The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-04-18 00:00:00

SECOND DAY, THURSDAY, APRIL 13.

On resuming the inquiry this morning the commis-
sioners were addressed at great length by
Mr. SIIIITTLEWORTII, the Town-clerk, who appeared on
behalf of the Corporation, in defence of the town-dues,
and to answer the objections which had been raised against
them. Mr. Shuttleworth's remarks we chiefly directed
to what had been advanced by Mr. Hem, the Town-clerk
of Manchester. He contended that the Corporation of
Liverpool had as good a title to these town-dues as any
nobleman had to his estate. In illustration of this he
referred in general terms to the question of title, declining,
however, to go minutely into it, as that was not a tribunal
entitled to take cognizance of the right which Mr. Heron
impugned. At the previous inquiry the commissioners
had expressed themselves satisfied with the information
he had given on this point ; but if they thought that, in
the responsible position in which he stood, further in-
formation was necessary, he should be glad to afford it.
Nothing had been brought before the present commission
with reference to these dues which was not laid before the
court at the trial in 1833. He had gone carefully through
the evidence, and had found that every point urged on the
previous day was urged also on that occasion. He re-
peated distinctly that the Corporation had as good a title
to the property in these dues as any gentleman had to an
estate or property of any description whatever. The right
was purchased from Lord Molyneux' who held it from the
Crown, in the year 1672 and from that date it might be
stated that the commercial prosperity of Liverpool com-
menced. In the year 1710 the Old Dock—the first dock
for commercial purposes ever constructed in England—
was formed on the site on which now stood the Custom-
house, and from that time to the present continued im-
provements had been made in the port for the benefit of
the public. Neither had the Corporation of Liverpool
confined themselves to Liverpool in making these im-
provements. They had looked far beyond the borough,
and had made great sacrifices to promote and extend the
approaches to the town from Manchester and the mann-
facturinc. districts. The Corporation had been parties to
the construction" of several canals for this purpose, the
Sankey Canal amonc, others, and in order to enable them
to do this, they had' sold land to the value of £185,000
in order to pay for the works. He maintained that these
dues were not oppressive, and the immense amount of
trade with the port showed that they were not. It was
said on the previous day that these dues were the remnant
of feudal ages, and that in no other place but Liverpool were
they paid. This was a mistake, as such dues were imposed
in a great number of other places. The learned gentleman
then named a great number of other places at which
town-dues were payable. The list included Bristol, Brid-
port, Beaumaris, Barnstaple, Cardiff, Chester, Hull, Folke-
stone, Haverfordwest, Swansea, and many others. There
were also (the Town-clerk pursued) dues of this description
payable in boroughs and inland towns, as in Nottingham
and other towns, to which he referred. In illustration of
what the Liverpool Corporation were doing for the benefit
of the general public frequenting Liverpool, he might say
that at the present time they were about to have con-
structed a large landing-stage, at an expense of £130,000,
which would cost about £7,000 per annum in management,
&c. This had been found necessary for the accommoda-
tion of the public arriving and departing from the port.
It would be constructed out of the town-dues, and no
charge whatever would made to the public for the increased
accommodation thus afforded. After some further ex-
planatory statements, the learned gentleman concluded
his remarks by stating that he hoped the commissioners
would think that he had sufficiently discharged his duty as
the representative of that great Corporation.
Mr. HERON, Town-clerk of Manchester, in an address
of nearly two hours' duration, replied to the defence which
the Town-clerk of Liverpool had offered in support of the
town-dues, and contended that the injustice of the tax
remained unanswered. He concluded by stating, that the
question would not be allowed to rest where it was. The
commissioners' report having been presented to govern-
ment, ulterior proceedings would be resorted to, and he
had no doubt whatever that the result would be the sweep-
ing away of the impost, as an injustice to the great
maniticturing interests of the district.
Mr. HULL, solicitor, next drew the attention of the
commissioners to the inequitable operation of the dock-
dues as they applied to vessels entering the Birkenhead
Docks. This he illustrated by a reference to the steam-
ship Brazileira, belonging to the South American Mail
Steam-ship Company. The Brazileira never entered the
Liverpool Docks, but sailed from the Birkenhead Docks,
where the dues had been paid. As she was going down
the river, on her, outward passage to the Brazils, a few
packages of goods were taken on board from a flat, and in
consequence of this, tonnage-dues to the amount of
£46 3s. 3d. were demanded and paid to the Liverpool
IDock trustees, although she bad never been in the Liver-
pool Docks at all. The learned gentleman named similar
cases of hardship as respected the steamships Lady Eel,-
toun and the Sarah Sands. .

Some further evidence reTecting,the dock-dues hr,ving
been tendered, the proceedwge were brougbt V) a close
about twO Q'Cleek.

LITERPOOL TOWN COU2TCIL.

ADJOURNED MEETING.

AN adjourned meeting of the Council was held on Wed-
nesday, his worship the Mayor presiding. The attendance
of menabere was so• small as only to form the requisite
number to constitute a council.

The proceedmgs of the Gardens and Church Expendi-
ture Committees were confirmed without discussion.
In moving the adoption of the latter proceedings. Mr.
HA EMOOD RtNNEA- gave notice that, at the next Council,
he should move the election of Mr. Brancker as a member
of the committee, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the•
death of the late Mr:.Molyneux.
The contract of Mr. Brakell, for printing for the com-
mittee, and that of Mr. Harris, for supplying stationery,
were accepted..

The proceedings of the Water Committee having been
Asti, Mr. HOLT, seconded by Mr. WAGSTAFF, moved their
adoption.
Mr. BIGIIIM wished to know if the law expenses in-
curred in defending certain contracts had been paid, and,
also the amount of such expenses.
Mr. HOLT replied that the expenses were justly charge-
able on the contractors ; and, if it was the pleasure of the
council, they could stop the amounts from the contracts.
The probable amount would be between L-2,000 and £3,000.
There was a considerable margin due to the contractors,
and the Council had the power to stop the money when-
ever they thought it desirable ; but he would suggest to
the Council not to be too rigid in the matter.
Mr. BIGHAM suggested that the exact amount should
be ascertained, and placed to the debit of the contractors.
The Miyou observed that the Town-clerk had stated
that the accounts were not yet in ;. therefore that could
not be done.
The proceedings were then confirmed.
Mr. PICTON, in moving the confirmation of the Library
and Museum Committee's proceedings, said, in reference
to a letter from the Secretary to the East India Company,
that the committee had received a great amount of kind-
ness, courtesy, and liberality from them. With reference
to thepurchase of the Model of Ancient Liverpool, Mr
Picton said the committee had no funds, although the
model would be a desirable adjunct to the one now in the
museum. The price, if the Council thought the purchase
desirable, would be a subject for negotiation.
The matter of the purchase of the Model of Ancient
Liverpool was referred to‘ the committee to ascertain the
price, after which the proceedings were confirmed.
Mr. WOODRUFF, in moving the adoption of the pro-
ceedings of the Hackney Carriage and Licensing Com-
mittee, directed attention to a recommendation not to
make any reduction at present in the rates of charge for
cartage within the borough. After going fully into the
matter, and having interviews with the parties interested,
the committee had come to the unanimous opinion that it
was inexpedient to adopt any reduction in the rates of
charges for cartage at the present time. The proceedings
were then confirmed.

The proceedings of the Baths Committee having been
read, Mr. WAGSTAFF, seconded by Mr. JEFFEBYS, moved
their adoption.—Mr. HoLT called attention to the ap-
pointment of Mr. and Mrs. Clarkson, late of Cornwallis-
street baths, to be master and matron of the Frederick-
street baths. He regretted that Mrs. Wilkinson, who
had been the means of introducing wash-houses and baths,
and who was now in destitute circumstances, had not
been appointed to some situation connected with the
baths, and moved that the Baths Committee be pleased
to give the matter their consideration, with a view, if not
of giving Mrs. Wilkinson employment, of providing some
remuneration for her, even if it should be a small 'Airing
pension.—Mr. HoRNBY seconded the motion, and after a
reply from Mr. WAGSTAFF, Mr. Holt's motion was carried,
and the proceedings confirmed.
The memorial of the dock-gatemen of the River-craft
Dock was referred.

The motion of Mr. EARLS that a sum, not exceeding
£lOO, be placed in the hands of the committee appointed
by the inhabitants of the town, at the meeting convened
by the Mayor, for the purpose of reporting on a compre-
hensive plan for the improvement of the town, towards
defraying the expenses of that committee already incurred,
and of preparing and printing the report which is to be
laid before the inhabitants at a future meeting, was, after
a smart and rather personal debate, negatived by twenty-
six to nine.
The Council then adjourned.