The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-11-02 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.

On Tuesday, the usual special meeting for the winding
up of the yearly business of the Town Council, prior to
the annual municipal election, was held in the Town-hall,
and was attended by twenty-five members.
The Finance Committee's report on the subject of the
fees paid to the magistrates' clerks for the parochial busi-
ness was read. It showed that the amounts paid by the
Select Vestry for this purpose, from 1836 up to the present
time were £6,135, and that the employment of Mr.
Lowndes as parochial solicitor was beneficial and econo-
mical, inasmuch as were his office done away with, addi-
tional magistrates' clerks would have to be employed, at a
greater cost. The committee recommended the present
s3rstem to be continued so long as the present law of set-
tlement remained.—The report was accordingly adopted.
The proceedings of the Watch Committee were read,
and Mr. Tinne moved that the resolution of the 18th
October, to the effect that the committee should not
remove their place of meeting to the premises in Duke-
street, be referred back to the committee. This was se-
conded by Mr. Earle, who remarked that the committee
assumed a ridiculous amount of pomposity, and that it
would be well to exclude from that body dealers in brandy,
gin, and beer. Mr. Parker said that there seemed to be
a disposition on the part of certain members of the Coun-
cil to press upon the class of tradesmen ; but this several
of them denied.—The resolution was agreed to.
The Dock Committee proceedings being read,
Mr. J. B. MOORE, in moving their confirmation, said
it was gratifying to find there had been a great increase
in the receipts of the Dock Trust. The receipts for the
year ending 24th June, 1847, were £86,047; those up to
June this year were £91,564, being an increase of £5560.
The Committee, it would be seen, recommended that
there should be a central Harbour Master's office, for
facilitating business, and moved accordingly.
Mr. Nicol, seconded the motion. _ _

A discussion here arose out of some remarks made by
Mr. PARKER, who said the Council were not informed of
the precise terms on which the Birkenhead dock estate
had been offered to the Dock Committee, which ought to
have been entered on the books.

Mr. B. MooRE said the terms simply were, that the
Commissioners proposed to sell to the Dock Trustees
their estate and interest over the water at the cost, with
interest to the time ; in other words, that you should step
into their shoes. This offer was declined ; and he con-
gratulated the Council that they had not possession on
such terms.

Mr. AnciN concurred with Mr. Parker that the terms
of the offer ought to have been read to the Council. It
was a question with him whether it would not have been
better for the interest of the trustees to have laid out the
money on that side of the water, instead of the two mil-
lions which they proposed to lay out on this side.
Mr. MANN said that when the proposition came before
the Dock Committee, it was for the purchase of the in-
terest of the Dock Warehouse Company, also the interest
which the Birkenhead Dock Commissioners had there,
and it was upon certain terms. It was at the cost to the
Birkenhead interest : and it was decided by the Liverpool
Dock Committee that it was not desirable to accept of the
proposition, and he (Mr. Mann) thought that Mr. Aikin
himself was desirous that the refusal should end there.
Mr. BRAMLEY MOORE said the Dock Committee had
concealed nothing, but had brought everything before
the world. 4tilf6:o
Mr. SAMUEL HOLME said he should some time or
other have to say something upon the subject of the
amount expended on the Albert Dock warehouses.
Mr. BRAMLEY MOORE said the account would be pub-
lished in a short time. _ _

The subject then dropped, but the Birkenhead docu-
ments which had been referred to, were shortly afterwards
laid on the table.

The Improvement Committee stated that they had not
been able to make any arrangement with Mr. James
Lawrence, with respect to a portion of his property which
they wanted for public improvement.
It was stated in the report of the School Committee
that Mrs. Lloyd had retired from the South Infant School,
and the Mayor expressed his deep regret at the loss that
would be sustained through the resignation of that lady.
The Water Committee a report referred to a complaint
made by Mr. Gage, engineer, to the effect that he had
been badly treated by the committee. The committee
had considered Mr. Gage's memorial, and had declined to
award him more than £lO5.

Mr. LACE explained that Mr. Gage had informed the
committee that he had taken geological aurveya of the

district, and was prepared with reasons on which to frame
a report on the question of the supply-of water, and he
was satisfied that a plentiful supply could be obtained
within two miles of the centre of the town. Mr. Gage
had, however, taken new surveys, and had charged £240.
He (Mr. Lace) considered £5O quite sufficient, but the
committee had thought fit to award him £los.—Some
discussion followed, and—
Mr. COOPER moved that the matter be referred back to
the committee, but the motion was not seconded.