The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-01-07 00:00:00

THE POWDE4t MAGAZINES,

Mr. BroxAm, before the proceedings of the committee were
confirmed, wished to say. that the credit of their having
£15,000 as a surplus fund for the ensuing year, belongedrin
a groat measure, to the Watch Committee, by whose economi-
cal management there had been saved to the Corporation
something like £7,000 or £S,OOO per annum ; thus making the.
difference between the .e7,000,0f last year, and the £15,000 ,of
the present. He then referred to the Powder Magazines, and
wished to know whether the Finance Committee were really
and truly wishful to remove this great danger from the town.
He trusted that the letter from Sir George Grey might be read.
Mr. HORNBY said that he had never recorded Sir George
Grey's letter on the proceedings of the Finance Committee,
and he thought it undesirable to do so. He was of opinion
that the alarm upon the subject was greatly exaggeratal.
(Hear, hear.) He assured the Council, however, that when-
ever the committee could take any definite step in the matter,
they would bring forward such a proposition to the Council,.
After a long conversation with regard to the propriety of the
letter being read, the MAYOR said that, on Saturday last, ,he
received a communication from the Home-office, which, he
thought, would show that the Finance Committee were actively.
engaged in settling this important question. Individually, he
was of opinion that any disclosure of their proceedings would
lead to most unfortunate consequences :—(hear, hear)--and
that, at present, it was exceedingly desirable that the Finance
Committee should not be interrupted in their negociations,
with the Government, as they would be, undoubtedly, if the,
required disclosures were conceded.

Mr. BIaHAM intimated that he was willing to withdraw his
request for the production of the letter, if could have an
assurance from the Chairman of the Finance Committee that
they intended, bona fide and absolutely, to carry out the re-
solution of the Council, that the question should he settled by
the remo% al of the magazines.
Mr. HORNBY remarked, that if the deputation were tot go
for the sole purpose of havinr, the magazines removed, he,for
one, would not be upon the deputation at all.
Mr. BIOHAM then againasked whether the Chairman of the
Finance Committee wohld state that the ultimate intention
•f the Committee was the removal of the magazines.
Mr. HORNBY.—Certainly not.
sir. DIGIIIAM replied, that he and others would now be con-
firmed in the opinion that there was an intention, on the Part
of the Finance Committee, to swamp or stave off the question
altogether.

The MAvon.—l cannot allow you, Mr. Bigham, to impute
such unworthy motives to the committee. There is no such

intention. It is wounCing our honour to tell us that we desire
to swamp the question. The disposition of the Finance Com-
inittee is to do their duty to the public. (Cheers.)
Mr. BIGHANI said be had not the slightest intention. to cast
reflections, and that he must bow, of course, to the rebuke of
the Mayor. He would ask the Town-clerk whether he could
not, as a member of the Council, demand the reading of that
letter? He knew its contents were talked about elsewhere,
and tolerably well known.

The TOWN-CLERK having given it as his opinion that the
compliance with Mr. Bigham's wish would most seriously pre-
judice the interests of the Council, Mr. Bigham consented to
withdraw his proposition entirely. The Town-clerk further
said that it was the intention of the Finance Committee, so
soon as the whole matter had been arranged, but before any
thing was finally concluded upon, to lay the letter, concerning
which the discussion had been arranged, and also other docu-
ments in relation to the question, before the Council for their
decision. (Hear.)
The proceedings of the Finance Committee were then con-
firmed.

Mr. HORNBY moved the adjournment of the Council. The
motion was seconded ana carried, to-morrow morning
being fixed for the transaction of the large amount of business
which remaii.ed upon the paper, and which comprises the pro-
ceedings of the Watch, Lighting, and Fire Police and Fire Pre-
vention Committees ; the Dock Committee ' • Improvement.
Committee; Courts of Law and George's-hall Committee ;
Education Committee ; Health Committee • Water Commit-
tee ; Church Expenditure, Library and duseum, Juvenile
Offenders, and'other Committees.