The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-02-07 00:00:00

ADJOURNED COUNCIL, PROCEEDINGS.

. . .
The adjourned meeting of the Town-council took place,
according to appointment, y.esterday morning, at halt-past
eleven &clack. There were, abort Forts members pre,sent..
...

Mr. H. LAWRENCE §aid—,We are niet to-day to- discuss
the clauses of the bill, the propriety of introducing which -
Occupied us the whole of yesterday. We have not seen the
bill, and the abstract has only been in our hands a few days.
We are given to understand that any delay will prevent the
bringing in the bill; I say nothing about delaying the subject
to the last moment. The Town-clerk, who is yoiar legal ad-
viser, has said that the clauses may he considered as read,
and, . that, if required, any clause must be read. To he pro-
fessionally consistent, I cannot assent to any clause which I
have not had an opportunity of considering, as there have
been instances of marginal abstracts diametrically opposite to
the clauses to which they refer. 11 1 insist upon reading
every clause, it will be attributable to a wish to delay your
proceedings, and, as I cannot make myself responsible with,
out so insisting, and from the organization of the ranks of
our opponents I cannot expect any impression to be made
upon them, I will not unnecessarily protract discussion, but
prefer retiring from the debate.
•
The TOWN-CLERK wished to• observe, before Mr. Law-
rence left the room, that it was his opinion that if the coun-
cil unanimously determined to consider the reading of the
heads of the bill, with liberty to call tbr the reading at length
.of particular clauses of the bill that might. be wanted, as a de
:facia, reading of drew thr -council. might. proceed
in that manner. The council unanimously agreeing to that,
course would be equivalent to a reading of the bill; and he
believed that, in the courts of law, and especially in the courts
of equity, such a course was considered a proper one, and
frequently tbllowed, as Mr. Lawrence himself must he aware.
Mr. IL LAWRENCE remarked that he was not disputing
the propriety of the course suggested by the Town-clerk ; lie
only said that, professionally, he could not give his assent to
any clause that had not been read, and, as he was not willing
to take up the time of the council in demanding that each
clause should be read, he should at once retire. It he stopped.
he must insist on the reading of the whole bill.
The TOWN-CLERK said that if any gentleman insistedon
the reading of the bill, it must be read.
- -The 'MAY oa observed that by the motion of Mr. Evans, ..•
agreed to on the preceding day, it had been decided that
" each clause should be taken into . separate consideration,
and that the council do forthwith proceed to the consideration
thereof accordingly." Each clause would theretOre, as a
matter of .course, be. read, unless the council unanimously .
agreed to dispense with the reading. - •
Mr. H. LawaeNec.--Then I must go away.: for I cannot
dispense.
The MA.voa.—lt is exceedingly desirable, I think, that-
the clauses should be read.

Mr. H. LAWRENCE.
I think.

-You will find many differ from you,

Mr. LFATHOM here handed to the Mayor aletter Irons
Mr. G. Worthington, which was read. It is AS follows :
" Morley's Hotel, Charing Cross,
sth February, 1840.
" have the pleasure to inform you that the bill •
has passed the standing orders' committee. I hope to hear.
to-morrow morning that the division in the council has been.
favourable to the bill. The committee on the Herculaneum
bill is fixed for Monday, but will be adjourned till the follow-
ing day. Whether it will be proper for me to remain here •
till Tuesday, or return in the interim, will depend on the di-
vision of the council. I hope to receive the petitions against
the, Herculaneum and Harrington bills, for non-compliance
with the standing orders, by the mail in the morning.
" I have the honour, Sz.c.
" GEO. WORTHINGTON."
13ustrELL would merely express an opinion that, as
the-principle of the bill had already been conceded by the di- •
vision of yesterday, and as that principle formed the chief
point of their objection, he did not think that any good -•
would result to those who thought with him, if they were to
combat the bill clause by clause. The principle having been
admitted, he,should give up all opposition, except as to such
clauses as he did not approve of.
Mr. ISAAC HOLNIES agreed in the course abbot to be pur- '
sued by. Messrs. Lawrence and Bushell. He now plainly
saw that the only place- in which the bill could be opposed
was in. parliament. Whether he himself should oppose it in .
that place he would- not then say ; but most probably he
should be one of those who intended to do so. The majority. •
in favour of the principle of the bill was composed entirely of
aldermen, to whom even the shadow of representation could
not belong ; and he should therefore withdraw himself from •
the council, and allow them to proceed unopposed in their
course.
Mr. • BUSHELL then asked whether any other business
would he brought forward ?
The Matoß.--This is a quarterly as well as a monthly
meeting.
Mr. BUSHELL asked whether, as many gentlemen had an-
ticipated that. not only that day, but the ensuing one, would -
be taken up by the consideration of the clauses, it was not • .
desirable that all-other business should be postponed to some
future day ?
The MAYOR thought that they had, then, better read the
leases first, and afterwards proceed with the clauses. They
might then adjourn to seine other day.
Some members named Friday, others Saturday, and others.
Wednesday.
Mr. Alderman SHELL asked why they could not then go
on.? Every member had had full notice that a council would
be held that da76 and they ought to be prepared to attend.
Very heavy calls were made on members, who were neces-
sarily detained from their-business: -and they ought not to .e' •
throw away a day for any trilling reason..*
Mr. BRIOnr was of the same opinion. He had come, pre-
pared to go on with the business that was to come before, -
them.
The TOWN-CLERK said .that there was very important'
and pressing business, and it was desirable that no time
should he lost. . .
Mr. BUSHELL said that he had only spoken on behalf of
those • gentlemen wliss- were away if-there were-important
and pressing business, he should not press the adjournment.
The council decided to go on as far as possible with the
business. Nearly all the conservative members then left the
room.
THE NEW DOCK RILL—CONSIDERATION OF THE CLAUSES•
The clauses of the bill were then severally read.
The TowN-CLERK first read the preamble, which recited
that it was desirable to enable the trustees of the docks to
erect warehouses on the west quay of the Prince's dock, to
make a wet dock with warehouses on the quays, and to con-
struct other works, to raise a further sum of money, and for
enlarging the posers of the several acts relating to the docks •
and harbour of Liverpool.—On the motion of Mr. LE aTuom,
seconded by Mr. BENN, the preamble was agreed to.
The first clause was next read. It was to the effect that
the acts recited in the preamble, except where altered, and
the present act, should be construed as one act.--Mr. DUN-
CAN asked whether the questions under this bill would be
carried by a majority of two-thirds of the council?—The
TOWN-CLERK replied in the aftirmative.,--,Mr. DUNCAN
then moved that the-council should have the same control-
ling power, so far as related to the building of warehouses,
over. the Dock Committee, as they had over the other corn-
inittees.—Mr. HENRY HOLMES seconded the motion.—lt
was opposed by Mr. EVANS, Mr. SANDBACH, and the
Tow:sr-CLERK, -and eventually withdrawn.—The clause was
then carries!.
The second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and other clauses
up to the thirty-sixth, being principally the usual clauses
authorizing and facilitating conveyances of the .property on
the west side of Salthouse Dock, and settling the amount of
purchase money and claims by a jury or by arbitration, were
next agreed to.
The 37th clause, " that if the trustees should not, within
seven years after the passing of the act, agree for and pur-
chase the premises, the right of compelling the sale thereof
should cease," was carried without remark.
The 38th and 39th, relative to the construction, &c., of
the new dock, were also carried.
The 40th clause required that the expense of. erecting,
repairing, and managing the warehouses, should he defrayed.
out of the rates.—Mr. SANDBACH moved an amendment, trs-
the effect that these warehouses he let by auction, whiels
would secure competition for them. .He stated that Mr-
Bolton was in error yesterday, when he mentioned that the
American association approved of the bill. They approved„
not of the bill, but of the principle of having warehouses, -
upon the dock quays—in which he (Mr. Sandhach) concur-
red, But so far. from the American association approving of. -
the management of the dock warehouses they expressly stated •
that they ought to be private property. Upon this point,
therefore, the council would have the opposition of all the
associations. There were. various ways in which the manage-
ment might be arranged—one, for instance, he had proposed.
—Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE seconded the amendment.—Mr,. •
HORNBY opposed it, hut spoke in favour of leasing the pro-
posed warehouses.—Mr. Alderman BENN supported the
clause as it stood.—Mr. Alderman EARLE supported the
amendment ; and Mr. G. Hour ridiculed the idea of placing
the docks and the warehouses under different managements.
—Mr. Alderman EVANS at great length vindicated the
clause.--Mr. Alderman BOOTH said he would never consent
to take the management out of the hands. of the dock corn-
mittee.—Mr. BOLTON opposed -the amendment, and made--
some explanations as to the wishes of the public associations.
—Mr. SANDBACH, seeing the feeling of the council against
him, withdrew his amendment, and the clause, as it originally
stood, was carried.
Clauses from 41 to 71 were carried after a short uninter-
esting discussion upon several of them. Clause 73 em-
powers the dock masters to charge 2d per ton in addition to the
usual rates and duties, upon every vessel remaining in the
docks longer than four months. It was carried unanimously.
The 75th clause gives power to appoint twu or more harbour
masters, and the 76th !further powers to expedite the more
speedy entrance and exit of vessels from the docks. The
application of the penalties authorised in the 80th clause,-
was referred to the consideration of the Finance Committee
—the question being whether they should be applied by the
Dock Trustees, in the same manner as the rates and duties,
or be handed over to the borough fund. The 83d clause,-
which also provided for the application of penalties, was .re-
ferred to the same committee.
The 85th clause empoWered.the trustees to borrow money,
and Mr. LEATHOM stated, it had been estimated they should
want £956,000. The 91st clause, which required that the
limits of the respective estates of the corporation and Dock
Trustees should be set out by three persons, was referred to
the Finance Committee. • The 95th and 96th clauses related
to the union of the dock police and the borough police, and
it was referred to the Watch Committee. The remaining
clauses related to the custody of the common seal of the
trustees, the interpretation of the act, the expenses of the
act to be paid by the trustees ; and the 100th and last clause
declares the act to he a public act. The reading of the bill
occupied upwards of three hours.
A resolution was next adopted to the effect, that, it be a fur-
ther reference to the Finance Committee of all the matters re-
maining to complete the bill,also to make all alterations neces-
sary to be made in its progress through parliament not affect-
ing the principle of the bill, of which alterations the finance
committee is to be immediately apprised by the Dock Solici-
tor, the deputation of the Dock. Committee having a discre-
tibia as to the necessity of such alterations when the time will
not permit the Finance Committee to be consulted ; that the
Finance Committee do report from time to time as circum-
stances mayrender.necessary, but that this reference is not
to affect the several references upon the Town-clerk's report,
or the adjustment of the bill.

The council then adjourned (at four o'clock) till eleven
o'clock_ this morning,. when 'Mr. Okill's matter.will•be_con-
iidered. • ;,W <<.
tl4.27n...Terrnacar,rll t I .11 0 i
• '.l,Uji 4thn; 'WC
SHEFFIELD BANKING CONIPANI".—At. the annugwoor)
ing of proprietors of this_couippy., hell on. Friday. (114.410a-
a Favourable re*pciit'w:is ixesented, and a dividend declared
of 81'per. cent. upon the subscribed capital. The two retirj•
ing directors were unaiiiinously.re-electctli I,ll*.ditidetid,
was announced payable on the 17th of Ftbr,.u5,95.7,510#4:
Patilot: . .* "' •
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