The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-06-24 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

A. special meeting of the town council was held on Wed-
nesday, at eleven o'clock, in the council chamber, within the
Town-hall, for the purpose of taking into consideration and
determining on the, proposed purchase of land from Messrs.

Waterhouse, in order to round off the corner of the west side
of Oldhall-street and the north side of Chapel-street, with
the price to be paid for the same, the subject having been
referred to the consideration of the council by the finance
committee.

The TOWN-CLERK commenced the proceedings by reading
the resolution of the finance committee, from which it ap-
peared that the Messrs. Waterhouse had demanded the sum
of £lOOO for the land in question ' • that the committee, at the
instance of the surveyor, had offered them £600; that that
offer had been declined •, and that the special meeting of the
council had; therefore, been called, for the purpose of taking
the subject into consideration.

, Mi. GEORGE HALL LAWRENCE, detailed the course of
proCedure adopted by the finance committee, in reference to
this subject. Having stated the position of the property, and
the desirableness of the alteration, he said the committee had
treated with Messrs. Waterhouse through the surveyor.
Messrs. Waterhouse replied to the surveyor that it was im-
possible to comply with the request of the corporation, as
they had already determined on their plans. The committee
Were grieved at this determination, and he (Mr. G. H. Law-
rence) and Mr. Bolton called on Messrs. WaterhoUse, and
requested them to reconsider the subject. Afterwards,
Messrs. Waterhouse sent word to the committee that they
would sell the property (7); square yards of land) for £lOOO.
The committee were prepared to pay £5OO or £6OO, but when
it came to so large a sum as £lOOO, they did not think pro-
per to incur the responsibility without further instructions.
It was on this that it was determined to call the present spe-
cial council. He did not blame the .Messrs. Waterhouse,

who had been very reluctant from the beginning : they did
not wish to lose any portion of their space, which was at pre-
sent limited enough, and they were also fearful that they
would lose some portion of their light.
Mr. EARLE said the alteration could not deprive them of
_

-Mr. LAWRENCE proceeded to say, that he believed Messrs.
Waterhouse had over-rated the loss which they would sus-
tain, and if they would take into consideration the increased
value of property in streets which have been widened, they
must come to the conclusion, that the £6OO which had been
offered was amply sufficient. Mr. Lawrence concluded by
moving the following resolution :—" That, considering that
it would be a great public benefit to purchase from Messrs.
Waterhouse the land in question (71 square yards), before
the buildings are erected ; but considering also the price,
£lOOO, at which it is offered, to be more than its value, the
Council respectfully declines the offer, unless the sellers will
accept £6OO for the same."

Mr. PLATT expressed an opinion, that Messrs. Waterhouse
ought to have shown a disposition to meet the committee in
their desire to carry into effect a measure which would con-
duce so largely to the public convenience.
Mr. BOLTON seconded the resolution proposed by Mr.
Lawrence. He said he had been one of the parties to the
negociation, and he considered the sum offered a very ample
one, and he believed that the Messrs. Waterhouse would
suffer no material inconvenience by the alteration. While it
was the duty of the Corporation to seek for every opportunity
of making alterations which would conduce to the public
convenience, the owners of property had likewise a duty to
perform, in not asking exorbitant prices for property required
for such purposes. The price offered for the land amounted
to no less than £BO per square.yard, and he had never known
such a price to be paid by the Corporation. If they were to
concede the £lOOO in .this case, it would be holding forth a
premium to parties to ask extravagant sums in future! In
making the offer of £6OO, he thought the Corporation would
stand justified in the eyes of the public. and that it would be
evident that they had done all that could be done to promote
the public convenience.
Mr. HENRY LAWRENCE said, he thought no odium could
possibly attach to the committee, but the sum of £lOOO was
infinitely beyond what the land was worth. If such a sum
however were to be expended, be thought that Parker-street
demanded the attention of the Corporation.
Mr. EARLE observed that the committee had screwed up
their courage to give £6OO, and as it was of great importance
that the corner should be rounded and rendered safe, it was
not, perhaps, worth while to lose all the advantages for ever,
for the sake of £4OO additional. If they could not get the
land for £6OO, he would let the Messrs. Waterhouse have
the sum which they asked, and all the odium which attached
to such a demand. Mr. Earle concluded by moving, as an
amendment, that the subject be referred back to the Finance
Committee, with authority to purchase at not exceeding
£l,OOO.
Mr. RODERTSON GLADSTONE Said, no odium ought to be
cast on Messrs. Waterhouse. The question was whether
they ought not to pay the additional £4OO for the sake of so
valuable an improvement. He admitted that £l,OOO was a
very large sum, but the committee might still treat with
Messrs. Waterhouse, who were highly respectable men, and
it was not impossible that more favourable terms might still
be obtained.
Mr. EVANS regretted what had fallen from Mr. Gladstone.
If the council had leisure to go to parliament, the legislature
_ _

would have decided against the Messrs. Waterhouse, who

had no right to ask such a price. Law, morals, and public
principle were against them. He resisted the demand be-
cause the example was one that was likely to be followed in
future. He denied that they would suffer any loss of light,
and maintained that, on the contrary, they would gain light.
He admitted that there would be a degree of accommodation
gained by the alteration, but he denied that it was rightly
characterised as a great public benefit. In conclusion, Mr.
Evans said, that though be wished the improvement to be
made, he did not put the high value on it that some gentle-
men did, and he, therefore, resisted the amendment.
Mr. EDWARDS said, that he considered it only an act of
justice to the Messrs. 'Waterhouse, after what had transpired
in the council, that the public should know that the late
Mr. Waterhouse, father of the present proprietors of the
land in question, had paid as high as £l4O per square yard
for a small portion'of it.
Mr. HENRY HOLMES.-011, no; only four and five
pounds.
Mr. SANDS said he coincided very much in the views of
Mr. Earle. If the improvement were so very desirable, it
would be worth while to give the sum asked ; if nut, then the
offer would perhaps be sufficient. Mr. Sands concluded by
seconding the amendment.
After a few words from Mr. PARKER and Mr. ALEXAN-
DER SMITH, the amendment was put, when there appeared
for the amendment 2 (the proposer and seconder) : aninst
it 35 ; majority 33.
Mr. ISAAC HOLMES suggested that a middle course should
be taken, and that £750 should be offered for the property.—
(Disapprobation.)
Mr. EVANS objected to the word " respectfully" in the
original motion as unusual. He moved that it be omitted.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE had no objection to its omission.
Mr. EARLE, after the decision of so large a majority, was
willing to admit that the Council had come to a correct con-
clusion. It was, however, greatly to be regretted that the
clause on this subject in the bill had been withdrawn, as it
would have been highly important.
The MAYOR said the fear was that they could not have
passed the bill'with that clause.
After a few more remarks the original motion was carried,
and the Council broke up.

NEW LOCAL PAPER.-Mr. Popjoy says, that the peram-
bulating machine which has been lately seen in the streets of
this town ought to be called " The Wood-side Daily Adver-
tiser." He supposes that all articles, previous to appearing,
must be brought before a board, and that the conductor is
very ass-iduous.

The Princess Royal steam. ship made an experimental trip
from Dublin to Holyhead and back last Monday, accom-
plishing the voyage out in four hours forty-two minutes, and
back in four hours twenty-eight minutes. The shortest time
in which it was ever performed, we understand, was five
hours twenty minutes. A. sumptuous breakfast was pre-
pared on board, and after the health of the captain and
others had been given, the following toasts were rapturously
received—" C. W. Williams, Esq., and success to steam
navigation ;" " Mr. Brebner, the active and intelligent agent
of the Glasgow Steam-packet Company."

STATE OF THE WEATHER.—Since our last we have been
visited with alternate showers and sunshine, accompanied
with warm Weather. Occasionally the heat has been intense.
The hay crop in the neighbourhood is partially cut, and the
crop appears, and, in fact, is generally reported to be light.
Some farmers, however, are delaying cutting, to allow the
under grass, for which the showers which are falling are very
favourable, to grow ; and upon late land the crop will per-
haps exceed expectation.—The wheat and oat crops look
well, and the straw, which was complained of as being light,
is rapidly and sensibly increasing, whilst the ear is full and
looking well. We have seen some good crops of turnips, and
some descrilAmns of fruits are expected to be abundant.

STREET ROBBERY.--Yesterday a man named John Pil-
kington was brought before the magistrates, at the Police-
court, on this charge. It appeared that, on the previons
night, as the complainant was returning home through Bur-
lington-street, the prisoner came up, tripped his leg, and
threw him down. While he was on the ground a companion
of the prisoner's came up, and ran off with the bundle. The
prisoner was pursued, and caught at the corner of Limekiln-
lane. The prisoner, who said nothing in his defence, was
committed for triai.

RIOT AND ASSAULT ON POLICE-OFFlCERS.—Yesterday,
at the Police-court, Patrick Gallagher, Charles Dogherty,
Michael Dougherty, and John Barragan, four disorderly
young men, were charged by police-officer Pearson and seve-
ral others with creating a riot in Scotland-road on the pre-
vious night, breaking the windows and door of a shop,
throwing stones at the officers, and causing a dangerous dis-
turbance in the street. The two last were also charged with
endeavouring to rescue the others from the officers. The
keeper of the shop and several other inhabitants corroborated
the constables. They were each fined 40s. and costs, and in
default committed to gaol for one month.

THE FUNDS : WEDNESDAY EVENING.—The English
funds have varied little in prices to-day; at the first opening
of business there was a slight inclination upwards, which,
however, was subsequently checked by one or two sales which
took place. Consols for the account left off 91 ; 3 per Cents.
Reduced, 911. to ri ; Bank Stock, 166 k to 16711 ; Exchequer-
bills,premium ; Ditto, ad. issue, 455.
2d. issue, 40s. to 425.
to 475. premium ; 31 per Cents. Reduced, 100 k to ; and
Long Annuities, 12 to 9-16. In the foreign securities there
was much sameness in value, and the appearance of the ad-
vertisement for the payment of the dividend in the Spanish
New 3 per Cents. caused no better feeling in that market.
At four o'clock they were quoted 231 to but subsequently
a price is stated have been made at 23} in consequence of
some offers to sell at lower/ prices. Spanish Actives closed
21 to ; Mexican, 361 ;
Danish, 81 to 82 ; Colombian,
/ / to
251 to 6 ; Chilian, 86 to 88 ; Brazilian, 102 to 103 ; Dutch
21 per Cents., 521 to I ; Portuguese 5 per Cents., 371 to 4 ;
and Ditto 3 per Cents., 22 to I.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND Soto°Ls.--The annual examina-
tion of the children receiving education in the North and
South Church of England Schools, took place in the South
School, Cornwallis-street, on Wednesday, before the Rev.
Augustus Campbell, junior rector, the Rev. Thomas Bred,
the Rev. F. Barker, and a highly respectable body of visitors.
The examinations were conducted by Mr. Rector Campbell,
and it was a most interesting exhibition to see the readiness
and accuracy
with which the scholars answered, extempora-
neously, all his questions: The first part of the examination
in the Scriptures comprised the history of the children of
Israel from the call of Abraham to the departure from
Egypt, with the events of which, as well as with those
succeeding events relating to the Saviour of which they
were typical, the children displayed a most intimate ac-
quaintance. They
were next emanined in the Cate-
chism, and afterwards were required to produce the pas-
sages in Scripture on which that perfect compendium of
Christian doctrine and practise is founded. We cannot suf-
ficiently describe the excellence with which the pupils, both
male and female, displayed in this branch of their education.
Indeed, these points of examination, peculiarly directed as
they are to unfold the leading points of the christian economy
displayed to the highest advantage the beauty of the system
which provides an education for the poor, founded upon the
Bible. Dr. Watts' version of the Old Hundreth Psalm,
" Before Jehovah's awful throne," was then sang in a most
feeling style, by the scholars ; and it concluded what we may
term the religious part of the examination. The scholars
were next examined in English history, geography, and
arithmetic, in which they had made very satisfactory pro-
gress. At the close of the proceedings Mr. Campbell, ad-
dressing the auditory, said they could not but be satisfied
with what they bad seen and heard, and he trusted that the
schools would continue to receive the support which they
deserved.