The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-12-10 00:00:00

lightful, and fully deserved the hearty, encore which it
elicited. Mr. Hudson acquitted himself extremely well
throughout, was warmly applauded, and a comic chant,
which he gabbled with much humour, was unanimously
redemanded. He also introduced an Trish song, ' Lazy
Looney,' the words of which, by Mark Lemon, are ex-
tremely clever. The poetry, too, of the air, " Where
trembling lotus flowers lie' (sweetly sung. by .Madame
Thillon) is remarkably pretty. There is a kind of Egyp-
tian warmth, a heavy picturesque sultriness; a dreamy
languor aoout its tone which is admirably characteristic.
The music, too, is appropriate and effective.- There was
an invisible pianist, personated by Mr. Edward Lader, to
whom the arrangement and composition of the music in-
cidental to the entertainment is to be ascribed: We need
not say that he has acquitted himself ably of his task."

TN! EITIMPOOL STANDARNo;

THE WATER QUESTIO

wile had t isplayed great moderation at Birkenhead, and did
not, as had been stated, strike the first blow.
Mr.. A. F. JONES, after paying a high compliment to the
police for their conduct at Birkenhead.; said that he meant to
offer a resolution to the effect that the,Council approved' of the
conduct of the police upon the occasion referred to.

The MAYOR thought that would be sufficiently,done by con-
firming the proceedings of the Watch Committee. Mr. Jonests
object would be attained by a unanimous confirmation of those
proceedings.
Mr. Jonas wished to go a little further. He should have
followed up that resolution by another,—that a certain amount
or reward should be given to the men who had suffered.
This remark led to an animated discussion regarding.the
time at which the second detachment of police went to Birken-
head, in which Messrs. Picton, Parker, and Tobin, took part;.
after which
Mr..T. H. TURNER said that the Birkenhead board of magis-
trates had resolved that the best thanks of that body should be
given to the police-constables, to Mr. Dowling, and to the offi-
cers and men engaged on the occasion of the riot.

Mr. DOVER inquired whether the Birkenhead people did not
intend to do something more than give them 'thanks ; let them
pay_their expenses.

Sir. Dover was assured that that would be done, and thepro,
ceedings of the committee were confirmed.
Mr. JONES then said he would move " That this council,
highly applauding the conduct of that portion of the police-force
whith was employed in endeavouring to• keep the peace ata
meeting of the Protestant ratepayers of Birkenhead, on Wed-
nesday, the 27th ult., and deeply sympathising in the sufferings-
of those men who were more or less wounded in the faithful
exercise of their duty against an infuriated mob, whilst it was
impossible to contend against such overwhelming numbers,
desires to convey its approbation to the men, and expresses a
hope that they may be able soon to return to that service on
which they have reflected such credit.

Mr. FERNIHOUGH seconded the motion,. and said it might
perhaps come well from him, who had on frequent occasions
questioned their conduct.
Mr. PROCTER said the police had already been thanked by
the magistrates and Commissioners of Birkenhead. That was
surely thanks enough.

Mr. CHARLES TURNER thought the police deserved every
commendation for what they had done ; but the voting of the
thanks of the corporation to them upon such'an occasion might
be a very awkward precedent. He hoped Mr. Jones would not
press a motion which, at a future time, might place the council
man awkward position. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. ROBINSON said the matter might be subject to an inquiry
in the Home•office, and such a motion nxighLtherefore put the
council into an awkward fix.
Mr. JONES then withdrew his motion.

In answer to Mr. PROCTER, who said that last year hepro•
posed that copies of the Municipal Reform Act should be• sent
to each new member of the council who might not have one,

The TOWN-CLERK said he last year applied to tbe Queeies
printers for copies of the act. It had formerly been printed in
a small form ; but that was out of print, and he was told it
would shortly be re-issued. However, could he not obtain the
small edition, he would get copies of the large one, and send
them out to the new members. •

Mr. LITTLEDALE, in moving that the proceedings of the
Dock Committee be confirmed, said that the parliamentary
committee, in accordance with the resolution of this Council of
the 11th ult., had given notice of their intention to proceed with
a bill to provide the vessels of the various docks with lights and
fires, subject to laws and regulations which the Dock Commit-
tee might, at a future period, determine; - to which they had
added some alterations in the present Dock Act, which were of
a legal character only, and which did not affect the trust in any
way, further than simplifying the delivery and sale of goods
deposited in the Albert Warehouses, and legalising the transfer
of the dock dues. The bill would be brought before the Coun-
cil, when they would be able to strike out any clause that might
be deemed objectionable. Mr. Hartley's report had better
come under discussion when he bad given to the Shipbuilding
Committee his ideas as to the mode in which the shipbuilding
and graving dock operations might best be carried out.
In answer to Mr. Hornby, Mr. LITTLEDALE said that the
bill would be in the printers' hands-in a few days.

After some remarks from Mr. S. HOLME 'relative to the
amalgamation of the various dock acts, the proceedings were
confirmed.

In moving the confirmation of the proceedings of the Im-
provement Committee, Mr. S. HOLME stated that they would
so n be without funds, but he-trusted that the Finance Com-
mittee would lend them some.

The proceccings of the St. George's Hall Committee were
confirmed, after a remark from Mr. S. HOLME that the build-
ing might really be readyfor public use by September next.
The proceedings of the Markets Committee, the Education
Committee, and the Gaol and House of Correction Committee,
were then confirmed and approved. With reference to the
latter, some conversation took place between Mr. Bighorn and
Mr. Hornby, relative to the wages of the officers and the
prices of articles supplied, Mr. HORNBY stating that when the
officers had been in the gaol a certain number of years they
were entitled to a certain increase; and he might state that
they had got their beef for 28s. per cwt., or 3d. per lb., while
at the Lunatic Asylum at Rainhill they had to pay 48s. per cwt.
In connection with the proceedings of the Town-hall Com-
mittee, Mr. BIOHAM said that if Hilton's picture of " The
Crucifixion" remained much longer in its present position it
would be entirely destroyed.
The MAYOR promised that Mr. Bighorn's observations should
be attended to ; after which the proceedings of the Health and
Gardens Committees were read and confirmed.

The proceedings of the Water Committee having been read,
a lengthy discussion took place on the subject of mortgaging
the cornorate estate, in the course of which
The TOWN-CLERK said,—" In my opinion, the lands, tene-
ments, hereditaments, &c., of the corporation are, by the act
itself, charged as collateral security for all moneys advanced
or to be advanced upon the credit of the Water Company, and
that totally irrespective of any assent by the Lords of the
Treasury. The assent of the Lords of the Treasury was re-
quested with a view to avoid any difficulty which might be
raised by parties who were disposed to lend money. But if
the Lords of the Treasury had never been appealed to at all,
and never had assented, or had refused to assent, the corporate
estate would still htvie been the collateral security." This
opinion, he said, had been confirmed by eminent counsel,
whom a London insurance company, anxious to invest a por-
tion of their capital, had consulted.

. ,
Many members said that the reply of the Lords of the Trea-
sury was not explicit enough, and ought to be given in a more
plain and direct manner than it had been.
Mr. PROCTER said he believed the present rental of the water
committee was about equal to its expenditule. If so, where
was the interest to come from? It must come out of the sur-
plus income of the corporate estate.

Mr. BENNETT said the corporate estate would have to pay
the interest for a considerable time, until the rental had greatly
increased. That was a melancholy fact, and he thought the
Lords of the Treasury should be again railed upon to vire their
meaning in a more plain and direct manner. (Laughter, and
" Oh, oh PI
Mr. S. HOLME remarked that the committee had borrowed
money at three and three-quarters per cent., while tte dock
committee had paid 4 per cent. ; and that there would be an in-
crease of revenue when the Rivington scheme was carried out
in its entirety. -

Mr. BENNETT proposed that another application should be
made for a more explicit opinion of the Lords of the Treasury.
Mr. PICTON seconded the motion.

Mr. HORNBY said the case to him seemed quite clear. As
to the revenue of the water estate, the present income was
£60,000 per annum. When the whole debt of .'1,200,000 had
been incurred, it would amount, at four per cent interest, to
.W 48,000. The working expenses were £21,000; so that, with
not a single additional tenant, the deficiency would only be
£69,000 per annum. (Hear, hear.)

.After some remarki from Mr. Bia HAM, the motion of Mr
Bennet was negatived by 31 to 22.

Mr. BECKWITH then made some allusions to charges for tra-
velling expenses to London, made by Mr. T. L. Hodson, which
called forth some remarks from that gentleman, ending on the
one side in a display of personality, which the Mayor repeat-
edly tried to check.
Mr. BIOHAM subsequently adverted to the fact of its being
recommended that a new water engine should he constructed,
and an advertisLment had been issued for tenders.

Mr. SAMUEL HOLME moved the adjournment of the council
at four o'clock, but it was negatived. It was subsequently
proposed by Mr. Hornby, and met with a similar fate.
Some unimportant proceedings of various committees were
passed without observation, and afterwards some communica-
tions were read from the Mayor. One of them was a letter
from Sir Thomas Brancker, returning thanks for the honour
conferred upon him in his recent appointment of receiver of
the town's dues, and stating his intention to discharge the
duties of his office with zeal and fidelity.
A memorial was read from the inhabitants of Kirkdale,
praying for the removal of the toll-bar at Bootle, on the ground
that they paid rates and taxes to the borough, and should not
be shut out from it by such an obstruction.

Mr. PARKER then brought forward a motion, of which he
had given notice, to rescind so much o:' a resolution passed at
a previous meeting as related to the erection of an asylum for
juvenile offenders in West Derby. He said he had many let-
ters in his hand, complaining of the nuisance it would be to
that neighbourhood; and he proposed that, if the scheme
were carried out, it should be done, as it could be done, at
much less expense, in a portion of the Borough Gaol.
Mr. DOVER seconded the resolution.

Mr. HOLT and Mr. BIOHAM warmly opposed the motion,
and urged upon the council the benefits to be derived from the
projected institution, and the necessity of their carrying out
their original intention with respect to it.
Mr. BENNETT and Mr. PROCTER supported the motion;
and after speeches against it from Mr. J. H. TURNER and Mr.
Toni N, the vote was taken, and there appeared 17 against and
18 for the motion.
The council adjourned at five o'clock.