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CHESTER TOWN COUNCIL.

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CHESTER TOWN COUNCIL. A quarterly meeting of the Chester Town Council was held on Wednesday, the Mayor presiding. Apologies for absence were received from Alderman Churfcon and Mr. B. C. Roberts. THE LATE QUEEN. The Mayor explained that he had received a letter from the Home Office, dated February 13th, as follows:—" Sir, I am commanded by the King to convey to you hereby His Majesty's thanks for the loyal and dutiful message of the Mayor and citizens of Chester, expressing their sympathy with His Majesty and the Royal Family on the occasion of the lamented death of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria." The Mayor suggested that the letter should be entered upon the minutes of the proceedings of the Council. THE DUCAL WEDDING. GRACEFUL LETTER FROM THE DUCHESS. The Mayor stated that he had received a letter from the Duchess of Westminster. He might say that a few days before the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster he had the pleasure of handing the Duchess the present which had been subscribed for and given her by the citizens of Chester, and it was most graciously received by Miss West as she then was, who expressed her great admiration of the gift, and also expressed herself very kindly indeed with reference to the kind feeling which had prompted the gift. He had since received the following letter from her Grace, dated February 19th :—" Eaton, Chester, Dear Mr. Mayor, I will ask you to kindly convey to all in Chester on whose behalf you presented me with the beautiful diamond wheat-sheaf my warmest thanks. It will be treasured by me as coming from those who in future will be my nearest neighbours, and I hope my best friends, and in whose welfare I shall always join with the Duke in taking a lively interest. Believe me, yours very truly, CONSTANCE WESTMINSTER." (Applause.) MOTOR CAR SERVICE FOR FARNDON. The Mayor explained that a letter had been received from a Liverpool firm of motor car manufacturers intimating that they intended to try a mctor car service between Chester and Farndon. The County Council had no objection to the scheme, and they enquired if the Cor- poration had. They intended to commence on the following Monday. The Mayor suggested that the matter should be referred to the Improvement Committee. He thought it had better be understood by the company that if they ran their cars on Monday they did so at their own risk, because the Improvement Com- mittee would have no opportunity of considering the letter until the next Wednesday. Mr. Holmes welcomed the introduction of motor cars in the district, which he thought would be a very great convenience to the public. He was only sorry they had no motor care in Chester, It was agreed to refer the matter to the Improvement Committee. ASSISTANT TOWN CLERK. APPOINTMENT AUTHORISED. APPRECIATION OF MR. S. SMITH AND MR. PEERS. IV L j uw mayor said the next recommendation dealt with the application made some time ago by the Town Clerk for assistance in the per- formance of the duties of bis office. Personally, he considered that the services of the Town Clerk during the many years he had acted in that capacity had been of the greatest value to the city, and he felt that each gentleman around that room would fully concur in the remark. (Hear, hear, and applause.) They were also agreed that the time had arrived when it was perfectly reasonable that the Town Clerk should ask for some assistance. Mr. Smith had been paid what they would all agree was a very moderate salary. It was part of the arrangement entered into when the Town Clerk was appointed that he should continue to carry on private practice, and that, no doubt, was one thing which was considered when the salary was fixed at the moderate sum which he had been paid hitherto. No one got younger, and the Town Clerk felt that the work was getting rather too much for him, it having largely increased since he was appointed fifteen years ago. It was almost a necessity that he should have help in his department. He needed only call their attention to one or two important matters which had taken place in the Council during the last few years to shew them at once the enormous amount of labour which those matters must have entailed upon the Town Clerk. First of all there were various Bills promoted in Parliament, and a great many Bills which had in the interest of the town been opposed in Parliament, all of which had necessitated enormous expenditure of time and energy on the part of the Town Clerk in addition to the ordinary duties of his office. There were also almost constant inquiries held by the Local Government Board, all of which entailed a considerable amount of time in the preparation for them. Moreover, there were many cases now coming before the Police Court, CAses of adulteration and various things of that kind, which were matters daily increas- ing in number and which were unheard of a few years ago. All of these added to the responsibility and to the expenditure of time and trouble on the part of the Town Clerk, who certainly had not been premature in asking for some permanent assistance. The application was remitted by the Council to the Finance Committee, who appointed a. small sub- committee. The latter had thoroughly gone into the matter, having discussed it with the Town Clerk and with Mr. Peers (the clerk of committees). The sub-committee reported that they had had two meetings, and that, after full coasi deration, they recommended the following, which the Finance Committee adopted as a reo;)iution:-That it be recommended to the council that the town clerk be authorized to appoint a professional gentleman as his assist- ant, subject to the approval of the council. The salary to be paid by the council not exceeding L250 per annum. The town clerk's assistant to devote the whole of his time to the duties of the office, and to occupy the town clerk's office in the Town Hall; three months' notice by either town council or assistant town clerk to terminate the engagement. The follow- ing conditions also to apply :—1. The appoint- ment not to interfere in any way with Mr. Peers's duties as clerk of committees, or the work he has hitherto carried out in attendance in revision court, registration of voters, and proceedings under The Private Street Works Act, 1892." 2. The town clerk's assistant to be at all times available to give assistance to and attend upon the Mayor, and act as his private secretary. 3. He may also at, and during the pleasure of, the Town Council be appointed and act as deputy town clerk. Con- tinuing, the Mayor said if there was to be a deputy town clerk at all he should be thoroughly efficient and a gentleman. Therefore, the least salary which could be offered was X250. This was about the salary given else- where for services of a similar kind. for it was a usual thing for a town clerk to have a deputy. They had no idea who the Town Clerk would nominate for the Council's approval, and the Council thought it desirable to fix the length of notice upon which the services of the assistant Town Clerk might be discontinued. They were anxious that the appointment should not interfere with the duties hitherto performed so well by Mr. Peers. He had said how much they valued the services of Mr. Smith, and he might say the same of Mr. Peers. Every member of the ,Council would bear him out when he said that it was hardly possible that the duties of Clerk of Committees could be performed better. (Ap- plause.) After consulting Mr. Peers with regard to the appointment, the committee stipulated that his duties as Clerk of Com- mittees should not be interfered with. When Mr. Peers wanted professional advice it would be given him by the assistant town clerk or the Town Clerk himself. The position Mr. Peers held was direct from the Council, and not by appointment of the Town Clerk. Those gentlemen who had served in the office of Mayor previous to himself would agree that it was very desirable that there should be constantly at the call of the Mayor either the Town Clerk himself—under existing circumstances that was almost impossible—or somebody to act as his deputy. Hitherto, Mr. Peers had always been ready to give that assistance which was not. strictly speaking, his duty. (Applause.) The Deputy Mayor (Dr. Stolterfoth) seconded the motion, and said the committee had given the subject careful consideration. The recom- mendation was reasonable, as in almost every town in England there was a deputy town clerk. Alderman George Dickson thought it was a mistake that the Town Clerk should have had a private practice. The Council wanted as Town Clerk a man who would give all his time to the duties of the office, and that was absolutely necessary. He was satisfied that the Town Council would not in future engage a gentleman as Town Clerk unless he would devote the whole of his time to the duties of the office. He (Alderman Dickson) was a member of the Council when Mr. Smith was appointed, and he remembered that the arrangement was then made that he should continue to hold private practice. That was the mistake they made. Mr. Smith, of course, was not able, with his immense work, to give as much time as they might wish to the affairs of the city, and his salary was not large enough. At the same time, the Council were not going on proper business lines. Mr. Smith should say to the Council "You are not paying me sufficient salary." They should consequently pay him the salary he required, and leave him to obtain the help he wanted. He (Alder- man Dickson) would not move a resolution to upset the work of the committee, for he had no doubt they bad given great attention to the matter. But he emphatically said that on business lines they had not taken the right course. The Council ought to pay the Town Clerk sufficiently, and make him get whatever help was wanted. That was the proper line any business man would go upon. With regard to the appointment of a deputy, he should propose the Council should stipulate that he would entirely relinquish private practice, if he was already a practitioner in Chester, and not practice directly or indirectly. He did not think it was fair to the solicitors in Chester that any man holding a public office should be a private practitioner as well. (Hear, hear.) The Town Clerk must frequently have acted on behalf of a private client whose interests clashed with those of the Corporation. He knew Mr. Smith did his best for the Corpora- tion and gave as much time to his official duties as they could reasonably expect under the circumstances. He (Aid. Dickson) was sure it would have been most advisable if, when Mr. Smith was appointed, he was given a handsome salary and bound to give the Council the whole of his time. It should be a most important point in future that the Town Clerk should be paid sufficiently to enable him to devote the whole of his time to the duties of the office. Alderman Dickson proceeded to pay a high tribute to the ability and the work of the present Town Clerk, and said he did not think there was a city in the world that possessed a more able Town Clerk than Chester. (Hear, hear.) He (Alderman Dickson) moved an amendment to the effect that it should be stipulated that the assistant Town Clerk should relinquish private practice, and not practice directly or indirectly. The Deputy Mayor said he had no objection The Deputy Mayoor f s l('d at condition in the to the insertion of ffiiat condition in the minutes. Mr. J. Gooddie Holmes thought the clause that was already on the minutes that the assistant Town Clerk was to devote the whole of his time to the duties of the office was sufficient. The Mayor said that clause was intended to mean what. Alderman Dickson suggested. They would, however, accept the amendment. Mr. James G. Frost thought it was com- pletely wrong that the Town Clerk should have any private practice whatever, and on prin- ciple he entirely concurred with Alderman Dickson. He could not vote for the motion. Mr. W. Ferguson was of opinion that the time had scarcely arrived to make such a radical alteration as recommended by the com- mittee. He was not aware that the Town Clerk was less able to discharge his important duties now than he bad been in the past. His duties had been discharged with entire satis- faction not only to the Council, but the citizens at large. To appoint an assistant when the chief of the office was not bound to devote the whole of his time to the work of the Corporation was, he thought, rather out of place. Besides, he did not believe the Council would get a smart professional gentleman to accept the office at the salary offered. He would not re- main long in the service of the Council unless he had a prospect of advancement. He (Mr. Ferguson) was sure that in the staff of unpro- fessional officials that the Council had there were those who could be very well promoted to the office of assistant Town Clerk. and he could recommend one of those officials for the appoint- ment. It was with great reluctance that he felt obliged to move an amendment, that the subject be referred back to the Finance Com- mittee for further consideration. Mr. G. H. Reynolds quite appreciated what Mr. Dickson had said regarding the Town Clerk's private practice. If the Town Clerk would be willing to devote the whole of his attention to the duties of the office at a salary say of between £1,500 and iE2,000 he (the speaker) would be very pleased, but they knew that would not suit their present Town Clerk. Mr. Smith had done the very best he possibly could for the Corporation, and they ought to consider him. Mr. Smith had worked for many years at a very inadequate salary, and he (Mr. Reynolds) certainly supported the recommen- dation that he should have what assistance he thought he really required. Mr. J. Gooddie Holmes pointed out that the committee, of which he was one, had to accept things as they were. They had a Town Clerk, whom they appointed some 15 years ago, and who was allowed to carry on his own practice. He did not see how they could act on Mr. Dickson's suggestion unless they had an abso- lutely new Town Clerk. The work of the Town Clerk had almost doubled itself during the last ten years, and he thought it only reasonable that he should have assistance. The point they had to consider was with regard to the appointment of the assistant; was he to be merely an assistant to the Town Clerk or was he to be a servant of the Town Council. The suggestion that had been made appeared to him to be the simplest and most economical way of giving the Town Clerk assistance. The Sheriff quite held with everything Alder- man Diegson had said. He was quite aware that the Town Clerk had more than he could possibly do at the present time, but he thought the Town Clerk, or some one else, should take the Council into their confidence and let them know who the man was who was to be appointed. If the Town Clerk was going to appoint a deputy they should have his name submitted to them. He contended that the appointment ought to be advertised the same as was done at Liverpool and Birkenhead. An assistant town clerk was recently appointed at Birkenhead at a salary of C250 a year; four names were submitted to the Council for adoption, and one was finally adopted. Mr. J. Williamson seconded the amendment, for the reasons that had been stated by the Sheriff. It was very singular that the Town Clerk or any other official of the Corporation should have the power to appoint his own deputy, particularly at a salary of R250 a year. Alderman John Jones (St. Oswald's) said they were all agreed that some assistance was required by the Town Clerk, and he deserved assistance. (Hear, hear.) If they were going to appoint a Town Clerk he should be entirely with Alderman Dickson, and he should go in for the appointment of a gentleman who would devote the whole of his time to the duties of his office. But they were simply providing some assistance for the Town Clerk, and the Finance Committee imposed upon the Council the duty of finding the salary of that assistant, whoever he might be. He was in absolute ignorance as to upon whom the choice of the Town Clerk would fall, but with all due respect to the committee, he was bound to say that he could scarcely see his way clear to pay the salary of a gentleman whom he had had no opportunity of judging as to whether he had capabilities or otherwise for the position. He agreed to the restriction that the whole of the proposed assistant town clerk's time shall be devoted to the duties of the office, but he certainly thought that while the Council had to pay the piper they ought to have something to say with reerard to the calling- of the tune. Mr. Rae was prepared to agree to the resolu- tion of the Finance Committee. With regard to the latter portion of Alderman Jones's remarks, it was clearly stated on the minutes of the com- mittee that the nomination was to be subject to the approval of the Council, so that the Council had absolute power in the matter of the appoint- ment. But they ought to have sufficient confi- dence in the Town Clerk to know that he would give them a suitable person for the office. It was absolutely necessary that the Town Clerk should have with him someone he could trust and have confidence in. Mr. Carr said he for one had every confidence in the Town Clerk. He appreciated the way in which he had carried out the work of his office. At the same time he intended to vote for and support the amendment on principle. It was not the right lines to follow in appointing an official to a public office to leave it to an official. He thought it should appear in the Press and be open to other gentlemen if they liked to compete for the office. The Town Council ought to have the power of appointing an assistant town clerk. The Town Clerk deserved assistance, but he (the speaker) objected to leaving it to the Town Clerk himself, although he had every confidence in him. Alderman J. J. Cunnah said he quite agreed with Mr. Rae in his remarks. Their Town Clerk, he maintained, was most competent to make the selection of a deputy or assistant, because that person would have to assist the Town Clerk, and unless he was agreeable to the Town Clerk he (Alderman Cunnah) did not see how they were going to work together. They would have an opportunity in the first instance after the Town Clerk had made his selection of either approving or otherwise of that selection; and if he did not perform his duties in a satisfactory manner, then they would have an opportunity of giving him three months' notice. He maintained that the gentleman who had to work with the assistant was the gentleman who should appoint him. Dr. Roberts added his testimony to and his ex- perience of the Town Clerk.' He expressed sur- prise that the application had not come before the Council earlier. The Town Clerk had applied for assistance, and it was the duty of the Council to accede to the request by allowing him to select his assistant and holding him responsible for all the duties associated with the office. Mr. Lamb believed that the Town Clerk should have assistance, but they should go into the matter in a businesslike way and advertise for and select the gentleman themselves. He did not think it should be stated that the assistant might also act as deputy town clerk, because it might give him a little title to fill the office some time. They ought to steer clear of that. He joined with other gentlemen who had spoken in his admiration of the Town Clerk. Dr. Archer thought the Council were par- ticularly fortunate in having for so many years the benefit of the services of a man with such ability as their Town Clerk, and he agreed that Mr. Smith ought to have some assistance. But as this was the first opportunity the Council had had to discuss the matter, he had made up his mind to vote for the amendment that it should be referred back to the Finance Committee for further consideration. If an assistant town clerk ) was to be appointed, the appointment ought to be made by the Town Council. He agreed with Alderman Dickson that the work of the Town Clerk ought to be entirely given to the Council, and the appointment of an assistant who would be capable of acting as his deputy was the best means of obtaining that object in the future. It was out of the question now to insist that Mr. Smith should devote his time entirely to the office, and it would not be fair to ask him to do so. He supported the amendment. Mr. J. D. Siddall asked what was the salary paid to the Town Clerk at the present time, and were there any special payments made if special duties were rendered ? Mr. W. Peers replied that the salary was JB500 per year, and no special payments of any description were made to the Town Clerk. In addition to the salary he, of course, received £ 100 as Clerk of the Peace. The Mayor reminded the Council that the terms upon which the present Town Clerk held his office were entirely foreign to the present matter. Mr. Smith had made no application whatever with regard to his own appointment, and there was no proposition that there should be any alteration with regard to him. He thought everyone would agree that the Town Clerk was entitled to the help which he asked. (Hear, hear.) The only question was whether the Town Clerk should make the appointment or whether it should be made absolutely by the Council. He had not the least idea who Mr. Smith wished to appoint as his assistant, and in the many con- versations he had had with him and in the dis- cussions which had taken place in committee he had never heard the Town Clerk suggest a name. He was quite satisfied that the course suggested by the recommendation of the committee was the right one, and he could not imagine that s-ny other course would result satisfactorily. If the Council advertised for a gentleman they would be inundated with applications from all sorts of pro- fessional gentlemen, and would consequently have a very grave difficulty in arriving at a satisfactory decision. On a division the amendment was defeated by 19 votes to nine, and the original recommendation was carried nem con. The Town Clerk thanked the Council for their grant of the assistance he had asked. He had no hesitation in saying that the professional work he had done for the Council apart from his duties as Town Clerk would, if charged for at the professional rates, have paid his salary alone. The subject had been, no doubt unintentionally, discussed rather from the point of view that the assistance was for himself personally rather than for the Town Clerk's department generally. The increased duties that had fallen upon the Town Clerk's staff had thrown increased duties on the Town Clerk simply because the services of the staff had been taken in doing work that did not properly belong to them. Therefore work that did properly belong to them had fallen upon his shoulders, so that instead (4 getting increased relief from his staff he had had increased burden thrust upon him. Replying to a question by the Mayor as to whether he" would submit the name of the assistant then, the Town Clerk said he was prepared to submit the name, but he thought it would be hardly fair to the Council to ask them to come to any conclusion on a name without giving them any previous intimation. He thought he should prefer that ho should not be supposed to take them by surprise. Mr. Ferguson asked if it would be in order to submit a motiou with reference to adver- tising. The Mayor: Certainly not; it is actually the opposite resolution we have just passed. THE PRINTING CONTRACT. I THE SHERIFF AND MR. CARR. I Mr. Carr said he saw it stated in connection with the tenders lor printing that every it-m must be tendered for at .fair trade prices. Could the Mayor give them any idea as to what was meant by fair trade prices. The Mayor replied that there was an idea in the minds of the committee that gentlemen in tendering might, in certain cases, not quote the exact fair trade price, but rather a tancy one, and the committee for their own guidance wanted every item tendered for to be tendered for at a fair trade price. Mr. Carr remarked that he thought it was something connected with wages. The Sheriff was surprised that Mr. Carr had not noticed one or two items in the accounts. For instance, twelve guineas was charged for great coats for the sword and mace bearers. That was a large item. He expected there was no sweating there. (Laughter.) He thought all these items of clothing should be contracted for. Then there was P.7 odd for a uniform for the hallkeeper. The Mayor said these articles were rather special work. Judging from the firm who supplied the livery, he took it upon himself to say that there was no sweating there. He believed the same firm supplied the original livery for the sword and mace bearers, and it lasted 32 years—(laughter)—and if these liveries lasted the same period there would be nothing to complain of. Mr. Carr held no brief for the firms in question, but he could say that there was no sweating in those firms. The Sheriff said the work ought to be open to tender, but that might result in their being made by sweating firms in Loudon. It was a special kind of work, and probably if it was sent to some of the Sheriff's favourite shops (laughter) the work might not be found 80 satisfactory. IMPROVEMENTS. Aid. John Jojies (chairman of the Improve- ment Committee) proposed that the committee be authorised to execute the necessary street works in connection with an improved roadway from Steam Mill-street to Seaville-street at an estima- ted cost of 1;84 8s. 6d. He explained that Messrs. Frost had helped them considerably by sacrificing two cottages so as to afford them room to make the necessary widening. Mr. John M. Frost seconded the proposition, and it was carried. Alderman Jones next proposed that the com- mittee be authorised to have the carriage-way in Northgate-street, from Messrs. Okell's shop to Mr. Kendrick's shop, widened at an estimated cost of £ 38. He considered it would be a great improve- ment, as Northgate-street was so narrow. The Mayor: Do I understand there will be no path there except what is in the Rows? Mr. Peers (clerk of committees): About eighteen inches. Mr. John M. Frost seconded, and this pro- position was carried. FIRE BRIGADE'S QUARTERS. COKPORATION TO PURCHASE. Alderman Jones proposed that the Improvement Committee be authorised to agree for the purchase of the block of property in Northgate-street, be- longing to the Charity Trustees, consisting of the Fire Engine Station and yard, the cellar under- neath, the chemist's shop and house (let on lease), and four cottages in Valentine's-court, for the sum of £ 4,500, subject to the sanction of the Local Government Board being obtained to borrow the amount of the purchase money. He explained that the Charity Trustees had an enquiry with re- gard to the sale of this property, and knowing that the Corporation were interested in the pro- perty as tenants of the Fire Engine Station, they very thoughtfully gave the Corporation the option of purchase. The total rental of the property was £1374s. The committee had gone into the matter of the accommodation of the Fire Brigade care- fully, and had considered several sites, especially the Fish Market or the Mug Market. They were advised by the surveyor and others that to alter the latter for the purposes of a fire engine station would entail a very large outlay of money, and would also hinder any further development of the market, and that after everything had been done that could be done the exit from the place would be very inconvenient indeed. The present posi- tion of the fire engine was the most suitable one and everybody knew where it was situated. Mr. John M. Frost seconded. iVIr. lowe moved an amenament that the Cor- poration do not purchase the property. They had sufficient property on their hands to enable them to find a site for a fire engine station without buy- ing more land. There was no better place in Chester for a fire engine station than the Market, because it was next to the Police Station, where a fire engine station ought to be placed The value of the property in Northgate-street was over- estimated.' They had property in Hamilton-place and Goss-street that was nothing but dirty, empty houses, which if they belonged to private people would have been pulled down long ago. He thought it was quite time the Corporation stopped buying property in opposition to private people. The Mayor: I am afraid I cannot accept it as an amendment. Mr. Lowe then asked for his motion to be altered to read that the fire engine be placed in the Market instead of the present place. Alderman George A. Dickson said he had for a long time felt that the fire engine ought to be in connection with that (the Town Hall) building, and if they could find room it ought to be re- moved to there. Undoubtedly in time the whole of the fire engine arrangements must be under the police. Mr. J. Williamson supported the recommenda- tion. There was no gentleman around that table who did not know how inadequately the fire en- gine was housed. He did not wish to use strong terms, but it was a disgrace to the city. They had a fairly efficient voluntary brigade, which put the city to very little expense, and they had not even a place where they could wash their hands. It had always been argued that there could be no better site in the city. It was one of the highest por- tions of the city, affording them a downward grade to get away quickly with the engine, etc. With regard to Goss-stroet as a site, he had no hesita- tion in predicting that if they were going to turn any fire brigade down Goss-street they would be in Quellyn Roberts's. (Laughter.) Mr. J. Gooddie Holmes: I am afraid they would never get out again, Mr. Mayor. (Laughter.) Mr. Williamson said with regard to the site behind the Market, there were too many turns. It was in the interest of the citizens to purchase the land and make it as convenient as they could for them. Mr. Lowe said if they sent it back to the com- mittee another situation might be found. Mr. J. M. Frost said Mr. Lowe appeared to have lost sight of the expense of building another mar- ket if the present one was taken up. The present station had been known for generations. In these days of telephonic communication they could be in quick touch with the Town Hall. Mr. Carr supported the recommendation of the committee, and urged the advisability of keeping the Council's property which might be utilised for purposes which were really necessary. The time was coming when the Council would have to go into the housing question, and it was, he thought, necessary that. they should keep all the ground I they had in order to deal with the housing ques- tion. That was one reason why he supported the purchasing of that land. He did not see why they should not build a new fire engine station if they wanted it. The brigade was very serviceable to the city, and all they could do was to en- courage that splendid service rendered to the pub- lic by the brigade. Dr. Archer supported the amendment, believing that they ought not to have the fire engine too far removed from the Town Hall and the police. I hey had got splendid accommodation for a fire engine. If the property in Goss-street belonged to a private individual it would have to be re- paired. There was a disgraceful collection of dirt, and it was positively a nuisance. The sooner it was done away with, and a market and fire en- gine station put there, the better it would be. Mr. Rae had been told of a possibly suitable  near to what was formerly the Judges' lodg?ngs available^"1 John Jones said that site was not avib!e The Town Clerk said it was hardly possible for the matter to stand over. The Charity Trustees, the owners of the property it was proposed to purchase, had given to the Council the first re- fusal of the property, and had declined to deal or negotiate with anyone else until the Council had said 'Óaye" or "no." The matter had been before the committee some two months, and he knew that there was a person prepared to give the price and more than the price asked of the Council if the Council did not entertain it. Thev could hardly ask the Charity Trustees to wait any longer. Mr. G. W. Haswell, who supported the or- iginal motion, thought the question of altering the site might be deferred. Mr. J. Gooddie Holmes, as chairman of the Watch Committee, sympathised with Mr. William- son. The Fire Brigade building at the present time was a most unsuitable one. He added that the Corporation property in the city was in a most unsatisfactory condition. The property they had in the neighbourhood of the Town Hall was a dis- grace to the Corporation. He hoped some steps would be taken to improve the condition of their property, and to provide a more suitable and con- venient fire station. Mr. Egerton Gilbert wished the Council to thoroughly understand that they were buying this property at something like 34 years' pur. chase, a price no business man would think of entertaining. He also wished to point out that the interest of the Corporation in the property represented only about one-quarter of its value. It would be very difficult to deal with in the way of selling portions of the property at anything like a fair return He also reminded the Council that they would have to erect a new fire engine station at a cost of between £1,008 and £ 2,000. Mr. R. Lamb hoped the Council would not lose the opportunity to secure the property at the price mentioned. r Mr. J. F. Lowe: This property has been valued by competent valuers at £ 3,450. Alderman Cunnah Property is worth what you can get for it. There are gentlemen willing to-day to give a great deal more money for this property than the trustees are offering it to the Council for. The amendment was lost, and the recommenda- tion of the committee was accord insrlv »rlr.r»for1 HOUSING OF THE WORKTlvn PT A QQMIQI THE COMMI T TKE'S INA(ITTOW I Alderman Jones complained that no steps had been taken to call the Housing of the Working Classes Committee together this year. The housing question had become so pressing in the country that reference had been made to it in the King's Speech in the opening of Parliament. He thought so long as the committee had been ap- pointed it should be called together to take some action in the matter, and he moved that the Town Clerk be instructed to arrange for a meeting of the committee at an early date. The Sheriff seconded. They had been spending th, ousands of pounds in improving front property, and yet they left some of the Corporation pro- perty in the state that Mr. Lowe had described. Mr. Carr knew of three cases of overcrowding in one court not far from there. There were more cases, but the difficulty was to get at them, as the people were standing in their own light, and were not telling the truth to the officials. The reason was that the people were afraid that if they made any complaints they would be turned out of their houses, for which they were paying extortionate rents, as the landlords were taking advantage of the position of affairs. Mr. Lowe intended to give notice that. he would move at the next meeting of the Council that they adopt part 3 of the Housing of the Working Classes  (Hear, hear.) The committee was merely a Iff' and the only way of getting at the matter was to 1 a direct '?"? at the next Council meeting. It was decided that the Town Clerk should place himself in communication with Mr. Lowe, the chairman of the committee, in order that a meeting of the committee might be called. THE BATHS. I Mr. G. W. Haswell asked the Mayor if he could give the Council any opinion as to the approxi- mate date of the opening of the baths. The Mayor said the chairman of the committee was absent. Mr. Reynolds was a member of the committee, but he was afraid he could not tell them when the baths were going to be opened. fLanr-hier. ) TREES ON SEALAND-ROAD. I ,it, a meeting ot the Improvement Committee a letter was read from Alderman Thos. Smith, stating that Lord Crewe was desirous of planting trees on the roadside opposite to the Fever Hos- pital, and it was resolved to give permission, sub- ject to the approval of the survivor. RENTING OF THE LITTLE ROOllKK. I Application had been made to the Improvement Committee by Mr. P. Collins for the Little Roo- dee for the next race meeting. It was resolved that the Little Roodee be let to Mr. Collins for the week of the next race meeting at the rent of ±-100, and on the terms of the agreement of last year, and that the Watch Committee be requested to furnish the necessary police for keeping order on the ground at Mr. Collins's exDense TRAMLINES OUT OF REPAIR At a meeting of the Improvement Committee attention was called to the dangerous condition of the tramlines in various places, and the Town Clerk was instructed to write the company, calling on them at once to do the necessary repairs. CHESTER WATER. I SATISFACTORY REPORT. I Keportmg on the results which he had obtained in the chemical and bacteriological examination of several samples of water received, Dr. Percy Frankland stated: "The samples of filtered water, both from the works and from the consumer's tap, were almost perfectly clear to the eye; they were palatable and contained only a moderate amount of organic matter. The unfiltered water contained a considerable, although by no means very large number of bacteria for surface water, especially at this season of the year; and this number was very greatly reduced by filtration, although the actual number still present in the filtered water was not as small as I have often found on previoiii3 occasions. The emeiency of the f~ M+r«?- is indicated by the fact that, out of every 100 bacteria present in the unfiltered water, no less than 95.4 were removed in the process. The results, both chemical and bacteriological are in every respect very much more satisfactory than on the occasion of my last quarterly examination." it appeared from the minutes of the Public Health Committee that a communication had been re- ceived from the Chester Waterworks Company, stating that Dr. Boyce's latest report on the water supply was under the careful consideration of the engineer, who was investigating matters, and leaving no means untried to ascertain the cause of the irregular action of the filters. Though no serious defect had as yet been discovered, Mr. Crowe had been able to materially improve the means of safeguarding the water supply, and hoped, as the result of what was being done and what was proposed, to completely remove any feeling of uneasiness which might have arisen In consequence of the rprAnf, nnfflvrwiraklrw mnArfe THE CORPORATION TRAMWAYS. I The minutes of the Local Government Act Com- mittee shewed that the Town Clerk reported the position as to the consents of local and road author- ities required under the standing orders of Parlia- ment, that the consent of the Hawarden Rural District Council has been given, but that the con- sents were still wanting of the Cheshire County Council, the Flintshire County Council, the Hoole Urban District Council, and the Chester Rural District Council; he also reported the correspondence and the clauses and amend- ments required by the Cheshire County Council and the Hoole Urban District Council, and stated that the Chester Rural District Council would con- sent when the Cheshire County Council are satis- fled. He further reported that he and the surveyor, on the invitation of the deputy-clerk, attended a meeting oi P,, committee of the Flintshire County Council, at i. e Queen Railway Hotel, when their proposed requirements were discussed. The re- quirements of the Flintshire and Cheshire County Councils and of the Hoole Urban District Council were considered in detail and discussed, and in- structions were given thereon to the Town Clerk. A letter dated the 25th January, from Mr. R. R. Nelson, solicitor to the Great Western Railway Company, was read, and the Town Clerk reported that strenuous opposition by that company and the London and North-Westem Railway Company may be reckoned on. Objections by Mr. Hudson, owner of the Bache Hall estate, and by the trustees of the late Mrs. (Judge) Wynne Ffoulkes's property in Upper Northgate-street, were reported and instructions given.—It was resolved that the following gentle- men be appointed a sub-committee to confer with and instruct the Town Clerk in reference to all matters arising during the progress of the Bill, viz., the Chairman, the Deputy-Chairman, Alder- man John Jones and Mr. John R. Rae.

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