The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-02-19 00:00:00

THE WATER COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of this Committee comprised a resolu-
tion of condolence and sympathy for the widow and family
of the late lamented Dr. Harbord ; and the instructions
given to Mr. Stephenson with reference to the Water In-
quiry just terminated.
Mr. PROCTER, in rising to move the confirmation of
the proceedings, said that there were not more than one
or two points which it would be requisite for him to com-
ment upon. On the subject connected with the appoint-
ment of two chairmen he was not desirous of saying a
word ; but on the other point, connected with the Water
Inquiry, he hoped that the instructions given to Mr.
Stephenson would prove satisfactory to the entire Coun-
cil. !(Hear, hear.) If the -

Mr. BENNETT said that it was only just to Mr.
.M`Donald, after the charges which had been made against
him, to have the matter referred to a special coa

Avison, A. F. Jones. R. C. Gardner, J. A. Picton, J
Parker, W. Bennett, W. Fisher ; Aldermen D. Hodgson,
J. Cooper, J. Procter, and the Mayor.
For Mr. Fernihough—Ccuncillors E. Langsdale, T.
Chalmer, jun, J. Thomson, J. Bigham, W. Preston, T.
L. Hodson, J. Atkinson, R. B. Hill, T. Godfrey, G. H.
Horsfall, G. Holt, H. Hornby, D. Bell, J. C. Ferni-
hough, R. Harbord, J. Rogers, J. A. Tobin, H. Neill,
r I J. Johnson, W. P. Freme, R. M. Beckwith, E. C.

of investigation.
Mr. PARKER said that it was out of order to take the
app intment out of the hands of the Water Committee.
Mr. PICTOK agreed with Mr. Parker, and contended
that taking the question of appointment out of their
hands would be tantamount to a vote of censure. As far
as Mr. AP Donald was concerned, he had no objection to

inftructions were requisite, it was not too late to attend to
it, and the Committee would be most glad to have such
instruction duly laid before Mr. Stephenson. The next
point was with regard to Mr. McDonald's re-appointment.
That appointment was made before he (Mr. Procter)
became Chairman of the Committee. He therefore could
say nothing about it; however, he believed that the ap-
pointment had been made with the unanimous consent of
the Committee. He had nothing more to say on the
proceedings. except to move their adoption.
Mr. W. BENNETT seconded the adoption of the pro-
ceedings, and, in doing so, said that he felt it to be his
duty to mike a few remarks on one point contained in the
minutes. He alluded to the ap

a committee of inquiry.
The amendment was then altered as suggested, after
which it was passed.

Dointment of two c

men. On the 7th of January last, on looking at the
minutes, they found that it had been moved by Mr. Hod-
son, and seconded by Mr. Langsdale, that Mr. Freme be
chairman of the Water Committee. That was the whole
business which had been done that day. in fact it was a
day of great confusion in the Water Committee.

Mr. inomsoN.:—There is nothing new in that ; it is
Llways so in the Water Committee. _ _

Mt. BENNETT, in continuation, said that he himself
had taken an active part in t

ay'syroceec

was most anxious to see Mr. Procter in his proper place,
as chairman of the Water Committee. He bad many
motives for desiring that he should fill that situation.
He was well calculated by his knowledge, his experience,
I I and his acumen to guide that committee. He was a gen-

tleman of such high honour and integrity, t
in the committee could place confidence
real minute of the committee resolved that Henry Gordon
Harbord should be chairman of the Water Committee;
that Mr. Freme should be chairman during his illness ;
and that he (Mr. Bennett) should be deputy-chairman.
In this way things went on till the death of Mr. Harbord
occurred, when a vacancy occurred in the presidency of
the committee. It was moved that Mr. Preston should be
chairman, when an amendment that Mr. Freme sLould be
appointed was proposed. On this occasion the votes were
equal, and he, as chairman, considered that he had the
right ofgiving a casting vote. This was disputed : the
Town-clerk was referred to, and he brought in the stand-
ing orders of '46 or '47, instead of those of '49, by which
it appeared that he (Mr. B.) had not the power, as
chairman, of giving a casting vote. When he (Mr. B.)
read the standing orders of '49, he found that an error
had been made, and that he had the power of giving_ a

hat every man

casting vote. This he mentioned to the Town-clerk,
who regretted that he had overlooked the standing orders,
and advised that a fresh meeting of the committee should
be held. This he objected to; but a subseqeent meeting
was held, and the result was that Mr. Procter was elected.
He (Mr. B.) voted against Mr. Freme, and he did so,
first, because he had heard serious doubts expressed as to
the soundness of his views on the water question.

Mr. TURNER.—I call you to order, sir.
Mr. T. L. HODSON hoped that Mr. Bennett would be
allowed to go on.
The MAYOR.—It is astonishing that gentlemen will
not be in order; but gentlemen seem to-day to think that
there should be no order.

Mr. PICTON thought that Mr. Bennett was not stating
what was relevant to the point.
Mr. BENNETT, in continuation, said that his great
reason for opposing Mr. Freme was because he had
altered the minutes of the proceedings of their committee
to suit his own views; and in support of this statement,
the worthy Councillor read the following as the minutes
of the committee in question :

MINUTES OF WATER COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS, AS PASSED
AT THE COMMITTEE, AND ENTERED UPON THE COPY OF
THE ROUGH DRAFT.
Resolved,—That Henry Gordon Harbord, Esq., be, and he
is hereby appointed, chairman of this committee."
Resolved,—That William Purser Freme, Esq., be chairman
of this committee until the health of Mr. Harbord will enable
him to take the chair, and that William Bennett, Esq., be
deputy-chairman."

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AS ALTERED BY MR. FREME,
AND ENTERED IN THE MINUTE BOOKS OF THE COM-

MITTEE,

Henry Gordon Harbord, Esq., late chairman of the water
committee, being unable, from illness, to attend to public bu-
siness,

" Resolved,—That William Purser Freme, Esq., be chairman
of this committee, and that William Bennett, Esq., be deputy-
chairman."

He had a great objection to having a gentleman who
could so act Chairman of the Water Committee, and,
therefore, he had opposed him. He should tell them
that this alteration had since been rectified ; but that
had only beet, done when he (Mr. Bennett) threatened to
bring the matter before the Council. From recent mat-
ters which had occurred, be felt it to be his duty to lay
these facts before the Council as a justification for the
course which he had adopted. If what he stated as truth
was denied, he would call for a Committee of Enquiry to
investigate the whole circumstance.
Mr. FREME, in reply, asked if the Town-clerk would
state the facts of the case.
The TOWN-CLERK. said that he had not the rough draft
of tole minutes at present, but he would go and find them.
After a lapse of a few minutes, the Town-clerk returned,
and said that he bad found the original paper of the mi-
nutes, and that the words pro tern. were entered in the
handwriting of Mr. Freme, who explained to him that as
the resolution originally stood, it was a paradox. Mr.
Harbord was chairman, and Mr. Freme was also chair-
man, whilst the standing order 3 authorised the appoint-
ment of one chairman only. At the same time, Mr.
Freme distinctly told him that his object was to have the
matter set right, and in accordance with the views of the
committee ; that he was to be merely a temporary chair-
man, and that:as such hewa-s desirous of avoiding a conflict
with the standing orders. With reference to the other
alteration noticed, that had been made by himself (the
Town-clerk). He could assure them, on his honour, that
such was the fact.

This explanation seemed perfectly satisfactory to the
Council; and after some discussion, in which Messrs.
Hodson and Parker took part,
Mr. A. F. JONES said he believed that Mr. Freme had,
on all occasions, conducted himself as a gentleman whilst
in that chair ; but he did think that from the long expe-
rience which he had been informed Mr. Procter possessed,
he felt bound to give him his support in committee. He
could only say that he never had nor never would be
mixed np in any cabal.—(Hear, hear.) He would always
so far as in his power, give an honest and conscientious
vote, irrespective of all party or personal considerations.
—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. FRE= entered into his defence, stating that in
all he bad done he was actuated by nothing but a desire
to throw oil upon the troubled waters. He defied any
gentleman to say that he had done anything which could
be reckoned derogatory to him as a gentleman or a man
of honour. (Applause.)
The matter then dropped, after which
A memorial from James Mr. M`Donald, relative to a
portion of his salary during the time when he was under
suspension, and giving an epitome of the history of the
water question, was read by the town-clerk.
_ -

Richard Harbord

Mr. PROCTOR then moved that Mr
be appointed a member of the Water Comm
The motion having been seconded by

LANGSDALE moved

seconded the ar

,nd Mr. I

r. BENNETT

ntment of Mr. Fernihough

The vote

having been taken, the numbers were,

For Mr. Fernihough
For Mr. Harbord....

Majority

The annexed is the vote
For Mr. Harbord—Councillors

J. Wi

Mr. *RODGER' S asked whit was the amount claimed ?

Alderman COOPER said that in the proceedings of the
Water Committee he found that the re-appointment of a
water assessor was contemplated. He was a member of
that committee when Mr. M'Donald scab appointed ; but
he believed that there was at present no such situation
vacant. He was quite satisfied that no such situation
was required under the Water Committee. Mr. M`Donald
stated that during the year he had only 120 cases, and
that his berth was a complete sinecure. In conclusion, ho
would move that the proceedings of the water committee,
except that portion which referred to the filling up of the
situation of assessor, be adopted, and that there be a
committee appointed to investigate the whole bearings of
the case. _

Mr. PICTON, in reply, said that in the appointment the
Water Commi had acted under the advice and counsel
,of the borouglMngineer. With respect to what Mr.
MiDonald may have done, he did not know a word.
Mr. HORNBY asked if the engineer bad considered Mr.
M`Donald competent for the situation ?

M. AcTorr.—Certainly.
Mr. SENNETT confirmed the observation of Mr. Pieton.
Mr. HOUBON said that the borough engineer had teki
him the contrary.
Mr. -Hormel- was swprised at the observations of Mr.
Picton, because he bad heard the very contrary from the
Borough Engineer,
Mr. DAYAD IloPosox ,sai,i that he was much surprised

.2161,

also. 'He seconded the amendment of Mr. Cooper. lie THEATRE R 0 Y A L.—MR. MA CR EADY' b.
was far from being anxious of coming to a wrong conclu- FAREWELL ENGAGEMENT.
sion on this point or any other, but he could not help
observing that, whilst he disclaimed all party feeling, it
would be right that there should be a full and perfect The attendance last night to hear Mr. Macread
examination of the whole circumstances of the case. With peevrefrosrananwoacniencueopiuoerdf.T"hTMeahatecrebpeßitthoiaals.
crammed
Not a seat in the boxes
regard to Mr. M`Donald's case. he thought it right that
there should also be an investigation, because there were
many points connected with his conduct which had never was u almost uncom-
been explained. (Order.) He (Mr. H.) would ask if he fortably ; and even the wings of the house were filled
was in order. with most respectable occupants. ^"
The MAYOR.—Oh, you may go on, we have not been fourth estate were fain to be -
in order all day.

was the most crowded we

The membe

:ommodated with se

of the

Mr. D. Hoi)GsoN thought:that they should have some- the orchestra ; and begrudged not the
thing on the books to shew that an examination of the case theirate
dsittation in their satia,
had taken place. He had been informed that at the very
mate
time when he was said to be indisposed, he (Mr. M`D.)
was known to be at a convivial meeting in Chester. (Oh ! and the enterprise of
oh !) The play
Mr. T. L. HonsoN.—l am authorized to state the name by Mr. Macready was, in parts, full of those pec
of the party who saw him.
points in which he wins upon an audience. Sti]
Alderman HODGSON said that this bore the character of
such a job as he was not prepared to sanction. cannot say that it is a character in which he shines.
After a few words from T. L. Hodson, reading of rt. nn .f •

fronised on

s " Macbeth

marred by his melo

ction at seeing the lea

lessee r

as it of

dramatic rendering of c

At the late hour, howeve

a :critique upon
Mrs. 1;

Le] perfo

xner's Lady

facbeth NA
The

table impersonation

s throe

T pas-

ghout an ini

:haracter was an[

We never eaw her to greater advant

piece was well got up, and the music most effecti

SALE OF

CURIOUS CARTHAGE'

~UITtES