The Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-12-14 00:00:00

wasff..a ---- SPECIAL MEETING. ieseribed KI g uilty tockings► !tile, and id house• :n prison 3 sent to well ing )1, on the welling om two Terty of months structed) lariouslY ;bleu g to t )ods an ,ptember aga inst s' -penal ed, and writes, 27th of veiling om one )ehind Ppped; Elite in the to ;o the . The y con- ender, , and ag, at aulted ger of a 17s. ition ; ridan, s case, wiefly raper, en on to the Clock, THE TOWN COUNCIL. THE PROPOSED NEW PUBLIC OFFICES. Yesterday, a special meeting of the Town Co was held at the Town:hall, to Jake into consideration and determine iipon the proceedings, resolutions, and report of the Special Committee appointed to consider plans for new public offices, and the following motion, of which notice had been given by Mr. J. R. Jeffery, (at the request of the Special Committee appointed to consider plans for new public offices.) To rescind or vary the following _resolution, passed by the Council on the 14th day of Noveinbet tast„Viz..!.- r z-"lhat the report ~be approved, subject to the above decisions of the Cotineil, viz., that the accommodation for the Mayor and the Council Chamber be not removed from the Town-hall, and that the plans, to be submitted for new public offices be limited to providing accommodation for the departments under the direction of the Health Watch, and Water Committees ) " and ) further, "That the instruc tions td the gedial dthriMittee tp COtigidef plans for new publit offices be in aeodidince with the resoliitioii, of the Council. passed,pn,the„4o,of last 1,. and; in addi q With power to the centalittee td enquire and t@pott Upon the accommodation necessary in each department of the . public service, and the probable saving to be effected by a concentration of all these departments." S. R. Graves, Esq., the Mayor, presided, and there was a pretty numerous attendance. Mr. Jon said before the business of the Council com- Meneed lie Wished to i-cnidrk thet,n,gl - cat r deal iiiedn tei4enhe,,i49. .hdiditift the - meeting Of the Council on Thursday itisteild of on Wednesday. He also' drew attention to the fact that several of the com mittees would feel not a little trouble and inconvenience by . this new arrangement. He was not aware of what had led to the chann.n. The MAYOR explained that in consequence of the *inter assizes having been opened yesterday (Wednes -40 ht; as Mayer of the lioroigli, felt cortivella no §erisp„af ,dllty,thati,Cortrtest, iq attend the Judges, and also to be present ).n hil place at the Orand Fo x y;, therethre he dorisidered that that day was not a desirable one on which the. special meeting of the Council could be held, and knowing the importance of the questions that should be discussed at the special meeting, he was unwilling that they should meet on Wednesday, which would be a very inconvenient one for thatyurpose,, Mr. Jon replied that the c4iunation sive& by his Worship was most satisfactory, arid lie was riot aware that the Mayor attended at the assizes., Mr. CHARLES TV R/OR wished to be,allowed to say that Thursdat was yartionAexly inconvenient,day for several, ingrii era „`c:f the Cotiricil td attend: also ietnitend tho. Thursday was the day on which the Dock board met, and it was not desirable that the two bodies should clash. Mr. JEFFERY then rose —He thought no committee of that Council would ask the mayor to call a special meeting, unless the circumstances were of so much importance as to render the request absolutely and undeniably necessary. It would be in the recollection of that Council that so long ago as the 4th of April last, the Council had appointed a special committe to consider the plans that were then and had been submitted to that Council for their consideration, with a view to the con centration of all the offices connected with that Corpora tion. That committee rejiireil rqort, and submitted it to that CiitinCil on the 26th of April, just twenty-two days after their appointment; but it was the pleasure of the Council to postpone the consideration of that report, until another report upon the finances of the Corporation should. have been submitted from the Finance Committee. The consequence was a delay in the discussion of that report of the Special ; Committee, until after its reappointment on the 9th of Noverriber. Being reappointed on the 9th 9,f . iotenitiet the commit toe ag-aiii nitt;, adotitdd the ieport they had, previously approved Of; and submitted it to the Council on the 14th t,f la.4t ihonth. When they submitted that report, it bkcited a considerable discussion, and it was rejected upon an amendment which it appeared doubtful-to him and several gentlemen with whom he had conversed, whether it could in strict order be received as an amend ment upon such a motion, because it went to destroy entirely the spirit and object for which the Special Com mittee had been appointed, namely, the concentration of all the departments into suitable offices, to be selected and submitted to the Council by that Special committee. The Special Committee met, however, subsequent to the reappointment, and their first duty was to ascertain what they had been instructed to do. They found instructions to find accommodation in a new building for three committees,—the Health, Water, and Watch. Upon enquiry they found that the Watch Committee he longer required aceemmodationl-4er two • reasons. tine *as that the new btilldingS in Dale-street afforded them a considerable amend of aficoninitidatidn. The next Was an arrangement Marie by the recommenda tion of the Aid it kionifilitten as to the financial business of the VtratO 136iiiihittee that withdrew all occasion for the use tiff Mr. White's staff from Cornwallis-street, and tbroiv that labour upon the treasurer in that building. When they found their instructions not to accord with What would really be their duty practically, they consi dered it to be their duty at once to come to the, Council and make that statement. Now it might not be necessary, if that was the whole of the case, without any further explanation, to have a special committee called to consi der such a question; but when they considered that the question which was overthrown upon an amendment was a question involving an annual expenditure by the Corporation of £30,000 a year in salaries, for the Council would remember that Upon a former occasion he submitted a list of various officers, the gross atnomat of Whose salaries eiceeded £44,000; but inasmuch as thet-e was a portion of that staff that would hot come within the list for the accommoda tion which that special committee had to provide, he had Struck off from his amount so mutat as wield be -kpplicable.-to those who did not require accommodation at their hands, and he believed that something like £30,000, not less, would be found to be the annual expenditure upon such of their officers as would be em braced within the accommodation which concentration would render necessary. But it was not alone the salaries which were in question, but the object was to give facilities, and to afford the greatest possible con venience within the most limited space to—what he was going to say—the fabulous number of officers consti • tuting the staff of this borough. Now, why was it that the staff was so excessive? why was it that the staff was so much larger than in the opinion, not only of himself, bat of many members of the Council, was absolutely necessary for the well-conducting of the business of that Corporation, provided the necessary number were to be placed in a suitable building, arranged according to their necessities, and according to the wants and true interests of the ratepayers of the town. They found practically vast inconvenience. He found that the Borough Engineer was in that building three, and four, and five hours out the eight hours in the the day some times, whereas if the Town-Clerk were to be within the the same walls, and under the same roof, not more than about one hour of those. three, or four, or five, would be necessary at any one time. And not only so, but if it happened to be on any given day of the week—he believed Wednesday and Friday, which were days appointed for receiving individuals who wanted informa tion from him, or aid of any sort—and that number, he was told, was from 50 to 60,—he was obliged to keep his vehicle at the door of the Public-offices, in Corn wallis-street, and was called away, keeping all of those parties waiting his return whatever the interval of time might be. Now, he took it if they could remedy that state of things, it was their duty to the community to do it. But it did not apply only to Mr. Newlands as borough engineer ; it applied in a greater or less degree to Mr. White, the treasurer of those committees ; it applied to the water engineer, Mr. Duncan ; and it applied occasionally to some members of their staff. (Hear, hear.) Nor was the inconvenience confined to their officers. He should not go very far back to give them instances, by way of illustration,' of the excessive and extreme inconvenience which arose to the members of that Council in the variousalepartments being scattered over different parts of the town. It was known to members of the Council that the Water Committee had been put to their wits' end to make their financial arrangements meet with their expenditure. A special committee • was appointed to take the sabject into consideration. They met in Cornwallis-street last Friday. They met there because the books were there, and those who were able to give the infor mation which they thought necessary were upon the spot. That sub-committee had not proceeded very far into that enquiry when it occurred to them that they should have the advice of the Town-clerk, or one of his deputies, whether what they were contemplating would be a legal decision when arrived at. They sent for Mr. M‘Gowan, but he was not in the building. Sending for the Town-clerk to such a distance as the Town-hall, would occupy their time more than necessary, and so they proceeded to do what they believed to be right. On the following Monday that sub-committee reported to the general committee in that room (the council chamber). The Town-clerk was present ; and it was necessary to refer to the minutes of that sub-com mittee—when, where were they said to be ? Not there ; not in the building, but in Hatham-street ; and they would have had to sit there and wait while they des patched a - messenger in a cab, or otherwise, to bring those minutes, but it so happened that the Town clerk put his hand upon a rough memorandum sent him for his guidance, and they made that suffice. Well, what did it result in ? The Town clerk told them that what they contemplated was illegal ; therefore the four hours which the gentlemen had spent in Cornwallis-street was time entirely thrown away. Now that would not have been so if they could have had proper advice from the legal officers of the Corporation in one building. Surely, if one happened to be out of the way, another or another would have been present. (Hear.) He said these were inconveni eneies which pressed heavily upon them, and demanded at the hands of the Council concentration as speedily as the Council could carry it into effect. Nor was that all. Many members of the Council were aware that the immediate assistant and deputy of the Town-clerk was about to vacate his office. The Town-clerk bad informed the Finance Committee at their last meeting if concentration had been carried out he should not have asked the Council to have appointed a successor. (Hear.) There they had a case immediately demonstra tive of the desirability, financially, of concentrating their public offices, and that as speedily as possible; but what it was proposed to do was not concentration, and for his part he should say rather remain where they were, and make the best of what they had got than expend £30,000 or £40,000, plus the cost of the land, or almost anything whatever, unless they accomplished concentra tion. (Hear). Now, it was stated in their last debate by Mr. Charles Turner that those who advocated con centration ought to put the. Council in a position to exercise their own judgment whether the economy, or anything approaching to the economy stated, would be accomplished—whether or no £6,000 a-year, £5,000, .or £4,000 a-year would be saved by concentration; and if so, what facility would also be given in the dis charge of public business. He agreed with Mr. Turner perfectly ; and he was of the opinion, and was supported by the opinion of the Town-clerk, that the resolution appointing that Special Committee, gave ample powers to investigate that question. Now, if the Council had allowed the committee to proceed on the 14th of July, instead of suspending their operations, he had no doubt a report would have been presented showing what, monetarily, might have been saved, and what additional facility would-be given both to the officers and members of that Council ; but the hands of that Special Committee were tied—they were desired to do nothing until the Finance Committee had made its report; but he was puzzled from the first, as he was that day, to know what connection or affinity there was between that report and the object of the Special Committee. (Hear, hear.) When Mr. Newlands prepared pins, he had been requested to obtain his information, as to the accommodation required, from the heads of the Various departhients of the Cofporation: In his (Mr. Jettery's) qpinidn; there ednid lie nOthirig more iujudi ciodi and unwise, Eis those hedds *Aid look hot oply to present. aceommoilationrequired, .but,would Also like to s,eo,.,accolninodition prqvided for future possible and probable necessities:. Now it was tbe,intention of,. the Special dommittee' had they been alloWed to go forward with the t as k entrusted td tlidiii, id bah bad before them the heads of the various departments, in order that they might individually and collectively come to a con clusion as to what.they thought each department would require, so as to give the greatest accommodation, the greatest facility, and he should say the greatest comfort. Ant it mug . mt e lostsight of that ,the Town=clerk was the dxfetece upon tantidipal Wheelletelved . and if they took away the axletree, they could not i 4 what would become of the vehicle. The Town-clerk was held responsible, in spirit, for the conduct of his subordinates; but how was it possible lie could fairly be held so when the different offices were scattered over the town ? They had a recent instance of patties being 51iMnioned before the bench for non-payment of water -006, by (ilep!ity of the j Tite heddh clo *lo, ,and he thotiOt ,verS , proDerli *T it wag ag,dtritist hnniniOn§, for the triembei3 Of, th 6 :11"40 CeibMfttee had themselves pronounced that the old mode Of.levying the rate was attended with injustice, and they had anew act to remedy the evil. Yet the Deputy Town-Clerk summoned parties for noncompliance with that which the committee had admitted to be wrong ; and had put the Oorporation ; to exponse, and iridivi,dua,ls. ' to the dritic)San'e;e Of; Appearing in ?!'curt ltl arisyVef to ,h 0 slim= Mons to vindicate themselves. (dear, hear.) When he asked the Town-Clerk how that was done, and why, he said he knew nothing of it whatever—that his deputy had alone it on his own account ; he had never consulted the Town-clerk: had he been consulted he should have told Mi. MGowan to have done no such thing. Now, if they were to have one head—and one head was essential to the working; of the corporate business=Ahat head must be the Town-clerk; and he sdbtiiitted that efefythirig should go to the TOwri-clefk. lii prteditinit td cirle df the principal officers of the eorpo , ration he said. " 1e Idok to the Town.;cierfi as our commanding chief ; we have to gti to hini for orders and I don't go upon a question inVolVing law, however remote, without consulting him ; but my offices are at a distance, and I have to go to the Town-hall before I can see the ToWn.:elerk;" Now that all Oceilpied tine, arid theY , kriesi piaCtidally, if they had any business to de, and were Called from their seats every quarter of an hour, or even every honr, hoW those interruptions' abstracted their thoughts, destroyed their time, and copseqiiently interfered with their usefulness. (Hear, liearl There was one question besides which was in+olved hi tile, .feSdidtion before them. and that was the convenience dr nod-6°6011164e Of that Chuncil: chamber. There were a great many . gentlemen hi the room who suffered excessive inconvenience from the heated atmosphere with which that room was filled after so large a number of gentlemen had been within its walls for three or four hours. Therefore, that was a question which • demanded consideration, for he was sure ,that . the_ ratepayers would never require' them to attend there to the sacrifice of their health, whatever sacrifice it might be of time. Then the Council had referred to the Finance Committee the question of enlarging that room, ,and a report was brdught iip, einliddying ii report from the surveyor, that the cost would be £2,004. Ike believed he was right in saying that was not decided upon, b e c a u se it was anticipated that the offices would be concentrated, and a council-chamber provided in the same building. ("No, no.") He believed he was right in saving that was the general understanding. ("No.") Well, he spoke for himself; he opposed the expenditure Qf £2,000 on that room, because he believed ,it Would he money throWn aW4—tliat it. ‘Votild hot gibe theni the accommodation required—and further, that whatever was done, Unless the public were admitted, would be unsatisfactory.. (Hear.) He knew that opinion was. unpalatable to some members of the Council, and he hoped that those gentlemen who 'differed from, him would give utterance to their opinion, that the public out of doors might know who' were for and against the proposal that the council-chamber, should be an open room. There should be a 'door by which those who sent them there could enter, listen, and see who attended in their places, and how long they occupied their • places when they did attend, that they might have an opportunity clearly to see how the business was conducted; and they should know whether a "seat there conferred honour upon the individual, or the individual honoured the seat. He should not detain the Cotincil longer. If there was any information that any member of that Council desired to receiveovhich it Was in his'power to impart, he should be happy to give it him. .He hoped, however, the Connell that day would meditate, Would serimisly con sider the result of the division to be taken that day, and th at the cost was but a secondary point. The report submit ted by the special Committee was to know if the Council would 'consent to an expenditure of £O,OOO for the erection of ..the building ; or if that were too much, let them say £50,000 or £4o,ooo—the committee would provide plans which would come within any expenditure the Council might deem necessary; and the land left for the use of the Council, -the front land being dis posed of, materially 'reduced the cost. He asked the Council to allow the 'committee to proceed, and that they should be permitted to make a report in conformity with the resolution upon their books,—and if when that report - was brought up, if the Council disapproved of the plans and expenditure, let them:at least not sliut out the information of which the committee were ..pos sessed, and which' they were • desirous to give them. Mr-. Jeffery concluded by moving a resoliktion in the .terms of the COuneil summons: Mr. Alderman Dover seconded the motion, The MAyrut asked if it were the pleasure of the council to approve of the resolution. (Loud cries of " no, no"). Mt nEt.ot called upon the. Town-clerk to read the repute a... 4 1.. btul ilium up on this subject, and whin had been submitted to a former meeting of the Council, especially as he had forgotten all about it. The Town-clerk then read the report, which has already appeared in our columns. Mr. CnARLEs TURNER wished to be informed as to the resolution come to by the - Watch Committee, wherein they stated that they did not require any accommodation. Mr. jEFFERY remarked he was not aware that any resolution had been passed by the Watch Committee to that effect ; he and those who acted with him on the Special Committee - received their information from three members of the Watch - Committee, and he was not aware that it refused the sine qua non of passing a resolution. Mr. CHARLES TURNER said he was perfectly astonished at the reply given to his query by Mr. Jeffery, in refer ence to these proceedings. It appeared that the state ment that the Watch Committee needed no accommo dation, rested upon the mere statement of the Special Committee, and not upon any resolution come to by the members of the Watch Committee—it rested upon the assertion or opinion of one or two gentlemen composing the committee appointed for a special purpose. He considered that a most improper mode of conducting the business of the • Council, and the affairs of any of its committees. He asked was it justifiable, or were the Special Committee warranted in making a statement relative to another committee, for which they had no authority or power. Mr. Avrsorr observed that he was not, present at the special meeting of the Council in the last month, and, therefore, he might say that he came that day to the discussion then going on, in some respects unprejudiced. He had listened with a great deal of pleasure and attention to the able speech of Mr. Jeffery, on a question which he considered and looked upon as important a one as would come before that Council for consideration. for some time. (Hear, hear.) It was a question involving a very considerable outlay of exenditure. Mr. Jeffery had, no doubt, brought forward'strong arguments in favour of concentration, and he thought every member of the Council should commend it, but still lie hardly thought that the question of concentration was involved in the question. The Council, at the special meeting last month did not decide that there should be no concen tration of the public offices. The question was not that they should have concentration, but whether they should have a new building for the council-chamber and accommodation for the Mayor. He thought that this latter was really the question which they would then have to discuss. It should be borne in mind that the Corporation of Liverpool was a very old one, • and it should also be borne in mind that they already had a public building which was an ornament to the town, and the admiration and pride of all ranks and grades, from royalty downwards. He contended that in refer ence to the question which was then before the Council, it should be taken into consideration what they intended to do with that magnificent structure in which they were then assembled. (Hear, hear.) The fact of .the matter was this, that if Mr. Jeffety's plan and sugges tions were carried out., sooner or later that fine building would necessarily come down, and the land be sold. (Cries of " No, no.") He repeated his assertion, for if they erected a building which would be a suitable accom modation for the Mayor and also a new' council-chamber, he should then like to know what the public would say,- whether they would or would not allow, or be contented to allow such a valuable site, as undoubtedly that land was, to remain useless, except indeed for the purpose of the Mayor , f or the time being, receiving guests and entertaining strangers. He confessed that he had some old and cherished associations connected with, that building, and he should, be very sorry to see it pulled down without any reason, at least any cogent reason, for doing so. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Jeffery had alluded to the subject of the Town-clerk and his assistants, and adduced that fact as an argument in support of concen tration. It appeared to him that the Town-clerk, willing and able as he no doubt was, could not perform impossibilities. ' He got through a good deal of work, but it was perfectly absurd to suppose that he could do the work of three or four persons, He could not, more over, account for everything that was done by the many officials employed under him ; it would be monstrous to hold him responsible for every act performed, and every word said, by the numerous clerks engaged in his office, and the many persons connected witehim. For instance, Mr. Walters, at the court of quarter sessions, the other day, had made use of certain observations ; and would it, he asked, be fair to make the Town-clerk responsible for this. Mr. JEFFERY—He (Ur. Walters) has denied it. Mr. Avisorr, in continuation of his speech; remarked that he recollected the time when the Court of Quarter' Sessions and the Court of Paisage was held in the room in which they were then sitting, and he did not see why some plan should not be adopted by which the council-chamber could be enlarged and extended, and the same ground "given back to them that had been for merly appropriated to the Court of Justice. Why not have accommodation sufficient for the Council in the building in which they were assembled. They should also have .accommodation for the public to be admitted into the council-chamber to hear their debates, in the same way that the public were allowed to be present and hear the proceeding of 'a public court of justice. He did not object to the public being admitted to the council-chamber, while the members of the Council were discussing the various. questions that would be brought before them ; on the contrary, he was in favour of the adoption of such a course. (Hear, hear.) But the fact was he did not think that the public would care about coming in to hear their debates. (A laugh.) • They might 'drop in out of mere curiosity for once or twice, a nrrdthen(Anotask Voice, “toGitvre them an opportunity")oublethemselveabou: tcoming a g ain. Mr. STEAINS said it was not often that he differed from his friend the last speaker,----but he should do so t o n d o the mi t. present r. Anvei s toh o n c o c u a cgo s occasion, regretful containing nhagd more neve fallaciouso listenedweve r h te reasoning might speech from o j be than the one that he had just given utterance to. ma intained that for all practical purposes the Watch Committee were amply provided in Dale-street. In the Course of a long sPeeeli, he 'Anted MR the adtantages that would be conferred. On the CAncil and the Corpo rate, estate by the principle of Concentration being carried out: , Tt would, J ul flip fl i rot pqee, affurd facili ties for, the borough engineer and their ,talented sur veyor conferring together in: the one billiding ; then there was, another, point which had .not been alluded to, and . that ~was the loss of .time which was in flicted iiPpn gentleman of the ,legal t profession—such lig his friends Alr: Avison and Mr. Lloyd. Ile appealed to them whether the atedninicidation for them in the Court of Passage was sufficient or not. He did not think so, for he looked upon it as a little dog's hole, in which he had frequently seen some dozen or twenty members of the legal profession perfectly cooped lip;, Witlient scarcely sufficient acommodation to move abet.* It *do a,diseitaeo to that Corporation,—(hear, hear)—and he wondered ie.ty introit that the Law Society did not t a ke the matter up as a pnblie grievanee, for such it certainly was in every sense of the word. He believed that by the adoption of the proposed plan a direct saving of £6,000 / a, year would be effected, and the indirect saving would be incalculable. (Hear, hear.)' lie did not attach much importance to the qilestien of ithat lras to be done with the present Town hall ; he MO siSoke his ,o'Ori C , pirlieni but still he would net interfere With that biiilding. He Woidd have it for the, purposes of accommodating his `worship; and his retinue of servants; for holding ,his banquetting and 1 1 entertaining rooms in it arid he would also have secretary ,speCially retained, .particularly as he h a d beep .informed the .duties of . the mayoralty, had, been se increased that „Akre. ; 4F; Plenty, of work for a secretary to do, and to which alone he should have to direct his exclusive attention. He did not attach any great importance to the removing of the council-chamber, and if it were determined that a new council-chamber should be built, he should most deci dedly advocate the admission of the public, as a conces sion to the growing intelligence and spirit of the age in which they lived. (Hear, hear.) He, however, agreed with Mr. Avison that the public out of doors might Come in once or twice, but if they knew as much about the Council as he (Mr. Steains ) did, they would take very good care not to trouble themselves about coming a third time, or about coming at all. (Laughter.) In proof of the good that would be effected by the adoption of the principle of Concentration ; lie pointed out that they would be able to do with one treasurer; and he was,not quite sure whether the duties of the ToWn clefk, who was no*, so to speak, subdivided into fair or' five individnalsi Might riot be cl!diie in dupli cate.' They would also be enabled to make a reduction considerable reduction—in that enormous staff of Mr. Newlands, and also in the number of rate-collectors. He did not ask the Council to come to a decision in the matter, but merely to refer, it to the Special Com mittee, or a new committee, who could, after having gone into a Consideration of the whole question, draw up a report; rind aritimit it .to the Cotincil. He wanted a further consideration td lie giVen id the mattef. Mr. CiikaLus TURNER, after hearing th 6 Speech of Mr. Jeffery in introducing the resolution of the Special Committee, and also having heard the speech of the last speaker, confessed he was at a loss to know for what purpose they had been called together that day. The subject had been discussed at very great length at the Special Committee meeting which was called for the particular purpose in November. That meeting of the Council had been called for that special purpose--to consider the report of the committee in the month of Noveniber, and the matter was discussed at great length — , and after the most mature deliberation, the Council came to the resoltition Which it had been since invited to reseirld. The . subject also fortried matter for the further consideration of the Council at their last monthly meeting: Dot, it scented that they had been called together on that occasion for the purpose 'Which some gentlenien had in vie*, namely, to rescind' those two decisions of the Coundil. The ratter had assumed a very great number of phases since it was first brought forward (hear, hear) by Mr. Alderman Dover, chair man of the Health Committee, so far back as 1856. It was then stated by Mr. Dover that the object, the sole object of the Health Committee, was to remeve the offices merely for the purpose of removing the offices of the Health, Watch, and Water Com-, mittees. from Cornwallis-street to Dale street. .. That subject was further debated in July, 1857, and a resolu, tion was then moved by Mr. Paver, and seconded by Mr. John' Holm, when Mr. Dover stated that this subject was not a crotchet of the Health Committee, but. that it was an independent and salenin resolution of the Health .donimittee. It was also stated by Mr. Dover at that time, that the total expense would be about £2,700. He then *eat en to 'say, that a most suspicious silence, had been observed by Mr. Jeffery with respedt to the town's meeting, Which had been called to consider this subject. Mr. Jeffery, who was there as, pat' excellence, the repres e nt a ti ve of the people. it the Council, or at any rate, as assumed that character to himself—(hear, hear, and laughter),—did not at all allude to the public meeting that had been convened to discuss this question. Well, the solemn opinion of that public meeting of the people of Liverpool was pretty unanimous against any such expenditure, as alluded to by Mr. Dover, being allowed. He then referred to what they had.been told, that the Watch Committee did not want any aecomniodation, and he ronfessed that, to his mind, that seemed a loose mode of conducting business. He thought it was so, especially after the Chairman of the Health Committee had brought a solemn resolution that the Health, Watch, and Water Committees should be provided with accommodation. A great deal had been said with reference to this Concentration of the Public-offices, and a great deal had been said also with reference to the inconvenience which was new sustained by the officers of the Connell; but as to that subject he would not say much. With regard to what had been said about the pestiferous and pestilential atmosphere of the council-chamber, he Would simply observe that he would.haok round that room and he at once saw num bers of gentlemen who seeined._toilave been_in the hest possible health. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Why, 'there was Mr. Jeffery himself, and he seemed to have wonderfully improved both in looks and stoutness during the last three or four years that he was in the Council. (Laughter.) If it were a pestilential atmosphere the speaker did not care about being in a better. In con elusion, he moved as an amendment that the question be referred to the Surveyor, Mr. Weightman, to pre pare plans for the accommodation of the Health, Watch, and Water ComniittetS, either in Dale-street or at the Sessions-house, .as he, upon inquiry, might deem ex pedient. Mr. EARLE, in rising to second the motion, said it was perfectly clear that everybody in the room should see that the reason the present meeting was called was for the purpose of canvassing the question, whether they should have a large hall that certain members of the Council might have all opportunity to gratify their little vanities in hearing the applause of the public ringing in their ear s w hil e listening to their speeches. (Laughter.) Mr. Jeffery seemed particularly anxious that the public should know who voted for this measure, and who voted for that, and who voted against it. He for one should not have the least objection to the public being admitted to 'the Council-Chamber were it not that it was more than probable they should have inflicted on them longer speeches in consequenCe. (A laugh.) As to the sick ness visible in the room, by reason of the meetings being held in the council-chamber, he candidly con fessed th a t th e only nausea he ever experienced in it was to heat a long speech. (Loud laughter.) It made him sick, :perfectly sick. if also the number of times that Mr. Jeffery rose to address the Council were counted, it would be found that he occupied more time than any three or four persons in the Council. (Hear, hear.) He would ) however, say that that gen tleman's arguments in favour of concentration were excellent, and in having the offices removed to Dale street, but the opinion of the town was not in favour of that body being removed front the building Where they then were. (Hear, hear') Mr. CLARKE ASEINAII said he had been perfectly alarmed by, Mr. Steains on that occasion. He thought his kind sympathy for those members of the Council who were of the legal profession was entitled to a great deal of consideration. He did not, however, agree with Mr. Steains, or Mr. Anybody-else, Who said that the question of the existence or non-existence of the Town hall for municipal purposes was a minor point. (Hear, hear.) Messrs. Stitt and Parker also addressed a few obser vations; to the Council on the subject. Mr. SHIMAIN then rose and addressed the Council. He said—lt Seems that this question of proposed new public offices, though now very complicated, had its origin in a very simple proceeding; and further, that when thoroughly investigated, it comes back again to the same proportions. (Hear, hear.) The object of purchasing the Saracen's-head in Dale-street by the Finance Committee, was for improvement. They then proposed to sell, but the Health Committee got counsel to stop them, on the ground that the site was good for the Cornwallis-street offices, Then the scheme for new offices enlarged—first, by the Chamber of Commerce suggesting the removal of the Post -office there ; and secondly, by suggestions to remove all the Town-hall offices to the same spot; and an Act of Parliament obtained for all the three purposes in 1858. From that period up to the present moment, we have had nothing but squabbling, and the public have to pay interest and sinking fund on about £llO,OOO, exclusive of the large amount paid by the Finance Committee, without a particle of benefit to anybody. The whole proceeding is, to my mind, anything but creditable to a company of gentlemen pretending to be conversant with business. Having got the land tied round our necks, the question now is, what are we to do with it? The Government decline to proceed with the Post-office part of the business ; then there is an end to that. If I understand the matter rightly, the Health Committee say that their offices are not suitable for the work. The Water Com mittee say the same. Sir, I think they are entitled to be consulted, and to have their reasonable wi s h es attended to. Now really, sir, this is the only subject upon which any alteration whatever can be fairly demanded; and the wishes of the two committees can be met by providing them with a suitable place on the land in question. (Hear, hear.) This would involve but a comparatively small outlay, and would leave a large quantity of land which should be sold without delay. Indeed this is all the Health Committee origi nally asked; and the scheme for concentrating all the offices, is something that has been grafted upon their. resolution by other hands. That is a subject which they, as a Health Committee, have nothing whatever to do with—it is wholly beyond their province. The Cancil has already determined that the scheme for new offices shall be of the limited character I have named, and this it did deliberately, and by a large majority of the Council, at a meeting , specially called to consider the ques tion. Those who wish to alter that resolution are, I submit, bound to satisfy this Council as to what is to be done with this magnificent and valuable building if the business be removed; and if they can show anything satisfactory on this head, then they must next show some advantages to be gained by tho change commen surate with its cost. (Hear, hear.) Sir, as to throwing away the present beautiful Town-hall, that is a pro position so absurd as not to demand a word from me. Now, what are the advantages suggested supposing this difficulty be got rid of ? Mr. Jeffery has told us con centration will effect a saving of £6,000, a year ; but it would be much more satisfactory if he told us how ! I deny it, and challenge him to make good his statement. Supposing all the offices were under one roof, there is not one of the heads of departments that can be dis pensed with. And if Mr. Jeffery differs with me let him name the than who is unnecessary. Sir, you may possibly dispense with a draftsman or two by bringing the surveyor's and two engineers' staffs together; and you may strike off two or three copying clerks if you bring the different branches of the Town-clerk's estab lishment together; but you can do no more, and this will not effect, a saving of -6,000 shillings. Sir, I warn this Council against being led away with vague un founded statements as to any pecuniary saving worthy of notice being . possible. I protest in the name of the ratepayers against their money being thrown away Upon any such pretext. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Thnaßocates of Otteentratioft appear to have no great confidence themselves as to pedumary saving ? for they het up' another reason, namely,_ that it will he Worth all the i expenditUreHthat thew Ton:clerk should hale' the different gentlenien, ‘ Who conduct odr business, in the,same building with hinf. IsToW,,this, to say the most,: can :only, apply.to, two offieers and it inVoltds , w sop charge against them,.which, ,if worth anything, ; would represent them to be undeserving of our ,confidence, They are not here to defend themselves;: I think ,they need no clefetite; Those who knovr how ,these gentle men conduct their business, wiil admit that we shall,get % no more out of them, with any amount of sebjection under which they may be placed ; and if so, then this pretext . for concentration is as shallow and unfounded as the 'alleged necessary saving. All that is really nesiessary, Mr. Mayor, will be accomplished by erecting offees for the Ifealth and Water Committees, in an inexpensive form, tied fealisiog p quickly as possible the rest of the valuable property row running waste. (Hear, hear and applause.) Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE then rose and addressed the Council. He would commence by stating that he little thought that to a faithful servant and a distin guished man—a man admittedly possessed of great abi lities---siteh aft Insult would he offered to his judgment and discretion, as that there should be found members of the Tdwii Council Atha tould rise and ignore one of the most able reports . eVer presented to the Council by, the ToWn=clerk: SiirelY , if there efer was a document *tight ; into existence, Whin decrial along with it trail withdtit flctidn, ,it i*ag this rettort, *hid' so, fully and fairly detailed . ciert eirOtiistande dorineaed with the question. He felt for the position u Which the Town-clerk was placed, , as that gentleman winild see that the drift of this debate was likely to end in an opposite direction to what he had pointed out. He felt that the Town-clerk had not had that measure of justice dealt out to him which was his due in in preparing and considering that report. There was that in the report which the Council had never yet dis covered, namely, the best means of economising its expenses, and rendering the management of the corpo rate estate much less expensive than it has been. The chairman of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board—for what reason he could not tell—had taken an active part in reference to this matter, and in the discussions upon the subject; and it certainly came with very bad grace from a gentienian who was a member of the Dock Board ; and of that Council, to say that he thought silty-foot members of the Connell, independently of the gentlemen of the press, slniuld Eliot Within those walls, while that gentle man, as chairman of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, where the members did not number crier tWenty-eight, sat in a larger room than the council-room. Mr. Turner had the advantages of finding himself in a large, airy, capacious, and commodious room, while the Council was obliged to sit in a small room. What would Mr. Turner think if the several committees composing the Dock Board met in different parts of the town ? and if Mr. Tdrner justified a division of labour with reference to the Wilding in which they were sitting, why did he not apply the same firiiielple in the same way to the Mersey Dock Board ? The speaker . theft referred to Mr. Clarke Aspinall; and said that although they niast all admire the ability of that gentleman, yet upon this occasion he had really not got to the commencement of the question. The surveyor's report, to which Mr. Aspinall had alluded, stated that the scheme was prac ticable; but it was burdened with so many objections, that the Council were induced to abandon it for the time. Mr. Aspinall was also under a misapprehension in supposing that that building, if the Council left it, would be friendless and deserted. Did any man suppose that, with such a splendid site of land, there was no owner to be found for the Wilding ? This subject had been so frequently before the Council, that he had a sort of nausea in again hearing it. debated. He con• chided by saying that he would hate great pleasure in supporting the motion of Mr. Jeffery. Mr. JEFFERY rose to reply: Whatever might be the result of this debate, he felt that every one had had ample time and opportunity to come to a right conclu sion. Mr. Avison, he understood, was agreeable to the accommodation being granted for the public offices, minus the Council Chamber and the accommodation for his Worship the Mayor. But he (Mr. Jeffery) would not with hold his opinion from that Council that if they went so far they must go on further, and would very soon discover that they had been wrongly advised. Mr. Avison supposed that the Town-hall must be pulled down, but he could not understand why this should be; and he (Mr. Jeffery) did not think that after hearing what had been said to-day he would be of the same opinion. Mr. Turner began by saying that Mr. Jeffery had ignored the public town's meeting. This he would deny. At that town's meeting the opinion was certainly in favour of concentration, but it was thmight that it should not be done by taxing the ratepayers, but out of the present means possessed by the Corporation. He would ask Mr. Turner how he would like the Dock Board to meet in that room and have their papers and documents at the Revenue buildings ? He would go further, and would venture to say that if the Council were to offer the rooms to the Mersey Dock Board, Mr. Turner, as the chair man of that board, would refuse it, because it was detached. Mr. Turner proposed that the Council should ignore its own existence and' decide that it was incom petent to consider the question, but leave it to one individual. Mr. Jeffery then referred to Mr. Earle, who commenced his remarks by saying he was sick. Mr. EARLE—What's that, sir ? Mr. JEFFERY (loudly)—Why, you said you were sick, and the sick generally require a nurse. Mr. Entix—You have nearly broken the drum of my ear. (Laughter.) Mr. JEFFERY, in continuation, then referred to Mr. C. Aspinall's speech, and to his allusions to the closeness of the council-chamber. When the chamber was first constructed only forty-one members met in it, and now there were 50 per cent. over that number, who had only the same accommcidation as the forty-one had. And he would ask whether the old corporation ever sat from eleven to four and five o'clock every month, and sometimes twice a month. Ile believed that if they gave permission for this report to be made, it would be such a one as had never been heard before. It would give information to the Council which would enable it to come to a decision as to whether the offices should be erected or not. • But i(they negatived this resolution, they could not justify their conduct to their representatives. Mr. TURNER said he would withdraw his amendment, and be content with a negative to Mr. Jeffery's motion. The question was then put to the vote, when the voting was as follows : For.—Aldermen William Bennet and Thomas Dover; Councillors John J. Stitt, Richard Sheil, James Crellin, Roger Haydock, James Steains Edward Estill, John Rogers, Robertson Gladstone, james A. Picton, Jame s R. Jeffery, Richard M. Beckwith, J. W. Cropper, and Thomas Vernon. Against—The Mayor; Aldermen John Buck Lloyd, James Parker, Thomas Robinson, Joseph Cooper, J. Hayward Turner, Richard C. Gardner, and J. Bramley- . Moore ; Councillors Thomas D. Anderson, Daniel Cros. thwaite, Clarke Aspinall, John Shimmin, Wm. Johnson, James Tyrer, Charles Turner, Thomas Avison, David Rae, Henry C. Beloe, Thomas Ridley. W. P. Jeffreys, Thomas Wagstaff, Thomas B. Job, James A. Tobin, Charles Motley, William Earle, Robert Hutchison, James Johnson, George Nickson, Joseph Kitchen, John Farnworth, Samuel Siddeley, Joseph Steel, and J. G. Livingston. The motion was consequently lost, by 15 to 33. There being no other business before the Council, the meeting terminated. THE DAILY TIMES, FRIDAY, DECEATI3ER 14, 1860. THE WORKHOUSE COMMITTEE. The usual weekly meeting of this committee was held yesterday, in the board room of the parish offices, Brownlow-hill. The chair was occupied by Mr. Churchwarden Cropper ; and the other members present were Messrs. Churchwarden Smith, Peck, Satchel!, Owen, Whitty, Critchley, and Williams. The governor reported that the number in the house was, last week, 2,403 ; this week, 2,403 ; corresponding week of last year, 2,208. He also reported that the Sample Committee had rejected three pieces of grey cloth supplied by the contractor, Mr. P. Williams, as inferior to sample. The vagrants relieved in the night sheds numbered 196 men, 135 women, and 30 children, shewinc , an increase of 1 5 persons over the former week, and 85 over the corresponding week of last year. The hospital returns were as follow :—Remaining last week, 400 men and 289 women ; admitted since, 106 men and 78 women ; cured and discharged, g l men and 69 women ; died, 17 men and 4 women; remaining under treatment, 408 men and 294 women • making a total of 702 persons. A conversation occurred with reference to the increas e in the consumption of wine in the hospital. The returns shewed that the increase was about 100 per cent. On examination, however, it was found that the patients had increased in an equal ratio. A letter from the oontractor, Mr. P. Williams, Was read. He stated that the 'cheeks refused by the Sample Committee were equal to sample, and some of them superior. It was, he said, not fair that they should not have stated that the greatest portion of the goods were really superior to sample. Mr. PECK remarked that his opinion was unchang e d . . However, he admitted that some of the goods were better than others. Mr. WHITTY stated that on the whole no contractor had given greater satisfaction than Mr. William s , although sometimes the Sample Committee were obliged to refuse some articles. Mr. SATCHELL hop ed these remarks would make t he Sample Committee mo re careful in future. After some further c onversation, during which th e chairman said the Sample Committee were very careful, the subject dropped. The consideration of an application from the chaplain to change the hour of service on Sunday afternoon from six to three o'clock, was postponed for a week. The usual allowance of Christmas beer for the paupers was granted. There was no other business before the co mm itt ee , and the meeting was adjourned. SALE OF PAINTINGS, &c.—We call attention t o a n advertisement in another column announcing the sale, " Wednesday next, by Mr. Branch , of a valua b le collec tion of modern paintings, water-colour drawings, and beautifully illustrated works. THE FEDIALE SAILOR. --Anne Stuart, the " female sailor," has left Brownlow-hill Workhouse. She left her male attire behind her. It is not known precisely where she is at present. Several letters have been re ceived for her at different times. One was read yester day at the Workhouse Committee. It was from the lady of a clergyman, and contained some wholesome advice. HEALTH COMMITTEE. The usual weekly meeting of the Health Committee was held yesterday morning, in the Council-chamber ; Mr. Alderman Dover sidin The other membe rs present were I\lessrs. Shell, Ridley, ovg. Steel, Job, and Stitt. The' usual weekly reports of the inspector of nuisances, borough engineer, and the officer of health were read. Neither of them contained any very interesting points ; the mortality of the town during the week was reported to be, as has been the case for a good many weeks, less than that of the corresponding week of the previous ten years..--The sub-committee appointed under the act for the prevention of the adulteration of food and drink, reported that they had been occupied considerable time in considering whether its provisions should be adopted for Liverpoil, an d that they had obtained from the commissioners of sewers in London a copy of the, report by Dr. Letheby. It appeared that London had, determined to adopt the act, but the sub committee had not formally made up their minds what course to adopt with reference to this borough.—The street sub-committee, to which had been referred a number of applications, recommended that several streets Should be paved and flagged, and sewers constructed in places where it had been said they were wanted. THE DOCK BOARD. The usual weekly meeting of this board was held yesterday, at the Dock-offices. Mr. Rankin presided ; the other members present were Messrs. Shand, Bold, Boult, ird, Hubback, Littledale, Smith, Arnold, Inman; Brocklebiank. Segakrorwood, Lockett, Darby shire, Langton, Itulchison, Andersdn ? and Tobin. COI4MITTEi. Fiorn nroutes of AO committee it appeared that the M l aster ,ASTration,' havin g been Con . - stilted as to the cOnstrqiion o ft'lieqcl i e' Wall; of the new Graving Docks, had suggested that at the bottoin bnge hlockS„shoup. be laid upon rails; and this ha'd been' referred for tie consideration of the engineer.=-3tr. Myerp had, written, asking the terms for from 2,000 to 5,00 TY square yards of land on the north side of the Great Float, for lhe Catkin of creosote-works. Mr. LAIRD, in reference to the Cialirtg Ducks, pointed out the advantage of having vertical walls, a frriirciple by which they were enabled to accommodate more vesielf than by having sloping sides and steps. One of his docks, constructed on this principle, was 440 feet long, Grid he ~could accommodate two vessels of 2,000 t ons each and aie of 1,200 tons, making 5,000 tons of shipping. Now there' Was . ire/ similar lengths op the Liverpool side which could aCionntrcedate such a number of ships; and as both iron and steak' de is Were ins creasing so rapidly, the objection raised to thdi 63 7 gerri ,of docks before could not prevail. Mr. Laird nett referred to the system of indemnity bonds exacted from ships entering the Birkenhead docks. He had under stood that by this time the guarantee would be with drawn, as there would be a sufficient depth of water in the nag: Mr: ,Buockrxiiiarg. said it it was intended to con- Aida the trew.graving docks on the same principle as thOse on this side of the liter, and the matter was one which had received great eonsidefation from the engi,- neer. The plans had been sUbliiitte'd td the master-- shipwrights, who approved of the system With gOine slight alteration : it was suggested that rails should be. laid down at the bottom of the dock, so that bilge blocks might be drawn under a vessel from one side to another. The question would be before the Works Committee on' Saturday, when Mr. Laird or any other gentleman might, attend. Mr. SMiTh said the only object which the board could have was, that the graving docks should be completed upon the most efficient priuciples possible. Mr. Laird was himself a member of the Works Committee, but for the first time at that board had come out with his sug gestion. Mr. I3OIJD said the question of vertical walls was not a new one it had frequently been before the committee when they were altering the graving docks. He should like to' see the principle tried in one of the docks, with the iniproternent Or the American sirsteru f suggested by Mr. Boult, for &toting etYt the shores. Mr. INMAN said there was a diffetente in the work ing of such a dock by Mr. Laird, where all employed were his own workmen, and a dock where antagonistie ship carpenters would have to work side to side together. Mr. LOCKETT said, some time ago Mr. Maclver and others had complained of the enormous expense of hav ing vertical sides to the Huskisson lock, north and south. The CIWRMAN was sure that any suggestion offered by Mr. Laird Wotild be fully considered by the committee. Mr. BROCKLEIiANk thought the whole discussion premature, as the plans Would hate to emcee before the board for their consideration. The proceedings were then confirmed. The proceedings of the Warehouse Committee, which comprised a recommendation to appoint four apprentices whose term has expired, as landing clerks at Stanley warehouse, at £BO per annum, were read and confirmed. THE MARINE COMMITTEE. - LITERATURE FOR THE LIGHT-SHIPS. Prom the proceedings of the Marine Committee, it appears that tenders had been invited for a supply of coal for one yeat to the lighthouses and landing-stages. There was an entry that, by requisition on the Seamen's Afloat Society, religious books had been supplied to the lightships, within the value of ad. Mr, Gisborne re ported continual interruptions to the telegraph between Voel Nant and Birkenhead. The water baliff hating reported on the obstruction caused in the river by a sewer out at the Dingle, the attention of the Conservators of the Mersey had been called to the matter. Mr. DARBICSHIRE, in moving the confirmation of the proceedings, stated that there was some reason to suspect that the interruption to the telegraph had been wilfully caused, and an inquiry was in progress into the matter. Mr. BOULT, in reference to the small purchase of books referred to, said he should like to know whether they-undertook the religious instruction of all their men, and if they did, what church they were to patronise particularly. He observed a vote of X. 5 for religious books, for the people on hoard the light-ships. If they had to find such things for the light-ships, they might be asked to do the same thing for the dock gatemen, and next for all the navvies working upon their works. He thought it was a wrong principle. Besides, how did they know the religious books they chose to send would be acceptable ? They might send some high evangelical, and find the men were Catholics; and would not have them. They might send Puseyite works, and find they were Calvinists, who would as - soon touch pitch as look into one of those works. (Laughter.) He thought it most objectionable, and moved that it be referred back. Mr. BOLD said it was at the request of the men them selves that this grant was made. The dock-gatemen and all their other servants differed very materially from the men on the light-ships : There they were obliged to be afloat one-half of their time, and had no oppor tunity of attending public worship. He, therefore, could not agree with Mr. Boult as to stopping the grant altogether ; but under the inspection of the com mittee they need not be afraid of injudicious books being placed in the hands of the men. Mr. DARBYSIIIIIE was not aware of there being any sectarian books amongst them. There were three boxes, which cost only £1 ss. each. Mr. SMITH thought there was a principle involved in the matter, and to a great extent he agreed with what Mr. Boult had said. He could readily suppose that the position of the men in the light-ship was a lonely and solitary one, and it might be desirable that that board should furnish a small library for the purpose of afford ing those men books that should give them moral instruction, and in reference to their profession; but if they were to be merely religious books, he thought Mr. Boult was right. Mr. INmAN said the Marine-Surveyor had been called upon by the committee to explain the case, and he stated that they were books of religion, history, travels, and that kind of thing. Mr. S3flTH—Then they are not religious books—it is all right then. Mr. BOULT said he had no objection so far as history and travels were concerned, and books of a useful character ; but he was afraid of introducing theology. He had no objection to religion, but he looked upon the o l o gy with the utmost dread. The subject then dropped, and the proceedings were confirmed. THE PILOTAGE COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this committee showed that the owners of the present No. 9 pilot-boat had asked the privilege to build a new schooner pilot-boat instead of the present sloop.-4 letter had also been received from Mr. Thomas Court, Secretary to the Underwriters, calling attention to the fact that some of the pilots were shareholders in the United Steam-Tug Company (Limited). Mr. SHAND, in moving the confirmation of the pro ceedings, said as to the pilots holding shares in steam vess e ls, that was absolutely precluded so far as the Pilotage Committee have power ; but they bad not full Power till a certain bye-law be passed, which is in course, of preparation for that purpose. The proceedings were confirmed. THE DOCKS AND QUAYS COMMITTEE. . The proceedings of the committee for the manage ment of the docks and quays comprised recommendations to superannuate a dock gateman; to appoint three dock gatemen ; to fix a slide in the centre of the shed on the south side Clarence Dock; and to permit the placing of a moveable corn bin on the quay of Wellington Dock, at the berth occupied by Messrs. Allan Brothers and Co. It also appeared from the minutes that Messrs. Gibbs, Bright and Co. had applied for the withdrawal of the indemnity required from ships entering the Morpeth Dock at Birkenhead; but the application had been refused. Mr. Lociarr, in ,moving the confirmation of the pro ceedings, said the indemnity was still required, and would be till a new entrance had been opened. lie saw, that within the last few days several guano ships had come here. _ _ _ Mr. LAIRD said he had raised this question before ; and the board were then told that when -the Morpeth Dock was laid dry, the sill would • be examined, and things made right. Now evidently some blame attached for not putting these gates and that sill ri g ht; and if this were to go on, and that indemnity - was to be kept in force. he should say it was better for the board to order vessels out, and have the work put right at onee,—for he need not tell them that with the delay in the con struction of the low water basin, for the next eighteen months that indemnity would hang over those docks, and prevent vessels of a large draught of water going there. The chairman had said, on a former occasion, that the same indemnity was required from any vessel entering the half-tide docks on this side of the river; but what he (Mr. Laird) complained of was, that the board were not informed before that this at Birkenhead was to be a permanent indemnity, that they were not to get rid of it till the northern entrance was opened. There was very little wrong with the sill ; at all events, -they should have been informed what was required, when the water had been let out. Mr. BOULT said, with reference to the Morpeth Dock, be thought those who built it should have taken greater care to make their work so that it would stand. He believed Mr. Laird was chairman of the old company, and they were answerable for it, and all other defects. Mr. Ellicot had told them yesterday that he had patched up that sill as well as he could. It had stood so long, but be did not wish the board to take responsibility in the matter. • Knowing h o w that- board was always treated when they went to law, how the scale was always turned against them, Mr. Boult thought they should be acting unwisely in taking such a risk. He then added, with reference to some remarks he had made at the last meeting, that he was now satisfied that the chains of the buoys in the Great Float were sufficiently strong for the purposes to which they were at present applied. • Mr. ARNOLD thought Mr. Laird's question had not been answered, which was why the work bad not been done before the water was let into the Great Float. It was never understood that this indemnity was to be a permanent indemnity ; on the contrary i it was under stood that it would terminate in the beginning of De cember. He did not think they had had a satisfactory explanation of why the work had been postponed. Mr. SMITH said there appeared to be a little misap prehension on the subject. It was not a question as to the gates themselves, at the outer entrance of the Mor peth Dock into the river, but it was the stonework con nected with those gates; so that if they went into the repair of them, the work could not have been done in three or four weeks ; but it would take three months, ' dUring which the entire working of those docks would have to be stopped. Now, under the circumstances, the probability was the danger was not so great as to say you must close the docks and make the repairs —the probability was that no danger would arise to any vessel using the docks ; but after the experience of what the board had had to pay for what was said to be wrong about their sills, it became a duty to protect themselves against the possibility of such claims as had already been made. Now, as it would take three months to make it perfectly safe, it was a question whether they were not promoting the interests of Birkenhead by simply leaving it to the shipowners to • take .the responsibility, the risk not being great, as the head engineer th'ought. He thought, under all the cir cuiligtaucsit; more trade would be done at Birkenhead by the compreiVoit Of the ficw entrance, keeping-up the indemnity, than by -goir.lt, ei with the absolute repairs required in removing the inder,ll_l:v althgether. After some further discussion, Mr. Laird moved that the question of the ii'clerrinitv required from shipowners, for ships entering the Birkerr: head Docks, in the present state of Morpeth Dock gate and sill, be referred to the Docks and Quays Committee, to Cen'sdit tith the Works Committee, and to report to the board. Mr. Arnold seconded the motion, which was put and The p i roeegdiugs,yiere therr.confi'rnied,- an were those also of the Master Porterage Committee: • ealtiNthtickriol4Bl ' The Chairman (Mr. 'Mince); vihlo'had lust preN'ionSly read over the various minutes relating fottioiiespoptlence with the War Department, with the view of di yvfing tbjt ,the site of the Saliibury Pier had been.definitely' oerM td gorernment for the erection of a battery a few years ago. . 4 ., iv A letter was reaa froirt. litessrs. Taylor, Tipper, and Co., the agents of a line of shiph . to' Poston, asking for a permanent loading berth in the BranireP:Moure Doek. • THE CORN TRADE, Two communications were then submitted, which lied been received from the Corn Trade Association. One of th'ese cons steel in a copy of the minutes passed at the late riveging of the' trade, in which objections were raised to the sY'sfeint on vrbicir dock fines are imposed on produce not removed' 314hin . torry . -eight, hours from the dock quays, and suggesting us suMtitute a filed rent charge, the details to be arranged tt a' trafte m'an'ager.The second document consisted of the trieirii ial, which had been passed, based upon the resolutions mired 'at by the meeting, and which has already been published`: It should be stated that, in the former communication, an intimation was conveyed that a deputation from the asseeiation were desirous of waiting upon the Dock Board on the subject, The drinn,itxx, in reference to this latter point, said that the old dock b'on'fd Were in the habit of receiving deputations, but since tile' Metsey Pocks and Harbour Board had been called into existence' only one.deputa tion had been received, which was fi deputation from the Council at the request of the Mayor: It was a question whether they should receive such deputations. Mr. ARNOLD stated that in 1858 they received a deputation about an emigrant's home, which it was proposed to establish on some part of their estate, when they were entertained with a speech from 'Mr. Jeffery which lasted three-quarters of an hour. Mr. LAIRD thought the matter should be referred to some committee: the memorial was of great importance. - Mr. Ilubback proposed that the Works Committee shmild receive the deputation. This was agreed to, it being understood that an inter- SieW Wmild be granted on Saturday next. Mr. Bo'ilLt said he had entertained a hope, with refelenee to cargobs of grain coinirig here, that the corn trade wmiid take leates of the tarehottses at Birkenhead, with a view to the h'effet dispatch of their business. They knew, he presumeci f foltheirdepities at that board must have informed them that they . were at present entirely tied up as to the expenditure iri Liverpool', while they had unlimited means as to liirkenhead; and granaries upon the best possible plan could there be constructed. If they openly declared that Birkenhead would not suit them, then that would iffloife the going to Parliament by the board for the n'etessary powers; bat they should have a distinct eipression of opinion from the corn trade on the subject. Because they kneW that ally expenditure on the Liver pool side would be opposed, "tooth and nail" and•that they should only obtain perinission from their lords and masters ,the Board of Trade on a direct declaratiort from the parties interested, that Birkenhead Would not suit them, and that they would not go there'. The CHAIRMAN said,there was a long,staternetit froM Mr. Gilks, an old servant of the board, upon the subject of the working of the dock quays, which, perhaps, might lie on the table for consideration. Several members stated that they had received,a copy of it, and the chairman said they might then study it for themselves. _ The matter then dropped. MISCELLANEOIig. A report from the head constable was submitted, on the subject of fires. This stated that the amount of property at the Canada Dock gave him great anxiety, as anything like a fire occurring there in the timber yards the loss would be most serious. It was referred to the Docks and Quays Committee. A letter from Samuel Jones was read, asking leave to occupy 100 yards of ground on the east side of Regent road, for the purpose of carrying on the trade or busi ness of a lath-dealer, subject to the terms and stipula-- tions which the board might direct, was referred to the Works Committee. The next business upon the paper consisted of a notice of motion, which had been given by Mr. Iluoback, to the following effect :—" That the Canada D oc k b e , for the present, appropriated to the sole use of th e timber trade, and that the Harbour-master be i ns t r u c t e d to exclude all other vessels therefrom, except such as shall seek shelter, and not be discharged in the Canada Dock." - Mr. HUIIIIACK stated that, with the leave of the board, he would withdraw the !notion. He sand' that the vessels which had gone into that dock laden with corn had been hauled into other docks, the owners finding that if they were unloaded there they would be held responsible for damage. RATES OF CHARGE FOR GRAVING DOCKS, ETC. • Mr. BOULT then brought forward the following motion, of which he had given notice:—" That powers be sought, under the clause to charge Graving. Dock Rates, per longitudinal foot occupied, or prevented from from being otherwise used, and time employed; and at such rates as the board may deem fit ;" also, " To alter the rate allowed to be charged for ships lying up in the docks of this Trust, under the clause of the Mersey Dock Acts Consolidation Act, 1858, from twopence ~per ton per month, to twopence per ton per week ; with power to the board to make such reduction as they may see fit upon vessels laid up in any of the Birkenhead docks." He said his intention was that ships should be charged in proportion to the time they were in the deck, and in proportion to the longitudinal space which they filled in the graving dock ; and supposing that they had a length of 300 feet, and a ship of 250 feet came in the remaining 50 feet thereby being made useless, his idea was that the 250 feet ship should pay for the 50 feet which she preVented from being occupied. That part of the resolution, however, he should not press ; and, with reference to the remainder, he did not think it necessary to occupy the board many minutes. It was very well understood by all parties that the present system of charging graving dock rates led to the greatest practical inequality and injustice. The CHAIRMAN said, as he understood Mr. Boult's motion, it was that powers be sought under a clause to charge rates by the longitudinal space occupied, instead of per registered tonnage, as at present. The chairman added, that of course that would alter materially the Graving Dock dues in favour of some vessels and to the prejudice of others. He did not know which was better—per foot or per ton. Mr. Forwood seconded Mr. Boult's motion. Mr. LOCKETT said there was a larger tonnage in short ships, when in reality they did not take up more room. He then, in general terms, supported -Mr. Bouit's motion. Mr. Lot/Ix said the steam trade were always willing to pay rates on the principle which Mr. Boult proposed; but in reference to the expression in their resolution, "at such rates as the hoard may deem fit ;" he wanted to know if that was subject to the Board of Trade. The CHAIRMAN said No. They had certain maximum rates, within which they might charge at their discretion. Mr. INMAN—This would have to be a certain rent, variable at the pleasure of the board. Mr. SMITH—The board would have to go to Parlia ment fixing maximum rates. Mr. BROCKLEBANK said it would at times operate very prejudicially to charge all vessels longitudinally. They would really charge the smaller vessels, which could least afford to pay, the same per foot as, they were going to charge a vessel of 1,500 or 1,600 tons. Mr. SMITH supported Mr. Boult's motion. The CHAIRMAN said it had just been suggested to him by the solicitor, that the Docks qnd Quays Com mittee, or some others, should a pply th emse l ves imme diately to fixing the scale, provided the reso l u ti on wer e carried, as the bill must be lodged by the 22nd. Mr. BROCKLEBANK complained that they would be overloading the committee at such a time as the pres9nt, and wished that Mr. Boult would withdraw the motion. Mr. RArnurt said they were asking - to take powers which would meet opposition from every quarter ; whereas, if a proper scheme were submitted to the par ties, it might meet approval. He would therefore suggest to Mr. Boult that the matter should not be pressed this session, or they might be foiled and injured in other points w hich they were seeking from Par liament. Mr. BOULT hoped the board would pass the resolution as it stood. Mr. SMITH thought there was too little time to give the subject due consideration ; and after some further discussion upon it, Mr. Boult at length consented to withdraw his motion for the present. This was the whole of the public business. y:r fromoF A Messrs. CLIPPER S e ha ir i o f n p ei .— , T H h a e r r t e w , an a d s launched s y e sl L eArY ce a yard, a clipper ship for the China trade, of about 890 tons burthon, and 700 tons register measurement, for the owner of the late celebrated clipper, the Fiery Cross, lost in the China Sea in March last. The new ship was only contracted for in the middle of June, and was to be afloat by the 30th December. She has, therefore, been completed considerably within the stipulated time. She has been pronounced by all competent judges to be faultleis in model, and unsurpassed in materials and workmanship. Miss Tinne, of Brierley, conferred on the ship the same name which her predecessor rendered famous; and when the vessel glided down, and floated on the bosom of the Mersey, she was greeted with shouti of admirlition by the. spectators. We venture to predict • uthnaritvsahleledas they will notonmlyereer of her ebrunt namesake. THE performances, THE HISTORIC SOCIETY.—A m eeting of the literary section of the above society was .held last evening, in in the • Grand Jury-room at St. George's-hall. Mr. M'Quie occupied the _chair. Donations : from the society, the seventeenth volume of the second part of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society ; Transactions of the Royal Society of Literature, sixth vol., third part (from the society). Mr. Harrison exhibited a beauti fully- illuminated volume of a Latin history of the Saviour. It also contained an almanack. The date of the almanack, as well as that of the p ublication, was torn away. It was highly admired. Mr. Buxton, master of the deaf and dumb school, made some remarks upon a paragraph which appeared in a contemporary yesterday, containing statistics bearing upon the deaf and dumb population of the kingdom. Ile said the paragraph tended to lead persons into error, and he therefore read a number of figures, compiled from the general census of 1851.—Mr. A. Craig Gibson read a paper explana-, tonatory of parchment deed, presented to the society by Mr. H. W. Harrison, containing a list of appeals made before certain commissioners in the hundred of West D e rby, against assessments laid' upon the property of Roman Catholics, under an act passed in the ninth, year of George the First, the object of the assessments being ; to repay the expenses incurred in putting down " the L recent conspiracies."—Mr. W. G. Smith read a paper ; called " Notices of the less common Thanerogaineotis • plants of the Liverpool district.". ~.~.~: LIVER-POOL POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY. (Refore Mr. RAFFLES.) • musiitl OP CORN FROM A SHIP. A person named James Walsh; who . lives in Coiling wood-street, and who was descritNed as- the confidential porter of Mr. Ralph Tipper, master - porter, of Union street, was brought up by detective officer taton, on a , Charge of having stolen 20 sacks of w h eat, value £l6. Mr. - tin& defended the prisoner. SeVeral witnesses were exaMltta, ,bat they did not throw much light on. the matter—indeed the further they went into the case the more mystery thet flung around it. As well as could be collectea from the confused state into which the witnesses got the case, it appeared that Ralph Tipper was engaged in discharging grain front the ship " Lizzy Southard." The ship's husbands were Messrs. Taylor, TirPer, and Co., and the cargo was consigned to several persons -and amongst others to Maxwe ll, Peter Marrow and others. The prisoner was engaged as the counter off" of sa c k s . O n Monday night a certain quantity of ! sacks were left on the quay • t and next day twenty were missed', a nd these 'were traced to the prisoner, who offered a man named John Parker, who is in the em ployment of M r . Marrow, a sovereign to say nothing of it. The priso ner also waiited the ereight clerk to make it right, but he refused. Mr. Mick cross-examined Parker, and said his con d uct in the case was very loose. titan named James 'Walsh said he was called by a man nain'etf John Rily, the weigher, to load a float of sacks from fl;ie* ship' at the Bramley-Moore Dock. Thomas Sinnott, LatirehVe Murphy, D en i s Gillfoy, and John Rily loaded the goat ;; but witn ess did not know how many sacks were put on , the float. The prisoner was not there at the time. Mr. Ouch Then the prisoner knows nothing about the affair. Peois Giallt,fonspt7ld that there were about 20 sacks on the boat, prisoner called witness to load the float. To Mr. Bl oc k e the Witness said everything was done openly.. Ifr. BHA said there must be some one else connected with the case and Mr. Raffles said there was little doubt about that, The prisoner was remanded. EXTRAORDfgAiIkY:QASt.—CHARGE OF PLUNDER AND FORCiER'Y AGAINST A LADY. A case that caused an unnsued amount of attraction, came on for hearing yesterday. The complainant was Mrs. Isabella Harris, the owner of a Ladies' Outfitting and Baby-linen Warehouse, No. 4, Berry-street, who charged Mrs. Mary Anne Cotterel, of Stafford-street, with having stolen a quantity of property from her shop; and also charged her with having forged her name to a post-office order for 13s. 4d., and for having received and embezzled the same. The prosecutrix is a person of very superior appearance ; and the prisoner a most ladylike and very handsome person, about 32 years of age. She was seated in the dock, in consequence of not being in good health ; and, it seems, she was in custody of detective officer Redman in her own house in Stafford street for the last fortnight, but was not able tube removed. The state of her health, together with her position and appearance, made the case even more attractive than it otherwise would be, althou g h in itself it was sufficient to bring a large number of persons to the court, all of whom listened to the details with the utmost attention, and apparently deep interest. Mr. Bluck appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Cobb for the prisoner. Mr. Block, in opening the case, said the prosecutrix was Mrs. Isabella Harris, who kept a ladies' outfitting and baby linen warehouse, at 4, Berry-street, and she employed the prisoner to manage her business, and paid her £4O a' year. Some time owe, Mrs. Harris had occasion to thiiik that the prisoner wag not acting honestly, and his client imagined she had lost several hundred pounds worth of property. Mr. Cobb : This is very outrageous ; suppose she had lost millions - worth, what has that to do with my client ? Mr. Vluck said he would prove that the prisoner had sent parcels of goods from the shop to her lodgings in Staffordestreet, and that on one occasion a post-office order came to' the shop, and that the prisoner forged the name of Mrs. Earns to it, received the money and kept it. After entering more fully into the details, which will be fonnd in the following evidence, Mr. Bluck proceeded with the case as follows. =Mrs: Harris was then examined, and said, I employed the prisoner in July last, at £4O a-year ; she was to _partially board in the house. I had suspicions of her _about Octobete I missed a variety of things. (Identi fied some things now produced as her property) —Mr. Cobb said these were not traced to the priserner.—Detee tive officer Redman said the things were found in the prisoner's house.—Witness : I always sign post-office orders myself ; this order is not signed by me. The pri; saner has not accounted to me for the amount (13s. 4d.) There is no entry of it in the book. I never authorised her to sign my name. I believe the signature is in her handwriting. In purchasing goods in London, she has charged me £9 10s. that I never got.—Cross-examined by Mr. Cobb : I do not owe her any money, but she has made a demand on me for £75, but Ido not know what it is for. Mr. Cobb : ton soon will.—Witness : We were on intimate terms. 7- 1 - liad cue acceptance - to meet in August, and the • pri soner lent me £2B for goods she had had, and money borrowed.—Mr. Cobb Do you know anything about a gold watch—did you pledge any goods to meet the bill ? No.—Did you not -send her with silks and velVete to pledge at Critchley's, London-road, and when they would not lend you enough, did' she not lend you her watches and rings to make up the amount ?—lt is the first I lidard of it. I did not ask Mr. Mackin, an iron monger, to join her in a bill for me. Did not ask her husband to put his name on a bill for me, to save me from ruin.—The witness was examined at some length, in reference,to het business transactions, but she denied haiing got any assistance from the prisoner to meet bills. She admitted that the prisoner got the £2B, but she did not know where she got it. The witness again alleged that the prisoner owed her more than that. e- f Mr. Cobb : Did you ever send your bay with silks and velvets to her house ? Witness : Neeer.—Mr. Cobb : Did you ever pledge,any ? Never. The, prisoner never said to me that she could only get £l4 on silks and satins. The witness denied in the most positive terms that the prisoner ever assisted her to take up bills. —Mr. Cobb : Has she been kind to you ? I consider she had.—Mr. Cobb : Do you consider the oath you have taken binding on your conscience ? Most undoubtedly.. —Mr. Raffles : Are you a member of the Church of England? No, lam a Catholic. I have sworn on the New Testament, and that is binding on my' conscience. The prisoner proposed to borrow £3O for me, and I was to be security. Never sent the prisoner to my sister, Mrs.: Ste Wart, to become security. I never asked her to get her husband to be security. She never asked me for a settlement of an account.—Mr. Cobb : Mrs.. Harris, have you ever asked the prisoner to make false entlies in your books? Never.—Mr. Raffles : That is a serious charge unless you have good_grounds for it.— Mr. Cobb : There is something in the back-ground here. Did, you (to witness) ever send goods to the prisoner's house to conceal them from your creditors ? Never.— Mr. Cobb : Did you ever sell goods under value ? No. —Mr. Bluck : That has nothing to do with this case.—Mr. Cobb : It has, for there is a deficiency, and she wants to lay it on the prisoner.—Mr. Bluck : She is not going through the Bankruptcy or In solvency Court.—The witness , in cont inuation, to Mr. Cobb, said : I never wanted her to send goods to Mr. Tingay, a pawnbroker in London. I never heard of the postoffice order, but the prisoner said she put the amount in the bill. That young lady (pointing to one in the court) is named Mcßride, and I swear she never - packed up things to take out to a pawnbroker's:, Did not say that the things packed up were going to Australia, and that they belonged to my nephew. Never directed a letter to be sent to Mr. Tingay, at the Pantech nethican, Tottenham-court-road, London.—Mr. Cobb: Look at that young lady, and tell me if you did ? Never. —Miss Mcßride : Why I wrote the letter for her myself, by her own directions.—Witness, in continuation : I have lost a petticoat similar to this, but I. will not swear to this one. This cap belongs to a lady in Parlia ment-street. It was part of the prisoner's duty to take out things to get cleaned, and she might have forgotten it at home. (Some other things produced.) Mr. Cdbb : I will tell you where she bought these.—Witness : Mine 'is a lady's outfitting establishment, and perhaps there are plenty of the same sort in Liverpool. The prisoner had the marking of my goods. A small petti coat was handed to the witness, and she said the marks on it were hers ; but in reply to Mr. Cobb she admitted' that she did not know what the cost mark was, alleging it was done by the prisoner, who would not let her know what it meant. To Mr. Black : There is no foun dation for the questions put to me by Mr. Cobb. To Mr. Raffles she said the prisoner might buy things in London for herself, and put them in witness's invoice; but she was not aware if she had done so, and she ought not, without her knowledge.—Miss Mary Latham was examined to prove that an article found in the prisoner's house belonged to the prosecutrix; and in reply to Mr. Cobb she said such an article might be in other shops.— Thomas Jones, a boy in the employment of Mrs. Harris, stated that he was sent by the prisoner with a post-office order, and he s aw h er s i gn i t, an d he got t h e money an d gave it to her. Ile had taken soft parcels to the pri soner's house from the shop. To Mr. Cobb : Miss Mcßride was present at the time when I gave the money to Airs., Cotterell.—Mr. Thomas Perrott, from the Post -office proved the payment of the post-office order .`Mr. Bluck asked for a remand.—Mr. Cobb asked his W ors hip t o h ear hi s w it nesses first. He cilled Miss Emily 31‘Bride, who said : I was in Mrs. Harris's employment as assistant saleswoman, and knew the private marks on the goods. (An article produced selling mark ,markr,: This is not Mrs. Harris's at all ; her week on is " Manchester." (Laughter.) I left a Saturd a y last, of my own accord, without notice. Mrs. Cotterell was ill, and I left to attend on her, I never had any quarrel with Mrs. Harris, nor was I charged w i t h s t ea li ng anyt hi ng. I was i n th e employment from rom September, and often heard them the latter abouttold the t pressure on Mrs. Harris for bills, and he prisoner she must do as before to raise money—th at was, to pledge goods to raise money. The: prisoner then, in to pack up the presence of Mrs. Harris, told me goods to pledge, and I did so, and they went. The only bring x le i risoner told Mrs. Harris the goods would lend her 'maw!' and the prisoner also told her she would have the money and chain, as Mrs. Harris said she must Tottenham some way. Wrote a letter to Mr. Tingay, cirt-road, and read it for Mrs. Harris. — What thewere- can't allow th contents of that letter ?—Mr. Riffles : I that letter. The : Mrs. Harris got a reply to but was ; parcel was sent to Mrs. Cotterell's, .n sen th t e b . e sb o p all day from the time it was made up, until rending in the afternoon. I remember the pri soner October it was the lad for the post-office order, in Gregory, of P a i: l 3 s for 13s. 4d. The order was from Mrs. in bed for four ole, in Dorsetshire. Mrs. Harris was ill I should say er five days at the time the order came. gave the money to the writing is Mrs. Cotterell's. The lad —Cross-examined to the prisoner, who put it into the till. duced ene to M il e V bY Mr. Bluek.: The prisoner intrb sir (to Mr. Raiff Harris.—Mr. Cobb : I now ask you, assuming thi s • es), would von remand the prisoner, think there is is a witness of truth ?—Mr. Raffles : I to good bail. a Prima fade case, but I will admit her is in very bad li The prisoner was then remanded. (She let het. be visiten(illth, and it was ultimately greeda to would take two bail a surgeon. - His worship said he p in .t E o ,, 0 e on (Before Messrs. T - ls ' e ) T. —elm C LLY, and Bneeineen.) Richard I3err MEASLY POR.F.: . Brunswick -road Y ' a butcher, carrying, on business in Read for exposingwas Summoned by Afarket Inspector not,being fit for bun. measly pie's carcase for sale, same the defence. The Tan food. ° Mr. Cobb appeared for minus the head ; it was said lie saw the pig's body, for human food. IT N:as all full of measles, and not fit a jury, who condemned ook it to John's Market ; called In answer to Mr. Cobb it, and h e therefore destroyed it. was a respectable man the in s p ec tor said the defendant would have exposed the and witness did not think he then it was very caw pig if he knew it was bad; but should know it was unfit to for f : food. He said he had sold it was bad!" •Itr. Cobb truostr e it, when witness told him d that 'as the defendadt was a respectable man, and acted • so fairly when he heard s the pig was bad, that the magistrates would not fine him, as he had suffered the loss of the pig already. Mr.. Wybergh said the law was, that any one exposing un wholesome food must be fined—no matter how respect able he might be. The inspector again, in reply to Mr. Cobb, said he did think it was an oversight on the part of defendant ; but still, if he had examined the pig, he must have seen the disease. Mr. Cobb said his client was evidently not "up " in pork butchering. The magistrates said it was his duty as a butcher to know that he did not expose unwholesome meat for sale. There were mitigating circumstances in the, ease, and they would, therefore, only fine him 10s. and costs. The penalty was paid. CORRESPONDENCE. THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT. TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY TIMES. allt,—l am one of those stupid fellows who seldom take the trouble to read a long letter in the newspapers, but I can assure you that when my eye fell upon your letter (in your impression of to-day) to the Lord- Lieutenant of this county, I was so fascinated that I actually read it over a second time, and was amply re paid for my trouble ; for, although rather long, every sentence was truly striking home to the very hearts of ' those poor souls, who, fer the sake of a paltry handle to their fair names, would, by their madness, crush to atoms every particle of ohr deservedly boasted Voluteer Army. Surely these persons forget the, they are Englishmen. Yes, they must, or else they would pride themselves on the name, simple though it be "John Bull." But a trace to this. When I took up my pen, it was not to heap coals upon the fire. Your letter will most assuredly kindle the hearts of these aspirants ; but to thank you, not only in my own name, but (I will be modest) in the name of all my volunteer friends, for the bold way in which you have, in the face of all the new class corps , stood out to fight " for th e true an d l o yal volunteer. We trust that your letter red by every may at least be the means of c ausin g that conso lidation o f w hi c h y o ur letter treats so ably, and which is s o much desi enrolled corps. Again thankingpecei December youber 12, for 1 your 860 . . , s ta nd /s t a nd," —I remain, &c., STEADY IN THE RAEXS. THE REV. Ant. BELipV'S READINGS. TO THE EDITOR OP THE DAILY TIMES. SlR,—May I take the liberty of pointing out a " curiosity of literature" in a contemporary to-day, worthy of the attention of some future Disraeli. on Tuesday evening last, the Rev. C. J. M. Bellew gave "Readings from the British Poets," at the Philharmonic-hall. In giving an account of this, the reporter for your contempo rary informs us that the " Song of a Shirt" was so appropriately rendered, that many an eye was be dimmed with the starting tear. After thi s bi t of senti ment he proceeds to remark that "Scott's ' Marion' warmed the blood of the audience," and that "a pa m p a from Childe Harold' was capitally given." l'c ovw , i t. happens that -not one of the above-named pieces was included in the " readings " at all. This wonderful reporter also acquaints us with the inte resting fact that Longfellow is now in England, and was at the Philharmonic-hall last night, for he tells us. that he was " laid under contribution," which must probably mean that he paid for a seat. At any rate, if it means that a selection was made from Longfellow's works, our reporter is wrong again, Mr. Bellew having apparently not regarded the author of " Hiawatha " as a " British" poet. The public is moreover informed that " Lady Clara Vere de Vere," from Tennyson's " Oriana," "told well on the audience"—a piece of information which will rather astonish the readers of Tennyson. In con clusion, may I suggest that the next time this reporting gentleman purposes going off with a report, it might perhaps upon the whole be desilable that he should write such report after the lecture, instead of before it_ By so doing, he will not have his blunders exposed by ONE M'TIO WAS THERE. Birkenhead, Dec. 12, 1860. Ming tttettictnxe. INCE BLUNDELL OPEN COURSING MEETING. YESTERDAY. By permission of Weld Blundell, Esq. Stewards :—Mr. Tyrer, Mr. Rainford, Mr. R. Lupton, and Mr. Halewood. Judge, Mr. B. Nightingale; Slipper, ➢lr. Jas. Keyes; Secretary, Mr. Richard Kaye. The Ince Blundell Cup for All-aged Dogs, at DI ISs. each. Mr. Bellshaiv's Semaphore beat Mr. Brindle's Fanny. Mr. Lupton's Young Mischief beat Mr. Kaye's Kingdom. Mr. Blundell's Beatrice beat Mr. Richmond's Puppy. SECOND Tuss.—Young Mischief beat Semaphore ; Beatrice ran a bye. DECIDING COURSE.—Beatrice beat Young Mischief, and won the Cup. The llightown Stakes for Puppies, at Z 3 10s. each. Mr. Ilobson's Gillbrow beat Mr. Stocker's Sir Walter. Mr. Tyrer's Clear the Cellar beat Mr. Kave's Kitty Floyd. Mr. Brindle's Jerry beat Mr. Bracewell's bertha (late Sweetlips) . _ SECOND Das.— Gillbrow beat Clear the Cellar. Jerry ran a bye, DECIDING COCRSE.—Gillbrow beat Jerry, and won the stakes. The Formby Stakes for All-aged Dogs, at £3 10s. each. Mr. Halewood's Brighton beat Mr. Brindle's War. Mr. Graham's Greek Slave beat Mr. Kaye's Ratcatnher. M r . J u mp's Countess beat Mr. Lupton's Sydrophel. SECOND Tlws.—Brighton beat Greek Slave. Countess ran a bye, DECIDING COURSE. — Brighton best Countess, and won the Stakes. A Beaten Dogs' Stake was also run for, and won by Mr. Brindle's Fanny. HUNTING FIXTURES. The WYNNSTAY PACK will meet on Friday, December 14, at Ralston Each day at half-past ten 'Master, Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart., li.P. ; Huntsman, J."l'Valker., The CHESHIRE HOUNDS meet on Saturday, December 15, at Delamere Tuesday, December 18, at Sandiway Head Thuisday, December 20, at Tabley Friday, December 21, at Peorer Monday, December 24, at Wrenbury Station Each day at half-past ten ittritigturt. Wind yesterday, E. ; at Holyhead, E. Dec. 13. Dec. 12. Roderick Dhu Benin M C Fox, Gooding ...Cardenas City of Baltimore (ss), Petrie. New York SAT Dec. 12. Talisman (ss), Russell,Jamaica Manx Minx, Waterson, St Michael's Thora, Thompson...St Thomas Union, Derette Ostend Hermes, Hammer Malta William and Martha, Lloyd, Gibraltar ♦William, Wegner...Norfolk, V Tcmisconata, Starkings, Barcelona Dec. 13. Louisa, Kenn}•,Port-au-Prince [VED. Cannata, Hier Symonds, Leavitt ...Montreal Intrepid William Owens Benin Anglo-Saxon (ss), Ballantine Portland Volunteer, Hitchcock, St Michael's Heroine, Hiteheock...Terceira Louisa, Rawe Gibraltar Lord Ctyde,Withers...Calcutta Savannah-la-Mar, Pierce, Monte Video Pocohontas, Delano, ICIv Orleans Favourite, Stapledon, Leghorn Olympus (ss), Bell, Constantinople _ . FOREIGN PORTS. Polestar, hence, and Forest King, from Swansea, both at Valparaiso Karnak (ss), Brownless, from Havana at New York Westbourne, hence at Belize Adrienne, Bryant, hence at Nantes • Osprey (ss), hence at Helvoet Emily, Carr, hence at Odessa Joseph, Lawas, hence at Ostend Virgin de Lauzara, Carraro, hence at Havana John Parker, Davies; Parsee, Norris ; Courier, Watts ; and Tara, Wilson, all hence at New Orleans Homeward Bound, at Arica • Portland, Ogg, hence at Apalachicola R S Ely, Liviiigston ; Cultivator, Russell ; Harvest Queen, Young; Henry Clay, Caulking; and E Schultz, Howard, all hence at New York Tonowanda, Julius, 'hence at Philadelphia Thomas Jefferson, Rollins, hence at Boston )Mary Crocker, from Rio Janeiro at Charleston Nauphante, Lamb ; Parana, Lighton ; and Duchess of Lan caster, Thomas, all hence at Arica Sea, Ethelbert, and Mermaid, all at Valparaiso • SPOKEN. Teutonia (es), boond cast, Dec 1, off New York Emigrant, bound s luth-west, 55N, 3E Mutlah, bound west,. Nov 30, 49N, 13E Forest Quecn, hence for Bombay, Nov 2,2 N, 28W itetompense, from Monte Video, Nov 2,2 N, 28W g I Ann Logan, hence for IV° Janeiro, I)ec 7,48 N, 11W Magnet, hence for Mobile, Nov 27, 24N, 33W OUTYORTS Palestine (ss), from Portland et Moville New York Packet, from Quebec off Bardscy Thomas Lee, from Quebec off Point Lynas for Whitehaven Deal, Dec. 13.—Arrived: Trinidad, from Barbadoes •' Gala, and William, Singapore ; Talavera, Colombo ; John Moore, and Rosina, Quebec; Superb, Montr)al ; Caesar, New York; Elizabeth, Mauritius; Elena, Venice, all for London. Passed. (from London): Leda (ss), for Oporto ; Roaala, Alicante ; Ja coba, Berbice ; Liberator, Sydney ; Helois, Rangoon ; City of Lucknow, Glasgow; Exodus, Port Phillip; William Gillies, Troon ; Georgetown, Barbadoes ; and Rosa Gasprey, Trieste to Hull. Gravesend, Dec. 13.—Arrived : Berla, from Trinidad de Cuba; Caroline, Quebec ' • Johanna, New York ; Sisters,Valen cia; and a large number from the North of Europe. Greenock, Dec. 13.—Arrived : Virginia, from Mauritius ; lona, Montreal; Queen of the Fleet, New York i Bannockburn, Aurora, and Glencairn, Quebec. Sailed : Don Pedro (as), for Lisbon. Leith, Dec. 13.--Arrived : Lady Head, from Cal'ao ; Lord Vivian, Woolwich; Britannia, Newcastle; Harmonle, Kiel; Neilsen. Queenstown, Dec. 13.---Arrived : Antilla, from Philadel phia. Sailed : Shooting Star, and Rescue, for Liverpool ; and Belle Creole, and General Williams, Antwerp. Wind, S., fine. Belfast, Dec. 13.---Arrived : Apachea, and rathsemea, from Riga ; Salem, Quebec. Sailed : Anna Agatha, for Cardiff. Kingstown, Dec. 13.---Arrived : Letoile L'Oriente, from Bordeaax. Wind, S.E. Waterford, Dec. 13.—Arrived : Calliope, from Galata ; War riette, Quebec ; Corinthian Lass, Sulina ; and Roscius, John, MARITIME EXTRACTS. Liviairoot., December 13. The City of lialtimore (ss), arrived here fro.n New York, left Dee. 1, has $2,580 specie. The Anglo-Saxon (ss), sailed for Portland to-day, with £5,000 specie. The Roscius ' from B't. John, N.F., at Waterford, with loss of inninboom and mainsail. Lloyd's, Dec. 13 : The Urgent, from Liverpool for Buenos Ayres, has put into Falmocth making water, and with loss of foretopmast, &e. Coultersay, Islay, Dec. 10 A large vessel, dismarted and waterlogged, was seen yesterdt.7 drifting past the Rhine; of Islay to the north-west, with spar. , and rigging alongside, and apparently without any person on hard ; the sea was too high for a boat that went out to venture ne;tr her. I.VPIZOIENEAT iN GEX2'LENENS HATS. TITREBARN-STILEVC, LIVERMOL. GENTLEMEN,—I have given your Patent Eu7-fitting Hat a fair trial, and I must say it is the most comfortaZ. , le hat I ever wore, particularly when crossing the - water in a windy day, when with the •ld style of hat I invariably had a headache, which with your new style is not the case. I can, therefore, safely recommend it to any one, particularly to those subiect to headache.—l am, gentlemen, yours truly. I have worn for some time one of the Patented Easy-fitting Hats sold by Mr. —=--; and I can testify to the advantage derived from the absence of that unpleasant pressure, particu larly on the forehead, usually felt from the hats generally worn. House, Cheltenha.m. (Signed) This letter is from a first-rate English admiral. The name is not given for obvious reasons. NOTICE.—Five Pounds Reward upon conviction of an ix fringemcnt of nip. Patent. Simpson's Patent Easy-fitting Hats are on.y 11.1 , 1 in Liverpool at No. 6, .St. George's-crescent (two doors from the top of Lord-street), .and at 9, Dale-street (opposite Royal Bank Buildings), and in upwards of one hundred other towns, a list of which would make this advertisement too long. The Agents in each place make themselves known. THE REV. MR. BELLEW'S READINGS. - With plea sure we again call attention to Mr. Bellew's readings to-night, from the works of Oliver Goldsmith. Poor old " Goldie's " history is intensely interesting, but from some unexplainable cause it is not very well known. Mr. Bellew, we doubt not, will do him the justice be merits, and bring forward some of those remarbable in cidents in his life so exquisitely portrayed in the " Vicar of Wakefield." We recommend cordially those who have been gratified with the production of the greatest bard of Erin," who have never or have often heard Air. Bellew, and who have the interest of churches in general, end Trinity Church, St. Anne-street, ,in particular, at heart,, 'to go and hear Mr. Bellew at the Philharmonic-hall to-night. ES. .promon