Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-09 00:00:00

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. [By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph.] H4NOVER. The Grand Duke Constantine arrived on Satur day from the Hague. RUSSIA The Emperor and Empress of Russia, accom panied by Prince Gortschakoff, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a suite of 200 persons, will leave St. Petersburg, June 25th, for Germany. AUSTRIA. Prince Petronello, Envoy of the King of Naples at the Court of Vienna, has obtained leave of absence. This circumstance is adduced as a proof of the existing coldness between the two countries. GREECE. The municipal council have nominated to the office of podesta M. Marcello, who was intendant of the revolutionary army in 1848. The political signification of this selection needs no comment. HUNGARY. In consequence of the bereavement sustained by the Imperial family, the Emperor has charged his cousin, the Archduke Albert, governor of Hungary, to continue the journey through that kingdom agreeably to the programme drawn out for their Majesties, and to receive, in the name of the Em peror the homage and the expression of the wishes of the inhabitants. FRANCE AND DENMARK. The French government, while abstaining from any sympathy towards Denmark, begins to perceive that there is a different policy to be adopted towards her from that councilled by the German Powers. Russia now participates in the same view. The Paris Three per Cents closed yesterday (Monday) at 67f. 70c. AUSTRALIA. We are now in possession of Melbourne advices to the 14th April. The news is one month later than our previous dates. We proceed to supply our readers with the leading features of the news now to hand. VICTORIA From the summary for Europe, in the Melbourne Ar y us, we malic; the following extract° :-- All our politicians are looking forward with strong in terest to the events of the next few days. Parliament re-assembles to morrow, and the Parliamentary verdict upon the O'Shanassy Ministry will then be given. Hither to, since the sudden and unexpected overthrow of the Haines' Administration, which we chronicled in our last summary, almost all political topics have been purely pro. spective. Speculations have been rife as to the reception that Mr. O'Shanassy will meet with, and indications have been abundant that the country has no faith in him as the head of the present Cabinet, but whether he will be tolerated for the present still remains to be decided, and round that question the political feeling of the time accu• mulates. The most engrossing topic of the past month—one before which even the interest of the Ministerial crisis grew dim—has been of a very melancholy kind. On the 26th ult., the Inspector-General of the penal department, Mr. Price, was brutally murdered by a number of convicts at Williamstown, who set upon him and maltreated him with such ferocity that he never fairly recovered his senses, and died the day after the onslaught. The excitement among the convicts, both in the stock- ades and on board the hulks, became exceedingly great atter Mr. Price's murder. The greatest insubordination prevailed, and on board the Success this reached to such a height that the warders were unable to go among the prisoners, who maintained a continual uproar for several hours. It was deemed necessary to place the Victoria war-steamer with shotted guns alongside of the Success, and there can be no doubt that had the mutiny among the convicts gone much further, orders would have been given to fire into the hulk. Since then quiet has been restored without recourse to such extreme measures. ' A numerously attended public meeting was held in the Protestant Hall, Melbourne, on the 9th instant, when the artisans and mechanics of this city mustered in great force, for the purpose of discussing the immigration scheme of the Government, which has received the sanction of the Legislative Assembly, and awaits that of the Council. Resolutions were passed condemnatory of the scheme as unjust in principle, bad in practice, and injurious in its results. It was urged by some of the speakers that there was plenty of labour in the colony ; that there were numbers of men upon the gold fields who were able and willing to undertake the work of constructing railways if the Government would give them employment, and it was unjust to the working classes of Victoria to relieve the pressure upon the labour market in England, arid glut our own, at the expense of the colonial revenue. The whole proceedings of the meeting were very creditable to the temperate feeling and intelligence of those who took part in it. The yield of the gold fields continues to be subject to the fluctuations with which the current year commenced. The mildness of the weather and the scarcity of water have been protracted over a longer season than usual, and the escort returns have not been maintained up to the ave rage of the year 1856. It is, however, satisfactory to know that they have been considerably above the average of the years 1854-55. The receipts by escort and the ship ments for the first three quarters of the following years, were : FIRST WIRER SIONTRS. 1854. 1855. 1856. 1857. oz. Receipts by escort 482,901 407,394 748,303 527,z154 Shipments 627,116 497,173 842,428 682,819 The greatest falling off this year, as compared with 1856, is, it will be observed, in the escort returns. The shipments, under all disadvantages, still keep up to the average of 10 tons troy per month, or 120 tons per year. a sum total not to be despised from a colony so sparsley populated. The decline in the escorts is to be attributed to the fact that the improved state of the roads enables coaches to run through to Melbourne in a day, quite as much as to the und ou bt e d t em p orar y fluctuation in the yield. When the wet weather has set in sufficiently to flood the creeks and the old water holes, the escort returns will show a decided improvement. At present comparatively few puddling machines are at work, and large hoards of rich Some Line washing stuff" ts were are in the hands of the miners. Line nugge tonnont:rought into town last week from Korong and from The departures of gold ships since our last summary have March 3, Joseph Tarra been March for Bombay, 1,576 ounces; 7th, Susses, for Lon ; Bth, T. _ ; for_t Bombay, 1 Kong, 7,260 ; Bth, Persia, 844 A. Cole, for Hong caster, for Calcutta, 2,669LontoMonarch, for Sydney, 45; ,445 ; Bth, Lan -Bth. Stebonheath, f or '''' ; 1 4 h 5,254 ; 14th, Walmer Lo Euro Castle, for London, 38,123; 10,704: 20th, Frances Henty, f or Feat], for Suez, Tudor, for Liverpool, 14,502 ; 91st, rtnodon, 24,732; 21st, Launceston, 20 ; 23rd, Jeannette, for Royal Shepherd, for 25th, Kent, for London, 69,221 ; 29th, 1.:If Kong, 2,831 ; Dream, for' Calcutta, 2,311 ; April 3, Challenge, for H e y e 6th, Champion, for Liverpool, 32,831; 7tlgl,l(Roxburgh Castle, for London, 30,267 ; 9th, Cornwall, for gong Kong, 596, The population of the colony on the Ist of January was, according to official returns, 351,000 souls. To this, if we add the balance of arrivals over departures since, and the increase of births over deaths, we shall arrive at the following calculation : Population, Ist of January, 1857 ..... ... 351,000 Balance of arrivals, January .. 5,214 Ditto, February • • • 7OO Ditto, March Increase by births over deaths for three months 1,400 Total A census was taken on the 29th of March last, from which, when completed, valuable statistics can be drawn. Hitherto it is admitted the information on the subject of population has not been very accurate. THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, JUNE' 9, 1857. NEW SOUTH WALES. Our Sydney papers are to the 11th of April. In the summary for Europe of the Morning Herald we find the following report in mercantile affairs : PRODUCE MARKET : The Wool Market continues very firm, and prices on the receipt of English news per Colum bian advanced about ld to 2d per lb for all descriptions of wool. The rise has since been fully maintained. The TALLOW MARKET has been barely supplied this month. A few casks of beef tallow, of this season's boiling, have come to hand, and realised from 20s to 30s per ton advance on last month's prices. HIDES continue to be sought after, and prices have again advanced from 2s 6d to 33 each. IMPORT MARKETS : FLOUR—The flour market has been firmer this week than for some time past. Wheat is quoted at 6s 6d to 7s ;" good samples would really command the top figure. LIQUIDS: The advance that took place last week in spirits has been fully maintained, notwithstanding we have had several large additions to our stocks by late arrivals. In wines there has been but little doing ; first class wines, however, command full rates. Beer and porter are firm. In GROCERIES business has been much impeded by the showery state of the weather, and the almost impassable condition of the roads in the interior. The arrivals during the week have been unusually large, and imports conse quently are heavy, which, in the absence of a brisk demand, has a general tendency to depress prices. The reports from Melbourne also are not of a character calcu. lated to improve the value of goods in this market. TEAS : Imported are firm at £5 7s 6d to £5 lOs for good congous, but we have not heard of any transactions at such:figures. The arrivals have been about 3,000 chests this week, all of which cost high prices in China. SUGAR : Several vessels with Only portion of cargo of Manilla and Mauritius have arrived since our last; but with the high rate ruling in England and all the Eastern ports, together with the large and increasing consumption of the different colonies, there is little prospect of any reduction in price for some time to come. DRIED FRUITS : The arrivals from London and Liver pool have brought a full supply of all kinds. Of currants the shipments are enormous, and if holders press them upon the market, they must submit to the consequences, which will leave a serious loss to shippers. SALT : By the arrival of the Confiance from Liverpool, there is a large supply of rock, coarse, and dairy. INDIA AND PERSIA. The most important news from India is the following telegraphic despatch, printed on a small slip of paper as a supplement to the Bombay Times : " MUTINY AT MEERUT —We have just received the following serious intelligence by electric tele graph from Agra. The 3rd cavalry are in open mutiny. They have burnt down the lines and ofi• lers' bungalows. Several officers and men killed and wounded." An interval of nine days only having elapsed since the departure of the previous mail, the ordi nary summary of general news is but brief. The English mail which arrived out in the evening of the 4th brought the results of the general elec tion. " The political obliteration of the Manches ter and Peelite parties (says the Bombay Times) has neither suprised nor offended the Indian public on this side ; for, although Bombay con stitutes the head quarters of the Cotton interest, there was no sympathy whatever between us and the peace -at-any-price party, and as little with the obstructive and impracticable remnant of the so called followers of Peel. The weather continues favourable upon the whole—the nights being cool and pleasant. The governors of the Presidencies are at the respective seats of their administration. The transaction of business in the import market has been very limited ; there is no change to report in our money market; and freights have declined. In pursuance of orders received by General Outratn, the Persian Expeditionary Force is to remain in the Persian Gulf for three months after the ratification of the treaty, which is ap pointed to take place at Bagdad, on the 4th of June, under the authority of the Hon. Mr. Murray. The head-quarters, staff, and the first division will remain at Bushire; the second division at Mohamra. Under this arrangement it is not likely that the troops will reach India much before the close of the year. We (Bombay Times) have received numerous letters from correspondents in the Gulf, and they all express extreme dissatis faction with the terms of the peace, and extreme anxiety to get back to India. Respecting the disturbances at Umballali, of which some report reached us by the last mail, the Madras Athenceum of May 8 says :—" The dis affection occasioned by the order to issue the greasy cartridges, or whatever other cause may have led to the feeling, has extended to Umballah. The native troops stationed in that place have burnt down the empty European barracks, the native infantry hospital, the officers' quarters, and se poys' houses. Our authority—the Delhi Gazette— adds that in consequence of these acts the order to use the greased cartridges has been countermanded pending a reference to the Commander-in-Chief, and that dragoons are pa trolling the place in order to prevent further out rages; the above occurred on the 15th March. No further news up to the time of writing had been received. While upon the subject of mutinous sepoys it may be mentioned that the 34th B N. I. (a regiment which has apparently had more to do with creating disaffection than the bullock's grease and hog's fat) is about to be disbanded. Such at least is the statement of well-informed Bengal papers, and it is added that its commander, Lieut. Colonel Wheeler, is to be deprived of a command in future." CHINA. HONG KONG, APRIL 27 In my last I noted the sad accident to Commo dore Keppel's ship, the Raleigh. Since then every attempt to get her off has failed ; the greater part of her guns, and all her standing and running rigging, spars, &e, have been saved, but a severe loss—the most serious—is the large amount of new and peculiar shell which was on hoard, which it will take months to replace. Arrangements have been made by Commodore Keppel with the Chinese to raise the Raleigh, and hopes are enter tained of getting her to some place of repair ; but the hope is a distant one, and if unsuccessful the wreck will be blown up. Commodore Keppel and his officers posses the affection and esteem of all, and the casualty to his ship is a matter of universal regret. The murder of Mr. Markwick, Government auctioneer of Hong Kong, after much shuffling diplomacy on the part of the Chinese authorities, has deen surrendered and will undergl hiS trial ; the prisoner has made disclosures which prove that he had a number of confederates ; that tl►e murder of Europeans was projected on a large scale, and that rewards were offered for sueces by the Chinese authorities. Owing to the mishap to Ow Raleigh, all opera tions against the piratical junks have been aban doned. Th ey will. however, be resumed in the course of a few weeks, or so soon as the remainder of the gunboats arrive. In the summary of the Overland Friend of China of April 25, we read : The steamer Qiteen, that was lost going from Hong Kong to Macao, was t a k en by men sent out by the gentry of the ninety-six villages to Ounder. They navigated her to a village called Cheek-ha, in the neighbourhood of Fatsan. There they divided valuables found in the vessel ; but then began to wrangle about who was most meri torious in their schemes for capturing the vessel, and came near fighting, but ultimltely to settle the matter they burnt up the vessel. Again it is reported that. the rebel Ch a k, i n th e eas t er n part of Kwaug-tung province, is at. the head of more than one hundred thousand rebels, and has taken the district capitals of Hoguen and Sungehuen, and is close upon Y-chow, about one hundred miles from Canton. Another army of about as many more, under the loaders Lo and Hue, are taking other villages and clstrict towns, making sad work for the common people. Our men-of-war allow the boats and junks to ply on the Canton river at their usual occupations in the day time, of which they avail themselves in large numbers. Th e junks in Fatsan Creep appear to have dwindled down to about twenty, which it is said are only half manned. A fort near these junks has been manned, and an occasional gun fired thence. The Chinese have go' tired of annoying the Tee-to-tum fort. We have had heavy rains and bad weather, but thanks to the vigilant and master eye of Sir Michael Seymour, the sanitary state of the force is satis factory. ;;;By late advices from Foo-chow-foo, they Mandarins having agreed to take Mexican dollars in payment of duties, the currency market has been somewhat relieved, not a single chop was loading, the few teas that remained on market could be had at easier rates, but were of com mon quality. The trade of the colony continues in a depressed state, owing chiefly, we imagine, to the want of confidence in and lack of vigour of our local government. The troops that have arrived are amply sufficient for our protection if they were properly distibuted ; but it will hardly be credited that not a soldier is quartered near our western suburb, which is left entirely to the care of our miserable police. Emigration to Australia and California still continues. For the latter no less than ten large ships are on the berth. For the former the rush is over, on account of the mon soon changing. Rice continues high. We have had large arrivals, which are most remunerative to those concerned. Our supply of shipping is small, and seeking vessels find good employ - ment. The Macao Trade continues to derive much benefit from the existing state of affairs on the Canton river. COMMERCIAL BOMBAY, MAY 10. We have no change to report in our money-market during the past ten days. Rates of Discount at the banks remain the same, and money is abundant in aft Bazaar. Government Securities have improved slightly, and we quote 4 per cent. paper 851 to 86, and Fives par tog pre— mium. Local Joint Stock shares remain at about former quotations. IMPORTS : The amount of business transacted in cotton piece goods has been limited. Bleached and fancy goods have been little inquired for, at nominal prices. Yarns have improved, and a large amount of business has been done. Iron is in less demand ; spelter has declined ; tin plates continua firm ; and pig and sheet lead are both scarce. EXPORTS - : The prices of cotton have fluctuated much ; they advanced temporarily, but have again settled down at the rates last reported. The prices of oilseeds have declined, in consequence of free arrivals of linseed. Prices of opium have considerably advanced, and the present quotations are 1,120 r for Indore and 1,130 r for Mundlesir. Immediately after the news of the negotiation of peace with Persia, the rates of freight declined, and now vary from £2 15s to:R2 17s 6d a ton for Liverpool and London, Exchange has been chiefly at 2 1 13.16 th for cotton bills, but the business for - this steamer has not been extensive. China drawn have not been obtainable up to the moment of writing. CALCUTTA, MAY 2. A healthy tone continues in our Money Market, and the improvement, though slow, continues unchecked. IMPORTS : Our import market as regards British cotton piece goods and twist has assumed a more favourable position, consequent on the receipt of advices of an en couraging nature from the upcountry marts, and though we have experienced an increased demand for some de scriptions of cloths, there has scarcely been any material improvement in value, supplies latterly having proved more than sufficient to meet our requirements. In grey shirtings low and medium kinds have slightly declined, while others are higher. White rather neglected. Grey jaconets are in better request. White has continued unaltered. Grey madapollams have improved a little. A further advance has taken place in the value of mule twist, caused by reduced stocks. In the metal market very little has been done, and sheathing copper and tiles have declined. Spelter is also quoted slightly lower. EXPORTS: During the interval that has elapsed since our report of the 22nd ult., our produce market has shown no signs of activity ; on the contrary, it has latterly taken a more unfavourable turn. The high prices of produce in general, small stocks, and enhanced rates in freights, have combined to render operations almost impossible. Even raw silk, which before the receipt by telegraph of last advices from home was a general favourite, has been neglected, and is actually unsaleable at the present moment. Corahs have been moderately dealt in at slightly higher prices. Sugar continues in very limited request. Saltpetre dull and drooping. Jute in active demand at extreme figures. All other articles in much the same position as last reported. FRANCE. PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING. The Senate is showing more spirit than any body gave it credit for. It has not, indeed, as yet, hoisted the red flag on the Palace of Marie de Medicis, established entrenchments in the gardens of the Luxembourg, sung in chorus the Marseil laise, or the CC; ira, or figured in the Carmagnole, but it persists in its measure for a reform of the mode of procedure towards its members; The original demand about senators being made amen able only to their own Chambers, and not to the ordinary Courts, civil or military, is, I believe, abandoned. The weather has been extremely hot at Paris for the last two days. This morning all those who had no occupation to keep them in town rushed to the country to breathe a few hours fresh air. Yes terday afternoon the sky became clouded, and there was every appearance of rain, which was anxiously desired. Not a drop fell ; and the sun had the satisfaction of seeing the clouds melt away before his beams even when disappearing beneath the horizon. The storm, the comng of which all Paris invoked, burst over Varsailles, and with the caprice of the elements, rather superfluously inun dated that town, which every one knows has always its own grandes eaux at its command. The Emperor has commanded the Minister of War to write to Marshal Randon to express his Majesty's satisfaction at the manner in which the expedition to Kabylia was conducted. The marshal received no special instructions as to the plan of campaign, but was suffered to choose his own plan, consequently the merit is all his own. The Minister of War is preparing a list of the officers and privates to he decorated for their con duct during the campaign. I am informed that several of the Kabyle chiefs who have made their submission have demanded permission to make a journey to Paris. No doubt the permission will be granted. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, JUNE 6 The Archduke Albrecht, the Governor General of Hungary, has returned to Pesth, in order to be present at the opening of the Agricultural Exhibi tion, but it is not known whether he will, as sub stitute of the Emperor, visit the northern districts of the kingdom. Altheugh their Majesties left Pesth so suddenly, the Emperor did not forget to order Count Haller, the Adlatus of the Governor- General, to receive all petitions, whether sealed or open," that might be presented by those persons who were to have had an audience on the 4th inst. Things are in an extremely disturbed state in Bosnia, and 4,000 unarmed peasantsMussul mans and Christians—are encamped near Tusla. NAVAL AND MILITARY. The East India Company's troopships Owen Glendower and Vernon have arrived at Gravesend, having on board nearly 500 invalid troops from regiments serving in India. The following officers came home in charge of the troops—viz., Captain J. B. Flanagan, 81st ; Lieut..T. C. Langford, 27th ; Lieut. F. G. King, 81st ; Lieut. F: H. Gee, 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers ; Lieut. Simeon, of the Royal Artillery Mr. F. Sims, civil surgeon, had the medical charge of the detachments. Lieut. C. A. P. James, 70th ; Lieut. IV. Rudman, 32d ; Lieut. R. G Blackenhury, 61st ; Assistant Surgeon S. Currie, M.D , 70th; and -Captain Thomson, 7th Bengal Native Infantry. The Sydney arrived rt Spithead on Friday night, from Gibraltar, bringing Lieutenant-Colonel Cole and the head quai•lers of the 15th Foot. The Australian, from Gibraltar, arrived at Spithead yesterday with the remainder of the sth, some of the 96th, Captain O'Brien of the 30th, and Lieutenants Lockhart and Parker of the 92nd. The Mauritius and Cleopatra steam transports are hourly expected at Portsmouth to embark troops for China. The Niagara, United States' monster " corvette," 4,500 tons, Captain Hudson. arrived at Spithead from the Thames early on Saturday mornin g , and went into harbour about noon. The United States Vice-Consul presented Captain Hudson to the mayor and the naval and military commanders-in. chief at Portsmouth on Saturday. The Niagara will be immediately docked, to be adapted for th e reception of her intended portion Pf the great Atlantic telegraph cable. MERSEY CONSERVANCY AND DOCKS BILL. (PROM OUR OWN REPORTZR.) ROUSE OF COMMONS, MONDAY. The Committee on the Mersey Conservancy and Docks Bill resumed its sittings to-day, at noon, Sir James Graham in the chair. The other members present were— Lord Henniker, Mr. Paget, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. North. The Chairman said, perhaps Mr. Turner, of Manchester, would be so obliging as to furnish them with the docu ments he promised, with reference to the items of the charges brought against the Brazilleira. Mr. TURNER regretted that he could not procure the original document, but he had full particulars from the Secretary of the Company. Mr. Turner then read a report from that gentleman, detailing the circumstances under which the Brazilleira was charged with Dock Dues, for having taken some packages on board in the Mersey. He stated that thirty packages were so put on board, and that the ship paid is per tan dues on 738 tons of goods, taken on board in the Birkenhead docks, and Is 4- 1 2 -d per ton on 758 tons, to the Liverpool Dock Committee, although the vessel had never used the Liverpool docks. Mr. MERREWETHER objected to the r,ceipt of this docu ment as evidence, on the ground that written evidence ought not to be put in when the party could be called before the committee. He was directly at issue with the other side on the question of thirty parcels only having been shipped as stated. _ The CH — AIRMAN said he thought the objection must be sustained if persevered in. Mr. MERREWETHER would not persevere if his account of the number of packages was allowed to be put in too. Mr. CALVERT would not demur to this course. Mr. PAGET, counsel for the Dock Trust, then put in the docu ment, which shewed that, instead of thirty packages having been put into the ship in the stream, the following goods were put on board : 61 packages, silks, cottons, &c.; three cases watches, one bale hops, one case copper, sixty eight sheets copper, loose ; one box provisions, one box sta tionery, one case instruments, and fifty firkins butter. He also handed in a document from the receiver of tonnage dues showing that this return was correct. After some conversation, the CHAIRMAN asked Mr. Turner to furnish him with evidence whether any of the sum paid to the Dock Trust on these goods was for town dues; and counsel agreed to endeavour to come to a stated case upon the Brazilleira grievance. Mr. BANCROFT was then examined on the evidenee,given by Mr Rendel in 1833, when Mr. 31F RREWETHER objected to second hand evidence being received. The CHAIRMAN said, reall7 the course pursued was a bad one. Here, nothing was proved in the first instance, and nothing resulted upon second evidence. The inquiry would be interminable, and the present session wauld barely see he committee's report issue. Mr. MERREWETHER observed that, although the com mittee had at first sanctioned this course of procedure, he had then warned them of the result. The CuAnamArr certainly saw the evil, but then if the committee deviated from the course laid down in the beginning, it would be tantamount to a censure upon their earlier proceedings. Mr. BAticaofr then proceeded, but left unfinished the reading of the evidence of Mr. Randal. He went on to read the evidence of the town clerk on the question of the land sales at Wallessey by the Corporation ; also that of Mr. Bramley-Moore, on the 12th March, 1851, with refe rence to the sales of land by the Corporation to the Dock Committee, stating that up to 1841 the Corporation had received from that body £909,000 for land, and that the land so sold had been improved by the Dock Committee in the first instance, and so had yielded a profit to the Liverpool Corporation of several hundreds of thousands of pounds. The Witness was then examined with a view to show that there had been repeated struggles between Liverpool and Birkenhead. He considered that in consequence of the non-completion of the Birkenhead Docks, the Birken head Laancashire and Cheshire Junction Railway Company, had suffered severely. The Company were pressed by the Dock Trustees to make a line of three quarters of-a-mile in length, from Grange•lane to the docks at an expense of £350,000. The nett outlay for the accommodation of commerce on the Brkenhead side of the river, had been upwards of £1,000,000 sterling, say £1,100,000, and that had not been so productive as it would have been, had the docks there been completed. Mr. CALVERT : Now, do you consider that the price for land paid by the Dock Trust to the Corporation is too great ? Mr. BANCROFT : Evidently the sums paid are very large. The CHAIRMAN: Really we have had all this before. It has come from many witnesses already. Mr. CALVERT : Now, what are the benefits that you think Birkenhead would derive from this bill? Mr. BANCROFT : That her commercial affairs will be conducted by men entirely free from local influence. Mr. CAnvEar : Do you think this bill will provide an efficient Dock Board ? Mr. BANCROFT : I think so; but it will be sufficiently Liverpool after all. It is not precisely the Trust that I should have suggested, but it is a great improvement on the old state of things. The bill seeks to destroy the cor porate element, and that is what should be done. The witness was then examined on the evidence given by Mr. James Aikin in 1851, on the question of the constitution of the Liverpool Dock Committee; when Mr. MERREWETHER then again objected to second hand evidence being received. The CHAIRMAN hoped that such evidence would not be persisted in. bMr. CALVERT : What is your objection to the Town Dues ? Mr. BANcaorr : That they are , not appropriated to the purposes of shipping. Mr. MERREWETHER : What business are you, sir ? Mr. BANCROFT : I am not actively engaged in business, but 1 was a dealer in p'ait for straw bonnets. Mr. MERREIVITHER : Now, sir, attend to me. Be good enough to state what would be the Town Dues upon a straw bonnet, taking bonnets at their present size ? I presume, sir, you know the size of a lady's bonnet. (Laughter) Mr. BANCROFT : We did not import the bonnets. It is the material that is imported. Mr. MERREWETHER : Now, who is to pay the expense of this bill ? _. _ Mr. BANCROFr : The Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Railway Company are not the pro moters of the bill, nut we are very active supporters. The company has passed a general resolution to take the n e cessary steps in supporting this bill. No money has actually been voted by the oompany, but there is an under standing that each company shall pay their own counsel and witnesses. The witness was next examined as to the attempts maze at various times to secure an amalgamation with the London and North Western Railway Company Parliament had rejected a bill, having for its view such an amalgamation. When the Shrewsbury and Chester lines sought powers to run over our line to Birkenhead, we opposed their bill. The Shrewsbury and Chester Com pany, in their preamble, slate that they have land on the south reserve, but I don't know whether their lease is good or bad. I have heard it said that the leave was not worth the paper on which it was written. I disputed their lease, when they came here for running purposes. I have heard that the Liverpool Corporation have taken proceedings in Equity against the Shrewsbury and Chester Company in regard to that lease. I believe that in 1851 the Birkenhead people themselves threw over the plans of Mr. Rendel, and adopted those of Mr. Abernethy. I can't say that the Liverpool Corporation, had anything to do in that change. I believe the gentle men who did their best to have the docks finished were Mr. John Laird. Sir Joseph Bailey, Baron Goldschmidt, Mr. Barber, of Manchester, and a few other gentlemen. Mr. MERREWETIIER : Can you tell me your opioion of the management of the docks by those gentlemen ? Mr. BANCROFT : Oh, we had nothing to complain of in that respect ; but then there was so little to manage. Mr. MERREWETHER : Well, then, what do you say to their enterprise ? Mr. BANCROFT : Well, there we have everything to com plain of. There is no doubt that up to 1855, the fault of the non-completion of the Birkenhead docks was due only to the Birkenhead Docks Trustees, and not at all to the Corporation of Liverpool. Mr MERREWETHER : I should think you were rather pleased when Mr. Labouchere's committee said that the Liverpool Corporation must take the docks ? Mr. BANCROFT : I certainly consented, as far as my con sent was asked in the question, being then Chairman of the Birkenhead Railway Company. I c ,nsented to the transfer to the Corporation, and the consolidation of the interests on both sides of the Mersey; but it was upon this clear and distinct understanding, that the dock estates on both sides of the Mersey, when completed, should be placed under one separate trust, and if I could have supposed that the obligation imposed on the Liverpool people would not be carried out, I should rather have waited to have seen the Birkenhead docks completed. Mr. MURREIVETNER : Then you would have preferred the insolvency of the dock trustees, and having no decks ? Mr. BANCROFT : Yes, sooner than that the corporation should have the control of those docks. Mr. MEIII2EWILTHER Now, what line is specially interested in this question ? Is not this a matter of general interest to all the railway companies? Mr. BANCROFf : It is of general interest to the whole of the narrow-gauge lines in . the country, but o f s p ec i a l interest to the Birkenhead hue and all the lines on that side of the country. Mr. MERERWETIIHR Then in any arrangements that may be made it should be the imperative duty ofthose carrying out these plans to lbok at the whole of therailway interest, without viewing any individual interest ? Mr. BAXOROPT : Yes ; but there are rail:ways specially interested, and more particularly the Birkenhead; Lanca shire, and Cheshire Junction Railway Company, whose claim, I think, should be first considered, having- spent so much money in endeavouring to accommodate commerce at Birkenhead, when the docks should 'be completed. I believe that, during the last winter, meetings of deputations from the various railway compardes took place with the corporation, when the plans were discussed, and I believe that we came to the resolution that sufficient accommoda tion was not given to the Birkenhead companies. There was nothing of this sort said—" Now, give us our aecom modation, and take the town dues off bonnets." (Laughter.) We objected to the principle of the plans of the docks Mr Mintazwaerea—Now, sir, if you hod got what you wanted, should you have supported this Mersey Conser vancy Bill ? Mr. Beiscaorr : Oh, yes ; decidedly we should have supported the general principles of this bill. We should have supported the application for the change of trust. Had I done otherwise it would have been inconsistent with I everything that I have ever said on this question. We have not approached the Corporation laely, although we said, at our last interview with them, that we must receive reports from eminent engineers before we could say that we would not oppose them. We did not meet them again because either Mr. John Stewart or Mr. Samuel Holme said that the Birkenhead Railway Company should not be allowed to dictate the policy of the plans, and that, sooner than let us do that, the Corporation would carry out, at once, Mr. Rendel's plans. We have received reports from eminent engineers—Mr. Brunell and Mr. Ilawkshaw. The report of the latter is at variance with that of the former gentleman. We did not in any way communicate with the Corporation thae we should not meet them again. Mr. MERREWETHER : Now, as to the land sales by the Corporation at Birkenhead, with the privilege to make docks, and then the Corporation petitioning the next day against that power--let me ask you, did you read that petition so as to know under what circumstances it was presented ? Mr. BANCRoFT : I did not. I have only read the evidence on the question, and have told you what I read. To Mr. PAGET (counsel for the Dock Committee) : I am aware that up to 1851 the representation at the Dock Comittee was limited, and that the committee agreed that the power of veto on the Dock Committee's proceedings should continue. I am not aware how often the veto has Leon exercised since 1851. I still adhere to the statement that the Dock Trust has made land for the corporation and then bought that land from the corporation for dock purposes. lam aware that in making railways and docks, " spoil" is created, and it is frequently to the advantage of the parties to have permission to put their "spoil" on waste land, and it is equally an advantage to the owner of the land to receive the "spoil." I think if an independent board had wished, they could have gone to parliament for statutory power to purchase the strand at, say a nominal value, and make the land for themselves. I think su han arrangement ought to have been made with. Lord Derby, instead of making land for the corporation and then buying it from them at a high price I should not be surprised to learn that the dock committee have paid Lord Derby £90,000 for strand of this sort. To Mr. CALVERT : No doubt the strand ought to have been purchased in anticipation. As it is, for every million of money laid out in dock works, the corporation get £15,000 a-year, as town dues, arising from the increase of commerce. I maystate a fact now, that, although the docks are not finished, the traffic of our company is becoming very large. Even with the very limited share of dock ac commodation, the traffic of last year from Bi kenhead amounted to no less than 500,000 tons, and 144,000 tons of that amount were carried across the Mersey. This only shows what. Birkenhead would have been, and what our line would have been, had the docks been completed. In 18i3, Messrs. Brassy and M'Cormick threw up their contract to finish the Birkenhead docks. That was at the time when the £4,000,000 on the North Dock scheme at Liverpool was determined on, and had the measure been carried out, no doubt Birkenhead would have been swamped. To the CHAIRMAN: We are the only connecting link for the whole railway system of the Empire with the south side of the Mersey. We are, therefose, as deeply interested in this question as it is possible for any one body to be—iu fact, our solvency or otherwise depends upon full access to the docks being given to our line, and even under the most disadvantageous circumstances we have gained considerable trsffic, and ultimately we hope to realise our full expectations. Mr. ROBERT ROYLE : I reside at Brymbc -hall, near Wrexham, and am a coal-owner. I am tenant with a com pany in the coal works on the Marquis of Westminster's estate. We send a considerable quantity of coal to Bir kenhead. I was also an iron master, and shipped iron from Birkenhead. I also received iron 070 from Cumber land via Birkenhead. Undoubtedly it is of the greatest importance to the people of North Wales that the Birken head Dock should be finished speedily ; that the conservancy of the Mersey should be properly attended to, and that the management of the docks should be consolidated and placed under an independent board. I don't look for these advantages from the Corporation of Liverpool, for, from all I can learn, they are rather too subservient to Liverpool interests. My own trade has suffered became we have no such a demand from Birkenhead as our col lieries can supply. We pay 2d a ton Town Dues at Liver pool, which is 33 per cent upon the royalty. I object to paying taxes that should be paid by Liverpool people themselves. I think that every tax on shipping should be expended on shipping, and therefore I approve of this bill. I was a director o the Shrewsbury and Chester line from 1849 to 1854. and I have ceased fir twelve months to be a director of the Great Western line. lam not now connected with that line. I was, but am not now, a director of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham line. Those lines were amalgamated, and the Great Western took on very great liabilities in the shape of preference dividends to gain a connection with the shores of the Mersey. Having been a director in those companies, I am prepared to say that the Great Western would never have taken upon itself those liabilities without the assurance that they would have had access to the docks. The company relied upon the best plans—Mr. Rendell's—being carried out at Birkenhead. A deputation of the directors—of which I was one, went down to inspect the site of the docks on the south reserve, to be assured that the best docks for the purposes of commerce would be constructed. Our com pany obtained a lease of 40,000 yards, on the South reserve, whereon to construct a station, for the term of 099 years, and we built a station there, which now belongs to the Great Western Company, in virtue of the amalga mation of the Shrewsbury and Chester lice: We had a lease because we were to have a station there to bring np the passengers by foreign steamers directly they landed. In the plans now proposed by the Corporation they sweep away our station on the South Reserve, which cost us £20,000. The non-completion of these decks has certainly been a most serious loss to the Great Western line. The Corporation have now a bill before the Court of Chancery praying that the agreement or lease may be declared frau dulent and void, and that the same may be delivered up to the court. I consider the interests of the railway com pany and that of the public identical, so that the itsiu y by the non-completion of the docks has been a public injury. The CIIAIRMkN : That is very important - repeat it. Mr. CALVERT : Let us ask you the question. The non completion of the Birkenhead docks is not only an injury to the Great West Western Company but to the public at laree? ROYLR : Yes. It constitutes, with my knowledge, taking the interests of the colliers alone employed at such collieries as I am acquainted with, and the works about them. a very serious grievance, for there are from £200,000 to £300,000 a year paid to the colliers in the shape of wages, and yet, owing to the non-completion of the decks, they are obliged to work only half or three quarters time. They do not work 50 per cent of what they could do if the docks afforded proper accommodation to enable us to fulfil our orders. We have, in fact, to ship coal down the Dee, round to the Mersey, and se put the cargo on b seed ships there. We have to go round sixty miles of navigation, dangerous in the extreme, whilst by rail the distance is only sixteen miles. My remarks equally apply to lead and iron sent up from Wales. The witness was under examination at four o'clock, when the committee rose. BIRKENHEAD, LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE JUNCTION fIAILWAY BILL. FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.) HOUSE OF COMNTONi, MONDAY. The select Committee appointed to inquire into this bill, assembled at twelve o'clock this morning, Mr. Bairn®. in the chair. The counsel .for the promoters of the bill are Mr. Sergeant Wrangham, and Mr. Webster. Tne bill is opposed by Mr. Milward, on behalf of ti e Liverpool Corporation, Mr. Monk and Mr. Vaugb 4 n, on the part of Messrs. Laird, King, and Potter. Mr. Sergeant WRANGIIAM hoped the adjournment at the laet meeting, would have saved some trouble to the committee. The interval had, not been idly I wasted. but emplo3ed iu arranging differences with many—he was sorry he epuld no.. say all, but with "moste-ofthe- parties opposing the bill. In the year 1837 the-art passed for constructing a railway from Chester to Holyhead, the line terminating further back than the present termini—id fact, at Grange-road. Subsequently, the terminus was carried forward to Monk's Ferry, as, the traffic on the railway, it was found inconvenient that the company should depend, for 'he conveyance of their passengers across the Mersey, on packets not under their own contra; and the object , f this bill was to pro vide steamers of their own, or to give the power to charter the steamers of other people, so as to have the mausgemet t of the transfer of passengers across the water --to have the management of the ferry in their own ha Ids. This had been done in other cases. There was the power given to the Holyhead Railway Company to run steamers from Holyhead to Dublin, that passage being regarded as a ferry at the end of the line. So, the Routh Western Company ran packets from Southampton to Dieppe, Havre, and the Channel Islands ; and the South Eastern from Folk:stone to Calais and Boulogne ; and the importance of this part of the bill would be immediately manifested when he stated that last year 600;000 passengers were sent across ihe Mer sey. However, there was no opposition to the ferr portion of the scheme. The company also sought power to con vey their goods across the river in fiats of - their own, instead of having to hire them from other p,riies. And this brought him to the goods termini. The company had to cross a road, once called Corporation-road, but now Canning-street, to get to Merpeth dock on the one side, and to the Great Float on the other. Parliament required them to carry the road over Canning-street by a bridge ; but before this was finished, it was found that that which was intended for the public interest acted in the opposite direction, owing to ,he steepness i f the bridge and the length and height of the embankmen.s. In 1852, the company applied to parliament to remedy the evil, by carrying the railway across the street on the level. After this hed been effected, the road was intersected by a great number of lines of rails. Every care and precaution was taken to prevent accident ; but the traffic, both on the rail and the road, had so much increased, and there was a prospect; of a still furth-r large increase, that it had become indispensible that something should be done to prevent the railway and the road from passing on the same level. The bridge had been tried, and been proved by experience to he a nuisance to the inhabitants of this part of th e town. A level ' crossing was fraught with much danger. The only alterna tive was to shut up that portion of Canning-street which was occupied by the rails crossing Canning-street, between the eastern extremity of th e s t a ti on an d Freeman-street. Colonel Wynne, sent down by the Board of Trade, had reported his concurrence with the proposed stoppage. Of course, when a road was stopped up, the proprietors of land adjoining would be somewhat inconvenienced ; and the question was, whether the inconvenience was sufficient to induce the committee to throw out the projee ? CHATEDIAN: Would the diverted traffic have to cross Bridge street ? Mr. Serjeant WRANOISAM : Yes ; and we take off the c corners of Taylor-street, and increase the width of it from thirty foot to fifty feet. Mr. Laird and Mr. King held property on one side of the present crossing, and Mr. Potter on the other. They petitioned against she bill. The learned counsel pointed out on the map what would be the increased distance between various places by the pro posed stoppage, and said the company proposed to diminish the trifling inconvenience by carrying a bridge for foot Passengers over the stopped portion of Canning-street. The Birkenhead Improvement Commissioners, who had the care of the streets, had agreed to the views of the railway company. _ CHAIRMAN': Do they petition against the bill there, or only demand damages for injury to their property ? Air. MONK replied that the value of property was an ingredient in most of these oppositions. Mr. Serjeant WRANGIIAM must ask the committee to postpone their decision on the post-office clauses, on the ground that there had not yet been time to fully consider their effect. The Corporation asked to have saving clauses inserted with regard to a power which they did not yet possess, but which they were now seeking before another committee, that of assimi'ating the dues at Liverpool and Birkenhead. To this the company decidedly objected, though they did not object to the con servation of all powers and privileges really existent Mr. MILLWARD said the Corporation only required a declaration that existing rights should no' be affected by the Mr. SERGEANT WRANG GAM : That we are willing to insert. The following evidence was then adduced : Mr G. DOUGLAS, engineer of the line, was examined by Mr. Webster, in support of the opening : Canning street is a level crossing. It is crossed by twenty lines of rails in a space of 140 yards. Canning-street was originally intended to be crossed by a bridge. I, was objected to. CHAIRMAN : By whom ? . . WITNESS : By the commissioners and proprietors. If the bridge had been built, the land of the petitioners would have been cut off from access to the docks ; the approaches would have commenced at Poole-street. to Lord-street. Fuot passengers only use Canning-street at present ; the carriage traffic goes over Bridge-street. Cross-examined by Mr. VAUGHAN : I have been en gineer of the line since 1851. It is not more than 140 yards that we propose to take ; it is not 200 yards. I do not know that the Corporation-road is the main road along the entrance to the docks for two miles. A great part of it is in grass. I don't know that it is out of repair in consequence of the construction of the docks Land near the docks will not, in many places, realise one-fourth the fabulous prices given for it years bga. I have heard of 100 shillings a square yard being paid. The Birkenhead Improvement Commissioners have withdrawn their opposition; I believe on acknowledgment of the ferry rights Mr. WEBSTER objected to this examination. The arrangement could not concern a private landowner. Cross-examination resumed : I have heard that some debts owing by the Birkenhead Commissioners to the Railway Company have been cancelled. I do not know to what amount. I have heard that a Birkenhead com missioner talked about the arrar gement being worth £2,000 to £3,000 a year ; I do not believe it. Cross-examined by Mr. Mosa : I do not know that there was any objection to the bridge on the part of the public. Re-examined by Mr. WEBSTER : In 1852, the land of the petitioners was cut off from access t> the Morpeth Docks and the Great Float, by the approaches to the bridge. 100 r. a square yard would be £25,000 an acre ; the prices that have been given are no criterion of the present prices. Mr. CHARLES MASON, the traffic manager of the railroad, examined by Mr. Webster, deposed that it would be a great convenience to the public that the ferry should be in the hands of the railway company. He believed that King and Laird would be in no degree inconvenienced by the proposed stoppage of Canning-street. It was already p s.a r y a lar c i t t i . da i\s, ll nA y uoto s . tip t ed. A few coal carts of Mr. Laird occa sionally crossed : the number had just now considerably increased. Mr. WYBSTER : Since this measure las been Mare the legislature, I suppose? VITITNES : Yes. (A, laugh.) The proposed alteration would not be prejudicial to Mr. Potter's land. I examined the whole works with Colonel Wynne, from the Board of Trade, who reported in favour of the present project. Cross-examined by Mr. Vaughan : Two engines are con stantly used all night in shunting trains across Canning street. We run nine trains across it every day. Canning street is the nearest route to the Birkenhead docks — Bridge-street is the quickest. I cannot speak of the amount re-leased to the Birkenhead Commissioners in the arrangement that has been come to. By Mr. MONK : Canning-street is the principal route from Woodside Ferry to New Brighton and other places. I don't know that their population is 23,0 t ) ,); nor can I on the part of Mr. Potter, proposed to call evidence. According to the promoters of the bill, his client was in the position of opposing a groat improvement, front which he was to derive no injury. Now, there was no doubt that on the c.ompletiou of the Birkenhead docks it was of incalculable importance that Canning atreet, their main approach, should be kept opsn, and that such completion would materially affect th...: value of Mr. Potter's property. He submitted that the construction of a bridge was the proper mode of meeting the requirementi of the place, and that it was objectionable on no other ground than that of expense. _ _ bRATTAN, an architect and surveyor at Bir kenhead, produced a plan showing Canning-street, and Corporation road, forming two miles of continuous emu muaication along the banks of the Mersey. The docks were in course of construction, and it was important that this line should be kept free from obstruction. The land in the neighbourhood of the docks is very valuable ; that of Mr. Potter's is the most valuable in Birkenhead. I have paid £6 a yard for land. Mr. WICKHAM MARTIN ; What is it worth now ? WITNESS : I.should say the same ; it is I :',7:Lit upon. Mr. VAUGHAN : Then you don't think the value has gone down of lite ? WITNESS ; I do not. I know the Wapping level crossing at Liverpool. There is an immense traffic. The witness mentic';lei other instances of great traffic on level cro:.,sing3, and added that this was not productive of in- convenience. Cross-examined by Mr, Webster : I sold, in ono plot, 580 yards of land at £6 a yard. This was in 1853 or 1854. It was after the act of 1852 passed, Mr. Potter's land might be used for b!ockmaker's shops, anchor smiths, warehouses, &c. Great improvements have taken place in Birkenhead within the last ten years. At this stage the committee adjourned till twelVe o'clock this day (Tuesday).