Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-07 00:00:00

J 1 C 1 urnda! lth, ' lide 0 tre dad gr. MERSEY DOCK BOARD 'The first meeting of the newly elected permanent Dock Board was held at one o'clock yesterday. The members present were : Messrs. Charles Turner, Smith, Arnold, Farnworth, Bold, Hubback, Segar, Anderson, Hutchison, Forwood, Boult, W. M. Moss, Lockett, Mondell, Inman, Rankin, Graves, Bushell, Langton, Rounthwaite, James Holme, Evans, Brocklebank, Shand and Tobin. The return of members elected was taken as read. The Solicitor announced that Mr. Harold Littledale had been appointed the fourth nominee member, and that he had that morning received the re-appointment of Mr. Bushell, the retiring no.ninee member. The number of nominee members was, therefore, now complete. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN. Mr. Shand said: Gentlemen, I believe the mext duty we have to perform, is one which I am sure we shall feel very happy in accomplish ing, because it is a very easy task. We have to appoint a chairman; and the experience we have already had of Mr. Turner in that capacity is such that I think we cannot hesitate for a moment in selecting him as the chairman of this important Board. (Hear, hear.) I beg, therefore, to propose that Mr. Ch ar l es T urner be elected chairman of the Board. Mr. Rankin had much pleasure in seconding - the nomination of Mr. Turner, who had so ably filled the chair during so many years past. • The motion was carried by acclamation. Mr. Turner having taken the chair, said : I beg to thank you, gentlemen, for the honour you have conferred upon me. Ido not doubt, for one moment, that you will give me the'same assistance and support for the future which, during the seven years that I occupied the chair of the old Dock Committee and of the Provisional Board, I received from the members of either body; and in that hope, gentlemen, I trust that I shall be able to perform my duties in this chair so as to justify the confidence you have been pleased to place in me. (Applause). • APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. The Chairman said, the first business of the new Board was the appointment of committees; and as that was a very important duty, upon which the well-working of the Board would in a great measure depend, he proposed that they should take the same course as that taken by. the provisional board last year, and appoint a committee of selection, consisting of the chairmen of the former com mittees and of the Board, to consider the re-arrangement, and report on it. Mr. Smith thought it would be necessary, in the first instance, to consider the standing orders arranging the number of committees. They would have to make an addition to the number - for instance, the pilots' com mittee. He, therefore, urged that, before appointing a •committee of selection, they should first fix the number -of committees and the number of members of which each should consist. The Chairman thought the number of committees, and •of members would form part of the subject to be con sidered by the committee of selection. Mr. Smith did not think that that portion of the labour ought to be left to the committee of selection. After some discussion it was agreed that a special •committee should be appointed, to consider and report upon the arrangement of the committees, the number of each, and the members recommended to be placed on each ; the committee to consist of the following gentle men :—Mr. Turner, chairman, of the board ; Mr. Brocklebank, chairman of the works committee ; Mr. Hubback, chairman of the warehouse committee; Mr. Mondell, chairman of the marine committee ; Mr. Lockett, chairman of the docks and quays committee; Mr. Rankin, chairman of the finance • committee ; Mr. Rounthwaite, chairman of the master-porters' com mittee and Mr. Shand, chairman of the parliamentary committee. Mr. Bold proposed that Mr. Laird be added, but Mr. Smith objected to the addition and the name was finally withdrawn. Mr. Smith said, there was one point to which he thought it necessary to draw the attention of the special committee. The committees, as constituted by the Pro visional Board, had the peculiarity that the three nominee members were all members of the. works' committee, and two of them were not upon any other committee. It appeared to him that the labours of the board could be pretty equally divided, and he thought it would be found that each gentleman would have to attend about two committees, with a few additional members, who would have to take part in three. It ought to be under .stood that the three nominee members should not be placed upon one committee, but that 'each should be placed upon two committees, and that, in all probability, no two of them would have to sit upon one committee. Mr. Rankin said, Mr. Smith was under a mistake. Each of the nominee members had been upon two committees. Mr. Bold said, Mr. Smith was entirely under a mistake, and he was very sorry Mr. Smith had thrown out the apple of discord, as he might call it, in speaking of the _nominee members and the elected members. (Hear, hear.) Ile, himself, as a nominee member, felt that he sat there for the interests of the board generally, and of the port, whether he sat as a nominee or an elected member. ,(Hear, hear.) Mr. Smith said, he did not deny that some of the gentlemen were upon two committees, but two of them sat upon the parliamentary committee, which was not a committee which had to attend to duties week after week. Its duties were only occasional, and every gentleman considered it a compliment to be on that committee. Mr. Bold believed, there had been nearly as many meet ings of the parliamentary committee as of any other committee in the course of the year. Its duties were, in some respects, more arduous than those of any other , committee, inasmuch as very great attention and time were necessary to the-execution — of them. Mr. Shand hoped the nominee members would be appointed, and considered just as any other members of the board. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Bushell said, Mr. Smith appeared to wish to single , out the nominee members for some special purpose. He thought it would be much better to allow the nominee members to do what Government intended, and what their own desire was—to take their places at the board on equal terms with other members, and without any distinction whatever. (Hear, hear.) He !night appeal to the board, from one year's experience, to say whether any act of his had ever singled him out as either a nomi- nee or an elected member of with any question which had been brough them. (Hear ' hear.) He mentioned this, because the Press too had dealt with the question •, andhe wished it to be understood, that when he found he Gould not sit at that board in a capacity to act regarding its interests to the best of his ability, without reference to the mode by which he had been placed there, he would immediately retire from it. Speaking for himself, and leaving other nominee members to speak for themselv that the Government knew nothing of li certainly had never, from the day of his nomination to - the present, suggested to him what course he ought to :take. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Smith disclaimed any intention to make an :attack on Mr. Bushell of the nature attributed to him. Mr. Arnold thought it not unworthy of remark, that :all the nominee members had been upon the works' =committee. It had created re:harks. The parlia mentary and the works' committee were e nisidered ;to some extent, honorary committees. (Oh, oh ) The marine, warehouse, and docks and quays com mittees were the working. committees of the Board. He thought Mr. Smith had done right to make the remarks, and that the subject was not unworthy of the considera tion of the special committee. Mr. Shand did not think the parliamentary committee by any means a .merely honorary committee. (Hear, hear.) He maintained, however, that it was a very honourable committee. (Hear, and laughter ) •The questiOn then dropped. The -standing orders adopted by the Provisional Board were read over, and agreed to. Mr. Smith moved that an addition be made to the standing orders, defining exactly the number of com mittees, and the number of members to each. He urged that this was necessary to prevent additions being made to the numbers of committees, as had been done in the 'old Dock Committee ho could say (pinions, and econded, and ‘mcord- The motion, however, was not singly fell to the ground. Messrs. Turner, Laird, and Tobin were r leasowe Embankment Commissioners. Mr. Tobin moved that a special meeting of the Board be held on Saturday, to receive the report of the commit tee of selection. The motion was agreed to. The minutes of the last" meeting of th , _ , Provisional Board, and of the works' committee, were read and confirmed. A letter from Mr. MGowan, enclosing a memorial from a number of cart-owners, to have a cart stand appointed at the north-east corner of Wellington dock, was referred to the docks and quays committee. Mr. Hubback called attention to the letter of Mr. Edward Chaloner, published in the local newspapers, regarding empty vessels in the Toxteth dock, which he urged as a subject worthy the consideration of the docks and qua y 3 committee. Mr. Tobin also thought the Subject a very proper one for consideration. If the Board ever intended to exercise the power of removal, it would be well to consider the matter now. Mr. Farnworth remarked, that the letter from Mr. `Vidal, which he had seen in the papers, and that of Mr. Chaloner, seemed calculated to lead the public some what astray. It was not the fact that the circumstances referred to had caused a decrease in the importation o timber to the extent of 12 or 10 per cent. This was ug -appointed sa id i n plain terms in the letters, but it might be accepted as an inference by the public who did not understand the facts. The decrease on the Clyde was to a much greater extent; By the London circulars it would appear that the decrease over the United Kingdom was about 12 per cent. The public might be lead to draw an inference from the letters which did not represent the real facts. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman thought the subject of the letter very proper for consideration. (Hear, hear.) The letter was referred accordingly to the docks and quays committee. • This concluded the general businesi, WORKHOUSE COMMITTEE, Yesterday morning this committee held its usual weekly meeting in the board-room of the Workhouse, Brownlow-hill, Mr. Churchwarden Cropper, in the chair. The other members present' were—Messrs. Chritchley, Smith, Williams, Syred, Peck, Steele, Denton, Bairstow, Melly, and Owen. The Me lical Officer reported that the number of deaths during the week ending 4th July, was 30, of whom 14 were men, 7 women, and 9 infants under two years, four of whom were under nine days old. The number of patients in the hospital at the above date was 654, including 35 fever and 8 small-pox cases. The Master of the vagrant sheds reported that there were relieved in this department of the establishment during the week ending January Ist, 141 males, 52 females, and 12 children-=total 205 ; showing an increase over last week in males of 13 ; decrease in females 13 ; increase in children 3 ; nett increase over last week 3 : decrease under the corresponding week of last year 130. The Governor reported that the number of paupers in the house last week was 2,412. ; number this week 2,431, being an increase of 19 on the week. Number in the corresponding, week of last year 2,600. Same conversation took place in reference to the heat ing of the dining-hall, in which it was stated that the hall was exceedingly cold and uncomfortable, and as the inmates meet there on the Sabbath, it would be desirable to have it heated. Mr. Bairstow moved that Mr. Wylie be instructed to prepare an estimate of the probable cost of heating the dining-hall by means of steam pipes. Mr. Critchley seconded the motion, which was then agreed to. Mr. Peck submitted some plans of a vehicle, which he had obtained for the purpose of conveying- fever patients to the hospital. The plans submitted, would admit of the patient laying down. After some conversation, it was resolved that the supply of the vehicle be left to public competition. A LADY VISITOR T.kNIPERING WITH THE RELIGION OF THE INMATES The Chaplain, after announcing in his journal that he had commenced Divine service on Sunday afternoon last, at three o'clock, thought it his duty to mention, that Miss Kennan reported to him that one of the Roman Catholic lady visitors had been tampering with the faith of a girl, in the school, named Catherine Foley. The Governor also reported the case in his jonrnal, and before the Chairman read the report, he submitted to the committee whether the name of the lady should be read. Mr. Melly, and several other gentlemen, expressed their opinion that the name should be suppressed, but after some discussion, it was decided that the name should be read. The Chairman then read the Governor's report, which was as follows : " I beg leave to bring under the notice of the com mittee, certain papers placed in my hands by the school mistress, involving a complaint against Miss Gillow, one of the Roman Catholic lady visitors, for alleged tampering with Catherine Foley, aged 15 years, a Protestant, and two other Protestant girls. I have forwarded the papers to the Chairman, and, pending the enquiry by the com mittee, have thought it better to request that Miss Gillow should discontinue visiting the girls school, to which she readily assented." The Chairman then read the following correspon dence : " Liverpool Workhouse, January Ist, 1859 " Sir,—lt is my painful duty to call your attention to the fact of Miss Gillow, the Roman Catholic visitor to the girls and infant schools, having tampered with Catherine Foley, a Protestant, yesterday, December 31st, 1858. I have enclosed the girls statement for your perusal, and waiting for further directions from you, I have the honour to remain, yours respectfully, " E. S. KENNAN. " To G. Carr, Esq." - " Liverpool Workhouse, January 3rd, 1859. " Sir,—Since my communication to yaii on Saturday, respecting Miss Gillow and Catherine Foley, it has transpired, that on Friday also, she visited the class, and put similar questions to Jane Smith and Margaret M'Guinness, the two school girls sent down there for puu.ishnient.—l remain, sir, yours respectfully, " To George Carr, Esq." " E. S. KENNAN. CATHERINE FOLEY'S STATEMENT "January Ist, 1859 " I was upstairs cleaning my bedroom, when ono of the Roman Catholic girls, Ann Nolan, came and told me that the Roman Catholic lady wanted me. I went down into the school-room, where she was catechising the Roman Catholic children. When I went down, she had a paper in her hand withimy name on it. I don't know where she got the paper. When I first went into the room, she told me not to deny my religion. I said : I don't know what you mean.' She replied that I was a Roman Catholic. She had been into the dining hall, and they told that I was a Roman Catholic ; think it was Elizabeth Young, a woman in the building, who had told her, as she (Elizabeth Young) threatened to tell Mr. Nugent, that myself and Mary Donnelly, a girl who came from Kirkdale at the same time as I did, were Roman Catholics, because our sisters were. The lady told me that I should be damned to all eternity for changing my religion, and that it was very wicked in me to do so. She said she was sure was a Roman Catholic ; I replied that I was a Protestant. She asked me if it was for any interest that I had turned. I understood by the question that she thought I would be more kindly treated if I was a Protestant in the house. She also said that she had been told that I had turned because I was chosen to be a singer in the church. I said throughout that I was a Protestant. She asked me about my parents and sisters, and I told her my father was a Roman Catholic and my mother a Protestant, but that Ellen had put herself down a Roman Catholic for the sake of getting out on Sunday. The lady then told me to be off. 'lt is my wish always to be a Protestant, because my mother and all my friends are Protestants, and I firmly believe that the Protestant is- the true faith. " CATHERINE FOLEY." Mr. Denton said he thought Miss Gillow ought to be present. (Cries of no, no.) Mr. Smith and some other members expressed their opinion that Miss Kennan and the girls should be brought before the committee. The Chairman remarked that there would be uo use in cloaking the matter; some interferences had been made, and it rested with the committee what course to take. Mr. Smith said the best course was to hear the evidence. Mr. Melly said it was all acknowledged, by Miss Gillow, except one sentence ; she admitted that she did commit this indiscretion, and did ask the girls whether they wore Roman Catholic or Protestant, and the other facts as stated, but she denied having used the expression that they would be " damned to all eternity" for chang ing their religion, but stated that they should not have done so, and she further stated that if the schoolmistress had not been away on her Christmas holidays, she would have followed the usual course and asked the mistress for these girls whom she found missiog from her class ; she sent for them, and cross-examined them as to their te ligion, and charged them with having left the faith which they originally professed. This, of course, was a breach of " rule six." _ _ . Mr. Owen said they should be certain that she used the words " damned to all eternity." Mr. Critchley : I have no doubt she used them. Mr. Peck remarked that some of these girls were imprisoned for bad conduct —a circumstance which might affect their veracity. _ The Chairman : The facts are admitted. Mr. Denton : It is decidedly the Raman Catholic doe- trine, Mr. Owen : If a Roman Catholic member were present he might say otherwise. Mr. Smith asked if they had no other evidence except what the girl spoke to, and thought the parties should be called in. Mr. Melly submitted that Miss Gillow's own admission was quite evidence enough, without calling any other person. Mr. Owen thought they ought to have communication with Miss Gillow, the party concerned. It was agreed that the Governor, Mr. Carr, should be called in to state what he knew of the case. In reply to the Chairman, Mr. Carr stated that he had seen Miss Gillow, and she knew what had been written in reference to her. He had seen the girl Foley and she maintained that the statement of Miss Kennan was. true —every word of it. Another girl, about 13 years of age, a Roman Catholic, also confirmed the statement. She was present at the time. There were three little girls between the ages of 9 and 10 years, whom it would be almost absurd to bring before the Committqo, but they to a little prattlin3 story. He took theta separately THE NORTHERN TIMES FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1859. so that the one did not know what the other said, and in answer teethe questions he put, they all used the word "damn. The only discrepancy was, that one. of the girls said "damned for ever," and the rest said " damned for all eternity:* Miss Gillow's excuse to him was, that she thought these girls were Roman Catholics, and that it had been so communicated to her. She had four names on a card, three of whom she had spoken to, and she said she acted on the belief that they were stopping away from the religious instruction which she was giving. He told her that it would have been much more discreet if she had communicated with him first on the matter, or to the school mistress.. To which she answered, in the first instance, that he was unwell, and that the school mistress was away on her holidays, or she would have done so. He also thought it right to inquire if Miss Kennan had previously catechised the girl, but he found that the girl had first made the intimation to Miss Kennan. There was no doubt that Miss Gillow did catechise "these girls, and question them as to their reli gion. As to the objectionable words, she denied them strongly, although affirmed by the three girls whom she spoke to. He might say that when the ladies first came to the workhouse, he thought it right to be most parti cular in giving them instructions and such help as he could, in order to make the thing• work well. The four Roman Catholic ladies asked to be introduced into the department of the Workhouse which they were to visit. When they entered, they asked him whether it would be proper to inquire of the inmates their religion. He replied, from his own impression, on the first blush of the matter, it would be improper. He told them, that in the sick wards they would see the religion of the patients, and in the healthy wards he would suggest to the officers to point out the persons of this religion to the lathes, and then they would soon come to know each other. Mr. Peck : Is not the religion of every girl in the house written in a book ? The Chairman : Yes. Mr. Peck : What is this girl entered ? The Chairman : A Protestant. Mr. Denton : May I ask if the Governor is aware of any other indiscretion by these ladies ? The Chairman thought this was out of order. _ . Mr. Denton thought he a had right to ask the ques tion, as it had been. rumoured that there were other very serious indiscretions committed. 'Mr. Bairstow said, they might ask a general queStion, whether the governor had not found that at first he did not 'find considerable difficulty in getting the ladies into proper order. The Chairman: That is likely. _ _ Mr. Melly asked the governor if he did not find that the ladies committed little mistakes; Roman Catholics and Protestants, at first, but of no serious nature ? The Governor replied that, when the ladies first visited the house, there was nothing more natural than they would commit mistakes, but they were instantly, and on the spot, corrected, were not again repeated, and were not of a serious nature. At the re quest of the committee, he related an instance of a lady distributing some tracts and cards, bearing texts of Scripture. This. he put a stop to, and directed them to be distributed through .the chaplain or the priest, who would be responsible for the matter they contained. Mr. Owen : Do you know any instance of a Protestant lady putting similar questions to a Roman Catholic inmate ? Mr. Carr : No, sir; I should have reported it if I did. This is the first really official offence. The ladies appeared willing and glad to enter into my views. Mr. Denton said there was another case very objec tionable, in reference to these ladies, which ought to be known. Mr. Owen : We ought to have that. Mr. Carr said he could tell them the whole story, if they choosed, of every little matter. As regarded this same Miss Gillow, she gave religious instruction, in a class, on ono occasion to the whole of her people, and the Protestants were sent out of the room, and he work suspended while the instruction was being given. The chairman happened to come on the premises at the time, and he communicated it to him, and the thing was put a stop to and not repeated. Mr. Owen That was a matter of disCipline. Mr. Denton : You look at it in a very light way. She goes into the house and suspends the work for a length of time. • I thick it is a very serious offence. Mr. Bairstow said, seeing - they had a chaplain in the house to give religious instruction, he did not think it was necessary for these ladies to give that class of in struction. It was not to give religions instruction they were admitted. Mr. Smith said the only matter they would have to prove, was whether these three or four children were correct as to the expression used by Miss Gillow. They ought to have Miss Gillow there. Mr. Williams : Let her services be discontinued. (Cries of "oh, no.") The Chairman suggested that a motion might be made in some milder terms. Mr. Williams then moved that tho visits of Miss Gillow be respectfully discontinued. Mr. Syred seconded the motion Mr. Owen moved, as an amendment; that a communi cation be made to Miss Gillow, informing her of the charges brought against her, and giving her an oppor tunity for explanation, as it might be that the matter would be considerably modified 'when the parties were heard. Mr. Smith seconded the motion. Mr. Steele : Let us put it in the most unobjectionable form. There is sufficient proved to be a breach of the rules, and we can in consequence respectfully. ask her resignation. Mr. Melly moved a resolution to the effect, that a copy of the documents which had been read, Miss Kennan's letter, and the girl's statement, be forwarded, with a copy of the rules, to Miss Gillow, and that she be requested, in accordance with rule 7, respectfully to send in her resignation to the committee. Mr. Owen : That does not give her an opportunity of defending herself. Mr. Melly submitted that his resolution gave her the opportunity either of giving an explanation or of sending in her resignation. - • • Mr. Denton seconded the motion. Mr. Williams withdrew his motion, to give way to Mr Alter some further remarks, Mr. Melly said it was. a most painful thing that this had occurred, but he protested against that committee dealing with these ladies as if they were paid officers. Mr. Owen consented to withdraw his motion, if the words " unless she is prepared to give a satisfactory ex planation to the committee," wero added to , Mr. Melly's motion Mr. Bairstow was astonished at the "gingerly and tenderly " manner the committee were dealing with this question. Mr. Smith : We have to deal tenderly where ladies are concerned. Mr. Bairstow : I certainly desire to give this lady an opportunity of explaining the matter, and if she does not send in her resignation, what then ? Mr. Critchley : Why send an explanation (laughter). The motion of Mr.. Melly was carried unanimously, with the addition proposed by Mr. Owen. The matter then dropped. Mr. Melly . then moved that Miss Agnes Roskell be allowed to visit the house in place of her sister, Miss Annie Roskell, who was unwell, and against whom there had not been the shadow of a fault found. The motion was agreed to unanimously. This was all the business calling for public notice who, he said, had been employed at the Constitutional office (oh, oh !) Mr. Williams could get a testimonial from Mr. Mansfield. • - Mr John Wilson seconded the motion. The other candidates proposed, were —George Correll, Richard Holmes, John Thornton, and Thos. Williams. Mr. Joseph Wilson moved, that no person be considered eligible whose ago was above forty. Mr. Siddeley seconded the motion. Mr. John Wilson moved that candidates be eligible at forty-five years of age. This was agreed to. The candidates were then caned in, and questioned respectively by the guardians, Mr. Miller remarking, before that proceeding commenced, that it was usual in the country to make an old poacher into a gamekeeper. Mr; Baynes said he wished to make a remark before George , Corroll, the first candidate, was called in. It was his intention to ask Corroll if he belonged to any secret society or Orange Lodge. (Oh, oh ! and-hear, hear. ) Mr. Hughes : You have no business, to ask such a question. What have you to do with it whether he belongs to an Orange Lodge or not ? - Mr'.'Siddeley : We have no right to put such a question. Mr. Baynes : I think I have. I think it wrong, for I understand he belongs to such a lodge. Mr. Grindrod : Then - it is wrong tor us to interfere. Many persons belong to secret societies. Mr. Johns : I move that such a question be not put. The Chairman : Shall I put it to the Board ? I, myself, I can tell you sincerely, would not have a man belonging to any secret society. Mr. Johns • The Ribbon Society is considered secret and dangerous, but I never knew that the Orange Society was. The Chairman : You may ask this question, if you think proper, and may please yourselves whether you refuse a man on that ground. Mr. Johns : I shall object to it in toto, as being unconstitutional. Mr. Moss : The Orange Society is unconstitutional. Mr. Johns : No, it is not ; they are sworn to defend the Queen and Constitution. Mr. Moss : What -is the reason, then, that they are put down ? Mr. Johns : They are not put down. Mr. Grindrod : An attempt was made, but did not succeed. Mr. Moss : - Ah ! I dare say it is a most excellent society. Mr. Grindrod : Yes ; and I quite agree with it ; it has most excellent principles. Mr. Moss : . Then you will support it ? Mr. Grindrod : I will, if necessary. . . 11fr. Moss : I suspect' this gentleman (the candidate) must belong to the society, or his friends would not support it. The Chairman : I think the question had better not be - asked. What say you ? [Silence.] Then we will abandon it. Corroll (who was understood to be the only eligible candidate last week) was then called in, and was questioned at sonic length, chiefly by Mr. Moss ; but the question, as to the Orange Society, was not put. The candidate having retired, Mr. Johns said (addressing - Mr. MosS and Mr. John Wilson) : I never heard a more absurd question, than to ask a man, after he has given all necessaay information, such a question as "What are your other qualifications?" It - was most absurd. Mr. Moss : Ah ! you cannot see an inch before your nose (a laugh.) Arr. Johns : At all events, I don't wear an eye-glass. (More laughter.) The next candidate, Holmes, was called in, and examined, chiefly by Mr. John Wilson, most of the questions referring to Messrs. - Joseph and William White, in whose service the candidate had been. Mr. Wilson (to Holmes) : Now you tell the truth. YoU say you have a testimonial from them. I wouldn't give a straw for it. - Mr. Grindrod : You have no right to make such a remark. Mr. Wilson : I shall if I like Board I am a member of this Mr. Grindrod : You have no right to prejudice the man by such insinuations. The Chairman : It can do no good. I do not think the remark should be made. The other two candidates were called in and questioned, after which the voting took place. On the first vote Corrall and Williams stood highest. On the second vote the members were for Corral seven, namely, Layland, Leyland, Joseph Wilson, Johns, Hughes, Grindrod, and Siddeley for Williams eight, namely, the Chairman, Johnson, Moss, John Wilson, Ogden, Miller, Baynes, and Craig. Williams was then declared elected, and the Chairman, in announcing that fact to him, said they would require his services as soon as possible. There was no other business of public interest. MEDICAL PHIL ANTROPHY After our reporter had retired, we understand Mr. Johns brought forward the following : Mr. Peel's servant, 173, Mill-street, was taken ill with fever, and was refused admittance into the hospital, un less a guarantee was given that her maintenance would be paid for. In consequence of the delay that occurred— about a period of two days—Mrs. Peel was taken ill of the fever, and subsequently Mr. Peel was taken ill, and removed to the hospital. Query, if not there now, had the girl been removed, in all probability the wife would be now alive, and the husband following his occupation, and that both would have escaped the contagion. Moreover, if Mr. John Wilson's one of the guardian's —servant could be sent to the hospital, and according to Mr. Cleaver's law he is not liable for her maintenance, whose law is it that would compel this poor man to give a guarantee for the maintenance of his servant, before sho was removed, thereby endangering the lives of the whole family, which has terminated fatally with respect to the wife. TOXTETH PARK GUARDIANS The usual weekly meeting of the Toxteth Board of Guardians was held yesterday, at the Public Offices, Park-place ; Mr. Rogers in the chair. The other members present were—Messrs. Moss, J. Wilson, Hughes, M. A. Johns, D. Craig, S. Siddeley, W. Leyland, A. Miller, W. Baynes, H. Lavland, Jos. _ Wilson,' W. H. Ogdon, Arthur Grindroa, and W Johnson. • It was reported that the number of paupers belonging to this'union, in the West Derby Workhouse, was, this week, 419; last week, 419 ; and the corresponding week, last year, 435. Number in hospital this week, 34 ; last week, 31. _ _ Mr. John Wilson said that a proposition had been made by Dr. Nevins to visit the pauper lunatics at the various asylums, in place of the deputations of the Board, and report upon the state of the patients. Dr. Nevins proposed to perform the duty at £lO per annum, and to visit and report four times each year. Mr. Moss objected to the proposal, contending that the guardians should not delepte their powers. The proposition of Dr. Nevins was declined. ELECTION OF RELIEVING OFFICER A long and irregular conversation took place as to the election of a relieving officer, and ultimately, on the motion of Mr. John Wilson, it was docided.. that the Board " shall proceed to business." Mr. Moss then, in answer to a question, said there were fifteen candidates—a very fair number, and he thought plenty to select from. They had been got without advertising, because what they stated at the Board, and was reported in the papers, was as good as an adver tisement Several Guardians then stated the particulars of the , Lenversations they had with candidates during the Mr. Moss proposed, in a long speech, Mr, T, Williams, WALLASEY COMMISSIONERS, The monthly meeting of the Wallasey Commissioners was held last night, at the Public Offices, Egremont. Mr. N. Caine presided. There were also present—Messrs. Pooley, Hill, Hughes, Wilson, Holmes, Parr, and Daunt. The Law Clerk read the minutes of proceedings of the works and health committee since the last p meeting. Mr. Pooley moved the adoption of the minutes. He said it would be observed from the minutes that a good deal of work had been gone through, but none of it of a character calling for any special remark. Some of the worst parts of the roads that required im proving they had recommended to be taken up forthwith, and also the road which it had been resolved should be proceeded with previously, but which had been postponed until the present time. The matter at New Brighton he would not now allude to. There had been an appeal made to the General Board of Health, by Mr. Rowson, against his assessment, but it had been confirmed, and was paid. (Hear, hear.) As to future works and improvement which had been suggested, he should have something to say on the subject before the clerk of the works was appointed. They had accepted the tender of Mr. Sharp, of Lancaster, for iron, and thought it advantageous to do so in the present state of the market. Mr. Holmes asked the price per cwt. The Surveyor : 5s in one case, and 5s 3d for the large castings. The a minutes were then adopted. Mr. Pooley moved that John Mason be appointed dark of the works. Mr. Wilson seconded the motion. Mr. Hughes moved as an amendment that James Ridenough be appointed. Dr. Pa - rr seconded. The votes were then taken, when there were 4 for each candidate. The Chairman gave his casting vote in favour of Mason. --- The proceedings of the Finance Committee were read, and confirmed without discussion. The Clerk then read the REPORT OP THE FERRY COMMITTEE their v TO THE WALLA.SF.T LOCAL BOARD OF FIF.ALTTU. One of the earliest ncts of your committee, on its appointment, was to depute its chairman, Mr. Pooley, and the chairman of your board, to obtain Messrs. Coulborn's sanction WAALr account ant being employed to examine and verify the statements and estimate of the receipts and expenditure connected with the maintenance and working of the Seacombe, Egremont, and New Brighton Ferries. Such sanction having been' obtained, Messrs. John Bewley and Son were instructed to make the investigation; and on the 30th September they presented a report, verifying, in the main, the statement of receipts given by Messrs. Coulborn, but affording no information on the question of expenditure, which they stated Messrs. Coulborn declined at that time to furnish. The next step taken by your committee was to employ Mr. W, F. Rudd, late manager of the Woodside. Ferry, to furnish an approximate estimate of the probable working expenses ; also a valuation of the ferry properties and plant attached thereto respectively, and of the boats employed' in working the ferries. On the 18th October Mr. Rudd made a report, wherein he estimated the annual working expenses of the three ferries, with six boats, at £1 0 , 468 . The boats anet plants, he stated, he was unable to value, Mr. Coulborn haVing declined to give him authority . to do so, but he considered six new boats suit able for these ferries could then be built for £33,000. The ferries of Egremont and New Brighton, including land, buildings, staging fixed and moveable, machinery, &c., were also valued by Mr. Rudd ; but as he had not the particulars of the leases, under which the ferries are respectively held, before. him, your committee do not consider it necessary further to refer to the valuation so made. The I eases. &c., having been unreeervedly placed in the hands of your law clerk by the Messrs. Coulborn, the committee were enabled to form a j u d g ment of their own, and having done so, wh in et g h to ail they considered it desirable that an interview with Messrs. Co Color - 1 ,o born should be had, for the piir not there was a proba bilit y of p n o r s i e w o a f rd as a c n e d rt t a r tg y com arrangement for the purchase of their . ' interest hi the ferries. An interliow took place, which resulted, in yaw colntntttee rzcout, • ~,10,000 for mending an offer to be made to Messrs. Cots Thorn of £3t5,..,_ the purchase of their interest in the Egremora and New Brighton Ferries, the lease of Seacombe being also transferred to the board, the purchase money to be payable one-half in cash, and the remainder by the mortgage of the board, bearing interest at five per cent.; for a period of ten years, and the boats to be taken by the board at a valuation, and to be paid fo r in like manner. • The recommendation of your committee h av i ng bees, approved by the board at its last the mee A ting, the offer nlborn. was ac , ordirigly made, issrs . . Co and at once rejected by Your chairman, however, shortly afterwards received a letter fromfir. Coulborn, suggesting that either Mr. Caine alone, or and one other member of the committee, should be delegated -et Mr. Beloe on their (Messrs. Coulborn's) behalf. That 4 wholly on the !aterest irevent the to me‘... the purchase money for the ferries be accept,. bonds of the district, which might bear a lower rate of than £3 per cent. for the first few years, in order to r laying of a rate, and those points being arranged, tz,„ arbitrator should be appointed who should be limited to a maximum and minimum price. Your committee, therefore, deputed your chairman and Mr. Pooley to confer with Mr. Beloe, with whom they had several interview*, which resulted in a communication being Made by your committee to Messrs. Coulborn, to the following —" That the ferry committee would advise Messrs. Coulborn's off , — - rbitrato bonds, authorised by tl but that they unanimously decline to to agree to the fixing of any maximum or minimum pri To that communication no reply has been returned. Your committee, therefore, feel that any further attemp negociation would be fruitless, and that the only c Messrs. Coulborn notice, in writing, under secti, Wallasey Improvement Act, 1858, requiring the whether or not they aKa willing to treat with the their interest in the said ferries, and to pro the consideration to be paid, and the terms and such purchase settled, in case of difference, by arbitratio provided by the act rison sole mortgage Thiscoldse, your committee, after giving the question their anxious consid►aration, urgently recommend your board to adopt. Jan. 3, 1839. HENRY POOLEY. Mr. Pooley said, he was glad the Ferry Committee had not been too hasty in giving notice to Messrs. Colbourne, otherwise the public might have blamed them. Private negotiations they . had found impossible, but the com mittee were unanimous in the course they had taken. He moved the adoption of the report. Dr. Parr seconded the motion. The Chairman said, there would be no difficulty in geting the money, he was happy to say. (Hear, hear.) The report was adopted. The auk said, since the report was drawn up, he had received a letter from Mr. Colbourne. He then read the following letter, which was received with much laughter : " New Brighton, Jan. 4, 1859 "Dear Sir,—l have hesitated as to the necessity of sending any reply to your note of the 30th ultimo, inasmuch as the ferry committee knew my decision when _passing their so-called unanimous resolution. My offer to Mr. Caine was based upon the principle of a maximum and minimum price, and when he and Mr. Pooley were appointed to negotiate with Mr. Beloe, I understood that, in thus adopting my sugges tion, the equity and fairness If that principle was fully con ceded. To my surprise, your committee suddenly changed sk me to abandon the very _ nd now cooll essence of my proposal; trouble taken in placing at their disposal which, with the assistance of their Bewley, and the aid and experience of AI Ind that, too, after we xiled ac int intant, Mt Rudd, th . late manager of Woodside Ferry, qught to have en lightened even a ferry committee of the Wallasey Board of Health. For what purpose, may I ask, has all this information been sought and obtained, if not to en deavour to agree upon an approximate value ? It is now about twelve years since the first Wallasey, Ferry Committee was appointed, and successive committees, an nually elected, have continued to meet and pass resolutions. To me it appears that there has been either a lack of intelligence in grappling with so large a question as the acquisition of the ferries, or an insincerity or timidity in dealing with it. At all events, I think the public will agree with me, that these committees have served a tolerably long apprenticeship in the art or mystery of doing nothing. How much longer is this to last ? Let there be no mistake. Coulborn Brothers are still willing to transfer their interest in the Wallasey Ferries, and to accede to the wishes of the board in arranging the mode of payment, but they must be met in a business-like nanner, and with that spirit of fairness and liberality to which they are entitled.—l am, dear sir, yours truly, To "T. - K. Hassan, Esq.' Wm. R. Colanoitiv. A letter was then read from Mr. Rowson, sent with a cheque for £658 135 3d, and asking for a copy of the apportionment and account of the expenditnre for the road for which he was assessed. . The Chairman said the — money hal been paid in accordance with an order from the Secretary of State, upon Mr. Rowson's appeal. The case might be a warning to others who objected to pay their rates. A letter was read from Mr. W. Colbourn, the owner of the ferries, drawing attention to the importance of the the commissioners making some better provision for the anchorage of vessels out of the track between Seacombe and the landing stage. Mr. Pooley said when the new wall was built, the anchorage would be better; at present the rapidity of the tide caused fewer vessels to anchor between Seacombe and the Landing-stage, than any where else in the river. A letter was read from Mr. Garrett, of the Victoria Hotel, callin,; , the attention of the commissioners to the bad state of the road between his hotel at New Brighton and Montpelier-crescent. - Referred to the health and works committee. A resolution was passed, authorising the borrowing of an additional £2,000 on security of the rates, for the carrying out of the works of the Seacombe sewerage dis- A letter was read from Mr. Hill, asking the com missioners to consent to the drawing up and hearing of a case, to decide as to the liability of houses under £lO rental, to the special district rate. The commissioners agreed to the request. This.concluded the business. lIISTORIC SOCIETY This society resumed its weekly meetings last night, in St. George's Hall, Mr. W. Brown, M.P. in the chair. The following, - &Mations were acknowledged by the secretary :—The proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol. ii., part 2, from the society. An original paper published by the Norfolk and Norwich Archeo logical society, vol. v., part 3. Some notices of the family of Newton, Pownall Hall, in Cheshire, &c., and a roll of subsidy levied in the thirteenth year of the reign of Henry IV., so far as relates to the county of Sussex ; by Mr. A. Sheete, a pen and ink sketch of the ancient cross in Mawgan church-yard, Cornwall, taken by the donor in 1858 ; and an engraved copy of the inscription on the cross at St. Bride's, Beckermont, Cum berland, by . Mr. John Dixon, presented through Mr. H. Shimmin. Mr. Hunt, Castle-street, was admitted a member. Mr. H. Ecroyd Smith exhibited a photographic picture of a Roman Catholic tessalated pavement, lately found at Dorchester, said to be • the first illustration of the kind in this or perhaps any other country. It was the produc tion of Mr. John Pouncy, of Dorchester, by his new process of carbon printing, which was said to render the colours imperishable: Probably owing to the disadvan tageously fiat position of the original, a faintness in point of colour is at first observable., but the tessara of which the pavement is composed excellently well delineated, and ire - this respciet considerable advantage was said to accrue over the lithographic process, several of the best specimens of which Mr. Smith has published and exhibited for com parison. Several communications from the Governor of Dorchester Castle were read, by which it appeared that the larger portion of a Roman house must have been - uncovered, as also numerous minor objects of interest, during these excavations which were origmally commenced for alterations within the castle ground's. Mr. Smith also exhibited fragments of a large crock, of about the 16th century, found during the late land slip, on the Egmont shore of the Mersey, a little to the northward of the well-known " Guinea Gap."' The- vessel measured 16 or 18 inches in diameter and 21 feet in height, and had been covered by a thick glaze of a grass green colour, and was Probably used as a receptacle for water. Mr. Joseph :Ntayer exhibited an arelarlogical walking stick. The head of the sack was made of silver, with parts of it gilded, and the staff was made from the hide of the- rhinoceros. Round the head, enclosed in a crystal cover, were figures representing six of the great peoples, whose works had most influence on i the. the progress of civili sation, and. their names—Egypt, Assyria, Etruria, Greece, .Itorne : and Albioni, w ere inscribed on the p edestal, each in the written cha racter and language . used bythem, with scrolls, masks, a nd other ornament s belon g in g • to mediaeval times , and Kith on the top was a m edallion p ortrait, inscription running round it, "Joseph Meyer, F.5 . A . ,, was also exhibited by Mr. Mayer There _ ft vstol, which was 7 a group flowers, made at the mannfactery I t i t r ,hter of the Champion, in the Castle Gree ll, ~, of Richard presented by Miss Chttm E p scl io , n,, Ots d pot ter, to Joseph Mayer,: the od e ß a ri P sl tr i Seit and by him given to the i, anlev, Staffordshire, specimens of porcelain It t is made interesting,in a r s u b g e l i a n n g d o . n e A o f g t f o o g r e k t , her nearly eight ounces of virgin Suffolk, gold;a weighingknife and torque and armlet, found in with carved amber handles, time ofot brass,Elizabetihian an;virr on early specimen of a r eli qu a r y, m ade one side the name " Madoc ;" of ( 1 an electrotyp e cast a placque of Chinese carving, beautifully executed, and showing great skill of' the artist, b o th i n th e ' groaping and motive of the figures. An ivory c arv i ng o f a knight richly clad in armour, with shield bearing the griffin segrant, the work of the fif teenth century; a M.S. bock of maps of various part of the world, with illustrations of gallies, ships, &c., circa, beginning of the sixteenth century. The paper for the evening was on" Home Education," by Mr. Hug Shimmin, who then proceeded to read his paper: A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Shimmin for his excellent paper. RAILWAY SCHEMING.-TRAFFIC ARRANGE MENTS BETWEEN LIVERPOOL ANI) THE NORTH-EAST DISTRICT. The commercial community have lately had their attention directed to a bargain struck between the North"- Eastern and Newcastle and Carlisle Comp to the traffic from Liverpool to this town and district. The bargain, to which we shall hereafter more particu larly allude, effectually excludes all c.mpetiton, since the companies interested in its conveyor have fixed the rates, and agreed it; siinre the money in certain propor tions duly estimated and determined. As the whole subject is one of considerable importance, nationally and locally, we have been at some pains to collect, from trustworthy sources, all the facts and circumstances bearing thereon, which we present, almost entirely in a narrative form, before our readers. Until the opening of railway communication, Liver pool, for business purposes, was shut out from this district. Traffic between these great emporiums of com merce was first developed by the Carlisle line, via steamer from Liverpool to Whitchaven, Maryport, or Port Car lisle. The rate of carriage then was 13s 4d per ton, or 8d per cwt., which at once placed Liverpool in a favour able position to compete with London, and opened out to dealers and manufacturers an important market from which to obtain their supplies or dispose of their own produce. The consequence was a steadily increasing interchange of commodities alike advantageous to New castle and Liverpool. Then came Mr. Hudson upon the scene. The "Rail way King" looked with an envious eye to the little undertaking which bordered upon his domain, and pro posed to purchase it. The _necessary parliamentary powers, however, could not be obtained, and he therefore entered into arrangements to lease the Carlisle line - the western traffic being still further developed by a mode rate scale of fates to all the towns between Newcastle and York. On Mr. Hudson's fall, as will be remem bered, this agreement was terminated, his successors in influence and power chosing to treat this as a " private" affair between the dethroned monarch and the Carlisle Company. Shortly afterwards, the Newcastle, York, and Berwick Company, under the new management, entered into a fresh alliance with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Com pany —their first object being to secure could to themselves, a rapidly imp s much as they and 7siuq t traeting from it the largest amount of mileage, by winging it round via Normanton ; and having only to compete to one town, viz., Newcastle, by the Carlisle route, they raised their rates throughout—still charging to Newcastle 15s per ton. And now we come to the amalgamation of the York and Berwick, the York and North Midland and the Leeds and Thirsk Companies into one giant monopoly called the North Eastern. No sooner was this monopoly secured, than schemes and plots against the trading interests were fertile in the railway board, and we have to mark its injurious effect on this particular traffic. Negociations were . opened between the North Eastern and Newcastle and Carlisle Boards, and the latter, represented by Mr. Woods, were coerced (so it is said) by their more powerful rival. Things, how ever' were made pleasant by a handsome douceur, and Mr. Wm. Woods, by learning "how not to do it," well paid as if he had been skilled in the art of doing it. An agreement was come to, by which the Carlisle Com pany was to receive 6s ld per ton upon one-third of the whole traffic from Liverpool to Newcastle, and to pay the North Eastern Company 13s 4d per ton on all they carried the full amount they were charging for its conveyance. What did the North Eastern then. do ? Did they content themselves with the rates they were then receiving ? No, at once they applied the screw, and put up the rate to 25s per ton to Newcastle, making a corresponding advance to the other towns on their line. This rate is still maintained by the North Eastern Company, but on a strong repre sentation being made to their goods manager that such an advance would annihilate a great part of their heavy traffic, a special rate was allowed for certain classes of goods only. No doubt this has to some extent mitigated the evil, but nevertheless business has been materially restricted by these advanced charges, and the trading community of Newcastle proportionably injured. The state of matters between the two companies now is, that the Carlisle pockets a fraction above 2s Id per ton on all goods which pass, but none of which they carry, between Liverpool and Newcastle, and the North-Eastern obtains 2s Ild extra out of the 5s per ton excess of rate which the public have to pay. A very snug bargain truly, the producers and consumers being alike crucified between the greedy, grasping, but short-sighted companies. The amount paid by the public may be easily estimated by Mr. Smiles' statement that the traffic from Liverpool to Newcastle in the year ending 31st March, 1858, was 14,446 tons. The difference thus represents the large sum of £3,814, and assumin g that Newcastle receives about one-third the ,goods sent into the district; it follows that the North-Eastern gains £lO,OOO by its craftiness, our good friends here and in the neighbourhood losing just as much. This, then, appears to us a case for interference. The Silloth Bay and Maryport Railway C ompany have taken the initiative, and surely the merchants and traders of Newcastle will neither refuse nor hesitate to lend their assistance to to break up this (to them) most injurious compact. A rumour was lately afloat that an amalgama tion of these two companies was on the tapis. We believe they met, and happily separated without coming to any decisive resolution. We say happily, for surely nothing could be more detrimental to this town than to' place every available avenue in the hands of the leviathan company which has already acquired more than sufficient mastery ; and to also give them control over the Glasgow and Greenock traffic (second only in importance to that of Liverpool) , which at pre sent, owing to the two lines being open, is carried at the comparatively moderate rate of 17s 6d per ton. As might be expected, the increased rates have driven orders from' Liverpool to other markets, where the rates of transit are cheaper ; and thus it is with all monopolies they defeat their own end by annihilating trade which would otherwise have been enjoyed, had their upholders been content to abide by the ordinary rale of all trading, that of fair and legitimate competition. —Newcastle Guardian ) Jan. 1, 1859. LITERATURE, MICKEY AND BRIDGET : A LOVE POEM OP ERIN. BY A. WILD IRISHMAN.—LONDON : KENT & CO. LIVER— POOL : ELLERBECK & CO., AND W. GILLINO. This is not a poem of lava ; but being "of _Erin," it is a. it " bng a poem of kuniour—and humour such as only " Ould Ireland" can produce —humour most thoroughly cui generic. The title page describes en aas ditty, to help merry folios to have no doubt that it h as d merry hour, merry thi s merry Christmas time.: clo h si a n s g, come into We h many a merry heart during the do C so h . ristm Ai a i s d t a it l i t e ho n n o g " h it our hands rather late this merry season, it has helped never theless, to have our is one hour asp. It uB, m erits, indeed, that although speciallY de signed for Christmas, it is yet calculated to make the reader merry at all proper times, —to create that interesting tableau of mirthfulness, which the poet describes as— 4 ' Laugt holding both his sid, The programme of this "l ove poem," i s th us b riefly ,iven:—"Showing how Mickey M`Naltv and Bridget Mahone became acquainted, and how Mickey thought Bridget the finest girl in. , Old Ireland,' with all the par bow it wen t, an d h ow it t e i n c il u ed lar . s of A h l o l w th it is fi i r s st b b ot e i g l a h n irn , ourouslv and practically done, in detail, occupying six cantos. We cannot go into the particulars, but we giro its Moral—which our readers, we have.no doubt;will agree with us in thinking it by no means a bad one. MORAL Now I may presume to add A morn/ to my tale, I will not tire you with its length, If e'en the point should fail. Simply then 'tis—Dismiss at once The effort to obtain Your own self-cherished views and airs; This is the rev/ gain : To find our happiness unsought, And, striving to procure The happiness of those around, We make our own secure. • HoRSE RACING IN FRANCE. - From a statistical return published by the Sport, it appears that in the course of the present year the stakes at horse races consisted of 66,500 f. given by the Emperor, 302,200 f. given by the government, of 77,5001. by the Jockey Club, Ali n , Bordeaux, by racing societies, 77,900 f. by municipalitie,snfl67loosf 39,600£. by councils-generals ofdepartmentost.wer 7 r l'he to may, in Belgium, for flat races at Ghent, Spa, and Too e _ by railway companies. In addition, 18,30 it : 1108 :::: tal of all and Die Dieppe, Spa, , fo a r n s c t i e e i p v l e e e - ro c h gh ateyesem. the various races 42 000 f. and steeple-chases was 3 , , Of the total stakes 121,•500£. were run for at Parts in 37 events, and 73,000 f. at Chantilly in 28. Of the steeple-chases, 27,4501. were 780,7901. The amount of entries for. was given at La Marche in 13 mita,— Galignani's Messenger. Lame fir. cric'well F hi s l residv ;chute' :os?'; 1)0 11 1, io der _ wall I ' s " . f . a 136 ' ,ice (11' ere' ar3O rt 103°1 , ieb ;1 io dc Sea e ;ter!, alto 11(44 1. fi suits.; trad e y ffeelh o l ~i115,y b u t whe t ', Pe j the ot and r' 'p i g [ the Glue ):41 1. 11 4 13 06 •1 # fore fr , ie