The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-07-07 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

On Wednesday, the usual monthly mecting of the
Town Council was held, at the Town-hall.

The proceedings of the Finance Committee comprised
recommendations to appoint John Robinson as assistant
surveycir, in the room of Mr. Holt, deceased, and ofJohn
Bunbury, as temporary assistant surveyor, in the room of
John Robinson. In reply to a communication, the
committee stated that they would not be responsible for
any damage which might happen to the roof of the
Custom-house, if persons were permitted to stand upon
it during the time the foundation-stone of the'` Sailor's
Home" was being laid by his Royal Highness Prince
Albert.

The proceedings were confirmed.
.It appeared from the proceedings of the Dock Com-
mittee that, at a special meeting, the surveyor was
directed to construct the walls round the new north
docks, of sufficient strength to support warehouses, where
required. The proceedings were confirmed, it being un-
derstood some inquiry is to take place as to one of the
appointments at the Albert Dock warehouses, Mr. G.
H. Lawrence stating that he had a most serious charge
against one party, but, although of the same name, he did
not know whether it was the same party.
In reply to Mr. Robinson, Mr. M ANN said the whole
of the rates for porterage, cooperage, and warehousing,
were nearly ready, and, after being submitted to the
MBeistrates and Council, would be duly published.

Mr. EARLE said there was an intimation on the notice
piper that the proceedings of the Courts of Law and St.
George's Hall Committee would comprise a consideration
of the model, and an estimate for sculpture, for the south
pediment of the Assize Courts. This was put on the
notice paper, it being expected that the model would have
been down on Saturday ; but, in consequence of the
great press of business at the railway, 'Messrs. Pickford
did not send it off till Monday, and it was only put up
that morning. There were, therefore, no proceedings of
the Committee, but the Mayor had the estimate.

The model is a very beautiful piece of workmanship.
In the middle sits Britannia enthroned. On her left she
holds out the olive branch to the four quarters of the globe.
On her right she points the spear, as protecting her own
agriculture and arts. At her feet is Neptune. To the
left of Britannia, Ceres and Apollo are in a car, the
horses controlled by Discretion. Domestic Happiness is
represented by a labourer holding a plough, and his wife
a distaff, with a child at her feet. The Manufactures,
especially metallurgy, are figured by labourers at the
anvil, who have been employed in the fabrication of arms,
&c. To the right stands I'eece. Mercury presents
is urope. America, and Asia, and lastly, Africa on her
nd d knee, and with a young negro, acknowledges tho
liberty she owes to Britannia. There are other devices
which fill up the frontispiece, the number of figures being
thirty-two in all. The model is designed by Mr. C. R.
Cockerill.

The MAYOR read a letter stating that the execution of
the figures would cost £3500, in addition to which, the
store and sheds for-the-execution of the work, and the
raising them to their several places, would have to be
provided by the Council.
It was proposed that the letter sbould take the ordinary
course, and be referred to the committee.

Mr. BIRKETT objected to incurring the great expense,
and also to referring the letter to the committee. Great
addition had been made to the ordinary expenses of the
Corporation, this year, and even now they would go far
beyond their surplus revenue for the year. First, they
were told St. George's Hall would ccst £85,000. Already
it had exceeded double that sum, and " the Lord knows
where it will stop." As to the model itself, he was not a
good judge, and did not wish to say anything against it ;
but it appeared to him more fit for an academical building.
tie concluded by moving that it was illegal to expend the
sum of £3500 in ornamenting St. George's Hall when
so much remains to be accomplished for the benefit of the
inhabitants.

Mr. RATIIBONE seconded the motion. He said, it
would be in the recollection of the Council that, at the
time the design was first mentioned, he expressed a hope
that nothing would be done to place the Council in an
improper situation with Mr. Cockerill, for then, as now,
he objected to the expenditure of money in ornamental
work, and he thought the committee had gone out of their
way to place the Council in an improper situation. He
admitted the model to be a very handsome one, but they
had no right to ornament their public buildings, until the
town was in a very different state, in a sanitary point of
view, to what it was at present. All their funds would be
required to put the town in a proper state, and until that
was done, they could neither be liberal nor ornamental.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE stated that if the motion were
pushed to a vote he should supportit, because the surplus
income was already exhausted, and he had no right to
pledge any subsequent Council to expend its surplus in
ornamenting the ball.
Mr. H. HORNBY moved, and Mr. TURNER seconded,
an amendment, that Mr. Cockerell's letter be referred to
Courts of Law Committee to report to the Council.
The Council divided, when there appeared for Mr.
Hornby's amendment, 37 against it, 6; namely—For,
Messrs. Atherton, Shaw, Thornhill, Chalmer, Preston,
Hill, Middleton, Aikin, H. Hornby, Tinne, Henderson,
Stewart, Robinson, .G. Hornby, Royden, Reade,
Kilshaw, Higgins, Earle, Booker, Plumpton, Glaze.
brook, Jones, Mann, Lloyd, Houghton, Turner, Crook,
Molyneux, and the Mayor. Against, Messrs. Rathbone,
liola2es, Birkett, Lawreace, &wicker, and Swainson.