The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-03-03 00:00:00

THIRD

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS OF BIRKENHEAD

Yesterday evening, a public meeting of the ratepayers of
Birkenhead was held at the Town-hall, Birkenhead, " for
the purpose," as stated in the advertisement, " of consider-
ing the bills now before parliament relating to the establish-
ment of Cemetery and Parh, and for other purposes therein
mentioned."
The attendance was very numerous, and included many
of the most respectable of the proprietary and ratepayers in
the township, and the places adjacent affected by the bills.
JOHN DEANE CASE, Esq., was called to the chair. Ile
read the placard, and said that the Commissioners, in redemp-
tion of the pledge given by them, had given every possible
facility to the ratepayers to acquaint themselves with the se-
verai clauses of the bill, and to. propose such alterations as
they might deem proper. 'fhe bills varied from those of
January last, inasmuch as some of the clauses had been
objected to. The Commissioners, willing to conciliate all
parties, and to meet the wishes of the ratepayers, now brought
the bills before the meeting, with those clauses expunged,
nd he trusted they would now meet with no further opposi-
tion. In his public capacity as chairman on the occasion, he
was not aware that he had any furtHer observations to make.
But he might, perhaps, as a private individual, be permitted
to express an opiniod on the bills.—(l-lear.) The two main
features involved were the purchase of the land, and its ap-
propriation, part for a cemetery, and part as a park, for the
health and recreation of the inhabitants. These were ob-
jects, he thought, of the highest importance to a growing
Population as that of the township of Birkenhead. He
had taken the liberty of stating the urgent necessity for
some steps to be taken to secure the advantages proposed by
those bills at as early a period as possible. When he was
connected with the corporation of Liverpool, he and others
had frequenlly, in compliance with the wishes of a great part
of the population, stated how desirable it would be that a
park should be formed ; but it had been so long delayed that
land had risen to a great price, and the object was unfortu-
nately thereby defeated. He rejoiced to say that the oppor-
tunity was available in Birkenhead, which, by delay, had bean
lost in Liverpool; and it was for the meeting to consider and
sanction the measures now proposed, to effect the objects in
view, while they could be advantageously attained. The
commissioners had devoted great time, and bestowed great
pains in preparing the several clauses of the bills ; they had,
in fact, had but one interest in view, and that was the interest
of the inhabitants at large; and as they had done everything
that was possible to conciliate all parties who had previously
entertained objections to some of the clauses, they hoped
that the present bills would meet the wishes of the township
at large, and the approval of that meeting. The results tbit
had become manifest, from the commissioners getting a bill
to enable them to purchase the (Woodside) Ferry, were. be
trusted, sufficient to entitle them to the confidence of the
ratepayers ; and he had only now to hope that the bills would
receive their approval. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. KNAFPER requested that the clauses which had been
withdrawn might ba read.

Mr. MALIiBY said they were the clauses from 117 to 122
inclusive, and related to one object—to cause the owners of
certain property to pay the assessments in place of the tenants.
The same gentleman then proceeded to read the marginal
notes of the two bills, as a means of affording a brief outline
of the object of each clause,—premising that be should read
the whole of any clause, or any one present requesting him
to do so. The measures sought for were in two distinct bills,
which was found desirable for convenience as well as economy.
The first comprised various improvements, in which Clough-
ton-cum-Grange, and Oxton, were included with Birken-
head. Copies of the bills had been left with the overseers at
each place. Then hills would not interfere with the ecclesi•
astical position of the respective places, as they only sought
to unite them for mutual future improvement. Powers were
sought to raise separate rates for lighting and watching—
powei s to purchase lands for the park—to sell and convey—
to borrow on mortgage—to fix the width of the streets, &c.,
including regulations for buildings. In reply to a question
from Mr. Kriapper, he stated that in addition to the £150,000
which the commissioners were already empowered to borrow,
they sought powers to borrow £loo,ooo—the two sums
(I:250.0000 howeuer, to include the present debt. He co -
sidered that the proceeds from the Ferry would meet all re-
quirements for the debt.

Mr. ARKLE here alluded to a memorial he had presented
some time ago from a number of rate-payers in his quarter
of the township, complaining of the nuisance of the smoke
from brick-kilns close at their doors. He thought it wrong
to lay out so mubh money (1:200,000 we understand) for a
park, wah baths, &c., while such nuisances were suffered to
go on close to their dwellings.
Mr. MALLABY explained that it was difficult to legislate
for public and private interests, without some inconvenience
to the latter. If brick making were to be put down in the
neighbourhood of the present houses, the town would suffer
by buildings being stopped. The commissioners had. how-
ever, covenants with Mr. Prioe, which, as soon as they were
enabled to carry them out, would leave little or no cause of
complaint on this point ; and this would be preferable to at-
taining the object suggested through an act of parliament.
Mr. W. JACKSON said, that he, too, had at one time
entertained the objections stated by Mr. Knapper, and that
he bad an equal cause of complaint ; but on considering the
matter, he was inclined to yield to the opinion now expressed
by Mr. Mallaby.

Mr. MALLABY then ran over the heads of the Cemetery
Bill—the powers to purchase, &c. The ground is to be con-
secrated in connection with the Churoh of England; but a
part to be appropriated for Dissenters. A considerable sum
is expected to be realized by the sale of ground. He con-
gratulated the ratepayers on this bill especially, particularly
as there was a bill now in parliament—that of Mr. M'Kinnon
—for preventing burials in towns. By the bill which they
sought, they would be exempted from the general measure
alluded to ; would have more control ; and enjoy what re-
venue might be derived from the ground.

The CHAIRMAN then put the question whether the bills
had the sanction of the meeting ?
Mr. EDWARD WILLOUGHBY said, that as the clauses
affecting the Cottage-owners' Association had been with-
drawn, he did not see any objection to the Lids, and should
move that they be sanctioned.

A resolution was then proposed, to the effect that the bills
be adopted, and that the clerk be instructed to proceed with
them, so that they might pass the legislature.
This was seconded by Mr. M`NicuoL, and unanimously
agreed to.

A vote of thanks being passed to the chair,
Mr. CASE, in returning thanks, said he could not but con-
gratulate the meeting on the result of the proceedings, as he
believed the bills would confer an everlasting benefit on the
township of Birkenhead.
The meeting then separated.

A sum exceeding £3,500 has been subscribed for the sur-
viving families of the fishermen wrecked off the coast of
Down in January last.

The relief voted at Willis's-rooms, King-street, St. James,
to the unfortunate relics of the British navy, from 1791 to
1842, amounted to £66,586. The recipients were the widows
and orphans of admirals, captains, commanders, lieutenants,
masters, pursers, surgeons, and chaplains.

•
_ .
ART-UNIONS.—The question of the legality of Art-Unions
has, we perceive, been submitted to Air. Sergeant Talfourd
for his opinion. The reply of the learned gentleman is con-
clusively against those speculations, their promoters, and all
who sustain them.

DEANERY OF ST. PATRICK'S.—In consequence of Dr
Daly having been raised to the episcopal bench, the deanery
of St. Patrick's became vacant, and has been conferred
upon the Hon. and Very Rev. H. Pukenham, who was on
Friday duly installed.—Dublin Monitor.
At the Central Criminal Court, London, on Wednesday,
William Cannel!, a pot-boy, was indicted for assaulting Eli-
zabeth Magnes, and discharging a pistol at her, with intent
to kill her. He was found guilty, and sentenced to fifteen
years' transportation.

The sum of 2d. is levied on each pedestrian who may walk
along his Grace of Buccleuch's splendid pier at Granton. A
gentlemen being importuned near the shore for alms, hastily
replied, " No, no ; I have just given my last penny to the
Duke of Buccleuch." "Ah !" replied the mendicant, "is
he upon the tramp too ?"--Fife Sentinel.
The Rev. J. E. Shadweil, son of Sir Lancelot Shadwell, is
lying in a very dangerous state at his house in Southampton,
the effects of a relapse after typhus fever, caught it is supposed
in administering to the spiritual comforts of his parishioners,
the rev. gentleman being rector of All Saints. His medical
advisers have been in constant attendance, and but faint
hopes are entertained of his recovery.
THE WINE TRADE.—A point raised by one of the houses
engaged in the wine trade, relative to the pending negotiations
with Portugal, is deserving of notice, because it probably ex-
presses the opinion of many others of the same class. They
say that " breaking off for mutually reduced tariffs in both
countries will not restore trade with Portugal, so lung as we
continue negotiating with France or Spain, because the duties
on wines wines from Portugal to be paid in England, and tha
duties on our goods to be paid in Portugal, will still be de-
pendent on these other negotiations; and by the ordinary
course of negotiation with those countries, we shall all be
ruined before anything can be concluded." That both the
wine trade and our manufacturers suffer seriously by this de-
lay, which also most injuriously affects the public revenue, is
obvious enough, and the arguments therefore for promptness
and decision on the part of the Foreign-office are as strong as
can well beimagined.
A STRANGE WILL.—A singular process occupied a con-
siderable portion of the sitting of the Civil Tribunal held
recently. On the 3d of May, 1841. Miss Topping, an Eng.
lish maiden lady, died at Vendome, having expressly desired
that she should be carried to the cemetery of Vdugirard,
attended by the Abbe Beaunier, a dissenting catholic minis-
ter ; that is to say, one who would not conform to the Con-
cordat entered into between Pope Pius VII. and Napoleon
in 1802. At the time of Miss Topping's death the Abbe
Beaunier was ten leagues from VendOme, but at the request
of the deceased's executors came to VendOme, and imme-
diately set out with her mortal remains to Vaugirard, where
her family vault was. The Abbe was detained in Paris a
week before the formalities required for warranting the inter-
ment could be got through. At length all was accomplished,
and the funeral performed. For his professional services,
loss of time, and expenses, the Abbe required a sum of 1,200 f.
This the executors thought too much, and declined paying.
The Abbe commenced a suit for the recovery of the amount.
and his counsel, in pleading his cause, read the following
clauses from Miss Topping's will :—" I desire that there
shall be raised from the most easily convertible part of my
property a capital sum sufficient to produce 800 f. a-year,
which shall be paid quarterly to such person as I may name
in a codicil—or, in default thereof, to a person to be named
by my executors (the testatrix did afterwards name a person
by a codicil)—on condition of taking the care and nourish-
ment of my three favourite cats, Nina, Fanfan, and Mini, or
any others I may have at the time of my death. This
income shall be paid as long as any one of these domestic
animals shall remain alive. My executors may, in case of
negligence or cruelty towards them, withdraw them and the
said pension, and choose another person as guardian. The
person appointed to feed and take care of my said cats shall
live on a ground-floor, to which shall adjoin a terrace easy
of access, and a garden enclosed within walls, of which they
shall have full and free enjoyment. These animals are to be
fed with lights, sheeps' hearts, or raw or dressed meat ; they
must be given twice a day a sufficient quantity of milk, oc-
casionally mixed with starch or rice flour; the meat is to he
given them twice a day also, so that they may have four daily
meals regularly. They are to sleep in the house, and there-
fore are to be shut up after their supper, at 9 or 10 o'clock,
except the torn cat, which will not remain at linme ; but care
must be taken that he comes in at a good time in the morn-
ing. In case of their death, they are to be wrapped in a
piece of new and clean linen, put into an oaken coffin, and
buried deep in the earth in an enclosed ground. If I die
before having buried a certain box covered with tarpaulin.
containing the bodies of my two cats, Beauty' and Tom,'
they are to be put into a very deep hole in an enclosed place,
so that they may not be liable to be taken up again." The
learned advocate argued, from these provisions for her cats,
that Miss Topping fully intended that no expense should be
spared upon her own funeral. He then maintained th/it,
under all the circumstances, the claim of the Abbe Beaunier
was perfectly reasonable. The counsel for the executors, In
answer, represented that the Abbe Beaunier had long.baelci
the friend and spiritual director of the testatrix, a
promised her to attend to her interment and performtoan the
last offices; that she had by ber will beque.atkesder ; him a
legacy of 1,000 f., and another of 500 f. £0 leis sister;
due from
conse-
quently that the services be had performed
him in duty, gratitude, and friendship.
d 't was stated that
The items of the
Abbe's demand were then discussed, a.n
the executors had tendered 300 f. to him as an ample remu-
neration. After a reply from the Abbe's counsel, the tri-
bunal gave judgment, awarding the Abbi 400 f., and ordering
each party to bear their own COON.