51 s. d. £ 8. d. 11,076 11 1 MUNICIPAL RATES, &c. For Watching the Borough ,, Lighting the Borough ,, Sewerage of the Borough ... ... 43,481 8 2 3,744 17 10 99 Paving and Watering the Borough 4,013 17 4 5,366 3 5 24,201 9 8 Payments on account of Rates, &c. High Level Bridge Approaches, Act of 1850 2,132 14 10 ... ... Town Improvement Act, 1865 ... 9,156 15 0 50,221 4 6 £132,393 14 0 G. A. BRUMELL, Borough Treasurer. 17th October, 1865-Examined and found correct, JOSEPH MILLER, WILLIAM HUNTER, Auditors. ADJOURNED MEETING. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1866. AN Adjourned Meeting of the Council was held to-day in the Council Chamber, Town Hall Buildings. In the absence of the Mayor, Mr. Ald. Nichol, as Deputy-Mayor, presided. PROPOSED NATIONAL PORTRAIT EXHIBITION. The TOWN CLERK read the following communication from the authorities of South Kensington, requesting the co-operation of the Council in establishing a "loan" exhibition of national portraits:South Kensington Museum, London, W., 6th December, 1865. Gentlemen,-I have the honour to submit to you a minute of the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education cordially adopting a suggestion made by the Earl of Derby, K.G., to form, early next Spring, a Loan Exhibition of Portraits; together with a memorandum explaining the scope of the intended exhibition, and the conditions upon which the loan of portraits is solicited. My Lords unite with Lord Derby, who has consented to act as the president of the committee for this exhibition, in earnestly soliciting your cooperation and influence; and my Lords will, with his Lordship, esteem very highly the loan of any portrait which you may be pleased to entrust to them for exhibition. Her Majesty the Queen has expressed to Lord Derby her entire approval of the proposal, and Her Majesty's desire to assist, and to contribute portraits from the Royal collections. His Lordship has also received very general and influential promises of support. My Lords feel assured that such an exhibition will prove highly interesting and instructive to all classes; and in the hope that you may be induced to contribute to the collection, they take the liberty to enclose a list, which they would feel obliged by your filling up and returning to this department at an early date. I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obedient servant, NORMAN MACLEOD, Assistant Secretary. The Mayor and Corporation of Newcastle-on-Tyne. LAND AGENT. An application was read from Mr. Goddard for the office of land agent under the Corporation, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr. Grace. Mr. Ald. INGLEDEW: I am of opinion that the business of land agent might be well performed by Mr. Lamb. It was ordered that the application, with any others that might be received, should be referred to the Finance Committee, who should report upon the subject. THE STEAMBOAT LANDING. On the above subject, the following memorial was submitted:To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of Newcastleupon-Tyne. The humble Memorial of the undersigned Manufacturers, Merchants, and Inhabitants of Newcastle, Respectfully sheweth,-That for many years the landing place for steamers carrying passengers on the river Tyne was on that part of Newcastle Quay which is opposite to the Fish Market and Sandhill. That a few years ago the said landing place was removed to the east end of the said Quay, opposite the the Broad Chare. That at the time of removal the number of persons who travelled by the river conveyances was limited, and the business transacted on the Quayside comparatively small. That of late the passenger traffic on the river, and that portion of the trade of the port which is conducted upon the Quayside, have enormously increased. That under the present landing arrangements both merchants and passengers are seriously inconvenienced the former by the constant interruption of persons moving to and from the steamers, and the latter from having to travel the whole length of an overcrowded Quay to reach the said landing place. That in order to remedy these difficulties, the removal of the present landing place is imperatively called for. That the site opposite the Fish Market is, by reason of its width, and its proximity to thoroughfares directly communicating with Newcastle and Gateshead, admirably adapted to the purpose of receiving and disembarking passengers from the river steamers. Wherefore your memorialists humbly pray that you will be pleased to adopt a motion introduced at the meeting of your honourable body held on the 6th of December, 1864, and deferred for further consideration, which motion proposes that your honourable body shall respectfully urge upon the Tyne Commissioners the expediency of effecting the change in the landing place for river steamers described in this Memorial. [Here follow upwards of 130 signatures.] Mr. BENSON suggested that as the matter was before the Council, the memorial should lie upon the table. This course was agreed to. THE SOCIAL EVIL. The TOWN CLERK read a letter asking the Corporation to assist in effecting an amendment in the Metropolitan Police Act as to obstructions caused by common women. APPLICATIONS. An application for a lease of ground at Walker, and two applications for the Thompson bequest, were referred to the Finance Committee. THE NEW GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Mr. Ald. KEENLYSIDE presented the following report from the Schools and Charities Committee, with reference to the proposed new Grammar School : The committee have the satisfaction to report to the Council, that the authority of the Court of Chancery has been obtained for proceeding with the works of the Royal Free Grammar School on the site fixed upon by the Council at Ryehill, and for the transfer of the funds in court and the payment of the future surplus revenue of the hospital property to the borough treasurer, to be applied in the execution of the works. It is but justice to add that in accomplishing this result all proper facilities have been given by the solicitor of the Attorney-General in the matter of charities, and by the master of the hospital and his solicitor. The contracts may now be completed, and there will be no difficulty in laying the foundation stone in the month of February. The committee regret to say that they cannot make an equally satisfactory report on the subject of the Magdalene Hospital. The Charity Commissioners after having made preparations for giving the necessary notice to bring in a bill in the next session of Parliament, withdrew from further proceedings, on the ground that the bill which they had formerly introduced on the principle of compromise, had not given general satisfaction. The report was received. T. W. KEENLYSIDE, Chairman. THE NEW TOWN IMPROVEMENT BILL. Mr. Ald. WILSON, as chairman of the Town Improvement Committee, presented a code of regulations, based upon the New Town Improvement Bill, and having reference to streets, buildings, nuisances, &c. He moved that a copy be sent to each member of the Council, and that the regulations be considered at the next meeting of the Council. Mr. W. DICKINSON seconded the motion, which was carried. THE POLICE SUPERANNUATION FUND. Mr. Ald. RIDLEY presented a report from the Watch Committee recommending that Inspector Richard Greaves be placed upon the superannuation fund. He had served the time and had attained the necessary age. He moved that the report be received. The SHERIFF seconded the motion, which was carried. ALLEGED MISCONDUCT OF AN INMATE OF THE VIRGIN MARY HOSPITAL. The TOWN CLERK read the following communication on the above subject: Hospital of St. Mary the Virgin, January 9, 1866. Dear Sir, I am sorry to be obliged to submit to "the approbation of the Council of the borough" at their next meeting, the removal of George Allen from his place as one of the brethren of this hospital. My reasons are-1. His frequent "gross misbehaviour." 2. His refusal "to conform to the rules and regulations of the hospital." 1. I have had frequent occasion to caution him that he endangered his position by his habit of drunkeness; and have heard from an eye-witness, as late as last week, that he still frequents public houses. It is now six months since last I saw him in a state of gross intoxication. But I have more than once, sirce then, seen him in a condition which has made me doubt whether he were keeping the promise of better conduct which he then gave me. 2. He has persisted in transgressing the rules and regulations of the hospital by refusing to submit to the decision of the Court of Chancery concerning the coal money; by seeking to excite agitation, and by writing me insulting letters about it, after that decision was known to him; by writing many anonymous letters to the newspapers, attacking both the chapelwardens and myself, and by the letter to which he has signed his name in yesterday's Daily Journal. The facts respecting the coal money, although known to you, should here be stated for public information. Under the old regulations, the brethren had an allowance of £6 17s. a-year each, including 17s. paid to them for fuel. The new law directs, that they shall have each of them such annual sum as the charity can allow, "not exceeding £30." I found them receiving £23 5s. a-year each, in 1859, of which £1 was allowed to them as coal money. I immediately raised their allowance to the full legal amount of £30, which they have received since that time in equal payments of £2 10s. a month, except that, in 1859-60. Mr. Wallace paid them, by mistake, the additional pound for fuel. You are aware that the payments to the poor brethren are chargeable on a portion of the income in which I have no interest. It could hardly fail to be my wish to pay them as much as I lawfully can. I have no control over the surplus income, whereas the brethren are of my own appointment. Finding, therefore, that a public feeling had arisen in their favour, I was glad when, in December, 1864, I was able, with the concurrence of the Town Council and of the Attorney-General, to ask the sanction of the Court for this small indulgence. But, although all parties concurred, the Court decided such payment is "not within the scope of the Act." To have paid it, after this decision would not only have been illegal, but a contempt of court. Yet, although the facts are well known to Mr. Allen, he has this year persisted in agitating the subject. He has written me insulting letters, has memorialised the Town Council, and has sent a notice to be put on the reading desk (although I found it in Vestry) that the coal money was due. The rest of the brethren have refused to join him, and altogether repudiate his conduct. One of his letters I sent last October to the chairman of the Committee of Schools and Charities, to whom I gave information respecting Mr. Allen's general conduct, in the hope that he would add his caution to mine, as I believe he has done. It was stated in that letter that the chairman had urged Mr. Allen to agitate the question again, and had assured him that he would receive the coal money and all arrears. The chairman has informed me that such statement was incorrect. It could not be otherwise, because he was acquainted with the decision of the court. Mr. Allen also said, in the same letter, that another alderman, whom he did not name, had urged him to the same effect. I understand that the committee last week informed Mr. Allen, in answer to his memorial, that the brethren cannot lawfully have an allowance for fuel. On Saturday last, I received an anonymous letter, signed a "Quayside Merchant," of which, though I read but a small portion of it, the style and signature at once convinced me that it was from the same source. Quayside merchants have something else to do than write me letters, and would not be likely to write me anonymous letters concerning my "demeanour to the brethren," which the writer complained of. On Sunday morning, Mr. Allen separated himself from the other brethren, of whom two, beside himself, were waiting, after the custom which they adopted of their own accord, and have uniformly followed, to communicate together after the congregation. Complaints had previously beeu made to me that Mr. Allen disturbs the congregation by talking aloud in church, often using the words "our church," and by other acts and gestures of self-importance. It was on this account, and on account of his general conduct, that I did not wait, as I should otherwise have done, till after the service, but at : |