The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-10-10 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

On Wednesday the usual monthly meeting of the
Council was•held at the Town-hall.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.
The proceedings of the Finance Committee comprised'
a recommendation to authorize the Committee to nego-
tiate with the Birkenhead Dock Company relative to the
abandonment of any claim on the part of the company
to the reversionary interest of the Corporation in land at
Birkenhead, demised to Messrs. Potter, Jackson, Laird,
and Brownrigg, and any obligation on the Corporation to•
sell such reversionary interest ;, and also as to the terms
on which a new lease or new leases shall, if thought fit,.
be granted to the company ; and also a recommendation
to purchase, for the sum of £9OO, certain documents,
papers, and manuscripts; relative to the Corporation title
to certain property, from the representatives of the late
Mr. Charles
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE moved the confirmation of the
proceedings, and said that the Corporation would occupy
the original position they had always wished to occupy if
they adopted the present recommendation to negociate
with the Birkenhead Dock Company. The Corporation
had been twitted for parting with their Birkenhead pro-
perty, out the circumstances which had since transpired
had shown the wisdom of the Corporation, The rever-
sion would now be restored, and he was satisfied, that,
as a rival to the Liverpool docks' estate on the other side
of the river, could never flourish.

Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE was glad to hear the observa-
tions of Mr. Lawrence, and he hoped, that in the present
negociations, the Corporation would protect themselves,
and take care to have themselves indemnified for the los-
ses they had sustained by the property at Wallasey Pool.
Mr. MANN confessed that he looked upon the proposed
change with a little jealousy.
The MAYOR said that difficulties certainly surrounded
the question, but that the negociations now pending
would have to be submitted to the Council before any,-
thing final was determined upon.
Mr. EvAss said the Council had not evinced that wil-
lingness to assist the Dock Committee in their several
undertakings, which, ought reasonably to have been ex,-
pected. He thought the Council had made a ruinously
unjust bargain with the Birkenhead Dock Committee,
when they attempted to exact the immense sum of
£llO,OOO for the reversion.

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE replied, and said that, in offer-
ing the Birkenhead property on lease, the Finance Com-
mittee never intended that property to be converted into
a rival, but they certainly did think that various trades
and occupations might be carried on there with advantage
to both sides of the river.
The proceedings were confirmed.

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE then explained the propriety of
purchasing the Corpoiation, manuscripts from the repre-
sentatives of the late Mr. Men. He said that in-cases
of law suits, particularly with reference to the town dues,
these manuscripts would be found of considerable advan-
tage.

Mr. EvANs,said that Mr. Okell had been paid enor-
mous salaries by the Corporation, and that if he he had
any valuable documents in his possession, they, of right,
belonged to the Corporation.
After a long debate, the Council agreed to purchase the
documents for the £BOO.

THE BIRKENHEAD FERRY.

Mr. THOMSON moved that it be an instruction to the
Finance Committee to close the contract and pay off the
present steamers now plying between Liverpool and Bir-
kenhead ; that the Corporation cease to work the ferry ;
that the ferry be kept open for all steam or other boats
to land passengers at the Birkenhead slip until the ferry
can be either let or sold. He alluded to the weekly los-
ses sustained by the maintenance of this ferry, and ex-
pressed a hope that it would be abandoned with all possi-
ble speed. He observed that a very remarkable collision
had lately taken place on this ferry. Prince Albert, for
instance, had bounced into the Queen, (loud laughter),
and the Queen, in return, had broken Prince Albert s
back. (Roars of laughter).
Mr. WOOD seconded the motion.
Mr. DANSON supported it, and said it was unjust on
the part of the. Corporation to be sustaining a competition
against Mr. Willoughby and other parties.
The MAYOR denied that any competition was being
sustained.

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE opposed the motion, and said
that the late collision between, the Queen and Prince
Albert involved no loss whatever to the Corporation.
He urged upon the Council to keep good boats, and then,
he was certain, that public patronage would be extended
to them. He hoped the Council would not stultify them-
selves, for at the last meeting they had authorised the
Finance Cimmittee to obtain tenders for the supply of
iron steamers.

The Council divided, when there appeared,—For the
motion, 23 ; against it, 23. The Mayor gave his casting
vote against the motion, which was consequently decla-
red lost.
TOWN-HALL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE. •
_ _

It appeared from the proceedings of this committee
that Mr. Mould had sent in a sample of his sherry wine,
and that the committee having tasted it, he was ordered
to ship a butt for the Mayor's table.

THE DOCK COMMITTEE

The proceedings having been read,
Mr. MooRE moved their confirmation, and said, that
from the 14th of August to the 12th of September, no
fewer than 110 flats, of 1600 tons, had entered the new
north docks from' the Leeds and Liverpool canal, and
that these flats had been:laden with coal, lime, and other
produce from the country districts. This, he was sure
was a small instalment of what the traffic would be from
the interior in the course of a little time.
The proceedings were confirmed.
WATER COMMITTEE.

It appeared from the proceedings of this Committee
that Mr. David Rowlands, who was about to be appoin-
to a situation of £2OO a year, had declined it, and that
Mr. Macdonald, late manager of Harrington Company
would, in all probability, be appointed to the situation.
It further appeared that the parliamentary expenses atten-
dant upon the passing of the Rivington Pike scheme had
amounted to £24,000, in addition to £7OOO for money
compensation to the proprietors of the mills upon the
streams ; but in addition, also, there will have to be paid
the expenses of Mr. Hawkesley.
These proceedings were adopted.
The Council adjourned_ to, Monday.