The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-08-13 00:00:00

TR E LI VERPOOL STANDARD.

LOCAL MEETINGS.

RPOOL TOWN .
The usualLIVE monthly meeting of the TownCOUNCIL Council was
held on Wednesday.
The proceedings of the Finance Committee contained a
proposal to grant the reversion of so much land in
Harclman-.7.treet as is necessary for the site of the church,
and the remainder, so long as it is used, for the purposes
of the School for the Blind (the consideration of which
was postponed at the last monthly Council); also, a letter
from Messrs. Willoughby, declining to take Birkenhead
Ferry. In reference to the new rates of cab fares, it was
reported that the new regulations had come into opera-
tion, and recommended that 2,00 E copies of the bylaws
should be printed for circulation ; that notice should be
given to all the present drivels to return their licenses,
and that an inquiry be instituted into the character of
the drivers, and that new licenses be issued to those par-
ties who are found fitted to act as drivers. The new
licenses to be issued free of charge, but that 6d. be charged
for the bylaws.
Mr. HORNBY moved the grant to the Blind School,
recommended above.
Mr. HORSFALL seconded the resolution.
Mr. BIGHAM acceded to the proposed grant, because
the school was open to children of all denominations.
At the same time the Council had made a money grant of
£9,000 to this charity. The Council had granted, some
years ago, the land in Hardman-street, which had been
sold for £9,000.
The resolution was then agreed to.
Mr. HORNBY moved the adoption of the other pro-
ceedings, which was agreed to.
A resolution of the Ferries Committee, authorising the
children belonging to charity schools to be taken to Bir-
kenhead and back for a penny each, gave rise to consi-
derable discussion; and an amendment, moved by Mr.
THOMSON, that children belonging to charity schools
should be taken over to Birkenhead once a year, free of
charge, was carried.
The proceedings of the Watch Committee having been
read, Mr. TURNER moved their adoption.
Mr. PARKER should like to know what the present
state of the police force was ?
Mr. TURNER stated that it had been decided to reduce
the force to 800 men ; and, until it was reduced to that,
there was not a single man taken on. The force was
then below 800, and no men wele taken on but to supply
the vacancies.
Mr. FERNIHOUGH said that, he opposed the
appointment of Mr. Superintendent Towerson to be a
divisional superintendent, as he thought the force would
be more efficient under one officer.
Mr. HORNBY regretted that Mr. Fernihough did not
move an amendment, particularly as the system pursued
was one not calculated to render the police force efficient.
Previous to the appointment of Mr. Dowling to the office
of Chief-Commissioner, there was no superintendent of
this nature at all. (Hear, hear.) The whole business
was managed by Mr. Whitty ; he looked after it. himself;
and the consequence of appointing those two superin-
tendents was, that it relieved the head-constable from the
responsibility which, in his opinion, ought to attach to
him—(hear. hear)—and no one could compare the state of
the force then with what it was 3.t the time Mr. Whitty
was at the head of it, as regarded efficiency. At that
time the police force of Liverpool was an example to that
of the whole kingdom. (Hear, hear.) Let them, then,
compare the state of the force with that of the metropolis
or the neighbouring town of Manchester, and the result
would not be at all creditable to Liverpool. (Applause.)
Mr. FERNIHOUGH moved, as an amendment, that the
salary of £2OO a year recommended to be paid to Super-
intendent Towerson, as divisional superintendent, be not
confirmed. He (Mr. Fernihough) had had a conversa-
tion with Mr. Whitty, and he was decidedly of opinion
that the duty would be better performed by one superin-
tendent, as in that capacity he was able to tell the pre-
cise moment when an officer should be at any particular
place. Could Mr. Dowling do so? (Cries of " No.") ,
Physically, he was incapable of it.
Mr. BIGHAM defended Mr. Dowling from the attacks
made upon him. The police were as well managed as
ever they were, and contrasted favourably with the force
of any other place in the kingdom.
Mr. HODSON repudiated the idea that this was an
attack on Mr. Dowling. It was his duty to travel the
streets at night ; and he should say the police force, in
comparison with those of other towns, cut a very sorry
figure. (Hear.) He then referred to the absence of the
police from the scene of the late Ribbon riot; and
instanced several instances where their duty had not been
performed. Divided responsibility was bad, and he saw
no case made out for paying Xti 0 a year. If Mr. Dowling
was in such a state of health that he could not perform
his duties, he ought to have a divisional superintendent ;
but he should be paid out of his salary—(bear)--and if
he were able to discharge his duty, there was no occasion
for a superintendent at all.
Mr. B. HALL said that in his neighbourhood there
were frequent complaints of the police. He thought it
would be prejudicial to the character of the force to
divide the responsibility. The present state of the
police-force was most unsatisfactory to the town.
(Applause.)
Mr. HORSFALL said they bad heard. much of the
inefficiency of the police-force ; but it did not follow,
because tho police were not seen, they were not ready at
hand to interfere if necessary. He believed Mr. Dowling
discharged his duty to the town most faithfully and most
zealously. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. TontN supported the recommendation of the
committee. In a large body like the police-force of
Liverpool there would be some irregularity - but he
assured the Council that every complaint made to the
Watch Committee had been closely investigated. Mr.
Towerson at present received £156 per annum, and it
was proposed to raise the salary to £tOo ; and they
would inevitably have to give Mr. Quick, if appointed
general out-door superintendent, an increase of salary.
Mr. HORNBY, in reply to the remarks as to the
efficiency of the police, observed that the books of the
Watch Committee would be the last place to find
evidence. It was not at all probable that the Watch
Committee would pass a vote of censure on themselves.
The evidence of the inefficiency of the police-force was in
the mouth of every inhabitant of the town. A sub-
committee of the Watch Committee had reported as to
the efficiency of the police-force. What other result
could they expect ? But he apprehended the report
would be of a very different nature if the committee had
been composed of the inhabitants of Liverpool. He had
to complain of the turn which this debate had taken. The
question had been discussed, not with reference to the
public advantage, but wills reference to Mr. Dowling's
character. In fact, all reference to Mr. Dowling's state
of health was to be avoided with the greatest possible
delicacy. No man could have a higher opinion of Mr.
Dowling than he (Mr. Hornby) entertained. He believed
there did not exist a more honourable man ; but he (Mr.
Hornby) had no hesitation in expressing his opinion, that
he was not fit for the situation of head constable, and no
man discharged the duties of chief commissioner better
than Mr. Dowling. (Hear, hear.) He believed Mr.
Dowling, whether from ill-health or inactivity, was not
fit to be head constable. (Hear, hear.) If they had an
active efficient man as head constable they would never
have heard of two superintendents; indeed, the question
would never be raised. (Hear, hear.)
The amendment was then put and carried by a majority
of 24 to 23. The result is, that refusing to sanction the
salary of £2OO, the Council negatives Mr. Towerson's
appointment.

- The other proceedings of the committee were then con-
firmed.

The proceedings of the Dock Committee were read, and
in connexion with them a memorial from the inhabitants
of Southport, praying the Council to cause the Dock Com-
mittee to buoy the entrance to Southport harbour.
Mr. LITTLEDALE said the memorialists were mistaken
in supposing the Dock Committee were the parties to
place buoys at the entrance of the harbour of Southport.
Buoys had been placed there by the Commissioners for
the Navigation of the Ribble; but, in the course of some
years. the channel wanted to be deepened, and the Com-
missioners withdrew their buoys, and the consequence
was, that the inhabitants of Southport came to them and
said they were bound to place buoys in this locality. This
was not the case; it was without the jurisdiction of the
trustees of the Liverpool docks. As to the desirability of
this buoy, they had taken the opinion of the local pilots,
and they were decidedly against it, as one buoy was more
likely to lead to danger than :to guard vessels. The
opinion of their solicitor was very strong on the legal
point ; he denied in tote that it was within the limits of
the port.

Mr. DOVER said he was at war with the Dock Commit-
tee, standing there for the interests of the people of South-
port—(great laughter)—who were in the port of Liver-
pool, who paid their dues, and who expected from the
Conncil the performance of its duties.

Mr. MANN was astonished to find Mr. Dover repre-
senting the interests of Southport as forming a portion of
the port of Liverpool, when he was so jealous of the north
end of the town and Birkenhead. It was a matter pecu-
liar to the Dock Committee ; and he thought the reply of
the Finance Committee to the application made to them
was a very proper one. The proposed buoyage would be
of no benefit to the port.
Mr. DOVER moved a resolution, to the effect that the
proceedings of the Dock Committee be confirmed, with
the exception of such portions of them as related to the
application to place buoys at the entrance to Southport,
which portions be not approved of but be annulled and
made void.
Mr. THOMSON seconded the resolution.
A long, irregular, and irrelevant discussion followed.
which occupied the Council nearly two hours, the final
result of which was that Mr. Dover's motion was nega-
tived. It required a majority of two-thirds of the coun-
cillors present to carry Mr. Dover's proposition ; and 33
having voted for the motion and 17 against it, it was de-
clared to be lost, the two-thirds of fifty being thirty-three
and one-third, so that in fact the motion was lost by the
third part of a member !
During the discussion Mr. LirrLEDALE stated the lead-
ing points contained in the proceedings for the last month.
The committee had reduced the rents of the land occupied
by the timber trade for the present year, until some final
decision could be come to as to the locality in which the
trade was to be placed. The porters' rates had been laid
on the table, and had met with very general approval from
all parties. As regarded the falling oft' in the dock earn-
ings, he had got in his hand a detailed statement, and he
congratulated the Council on the result, though it shewed
an apparent deficiency. This arose solely from a defici-
ency of the cotton and corn crop from the United States.
The deficiency this year in the trade of the United States
was £29,327, and the total deficiency was £30,000. The
increase in other trades was £13,812, leaving a difference
of £16,609, against which they had to set an increase in
their outward duties of £1684, and on tonnage to the
westward of £1835, making £3526, leaving a deficiency of
about, £13,000. This showed a gradual increase of their
tra'le, with the exception of the United States and the
'lest Coast of Africa. The number of workmen had been
considerably reduced, and. tho works at proud Were con-

fined to the completion of are sea wall, and the necessary
banking up of such wall.
Mr. BRAMLEY MooRE was ahad fa fefer to some arti-
cles which had appeared in the public prints, with a view
to damage the credit of the dock estate, where he was de-
clared to be out of order.
THE PROPOSED SITE FOR THE POST-OFFICE:
Mr. HORSFALL called the attention of the Council fa a
towns meeting, over which the Mayor presided, on the
subject of a site for the post-office. On that occasion a
series of resolutions were adopted, one of which requested
that before coming to any
,determination on the subject
her Majesty's Government would communicate with the
Mayor, as the chief magistrate of the town, but they had
come to a decision in defiance of the expressed opinion of '
the inhabitants of Liverpool. He proposed a resolution,
expressive of the feelings of the Council on the insult
which had been offered to the Mayor and people of Liver-
pool, which was unanimously adopted, and the Council
adjourned to Wednesday (to-morrow.)

WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.—At the weekly meeting
on Wednesday Miss Corn was unanimously elected mis-
tress of the infant school, for which situation there were
eight candidates, subject to her undertaking the duties to
be defined by a committee, which had been appointed for
the purpose. Messrs. Alpass, Tattershall, Ledger, Bunt-
ing, and Cleaver were deputed to inspect the condition of
the paupers in the Lancaster and Haydock lodge Lwiatic
Asylums. A letter from the Honiton Board of GUardians
was read. The letter went into the past and present
prices of food, &c., and stating• that as wheat, vegetables,
meat, &c., were now much lower in price than they for-
merly were, they intended revising and lowering the sala-
ries of the officers employed by them, and urging other
boards throughout the kingdom to follow their example.
SELECT VESTRY.—The usual meeting of this body was
held on Tuesday - the Rev. A. Campbell presiding. Ist
was stated that for the week ending January 26, of the
present year, the amount expended in out-door relief was
£B2l los. 6d., whereas for the week ending August 3'. it
was £527 2y. 6d., showing a saving of £224 16s.—Mr.
Harbord laid before the board a return, showing that a,
great proportion of children in our schools had no settle-
ment in the parish, but belonged to other townships.
After some observations upon it, he moved that Mr. Grey
be instructed to investigate and report upon it to the
board, with a view to the removal of those children who
had not a settlement in their own parishes. Agreed to.—
The proceedings of the Cottage Rating Co nmittee con-
tained a resolution to the effect that in all cases where it
should be proved that the occupiers of cottage property
were unable to pay the rates, the committee would he
ready to receive offers from the owners of such property
to compound for the rates. After some discussion the
proceedings were confirmed.
DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—A letter was read
from Mr. Hartley, the surveyor, stating that he was
anxious to have the committee's instructions with regard
to a bill from the gas company for expenses incurred in
removing their pipes from various places where they had
become unnecessary, such as at Wapping and in old Sef-
ton-street. He had set n the solicitor, who agreed with
him that they were bound only to pay for the cost of
putting down mains in the new streets. The bill, which
was of the high amount of £724, was referred to the
solicitor.—Messrs. Vernon and Cato appeared as a depu-
tation from the Shipbuilders' Association to present the
memorial which has been lying at the principal °laces for
signature during the last fortnight. It had 4,000 signa-
tures. Referred to the Special Sub-committee on Ship-
building and Tirnber.—A letter was read from Mr. H.
C. Chapman, asking compensation for the crews of two
fishermen's boats, for their services to the Prince Arthur
steamer. the same as would have been granted to the
Formby life-boat crew. Referred to the Marine üb-
committee.
BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.—The usual monthly
meeting was held on Tuesday night. In the absence of
the chairman, Mr. Watson presided. A discussion took
place relative to Sunday trading, and a notice of motion
was given to rescind a resolution prohibiting the police
from laving informations for such offences.—Complaints
having beet, made of a deficient supply of water in the
township, a resolution directing the attention of the Gas
and Water Company to the subject was passed.—The ferry
receipts showed that for the month ending July they were
£2624 Bs. hi., as compared with £2261 3s. lid. for the
corresponding period of the year 1849. For the three
months from the commencement of April to the end July,
1849, £6802 9s. 4d., as compared with £6390 14s. 7d. for
the corresponding period of 1847.—Mr. Wain was directed
to apply to the clerks to the magistrates in order to ascer-
tain the reasons which had induced the magistrates to
refuse summonses against parties for smoking in the
boats.—The Road Committee having given an assurance
that they would not proceed with flagging except in cases
where they had a certainty of repayment, a motion on the
subject by Mr. Ravenscroft was withdrawn.
CLERGYMEN'S WIDOWS AND ORPHANS INSTITUTION.
—The annual meeting of this institution, having for its
object the relief of widows and orphans of clergymen who

have officiated in the archdeaco'nries of Cfiester and
Manchester, was held in Liverpool on Thursday. The
proceedings were prefaced with Divine worship at St.
George's Church, on which occasion the Honourable

and Reverend Horace Powis, rector of Warrington,
preached an impressive sermon from the 3rd chapter of

Titus and Bth verse. The sum of £45 was collected after
the service •in aid of the funds of the charity. The
friends of the institution then retired to the Adelphi
Hotel for the purpose of transacting the usual business.

Among the clergymen present we observed the Bishop of
Chester, the Rev. Archdeacon Brooks, Chancellor
Raikes, Rev. Rector Campbell, the Hon. and Reverend
Horace Powis, the Revs. D. D. Stewart, J. Hornby, J.
North, R. Greenall, P. Brancker, Mr. Borden, Mr.
Clowes, Mr. Masters, of Chorley, Mr. Masters, of Burn-
ley, Mr. Cumming, Mr. Carter, J. Jones, late of St.
Andrew's, and now of Waterloo, Cecil Wray, C. Prince,
J. H. Stafford, besides a number of the laity, &c. About
half-past three the clergymen withdrew to dinner. The
chair was occupied by the Hon. and Rev. Horace Powis,
rector of Warrington, and the duties of the vice-chair
were discharged by the Rev. D. D. Stewart, incumbent
of St. Bride's Church. The chairman regretted that the
institution had such inadequate support, and complained
of the apathy manifested by some of the clergy. How
many of the clergy supported the institution ? He did
not wish to enter into statistics, but he hoped they would
take the report and ask themselves the question. The
chairman then read a list of collections from churches in
various towns, amounting in the whole to about £3OO
only, and contended that, if the clergy would bring the
matter before their congregations, the amount per year
would be more than doubled. The chief toast was,
"The Branch Institution" for the education of clergy-
men's orphans and daughters.
HEALTH COMMITTEE, THIIRSDAY.—At the weekly
meeting the Treasurer submitted a comparative statement
of the collection of rates for the year ending the 31st July,
1849, and the year ending July, 1850, sheaving an increase
of £6 3s. per cent. collected in the latter as compared
with the former year. It appears that the outstanding
accounts in the parish were £5329, of which £659 had
been collected since April, and there were also heavy out-
standing accounts in the out-townships. It was agreed
to appoint an additional collector to collect the arrears by
commission.—Mr. Walthew stated that he had been
through a number of streets at the north end of the town,
and many of the court privies were in a disgraceful state.
He asked if the police reported many of such cases.
—Mr. Fresh said he must confess that the police could do
a great deal more (hear, hear).—The medical officer of
health reported that the deaths last week had been 230, of
which 174 were in the parish and 56 in the extra-paro-
chial wards. This shewed an increase of 18 as compared
with the previous week, but it was precisely the same as
the mortality of the corresponding week of last year. after
deducting 368 deaths from cholera. The increase was
owing to diarrhoea and dysentery, which had caused 57
deaths, or one-fourth of the entire mortality. Of this
number 51 were children and only six adults. The deaths
from diarrlicea, although numerous, were below the ave-
rage of the same week of 1847 and 1848, when cholera was
not epidemical. The increase in the mortality during the
last three weeks was almost entirely amongst children.—
Mr. Hodson called attention to a nuisance caused in Great
Homer-street, by a bone guano manufactory, and the me-
dical officer was instructed to inspect.—A letter from Mr.
Robertson Gladstone to Mr. Newlands was read, calling
attention to the state of the pavement at the foot of Dale-
street. This was referred.—ln consequence of a disturb-
ance last week, at the Paul-street Baths, a gang of fel-
lows having invaded the place, and thrown the clothes of
some of the bathers into the water, it was resolved to.ap-
point a man superintendent of the plunge baths to take
care of the clothing of the bathers.
ANNIVERSARY DINNER OF THE PROVIDENT CLERKS'
ASSOCIATION.—On Wednesday evening the first anniver-
sary dinner of 'the Liverpool Clerks' Provident Associa-
tion was held in the Adelphi Hotel. Upwards of seventy
gentlemen sat down to a sumptuous dinner, served up in
Radley's best style. John Holmes, Esq., Mayor, pre-
sided, and the vice chair was occupied by Mr. Davenport.
The Rev. Mr. Saunders spoke, in behalf of the clergy,
in favour of the Society. Mr. Poole, the Secretary, then
read a note received from H. Steele, Esq., enclosing a
£lO note, and expressive of his approbation of the objects
of the Association. Letters from several other gentle-
men were also received, expressing approval of the objects
of the Association, and promising their hearty support.—
In acknowledging the toast of " The Patrons," Mr. Ban-
ning, Postmaster, said he could not help expressing great
pleasure in seeing that the Society had succeeded so far
during the very short period it had been in existence.
He was one of the first parties applied to, and he felt
great pleasure in giving the little support he had the
means of doing. (Hear, hear.) He should have been
most happy to see the clerks under him join the Society.
He was sorry to say that not one of them had joined,
although he endeavoured to persuade them to do so, be-
cause he was satisfied that no institution could possibly
be established in any large town which could produce such
an amount of good. He should consider it a great satis-
faction to him that every man over whom he had control
was a member of such a society. He believed it would
add to the independence of those men's characters; he
did not mean by that, insubordination—(hear)—and the
mere feeling of being independent would raise them in
their own eyes and in the eyes of everybody else. He
was quite satisfied when the merchants and other gentle-
men of Liverpool who had the control of clerks and ser-
vants came to see and to think of the benefit that would
be derived from this Institution, at some of their future
meetings they would have a difficulty in finding room for
their supporters. He thought they ought not to depend
too much on the outset on the support they would derive
from the employers, because they did not look on this
as a charitable institution, nor did the members he be-
lieved. He thought it would rest with themselves at first
to set the machinery going, and they would then find no
disinclination on the part of the employers to come for-
ward to support it. It was a painful thing for an em-
ployer to part with an old servant, whether it was from
ailments, caused by old, age or infirmity ; at the same
time it must be a pleasing thing to know thr..l he was not
a, subject for chazilwbut that lie bad hiA rown fund to fail.