The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-01-15 00:00:00

LOCAL MEETINGS,

SELECT VESTRY.—The usual fortnightly meeting was
held on Tuesday last, but the proceedings, though
lengthy, were devoid of public interest. The proceedings
of the Finance Committee contained a correspondence
which had taken place between Mr. C. E. Rawlins and
the committee relative to opening the soup kitchens, from
which it appeared that it was not the intention of the
committee to open them at present. A discussion fol-
lowed on this point, and the matter was referred back to
the committee for their favourable consideration.
CHARGES AGAINST THE BUILDING SURVEYORS.—On
Tuesday, a special sub-committee of the Health Commit-
tee consisting of Messrs. Fernihough, Lappdale, Rim-
mer, Godfrey, and Bennett, met at the Public-office,
Cornwallis-street, to investigate a variety of charges
brought by Mr. Spencer, survt yor, of Clayton-square,
against the building surveyors employed by the Corpora-
tion under the sanatory act. The charges were chiefly,—

that a system is in practice in the building:surveyors'.
office of preparing plans for builders and others, and get-
ting them immediately sanctioned by the Health Com-
mittee ; whilst, in many instances, plans drawn by pri-
vate professional gentlemen are often rejected or vexa-
tiou.ly delayed. That Mr. John Robinson, the surveyor
for the northern district, had made plans for buntlines
which were erected to evade the sanatory and building
acts, such erections being superintended by Mr. Jones,
the surveyor for the eastern district. There was a further
general accusation, that the powers invested in the build-
ing surveyors were executed with great partiality. The
result, however, will be ascertained by a reference to the
proceedings at the Health Committee on Thursday, when
Mr. Robinson was discharged.
WEST DERBY UNION.—The weekly meeting was held
on Wednesday, Mr. Roskell in the chair. A communi-
cation was read from the poor-law board, referring the
guardians to the case of Sarah Mitchel, of No. 9 court,
Prophet-street, Toxteth-park, who, it was alleged by the
medical officer, Mr. Whittle, had died of destitution.
Mr. Tomkins, the relieving officer, was called in, and in
answer to the questions of the board, stated that the wo-
man was in a delicate state of health, and near her con-
finement. She and her husband were removed from the
house of refuge, and he afforded them relief, 2s. in money
and 2s. worth of food per week having been allowed by
the board. Ultimately, it was agreed that the considera-
tion of the case should be deferred till next week. Mr.
Harrison brought forward a motion, that the number of
guardians for West Derby and Toxteth-park should be
increased. Mr. Batten seconded the motion. The expen-
diture of the whole union in 1849 was £37,422 ; of Tox-
teth-park it was £16,275. Mr. Wilson Ledger moved a
negative to the motion, and was seconded by Mr. Sidney ;
and the original motion was lost by a majority of 14 to 7.
On the motion of Mr. Tattersall, Mr. Whitehead was
called in. Mr. Whitehead, who is the assistant overseer
for West Derby, stated that the overseers refused to allow
him to act, and he wished the advice of the board. Mr.
Whitehead was recommended to attend the office as usual.
THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.—On Thursday, the
weekly meeting was held at, the Town-hall. Mr. Parker
occupied the chair, and there were ten other members
present. Tenders to construct sewers had been received
from several parties, and were ordered to be lithographed.
Mr. Rose communicated that he had diminished the
quantity of manure on the wharfs, during the week, by
617 tons. The inspector of nuisances reported the re-
moval of more than the usual number. The chairman
remarked upon a part of the return of cellar occupation,
from which it appeared that there arose a constant pro-
cess of driving out poor wretches, and their getting ►n
again. Mr. Fresh said that the law was defective, and
that other parties got into the cellars vacated. They
had served no fewer than 10,000 notices to quit. With
respect to crowded lodging-houses, it appears that weekly
lodgers cannot be interfered with. Of deaths in the borough
there were three less than in the former week. The
sub committee, to whom was referred the charges brought
by Mr. Spencer, surveyor, against the borough building
surveyors, subm►tted the report. It was to the effect
that Mr. Robinson had admitted that he had drawn
plans for private parties, and was paid for them. As be
had done so, in addition to his public duties, it was re-
commended that he should be dismissed, though they

regretted to do so, as Mr. Robinson's character stood
high. Mr. Jones was entirely exonerated from all
blame. Mr. Bennett remarked that not one of the
charges brought forward by Mr. Spencer had be en
proved. There was no other public business.
EARLY CLOSING ASSOCIATION.—The ninth meeting of
this society was held on Friday night, at the Clarendon-
rooms, Mr. Ball in the chair. He said, that through the
exertions of the committee, during the past year, the asso-
ciation had been freed from all responsibilities,.and was
now in a better position to proceed. He hoped the move-
ment would be made general, and that earlier hours of
business would be extended to every quarter. The move-
ment was the assistants' own, and they ought not to rely
upon extraneous aid, but support themselves.—Mr. Fid-
ler read the report, which was; highly favourable, showing
that the debts of the association had been paid. This had
been accomplished by subscriptions.—Mr. Miram moved
the adoption of the report, which Mr. Rayner seconded,
and was carried unanimously.—Mr. Mercer, vice-presi-
dent of the association, moved a resolution appointing a
committee. He implored the members to support the in-
stitution more liberally, otherwise it must be abandoned.
He instanced a case of a druggist and others who confined
their assistants during most unreasonably long hours.
The motion was seconded and carried.—Mr Morris moved
a resolution pledging the meeting to support the commit-
tee. The progress of the association had been retarded by
the apathy of a portion of the assistants, who, through ig-
norance, had not fully appreciated its beneficial influences
and duly supported it; and this indifference could only be
removed by the great truths of history, of literature, and
of science being portrayed to their mental vision, that
they might fully comprehend and appreciate the vastness
of human thought and investigation; that they might be
ashamed of their present condition, and thus aroused to
mental action and due elevation.—Mr. Hyde seconded
the resolution, expressing his great gratification that the
assistants had themselves liquidated the debts of the asso-
ciation.—A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman
and the meeting separated.
THE SANATORY AMENDMENT BILL.—A special meet-
ing of the Health Committee was held at the Town-ball,
on Wednesday, to consider. the several clauses of this
new bill.—Mr. Parker occupied the chair, and entered
into some details of what had been done by the Council
for sanatory improvement. The government commis-
sioners had dechued -the town to buthe moat unhealthy in