The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-11-03 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
At the special meeting of the Council, on Wednesday,
a further sum of £l,OOO was ordered to be paid to defray
the additional expenses incurred at the time of Prince
Albert's visit to Liverpool.
Mr. EARLE complained of the conduct of the Royal
Insurance Company in having demanded the exorbi-
tant sum of £2,650 for giving up about forty square ,
yards of land, at the corner of North John-street and '
Dale-street, for purposes of public improvement. He
contrasted their demand with the liberal conduct of Mr.
George Holt, who declined an offer of £1,074 from the
Corporation at the time he erected India-buildings in
Water-street, and granted public accommodation in that
locality. He moved that it be an instruction to the Fi-
nance Committee to do all in their power to arrange mat-
ters amicably with the company, taking care to offer a fair
price, and then, if that offer were refused, to give notice
that the land would be taken at the valuation of a jury.—
Mr. HORSFALL, as one of the directors of the Royal In-
surance Company, begged to second the motion. He
said he was one of those who thought the improvement
of the town of far greater consequence than the private
interests of any company ; and, in justice to some of his
colleagues on the board of directors, he must say that
they were of a similar opinion.—Mr. BooKER was willing
that Mr. Holt should receive that weed of commendation
to which be was justly entitled; but he (Mr. Booker)
bad given up no fewer than 60 yards of land, in front of
the Old Dispensary in Church-street, and never sought
for a penny in the shape of compensation for it. He
then defended the conduct of the Royal Insurance Com-
pany. and said that they had given up 16 yards of land in
Princes-street, without having received any compensa-
tion.—Mr. Earle's motion was unanimously adopted,
and the proceedings were confirmed.
The Watch Committee recommended that 63 first-class
constables be appointed from the general body of the
force, at the rate of 21s. per week each ; that these first-
class constables wear a V above the armlet as a mark of
good conduct, and as a stimulus to others to seek promo-
tion ; and that they be reduced to the lowest rank if ever
found in a state of intoxication. The thanks of the com-
mittee were voted to Mr. James Lawrence for his zeal
and valuable exertions, as chairman, during the past year.
The proceedings were confirmed.
In reply to a question from Alderman Horsfall, the
Town-Clerk stated that the whole of the property for the
improvement of Parker-street had been purchased, and
that the tenants were under notice to quit in March.—ln
reply to Mr. Chalmer, he said that that portion of Rich-
mond-row which lies between Soho-street and Fox-street
was not embraced by the act.
It appeared from the proceedings of the Markets Com-
mittee, that the validity of the by-law for the early clo-
sing of the markets bad been fully argued before the sti-
pendiary magistrate, and that under the advice of the
Town-Clerk the committee had come to the following
resolution—that it was expedient, under existing circum-
stances, to revert to the hours for closing which were in
force previously to the passing of the new by-law. namely,
eleven o'clock on Saturday night, and eight on every
other night of the week.
Mr. RATHBONE regretted very much indeed that this
was the determination of the Markets Committee. He
was convinced that, if the early hours had been perse-
vered in, some of the shopkeepers who had interfered
with the people in the markets would have been compel-
led to close their concerns within reasonable and proper
time. When they heard, as they did, so much about the
desecration of the Sabbath, he was surprised the public
did not recollect that if a man was to be up about two or
three o'clock of a Saturday morning, and could not get
to rest until one or two on the Sunday morning, which
was frequently the case, he would be quite incapable of
Performing the duties of the Sabbath. It was said that
one publican hackmenly boasted that, between the hours
of seven and ten o'clock of a Saturday night, he was in
the habit of taking £2O in tv:openny nips. (A laugh.)
Snips or nips they called them.
Mr. JAMES LAWRENCE said it was not the wish of the
committee that the late hours of closing should be again
reverted to, but circumstances had arisen which obliged
them to come to that conclusion. The time would pro-
bably arrive when the Council would be enabled to carry
out their views to the fullest extent with reference to early
closing.
The MAYOR said the subject was only under suspense.
Further and fuller investigation would be made, and it
would be brought forward again during the course of the
next municipal year.
The TOWN-CLERK read a resolution passed at a meet-
ing of Assistant Tradesmen, held at the Concert Hall, on
Tuesday night, in which they hailed with enthusiasm the
early closing of the markets, and expressed a hope that
the Council would adhere to the new by-law, and keep
the markets closed.
The report of the special committee to consider a ge-
neral comprehensive plan for the improvement of the bo-
rough merely recapitulated the powers they possessed.
The Town-clerk had been so much engaged with impor-
tant and serious subjects, that it was found impossible to
mature any plan of improvement in time for the ap-
proaching session of parliament. It expressed a hope
that the committee would be re-appointed. at the com-
mencement of the new municipal year, and that the in- ,
habitants would allow themselves to be rated, in order
that great public improvements might be carried out,
particularly in the outskirts of the town. Mr. Parker
hoped the committee would not be re-appointed, because
it now appeared certain that they could not do anything
unless they laid a rate upon the trading inhabitants of the
borough. It was all very well for the council, most of
whom lived out of the borough, to be talking of levying a
11 tax, because it would not fall on their own shoulders, but
he, as one of the representatives of the burgesses, pro-
tested against the levying of additional rates upon the
trading portion of the community. The report was
adopted after Mr. Rathbone had stated that the com-
mittee ought to have been appointed a century since.
theylh' eimprovements
been
eee made
ei n y
eay
sbeforeLord-street
tchoesyt
w£oleslod,ooho, and
avebeeinf
done for much less.

The Committee for securing a supply of water reported
that several plans had been brought before them, though
it would be inexpedient to enter into details, but they re-
commended that the Town-clerk should be authorised to
take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the
standing orders for an application to parliament on the
subject next session. The report was adopted, after se-
veral members had expressed dissatisfaction at its vague-
ness. _

The MAYOR then read communications from Viscount
Hardinge, G.C.8., Governor-General of India; Lord
Gough, G.C.8., Commander-in-chief in India; and Sir
Henry George Smith, j3art., K.C.8., acknowledging the
receipt of the vote of flunks of the Council of the 6th of
May last.
They were received with applause, and, upon the mo-
tion of Mr. Turner, ordered to be entered on the mi-
nutes.

A memorial from Messrs. Spence and Co., of Liver-
pool, offering to furnish designs for the embellishments of
the south portico of St. George's Hall, was referred to
the committee.

Communications were read from Ennis and Killaloe,
praying for some relief for the famishing poor of Clare
and Limerick. A letter was also read from Lord John
Russell, in reply to one from the Mayor, stating that
the best mode of alleviating the miseries of the Irish peo-
ple was to distribute any money subscribed by individuals
through the relief committee. It was understood that the
Council could not subscribe out of the corporate funds;
but the Mayor intimated his willingness to preside at a
town's meeting, if presented with a requsition to that
effect.

Mr. HORSFALL here rose and said, be had never risen
to discharge a duty which was more congenial to his own
feelings than the one assigned to him that day. The pe-
riod of Mr. Hodgson's mayoralty was drawing to a close;
and whatever might have been the sanguine expectations
of his friends at the commencement of it, or the appre-
hensions of those to whom, out of the chair, he was pub-
licly exposed, he (Mr. Horsfall) was sure no one would
hesitate to award to the Mayor that vote of thanks which
his zeal, ability, and imrartiality in the chair so richly
deserved. (Hear, hear.) Happily for Mr. Hodgson, the
period of his mayoralty had passed over without any of
those troubles or trying times which had marked the cha-
racter of that of some of his predecessors ; and he had to
look back, as a most important feature of his mayoralty,
to that event which brought the illustrious consort of our
Queen to the town of Liverpool. Circumstances pre-
vented him (Mr. Horsfall) from being permitted to take
part in the festivities on that occasion, but from those
who were present he learned, and, from the approbation
with which our Sovereign had marked his conduct, he was
sure he was justified in saying, that no individual in that
Council, or out of it, could have discharged the onerous
duties devolving upon him with greater dignity or greater
propriety than had Mr. Hodgson. (Applause.) And he
must take this opportunity of expressing what was felt
out of doors—that the thanks of the town were due to the
Mayor and the Prince's Committee for the admirable ar-
rangements which on that occasion prevented. under Pro-
vidence, any accident from occurring, notwithstanding
the assemblage of thousands and tens of thousands, who
came to visit that auspicious event. (Applause.) He
begged to move a cordial vote of thanks to the Mayor for
his able, zealous, and impartial conduct as chief magis- '
trate of the borough.
Mr. JOHN SHAW LEIGH seconded the motion, which
was put and carried nem. con.

The MAYOR said be could not but feel deeply grateful
for this mark of their approbation, at the close of his year
of presiding there. He felt it very sensibly, indeed, he
could assure them. He highly esteemed the great honour
they conferred upon him by placing him in the chair ; but
he entered upon the duties under a sense of the deep re-
sponsibilities, and the contingent liabilities to which he
might be exposed. As bad been very justly observed, the
responsibilities had been in point of fact nothing. They
had enjoyed a calm throughout, and without much re-
sponsibility, certainly the year had not passed without
distinction. He would not receive any undue share of
of the compliment paid to himself, for much of it was
justly due to the Prince's Committee, by whom he was
assisted. (Hear.) He had been most efficiently assisted ;
and happy was he to think that his conduct had been
viewed as impartial, and from the observation he had been
constantly able to make, that he was supported by the
Council, irrespective of any party opinions whatever.
(Hear.) He felt that the dignity of the chair was never
in danger when the gentleman possessing it endeavoured
to conduct himself impartially and fairly. Let what
would pass elsewhere, there was a love of fair play in the
Council ; and every man there who conducted himself as
a gentleman was sure to meet with respect. He had not
desired distinction for himself ; many of his friends knew
not ; but he certainly was anxious that they should be
distinguished as a body holding the high position they did.
They had supported their interests in supporting the
chair ;be was proud of having been placed in the situa-
tion ; and be could not wish a better wish to his succes-
sor than to pray that he might receive the same support
from the Council that be (the Mayor) had received dur-
ing the whole of his mayoralty. (Applause.)
The Council adjourned at half-past two o'clock.