The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-06-20 00:00:00

FRANCE. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The PARIS, WEDNESDAY E VENING. eu~ at .`?vernment yesterday introduced into the fla, the project of an important senatus con thelt, for establishing a regency in the event of boenaperor's death. The proceedings of this Ivh . ,l 3 ,eing kept secret, I cannot state authoritively fr o4l Loe preci se c h aracter o f th e d o cument is, but the i hat IS said , we may expect to find that it is l'rin -ra P r ess, and not, as most persons gues s, e e Nap o l eon w h o w i l l b e d ec lared regent. h as f what I am told be correct, Cardinal Patrizi Fx t s t uc ceeded in convincing the Emperor that nothing in the way of reform can be effected ren l 6 a States, and, in consequence , the at c: - government will not press any reforms • . said but whether truly or not I am not in a ' l4 to state, that the French government has lit h se ated to the Emperor Alexander that the t0 t . ,7 1 g he has offered to the Polish refugees is llio ',, d 'a z "lent, and that the confiscated estates of Tr'nelpal of them ought to be restored. abnue local newspapers announce the arrest of S t I.,t fi rty persons at Vienne, Lyons, Reve de Gier , and other places on suspicion of aeon concerned in the secret political eatl " ' .—t he Marianne, and having projected an tin (", al surreetion Amongst the prisoners are a i c l -t aernber of one of the Republic assemblies, Ao . IYsi cian and others of respectable .social ' to An i m Provement has taken place on the Bourse to 111 -' and a f ur th er one is expected. Owing /:r4 i Rice to which French rente has fallen, tar . capitalists are, I hear, purchasing rather by Senate has rejected the bill , ad o p ted the Legislative Body, for establishing a 4 1 - 4 1 ,?„ r1 carriages in Paris. Why carriages , the tax at ": l ( if the rich, should be exempted from try 11 in such a country as this, it is not easy t„1 but so it always has been, and so the re is det erm i ne d it shall be. nt le Printer of the Nation, at Brussels, has been ;,yeni o eTl eet l by the Court of Assizes, of that city , to ab e i l imprisonment and £4.0 fine, for having char ed the D uc h ess d e Brabant. The libel th e '.ged her, in rather strong language, with being ah A aeli lnqrunaent of Austria and France, in trying to [ l i e the Belgian press. the t , -41.11131 -irg despatch announces , tha t thou g h N Eti sii .e atY between the United States and Den , about the Sound Dues, has expired, an eq l eric ao vessel, the Sarah Bryant, had be en Pelled to pay the dues. but that her master We lted. t e tl hv Dare Constantinople accounts to the 9th, but Eva' are not important. Balaklava was to be list i Z e e d by the 15th. General Lord Gough f h th ad e g le uted Crosses of the Bath, in the nameho n • to French and English offi T cers. e first e l4 rP b s d'arm ee of the French had been entirely folk it w rice dy and the third was preparing to state of In Turkey, it was proposed, owing to the Pay th - ° I tile treasury, to let the Christians make a Of t i s e ut instead of serving in the army. The son au n ge. French Consul at Tenedos had been 48mated. HEALTH COMMITTEE. at t h e usual weekly meeting of this committee was held 1 )05 e T ow _ n Hall, yesterday afternoon ; Mr. Alderman ti es :: Presided. The other committeemen present, were Beck w ith, Godfrey, Crosthwaite, Haydock, V; M'euffie, Johnson, and Stewart. Are i T e - d i niuutes of the last meeting were read and eon- Th e op Borough Engineer Building Surveyor, and In eetor , ° Dery e i Nuisances, reported various particulars of the holt le n . 3 in their several departments during the week, ashh.,wnich it appeared that 142 delapidated privies and b eer , ll , B `mete altered and repaired, 1,144 cesspools had tam s ui scharged, 89 nuisances complained of by inhabi %ems had been inspected, and means taken to remedy 1,9 95 ' 68 8 houses in the unhealthiest districts, containing 111 )04. apartments, had been examined and reported THE HEALTH OF THE TOWN. tn o l ; lie Medical Officer of Health reported t h at the av er t : l, I tY of the borough continued greatly below the end• ge• The deaths from all causes during the week, 4v e iti g Saturday last, having been 16 1 , While the li mited w as r age fo r th e same week of the previous eight years vsip ek 22B , showing a difference of 62 in favour of last tk ; or the 164 deaths, 112 were in the parish, and 42 Ve r u e e 3 ° 9 l . l t - townships. The deaths from zymotic diseases , of which there were from hooping cough 9, tin ter 8 , typhus 6, scarlatina 6, measles 4, small pox ti o :r v accination) 1, 31 deaths were caused by consump• Ifit a i and, 20 by other diseases of the lungs, making a froth 50 . A married woman, 35 year. of age, died intemperance. It . THE CHURCH YARDS. theo,ling been ascertained that, in various instances, ill !fel' in Council, for closing certain burial grounds vi _, •verpooi, for regulating interments, are habitually tooliaeted, the Medical Officer of Health recommended that Rro u , be given to the authorities of different burial a r ,,,, 1 0s affected by the Order in Council. In case of offTe_it!ture violation,proceedings will be taken against the I 'l%l I Q • kell• n an , sorer to a question put by Mr. Hodson, the h ad 1 1; 4 Officer stated that, during the past week, there 'Pos e 7 1 a commissioner visiting the town, for the pu.r triet°' inspecting all the church yards within the dihs would had adjourned until Friday next, when . e The reon re aume his enquiries, and report to the council that it Hodson : D o y ou know of any other churc h y ards Th 't is intended to be closed ? char e l , Medi ca l O ffi cer : Yes, I believe t hat Trinit . m e " had already infringed the order in c ouncil. Yard r. Beckwith : Do you know of any other church yar ds that it i s intended to be closed from inter ments ? t or 0 Medical Officer thought it would be premature until to state w hi c h church yards were to be c losed, in s a fter the commissioner had finished wi th his Pecti on Mr. • righ t B eckwith Then, in fact, you do not think it el. t° tell us which church yards it is intended to be Th Medicalqu esti e .o Officer further stated, in answer to a of s, 11 Pot by a committeeman, that the authorities itl ar ,,`' Anthony's Catholic chapel, Scotland-road, St. ti Kirkdale, and St. Ann's, Edge-bill, still con llotifse' to bury in their church yards, and suggested that ti n " e d should be given to the parties, that if they con e d ° so, in the face of the order in council, that 'ol e t e . en gs would be taken against them to put a stop Th e r , je e r . ~`-alairman said he felt very strongly on the sub extent Ih eY had a cemetery at Walton, of 30 acres in cool t, most beautifully laid out, where all bodies . ouri l "e interred. it had been understood that this be 4 ground was only for paupers, but he wished it to pauper understood that it was not exclusively for f.' e rs, but was fever all parties, where they could have i h inil Y grave o . eoui d a uswer to Mr. Stewart, it was stated that Dissenters to th be buried at Walton, as well as those belonging b e Il e established church, but that the exnenses would nd er certain regulations by the authorities. .„,Th e THE SMOKE NUISANCE. "Ir. M . i,"" - oominittee reported that they had sus ended abs e ''''ohald, the inspector, for oJe week, for being hetrona duty e assistant in the nuisance department stated that hie rrt ld beard that Mr. M'Donald was in town on that . sp e j te n Y , and was attending to his duty, as he had in fors",several nuisances. " ' ti .. °e Ckwith : That will not alter our determination If h is 'Peoding him. We have had too much of that. Wed h -us Pengion had not appeared in the papers on the to hl e sday, he would not have been found attending r,„.S duties on the Thursday. Th e 'OO 5 l ecommendation for the suspen sion was unani y adopted. A THE 130 ROUGH ENGINEER'S REPORT . repa y : ‘'n g conversation ensued, as to the propriety of reportng certain s t ree t s , as recommendedin the annual that o f the borough surveyor, the result of which was, Il eek u lo the motion of Mr. odfrey. seconded by Mr. w itb"it was agreed that a copy of all the names of fu 'e .streets so recommended to be paved, should be estished to each member of the committee, with the shed cost thereon. Th e THE LATE ACCIDENT IN MANN-STREET. it wm report of this lamentable accident was read, and sh,),;2lnanimously considered, that some compensation. liv es "`', be given to the individuals who had risked their so RI ;Jut as the committee had no power of voting any 41. j„ town e subject was referred to the consider- TiIE ll of the council at their next meeting. ASSESSMENT OF THE LYCEUM AND ATHEN/EUM NEWS ROM. V er rePOTt was read showing that the two b u ildin g s att ee e nerapted from the payment of the rates, in accord •""til the act of parliament for the relief of scien - institutions. ImlAtif4ter a brief conversation, it was agreed on the a of Mr. Hudson, seconded by Mr. Beckwith, that ,„,i:uPjuotation should wait upon the select vestry, and ex, t ‘ s It them on the grounds of those buildings being opted.'fl A er a d jou _ transacting some routine business, the board rued. ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITARIAN AND PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE, IN MAN CHESTER, YESTERDAY. CANADA. ARRIVAL OF THE CANADIAN The steam-ship Canadian, Captain Ballantine, arrived in the river from Quebec this:morning, just (FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.) The two hundred and ten&h annual assembly of the Unitarian and Presbyterian ministers of Lancashire and Cheshire, opened in Manchester yesterday. The pro ceedings were opened by service, solemnised in the Unitarian chapel, Cross-street. The inaugurating sermon was preached by the Rev. W. H. Channing, of Renshaw street chapel, Liverpool. The preacher selected as his text, the 20th and 21st verses of the third Chapter of the Ephesians—" Now, unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ag es, world without end. Amen. The Rev. W. Channing, in opening his discourse, stated that that was an occasion of the deepest interest to the preacher, because he felt that it was once and for all in his natural life—that once for all upon this earthly globe, he met many of them there to utter, as in the presence of God; what God had given him faith to do. He knew that they would, hereafter, judge of what he said from a position of spiritual knowledge in the eternal world. He knew that he and they would after their intercourse on this earth interchange their views once more in regard to the realities on which they were that day to meditate. He then proceeded to survey the position of the Christian church at the present day. Everywhere and for ever the Divine Being carried on his great scheme for man by employing the differences of men to balance and harmonise one another. Conservatism, innovation, and compromise were among these means, and each had its accompanying dangers. The danger of con. servatism was that it strove to retain the mere form which society had outgrown. The danger of innovation was in rejecting the spirit of the past and the wisdom of traditional institutions. The danger of compromise was the committing society to falsehood, not stating purely and freely the truths of the past or of the future, and losing the true wisdom of observing the times by falling into time-serving. No one could be truly wise who was not at once conservative, innovatiag, and conciliatory, and no one could combine all these elements who did not, out of the very life which God gave him, and by the wisdom which God imparted to him, recognise most distinctly what is the position of men at the very age in which his lot was cast. In regard to the present age there was no danger of exaggeration in saying that Providence distinctly pointed it out as one of transition in human affairs. Let them now look at the elements of the age, and recognise some of the dangers which threatened Christendom, as well as the great hopes which were ready to aid them, as God's guardians, if they were but faithful in the service. In the first place, on the extreme side of conservatism, stood the hierarchical party in the church allied to the despotic and centralizing party in the state, taking the control of all authority, and dictating from that autho rity to all modes of education, all modes of popular en lightenment, and exhibiting itself in the social form of distinct castes. This was not peculiar to that or any other nation—it was the character of that era of Christ endom everywhere, and there was no single township of any nation in Christendom, where the tendencies of this did not in some degree enter. For one, he believed that the Roman Catholic church and the Greek church would stand until the work which God had given them to do was done. But he felt bound, while recognising all the good, to point out the dangers of the hierarchical, cen tralising, and traditional elements. These dangers were rife. Every one who studied the signs of the times fairly could see that there was—and he used the word purposely—a plot going on—a plot of the priests and of the rulers to keep down mankind by leaden weights, and to make them bond-slaves in spirit and in body. Was the world to go back 'once more to the sway of Rome ? Was it to pass under the control of the Byzan tinechurch.with its head, the Czar, supported by bayonets ? No—no such future was before mankind. Let them then look at the opposite side. Fronting the hierarchy and the centralised power in the state stood the party of revolution asserting the equal rights of all men, declaring that every human being was a sovereign under God for and in himself, responsible to no one under God. Was then the Christian church to be shattered to the ground by this party ? Were all the usage and custom which surrounded Christian institutions to be pronounced a despotism, and to be cleared away ? Was the beautiful and blessed form of God's beloved Son, which seemed to be transparent with the divine light shining through it, to be eclipsed and to pass away into darkness, and was each human being to be thrown upon his own soul as his own Christ? Was the world to be given up to the bloody struggle between the hierarchy and the revolution ? He did not believe that such a future awaited mankind. He then proceeded to consider how the future was to be avoided and what were the great hopes and realities presented, if they would but open their minds and hearts. to receive them, presented like God'slmessengers, to soothe, elevate, and enlarge, and to assure mankind that God was ready to lead them if they would but yield themselves to his guidance. The preacher then proceeded to enlarge upon the great leading realities which he declared to present themselves in the doctrine of Christendom and the life of Jesus Christ. These principal realities were, that every human soul was designed to be in its degree a form of God—the unity of each human being with God and witl the mortal r ace, and that death was no separation from the race, but that the race beyond the earth were in union with our race here. These realities were sufficient to assure them that Christendom would not sink under the control of the hierarchy, that it would not be over whelmed by revolution, and that it would not stand half way, trembling between fear and hope. These were realities which were to shape themselves into theologies which would be adequate to the ever-unfolding reason of man. These were realities which would organise them selves into institutions of Church and State, not destructive to the past, but using the past as a shield for the growing bud, which it should zradually put aside to unfold in all its beauty. One word be should say in conclusion, in regard to the position of the Unitarian body. They were Unitarians — they had the glorious name which; represented the unity of man. Let them hold that name dear as a birthright. If once they asserted the unity of God, then logically they had asserted the unity of the church. If once they asserted the unity of the church, then they had asserted the unity of development through all ages. If once they asserted that unity of past and present, then they had de clared that there was a unity, the principle, and the law of which was love, and the manifestation of which must be love. Oh, such was the mission to which the Unita tarian body was called—the latest born of Christianity, the heir and legatee of all that came down from the thoughts and aspirations of the ages—the little child upon whom the saints and sages of the past had put their hands in benediction. Should it not go forth to possess, and to glory in its trust? Aye, but if from want of earnestness, energy, and confidence, in God, that body did not do so, some other body, honoured by God, and worthy to do His work, would teach the unity of the Christian church, and of Christendom. It was given to that body to do if they wouk do it. Let them seek for a perfect oneness in con nection with the church of the Continent of Europe am the United States. Each individual congregation, and al congregations, should be linked together more closely They had in this country a type of a national church That type was a promise of something held out which should become a reality. They all recognised that. that national church, avowing and declaring itself as such, war not adequate to the life of Christian love pouted abroad throughout the nation. They could not in conscience yield themselves to its limitations. They must, out of the spirit of affinity, and of deep and reverent affiliation, like their ancestors, go forth to enlarge its boundaries, But there were two modes. One was the mode of life, and the other was that of death. One was that of declaring that there was no reality in it—the other was by saying that in its essence there was reality, and by holding firm to what was good in principle. The Unitarian bedy might do a work which should be recognised in every age as a work of blessed reformation. If they did not do it. some others would. That work was, to stand firm as the announcers of a larger, better, truer age of Christian faith, hope, and love, and to declare that however others may stand divided from the Unitarian body, that body would be in unity with them, and so help to raise the temple of God, silent and unseen, through the ministry of their mediation. Let them stand firm and be faithful—unite themselves strongly and lovingly together in single congregations. Let them change their habits, he besought of them, in one respect—in regard to the isolation of their congregations, and let them bring the body of Unitarians into one living earnest communion—place themselves in fraternal relations with the congregations of the Continent and of the United St ates--place themselves, above all, in the hands of God. He had given them a providential work which it was for them to do, and may His blessing be upon them ! as we were going to press. The Canadian left Quebec on the 7th instant, and brings the journals up to that date. LONDON & NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY STRIKE OF TILE PORTERS AND CLERKS Yesterday evening the clerks and porters now on strike met in the Hope-hall, at seven o'clock, Mr. Wharrie in the chair, Mr. Pritchard, secretary. It was expected that the meeting would have a communication to receive from the Marquis of Chandos, the chairman of the company, as it was known that a deputation of the men had had an interview with that nobleman and some other of the directors during the day, and therefore the Hall was pretty well filled. There was a great deal of time lost in cheering the leading persons of the movement as they entered the Hall, and it was nearly eight o'clock before anything material was done. At last the chair man proceeded to say that he had a simple duty to per form, namely,lto tell them that the deputation had had an interview with the Marquis of Chandos and some other of the directors, in reference to the respectful memorial forwarded by the men. They had a previous interview with the noble marquis, and the public were alreidy in possession of the details in that respect. The noble mar quis received the deputation very cordially, and stated that he had received the memorial, but that in addition to what the directors had already stated to the deputa tion, he (the noble marquis) had nothing more to offer. He (the chairman) then asked his lordship if the men were to consider themselves discharged? and his lordship re plied that the men and clerks had discharged themselves. And as to characters,'they would receive verbal char acters from the company. His lordship also informed them that on the next (this) day if they attended at the canal house, Great Howard-street, they would receive whatever wages were due to them—that is, all the wages due to them up to the time they left the employment. He then alluded to two persons who had been induced to go back, and who got a promise of 30s. a-week and he stated that these men had tried all means in their power to induce the other men to return, but they had failed. (Cheers.) He (the chairman) implored them to stick together, to commit no crime or outrage (hear, bear), and by respectful conduct they would yet succeed in obtaining their just rights. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Sargent then addressed the meeting, and said he would not desert their cause, (Cheers.) He stated that he was one of the delegates that day to Lord Chandos and the directors, and he was bound , to say that his lordship had given them a courteous reception. He then alluded to a Mr. Minster, and stated that it was told that Mr. Minster had been addressed by the Marquis at the Adelphi, sho said to him, " I wonder, Mr. Minster, a man like you would act as you have done." The speaker said he mentioned this to the noble marquis, who denied it. (Hisses.) His lordship said, however, that this Mr. Minster called on him at the Adelphi, and stated that he (Mr. M.) did not agree with the men, and begged to be reinstated in his place: (Hisses.) The - speaker then went into a brief detail of the conversation that took place between him and the noble marquis, the substance of which was as above. The Secretary said, an evening or two ago, Mr. Thomas Minster moved the following resolution at a meeting, and after doing so, he went to the Marquis of Chandos and betrayed the men. He merely wished this to go forward to the public in order to show the sort of men they had to deal with. He said the reason why Mr. Minster had acted as described was because his name was down in the list for dismissal before the strike. (Hisses, and "oh ") The speaker then read the resolution as moved by Mr. Minster, which pledged the meeting to no surrender; yet, after all, (said the speaker) he was the first man to betray them. Mr. Sollon then addressed the meeting, and recapitu lated the conversation that took place at the interviews between the chairman and the deputation. He alluded to the new men got down by the company in the place of the men on strike, and he drew a contrast very un favourable to the former, whom he designated the out scourings of Liverpool, and said they were better acquainted with pick-locks than with waggons. The speaker went on at some lengh, and said it was stated that the company would get down colliers to do the work, and he designated this as a wilful and reckless expendi ture of the shareholders' money, when the difference between them was only 49 a week. (Hear, hear.) He trusted that from the losses the company would sustain, that the directors would send for the old and practised hands again, as they could not do without them. (Cheers.) He entered into details in reference to the wages paid by the company, and the amount paid by the merchants ; the latter paying more than the company, although the men of the latter worked hours longer. He alluded to Mr. Carter, and said the men had the sympathy of all people in the town, as all they wanted was 3s 6d from six to six, or 4s to seven o'clock in the evening. (Hear.) He urged the necessity of alt keeping firm together, and they were sure of victory. He sat down amid loud applause. Mr. Spicer then addressed the meeting, and denied that the men struck for the purpose of getting rid of Mr. Carter, or of coercing the directors. This was not the fact. They only wanted to have their grievances redressed, and they asked that respectfully. (Hear, hear.) They only wanted a fair day's wages for a fair day's work. (Hear, hear.) He then went over the same points as already alluded to, and exhorted the men to be firm, and he was sure the "merchant princes" of Liverpool would sympathise with them. He would suggest that a public meeting of the proprietors of the company should be invited to hear the complaints of the men (hear, hear), as he was bound to believe the proprietors would, on hearing the merits of the case, insist on redress being given to the men, and for this reason—that it would be avast loss to the proprietors if they did not . (Hear, hear.) He suggested that an advertisement be inserted in the papers, calling on the proprietors to meet them on Saturday and listen to their plain story. (Hear, hear.) He urged that all should remain quiet and show no physical force, but act in an orderly manaer. (Loud cheers.) The Chairman read a document from the working men of Liverpool, offering the sympathy of that body to the men; and the writer of that document (Mr. Edwards) addressed the meeting, and said the feelings of the masters and men of Liverpool were with them, and if they stuck together, they would get their rights. (Cheers.) Mr. Moorsdale read a resolution, pledging the meeting not to return until they had their grievances redressed. Mr. Swan seconded the motion, and denied that the men had broken the arrangement of 1853, but alleged that the directors had broken it. (Cheers.) The resolution passed unanimously. Mr. Holt then proceeded to read some remarks which he had written on the subject, which reviewed the whole case. A. resolution, to the effect that the meeting respectfully called on the Press to inform the merchants that the men were extremely sorry for the loss and inconvenience they must suffer, but that it was not the fault of the men, passed unanimously. A resolution, to the effect that the men should call a meeting (of the proprietors of the company, and state their whole case to them, was passed unanimously. A vote of thanks was then passed, amid loud applause, to the Press, for the sympathy shown and the admirable reports that had appeared of their proceedings, and it was then resolved to hold a meeting of the body this day, in Parliament fields. The meeting then separated, all having passed off in the most orderly manner. Yesterday, about 300 porters, who were brought down to supply the place of the men on strike at ;the Waterloo station, were ordered dinner and tea by the directors, which was supplied by Mr. Morrish, of the Merchants' dining rooms, at the station. The new clerks were also dined at the Expense of the directors, at Mr. Morrish's, Tithebarn-street. TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN TIMES, _ Sir,—Can any one tell me what chance there is of this nuisance being brought to a close. Reading the account of the proceedings yesterday, I think the men are right, and think also that such a powerful company as this should not be guilty of the " cheese-paring" evidently at work, if what we read be correct. To submit to extortion, no one asks them ; but they should endeavour to estab lish some system on fair remunerative principles to their servants, whereby the inconvenience of the last few days may be avoided. We all know that servants may be with you too long, and that frequently they fancy their services cannot be dispensed with, but this has too often proved a fallacy. Ido not wish to lay down a rule to govern the directors of this company, but I think they should remem ber the amount of property confided to their care, and the loss likely to arise from a niggardly system, saving a comparatively small sum on the year's expenses, and throw away ten times the amount in a few days. We are all more or less at the mercy of the working men, who are ahre wd enough to see where their interests lie, and are frequently too easily led away by some firebrand among them, at a time when there is a press of business, but it THE BUSINESS MEETING. The ordinary business meeting took•place in the chapel, after the service had concluded. When the roll was called, thirty one ministers answered to their names. The chair was taken by the Rev. Mr. Gaskell. The Chairman, in a brief address, introduced the general subjects and character of the annual meeting. The Rev. Mr. Wright, who acted in the capacity of senator, read the minutes of the meeting last year is Liverpool. The Rev. Mr. Aspland moved a vote of thanks to the Rev. Mr. Channing for his eloquent, enlightened, and truly Catholic their :statement be correct (ind unless contradicted the public have only this to judge by, and are bound to believe it), there seems ground for complaint at the favouritism and unfairness of the present system. I should like to know who is to reimburse one for such cases as the following ? I have some orders in hands for goods to be shipped by a vessel for an outlandish port, part are on board, and without the remainder these are of no use. The vessel is on demurrage of four guineas per diem, and must go to sea to-morrow ; I cannot get the goods in town, and mine are in the tunnel; I am threatened with the expenses of detention, or have the goods left on hand, which, being ordered for a specific market and purpose, would have to be sold here for " what they would fetch," and we all know what that means. lam one of a large number of persons thus situated. Can you tell me who is to reimburse me? The company will laugh at me if I claim, as, if they pay one they must pay all. I have other goods coming down for a steamer, and which I have ordered by another route; but of course cessation of traffic on one line will bring more work than their oppo nents can accomplish, and thus again there will be another detention and loss. See, therefore, Mr. Editor, what calling the attention of the public to the subject will do, and oblige, &c., - FORWARDING AGENT. sermon. The Rev. Dr. Beard seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. The Rev. Mr. Charming returned thanks. The Rev. Francis Bishop proposed a vote of sympathy and regret from the meeting for the death of the Rev. Mr. Malcolm, of Cheshire. The Rev, J. B. flamin seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. The Rev. Mr. Baker moved an expression of sympathy for ' the illness of the Rev. Charles Wallace, of Altringham, and regret for his absence, which was seconded by the Rev. Mr. Ashton, and carried. The welcome of the meeting was tendered to three ministers recently attached to the body—Rev. Goodwin Bramby, Rev. John Gilbert, and Rev. John James Bishop. A report was then brought p from a committee appointed at the meeting in Liverpool to consider the constitution of the body with regard to the right of laymen to vote and take rt in the proceedings of the annnal meeting, The report recom mended that all ministers and laymen present at any meeting be entitled to take part in the proceedings, but that the right of voting be limited to the ministers of all congreations, THE NORTHERN TIME S. ---LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY. hitherto recognised, or hereafter admitted, and to lay repre sentatives, not exceeding three, from each congregation. Mr. Holbrook Gaskell moved the adoption of the report. Rev. J. Robberds, Liverpool, seconded the motion. Rev Mr. Ashton, of Preston, moved as an amendment, that the report be printed and circulated for consideration among the general body, and that the question of its adoption be postponed, until next year. Rev. Mr. Arpland seconded the amendment. A lengthened and desultory conversation followed, in which Mr. C. Beard, Mr. Avison, Liverpool, Mr. Christopher Rawlins, Liverpool, Mr. Thomas Bolton, Liverpool, Mr. Grundy, Mr. Mackay, Mr. H. S. Bright. Liverpool, Rev. James Martineau, Liverpool, Rev. Mr. Carpenter, Mr. George Melly, Liverpool, and several other gentlemen, took The amendment was then put, when there appeared 24 for, and 32 against. Tlle amendment was, therefore, lost. The report was adopted by the same majority. The next annual meeting was fixed to take place at Stand, in Cheshire. The Chair was then taken by the Rev. James Martineau, and the thanks of the meeting passed to the former chairman. THE DINNER. The dinner took place at the Albion Hotel, Piccadilly. About one hundred guests sat down to table. The dinner was excellent in its quality, and all its arrangements. The High Sheriff of the county, Robert N. Philips, Esq., occupied the chair. _ _ The Chairman gave " Her Majesty the Queen, Duchess of Lancaster," which was drunk with all the honours. The next toast was " Prince Albert, and the rest of the Royal Family ;" in introducing which, the chairman observed that whan the deputation lately waited upon his Royal High ness to solicit hie patronage for the forthcoming exhibition in Manchester, the Prince expressed the warmest interest in the project, and in every thing conducing to the welfare of Lancashire. The toast was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm. The Chairman then gave .‘ Civil and religious liberty al over the world." Mr. Mark Phillips acknowledged the toast in an eloquen address, which was loudly applauded. In dwelling on the progress made in civil and religious freedom, the speaker remarked the coincidence that the day of their meeting, the 19th of June, was the anniversary of the day when the English barons extorted from King John the signature of Magna Charts- He wished that, in looking to the continent of Europe, and other parts of the world, he could say there were the same encouraging symptoms of progress. (Hear, hear.) He could not but feel discouraged on seeing states like Austria making religion once more a system of military tyranny. Still, he had faith in the prayers of the world, and in the example which this country would continue to show, by keeping steadily to the free institutions, to which she owed so much of her position, and national prosperity. (Cheers.) The Chairman proposed the health of the Rev. W. H. Channing, with the thanks of the meeting for the elegant sermon they had heard. The Rev. W. Channing, on rising to express his acknowledg ment of the compliment, was loudly cheered. He stated that he always attributed such receptions to the desire of English men to show their sympathy for America, and their desire for a true fraternal union. For a union between the nations which nothing could shake, he declared that he felt 'a strong and indomitable hope. The principles associated with the name of the Manchester School, were valued by Americans, although they might not go the full length of them, as embodying that spirit of brotherly co-operation which they desired to see established. He declared, that so far as he understood the signs of the times, he believed that the hearts of the people of England and America were never more entirely at one than now. (Cheers.) He laid the burden of past anxieties, which pressed so much upon the minds, the industry, and the energies of the two nations, at the feet of politicians and of editors of the Press. The politicians of America were blamed as being fond of office, but were they, in this instance, an exception to the politicians of other countries. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) No politician. who did not religiously feel the solemnity of his office, should be tolerated in any country. The politician who did not seek a higher wisdom than his own to give a scope to his statesman ship, was unfit to hold a baton of office. He admitted the unspeakable value of the press as the lungs of the public, bat he urged that these lungs should be pure and healthy—that the public should be sure they were breathing fresh and not diseased air. (Hear, hear.) It had occurred to him in Great Britain, and in his own •country, that they should revive the spirit of their old chivalric ances tors, and let every man stand up ready to back by deeds what be said in words. No man should ever publish what he would not take the responsibility of. (Hear, bear.) Much of the recent vexations with America had arisen from anonymous publications. Let the little man not try to make himself big by surrounding himself with the inflated prestige of a great Pres.. With regard to the seeming discourtesy, which he felt convinced was not an intentioned discourtesy, offered by the United States to Great Britain in the personal of her minister, be declared his conviction that had the Russian war continued the British minister would never have been dismissed from Washington. But the United States felt that they would be compromising their position before the world if they yielded to England, with all her assembled power, what they demanded of her when she had but half her power at hand. He did not think if he were to interpret their feelings, that they would think the lose of the people of America for that. With regard to the question of Central America, he could tell them, what however he felt satisfied :hey could deny, that it was whispered abroad by Mephis topheles, or the spirit of evil, that Great Britain was jealous of the growth of the United States, and that although she did not want that means of communication herself, yet she would thwart the United States in using it. Such an impression had gone abroad, and had caused much of the intensity of feeling which existed upon this subject in America. He urged that Great Britain should rather aid America and wish her God speed in thus opening up a new road for the commerce of the world. He called upon the people of England not to do nything which could call away the attention of the people of boaerica from the great problem which they had to solve in he slavery question. (Hear, bear.) The time when let problem must be solved, he declared to be near it hand, and he expressed the fullest belief in its oeaceful solution. The speaker gave utterance to an eloquent expression of his hope in the future of peaceful and fra ernal co.operation which would open . cp for England and America, and in which the Canadian provinces would be the great connecting link. Of his own country, he declared himself proud, as the first born of Europe, which had had difficulties to encounter such as no other land had ever met with, and which presented an example of social and moral 'regress if not unparallelled, at least unsurpassed, in the yof the world. The speaker resumed his seat amidst loud applause The Chairman gave " The open and manly avowal of religious belief." Mr. Ainsworth responded. The next toast was " The Provincial Assembly of Lanca shire and Cheshire." Mr. Charles Beard returned thanks, in the absence of Mr. Whitehead, the secretary, by whom the toast has been usually acknowledged. The speaker traced the progress of the spiri tual freedom of England from its early, and at first unnoticed, sources, and declared that while he honoured the great minds which had adorned other denominations, he would not exchange the spiritual forefathers of that provincial assembly for the proudest prelate of any church. (Cheers.) Whatever might have been the past history of that assembly, he felt con fident that its future would not be less brilliant, and he was convinced that the change which had been that day made in the constitution of the body, although viewed with distrust by some, would tend to develope to a yet higher degree the utility and the general objects of the association. (Cheers.) The Chairman said they had just done honour to a body 210 years old. He had now to call upon them to drink pros perity to a more modern, but still well founded institution, " The Manchester New College." (Cheers.) The Rev. Mr. Aspland, in replying to the toast, alluded to the progress of the college, and the advantages of its principle of education, without the fetters of religions bigotry. A combi nation of learned professors had rendered the recent statute for the admission of dissenters into Oxford college practically a dead letter. The time had not yet come when the body which he now addressed could take down its flag. He felt the . they would have many a conflict yet to go through before the great principle of civil and religious liberty was established and fully recognised, and he rejoiced to find that they Were pre pared to fight, and ready to combine with the true men of every land, like the distinguished transatlantic friend whom they had the honour of receiving that day. (Cheers). Mr. J. Aspinall Turner, as Vice-President, proposed the next toast, which was " The health of the Chairman, H. N. Phillips, Esq." In proposing the toast, the speaker alluded to the fac', that the preceding High Sheriff of Lancashire had also been a Unitarian, which showed that that body was not wholly neglected in public matters. He pronounced a warm eulogium upon the public spirit and high private character of the chairman, whose health lie called the meeting to unite with him in drinking. (Cheers). The toast was drank with full honor rs and amid the most enthusiastic acelatnations. The Chairman, in returning thanks, remarked the singularity of the fact, that he should have gone as shertf£ to open the doors of Lancaster Castle, which, a great number of years ago, were locked upon his father, for holding certain opinions upon the question of taxation and representation. (Cheers). The next toast was—" A theology which fears not, but courts, the growing light of philosophy and science." The Rev. James Martinean, who was enthusiastically ap plauded, was called on to reply to the sentiments. lie declared it as his firm conviction that it was quite impossible the progress of the hmman mind, in any ono department of cultivation, , could be made rapidly in one direction, without its being made, with equal rapidity, in another direction, and that to attempt to sever it, to encourage the progress of science and of philoso phy, while seeking to resist the progress of theology, was as foolish as vain, and as contrary to the purposes of God as ever had been made. The speaker dwelt upon this point in an address of peculiar force and clearness, declaring that the man to whom he would most willingly apply that ignominious name, SO shamefully misapplied of infidel, was the man who could feel any fear of truth in the universe of God, or who had any apprehension that the poor dreams which he entertained in his finite mind, could prove better than the great and eternal realities which could only come from the light of reason and the searches of philosophy. He contended that the principal influence on the mind of the present ago was not exercised by the theologism, but by writers, cot professedly religious, and, therefore, declared that it behoved them all to see that theo logical writing had its due influence by drawing to itself the elements which enabled others to arrive at such a power. In the search for truth, the speaker declared, that an important and valuable change had taken place dining, the last few years. It was better that man should possess such a desire for the attainment of truth, than that he should believe. he possessed it all within himself, rounded off as a part of his own finite being. It was a great saying of Lessing that if a messenger of God were to offer him absolute truth on one side, and infinite search for truth on the other, he would reverently decline the absolute truth, and take the infinite search after it. Declaring that a profound and noble truth was contained in this saying, the speaker enforced it in a few brilliant sentences, and resumed his seat amid loud applause. The Rev. Mr. Wright, of Bury, responded to the toast of " The Unitarian Home Mission." Other toasts having been given and responded to, the assem- bly broke up. The assembly were entertained on Wednesday night by the High Sheriff, and will be received this evening at the residence of Mr. J. Aspivall Turner. THE TOWN DUES. LOCAL CHARGES ON SHIPPING COMMITTE. (PROM OUR OWN REPORTER.) HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Tnuasnav The - select committee on the local charges of shipping met to-day. Mr. Lowe in the chair. The other member, of the committee present were, Lord Hotharn, Mr. Wat son, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Vance, Mr. Headlam, Sir John Duckworth, Mr. Duncan, and Mr. Beamish. Mr. Shuttleworth, ,the Town-clerk of Liverpool, was re-called, and commenced by reading the boundaries of the port of Liverpool, as set out in the record in posses sion of the corporation, referring to the lease from the Molyneux family in 1670, for 1,000 years. It was stated at the trial, when the legal right of the corporation to the Town Dues was contested by the committee of merchants, that the boundaries were set out in order to show the right. Though the lease for 1,000 years was dated in 1672, an agreement was executed the year be fore. It therefore appeared natural to conclude, that having executed a lease for so long a period, they were desirous of placing on record what they considered their boundaries to be both by sea and land. He next read a correspondence between the offices of customs in London, and those at West Chester, in the year 1660, which stated that all the river Mersey, and the shores on both sides, were, and ought to be, wider the inspection of the customs of Liverpool. By Mr. Watson: Have you the report and correspon dence presented to the corporation in 1834, when the right to the Town Dues was disputed and tried by the com mitter, of merchants ? The Town Clerk.. I have. He read the documents from the books of the corporation, including letters received from Mr. Joseph Horuby, the chairman of the committee of merchants, who had disputed the right, in which the writer stated that they were not disposed longer to inter pose any unnecessary obstacle to the settlement of the question; "but we consent to a verdict against Messrs. Bolton, Ogden and Co., from the conviction that the legislature had in contemplation a measure to place freemen and non-freemen ou the same footing, and also in reliance that the corporation would act up to the resolu tion of the 4th of December." The correspondence further stated that the council agreed to the terms proposed by the committee of merchants, and a verdict was entered against Messrs. Bolton, Ogden and Co., each party to pay their own costs. The correspondence concluded by congratu. lating th. corporation that the legal right to the Town Dues was now firmly established. The Chairman said he considered that what the Town Clerk had read was scarcely a fair interpretation of Mr. Hornby's letter. lie read the particular sentence from Mr. Hornby's letter, which was to the effect that the corporation were to undertake to reduce the rates. By Mr. Watson : The reductions and compositions sug gested by the committee of merchants had be n carried out on several articles. By the 92nd section of the Muni cipal Act, it was provided that it should not be lawful for any council which had contracted debts on the security of tolls, to make any reduct on on such tolls, without the consent of the mortgagees ; the result was, that s.nce that period, the corporation had made no reductions. In 1838, the compositions expired, but acting under advice, the council resolved to, take no steps, but continue to levy the reduced dues as before. The trade of Runcorn had enormously increased of late years. In 1819, the tonnage there was 10,352 tons; in 1830, 37,000 tons ; in 1840, 93,000 tons ; in 1850, 153,000 tons ; and in 185), 180,000 tons. Mr, Watson: Do you think that the trade of Runcorn has been drawn away from that place, as has been stated by a previous witness The chairman did not rec Meet that any such evidence had been given. After a conversation, it appealed that the witneos referred to was Mr. Rigby, The Cha'rman here read from the evidence given by Mr. Rigby, in which he stated that a great portion of the iron trade at Runcorn, had been diverted from that place, and had gone to Fleetwood, and the corn trade to Preston, but that trade had been made up in other articles. Mr. Watson was therefore putting words into the witnesb's mouth, which he had never made use of. Mr. Watson contended he was right, and all he wished for was to have the evidence correct on the minutes, The room was here cleared for the committee to delibe rate. O ❑ the re-admission of strangers, the examination of Mr. Shuttle worth was resumed. Mr. Watson : Have you any evidence to lay before the committee as to town dues paid to the corporation of Man chester ? Witness: I have. Mr. Heron stated in his evi dence that no town dues were paid to Manchester. It may not be so now, but I find that under an act of parliament passed in 1841, town dues were paid in Manchester from 1849 to 1850 to the amount of £419. The act referred to was the warehousing of goods iu Manchester, and one of the sections of the act stated that in consequence of the expense that the town was put to by the warehousing of such goods, the coun.il of the borough should be empowered to ask and demand rates in respect of all such aoods so warehoused, and that all goods which should in any way come under the operation of the officers of customs i❑ Man chester, should be charged with such rates. By. Mr. Gibson : flow are these rates applied ? Witness: It appears on the face of the act, to defray the expenses which it was said the corporation were put to. Mr. Watson : Any surplus would go to the improvement of streets, or other improvements in Manchester ? Wit ness : No doubt of it. By Mr. Watson : There were market tolls at Manches ter, and Mr. Heron stated that the corporation derived a revenue of £15,000 a year from it; and he hoped it would increase. The tolls originally belonged to Sir Oswald Mosley, who succeeded in establishing his rights to them at a trial at Lancaster, and afterwrrds sold them to the corpo ration. In continuation, he read extracts from speeches of the late Sir Robert Peel, Lord John Russell, Lord Howick, and others, relative to the rights of corporations to levy town dues. He then referred to several cases in which it had been held by the Judgrs, the Master of the Rolls, and the Lord Chancellor, that the reformed corporations under the municipal act, were identical with the old. The witness showed that from time to time, when parliament had abolished petty customs, compensation was given in every instance. This was the case at Southampton, Leith, Tvnemouth, Duchy of Cornwall, Dundee and other places. There was no borough rates, so called, in Liverpool, but the corporation levied dues for watching, lighting, paving, and sewerage, to a very large amount. By the Chair man : The corporation claimed the right to town dues on all goods exported from and imported into the town of Liverpool. They did not claim to increase the dues after once being 'evied, nor to reduce the dues permanently since the p assin g of the raunicip.a act, but they_ cl aimed to m a ke compositions for time, as he had before explained. They hal, in fact, no right either to increase or decrease the dues except by yap of ' com p o sition. They claune I a right to enforce the dues by action at law. That was the only form at p r esent. In former days t h e g oods were s, ized. They did not now claim to detain a vessel or sell the goods. The Chairman then interrogated the witness at con siderable length as to the exact meaning and extent of the term "Lordship of Liverpool," which he had referred to in the documents read by him as showing the boundary of the port of Liverpool, and its extent. Whether it was co-extensive with the borough, or whether the toll was claimed as part of the lordship, or as incident or apper tenant to it. In answer to the Chairman's questions, the witness declined to give an exact definition of the term, but stated tha t the claim of the corporation to Town Dues was held good by the grants which had been made, from the time of Charles 1., and by usuage and custom. Mr. Watson here interposed, and said that what the chairman was now pressing involved a matter of law, and that the course of examination was therefore irregular. He wished the room to be cleared. On the re-admission of strangers, the questions bearing on the term " lordship" was resumed, when Mr. Watson again observed that they were irregular. It was well known, and every judge would admit it, that modern use, for a given time, conferred the right, and that was the case in the present instance. The Chairman pertinaciously continued his rigid exami nation on this point for some time longer, and a little before four o'clock the room was again cleared. During the absence of strangers, the committee decided that they would not go further than the case of Liverpool during the present session. Evidence on the part of Liverpool will be resumed on Monday, at twelve o'clock. DOCK COMMITTEE The usual weekly meeting of this committee was held yesterday, at the dock offices. Illr. C. Turner presided. The other members of the committee present were— Messrs. Shand, Palmer, Robinson, Rounthwaite, Hub back, Anderson, Chaloner, Mondell, Rankin, Holme, Barber, E. Evans, and Lockett. Various accounts in connection with the management of this estate, as recommended by the sub committees, were ordered to be paid. THE LATE FIRE. The sub-committee of works recommended that the tender of Messrs. Jones and Jump, for restoring the damages done by the late fire at the premises at the corner of the Huskisson dock, should he accepted. The tenderers agreed to complete the works to the satisfac tion of the surveyor for the sum of £l,OOO, taking certain beams at £lO each, and to complete the works by the 23rd day of August next. 'Chey also recom mended that a certain portion of the Canning pier should, at the request of the officer of the customs be appropriated for the reception of wreck, instead of the present site. These proceedings were confirmed. THE FORTIFICATIONS 07 THE PORT. The Chairman then read the following letter from Lieut.-Colonel Servante, of the Royal Engineers. Royal Engineer's Office, Manchester, 12th June, 1856. Sir,-With reference to a resolution of the Dock Committee, dated 15th February, 1855. I have the honour to request you will favour me with a statement of the measures contemplated with reference to , he dock works at the north extremity, near the Bootle land marks; and sshether, In the event of there being no immediate intention to complete these works, the Dock Committee will be pre pared to give any facilities, and to what extent, towards 'he further anco cf the contemplate I defensive works on the north dock extre mity (near the lan'-marks above ref rred to), by completing a sufficient portion a the north dock wall, filling in, or supplying materials tor filling in, the proposed site; also, affording access to the same site, &c. I shall feel obliged by an early reply.—l have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant, H. SEaVANFE, Lieutegant-Colenel Commanding Royal Engineers, C. Turner, Esq., Chairman of the Dock Committee, Liverpool. The Chairman said that the letter he had jest read had reference to what it was proposed to be done last year. Certain sites of land had been given for the } erection of forts, amongst which was one on the Bootle shore, at the extreme end of the property belonging to the corporation. - When we went to parliament with our bill for doing certain works at the north end of the town we granted the sites and agreed to contribute a certain amount, but since then the bill we had before parliament for making certain works had been thrown out, and we now have not the power of doing anything of the kind that is asked for in this letter. He then read the following resolutions, which had been adopted at a former meeting of the committee:— Memorandum as to terms on which, subject to the rights of the public if any, as to the use cf the marine parades, and to the approial of the dock trustees in 'I own Council assembled, and to confirmation by parliament, to be expressed by :tom! clause to be introduced into the pending dock bill, the sub-committee of works recommend to the general dock oommittee the cession to her IVojesty's government tf s . t:3 on the dock estate for the following defens i ve purposes. such sites, and the proposed works thereon, bemg more particularly described in five plans signed by Captain Westtnacott, 11. E., and the dock engineer. 1. —A Fort to be situate at the present north-west ex , remity of the dock estate, on land, as yet only partially formed. This site will be a triangle of 100 yards on each external face, with power to the Ordnance to enclose with posts and chains a further space, not exceeding, in the whole, 110 yards from the north-west angle, and beyond this extent the docl trustees agree not to erect or suffer to be ere :ted any permanent t wilding of any kind or description (except with consent of Ordnanc.-) upon a farther space included within the circle of .t radius of 250 ,k,rds front the befo.e.mentioned north west angle. such last-mentioned agreem net being in conformity with the existing stipulation against building on the radius of the present Fort, by th,, contract dated the 27th Sept., 1850. The dock trustees do not engage to form the land for this sits, nor to make or maintain any spec , al, nor other than the present means :of access to the above, or any otht r of the said defensive works ; but they do agree to allow free access thereto by their present or any future roads and bridges, and, so far as respects the said Fort, if they shall construct further works to the northward, th-y will p•o -vide and maiotaitt `sufficient roads and bridges to ensure a prol•er communication therewith. 2.—Sites for the following batteries, numbered from 1 to 4, respectively, viz. : No. 1 Battery.—A portion of the Salisbury south entrarce pier and parade, extending from the barge entrance 280 feet southwardl. and occupying the whole width of the parade up to the dock boundary wall, but gut ject to the provision by the ord , ,ence of a passage of not less than mine feet wide over the top of the sea front of the battery, for the use of, and to be accessible, at all times to persons engaged in the docking and undocking of vessels, and all other persons having lawful business there, and also rese - ving the passage of five feet w.de (as shown in the plan) for access to this customs depot in the rear. No. 2 Battery.—A portion of the central part of the marine parade, west of the Victoria Dock, about 1:0 feet in length, and extending backwards so far as to leave a cleir passage of not less than ten feet. from the dock w .11, a d a passage over the seaward front of this battery with proper steps thereto, is to be reserved to dock authorities for all necessar; purposes connected with the docks. but to be closed at each end by a gate, so as to exclude the public. No. 3 Battery.—A portion of the south pier head of the Prince's Basin, about n nety feet front and forty live feet deep, so situate as to allow a apace of not less than seventy-feet between the south extremity of the Battery, and the present dock master's house, and of hot less than twenty feet from the east vtard extremity of the Battery to the west wall of Prince's Ilasie, as shown upon the plan, No. 4 flattery.—A portion of the south pier head of the Queen's Basin, commencing about sixty feet from the south hollow-quoin of tle south entrance, and extending south-eastwardly about 180 feet, r,, the south boundary, there, t f the dock estate, and running in depth to the same boundary to the extent of so mach of the hu'lctng as is defined by the lines shown og the Van. but to be so set back, for its whole length, as to allow a clear space of twenty fe.t from the coping edge of the river wall, for the purpose of efficiently working the sluices for scouring the approaches to that entrance. In the event of t II or of any of the works ceasing to be required by goveta.epnt for defensive pm - p 0.0.. thoy- s, en dock trustees, tree of ant xpense, and, in the mean:line, are not to be used for any other purpose. The Chairman : Those recommendations might have been very well in tho time of war, but now we are at peace, and are likely to have peace, it is questionable whether such preparations are necessary. But at all events, as parliament have thrown out the bill, we have no power or funds for doing anything in the matter. Mr. Brocklebank thought that the whole subject had been abandoned altogether some time since. In answer to Mr. Smith, the Chairman said that they had granted the site fcr the fort at the north end (Bootle), and that was all that they could do ; and that if the government intended to proceed with the erection of the forts they would, in consequence of the bill they had applied for to parliament having been rejected % complete them at their own expense. After some further conversation on the subject, it was agreed that the clerk should write to the authori• ties, stating that the committee had no finances at their disposal, as the bill they had introduced into Parliament had been thrown out. CONTRACTS. On the recommendation of the sub-committee, it was decided to receive the remainder of the pine planks from Messrs. Rimmer, as per contract, Mr. Shand exL plaining that the error had arisen through some irregu larities of the surveyor, which, however, could not occur again, from the investigations which had taken, THE WAPPING WAREHOUSES The following recommendations from the sub-com- THE GRAVING POCK ACCOMMODATION TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE, IRON LIGHT SHIPS This concluded mittee, with regard to the future working of the new docks were read—that the Wapping warehouses be worked in conjunction with the Albert-dock warehouses, under the superintendence of M►. Cowan—that a separate set of books be kept--that a warehousekeeper be appointed at a salary of X,200, and a ledger clerk at £llO per annum —that if necessary, the following clerks he appointed t an assistant warehousekeeper, a managing foreman, four apprentices, an examiner, a landing clerk, and a foreman keeper. In answer to Mr. Barber, Mr. Robinson explained that he believed the working of. the two docks together would be bent9cial, but it was only an experi ment, and the committee would, if they thought it more desirable, have two establishments, although at the present time there were no offices in the Wapping docks to keep a separate establishment, A letter was read from Messrs. Humble and Co. (to the following effect), requiring greater graving dock accommodation. Sir,—Hav n 4 been irnorumental in drawing up the memorial recently presented to your eamniittee asking for increased graving dock accommcntat:on, we trust you will pardon the expression of our conviction that no alteraton in the system of regulating the present docks car in any degre, meet the chtficulty For a cc , n, iderable time past much inconvenience and risk has been ineutreti by the "high wessure " speed at which the graving docks tiave been worked by the harbour masters, a preference being g.ven sc4 those parties who would accept the shortest ti , r e ; the result heist, that many vessels have teen pre into d ck tor a much l ess time than they required for the efficient execution of their repairs rather than suffer further det.ntiou. We are not complaining of this. but mention the fact as showing that the most has been made of the existing graving dock space. With regard to the proposal for limit ing the period of entry to five weet:s, I believe it would be positivf y. injurious, inasmuch as, without creating one additional bertl,, ib woull simply thr„w the burden of delay upon a class of vessels of all ot era the least able to bear it, namely steamers. NV% trust, therefore. that your committee will adopt the opinion recently expressed by the shipbuilders of the po't, that the construction ot au additional number of graving docks is absolutely essential totbe well-being of the whole flipping it.terest.—We are, sir, your obedit rat servants. II lllii 11 LE, G RAYSON. and co. The Chairman : We have not the means of granting/ the request, as Parliament has refused us the power of doing it. Mr. Evans : They did not refuse your making graving docks, what they refused was your great scheme. Mr. Smith, after a brief conversation, hoped that the subject would be entertained by the committee, for it was one of great importance; for, although the Birken head graving docks were opened, still there was not sufficient accommodation. He wished to know whether it was the intention of the committee to apply to Par. li a T ru l e ,: t c for hai ramnaynbi repliedl lduring th l a i t ie th n e e y xt c s o e uld s3imi n . ot discuss so important a question l a s s cE th iz atA,NaEtotrs. the present time. MISCELLANEOUS. A letter from Messrs. Allen and Co., requesting to have a place allotted to them at the corner of the Wel lington dock, to deposit coals for their steamers, was referred to the harbour master's committee. A letter was read from the elder brethren of the Trinity board,requesting the committee to furnish them with the costs of iron and wood ships, in order that they might ascertain the advantages of the former over the latter. The clerk was directed to give the necessary informa tion. is business of the committeg