The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-09-07 00:00:00

ST. JAMES'S MARKET, &C.

It was set forth in the proceedings of the Market Com-
mittee, that the enlargement of St James's Market had
been determined upon, and was in progress. In allusion to
certain statements of the prices obtained for the materials of
a house at the corner of Nile-street, and of the cost of an
excavation,
Mr. COOPER said, it appeared that the materials of the
house at the corner of Nile-street had been disposed of for
the sum of £5B 10s. He believed there was a resolution of
Council, that no property belonging to the Corporation was
to be disposed of but by public auction to the highest bidder.
He was surprised to find that no advertisement had appeared
relating to the property, nor had any board been stuck up.
On inquiry, he found that the sum of £l2O might have been
obtained for the materials, while £5B lUs. had been taken,
and £2O had been paid for taking the building clown. With
respect. to the excavation, it appeared that the tender of
James Wilson had been accepted for £1,19 10s. He had
asked Mr. Woods what the cost ought to be. He had a copy
of Mr. Woods' note to him, in which that gentleman under-
took to do the work for £7O. It would be more satisfactory

bat the work should be performed by the individual whose
tender was approved after public advertisement. He should
move therefore, that that part of the report be not confirmed
that the subject be referred back to the Improvement Com-
mittee; and that advertisements for tenders, for the excava-
tion to be done in St. James's Market, be inserted in the
newspapers.
Mr. Councillor DUNCAN rose to make a reply, but
Mr. Councillor HIGGINS said the motion was not seconded.
Mr. Councillor J. SMITH knew nothing of the facts of the
case, but would second the motion for the,sake of eliciting

information.
Mr. DUNCAN rose to explain. He said, in the absence of
the chairman of the committee, he had presided at the meet-
ing.at which the resolutions had been passed, which it was
desired to refer back. The subject was brought before the
committee, and as time pressed, and it was very desirable to
have the preparations made with all possible expedition for
building an addition to the market, the surveyor was directed
to take such steps as he thought fit for the disposal of the
materials, reserving the brick and slate; and he believed the
surveyor got the highest price he could. The building was
in a very dilapidated state. The surveyor had submitted
what he had done to the committee, and it had been approved.
Mr. Councillor CURRIE.—SO it appears that all this person
has got for £5B is this building, minus bricks and slates. He
hoped the report would not be spread abroad as a reflection
on the surveyor. Although he approved of publicity, he
thought there was always a certain discretion allowed; and
it would be scarcely worth while advertising the taking down
of a single house. He should certainly have thought that
sending round to the parties in the habit of excavating would
have been sufficient.
Mr. COOPER, in reply, said, with regard to the dilapidation
of the house, that house had only been built twenty-five
years, and it was built of the best Baltic timber; so much

for that.
Mr. Councillor HIGGINS (interrupting.)—l rise to order;
Mr. Cooper having spoke; perfectly out of order.
The MAYOR.—I understand Mr. Cooper was rising to reply.
Mr. Councillor CuttatE.—l move that the Surveyor be
called in, as the best way of settling it once.
Mr. Councillor HENRY HOLMES.—I second it.
The MAYOR was proceeding to put the question, when
Mr. Alderman EVANS rose, He said—This is a principle
of action which will bekund very inconvenient. 1 would re-
commend the referrinelt to the market committee again, and
let them report. If we are once in the habit of calling indi-
viduals to explain there will be no end to it.
The MAYOR.—It perhaps may be as well. The Mayor
then read the standing order relative to the publishing of sales,
from which it appeared that the regulation respecting imblic
advertisements of sales of property only applied to the sale of

land. . . -
Mr. Alderman SHIM, said, before the discussion closes I
beg to express my opinion that it would be very injudicious
in this council to allow such a charge as this to pass without
investigation. The charge, although only for a small amount,
involved a. principle which the council should inquire into,
and if well founded, have set to rights. If, on the contrary,
it should turn out that these charges are brought here with-
out sufficient grounds, it is but justice to ourselves that we
should put the public in possession of these facts, and that
we should put an end to these charges, without gentlemen
taking every possible means to investigate them, and not
permit steps to be taken to damage the characters of this
council or its officers, without very strong grounds. I there-
fore second Mr. Cooper's motion, and I do so under the firm
conviction that the report of the committee and of the sur-

veyor will be found strictly correct.
Mr. Alderman EVANS expressed his conviction that the
surveyor had obtained the highest value for the materials; and
he thought they should be cautious how they received the
ex post facto valuation of rival and perhaps disappointed
competitors. They were perfectly safe now the materials
were sold, in saying they would give £l2O for what had been
sold for £5B, and they would be quite as safe if, instead of
£l2O, they had said £1,200. He thought the valuation of a
rival, now the property was out of competition, ought to go
forth to the public as absolutely valueless.
Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN wished to ask whether Mr.
Alderman Shiel wished to support Mr. Cooper's motion to
the extent it went. That motion went to the extent of re-
questing the market committee to advertise.
Mr. Councillor Cu au K said that was done.
Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN thought the question should
be merely referred back to the committee.
Mr. Councillor CooPEK had no objection whatever to alter
his motion. His object was merely inquiry.
Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN.—To send the Leport back
with an order to advertise the property would be to pronounce
that the committee had done wrong.
Mr. Council COOPER then altered his motion.
Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN wished to throw out another
suggestion that a select committee should be appointed. He
presumed the market committee would have no objection.
Here was a very gross charge brought against the officers
employed by the committee, and it would not be exactly
correct to refer the matter back again to that committee. He
would, therefore, suggest the propriety of appointing a spe-
cial committee, for the purpose of inqu►ring into the matter.
The MAYOR thought it would not be worth while to refer
it to a fresh committee ; that the finance committee would do
very well.
Mr. ALDERMAN BROWN was of the same opinion as the
Mayor. He thought to refer it to a special committee would
be to make " a mountain of a mole-hill."
The TOWN-CLERK then read the amended resolution.—

"That the proceedipgs of •
the market committee he referred
back for investigation with respect to the sale of part of the
materials of the house in Nile-street, and the excavation to
be dune at St. James's Market."
Mr. Councillor COOPEIt in reply, said, it had been stated
by Mr. Duncan, that the materials sold for £5B ills., were
exclusive of the bricks and slates. Now, he (Mr. Cooper)
distinctly stated, that the statement to him was exclusive of
the bricks and slates. With regard to the the excavation,
he copied the plan at the surveyor's office, and sent it to Mr.
Woods, Mr. Woods knowing nothing at all, whether he
should get the job or not, and Mr. Woods sent him back a
tender, and said he would do the work for £7O.
The motion was then unanimously agreed to.
The proceedings of the dock and excavation committee,
were then read and confirmed.
IMPROVEMENTS IN TEMPLE-STREET.

The MAYOR said Mr. Walmsley had received a petition
which had been put into his hands for presentation, but he
thought it was hardly respectful that such petitions should be
delivered for presentation at the elveuth hour in that way.
He was anxious not to close the door against petitions, and
therefore, perhaps, it would be for the pleasure of the council
to receive it, but he hoped, in future, they would be delivered
by the petitioners at least the day preceding the council.
His worship then read the petition as follows:—
Tv the Mayor, Alderiodu, dud Burgcases of the Itermigh of
Liverpool, in the Council assembled.
The humble petition of the undersigned owners and occu-
piers of property situate in Temple-street, and in the neigh-
bourhood thereof,
Sheweth,—
That your petitioners have received a communication from
the improvement committee, by which they are informed
that the corporation will contribute £2OOO towards the remo-
val of the nuisance iu Temple-street, occasioned by Mr.
Bushby's warehouse, provided your petitioners will contri-
bute thereto the sum of £l4OO, the balance required for the
effecting of such removal. And that your petitioners have
also been informed, that since this communication was ad-
dressed to them, the improvement committee have come to a
resolution to allow Mr. Bushby £lOOO in consideration of
his taking down two stories of the said warehouse, and that
the cellar door of the said warehouse is to be removed farther
back into Temple-street, towards the back part of the said
warehouse.
That your petitioners cannot but be surprised that so small
a sum as £1,400 should be ailowed by the Improvement
Committee to stand in the way'of abatement of a nuisance
which, as is well known, has been the occasion of death and
violent injury to several of the poorer inhabitants of the
town, whilst, at the same time, it is willing to grant Mr.
Bushby a sum nearly as large, namely, £l,OOO, towards an
improvement not calculated in anywise to benefit the town,
further than as it may lead to enhance the mere architectural
beauty of the building in question.
That your petitioners are also greatly surprised that they
should be called upon to contribute towards the abatement of
a public nuisance, which is more immediately dangerous to
the carters, labourers, and such poor inhabitants of the' town
as are employed in the warehousing and conveyance of ar-
ticles of commerce, than to your petitioners as owners of pro-
perty in the neighbourhood.
That, in the opinion of your petitioners, the abatement of
the nuisance in question would not in anywise affect the
property of your petitioners ,in the neighbourhood, further
than as it would increase the number of passengers through
Temple-street, and render more secure the -lives of the la-
bourers employed by them; and that, the improvement
being of an altogether public nature, the public funds ought
to be made applicable to it, and your petitioners see no rea-
son why they should be called upon to contribute towards an
object, not of a private, but of a public nature.
That,, in the opinon of your petitioners, the poor of the
town ought to be special objects of consideration to the cor-
poration, and ought tube protected by itto the utmostextent
of its power, and that in no case can it more beneficially in-
terfere than in the present case, iu which the lives of labour-
ers and workmen are in jeopardy.
Thai the great danger caused by the warehouse in question
arises from the narrow pass from Temple-street into Dale-
street, and that the removal of the cellar door above men-
tioned will have the effect of increasing such danger' inas-
much as the carts which have hitherto been in the habit of
standing in such narrow pass, and thereby blocking up the
the road, will be in consequence removed to the back part of
the warehouse, and, being so removed, the narrow pass will
be left open, and will become a great thoroughfare for the
passing and repassing of carts through the street, in conse-
quence of which there is every reason to believe that the
number of accidents will be greatly increased.
That your petitioners would have called a public meeting
of the inhabitants of Temple-street, and would have invited
thereto the carters, labourers, and other persons usually em-
ployed therein, for the purpose of framing a petition, urging
on the Improvement Committee the propriety and necessity
of altogether pulling down the building in question ; and
your petitioners have no doubt that, had such a meeting
been called, all parties would have joined in a prayer for the
removal of the warehouse. But your petitioners conceived
that the Lnptovement Committee could not have properly
taken into consideration the whole circumstances of the
case; and that, upon its reconsideration, the removal will be
effected without further expression of feeling on the subject,
and your petitioners have, therefore, not thought it neces-
sary to call such meeting.
Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray, that your council
will be pleased to direct that the property in question be
purchased with the funds of the corporation, and that the
nuisance may be abated, and that thereby safety may be
afforded to the labourers and carters in the exercise of
their calling.
And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.
Hutchinson Brothers, Taylor Brothers,
Bond and Procter, Thomas Mayon,
Sullen and Hignett, William Winn,
Geo. Scott and Co. William Geddes,
Glazebrook Brothers, Edwards, Danson and Co.
Isaac Knowles, John Collier,
Allport and Co. J. Mulleneux and Sons,
W. Lewis, Sharpe and Ashton,
J. Booth, J. B. Shuttleworth and Co.
\Vm. Molyneux, David Parry,
James Aspinall, Allan Maclean,
John Herd, Edwd. P. Parry,
Geo. Crosfield and Co. John Baske,
W. and A. Wilkinson, R. and J. Buggeln,
-- Waterhouse, John Berry,
William M`Kay, Sanderson and Co.
Robinson, Cherry and Co.' D. Dockray,
William Sedgwick, William Milburn.
Richard Taylor and Sons,
Mr. Cunata thought the best answer that could be given
to it, and one that would be most satisfactory to the petition.
ers, was that the nuisauce has been abated, and the ware-
houses taken down, and by the last improvement that day
confirmed, the passage would be widened. And it would be
more satisfactory to hear, at an expense less by £1,900 thaw
originally asked.
The petition was then ordered to lie on the table.
SUNDAY SHAVING.

The MAYOR rose and said, the next was a petition from
150 gentlemen amongst the hair-dressers and shavers
(laughter), against Sunday shaving, which was as follows:
To the Worshipful the Mayor, Aldermen, and the Council
of the Borough of Liverpool.
The respectful Memorial of the undersigned Hairdressers
and l'erfumers.
• Shewetb—
That your memorialists have long viewed, with feelings of
the deepest concern, the constant practice of the trade in
opening their shops on Sunday.
That your memorialists consider the practice quite un-
necessary and uncalled for; and one that bas a direct ten-
dency to corrupt the morals of their assistants and
prentices,

That your, memorialists have long reasoned. with. their
fellow-tradesmen upon the urgent necessity of dosiititheir
shops on Sundays, and upon the many advantages to be de-
rived therefrom, and the general answer received.is, that
they would gladly do so (as they were fully convinced of the ,
great importance of allowing their assistants and appren-
tices the advantage of the sabbath), but were fearful of
losing their regular customers, who would immediately-re-
sort to those shops which were then open.
That your memorialists are well assured that, if the tiublic
authorities would interfere, this very great evil; so justly
complained of, would shortly cease, and ultimately be very
beneficial to the inhabitants at large. •
And your memorialists will ever pray, Stc.
Mr. Councillor WA LMSLEY said he had brought that ques-
tion before the Town-clerk a few days ago, and he would,'
state how the law stood on the subject. If it was the wish
of the council to refer the subject to the Watch Committee-.
to see the law carried into effect, the Watch Committee
would endeavour to do their duty ; and as the memorialists
were nearly the whole of that trade there would he no

difficulty.
The TOWN-CLERK said a law of the reign of Charles H.
subjected any person, tradesmen, or artificer to a penalty of
ss. for carrying on his ordinary labour on the sabbath. That
penalty was recoverable before the justices in .* summary

manner.
Mr. Alderman FREAIE.-1 should like to know if the
meaning of that is, that no poor man is to be shaved on
Sunday? (A laugh.) It is like the cooking of the,,poor
man's dinner; he is to be forced to do it himself:.
Mr. BLACK BURN said that was not a matter that fell within
the jurisdiction of the council, but he was glad to see the
petition treated with that deference and respect to which it
was entitled; the object was important. He could ;only
regret the necessity fur the interference. He should wish
the hair-dressers, however, to unite amongst themselves and
agree to close their shops, for they had the power in their
own hands; but to levy a penalty was out of the province of
the council. It was the business of the magistrates, and not
theirs.
Ordered to lie on the table.
SURGEON TO THE GAOL.

The MAYOR, as chairman of the Gaol Committee, read his
report on this subject to the following effect:—
That the Gaol Committee have, in pursuance of the reso-
lution of the council at their last meeting, proceeded to in- .
quire into the duties attached to the office of surgeon of the
borough prison, and as to the amount of salary proper to be
allowed to him.
That the duties of the office are clearly defined by the 17th
rule, in section 10, and by section 33 of the General Gaol Act
of 4 Geo. IV., c. 64, as follows:-17th rule. The surgeon
shall examine every prisoner who shall be brought into the
prison, before he or she shall be passed into the proper ward.
And no prisoner shall be discharged,frorn prison if labouring
under any acute or dangerous distemper; nor until, in the
opinion of the surgvon, such discharge is safe, unless such
prisoner shall require to be discharged. . • • •
Sec. 33.—Every such surgeon shall, and is hereby required
to, visit any prison to which he shall be so appointed—twice
at least in every week, and oftener if necessary—and to see
every prisoner confined therein, whether criminal or debtor,
and to report to every general or quarter sessions the:condi-
tion of the prison, and the state of health of the prisoners
under his care; and he shall further keep a journalon which
he shall enter the date of every attendance on the perform-
ance of his duty, with any observations which may-occur to
him in the execution thereof, and shall sign the same with
his name; and such journal shall be kept in the prison, but
shall regularly be laid before the justices for their inspection
at every quarter sessions, and shall be signed by. the chair-
man of the sessions, in proof of the same having been there
produced.
That the performance of these duties in the borough prison
requites an attendance on the part of the surgeon daily,
without exception, and occasionally to the extent of more
visits than one in the course of the day.
That, with a view to general convenience, and especially
to cases of emergency, the residence of .the surgeon should
be in Liverpool, and within a reasonable distance of the
prison. At the same time it is recommended, that no limited
distance be fixed, but that the residence of the candidates for
the office be generally considered with their other qualifica-
tions.
That the Gaol Committee recommend that a salary of
£lOO per annunibe allowed to the surgeon.
The MAYOR, in justice to himself, stated that there were
some parts of the report in which he did not concur; he did
not agree in the proposition of £lOO per annum salary, which
be should oppose if it came to a vote. •
Some conversation ensued whether or not the salary should
be adopted, and as to the number of candidates to be recom-
mended to the council to choose from. Ultimately it was
determined that the same course should be pursued as, on
the appointment of the Governor of the Borough Gaol; that
three candidates should be recommended to the council as
eligible for the council to choose from • and, on the motion
of Mr. Robinson the report was adopted. . . .
CHEMICAL NUISANCES. . ...•

The MAYOR next presented a memorial, which was read
as follows:—
To the Worshipful the Mayor, Aldermen, did Town Council
of the Borough of Liverpool • •
The Petition of the following Tradesmen and Inhabitants of
Vauxhall-road, '
Very respectfully showeth, •
That .your petitioners, unfortunately. for themselves and
families, reside in the immediate neighbourhood; -of. the
chemical works of the Messrs. Hill and Lutwyche, and carry
on their several businesses there. That your petitioner.-are
continually and perpetually affected by fumes of muriatic and
sulphuric acid gas, which are emitted from those works: That
it makes them cough violently, makes their eyes smart, and
affects their breathing; it also tarnishes all the metallic
articles in their houses with rust, and is, in short, a most in-
tolerable nuisance.
That your petitioners have observed with much concern
that, although measyres have been adopted which have effec-
tually put a stop to nuisances of a similar nature in other parts .
of the town, the same relief has not been extended tothem;
Your petitioners have further to observe, that the other
chemical works in the neighbourhood having ceased to ma-
nufacture alkali, there can be no doubt whatever the nuis-
ances now complained of proceed from the works of Messrs.
Lutwyche and Hill.
That vour petitioners respectfully entreat you, as conser-
vators of the interests of your fellow-citizens, to order some
effectual proceedings to be taken to afford them.the same
redress which has been given to others of their fellow-towns-
men, and to put an end to this abominable nuisance. •
• And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.
The memorial bore the signatures, residence, and occupa-
tions, of upwards of forty individuals. - - .- • •
Mr. liounsim moved that it be referred to the town-clerk..
Mr. PRESTON seconded the motion. „ .
Mr. LassELL inquired the object of • refarring it to the
town-clerk; whether it was to report thereon or take pro-
ceedings; for it had been stated to him-that the. complaint
had been much exaggerated. -

The TOWN-CLERK said the object of referring it.to him was
that he might inquire into all the circumstances, and take
such steps as might be advisable.
Mr. LASSELL.—That may be to proceed.
The TOWN-CLERK.—Certainly, or to request Mr. Crooke
to take proceedings, for he had had the management of those
prosecutions, if he (the town-clerk) should feel it necessary
to do so, as he had done formerly on a similar referenee
being made to him.
The motion to refer• the document to the town•clerk was
agreed to.

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