Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-17 00:00:00

:Preachment was so stinging that an emute Be celirre cil and for -a tim e th e b oar d- room was , e , n e of confusion, th e l ec t ure d d ec l ar i ng th a t th ey hued e ozi not be lectured; and a number of them even th eir hats a n d l e f t the room, uttering the fiercest 'glaciations on the chairman, who met this strange :roonstration with a placidity appearing very like enjoy tholist. Mr. Mos s an d Mr. John Wilson were among the e who rose and seized their hats, but before quitting room it occurred to them that such a proceeding laid • sightunply cowardi ce ; th e f ormer gentleman, t h ere f ore , halt t„hei_ w ould not de ser t hi s p os t, and a Dl;"enit -4 ' 4 . place. M r. Harr i son then sett l e d th e be they of th e i r position, •" that the public would Was best. judges o f w h o was r i g ht and who " whereupon the intending deserters resumed their Beats", and sat out the inflction of the chairman's uture, which had a most " stunnin g " effect, as was word y f rom the fact of Mr. Moss—ever ready with his „144 ? r tlY weapon —desp a iringly calling out to the clerk, clerk You n o response to that, Mr, Cleaver ? " The lNho at on ce - made a f orma l reply, draw i ng d i st i nct i ons a ut a diff erence, such as might be illustrated by flotiting whether twice two make four, or whether ap composed o f tw i ce two. This not :I•,?4eating so triumph ant as m i ght have b een de 11°wed Mr• Moss took u p th e cu d ge l s, an d exult i ngly the f o ~ y Z3,--probably the ciga r or w hi s k e y Nu l had only b een d e d uc t e d b y t h e au di tor. P e nditure -- th e ex penses ex of th e d epu t at i on ; an d M r. M oss s uch little 4 Went point out the shabbiness of knocking off tnelitl l uxuries as a gentleman would naturally be aed to In dulge in, and s uc h littl e gra t u iti es as bi,gentlerilan would —if going on the strength of "rll egainbPurse—be i nc li ned to b estow upon pretty keeti er ruaids a n d smart ostlers. So the last ng' of the Toxteth guardians ended, the chair t man expressi ng a hope that they might go on better the f uture ; and in that hope we cordially join, cau se we think .that a board which includes among its itinbers, such respectable and sens i ble men as M r. ~..ogers, who efficiently acted as chairman for several (!e ' s — has before it an honourable and useful career, and I; is not b ound to imitate the notorious vagaries of a "Idred body. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. 111,44I'VERPOOL BANKRUPTCY COURT, SATURDAY.-(Before la st C°llll nissioner Perry.)—R. T. and B. Chaffers.—The s amination in this case was again adjourned. Portrixo INTELLIGENCE. - The third meeting of the Th e4r Coursing Club will take place on Wednesday and date next, the 19th and 20th inst., commencing each t ten o'clock. I,e (Bath Chronicle) hear, with pleasure, that S amue l j dk 44 e t , Esq.,. formerly of Bristol, ha s b een appo i nte d I, 4 vibutor of Stamps for the county of Derby. Mr. leels is well known in the literary wor ld as t h e fi rst p i "' of the Press, and the present literary critic of Times ut pet e, gErT DEATHS —On Sunday morning, a man named _ . g e — tiourtney, a carter, who resided 'lir a court off g•gellt-3tre e t was found dead in his roo m . M argaret l ehard street s, 75 yea rs o f age , w h o resi d e d o ff Cambridge /AZ': died suddenly on S a t ur d a y. Sh e h a d b een com ,lll,,ing Previously Vfol n Isnea.n POLICE CounT.--Ann Smith, a char a., Wil li : , 'who had been in the employ of Mr. Owen lt,i:LArFyle-street, was b roug ht up; , ah --b megatly pawned a number a articles of wearing stylvt 4 rel- She was fined 405., and 7s. 6d., the value of the es, or, in default, to be imprisoned for two months. 6, style AT BIRKENHEAD —On Friday night, an ad ih;riled inquest was held on the body of Thomas Ware, di e - d Bc4l of Mr. Thomas Ware, Abbey-street, and wh o h a d on the Saturday mornincr previously. Th e c h i ld b w o a r s att ended fo r some time by° a doctor named Hellen be °u gh, a foreigner. A post mortem examination had ferr made, and the verdict the jury returned was, "Died ouul eff usion of th e b rain, induced, in a large measure, 'r In a want of proper medical attendance." di : A Lick WITH A P oxrut."---In one of those drunken g•raceful "street rows, which are of such frequent nloecurrence in Hopwood-street on a Saturday night, a ban named Gerald Galvin, received a severe scalp ..oun , d, and was conveyed in a state of insensibility to therelheNo rtherli hospital. The friends who conveyed him inforifled the porter that he had only had a lick With a poker." But for some time it was rather doubtful w hether or not he would recover. Fortunately, how er, he did, and is now doing ll we . Lxv ty,a ; Ei t"( 3 l , ROYAL INFIRMARY. - Return for week 1)--,ing Jail. 15th, 1859. Admitted : in-patients, 47 ; out" )!ti.ents, 12; surgical casualties, 12. Discharged: cured, 1 4 . , relieved, and at own request, 11; made out-patients, Fo irr egUlar, 0 ; dead, 6 ; remain in the house, 191. rth ensuing week. Visitors : Messrs. W. S. Caine end ti e C. Jones, Esqrs. ; physician, Dr. Turnbull; ef)11, C. Biekersteth • house surgeon, Mr. T. S. Walker , Junior house surgeon, Mr. J. Alle n; chaplain, Rev. H. J. elarrod, A.B. Robert Hutchiso n , treasurer. h)l r e belieVe that the spec u l a ti ons o f a contemporary, e I , l r. Glad s t one ' s remaining for any length of time in 'fb„'llian Island s , are ent i rely unfounded. Sir John ta„„7l?g's tenure of pow er th ere w ill a l most i mmediately p ou nate, and p en di ng t h e short interval between his nmeparture and the arrival of a successor, Mr. Gladstone ill'a fe w d ays, rece i ve the authority requisite for u cting the admi n i s t ra ti on . B ut the right hon. 'enlernan will, we learn, be in London in ample time . to Participate in the leading events of the session.—Dally 2V.euja b 4 ` . „°YAL AMrssrruEA ran.—To-night Verdi is to be ag a i n t he ascendant, " Trovatore" being announced by the jiglish Opera Company, and the well known and admired ' i ts will doubtless prove attractive, with the following cast : Leo...—. 11 v-- - 17) _ MISS r neeves ; Azueena, Madame M. t i lBllO P ; Manrico, Mr. Elliot Geier;; Count de Luna, Mr. Concluding ; Fernando , Mx. E. Corri; Ruiz, Mr. C. Lyall. ‘'inueluding with "I Thy don't she Marry ?" in which the Ch aracter of Natz Tick will be be played by Mr. Baker, an d Corporal Max by Mr. Charles Lyall. Into the —The following , cases have been admitted Ii!lo the Northern Hospital : —William Gavin, a sailor gr,nging to the ship Florada, which sailed hence on Clay, met with a severe accident while the ship was in th e river. He, with others, were engaged in adjusting .`_te jibbiion, when it came down upon his foot, and very :Zverely damaged it. The man was at once conveyed to Ine above institution, where he received' every attention. 11 4 /!other s a il or , M att h ew Bi rc h , b elong i ng to a foreign lielying hold of a vessel, and received a severe scalp wound. Amon g the passengers ,by the st eam - s hip A s i a, we no tice the..arrival of Mr. H. Fuller, for many years the editor and proprietor of the New York Mirror a journal 4 cupying, a high position in the literary ana political tircles of t - U he nited States. Mr. Fuller is also widely known as the author of the " Belle Britain Letters," so ~Do, pular with the American public, and not u n k nown on ;Las side the water. These letters have been published In book form, and have had au extensive sale. Mr. Fuller visits Europe for purposes of business and pleasure, and presume his pen will not be idle during his travels. "e undeistand that he will be present at the Burns Celebration at Dumfries, on the 25th inst. eRESENTATION OF A PORTRAIT OF DAVID BUXTON, F t M.R.S., PRINCIPAL OF THE DEAF AND DUMB 'CROOL.--» On Friday evening a deputation of gentlemen, 1511 behalf of the subscribers, waited on Mrs. Button, and 3resintedlier with a portrait of Mr. Buxton, painted by 7• ". Mercier, o f Ch urc h- s t ree t, as a t o k en o f th e hi g h Spect and esteem in which he is held by his friends, he Rev. Dr. H ume , an d th e R ev . Thomas Moore, as Lan of the deputation, were most happy in conveying the t . i zilit i ments of th e subscribers to this valued New Year's W ei : and Mr. B ux t on , i n re t urn , ex p ress ed himself ver y i ngly for th e comp li men t s pa id to M rs . B ux t on an d a o nls e,lt The portrait is highly satisfactory, and repre nim in a characteristic speaking attitude. r ehn ts 4 GE or TH E Asia.—The passengers by the Asia an unusually pleasant voyage. Although the Z;ober of passengers was not large, yet there were . eal distinguished persons on board, who, by their e / Pts, wit, and good feeling, kept up a most delightful th ertaininent, du • g waking hours, from the time of 14,,, si ttP's departure from New York until her arrival in -- Among other wide-a-wake spirits on board _ b ee ... °l4 e the name of George Francis Train, who has IQ called " the livest man in America ; " Lord and are Y B ury, who, in point of cleverness and affability, of not the 2sr so et rp o assed at home or abroad ; Mr. Fuller,j ,. York Mirror, a well-known jonrna , ) 4 r. Carter, of the house of A. S. Henry and Compatntyr;- Aeld and Mrs- T. W. Kennard, of London ; Mr. Bu a e n an eminent merchant, &c., &c. During the yoy girwspaper was started at the suggestion of - 1 - 4 2 . : trill Y ' to which the above named gentlemen cothe eaptnatied som.e 200 pages. As a compliment to and ship, this impromptu journal was named the of 42 c Lottery, and was disposed of by a raffle for the sum to he which, at the sugestion of Lord Bury was donated a ~,re Society for the Relief of Shipwrecked Sailors ; tak e t3 rthY example for others to follow—both for the th e ,°.f • the amusement and th e philantbrophY of "P ct. IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE DOCK BOARD DOCK EXTENSION. ON THE LANCASHIRE SIDE. An important special meeting of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board was held on Saturday. Mr. Charles Turner presided ; and the other members present were— Messrs. Smith, Arnold, Farnworth, Laird, Bold, Hub back, Anderson, Forwood, Segar, Moss, Boult, Lockett, Mondel, Rankin, Bushell, Langton, Graves, Shand, Evans, and Tobin. _ _ The Chairman said that this was a special meeting for the purpose of considering the provisions of the bill lodged by the late provisional board, for borrowing money for the prosecution of works on the Liverpool side of the water. Mr. Rankin said, as chairman of the late special com mittee, he begged to move the following resolution : " That the peiiding bill in Parliament, introduced by the provisional board, entitled ' The proposed bill to authorise the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board to raise a further sum of money for works in Liverpool, to be pro secuted by this board ;' , .should be now referred for that purpose to the committee for parliamentary purposes, with instructions to take the necessary proceedings with regard thereto, and to report from time to time to this board; that it also be instructions to the works com mittee to consider and prepare suitable plans of the works on which it is proposed to expend the monies authorised to be raised by the bill, and to submit such plans for the approval of this board." The views which he had expressed on a recent occasion were so well known, that he need not repeat them. He entertained those views as firmly as ever; that there was a great necessity for improving the condition of this side of the river, and it was not in the slightest degree intended to lessen the works which were to be proceeded with at Birkenhead. Mr. Hubback seconded the motion. . Mr. Farnworth intimated that, if the motion was lost, he would move an amendment. Mr. Laird asked if the plans which they discussed there for eight or nine months were the plans they were going on with ? The Chairman : This resolution refers these plans to the works committee, to report to this board, to say whether they will propose any alteration or not. Mr. Laird : We discussed certain plans for months, is it proposed now to abandon these plans ? The Chairman : The resolution contains nothing with respect to the form of the plans. All the questions decided by the provisional board were merely provisional, and to come again before this board. This resolution authorises the parliamentary committee to proceed with the bill, and the plans that were before the provisional board will, by this resolution, I apprehend, be referred to the works committee, and if they see no reason for alteration they will be brought before this board, and then come on for discussion. _ Mr. Laird : Is it proposed to deposit the plans, or to receive the money, and then afterwards to expend the money as the board likes. The Solicitor : There is no occasion to deposit the plans. The Chairman : There is no occasion to deposit the plans if it is decided to go to Parliament for money ; the plans will be discussed before the committee, and pro bably inserted in the bill. Mr. Laird : Then you can go to Parliament and decide the plans you shall go for, bring them before the parlia mentary committee, and afterwards, instead of oarrying out the works for the accommodation o f the carr i ers an d the enlargement of the Huskisson Dock, you can expend ho town or anywhere else. be centre of t the money in t Is that the law ? The Solicitor : No, sit Mr. Laird : I understood from Mr. North, that the board was not bound to deposit the plans. The Solicitor : Quite so': Mr. Laird : Then if you get an act for £300,000 you are not bound to spend the money. The Chairman : .Mr. North does not say that the plans will not be made part of the bill, but the committee of the house are not likely to give powers to borrow money without having some plans before them, and no doubt plans will be laid before the committee, but it is not necessary, as I understand, as a matter of form, to deposit plans previously. Mr. Laird : I previously expressed my belief that this extension was totally unnecessary, and that if we went to parliament for works on this side of the water, we will not be able to complete the works on the other side. The land on the north side at ' Birkenhead is not yet taken possession of; and unless possession is got imme diately, we shall not •be able to fulfil our engagements with regard to docks on the other side. I need not say that argument will be used against the trust when they go to parliament, and no doubt with great effect. The act has been now passed so long that we might have been in a position to have got possession of that land, without the possession of which Mr. Hartley cannot complete the works in the time specified by the act of parliament. Mr. Evans : You are a hard task-master, Mr. Laird. Mr. Smith : I regret that the consideration of this important subject could not have insured a better attend ance at this board. A great many members are absent, and very much to my regret, because it is a subject which should be very fully discussed. Many of the members were not members of the late provisional board, and did not hear the discussion to enable them to come to a just decision upon tciis subject, and feeling it my duty to propose an amendment, and my reasons for it are, that when this subject was discussed by the provisional board I felt bound to vote with certain gentle men who opposed,*most decidedly, going to parliament next session. The grounds upon which I voted with these gentlemen, if examined, were probably grounds of a very opposite character. You now propose to go for £300,000. If you put it upon the footing of what is necessary to be done to facilitate the trade of the port on the Liverpool side of the Mersey, then I say £300,000 is a sum far too little. The gentlemen who opposed going to Parliament at all opposed it upon very different grounds. They said you were bound by what was done' in Parliament last session, —to complete the works on the Birkenhead side of the water before you lay out one sixpence on the Liverpool side. ,• • • ment—that it is inexpedient to go to Parliament in next session, are these :—When the subject was dis cussed before, the opinion of the solicitor was taken, and upon that opinion Mr. Bushell grounded all his argu ments. The opinion of the solicitor is, that we have the power to deal with our surplus revenue without going • to Parliament at all. (Hear, hear.) I b e lie v e, an d I know other gentlemen believe, that, at any rate fOr the next twelve months, we shall have a surplus revenue, and a very handsome surplus revenue—l may say for the next two years. Now I . would urge that this calls for the immediate attention of the board. After all the difficulties, and troubles, and annoyances to which this board has been subjected, with reference to providing accommodation for the timber trade, we have ultimately succeeded in almost getting that trade into one mind, to agree to remove to the accommodation at th e nor th en d of 'the 'town, which has been specially provided for it. So much so is that the case, that I believe every broker, with but one or two exceptions, has provided himself with a portion of the accommodation so given. They will commence their rent upon the Ist of April, and by that time the accommodation will be all completed; and I have very little doubt that within six months you will find that the ereat bulk of the timber trade has located itself at the north end of the town, and has abandoned the south. But there is one thing neceesary to complete that accommodation which has been provided—there is no accommodation for the water carriers. Without accommodation be pro vided for the water carriers the timber trade cannot be conducted at the Canada Dock ; and therefore it is im peratively necessary—it is essential to the trade, that that accommodation should be provided as speedily as possible. Now, Mr. Rankin is the gentleman who brought this sub ject before the board. He went into plans. A deal was said about those plans not being plans of the board. They were not plans of the board—they. were Mr. Rankin's plans, but they really formed the foundation for our consideration. Of that important question I believe, if these plans be looked at, that the grand object which they aim at dealing with is the making of two of what Mr. Rankin called " slip"—a term I can hardly under stand—or two narrow docks at the north end of the Canada dock. With the principle of that plan I per fectly agree. You have then two long narrow docks about as well adapted as anything can be for the accom modation required ; and if at any future time the timber trade should be extended further northwards by another large dock being put to the north of the water carriers' docks, these docks will still be as conveniently located as they possibly can be. Therefore, as regards that plan, the principle of it meets mv approval. Mr. Laird put a question to-day, which, if . 1 understand it right, may be decided whether we go to Parliament or not. If we do, and it be necessary to produce plans, - these plans. may be considered between this time and the time of it being necessary to produce them. That is not the question before the board at this moment. Now, here is the first essential requirement for the interest of the estate—to provide that accommodation for the water carriers, in connection with the timber trade, at the Canada Dock, and by means of which you can have an amount of accommodation at the south end of the town which is equal, I say, for all purposes of „ ne rd trade, almost to the whole of the Brunswick t oo k. Well, sir, what might be about the cost of this ? I believe about £160,000 in round numbers. If se, we Ihave the authority or our solicitor for believing that it it THE NORTHERN TIMES,. IVfONEMY, JANUARY 17, 1859 perfectly competent to_the Dock Beard to do that work out of tie surplus revenue, without going to parllament at all. I maintain, further, that if you go to parliiiment this session, and if you obtain from parliament the power to borrow £300,000, you could not do , one whit more in the next twelve months than you can de , without going to parliament at all ; and, therefore, why should you. go. (Hear, hear.) Why, in the first place, should you. be even put to the expense, if it be only a matter of £5OO, since I maintain that you could not do more if you had the power from Parliament than you can do now ? (Hear, hear.) Now let me draw your attention to some of the difficulties with which you may be met when you go to Parliament. You will have to go into the whole finan cial position of the estate ; you will have to.prove, as far as you can—which, I think, you will have a difficulty in doing—that you can get the money in week by week at a certain rate. Now, I know that one gentleman who has spoken on the subject, and who is opposed to going to Parliament, is so npon those very grounds, and that gentleman is one of the nominee members. I think, from the whole of the discussion which took place in the provisional board, we, may see that the three gentleman who are the nominee members will take one view upon this question, and that is that it is inexpedient to go to parliament during the next session. Since the last board we have another nominee member. lam sorry that we have not the pleasure of seeing that gentleman at the board to day ; but his opinions are well known. He will be of the same opinion as the other nominee members. Well, sir, I may be met with the reply—" What of that ? The nominee members do not occuy any other position than the elected members : their opinions are of no more value ; they can have no more weight ; it can make no difference whether they are nominee members or elective members ; whether they vote this way or that way ; all parties at this board are equals." But lam not dis posed to admit that to the fullest extent. I conceive an alteration will take place when you go to parliament - and a very clear and distinct one, too. There has been so much said about their occupying precisely the same position that I take this opportunity of drawing the at tention of 'the board, to show you, with reference to this very going to parliament, that you may possibly find there is a distinction. But, even without that, I main tain that there is no occasion for me to go out of this room to prove that there is a distinction. I would appeal to Mr. Bushell whether, on the occasion of his making his grand speech—l am sorry I have not the paper here —he did not make use of the argument that the docks would no longer be viewed as the local property of Liver pool—that they had become national property. (Hear, hear, from Mr. Bushell.) The very fact that he had accepted a seat at the board, was one of his proofs that they were national property. (Hear, hear.) Now, sir, you go to parliament next session. Tho Govern ment consider the question. The first thing they will lo9k at is this—" How have the four repre sentatives of our own at the board voted-what are their opinions ?" They examined—they see that all those gentlemen are decidedly opposed to going to par liament this session. Will anybody tell me that that is not the ground for the Government to form an opinion upon ? Most decidedly. That is one of the difficulties which will meet you upon going to parliament. Ido not know whether it is necessary for me to detain the board any longer. I think I have very clearly and dis tinctly shown that I have the authority of the solicitor for saying, we can apply the surplus revenue to new works without going to parliament. The works pro posed at the north of the Canada dock, to make con veniences for the timber trade, would involve an expense of about £160,000. These works can be carried out without going to parliament at all out of the surplus revenue ; and therefore I believe it is neither desirable nor is it expedient that you should go to parliament this session : and I beg leave accordingly to move, as an amendment, " That it is not expedient to go to parlia ment during the ensuing session." Mr, Bushell seconded the amendment. The Chairman : It is a mere negative, Mr• Smith Then I put it as a - mere negative, • • .. Mr. Bold said Mr. Smith would have judged more wisely if he had confined himself to giving the reasons which prompted him in his vote on the last occasion, without ascribing motives and reasons to the other members who voted with him. Mr. Smith had stated that the other gentlemen who voted in the minority had said they woald not sanction any money being borrowed for this side till the works at Birkenhead were completed. He (Mr. Bold) would most distinctly state that he never entertained such a view in his life ; and Mr. Smith was, therefore, entirely wrong. His opposition to going to. Parliament this session was solely and .wholly upon the financial position of the estate. He gave no other reason. He agreed in considering there was a necessity for accommodation being given to the carriers, and a little additional accommodation to the steam trade ; but he never said he would not sanction any money being laid out on his side. He was an advocate for it 'to a certain extent : but he did deprecate going to Parlia ment because he 'fully expected they would be defeated 'when in Parliament. Going for so small a sum, when they would require more next year, was, in his opinion, impolitic and unwise. Mr. Bushell : I, like Mr. (Bold, "dissent from Mr. Smith's conclusions as to the reasons that were given by members in voting for going to parliament in the ensuing session. Any one remembering my observations must know that my objections were purely on financial grounds. I need not refer to the observations made by Smith, be cause the course which he has taken now is precisely that which was taken by me when I applied to the solicitor and asked him to give us definite information whether we had power to deal with surplus ,revenue or not. Mr. Rankin's estimate, which I believe is a correct one, or at least if not correct, the correction will be in favour of a large rather than of a small surplus from our annual revenue. Mr.- Rankin's estimate tells us we shall have a surplus at the end of 1859 of £150,000. Now, if there be one weak point in the case by going to Parliament now, it is in the fact that you arc going for £300,000. Why, sir, you have half that sum in your possession now, and I . do think that to raise ill-feeling by going to parliament now, under such circumstances, would be the most impolitic step that this board ever did or ever can take. Consider for a moment of the storm, which I won't attempt to picture, but which you may already see is beginning to patter, though not in consequence of the amount of £300,000 which you propose to borrow, and which is so paltry that it can hardly raise opposition, but it is a consequence of the principle involved, and that principle is great. You will, most assuredly on the Found of principle, provoke opposition ; and is the board in a position to resist successfully the amount of opposi tion that will be raised against it ? Sir; one other reason is, that at the present, with this surplus in hand, Mr. Hartley can undertake the work there, that this board has decided upon, immediately; he can effect those pro jects which - are most needed by the water carriers, and can give that further accommodation which is very much required for the steam marine of this port. These things will be delayed if you go to parliament ; they w ill b e d e l a y e d until the end of this year at least, whereas if you re frain from going to parliament you may go on with them at once: I here .is no doubt .that from the discussions that have taken place at this board—in feet we have had the evidence of it—have produced something like a feel ing-of distrust among the moneyed interest of the conn try with regard to the position of this board. It has been charged against me that that "great" speech of mine, as it is called, at this board did more than any thing else to check the flowing in of m.oney to the coffers of this board. But, in my own defence, I must assert that which I conscientiously believe - that thediscussions. which have taken place at this board have done more than anything else to put this trust into a higher and better position, when it shall be fully, and fairly, and justly considered by the public. We are now in a better. position and more trustworthy than we have been for Many years past ; and why ? Because a spirit of economy has sprung lip in this board ; and the public must now see that anything of that tendency which formerly existed in that respect with regard to. these gigantic schemes, and the construction of great- works, no longer exists ; and that it it exists in the minds of some gentlemen, there is a p?wer with others to prevent that scheme being carried into effect. Now,. there is another advantage. You go to Parliament ; you incur the expense of from £3,000 to £5,000 ; you take away from the board the engineer, the solicitor, the chairman, and some of the leading members who are of the parlia mentary committee of the board, so as positively to throw a substantial impediment in the way of the pro ceeding with these works, which we have undertaken faithfully and honestly to carry out.. We, as merchants —whether we are merchants' or manufacturers are bound in honour, when we 'undertake to do a certain work within a limited time—no matter how much our profits may seem to be in undertaking further works— yet, if these further works are an impediment to carrying out the works already constructing, we should not look to the right nor to the left, nor should we be turned away by any reason whatever from our purpose, This board has unanimously consented—or the late board did, and I think the present board will—because I know the spirit and feeling of some of our new members, the board has consented to a committee to consider the working of the docks. The Chairman : There is no appointment of such a committee that I know of. I think you are mistaken, Mr. Bushell. _ . Mr. Bushell : Well, the late board did, and I have no doubt the present board will appoint a comm;tt— the purpose which I have indicated. Surely too 'much to ask, Recing the changes that have place and thg wonderful faoilitits that have arisen in inc way of transit—steam by land and water, and telegraphs; add to those facilities , which we possess, a rapid intercom munication. and the increased power of machinery for doing rapid work, I say that the time has come when, whatever the result may be, the board is bound to in quire how far it hae availed itself of the present state of things, and how much increased work they can get out of the present costly machinery of the dock estate. I must say that inmost of thediscession that camebefore us the other day,in regard. to dock fines, there was an immense amount of sympathy exhibited for the merchant, and a precious little amount of sympathy for our docks and quays. I conscientiously object, on all grounds of policy and upon all grouncfaot right, to this step that the board now proposes to take. I say the amount you ask for is the weak point of the• whole case ; it is so paltry as to positively become absurd, and it really seems to me like breaking a bntterffy on a wheel to take such a step. Mr. Bonn : I should have been glad to have given a silent vote on this occasion,. but for the remarks of Mr. Bushell, who appears to suppose that we are bound in honour and morality to complete the Birkenhead works within a certain time, at all hazards and at'all loss that may ensue , and not to undertake to do anything that will at all have the effect of prolonging the execution of those works. Now, I take leave, as a dock .ratepayer, ratepayers a po ye s r i s tiv e e v ly er to d we e r n e y pa th r t a i t es sta to tem an e ; I y nt sneh deny thatthe contract, no matter from whom. it proceeded or by. whom it was made. I say distinctly that the ratepayers most un equivocally protested against it ; that they sent a petition against such an arrangement to Parliament ; that they employed counsel to argue against it. before the parliamentary committee; that, they were, nevertheless, denied a hearing, and they were denied in a. manner which appeared to me exceedingly extraordinary, to say the least of it. In reference to the present question, I shall consider myself perfectly free to vote for the expenditnre of any funds I can get to be expended on the Liverpool side of the water. I am not in the slightest degree, I conceive, morally bound to complete the works at Birkenhead, at any rate faster than we can reasonably raise the money to do it with. I am afraid, as it is, that we are going on at a rate that our Exchequer will hardly bear. We are bound to finish the Birkenhead works, because there is an Act of Parlia ment, and therefore the work must be done at any loss, no matter what the inconvenience may be to the estate. But as respects the completion of the works, I do not f s o yn r ip su a c th h is p o r w e s i s t i h n g t h I h e opinion urry. thatthere is any don't fan fancy any onenecessity ever asked for these works. , I don't find there is the slightest pressure from without for their construction. I find, on the contrary, a great try of the want of accOmModation on the Liverpool side; and the American trade, with which I am connected, has been seriously inconvenienced and put to great loss in numerous instances, for want of proper dock room. The steam-ship proprietors com plain that there is a great lack of accommodation for them ; and the export trade generally complain that their . wants are not sufficiently attended to, that the sheds arc not sufficient to keep the quays clear, and to preserve the goods from the weather, that many goods are damaged in the course of shipment, and that goods are landed abroad in an inferior state to those that are shipped from London. I find, moreover, that the access to the town from the pierhcads is not only most inconvenient, but actually in many cases dangerous, and lives have been lost ; - yet, I am told,.that we cannot do anything to mend that state of affairs. I find that we cannot make, a communica tion, as we desire it, from one end of the docks to the other, along the quays. I ask you to employ your sur plus revenue in completing the works at the Canada Dock, which is most pressing, and which, I think, should be done at once. Is everything else on the other side of the river to be at a standstill; and is nothing further to be done until you have finished the Birkenhead Docks, simply because you will have to go to parliament for dock sfunds ? I agree with Mr. Bushell that the amount to be asked for is a small sum; and I think that our taskmaster on the other side will not let us .get more, or even so much; but if we do get that, and can finish the Canada Dock and the other necessary works, then I think we may congratulate ourselves; but- if wo do nothing, if wo sit down contentedly as we are, I am afraid we shall have the ratepayers com plaining much more loudly than they have ever done before. Ido think the ratepayers are beginning now to attend to their own business ; and lam glad to find they are beginning to look into matters for them selves, and I am satisfied you will hear more of them than you have ever yet done. The old maxim says —" Those who pay the piper have a right to choose the tune ?" but the. maxim in respect to Liverpool might be rendered thus—that the people who pay are to say nothing, and that those outside who pay nothing are to say everything. I shall vote for Mr. Rankin's motion; but I should have done so with greater pleasure if it had been for a larger 'sum. don't think we can complete the Birkenhead Docks in the form specified by act of parliament ; but seeing that there are already nine acts of parliament with reference to Birkenhead, andseeing that they stated that the docks there were to be completed by a certain time, and seeing that none of those acts of parliament have been fulfilled, I do think if we admitted it right to defer the completion for a few years longer, parliament would give us the necessary authority, if we could give a good reasonfor desiring it. Mr. Graves : Sir, I do not know that any alteration has taken place in the necessities of the port since this question was last discussed ; on the contrary, it appears to me almost every week devclopes new requirements for the trade of the port. I look upon it, from whatever source it comes, whether from surplus revenue, or by a loan, sanctioned, by Parliament, that we have certain works we must undertake. I look upon it, that, between Liverpool and Birkenhead there will be a most intimate and constant traffic ; and I ask you, how is it possible to provide for that trade with the present facilities we have on our side of the river ? It was only within the last two months that the docks and quays' committee, after searching the whole line of your (locks, were able to find one solitary spot to berth a single fiat in, as a permanent berth. (Hear, hear.) How, then, sir, is it possible to conduct that great trade, which I look to as consequent upon the construction of our great works at Birkenhead, unless we at once provide those facilities. It is necessary that that provision should be made to suit the times. You cannot make that provision very well .to the southward of the Princes' Dock, because it would prevent flats getting into the docks on the other side of the water in the - §ame tide. `1 look upon it that at the north end we shall require for the water carriers con siderable facilities, so that, when the dock gates are open, fiats can in the same tide. reach the opposite shore. I look upon it that our steam trade requires much greater facilities and space than at present exists for its accom modation. At this moment the docks and quays com mittee are unable to provide a weekly coasting steamer with a permanent berth. Only last week, I was waited upon in connection with a large line of packets of a very extensive character, and of a very large class, as likely to start semi-weekly from this port. I say at present we are utterly unable to provide for such a line of packets, so far as dock accommodation goes. I look upon it that our timber trade requires a certain amount of further accommodation. It is unnecessary to discuss that, how ever, for it has been admitted by nearly every member of the board. 'lf, then, these necessities exist, I think it is our duty, as trustees for the commerce of the port, to endeavour to meet those necessities. But Mr. Smith argues that these necessities can be met out of surplus revenue. Now, sir; I rather agree with Mr. Bbult, that we have other purposes to which we can apply our surplus revenue for some rears to come, and I should be sorry to think that 'we. should be deprived, by the appropriation of surplus revenue to other purposes, from seeing that those improvements which are incumbent on us to carry out, from seeing those necessities supplied. Last week; the engineer told us one of . the greatest necessities we had to meet was to alter the sheds of'the Prince's Dock, so that greater improvements. may be made there. When we ask why it could not bo done we were told that there was no money. In the same way Mr. Bushell and the docks and quays committee are.eon "Sidering what mechanical appliances, can be used around our docks; but if you appropriate surplus revenue as recommended by Mr. Smith, where is •the money to come from for making those improvements. This estate, sir, if it is to keel) _peace With the progress of the times, will require a great amount of annual expenditure, which can come only from surplus revenue ; and there fore lam very unwillin that it should be appropriated to any other purpu,... Mr. Smith has alluded to the opposition that we shall be likely to meet. with in Par liament. He has alluded to the view the Government would take of this matter through the representations of their nominees at this. hoard. Now Mr. Smith must for get that; I think in his presence, the late president of the Board of Trade admitted that au increased expenditure at Liverpool waa required. We have, in the report of the President of the Board of Trade, an absolute recom mendation to go to parliament, in these words ;—" That the Birkenhead plans should first be finally settled and fairly put in hand; and that in the next or future years it would be competent for the new Mersey Board, which would then have received, its final constitution, if they should bo of opinion that the trade of the port required dock extension at Liverpool, either on the north or south of their estate of the Mersey, to prepare a well-consi ,-rheme, in which the works to be done, and the to be ;,pent on them, should be fully brought to . el . Parliament." Now, I ask, sir, whether the government would be likely to support our expenditure if we, without any notice whatever, were to appropriate our aurplus revenue to those purpoees I ask would s'Ne not be more likely to meet their views by openly and straightforwardly asking their permission to bo rrow snms of money to carry oat that which the - Board ofEr= itself recommends in the report I have just read to• you? Mr. Busbell has told us that we are• in honour botradito carry out the works. we are engaged in at Birkenhead, and. Ido most fully admit the obligation to which he has alluded, but when the obligation) was-undertaken by this board, there was also anhonourable understanding, which, appeared also to rest upon the mind of every member of the board, that as soon as we had disposed of that bill, and so soon as we had fairly - put in hand the Bir kenhead docks, that we should go to Parliament for such a sum of money as we considered the necessities of the Liverpool side of the river required (hear, hear, from Mr. Anderson), I consider that, without the slightest imputation resting on any member of this board, we can with clean hands go to Parliament and in the most per _ feet good faith ask permission to borrow £300,000: I now come, sir, to the stalking-house which has been so often brought before us—l mean our finances. Really, the sum we require is so small that I cannot for a moment think that it has any bearin ,, upon our finances to make us hesitate in the course we think right to pursue. I am one of those who have the greatest confidence in the elasticity and the increase of the trade of this port ; and that whatever money may be required to be spent upon the facilities of the port, our income will at all times be equal to our expenditure. NoW, what has been the result for the last twelve months ? While we have passed through one of the severest years of commercial distress that I suppose Liverpool, or the kingdom, has ever experienced, while we have had an outcry from every part of. the. world of diminished trade—while we see by the annual returns of the various dock companies in London that the trade there was falling off very much, and the dividends. have consequently been reduced; when we seo all these things and look at Liverpool, one is almost surprised. What has been the result at Liver pool? Notwithstanding that panic through which we have passed, I am happy to state that the income from dock dues in 1858, from the Ist 'of January to the 31st December, exceed that of 1857, th neatest year we had. ever known, by £571. Now, with such a fad' as this before you, do you think that going to borrow £300,000 would effect the finances of this trust ? I ask you if under such frightful 'adversity we had increased our re sources, what are we likely to do- under that prosperity which I believe is very close at hand? I think the figures that I have just quoted should we well known by the public, as other figures affecting the interests of this estate have been again and again dragged across the public view. The dock dues in 1857 amounted to £373,987 9s 2d, and in 1858 they amounted to £37 , 1,558 6s Id. And now,- sir, this is a statement that I give with great it with g tat pleasuie and I think it cannot be made known too publicly. Ido not think I need enter more fully into the general question. I honestly and conscientionslv believe that it is our duty to offer the facilities to the trade of the port which have enumerated ; I believe it is a more manly and straightforward course to execute those works under the sanction of parliament than by the appropriation of surplus revenue; and therefore I do not fear any oppo sition that may be raised against us from whatever quarter it may come... That opposition can only arise from one source, and that is, from antagonism - to the interests of Liverpool (hear, hear) ; and if, unhappily, we should be defeated, then, sir, the responsibility will test upon the proper shoulders, and not on the shoulders of this board. But Mr. Smith and other gentlemen have alluded to the impropriety of going to Pariament at all. Now, sir, I do believe it will be absolutely necessary for us to go to Parliament. I believe there are reasons for introducing a bill into the House of Commons in the coming session—a bill in connection with dock flues ; and therefore I conceive—l believe lam right upon that point; I believe it is pretty well known by members here, that there is a positive necessity to go to Parlia ment for other purposes —I conceive, therefore, that the argument in favour of not going to Parliament at all is a gross error. I shall, sir, very gladly support the motion that Mr. Rankin has proposed. Mr. Smith explained that he did not intend to suggest that the nominee members would make representations to the Government, for those gentlemen assured the board that they were not in communication with the Government. lie meant that the Government would notice the fact that the four nominee members coincided in their votes on this question. Mr. Graves explained that what he waned to convey was that the Government would be apt to view the matter through the opinions of their representatives at that board. ➢ir. Bushell complained that he had been misrepre sented by Mr. Graves. lie did not 6bject to going to parliament at all ; but he objected to going there this year. ➢ir. Forwood would vote very cordially in support of Mr. Rankiu's motion, and he did so on the ground not, as had been hinted indirectly by Mr. Bushell, that he was thereby going to support works of extraordinary magni tude, or that by such a vote the board would declare that they did not intend to follow up that spirit of economy which now existed in their councils, but because in all human probability, judging from the experience they had hitherto had of the extension of the port, they must see that the port was not in a stationary position, but in- a progressive state of development. He thought that, by the judicious expenditure of money to meet the growing requirements of trade, the board would not diminish the security of Via bond-holders, but would rather tend to enlarge it. Mr. Farnworth said there was one matter which had not been brought before them. Mr. Smith had stated distinctly that £160,000 would be sufficient to grant every 'required accommod a tion f or the ti m b er trade at the north end of Liverpool. He had very properly stated that the timber trade, almost in a body, had made arrangements to remove north on or about the Ist of Aril next, and that the timber trade required some provision for the water carriers, and other considerations of that sort. Now, he meant to say that the timber trade were not under that impression. The timber trade had never contemplated going to the Canada Dock, excepting under the impression that the Mersey Board. would, with all possible speed, give every requi site accommodation for the trade there.. If the £160,000 proposed by Mr. Smith-,that was for the making of a basin to tlie eastward. of the two canals —if that" were laid before the timber trade, and they were asked if it were sufficient for their accommodation, they would be unanimous in saying it would not be so, But if the board thought that these two canals and the basin would be sufficient, they would have the. timber trade coming year by year continually before the board to give them the same trouble which they had givenin years gone by. Why not settle the timber trade once for ever ? Give them, that accommodation which £300,000 would enable them to give, and then it would be done.. He thought the timber trade were almost unanimous in removing from the Brunswick Dock, thereby giving up a valuable property there which this board might. appropriate as they thought desirable. _ _ He agreed with MrSniith, if the bOard we're in posses sion of a surplus revenue, and had no other means of spending it except at the north end of the• town, it might not be necessary to go to Parliament. But he believed if the money were expended by the Mersey Board without goinc , to Parliament, there were those in that room; and out of it, who might say the board had no right to do so. He wished, therefore, to throw the responsibility on Parliament, and he would support Mr. Rankin's motion. The Chairman said, there were one. or two statements inado by Mr. Laird which • he thoaght would convey so erroneous an impression upon tho minds of the public that they ought uot to be allowed to. go uncontradicted. Mr. Laird , had stated to his (the chairman's) very great surprise that the works at Birkenhead were not proceed ing as they ought to be. If he had. said they were not proceeding so fast. as they could wish them to do, that would be another thing ' but, what he stated implied that the committee of works had not done everything they pos sibly could de, in order to further the prosecution of those arks. He (the chairman) would appeal to the works committee generally, and to the board, whether they had not worked early and late, and done everything they:could do, to further the prosecution of the works on the other side of the water, and whether any delay had arisen from any want of exertion on the part of any member of the board, or the members collectively, Mr. Laird had said that the negotiations for the laud had not proceeded as fast as possible. These negotiations involved sums.of enormous magnitude ; and, every gen tleman who had to deal with negotiations of such an. intricate character must be aware, with duo regard to the ' interests of the board, the ratepayers, and the public, they could not be plashed forward beyond. a certain speed. —especially when the parties on the other side, perhaps naturally enough, would take such measures as they thought fit to. produce the largest amount of profit or remuneration for themselves. Bat, taking the beat advice that could be taken, he would undertake. to say they had proceeded. as fast as they possibly could, and he could tearlessly appeal to the solicitor respecting the negotiations for land, and to the engineer with reference to the work, whether everything had nut been donethat possibly could he done in the matter. A.% regarded the wor ks at Birkenhead, Mr. Hartley mad e a l a tter part of December to the solicitor; in part in the which he said :- 4 4 The progress we have made with the Birkenhead Docks is as follows have built about one-third of the wall on the north side of the _great float : we have excaTated about 50,000 cu bi c yards in the formation of the, 'Large low-water b as i n ; we have built about one-half ' of the north wall of the enclosure of the Woodside basin ' 1 we have put in th e f oun d at i ons of about 100 feet of the river wall of the south reserve—a most difficult work owing to the depth and nature of the quicksand; and we Vittrthe - works at the large new lock to ed Aforpeth Dock ; we have also entered into a contract witty M. William M'Cormack, for the are p?ograsin excavation of the whole of the earthwork necessary for the completion of the works, as sanctioned by Parlia ment, involving the payment of about £140,000 ; we have spent this year, upon and on account of these works, £115,000; the number of men now employed in the formation of the Birkenhead Docks is about 1,860, but they are being added to constantly, as we are able to get to work at different points. Our weekly expenditure has averaged about £1,900, but this is now also being increased weekly, as we transfer the workmen from this side, and are able to employ them at Birkenhead." Ire made these remarks because he did think it was important to the character of the board that the public should know that everything they had undertaken to do they were using every exertion to carry out. (Hear ) Mr. Laird said, as be had been alluded to, perhaps he might be allowed an explanation. lie said before, and he said again, that there had been delay in giving those notices ; and he Would say again, unless the land was got possession of, Mr. Hartley could not complete those works in the time required by the act. He never blamed Mr. Hartley ; he believed that he was getting on as fast as he could ; but until that land was got the works could not proceed properly. He believed notices were given ; those notices were since withdrawn ; and other notices were given. There had b een some delay of that kind. The purport of his observations was this, that till the land was got possession of, they could not get on with the works as they should do. The Chair - man said it was quite true that, until the land was got possession of, Mr. Hartley could not go forward with his work as fast as he otherwise could do. But he said again, that on the part of the solicitor, and on the part of everybody, there had been the most anxious desire to get possession of that land at the earliest possible period; and that the delay which had taken place did not arise from any default or negligence on the part of any of the officers or of any member of the board He thought that ought to go forward to the public. (Hear, hear.) There would be delays on this account, but. all was being done under the best advice, and as fast as possible. Mr. Bold had said that the financial position of the board was a reason, in his mind, ror not going to parliament; and Mr. Bushell had said that the smallness of the sum was the reason, in his mind, for not going to parliament—that the sum was so paltry it could not have any effect upon the finance of the board. He agreed with Mr. Bushell—it could not have any effect upon the finances of the board; but that disposed of Mr. Bold's opinion. It was quite true that distrust had been thrown upon the financial position of the board ; but men of business must know that the distrust did not arise from the borrowing of £300,000 for the purpose of the economical working of the docks on this side of the water, They knew what it arose from ; and he thought in a great measure, or perhaps altogether, the distrust was undeserved. It a rose f rom th large expenditure which Parliament had obliged them to go into within the next four or five years on the Birken head side, and upon the ultimate benefit of which there was great difference of opinion. Whether it turned out well or ill, however, there was no reason for distrust in the financial positio - n of the board; and without giving an opinion whether it would be profitable or not, there was no doubt that it would give great facilities and great conveniences to the trade of the port, and that it would be useful in a greater or less degree. But for any gentleman to think that going to parliament for £300,004 to add increased facilities to the enormous works on this side, while they were spending £2,000,000 on the othar side—that this would embarrass their financial position was an argument he could not attach much weight to. Mr. Bushell : You compel me to make explanations_ Nobody ever supposed that £300,000 could possibly make a difference. The Chairman : I think— Mr. Bushell: I must have justice. I must explain ; and I throw myself on the good feeling of the board. I did not allude, which you now compel me to do, to the sums of money tendered to the board for the purpose of carrying on our works. They have been utterly inade quate : you are aware of that.' B y ag i tat i ng again —by raising up again a new. storm in Parliament —you do again give rise to that distrust which has prevented us hitherto obtaining those resources we required. The Chairman : But I must give an expression of opinion contrary to Mr. Bushell's. I think the amount of money offered is quite sufficient for our purpose. Mr. Bushell: If you persist in that I shall move for a return The Chairman said, he gave it as his opinion that it had been sufficient, and he thought if gentlemen would give the board fair play, it was his opinion that they should receive quite sufficient money for their purpose. The financial position of the board was perfectly sound ; no fear ought to exist in the minds of the community with reference to the financial position of the board, and na such feeling would exist if it were not aroused from misconception of the views of the members of the board. Mr. Smith : We are opening a question. The Chairman : I think you have no right to interrupt me._ I am giving my own, opinion. Mr. Smith : rou are board. •• .... giving it as the opinion of the The Chairman did not think he should be interrupted. He had merely wished to give his opinion upon this par— ticular subject. He certainly thought that the sum of £300,000 could be most advantageously applied on this side of the water, and that it would economise and give great facility to the working of many of the different trades of the port. The amount .was so..reaseuable, an.d.. the advantage to be derived from it so great, that he could not conceive there could be any strong opposition to it.. Mr. Rankin's motion was then put to the vote, mut carried by 15 against 6. The following was the voting:—For the motion : Messrs.. Anderson, Boult, Farnworth, Forw.ood, Graves, Ilubback,.. Langton, Lockett, Mondel, Moss, Rankin, Seger, Shand, Tobin, and the Chairman. Against it : Messrs. Arnold; Bold, Bushell, Evans, Laird, and Smith. The board then adjourned. BURNS' CENTENARY TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES Sir,—My name has been published on the com— mittee of the Burns' festival without my authority asked or obtained ; and, as I disapprove of the object, I wish to protest against an unwarrantable use of my name. —Your'S faithfully, Jan. 15, 1859. THOS. 7.‘iATHESON. THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR HENGLER'S CIRQUE. TO THE EDITOR: OF THE NORTHERN TIMES, Sir,—lt will, no doubt, be in your recollection. and that of most of your readers, that in the month of December last, the worthy Chief Mam ' is trate, William Preston, Esq., kindly intimated his intention of honouring my establishment with his presence, but from,ufforseen family afflictions, he was prevented from being present on the night of his " bespeak," and, in your columns of the 11th December, there appeared a copy of a letter that had been Sent to. me by His Worship, explanatory of his absence,. I am now, sir, in a position to• inform yon and the public of Liverpool, that the invalid beiuF sufficiently convalescent; His Worship, has again, in the most corteous and flattering manner, signified his intention of patronising my Cirque, the occasion being fixed for the evening representation of Friday the 4th. February next ensuing. I feel, sir, the compliment thus paid me. 7 oanscizihtaonkgiinv:e. in the very highest sense, and I tel it my d uty to, you and the nobility, gentry, and public, w h o s and lenient a ni t e t view s on. th e numerously attended on the lash 0 them mry forp.o btliheeiitry favourablet the foregoing: occasion of the disappointment, _ as well as to. give each an opportunity of again lweleoming, in public. our. worthy and resp ec t e d ref magistrate, .—With thanks, believe me yours truly, Cirque V ar i ete. Jan. 15, 18598 LES HIiNGLER.CiTA. DICItENS'S CHRISTMAS C.knoL.—An anecdote about a reading of the Carol, which has come to our knowledge is too good to be withheld. The work named was read in a small circle in a western port, and. at its close the effect upon one of its hearers -a miserly, covetous, rich old gentleman was such, that he at once gave 42,000 to be divided between three useful benevolent institutions belonging to the town.—Hastings Nervg. "Ixstatungrios " is 310.NACO !—A letter from Menton (Monaca), of the Bth, says : - "We have had a formidable insurrection here! Some persons having got up a petition toth,o government, praying that wine might be taxed, though it was the taxation of wine which caused the population some years ago to separate from their law— fule prince, about 500 persons armed with spades, axes clubs, and other weapons, went to the T aneolamorously demanded that no suchie didt4 i x ne ima w l a o do n t u be l ek d iwnarle b rw e e imposed. The syndic protested thatE anything of the petition referred to. syndic to ' ut si t . not satisfied, and compelled the tion that no wine tax epstoir be A ir to p; t r i l s, w th it ,e 7 d u is t v t i h el e_ s c e z ; beat of tholoAcroign