The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-01-06 00:00:00

.4,
edily entertaining the ques
.oceedings confirmed.

Mr. A

lALLABY read the Road Committe

nothing wort

proceedings

by of particular notice ; ant

mfirmed without observation

FINANCE COMMITTEE

u read the proceedings of the Finance Corn
matee, and they were confirmed.

Mr. thr.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE

LABY produced and read a report, dated "
'," from the Parliamentary Committee, descrip

tive of the m

commissioners to adopt and seek in their intended new bill.
This report stated that the committee were at length enabled
to submit to the general board the measures which they had
matured, and which they recommended to be adopted. All
details and, matters not likely to be useful, or which were
.--ly to produce opposition, had been expunged from the
•id the rest had been modified so as to obviate all ob-
•heir admission. The committee recommended,
-ntion with Birkenhead of Claught--

g .on and
parts of Oxton for the purpose of the intended improvement
act, without any interference with ecclesiastical affairs, or
the affairs of the poor. In accordance with this view, it was
proposed that the inhabitants of Claughton and Oxton should
make a distinct rate for watching and lighting, each paying
their own expenses, so that it would bear equally upon both.
Second—the establishment of a park of seventy acres in-
tended for the recreation of the public, the advantages of
which had already been so fully discussed, that they were
unnecessary to be explained. Third—the establishment of
a cemetery. Fourth—the establishment of baths, which it
was anticipated would yield a speedy profit. Fifth—power
to license hackney coaches, cars, and carts. Sixth—increased

powers to the commissioners to remove nuisances. Seventh—
regulations for for the preservation of the health of the town.
Eighth—regulations for the erection of buildings. Ninth—
to provide for the seweriog of new streets at the expence of
the owners. Tenth—empowering the commissioners to rate

the owners instead of the occupiers of property let at £l5
per affilum and under, the assessment being proposed to be
at three-fifths of the annual value. Eleventh—that the meet-
ings of the commissioners be held the first Tuesday following
the annual election—instead of waiting for the first Tuesday
in the month. Twelfth—repealing the right of the corpora-
tion of Liverpool to appoint three commissioners to sit at
that board. This privilege, the committee contended, was

unjust and partial. 'Thirteenth—power to raise an adequate
sum of money to carry out the objects of the act. Four-
teenth—the establishment of a small debts' court ; and in the
Fifteenth place the committee left the commissioners to say,
whather application should be made for power to appoint a
stipendiary magistrate. They had thus explained their ob-
jects to the commissioners previous to submitting them to a

ly acquainted with what was proposed to be done, and
This report was signed, " J.

to ft
D. Cas

Udgment upon it

Mr. PARKER asked when the public meeting was to be
held on the subject of this bill ? _

Mr. M A LLALv replied that he did not know, but it would
be judicious to hold it at as early a period as possible.
Mr. W. JACKSON said there were divers reasons which
had interfered to prevent the public meeting being hitherto
held

MALLABY, reading from a slip of paper placed in his

...._ . ... . . _ _
_hands by some commissioner, said, that in that paper it was
suggested by Mr. Watson that a clause should be introduced
into the hill to increase the qualification of the present com-
missioners from an assessment at.£3s to one at £so.*
Mr. W. JACKSON thought the commissioners would be

Mr. MA lIADY observed that it was not the modern prin-
ciple to increase the qualification; and the present amount
allowed a greater scope to select commissioners out of than
that which was suggested. To consent to this suggestion
would be to introduce a provision which parliament would
not countenance at this time. The general qualification in
improvement acts was in accordance with the rate under the
Birkenhead act, or something less; and parliament would
not consent to any increase.

M r. PARKER thought that a £3O assessment was a sufficient
qualification for a seat at that board.
Mr. W. JACKSON said that as parliament assembled next
month, no time should be lost in completing the bill. There
were various reasons why-it had not yet been laid before a
public meeting; but no time would now be lost in doing so.
Mr. APPLETON inquired at what period it was intended to
submit the bill to the public ?

Mr. MALLABY replied that the draft would be ready at
firstper to the the commissioners might think it
right to submitthe meeting the general principles
wanhvictliimtleie;yl
t'
proposed to adopt. After that had been done,
and as soon as the bill was printed, let it be laid before the
inhabitants, of whom another meeting should be held, for
their approval; because he considered that the draft of a bill
was not so accessible to be read by the public as a document
ought to be which was to have the public consideration.
The general measure should first be submitted to the public
for their approval; if approved, let the bill be printed and
copies furnished for the consideration of the commissioners
as well as of the public. He felt that it was a mere delusion
to submit a large draft only to a public assembly.
Mr. WM. JACKSON—You would give the public fill op-
portunity of examining the bill?
Mr. MALLABY said this—when the principle had been
approved, let the bill go before the House of Commons, and
be printed; then before going into committee let the entire
bill be again placed before the public for their consideration,
so that any alterations which they required could be made be-
fore going into committee.
Mr. WM. JACKSON observed that one great objection to
the bill he found arose from the clause compelling landlords
to pay the rates upon cottage property.
Mr. PARKER hoped the commissioners were not about dis-
cussing the merits and demerits of the bill now.
Mr. Wm. JACKSON said he opened this question now
merely with the view of ascertaining whether it would not be
policy for the commissioners to meet the parties who opposed
this clause prior to the public meeting.
Mr. GREET, thought that was understood already.
Mr. Wm. JACKSON said not as to cottage owners. The
commissioners, he thought, should consider whether they
ought not to meet them.
The CHAIRNIAN suggested that the committee might do so
if they chose.
Mr. MALLABY added, that there could be no objection to
the committee explaining their views to those parties.
Mr. WM. JACKSON had alluded to this subject because it
was possible that some plan might be hit upon which would
prevent the cottage owners' opposition.
The CHAIRMAN repeated, that that was a subject solely
for the consideration of the Parliamentary Committee.
Mr. WM. JACKSON then moved that a pubic meeting of
the inhabitants he held, in the Town-hall, for the considera-
tion of the whole bill, at seven o'clock on the evening of Fri-
day, the 13th instant.
Mr. COLE seconded the motion, and it was carried unani-
mously.

PROPOSED STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE.
Mr. MALLABY said the commissioners must now say what
course they would take upon the subject of the appointment
of a stipendiary magistrate. They must decide on this matter
before the public meeting was held.
Mr. FRY inquired whether the appointment of a stipendiary
magistrate would not entail considerable expense on the
township ?
Mr. MALLARY.—Yes, necessarily.
Mr. STANSFIELD suggested that the object of such a clause
being inserted in the bill was prospective; that, when the
town became populous, and a stipendiary magistrate was ne-
cessary, they should not then have to go to Parliament for
the power.

Mr. Wm. JACKSON.—Certainly.
Mr. PARKER said it had struck him that the period when
they were applying for a charter of incorporation was the
proper time to ask for a stipendiary magistrate.
Mr. APPLETON contended that this attempt was premature.
It was only the other day that Liverpool itself had applied
for a stipendiary magistrate. Besides, they had already law,
logic, and divinity upon the bench, willing and able to attend
to the administration of justice in Birkenhead, and surely
that was sufficient without incurring great and needless
expense.

Mr. War. JACKSON said this measure had been brought
forward in order that every thing considered necessaryr might
be included in one bill. Several matters had already beer
withdrawn from the bill, for which, perhaps, theree was ut
necessity yet; but concerning this, he felt that as the town
went on increasing there would, in a few years, be an absolute
necessity for it, and, therefore, he must press upon the com-
missioners the propriety of their proceeding in this case.
Mr. LAYCOCK said the principal reason for the recom-
mendation of this measure arose from a knowledge of the
fact, that the administration of justice in Birkenhead was
frequently inefficient. A resident magistrate would be the
only means of remedying that defect. At present it happened
frequently that the constable had to lose his time in running
up and down looking for a magistrate ; sometimes after be
had gone four or five miles after one the gentleman would
not be at home; then he had to come back, and run six or
seven miles after another, who might not be found, and
thus the constable had to return without having accomplished
his errand. It was very necessary, therefore, either that
there should be more magistrates, or that a stipendiary ma-
gistrate should be appointed, in order that common justice
might be regularly and speedily dealt out. It was evident
that the expense of a stipendiary magistrate would be great,
and for that reason the Parliamentary Committee did not
feel themselves justified in going further into the matter than
was stated in the face of their report.
The CHAIRMAN then rose, and said it was acknowledged
that at present they were not in a position to ask for such an
appointment as a stipendiary magistrate. What might occur
in the course of a few years to make such an alteration as this
necessary was a different question altogether ; the place

might become of that importance as to be raised, with some
of the neighbouring parts, into the station of a borough, and
then such an appointment might with great propriety be
acceded to; but at present he (the chairman) confessed they
were not in a situation to ask for it. With regard to what
Mr. Laycock had stated of the want of magistrates, such an
event as be had stated might once have occurred, and he
(the chairman) was not aware that it bad more than once
occurred, nor was it likely to occur again. Po remedy any
inconvenience of that sort t

was Mr. Harden

Ferry, and I

whenever he v

always ready to giv.e I

man) t

ught i

would be policy in the commissioners to abstain for the p,
sent from embodying in their present application power to
make such an appointment as a stipendiary magistrate, even in
anticipation. Only yesterday he had had an opportunity of
stating to the bench of Quarter Sessions [at Chester], among
whom the notice of the application to parliament had created
some degree of interest, that it was his earnest advice to the
commissioners to forego that part of the notice which em-
braced this appointment; and he now hoped they would
think it prudent to do so.
After a few words from Mr. WM. JACKSON, who inti-
mated that at a future time Poulton, Seacombe, and others
of the adjacent townships might join with them in effecting
this object, the intention of seeking for this power was
withdrawn.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

Mr. MALLABY reported that the magistrates in quarter
sessions had, with a trifling exception, confirmed the bye-
laws made by the commissioners, on the subject of weights
and measures.
Mr..WATsow called the attention of the commissioners to
the important subject of their obtaining power to appo
ofint a inspector of weights and measures in
the township Birn
kenhead. The magistrates had now that power; but in the
bill about to go before parliament, could not the commis-
sioners obtain the power of appointment ? They had al-
ready the power of appointing such an officer as to the
market, but not as to the township.
Mr. MALLABY replied that the efficient purposes for which
such an officer would be appointed were embraced in the
bill. The officer to be appointed under the bill would have
power of seizing, in the whole township, false weights and
measures ; but there were certain powers which could not be
conferred upon him without the sanction of the magistrates.
It would be repealing the general act of parliament, if they
took upon themselves to make the appointment of that offi-
cer, because all his powers were conferred upon
.him by
another body ; but, at the same time all the efficient objects
of it were, he thought, secured by the bill in its present
state.

FERRY COMMITTEE

The Ferry Committee reported that there had been an
increase in the receipts for the past month over the corre-
sponding period last year of £l3O. The books had been
made up to the 31st ult., and in the result the expectations
of the committee had been more than realised. Instructions
had been given to proceed against Mr. Willoughby for
damage done to one of the packets, the amount of which he
refused to pay. The committee had deemed it their duty
to obtain the sentiments of the mass of passengers who
passed to and fro as to the withdrawal of the late boats, and
their opinion was strongly in favour of their continuance.
An account bad been taken of the number of passengers by
them, and it was found to average 1,600 per week, or up-
wards of 80,000 per annum. Of the 1,600, 307 were con-
tractors; and this account having been taken in the winter,
it was fair to assume that in summer the numbers would be
greater. It having been stated that the receipts would be
the same if the late boats were discontinued, the committee
had ascertained that fall one-half of the ambunt received for
late passengers was for those who crossed to Liverpool; and
it was fair to assume that they were parties who, having been
visiting friends on the Cheshire side, could only return by
the late boats. Under all these circumstances the committee
recommended the commissioners to continue the working of
the late boats ; and it was only due to add, that every ser-
vant of the commissioners on board denied the assertion of
Mr. Parker, of the immorality of those who crossed by them,
and stated that they were of the most respectable class.
The proceedings were then confirmed.