The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-10-13 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

The usual monthly meeting was held on Wednesday.
On the proceedings of the Watch Committee being
read, Mr. RATHBONE made some inquiries as to the
appointment to the police force of a man who had been
lately sentenced to s,-ven months' imprisonment for steal-
ing a gold watch.--Mr. LAWRENCE replied, that the man
had brought an exLellent character from Mr. Musgrove,
of Bradford, with whom he had been eleven years. He
was considered an excellent man, and for the four months
that he had been in the force, his character was better
than that of the generality of the men. He had only been
brought before the committee once, and was fined Is. for
being late on duty.—Mr. RATHBONE suggested that a
paid officer should be appointed to ascertain whether the
testimonials in every case were genuine or not.—This,
however, it was said, could not be done.—Mr. MANN
complained that Bs. a week for a man who had been 2G
years in the force was too small a pension; and the
Watch Committee were recommended to increase it to

10s.
The proceedings of the Dock Committee having been

read,
Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE moved their confirmation.
There was nothing, he said, that required observation
from him, except to report the more satisfactory working
of the Albert Dock. Now that the public were becoming
more accustomed to the mode of operation there, they
approved of the system. Nineteen vessels, of 709 tons,
had been discharged in the Albert Dock, making an ace-
rage of 41,5 tons each. The smallest vessel was 170 tons,

and the largest 903 tons ; and the average time occupied
in discharging each was 36 hours. (Hear.) The largest,
that of 903 tons, was discharged in 38 hours. He anti-
cipated that, owing to these advartages, the trade would
daily more and more appreciate the dock, and that by the
time the remainder of the warehouses came into opera-
tion, it would he crowdcd with shipping, and that it would
be a strife and a struggle as to who should occupy it.
Mr. RATHBONE complained that the rates paid the
master porters enabled them to realise a large profit, and
caused the expenses to be much heavier than under the
former system. . . .

Ir. MOORE said the committee had nothing whatever
to do with the rates charged by the master porters.

Upon the motion of Mr. J. B. LLOYD, a memorial was
aiopte i to the Queen in Council, praying her Majesty to
assign a district and appoint a court in Liverpool, for the
recovery of small debts, the jurisdiction of the court to
embrace a circumference of seven miles frcm the Liver-
pool Exchange.
The Special Committee, appointed some time since,
reported that it was impracticable, under present circum-
stances, to subject the owners, instead of the occupiers,
to the payment of local rates._ . .

•
The following report of the Special Committee appoint-
ed by the Council to report upon the restrictions on the
trade of the port by the Customs, and the present system
of porterage, was submitted

" In presenting their final report on the subject of porterage
on the dock quays, your committee have to state that the clause
requiring the employment of one set of porters only in the cis.
charge of each vessel, which, in conformity with the recom-
mendation of the Council, was introduced into the dock bill,
has now become law, and that its obligations come into opera-
tion on the 98th i :stant. _ _ .

" Your committee do not feel it necessary to make any com-
ment on the operat on of clauses which have already received
the sanction of the Council ; but they cannot content them-
selves without expressing their conviction that much good will
be found to result to the trade of the port from a change which,
though still in some degree defective, it is genera'ly acknow-
ledged, will be found to be a great improvement upon the
former system.
. .

In effecting this importart change, your committee have
had many difficulties to contend with, many interests to consult,
and, in the first instance, some difference of oi.inion to recoric le
amongst the various commercial associutions as to carrying out
the details of the system.

" It is due, however, to the associations to acknowledge, not
only the courtesy and assistance with which the propositions of
your committee were met, but the readiness with which also,
for the general good, points of minor difference were conceded.
" Ycur committee arc not sanguine enough to expect that a
change in itself so important can be carried out without some
inconvenience in the outset, but they confidently believe that
the same forbearance and consideration towards the Sub-corn-
niittee of the Dock Estate (upon whom devolves the carrying
the principle into effect), which has been hitherto displayed
t,,w;,rds the committee of the Council. will do much towards
securing for the trade of the port the permanent benefits likely
to result from the improved system.
• Your committee having now brought their labours to a
close, feel it right to acknowledge the unanimous support which
they have received from the Council, and which has atone
enabled them successfully to accomplish, as wcll the reforms
which have taken place in the customs establ•shment of the
poi t, as the subsequent but not less important one which has
now been effected in the general system of porterage.
In carrying through this latter reform, in accordance with
the requirements of the Board of Customs—requirements which
have been urged upon the town for more than the last thirty
years, your committee feel that the Council has p aced the trade
of ttia vitt in a pr sition to demand the redress, ou the part of
the Boo'd of Customs, of such further abuses as still exist, by

the imixsition of restrictions alike o'

"The representation of the existence of such abuses natu-
rally devolves upon those whose respective branches of com-
merce may he impeded by them; but your committee ventute
to express the hope that, should the emergency again arise,
when the co•open bon of the Council would be essenti-;l, that
co-operation wi 1 be promitty afforded, assured, as they are,
that in thus strengthening and supporting the hands of our
commerce, they are strengthening and supporting those inte-
rests which have, in a great degree contributed not only to the
pro- verity of the corporate estate, but to that of the community
at large.

"THOMAS B. HORSFALL, Chairman

Upon the motion of Mr. HORSFALL, who thanked the
Council for the support they had rendered the committee,
and without which, he said, the accomplished reforms
could never have been obtained, the report was adopted.
A letter was read from Count Ramhateau, of Paris, in
which he begged to present a large pictorial work of his
to the Mayor and Corporation, in test mony of the sense
he entertained of the kind attention paid him when in
Liverpool. A letter of thanks for the splendid present
had been previously transmitted to the Count through
Lord Normanby.
A letter was read from .the auditors, in which they
spoke highly of the manner in which Mr. \Vybergh, the
Corporation treasurer, discharges his arduous duties.—
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE sn,id, that should he have the
honour of a seat in the C,uncil after the Ist cf N vember,
he would tell-Hilo prouose that t.eme pub!itt etkowletli-
Ment be made of I%lr. Wybergh's eminent services.
Mr. HIGGINS moved that a return be prepared, and
laid before the Council, of the number of meetings during
the last twelve months by each committee appointed by
the Council, and showing the number of times each mem-
ber of such committee has attended the meetings thereof.
RATUIONE seconded the motion, which was lost
by a majority of 32 to 4.
Mr. PROCTER moved that the resolution of the Council
of the 21th of May. 1843, authorising the erection of a
gaol on the site of the M. avertree-hall Estate, be re-
scinded, and that a committee be appointed to consider
and report to the Council the most desirable mode of

laying out the Wavertree-hall Estate as grounds for pub-
lic recreation, in connection with the Botanic Gardens.—
Mr. BOOKER seconded the motion.—Mr. G. H. LAW-
RENCE and MT. BIRKETT opposed it; and Mr. PARKER
and Mr. RATHBONE supported it.—Mr. G. H. LAW-
RENCE said that at the next meeting of the Council, the
latter end of this month, a site for a new gaol would be
snbmitted for consideration.—The motion was withdrawn
in consequence of the Town-clrrk stating that tire Ccr•
poration could not at present obtain a legal title to the
Wavertree-hall Estate.

In reply to a question from Mr. TURNER, Mr. MEIN
said the building of the Sailor's Home would be pro-
ceeded with immediately. The delay had taken place in
consequence of the contracts being too high.
The Council then adjourned at tbree o'clock.