The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-08-05 00:00:00

COMMISSIONERS OP BIRKENHEAD,

The commissioners under the act for the improvement o
the township of Birkenhead held a general meeting in the
Town Hall, on the evening of Tuesday, for the despatch oi
business. Eighteen members of the board were present. ,In
the absence of Mr. J. D. Case, the chairman, Mr. WILLIAM
JACKSON, the vice-chairman, presided.
The CLERK read the proceedings of the last general meet-
ing, held on the 29th ult., from which it appeared that
£2,000 had been advanced towards the £30,000 about to!be
borrowed on behalf of the ferry, at £5 per cent. interest per

annum

ROAD COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS.
The proceedings of the Road Committee were read. It
appeared that 2,000 tons of Penmanmawr stone, at the price
of 4s. 9d. per ton, had been ordered from Messrs. Raynes,
Lupton, and Co.; and the committee further recommended
the adoption of Brook-street and Pool-street as public
streets.

After a brief discussion, the recommendation of the com-
mittee as to Pool-street was confirmed. The consideration
of the adoption of Brook-street was postponed.
Mr. LAYcocK asked with what view such a large quantity
as 2,000 tons of Penmanmawr stones had been nraprrd

•••••••• 1-711.1c1 Lai
The CHAIRMAN replied that the stones were necessary for
the purpose of repairing the roads of the township, and that
the subject had often ben discussed before.
Mr. PARKER contended that more specific information
should be given, and urged that the question was a very pro-
per one.

Mr. LAYcock: repeated that an order for so large a quan-
tity as 2000 tons, at 'ls. 9d. per ton, seemed to him to be a
matter of some consequence, and, therefore it was that he
had made the inquiry. He had frequently heard some com-
missioners complain if only a few loads were ordered ; and,
now they had got up to two thousand at once, although the
matter might have been discussed before, there was the more
reason for inquiry. It was a very simple question which he
had rut, and it might be easily answered.

. ,
The CHAIRMAN repeated that the stones were requisite
for the use of the roads. It was upon the recommendation of
the Road Committe, approved by the Finance Committee,
that this measure was brought before the last general meet-
ing; and it having then been sanctioned, the order was
given. The order therefore had not been given without due
consideration.

Mr. LAYCOCK.—Has the subject of purchasing 2000 ton
of stone been before the general board ?
Mr. J. S. JACKSON.—It has.

The CHAIRMAN explained that the subject had been am
ply discussed at the last general meeting, in the shape of
letter from Messrs. Raynes, Lupton, and Co., and then re
ferred to the Road Committee, who gave the order with th
sanction of the Finance Committee.

Mr. LAYCOCK said that was a distinct answer to his ques
tion. He now wished to know whether 4s. 9d. per ton wa
the lowest regular price ?
The Citis IRMAN.---It is the same price which the parish
of Liverpool pays per load.
The proceedings of the Road Committee were then con-
firmed.

MEMORIAL

A memorial from certain inhabitants of Conway-street,
Exmouth-street, and Hamilton-street, altogether rated at
nearly £3,000, praying the commissioners to compel the
owners of property to open a road leading to those streets,
was read ; and, after some discussion, the further conside-
ration of it was deferred. •
LIGHTING AND WATCHING COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of this committee having been read,
Mr. WATSON put a question to-the law clerk (Mr. Mal-
laby), as to who had the appointment of proper persons to
inspect weights and measures.

The LAW CLERK said,-there was a general act of parlia-
ment, enabling the magistrates to appoint proper persons for
that purpose.

Mr. WATSON said, his object in asking the question was
to devise means to have such an officer upon the spot. It
frequently happened that just outside the market a party
used light weights, and there was no power to remedy the
evil. A woman came round the other day, and she sold
what she called Ohs. of salmon to a person, which was found
to be no less than 21bs. short ! She ought to have been sent
to the treadmill for her dishonesty. Her name was Alice
Noble, and he hoped the reporters would publish her
name. He wanted to have a regular examiner or inspector
appointed for the township, to prevent this kind of imposi-
tion outside the market.

Mr. STANSFIELD said this was the province of the magis-
trates, and if they were memorialised to make such an ap-
pointment, he had no donbt they would do so.
Mr. M'NrcoL thought the interference of the magistrates
would be practically useless, as the measure was only recom-
mended for the protection of the inhabitants at their own
houses.

Mr. PARKER said, the inhabitants should not buy of such
people.

- Mr. BEN THAM agreed with Mr. Parker, that the inhabi-
tants had the remedy in their own hands ; but at the same
time he thought some good would result from the appoint-
ment of an inspector.
The Cir AIRMAN said, the Law Clerk had suggested to
him that the best mode would be to memoralise the magis-
trates to make Birkenhead a weighing district, and to ap-
point the person whom the Commissioners might recom-
mend.

Mr. WATSON approved of this suggestion, and he pro-
posed a resolution to the effect of it; which having been
seconded, was carried immediately. The proceedings of the
Watch Committee were then confirmed.

MARKET COMMITTEE.
After the proceedings of this Committee had been read,
Mr. PARKER enquired whether smoking was allowed in
the market.

Mr. LAYCOCK thought that it was provided against in the
bye laws.

'Mr. PARKER replied that if it was not it ought to be, for
it was a great nuisance.

The CHAIRMAN said, it was very desirable for every com-
missioner to point out any little grievance in the affairs of the
township; and for his part, he felt obliged to Mr. Watson
and to Mr. Parkar for having introduced the subjects which
had just been discussed. Another circumstance had come
to his knowledge, which the commissioners ought not to per-
mit. He had learned that one individual in the market was
in the habit of purchasing up all the articles which came into
the market, and then re-selling them at an exorbitant rate.
For instance, the price of potatoes in Birkenhead market on
Satumai, last was ls. whilst in Liverpool ti..... diy the
price was only bd.if this system was not withstood, the
commissioners would lose the whole benefit of the sales in
their market, for the inhabitants would at once go to Liver-
pool. Steps must be taken to put an end to, or counteract,
this system of forestalling. The parties in the market wished
to make it appear that the hieh prices had been caused by
the rates of ferryage, although it was a notorious fact that
those rates were 50 per cent. less than they were. They had
therefore no excuse on that ground.
Mr. COLE said he had on Saturday observed one in-
dividual buying up all the articles brought into the market.
Mr. WATSON observed, that if any alterations were made,
the Commissioners would be assailed with personal abuse.
Mr. PARKER -mentioned, that in Liverpool, there was a
bye-law which declared that no person should be allowed to
buy and sell in the same market.

Mr. COLE said, that applied to before 12 o'clock
Mr. PARKER.—It does.

The CHAIRMAN.—There is a bye-law to that effect on our
books.

Mr. PARKER.—Then it ought to be enforced, and carried
into effect.

The conversation on this subject then terminated.
The CHAIRMAN called the attention of the Committee to
the necessity of extending the avenue in the market. It
was so small, that there was no passing.
Mr. LAYCOCR said, it had been already twice before the
Committee, and they would deal with it as well as they
could.

Mr. WATSON ?gave notice of his intention to bring the
whole subject of the improvement of the market before the
Commissioners. He was not at present prepared to fix the
day.

The proceedings of the Committee were then confirmed

PINFOLD COMMITTEE

From the proceedingsOf the Pinfold Committee, it ap-
peared that 18s. had been received for the release of cattle
impounded since the last general meeting, of which 15s. had
been remitted, leaving a balance of 3s. in favour of the
township. The proceedings were confirmed.

The CHAIRMAN approved of the suggestion. He was
bringing all these matters forward from havingdevoted more
time and attention to the township for the last few months
than he had hitherto done; and he begged to say that
2 anything which recurred improvement,
_,,..oation or discussion, he would bring it immediately
before the commissioners. (Hear, hear, hear.)
Mr. LAYCOCK asked whether the Finance Committee
should include the duties of the Town Clerk with regard to
applications to parliament.
The CHAIRMAN said, of course. They would report upon
all which the Town Clerk ought to do. He certainly should
feel a strong objection to go to the Town Clerk, if 6s. Bd.
was to be charged for every occasion.
Mr. APPLETON warmly commended the Chairman for his
efforts to obtain a cheap and effective local court for the re-
covery of small debts ; and he observed that it would give
"_.z7tion to the tradesmen of Birkenhead, if that
ere facilitated by yoking themselves to the town of
pool. _

'er he found

great satiS

The CHAIRMAN looked with a jealous eye to the town of
Liverpool having any power on the Birkenhead side of the
water; but, at the same time, if he could get any advantage
by being yoked with it, he should be glad to accept it.
The LAW CLERK had no hesitation in saying, that this
was a matter which for a long time he had considered desi-
rable ; and he had more than once conferred with the Town
Clerk about the desirableness of having the courts of Liver-
pool extended to places in Cheshire within a limited range,
in which court they should be enabled to try all cases under
£5O at a cheap rate.