The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-03-11 00:00:00

THE HERCULANEUM ESTATE

The confirmation of the Finance Committee's proceed-
ings having been read, Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE, in reply
to Mr. Moore, said that the Herculaneum Estate had not
been tendered to the Finance Committee.
THE PURCHASE OF THE GAS COMPANIES.

The Watch Committee reported that it was not desira-
ble for the Council to become the purchasers of the pow-
ers, rights, and interests of the two existing Gas Compa-
nies. The t,->tal sum named for the purchase amounted
nearly to £720,000. The committee thought the interests
of the town would be best promoted by an amalgamation
of the existing companies, who, by laying mains along the
streets in parallel lines, had incurred an enormous outlay,
and the committee rejoiced that both companies were as-
senting to the principle of amalgamation.
Mr. THOIVIPSON moved the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings.

Mr.-Honcsorr. moved, as an amendment, that the pro-
ceedings be confirmed, with the exception that it is re-
solved that the Council approve of the principle of the
amalgamation of the two gas companies, and that it be
referred to the committee to assist in carrying out the ar-
rangements necessary for that amalgamation, with such
stipulations and provisions for the public benefit as they
may think necessary, and that subject to the arrangement
of such amalgamation to the satisfaction of the committee,
it be an instruction to the committee to take such mea-
sures to oppose any bill before parliament for constituting
a third gas company in the borough, as the introduction
of such third company would be injurious to the public.
He stated that the door was not closed against the pur-
chase, but that in his opinion the risk to the corporate
funds by making it would be greater than the advantage.
Mr. NORTH seconded the amendment.

Mr. HORSFALL said that every member of the sub-
committee approached the subject with an anxious desire
to purchase the companies, but the evidence was so con-
clusive that there was not a dissentient voice among them
as to the undesirableness of making the purchase. If they
could accomplish the amalgamation of the two compa-
nies, and induce them to reduce the price from ss. to
45._6(1.,a general benefit would be conferred.

Mr. BRANCKER.-4s. Gd. is not enough.
Mr. HORSFALL.—The evidence led us to believe it was
enough. If we accomplish that, we shall accomplish more
than the Guardian Gas Company can do.
Upon a division, the amendment was carried by a ma-
jority of 24 to 14.

Ui,on the motion of Mr. HODGSON, a watch-rate of
one penny nine-tenths was laid upon Liverpool and the
out townships.

THE SHIP-BUILDING TRADE

Mr. MoonE, in moving the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings of the Dock Committee, said that so soon as the
stank was removed, vessels would be admitted into the
Albert Dock, and that the line of railway along the dock
quays would, as soon as possible, be commenced.
Mr. THOMPSON asked whether the Dock Committee
had had any offer of the Herculaneum Estate ?
Mr. MOORE was surprised that such a question should
have been asked. The Dock Committee had no power or
authority to buy. The estate, however, had never been
offered to them.

Mr. 11. HORNBY asked whether any representation had
been made by either Mr. Moore or the Dock Committee
to the Finance Committee, alleging the advantages that
might be derived from the purchase ?
Mr. MocutE thought it did not belong to the Dock
Committee to make any communication to the Finance
Committee. He certainly suggested to the owners of the
Herculaneum Estate to tender it to the Finance Commit-
tee, for the Dock Committee would be very desirous of
having it.
Mr. HORSFALL had no objection to see a dozen dock
companies iu the town, for the greater the competition
the better chance the public had of having low dock rates.
Mr. HoncsoN coincided in opinion with Mr. Horsfall,
and said be should be glad to see the docks leased.
Dir. NORTH said there was a subject of deep interest
cursorily alluded to in the proceedings of the Dock Com-
mittee—he meant the policy lately adopted on the part of
the committee towards the ship-builders of the port. Few
members of the council would ha prepared for the an-
nouncement, that ship-building, as a trade, was virtually
at an end in Liverpool ! (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BOOKER.—It's left Liverpool.
Mr. NORTH said, that by the single circumstance of
Mr. Wilson having been driven out of the trade, the town
sustained aloss to the extent of not less than £200,000 a-
year. He thought the Dock Committee had made a fatal
and most suicidal mistake, and that Mr. Wilson and the
shipbuilders generally were a very ill-used body of men.
Mr. ROYDEN said there never was a set of men so much
abused as the shipbuilders. They were driven from one
part of the town to another without a farthing of remune-
ration, and the fact was, they were nearly all extinguished,
and the merchants would soon find it out to their sorrow,
for there was no place now to teach apprentices their trade.
The Council seemed to have lost sight of what shipbuild-
ing was. They thought shipbuilders were like drapers,
who could carry all they had upon their backs.
Mr. nem. and Mr. MooRE defended the Dock Com-
mittee. The latter gentleman said that what was driving
the shipbuilding trade from Liverpool was the high wages
—the monopoly that was carried on here among the ship-
carpenters, who were receiving their ss. per day, and re-
fusing to work with men from Whitehaven and Maryp9rt,
where wages were from 3s. Gd. to 3s. Sd. The committee,
he observed, had treated Mr. Wilson with the greatest
possible liberality, and allowed him to have land at Is.
per yard for seven years, while all the other shipbuilders
were paying at the rate of Is. Gd. per yard.
The proceedings were confirmed, and the council ad-
journed until Friday.

The adjourned meeting was held on Friday.
The Courts of Law committee reported that the Assize
Courts would be covered in by Christmas next.

MARKETS COMMITTEE

Mr. Awls ALL moved that the proceedings should be
confirmed, and that the plans of a new pig market be re-
ferred to the Finance Committee.—Agreed to.
Mr. ASPINALL moved that the salary of Mr. Luya, the
superintendent of St. James's Market, be raised from
£l7O to £2OO per annum.
Mr. MIDDLETON seconded the motion.

Mr. TURNER said he should like to know the grounds
on which this advance was recommended. In the year
1812, on inquiry, an application was made to the council
to raise Mr. Luya's salary from £l5O to £lBO, and £l7O
was then thought sufficient. If in 1842,1170 was consi-
dered sufficient, he saw no reason why in 1814 the salary
should be raised to £2OO.

Mr. THORNHILL explained that the salnry of Mr. Luya
was £2OO, and it was understood that if he performed his
duties in a satisfactory- manner, he was to be raised.

Mr. BIRKETT and the M Avon both paid a high com-
pliment to the zeal and attention with which Mr. Luya
discharged his duty.
The increase in Mr. Luya's salary was then carried.
Mr. ASPINALL moved that the superintendent of St.
Martin's Market be also raised from £l6O to £2OO per
annum. In consequence of the inquiry which took place
when Mr. Grose's defalcations were discovered, the com-
mittee found that the corporation had been robbed to such
an extent that it was thought the wisest plan to appoint a
respectable man, and give him such a salary as would
place him above temptation. His duties, too, had been
increased ; lie had now to attend to the north Haymarket
and Pig Market.

Mr. Tuast,•n thought it very strange, supposing that
the salary of the St. James's Market keeper was not too
much, that the keeper of St. Martin's market, the receipts
of which were only half as much as those of St. James's,
should be entitled to as much. He moved that the salary of
Mr. Hutchinson be £l6O.

Mr. THORNHILL opposed it as an unprecedented and
unnecessary measure. It was a bad precedent to intro-
duce. If the committee who had recommended it had
been members of it for three years instead of three
months, he should have more confidence in their recom-
mendation.

Mr. KAYE paid a high compliment to the regularity