Proceedings of the Town Council of the Borough of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

public stands for hackney coaches, and that any number of coaches, not exceeding the number hereinafter specified, shall and may stand at the following places, that is to say-St. Nicholas' Squars for 10 carriages: Blackett Street (opposite Eldon Square) for 10 ditto; Percy Street (Barras Bridge) for 6 ditto; Neville Street (opposite Station) for 10 ditto; Grey Street (centre thereof) for 10 ditto; Sandhill for 6 ditto; Picton Place (adjoining Railway Station) for 6 dittto; and Street adjoining St. Mary's Church (Ryehill) for 6 ditto.

Mr. GREGSON: There ought most decidedly to be a stand in Elswick Lane.

Mr. BENSON said he should gladly adopt that suggestion, and should put down six cabs for that stand. In all other towns it was usual to fix a limit to the number. Any place might be inconveniently crowded.

Mr. Ald. HODGSON: I see no utility in limiting the numbers, and would leave it to regulate itself according to the demand.

Mr. Ald. NICHOL: I thought you were a great free-trader, Mr. Benson. (Laughter.)

Mr. Ald. PHILIPSON was not convinced that that was a judicious course, because the effect of it would be that the cabmen would crowd to the best places, while the other stands would not be so well attended to. They should, at least, make the supply of cabs at each stand as liberal as they could.

Mr. Ald. KEENLYSIDE thought the regulation was that the cabman should go to the stand nearest the place at which he put down his previous fare. He believed that was usual in London and other places, and was carried out with great advantage.

Mr. HAMOND: That's the law.

Mr. Ald. HODGSON: They go to the place they can get the best custom from.

It was suggested that the maximum number of cabs at each station should be ten, and this proposition, with the addition of Elswick Lane (Dodds' Arms), it was at length resolved to adopt.

Mr. BENSON said that what they had done that day and on previous occasions was inconsistent with the existing Act; and though many of the clauses of that Act had been superseded by the byelaws they had passed, still they had not been formally cancelled. He should therefore move "That the bye-laws, rules, and regulations made and passed on the 3rd day of July, 1839, and numbered 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, and 19, in the bye-laws, rules, and regulations relating to hackney carriages, be and the same are hereby repealed."

The resolution was unanimously agreed to.

Mr. Jos. CowEN, jun., inquired whether there was not in any of those bye-laws a provision inflicting a fine on a cabman for carrying any person suffering from an infectious disease?

Mr. Ald. PHILIPSON said that was an indictable offence.

Mr. Jos. CowEN, jun., said there might be cases where they might be called upon to take a fare suffering, it might be, from small pox. Now, under those bye-laws they had just passed, they compelled the cabmen to take all fares when asked, or else they would be fined. Mr. Ald, PHILIPSON: Nobody would fine the cabman in such a

case.

Mr. BENSON said there was one regulation he wished to have inserted. They had no provision to enable a cabman to recover his expenses if compelled to go before the magistrates in cases in which he was in the right.

The MAYOR said that in all cases of the kind that came before him, he always allowed them their expenses.

Mr. BENSON then moved, "That the bye-laws relating to hackney carriages, when revised and altered as above, be issued with the table of rates and other regulations in a portable and convenient form, and sold or distributed, as the Finance Committee may hereafter direct."

The motion, on being put, was agreed to unanimously.

NEW MEMBERS AND THE COMMITTEES.

On the motion of Mr. T. ROBINSON, the name of Mr. Edward Beck was added to the Watch Committee; and on the motion of Mr. Ald. BELL, the name of Mr. Morrison was added to the Town Improvement Committee.

THE STEAMBOAT LANDING AT THE QUAY.

Mr. BENSON brought forward the following motion attached to his name:"That in the opinion of this Council, the old landing place for the passenger steamboats adjoining the Lead Stairs is the most convenient for the public, and least likely to impede the berthing of vessels at the Quay, and that the River Commissioners be respectfully urged to give their sanction to its adoption, in lieu of the station now used by the Tyne General Ferry Company."

By this time, however, the patience of the Council was pretty fully exhausted; and by consent of Mr. Benson, the subject was postponed till the next meeting.

The Council then adjourned till the 10th of January.

The following is an Abstract of the Treasurer's Annual Account, which was distributed among the members at this meeting:

AN ABSTRACT OF THE TREASURER'S ACCOUNTS,
From the 1st of September, 1864, to 31st August, 1865.