The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-04-27 00:00:00

LOCAL MEETINGS.

THE HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL.—On Wednesday, a
meeting of the Liverpool Health of Towns Association
was held in the Clarendon-rooms, for the purpose of con-
sidering Lord Morpeth's Sanatory. Bill. Adam Hodgson,
Esq., occupied the chair ' • and, after some little discussion,
it was unanimously resolved that the bill introduced into
parliament by her Majesty's ministers for " Improving the
health of towns in England," is worthy of the cordial
support of all classes of the community. A memorial in
favour of the measure is lying for signature in the Ex-
change News-room.
THE TOWN COUNCIL : LAYING OF LOCAL RATES.—
A Special meeting of the Council was held on Saturday,
for the purpose of laying local rates. On the motion of
Mr. TURNER, seconded by Mr. G. G. HORNBY, a fire-
police rate of one halfpenny in the pound, for the ensuing
year upon all property within the borough was adopted.
Mr. LACE moved a sewerage-rate of a penny in the pound :
a water-rate of a penny ; a paving-rate of tenpence ; and
a general rate (for the cleansing of middens, &c.) of four-
pence, making a total of one shilling and fourpence. He
suggested that £lOO of it be appropriated to the sewerage,
end the residue, £4,900 to the paving of the town, which
was agreed to.—Rates were then laid for the township of
Everton, of in all ls. 3d. in the pound, excluding any
charge for water for extinguishing fires, and watering the
streets, as water could not be supplied for such purposes
until the works in progress were completed.—For West
Derby rates were laid amounting in all to Is. sd.—The
same amount was laid for Toxteth Park.—lt was also
agreed that a rate of five thirty-second parts of a penny,
or about a tenth of a penny be laid to raise £BOO. or £9OO,
a year, upon Liverpool and the out-townships for the pay-
ment and maintenance of the Botanic Garden. The
Mayor thought the buildings ought to be enlarged, so that
parties might cultivate objects of natural history for a
museum, which would be attractive. The Council then
separated. _ _

VESTRY MEETING AT TOXTETH.—On Monday evening
a vestry meeting was held at Toxteth, Mr. John Sheppard
in the chair, for the transaction of business. Mr. Mac-
auliffe said that a precept had been received from Liver-
pool respecting the laying of a rate for the support of a
museum.. Mr. Appleby thought that the mode of assess-
ment adopted in Liverpool was unfair, the property being
assessed much below its value, whilst in Toxteth-park the
assessment was above the rack rental. Mr. Appleby then
made some remarks in exculpation of himself and the
other overseer, from the charge of neglecting to collect
parish rates from a large body of rate-payers. He said
the fact was that 700 or 800 of them were receiving paro-
chial relief. He had been accused of not summoning his
tenants, but he could not be expected to do so when others
had not paid. He should like the owners of small pro-
perty to pay for it, and would be one to sign a document
to pay half the rates for the tenants, and let others come
forward and do the same. Mr. Macauliffe made some
remarks upon the article in the Mail of the previous Sa-
turday, reflecting upon the conduct of the parochial offi-
cers of Toxteth, and he read a table from which it appeared
that 61 per cent. of the rates raid had been collected, and
he stated that this was a sufficient answer to the attack
which had been made upon the parish authorities. Mr.
Appleby said that the parties who had been excused
payment of their rates were in a state of pauperism.
After some other conversation of little importance the
meeting broke up.
THE NEW AMERICAN PASSENGER LAW.-011 Wed-
nesday, a numerous meeting of shipowners and others,in-
terested in the passenger traffic between this country and
America, took place at the Underwriters' room, to con-
sider the recent act of the American Congress, which pro-
vides that fourteen feet in space shall be allowed to each
steerage passenger in all vessels arriving in the United
States. H. C. Chapman, Esq., was called to the chair,
and stated that this act would curtail very seriously the
number of passengers which the previous act permitted,
and would be a serious detriment to British shipping, and
that the object in passing it was to prevent the alarming
influx of Irish emigrants into the States. It would be
necessary to consider what steps should be taken to obtain
an extension of the time for such ships as were entered
for the conveyance of passengers under the previous law.
The new law would limit the number of passengers to
about half what it was under the old law.—Mr. Coulburn,
whilst concurring in opinion with the chairman that
prompt steps ought to be taken, said that the new law,
instead of acting to the detriment, would tend to the ad-
vantage of British shipping, for it would do away with
emigration to New York, and it would divert the tide of
emigration to Canada ; and British ships would have the
carrying of passengers to the latter ceuntry. He thought
the Liverpool Shipowners' Association ought to be the
moving body on the present occasion.—Mr. W. J. Lam-
port thought otherwise, for the matter was one of pressure
upon individals, and individals had an undoubted right to
take steps to have themselves redressed. The meeting
were not objecting to the right of the United States to
pass any law they pleased, but they were objecting to the
short notice of the present law that had been given, for
they had made engagements in ignorance of the law, and
were nevertheless open to the penalties the law imposed.
He had a ship liable to confiscation on her arrival in the
States.—The first resolution was moved by Mr. Stephen
Shute, and seconded by Mr. David Cannon.—The second
resolution, together with a memorial to Lord Palmerstor,
was moved by Mr. Lamport, and seconded by Mr. T. D.
Anderson. Both resolutions were unanimously carried.
DOCK CommerrEE, THURSDAY.—A plan for providing
a constant supply of water from the Green-lane Water-
works, to be used at any moment, in case of fire at the
Albert Dock warehouses, was submitted, and referred to
the Sub-committee of Works. It was resolved that ves-
sels should not be allowed to work overhours on suffer-
ance at the Albert Dock, except under urgent circum-
stances, and upon special application in writing to the
secretary. The Chairman mentioned that a vessel had
been in the Graving Dock since October last, and that
nobody was at work at her. Mr. Royden said it would
take £2OO to float the vessel. The attention of the Har-
bour-master's Sub-committee was called to it.—A letter
from the Chairman of the Shipwright's association, com-
plaining of some arrangements at the Clarence Graving
Dock, was referred to the Harbour-masters' Sub-cora-
mittee.—A memorial was read from the carters, request-
ing permission to place their carts on the quays of the en-
closed docks during the night, but the request was de-
clined.—The Chairman said it would be necessary to give
notice that, on and after the 26th of April, vessels should
not anchor within 300 feet of the George's pier-head, as
within these limits they would be liable to foul the moor-
ings of the new landing stage. The matter, he believed,
did not rest with the Committee, but it was necessary
something should be done, as the divers, were nearly all
upset and swamped, the other day, by one of the ferry
boats. It was agreed that the Chairman should see the
Finance Committee, and make arrangements for giving
the requisite notice.—ln answer to a question from Mr.
Tobin, the Chairman said the committee had nothing to
do with the mooring of the new landing stage. That was
a matter entirely in the hands of Mr. Cubitt, who was re-
sponsible for it. He had the assistance of the marine sur-
veyor and his assistant, and a plan had been agreed upon,
which was supposed to be the best, as a temporary thing,
till the bridges were completed, and then the stage would
be under-moored. The stage was now nearly ready, the
last pontoon having been placed under it yesterday. Mr.
Tobin thought nautical men the best qualified to decide
as to the mooring. He disapproved of the plan, and did
not think it would do at all. Mr. Aikin said he looked at
the stage with fear and trembling. He believed it would
not stand a gale of wind, and he thought it better that the
responsibility should not rest on the Dock Committee.
The Chairman said he saw Mr. Cubitt in London yester-
day, and he was strong in his opinion that it would stand
every thing.

A numerous meeTtinnEg ortfotshceo Efricerd n .
of
Ihirealdyorinintthhee Scheassirirsilhiosuwes
Worship
Thsursd
at
yh this
evening, the
wastlie
ptated that the meeting
had been called, in compliance with' racreileittiont signed
by 800 persons, with a view to establish
bine social enjoyment with scientific and literaryypfirscuoint's.
He had great pleasure in furthering such an object espe-
cially as it was not originated in a spirit of rivalry to any
existing institution for the promotion of intellectual im-
provement, but rather in extension of their views.
Mr. CHARLES ROBERTSON proposed the first resolution,
to the effect that the meeting was impressed with the
opinion that the want of such an institution had long been
felt. He complimented the Mayor in forwarding their
views. It was, he said, well known that young men re-
sorted from every quarter to this town. These young
men, removed from home and its social influences, were
left to employ their leisure time as it seemed best to them ;
debarred by the demands of business during the day from
acquiring that mental culture which strengthened the
principles, they were frequently found squandering that
precious portion of time which was their own in a manner
injurious in every respect. The institution proposed to
be established would be a resort where young men could
find social pleasure in discussion. Part of the plan was to
provide refreshments to members at moderate cost, an
advantage which must be obvious to all ; it would prevent
those who were entering life from resorting to those places
where health, morals, and happiness must inevitably be
sacrificed. He dilated at some length, and with much
eloquence, on the general advantage and individual dignity
of culture of the mind. The club, he was glad to say,
would be self-sustained.

The resolution was seconded by Mr. SANDBACH, and
carried.

The REV. Mr. NOLAN, in proposing the second resolu-
tion, said that from what he had learned of the objects of
the institution, and the manner in which it would be con-
, ducted, he should cordially give it his humble support.
The resolution was to the effect that in addition to liter-
ary and scientific pursuits, coffee-rooms should form part
of the establishment. It was with individuals as with so-
ciety, they were capable of improvement, and the advan-
tages of such an institution, whose object was to pro-
mote intellectual improvement, were so self-evident as
to require little argument in its support. It was possi-
ble that some of the young men who join this institution,
imitating the example of him whose name they had
attached to it, might, by the improvement of their talent,
shed lustre on the town which gave them birth. The
distinguished Roscoe was born in 1752, in this town, and
his first literary efforts were directed against the evils
of slavery, and calling for a redress of the wrongs of the
injured and persecuted Africans. (Cheers.) His other
works, Lorenzo de Medici, and Leo; the 'renth, were
works so celebrated in the literature of our country, and
so familiar to all, that the bare mention of them was suf-
ficient. (Cheers.) As to the library, he recommended that
the works should be judiciously selected. He alluded to
the advantages of science, and to the advancement through
its aid of Liverpool, Manchester, &c. Refined literature
had also many, very many, advantages, as the mind was
relieved by an interchange of labour, in studying those
works of the poets, and other writings for which our own
country was pre-eminent over ever other country of the
civilised globe.. It had been well observed of the mind,
when it had got a noble thought, that it felt itself filled
and elevated with its . Therev. gentleman made some gb-