Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-18 00:00:00

T i n the the 112 1 ' 1° I to° °tll b o th rested ges" 'the ; 1.3cel the y rr. 011 to IP' or 1 ifit' hos 11 0/ 7:f itil h 41 1 W n' he m a c.; yp a fie DOCK BOARD. The usual weekly meeting of the Mersey Docks and Barbour Board was held yesterday, Mr. Charles Turner in the chair. The other gentlemen present were —Messrs. Anderson, Bushell, Farnworth, Rankin, Shand, Little tale) Brocklebank, H u bb ac k, B ou lt, M on d e ', B o ld, ,isvans, Hutchison, Se gar , F o r wo od, Arnold, Inman, no unthwaite, Langton, Lockett, Moss, and Tobin. WORKS COMMITTEE. The proceeding's of this committee contained a recom mendation to adopt two reports of the engineer, in reference to the extension of docks. The first report proposed some alterations n o r th o f the Canada dock,. for the accommodation of the timber and carrying trade, and the other dock was proposed to be made at the south east side of the Huskisson dock, for the accommodation of the steam trade. The estimated cost of the proposed work Was as follows : carriers' dock, £100,869 ; half-tide " 461 a and passage, £92,713 ; northward lock for timber float an d jetty,£ 20, 374 ; total, £213,956. liubback moved the, confimation of the pro ceedings. Mr. Smith moved that the plans lie on the table for another week, as many gentlemen had not had an oppor tunity of examining them, or making themselves acquainted with them. Mr. Littledale seconded the motion of Mr. Smith. Mr. Boult suggested, that it would be well to hold some further communication with the Leeds and -Liverpool Canal Company in reference to this matter. , The Ch a i rman sa id, f rom th e no ti ces th e y h a d g i ven , t hey were debarred from this. Mr. Boult said, he nuclei-Stood from the surveyor that, 6 °lne four or five years ago, communication was held with them, but the company.would not meet with their , vi ews- If this were the case, then it lay in the corn t'anYs' hands, and they could not help themselves; but it seemed obvious that it would be a great facility if commu nication could be had with them. He thought the com pany, for their own interest, might look at the question In another point of view. , Ur. B roc k lebank said, that it would b e b etter not to the chairman, he altered his motion, so as to except the Plans in the confirmation of the proceedings. It was accordingly agreed that the plans should lio on the table till next week, and then to come up for con sideration. WAREHOUSE COMMITTEE. The pr ocee di ngs o f th e warehouse committee were read. They contained nothing calling for special remark, and on the motion of Mr. Hubback, were confirmed. MARINE COMMITTEE. Tke proceedings of this committee contained a recom niendation to grant Mr. Hill £2.), to enable him to pub lish a volume of sailing directions which he had com piled. Mr. Monde', before moving the confirmation of the proceedings, moved that the recommendation be approved ( : ) ,f; He considered it was only due to the young man for " painstaking. The grant would not involve any responsibility on the board as to the publication itself. Mr. Shand thought there was some inconsistency in the ooard making this grant, as the pilot committee had issued some directions The Chairman said, perhaps Mr the matter to the pilot committee. Mr. Mondel objected to this, and said that he con sidered the pilot committee only an executive one. The Chairman said, that perhaps the matter came a little out of the usual course, but it arose in this wav— Mendel would refer • that Mr. Hills was a very active servant of the marine committee, and a very deservinc , one, and the chairman of the committee thought he deserved some encourage ment in a matter of this kind. After some - further observations, in which it was stated by Mr. Mondel that there had been no authentic publication issued for the last twenty years, of sailing directions in the port of Liverpool, it was agreed that the £2O be given Mr. Hills for his valuable services. The proceedings were then confirmed. The proceedings of the several other committees were read, but they contained nothing calling for special notice, and were accordingly confirmed without opposition. The Chairman then said, the next business before the board was the question of the rating of the docks, in connection with the bill now before Parliament. that Smith rose and said, it came to the knowledge of board for the first time formally last Thursday, and the n • in consequence of the reading of the pro ceedings of the Parliamentary Committee, stating What action had been taken by them during the .eourse of the preceding week in reference to a bill that as in parliament, or was about to be brought into par . anient, for th e p ur p os e of rating the docks. This sub ject had certainly never been brought before the board r r ev; e n 13 usly, and he believed even to that moment, men rything that he knew, the majority of the of thiers might be ignorant of. It was in consequence u . .that he and several other gentlemen siped a that re that board ion to the chairman to call a special meeting of as early as possible, because they considered e subject was of such immense importance, and v mying:the interest of that estate so seriously, that it ma aPPear to him and others that there ought not to be one mo ment of d e l a y. B e f or e proceeding with the discussion of n the question, he would venture to make one or two re marks. It ce r t a i n ly a ppeared to him extraordinary that W hen the solicitor presented his annual report of the bills about to be brought into Parliament affecting that estate, a 9 which report was referred to the parliamentary com mittee, he confessed it appeared to him somewhat extra ordinary that the committee never reported to that board, never made any recommendation as to what steps should °e adopted w ith reference to this important bill. whether that arose from inadvertance, or whether the Parlia mentary committee of the board once appointed, it Was to be understood that it became an authority, inde pendent and superior to the authority of the board itself, he did not know, but he was Bar, e the chairman would excuse him for mentioning this el reurnstance indeed, he almost anticipated he should get his thanks, and the thanks of every member of the committe e , for bringing this matter under the attention of the board, and giving them an opportunity of explain ing what to him appeared to be a mystery. He would ' I OW proceed to the real question for discussion. That the question of rating the docks was an important question wa s e vident, for they found that almost every town in this County,l,,, and from other places, they had opposition. - "' 1 lig the dock interest into consideration, if they went back,;_ they might go back to the origin of the docks in Liverpool, some 150 years ago. He thought if there Was one thi ng th a t s t ruc k the attention more than another, , was the wisdom of the men of that generation, who, knowing the law of the land, that if they created docks, and dealt with these docks upon the principle that they Would have general and national purposes, and that there should be no beneficial interests, they knew that they Would not be subject to rating ; and the law that existed. thou existed now ; and it was under such a law that this town had risen from a paltry village. Even within the l ast century there was not 20,000 inhabitants in the Place ; n ow , to judge by the return from the income-tax of Liverpool, it stood undoubtedly the second town th. ; the kingdom. And why so ? What had made L t s e ? It was the docks ; it was the locality in which the docks were placed, and the town being placed so app r oximate to the manufactories of the kingdom. his was what made Liverpool the prosperous place it Was . (Hear, hear.) Who were those who were getting 11 1) the opp os iti on t o this valuable system which had brou g h t such prosperity to the town of Liverpool ? He au thorities they were in the first instance the paris h L i taorities, supported by the council—by, he believed, the - mflimous vote. But, really, who were t he Wetish. authorities, and who were the counc il ? wondered how many of these men could trace th e i r TheY back to thoSe wise men who rst established docks. He believed very few of them. , T he great majority of the inhabitants of this town F o w, were strangers who had come here to seek their °dunes under the system that existed, and under which many of them had risen to opulence and station. He Was surprised that there had not been a better considera tion given t o thi s su bject, and that there should be on '', ll e part of th e t own o f Li ver pool such bitter opposition. The inhabitants of Liverpool were composed of two ,?lasses, the occupiers of property and the owners. He had a very strong conviction that it was the owners of Property who were the great movers in this question. Looking at the immediate result, probably they were ri ght ; but looking at it more generally, he was net quite satisfied but the action which went to destroy the present laws would retort back upon them selves. As to owners of property, he could understand the motive of their opposition. If by charging some thing like one-half of the general rates against that estate, the rates of occupiers of property would be re duced one-half, and he could imagine that owners of Property could then, on the other hand, raise the rent ten per cent. This would be a motive for immediate action. Bnt in reference to the occupiers, it appeared to him that if these gentlemen considered their own interest, they would rise one and all in opposition to this bill. "id they imagine that if the rates were reduced one half, that their landlords would permit them to get the whole of -the advantage. If these gentlemen only knew human nature a little better, they would think otherwise. He was an owner of property himself, to to some extent, and he would say, rate these docks, and reduce the taxes of my tenants ; and what would be his action ? Why he would conceive that he should have a fair opportunity to raise their rents ; and would it not be the action &f every owner of property? Undoubtedly it would. The occupiers, then, would find themselves no better as regards rates and taxes ; adding all together a nd they might do something to affect the trade of tills port and diminish those profits by which those rates and taxes were paid. The next point of view upon which he would -look - at this question would be as regards - the debt upon the estate and the interests of then bondholders. He knew he was touching upon delicate ground, but they had now a debt of nearly seven millions upon that estate, and they had obligations iMposed on them by which they should anticipate this debt would be increased in a short time to twelve millions, and a large proportion of that increase was to be spent upon property lately come into the hands of the estate -he meant at Birkenhead'. And although he wished those works would turn out as well as their most sanguinary advocates pre dicted, still, they could not hope that in the four millons which it would take to complete the work, they could realise more than one half of that, which they should require to pay the interest on the money that they borrowed for the execution of this work. Looking, therefore, upon the position of this estate, any attempt to lay such another load upon its shoulders as this rating would be, if the bill passed through parlia ment, would, he was sure, prevent the possibility of the estate carrying out these works, which they were now doing as earnestly as they possibly could. He had before him a list of arguments in opposition to the rating of the docks, and these arguments were, many of them, very good; and he saw there was one which showed that, if they succeeded in passing this bill, and if the affairs of the corporation were not in a little more prosperous state, it would absolutely become necessary to levy a borough rate, and the effect of that would be actually to make the commerce of the country pay for supplying the inside wants of the people of Liver pool in their own private houses. He thought that he had said enough to show that the action on this bill ought to be as decisive as it was possible to be. He thought he had fairly introduced the subject, and he told them - what he felt was his duty to say upon the matter. He concluded by moving the following resolution : " That the standing orders be suspended for the purpose of adding the names of three gentlemen to the names of the gentlemen forming the present parliamentary committee, and to be considered a special parliamentary committee for the purpose of opposing, by all legitimate means, the bill now before parliament for the purpose of rating the docks." Mr. Bold remarked, that there were two separate motions in the resolution, and that Mr. Smith moved fir: t, the suspension of the standing orders. This was agreed to, and the resolution was accordingly divided, and put as two distinct motions. Mr.. Arnold seconded the propositions of Mr. Smith. He perceived that no private bill promoted for the rating of the docks could have a very good ground of defence ; but as against any general bill that might be introduced by the government for rating all public works, they might not be successful in resisting the application of it to that estate. He considered with Mr. Smith that they were in a very anomalous position in reference to this question. They had as promoters of this bill the Corporation of Liverpool, and upon that board were a number of mem bers of that corporation, and they had not yet any exposition of . the views of these gentlemen on this question, and considering the importance of the question, he thought it had not been considered as it deserved. If this bill passed, it might involve the estate into £50,000 or £60,000 a-year, and considering the works they were carrying on on the other side of the water, and these were only the forerunner of other works of this sort which would have to be carried out as the trade of the port advanced. He con sidered the success they had met with in parliament gave them some encouragement to relax their exertions for carrying on their works on the other side of the water (cries of •' No," "No "), and he thought the next best step would be to go to parliament, and get them to re duce the plans and the enormous expenditure involved in those. works. That however might be beside the question, but he begged to second Mr. Smith's proposi tion. The Chairman said, he could not but think that the bringing forward this motion in the way it was, was rather an ungracious proceeding of the parliamentary committee. (Cries of No," "No.") He would explain his reasons. He did not say it was intentionally so, but it was so, and the whole tenor of Mr. Smith's speech would bear to Vie publio mind that the parliamentary committee had been remiss in their exertions in the opposition to the rating bill. Mr. Smith had said that this question was never reported to the board until the proceedings of the last board day, while the solicitor, in his annual report, submitted it, and it was the first bill mentioned in that report, and the proceedings of the parliamentary commit tee had bean read to the board after that report was referred to them, and the proceedings of the committee were reported on last Thursday, which meeting he was not at, because he was in London opposing this very bill which Mr. Smith had brought before the board. It never entered into his conception for a moment to bring the bill before the board as a distinct motion for the purpose of ascertaining the opinion of the board, with which he was pretty well acquainted, and he believed that there was not a dissentient on in' ion in reference to tee resistance that snouiu ue given to cnis public bill should be brought into parliament, which Mr. Arnold had suggested, it would be for the parliamentary committee to see what that bill was, and what were its clauses, and whether it could be successfully opposed. But this was a matter of future consideration. As to a psivate bill, however, he thought there could be no dif ference of opinion. To make the docks rateable by a private bill was most unjust and improper, and 'therefore to bring the subject specially before the board, it having been already substantially before them, appeared to him a work entirely of supererogation. He thought it his duty to communicate in the first instance with one of the heads of—Government on the subject, asking for an interview. Subsequently he and other members of the committee had an interview Edith the Board of Trade, and in the presence of 20 or 30 members of parliament, and the solicitor of the board, at the request of the com mittee, drew up a number of arguments against the bill, which were now before them, and which were extensively circulated. He did say that for the last fortnight the exertions of the parliamentary committee had been untiring, and to bring forward a motion the effect of which was that they had been relax, and that it was necessary for three other gentleman to .be put on the parliamentary committee to enable them to do their duty, was certainly, perhaps not intended, casting a reflection upon the existing committee. He alluded tcethe exertions of Mr. Tobin, and concluded by expressing a hope that the board would leave the matter in the hands of the present committee, and place confidence in them, for he believed they were able to carry on the opposition, and that efficiently. Mr. Monde' said, as one of the members who signed the requisition for a special meeting to consider the sub ject; he would just say a word or two. The chairman, as a member of the parliamentary committee, might have performed his duty in the best sense of the word, but if the members of the board had reason to doubt, when they came to consider the constitution of the Parliamentary Committee, whether they were all sincere in their opinion ; he thought they were justified in taking such a step if they had any such opinion. And the majority, five • of the parliamentary committee, were members of the Town Council, and.the other gentlemen had given no expression of their views upon this question. Now, the opinion of the Parli amentary Committee was the opinion of the board, and whatever the committee might do, the board were bound by it. He thought, therefore, it was due to the board that they should be acquainted with the sentiments of the committee before they took action in the matter. They had had no such expression on the part of the parliamentary committee, and he therefore felt justified in signing the requisition calling the special meeting. He had great confidence in the chairman, but there were other members whose conduct he thought was open to imputation. He thought he saw one member of the parliamentary committee,—(cries of " name, name.") He was not called upon to name, and there were other members who were connected with a deputation from the other side of the water whose interests were antago nistic to the interests of Liverpool. (Hear, hear.) - Mr. Littledale said, after the straightforward, clear, and manly expositions of the chairman, they now knew what his opinions were, and he (Mr. Littledale) thought they, from the able manner in which the chairman per formed his duty, were bound to give him their confidence to the utmost limits. He stated this, although he was one who signed the requisition. Mr. Forwood said he joined with Mr. Littledale in what he said in reference to the chairman. For he (the chairman), at all events, would endeavour to the utmost of his power to prevent this bill passing, and prevent such a serious incubus being placed upon them at a time when they were so anxious as to their obligations. He thought they ought to congratulate themselves, as mem bers of that board, upon the success which had attended the efforts of the parliamentary committee in London, and,-at the same time, they should not forget the good results likely to flow from ' the works bill. He was glad this discussion was allowed to take place, because it would show that the members of the Dock Board were not blind upon a question of such importance as the rating of the Liverpool docks. He suggested that if the arguments which had been drawn up were more largely disseminated, it would go far to set aside the opposition. In the list of reasons placed in the h a n ds of those who supported the rating, the first was " that the Liverpool docks were now the only commercial, docks in the kingdom which were not rated." He asked, was that a sufficient' reason for rating the Liver pool doCks ? They knew very well that the London docks .were in the possession of ,private companies, and from each of them -a b ene fit was derived. The South ampton docks werein the same position, and in all other ports they were the same ; but Liverpool was an hon ourable exception to this rule, owing to the wisdom of those who-formed them. They derived no individual or -personal interest as a town, except what was derived from them as a portion of national interest. The next argument was that the docks in Birkenhead, were rated and under the same trust. These were purchased from private companies ' but were under the law of the board liable to be rated. He believed this was one of the unfortunate legacies of that precious bargain. The Chairman said that by the late decision of the courts of law, they were not liable to be rated, as there was now no beneficial interest. Mr. Forwood said, the next argument was, that in-com mercial dulness the docks created a great amount of pauperism. They Might as well tax the contrary winds as the docks for this. (Laughter.) He would ask these. men, if the ships were discharged in the stream would that not create as much pauperism ; and would they tax the Mersey ? Another reason was, that whole streets of property had been taken down by the board, to make way for these docks, and this property had been rated; but he supposed if property was pulled down, the people would go and live elsewhere, and houses would be built for them, so that it only made the difference in the district, and large warehouses were built along the docks in place of this small property, which were rated. The last 'point which he would speak of was, that the rating of the docks was objected to by parties out of Liverpool, because it might add something more to the cost of passing their goods. If there was one point more important than another, it was. that Liverpool should be made the cheapest- place for the importation and exportation of goods. They owed their trade entirely to their connection with the manufacturing districts. Within the last few years it was shown how competition ran against them ' • and he would tell the board that he got a letter to charter a ship to bring a cargo of cotton home, and to discharge at Fleetwood ; and the special reason assign& for discharging there was that they could get plenty of orders from Blackburn and round about there, and if he could so arrange, it would save the town dues and dock rates, which amounted to about 3s. a day. It was most material that the board should endeavour to secnre their docks from auy other charge, for upon them depended so much the pros perity of the population. In reference to that part of Mr. Smith's resolution, asking for three additional gentlemen to be placed on the committee, he thought it would strengthen their hands, by a few more gentlemen being placed on the committee. Mr. Rankin thought their special thanks should be given to the chairman for the efforts lie had made. If; however, any gentleman felt that he would have any influence with members of parliament, he would say by all means let them go to London and use every exertion, because much would depend on the efforts of gentlemen for their success. Mr. Bushell said he thought Mr. Smith and the other gentlemen who had acted with him in requesting a special meeting, had full justification in the facts that existed. With regard to this question of the Corporation, it was not a question of personality, or integrity, in any members of the parliamentary committee, but a question of anomaly in relation to the position in which some members stood who were on the parliamentary committee. Five of them were distinguished members of the Town Council, and he found by a report of the proceeding's of that body on the 29th November, that it was moved and carried unanimously that the health com mittee should confer with the parish authorities for the purpose of rating all public property. Upon that report, and upon that fact hinged this whole, question. Were the members of that board who were members of the Town Council present at that meeting, and if not, why were they not ? He would take it on either grounds. If they were present, did they consent to this motion ? Were they a part of the gentlemen there assembled who adopted this motion unanimously ? He knew that the Town Council was a popular representative assembly, the representatives of the shop interests and householders, if he might so speak, and the interests of trade. On the occasion which he referred to, there was not one member of the dock board found to stand up and protest against that vote. He considered it was the duty of their Chair man, at all events, to have got up and, protested against the decision, and said, inasmuch as by the position he held at the Dock Board, it would become his duty to op pose, by every means in his power, the rating of the docks. Now then, he would say he wanted to know what was the position of the gentlemen of the parliamentary com mittee who were members of the Town Council. Let a clever lawyer get hold of them, • and ask them did they represent the Town Council or the Dock Board. The answer do doubt would be that they appeared for the interest of the Dock Beard; but he knew what a handle could be made of this. With regard to the general question, if ever there was a case illustrative of killing the goose that layed the golden egg this certainly was a practical illustration. It was perfectly monstrous that a gentleman like Mr. Dover, as Chairman of the Health Committee, should be permitted to get up and make an poor of Liverpool, while the interests of the poor had nothing to do with it. It was the rich that would be benefitted, and not the poor. Mr. Smith had already explained that, although the occupier would get some benefit, yet in the end it would be the owners of houses who would receive the benefit, and put the rates into their own special and particular pockets. He had no hesitation in saying this. The masses were moved, as they always were, by those who were interested. Mr. Smith had made some remarks as to Liverpool rising to be the first commercial port in the world, from the locality in which she was placed. She was a mouth to the stomach. The manufacturing districts were the stomach, and the mouth always received some pleasure from what passed into the stomach. This was the position of Liver pool. He never was more astonished in his life, than when he read that the vote was passed in the Town Council, and not one word said in remonstrance. It might have been, that ifremonstrance were given at that time, this opposition might have been saved. A more suicidal act never was perpetrated. He supposed in the case of the government erecting a large - - dock yard, the public would give a very large premium rather than not have it erected ; and he considered that the benefit to be derived from these establishments, were infinitely greater than any rates that could be gained from them, and yet this paltry view was taken of the docks, by' which every tradesman and every shopkeeper, and every man in business in the town, lived and had their existence. He was aware it took great moral courage to take the un popular side of any question, but he did think the mem bers of the council, and of that board, should have protested against this, as he would, by all means and power of language which he had, against such a mon strous proposition. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman said, Mr. Bushell had alluded to him personally in this matter, and accused him of want of duty, in not rising in the council when this matter was brought forward. Now he did not consider it his duty to bring dock affairs into debate, and raise up dock affairs in the corporation of Liverpool. (Cries of •" Oh ! Oh !") Very well, he did not consider it in his public capacity, as chairman of the dock board, he ought to take that position in the town council. He did think there was a timeand season for every thing, and the Corporation knew well that he was ready to declare his sentiments, if necessary, if he thought there would be any use of so doing. But he did not think, looking at the feeling of the Council, that it would be any use, when 60 out of 64 would have voted for the motion. Mr. Bushell had stated that the vote was unanimous, but Mr. Bushell knew very well what they meant, as he must have often been placed in a similar position, when he did not put an assembly to a division just because he felt himself in so small a minority. Unanimously did not necessarily mean that all present were in favour of the motion. He must be allowed to claim for himself as good courage in asserting his prin ciples when he knew that they would do good, as any member of the board, but he had yet to learn that he had not liberty to exercise his judgment as to where and when he should exercise the right of asserting his principles. He did not think that because he did not rise and declare himself against the motion, that therefore he was in favour of it. Whether he had acted efficiently or not he would leave it to those gentlemen who were along with him to say, but he had acted to the best of his ability with regard to the dock estate, and he did not think such imputations should be made on slight grounds. There were other gentlemen present, among whom were Mr. Tobin and Mr. Graves, of whom it could not bo said they had not courage to express themselves. Mr. Bushell : You have said I made an accusation. The Chairman : Certainly. Mr. Bushell : I have not made any accusation. I appeal to the board. I merely pointed to the anomalous position, and I do not see that you have given any satisfactory reason why Mr. Smith's motion should not be carried out. I imputed no dishonourable motive, but simply pointed out the anomalous position. Mr. Hutchison replied to some remarks of Mr. Bushell, and presumed that he had as much right as Mr. Bushell to hold an opinion, and to express that opinion. He believed he was not in the Council at the time the motion was passed. Mr. Bushell had said it took a great deal of moral courage to take up the unpopular side of a question, and. he had no scruple at all in saying that he did think the docks ought to be rated for the poors'-rate. Mr Boult made some lengthened remarks, in which he referred to the ease with which the trade could be driven away from the port, and stated that the traffic had, within the last few years, been driven from Liverpool to an enormous extent, by so trifling a cause as railway charges. He stated this as a < reason why they should take care that no other charge was put upon =the docks that might have the effect of driving the trade -from the port. He concluded. by saying he would support Mr. Smith's motion, as he did not consider it was casting any reffec l tion upon the committee, for he believed they had done their duty. to the best of their ability, and with great success. Mr. Anderson said he was not in the Council when the motion, was brought forward, but he remembered on a previous occasion when the subject was introduced, that he said a great deal could be done on the other side. He feared if a public bill was introduced, they would be obliged to submit to it. Mr. Evans said the members of the Council could no: more get over the responsibility of that motion , than any gentleman could take his name from a bill of a £l,OOO. He thought it was not a time to be silent ~when such a a resolution was brought forward. Mr. Shand said the reason why he did . not speak on the subject when it was brought forward at the Council, was that it was so hurried over and carried in such a way that no one had time to speak. Mr. Bushell : That is an explanation. Mr. Tobin said, the conduct of the Council had been brought forward very prominently, and he was not sur prised that the vestry did take this measure before parlia ment, after the resolution of the Council. For his own part, he never thought of speaking unless he thought he could do some good. He did not think that it was a good opportunity, or the most opportune time to say anything on the subject that day at the Council when the motion was introduced, and he therefore kept silent. He did not blame Mr. Bushell and others for expressing their opinions. This question was for years well ventilated in the public press, and any remarks that he would make would add nothing to the enlightenment, and the committee reported on the subject from tine to time. He read a resolution from the minute-book of the parliamentary committee, express ing their unanimous decision to oppose by all means this bill, and he asked what further opinion did the board want than the unanimous resolution of the committee ; so long, he said, as he was chairman of the parliamentary committee, he would do his best to carry out to the best of his efforts the interest of the estate, and if he could. not do it conscientiously he would resign his seat, and if the remarks of Mr. Bushell were intended to affect him with his constituency at the next election, he could only say that if his constituents were not satisfied with his conduct, all - they had to do was to give an intimation to that effect, and he would resign his seat at once into their hands. Mr. Bushell repeated that he attributed no persona! motive, and he had the very highest opinion of Mr. Tobin's integrity, and he did hope that Mr. Smith, having got this expression of opinion from the parliamentary committee, would withdraw his motion, and leave the matter in their hands, which he believed they would carry out with faithfulness. Mr. Smith said, it was not out of the least disrespect to the committee that he moved his resolution, but thek gentlemen made mistakes, and they should be carefully watched, and he thought every gentleman sitting at that Board should raise these discussions for the purpose of enlightening the public. Mr. Smith consented to ,with draw his motion, and the subject then dropped. Mr. Tobin gave notice of motion that next week he would call the attention of the Board to a statement made in London, with reference to an alleged breach of faith on the part of the Board. This concluded the business. THE LIVERPOOL AND LONDON INSURANCE COMPANY Yesterday afternoon, the 23rd annual general meeting of the proprietors of the Liverpool and London Fire and Life Insurance Company, was held at the company's offices, Dale-street. There was a rather numerous attendance, including Messrs. J. Tobin, J. B. Brancker, J. H. Mulleneux, W. Earle, C. Parker, W. Hall, C. Mozley, G. Holt, 'C. Rawlin;, T. Haigh,' P. Hunter, and Lawrence Barclay. In the absenee of Mr. J. C. Ewart, M.P , who was prevented by his engagiments in London from attending, Mr. J. Tobin was called upon to take the chair. Mr. Swinton Boult, the secretary, read the following report : " The directors have again the pleasure to meet the proprietors of the company in annual meeting, and to submit to them a summary of the business of the year. " That year has had impressed upon it no ordinary degree the effects of the commercial disasters of 1857 ; and it would be vain to expect, that an institution, such as . this, which is identified with the mercantile interests of the world, should escape altogether the consequences of calamities by which, to so remarkable an extent, those interests have been disturbed. By the retirement of offices, whose business was not ade quate to the expense at which they were conducted, opportunities have presented themselVes of acquiring inereased connections in parts of the country where, up to this time, less business has been derived than the entitle it to look for ; and tfie'direCtors have noliEes - ifited to avail of them, by agreeing first to an amalgamation with the North of England Insurance Company, and subsequently to take over the Fire Insurance Business of the Bank of London and National Provincial Insurance Company, measures which they doubt not will work to the permanent advantage of the concern. " CAPITAL. —ln the course of the year 140 shares have been issued, and the number in the hands of proprietors is now 94,351, representing at £2 a share a paid up capi tal of £188,702. "FIRE DEPARTMENT.—The =lies to which the directors have already adverted have occasioned a con siderable falling off in some branches of the fire business, and that again has been aggravated by the necessity of closing at an earlier period than usual the accounts of a large proportion of the company's Foreign and Colonial establishments, so that less than a full year's receipts are comprised in the accounts now produced. The steady progress of the company, however, in those classes of risk which are little acted on by temporary and passing movements, has done much to compensate for the deficiency previously alluded to : and as one evidence of the soundness of the policy hitherto pursued, and of the increasing hold upon public favour the office is steadily obtaining, it may be mentioned that its Fire business in London is now Fifty per cent greater than that of any other office of provincial origin: The premiums of the year mount to £276,058 75., and the . losses to £190,372 12s. 7d. " LIFE DEPARTMENT: —The number of policies issued during the year is 757, insuring £507,175, and pro ducing in premiums, £15,069 5s sa. The total income from premiums was £121,411 10s 9d, and the claims amounted to £53,660 Ils 9d. Making allowance for the circumstances of the year , it will be found that there is every reason to be satisfied with that result. Indeed the success which attends this branch of the company's operations is the best evidence that its system of business, if peculiar, is at all events acceptable to the public, and that there is a considerable class who prefer the certainty of its guarantees to the chances of greater things which tempt them elsewhere. The sum received in purchase of annuities was £17,267 is 4d, and the amount paid to annuitants was £15,111 13s 3d. The number of those who died was nine, and they were in receipt of £477 8s 9d annually. A valuation of the engagements in this department will be made next year. BRANCH ESTABLISHMENT AND AGENCIES.—A further large addition has been made to the agents of the company, and it is very satisfactory to be able to report so many in a state of useful activity, and contributing in an important measure to the substantial advancement of its interests. "RESERVED SURPLUS FUND.—The reserve surplus fund now amounts to £215,596 11s. lid. "PROFIT AND Loss.—The balance of this account is £212,605 is sd. Notwithstanding, the result of the year's operations has been so much less favourable than up to a very recent period it was hoped it would be, the directors are able to declare the same dividend as was paid for 1857, viz., 12s a share. free of income-tax, and to leave at the credit of the account, as a reinsurance fund, the sum of £155,994 9s 6d, after the dividend is paid. The fact will be an assurance to the proprietors of the stability of the institution with which they are connected, and of its likelihood to yield them, at no very distant day, advantages yet greater than any hitherto enjoyed. " The following will show the position of the company's fund now as compared with 1867 : —The capital (1857) £188,422, increased by £2BO, is now (1858) £188,702; the RoserieFund (1857) £214,616 118 11d, increased by £9BO, is now (1858) £215,596 lls lid ; the Life Fund (1857) £531,269 13s 10d, increased by £64,472 17s 10d, is now (1858) £595,742 1 Is 8d; the Fire Re-insurance Fund (1867) £153,710 Bs, increased by £2,284 is sd, is now (1858) £155,994 9s sd. Total (1857), £1,088,018 13s 9d, increased by £68,016 19s 3d, is now (1858) £1,156,036 13s. " Having regard to the objections taken to the existence of shares on which a small portion only of the amount is actually paid up, the directors have determined to recom mend the proprietors to convert into stock the capital which is now divided into 100,000 £2O shares, having £2 only paid on each. The obvious advantages of that arrrangement are so great as to have induced its ad hav op e - tion by companies of various kinds; and the board had prepared resolutions for effecting .the change, which, if approved by the meeting, will require to be Fonfirmed Chairman. subsequently at another meeting, to be specially con vened. for that purpose. lOHN C. Ey/ART, Liverpool, 15th February, 1859.!' it Th e chairman said he was sure it must be gag,' ing to the proprietors to hear such a satisfactory account, notwithstanding the severe depression that existed during the past year ;---and that, although they had sustained a very heavy loss at Valparaiso, yet they had. been enabled to maintain undiminished the large divi dend declared by the directors last year. It showed that the directors, in augmenting the dividend over that of the preceding year, had a well-founded expectation that they would be able to maintain that dividend. He could assure the, proprietors that the directors were anxious not to declare any dividend which they could not maintain, if not increase, in future years. This year had promised to be one of unexampled prosperity, but for the fire at Valparaiso, which caused a loss of something like £65,000. As a proof of the sound basis upon which this company stood, it was really astonishing- to see the slight fluctuations that occurred in the value of shares : they had scarcely been affected in the slightest degree. He was sure the dividend which they now declared the proprietors might feel confident would be at least maintained ; and he had every reason to hope that it would be increased in future years. He begged, in conclusion, to move that the report and the'statement of accounts be adopted, and that such parts be printed for distribution as the directors, in their discretion, held to be necessary. Mr. George Holt seconded the motion. Mr. Mozley asked why the implied understanding that the statement of accounts should be published antece dent to the meeting had not been carried out. The pro prietors had every confidence in the board of directors ; yet it was natural that they should require from them accounts antecedent to the meeting, because it was other wise 'impossible to follow out the figures as read by the secretary. He wished also to call attention to the sub ject of .the consolidation of shares into stock. He was not prepared at that moment to say it was not a bene ficial arrangement ; but he thought that, in a question of such importance to the shareholders, some notice should have been given of the intention to bring the subject forward. _ _ Mr. Lawrence said they could not pass such a measure that day, but when they met again to confirm it, Mr. Mozley might then give his views. _ _ _ The Chairman did not think there could be any ob jection to giving the statement of accounts prior to the meeting, and the matter would be considered before the next meeting. The resolution was then agreed to. Mr. Lawrence moved a series of resolutions with reference to the turning of shares into capital stock. He said they must bear in mind that this change did not involve any real change in the substantive value of their property; it did not add to or diminish their liability; but it was because they believed it to be a measure which would convert their shares into much more handy and available stocks, and that in such a change they were following in the steps of other companies, that they had recommended it. The railway companies had ad - opted the measure, the gas company had done the same, as had also many other fire insurance companies in London. He, therefore, begged to move the resolutions, to the effect that the capital of the company, which by the deed of settlement was directed to be divided into 100,000 shares, should be converted into stock, and that in lieu of shares stocks should be issued. Mr. Hunter seconded the motion. Mr. Mosley said the consolidation of shares into stock was desirable, as it would enable proprietors to sell por tions of money, if they chose. It would be a decidedly advantageous course, provided the consolidation of shares was of such a shape as not to alter the original holdings in the concern. 'But as regarded the point at issue, he would go with the board in believing it to be a desirable feature. The motion was then agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Fletcher, seconded by Mr. Hall, thanks were voted to the board of directors, for their attention to the affairs of the company during the past year. The Chairman returned thanks, in the name of the board, for the confidence the proprietors had placed in them. It was a source of great pleasure to them to watch over the interests of this company, which had risen to a height of unexampled prosperity ; and it was a pleasure and a pride to them to attend to the great interests which had been confided to their care by the proprietors. (Hear, heer.) The retiring directors were then re-appointed, and thanks were voted to the various boards of directors at home and abroad, and to the auditors (Messrs. Corbally and James), who were re-appointed. At the disposal of the directors £1,200 was placed, for distribution amongst themselves, in such manner as they might see fit. The Chairman moved a vote of thanks to their inde fatigable secretary, Mr. S. Boult. He was sure that every one present would confirm the good opinion enter tained of this gentleman by the proprietors. The motion was carried with acclamation. Mr. Swinton Boult returned thanks. He said he did not believe that any other company of the age of this one could have stood the heavy draw upon its funds, and come out of the test so well as the company of which he had the honour to be secretary. And he could assure the megting that, whilst no one felt more keenly than he he could not but remark that tiris circumstance - was now to be regarded as rather conferring upon them a vantage ground, and as giving them further claims upon the support and confidence of those upon whose good opinion they must at best rely (applause). A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. MEETING AT ROCK FERRY Yesterday evening, a public meeting was held in the Royal Rock Ferry Hotel, for the purpose of considering a resolution for the adoption of the local government act, 1858, in the township of Bebington. There were present—Rev. T. F. Redhead, chairman ; Messrs. Raynes, Cannon, Woodbourne, Beckett, Huntress, Watson, Lightbound, Dobson, Walsh, and Hampson. The Chairman stated the object of the meeting . , and that a meeting had been held on the 4th Dec., 1858, at which the local act was adopted, but that it was found, upon Mr. Woodbourne making inquiries in London, that they had not decided in a proper manner, and they were obliged to hold a meeting on the Bth of February, of the whole parish, to see if the act would be rejected. At that meeting the act was wholly rejected, and he had the resolution before him which had been passed at that meeting. Directions were given to the overseers to have another meeting called, by advertis ing three consecutive weeks in the local papers, and that was the meeting at which they were then present. He would be very happy to answer auy questions that any gentleman might think proper to put, before he proceeded to move the adoption of the act. Mr. Huntress said he thought he was the heaviest ratepayer, and he would like to know if the act was adopted if the rates would be increased. The Chairman said he thought, as the inhabitants in creased, the rates would be reduced. In answer to another question, he said the collector of rates and the inspector of nuisances would be the same person, and that it would not require two. Mr. Walsh thought that the only question before them was that of rates, for it had been found that the rates had been materially increased. The Chairman said, as no land would be let for small buildings, it would not increase the rates. The Act gave simply the powers of the Board of Health Act of 1858. With regard to highways, Mr. Huntress said he had carefully read the Bill before Parliament at present on that question, and he thought it would have reference to that portion of the local Bill. The Chairman thought it necessary to adopt the act, as far as they were concerned, for the preservation of health. Mr. Walsh said it was much required. Mr. Huntress was of opinion that if the bill before the house were to pass, it would throw their local act over- board. The Chairman said he thought the Government would not pass an act, and then immediately pass another to nullify it. He thought the one before Parliament would apply to county districts alone. Mr. Huntress asked, in case of adopting the act, would the collector be able to take the receiving of the rates. The Chairman thought so, and also that the local board would have the power to take in highways. Mr. Walsh thought that the highway rate would still, as before, go over the whole township. There was no probability of having an extra expense, but if parties wishd to have improvements of a particular nature, for their own convenience, it should not go over the whole township. The Chairman then proposed the adoption of the Local Government Act for the township of Bcbbington. The motion was unanimously agreed to. Mr. Baynes next moved th at twelve persons form the local board, the qualification being a ratepayer to the amount of £l5 a year. Mr. Beckett sec onded the motion, which was also adopted. The Chairman said, that twenty days must elapse to se e if there would be any amendtnent to the motion, and that the board would come into action in two months. It was suggested that it would be convenient to elect the board at the parish meeting on the 25th of March next. This concluded the business. The Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a despatch from her Majesty's Minister at Berne, stating that the duty charged by the quintal on goods in transit through Switzerland has been reduced by a Federal order from thirty centimes to five centimes per quintal. TOXTETH BOARD OF GUARDIANS Yesterday, the usual weekly meeting of these guardians was held iii- the board-room of the public-offices„Park road, Mr. Urquhart, in the chair. The other members present were—Messrs. Moss, H. Leyland, W. Layland, Johnson, Harrison, Miller, John Wilson, Craig, Joseph Wilson, Johns, Ogden, Grindrod, Siddeley, Rogers, and J. B. Hughes. The gulrdians granted cheques to the amount of £ll5 to several relieving officers, for the out-door relief of the poor. The offer male by the body of Friends for the 6,640 yards of land adjoining the new workhouse, for which they proposed to give £1,200, and to build the wall be tween their ground and that of the guardians, Mr. Moss moved that the offer be accepted, and Mr. Leyland se conded the motion. It was finally agreed to, on the condition that the Quakers shall undertake to Pay any additional expenses incurred by the guardians, in consequence of their sewer, being subject to the approval of the Poor Law Board. The Clerk read a minute of the medical relief com- mittee as follows : " At a meeting of the medical committee, held on the 14th inst., it was moved by Mr. Moss, and seconded by Mr. Johnson- 4 That notice be given to the vaccinators of the township to determine the vaccination contracts forth with, and that an advertisement be inserted in the papers for the appointment of two medical officers for the town ship, and a dispenser, upon the terms already agreed to by the guardians." Mr. Joseph Wilson said he was of opinion that the board ought to do without the services of a dispenser. Mr. Moss said it was in accordance with the recom mendation of the Poor Law Board that the committee had formed the resolution, and it was submitted to the board for their confirmation. He would say that they should advertise for a dispenser, at a salary of £7O a-year, and try it for six months ; and then, if it failed, it could be given up. He thought it would be discreditable to the committee to have the resolution rescinded. He thought that an advertiselnent should beinserted in the papers specifying, that all duly qualified men were eligible as officers to the guardians, whether their mode of treatment was allopathy or homceopathy. He would therefore propose that they should not object to the application of any man on account of his mode of treatment, provided he was qualified in other respects. Mr. Harrison said, that these medical 'establishments were very expensive. They could get their medicines from the respectable druggists as they were required. They would, in order to establish a dispensary, have to fit up an establishment which ought to do for twenty or thirty years. He would, therefore, object to a medical estab lishment for the present. question th econc a l s us t i h o e n m e a o t in te e r h to ad w b as een ap a p h r e o a v d e y d Mr. Moss said, they were not in a position d to isc r us e- s o e p d 7 t a te d of by the Poor-law Board. The Chairman held Mr. Moss's opinion, untess some member was prepared to give notice of motion to have the resolution rescinded. Mr. Joseph Wilson gave notice of a motion for next ard clay Mr. John Wilson said it was simply ridiculous for these members to be coming forward with their objections. They were members of the medical com mittee, and if they did not like to attend the meeting, having as good an opportunity as other members, they should not come to the board to raise objections. Every one knew that they had a dispenser when the township was much less than at present. The Chairman said, there was a remark made by Mr. Moss which ought not to be lost sight of. As unprofes sional men, we are not competent to enter into the merits of allopathy and homoeopathy, but in our capacity as guardians, we are obliged to exercise our judgment in adopting that which we think is best for the comfort of the poor and the economy of the township. I, therefore, think, in common fairness, that homoeopathists should be invited to offer themselves as candidates for these situa tions—and more particularly so, seeing . that the Poor-law Board leaves it to our own discretion who we should appoint, at the same time showing they ap preciate highly the principle of homoeopathy, for they themselves are homoeopathists —for the Poor law commission, and the general board of health, make it imperative and binding on the guardians to see that the principle of homoeopathy be applied throughout the kingdom, to prevent disease and death in vaccination. We, as guardians, ought therefore to recommend the same principle, to restore health and preserve life, as wrought out in the homoeopathic treatment, by which mortality is smaller, the duration of illness shorter, and the expense much less than by the old system of treatment. But, as guardians, we are not to discuss the merits of the systems, as legislatures follow the example of the Liverpool Town Council, who allow the system of medical cure to grow without persecuting one system, or patronising another, but treating allopathy, homoeo pathy, hydropathy, and all other pathies, on an equality, where good is doing, by supporting them in their dispensaries and in their valuable baths, their sup good to the - people thai - all 'that could De monts by both homoeopathy and allopathy put together. At the same time, he must not lose sight how homoeopathy is gaining in favour with the inhabitants, as shown by the returns of the Allopathic and Homoeopathic Dispen saries. The last year the Southern and Northern Dispen saries issued 32,594 prescriptions, while the Homoeopathic, including the public and self sustaining dispensary for the poor, issued 32,704 prescriptions, being more prescriptions issued than the -whole of the issues of the Northern and Southern Dispensaries, with all their extensive places and large host of medical men. I, therefore, would recommend that duly qualified homoeopathists should be invited as candidates for these selections. Mr. Hughes said, by the introduction of homoeopathy, they would not need a large establishment for drugs. It was finally agreed that they should receive applica tions from any one properly qualified. The Clerk then read the following letters received from two of the medical officers . " TO THE CHAIRMAN AND BOARD OF GUARDIANS, TOR TETE PARK " Toxteth-park, Feb. 16, 1859. " Gentlemen,—Pray accept my acknowledgments for your courtesy in favouring me with a copy of Mr. Arch bold's opinion. Ire shows very clearly your remissness of duty in not arranging your intended medical changes before you had committed yourselves by entering on a second year. _ _ " Now, as to his assumption that the medical officers are at present working on sufferance, allow me to ask you, Who ever proposed to me to hold the office on suf ferance ? You never did. Again, Who authorised you to avail yourselves of my services on sufferance? I never did. Finally, I know of no contract or understand ing between us except an annual one, and to that agree ment I hold you. " If, in blind precipitation, you determine to involve the township in the expense of a double staff of medical officers, you will of course take the risk of being sur charged with the expenses . — I remain, gentlemen , your obedient servant, "E. Warrrui." " TO WILLIAM CLEAVER, ESQ. "Liverpool Feb. 16, 1859. " I beg to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. kr chbold's opinion, upon which I have taken legal advice. "I am advised that Mr. Archbold's conclusions are not warranted by law, and that I am legally entitled to my salary until the end of the year, which commenced from the Ist of October last; and I have, therefore, only to repeat my former determination to act as surgeon to the board until the Ist day of October 'next.--I -um, sir, yours faithfully, " B.'BARRETT." Mr. Moss said, the letter of Dr. Whittle was respect ful, but that of Dr. Barrett was impertinent in the highest degree. He had no doubt that the guardians had as good legal advisers as the medical officers, and these ,men ought to have known that their threats as to surcharg ing the board would amount to nothing, an d the board had power to discharge them on a moment's notice. The Clerk said, he would be accountable to any mem ber of the board who would be put to any personal ex pense on account of the surcharge in this matter. Mr. John Wilson moved, and Mr. Moss seconded, that the vaccinators get one month's notice, to the effect that after that time their servic es wou ld not be required. The Clerk said, the guardians were indebted to the treasurer £144 4s 4d, and that he refused to advance further. Mr. Moss moved., and Mr. Rogers seconded, that the officers be called upon to admice £l,OOO for the general purposes of the township. This concluded the business. On inquiring at the Northern Hospital last night, we learned that John Harris, the rigger, who fell from the foretopmast of a schooner in the Stanley Dock, and received severe injuries, is in a most precarious condition, and it is doubtful whether he will recover. OUR MAYOR AT HER MAJESTY'S LEVEE.—We under stand that orders have been received to the effect, that our worthy Chief Magistrate, with Mr. Turner and Mr. John Stuart, the mover and seconder of the address to her Majesty, are to attend at the next levee to present the address. And it is further stated, that there is e sensation amongst court dressmakers, as the repr9senta fives of Liverpool will, of course, hues to appear in that very questionable—or rather unqtionable costume, called " court dress." THE NORTHERN TIMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1859