The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-05-13 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

LOCAL MEETINGS.

REFORM IN THE CUSTOMS.—OH Saturday a special
meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held for the
purpose of considering, in conjunction with deputations
from the various commercial associations of the town, a
code of suggestions framed by the Council, for the Customs'
reform. T. B. Horsfall, Esq., President of the Chamber,
was in the chair. The suggestions were all adopted, and
it was also resolved that the Special Committee of the
Chamber should continue their functions, and that copies
of the suggestions should be if orwarded to the Dock
Committee and the Commercial Associations with a re-
quest to obtain evidence in support of them.
DOCK COMMITTEE.—At the usual meeting of the Com-
mittee, on Thursday, Mr. Littledale took the chair.—The
usual weekly payments were confirmed by the committee.
The Sub-committee of Works made several recommenda-
tions, which were generally confirmed. A circular was
read from the Chamber of Commerce, containing the
printed resolutions of that body, passed at their last meet-
ing, in reference to the Customs' Report. The Chamber
had sent copies to the different trade associations in the
town, as well as to the Dock Committee ; and these bodies
were earnestly invited to send deputies to meet the Coun-
cil of the Chamber on Saturday, the 10th instant, at
one o'clock, with a view to obtain assistance and co-
operation in support of the changes recommended by the
Chamber before the Parliamentary Committee. A depu-
tation was appointed, consisting of the Chairman, (Mr.
Littledale), Mr. Fisher, and Mr. Lockett ; powers being
given to them to approve of certain portions of the reso-
lutions.

BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.—On Tuesday evening
the usual monthly meeting of the commissioners was held
in their rooms, Hamilton-square. Present—Messrs.
Green, Ravenscroft, Milner, Gough, Rae, Bailiff, Steven-
son, Tyler, Lightbound, Gilborne, Watson, Mills, Hughes,
Pike, and Appleton. The chair was taken by Mr. Green.
The proceedings were rather barren of interest, the
minutes of the various committees being read, and gener-
rally confirmed. A resolution was agreed to that the
board disapproved of letting any more ground in the park
for cricket clubs. The minutes of the Ferry Committee
showed that the receipts were, April, 1850, £1,824 17s 7d ;
April, 1851, £1,918 Ils 6d. From April 22, 1850,
to April 24, 1851 : 1850, £19,203 Is 6d ; 1851,
£21,433 14s 11d. Total expenditure for the year,
£20,422 13s 7d. Mr. Ravenscroft was in hopes that by
this time twelve months they would be able to hand over
a surplus to the bondholders. Mr. Pike called attention
to a notice which had been put out, that the sailors' wives
on board the boats should not pass free by the steamers,
as had been the immemorial usage. That notice statedthat the reporter of the Telegraph Newspaper (a cir-
cular) was to be allowed to pass free, while other re-
porters were excluded.—On Thursday a special meeting
of the Commissioners was held to lay the annual rates.
Mr. J. H. Green, chairman, stated that the Finance
Committee had recommended that the improvement rate
should be ls. 6d. in the pound, the lighting and watching
is., and the sewerage 6d. ; but the General Board had so
far altered such recommendation as to make the sewerage
rate what it was during the past year, namely, 4d. in the
pound. Mr. Watson moved that those rates be now laid,
which was seconded by Mr. Golborne. Mr. Hughes
moved that the rates be not laid until after the election
of Commissioners in June. This amendment was carried
by a majority of six to three, Messrs. Hughes, Bailiff, I
Colson, Milnes, Gough, and Appleton, voting for the
amendment:; and Messrs. Watson, Golborne, and Ste-
venson, against it. The annual accounts of the Commis-
sioners were then brought before the Board for confirma-
tion, having been audited by Mr. J. S. Blease, accountant.
They showed a balance of receipts over expenditure of
upwards of £1,500.
HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE.
—At the seventh meeting of this society for the present
session, at the Collegiate Institution, on Thursday even-
ing, Mr. John Robson, of Warrington presided.—Mr.
H. C. Pidgeon was elected an honorary member, on the
recommendation of the Council ; and Mr. Dickinson and
Mr. J. G. Woodhouse were elected ordinary members.
Numerous valuable donations of books were acknow-
ledged, and various curious articles of rarity and antiquity
were exhibited. Mr. Mayer laid upon the table a curious
collection of articles recently procured from Hoylake.
These included three skulls of oxen, the skull and bones
of a deer, skull of a greyhound, jaws of a calf, and
various other bones. In leather there were various por-
tions of ancient shoes, one of which was formed of an
entire piece to fit round the leg, and another was orna-
mented by cutting in the style common among the Anglo•
Romans. Among the miscellaneous articles there were
a jug of the 13th century, a bronze personal seal, fibulae,
amulets in stone, metal, and terracotta, pins, an ear-
ring, a key, buckles, a finger ring with two stones,
handle of a spoon, with an ornament consisting of a
monkey at top, silver coins of Edward the Second and
Edward the Third, pennies and halves of pennies of King
John, and a curious silver coin, having on the one side
a cock, and on the other a monogram. In the place
where Mr. Mayer procured these articles were also the
stones of an altar. An interesting conversation ensued
respecting the submerged district, when a memorandum of
a former measurement was read respecting the ancient sea
margins on the coast. It appears that no fewer than four
can be traced in a direct line to low watermark. It was
also stated that a work is in preparation descriptive of the
antiquities of that neighbourhood, to be illustrated with
several ancient documents and engravings of the principal
objects. It will probably be laid before the society in the
course of the next session. The chairman exhibited several
ancient documents, the propertyof J. Ireland Illackburne,
Esq., of Hale, in English of the 14th and 15th centuries.
The principal paper of the evening was the first of a series
on " The Old Halls of Cheshire," by Mr. J. Mayer, F.S.A.,
commencing with Traunoere-hall. Mr. Mayer presented
to the society nine beautiful engravings, to illustrate this
Paper in the Society's volume. They were laid on the
table, and were greatly admired during the meeting. Mr.
Alfred Rimmer exhibited a beautiful drawing of the ele-
gant panel work in Smithell's-hall, and explained certain
peculiarities. He also narrated the tradition of George
Marsh, " the martyr of Deane."
HEALTH COMMITTEE.—The weekly meeting was held
on Thursday. The medical officer reported that the
health of the town continues favourable, excepting for
the prevalence of smallpox and scarletina. The deaths
ln the parish were 130, and in the extra-parochial wards
46, total 176; against 183 in the previous week, and an
average of 202 in the corresponding week of the three
preceding years. The morality of last week was below
that of any pi.aNious week during the last four months.
The deaths from zymotic diseases were 55, among which
were 12 of typhus, 10 of scarletina, 9 of smallpox (of
which five were unvaccinated, and one vaccinated three
times ineffectually), 7 of measles, end 4 of erysipelas.
Of those who died from smallpox four were adults, two
of whom had never been vaccinated.—Mr. R. Horsfall
and Mr. J. Myers waited upon the committee to com-
plain of a most grievous nuisance at the north end of the
town, near the North Shore mills. It was supposed to
arise from a deposit or a sewer. The chairman intimated
to the complainants that the committee would enforce all
their powers to abate the nuisance.—lt was agreed to re-
scind the resolution passed at a previous meeting, for de-
molishing a house belonging to Mr. Thomson, not built
in accordance with the provisions of the Building Act.
It appears that the building may be made conformable to
the act.—A letter was read from Mr. Edward Cropper,
expressing his regret that he had been unable as yet to
inspect the new Corporation Baths, and calling attention
to a subject which he understood had been for some time
before the committee, namely, the erection of lodging-
houses and cottages for the poor: he understood that the
engineer had prepared plans, and hoped that something
would be done as speedily as possible, the corporation
being the most proper persons to carry out such a project.
Mr. Newlands said that some time ago plans of houses,
such as those proposed, had been prepared, but they were
intended as models for builders and others, who might
wish to take up the matter as a private speculation. It
was agreed that a communication to the effect stated by
the borough engineer should be sent to Mr. Cropper,
accompanied with an intimation that he might inspect
the plans at the offices in Cornwallis-street.—Mr. T.
Lloyd suggested that the engineer should prepare plans
for new baths in High-street, Toxteth-park : he believed
the engineer was quite ready to go on with the plans.
Mr. Hornby thought it would be better first to ascertain
their financial position. Mr. Newlands said there could
be no harm in proceeding with the plans, taking time to
complete them, and seeing how the baths in Cornwallis-
street answered. The suggestion of Mr. Lloyd, after
being submitted in the shape of a motion, was agreed to.

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
The usual monthly meeting of the Town Council was held on
Wednesday. His Worship tue MAYOR presided.
The proceedings of the Health Committee, among other
things, included the rates sti uck by that committee for sans-
tot y purposes, during the present year.—Mr. FERNI'HOUGH
proposed that, as they had now a sum of money coming to the
surplus fond, the " general " rate of the borough and out-
townships should be reduced Id. in the pound.—Mr. HORNBY
considered such a proposal premature,and he bad great doubts
as to its legality. At all events, it was injudicious to appro-
priate the surplus fund in the manner proposed.—Mr. THOM-
SON supported Mr. Fernihough's motion.—A somewhat pro-
tracted and desultory discussion ensued, in which Mr. Ald.
PARKER, Mr. GODFREY, and other members, took part. Ulti-
mately the Council divided, when there appeared—For Mr.
Fernihough's motion, 30; against it, 14. Consequently, the
general rate on Liverpool and the oat-townships was altered
accordingly. The other rates were then put, and agreed to
without a division, and the proceedings of the committee con-
firmed.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.
The minutes of the Finance Committee were then read. They
recommended that a memorial be sent to the Land and Emi-
gration Commissioners, praying them to constitute Liverpool
an emigration depot; also, a letter from the Messrs. 'Willough-
by, complaining, in very severe terms, of the valuation which
had been made of the three steamboats which they had agreed
to purchase from the Corporation. The letter asserted that the
award of their value was nearly double their real worth; that
the outside value of the boats they deemed £5,000, whilst the
award was for £9,000; and that, unless the Finance Committee
would afford them some redress., they should be obliged to re-
turn the boats into the hands of the Corporation. The com-
mittee in their proceedings recommended the Council not to
re-open the matter. Another letter was also read, addressed
by the Messrs. Willoughby to Mr. S. Holme, as chairman of
the Ferry Committee, on the same subject, stigmatising the
honesty of Mr. Walter M‘Gregor's award, and insinuating, that
as he was in the employment of the Corporation, he was biassed
in favour of the Council. The reading of both communications
called forth several marks of disapprobation, and in answer to
an inquiry from Mr. BRAMLEY•MOORE, the TOWN-CLERK
stated that Mr. M'Gregor had seen the letters, and was about
to institute an action against the Messrs. Willoughby for the
libel which they contained.—Mr. HORNET moved the confir-
mation of the Finance Committee's proceedings, and in doing
so took occasion to controvei t the statements put forward by
the Messrs. Willoughby, and defended Mr. M`Gregor from the
aspersions which those gentlemen had cast upon htm.—Mr.
BIGHAM justified the nroceedings adopted with reference to
the valuation of the Corporation boats.—lhe subject then
dropped, the Council refusing to enter into further negocia-
tions on the subject.
Mr. BENNETT moved that the proposal of Mr. John Shaw
Leigh, offering a strip of land in Sandhills-lane to the extent
of 4000 square yards to the Corporation, provided it would
pave the street, &c., be referred back to the Finance Commit-
tee.—Mr. LLOYD seconded the amendment.---Mr. J. HOLME
adt veated a reconsideration of the subject, as dill several other