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Mr. PLUMMER: I think we should first hear the letter of the Town Clerk read. Perhaps Mr. Carr will read it.

Mr. R. R. CARR then read the letter as follows:-

To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of Newcastleupon-Tyne, acting by the Council.

I beg to resign the offices of Town Clerk and Prothonotary of the Mayor and Sheriff's Courts, which have been recently styled the Burgees and NonBurgess Courts, reserving the office of Clerk of the Peace for the county and town of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

JOHN CLAYTON.

Mr. HARLE (to Mr. Ald. Nichol): Did you move that the resignation and election take place at next meeting.

Mr. Ald. NICHOL: Yes.

Mr. HARLE: I have much pleasure in seconding that.

Mr. GREGSON begged to observe, and also to move, that the election should take place that day fortnight. They all knew how the election would go. (A laugh.) They knew that there was only one man for the situation, and he would get it. He had no doubt a number of candidates would be invited, and it was not fair to induce men to come forward when they knew very well they would not be chosen.

Mr. MORRISON seconded the amendment. When they considered the amount of business which was on the paper at the monthly meetings, and how important a subject was that of the resignation of the Town Clerk and the appointment of his successor, the least they could do was to call a special meeting for the purpose. He, therefore, begged to second Mr. Gregson's proposition.

Mr. Jos. CowEN, Jun.: If the matter is so settled, squared, and arranged, I think we had better do the thing now. (Laughter.) Mr. GREGSON: I have no objection to the proposal.

Mr. Jos. CowEN, jun.: I cannot understand hesitation of this kind. For my part, I have no objection to any way the Council may decide to vote, but if we are to have an election, and if that election is to be open to all candidates, a month is too short a time to make it known; but if there is to be no competition and the election is to be made pro forma, it is scarcely necessary to prolong the matter beyond this day. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. Ald. NICHOL: It is necessary to give some time. A person cannot step into the situation at once; but I have no objection, with the consent of Mr. Harle, to agree to a special meeting in a fortnight. Mr. GREGSON: We shall escape a rapid canvass, which will end in nothing.

Mr. PLUMMER thought it was too hasty. He did not see why they should have a special meeting if there was no other business to bring forward.

Mr. HARLE: There can be an understanding that we take this business first at our next meeting. That may meet my friend's

observation. In case there should be a pressure of business on the 3rd of July, it should be understood that the acceptance of the Town Clerk's resignation and the election of the new officer should take place in the first instance. I hope that the Council will not advertise for candidates, because there is no necessity to be unwisely hurried: there is no necessity to go out of their way to invite competition. It is understood that an election will take place on the 3rd of July, and all professional gentlemen in this country can apply for the office if they please.

Mr. MAWSON: How are they to know there is a vacancy?

Mr. GREGSON objected to delay for this reason: they must remember that the Town Clerk, although he was too good-natured to say so, had already sacrificed his own convenience to ours; and he did not think they could gain anything by waiting. They should not longer keep the Town Clerk from giving you his travels, which he believed he meant to do. (A laugh.)

Mr. HARLE said if Mr. Clayton wished to be away he was willing to agree to a special meeting.

The TOWN CLERK: I am ready to do anything the Council think most convenient. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. Ald. DODDS: Then we will keep you a month. (A laugh.)

Mr. Jos. CowEN, Jun. said, as it was quite understood the matter was to be gone into in a certain way, there was no use fighting with foils. It was understood that Mr. Ald. Philipson was to be elected. Was that not the case, and was Mr. Ald. Philipson not going to resign?

Mr. Ald. DODDS: I never peach, Mr. Cowen. (Laughter.)

Mr. MAWSON asked what steps the Council meant to take to make it known to the public that the office was vacant.

Mr. HARLE said it would be known from the report of that meeting, and by the fact of Mr. Ald. Philipson's resignation, which he believed would be given at that meeting.

The proposition of Mr. Ald. Nichol postponing the election till the meeting in July was then formally assented.

HOSPITAL VACANCIES.

There were two Hospital vacancies. The first was that in the Jesus' Hospital, occasioned by the death of Mrs. Mary Cram. The following were the candidates :-Jane Snowdon, 71; Frances Atkin, 64; Margaret Atkinson, 62; Jane Armstrong, 62; Isabella Curtice, 71; Mary Ann Elliott, 70; Sophia Martin, 70; Elizabeth Iredale, 71; Ann Donkin, 66; Isabella Martin, 69; Margaret Wilkinson, 69; Elizabeth Blake, 67; Jane Sutherland, 72; Margaret Todd, 67; Ann Coltsworth, 74; and Alice Dunn, 63.

The applicants proposed were-Jane Snowdon, by Mr. Ald. NICHOL; Sophia Martin, by Mr. PLUMMER; Isabella Martin, by Mr. MAWSON; Ann Coltsworth, by Mr. TEMPLE; and Frances Atkin, by Mr. SMITH.

On the vote being taken, Jane Snowdon was elected.

The next vacancy was in Sir Walter Blackett's Hospital, occasioned by the death of Mr. Robson Davidson, and the following were the applicants:-Thomas Baird, 90; George Downie, 60; William Haswell, 75; James Cook, 76; John Rollin, 69; William Gibson, 80; and Joseph Huntley, 50.

The only candidates nominated were-Joseph Huntley, by Mr. PARKER, and Thomas Baird, by Mr. Ald. RIDLEY, and Huntley was elected.

THE LEEDS EXHIBITION.

The TOWN CLERK read the following letter:

Sir, The Executive Committee of the National Exhibition of Works of Art, at Leeds, in 1868, are desirous of obtaining from the various cities and towns of Great Britain as choice a collection as possible of the civic insignia, believing that they would form a most attractive feature, and be of great historical interest in the museum department of the exhibition. The liberality evinced on former occasions by many of the most influential Corporations in giving their support to undertakings of this nature, emboldens the Executive Committee to express a hope that you may be willing on this occasion to contribute the insignia or presentation plate, of historical or artistic interest, belonging to the Corporation, to the display of works of ornamental art to be held next year at Leeds. The exhibition will be opened on the 1st of May, so that contributions will not be required till the early part of next year. The Executive Committee therefore hope that, if the perod during which the articles would remain at Leeds is one when you are able, without inconvenience, to spare the insignia or other things from your town, you will kindly consent to intrust them to their charge, and I need hardly add that every possible care will be taken of them from the time that they are placed in the hands of the superintendent of the museum. I have the honour to be, your most obedient servant, J. B. WARING, Chief Commissioner.

The Worshipful the Mayor of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Mr. Ald. LAYCOCK moved that the application be granted.

Mr. PARKER seconded the motion.

Mr. Ald. WILSON thought the letter should be referred to the Finance Committee, and he moved accordingly.

Mr. SCOTT seconded Mr. Wilson's suggestion, which was agreed to.

NORTHUMBERLAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The DEPUTY-MAYOR announced that the Northumberland Agricultural Society intended holding their annual exhibition this year in Newcastle, and that they had asked for a donation from the Council. There would be a good deal of money spent on the occasion.

Mr. Ald. WILSON said it had been customary to give £50 to the society when it visited this town. He moved that £50 be given this year.

Mr. GREGSON seconded the motion, believing that the town would get far more in return.

The motion was unanimously agreed to.

THE QUAY EXTENSION.

The SHERIFF said that they would all be aware that the contract for the extension of the Quay was let to Mr. Marshall, who, however, had broken down, and was not able to execute the contract. Mr. Walter Scott was ready to go on with the contract on the same terms, and the Finance Committee, after considering the matter, had agreed to accept his offer. The contract was for £13,045, of which there had been paid already £2,777, leaving £10,267 to be paid for the rest of the work. He moved that the contract with Mr. Walter Scott for the Quay extension be sealed.

Mr. HARFORD inquired if there was any loss to the Corporation by Mr. Marshall not being able to carry out the contract?

The SHERIFF replied that the loss rested with the creditors, and not with the Corporation.

Mr. Ald. NICHOL seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

MONEY BORROWED.

The SHERIFF moved that the seal of the Corporation be affixed to the securities for money borrowed to the amount of £4,500.

Mr. GREGSON: Is this something in addition to the £15,000 already sanctioned ?

The Town CLERK: No, it is part of that sum. We are raising it by degrees.

Mr. GREGSON: It is important to know that.

The motion was then agreed to, nem. dis,

THE ORPHAN ASYLUM.

Mr. Ald. SILLICK moved the sealing of a contract between the Master and Brethren of the Magdalene Hospital, with the assent of the Council, and the Trustees appointed for the building of an Orphan Asylum. He said that the Council would, of course, be aware that Mrs. Abbot, in the most handsome manner, had offered the sum of £5,000 towards the building of this hospital. The site selected was a piece of ground adjoining the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, Moor Edge, of the extent of four acres. The subject had been before the Schools and Charities Committee a few days ago, and they recommended that this contract be sealed.

Mr. T. ROBINSON seconded the motion.

Mr. GREGSON said he perfectly approved of the benevolence-he might say the magnificence-of Mrs. Abbot, but at the same time, he observed that the Corporation, or rather the public, were doing something themselves. This ground was valued at something like £8 an acre, but there was no doubt that it was worth £500 or £600. Mrs. Abbot did a great deal, still it should not be forgotten that the town was also giving a great deal in regard to the Orphan Asylum.

The TOWN CLERK: The ground is let for £4 an acre now.

Ald. SILLICK said that it should be remembered that the Corporation were only consenting parties.

The TOWN CLERK: The ground will become the property of the Corporation in a short time for charitable purposes, and this is a charitable object.

The motion was then agreed to.

SALE OF LAND IN BATH LANE.

The SHERIFF moved that a piece of ground in Bath Lane be sold to Mr. Hastie, slater, for £768 10s., being at the rate of 14s. 6d. per square yard.

Mr. POLLARD Seconded the motion, which was passed.

PROPOSED LEASE.

The SHERIFF proposed the sealing of a lease of a piece of ground to Mr. Robert Elliott, Mitchell's Buildings, Walker. There were 200 yards, and the yearly rent was £2 18s.

Mr. J. ROBINSON: This should stand over; it's not on the paper. The matter stood over accordingly.

MAINTENANCE OF PRISONERS.

The SHERIFF moved that the accounts relative to the maintenance of prisoners, for the past quarter, amounting to £689, be passed before being forwarded to the Treasury.

Mr. PARKER seconded the motion.

Mr. G. FORSTER asked if there was any member of the Gaol Committee who knew anything about these accounts. They were presented to them, and they were asked to pass them without kn owing anything about them.

The DEPUTY-MAYOR (to Mr. Falconar): Do you know about these accounts?

Mr. FALCONAR: No, sir, I was not at the auditing of these

accounts.

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