The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-02 00:00:00

Mr. Alderman EVANS.—StiII they were not in haste to do
so. and he proposed that they should endeavour to get an
act of parliament fora better system. The present was a
-most monstrous one. _ . _

Mr. Councillor BOLTON observed that the finance com-
mittee had to sell the advowsons, and that, he was happy to
say, was the conclusion of the church endowment job.
Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN said, that it had been rendered
imperative on them to sell for the express purpose of de-
priving them of the opportunity of presenting to a living in
the church. It was feared that some dissenters might get
into the town-councils, and that they-would, be supposed, put
into the livings the most disgraceful men belonging to the
church of England that they could find. The measure was
therefore proposed by the Bishop of London, and agreed to
by parliament. Ile thought that it would be desirable to put
the report of fhe church endowment question on permanent
record, and he should therefore propose that it be printed, so
that it might be referred to when needed.
Mr. Councillor JORDAN seconded the motion, which was
carried.

WACEHOUSES.ON THE DOCK QUAYS.
The resolutions of the Dock Committee having been read,
Mr. Alderman LEA Tuom rose to move that they should be
confirmed. lie slid that the Dock Committee. had recon-
sidered the matter, and the more they considered it the more
they were convinced of the necessity and importance of
warehouses upon the dock quays. The resolutions which they
now proposed were resolvable into two parts. First,—That
the committee should be empowered to build warehouses and
lei them upon lease to public bodies; or, secondly, that they
should sell or lease the land to public bodies for the purpose
of building upon. It appeared to him that the first proposi-
tion only could be entertained, namely, that the Dock Com-
mittee should themselves build the warehouses, and let them
on terms of five or seven years, so that, if any difference
in the system of management should arise, they might have
the opportunity of redisposing of the lease. It it were pro-
posed that the land itseif, should be let on lease, it was the
opinion that no person would think of building, unless he
had a lease for a. number of years, perhaps seventv-tive.
In that case the laud would be alienated, and the Dock-Cora-
inittee would be prevented from carryiog out any system to
provide for the wants of the • docks. They were therefore
desirous of adhering to the proposition of building ware-
houses on the margin of the docks, and letting them in the
manner he had meetioned. Au uniformity of system could
never be preserved if they were let to separate individuals.
Some of the persons melt opposed to their scheme were con-
-viuced.thet a system of separate holders could not be carried
into effect, and they bad therefore abandoned that view of
the subject. The corporation must build and let them; or,
in other welds, if their plan should be adopted, assume pos-
session of the land, and then make a reconveyance of it to
the dock trust., accompanied with the power to build ware-
houses, which might be let out to two or three public compa-
nies at most., By that means the necessary officers would
not have to be appointed either by the council or dock trust,
end any aprehensions which might have been entertained as
to the patronage which would result, if they reserved to them-
selves the power of management, would he done away with.
The opposition to the measure, be was glad to say, had now
considerably abated; and what the committee had to press
upon the council now was, that they should allow the neces-
sary notices, to enable them to go into parliament next ses-
sion for the bill, to be inserted in the Gazette, which must be
done three Fridays in November, commencing on Friday the
16th, and that the discussion on the merits of the bill should
be taken afterwards: They had been lately laying the founds-
tMn of docks at Southampton, and the chairman had ob-
served as to the advantages they would possess over Liver-
pool in having warehouses on their quays. There were
several other points -of importance in the proposed bill;
but he would then pass them over, and allude to one of more
importance—he referred to the admeasurement of steamers.
It appeared, on looking at the revenue derived from the
steam-vessel docks, that, after the payment of their portion
of the charges incurred, there was scarcely anything left to-
wards the repayment of the money which those docks had
cost. The steamers simply paid for tonnage, and their
tonnage was so reduced by the present mode of measurement
that they did not pay anything like au adequate sum. He
would give them au instance of the manner in which the
system worked. There were several steamers, the tonnage
of which, according to the mode of measurement, amounted
to 2876 tons; their actual measurement was 5108 tons; and
if they were measured over their paddle-boxes, which was
certainly the proper way to ascertain the amount of dock-
room they occupied, it was 8148 tons. They (the Dock
Committee) had written circulars to those very steam-boat
proprietors, requesting that they would have a meeting and
communicate the result to the committee. Their answer was,
that they thought they paid too much already, and one was
of opinion that they ought not to pay anything. From the
increase of steam-boats, it was evident that they must be a
lucrative investment, and it was not proper that the mer-
chants should pay all. '
Mr. Alderman-BeeN seconded the motion. He said that
it was his wish to give Liverpool such accommodation as was
else Where to he had, and unless they had warehouses on the
margin of the docks they never would, have such accommo-
dation. What they most wanted was security. The propo-
sition was that the warehouses should be built by the Dock
Committee, and let out to two, or perhaps three, public com-
panies, in which the merchants should be interested—that is,
that they should be held in shares—in order that the mer-
chants, as shareholders, might see that justice was done,
and every thin attended to that could give facility to the
trade'of the port. The main object of having these ware-
houses was for the purpose of transhipment—to prevent the
expense and loss of cartints into the town and back again.
The plan of the Dock Coinuiittee was not yet altogether
formed, because they wished to take advantage or any com-
munications that might be made to them in the progress of
the work; but they did think that the parties should be un-
der the direct contronl of the Dock Committee. In fact,
what they wanted was, to have a perfect controul over the
management, iu order that they might be enabled to correct
any abuses that should creep into the system, and thus give
satisfactiaii to the merchants. Many persons were of opinion
that their proposal, if carried out,•would be injurious to-the
owners of existing warehouses. But it ought to be recollected
that it would be five years ere the proposed warehouses were
erected, and that within the last five years more than they
proposed to build bad been erected; and surely no one would
.maintain that they neght to stand still. Coder these circum-
stances, he thought they would be fully justified in proceed-
ing with . putting in the notices, which ought to be done in
such general terms that nu inconvenience could arise, or ad-
vantage be taken.
- Mr. Ablerman Boren' said, that the proposed alteration
did not do away with the principle of the measure, and it was
that to which be objected. But he would waive that, and
ask them how far it was consistent that, at this late hour of
their existence, the council should pronounce its opinion on
a measure so important, and about which there was so much
difference of opinion. On this ground, he should move that
the question be postponed until the next council meeting.
He saw no Objection, however, to the notices being given,
with an understanding that that should not be construed into
a pledge on the part of the council to proceed.
Mr. Councillor .1. HOLMES was in favour of a postpone-
ment until the details of the measure were given in, and sent
to a committee for consideration.
Mr. Councillor EARLE. said that there was no necessity
to hurry the measure on in this session. If the saltpetre bill
reqUired consideration, surely this did. With his permission
they should not have power to go to Parliameal at all.
Perhaps if sonic of the gentlemen who were such strong ad-
vocates for the measure, were warehouse-owners themselves,
they would think differently to what they did. It was, cer-
tainly, rather extraordinary that, with one or two exceptions,
all the warehouse proprietors should think one way, and
those who were not should think another way. He should
move, as an amendment, "That it is inexpedient to proceed
to parliament on so important a subject, until some steps he
taken to reconcile the present.contlicting interests."
Mr. Councillor IL HOLMES seconded the amendment.
Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN thought that if the notices
were oven at all, they ought to be given with the utmost lati-
tude. - He was surprised that the warehouse owners, should
express alarm at the addition of so small an amount to the
warehtruse property. The warehouses of Liverpool might be
put down at 1200; what they proposed to erect was 20, or
one-sixtieth part of those at present in existence, and the
liberty to erect those would prevent the building of any others
during the five years they would he in progress. He thought.
there was no ground of apprehension in this.
Mr. Councillor W. CURRIE would not object to the notices
being given, but' he was not opposed to a postponement of
the consideration of the question, so as to a3ow time for the
Collection of evidence, and a thorough maturing of the whole
plat:. They might then come to such a proposal as would be
of advantage to all parties, anti, if they should decide to go
irould remove the apprehensions of those who feared that
their interests would be injured. The warehouse proprietors
Were like any other body ; but they were not the public at
latge. Those who said that the council ought not to consent
to the erection of warehouses on the docks, because it might,
poisibility, injure them, might as well say that railways
should not have been constructed, because they would injure
'canias: short, the assertion was tantamount to a declare-
tioti"that society should make no further progress.
Mr. Councillor Hooosue said that it was nut the manner,
but the fact, of bringing the warehouses into existence that
he obPeted to. Being built, their competition would be equally
ruinous; •hi - whatever manner or by whomsoever they were
beat. Itbad been said that the opposition had abated. If
it had ever relaxed, it was under the expectation that some
principle was about to be brought forward ; but he felt con-
vinced that the present measure would experience the same
opposition as the former one had done., It was not the-quan-
eon that was to be bi ought into action but the very principle
tself, that formed the ground of objection.
Mr. Councillor LAWRENCE remarked that the council,

after having negatived the principle of building warehouses
at all, *ere now asked to give notice of a bill to carry into
effect the very measure which they had rejected. He should
support Mr. Earle's motion. -
Mr. Alderman EvaNs said great squeamishness was ex-
pressed with regard to the consistency of the council. It was
a pity this .exquisite delicacy of sentiment did not act with
them before when they reversed a decision which-they had
once come to, to build warehouses on the duck quays. Per-
sons were always talking about vested interests and private
property. Was the community considered worth nothing?
Was the-community to be bereaved of the vast lands now
lying waste, which were worth a million and a half of money?
Mr. Evans proceeded to argue at some length in favour of
thw plan.
Mr. Councillor BROCK LEBANK was fully convinced of the
necessity for the measure. Many articles were imported
which were not for home consumption; such as foreign ringer,
the pilferage of which, the difficulties at the Custom-house,
and the expenses of cartage, would drive this branch of com-
merce from the port, if there were not bonded warehouses
on the verge of the docks.
After some conversation between Messrs. Leathom and
Betin and Mr. Booth, the latter gentleman consented to agree
to the amended motion of the former gentlemen, which was
as follows:—
"That the consideration of the resolution of the Dock. Com-
mittee be postponed till the next council, but that the Dock
Committee be at liberty to insert the requisite notices in the
Gazette, and other papers, immediately, for the proposed
bills for building docks and warehouses."
Some discussion arose out of the above, and respecting the
powers of the Dock Committee to act before the council
should have tilled up the vacancies. The result was, the ad-
dition of the follovting to Mr. Leathom's mo.ion :—" Such
notices to be sufficiently comprehensive to include all plans
as to warehouses reasonably for consideration,
_ and to be set-
tled to the satisfaction of the Mayor and Chairman of the
Dock Committee, by the Solicitor of the Dock Committee
and the Town-clerk."
The council then went to the vote. The division was as
follows:—
For the amendment of Mr. Earle—Messrs. J. Holmes, J.
flevwoith, Hodgson, Logan, Houghton, Preston, Wood,
H.-Holmes, C. Lawrence. Cooper, H. Lawrence, Earle,
Mason, Smith, G. H. Lawrence. and Jones.
Aialiist the atneitdment-Messrs.Thornhilt, Harvey, Raw='
don, Miller' Wahnsley, Bolton, "Woulltight, Bright, EL
Ilornbv, J. Lawrence, Lassell, Brockiebank, Carson, More-
croft, idiegins, Blackburn, Coglan, Segar, Jordan, Platt,
Currie, Ramsden, Duncan, Shell, Booth, J. i tornby, Dos-
kell, Leathom, G. Holt, Benn, Evans, T. Holt, Moon, Bai-
ley, Freme, Barclay, Robinson, and the Mayor.
For the amendment, 16; against it, 38. Majority 22.
The original motion, with the addition thereto,' was put and
carried.

RESIGNATION OF MR. BIRCH.
A letter-from Mr. Birch, resioing his office as councillor,
was read by the Mayor, who informed the council that that
gentleman had pail the fine of £5O.
Mr. Bot.Tou passed some'eulugiums on the talents of Mr.
Birch, but spoke in severe terms of that part of his address to
the electors which related to the appointment of aldermen at
the •ensuing -council. He denied that there was any inten-
tion, on the part of the liberal members of the council, to
to make It a sine 90a non, in the election of aldermen, that
they should vote in favour of the warehouse scheme. It was
casting an unjust reflection upon their motives, which he
ventured to
.say were as pure as his own: He, for one; in-