The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-03-19 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANbARD

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

The meeting of this body, adjourned as stated in our
last, was held on Tuesday.
The TOWN-CLERK commenced the proceedings of the
day by reading his report on the dock bill, as it had been
agreed upon, with one or two exceptions, between hia.sell
and the dock solicitor, and as it had been afterwards re-
vised by the dock solicitor with parliamentary counsel in
London. The bill, in its present shape, proposed to take
the strand to the south-west angle of the road called
Sandhills-lane ; but it was intended to introduce clauses
in commitr.ee which would include the rest of the purchase
from the Earl of Derby. He then explained that all the
clauses from 5 to 81 were property clauses for the taking
of the property required, and that the time limited for the
purciriM from the several parties was a period of seven
years. Clause 82 was for the erection of new docks, &c. ;
clause 83 conferred a power upon the trustees to make
alterations ; and clause 84 empowered them to inclose the
docks by walls.

After a few remarks from Mr. 13RAmr.Ev-MoortE, Mr.
EvANs, and Mr. iIouNIVY, it was agreed to insert the
words that it should be lawful for them to inclose " if they
should think fit,"
Clause 85 had reference to the, totninunication with the
Leeds ari,:! Liverpool Canal. The next was a manuscript
clause, sent in since the bill was printed, for the erection
of a cottage for the use of the keeper of the locks. Clause
86 was struck out. Clause 87 was that the cut should be
supplied with water from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
Clause 90 was that the cut should be made across Great
Howard-street and Regent street.
A manuscript clause was next read, from which it ap•
peared that the sum of £50,000 was to be paid, in four
instalments, by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to the
Dock Trustees, power to be given to pass through on the
payment of Lid. per ton, except when dock dues were
paid.

It was agreed that the Dock Committee Should have the
power to arrange the question of dues for goods passing
through, taking the following principle for their guide
1:!.,d. per ton, and id. per parcel as the maximum.
By the subsequent clauses the trustees were empowered
to raise the sum of £1,417,584 for the objects contem-
plated in the dock acts.
Some discussion took place as to the parties to whom
the power should be given to allow lights to be used on
board vessels in the graving docks, &c.
Mr. GLADSTONE moved that it be given to the magis-
trates, the chairman and the deputy-chairman of the Dock
Committee.

Mr. Nicol, moved, as an amendment, that it be ex-
tended to the mayor, deputy mayor, and stipendiary ma-
gistrate.
Eventually the amendment was withdrawn, and Mr.
Gladstone's motion was carried upon the understanding
that the party granting the license state the purpose for
which it was granted, and that a policeman should be
present during the time the lights were being used.
Clause 115 was to the effect that whenever the despatch
of business, or the repairing or cleansing of docks should
be obstructed by any vessel, it should be lawful for the
trustees to cause her to be removed into any other dock,
without being taken into the river, and that the master,
owner, or consignee should pay the expense of such
removal.

Mr. GLADSTONE moved an amendment to the effect
that the latter part of the clause be struck out.
Mr. `'Pooh seconded the amendment, which was car-
ried.

Upon the motion of Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE, the clause
was then struck out altogether.
The TOWN-CLERK said the 120th clause was for the
repeal of the Harrington Dock Company's act. By the
24th section of that act there was required to be a street
from Sefton-street, a parade, and two slips or flights of
stairs in the wall of the parade. It now appeared that
the parade would materially interfere with the execution
of the works by the Dock Committee, but that the slips
and stairs might be made.

The clause was agreed to.
The TOWN-CLERK said, that by the dock act of 1841,
it was provided that there should be certain landing ac-
commodation to the west of the Albert Dock, or, if not
there, at George's Pier. He asked whether some provi-
sion should not be inserted in the present bill, to the
effect that those works be now proceeded with.
Mr. NORTH thought it very desirable that there should
be a provision of the kind.
Mr. GLADSTONE suggested that something should be
done for the convenience of those who had to cross the
river, by placing at the south end of the Prince's Dock a
bridge, that could be made use of independent of the
gates—he meant a bridge that could support itself, and be
sufficiently wide to allow foot passengers to cross, while,
at the same time, the shipping might pass into the gut.
Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE, in reply, said, it would be re-
collected that at the last council, to show the intentions of
the Dock Committee, and how desirous they were to
afford accommodation, they proposed to remove the pre-
sent bridge at George's Dock, and to construct a magni-
ficent one like that leading to the Albert Dock, which was
unequalled in the world ; and this would very shortly be
brought into operation.
Mr. GLADSTONE said he had been speaking of the
passage at the Prince's Dock, but that he should be very
glad to see accommodation afforded at both places.
After a few further remarks, the whole of the dock bill
having been gone through, the following resolution was
unanimously adopted :—" That the bill now read be ap-
proved, subject to the alterations therein now directed and
the instructions now given ; and that all the clauses and
provisions requiring adjustment between the Finance
Committee and the Dock Committee be referred to the
Finance Committee to be adjusted accordingly; and that
it be referred to the town-clerk to settle with the dock
solicitor all verbal alterations remaining necessary, the
same being done subject to the approbation of the Finance
and Dock Committees."

SALE OF LAND AT WALLASEY POOL.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE brought under consideration
the offers which had been made, and accepted by the Fi-
nance Committee for the residue of the land at or near
Wallasey Pool, subject to the approbation of the council.
The first was an offer from Mr. John Laird, to purchase
21,000 square yards at 16s. each ; the second was an offer
from Mr. Potter, for a lot of about the same size, 17,000
square yards, at the same price; the third was an offer
from Messrs. Jackson and Laird, for four lots of 11,000
square yards, at the same price ; and the fourth and last
was from Mr. Cole, for the residue of the land at the
south side, 97 statute acres, or 47,000 square yards, at the
rate of £l2OO per statute acre, or as. per square yard ; the
whole of those sales to be subject to an immediate payment
at the rate of 10 per cent., and the rest in five and ten
years. Mr. Lawrence went on to state, that the whole of
the Wallasey
tineincludingaselacnadr,panroattiaain, with
th e
interest, Birkenhead
l 3 oo
200 estate,
had
that sales had already been effected to the extent of
£155.000, and that the present offers would realise a sum
of £175,000 more ; thereby leaving a balance of from
£BOOO to £lO,OOO to be carried to the credit of the corpo-
ration, exclusive of 87,000 or 90,000 square yards of most
valuable land, which they had still left, with the rever-
sionary interest, which would be of immense value. He
then strongly urged that these offers be accepted, not so
much upon public grounds as because of financial con-
siderations ; for he contended, that unless the resources
of the corporation were allowed to be developed by mea-
sures of a bolder nature than any hitherto attempted, it
would be impossible to carry on those public undertakings
which from time to time, and by the most benevolent
men, were brought before the council. He admitted that,
if the Wallasey dock bill were carried, of which he enter-
tained little doubt, the property of the corporation on the
other side of the Mersey would be enhanced in value ;
whereas, if the scheme should fall through, it would be
materially deteriorated and thrown back for years. He
concluded by moving, that the resolution of the Finance
Committee, in reference to the offers, be confirmed.
Sir THOMAS BRANCKER seconded the motion.

Mr. PARKER asked what security had the council for
the payment of the purchase money on the 47,000 square
yards?

The TOWN-CLERK said, that, in the first place, they had
10 per cent. of the money down ; in the next place, within
five years, the purchaser would have to pay an eighth part
down ; then he was to build a river wall, and to keep the
buildings he had erected upon it insured. If he made de-
fault, even in the payment of the interest, the corporation
had a power to re-enter, and either to sell, and bold him
liable, or to resume the property with all the advantages
he had put upon it.
The TOWN-CLERK having here read the proceedings of
the Finance Committee with reference to the sales, those
proceedings were confirmed ; and the council adjourned
at twenty-five minutes to three o'clock.
It may, perhaps. be necessary to mention that in con-
firming the proceedings of the Finance Committee, the
council sanctioned the sales of the residue of the land at
Wallasey Pool.

and (Islet was more to the point) evidencing, as they
hoped, by written rommunications which had passed with
the proposed par... Lames-, not only that the conduct of the
directors had been throughout fair, straight-forward, and
liberal, but that they had been from the first the parties
rather sought than seeking the negotiation. The effect
upon the public mind of this announcement was immedi-
ate and satisfactory ; the purchase was effected upon the
terms originally proposed by the directors • and, from
that time to the present, there had been a daily increasing
conviction on the part of the public of the advantage of
the purchase so made for public purposes. But the di-
rectors wished not to flatter the meeting with the idea that
a large price had been obtained. On the contrary. they
thought the price a reasonable one, and to the advantage
of the purchasers; but they were actuated in accepting it
by a conviction that such a consummation of their plan
was, on the whole, for the best, and that it would be more
acceptable to the proprietors generally than their only
;;.tier PlLC:;,attvee—nateely, the necessity, for some time
under consideration, of a considerable further outlay upon
the property, by which the directors were persuaded that
iltilee sale agreed upon WOUILA
rn decidedly profitable as a pera-
• poa.
intecnotuilndvealsotmneenbte.
ble the directors to repay to each proprietor the amount
of capital originally advanced by him, while it would still
leave disposable, first, towards the balance of interest un-
liquidated by the dividends paid, and then as profit. the
value of 20,814 square yards of land on the east side of
Sefton-street, still the property of the company, which
value would be very greatly increased by the pending sale
of the land on the opposite side of the street for dock pur-
poses. It remained only to announce that the sale had
been agreed to be completed at the end of one month next
after the Liverpool Dock Bill should have been passed,
the purchase money-
!Ting payable in dock bonds, made
out for the proportion due
each individualinterest proprietor,
poyable in five or seven years, with
four per cent., or, at the option of the Dock Committee,
in cash, if, as seemed probable, that body should be able
to borrow the money at less than four per cent. interest.
If the purchase money were not paid at the times before
mentioned, it Wds to carry interest ,at four per cent., the
purchasers receiving the rents. The re}:Ytconclude.
declaring a further increased dividend of A.? 17s. 6d. pd byer
share, payable on the ilth of April next, and :.1v stating
that the directors, who retired by rotation, seer,:
Mozley, Mr. Maxwell, Mr. Frost, and Mr. Stewart, a).:1
that there was a fifth vacancy caused by the retirement of
Mr. Duckworth, whO had disqualified,
The CHAIRMAN said the accounts which had been read,
and the report which the directors had thought proper to
submit, conveyed the whole of the proceedings as regarded
the financial arrangements, and exhibited in the result the
gratifying circumstance of an increased amount of divi-
dend upon a very small outlay of expenditure. After hay-
ing congratulated the meeting on the successful termina-
tion of the negotiations with the Dock Committee. he said
it would be affectation if ke were not to assure them that
during the period of the year when that transaction was
going on, the feelings of the directors, as men of honour
and character, as well as their habits as men of business,
had been repeatedly outraged by the unfair means in which
they were held up to public view, while they were acting
simply in the performance of their duties as trustees, and,
as he contended, in the performance of a straightforward
and honourable course. (Hear, hear.) If party spirit in
the town of Liverpool was to carry individuals to such an
extent in their application of terms,—either in their
speeches, or in the management they might have of such
portions of the public press as they might patronise,—as
to attack other individuals, who, in the performance of
their duty were taking a most straightforward view for
the interests of the community at large and the commer-
cial purposes of Liverpool, then the whole of the directors
and the whole of the proprietors had had their feelings
outraged by means of aspersions cast on them, contrary
to fact, he publicly declared, and certainly contrary to
what courtesy and good feeling were at all warranted in
exercising. But the best answer which could be given,
was the result now communicated, and which the public
press had communicated before,—that, upon the closest
scrutiny, the advantage of the purchase appeared desira-
ble. He would leave the past to be recorded in the his-
tory of Liverpool, believing the day was not far distant
when the circumstance of the purchase of the Harrington
Estate, and the great improvements that must inevitably
take place in that part of the town in which so large a
proportion of the corporate property was situated, would
evince the good sense and good calculations which had in-
fluenced the public authorities in coming to the conclu-
sions they had done ; for the strong impression on his own
mind was, that a wiser bargain had never been made on
the part of the public authorities. As to the views of the
individuals who had permitted so important a part of the
public trust connected with the Dock Estate, to fall out
of their hands originally, it was not for him to discuss;
but if he were a member of the body who rule that pro-
perty, he should say the wisest course they ever took was,
to retrace the steps they had imprudently taken before,
and to endeavour to get possession of the important pro-
perty which they had allowed to pass into the hands of
strangers. (Hear, hear.) After having again congratu-
lated the meeting on the increase of the dividend, he con-
cluded by moving that the report of the directors and the
accompanying accounts were satisfactory and approved of,
and that the former be printed and circulated among the
proprietors as usual.
Mr. BICKERSTETH seconded the motion, which was
unanimously adopted.
Upon the motion of Mr. Born, seconded by Mr.
BROWN, Sir T. Brancker, Mr. Mosley, Mr. Dixon, Mr.
Sothern, and Mr. Whitehead, were elected directors in the
place of the four who retired, and the one who had be-
come disqualified.
Upon the motion of Mr. WILLINK, seconded by Mr.
GOORE, the sum of 159 guineas was ordered to be placed
at the disposal of the directors, to be applicable to their
remuneration during the past year, in such manner as
they should determine upon.
Thanks were then voted to the directors and the chair-
man, after which the meeting separated.