The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-07-11 00:00:00

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of the Finance Committee were read,
comprising the sale of the advowson of the Cemetery,
subject to the approval of the Ecclesiastical Commission-
ers; plan for laying out for sale the land on the east side
of Great Howard-street, for the erection of fire-proof
warehouses ; proposal for the sale of parts of the Cheshire
estate, both in Birkenhead and Wallasey Pool, on leases
not exceeding 75 years : proposed appointment of a dock
master and three assistants at River Craft Dock ; gratuity
to Mrs. Fresh, at the Alms-houses ; the recommendation
of the increase of the salary of Mr. Fox from £l5O to
£230, the consideration of which was postponed at the
last monthly council.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE requested that the subject of
the increase of Mr. Fox's salary might be postponed till
the report of the Paid Officers' Committee was presented,
as he understood it embodied some observations regarding
the surveyor's office. Mr. Lawrence laid before the
council the plan for laying out the site of the present
Borough Gaol, for the erection of fire-proof warehouses.
His great object, he said, was to sell the land to advan-
tage. The committee did not give any opinion as to the
propriety of erecting warehouses, but they gave a plan of
the best mode of laying out and constructing warehouses,
without intending to compel the purchaser to erect such
warehouses. It was the opinion of many, that such ware-
houses would be advantageous, and the committee were
of opinion that the land would sell better for that purpose.
Parties must, however, guard against thinking that in
taking land for such a purpose they had any privileges
which might, as' heretofore, be used as arguments to pre-
vent the corporation from appropriating other land as they
might think fit. Mr. Lawrence next drew attention to
the proposal for the sale of part of the Cheshire estate, a
subject, he said, of great importance. In the department
devoted to questions touching leases, was a recommenda-
tion to extend a lease of premises on the south-west side
of Park-lane, having fifty-eight years to run, to seventy-
five-years, on payment of a fine of £l5.
Mr. COOPER moved that the recommendation last allu-
ded to be referred back to the committee. The street, he
contended, ought to be widened.
Mr. EARLE seconded the motion and supported the
views of Mr. Cooper.
Mr. SMITH said it was in contemplation to widen Park-
lane from the church upwards, on the east side.
After some conversation, Mr. Cooper's amendment was
put, when there appeared
For the Amendment.—Messrs. Shand, Hodgson, Isaac
Holmes, Preston, Thompson, North, H. Holmes, Stew-
art, Rae, Boyden, Cooper, Lloyd, Kilshaw, Plumpton,
Lace, Trotman, Platt, Harbord, Barclay, Bulley, Earle,
Bramley-Moore, Chilton, and the Mayor.-24.
Against the Amendment.—Messrs. Shaw,_ Houghton,
(Councillor) Thornhill, Blackburn, Sands, Hornby, H.
Lawrence, Bushell, Parker, G. H. Lawrence, Smith,
Holt, Nicol, Moon, and Sir Thos. Brancker.-14.—Ma-
jority in favour of the amendment 10.

M. G. H. LAWRENCE.—Then the effect of this is to
declare that you refuse to renew any leases on the south-
west side of Park-lane.

The MAYOR.—Yes ; unless some other and more sub-
stantial reason be shown.
Mr. EARLE asked if the subject of the plans for ware-
houses on the site of the gaol were at an end.
M r. G. H. LAWRENCE.—We merely ask for permission
to offer the land for sale, in order to get money to pay for
a gaol. The plan is not conclusive.

Mr. EVANS said, when he received the paper he was
astonished to perceive that a plan was to be brought for-
ward for laying out the site for warehouses. After having
heard from the Chairman of the Finance Committee, that
all future warehouses should be built on the margin of
the docks, he was very much astonished to hear from him
a recommendation so much at variance with that opinion.
They had heard, however, that the real object was not to
get the plan of these warehouses carried out, but to get
money. In order to make a sale of this land, they were
to involve Liverpool in a perpetual inland warehousing
and a vicious system. The land was on the top of a hill,
at a considerable distance from the docks, and such an
expenditure of animal and physical force was a national
loss. If the land were sold, who was to prevent the pur-
chasers from building warehouses there; but here was a
proposal far making the building of warehouses impera-
tive. Where was the reason for such wonderful haste ?
The way to succeed with this land was to wait till the
wants of the system rendered it desirable, but here was a
project to drive a warehouse system up a hill. Where
was the haste.? The new gaol was not erected, nor the
old one pulled down; yet here was a project for selling
the land. Even the period at which there would be power
to proceed with further warehouses at the Albert Dock
would expire before they could get possession of this land.
He considered all these plan, as a mere sort of frippery
legislation.
Mr. HODGSON considered the application of the com-
mittee irregular, as in the notice they only mentioned the
laying of plans before the council. The subject was pre-
mature, while the warehouse question was still under agi-
tation, for they would not get the value for the land. It
would likewise be undesirable to sell the land prospec-
tively, while they •had not the power of delivering it. He
thought it likely that when the land was unoccupied it
would be an eligible site for a public company. lie
thought there was no parallel between warehouses built
by a company and built with public Rooney, which was a
lirect violation f private rights.
Mr. HOUGHTON said there had been no less than three
applications for 200 yards of that very land.
Mr. EARLE.—They want to get a bargain.
Mr. LACE said it was a question whether this was not
the very best time to sell the land. The only considera-
tion was whether they could now sell it well, mot being
able to give possession for three years.
Mr. AIKEN said the avowed object was to get money,
yet it was plain that they could not get money, for who
would buy land then and pay for it at anything like a fair
price, knowing that they were to be kept out of it for
three years. This land was so situated that, with the in-
crease of the trade of the port, it would go on increasing
in value. As to Mr. Hodgson's remark, it was the pub-
lic interest of Liverpool that had been injured by private
rights, it was because of the private interests of persons
in that council that the public interests had been injured.
When the proper time came for discussing the question
he trusted they would be able to show that even the rights
of the warehouse owners had .been injured by the course
which they had pursued.
Mr. BLACKBURN contended that the question ought to
be postponed till they were in possession of more informa-
tion.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE was willing to postpone the
question.
Mr. BLACKBURN. —Your notice is unfortunately
worded.
Mr. G. .H. LAWRENCE.—He had several offers for
the land, and one party offered to take the gaol with it.
He would withdraw the part relative to warehouses if they
would •allow him to sell the land. (No, no.)
Mr. EARLE.—Give us a month. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. LAWRENCE.—Very well; I will postpone it for
month.—Agreed to.
THE FLOATING BATH.

Mr. SANDS said the Dock Committee had received a
memorial requesting the removal of the Floating Bath.
They examined their officers, and found that the bath
was an obstruction to the navigation. They referred the
matter to the Finance Committee, and that body informed
them, that, having examined the subject, they had de-
cided against removing the bath. Mr. Sands concluded
by expressing an opinion that the subject ought to have
been referred to the council.

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said the Finance Committee
had annually given permission for the bath to be moored
in its present position.
Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE said the matter ought to come
before the council. Mr. Moore contended that the bath
was most inconveniently placed, and that it prevented
shipping from getting with facility into the docks. He
moved that the subject be referred back to the committee.
Mr. SANDS seconded the motion.
Mr. HODGSON supported Mr. Moore's motion.
Mr. AIKIN, Mr. EARLE, and Mr. H. LAWRENCE
opposed it, hoping that the council would not deprive
the public of so great a convenience.
Ultimately, Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE withdrew his mo-
tion.

The proceedings were approved, with the understanding
that the plans for warehouses in Great Howard-street,
and the gratuity of Mrs. Fresh stand over a month, and
that the increase of Mr. Fox's salary be postponed till the
report of the Paid Officers' Committee was brought for-
ward.