The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-08-12 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS,

The proceedings of the Finance Committee comprised
the appointment of Mr. William Johnson as Assistant
District Surveyor, in the room of Mr—T. B. Lewis; a
recommendation to appoint two additional Assistant Sur-
veyors of Buildings during the present pressure of busi-
ness; a recommendation to increase the salary of Mr.
Neilson, principal. clerk to the Treasurer, from £2OO to
£250 per annum ; and the resignation by Mr. Jas. Abbott
of the situation of clerk to the Clerk of Committees.
Mr. THOMPSON said the number of notices for new
buildings were more numerous than the surveyors could
attend to. He, therefore, agreed with the Finance Com-
mittee, that additional surveyors were required. There
were about 2500 no+ices in at present, 1600. more than
there were at this season last year. During the last four
years, there bad been 7000 buildings erectz.d in the bo-
rough.

The proceedings were confirms 1, with the exception of
the appointment of Mr. Johnson. and the increase of
salary to Mr. Neilson, which stand over to the next
council.

It appeared from the proceedings of the Watch Com-
mittee, that Mr. Dowling had, at their request, presented
a report on the bustle and inconvenience caused by the
arrival in the town of cl-eap trains on Sundays. He
stated that the leading thoroughfares were crowded till
about twelve o'clock every Sunday, and kept in a state of
ferment—that several of the passengers went to the light-
ships—that some of the boats were immensely crowded,
but that the people were, generally speaking, very sober
and orderly. A copy of the report was sent to the Li-
verpool and Manchester Railway Company, with a re-
quest that it might be brought before the directors on an
early day.

The proceedings were confirmed ; so also was the ap-
pointment of Joseph Carruthers to the situation of third
clerk in the Secretary's office, at a salary of 480 per
annum.

Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE, in moving the confirmation
of the proceedings of the Dock Committee, said that the
plans of the landing-stage were not yet brought before
the council, because it was necessary to get the consent
of the Admiralty in the first instance. He might, how-
ever, state that the landing-stage would consist of a large
platform, 500 feet long, and 70 feet wide, with waiting-
houses on the top, and that it would rest on 34 hollow
tubes. There would be two btidges for vehicles, with
double footpaths on each side; and it was as complete a
thing as could be devised for the locality. The Corpora.
tion Baths were very much in the way, but it was out of
the province of the Dock Committee to interfere, as the
baths did not belong to the Dock Estate. With respect
to the appointment of a general superintendent for the
docks, when the principle was approved of, his appoint-
ment would take place.

Some conversation ensued as to whether the proceed-
ings of the sub-committees of the Dock Estate ought not
to be reported to the council. In the course of it,
Mr. AIKIN took occasion to observe that, in the un-
pleasant discusSion which had recently taken place in the
Dock Committee, his object was, not to cast any reflec-
tion on Mr. Bramley-Moore, or to make use of any of-
fens've word towards that gentleman, but to aesert the
right which the general committee had to be made ac-
quainted with every measure adopted by the sub-com-
mittees.

Mr. NrcoL explained how the chairman of the Dock
Committee happened to be in London on business of his
own, when he availed himself of the opportunity to see
the chairman of the Board of Ordnance relative to the
front wall of the fort.

Mr. BIRKETT thought it too much to expect the mem-
bers of the Dock Committee, who were all, with few ex-
ceptions, engaged in active business on their own account,
to sit day after day transuting the concerns of a large
and increasing dock estate. That estate required a daily
attendance; and he for one had long been of opinion that
the Dock Committee ought to be remunerated for their
time and trouble. He saw that bank and railway direc-
tors were paid ; and he generally found that matters were
better managed when parties were raid. If the general
superintendent, who was about being appointed, were an
active, efficient man, there was no doubt but the powers
of the Dock Committee would be delegated to him. Still,
three of the committer ought to sit daily, and be paid for
their trouble, provided a clause to that effect could be
introduced into an act of parliament.
Mr. TvnErt coincided in some of Mr. Birkett's views.
The sooner they had a general superintendent the better,
because it was impossible for the members of the Dock
Committee to give that attention to the extensive busi-
ness of the port which its importance demanded. He
hoped the Corporation .Baths would be removed, and that
the disgraceful place of embarkation at George's Pier
would b speedily rendered less dangerous.
Mr. PARKER asked whether the line of dock railway
along Wapping would be laid down, if the proceedings of
the Dock Committee were now confirmed ?

Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE said the subject would have to
be brought before the council hereafter. The plan was
in course of preparation, and would be submitted at a
future time.

Mr. PARKER said that, as he wanted to watch over the
interests of the public, and had a great dislike to monopo-
lies, he was anxious to know upon what principle the
rails were to be laid, and whether they were to be exclu-
sive?

JOHN Ho',Hes replied that they would not be
,xclusive.

Mr. NORTH hoped he would not be irregular in ex-
pressing a wish that the Finance Committee would give
the stabiect with• reference tr, the of the _Corn°.
ration Baths some consideration, for, in his opinion, no
place of landing or embarking at the pier would be effec-
tual unless that removal were effected. He could not
express the great gratification he felt at hearing the an-
nouncement that a general superintendent for the docks
was about to be appointed. It was an appointment the
town would hear of with extreme satisfacion • and he
felt strongly that nothing had been done for the benefit
of the commercial interests of Liverpool equal to what
that appointment would effect. (Hear.) A report was
in circulation which, he hoped, was unfounded. It was
said that there had been expended on the Albert Dock
Warehouses a very large sum, nearly approaching to the
estimate for the whole. Perhaps the chairman of the
Dock Committee would tell him what sum had been ex-
pended—what the original estimate was—and what was
the proportion of the work now finished?
Mr. BRAMLEY-M °ORE said he had come prepared with
an answer, as Mr. North had put the question at the last
council. The estimate for the Albert Warehouses was
£317,101, exclusive of the land. The amount expended
already was £168,651, so that there still remained a very
large sum to be expended. With respect to the progress
which had been made with the works, the council were
in a_posit ion to judge for themselves.

Mr. NORTH asked whether the half or a third of the
work was finished?

Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE said the answer to this question
would not come properly from him. It would require the
engineer to reply to it correctly. There was a great (leal
of expensive work still to be done, and a great deal of
arching. So far as the outer vealls went, there was a
great show.
The MAYOR said it was satisfactory to know that only
about half the amount of the estimate had as yet been
expended. A gentleman had told him that be would be
glad to take the warehouses and give 124 per cent.
Mr. Nicol said he had been informed by Mr. Hartley
that he expected they would be finished within the esti-
mate. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. TINNE expressed a hope that, when the subject of
removing the baths was under consideration, the site to
which they were to be removed would not be overlooked.
The proceedings were confirmed.
Mr. LLOYD, in moving the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings of the Courts of Law Committee, said that the
Liverpool Law Society had approved generally cf the
plans of the new Assize Courts, and that he thought the
public would be fully satisfied with their beautiful inter-
nal arrangements.

The proceedings of the Markets Committee, compris-
ing a recommendation to appoint David Morris to the
situation of weigher at the South Machine House, in the
room of Samuel Lea, were confirmed ; and the Council
agreed to apply to the Highway Board for a supply of
water for the baths and washhouses.

Mr. BIRKETT remarked, that if the Town-clerk had
not gone up to London lately, at an hour's notice, the
council would have been saddled with considerable ex-
pense, in consequence of government having brought for-
ward measures affecting the t-wn after they had given
notice of the bills to be abandoned. He did not want to
use improper expressions towards the government, but it
was a disgrace for any government to do such things as
these.

The Town-hall Establishment Committee recommend-
ed that the Mayor's rooms be furnished.

The Health of the Town Committee reported the pass-
ing of a resolution that there should be a separate ash-pit
and privy to each house in a court.
Mr. BIRKETT, in moving the adoption of the proceed-
ings, said he disapproved of the foregoing resolution,
upon the ground that, if carried out, it would create a
great nuisance.
Mr. STEWART said that in every point of view, as re-
garded decency, health, and comfort, a more futile reso-
lution never was devised, and that the plan relative to
the ash-pits was impracticable. It seemed to him that
the committee were meddling with things that some of
them knew nothing at all about.
After a long discussion, in which Messrs. Chalmer,
K,ye, Thine, and Nicol took part, the proceedings were
confirmed, it being understood that Mr. North would
give notice of a motion for the next day on the subject.
Mr. TYRER said it was intended to bring forward the
proceedings of the special committee on the restrictions
imposed on the trade of the port by the Board of Cus-
toms, but that, in consequence of a communication from
the Board of Trade, the subject would be postponed for
the present.
The coroner's accounts for the month, amounting to
£97 9s. 4d., having been submitted, were referred to the
Finance Committee for payment; Mr. Parker remarking
that the sum was a very large one for the healthy month
of July. . . . _ _ _

The MAYOR read a communication from the Mayor of
Quebec, relative to the second calamitous fire in that city.
He regretted that Liverpool was so backward in subscri-
bing on the present occasion, and said that, if requested,
he most certainly would have called a public meeting to
aid the sufferers. He was waited on by Mr. Duncan
Gibb, Mr. Rankin, and Mr. Froste, on the subject ; but,
somehow or other, only about Xlooohad been subscribed.

Mr. TYRER said that if parties went round from office
to office, a great deal of money would be got. It only
required to be asked for.
Mr. Statham submitted a list of unclaimed moneys
from the Court of Requests, amounting to £BOO, which
was referred to the Town-clerk.