The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-11-04 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

At the special meeting of the council on Wednesday,
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE, in moving the confirmation of the
proceedings of the Finance Committee, said, that in reply
to the application of the Grand Junction Railway Com-
pany, who had powers under their act to compel! the coun-
cil to sell, the committee had agreed to part with the land
end tenements at the north side of the Borough Gaol for
the sum of £B2 071. The committee now recommended
the council to purchase the rights of the crown to the
strand at Birkenhead, at the rate of £B5O per statute acre.
This was doubtless a large sum; but although some mem-
bers of the Finance Committee had had the honour of an
interview with Lord Lincoln, they failed in inducing his
lordship to accept a smaller amount. He was now speak-
ing of the frontage of the Corporation property at Birken-
head, near the terry; and along with making the pur-
chase, the Council must lie parties to the building a river
wall in front, and making other improvements at the ferry.
A total expense of £6,500 would thus be incurred, and the
quantity of land secured by the purchase would be about
41,000 square yards. There would be certain other expenses
iu makicg the property available for commercial and other
purposes. The Finance Committee were also in treaty
with Lord Lincoln for the purchase of the rights of the
clown to the strand opposite the Corporation property at
Woodside. near the Monk's .Ferry. Fie under-ewe) the
Commissioners of Birkenhead had some idea of adding
this to their ferry property; and though he dared say the
Council would listen to fair terms, he hoped,he might as-
sert, as a merchant and member of the Council, that he
should be decidedly opposed to any appropriation of the
property of the Liverpool Corporation to the Birkenhead
Commissioners. He trusted that the latter gentlemen
would never be allowed to take from the Corporation,
merely for the purpose of ferry accommodation, some of
the Corporation property at George's Dock, as he per-
ceived by the papers they had intimated their intention of
doing, especially as the increased landing accommodation
about to be afforded would prove amply sufficient. The
premises in Shaw's-brow, which could be purchased at the
ra e of £350 a-year for the few years to come, were re-
quired with the view of constructing a main bridewell
there; and the valuable piece of property occupied by the
present main bridewell, would be removed in order to faci-
litate commercial purposes. He hoped, at the first meet-
ing of the new municipal year, to be able to lay more ma-
tured plans before the Council with reference to these and
other important measures.
Mr. BIRKETT expressed his dissatisfaction with Lord
Lincoln's asking so much for the crown rights at Birken-
head, and complained that Liverpool and the rest of the
provinces had not fair play shown to them. Millions of
money were taken from the public funds to improve Lon-
don, whilst not a shilling was expended over Liverpool
which contributed so much.

Mr. PARKER was gratified that the Council was about
to do something for Birkenhead, and congratulated the
Council that they were in such a splendid position.
Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE suggested that, as all the ferries
on the Liverpool side of the Mersey were flee, they ought
to be equally free on the Cheshire side. After remarking
that the new landing stage would cost £30,900 or f.:40,00o,
he went on to say that the Dock Trustees had for years
been meditating the purchase of the Manchester Basin,
but that, net willing to do violence to existing rights, the
subject had been postponed from time to time until a fa-
vourable opportunity should arise.
The proceedings were confirmed.
After the proceedings of the Duck Committee had been
confirmed,
Mr. B RAM LEY-MOORE moved that the Dock Committee
be authorised to take- the necessary proceedings to enable
them to apply for a bill in the next session, it being under-
stood that the Council should not be pledged to any of the
provisions of such bill, or to the introduct►on thereof into
parliament. He explai►ied that the object for which the
new bill was required, was to afford greater accommoda-
tion to the timber trade, a trade which had actually been
suspended. and the ships engaged in which had been pre
vented from d►scharging by means of the great want of ac-
commodation that was felt in Liverpool. The parlia-
mentary notice, however, would be so ample as to allow
the Dock Trustees to go for other powers, if considered
necessary.

The motion was adopted

The proceedings of 'the St. George's Hall Committee,
which ►were confirmed, comprised a report from Dr. 'Wes-
ley as to furnishing an organ for the hall. Dr. Wesley
stated that he was not desirous of exceeding other organs
in point of size, but that he was anxious to have certain
improvements made in the Liverpool one. of which the
large organs elsewhere were deficient. The supply of wind
fur the instrument will be obtained by steam-power, and
thus the labour of three men, who would otherwise be re-
quited to blow the bellows, will be entirely done away
w►th, The extreme cost of a first-class organ will be
£7,000, subject to the price i,f the metal at the time the
instrument is being made. The committee recommended
the council to authorise them to give orders fur the con
struciion of an organ on the principle laid down by Dr.
Wesley.
Mr. LLOYD said they would have one of the finest organs
in the world; and Mr. G. 11. LAWRENCE read a letter
from Birmingham, to show that an average sum of £8 per
week was obtained there from persons who paid 31. per
head to hear the organ played, If 3d. per head produced
£8 a week at St. George's Hall, £4OO a year would be
made by the organ alone.. .

The Proceedings of the Health of the Town Committee
:ornprisrd a report on Lord Lincoln's bill for improving
he sewerage and drainage of towns. After setting forth
:he details of the measure at some length, they recom
Inended that powers be obtained which will, in effect,
tiring the bill ►nto operation in Liverpool by making the
touncil act as commissioners for paving and sewering, and
Aber put poses, which are now in the hands of public boards
ndenendent of the ccuucil. The committee thought it

insular that water should be nr...de au article ut sate ►n
Liverpool, and were of opinion that it should be furnished
o the inhabitants, nut on the competition, but on the co-

Dperative system

LACE moved the confirmation of the proceedings,
mt.hoped the council would not be considered as pledged
o any such determination as the purchase of the water
:ompanies. With respect to Lord Lincoln's bill, a great
itunber of its provisions were already; exercised in Liver-

That it would be better to leave all the

double set of cntntnissioners, no one could doubt. He
therefore moved that the Town-Clerk be requested to pub-
lish notices, and do all other tbicgs required by the stand-
ing orders to enable the council to apply for an act or acts

_ _
to repeal, alter, or vary the acts now in force relating to
the paving and severing o: the parish of Liverpool, and
to transfer to the council all the powers vested in the com-
missioners under those acts, or any of them, and to extend
such powers to the whole municipal borough, and to im-
prove and amend the Health of Buildings Act, now in
force, it beim! understood that the direction to the Town-
Clerk does not pledge the council to introduce at.y bills
into Parliament unless the Council should think tit to do so.
Mr. TnitiE seconded the motion. He believed the water
question would' never be settled until the corporation had
the manarment of the whole of the supply to the town in
their own hands. _ . . _ .

Mr. Nicol, approved of the report on Lord Lincoln's
Bill, but was not quite sure that the council had arrived at
that period when it would be advisable to purchase the
water companies-. He could answer for the Harrington
Water Company, that they were unable to furnish either a
continuous ut a daily supply to the town. 'lb -y had to
pump water up front cavems under the town, and it re-
quired considerable care in the management of the en-
gines to know when the pipes were full, because, if the
pressure were continued after they were full, the chances
were that half the pipes would be burst, Therefore, to
obtain a continuous supply front such a source was out of
the question. At the same time, he had no hesitttion in
saying that Liverpool ought to be supplied daily with wa-
ter. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. PARKER disliked Lord Lincoln's bill, but assuredly
it would be introduced into the town if care were not ta.
ken.
Mr. PROCTOR complained that the Highway Board had
never been coosidted on the important subjects now before
the council, alth, ugh it was well known that the board was
engaged twice a-week at present in taking evidence on the
dearness and insufficient supply of water in the town.

Mr. BLACKBURN, after caring on the council to take up
the water question boldly and spiritedly, denied the truth
of the report that his reason for retiring from the represent-
ation of Vaxhall Ward, was becathe he knew be knew ha
would be rijvcted by the Roman Catholic burgesses of that
ward for the speech he made at Great George-street Cha-
pel against the increased grant to Maynooth. This was,
he said, totally untrue. One main reason why he thought
it right to withdraw from the conned was, the disapproba-
tion he felt at the course pursued by the council with re-
gard to the schools. That course was a course of injustice.
Mr. HORSFALL could nut allow Mr. Blackburn'bub-er-
vations to pass unnoticed, and hoped the council would
'•

not separte w►thout giving that gentleman the opportu-
nity of sulistan:iiiting or withdr►wing the charge, when
Mr. BLACKBURN said he did not mean to say that any
member of the Education Committee was an advocate of
what he considered injustice. It was a matter of opinion

as to what iujoi•tice was.
Mr. HottsvALL said he was satisfied with the explana-
tion, aad that he was also satisfied that the course that they

were pursuing was a just one.
The report was confirmed and the motion adopted, and,
after passing the coroner's accounts, amounting to £9l 95.,
the council adjourned until Friday.

At the adjourned meeting on Friday, the proceedings of
the Finance Committee were rend, from which it appeared
that on the 24th October, a notice had been received from
Mr. Mallaby, the law clerk of the Birkenhead Dock
Company, requiring a statement in writing of the claims
and demands of the Mayor and Corporation of Liverpool,
in respect of their reversionary rights, under the provi-
sions of an act passed in the Bth year of Queen Victoria.
The Fmanc.3 Committee, after due deliberation, recom-
mended that £250,000 should be demanded for their re-
versionary interest in the property, together with £3,905,
the residue of the original purchase money, due from
Messrs. J. and W. Walker, fir land leased to them for
seventy-five years.
_

The Town• Clerk read the notice, which described at
length the land over which the rights of the Corporation
extended, namely, 450,000 E (mire yards, together with all
that covered with water during the ordinary tides, and the
site of three streets leading from Corporation-road to the
margin of Wallasey Pool.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE moved that the proceedings be
confirmed. As it was probable the Birkenhead Com-
missioners might apply to the tribunal appointed by the
law for the settlement of such claims, it would not be
hoped be required by:the council that he should now dis-
close the grounds on which they bad arrived at the con-
clusion to demand the sum of £250,000. He hoped the
council would not withhold from the Finance Committee
that confidence of which it had hitherto been their pride
to boast. _

Mr. TURNER seconded the motion.
Mr. PARKER did not rise to object, because he did put
great confidence in the Finance Committee. He hoped
they would do the best they could for the burgesses of

Liverpool; that they would ever benr in mind that the
Corporation of Liverpool was the substance, and Birken-
head only the shadow.

The proceedings were then confirmed.
Mr. D. HODGSON S,Jiti that *-aefore they separated it
became his duty and his pleasure to conform to an annual
custom. It was usual for the council to offer its thank,
to the chief magistrate for his services during the forego-
ing year. He now rose, not az a matter of course, or in a
set form of words, to express to him the general approba-
tion of his conduct. (Applause.) The urbanity, impar-
tiality, and judgment manifested by the Mayor during the
year, bad drawn to himself personally the regard of the
whole council. (Applause) During the past year they
had enjoyed a tranquillity and concurrence of purpose
which had been highly beneficial to the best interests of
the corporation ; and he trusted this restored harmony
would continue. The past twelve months had been highly
prosperous, and their wealth had increased. The mariner
in which the Mayor had discharged the convivial part of
his duties had given great satisfaction—(applause)—and
he had had the honour of presiding at a dinner given to
one of the most distinguished members of the diplomatic
body in Great Britain, and to tender him the thanks of
this great commercial community, for his skill in negocia-
tions, by means of which the boundless empire of China
had been opened to our commerce and manufactures.

(Applause.) The whole of the Mayor's year of office
had been propitious, and when he descended from his
present position, every individual would look on with
increased respect and esteem. He concluded by moving
that the thanks of the Corporation be given to the Mayor.
(Applause.)
Mr. H. Hoa.NBY concurred in every word or waist
which had been uttered by the last speaker. He had
been an admiring witness of the whole conduct of the
Mayor, who in an eminent degree had displayed an ur-
banity and judgment by which he had preserved that
decorum which was so necessary in a large assembly like
that. He seconded the motion, which was immediately
carried by acclamation. _

The MAYOR replied, that when he was elected to fill
the civic chair, he considered that they had conferred
upon him the highest honour they had in their power to
bestow. He felt its responsibility ; and be could not be
otherwise than gratified, when his labours were about to
cease, to find that his conduct had met their approval.
He could truly say that during the time he had held office,
his sole object had been to perform his duty to the best
of his ability, and to discharge that duty with fidelity,
zeal, and impartiality. (Applause.) lie could fearlessly
appeal to the council to say, whether or not he had endea-
voured to do so; and when he coupled the object he had
ever had in view with the vote just passed, he was doubly
gratified. He felt that he owed much to the kindness and
attention he had received at their hands, which had ren-
dered his labours less arduous and much more agreeable
than they would have been under other circumstances.
He returned his sincere and heartfelt thanks ; and con-
cluded by saying that their kindness had imposed upon
him a debt of gratitude, for which it would never be in
his power to mAkethetn any adequate return. (Applause.)
The council then separated.