The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-11-14 00:00:00

Eibtrpool &tantarb. TUESDAY MORNING, NOV. 14, 1848. THE straw is moving in every directiOn upon the question of the currency, which a Liverpool con temporary has just termed most truly " the most important question of the day." Another jour nalist, the Manchester Guardian, one of the staunchest of bullionists, seems to feel that our present system is making its pinching power felt by the commu nity,' when he admits in his last paper that " ques tions connected with the currency are by no means likely to lose their importance for some months to come." The sneer with which the advocates of any system, which had not gold for its basis, was wont to be received is everywhere abated. We have now to direct the attention of our readers to a further evidence of the growing feeling of the re flecting portion of the community that things are not well with us, and that the continual tampering of the Bank with the circulating medium of the country is opposed to our true interests, which ap pears in the form of a letterlin the columns of the London Times ; and we quote a portion of it here, inasmuch as the writer admits to a considerable ex tent the principles upon which the Liverpool Cur rency Reform Association base their proposed new system. The object of the letter is to censure the policy of the recent reduction of the minimum rate of in terest by the Bank, which, he remarks, has in all cases been the precursor of a period of g extravaant speculation and subsequent suffering. The extravagant he observes, is privileged to create currency to the extent of 14 millions beyond its reserve of specie; and thus differs from ordinary bill brokers, who only deal with the currency actually afloat. But the Bank ought not to be permitted to employ this surface at any rate of interest it may choose to fix. " A privilege so vast for evil or for good was never meant, and ought never to be administered, for the ex clusive benefit of the holders of Bank stock. If the profits of the establishment can only be maintained by rates of discount subject to finctvations so great and capricious as to defy ordinary foresight and derange the calculations of the shrewdest, it becomes a grave question whether the issue of notes cannot-be managed on some principle that will have more regard to the interests of the community at large. "When the country places fourteen millions of notes at the disposal of the Bank of England, which virtually it does, the country has a clear right at least to name the lowest price at which those notes shall be issued. It has a right _to prohibit the issue of those notes at rates of dis count that may create a la!se confidence or stimulate the dormant energies of speculation—even if the prohibition should have the effect of rendering the Bank at times a heavy holder of its own notes ; for we are under no pledge to the Bank that employment shall be found at all times and under all circumstances for every note it has a right to issue. _ _ _ "Now, the average rate of discount in London on first class commercial bills during the twenty years ended December 1, 1844, was 31 per cent. within a minute fraction. This is a fair basis and a fair rate. Let us adopt it, and say to the Bank of England—' You shall continue to enjoy the privilege of issuing notes as at present, but on this understanding—that your rate of interest in future on discounts or advances shall never be less than 3} per cent. to the public, nor less than 3 per cent. to the banks.' " The approach here to the principles of the Asso ciation is obvious, but the means provided are clumsy. The fact, however, is recognised that a fixed rate of interest is indispensible. Another paragraph, however, comes nearer still to our views : • "The operation of such a law—a fted minimum rate of interest at the Bank of England—would do more, I humbly conceive, to give a sound and equable action to the currency than the nicest relations which you can es tablish betwixt the circulation and the bullion. Its ef fect would be to keep the circulation consiantly adjust ing itself (so to speak) to the actual monetary require ments of the community. When the market rate fell be low the Bank's minimum, the private securities held by the Bank would gradually become diminished, and the circulation contracted, until the market rate rose to the level of the Bank rate. On the other hand. when the market rate rose above the Bank rate, the variation would speedily be adjusted by an increase in the private securi ties, and a consequent enlargement of the circulation. Under such a system as this, the rate of discount, instead of indicating a range of from 2 to 10 per cent., would pro bably range within limits of which 3 and 5 per cent. would be the extremes." Of course " there would thus be an approach to an equable value of money. To a certain extent it would be self-adjusting—in fair weather times. But there would be wanting any effective security against a drain of gold and considerable consequent contraction, accompanied with high rates of interest. We welcome the approximation, however, in such a quarter. The Times not unfrequently throws up straws in this way, which intelligibly indicate its subsequent course. COMPARATIVE IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF PRODUCE AND MANUFACTURE. The " Accounts relating to Trade and Commerce " just published, for the nine months ended the 10th ultimo, ex hibit some features which are not unworthy of remark. It would have excited no great surprise, considering the depression which has prevailed throughout the manufac turing masses, and the almost total suspension of many branches of industry—such as the building trade and others, which are only prosperous during periods when money is in abundance, and the rate of interest reasona ble—if we had observed a great decrease in the consump tion of those articles of produce which form the principal food of the people. We do not, however, find this result, as will be seen from the following return of the quantities of coffee, sugar, teas and tobacco, taken for consumption in the first nine months of 1846, 1847, and 1848: Coffee 27,386,336 29,019,486 28,248,052 Sugar 4,020,488 4,580,491 4,887,960 Tea 35,962,670 35,744,518 37,356.222 Tobacco 20,288,816 20,193,427 20,427,817 The returns of several other similar articles exhibit a similar result. The question, therefore, arises, how far does this state of things indicate prosperity existing amongst other classes of the labouring community, and which are those classes ? To some extent it does indicate an increase of ability to consume amongst those classes not dependent upon de pressed commerce and manufactures. The agricultural portion of the community have been able to avail them selves of the extremely low prices, at which these articles have been pressed upon the market. But before we plume ourselves greatly upon their consumption, we must bear in mind that the articles referred to are those which are most frequently resorted to when more substantial food is placed oeyond the reach of the labourer. We would augur more of prosperity from an increased con sumption by these classes of beef and mutton, and a cor responding increased purchase of woollens, cottons, and an increased activity of the shoemaker, the hatter, and the tailor. We have no satisfactory evidence of such increase. The Globe of Thursday last quotes from these tables a monthly return of the declared value of our exportations, in order to show the connexion of the falling off with the disturbances caused in Europe by the French revolution. We give the table, with a portion of our contemporary's remarks :77 " DECLARED VALUE OF EXPORTATIONS. 1847. 1848. .€3,077,910 .43,227,138 3,446,307 3,597,842 4,826,900 4,240,317 4,812,852 3,345,735 4,657,403 3,535,394 4,578,871 3,625,513 5,062,452 4,137,168 4,1,53,103 4,313.722 " Month ending sth February IP March • PP April PP ➢1 ay PP June ~ July ~ August „ 1oth October "Thus, in January and February, the trade of 1848 showed an increase upon that of 1847. In March there was a falling off of £'6CO,OOO; in April of £1,500,600; in May of £1,100,000; in June, and again in July, of £900,000; in August of about £500,000; and in September (the official month extending from the sth September to the 10th October) of scarcely £60,000. These figures seem to lead directly to the conclusion that the effect of these disturbances upon the aggregate value of our ex ports is to be merely temporary. If the return of the next month follows the order of the series, it will show at least as large an increase over the corresponding period of last year as could have been expected from a continuance of the steady progression shown by the two first months of the year. In the common course of things, the month of largest exportation seems to occur about July. This year, the monthly order has been one of stein) , increase since the shock received in March, and which exhibited its greatest effect in the return for April (the month ending sth May.") The total falling off to the very serious amount, in the nine months, of £5,350,000, or upwards of an eighth of the entire exports of the country ; but, notwithstand ing the coincidence of the dates, we are not satisfied that the whole mischief is attributable to the interruption of our continental trade entirely and directly. We rather fancy that it has been caused by the interruption of our trade to all markets, occasioned by a fear of our currency being further contracted as the result of disturbances in Europe. There has been one circumstance connected with the recent events, which our Free Trade commentators rather studiously omit to remark upon. Whilst we have undoubt edly decreased our exports to Europe, we have been largely increasingour itn portsof m anufactured corn m oaities thence, and superseding the labour of our own population. From this cause, aided by decreased exports, we may anticipate on the return of European tranquility, a drain of capital to Europe, at present employed here as more secure, which, if any material portion of it is taken away in specie, will seriously incommode us. TRi •‘ OCEAN MONARCII."—It will be interesting to our readers to learn that her Majesty's Government has been pleased to present Captain Joaquim Marquis Lisboa (of the steam-frigate Affonzo, and who rendered such important service .to those on board the burning ship Ocean Monarch) with a valuable gold chronometer, mlde by Mr. Charles Frodsham, of Arnold's establishment, 84, Strand, London. Its size is that of the ordinary waist coat pocket watch, and it has the peculiar application in it which renders it capable of resisting rough usage. CORRESPONDENCE. TO BRAMLEY MOORE, ESQ., MAYOR. Sir.-1 fear, from what transpired at the last Council meeting, that the spirit of street improvement will still remain dormant. Ido not approve of a lavish expen diture on questionable schemes of utility, whilst more important matters are in abeyance from the want of adequate funds, as alleged by Mr. S. llohne. May we not hope, however, under your auspices, that the striking contrast now exhibited between our splendid docks and the 'miserable internal arrangements of Liverpool, will speedily be removed, or abolished, by causing dwellings of a superior class to be erected for the working people in lieu of the wretched hovels now existing, and the formation of new and capacious roads, and the amend ment of the old throughout the length and breadth cf the borough of Liverpool. Another important topic, I would introduce to your notice, is the establishment of " itar.7,ed Schools,' in connection with a view to the ulTimate transit to the Australian Colonies of the yee.th of both sexes, now in a state of utter destitution, wits which unfortnnateiy our town abounds. This would confer a benefit, if properly carried out, on both the merchant and shipowner, as well as be an act of kindness and charity to the forlorn beings themselves. I think the subject matter worthy of the consideration of a public meeting of our townsmen. I would also direct your attention to a serious offence against the bye laws—that is, the wheeling loaded bar rows over the flagged parapets, to the great detriment of the same, which should engage the special attention of the police. am, Sir, Your obedient servant, A. L. Liverpool, 11th Nov., 1848. - - ESSAYS ON THE SABBATH. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,—In your last publication I observe a paragraph, to the effect that fifty extra prizes have been added to the three originally propoied, for "Essays on the temporal advantages of the Sabbath, by working men," and that "many of these additional prizes have already been of fered." Your readers will, no doubt, be glad to learn that the whole of the subscriptions for so praiseworthy an object have been contributed, and that the award of the adjudicators is expected to be announced in the December number of the Working Man's Charter, a monthry pub lication connected with this movement, and entirely de voted to Sabbath consecration. Yours, obediently, November 13, 1848. A COMPETITOR. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. DEAR Sin,—On looking over the Mail of to-day, I perceive an attempt made on their part to confute the statement contained in your last paper concerning Mr. Bourne. Now, instead of candidly confessing his error he has attempted to bolster his misstatement by an allusion to Mr. Beckwith's speech, to which I did not make the slightest allusion. The error (if such a mild term may be applied to it) did not arise at all in Mr. Beckwith's speech (for that the Mail could not be re- Nonsible) but it was in the list that the Mail made of the Raters and Anti-Raters who composed the candidates for the last election. There were three columns—one for the Retiring Mem bers, one for the Pro and one for the•Anti-Raters ' and Mr. Bourne's name is placed in the latter column. This is the intended error I meant, and the Mail cannot get out of it by trying to evade the question by alluding to Mr. Beckwith's speech. lam sorry to give you so much trouble, though I hope you will excuse. A CONSTANT READER. Liverpool, lltli November, 1848. Liral BIRKENHEAD INFIRMARY.—Dr. James Craigie and Dr. F. Stevenson have been elected honorary surgeons in the place of Mr. Dixon and Mr. Lingard, resigned. It is the intention of some gentlemen in Hull to form a Financial Reform Association there, to co-operate with Mr. Robert Gladstone and the Liverpool Finance Com mittee. On Saturday night, Sarah Stewart, a child three months old, living with her father in Barter-street, died suddenly from suffocation, caused by being covered with the bed clothes. On Thursday se'nnight, Martin Duffy, of Park-lane, was going up stairs to bed, when he fell and injured his head, which injury caused his death about a week after wards. Mary Sales, who lost her husband, brother, and other relations in the Ocean Monarch, has been comfortably settled by Mr. and Mrs. Lynn, of the Waterloo Hotel, Liverpool, in which establishment she has resided ever since. On Monday week, a man and his wife residing in Char ter-street, quarrelled ; the husband left the house, taking his two children with him, with the alleged intention of jumping into the Mersey. Nothing more was heard of him till Thursday evening, when he returned from from " a trip to Wales," much to the delight of his nearly heart-broken spouse. On Saturday night, Julia Hughes, of Chisenbale-street, sat up till about twelve o'clock, and then went to bed to her husband. In a short time they heard a noise, when the husband, in a state of terror, covered himself up with the bedelotheS, and said he hoped , he might be delivered by his guardian angel froth the terrible and impending danger he apprehended. The deceased anxious to know what had caused the noise, got up and left the room, but on arriving at the top of the stairs she fell headlong down, and was taken up quite dead. . . IHE YACHT CLUB DINNER.—The Courier is entirely in error in saying that the report of this gratifying festivity found its way into our columns " indirectly." It was furnished by our own reporters in the usual way. Whilst we are on the subject we may observe that we inadver tently omitted to state that Lord Sefton, in proposing " the Lancashire witches" coupled with the toast the health of a lady who 'nobly distinguished herself by ad ministering to the wants of the poor creatures saved from the Ocean Monarch, Mrs. Lynn, wife of Mr. Lynn, of the Waterloo Hotel. A fatal accident on the South-Western Railway occur red at the Farnborough Station cn Friday night. A gen tleman who had been out shooting with a party of friends approached one of the trains, when he slipped and fell headforemost into the narrow space between the wheels and the wall of the platform. The unfortunate gentle man was eventually got out, but the injuries he had sus tained were so severe, that he had expired before he was extricated, We deeply regret to say that the gentleman who has lost his life in this painful and distressing manner is Mr. Stephenson Tennent, of Liverpool and Harwich. THE HEADS OF THE BEAST.—In a sermon by the Rev. Joseph Baylee on the sth of November, the rev. gentle man in lucid but solemn strains, went rapidly over the prophecies connected with the state of the world, the apostate Church of Rome, and the downfall of Babylon. He argued that the Austrian empire was the seventh head of the beast; that, most probably, the Russian empire would swallow up the Austrian, and become tne eighth head, under which it would be destroyed by the bright ness of the Saviour's appearance ; and that events now occurring seemed to be hastening the event. THE STEAMER " WIRRALL."---ThiS Woodside steamer was brought to auction on Friday, by order of the High Court of Admiralty—for running down the " Flambeau " —and was sold for £3,250. But the ratepayers of Bir kenhead will be glad to learn that she has been purchased by Messrs I. H. Hind and Co., with the view of hiring her to the Birkenhead Commissioners, at a reasonable rate per diem, until the commissioners are in a position to re imburse to them the bare purchase money, when the boat will again become township property. She was almost a nev, and a very favourite boat, and bad cost nearly £7,000. 'lnn DOCKS OF LIVERPOOL.—The extreme length of the river wall, which forms the line of the Liverpool docks, is within a few yards of four miles. The total water area now available amounts to upwards of 195 acres, and the total quay space to more than fourteen miles. There are in all twenty-one docks in operation, exclusive of graving docks, half-tide docks, and basins. Of these five, comprising about thirty-three acres of water area, and nearly two miles of quay space, have been opened within the last few weeks. Two others, and a half-tide dock, which will yield together twenty-one acres of water area and one mile of quay space, are in a state of great forwardness. APPREHENSION OF A CLERK FOR EMBEZZLEMENT.— On Thursday night George Breary Jackson, late a clerk in the employ of Messrs. Pearson and Co., Marsden-square, Manchester, was apprehended at the Amphitheatre, in this town. The prisoner absconded from Manchester on Saturday week, taking with him £5OO which belonged to his employers. A portion of the money (X 200) was re covered, being found at his own house in Manchester. After leaving Manchester, the prisoner was traced to Dublin, and thence to this town, where he was taken by Inspector M`Mullen, of the Manchester police-force, and conveyed to Manchester for examination before the magistrates. DEATII FROM WANT AND EXPOSURE.—On Wednes day last, a wretched being, apparently in the last stage of want, was observed near the Northern Dispensary. He was taken in, but his case being one of sheer destitution, he was removed to the workhouse the same day. He was admitted to the workhouse about noon, and was then in a state of collapse • notwithstanding the efforts that were made to restore the wretched man, death took place the same evening. A post mortem examination was made by Mr. Leather, one of the surgeons of the establishment, who gave it as his opinion that the cause of death was ex posure to cold, and the want of the common necessaries of life. Deceased's name was Thomas Jones, he was about fifty years of age, and was a single man. Bat. NSWICK CLUB.—The distribution of the seven prizes, value ten guineas, announced in our last publica tion, took place on Thursday evening, after a spirited contest between sixty members of the club, the success ful members being Messrs. Hall. Darbyshire, Robinson, Daish, Smith, Ramage, and Evans. After the presenta tion of the various prizes by Mr. John Walker, the mem bers sat down to the first harmonic supper of the season, the duties of the chairman and vice being ably sustained by Mr. Whiteman and Mr. Darbyshire. On the with drawal of the cloth, a number of loyal patriotic, and com plimentary toasts were given and responded to, interspersed with many excellent songs. The festivities of the even ing were prolonged to the latest moment allowed by the rules of the club, the members separating highly delighted with the evening's proceedings. LECTURES ON EGYPT, THE DESERT, AND JERUSALEM. —We are happy to perceive that that truly excellent clergyman, the Rev. H. H. Higgins, minister of St. John the Evangelist's Church, Hope-street, will deliver three THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. lectures at the Collegiate Institution, on the three last Thursdays of the present month, on Egypt, the Desert, and Jerusalem, which he has recently visited. The re sults of his personal inspection of parts of the world such as these, so renowned throughout all ages of the world, cannot fail to be regarded with the deepest interest by the antiquarian as well as the Christian ; and as the lectures will be illustrated with views exhibited by the oxygen light, we cannot doubt of the gratifying effect which will he produced upon the audiences. We understand that Mr. Higgins, with that disinterestedness which peculiarly belongs to him, purposes to devote the whole of the pro ceeds of these lectut es to the Liverpool Church of England School Society. THE STEAM-SHIP NIAGARA.—The passengers on board this noble veseet on her recent outward trip, pre sented Captain Ryrie, her commander, with the following testimonial : " TO CAPTAIN P.YRIE, " Commander of the Stcantship Niagara, from Liverpool to Bo,vien. '• DEAR Stu,—We, the undersigned, passengers in the steam-ship Niagara, from Liverpool to Boston, now draw ing near to the termination of our voyage, cannot say adieu without first expressing the deep sense of gratitude which we feel toward the commander and officers of this noble ship. Your unwearied watchfulness, your kind and obliging demeanour, your readiness to do all in your power that could contribute to the comfort of your pas sengers, together with the order and regularity that has pervaded every department on board, merits and receives our warm and thankful acknowledgements. And we beg, in taking leave, to tender to you, and through you to the officers under your command, this expression of our regard and perfect satisfaction with the whole management of the vessel which has safely borne us across the ' deep blue sea.' Wishing you the enjoyment of every blessing, and the realization of every good, we remain, your obliged servants and friends." Signed by all the passengers. THE POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY. IMPORTANT PAPER ON THE RAILWAY GAUGES. In accordance with our promise last week, we now sub mit a condensation of the able paper read, by Mr. Benjamin Smith, at the meeting of the Liverpool Polytechnic So ciety, held at the Royal Institution on the Gth instant, and which commanded the marked attention and applause of a large and scientific auditory. Mr. SMITH introduced his subject by stating that. a few months aeo, when conversing with some friends on the causes of the continued. commercial depression, and the downward tendency of all railway stock, he happened to mention his plan for the gauge which had suggested itself to him several years ago, whilst making experiments upon a railway, and which he conceived would, if carried out, tend greatly to relieve commerce from its prostration, by restoring public confidence in railway property, rendering it a lucrative investment, and at the same time preventing the competition in forming new lines at great original outlay of capital, abstracted from general trade. He was solicited to make his views known to the public, and he consequently complied. The objects he had in view were, —first, to relieve commerce and railway property ; secondly, to arrest loss of life to railway passengers by senseless rival lines ; thirdly, to expedite railway travel ling with safety and at moderate prices; and fourthly, to effect a permanent settlement of the gauge dispute, with a view to prevent further ruinous competition. He con sidered many of the new lines, projected or in formation, premature, and not likely to be remunerative. To pro vide for these, it was stated that, independent of £30,000,000 of debenturesafloat, a liability of £130,000,000 still rested on the shareholders of railways in England ; and he is of opinion that so long as this continues, and the calls amount to perhaps two millions, or even one million pounds per month, commerce must be drained of its legitimate capital, and confidence cannot be restored. Extreme competition by new lines against those formed would be still more hazardous, by producing excessive speed, extreme ecouomy. insufficiency in the working staff, and consequent endangerment of the public safety. Mr. Smith proceeded to explain how the narrow gauge railways of 4 feet Si inches might be converted into the wide, or mixed, gauge line of 7 feet wide, so as to admit wide gauge passenger carriages of a new construction to pass through the narrow gauze tunnels, " without occu pying more room than is now taken up by the narrow gauge carriages, and without altering orenlarging any one of the tunnels, bridges, or embankments, on the narrow gauge lines, whereby the greatest speed, power, and safety would be obtained, with the least rolling motion, friction, wear and tear, and with the greatest comfort to the pas sengers, by their being freed from all apprehension of danger, in consequence of the atmospheric resistance being lessened, and the centre of gravity lowered." He is de cidedly of opinion that the wide gauge is preferable to the other, in point of power, speed, and safety, and that his plan will eventually become the " national" gauge to the extin6tion of the narrow gauge lines. The expense would in the end be little more than nominal. The power of the engines would have to be slightly enlarged, but the atmospheric resistance would not be increased by convey ing a given number of passengers on narrow lines, for the resistance is caused, not by the length of the trains, but by the bulk of the carriages. He proposes placing carriage bodies of the width and height, but of double the length of the smallest used on narrow gauge lines, as low between large wheels as practicable, and to put them to work on the wide gauge rails proposed by him for the London and North Wstern Railway from London to Birmingham, and to be drawn by large wide gauge engines. The outlay, spread over three or four years, for the additional rails, would be about £2,000 per mile, the whole cost over 112 miles being £224,000,—a trifling sum to be temporarily advanced, to put an end to ruinous competition and the outlay of millions. The plan would, he states, sooner pay all the cost. He trusts to attain, with ample engine power, the highest velocities and the greatest steadiness. He proposes sue carriage - way to De no feet long, or ilouDlt the present length. The body of the carriage is to be placed between the wheels, and as low as possibleto avoid the rolling motion at high velocities. The wheels are outside the carriage, not underneath it, and they are protected by plates, to prevent grains of matter being thrown up, or the clothes of passengdrs being soiled by contact with the wheels. The lecturer produced a model, neatly constructed, chewing how the narrow gauge lines may be converted into wide (or mixed) gauge lines under the smallest tun nel, so as to admit wide gauge carriages, to pass through the present narrow gauge tunnels, without occupying more room then the present narrow gauge carriages. The rails are laid parallel, the narrow line being within the wide one. The tunnel in the model represents the lowest one between Holyhead and Dublin-14 feet 3 in. in height. On the lines laid down under it are two neat long passenger carriages, moveable, and with two sets of six wheels to each ; the inneror smaller ones suitable for the narrow gauge, and under the body of the carriage ; the outer or larger ones outside the carriage, for the wide gauge, and protected as before stated. The latter repre sents the proposed new wide gauge carriages, to be con structed and applied thereto : but both sets of wheels are not to he applied to one and the same carriage. First and third class carriages may be constructed upon the same plan. The first class would hold 36 passengers, or if built with coupees at each end, so as for each of the end compartments to hold but 3 persons, (in place of six), the carriage would accommodate 30 passengers only, and be the steadiest at high velocities. The model may be seen at Mr. Jones's, silver-smith, • Castle-street, where it has already attracted the notice of many scientific men. We are not ourselves, sufficiently versed in railway mechanics, to pronounce a decided opinion upon the merits of Mr. Smith's plan. Fiom what we can judge, it is well worthy of an experimental trial upon an adequate line to test its practicability. The question is one of great importafice, as involving the safety of the travelling community : and we may add, of the public p urse in preventing further exorbitant outlay upon new and crude railway projects, which hold forth no pro mise of becoming remunerative. just as consistent in nominating Mr. Holmes as those who supported Mr. Rushton's claims not long since. Mr. WALTHEW briefly seconded the nomination of Mr. Holmes, upon the ground that that gentleman had been an admirable commissioner of highways, and that no other gentleman was more fully entitled to the honours of the civic chair. Mr. S. HOLME, in proposing Mr. J. Bramley-Moore, said that he had hoped that after the feeling displayed last year, Mr. Moore would have been unanimously elected. He (Mr. Moore) deserved this honour from his attention to the affairs of the Dock Committee—from his ability in conducting parliamentary contests of great duration and intensity, and from his uniform gentlemanly conduct. Mr. Holme then proceeded as follows :—When I recollect that only a year ago, 170 firms, many of them the leading firms in the town, presented him with a requisition that he would still retain the chair of the Dock Committee, think I need not add much more to show that if he is elected he will discharge the duties of the office with credit to himself, and with advantage 1 - 6 the community. (Ap plause.) lam told that Mr. Moore is to he rejixted be cause he is unfavourable to the rating of the docks. I differ from him on that question as much as any of those gentlemen who have recently entered this room ; and when you, Mr. Mayor, have vacated vourpresent office, I doubt not that I shall be found in your controversy with you on this topic. There are great and fundamental principles connected with our national government, and with our social condition ; and difference of opinion on. such a subject may lead us to exclude from power those who, by exercising that power, may change the laws, or disturb the balance of good government. Such was the question of education a few years ago. Mr. Moore was found amongst the majority on thatoccasion ; Mr. Holmes was then opposed to the manifest wishes of the electors. But I hope, sir, that on a question such as rating, which is one only of detail, we are not come to such a pass that a gentleman in all other respects eminently qualified, is to be branded by exclusion from office for maintaining his convictions rather than sacrificing his independence of character. If such is the principle to be acted on in fu ture, then, sir, I confess that a seat in this chamber will cease to be an object of ambition to the high-minded, the intelligent, and the independent. A few years would see the composition of the Council sadly deteriorated, and the majority of its members would he bewildered in managing the vast estates committed to their care. I admired the spirit of Mr. Moore, when some time ago an emigrant ship had fever on board, in the Queen's Dock, and, when the captain refused to move her, Mr. Moore went himself, got men, and had the pest-house immediately hauled out and anchored it. the river to prevent contagion. (Ap plause.) Mr. Holme argued further in support of Mr. Moore's claims, as entitling him to the honour. Mr. Are anan MoLYNEux briefly seconded the nomin ation of Mr. Moore, and said that he heartily concurred in every sentiment which had fallen from the elequent proposer of that gentleman. The Council, after one or two members had spoken, di vided, and Mr. Moore was elected by a majority of two,. there being for Mr. Moore 30, and for Mr. Holmes 28. For Mr. Moore : -Messrs. J. Holme, Morris, Hill, Briscoe, Tyrer, Horsfall, Littledale, Hornby, Tinne, Rim mer, Robinson, S. Holme, Tobin, G. Booker, Gardner, Lloyd, G. H. Lawrence, J. Booker, Jones, Mann, Hodg son, Aldermen Swainson, Nicol, Sands, Wood, Molyneux, Bent, Turner, Chilton. and the Mayor. For Mr. Holmes :—Messrs. Langdale, Walthew, Wood ruff. Thomson, Preston, T. L. Hodson, Aikin, Holt, Henderson, Ferguson, Toulmin, Harbord, Rogers, Wag staff, Danson, Johnson, Bennett, Parker, Poole, Beck with, Watson, Hindley, Benn t Fisher, Aldermen J. Law rence, Cooper, and Procter. The newly-elected Mayor having, amid loud applause, been introduced by his proposer and seconder, and sub scribed the usual declarations, took his seat, and addres sed the Council as follows :—Gentlemen, I beg to express to you my heartfelt thanks for the honour you have con ferred upon me. I take it es a mark of your good opinion, of which I may very well feel proud. lam well aware of the difficult position in which you have placed me, more particularly when I look around me and find how my pre decessor has performed his duties to the satisfaction, I am sure, of every man in the town of Liverpool—(hear, hear)—and feel my own inability to dsscharge those duties in the manner in which they have been discharged by Mr. Horsfall. It shall be my endeavour to tread in his footsteps, but I repeat that I feel I shall fall short in per forming the duties of the office in the manner they have been performed by my predecessor. Gentlemen, I shall follow his example, in making myself the Mayor of Liver pool, and not of any one section or party. (Cheers.) In doing so I look for your support, for without it, I am sure I shall have no chance of keeping order in our proceedings. I am sure, however, that the support you have always given to my predecessor you will elso extend to me. I hope you will allow me this opportunity of thanking you for the patience with which you have always listened to me when I have addressed you in this place. Cheers.) Docx COMMITTEE. — The proceedings comprised a re solution confirming the agreement made with Lord Derby for the land at the North Shore. As the agreement was not entered on the proceedings, this portion of the pro.. ceedings was referred back to the committee, after a vain attempt to induce the Council to allow the Mayor to give the particulars of the agreement. Mr. Thomas Ro binson, Mr. James Holme, and Mr. George Booker were elected members of the Dock Committee. Mr. 'l'. B. Horsfall proposed Mr. Benn in opposition to Mr. Holine, but the motion was rejected by a majority of 42 to 13. THE TOWN-HALL.—It was resolved by a majority of 33 to 15, to leave the use of the Town-hall for balls, &c., in the hands of the Council. FINANCE COMMITTEE.—The following gentlemen were appointed :—Messrs. G. H. Lawrence, Hornby, S. Holme, J. Holmes, D. Hodgson, J. Lawrence, Procter, Turner, Swainson, J. Booker, Hill, Cooper, T. B. Horsfall, Lit ana rancer. WATCH, &c., COMMITTEE.—Mr. Parker, after men tioning that the amalgamation of the Watch and Health Committees had not been found to work well, proposed the following gentlemen as the Watch Committees, it being understood that a Health Committee should also be appointed, and that the officers of the Watch Committee should still continue to give all the assistance they could in carrying. out the resolutions of the Health Committee : —Messrs. Walthew, Woodruff, Preston, Stitt, Thomson, Benn, Ferguson, Rogers, D. Hodgson, Jones, Poole, Parker, Geo. H. Lawrence, Johnson, Turner, and Tobin, the Mayor being ex-officio a member. IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.—Wm. Nicol, S. Holme, R. L. Jones, T. Robinson, T. Toulmin, Wm. Bennett, R. S. Henderson, John Bent, William Fisher, James Ai kin, and R. C. Gardner. LAW COURTS COMMITTEE. — J. B. Lloyd, R. B. Hill, E. Molyneux, J. A. Tinne, D. Hodgson, Josias Booker, S. Hoime, J. 11. Turner, and James Parker. Mr. J. B. Lloyd said that every effort would now be made to go on with St. George's Hall. MARKETS COMMITTEE. — James Lawrence, J. Cooper, John Woodruff, T. Kaye, James Parker, John Briscoe, T. Toulmin, J. B. Lloyd, H. G. Harbord. EDUCATION CommiTTEE.—Edmund Molyneux, George H. Lawrence, R. C. Gardner, T. Chilton, D. Hodgson, Thomas Littledale, Thomas Kaye, A. Swainson, Thomas Rimmer, R. L. Jones, G. H. Horsfall, J. A. Tobin, Thomas Wagstaff, John Briscoe, and Hugh Neill. GAOL COMMITTEE. —The Mayor, James Aikin, R. Benn, John Holmes, Hugh Hornby, D. Hodgson, Thos. Sands, William Nicol, G. H. Lawrence, T. B. Horsfall, George Holt, J. A. Turner, and any other member of the Council who may be a borotigh magistrate. TOWN-HALL COMMITTEE. — The Mayor, D, Hodgson, A. Swainson, T. Sands, G. H. Ldwrence, James Law rence, and T. B. Horsfall. THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.—J. A. Tinne, H. Hornby, W. Walthew, J. Holme, J. G. Morris, J. Tyrer, J. Fer guson, T. L. Hodson, H. Neill, J. Bent, H. G. Harbord, J. Stitt, William Bennett, E. C. Hindley, Thomas Rim mer, and James Parker. SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER A COMPREHEN SIVE PLAN FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MUNICI PAL BOROUGH.—W. Nicol, J, A. Tinne, J. Aikin, H. Hornby, S. Holme, W. Bennett, G. H. Lawrence, H. Neill, T. Robinson, R. S. Henderson, and J. A. Tobin. SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LOCAL RATES.-H. Hornby, J. Parker, J. Cooper, J. Booker, W. Bennett, T. Little dale, S. T. Poole, J. Ferguson, and W. Fisher. S. Henderson, R. L. Jones, William Preston, J. Bent, R. M. Beckwith, John "..‘ oodruff, R. C. Gardner, and Ed ward Langsdale. CHURCH EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE.-E. Molyneux, H. G. Harbord, G. H. Horsfall, Thomas Littledale, John Ferguson, John Briscoe, and Thomas Wagstaff. OBSERVATORY COMMITTEE.-J. Aikin, H. Danson, R. B. Hill, J. Tyrer, R. Benn, J. Stitt, H. Neill, T. L. Hodson, and W. Fisher. PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY FROM FIRE.-W. Ni col, G, H. Lawrence, J. Aikin, Josias Booker, Edward Langsdale, H. Hornby, A. Swainson, J. Ferguson, R. Bonn, and James Johnson. • FERRIES COMMITTEE.-J. N. Wood, J. Aikin, W. Mann, R. Benn, W. Fisher, R. L. Jones, and T. Wag staff. _ _ _ TiE WATER COMMITTEE.—The following gentlemen were proposed on the water committee :—J. A, Tinne, J, G. Morris, S. Holme, H. Danson, J. Cooper, J. Fergu son, William Bennett, H. G. Harbord, J. Poole, and W. Nicol. Mr. HAnnonn moved, as an amendment, that the gen tlemen who constitute the health committee should also constitute the water committee, and that it be competent for the health committee to appoint from their number five, six, or seven, to act as a water committee. His rea son for doing so was, that they were obliged to support two sets of men when one would answer quite as well ; besides which, it would have the effect of promoting unity of management. Mr.•TwoasoN seconded the amendment. The motion, even after being amended, that three of the committee should be added to the health committee, was lost by a majority of 37 to 16. Mr. PARKER then moved an amendment to the effect that the existing water works for the supply of the town be under the management of the health committee, and that the powers of the water committee be confined to such measures as are necessary for carrying out the Li verpool Corporation Water Works Act of 1847. He wished the water committee to be as at present, but to confine its own operations to the carrying out of the Ri vington Pike scheme, supposing it must be carried out at all. After the water was brought to the town, he consi dered that every thing connected with the distribution and supply should be under the management of the health committee and the borough_ engineer. Mr. BENNErr seconded the imotion. Mr. S. HoLmE said it appeared to him that there was a determination to prevent the water committee from carrying out their bill fairly, and in a manner consistently with the principle which it involved. When the time came for the measure to be fully adopted, he would meet Mr. Harbord, or any body else, and show to the Council and to the inhabitants, that it would be a blessing to the town when the provisions of the bill were, as he expected they would be, faithfully carried out. So far as re garded the borough engineer, he admired his Indus try, and would pay a just tribute to his ability, but he would distinctly tell the Counil that Mr. Newlands had more on his shoulders than he was able efficiently to per form. (Hear, hear.) It was useless, therefore, to thrust more duties upon him. He trusted the new members of the Council would think seriously on the water question; let them take the trouble to read the act of parliament, and the whole of the voluminous reports which had been made on the subject by the water committee, as he had done himself, and he felt assured they would adopt his views. (Hear, hear.) He would never submit to the dictation of a committee of the national confederation, and he hoped the Council would act independently, and not be in fluenced by any committee of that kind. The amendment was lost by a majority of 30 to 19. The committee was then appointed. Mr. HARBORD then moved that it be an instruction to the committee to give the requisite notices for application to parliament, in the next session, to suspend all further proceedings towards the execution of the works authorised by the Liverpool Water-works Act, but that immediate measures be taken to test the present sources of supply, including the Green-lane works, and that the committee consult and employ such persons as they may think proper for the purpose. . Mr. LANGSDALE seconded the amendment. The motion was lost by a majority of 30 to 15. For—Messrs. Langsdale, Walthew, Woodruff, Thom son, T. L. Hodson, Robinson, staff, Johnson, Poole, J. Booker, Beckwith, Jones, and Hindley. Against—Messrs. J. Holme, Morris, Preston, Hill, Briscoe, Tyrer, G. H. Horsfatl, Littledale, Hornby, Tinne, Rimmer, S. Holme, Tobin, G. Booker, Lloyd, Bennett, Parker, G. H. Lawrence, Watson, Mann, Fisher, D. Hodgson, Nicol, Cooper, Wood, Molyneux, Turner, Chilton, T. B. Horsfall, and the Mayor. CONTRACTING FOR CORPORATION WORK. Mr. THOMSON moved that all work to be done by the Corporation, or any committee thereof, including the Water and Health Committees, be executed by contract after public advertisement. A discussion took place, when it was sugcested to Mr. Thomson that he should withdraw his motion for three months. - The motion was withdrawn accordingly. LOCAL MEETINGS. BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS. — The usual monthly meeting of this board was held on Tuesday. From the minutes of the Ferry Committee, it appeared that the receipts for the past month were £1260 14s. 9c1., and for the corresponding month of 1847, £1609 16s. 3d. from the 23rd April to October 31, in 1847, £12,240 18s. 9d., and. in 1848, for the same period, £9280 13s. 2d. The total expenditure for the same period was £8319 Bs. sd.—Mr. Bentham inquired whether the committee had taken into consideration the propriety of advancing the ferry contracts.—Mr. Williamson said the committee had had the subject under their consideration, but in the pre sent state of affairs he did not see how they could be ad vanced with propriety.—Mr. Bentham said he was much influenced in his view of increasing the contracts by finan cial considerations. If he was not mistaken, he was afraid the receipts of the ferry would hardly meet the expenditure and pay the interest of the debt.—Mr. Greene differed with Mr. Bentham as to the propriety of increasing the contracts, as he felt convinced that if they were doubled no more money would be raised.—Mr. Williamson said he was happy to inform the board that, under the reduced rates, the receipts of the ferry would reach between £16,000 and £lB,OOO a year, and the ex penditure., including the interest to Mr. Price, would not exceed £12,000. (Hear, hear.)—Mr. Hicklin moved that a committee be appointed for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of the " 1 uisances Removal and Diseases Prevention Act of 1848," within Cie limits of the commissioners' acts; and, in doing so, announced to the meeting that his connexion with the township was about to cease. He thanked the commissioners for the attention and courtesy which he had always experienced, and expressed a confident opinion, notwithstanding the sneers of parties on the other side of the water, that the return of prosperity to Birkenhead was not far distant. — Mr. Williamson seconded the motion, which was adopted. TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. THE ELECTION OF MAYOR. The first meeting since the late municipal election was held on Thursday. The first business was the election of Mayor. Mr. PROCTER, in proposing Mr. John Holmes, said that the claims of that gentleman, which were second to none in this great community, had been long neglected. He was one of the oldest Liverpool merchants—a gentle man with a large stake, and of high standing and respect ability in the town, and he had been a continuous mem ber of the Council ever since the passing of the Reform Bill. He had performed his duties to the rate-payers for a period of forty years as Chairman of the late Highway Board, distributing their funds to their entire satisfaction, and enjoying their full confidence, and shown by his re peated re-election during that long series of years. Mr. Moore's claims to civic honours were undeniably great, but, compared with those of Mr. Holmes, they are but as dust in the balance, and as this was probably the last time the Council would have the privilege of doing honour to his venerable friend, he hoped they would avail them selves of the present opportunity for doing so. He (Mr. Procter) felt that he was in no ways deserting his Conser vative principles by nominating a Liberal, and that he was RATING OF TIIE DOCK AND CORPORATE ESTATES. Mr. COOPER moved that it be an instruction to the Fi nance Committee, if the surplus income of the Corpo ration for the present year should be sufficient for the purpose, to pay the sum of £1,527, being the amount of watch rate for the borough, and also pay the same rates which had been levied on the out townships. He thought as the subject of rating the Dock and Corporate estates was a question which had caused a great deal of excite ment out of doors, and application was to be made to par liament for two bills with that object, the course he pro posed might settle all differences, and save some expense to the Corporate estate. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE thought the surplus income could not be appropriated to a better purpose than in lightening the rates of the burgesses, and when all exist ing engagements were satisfied, he would have no objec tion to the proposition. Several members thought it undesirable to bring the matter forward at present, as the new members more es pecially were not in a position to consider it, from want of the requisite information on the subject. The motion was ultimately withdrawn for the present. The MAYOR read a letter from the committee of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, complaining that, since the water works got into the hands of the Corporation, the rates levied on the publicans for water had increased nearly 300 per cent., while no advantage had been received for the additional charges. They suggested that the assess ments should be revised, and the Licensed Victuallers placed on the same footing as other tradesmen. The letter was referred to the Water Committee. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. On Saturday, a little girl who had been in the service of Mrs. Paulina Newsham, the lady of the distinguished rider of that name in the French company, was committed for trial for stealing £l4 and a gold ring from her mistress. DAMAGE TO A SHIP.—On Wednesday Mr. Rushton decided that the owners of the packet-ship Montezuma were entitled to £19105., for damages done to the ship by a collision with the Iron Prince (screw steamer.) RAISING MONEY FRAUDULENTLY.-011 Tuesday, Mr. Rushton, after hearing evidence as to the character of Longmead, acquitted him of the charge of raising money by representing himself as copnected with a Lif Assu rance Society, which had no existence. Massey was con victed, but Bennett is still at large. Longmead is to be admitted as a witness. _ _ _ THE SANATORY ACT.—On Tuesday an information was iaid against Francis Dalton, of Cherry-lane, for killing a pig there. The defence was, that the pig was for personal use, and that no breach of the law was intended. The magistrate dismissed the case, observing that information should not be laid in cases like that. He was killing a pig himself, and everybody was killing a pig et the pre sent season of the year. The law did not contemplate informations being laid against a person killing a pig for his private use. WAR AGAINST MARINE STORES.—On Saturday, a marine store dealer, in Mersey-street, was sentenced by Mr. Rushton to fourteen days imprisonment, for having bought a coil of perfectly new rope, worth 175., for 2s. Two other keepers of marine stores were sentenced to two months' imprisonment, for having goods in their pos session for which they could not satisfactorily account. All their licenses were revoked. In compliance with Mr. Rushton's wishes there is a force of nearly fifty officers engaged in watching these receptacles of stolen goods. OVERCHARGE.—On Thursday, Mr. Wm. Critchley, a pawnbroker, London-road, was convicted by Mr. Rush ton in the penalty of £lO and costs, for having taken more than the legal interest on a pledge. A Mrs. Wells had purchased the duplicate of a silver watch, which had been pledged with the defendant for £3, from a woman named Woodruff. When Mrs. Wells applied for the watch she was told it amounted to £3 10s. Complainant expressed her fear of being imposed on, but was told it was all right. Upon inquiry, however, it proved that the legal interest was only seven shillings and sixpence. Mr. Pyke, from the office of the parish solicitor, appeared to, prosecute. The defendant was not present. PITIABLE CASE OF DISTRESS.— O❑ Saturday, two little girls, sisters, were brought before Mr. Rushton, on suspicion of having stolen three shirts. The mother of the children said that she was a washerwoman, and that they were on the brinke of starvation. She had some washing from several families, and had pledged some sheets belonging to one of the families for her rent, and was now pledging the shirts to redeem the sheets. She had ap plied for relief to the West Derby Guardians ; but was told that they would pass her to Ireland, where she had not been since she was 18 months old. Mr. Rushton censured her for illegal pledging ; but told the officer to take her again to the overseers and remind them that they had no right to remove an applicant after a residence of five years. _ _ IMPOSITIONS OF LODGING-ROUSE KEEPERS.—On Fri day, a poor Irishwowan came before Mr. Rushton for the purpose of lodging a complaint against a lodging-house keeper who refused to give up possession of her goods. Complainant, who is a widow, with six children, arrived here from Ireland by the John Munn, yesterday week, and took up her quarters at 59, Great Howard-street; the agreement was that she was to pay fid. a-day for herself and family, and to have the use of the kitchen. The time for her embarkation for America having come, the pro prietor of the house made a charge of one shilling a-day extra for storage of her luggage. The case is only one of a numerous class which are frequently heard before Mr. Rushton, who invariably punishes the lodging-house keepers for such unjustifiable demands. He ordered a summons to be issued immediately, as the complainant was booked to sail for America the same day. THE SANATORY ACT.—On Thursday last, Mr. Brether ton and the committee of the board of guardians of the. Wirral union, who have formed themselves into aboard of health, under the disease prevention act, appeared before the Birkenhead Police-court, to apply far summonses against a number of parties to show cause why certain nuisances should not be removed. Twelve summonses were eventually granted against the commissioners of Bir kenhead, for nuisances at the slaughter houses and the depository of night soil ; against the gas company for nui sances at the gas works, for open drains and filthy deposits along the boundary ditch between Tranmere and Birken head, in the neighbourhood of Clifton-park ; against Wm. Jackson, Esq., M.P., and J. S Jackson, Esq., who wa s on the bench, and expressed his satisfaction at the conduct of the committee-in taking the matter up, assuring them that every nuisance that they could point out on his property should be remedied to their satisfaction. There were also summonses granted against J. G. Chamberlaine, Esq., of Chester, and Wm. Sharp, Esq., of Clifton-park, the for mer for a nuisance in Tranmere-pool, and the latter for one at the Woodlands, near St. John's Church. Mr. W. W. Perry, one of the guardians of Tranmere, said the in habitants of the township of Tranmere were very nrxions to remove every nuisance, but they wiPlicfl old be done by themselves and not by tlic board. Drs. Vaughan and Hunter Robertson have been appointed medical superintendents of the board of health, and Mr. Lewis Hornblower their surveyor. PROFITABLE BEGGING.—CURIOUS CASE.—A few days ago, a respectable-looking person, named Thomas Hol land, was committed to the Borough Gaol, by Mr. Rush ton, for one month, on a charge of street-begging. He was in the habit of accosting persons in the street as if to ask his way, but on their listening to him he would solicit alms in the most supplicating manner, representing him self as a " decayed tradesman." For some time the delinquent has been in respectable lodgings in Rock street, Toxteth-park, kept by a widow, who has also several other lodgers, clerks in the Custom-house and mercantile establishments in the town. He was con sidered at his lodging as a retired gentleman of limited income. He was always a complete epicure in his diet, and unsparing in procuring for himself all the choice edibles which the most fastidious taste could desire. To breakfast he uniformly had his broiled chop or steak, and was most particular as to the quality of his tea and coffee. In his other meals he was equally hospitable to himself, and on all occasions his appetite was perfectly astonishing to the inmates of the house. During the time he re mained in the house, lie would sit before a huge fire which be always insisted should be kept up, his feet being com forted by extra carpets and rugs, and his legs Wrapped up in blankets. He seldom turned out of the house until eleven o whentwelve h e o'clock was al w a in y s the ready morning, forhis breakfast by except on a Saturday, eight o'clock. He was very fidgetty if his meals were not always ready at the moment he wanted them, anti would tell his landlady that she could always look after the young men's wants, but because he was "a poor old gentleman he must be neglected." He had latterly become so tedious that she gave him notice to quit, but he declined to receive it. He was always very prompt in the payment of his board, and until his committal his landlady had not the remotest idea that he was obtaining his livelihood by begging. This was only found out by his unaccount able absence from home for a few days. At the time of his committal, his larder was well stocked. Nov. 14, 1848. VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AS A NEW LAND OF PROMISE FOREUROPEAN SETTLERS. The committee appointed for the Diffusion of Informa tion on the State and Prospects of South Australia have just published an interesting circular, on the capabilities and growth of the rising commonwealths of that immense and prolific country—a subject which interests all classes of the community, and especially those who have formed an idea of emigrating. The statements thus proposed are full of valuable facts and suggestions. The Australian colonies comprise New South Wales, Port Philip, South Australia, Western Australia, Van Dieman's Land, and New Zealand. The first four are in the island originally called New Holland, which is the largest in the world, being about 2,500 miles long, and 2,000 broad. South Australia alone contains 300,000 square miles of average, and the settlements as yet form but a small por tion of it. The capital is Adelaide, and it contains many fine naluyal ports. All waste lands are offered quarterly for sale by public auction, at the upset p r i ce o f £1 an acre, one-tenth payable down, and the rest within a month. By the end of 1847. £500,000 have been received for land then sold, under the British crown, and all of which was but twelve years ago altogether unknown, and tra• versed only by the kangaroo, and a few pitiable aboriginal inhabitants. In 1847, the quantity of land under culti vation was 36,440 acres, and the quantity enclosed was 94,684. The committee state, "The price of Australian wheat regularly exceeds the average of English wheat, by 10s. or 12s. per quarter. The quality will at once be un derstood by farmers, from the fact, that freight to Eng land, has been paid, on some parcels, at the rate of sixty four pounds per bushel. An agricultural and horticul tural society has been established, and the last exhibition in February of the present year was visited by upwards of 2,000 persons, each paying Is. Numerous prizes were awarded for wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, onions, grapes, oranges, citrons, lemons, nectarines, apricots, peaches, apples, pears, plums, green figs, melons, raisins, dried figs, Jordan almonds, and other dried fruits ; vegetables, vegetable seeds, bouquets, wine, butter, cheese, honey, silk, and various other articles, including woollen cloths, &c. Specimens of copper ore were also shown. The population in March 1846 was upwards of 33,000. The wages of workpeople are good. Active boys can even earn from ss. to Bs. a-week, with rations, and pro visions are very cheap and of excellent quality. The rates of passage to South Australia, charged by merchant vessels, are from £l5 to £2O for steerage ; £3O to £35 for intermediate, and £5O to £7O for first cabin. It is deserving of special notice, that no serious accident, or shipwreck attended with loss of life, has occurred to any vessel bound from Great Britain or Ireland to Port Ade laide. During a series of 7 years, ending 1845, the mean tem perature was 67 degrees, and the climate is altogether delightful. The rain that fell during these seven years averaged in fall 110 days, and to the extent annually of 19 inches. No one month during these years passed without rain. The report states:—" We have no droughts, no seasons in which grain is not brought to maturity. The rains are more frequent, and more certain as to sea sons, than in the more eastern parts of New Holland. In Adelaide we have never known the want of abundant water." In conclusion, we quote the following extracts from the interesting document under notice:— " Eight or ten copper mines are being wrought, and two or three lead mines ; the value of-the ores exported during the year 1847, as estimated in the Colony, having been upwards of £170,000. During the year 1847, the Burra Burra Company, or rather The South Australian Mining Association, expended £30,000 in cartage alone, and so very remarkable has been their success, that al though only established in April, 1845, the Directors, by the Ist March, 1848, had paid the Shareholders 606 per cent. on the amount of the paid up capital ; and in their Annual Report, (14th April, 1848), they announce their intention ' while the present prospects of the mine con tinue, to pay dividends of 200 per cent. on the capital stock on the first day of every third month.' " The government debentures issued several years ago, have been wholly paid off, and not only so, but the in terest on the debt of £85,000 contracted at the founding of the colony, which was for some time charged on the Consolidated Fund of Great Britain, is now paid from the Colonial Revenue, and further, the money advanced from the Consolidated Fund in payment of that interest, either has been repaid, or is in the course of repayment. " Thus, notwithstanding the ridicule in which many indulged, and the misgivings which others experienced, the noble conception of the founders of the colony has been realised, and South Australia stands alone in her proud pre-eminence, a self-surporting colony. Etstrul ftrll3s. Edmund Sharpe, Esq., has been appointed Mayor of Lancaster. The Rev. Thomas Nolan preached in the new church at Crewe on Wednesday. William Alcard, Esq., has been elected Mayor of War rington. Mr. Hawksley has been engaged to make some exten sive alterations in the water works at Chester. Onions were so plentiful in Chorley on Tuesday, that 60Ib. of good sound onions were sold for sixpence. Major White of the 31st Regiment, was on Tuesday last elected chief constable for this county, in the place of the late Major Wemyss. • On Thursday last the Rev. Fielding Ould preached in St. Thomas's Church, Lancaster, in aid of the schools at tached to the church. Major-General Wemyss, late Assistant Adjutant-Gene ral of the northern district, has been presented, at Man chester, with a splendid dinner service of plate. During the chase, on Thursday, with the Cheshire Hounds, a valuable horse, the property of Sir Thomas Hesketh,; had its back broken. Mr. Potter, eldest son of the late Sir Thomas Potter, is Mayor of Manchester, and Mr. Longworthy Mayor of Salford for the ensuing year. _ _ Sir Robert Peel in acknowledging the receipt of the silver medal for draining his estates in Lancashire, enlosed a £lO note to be devoted by the Blackburn Agricultural Society, as a premium for agricultural exertions. Wilbraham Egerton, Esq., of Tatton-park, has, with his usual liberality, presented a donation of £l5O in aid of the funds of the North Cheshire Conservative Registra tion Association. Her Majesty has signified her intention of conferring on Mr. Alderman Armitage (late Mayor of Manchester) the honour of knighthood, for his judgment and vigilance in suppressing the late riots. Mr. Armitage has accepted the honour. ANTIDOTE FOR POISON.—Mr. E. Brown, formerly of Preston, one of the persons who has invented th e mar ine light, has found by his researches and experience, that theapplica p t o io is n on of s c . hloroform prevents or retards the action of certain MANCHESTER SOIREE.—The Archbishop of Dublin and the Rev. R. Montgomery have sent apologies for non-attendance on the 16th, when Lord Mahon is to preside, and the following are promised for the platform —Lord Nugent, Messrs. Alison, Robert Bell, Craik, J. Forster, Gleig, G. Godwin, Marston, Brotherton, Mark Phillips, &c. A married woman, named Sarah Airey, in order to get some men out of her house, in Malaga-street, Manchester, who had bt.en drinking there on Saturday night last, pushed one of them, Henry Worthington, a brass moulder, down some steps, and his head coming in contact with a kerb-stone, his skull was fractured, and he died soon afterwards. Mrs. Airey has been committed for trial for manslaughter. RETRENCHMENT. — As the trade of Lancaster has fallen off, the port has been reduced from the fourth to the fifth class of ports, and the salaries of the officers regulated ac cordingly, by which arrangements a saving of £220 per annum is made to the public. The same principle has been acted upon at the port of Bridgwater, the trade of which place has of late years diminished. LOYAL ORANGE INSTITUTION.—On Saturday week a meeting of the above institution was held at Mr. Glover's, the Lord Nelson, in Hindley, on which occasion several members of the Wigan district attended for the purpose of opening a new lodge. On the same day a lodge was opened at Preston, but as the time would not allow of all the members who presented themselves being admitted, the lodge was adjourned. The tower of the Manchester Cathedral is said to be so dilapieated and insecure that orders are said to have been issued that the bells shall be rung no oftener than is abso lutely necessary for conducting the ordinary services of the church. With a view to raising the necessary funds to rebuild the tower, it is in contemplation to levy a i c i h e u u r ee cl: s -r s a u te p , r o el r im at in te a m ry p , t levy s t h o ould unsuc cessful, to commencing a voluntary subscription. COMMITTAL OF A SWINDLER. — James Henry Hughes, alias Swanson, alluded to in our last publication, was again u tt th o e n attempt eabo provewo months examined on Wednesday, before the magistrates at Pres ton, and fully committed to take his tria at the sessions, on a charge of obtaining goods under fraudulent pretences. This man, who bad been living for a few days in George street, Birkenhead, before his fortunate capture, made several attempts upon the shopkeepers in this town, but his motions being well watched, it is believed his designs were entirely frustrated. JENNY LIND IN MANCHESTER, NEXT MONTH. — Some time ago, Madlle. Lind gave a promise to Mr. Salis Schwabe, that, in the course of the present winter, she would re-visit Manchester, and cheerfully offer her ser vices gratuitously, to sing at two concerts, in aid of the fund for erecting the west wing of the royal infirmary— that next Mosley-street. A few days ago, Mr. Schwabe received a letter from Miss Lind, in which, recurring to her former promise, she intimates that her engagement will leave her at liberty to visit Manchester, for the pur pose, about the 20th of December next. . , THE PENNY POSTAGE IN THE ROYAL NAVY.—The benefit of penny postage is extended to seamen in the navy ; but what is the plan hit upon ? In these days of " march of intellect" and " steam," it is refreshing to hear of a simple and original method of carrying out a project. A penny piece is ordered to be sown outside each letter, and the commanding-officer signs Lis name at the bottom of each, to certify that the penny is sewn on, and that the letter is a seaman's. A landsman might imagine that I was trying to impose upon his credulity, but you will believe my statement. The consequence of this most original idea is, that a bag containing a thou sand letters has a thousand ounces in dead weight added to it ; and on distant stations where pence cannot be procured, writing is put a stop to, as no one letter can go without a penny sewn to it. The sewing a penny securely to the outside of a letter is no easy operation, as ony one will find who tries. 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