The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-04-23 00:00:00

LOCAL MEETINGS.

DocK COMMITTEE.—On Thursday last the Committee
held their usual weekly meeting. Mr. Molyneux pre-
sided. A communication was submitted to the committee
from the Bootle D spensary, praying that the dock trus-
tees would assist the funds of the institution, giving as a
reason that a number of dock labourers had participated
in its relief. Tt was thought that five guineas might be
voted. Mr. Tobin strongly opposed the suggestion, con-
tending that they had no money to spare. After some
further conversation, there being no motion proposed, the
matter was agreed to be referred to the Finance Commit-
tee.

FINANCIAL REFORM.—The annual meeting of the
" Financial Reform Association," was held at the Con-
cert-hall, on Tuesday, the attendance being miserably
small, the proceedings were totally devoid of interest.
Mr. W. Ronald was called to the chair, and was supported
by a small band of local platform orators. The annual
report, read by Mr. John Smith, " lamented the absence
of support adequate to enable them to carry out more
fully and efficiently the objects of the association." Ad-
dresses were delivered by Messrs. John Finch, F. Boult,
H. K. C!aypole, and John Smith; and a council was
appointed for the ensuing year.

THE WEST DERBY GTIARDIANS.—The weekly meet-
ing was held on Wednesday. Mr. Roskell was unani-
mously reelected chairman, and the Rev. Mr. Badnall,
vice-chairman. The committees for the ensuing year
were aprointed :—Finance Cammittee: Messrs. Bolshaw,
Edwards, Betteley, T. Smith, J. Smith, Tattersall, Al-
pass, M`Nicol, and the chairman. Visiting Committee :
Messrs. Dry. Joseph Harrison, J. Smith, Shaw, J. Birch,
Carter, Johnson, Tattersall, Jones, and Bunting. Nui-
sance Committee: Messrs. Jeffreys, W. Jones, Shaw, J.
Harrison, Coward, Bolshaw, Badnall, and Alpass. Out-
door Labour Test and Farm Committee: Messrs. J.
Birch, Sutton, Bolshaw, R. Rirch, J. Harrison, T. Har-
rison, Hyde, H. Edwards, J. Edwards, and John Birch.
Fever Hospital Committee; Messrs. Elias, Wilson, Dun-
ting, and T. Smith_

LIVERPOOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.—A special
meeting of the coulcil of the chamber was held on Tues-
day, Alderman T. B. Horstall in the chair. It was re-
solved that, as the objectionable clause in the new stamp
act had been withdrawn, the bill be no further opposed ;
that the council approves of the County Courts Extension
Bill,; that on the subject of postal communication with
Liverpool, the president be requested to confer with the
Post-office authorities ; and in reference to the Dock
Porters' Bill, the council, so far as the interest of the
chamber is concerned, see no objection to the adoption
of the following clause in that bill :—" Provided always
that the master porter appointed to discharge a vessel
shall in every case (except when he is the consignee of a
vessel) be himself a consignee of goods by the vessel
which he shall be so appointed to discharge."—A letter
was read from Mr. George Grain, complaining of the
new customs' regulation for boats and ships, which, he
states, will place all vessels of less than 170 tons burthen
under serious disadvantages. It was resolved that Mr.
Tomlinson and Mr. John Aikin should confer with the
Shipowners' Association on the subject.
THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.—At the usual weekly
meeting, on Thursday, (Mr. Parker in the chair,) 158
deaths were reported for the past week, being a decrease
of 22 as compared with the previous week. The falling-
off was chiefly in diseases of the lungs. A report was
read respecting the local rates, to the effect that the col-
lection of the rates for the past year had been very satis-
factory; that measures were taken to obtain prompt
payment in future ; that £5,000 annually, for paving and
sewering, should be charged to the borough fund—
namely, towards paving £4,900, and towards sewerage
£lOO. Other economical measures were also recom-
mended, and a statistical statement was submitted,
relative to rates, for Liverpool, Kirkdale, Everton, West
Derby, and Toxteth, as regards paving, sewerage, water,
and general rate, showing that the decrease this year, as
compared with the last, would be £22,122. In conclu-
sion, the Sub-committee observe that, in calculating the
above rates, every endeavour has been made to reduce
them to the lowest possible limit, with duo regard to the
works absolutely necessary to be done during the ensuing
year, and the staff of officers requisite to carry out the
various duties and works under the controul of the Health
Committee. The charge for the fire police is also to be
reduced from 4d. to 3d. A saving of £250 is also to be
effected, by paying the workmen in the employ of the
committee on Saturday, in place of on Friday afternoon,
by which latter system their work was lost for some
hours to the public on that day to the estimated amount
stated.

SELECT VESTRY.—The first general meeting of the
Select Vestry, as constituted by the recent election, was
held on Tuesday, the Rev. Rector Campbell in the chair.
Mr. Austin, Poor-law Commissioner, was present. A
discussion took place relative to the legality of a recent
special meeting, which had been convened to decide upon
certain contracts. The subject had been brought under
the notice of the commissioners by Mr. 'Woodruff, who
questioned the legality of the meeting, on the ground that
sufficient notice had not been given to the members of
the board. Mr. Austin gave it as his opinion that it was
not necessary in law to give any particular number of
days' notice of a special meeting before such meeting
could be legally held. If the rectors and churchwardens
considered a special meeting necessary, he believed they
had power to call it as speedily as possible. In fact, if
the rectors and churchwardens called a special meeting
in the morning, it might, by such a notice, be legally
held the same afternoon, if, indeed, a notice was at all
necessary. The folio wing committees were appointed for
the ensuing year :—Finance: Messrs. Cafferata, Came,
Earle, Hindley, Mellor, Whitby, and Woodruff; Work-
house : Messrs. Abraham, Savage,. Cafferata, Denton,.
Harbord, Whitby, and Shakeshaft; Industrial School
Messrs.. Blain, Johnson, Fairhurst, Gardner, Hodson,.
Wylie, apd ;, Medical Relief: Messrs. Abraham,,