The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-11-12 00:00:00

Nov. 12, 1844.

MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.

On Saturday, at twelve o'clock, the first meeting of the
new Town Council took place at the Town Hall.
ELECTIOF MAYOR.
The MAYOR said that i twas hardly necessary for him
to inform the Council that their business was to elect a
Mayor for the ensuing year.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE then rose and said he begged
to propose, as candidate for that office Mr. Alderman
James Lawrence—a gentleman who had 'had the honour
of a seat in the Council ever since the municipal corpora-
tions' act came into operation ; and lie thought he might
Mention that during the heat of political excitement which
then prevailed, Mr. Lawrence was then elected by both
tTrties, Whig and Tory, as a Councillor for Great
Forge's Ward, and that he had discharged his duties as
Chairman of the Watch Committee not only with great
credit to himself, but by so doing he had gained the ap-
probation of his colleagues in the Council, and he believed
of the public at large. (Hear.) He (Mr. Lawrence)
might speak from his own observation on that subject, but
ee preferred rather to refer to a vote of the Watch Com-
mittee, which had been read at the last meeting of Council.
(Hear.) He
(Mr. Lawrence) had therefore every confi-
dence that Alderman Lawrence would preserve the rights
chiefrivileges of the Corporation, and in his character of
magistrate would maintain its dignity. He had,
therefo
. re, great pleasure in proposing him as Mayor for
the ensuing yeat. (Cheers.)
.Mr. ASPINALL seconded the proposition, which he did
with great satisfaction, as, from the zeal and ability Mr.
Lawrence had exhibited in his career in the Watch Corn-
14ittee, he could recommend him to the consideration of
,?.?r and intelligence, the Council, because he would fill the duties of Mayor with
al
for the good of the town at large.
He was, moreover, a great contributor to the different
Public charities; and
he was sure he would devote the
whole of his time and ability to the interest of the inhabi-
tants.
He seconded the nomination
t,,
Mr. D. HODGSON said he did not know whether he
should be out of course in making an observation, but bought it was a question in which every member of
ace "111161 might with great propriety express his opi-
ei'lml• He thought it was better, then, to inquire how
e detail of the mayoralty would be conducted rather
than make observations at the period of its close, which
!eight, in some measure, seem rather to partake of flat-
ttery than
sound
member judgment, but when they had an oppor-
tunity of stating what they really believed, and what had
come under their observation as to the conduct of a
to it,
of the Council, it was only right to give expres-
sionHe believed that Mr. Alderman Lawrence,
/9wlhlPhad from the first maintained all those principles
lee were dear to the great majority of the Council,
would
not waver in his conduct, but continue to support
bit
Principles, whilst at the same time he would exhi-
Mt a just consideration for those who differed with him.
Thad, therefore, great pleasure in supporting the elec-
of Mr. Lawrence. (Cheers.)
San e motion being put and carried unanimously, Mr.
rends then resigned the keys of his office to Mr. Law-
Theand complimentedcomplimented him upon his appointment.
resSedoß having ten taken the usual oaths, ad-
dressed the Council as follows: —He returned thanks for
the high and distinguished honour the Council had con-
anoPon himhonour of which he felt proud, an
f
leh he assured them he could appreciate as much as
ly one could do. He had had a seat in that Council or
rime
Years, and during that period he had discharged the
reties of his office to the best of his abilities, and with
ti;dgnient, faithfulness, and zeal, and he trusted that in
do new office he should continue to do so. In order to
that he ust ask the aid and suort of the members
of the Counmcil, and with that aid h ppe
trusted he should
conduct the business of he Council with credit to him-
(e Tf and to the satisfaction of the community at large.o
PPlause.) His worship then said that the next busi-
ts. Was to supply the places of the retiring Aldermen.
'lr THOMAS BRANCKER.—Mr. Mayor, I wish you
rd orni n g . [Sir Thomas here left the room, merely
theare being lion,eth purpose of remaining outside while his own elec-
w and that of others in the place of retiring Aldermen,
ret.rr c g proceeded with. We may remark, that, with
option of the Mayor, Sir Thomas was the only
4,111.1 g Alderman present.]
aria aer,e,euncil then proceeded to the election of aldermen
deo - the voting papers being duly examined, the Mayor
theraerte,d the following gentlemen unanimously elected,
eing no other nominations :—Mr. James Lawrence
mr.)?r), Sir Thomas Brancker, Mr. David Hodgson,
sw .delln Shaw Leigh, Mr. Thomas Sands, Mr. Anthony
PteatmitashMr• Thomas Berry Horsfall, and Mr. William
Sir Tho Y.
then usbeMos Brancker and Mr. Anthony Swainson were
newi red into the room by Mr. B rkett. All the
_ y-eiected Al
Horsfall and Aldermen with the exception of Messrs.
tested
took the u Itushby, who were not in attendance, here
by ZalTdoelaration, and had their signatures at-
-. ,r,uehn Holmes and Mr. Hugh Horiaby.
tleman to fill the
Sir THamALI34.!ITMENY OF TOWN-CLERK.
NCKER said he tose to propose a gen-
ele '
bat%ron he trusted office of Town-Clerk, whose
, would be met with unanimous appro-
that 11,• h (Hear') He (Sir T. Brancker,) might state
e ad the good fortune of introducing the gentleman
ll.r.Few.as about to propcse into the service of the borough.
believed it was his casting vote, as magistrate, which
thyappointed him clerk to the magistrates, and from that
to the present lie had felt increasing satisfaction at
thy
vote he then gave; for every year had satisfied him
more and more of the talent, zeal, and ability displayed
by Mr. Shuttleworth. (Hear, hear.) He (Sir T.
Brancker) had only been a member of the Council for
two years and a .half, but during that period, he had seen
.n'tich of the business performed by the Town-Clerk,
both here and in London; and without referring to what
fallen
Was past, he would say a very undue share of labour had
Those genlem on
tthe shoulders of Mr. Shuttleworth. (Hear.)
en who had been on deputations to London
awnOT td'
the boo he t
in
vouch for Mr. Shuttleworth's tact
,alent in the parliamentary business connected with
e borough
He (Sir Thomas Brancker) had been there
frequently, and could say that Mr. Shuttleworth's anxiety
for the welfare of this Corporation, and his diligence and
briperseverance in performing his duties, were above all praise.
ear, hear.)
To twbn e . He would not longer detain the Council,
gCgleedr kt urnlot hv eatshaaltarMy
or.f Shuttleworth be appointed
Mr. JOHN ,000 a-yeared in( . leers.
SHAW LEIGH fully concurr all that bad fallen from Sir Thomas Brancker, and had great
pleasu
Mr.re in seconding his proposition.
BRAatLEY-IldooßE remarked that he did not
Wish to raise any opposition to Mr. Shuttleworth, whom
.. considered a fit and proper person to fill the office of
tewn-C1 erk ; but he wished to know what was the inten-
rn of the Council as to a separation of the office of
voce'/Zen-Clerk, Prosecuting Solicitor, and Clerk of the
because that would make some difference as to his
because
the question of salary.
.o,LWhilst Mr. Moore was speaking, Mr. Horsfall, one
toile newly-elected Aldermen, here entered the room
'Aqua l loud cheers, and was introduced by Mr. Hodgson.
tlernasnubsequent stage of the proceedings, the former gen-
took the usual declaration.]
Mr.
LACE
so e sted that Mr. Shuttleworth should be
permitted to begpgresent, as there did not appear to be any
opposition to his appointment, which was agreed to.
Mr• ArsaN and several Councillors rose to speak to a
Point of form, the question of dividing the offices,
Upon -ID, as to
hickw Sir Thomas Brancker agreed to amend as
fellows
" Tha Mr. Shuttleworth be appointed To
of this borought and Solicitor to the Corporation
with a salary of £2,000 a year, with the necessary clerks
for the
discharge of the duties."
Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE rose to propose an amendment.
ne wished to have a proper division of labour. If the
,Prosecuting solicitor's office be made to merge into the
Town-Clerk, the duties of both would not be efficiently
Zed properly dischargedsupport of this position
lateeneed only state the increase which had taken place of
,n, Years. In 1837, the number of prosecutions was 353,
and in 1843 they had increased to 614. A committee ap-
pointed to investigate the duties of the paid officers had
made a report to this council recommending a division
o.wf labour. (hear, hear.) The reception of that report
as moved by Sir Thomas Brancker. and received the
sanction of the Council. Mr. G. H. Lawrence had also
Qapressed a warm approval of the scheme, and only cor-
plains
d that the committee had treated the subject as it
reght to be, and not as it really existed. The lamented
ath of the late Town-clerk had now given them an
oatiPpdortunitY of treating the subject as it ought to be ;
tha he should, in support of his own opinions, remark
the. t the scheme had received the most direct approba-
of the late Town-Clerk. Mr. Shuttleworth also,
s 13eputy Town-Clerk, that iven his opinion on this
eu.lect, and he thought that opinion ought to have
rr,W7ight with the Council on the present occasion. Mr.
ava—,l4.llo,eY-Moore then read extracts from Mr, Shuttle-
ne-`‘e s statement, in which he said that it wes absolutely
which -cessarY that some arrangement should be made by
t some person should always be in the office compe-
bent to advise and confer ; and that, from his experience.
fromewas,of opinion that the principal ought to be relieve.d
reaa tne details of business, and employ himself in di-
an-rillf others, and seeing those directions carried out ;
than
Shuttleworth had also declared that the scheme
thee Proposed—the scheme which he (Mr. Moore) was
d en advocating—was the best that could be possibly
havised• He moved, as an amendment, "That there
ta 11 be three distinct appointments of different persons
a°n(tih..e offices of Town. Clerk, of Solicitor of Prosecutions
l'in'easing, and of the Clerk of the Peace."
Kir• limsflAw seconded the amendment.
Clerkr. A.
LACE said no such office as Deputy Town-
cipac or Prosecuting Solicitor, was named in the muni-
eutir, aet ; and as to such an officer having all the prose-
the "as, if any solicitor in the town chose to look after
Prosecutions, he might take every one from the
own-hall
Mr
Pr sa• ^nuTTLEwoRTn said the way in which all the
In co were given to the Prosecuting Solicitor, was
ofa, usequence of te magistrates binding over the chief
tie: of Police to prosecute ; and then the latter func-
Afrq consulted the Prosecuting Solicitor.
Putta; BtaRETT said the present was the proper time for
efacie&the
, legal officers of the Corporation. on a triot.
°fficera ~.,lecting. As to the recommendations of the Paid
!tate of ',,,ritnittee, they were given under a.very different
!air f,,,,TingS to what now existed ; and it. was hardly
kMr. ii•‘eua now to be tied to those sentiments. He
hue; trkett) had had a good deal to do with the legal
the (3'eetss of the Town-hall ; and he was quite satisfied that
efficie ter Plan was, to have one head over the whole, with
had satet clerks under him. (Hear, hear.) Any one who
Years ta on the Finance Committee during the last two
was must be convinced that the proposition now made
bovvrch the better plan. As Mr. Shuttleworth might
taught considered as the Town Clerk, he thought he
buC rain b Was, e asked what his opinion on the subject now
ate (Hear said,
in
.lonosoN said, that, having the greatest confidence
apeak, huttleworth, and he believed in saying so he was
cil ""ag in the Coun-
ery atmosphere of feeling in that .
the ,ear, heat!)—thev were in a position to deal. with
subject w'th
With r the utmost freedom ; and he disagreed
Mr. 131 kett as to the propriety of asking Mr. Shut-