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CHESTER TOWN COUNCIL. I

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CHESTER TOWN COUNCIL. I The monthly meeting of the Town Council I was held on Wednesday, the Mayor (Alderman H. T. Brown) presiding. NATIONAL STATUE OF KING ALFRED. I The Town-Clerk read a letter from the Mayor of Winchester with reference to the national commemoration of Kins; Alfred the Great. The letter pointed out that the ceremony of unveiling the colossal statue had been fixed for September. There still remained the sum of £ 1,500 to be collected to meet the outlay already incurred, and if the majority of his brother mayors would undertake to collect a sum of say L5 each, the amount required would be obtained. The Mayor said he would be glad to con- < tribute his quota if the other members of the Council felt inclined to put their names on the subscription list. AN INTERESTING GIFT. A letter was read from Mr. W. Vernon presenting an old plan of the city. It was a tac-simile of that which was destroyed when the Council Chamber was burned, and was the first known plan of the city. rhe Mayor said he had not the least hesita- tion in moving that the kind gift of Mr. Vernon be accepted with thanks, and that it be hung in the Town HalL The Sheriff seconded the motion, which was carried. UNIVERSITY EXTENSION IN LIVERPOOL. LOCAL REPRESENTATION. A letter was read from the Society 'or University Extension in Liverpool and district, requesting the Corporation to elect their representative on the council of the society for the session 1901-2. The Mayor moved the re-appointment of Dr. Stolterfoth. Mr. J. Gooddie Holmes seconded, and the motion was carried. Alderman Stolterfoth explained that any university extension lecture they had had in Chester had been connected with Oxford or Cambridge. Liverpool were now trying to carry out university extension from their own centre. At present he did not think there was an open- ing in Chester for Liverpool University Exten- sion, because the committee carried out Oxford and Cambridge lectures, and it would be for them to consider whether, when the time came, they would join the Liverpool University. He had great pleasure in accepting the appoint- ment. SUGGESTED POLICE TRIP. The Town Clerk said a letter had been received from the Corporation workmen addressed to the Mayor, expressing their sincere thanks for the kindness shewn to them by the Town Council im providing them with a trip ticket and a holiday. Mr. Rae said he happened to be in Blackpool on the day the Corporation workmen were there, and he knew that they thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and were grateful to the Council. He threw out the suggestion to the Watch Committee that the police might have a similar holiday. He did not think there would be any difficulty about it. The police were hardworking servants, and they deserved a holiday. The Mayor said he had no doubt the Watch Committee would consider the recommendation. Mr. Gooddie Holmes was quite sure they would consider it if it was the wish of the CounciL 4 tie Mayor said he could see difficulties in the .ay. However, the Watch Committee would bear the suggestion in mind. On the motion of Mr. Holmes, seconded by Alderman Dickson, the recommendation of the Watch Committee, that an allowance of 19s. 4d. per week be paid out of the Police Pension Fund to P.S. George Clutton, resigned after 23 years' service, was carried. NEW FIRE ESCAPE. I iiir. L-tooodia Holmes moved the adoption of the recommendation of the Watch Committee that they be authorised to purchase a new fire escape. A considerable port^pn of the present fire escape was in a very bad state, being parti- ally rotten, and it was, in fact, unsafe. The escape had now been in Chester for some 24 years, and he was not sure whether it was new when it arrived here. The Watch Committee knew it was a very antique and unwieldly instrument. It could not be moved about with- out difficulty. Although in Chester antiquities of all kinds were appreciated and were objects of interest, yet he did not think a fire escape was one of those things that they should pre- serve. (Laughter.) It was used to save the lives of citizens, and it was absutely necessary they should have a new one, wlch would be up to date. The cost would be about £ 90. Alderman Dickson seconded. The Mayor asked if the fire escape and ladder arrangements were the only means of escape from fires in Chester. The reply was in the affirmative. Alderman Churton asked if the present fire escape had ever been used at a fire. He did not know anyone who had been rescued from fire by it. He did not object to the spending of X90, but the question was whether a fire escape was necessary in Chester which did not contain very high buildings, and whether something less costly and more useful might be better. Mr. Holmes said the fire escape was 65 feet high. There were a number of buildings in nester wnicn might require an escape of that description. As far as the present fire escape was concerned, it might as well go into the museum. It took five or six men to move it about, and if they had one which would be up- to-date and could be moved about more easily it would be an advantage. Alderman Churton said he was quite willing to leave the matter in the hands of the com- mittee. Mr. Lamb said it was absolutely necessary to have a fire escape to reach some of the high buildings which he named. The recommendation was adopted. PIERROTS AND SUSPENSION BRIDGE. Mr. Egerton Gilbert asked whether,the atten- tion of the Watch Committee had been given to the increased traffic over the Suspension Bridge. Since the Pierrots had gone to the other side of the river the traffic had largely increased, and there was an element of danger to the public. He was told that on one evening recently a very large crowd congregated on the bridge. He knew that at certain times in the past the bridge had been closed on such nights as those of the Regatta or when the river was illuminated. It seemed to him this was a matter which should receive the attention of the Watch Committee or some other committee, Mr. Gooddie Holmes said they would be very pleased to take a little extra precaution. There was a man there at the present time to prevent people from congregating on the bridge. He did not know whether Mr. Gtlbert was aware that this bridge did not belong to the Corpora- tion, and that it was private property. He believed it was closed one day in the year. Evtey precaution would be taken. Wanswer to the Mayor, it was explained that a civilian was in charge of the bridge. LIGHTING. On the motion of Mr. B. C. Roberts, the Council adopted the recommendation of the Lighting Committee, which was to the effect that the committee be authorised to have the necessary distributing main laid for in- candescent public and private lighting in Stocks-lane at an estimated cost of RZO9. A further recommendation that the committee be authorised to purchase eight enclosed arc lamps for the sum of 252, was also passed on the motion of Mr. Roberts. THE MARKET. I TENANTS WANT EARLY CLOSING. Mr. Henry Dodd asked the chairman of the Improvement Committee what was the reason of the committee's refusing the applica- tion of the tenants of the market hall to close the hall at four o'clock on Wednesdays. The request, he explained, was sent to the Improvement Committee, and was signed by every tenant in the Market Hall. Wednesday was the day which had been generally adopted for the closing of shops, and  he wished to know why the request of the J I memorialists was not acceded to. Alderman Jones said so far as he undrstood I the decision of the Improvement Committee was to the effect that the tenants of the Market Hall were at perfect liberty to close their shops at any time if they thought fit on Wednesdays. The committee had no wish to interfere with the individual liberty of the tenants in any shape or form, and they (the tenants) could as individuals, or by combination, arrangfe to carry out what they requested. The committee, acting under the legal advice of the town clerk, had determined they could not close the public market on Wednesdays at four o'clock. Mr. Dodd said he would like to propose that the matter be referred back to the committee for their further consideration. The Sheriff did not think any useful purpose would be served by doing this. The Town Clerk, at the request of the Mayor, said ever since he could remember Wednesdays and Saturdays had been market days. The Council had been asked as against the public and the frequenters of that market to close it on a market day at four o'clock. Market rights were perhaps easily lost, and as he had the I responsibility of advising the committee he had t given it as his opinion that the public market ought not to be closed as against the public on a market day at an earlier hour than it usually did. Of course there was nothing to prevent occupiers of shops in the market from either combining or individually closing their shops at any hour they thought proper, but it was not within the province of the committee to close the public market on a market day. (Hear, hear.) Mr. D. L. Hewitt seconded Mr. Dodd's pro- position. It was not an ordinary case, he explained, for everyone of the stallholders had agreed to close at four on Wednesdays, and the majority of shops, banks, &c., closed upon that day. They had the unanimous voice of the stallholders, and in reply they said to them I You may close your stalls and shops, but we leave the market open." Fancy the stall- holders leaving their goods to be preyed upon by that section of the public which would certainly make it a rendezvous under such circumstances. "I Mr. Gooddie Holmes queried whether the public had not a right to go into the market at any time. He did not think they could close the streets in the city, and it appeared to him that the market was a thoroughfare open to the public generally. If that were so he did not see any necessity to refer the matter back to the committee. The Mayor: I gather from the Town Clerk that this is a public market, and on market days it should be open. Mr. J. Jones (Boughton) said even if the stalls were closed it would be a convenience in many ways to the public to have the market open. For instance, it might be a wet after- noon, or they might wish to get out of the sun. It was a nice, pleasant walk around the market. (Laughter.) The Mayor said it seemed perfectly useless to refer it back, as they must be guided by the legal advice of the Town Clerk. Mr. Holmes said they might as well close Eastgate-street. Four voted in favour of the motion, which was lost. I THE SEWAGE SCHEME. I I ESTIMATE £ 43,000—CONTRACT 155,000.1 1 DISCREPANCY EXPLAINED. I ALDERMAN CHURTON'S OBJECTION. The Town Clerk explained that a meeting of the Sewering Committee was held on the 15th July, and the following resolutions were passed:—" That it be recommended to the Council that the committee be authorised to arrange and conclude a contract for the works, the cost, according to the lowest tender, being £ 55,881, and to have the works carried out, and that for those purposes all necessary incidental powers and duties be delegated to the com- mittee." Mr. John Jones (Boughton Ward) moved that the Council adopt the recommendation. In doing so he said the difference between the original estimate and the contract figures was due to Local Government Board alterations, also to an extension in regard to rural districts which they proposed to include in the sewerage scheme. Mr. W. Vernon seconded. Alderman Churton commented upon the enormous expenditure. Very little was said about it, but if it had been a £ 5 note every- body would have been making a speech about it. He really sympathised with the committee in having to come before the Council that day with sueh an enormous expenditure. He took objection to the minute of the Sewering Com- mittee, which had only just been handed to him. They were asked to authorise that expenditure without any preliminary notice being sent to them. So far as he understood there was an application made to borrow a sum of money— £ 40,000 or £ 42,000. Mr. J. Jones: £ 43,000. Alderman Churton said he would like to know what the Local Government Board order was for. He should object to any further expenditure without any application being made to the Local Government Board. The com- mittee ought to point out the difficulties connected with the matter, and suggest in what way the money was going to be found. Tho money would have to be borrowed from somewhere, and if it was to be borrowed they would have to get the sanction of the Local Government Board to do so, and they should get their sanction before they accepted the tenders or commenced the work. The Town Clerk The order is the usual sanc- tion for the loan of £ 43,000. Alderman Churton: I think you will have to go again. The Town Clerk: We shall have te go again, but we eannot put the cart before the horse. The Council must say whether they will apply or not. Alderman Churton: Nothing is said about applying to the Local Government Board here (meaning the agenda), and I think it should have been. Continuing, he said he never more begrudged the expenditure of a large amount of money for public works than he did this. He attributed it very largely to the employment of a gentleman like Major Tulloch, which was simply done with a view of propitiating the Local Government Board. He did not know any other town which was called upon to spend so much money on similar work. He would not say the scheme was useless, but it was enor- mous, and it would not end with that expendi- ture. He said when the scheme was first discussed that it would cost nearly X60,000, but nobody would believe him. He did not think the addition/of the sewage of a few rural dis- tricts would make anything like the difference suggested. He would like to see the tenders, and he felt as a member ef that Council he had a right to do. They were called upon at a moment's notice to authorise the expenditure. and he objected to the committee's having all the powers delegated to them. It took all the power out of the hands of the Council them- selves. Mr. John Jones said the matter had been before the town and before the Council for several years, and that was the oirty course they J could adopt-to ask the Council to conclude the contract, and he could assure the Council they did not want to throw any money away. They had very unfavourable land to work upon, but it was the only position they had, and the only outlet they had for their sewage. They bad come to the conclusion that there was nothing' for them to do but to go on with the work and make a good job of it. He for one objected to cutting anything down, so that it would not be a good job, and there was nothing like facing the music to commence with, and having every- thing of the best quality. Alderman Churton spoke about the engineet. He thought they had got an engineer of very great experience, and a man well capable of carrying out the work, and tbey had a gentleman whose contract was the lowest and a firm which was carrying out an enormous lot of work in different parts of England at the present time. The Town Clerk read the order from the Local Government Board, dated the 13th December, 1900, sanctioning the loan of R41,,300 for carry- ing out the permanent work, and also sanction- ing the borrowing of £ 1,700 for the construction of machinery in connection with the same works. Alderman Churton: I don't suggest that everything is not in due order, except that it is not on the agenda paper. The Town Clerk Excuse me, Mr. Churton. Alderman Churtou: Perhapa I was wrong in saying that it was not on the agenda, but the Council have not received any information as to the application that was going to be made. Continuing, he said he thought the proper thing for the committee to do was, finding the enormous difference between the amended scheme and the original one, to go with the amended application for permission to increase the borrowing power from X43,000 to the amount required, and upon that application the Local Government Board would deal with the matter, and if they authorised the loan it would be plain sailing. He moved an amendment that fresh application be made to the Local Government Board to sanction the amended scheme, and to borrow the money that would be required to carry on the scheme. Mr. John Jones We are not asking you to accept the tender. Alderman Churton: But you are taking a matter involving £ 60,000 into a small com- mittee which is held in private, and I don't think it is the right thing. On principle I object to it. Mr. Vernon said the last clause in the re- commendation was and that for those purposes all necessary incidental powers and duties be delegated to the committee." Alderman Churton said they were going to delegate the use of 956,000 to the committee, and he objected to it. Alderman Jones asked the Town Clerk whether in view of the increased amount for the estimate, application to the Local Govern- ment Board would not follow as a matter of course. The Town Clerk Certainly. Alderman Churton Why is it not so stated in this application ? It is not so stated. You practically authorise the committee to go to the bank and draw the money, and go on with the work. That is the effect. Mr. R. Lamb said he was sorry that he was not quite in accord with the Sewering Committee on that matter. He thought the application to the Local Government Board to ratify a further loan was a wrong procedure. The proper procedure was to refer it back to committee to confer with the engineer they had employed, and see whether there were not things which they could take out of that work, and thus reduce the expendi- ture to something like the first approximate estimate. He (Mr. Lamb) wanted to know | what the extensions were that were required by the Local Government Board, and he moved an amendment to the effect that the matter be referred back to the committee for them to confer with the engineer on the subjet.  Alderman Churn said he would withdraw,l his amendment and second that of Mr. Lamb's. He thought there was a great deal of wisdom in what he had said. Alderman Dickson asked if the advising engineers of the Local Government Board had approved of their engineer's scheme upon which the tenders had been obtained. The Town Clerk Undoubtedly. Mr. Churton talks of amended schemes. There is no amended scheme as far as I know except the amendments made by the Board themselves, and they have made amendments, and those amendments have involved the additional expenditure. Mr. Lamb said he had the greatest possible confidence in Major Tulloch's ability in con- nection with the formulating of a scheme to deal with the sewage of this or any other town. That confidence had been shaken by his approximate estimate which differed in amount so materially from the contracts they had received. That was his reason for wishing it to be referred back. Mr. D. L. Hewitt asked the chairman of the committee whether he and the committee had not already conferred with Major Tulloch upon the vast discrepancy. Surely Mr. Lamb as a member of the committee ought to know. Was anything being kept back which the Council ought to know ? Mr. J. Jones said the sewage scheme was now one-fifth larger than that for which Major Tulloch had estimated. As he had already explained, that was due to the taking in of rural districts to a greater extent than was contemplated when the estimate was given. It was a very simple matter. The Mayor: In fact Major Tulloch's original estimate and the tenders are not upon the same basis-Major Tulloch's estimate was for a smaller scheme. I understand the Town Clerk tells us that the tenders have been obtained upon estimates and specifications approved by the Local Government Board. Mr. Lamb Will you tell me the date of the presentation of these plans to the Council ? The Town Clerk said the plans came before the Sewering Committee on the 30th May, and read a minute recording that fact, and instruc- tions to obtain tenders. Mr. Lamb said he referred to the plans passed by the Council and at the inquiry. Were not these plans formed and prepared with the possible extension of boundary at the time ? There had been no deduction or addition to those plans. Mr. J. Jones There has been an addition. Mr. Lamb I want to know where the addition has taken place and ia what particular. The Town Clerk said the plans were originally submitted to the Council, of course prior to the Local Government Board inquiry, and they did not at that time contemplate the taking of the rural sewage. That was to say they did not contemplate any extension for it. The matter then came before the public inquiry, and from that time the Local Government Board had had the plans and sent for their (the Council's) engineer to consult with their engineer, and suggested modifications, alterations and enlarge- ments of those plans. That to a considerable extent, he understood, accounted for the con- siderable increase in the figures. Mr. Lamb: It is not satisfactory at all. Alderman Churton That alteration has not been sanctioned by this Council. Mr. Lamb submitted that there had been no addition or deduction at all from those plans which were originally passed by the Council. There had been no practical deviation from those plans so far as the Local Government Board requirements were concerned. As re- garded materials having advanced since the approximate estimate was made, he did not believe it for a moment. Alderman Churton said as to this matter there ought not to be any doubt. Two things had been placed before them. In the first place it had been stated that there had been no amendment of the scheme since it had come before the Council and the inquiry, while the chairman of the committee had stated that the size of the scheme had been increased by one- fifth which had practically caused the difference between £ 43,000 and £ 55,000. He wanted to know which statement was correct. If there had been an addition it was a very distinct amendment. The Town Clerk said there had been no amendment except that which hAd been made at the suggestion of the Local Government Board, practically by the Local Government Board themselves. He understood that Alderman Churton's amendment was to re- submit the scheme for the sanction of the Local Government Board as the tenders had been invited for the carrying out of a scheme which had been sanctioned by the Local Government Board. Alderman J. Jones: I take it that these alterations which have been practically imposed upon the Council by the Local Government Board, have been reported t. the Council in due form. The Town Clerk: Yes. Alderman Churton I don't think so. The Mayor They have been reported to the Council by the minutes of the committee. Alderman Churton said he did not think the minutes of the committee had disclosed such an extension or alteration. He had no recollection of anything of the kind coming before the Council, and he did not think the Council had been consulted upon the matter at all since the Local Government Board inquiry, except that they had passed certain minor things. A SCENE. ALDERMAN CHURTON AND MR. J. JONES. Mr. J. Jones, the chairman of the committee, said the committee, as Alderman Churton knew very well, had to go to the Local Government Board and be guided by them. Mr. Jones, who was somewhat inaudible, was understood to allude to Mr. Churton's being paid to oppose the scheme. Alderman Churton warmly retorted: u have made an offensive statement which is abso- lutely untrue. Mr. Jones said he was sorry if what he had said was offensive. Alderman Churton I do protest against Mr. Jones's making a statement just now which is absolutely false. Mr. Jones I beg your pardon, sir —— Alderman Churton Yes; you made an offen- sive statement which you frequently do. You said I was paid to come here and make a state- ment against the scheme. Mr. Jones: At one time. Alderman Churton: You said I was paid to come here and make a statement against the scheme. It is utterly unworthy of you. You ought to know better, and I tell you to your face it is a lie. Mr. Jones I say that at one time you were paid to oppose the scheme. Alderman Churton I say I was not paid to oppose the scheme. I shall have to bring you up for it. It is not the first time you have made statements and apologised for them. You say I was employed Mr. Jones asked Mr. Churton if he was not employed by the Rural District Council to do certain work ? Alderman Churton again warmly replied that he was not employed to oppose the scheme. The Mayor: Will you address the chairman, Mr. Churton ? Alderman Churton: I venture to appeal to you to protect every member of thfe Council who gets up here to express his views on behalf of the ratepayers. It is a wrong principle and a wrong thing to suggest for a moment that when a person gets up he is guidted by impure motives. I have not imputed wrong motives to the committee or to the chairman, and he has no right to impute wrong motives to me and to make an offensive state- ment against me-a statement which is abso- lutely untrue. It has occurred in this Council previously. I assure you I don't come here because I happen to be employed by the District Council—not cdfinected with this scheme at all. I come here because I feel that this town is being involved in an absolutely useless expenditure to an enormous amount. Mr. J. Jones I beg to contradict you. You know perfectly well that you have been em- ployed by an outside district council to oppose this scheme. Alderman Churton: I have not, sir, and I shall take care to make you prove your words. You are making a mostoffensive and slanderous statement. The Mayor: I understand that Mr. Jones has made a remark and has offered to withdraw that remark if it is offensive to Mr. Churton. Mr. Jones If the alderman will tell me any remark which he considers offensive I will undertake to withdraw it. What I said was that the alderman was paid to oppose this scheme. I don't say this scheme now before Ii this Council and which we are discussing, but that he was a paid servant representing a par- ticular body opposing our scheme going to Parliament. He was not only opposing that here, but also in the House of Commons, and he knows it perfectly well, because I happened to meet him there. Alderman Churton: You are talking abso- lute rot. You never went to Parliament. The Mayor: He does not wish to reflect upon your conduct. Alderman Churton He does wish to reflect. Mr. J. Jones said he should be very sorry to say a word against Alderman Churton, but he thought he (Alderman Churton) had been a little carried away by the extension of the borough and one thing and another, and he had really forgotten himself. Mr. J. F. Lowo said it was a very large out- lay, and asked if the engineer was to be paid five per cent. commission upon that £ 55,000. The Mayor Oh yes. Mr. Lowe: That has not been provided for, and Mr. Churton is quite right. For the amendment, which was that the matter be referred back to the committee, 19 voted, and it was carried. Mr. Jones said he might say that that was all they asked them to do. Alderman Dickson suggested that when it next came before the Council a short history of the whole thing by the chairman, given seriatim, might be presented. It would clear the air and the sewage gas—(laughter)—out of it. LIFE ON CANAL BOATS. I THE EFFECT ON CHILDREN. I At a recent meeting of the School Attend- ance Committee the following letter was read from Mr. Robert Lloyd:—I am desired to send you the following resolution, which was passed unanimously by the council of the Cheshire District Union of Teachers (repre- senting 700 Cheshire teachers) at its last meeting, June 15th:—"That in view of the fact that life on canal boats is detrimental to the moral, mental, and physical development of children of tender age, it is desirable that the families of canal boatmen should have homes on shore and their children be brought under the effective operation of the compulsory clauses of the Elementary Education Act." It was moved by Mr. Wm. Carr, seconded by Mr. G. W. Haswell, and resolved, That Mr. Lloyd be informed that the committee's sympathies are with the resolution, and they will endeavour to bring about the reform suggested; and that it be recommended to the Council to adopt the resolution and forward a copy to the M.P. for the city of Chester and the secretary of the Board of Education." Mr. Roger Jackson, chairman of the committee, moved the adoption of the minutes with the ex- ception of the portion relating to canal boat children. He explained that a short time ago the magistrates held a special meeting for the purpose ot considering the question, and had passed a resolution to the same effect, which had been en- dorsed by him, representing the School Attendance Committee, and sent to the Board of Education, who had acknowledged the receipt of it and promised to do their best in the matter. If they adopted the recommendation of the committee they would be ignoring the magistrates' resolu- tion. He thought it advisable to leave it until a more opportune time, when the attention of the House of Commons could with advantage be drawn to-the matter. Mr. Ferguson thought it would be far better if the Council confirmed the minutes as they stood. The resolution came from a wide circle of teachers in the surrounding district, and if anyone was en- titled to speak, surely the opinion of the teachers ought not to be set at nought. He moved that the whole minutes be confirmed, and that a copy of the resolution be sent' to the member for the city, who always got the ear of the House, and was able effectually to present any petition which they sent to him. He hoped his motion would be passed unanimously by the Council, as it would be in the interests of the unfortunate children. Mr. Roger Jackson said he wished for time for the member for the city to bring it forward in the House of Commons. There was in the present state of affairs no chance of its being brought for- ward. The Mayor said that to put it in order he seconded Mr. Jackson's resolution. The subject of canal boat children had by no means been lost sight of either by the magistrates, the School At- tendance Committee or the Council. The Council in November, 1900, accepted a recommendation which came to them from the School Attendance Committee, and the School Attendance Committee in their turn accepted a recommendation from the Bench of magistrates, which was to the effect that the magistrates were of opinion that the present system of providing for the education of canal boat children was most unsatisfactory, and not con- ducive to the benefit or advancement of such children; so long as the canal boat was the chil- dren's only home it was quite impossible to properly educate them, and legislation to improve the existing arrangement was urgently needed. So far as the School Attendance Committee, the magistrates and the Council were concerned, they had done all in their power in bringing the matter to the notice of the proper authority. It was a large question, affecting not only the children, but the whole system of the canal population. It was a very difficult question, and one that required very considerable thought, and would require very delicate handling. It was all very well for the school teachers to pass a resolution recommending that the children should not be brought up on those boats, but provided with homes on shore so that they would be able to attend school. There was another side to the question. Whether teachers, magistrates or the Town Council, they were all agreed that the system of bringing up the children oia flats or canal boats was most detri- mental, and he might say that all interested in the social condition of the canal population would be only too glad to see any legislation which would put a stop to a system which was so detrimental to the social condition of those poor people. It was, he repeated, a very large question, and the voice of the magistrates and other authorities might in time have effect. He did not think that the voice of the teachers of elementary sohools would be of particular advantage or need guide them. They had already done all that lay in their power, and if they could not speak with effect the masters and mistresses could not do so. Alderman Churton said they were all in accord with the Mayor that it was desirable that the con- ditions of the children should be altered. The Mayor's speech was in favour of the resolution it was proposed to exclude being adopted. He did not see any reason why the District Union of Teachers should not be assisted in the course they suggested, and he ventured to think that the more they knocked at the door of the Board of Educa- tion the better, and the more they had interested in the proposed reform the better. The District Union of Teachers had given a foundation to the whole thing by suggesting what was the only remedy for curing that defect. He was entirely in sympathy with the resolution passed by the teachers, and which, if adopted, would at least do no harm. The Sheriff said as a resolution on the same lines had already been sent up, it would do no good to send another. Mr. Roger Jackson: We are as anxious as the schoolmasters that they should have homes on shore, and that they should be brought within the Act. We are doing all we can, and have made a great improvement within the last few months. But we have a lot of young men who are going to set the thing right in a few minutes. (Laughter.) Alderman Churton: That is all the better. Don't discourage them. t. The Mayor suggested that instead of excluding the recommendation, which was meant in good faith, its receipt should be acknowledged, coupled with an assurance that what was asked had already been done. It was no use sending the resolution again. Mr. Roger Jacksan It would be stultifying the magistrates' resolution. Alderman Churton: Don't you think it would strengthen our hands? The Mayor replied that he thought it woijld be weakening the case very much. Alderman Churton said he should stick to his guns and his resolution. Mr. Jackson: If he is going to do all the good let him do it. (Laughter.) The voting resulted in ten voting for the amend- ment and ten against it. The Mayor said it was the first time in his ex- perience of upwards of eighteen months that he had boen called upon to exercise his right to give tho casting vote. He voted on the first occasion, therefore he would support his own opinion and give his casting vote against the amendment, which was accordingly lost. THE NEW BATHS. I Alderman Churton moved the adoption of the minutes of the Boating and Baths Committee. He was, he said, not quite certain whether the date (the 21st August) provisionally fixed upon for the opening of the new baths could be adhered to. They could not do without the Mayor, who would be away, as would also others, August being the month for holidays. The Mayor: May we fix upon September? Alderman Churton replied that he thought so. Mr. J. Jones asked whether any programme was being arranged for the opening day, and mentioned that a gentleman would probably give & cup as a prize. Alderman Churton said the committee had every desire to do all they could in that way, and a dis- play worthy of the baths would be arranged for the opening. A COUNCILLOR'S BEREAVEMENT. I The Mayor said one of their members whom they respected very much, Mr. Reynolds, had within the last few days had a sad bereavement In losing his wife. He moved that the deep sym- pathy of the Council be conveyed to Mr. Reynolds. The Sheriff seconded, and it was unanimously passed. 0

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STANDING JOINT COMMITTEE.…

IPICKPOCKET AT THE REGATTA.

BAZAAR AT CHESTER COLLEGE.I

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DROWNED AT EASTHAM. I

HELSBY SEWERAGE SCHEME.

A LLANDUDNO ARBITRATIONI CASE.

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DISTRICT COUNCILS.

CHESTER CASTLE PETTY SESSIONS.

PLEMSTALL YEOMEN.

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