The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-07-22 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD POLICE COMMISSIONERS

The commissioners, under the act for the improvement of
the township of Birkenhead, held au adjourned general
meeting at the Town-hall, on Tuesday evening. In the
absence of the chairman, Mr. w. Jackson, the deputy-
chairman presided.
The Finance Committee presented a report, which merely
contained orders for the payment of certain accounts, and a
recommendation that Mr. Lyster should make a survey of
the township, and prepare a new map, for which he was to be
paid £2O. This was ordered to be done forthwith.
The CHAIRMAN stated, that, at the recommendation of
the committee, in consequence of the great defalcation in the
payment of rates for cottage property, they had found it ne-
cessary to issue summonses against thirty tenants of three of
the largest owners of this kind of property, and also against
ten individual defaulters, who might be classed amongst the
rich.

Some conversation took place on this subject without any
result, after which

Mr. PARKER wished to know what amount of money the
commissioners wanted to borrow from the bank, and what
security the latter wanted.
The CHAIRMAN said, they had a surplus amount at the
ferry, but they did not like to hand it over to the township
at present, as they could not borrow money on account of
the ferry until the sum of £28,000 was paid to the railway
company.

Mr. MALLABY said, the bank would lend the commissioners
£lOOO ; they wanted no specific security, as it was looked upon
as merely overdrawing their account.
The Ferry Committee reported, that by the purchase of
Mr. C. Rampling's share in the Woodside Ferry, the com-
missioners were now in full possession of the whole of the
property ; and the new accounts on behalf of the township
would be opened on the Ist of next month.
Mr. MALLABY said, under the Act of Parliament it was
necessary that the commissioners fix and order what the
rates, for the carriage across the river, of goods and passen-
gers should be ; and also that they should now agree to all
by-laws to regulate the ferry, which must be submitted to
the Quarter Sessions. Mr. M. here read the tariff for goods,
which, after a few observations, was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN announced, that during the last three
days, there had passed through the pay-gate of the ferry no
fewer than 4779 passengers per day. which was at the rate of
a million and a half per annum. This number was exclusive
of contractors; and, if they were taken into account, he
thought they might safely calculate upon two millions of
people going through the gate in the year.
The proceeding of the Road Committee were next read,
and notice of a motion given to appointa committee to recon-
sider the regulations connected with, and state of, the roads;
also, to consider the benefitte.likely to arise from making a
new survey of the township ; and that such committee report
fully on the state of the roads, and what streets ought to be
adopted by the township.
Mr. WATSON wished to ask a question from the law-clerk,
on the subject of the election of Mr. Ravenscroft, a commis-
sioner in June last. They were now assembled for the third
time as commissioners, and Mr. Ravenscroft had not appeared
at one of their meetings, to qualify, and his (Mr. W.'s)
opinion, never intended to do so; because, as Mr. Ravens-
croft was not " rated in the rates for the relief of the poor,"
he well knew he was not competent to act. He assured the
board that Mr. Ravenscroft authorised him to use his name,
and state that he (Mr. Ravenscroft) never meant to act as a
commissioner, and that he told the gentlemen so at the time
he was put in nomination. Mr. Watson concluded by stating
that his sole object was to obtain information.
Mr. MALLABY, in reply, said, at the last election a
majority of the ratepayers had thought proper to elect Mr.
Ravenscroft. He knew nothing as to what course that gen-
tleman intended to pursue, as to acting amongst them as a
commissioner ; and this could only be tested by his appearing
and qualifying, or by his refusing to do so within the time
limited. The situation of Mr. Ravenscroft did not make the
least difference with reference to, the gentleman who was
second on the poll. He (Mr. Mallaby) thought it right to
retain Mr. Ravenscroft, he having a majority of votes. Six
months were given him to prove his eligibility for the office ;
and if Mr. Ravenscroft refused or neglected to do so in that
period, then the commissioners would pursue the course they
thought most proper in accordance with the act of parlia-
ment.

Some discussion took place on the inadequacy of the police
force, which was eventually referred to the Watch Committee,
and the commissioners then separated.

SPECIAL MEETING

On 'Wednesday evening a special meeting of the com-
missioners of Birkenhead was held at their room in the
Town-hall. The meeting was summoned for eight o'clock,
but at a quarter past that hour the following commissioners
only were present :—Mr. C. A. Watson, Mr. Stansfield, Mr.
J. H. Green, Mr. D. M'Nicol, Mr. D. Appleton, Mr. J. N.
Wood, and Mr. J. Gilbertson.
On the motion of Mr. J. H. GREEN, Mr. Stansfield took
the chair.

Mr. WATSON read a clause in the Commissioners' Act
which required that every commissioner should have a sum-
mons sent to him through the post-office, at least seven clear
days previous to such meeting. This notice calling the
present meeting had not been sent through the post-office,
but had been left at his house on the 15th of July, con-
sequently it could not be a legal summons.
Several other commissioners produced their summonses,
none of which had been sent through the post-office as re-
quired by the clause of the act read by Mr. Watson.
Mr. HILMAR (who acted as law-clerk in the absence of
Mr. Mallaby) said as the commissioners were present and
admitted the receipt of the summons that was sufficient to
constitute a legal service.

Mr. GREEN-said he supposed the clause of the act read by
Mr. Watson was merely for the purpose of ensuring the ser-
vice of a summons on each commissioner.

Mr. WATSON was still of opinion that a summons which
was not sent through the post-office was not a legal service,
and as they were called together for a most important pur-
pose it was the more necessary they should be a legally con-
stituted meeting. He wished to know what the money—a
very large sum, £30,000, which they were called to sanction
the borrowing of--was for.

Mr. HILLIAR read the notice calling the present meeting,r
which was to sanction the borrowing the sum of X 30,000 o
the, rates and tolls of the ferry, and on the rate; and property
of the township.
The CHAIRMAN said they had no knowledge legally before
them what the money was for. They knew privately, that
it was all right, but still he was of opinion il.ey ought to
have a statement legally laid before' the board, before they
sanctioned the borrowing so large. t 6.402, •
Mr. HILLIAR said he had to inform the board that no
tender had been sent in, and therefore there was no business
for the board•to transact a the present meeting.
Mr. AppLEToN inquired if the proper means had been
used to make it known that the money was wanted ?
Mr. HILLIAR saidit had been.advertised.
Mr. WATSON said he thought it extraordinary that Mr.
Mallaby, who had called the meeting, was not present, or
that he had not, sent some information to the meeting on the
subject.
Mr. GREEN.—I beg leave to move that we do now ad-
journ, as we have no knowledge what this money is for.
Mr. WATSON seconded the motion, and he begged fur-
ther to state, that the act required fourteen commissioners
to be present, but as there was not that number in attend-
ance, it was not a legal meeting..
Mr. HILLIAR said all that was necessary to be done was
for the ehairman to declare that there was no meeting.
Mr. GREEN said he would not alter the terms of his mo-
tion. He simply moved that the meeting adjourn, and he
did not mean to state any reason for that motion. He
should not qualify it.
Mr. WATSON would second it that they adjourn sine die.
A COMMISSIONER said he understood a copy of the Ferry
Bill was to be sent to each .commissioner—that ought to be
done, but he had not yet received one.
The CHAIRMAN said it would be done. He had not yet
.received a copy, and he understood only two copies had yet
been received.

Mr. HILMAR said a copy would be sent to each commis-
sioner as soen as a snfficient number were procured.
The CHAIRMAN then put Mr. Green's motion, which was
carried, and the commissioners separated.