voted in 179 166 brought misery to the doors of thousands-and scattered widely the seeds of discontent; but (which perhaps is more disagreeable at head-quarters than any thing else), it has exposed Lord Aberdeen's blundering diplomacy with Russia-which, but for the existence of the duty, would not easily have been discovered. Why such a tax should be a favourite with a Minister whose popularity as well as revenue is descending fast to zero, we repeat, is to us a mystery extremely difficult of solution. For the information of distant readers, it is proper to state that the shipments from Hartlepool, Seaham, Blyth, &e., are all included in the returns from the ports named. VOTES OF THE NORTHERN MEMBERS DURING THE SESSION. ACCORDING to our annual custom, we have prepared a list of the attendances of the Members of Parliament for the northern counties and boroughs, on divisions in the House of Commons, during the session which has just terminated. We now present this list to our readers-merely premising that we do not offer it as an infallible test of Parliamentary fitness; because we know that there are many good and sufficient pleas (besides ill-health), which may be urged in palliation of absence on divisions; but we think, at the same time, that it supplies a piece of useful information, to which constituencies are justly entitled at the hands of an impartial and painstaking journalist:Total number of divisions Wawn, John Twizell Hodgson, Richard ...... South Shields Berwick ...... ........ 220 Forster, Matthew.. Berwick 120 Hutt, William Sir Hedworth Williamson, Whitburn .......................... 6 ............ Gateshead ...Cockermouth. North York 98 85 Caleb Wilson, Bishopwearmouth.................. 13 8 84 Ralph Carr, Bishopwearmouth 12 ............... 83 Joseph Simpson, Whitburn.... 7 Mitcalfe, Henry 74 William Beckwith, Bishopwearmouth Howard, P. H.. Carlisle 66 Lowther, Hon. Colonel Westmorland. 57 Howard, Hon. C. W. G..... East Cumberland Andrew White, ditto. 53 Hinde, J. Hodgson Richard White, Thorney Close .... ..Newcastle 52 Ogle, S. C. H. Walker Featherstonbaugh, ditto........................... Rowland Webster, ditto ......................................... Robert Eden Duncombe Shaftoe, Whitworth. .South Northumberland 52 Ralph Stephen Pemberton, Usworth Colborne, Hon. W. N. R. Richmond 49 Colonel Beckwith, Silksworth James, William 46 Robert Leech, Bishopwearmouth Cresswell, Baker .. North Northumberland 44 John William Williamson, Whickham Horsman, E.... ..... Cockermouth. 44 Attwood, Matthias Irton, Samuel ... Marshall, William Liddell, Hon. H. T....... Howick, Lord Bowes, John.. Bell, John.. .... ...... .... North Durham South Durham Northallerton..... Sunderland... Durham⭑ .... West Cumberland.. Thomas Bowlby, Bishopwearmouth. 43 Carlisle Hon. Henry Thomas Liddell, Eslington............ William Bell, ditto James Morrison, ditto Thomas Crawford, Lambton ................................ William Ord, Bishopwearmouth ........... 5 10 ................ 34 Westmorland. ...... 32 Whitby 31 William Potts, ditto................................................................... Frederick Horn, ditto.................................................................... Thomas James Backhouse, ditto.............................. 5 14 North Durham George Hunter, Pensher 28 Newcastle 27 .South Northumberland 26 Charles Milner, Biddick Hugh Taylor, Earsdon.................................................................. Abraham Storey, Chester-le-Street 5 .Sunderland.. ..South Durham John Burrell, Durham.. 3 24 Thomas Fenwick, South Hill West Cumberland Whitehaven 23 Rev. William Smoult Temple, Dinsdale...... 1 Colonel Mills, Willington 19 .Thirsk..... William Grey, Norton....... Cayley, E. S. Edward Aiskell, Bishopwearmouth North York.. Ossulston, Lord .North Northumberland 11 Henry Stobart, Etherley.. Dundas, Hon. J. C.... Howard, Hon. E. G. G. Richmond Morpeth Rowland Burdon, Castle Eden ... ........ Hon. and Rev. G. V. Wellesley, Bishopwearmouth... 0 Thomas Davison, Durham.. THE RIVER WEAR COMMISSIONERS.-The Parliamentary Return, named in our last number, now lies before us. The accounts are very elaborate, and hardly admit even of an abstract for the columns of a newspaper. The receipts and disbursements of the last ten years are given in detail. The debt owing by the Commissioners amounts to £30,000, and the securities for the same bear date as follows:-£5,000 Henry Robert Allan Johnson, Bishopwearmouth.. Christopher Maling Webster, ditto Edward Dale, Alnwick.... 0 Nicholas Wood, Newcastle 0 John Mounsey, Bishopwearmouth 0 on the 6th of May, 1835; £5,000 on the 4th of February, 1841; £5,000 on the 4th of March, 1841; £5,000 on the 1st of June, 1842; £5,000 on the 20th of July, 1842; and £2,000 and £3,000 on the 9th of January, 1843; on all of which five per cent. interest is paid.-The number and tonnage of the ships that have entered the port of Sunderland (with cargoes) in each of the last two years, and the number built on the Wear in the last five years, are stated as follows: COASTING AND FOREIGN ARRIVALS. EDUCATION BY THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.-The Queen, the Duke of Northumberland, and the Dean and Chapter of Durham, have each subscribed £1,000 to the "National Society for promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the English Church;" the Bishop of Durham and the Earl of Eldon, £300 each; the Bishop of Chester, £250; Lord Lonsdale, £200; the Duchess of Northumberland, the Rev. Dr. Jenkyns (Durham), Lord Ravensworth, Lord Melbourne, David Dundas, Esq., M.P., Sir James Graham, C. J. Bigge, Esq., Charles Bosanquet, Esq., and Lord Harry Vane, £100; Rev. R. W. Bosanquet, and Lord Morpeth, £50; Rev. Thomas Ebdon (Durham), £25; Mrs. Aylmer (Walworth castle), £10; Rev. W. Procter (Doddington, Wooler), and Messrs. William Shields & Son (Durham), £5; Rev. R. J. L. Blenkinsopp (Shad. forth), £2; and Rev. E. H. Adamson (Heworth), £2 2s. The total subscription amounts to about £60,000. DURHAM COUNTY COAL COMPANY.-This Company held their half-yearly meeting on the 15th Aug., in the Assembly Room, Sun Inn, Darlington. From the Report, it appeared that the circumstances of the Company presented as gloomy an aspect as ever, for not only was no dividend declared, but in order to carry on operations in future, they have found it necessary to make a further call of £2 per share. Several shares were sold after the meeting at £1 each.-Sunderland Herald. [The Durham Chronicle says:-Reporters were refused admittance! G. T. Andrews, Esq., was in the chair; who, after a few brief remarks, called on Mr. Cleaver, chief-clerk to the Company, to read the Report of the Directors, and the accounts. From the Report, it appeared that Whitworth colliery had been abandoned; that the Directors intend to work Evenwood and Gordon collieries by an establishment which will effect a considerable saving of expense; and that a new "winning" for Coxhoe is now being made. The accounts showed a loss of £2,571 on the half-year. Very great dissatisfaction prevailed at the meeting; and a strong disposition was manifested to bring the affairs of the Company to a close, or to let the collieries-it being the opinion of the meeting that the whole of the money was lost. A shareholder, whose name we could not learn, complained loudly of the high salaries paid to the viewer, secretary, fitters, and other officers; but more especially that the expenses of deputations from Helmsley and York had been paid out of the Company's purse. It also transpired at the meeting that the Auditors had refused to sign the balancesheets, on the ground that they were very incorrect'] IN MR. TOPLIFF'S SECOND "MERRY NIGHT" GATESHEAD. Our townsmen, on Monday, Aug. 14, again gave Mr. Topliff a full house-a " bumper" at parting; and the The entertainment went off with equal spirit to the first. "Keel Row," sung as a duet by Mr. Topliff and Master Quarrill, was encored-a compliment which must be ascribed, in some degree at least, to the introduction of a verse or two from a new version of the song, the production of one of our local poets (Mr. Robert White). "Spotty," a quaint Sunderland chant, (the music, Mr. Topliff thought, by Sir Cuthbert Sharp), was received with roars of laughter, and rapturous applause; and "Up the Raw," which has become so general a favourite, was once more encored. The familiar doggrel of "The Sword Dancers," the local song of "As me and maw Marrow," and Alderman Wilson's song of "The Washing Day," were all enthusiastically applauded. A merrier night, indeed, has seldom been spent in the ancient borough of Gateshead. At the close of the entertainment, Alderman Brockett moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Topliff, in highly complimentary terms. George Hawks, Esq., J.P., seconded the motion, and expressed his high admiration of the entertainment-and especially of the manner in which the local songs had been sung. Mr. Topliff, on rising to return thanks, was He then acreceived with loud and protracted applause. knowledged, with much feeling, the honour which had been paid to him-the more grateful to his feelings, he said, because conferred by an audience of his own county.[We ought to state, perhaps, in justice to Mr. Shields, of Northumberlandstreet, that the pianofortes used by Mr. Topliff, in Newcastle, Gateshead, and Shields, and which have been so much admired, were furnished from his establishment.]-On Monday next, a "Merry Night" will be given in the theatre at Sunderland; when we hope Mr. Topliff's native town will not suffer itself to be outdone by Gateshead. ST. HILDA'S CHURCHYARD. Is spocken consarnin' the ground o' St. Hild, Wiv stenches that come frae this crooded chorchyaird. Or will we be forced the good prelate te bother, St. Hilda's, Aug. 23, 1843. NED YOUNG. NOTE BY OUR P.D.-Our Editor says he never meddles between man and wife:-an ingenious mode of escaping a confession of his ignorance, THE RIVER WEAR. A NEW plan has been broached for the improvement of the Wear at Sunderland, by means of a floating dock and tidal basin. Mr. Joseph Cook, a coal-dealer, is the projector, and we shall allow him to describe his plans in his own words. But first, for the better understanding of his intentions, let the reader look at the annexed engraving, and attend to our explanations. It is a portion of our woodcut of Mr. Murray's plan; for we have not had time, since the receipt of Mr. Cook's prospectus, to have a new block engraved. A new channel, Mr. C. proposes, shall be executed, running from the "Folly End" at "C.," and crossing Wear-street to that part of the river in which the feather of the arrow is engraved. This channel, commencing at the foot of Strand-street, will occupy what is now the lower part of Hedworthstreet-the lower part, also, of Huddlestone-street-and that part of Wear-street which lies to the east of the Carpenter's Arms public-house. Between the channel and the river, part of the present quay would remain standing.-So much for Mr. Cook's "new channel," running between the word "MONK" in our engraving, and the letters "A." and "C."-Next for the "floating dock." Across the river, intersecting the arrow nearly at right angles, a wall is to be built, with gates at the centre. This wall, on the Monkwearmouth side of the river, will join the southern wall of the "new channel," at its western end; so that the channel will run freely into the river, to the west of the dock-wall. From the same wall of the "new channel," at the eastern end, another dock-wall will run-out into the river, and pass along the mid-stream, in front of the railway-staiths and Thornhill's wharf; and at Coble-slip it will join the shore. In fact, it will be (roughly speaking), as if the gates numbered "2, 2," in our engraving, between the words "THE" and "RIVER," were broken off at the hinges near the shore, and then made fast further west, near the letter "C." Opposite Thornhill's wharf it is intended that there shall be another pair of gates, to be called the "East Gates;" so that Mr. Cook will have two sets of gates, the S "East," and the "West." B TH SHORE ARMOUT Е А MONK WE UN Mr. Cook calculates that his floating dock will hold 300 sail of ships and he not only obtains this convenience, but he secures, at the same time, a free communication, at all times, be tween the river to the west of his dock, and the sea to the east. Having given this prefatory explanation, we now proceed to make an extract from MR. COOK'S PROSPECTUS. I propose (says he) to make a new channel for the river, 120 or 140 feet in breadth, by making a cut through a portion of Monk. wearmouth Shore, commencing at the west end of Wear-street, and terminating at the Folly-end-leaving above the ferry-boat landing 75 feet, and below it 15 feet, of the present quay; at the lower part of which I would add 15 feet, taken from the river, and so make a pier for the new channel 30 feet in breadth. To the east end of this pier, I would join the north wall of the proposed enclosed dock, extending it either to Hardcastle's slip or to the high Coble-slip. The west end of the wet-dock I propose should be formed by making a dock wall, from the east end of Hutchinson's dock, or Adamson's slip quay, across the river, to the west end of Wear-street. This dock would be sufficiently large to accommodate 300 vessels with ease. At each end of the dock there would be an entrance formed by gates, each 40 feet in breadth. This would be sufficiently broad for the purpose; for, be it remembered, there will also be the new channel for ships entering the harbour. The entrance to the North Dock is only 25 feet in width. The proposed enclosure would form an admirable dock. The advantages of such a dock, with the new channel entrance, would be great. The largest ships that could get over the bar, would at all times lie afloat in it, free from any danger of drifting from their moorings by land-floods, ice, or the range of the sea. Hundreds of thousands of pounds loss have been sustained from these. The ice and land-fioods would pass down the new channel. This removes one of the weightiest objections to Mr. Murray's recent plan-one upon which Mr. Walker, the Admiralty engineer, laid the greatest stress. 兼 R R D E HAM SAN That the whole of the waterside property would be greatly increased in value by my plan, is self-evident. To the Sunderland and Durham Railway Company it would be of very great value, as ships would always lie afloat at their staiths while taking in their coals. The Hetton Company, and Lambton's and Pemberton's loading drops, would be deprived of no advantage they now possess; but they would, as I will shortly show, be considerably benefited by the change in various ways. By the new channel entrance, the stream of the river would be narrowed just before passing between the piers. Thus, a stronger scouring power would be realized; consequently the depth of water on the bar would be increased, and larger vessels could enter the port. Those intending to load with either of the above companies would pass up the new channel, and when laden, if not convenient to proceed to sea, could avail themselves of the advantage of the dock for lying in safety. But if the plan were deemed more advisable, the whole of the harbour above the dock could be converted into a tidal basin, by placing gates at the west end of the new channel. Five or seven feet water, above the low.water mark, might thus be penned up, securing sufficient depth in the harbour to keep laden vessels afloat. When desirable, they could pass to sea through the dock; and in case a large number of vessels were entering the harbour, and others proceeding to sea, the same tide, the former could pass up the new channel, and the latter come out by the dock. This would remove another objection urged by Mr. Walker in his report against a dock only, viz., that the dock-gates would be found too narrow, and therefore much damage would be sustained when there were many vessels passing into, and out of, the harbour. Not unfrequently 200 or 300 sail of vessels arrive or depart in one tide. Mr. Walker's objection may or may not be valid. If it is, my plan would remove the inconvenience. These advantages a tidal basin alone could not secure. Another very serious objection which has been brought against converting the harbour into a dock only, as in Mr. Murray's plan, is, that the river would fill up by the sand and 5 mud washed into it by the land-floods. On this point I can give my own observations, embracing a period of 30 years. During that time, I know that the river from Hylton to Chatershaugh, has widened from 10 to 50 feet. I have observed, at one time, hundreds of tons launched into the river. By such means I have seen sand-banks raised three feet above low-water mark. Whatever portion of this is not carried out by the ebb, has to be dredged. That the quantity requiring to be so removed, and the expense of doing it, would be greatly increased by making the river a tidal dock, is the decided opinion of many experienced and able men. Possibly they may be wrong. If they are, I still contend that a free course for the ebb-tide, as afforded by my plan, would greatly assist in cleansing and deepening the river, and, as a necessary consequence, avoid the heavy expense which would be required for dredging it, should it be converted into a tidal dock only. If, however, the plan of making a portion of the harbour a tidal dock, should appear to possess other advantages, so great as to outweigh those objections, let it not be forgotten, that by also having a capacious wet dock, the inconveniences of making the other portion of the harbour into a tidal dock, would be materially lessened. My plan is capable, by a slight modification, of being connected with Mr. Murray's recent plan. With a wet dock and a tidal dock, you would have a place of retreat in the former, should there be any danger from the ice breaking away, or when it was necessary to give the tidal dock a more thorough scouring, by allowing the water to run out the whole ebb. Although I have no certain data to show the expense of carrying into execution my plan, yet it will be seen at a glance that it could not exceed the expense of carrying Mr. Murray's into effect; in which, in addition to the tidal basin, he proposes to enclose two acres of land as a dock, commencing at the Folly End, and also to excavate the Potato Garth to the depth of 14 feet, to be used as a place of refuge, when ships were compelled to take the harbour in a gale of wind. The purchase of the property in Wear-street, and the cutting of the new channel for my plan, would, I feel confident, be done for as small a sum as the former, while I think there would be much less danger of the new channel filling up, than of the Potato Garth. One word respecting the additional burthen which it may be supposed my plan would place upon shipping. Suppose the levy was three farthings per ton (which would be quite sufficient), the comparison between the present and prospective burthens would stand thus:-The estimate made by the dif. ferent policies and shipowners, of the damage and loss sustained, directly and indirectly, by the bad accommodation of the har. bour, is about one-and-a-half per cent.: that is to say, a vessel value £1,000, would, from this cause, require an average expenditure of £15 per annum. Now, take a ship of 200 tons burthen (as an average), and suppose her to make the highest number, ten voyages a-year, she would, at three farthings per ton per voyage, pay £6 5s. per annum dock dues: thus, by the expenditure of that sum, she would be saved £15 (or nearly so) per year damages. Every shipowner must see that the present system is a ruinous one. TO THE FARMERS AND OTHER RATEPAYERS OF NORTHUMBERLAND. GENTLEMEN,Most of you will have seen the Report of the Trial at Durham, in which Mr. Donkin was charged with a libel on Mr. Henry Welch, Bridge Surveyor for Northumberland. Some of you may also have read the plaintiff's letter in the Gateshead Observer of the 5th inst., wherein he states, "My object was not damages or costs; but having now given Mr. Donkin the opportunity of proving the truth of his assertions, and he having shrunk from the task, I rest satisfied with the verdict in my favour." On this passage I have an observation or two to offer-not in defence of Mr. Donkin, or with any wish of injuring Mr. Welch in your estimation, but simply as a ratepayer, dissatisfied with the state of ignorance we are left in, as to who is or who is not the bona fide contractor for the public works of the county. How far Mr. Welch's "object was damages or costs," may be judged of, from the amount at which he laid the damages. One thousand pounds is certainly an expensive bait to catch a twelvepenny fish. I have read of Royalty baiting with a golden minnow: it was left to Bridge Surveyors to lure sprats with golden whales ! But "damages and costs" was not Mr. Welch's object: he wished solely to give Mr. Donkin an opportunity of proving the truth of his assertions, but from which Mr. Donkin shrunk. To this boast I make Mr. Welch perfectly welcome. Granting Mr. Donkin had not the means of proof, or that his counsel, refusing to acknowledge his client guilty of a libel, declined to call witnesses, is Mr. Welch, on that account, more or less free from the practice charged It was certainly not proved that the Architect was also the Contractor of the works in Morpeth gaol. But was George Dodds proved to have been the contractor, bona fide? No! there was no attempt on either side. Who, then, was the contractor? Mr, Welch "is satisfied with a verdict in his favour." Are you, the ratepayers and employers of this gentleman, satisfied with the verdict? A man who values his reputation should not be content with giving his accuser an opportunity of proving his guilt: he should take every means of establishing his innocence. Why was George Dodds not put into the witness box! He was the only man to have shown who was and who was not the real contractor. At the conclusion of his letter, Mr. Welch says:-"It will always be a satisfaction to my mind, that I have done what is straightforward and correct." Truly this gentleman appears easily satisfied. Would that he could be “satisfied" with a less salary for his valuable services. He appears altogether a selfsatisfied personage, and no doubt perfectly "satisfied" that no salary can equal the amount of good derived from his professional acquirements and vigilant inspection. He is the pink of architects, and the most lynx-eyed of inspectors. Oh! that our Magistrates were equally vigilant, equally sharp-sighted. I call upon the Bench to satisfy the county who was and who was not the contractor of the works in the prison at Morpeth? We have a right to be informed whether, consistently with his engagement as County Architect, Mr. Welch can take the contracts for the public works; since if, from the wording of his agreement (and I see nothing in it to prevent him), he can do so, such an opportunity of abuse cannot too soon be brought to an end. As farmers we have been obliged to reduce the wages of many of our labourers. The poor-rates are daily becoming more onerous-tithes and taxes are increased-our means of payment are reduced our rents remain the same-are we then to remain silent, when suspicion has been awakened that all connected with the county-works is not as straightforward as some parties would wish us to believe? In these times of distress, when the income of every one has undergone a serious reduction, are the salaries of the county officers to remain unaltered? Is £600 per annum not double the amount necessary to purchase the services of a Bridge Surveyor? Have the Magistrates received their dignity and power for no nobler purpose than the punishment of poachers and other petty offenders? They should not forget that the public purse of the county is in their hands-not to gratify the vanity of some of them in the building of lock-up houses and such like foibles, but to be expended with economy, and applied to just and profitable uses. If they receive the honours, let them perform the duties of their office. Honour, as well as money, should be earned. In conclusion, gentlemen, let me exhort you to come zealously forward, and demand such a reduction in the expenditure of the county-stock as will render the collection of more than one half of the amount unnecessary. I am, Gentlemen, August 23, 1843. Your very obedient servant, A NORTHUMBRIAN RATEPAYER. P.S.-I give you my name, and only withhold it from the public from a love of seclusion. I have no ambition to appear before the world as a letter-writer; but neither have I, if called upon, any desire to shrink from responsibility. William Henry Frederick Cavendish, Esq., eldest son of the Honourable Colonel H. F. C. Cavendish, was married on Saturday, August 19, at St. James's, London, by the Dean of Carlisle, to Lady Emily Augusta Lambton, second daughter of the late Earl and Countess of Durham. The happy couple left London, immediately afterwards, for Cordicote Lodge, Mr. Cavendish's seat in Hertfordshire. NORTH SHIELDS GAS LIGHTS. OME PARTICULARS relative to the RECEIPTS STOCKTON.-Lights 200 lamps, 8 months; receives 1. 94. per lamp per week, with 10 per cent. off; finds no lamplighters or repairs; off 9 nights at full moon. NEWCASTLE-Lights 1,200 lamps, 10 months; receives 10d. per lamp per week; finds lamplighters and all repairs; not at all off at full moon. [Take 30 weeks at 10d., £1 5., and deduct lamplighter, 55., and repairs, 3s. 6d., and the net sum received is 16s. 6d.] GATESHEAD.-Lights 250 lamps, 10 months; receives 10d. per lamp per week; finds no lamplighters or repairs. [Take 30 weeks at 10d., £1 5s., and add lamplighter, 5s., and repairs, 3s. 6d., and the sum paid is £1 13. 6 .] SUNDERLAND. Lights 300 lamps, 8 months; receives 52s. 6d. per lamp for the season, as also a bonus amounting to 1s. 9. per lamp for extra pipe; finds lamplighters, and does partial repairs worth 2s. 6d.; off 2 nights at full moon. MONKWEARMOUTH.-Lights about 100 lights, 6 months; receives 45s. per lamp; finds lamplighters, but no repairs; off 4 nights, and burns 3 nights partially; for summer lamps, about 4 months, 25. additional. MORPETH.-Lights 22 lamps, 8 months; receives 40s. per lamp; finds no lamplighters or repairs; off 7 days. SOUTH SHIELDS-Lights 180 lamps (and 50 besides), 8 months: receives 50s. per lamp; finds lamplighters, but no repairs; off 4 nights, and 3 nights' partial burning. NORTH SHIELDS.-Lights 133 lamps for 8 months; ought to have more than South Shields; off the same nights as South Shields; is offered 45s. North Shields, Sept. 14, 1843. REVISION OF THE LISTS OF VOTERS FOR THE BOROUGH OF GATESHEAD. IN N Pursuance of the Provisions of the Act of Parliament of the 6th Victoria, Chapter 18, I do hereby give Notice, that WILLIAM BLANSHARD, ESQUIRE, Barristerat-Law, has been duly nominated and appointed to Revise the Lists of Voters in the Election of Members of Parliament for the Borough of Gateshead, and that he will hold an open Court for the purpose of Revising the said Lists, at the TOWN HALL, within the said Borough, on WEDNESDAY, the Twenty-Seventh day of September instant, at Ten o'clock in the Furenoon. And all Overseers of the Poor, and others executing the duties of Overseers, for every Parish, Township, and Place within the said Borough, are hereby summoned and required to attend at the opening of the said Court, and then and there produce all Lists, Rates, and other documents in their custody, pursuant to the provisions of the statute in that behalf. And all persons having anything to do at any of the said Courts, are hereby summoned and required to give their attendance at the time and place above mentioned. Dated this fourteenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and forty-three. WILLIAM KELL, ALDERMEN. Batson, T. R. p Bell, Thomas Bigge, C. J. Brandling, J p Carr. John Donkin, A. p Dunn, G. T. p Fife, John p Headlam, Dr. p Hodgson, J. Lamb, Joseph Losh, James p Potter, A. L. p Ridley J. COUNCILLORS. p Gray, A. G. p Shield, Henry St. Nicholas'. p Sanderson, F. p Turner, Wm. St. John. p Nichol, John p Ingledew, H. Straker, G. p Harle, W. L. p Robinson, R. p Stokoe, S. N. St. Andrew. p Archbold, J. p Philipson, R. P. p Keenlyside, T P Dodds, Ralph p Blackwell, J. p Jobling, M. L. p Taylor, F. D Cookson, Wm. p Nichol, A (J.P.)p Radford, J. p Plus, Matthew Westgate. p Hawthorn, R. p Finlay, James p Preston, J. H. Jesmond. p Armstrong, W. Plummer, R. 8. St. Andrew. p Hunter, John p Weatherley, J.Dp Lowrey, S. [Those marked p were present.] p Crawhall, J. p Richardson, W. SEPT. 20-The Council met to day. The MAYOR announced that as Mr. Ord had apprised him that no levee had been held since the corporation addresses to her Majesty and Prince Albert had been voted, he (the Mayor) had transmitted them through the Secretary of State. A motion was made by Ald. DUNN, seconded by Ald. HODGSON, for a suspension of the standing orders, in order that further inquiry might be instituted before completing the lease of Messrs. Salmon & Barker's quay, but it was negatived. In answer to Mr. HARLE, the TOWN CLERK said that the appeal against the decision of the Court of Chancery in the Jesus' Hospital case, had been carried to the House of Lords, where it would be probably heard the session after next. Mr. JOHN NICHOL moved that an additional policeman be stationed at the steam-boat landing place, the steam boat proprietors paying the policeman.-Seconded by Mr. PRESTON, and carried. A Report from the Finance Committee recommended that an application of Mr. G. T. Gibson, for a lease of building ground at the Salt Meadows, should be in part complied with, on condi in of his relinquishing his interest in a part of the rope walk. The Committee also recommended that the time to be allowed for gardeners' carts to stand in the streets should be extended to 12 o'clock. Report agreed to. The usual financial Report for the current year was then presented by Ald. DUNN. It was as follows: The Finance Committee present to the Council an Abstract of the Treasurer's Accounts for the financial year ending on the 31st of August; and assuming the same will be found correct by the Auditors, the Committee have prepared their annual Report from that document, and have also taken it as the basis of their estimates of income and expenditure for the current year. On submitting this Report to the Council, the Finance Committee regret to say, that they have found the apprehension entertained by them, and expressed in their last annual report, that the income of the corporation could not be sustained at its then amount, has been realized; and the revenue from ordinary sources, during the past year, has fallen upwards of £2,000 short of that ou the previous year. The revenue of last year amounted to £46,198, whilst that of the preceding year amounted to £48,216. At least half of this deficiency can, however, be accounted for from other causes than an actual decrease in revenue. £511 12s. 1d. due in the former year for conveyance of ballast, but unpaid, and an arrear of rent due from a contractor for tolls, amounts to one-half the deficiency. The sum for ballast conveyance is included in the payment under that head in the present account; and the toll-rent is expected to be paid in a short time. The decrease in revenue is felt chiefly in the duty on coals, and the sum received for the conveyance of ballast, amounting to £1,128 on the former, and £1,151 on the latter, as compared with the receipts from those sources in the preceding year. The diminution of revenue from harbour dues, and quay and town dues, shows a falling-off in trade generally, though not to the same extent as in the coal-trade. In the sum received for fines on renewal of leases, there is a considerable increase over the last account; and the collection of rates for watching, lighting, paving, and watering the borough, including arreurs, has been more productive. Dividends upon Newcastle and Carlisle Railway shares have opportunely assisted the revenue of the past year. Referring to the payments in the account now presented, the Com mittee bave much satisfaction in reporting that, under the various heads of ordinary expenditure, the gross amount is £2,711 less than in the preceding year. In 1841-2 the payments amounted to £50,174: in 1842-3 they were £47,463. |