The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-04-09 00:00:00

COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

The monthly meeting of the Town Council was held on
Wednesday. The proceedings of the Finance Committee com-
prised a recommendation to sell to the Trustees of the Liverpool
Docks the saltpetre sheds, and other property, authorised to be
taken by the Trustees of the Docks for dock purposes, for the
sum of £25,280, being the amount of the joint vahsation of John
Stewart, Esq., and the Corporation Surveyor; and a recom-
mendation to amend the Hackney Coach Bye Fares. The pro-
ceedings also contained a recommendation to theirnprovement
Committee to purchase the site of the Saracen's Head for the
new post-office; also an offer of the ground of Islington Mar-
ket for the same purpose, at 3s. per yard.—Mr. HOANBY
briefly moved the confirmation of the proceedings, with the
exception of the Hackney Coach Bye Laws, which, under
the standing orders, could not be confirmed until the next
meeting of the Council.—Mr. PARKER objected to the site of
the old Saracen's Head, for the post-office, not only because
it was not so generally convenient as Shaw's-brow, but also
because he thought they ought not to recommend that the
200 clerks employed at the post-office should be located in
the abominable back streets surrounding the Saracen's Head.—
Mr. Alderman HORSFALL said that, for all commercial pur-
poses, and being in the vicinity of three railways, the site of the
Saracen's Head was the most eligible in the town.—After some
discussion the amendment was lost.—Mr. HORNBY said that,
in consequence of pending negociations, in which the Finance
Committee were engaged, for the letting of the Birkenhead
Ferry, perhaps Mr. Thomson would withdraw the motion of
which lie had given notice.—ln answer to a question from Mr.
Thomson, Mr. HORNBY said that in the event of the ferry not
being let, he would support Mr. Thomson's motion if brought
forward at the next meeting, and alter some discussion Mr.
Thomson withdrew the motion.—The proceedings, as moved by
the chairman, were confirmed.—The proceedings of the Watch,
Lighting, and Fire Police Committee were read, and after some
allegations of negligence on the part of the magistrates, in con-
nexion with the collection of the local rates, by Mr. Bigham,
the proceedings were confirmed.
DOCK COMMITTEE.—The proceedings of this committee hav-
ing been read, and their confirmation moved by Mr. Littledale,
Mr. Dover called attention to the WI eck of the John Howard,
wrecked off Southport, and stated that the cotton from that yes-
, sel was being carted to Liverpool to avoid the dock dues. He
also referred to the works at the north docks, and warned the
Dock Committee not to go on with them so rapidly, as. if they
did so, they would have to pay interest of loans out of capital.—
After some discussion on the question, The CHAIRMAN said the
matter would be brought before the committee, who would be
guided by the advice of their solicitor. With regard to the
works at the north end, and the expenses they involved, he as-
sured the Council they need be under no apprehension. The
financial position of the Dock Estate was in a very satisfactory
state; and, as regarded loans, the Committee had so many of-
fers that they were obliged to decline many of them. He com-
plained of the statements and agitation on the question now
going on in the public prints. stating that it was very injurious
to the estate.—Mr. THOMSON : I may tell you that Mr. Samuel
Holme is the writer of the letters in the papers, and when he
takes a question up he does not so soon abandon it.—The pro-
ceedings were then confirmed.
The proceedings of the Health Committee comprised, amongst
other things, a resolution suspending James Kelsey, one of the
assistant surveyors. A memorial to the Council from Mr.
Kelsey was read, admitting his error, and begging that his
services might be retained. Some discussion took place on the
subject, and after a motion by Mr. Toulmin, that the memorial
be referred to the Health Committee had been rejected, the
proceedings were confirmed.
WATER COMMITTEE, MR. STEPHENSON'S REPORT.—These
proceedings having been read, Mr. PROCTER moved their con-
firmation, and said he had nothing beyond mere routine
matters to refer.—Mr. Avisoa seconded the motion,and the
proceedings were confirmed.—The TOWN-CLERK explained
respecting the two bills before Parliament, and said they would
again come before the house on Tuesday.—After some discus-
sion a special meeting to consider Mr. Stephenson's report was
fixed for Monday.—The next business that came before the
Council was the report of the Special Committee upon
the circumstances relating to the dismissal and re-ap-
pointment of Mr. Macdonald. The report, after stating that
Mr. Macdonald had been in some degree to blame, but that his
recent conduct had been praiseworthy, recommended his re-
appointment to his former office, accompanied by an admoni-
tion. The report was unanimously adopted, after some dis-
cussion, and Mr. Macdonald was re-appointed at a salary of
£2oo.—The proceedings of the Church Expenditure Commit-
tee were next read and confirmed.—The Coroner's account,
amounting to -t'l6 ss. 4d., was submitted and passed.—The
Mayor's communications comprised, first—A letter from Mr.
Thomas Jevons, calling the attention of the Corporation to the
intended sale, by auction, of the Roscoe and Howard Arcades,
and suggesting that they should become the purchasers. It
was referred to the Finance Committee. The second commu-
nication was a memorial of Owners and Occupiers of premises
near the Lime-street station of the London and North West-
ern Railway Company, complaining of great deterioration in
their property, caused by the alteration and width of Glouces-
ter-street by the above company. It was referred to the Health
Committee.—A memorial from the Rev. Thomas Gardner, not
to allow cattle to land from the steamers on a Sunday, was re-
ferred to the Finance Committee. A memorial was read from
Mr. Israel Samuel, of Great Howard-street, stating that he had
been instrumental in procuring the apprehension and convic-
tion of John Gleesou Wilson for the murder of Mrs. Hinrich-
son and her family, and that since that time both he and his
son had been in great bodily fear from the threats of low Irish
and that his business, lying chiefly among this class of people,
had fallen off, and by reason of which he might be reduced to
poverty, and have to leave the neighbourhood. He therefore
left it with the Council to award him what compensation they
might feel disposed to do. The TOWN-CLERK told the Council
that they had no power to award the memorialist any compen-
sation, and a reply to him to that effect was directed.
Mr. J. B. LLOYD, in moving the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings of the Courts of Law Committee, said that the Assize
Courts could not be opened next autumn without great incon-
venience, as the approae hes would not be complete by that
time. The working part of the co,rts would be ready, but the
approaches would not be available. The building would be
completed within the estimate of Mr. Elmes. The cost of an
organ for the ball would be £7OOO, and he thought they should
hire an instrument to try the effect before expending so large
a sum.—Mr. WOODRUFF moved that the committee be in-
structed to have the courts ready by next assizes, but after-
wards withdrew the motion

Mr. PICTON biOligl;iloWard his motion for the appointment
of a committee to consider tte establishment of a public
library, open to all classes. He read an extract from the report
of the Committee of the House of Commons on public libra-
ries, which stated that the first great step towards the forma-
tion of a library was the possession of a building, a local habi-
tation, in which the books could be placed. Donations would
supply an abundance of books. The British Museum owed its
literary treasure principally to donations. He believed there
was already in the possession of the Council a very valuable
collection of parliamentary books, given by the Earl of Har-
rowby at the close of his long and useful connexion—(hear)—
with the town ; and these, to begin with, would form a little
nucleus about which future donations might gather. There
was also another fund, the halfpenny museum rate. He con-
sidered it probable there would be a surplus out of this fund,
and it was quite probable, amongst the magnificent projects of
this council, some little droppings from the cornucopia might
be permitted to infuse themselves into that channel; and if all
these sources should fail, lie had reliance on the public
spirit of the inhabitants of the people of Liverpool, which was
never yet wanting when any great and good project was to be
carried out. The great good of having a library in the hands
of the corporation was, that in no other oody could be placed
such confidence. Other bodies were fluctuating and likely to
terminate, but a corporate body was enduring. There had
been many cases in Liverpool of gentlemen of wealth and in-
fluence who had spent their lives in amassing large and valua-
ble libraries. At the close of their lives these libraries had been
uniformly brought to the hammer and dispersed. He (Mr.
Picton) thought it very probable that had an institution of this
kind been established, they might have been pleased to leave to
their fellow-townsmen these literary treasures they amassed.
He begged to move that the following gentlemen compose the
committee:—Messrs. Hornby, Lawrenc,, Holt, Bennett, Wag-
staff, Woodruff, T. B. Horsfall, Avison, and Picton. The mo-
tion was seconded, and it passed unanimously.
Mr. Alderman HORS ALL then moved "That a Special Com-
mittee be appointed for the purpose of considering how far it
is practicable to amend the present mode of levying poor and
local rates, with the view to relieve the inhabitants from such
taxes as press most heavily, and to consider the propriety of
petitioning Parliament in favour of a bill to amend the present
law applicable to the levying of the poor and local rates, and for
making all public property rateable thereto." He did not, lie
said, ask the Council at once to affirm either of the proposi-
tions contained in the resolution, but he merely asked them to
appoint a committee for the purpose of considering their desi-
rability and their practicability. He purposely abstained from
offering any observations calculated to provoke discussion or
any expression of opinion which might prejudge the question
in the minds of gentlemen before the committee, if appointed,
was prepared with their report. He apprehended there would
be no difference of opinion as to the desirability of relieving the
inhabitants from any rates which pressed heavily upon them—
(hear, hear);—although the parish-rates of Liverpool were con-
siderably lower than they were last year ; yet, in many parts of
the town, take, for instance, Toxteth-park, he understood there
had been a frightful increase. In 1845 the rates were £4,457,
and in 1850 they amounted to £lB,OOO. But there were other
rates, irrespective of those for the relief of the poor. There was
the expense of prosecutions, which amounted annually to from
£3,000 to £4,000 in Liverpool ; whilst in Manchester half the
cost of prosecutions was defrayed by Government. One-half
of the expenses of the special constables of Manchester was
also paid by the Government ; and Liverpool had not only to
pay its own expenses, but half those of Manchester. Mr.Hors-
fall then proceeded to contend that he was perfectly consistent
in proposing this resolution, which extended to all public pro-
perty, docks, custom-house, post-office, and every other place,
though he had opposed in the previous year a bill which was to
be partial in its operation. He then read the names of the fol-
lowing gentlemen as members of the committee:—The Chair-
man and Deputy-Chairman of the Dock Committee (Messrs.
Littledale and Nicol) ; Messrs. Harbord and Dover, on the part
of the parish ; the Chairman and Deputy-Chairman of the
Watch Committee (Messrs. Turner and Tobin) ; the Chairman
and Deputy-Chairman of the Health Committee, (Messrs. Par-
ker and Bennett); and the Chairman'and Deputy-Chairman of
the Finance Committee, (Mr. Hornby and Mr. Horsfall).—Mr.
HORNBY seconded the motion.—A discussion ensued, in which
Messrs. Jones, Nicol, Parker, Ilolt, Bigham, Tobin, Dover,
Tyrer, Harrison, and Bennett took part, an objection being
raised that the question did not come within the province of
the Council ; but eventually Mr. Horsfall's motion was carried,
and the proceedings terminated at four o'clock.