| Description | Council meeting, 24 September 1811
[Sederunt given]
Mr Hogarth, Dean of Guild, reported to the Council that it had been represented to him that the Town's weights and measures were inadequate for their stated purpose. This matter having been brought before the Dean of Guild Court, it had been recommended he procure a set of weights from the proper offices at Edinburgh and London, of which the magistrates had approved. Subsequently, the Dean of Guild had purchased from the Exchequer at London a set of weights consisting of six bell-fashioned pieces from fifty-six to two pounds inclusive and a case of hollow weights from two pounds to one dram inclusive, all avoirdupois. Further, he had purchased from the Dean of Guild of Edinburgh a set of Lanark Troy or Amsterdam weights consisting of seven pieces from sixty-four to one pound inclusive as well as a barley firlot and wheat firlot, both made of copper. In addition, he had had made in Aberdeen an Aberdeenshire firlot for oats and bear and a set of small liquid measures from one pint to half a gill inclusive. All the aforementioned articles had been deposited in a room fitted up for the purpose behind the Town House and had been inspected by Mr Patrick Copland, Professor of Mathematics in Marischal College and the Rev Dr George Skene Keith, Minister of Keithhall and Kinkell. These gentlemen had prepared a report and inventory of the above items along with those in the custody of Mr Copland, the Dean of Guild's officer and Mr John Blaikie, copies of which were laid before the Council. The Dean of Guild recommended that the weights and measures for ordinary use, in the possesion of Mr Blaikie and the Dean of Guild's officer, be inspected and compared annually with the new standards, under the direction of the Dean of Guild, on account of the financial outlay and the importance of their public purpose. He further commented on the desirability of having a standard measure laid down for the trial and adjustment of the land surveying chain.
The Council ratified the steps taken by the Dean of Guild in this matter and, on Provost Brebner's motion, accorded him a vote of thanks. The report by Professor Copland and Dr Skene Keith was approved and, along with the inventory of weights and measures, ordered to be engrossed in the Council Register. [Inventory and report engrossed 199v - 202r]
(198v - 202r)
The Council remitted to the Dean of Guild Court consideration of the application from George Turriff, Dean of Guild's Officer, for an increase in his salary for stamping the weights and measures. (202r)
Following complaints from the congregation of the West Church regarding the lack of warmth in the church in the winter, the magistrates had made a plan and specification for heating it by means of steam pipes. Estimates had been obtained with the expence of the operation not considered to exceed £400 or £500 and, in order to reimburse the Master of Kirk and Bridge Works for this outlay, the magistrates recommended that the seat rents be increased. This being considered the Council approved the steps taken and empowered the Master of Kirk and Bridge Works to pay the expence and authorised the magistrates to increase the seat rents accordingly. (202r - 202v)
The Provost delivered a statement to the Council with regard to the property in the village of Footdee belonging to the Treasurer and Shoremaster, adjacent to the proposed wet docks, and the expediency of disposing of both properties in way of feu upon a regular plan, as suggested by the magistrates and the Committee of Harbour Trustees, and made out by Mr John Smith. A valuation of the said properties was recommended, in order that the Shoremaster and Treasurer could pay the expence of any improvements as well as each draw their respective share from what may be feued or sold, in proportion to their present interest. The magistrates proposed that prior to any decision a memorial should be transmitted to Mr Mathew Ross, Dean of Faculty, for his opinion on whether the Harbour Trustees were free to enter into the proposed arrangement with the Treasurer in view of the new Harbour Act. Of which the Council approved, requesting the Provost to report on the reply to a future meeting. (203r - 203v)
The Council approved a report by the Committee of Harbour Trustees and the Provost regarding a subscription paper, designed to defray the costs of the Harbour Improvements and instructed the paper to be engrossed in the Council Register. Interest on the sums borrowed from the following to be paid annually and the principal sums to be repaid to the same, their heirs or assigns within a period of five years, or on request given six months notice:
Leys, Masson & Company - £1000
Gordon, Barron & Company - £1000
Milne, Cruden & Company - £1000
Alexander Tower - £1000
Fraser & Mole - £500
Alexander and William Pirie - £500
Charles Walker - £500
Alexander Brown - £500
Alexander and James Gibbon - £500
John and James Young - £500
Thomas McCombie - £1000
Alexander Hadden & Sons - £500
William Johnston - £500
W Copland - £500
John Donald - £500
John Catto - £500
George Innes - £500
J Brebner - £500
Alexander Shirrefs - £500
George Tower & Company - £500
Robert Morice - £500
Alexander Christie - £2000
James Milne - £500
D Chalmers - £500
W Kennedy - £500
George Pirie - £500
David Hutcheon - £500
John Jameson - £500
Mr Farquhar, Member of Parliament, per J Hadden - £2000
George Hogarth per George Hogarth junior - £1000
George Hogarth junior - £1000
Robert Garden - £1000
Alexander Galen - £1000
Alexander Shand - £500
W Young - £1000
T Bannerman - £1000
Duncan Davidson - £1000
Adam Singer - £500
James Lamond - £500
John Burnett - £1000
Alexander Duthie junior - £500
John Anderson - £500
Innes & Ure, Writers to the Signet - £500
A Brebner - £1000
James Hadden - £1000
Alexander Crombie - £1000
William Carnegie - £1000
Thomas Burnett - £1000
Harry Lumsden - £1000
Mr P Milne - £1000
John Garioch - £1000
J Menzies - £1000
William Gordon - £1000
Huntly - £1000
J Forbes - £1000
William Read - £1000
Alexander Duthie - £1000
J Morison - £1000
Harry Niven Lumsden - £1000
John Ramsay - £1000
The Earl of Aberdeen per Alexander Crombie - £2000
(203v - 205r)
The Provost reported to the Council that the Town's Auditors had made a representation respecting the present mode of keeping the office bearers' accounts. It was suggested that as a result of the scale of recent improvements in the Town implemented by the Council, the accounts be kept upon a more commercial principle, with the Town Clerk Depute being relieved of this duty and a person appointed to solely manage these accounts. The Council approved of this plan and instructed it be brought to the early attention of the new Council. (205v)
On the motion of Mr Pirie, the Shoremaster, and seconded by Mr Hogarth, Dean of Guild, the Council gave a unanimous vote of thanks to James Hadden Esq, Provost of Aberdeen, for his services while Chief Magistrate, especially with regard the promotion of the new Harbour Act. (205v - 206r)
The Council admitted Alexander Hadden and Alexander Bannerman, merchants in Aberdeen, formerly admitted as Infant Burgesses, along with five others, as Burgesses of Guild. The Council also admitted four Craftsmen. (206r) |