HORNBY answered in the negative.
This point of the proceedings was then confirmed.
Mr. HoBNBY then moved the two other special subjects
on the paper. The Committee reported that there was a
balance from the surplus which would enable the Council,
if inclined, to vote £lO,OOO for the erection of the Free
Library. As to the widening of Church-street, taking
into account the cost of the other improvements sanc-
tioned, and the works in progress, the Committee thought
that it was not expedient at present that they should in-
cur the expense which would be requisite for that
purpose.
Mr. PICTON asked the estimated cost of widening
Church-street ?
Alderman J. H. TURNER said £lB,OOO was the lowest.

Mr. HORNRY said three estimates were given in, and
even the lowest estimate would have been an unsatisfac-
tory improvement of the street.
Alderman PROCTER said for the £lB,OOO they could
have commenced at the bottom of Lord-street, and taken
it up to the head of St. Peter's Church-yard.
The proceedings were confirmed.
THE ALLEGED FRAUD AT THE NEW GAOL AT WALTON :
OTHER ALLEGED FRAUDS. - -

Mr. HORNET, in moving the confirmation of the re-
mainder of the proceedings, said it might be expected
that he should allude to a subject which had excited at-
tention out of doors,—he meant the frauds which had oc-
curred in reference to building the new gaol. It must be
obvious to the Council that in the present state of those
proceedings, which were now under judicial consideration,
any details on his part would be highly improper ; and
that, in short, it became the absolute duty of the
Council to abstain from any discussion on the sub-
ject. He could only assure the Council that although
so little had been recorded in the proceedings of the
Finance Committee on this subject, it had engaged their
earnest attention, and a committee had been appointed,
consisting of the Mayor, Mr. Stewart, and himself, to pro-
ceed against those parties suspected to have been guilty of
that fraud and conspiracy; no efforts should be wanting
on their part to bring the offenders to justice, and a search-
ing inquiry would take
Place in respect to every part of
the building of the new gaol.
Alderman PROCTER seconded the motion.
Mr. BIGHAM suggested that the Corporate accounts
might be made out more clearly. They had ostensibly a
annually to the parish, £747 to the various charities,
£1,644 to the library, and £896 for the Mayor's carriages,
surplus income of £48,584; but with the £11,442 voted
that surplus income was reduced to about £30,000, out
of which the cost of St. George's-hall and the new gaol at
Walton had to be provided for. The surplus income and
borrowed capital were so mixed up together, that it was
difficult to distinguish which portion of that expenditure
would be continuous. As
to the matter mentioned by
Mr. Hornby, some members thought that he (Mr. Bigham)
had done an injury by mentioning it in the Council. Now the
fact was, that he received a letter which he submitted
privately to the chairman of the finance committee. He
waited quietly for six weeks, and did not receive in that
time, as he should in courtesy, any communication from
keep silent, had it not oozed out from the Fress. Finding
so, and that some wombera had got s' 'tar tuiormation,
he should have continued to
the committee ; and then