The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-06-08 00:00:00

a Pro nost te. )y a ge erseen- he real e again nation silty !" rmony. wants ye fair oing to ectable rmined !tout a aserva- Let d corn- Ls far as d. And ose that pposed re such , erty of 17rrY, en we, t our beers.) met° a !ct na- The oing a was to to this gut be add to chat is Fou to ten he teat of ple by (Loud ►t it no r tliey ever, st our there ig the tt they e peg !speci-- have ;hould 3ospel ,re her s effi ; safe. and lave a ligion. e fair 'and— ble. in . have t who would tem of aeci name irders wed a hen a hen a ispec )ened. o the id my icient, of ex pected arious idered asions is all 8 feet iss or tt the d that assing [ frac" Locke , and ace l " )s itio° ea, b e blow ll° ; 0 so? Iterea L ei h° June 8, 1847. oral peps. The deputation from the Church of Scotland to Canada sailed from Liverpool on Friday. It is said that the Great Britain steam-ship is to be launched on the Ist July. Mr. Whitley, of Islington, one of our district parish Burgeons, died of typhus lever on Friday. On Friday John M'Cann died of erysipelas, in conse quence of an injury received on the Saturday previous, by, being knocked down by a cart. The barque Eliza Johnstone, arrived on Friday, brings intelligence from Paraiba to the 20th April. Nothing of moment, bad occurred from the previous advices. The Halifax and Boston steamer Cambria, Capt. Jud kins, sailed at one p.m., on Friday, with a great number of passengers and £15,000 in specie. Mr. William Wood, head boy of the Royal Institution School, under the care of the Rev. Dawson Turner, M.A • , has been elected to a scholarship at Trinity College, Ox .ford. - . _ _ SUICIDE. — On Tuesday, Edward Gavine, a pensioner, • aged 71, residing in Finch-street, was found suspended by a piece of carpet edging to a nail on the closet door of his bed-room. DISTRESSING CASE.—On Tuesday evening, an Irish family of four persons were found lying ill of the fever in a field near the Potteries. They were removed in a spring cart to the fever ward. The poor creatures had lain there Since the Saturday previous, with only a blanket to cover them. Mr. Thornhill was elected for Scotland Ward on Thurs day. His opponent was Mr. Nicholson, the tanner. At the close the numbers were, according to the official re turn, for Mr. Thornhill, 154 ' • for Mr. Nicholson, l l 1 ; majority for Mr. Thornhill, 43. Mr. Nicholson was only brought forward on the morning of the election, and hence his defeat. The " SwedisL Nightingale," we understand, has named as remuneration for her services at Liverpool for six nights, the small sum of £5OO a night. She has been offered, it is said, by a private individual, £6OO for two performances here. Report says that her engagement at her Majesty's Theatre brings her in £5OO weekly, for three nights' per formances, besides being provided with a house to live In, a carriage for her own use, and covers being laid daily at her own mansion for twenty persons ! On Wednesday morning, the body of a female child was found in the dead-house. There was a piece of paper pinned to the dress, on which was marked in black-lead pencil, the name "Anna Maria Toiz." Every inquiry was made with the view of ascertaining where the body waa brought from, but without effect. It is supposed the parents or some friends of the deceased have sailed in some vessel from this port, and deposited the body there before their departure. FATAL ACCIDENT. — On Wednesday, as Mr. W. B. O'Donnell, brother of Dr. O'Donnell, was passing along Rodney-street, on horseback, from some cause which cannot be clearly ascertained, he fell from his horse, and severely injured his head. He was taken into the house of Mr. Bickersteth, surgeon, where he received every attention. He was afterwards removed to the house of his brother, and died there the next day. He was forty six years of and was out of business. A fire broke out in the shop of Mr. Whitehead, cutler, South Castle-street, on Thursday night. It was not ex tinguished until the shop was completely gutted. The damage is about £5OO, and fully insured. The fire, at one time, assumed a very threatening appearance; it ap pears that the police officers, who first arrived at the place, acted with great indiscretion, having forced open the doors and windows of the shop before the arrival of the engines, thus giving vent to the flames, and endanger ing the whole of the adjoining property. The West of England engine was the first to arrive on the ground, fol lowed shortly after by one from the fire station, under the direction of Mr. Hewitt. Mr. M`Donald, and other of the Harrington Company's officers, were promptly on the spot, and a stand-pipe being inserted in their mains a powerful stream of water was thrown on the flames which soon Yielded to its influence. An effort was made to obtain water from the Green Lane mains, which was, however, •unsuccessful, until long after the fire had been got under. ALLEGED MURDER AT BIRKENHEAD.--On the 24th ultimo, a young man, named Frinnigan, aged 19, who had been present at the anniversary procession and meeting of the Tranmere Benefit Club, did mot reach home, and nothing was ascertained respecting him until Friday morning last, when his body was found in the 141orpeth Dock, so marked that death appeared to have been the result of violence. He had, on the day in question, been in company with a stonemason, named Edward Silk, and the latter having given contradictory accounts as to where the deceased and he were together, and his handkerchief and hands being moreover stained with blood, the police took him into custody on suspicion. On Friday afternoon, the inquest was held before H. Churton. Esq. The body was found floating in the water. The left side of the face was bloody, and a black silk handkerchief was stuffed into the mouth and down the throat, and there were some other bruises. The left hand pocket of his trousers was turned inside out ; and it appeared that Silk had heard it mentioned that deceased had 355. The handkerchief in deceased's mouth was one which he had worn round his neck. Silk did not go to his lodgings on the night in question. Dr. Vaughan, who had examined the body, attributed death to suffocation, from the handkerchief being stuffed in the throat. The deceased could not have pushed it down himself. There being ne further evidence to be had - of those present, and in order that further information may be obtained, the inquest was adjourned .until Friday next. THE NEW LANDING STAGE.—This leviathan structure has been at last fixed to its moorings, and henceforward will be used as the landing point for passengers from the other side of the river. It was towed up on Tuesday. shortly before high water, from the north end, where it had been constructed, and it presented a very singular ap pearance as it came up the river, headed and flanked by seven steam-tugs, which were engaged for its transport. There were a great number of people on board, which gave it somewhat the appearance of a floating island. It has been permanently moored about one hundred feet from the pier -head, in front of the baths at St. George's Pier, and by means of iron bridges, 150 feet long (which are being constructed by Mr. Fairbairn, of Manchester), it will be available both at high and low water. The struc ture is based on 39 iron pontoons, which, though the Stage weighs upwards of 2,000 tons, are not more than half"immersed in the water. It is 507 feet long, 80 feet 9 inches wide, and contains 49,000 cubic feet of wood. It affords accommodation for seven of the river steamers, and it is calculated that 40,000 persons could stand upon it. The decking is five inches in thickness. The iron work has been constructed by Mr. Sanderson, of War rington, and the woodwork by Mr. Tayleure, and others, under the superintendence of the officers of the dock com mittee. When the bridges are completed, the total cost of the stage will be about £40,000. Mr. Bramley Moore, the chairman, and other members of the dock committee, sailed up the river with the stage. The edges of the stage are not protected by any bulwarks or chains. It has been thought that this would interfere with the facility of land ing or embarking. Massive oaken stanchions, a foot • square at the base, and secured on the inside by strong iron knees, encircle the deck at intervals of ten feet, with low mooring posts in the intermediate spaces, well strapped to the:deck. Near each bow are four longitudinal timbers, 35 feet in length, to serve as mooring -bits, and - bearing evidence of a capacity ;for sustaining the utmost strain to which the mooring chains may be subjected. BEBINGTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.—The fi rs t ex hibition of this society for the season, appointed for Friday, was held under the most favourable c auspi . The weather was d e li g htf u lly fi ne, an d there was conse quentlyes a numerous and fashionable attendance. The Rock Ferry pleasure grounds, which are in beautiful order, afforded a charming promenade, and relieved the marquee where the flowers were shown from inconvenient pressure. The collection was varied and the most mag nificent which we have for some time had the pleasure of -viewing. The stand, extending the whole length of the -tent to the left, was occupied by a rich and rare display of ericas, roses, verbenas, calceolarias, petunias, and cine rarias, of every description and colour, with an elegant azalia, full of bloom, from the conservatory of Sir Wm. Massey Stanley. The second table presented several beautiful baskets of plants, one of which, supplied by C. Rawson, Esq., was immensely admired, and some fine fuschias, including two of great merit belonging to G. J. Wainwright, Esq., (who as well as Sir W. M. Stanley, Bart:, took a great number of prizes), and R. M. Beck with, Esq., whose competition was little less successful. The third table, to the right, was occupied with a brilliant collection of pelargoniums and fuschias, and a fourth - table, at the back of this (an extension of the tent) of fered the attraction of a basket of plants, with numerous fuschias, and calceolarias—all choice productions. A small table at the entrance to this compartment was filled with calceolarias and petunias, to each of which had been awarded prizes. The right side of the large centre table was wholly occupied with magnificent fuschias ; the left side exhibited a greenhouse plant the " acacia pulchella," with a redundancy of bloom, belonging to Sir W. M. Stanley. A splendid specimen of the " Irish Susannah Major," for which G. Woodward, Esq., received the gold medal, a g i gan ti c cac t us i n f u ll bl oom, some exot i c orchi dacise, and oth er s t ove an d green h ouse plants of i nfin i te variety and beauty. At each end of this table were some splendid baskets Of plants belon g in g t o Si r W. M. Stan ley, C. Stanley, Esq., and oth er contr ib u t ors. A d ev i ce in flowers, r e p r esenting a chandelier, attracted much at tention, and had th e prize awarded tent, ar ded to it. It was suspen d e d gracefully from the top o f and had a very tasty and elegant appearanc e . In adeaFent sheds were placed a collections of plants of high m the nurseries of Mr. Kellock and Messrs. Hender n s t c'ti from Brown, at Ox ton, and fruit and vegetables wereexhibited. of the latter was small, but contained some good cucum bers and asparagus. WRITING, BOOKKEEPING, taken occasion to speak favourably of M e . Thompson'- keeping, ° t n h ' the mode of communicating instructio n in writ keeping, &c.; and, in again directing writing, book -same subject, we feel that we can, with the confidence which the long familiarity with that gentleman's admirable system induces, recommend the advertisement inserted ,elsewhere to the serious considerati on o f t h ose wh must o inevitably suffer, in an active commercial community like -ours, from a deficiency in the all-important requisites -taught by Mr. Thompson.—See adv. ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—The visitors to these beautiful gardens, so full of interesting objects, have again been numerous and they have enjoyed a week of splendid wea ther. It is not one visit, nor a dozen, that can exhaust the vari e d a t tract i ons o f t hi s f avour i te place o f resort. To the contemplative mind, especially, there are always fresh materials for pl easura bl e o b servat i ons, e i t h er i n not i c i ng new habits abits and i ns ti nc t s i n t h e animals, or in paying re newed or close r regar d to some which, had received but cursory attention. O ne o f t h e bl ack swans i s again rear ing a brood of young cygnets. A couple of fine herons have been added t othe - inhabitants of the pool. Mr. Atkins has also purchased a splendid tiger, which arrived here by the ship Bellaire, Indies. Al so a l i dee e r b t le n , n f l r y o n m igh th t e East innhes high, and consivdeeriede eagavne'ryt m Ca o P u t s . e W Tribe. rare specimen of the deer ELECTION OF BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.--The election commenced at ten o'clock on Tuesday morning, with great spirit, the opponents to the Laird party rushing numerously to the poll. The election closed at four o'clock, the "Jackson party;" consisting of the following gentlemen, being returned by a majority of nearly 1000.— Joseph Mallaby, gentleman, Church-street; Christopher Bentham, merchant, Hamilton Square; John Howe Greene, merchant, Canning-street; William Pike, gen tleman, Parkfield; Henry Fox, shipbroker, Claughton; John Hicklin, gentleman, Camden-street; Henry James Nicholls, gentleman, Camden -street.—The announce ment, on the close of the poll, was received with tremen dous cheers, and a procession was afterwards formed. which chaired Mr. Mallaby and paraded the principal streets of the town. FATAL. ACCIDENTS.—On Monday, as a man unknown, was walking along Wapping in a state of intoxication, he missed his footing and fell between the cellar-lid and sill of a warehouse. He died soon after.—On Wednesday, in consequence of the breaking of one of the bearers to a scaffold, John Catterall, aged 27, fell into a well in course of formation at the Liverpool and Harrington Water Works, Rock-street, Toxteth-park. The well is fifty two feet deep, and had nine feet of water in it. The poor fellow was taken out in about an hour's time quite dead. —On Wednesday, Thomas Hoy, a painter, fell into the Waterloo Dock, and was drowned. He was engaged with another man in putting the name on No. 12 pilot boat, and was in a small boat under the stern, when he over balanced himself and fell into the water. THE REGISTRATION OF DESIGNS.-31R. HIGGS' SHOW ROC/Al.—No act of government has tended more to ad vance the taste of the country than that of giving protec tion to the producer Of any design. It has given a field for enterprise ; it has created a spirit of emulation in every important establishment, and each artist or mechanic vieing with his neighbour, behefits the- public by some new and elegant production. In the Birmingham districts it has been most available. A manufacturer is now in duced to spare no expense in ornamenting an article, as he is protected in its sale by registration ; and to this we owe a share of the credit for the recent improvements in iron work. We were not a little surprised, in visiting Mr. Higgs' show-room, in Lord-street, a few days since, to see the wonderful perfection to which many manufactures are brought. The grates, though various in design —some elaborately beautiful in workmanship, some plain—are principally registered. • The shower baths are of various kinds, but the registered one is decidedly the best and handsomest. The exterior is gothic, the casting imitating carving in oak. The interior is square, and the water is raised by an easy rotatory motion applied to an ordinary piston pump. For standing in the bath there is a plat form raised in the centre, and beneath this a receiver, so that you never stand, as in ordinary baths, in the water. There are registered washing and ringing machines, most excellent inventions, that should be used by every family, particularly where fever is so prevalent that infection may be communicated in " things sent out to wash." Dean's protected Indian corn mill is another of the articles inMr. Higgs' show-room. It is worked by hand, and produces, with one motion, fine Indian flour, meal, and hominy, all completely dressed and ready for use. To those who are about to purchase, or those who are interested in the im provement in articles manufactured of metal,' there can be no greater field than that exhibited by Mr. Higgs. Everything new that is good he receives as it comes out. It is impossible in the limits of a pa ragra ph, t o d o j us ti ce to the good effect, in this particular branch alone, that has been produced by the protection, at a small expense, of designs. You have a registered shaped tea-tray, a stove—in fine, everything from a window shutter to a gridiron. - THE WATER BlLL.—After six weeks, or nearly, of patient and wearisome labour, the select committee on the Liverpool Water Works Bill have arrived at the pros pect of release, and this day, or to-morrow, will see the bill emerge from the ordeal in a state not very satisfactory to any parties except the two existing water companies, who have secured the power of selling themselves to a tolerably good customer. The bill, however, will not be allowed to pass through the Lords—should there, indeed, be time for it—without a strenuous opposition from the town of Wigan. It is possible, too, that other parties will secure their rights to appear there in the character of opponents. As to Wigan, it was decided early in May that that town should be secured 800,000 gallons of water per day, to be delivered down the Douglas, from the in tended reservoirs ; at least, this was the understanding of the parties representing the interests of Wigan, and solely upon that opposition to the preamble was with drawn. It appeared, however, that the understanding of a bare majority of the committee on Tuesday and Wed nesday, was that this quantity was to be the exact amount of supply and no more; so that, supposing the natural drainage of the Douglas to send down, as it occasionally does, considerable quantities of water, those quantities were not to be plus the 800,000 gallons, but an auxiliary and contingent part. The discussion was animated when this interpretation of the resolution was disclosed, and after it had been affirmed, the short-hand writer was re quested to take down many most peremptory protests, to be available hereafter, to the manifest annoyance of the promoters. There the case rests for the present. Sooner than risk the loss of the bill in the lords, there is little doubt the promoters will yield the claim of the people of Wigan, who are admitted on all hands to want all the water they can get to scour the town, especially as the produce of the natural drainage of the Douglas, which was intended to reduce the 800,000 gallons, belongs to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company, who have con sequently a powerful voice in the matter, but who are willing to accommodate all parties, provided no injury is done to themselves. Too much' expense, indeed, has been incurred, lightly to risk the chances of a strong case of bond fide opposition before a tribunal which; though it has the character of being a remarkably summary juris diction, is not exposed to merely local influences, and is incapable of being operated upon by the sudden importa tion of votes and voices from members who have not heard the whole case.—Manchester Guardian. INQUESTS ON SATURDAY.—On view of the body of William Hilton, a young man about twenty-five years of age, who worked at a soapery in Earle -street. He ap peared in his usual good health during the day, but towards evening he was found lying on the floor behind the ware house door quite dead. For a fortnight previous he had been complaining of a palpitation of the heart, and at times he had been obliged to leave his work. The post mortem examination showed that the immediate cause of death was disease of the heart.—The second was on Michael Welsh, a young man who was employed as a coal-trimmer on board the steam-tug boat Powerful. It appeared that, a little after twelve o'clock on Friday night, he went to the Albert Pierhead for the purpose of boarding the tug in the small boat, which was lying at some little distance from the wall. He hailed the boat, but, not having re ceived any answer, he laid hold of the stern rope, which was fastened to the pier, and endeavoured to get on board by means of that rope. When about half way down he missed his hold and fell into the river, and swam to the paddle wheel of the tug, where he hailed one of the hands, who went down to his assistance. But the assistance ar rived too late, for the poor fellow was drowned ; and, in some time after, his body was found and conveyed to the dead-house.—The third was on Nancy Doherty, a woman about fifty years of age, who was found dead in the passage leading to the Night Asylum, 'in Soho-street. Charles Arnett, one of the police, deposed, that on entering the passage, on Saturday morning, he found a number of wretched people lying there, and in their midst the dead woman. It appeared that the deceased and her daughter went to the asylum the night before with the view of staying there for the night, having no money to procure a lodging elsewhere, and that they were disappointed in being able to procure admission, the place was so herdarnne u ad ct fell ofl cl the r ial o ies w elre d cei e pr d e; They then lay down i n th e p assage motheu and r nst until a t n h e e e the da policeman l t i e vc r eo ms post a a nzn s oc ranotreme examinationwndare of informed showed that the immediate cause of death was disease of the lungs, th e resu l t of natural causes Thefourth and last was on a wo man with the somewhat singular Christi an name of " Sibby" Flyn. She o ccup i e d a cellar in Bird-street, and w a s con fi ne d to her bedduringNtehwe early part of the week with a slight cold. She continued to get worse, and on Tuesday morning last she died of disease of the lungs, the result of natu ra l causes. INDIAN RUBBER D ISSECTING GLOVE.—We have much pleasure in drawing attention to the above valuable and ingenious invention, by Mr. John Jones, Cutler, of Lime street, ip this city, which cannot fail in meeting with the approbation of the surgical and medical profession in all climates. Having inspected most minutely the gloves in question, we are of opinion that they must be generally adopted. We having in our columns so often to deplore the loss of so many valuable lives, by a simple puncture or scratch while operating upon putrid subjects, leads us to believe that their general use will be the means of pre venting so many lamentable deaths, which it has been our lot of late years to record. We heartily wish the ingenious inventor every success.—See Advertisement. EASTIIAM FERRY.—But a few years have elapsed since Birkenhead was visited by parties anxious to behold its rustic beauties, but its abbey, the priory and chapel, have become obscured by the progress of modern enterprise, and it is now viewed only as a striking instance of the rapid strides of the growing commercial importance of the Mersey. At Eastham, however, which has ever been considered the most lovely ferry on the river, though time has worked wonders—though improvements have been made in every direction—no alteration has been made that could at all deteriorate the rustic and natural elegancies of the vicinity, and in every movement there has been that care and taste displayed that produces a uniformity so necessary to harmony and beauty. The new hotel, though replete with every modern improve ment, is so surrounded by lovely lawns and time-grown trees, that it bears rather the aspect of an ancient than a modern mansion. The new public Gardens, which have just been completed, and which will be thrown open for pit-nit parties, are most beautifully laid out. Rural oaken bowers are available in every direction, and a new room, 60 feet long and 30 feet wide, has been erected im mediately under the wood, in which companies finding their own-" provision" will be supplied with liquor at the same cost as at the generality of Liverpool houses. The original gardens will in future become more select, as they will have no communication with the new ones, and will be exclusively for those visiting or staying at the hotel. New coach-houses and new stabling are erecting, and the whole of the old buildings are removed for the purpose of giving an uninterrupted view of the noble estuary of the Mersey'. A new road will be cut through the wood that skirts the river, to the new slip, which now obviates the difficulty, hitherto existing, of landing at low water. Thi s slip, which is principally built with crooked and rustic-looking oak, was completed on Satur day. It is nearly 700 feet in length ; and will, no doubt, induce many persons to visit the ferry who hitherto ob jected in consequence of obstructions to disembarkation. One other important consideration has been effected by the spirited proprietor. Two excellent and fleet boats have been placed on the station, so that a boat leaves each side every hour : in fine, nothing has been omitted to render this favoured spot Of nature a scene of beauty and of comfort. THE LIVERPOOL STIUNDARIt LIVERPOOL POLICE INTELLIGENCE. STEALING TEA, &c.—A man, named William Evansy was brought before Mr. Rushton, yesterday; charged by Mr. William Doubleday, Ranelagh-street, with stealing a quantity - of tea and sugar from the shop.. He made no defence, and was committed for trial. _ PocKier PTC FaNG.—Yesterday, at the POlice-court, two young man, named James Brannon, and another named Dunlevy, were charged with picking the pocket of a man named M'Cornish, in the street, of a tobacco-box con taining 225. to 235. in silver. Both the prisoners were observed near each other, but the complainant could not positively identify Dunlevy, and he was discharged. Bran non ran off, but was overtaken. He had dropped the box before being taken, and 12s. only were found in it, the remainder having been probably handed over• to his companion. He was one of a gang, and was committed for trial. SERIOUS CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT.—On Tuesday Henry Harrison, an apprentice with Messrs. Jones, Bland, and Co., timber merchants, was brought up, charged with defrauding his employers. He had been entrusted, it ap peared, to look after the discharge of a timber-laden vessel called the Cumberland, in the Brunswick Dock. It was his duty to enter them into several successive books ; but as these books did not correspond, it was supposed that £5OO had been improperly paid. The prisoner was re manded till Wednesday. when no further evidence was offered : and it appearing that before the charge had-been preferred, the prosecutors had made some attempt at a compromise, Mr. Rushton, after regretting the fact, ordered the prisoner to be discharged. OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES.—On Saturday a low-Sized, middle-aged man, named Robert Siltock, was charged with having obtained .money by means-of false pretences. Edward Humphreys stated that, on Tuesday week, he went into a public-house to have a glass, and that he met the p r i soner th ere w ith a bundle of clothes under his arm, which he was offering to sell. Witness purchased them for 45.. and then the prisoner offered to sell him the pawn-ticket of a watch for 30s. Witness gave him 255. for the ticket, but, on the 26th ult., when he went to th e p awn b ro k er ' s f or t h e watch, he found that it had been redeemed some days before upon an affidavit which was then produced. The keeper of a temperance hotel, at the bottom of Mount Pleasant, said that the prisoner had come there to lodge. He slept there one night, but as he came there the next night in a state of intoxication ' he was refused admission. Subsequently the prisoner c a ll e d and sold him the affida vit of a watch for 20s. which had been pledged with the pawnbroker referred to by the first witness; and upon going thither the watch was redeemed. The prisoner was committed for trial. LOCAL MEETINGS. WALLASEY COMMISSIONERS.—The usual monthly meeting of this body was held on Thursday, H. Winch, Esq., in the chair. The chairman stated that he had met Mr. Banning, the postmaster, on the subject of a better post-office arrangement for the township. He suggested the propriety of a given point being taken in the centre of Seacombe, and to extend a free delivery half a mile round from such point. At Liscard a central point, (the Queen's Arms), and free delivery for a space of six hundred yards round, and another point at New Brighton to extend half a mile, and include as much as possible of the population. Those three circles would give a free delivery for nearly the whole extent of Seacombe and Liscard. Some routine business • was then gone through. The law-clerk stated that he had received letters from Messrs. J. and R. Parry, to the effect that after what had taken place at the board with respect to their being disqualified to sit, they would tender their resignation, and would not raise the question at all. Hackney-coach licences were granted to Messrs. Parry, George Wilkinson, and William Kelly. STEAM TOG COMPANY.—On Wednesday, the eleventh annual general meeting of this company, was held in the Clarendon-rooms. Mr. C. Cotesworth presided. Mr. P. Wright, solicitor, read the report. The proceeds of the past year exceeded those of the former year by £2,757115. 21d„ and the funds of the company continued steadily to increase. Two new boats had been added to the property 'of the company during the year, namely, the Albert and the Express. The capital of the company, including the reserve fund, was stated to be £52,150, and during the clrrent year 71 per cent had been paid the shareholders. Mr. Mason wished to know why the boats were stopped plying on the Sunday, as mentioned in the report. The Chairman said there were various reasons which urged the committee to adopt that course, and, from the experi ment tried, ii had been found to answer well. The machinery of the boats like the men required rest ; the boilers, too, required cooling. It had been found that considerable damage had been sustained by the vessels whilst the masters were below taking their rest. The company were bound to the Dock Committee to keep two of the boats in readiness for the purpose of assisting ves sels in a storm, or in cases of shipwreck. These vessels had always their steam up. WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.—At the meeting on Wed nesday, Mr. Sheppard took the chair. Mr. D. Griffiths tendered his resignation as collector of poor-rates for the township of Everton : it was accepted. Mr. Shaw gave notice that he would, at the next board, move that Mr. R. Morley be collector of poor-rates in Everton, in the place of Mr. David Griffiths, resigned.—Mr. Roskell gave notice that at the next meeting he should move that the salary of Mr. Johnson, medical officer of Kirkdale, be increased from £2O to £3O per annum.—Mr. Cleaver thought they ought to await the answer of the Poor-law Commissioners ; he considered it advisable that Mr. Ros kell should postpone his motion for a short time. Agreed to.—A plan of the proposed new hospital was submitted to the board. It was proposed to erect it within ten yards of the eastern wall of the Workhouse. It would hold from 80 to 100 patients. The whole building would cost no more than £2,500. Messrs. Edwards and Sons were requested to prepare specifications and estimates for carrying into effect the plan now produced by them. The motion was carried unanimously.—lt was resolved, after some commendatory observations from the chairman, who warmly supported the motion, that the salary of Mr. Reid, schoolmaster of the Workhouse, be raised from £6O to £BO per annum. SELECT VESTRY.—At the weekly meeting on Tuesday, Rector Brooks pre ided. The total number of sick per sons in the workhouse, including those in fever and la bouring under smallpox and other diseases, was reported to be 1012.—A letter was received from certain warehouse owners, in which they stated that in some special cases the rents of warehouses had been lowered, and that the as sessments in consequence ought to be reduced. The let ter was referred to Mr. Whiteman to inquire and report. —Mr. Hart stated that there was an increase of sick cases to the number of 202 in the workhouse and sheds over and above the number of last week. This increase was to be accounted for by the admissions during the week, and the entire occupation now of the three fever sheds at Mount-pleasant. Mr. Bennett said it would gratify the board to learn that the Health of Towns' Committee, at its meeting held on the previous day, had resolved that the cellars in the worst situations of the borough should be filled up, and their future occupation by the immi grants thus rendered impossible—(Hear, hear.) He was grieved to learn, from a report presented to the committee, that out of 152 cases of deaths from fever within the borough, 47 only of these had been in the hospital, the remaining 105 being all out of doors. If this ntun her of deaths out of doors were contrasted with the num ber of deaths in the hospitals, it would lead to the belief that there were at present 3000 cases in the town which required to be taken out of wretched abodes and accom modated in some proper place, where they could receive the necessary attention.—The board agreed to allow the sum of five shillings per week to Mrs. Forsyth, the wife of Inspector Forsyth, who died of fever caught in the discharge of his duties as relieving-officer.—Dr. Gee re signed his office of district medical officer.—Mr. Fergu sonps noihdo postponed ta l a i sff i his la m etc o tt fi eh, o el nwauonmrktiehlmotubhseeer of n . ext meeting, for the place of Mr. Yat es . —Mthr.eWboooarddroionfet, the COAIMI'MEE, THURSDAY. -Tile death of Mr. Humble, master of the Clarence Dock, Was reported, and the sub-committee were requested to recom mend suc cessor. The Chairman said that he wasl , ers ' a t say that the pier -master, also, in that division, } haTi.. r got the fever. Mr. Mann : he fever which is now se provalent ? The Chairman : Yes. Mr. Mann : Did the dock -master die from that ? The Chairman : Yes. Air. Tobin under stood that the situation of the house was a very unhealthy one, and that it was very damp. The Chairman said a good deal had been done to improve the house. Mr. Mann : That shows the necessity of the quarantine regu lations being strictly enforced. Mr. Tobin said he under stood the situation was a very laborious one—more so than at any of the other docks, as the steamers went in and out altetatlelrhoz read of as the night. hehtt.Tlhadg-st e n C in hairnz e, : —A It is so. from Mr. Cubitt, who spoke highly of the manner in which the various operations connected with the mooring had been conducted by Lieut. Jones, and every one employed, and requested that Lieut. Jones might not be removed until the work was properly completed. He also suggested that in the temporary arrangements which were being made for passengers, one of the landing places should be exclu sively used by those coming on shore, and the other by those embarking. So necessary was such an arrangement to the safety and convenience of the public, that it ought to be made the subject of strict orders and police regula tions. Mr. Cubitt expressed himself so satisfied with the services of Mr. John Hartley, that he hoped he would be continued as acting engineer, until the completion of the stage. At the suggestion of the Chairman, it was referred to the Council to make by-laws for the regulation of the landing-stage. The treasurer was ordered to pay £lOOO on account to Mr. Cubitt, for professional services and ex penses incurred. £5OOO were also ordered to be paid to Messrs. Tayleure and Sanderson, on account of their con tract for pontoons. Mr. Henderson : Can you give us any idea of the cost of the landing-stage ? The Chair man : It will be nearer £50,000 than £40,000. Mr. Aikin : Do you think £50,000 will do ? The Chairman : Yes. A list of old men still in the service of the Dock Committee, but reported as not being equal to the work they had to perform, was submitted and referred to the sub-committee, under which the men are more immedi ately employed.—The Chairman said two or three letters had been written to him by some persons in Chester, which he could not at all understand. The Chairman read a portion of one, which referred to water for fires, but it appeared to be written by some person who was insane. It concluded by stating, that if the Chairman would give £l7O a-year, and one of the old light-ships, he might en gage the services of the writer for the Dock Estate.—The Chairman said he had had an exceedingly touching letter from a person who, although he had seen better days, was now living in a cellar. He applied for a sit ua ti on , b u t the committee could do nothing.. They had many similar applications. — The Chairmatt was authorised to affix the seal of the Trust to the agleement of the Liverpool and Bury Railway Company. MEETINGS- OF THE TOWN COUNCIL. The usual monthly meeting of the Council was held on Wednesday. Sir T. BRANCKER moved the confirmation of the Finance Committee's proceedings. Mr. TSNNE complained that he had not heard anything in the proceedings relative to • the new baths and wash houses which were referred to the committee to, choose a sight of land for. He understood the matter had been referred to the Town-clerk ; and he certainly. thought that something might have appeared on the mi nutes on this occasion. _ _ Sir T. BRANCKER observed that the Town-clerk was too much engaged about the Rivington Pike scheme to' afford tune to the subject of wash-houses and baths. Mr. PARKER said that, although he might be considered a little troublesome that day, yet he must draw attention to some trifling items of expenditure and other subjects. He found by the proceedings that a sum of £199 had been paid for extra joiners work at the Tobacco Ware house ; and he certainly,thought that either proper esti mates should be given in or none. He alluded to the lavish expenditure during- the last month, which was beyond description. Thousands upon thousands of pounds had been expended upon hungry lawyers, rapacious engineers, extravagant surveyors, little deputations to London, and little- bills at Birmingham. (Laughter.)— But not a word on the subject hadthe chairman said; he viewed everything with composure. The next thing which he must go to the bottom of, was the debt of £llO,OOO owing for the Birkenhead estate. An act of parliament had deprived the burgesses of the fee simple of the estate on the other side of the water, but it also empowered some one to obtain compensation money for the loss. He thought it very important that so large a sum of money, which was wanted in Liverpool, should be at the disposal of a certain rival estate. The Mayor might deny that it was a rival, but he (Mr. Parker) alleged that it was a rival. He then complained that the Council and the Finance Committee had been putting their hands into, the pockets (Stile burgesses of St: Anne's Ward, namely, against Mr. Norris. The laws of the land bad been appealed to against Mr. Norris, and the decision had been given against the Corporation; and be really thought it very hard that the Corporation should be pushing their powers beyond the law. Sir. T, BRANCKER said the large sum of money spent in law had been spent at the instigation of the health and water committees, and they would have to pay the shot out of the rates laid upon the town. He had had a private communication about the Birkenhead debt,' which it was not quite convenient to say anything about at present, but he thought it possible that the matter might beut in a train of settlement before ver y l ong . (H ear ,_ hear.) p With regard to Mr. Norris, he knew not how that gentleman had been prosecuted. He had asked a most exorbitant price for his land •, and if parties were.determined to extort large sums from the Council, it was the duty of the Council to stand up, and, r: ther than submit to such extortion, he would let Mr. Norris build his houses, and allow them to stand until the day of judgment. (Hear, hear.) He had the interest of the burgesses as much at heart as Mr. Parker, and, acting for tneir interest, he would set his face against such imposition in toto. Mr. Norris had been offered a price for his land much higher than, in the opinion of some competent parties, it was worth. Mr. PROCTER. — DoubIe its value. Sir T. BRANCKER said the Corporation had been com pelled in this case to resort to a court of equity. It was true the Vice-Chancellor had decided against them ; but the bill had been amended, and if the next decision were against them, they would appeal to the Lord Chancellor. He thought Air. Parkerought to be careful before he brought such charges against the Finance Committee. Mr. EARLE said that, although a representative of the same ward as Mr. Parker. he was surprised that any gentleman should agree in favour of extortion, or that he should consult the feelings of a constituent merely for the sake of obtaining a vote, or that he should make use of clap trap arguments. Mr. S. HOLME.—How much did he ask for the land ? . Sir T. BRANCKER. — XIO a square yard. Mr. S. HOLME. — It is more than three times its value. THE WATCH COMMITTEE AND THE WAREHOUSE OWNERS. The proceedings of the Watch Committee having been read, Mr. HIGGINS moved, pursuant to notice, that a com mittee be appointed to enquire and report why the rate for the payment of the policemen employed to watch the property of the warehouse owners, had not been levied according to the provisions of the act. At the time of the great fires in Liverpool, and when it was supposed that some of those fires were the act of incendiaries, forty or fifty constables were specially appointed to watch ware house property, and it was agreed that a rate of 2d. in the pound should be levied for the watching of that descrip tion of property. The maintenance of the constables would cost £2,100; the rate would produce £1,500: and the difference of £6OO was to be borne out the borough fund. But as no trace of the levying of the rate was to be found in the books, it seemed the burgesses had paid a sum of £6,000 or £B,OOO during the last three or four years which ought rightly and properly to have been paid by the warehouse owners. Mr. PARKER seconded the motion. Arr. HUGH HORNBY explained that there were two acts of parliament, the first was unjust, the second was inope rative. The MAYOR put Mr. Higgins's motion, when there ap peared for it, Mr. Eyre Evans, Mr. J. Cooper, Mr. J. Proctor, Mr. V. Higgins, Mr. J. Parker; against, Messrs. Shaw, Shand, Atherton, J. Braucher, James Holme, .Preston, Middleton, Tyrer, H. Hornby, Aiken, Henderson, Stewart, Tinne, hoyden, S. Holme, Kaye, Danson, Earle, Bennett, Booker, Lace, Watson, Mann, Benn, Nichol, J. Lawrence, Sir T. Brancker, Sands, Swainson, Bramley Moore, Chilton, and the Mayor. DOCK COMMITTEE.-LOWERING OF THE DOCK RATES. The proceedings of the dock committee having been read, Mr. EvANs said there was a great deal worthy of notice in the proceedings. There was an intention, for instance, of lowering the rates upon ships and goods, and of lower ing the rates on cotton wool, par excellence. Mr. BRAMLEY MOORE observed that the subject of lowering the rates was still under consideration, and that the reduction, by a subsequent resolution of the com mittee, would not be confined t cotton or to any other article. . . Mr. EVANS said that cotton was an article of all others which required the least protection, for it was now re lieved from all duty whatever, and it came to the port of Liverpool exclusively. He hoped the committee would reconsider whether it was right to lower the rates at all. They were increasing their debt. The interest was now upwards of £130,000 per annum. The bond debt was about 3,250,000, and if all the new works were gone on with, it would be up to £5,000,000, thereby involving an interest of £200,000 per annum. There was nothing ur gent upon them to incur the risk of hereafter, and nobody knew what war or other casual circumstances might pro duce. He denied there was a surplus income attached to the dock estate ; on the contrary, he had heard that the interest of all the new loans was being paid out of the capital. He called upon the Dock Committee to imitate the conduct of their predecessors, who had always largely contributed out of their income to the creation of the docks, and to wait until the end of the current half-year, the 25th instant, when the then position of the estate would he known and published, before they proceeded to reduce the rates. He considered that Liverpool was only the nucleus of what they ought to look to hereafter—that the whole estuary ought to be considered ; and if now they were acting upon an idea of keeping down Birken head, or of rivalling that township, he looked upon it that they were warring against the hereafter interests of the estuary._ __ _ _ _ HORNBY expressed his regret that tae dis pute between the Dock Committee and Messrs. Grey, relative to their saltpetre, had not been settled by mer chants instead of by an offer to refer it to lawyers. Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE said that when the special com mittee, who were now engaged with the question of lowering the rates, submitted their report, he was sure they would bring before the Council such facts and figures i rt t eplac Inetuldi extent n e ytttewi income,nri eo e t et would as would show the trustees that they would be warranted h n e h t re a e t s lmpa a t t s n p l tt e d e at o , ohallifdai-nbdy sanctioning a n . porlwertshdaouv:recommended. telt! hadis lt w b a e s en s a ai t d t. fd i 1 01 3a s oi e l ,0f again,,wit Lords,on: because satek taking a ei r ns e tt v io e m n aa u ct e ce:Dd w ut a ni s ite r t a hA T: l i d bp l er : otfi increasing, oocfk the ii e Warehouses Albert r h t a N increased trceie3aiesmeds during Warehouses. aHn and t he believed that would be realised in the course of'next year, and would he in addition to the income of the estate. He believed that without committing himself, lie mi g ht say that a general reduction of the duties on all the items imported would be trifling and doing no good, and that the probable reduction would be confined to a certain lead ing class of vessels, and to cotton, salt, and a few other things on which the dues appeared heavy. He was delighted to find Mr. Evans saying that Liverpool was the nucleus of what it would be heareafter ; he had heretofore said that the trade in past years was like high spring tides which we should never see again, but those spring tides had gone on rising higher and higher every year, and it was not in the power of man to divine what the trade of the town would yet become. (Hear, hear.) He cont en d e d th a t th e pre sent Dock Committee were following the example of their predecessors, for, in 1836, those predecessors had reduced the rates 381 per cent. ; and again, in 1844, they had re duced the long voyages from 2s. 3d. to is 6d ; and now he hoped that the Council would be called together specially to sanction a further reduction on or about the 25th of the present month. (Hear, hear.) The MAYOR read memorials from the organists of St Peter's and St. Luke's, and also from about fifty musical. professors in the town relative to the speedy erection of a suitable organ in St. George's Hall. Mr. HOLME moved that the resolution to the effect that the organ be not proceeded with until the hall is finished be rescinded, and that measures be taken to insure the completion of an organ by the time the build ing is ready to receive it. He had received a letter from a musical professor. in which he said, " the idea of erect ing a small organ in the hall is absurd, and convinces me that some sinister and blightihg influence must be at work to lead the committee astray." Mr. EARLE demanded the name of the writer, taking the passage to apply to himself, and Mr. Holme declined giving the name ; but on the passage being again read, he (Mr. Earle) observed that he had misconceived its imp or t. Mr. MooRE seconded Mr. Holmes motion. Mr. DANSON and Mr. SANDS supported it. Mr. AIKIN recommended the postponement of the sub ject for a month. Finally, the motion was carried by a majority of 28 to 6. The MAYOR said he had had an interview with the Post-master of Liverpool, who was accompanied by the Surveyor General of the Post - o ffice in L ondon. They stated that the present Post - offic e was p erfe ctly inade quate to the wants of the town , and tha t they could not afford increased facilities until the establishment was re moved to another part of the town. Their wish was t o erect a Post-office in Lime-street, in connexion with the Railway Station. It was not quite so near as the present Post-office, but letters would be instantly despatched from, and received at, the station, and there would be some advantage gained in time. The office would be erected at the expense of the government. Here the c versation dropped, and the meeting adjourned to Frid"iy► The adjourned meeting was held on Friday forenoon, atd was numerously attended. The MAYOR announced the return of Mr. W. •Thorn., hill for Scotland Ward. The reports of the Market Com mittees were approved, also a proposition to increase the salary of each inspector of meat and fish to £B4 per annum. Mr. ROBINSON - proposed that in consequence of the distressing circurnstances•attendant on the death of M: Graham, who had longbeeno, faithful market inspector, his salary should be•continued to his widow until the end of the year. Mr: IJlvAzis obiected-to this on the ground of lavish I public expenditure. Mr. Graham had held the situation for many years at a, good salary, and raig'ut have pro vided for domestic casualties. He bad no objection to the usual quarter's salary. Mr. KAYE said Mr. Graham had left a large family unprovided for, and related the sudden and painful man ner of his death. The MAYOR read a: petition on behalf of the widow, showing that he left her and twelve children (the youngest only two months old)-unprovided for. The deceased had also supported .and educated a nephew and niece. He expressed a sympathy for the family ; but such a vote as that proposed would .be illegal. Finally the proposition was negatived, but it was understoad that a quarter's salary should be paid to the widow. The report of the Schools' Committee showed that they were proceeding; satisfactorily. It was agreed that. Messrs. Gorst should furnish the Mayor's carriage and horses for five years, at £146 per annum. The weekly reports of the Health Committee showed that the mortality. from fever and bowel complaint had doubled within the last few weeks. At the suggestion of Mr. Rathbone, the public baths now lend sheets to the invalid poor who attend them. Mr. PARKER, in the course of conversation, regretted that the Guardian Gas Bill had been withdrawn, and thought the Council should have supported it. Mr. EARLE. said the scheme was such that if the com pany had gained their bill, they would have been bank rupts in six months. Mr. S. HOLME said he was first inclined to support the bill, but now that the endeavour to obtain it had reduced gas to 4s. Gd., he no longer retained th a t f ee li ng . A memorial. from owners and occupiers of houses in Brownlow-hill, complaining of loss and desertion of their houses by tenants and lodgers, in consequence of the fever sheds, and praying for compensation, gave rise to some conversation, which led to a general opinion, supported by a report of Dr. Duncan to the effect that no danger whatever was to be apprehended from the fever sheds or houses as erected in various parts of the town. Allusion was made to the continued influx of poor Irish. It appeared that the medical survey of vessels was strictly enforced, but that immigration could not be much checked until the passing of the Irish Poor Law ?'sill, and the Poor Relief Bill. The Health Committee's proceedings being confirmed, Mr. HIGGINS moved, as an amendment, that reporters be admitted to the weekly meetings of the Health Com mittee. Mr. AIKIN seconded the resolution. Mr. RATIIBONE objected, on the ground that if reporters were admitted the proceedings would go before the public in a confused manner, and members might be induced to make long speeches. Mr. S. HOLME objected to publication before the pro ceedings were laid before the Council, which would be the case were the motion carried. Mr. MANN opposed the amendment, and Mr. Parker supported it. It was eventually lost by a majority of 26 to 7, and the proceedings of the Committee were passed. Mr. MANN was appointed commissioner for superin tending the embankment of Wallasey Pool, in the place of the late Mr. Houghton. A petition from the Eastern Dispensary praying for pecuniary aid, owing to debt, was not entertained, the corporate funds not being available for charities. The business then closed. D.rtori. Mr. John Walker, one of the surgeons to the parish of Manchester, has died of fever. A new church is about to be erected in Wallgate, Wigan. Upwards of fifteen hundred pounds have been subscribed. The factory of Mr. W. Bashall, jun., at Farington, near Preston, was destroyed by fire a few days since. The damage is estimated at upwards of £6,000, and above 300 hands are thrown out of employ. CHESTER STATION.—The contract for the erection of the magnificent railway station at Chester was let on Fri day last to Mr. Brassey. It is to be finished within nine months after its commencement. The total cost will be about £9o,ooo.—Chester Courant. CORPORATION OF WARRINGTON.—The town coun cillors for the new corporation of 'Warrington were elected on Tuesday, the Ist of June. In North-West Ward four Liberals were returned, and two Conservatives ; in South- East Ward, six Liberals ; in North-East Ward, five Liberals and one Conservative; in South-West Ward, three Liberals and three Conservatives. SUICIDE AND CHILD MURDER.—On Friday week, Sarah, the wife of Joseph Whitehead, cotton-mill oper ative of Higginshaw-lane, Oldham. a female of about 30 years of age, drowned herself and youngest child, a girl named Mary Ann, aged one year and two months, in a deep well situate in the land of Mr. Ashton Kay, farmer, of Leaman Felds, Royton. At the inquest on Saturday, the jury returned a verdict that deceaSed had drowned herself and child whilst in a state of temporary insanity, brought on through the want of the common necessaries of life. FATAL CARRIAGE ACCIDENT.—A most dreadful acci dent, attended with loss of life, took place at Newburgh bridge, about six miles from Ormskirk, last Wednesday afternoon. George Ramsden. Esq., of this town, and his lady, being on a visit to their relatives at Harrock-hall, took a drive in an open carriage, accompanied by Mrs. Boulton and one of her sons. They bad just descended a hill, when the pole of the carriage broke, and the spirited horses immediately set off, and became ungovernable. Coming in contact with one end of the bridge (Mrs. Boul ton and her son were early thrown out, and dangerously hurt), Mr. Ramsden sprang forward, at once, to get hold of the heads of the frightened animals, stopped for a moment li'y the concussion at the bridge, but they dashed forward again, with his lady alone in he carriage, who must have tried to jump out, and was killed on the spot. FALSE ALARM RELATIVE TO THE POTATOE CROP.— A report having appeared in the Chester Courant, of Wednesday last, to the effect that all, or nearly all, the crops of potatoes were destroyed in the neighbourhood of Runcorn,-Halton, and other places in the neighbouring county, by blight, these localities have been visited by correspondents of the Manchester Courier, who find, from personal survey, and the informationof practical men, that the whole is either a misstatement or a gross imposition. They state that crops never looked finer. The practical gardener of Sir R. Brooke, bart., has even raised a splendid crop from highly diseased potatoes. The growers in the places named are ignorant of the existence of any disease, either in gardens or fields. Similar reports have been put forth relative to the Wirrall peninsula—long celebrated for early potatoes, but we can assert from our own' daily no tice in Wallasey, &c., that the earlies already gathered were very fine, and those in the ground quite strong and healthy, whether in small enclosures or open fields. HURDLE RACE.—A hurdle match, for £5O a side, two miles, over two flights of hurdles, came off over Newton racecourse on Saturday week, between a horse belonging to Mr. Worthington, of St. Helens', and one belonging to Mr. Baron, of Manchester. Th e horses were rode by the owners. At the start Mr. 'Worthington took the lead at a slow pace ; they had not gone far when Mr. Baron's horse, who was pulling hard, broke away, and at the first hurdle threw his rider. Mr. Worthington followed slowly, topped the hurdles in fine style ; before Mr. Baron man aged to mount his horse again, Mr. Worthington was at least a distance ahead. At the second hurdles Mr. Baron's horse swerved again, and in coming past the winning post, the first time round, the horse tript and broke his near hind leg, below the hock, Mr. Baron falling on his side, but escaped injury. Mr. Worthington was leading at least half a mile before the accident occurred. The horse was killed on the ground ; he was a fine animal, worth 100 guineas. There were at least fifteen hundred persons on the ground. DREADFUL EXPLOSION AT ST. HELENS : EIGHT MEN KILLED.—On Wednesday morning an explosion of fire damp took place at Gerard's Bridge Colliery, St. Helens, belonging to Messrs. Speakman, Caldwell and Co. There were at the time fifty men employed under the ground, and thirteen ponies. Most of them were got out in a few hours, little injured, but eight were found to be dead. The inquest was held before Mr. Heyes on Friday. The explosion took place between seven and eight ,o'clock. One of two men who were working together, a consider able distance from the shaft, remarked to his companion that he had come upon " a bit of a slip or shoot," and both in consequence put their candles out, one of them remarking "Aye, Lord, it has fired ! " They made their escape and sat down in the next opening. The foul air then came out, and they ran down the main road to the pit, a distance of 400 to 500 yards. The men were shouted to to put their lights out. No foul air had been before ex perienced in the mine, which was well ventilated. Several of the men smelt the foul air, and it is supposed those found dead were suffocated by it, while endeavouring to escape. It appeared that it was a rule in the mine to use lamps, which would have been safe, but it could not be enforced, as the men preferred candles. The jury re turned a verdict of death from suffocction, caused by gases set on fire during an explosion. Those who perished were four men and four boys, two of the former leaving large families. FEARFUL ACCIDENT.—A sad and fearful accident oc curred on Saturday week at one of the collieries of Mr. Darlington, at Charnock Richard, near Preston, through the falling of a portion of the roof. In working the mine, it is usual, after opening a main or " drawing " road, to work " drafts " at right angles to it ; these drafts are about five yards in width, the intervening portions of solid coal being left standing, and these are called pillars. When the drifts are cleared, the pillars are gradually re moved ; and, oil their removal, it is generally necessary to prop the superincumbent mass,—an ample supply of timber, of from four to eight inches in diameter, and of the requisite length, being always at hand for that pur pose. Men, inured to danger, become less regardful of the consequences, and often neglect those precautions which common prudence would dictate. There was no ap pearance of immediate danger in this instance ; a tapping on the roof proclaimed it solid, and the men, without putting in a sufficiency of props, continued their opera tions in removing a " pillar" about 180 yards from the shaft of No. 1, or engine pit. About eleven o'clock in the morning, 4 large portion of the rock—grey sand stone —forming the roof, and weighing from seven to eight tons, fell, while eight persons were at work beneath it. Four were killed instantly; but the other four escaped, more or less hurt—their preservation being owing to. the accu— mulation of slack, th e b as k ets, trams, &c., which caused the rock to fall in an oblique direction. MYSTERIOUS CASE.—As a workman was, going from the Vulcan Foundry, at Newton, on Monday, he saw the head and silk cloak of a woman in the canal. He threw a stone, after tying it to a string, and pulled her to the side—sent for an officer, who examined her, and found in 'her pocket six half-crowns, a sixpence, a thimble, a pair of white gloves, &c. In her stays was stitched a piece of -- brimstone. She had on a green muslin-de-laine gown, white stockings, and slippers. In the evening of the same day, as tile son of the man who found the woman . was returning from his work at the foundry, he found the body of a man about fifty yards from the place where the woman was found. Hia coat was torn up at the hack- He was respectably dressed. The inquest was held on Friday before Mr. Hayes, at the Swan Inn, on N ew t on Common, wh en Mr. Robertson,l who farms Bold-hall, identified the man as being William Kelly, who had been his employ upwards of twelve months, and was of steady habits. He had asked permission to go to the races at isTewton, on Friday, which he granted him. lie had not seen him since that day. The deceased was thirty years of age. A woman, named Alice France, residing at Bold, identified the body of the -woman as '-.being that of Hannah France, who, until the last three weeks, had lived in service at St.. Helen's, and had si nc e been on a visit t o a f r i end at Sankey-green. She was . seen at the races at Newton on Friday afternoon, in com pany with her brother and the man referred to, and about twelve o'clock at ni g ht th e woman ' s brother parted with them at the canal bank, since which time they were not heard of until their bodies were discovered in the manner above stated. Verdict—Found drowned. THOUGHTS ON LOCAL MATTERS AND THINGS. IN GENERAL. THE ORGAN CONTROVERSY.—The organ at St. George's Hall will be the death of us. What its sound may be when once it is erected, or whether it may be a little or a large organ, we know not; but that it makes noise enough, whenever introduced into the Council Chamber, there is, unfortunately, little doubt. Its very mention seems to set some of our local representatives up in their stirrupi. On Saturday, for instance, Mr. Samuel Holue merely read a letter, which he had received from a musical professor, in which the writer says :—" The idea of erect ing a small organ in the hail is absurd, and convinces me that some sinister and blighting influence must have been at work to lead the committee astray," when up jumped. Mr. Wm. Earle, and,—but we shall give the scene a reported : Mr. EARLE.-1 say the insinuation is false so far as I ant concerned. (Sensation.) Mr. HoLmE.—Sir, I shall not follow the example of Mr. Earle by using such language in return.—(Hear, hear.) • Mr. ALAI N.—You have been quoting very severe language: Mr. EARLE.--.To be sure lie has, and I am not accustomed to receive such words as "sinister and blighting," it applied to. me. A IVrEm BE R.—Readthe passage again. Mr. HoLNIE having real it a second time, Mr. EARLE observed that he had misconstrued its import. Mr. HoLesE.—l say a sinister influence is at wmk, for look at Dr. Gauntlett's letter to-day ; he wants me to d o an injury to Dr. Wesley, and there is a sinister influence there. Mr. MoonE seconded the motion. Mr. PAUKER said the Corporation were talking of entertain ing the Queen at the ball; and would they have Her Majesty down here listening to a penny trumpet whistling in the wind:" —(Loud laughter.) After a few words from Mr. Hodgson, Mr. Danson, Mr.. Aikin, and Mr. Sands, Mr. EARLE replied to what be ca ll e d th e h ost of " Orgart Wesleyans," that had risen up a;stainst him. He was for having one of the best organs that, could be built; but he was not for having a great roaring one like that at York Minster, though he was for having a sonorous instrument upon which a good so:d could be played. lie contended that no Imo could tell what sort of sound an organ would produce at St. Georgv's-hall,un!ess it was that tried with contemporary instruments. He be;ifured Gauntlett knew a great deal more about organ building than Wesley. Most inharmonious notes to come from an organ ! It is satisfactory, however, to learn that Mr. Earle is neither " sinister " nor " blighting." He can be trusted hence forth in the neighbourhood of people's apple trees; and may even be allowed to bring with him the barrel organ which he is understood to have selected, in order to try before a select audience no doubt, the capabilities of the Hall. As for his not having " a great roaring organ like that at York," we quite approve of his taste, although the organ at York will doubtless feel the indignity of being called a roarer. We fancy that he does not quite approve of Mr. Parker's " penny trumpet whistling in the wind ; " for we see that he `: is for having a sonorous instrument, upon which a good solo can be played." As a keyed in strument, however, is open to the duetto performance, of course a good sonorous barrel, one of those that never move on for less than sixpence, must be tOe thing. As there is no knowing " what sound a (barrel) organ will produce in St. George's Hall, unless it is first tried with contemporary instruments," a rehearsal ought to be given, in the presence of the Council and the reporters, Mr. Earle grinding his favorite solo instrument, and him self, Mr. W. Rathbone or any other member of the Coun cil, who has a voice, exercising his " contemporary instru ment." VALUE OF A HOSPITAL NURSE'S LlFE.—Whilst doc tors and clergymen, relieving-officers and policemen, are dying of fever, caught from their daily contact with the disease so rife amongst the immigrants from Ireland, it is pleasant to find that we have amongst us a class of persons who, from the remuneration offered them, must be pre sumed to be unsusceptible of contagion. We saw, a week ago, an advertisement from the Select Vestry for nurses for the patients at the fever sheds, the salary offered being eight pounds per annum . Of course , any poor woman,. whose necessities may induce her to risk her life for such a pittance, will be allowed to hope for a legacy from some of her Irish patients some of these odd days; or the chance of a matron dying off, and a nurse stepping into her shoes, may be held out as a prospect of benefit of sur vivorship. WE REFORMERS MEET IN CLAYTON-SQUARE.—Vide Mr. William Earle's speech in the Council.—Of course we do. Very few people would call at the Amphitheatre, or any other place, especially if money was to be paid, to hear the wise sayings of we, the reformers of Liverpool. We reformers, therefore, meet in Clayton-square just about dinner time, in order that people going to and from that excellent meal may be allowed to swell, our auditory for a while, and take in our talk as a kind of soda draught or bitters before or after dinner. THE FEVER SHEDS.—Our doctors dont give us credit for imagination. No danger, Dr. Duncan says, is to be apprehended by parties in the neighbourhood of the fever sheds. "No instance is on record, so far as lam aware, of the contagion of typhus fever having been propagated under such circumstances." Ergo : it is pleasant and conducive to the comfort of the people who are so happy as to live in the locality of fever hospitals, to see cart loads of coffins brought in daily, of course to be freighted back with the bodies of human beings. It is pleasant too to see fever-stricken wretches staggering by your door, in search of the means of dying under proper medical superintendence, and being buried at the cost of the parish. Viewing the thing in this aspect, Mount Pleasant was never so pleasant before. Great Howard-street, however, ought to be re-christened. We should suggest " Great Fever-street." THE HEALTH COMMITTEE AND THE REPORTERS.— We are not, it seems, to be admitted to a hearing of the deliberations of the Health Committee. Mr. Rathbone considers that it would be unwise for the body to be seen en dishabille. The members must be all dressed before they are fit to be seen. Mr. Samuel Holme, too, is afraid that if we get our note-books in, we shall not note down plenty. Don't be afraid ! The world knows pretty well that every man is not a hero in the eyes of his valet ; and being well aware that the public have a particular wish to know what this Health Committee arc doing, there is little fear of the reporters giving quite as much as some gentle men will care to read. The reporters will get in somehow or other, the committee may depend upon it. Mr. Rath bone, we observe, admits that speeches which serve to enlighten the public, are most legitimate." The very thing the public want is to be enlightened as to the doings of this committee; and the fair presumption is that their doings are to be gathered from their sayings. A MOST JUDICIOUS EXPEDIENT.—WC observe, front the proceedings of the Select Vestry, that the Health Committee, with a view to prevent any further occupation of the cellars closed under the provisions of the Sanitory Bill, are about, "I? 3, way of experiment," to fill up about twenty cellars, which, it is said, "are, properly speaking, cesspools, not cellars, for there are about two feet of water in each." Filling up places which are not cellars, but cesspools, is certainly a very original way of preventing cellars being occupied. It is something like tilling your shoes with dirty water to prevent you putting on your boots. LIVERPOOL A BEGGING FOR REPRESENTATIVES.— Like Belisarius, tottering down the street, With date obolum' to all we meet," this deserted constituency seems to be completely in a fix. A Conservative contemporary, we observe, proposes Lord George Bentinck, and, as a colleague —save us !—Lord Palmerston ! ! Should the former Lord rot be willing to come to our rescue, the same print proposes the monastic Lord J. Manners. Shades of St. Domingo house, what a choice ! Is there no Mormon prophet to be found to serve as a suitable foil for his monastic lordship ? THE FAMINE IN LIVERPOOL.—Our Town must bc iso lated. The people in Brunswick-street will have it so. Prices of grain are falling in every other market ; but Li verpool is evidently in a state of siege. No corn, it would seem, can reach us from other ports, or from the markets in the interior; or how could Brunswick-street think of holding out against the example of all the other markets in the kingdom. We think of sending an or d er f or our next weeks bread to Wakefield or to London, as it is evident that we are going to be starved. HERALDRY.—Some parties, we observe, are getting up alarming accounts of the reappearance of the potato dis ease. As a few of these gentlemen have, no doubt, made fortunes out of the recent potato panic, and will be in want of armorial bearings, we should suggest the portrait of a well authenticated rotten potato, of this year's growth, as the subject, although as yet it may be difficult to find such a thing. Three of the diseased esculents in question might be hung over every baker's door—two above and one below—to intimate that the price of bread go 's up twice as fast as it comes down. To guard against the sign being mistaken for the pawnbroker's, nextdor, the potatoes might be done brown; which would afford a use ful suggestion, with respect to their future fate, t o parties frequenting the said next door establishment. SINGULAR THREAT.—It is said that the sea is just now sheaving very unequivocal symptoms of a dispositiori to make a short cut into the Mersey, by way of the Pool at Birkenhead. As ships don't come into the Birkenhead Docks by the existing channel, nothing is more natural than an attempt should be made to introduce them by the back door. The Wall-o-Sea Commissioners, however, Nut trust, will defeat such a discreditable attempt. i-- i ~~ . r , 1 1