The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-09-11 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL AND BIRKENHEAD.

The completion of the long-protracted negotiations
for the purchase of the Birkenhead Dock property by
the Corporation of Liverpool has been followed, almost
as a natural consequence, by a proposal to incorporate
the two sides of the Mersey, so that Birkenhead shall
become an integral portion of the Borough of Liver-
pool. The subject had been incidentally mooted on
previous 'occasions as a desirable consummation, but
the initiative as a public question was taken at the
monthly meeting of the Commissioners of Birkenhead,
on Tuesday last. The chairman, Mr. JOHN LAIRD,
entered at some length into what may be called the
statistics of the question, the particulars of which we
have given in another column, and moved the appoint-
ment of a committee to confer with the Town Council
of Liverpool, which was ar,,Nska tp, and on the follow-
ing day a similar step was taken at the monthly meet-
ing of the latter body. So far, therefore, the question
is fairly before the representatives of the respective
parties interested, and it remains to be seen whether
the several committees will be able to agree upon a
plan of details which shall prove mutually satisfactory.
In the speech referred to, Mr. LAIRD sought to obvi-
ate the anticipated objection as to increase of rates by
the statement that while all local rates in Liverpool
were 4s. 41-d. in the pound, they amounted in Birken-
head to 4. 4d., leaving only a halfpenny of difference.
This difficulty may therefore be said to be disposed of;
but the inhabitants of Birkenhead, whose interests
are identified with the prosperity of the town, are
anxious to ascertain what amount of benefit will be
conferred by the proposed amalgamation, which is not
equally attainable without it. Many of them feel, and
very naturally so, that they are sufficient in numbers,
wealth, and importance, to occupy an independent
position, to be represented in parliament---a privilege
which has been unjustly withheld from them---and to
enjoy all the corporate honours of a borough; though,
by the way, they have not used the means within their
power, by petitioning the Crown for a charter of incor-
poration, according to the provisions of the Municipal
Corporation Reform Act.
It certainly does appear an anomaly in local govern-
ment, that Salford, so little separated from Manchester,
and in the same county, should be an independent
corporation, returning its own members to the House
of Commons, and yet that Birkenhead, in another
county, under different jurisdiction in every respect,
and divided from Liverpool by broad estuary of
the Mersey, should be incorporated with the latter
town, and its identity destroyed by being merged
into its powerful neighbour. Then comes the consi-
deration of the advantages to be acquired ; for if
Birkenhead now suffers under a local taxation amount-
ing to 4s. 4d., its condition in this respect will not be
amended by joining itself to a borough which pays a
halfpenny more, with a prospect of increase should
Parliament with ruthless hand seize upon the long-
cherished town dues. These are considerations which
no doubt influence many ; nor will their objections be
rarni3voa by 0.0 antement to which we have referred.
inasmuch as the allusions to Liverpool taking the
responsibility of the township debt, which is very
large, will chiefly affect the bondholders, who now get
only two-fifths of the interest owing to them.
In Liverpool, the objections to the proposal may not
be so strong, because the effect will not be so palpa-
ble. It will be merely enlarging the boundaries of
the borough, and admitting an additional number of
Aldermen and Town Councillors into the Council
chamber ; at the same time, perhaps, gratifying that
sense of local pride which appreciates an augmentation
of the town in population and resources. The debt of
Birkenhead, supposing it to be assumed, will be but a
small item in the gigantic liabilities of Liverpool, and
make no sensible difference in the annual charge of
interest.

But great questions affecting the welfare of com-
munities, must not be discussed in the spirit of a
nation of shopkeepers, and every point of difference
weighed with sole regard to its pecuniary value. Liver-
pool has taken a wise and prudent step in the purchase
of the Birkenhead dock property, because it has given
her not only an interest in, but a direct controul over
the vast capabilities for the accommodation of ship-
ping belonging to the port ; and the construction of
the building and graving docks between Woodsid

and Tranmere Ferries was also a most judicious pro-
ceeding, because it was the first step to restore that
trade in ship-building which was lost to the port
through the want of facilities for carrying it on. Bir.
kenhead, with all her advantages in water-space for
docks, was unable to render them available for want

of sufficient capital or credit to effect their comple-
tion, and Liverpool has been called upon to supply the
defect. Her advantages in other respects, as a town-
ship, are equally unavailable from the same cause ;
and it is only her powerful neighbour who can assist
her out of the difficulty. There are many reasons, no
doubt, why the inhabitants of Birkenhead may prefer
the dignity of being an independent borough ; but her
resources are forestalled, for her debt exceeds her
power of paying the interest, and hangs upon her as
an incubus, which prevents the realisation of her
assets. In union with Liverpool, all this may be ob-

viated, and the time not far distant when her many
blank spaces will be covered with rateable property,
and her well-designed ground plan of broad streets be
filled up with the houses they were intended for.
There appears to be a kind of lurking suspicion
that, in the purchase of the Birkenhead Docks,

Liverpool only intended to buy oft' what might prove

a formidable rival in the shipping business of the

port ; but all such fears will be set at rest if
the proposed amalgamation be carried into effect.

Liverpool, as the mighty mistress of British Corn

merce, will then be seated on both sides of the

magnificent estuary, outrivalling the vaunted supe-
riority of the Metropolis. A community of interest

will banish all feelings of jealousy, and the streets of
Birkenhead be as much a part of the town of Liver-

pool as are those of Toxteth-park. There will be no

more rivalry than there is now between the North

and South End ; and as every improvement of

Birkenhead will be an improvement of Liverpool—

because the augmented receipts for rates will come

into the common fund---there will be a direct interest

in encouraging a residence in Birkenhead in preference

to the suburbs in Lancashire, which are not within
the Township boundaries.
The negotiations between the respective parties
should, therefore, be conducted on broader principles

than mere reference to a balance-sheet of the several

items which each will have to give or take. It will
be just to neither to weigh the conditions upon the

grounds of so much 'debt assumed, so much interest

to pay, so much property to acquire, or such and

such liabilities to incur.

Birkenhead will, no doubt,

gain a present advantage in the vast improvement of
her trade, in the enhanced value of property, and in

the speedy realisation of the many hopes which have
so long been in abeyance. Liverpool, on the other
hand, will gain ultimate advantages of not less value,

and worthy of achievement, even at greater cost than

[SEPTEMBER. 11, 1856.

all the bond debt of Birkenhead. She will
}fir
ore
acquired an extent of space for business purPses4
increase of population, more readily accessibled
means of the ferry-boats, than would be tbtanle
any direction on the Lancashire side of the gel)
She will, indeed, have purchased a spacious t':°i
to add to her already vast possessions, and fvyr
small cost of admitting a few more members
Council chamber. If we leave out of view, as tlid,
to be left out of view in a consideration of ttt
the money part of the question, Liverpool 41 lid
great. gainer by the amalgamation, for Birl'to
will surrender her independence, though °le„
" My poverty, but not my will, consents.

say :--

TVAV_ERT.REE LOCAL BOARD

treeTOver
THE monthly •
enialetewlasg
Mr. Chaffers in the chair. The other members PlAtlierto
Messrs. Davies, Rishton, Halhead Hill, Clarke, anui and 02...
The minutes of the last general meeting were reairug
firmed ; the only question arising out of them I?iey an
d
ence to a proposed interview between Mr. "1 4,
Marquis of Salisbury. rt to nto
The CLERK stated that there was no formal rep° pillicvt,
but that he should require a committee to be r,OOOl,
of the
night,mmissiaotng puof tbriseeert-.4
take the matter into consideration, on account 01.:et of
pearing to come within the operation of anothet
liament. At the request of Mr. Whitley, the Cnam-fa
himself met Lord Salisbury at Broad Green•lal&
after the last meeting, and pointed out to him
ments made by the erection of railing enclosing of s t tbe
His lordship said that it was put up in consequelln",o till jot
recently made for severing Mr. Finland's houses, 1313,
offensive matter thence must be lodged either °svrecefio,
on the road. If the Board would take steps to ;roolot4
accumulation of nuisances on this property, be 01,106
down the railing and turn the corner in anyrdsinieff
might require it to be done. He only objecteKtectl"
offensive matter lodged there, and he had no 0" tabs
but the improvement of the neighbourhood. 4Of
Mr. HA LHEAD inquired whether the parties 11' 410
to send the sewerage water there ? 51¢
The CLERK said that, in any case, they woula
to send surface water there ; but this would 11°t
right to send polluted matter upon his land. Plb`l
M
The CHAIRM course not.
r. ItturrosAN said t.—Of
at any step in the matter '6l JI
Mr. Finland in a very serious position. or ot
The CHAIRMAN observed that if Finland d
Mr.
else, had a nuisance, the Board was, of course, "'
an end to it.
The CLERK said that he put a question to 14°10rilib,(10P
with a view of making it a matter between 1155„:,;c1to,t)(
the parties who made the nuisance; but he decl-w,,,-3 r
He had complained to the Board, and should 0.-
remedy they might afford him.
After some discussion respecting the plans for irsti
the sewerage of the townships, Mr. RrsuTON be
tion that the plan before the board of the area t 0 see
be submitted to the Marquis of Salisbury. This "
by Mr. DAVIES, and carried unanimously. Ar
The CHAIRMAN read a letter from Mr. ill-0V
that, owing to the water and the pressure of the en ty
wall near the shop built by Mr. Leech bad. ref°
down. After a brief conversation it was &grey" °
question to the surveyor. ,sae °i`
A letter was read complaining of imperfect drepl;tatvm tt't
bury-terrace. The surveyor was called upon, sinllas ,(04j
the imperfection was the same with all the ',iv ibevhoyj''
Terrace. After some discussion, it was agreed,,°"file
of Mr. RISETON, seconded by Mr. HILL, esre"
the houses in Salisbury-terrace be drained at the odd
the owners. be'ref
An application of Mr. Chadwick, rope-maker, ?olio P
to put cast-iron gratings over the area, in front tell
ses, was agreed to. g holivgeg
A report having been made of several lareP.l6l, °
broken, it was ordered that notices should be PY"
rewards for the conviction of the offenders.
The meeting shortly afterwards broke up.

with iupt
council,
ye ai
a,r
theevsiso visit
toi
foni
membersnas dpoe adoptedhna attt
oa
tnt
hhdee a lastw selecta t e
rm.
nvie7eoti
nriknbesg
VISIT TO THE RIVINGTON WATER-WORSS'of
t
belonging to other public bodies connected with tb 9.-rfolv
to-morrow. Should the weather continue of the 5 Bt""
tious character as that we have experienced darl tecl.os,'
fortnight, a very pleasant excursion may be anticiP3o,oll6o
LIVERPOOL WORKING MEN'S CHURCH ASS° Vire eir
This excellent association having purchased the qo
Meeting-house, in Pleasant-street, it has been 1ice17,,,, o°,o
Lord Bishop of the Diocese as St. Columba's Char,farcilg
be opened on Sunday next for Divine Servicj.os 'l3unvyiee,,Yot
the forenoon will be preached by the y. • A
the Principal of St. Aidan's College,
Hunt' Collections will
evening by the Rev. Wray R. nun
hoped there will he"
it is to be
after each service, and
Oitf
attendance. c ds/ do
ir A GOOD EAR.—On .1111., 0,1
,1
A POLICEMAN WIT
veln'eflso,
police-officer 43 beard a noise like money falling;
in Redcross-street ; and diving into a dark entry f 610'00
man lying at full length, and Eliza Holmes, a Nv°?Tied,(l,t4o„'i.
character, rifling his pockets. The officer toos 0(0,',
into custody, and removed the drunken man, syle,
Parry, of the. rehoonor Enna ti) a vo.:01
Birekenhead, an.
When found he had £l6 10s. in his pockets, "a, 2,t tib
the fortunate discovery of the policeman, 11'04 1113,,,,
have been all stolen. Eliza Holmes was brOUP,,wat'or,ss.
police-court yesterday, and sent to gaol for three Trette cite;
A FROLIC.—Mary Williams, a young woman 'll
„,„art 01.
culine appearance, was brought up at the police;rebie'o,o
day, dressed in a sailor's coloured shirt, nee d beri°,oo,
pair of unmentionables. Officer 366 said he foun dair e-05
quay of the Waterloo Dock, in this guise, on San sbe
'
and apprehended her as a suspicious character. trip DI
well-known bad character, he said, and had heell,„bet
borough sessions. When asked by the bench ),erlw;:filk,
reason for adopting male attire, the woman hung 'nV'j
said she "did it for a lark." She was cautioned 7e OA
ing such a frolic in future and discharged. Ass'; te'lerci
way out of the dock, the crowd in court burst into ,0,306
jeers, and rushed after her into the street. There
tic tr
uproar in court for a short time, but the energew,ils',',;(;
the magistrate, the clerks, and the officials, wiftbeirdo
" Order, order—Silence !" together, at the top °,l 030;01
at length succeeded in restoring "order" and
"silence."
A "FRIEND" IN NEED, BUT NOT IN r),- r Gaikl tl
Evans, a well-known " duffer," was brought t UP 3t005 111 i, Ito
court yesterday, charged with stealing a ring. ototoe
afternoon, a Mr. Watson Craig was rolling abon"00"
Dennison-street, and at last fell down. A Per° sificl4,4s
assist him up, and called to the prisoner to he'Pigl'i.ir,§
prisoner said, " Oh! yes, I'll help him," and nsbiell
one of the hands of the drunken man, froin,,y'; ofoi
seen to take the ring, and then walk off. 11'4°4,
ran after him, seized him, and gave him into the "stsn
police-officer. He was taken to the North Duch he Wote't
searched, but the ring was not discovered; when tea
there about half an hour, however, he was detq,
act of getting the ring from inside the lining of li A'
was sent to gaol for three months.
wasA hBARGAINarge
charged,
thec THEPolice-court,
ole
eD
Spirit, first officer of the Hanoverian galliot
cioßalcrt.--,yeAstleexrdaialyd,elirißthusrirkieii.iicilieo‘igt:;4l
complainant, by aid of a very intelligent interpreter'sl l")
the court that on Friday evening, when going 0' vosTfd
vessel, the prisoner accosted him, and asked if hef;re,lo`,
some " good cigars." Failing in that, he then ieyifi
" cheap handkerchiefs ;" and those also being To
produced a " splendid gold chain," which he ogee 00 Op
as " a great bargain," for the prosecutor's silver
~,,toflp,
3s. One condition of the bargain was, that prusl.be ~!;!,
" not to mention it to the police." (Laughteq,. verff,
was produced in court, and proved to be of t 'Tbe
monest brass, and excessively bad workmanship. Ile Pip
trate told the prosecutor that the next time., it, ,
" bargain" he had better use a lantern, or do 1'
and discharged the prisoner. Ar fgly
NOT A VERY CREDITABLE DEFENcE.---.,,-11";e10-eo9
working man of very dissipated appearance, 0 014 d
the Police-court yesterday with stealing a half Pdb
jug from 31`Viccar's public-house, Lime-street, 'c'e,reT,,s
afternoon. Mr. Bluck, the attorney for the def,e,xle,eos,r,forp
that it had lately been held in the London rol',,cotoblib.itor
if a man was in a certain state he was not ac
stated 0 g.er.
actions. He then called a female witness, who be s'
had known the prisoner since he was a boy,, thntoter
rally "a very respectable man," and was a Ix`, ifo.f„,iff I
The climax to this character of respectabill'A three v
had been in a state of drunkenness for the la'riedreet,
and latterly of delirium tremens. Nothing 55 zu;
previously known against Crook, he was fined °
being drunk. selibe ‘,O
EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF ATTEMPTED $o A,en
Saturday afternoon a young woman jumped i.:11;,,"nt I'l, be
from the landing-stage, and was about to 61., o'loo'
Irwin, in the employ of Mr. James Aiken, er.,,;,..iP 0,0;
sprang from the Woodside steamer into the 4e" pc
her up until further assistance was obtained. ",5110 Ca-,4`tbfo
ing under great excitement, and refused to say )10, „I,f,
but after a while she stated that her name n'3o'rciee'en,
that she had recently been discharged from se Sean' opt 'Os
since then she had been in company with tlo att.co3l,iioet
had effected her ruin. This had induced beg Jo' Jo'eiste! IS' •
destruction. Yesterday the two men allude,' ei the etc
and Thomas Shone, part of the crew of the Rea, Ot`bei
Ant, were brought up at the police-court, 3Wecute' tbl
fortunate mirl, but as she declined to Pres ,041/ the
discharged.' atclibed en 00
CRICKET.-011 Thursday the return m pia.7 ,„00y ~fir
Olympus (Liverpool) and Bury Clubs wi'Mlie o !;04
ground of the former, in Prince's-park. as 0-o!).'d io!":tti
decided by the first innings, and the 015'013s 5g this
majority. The scores were, Bury Ist inning „ ;sdal
for five wickets, 53. Olympus, Ist inningSrs:`3i, DrYi6 6C'eor
number Mr. W. Clare made 41, and Mr. y. ob-lersoe
Tpt
—On Saturday the return match between ts'reieven,alu.
eleven and the Birkenhead Victoria #
irrkenhead-P
050
eluded on the ground of the latter in B
scores were Olympus Ist innings, 74 ;
.2nn_tn.s (fovea
142; Victoria, Ist innings 102 ; 2nd. se, bet:01:,
three wickets) 41, the latter thus vrit!"l7,, 80at"%,„1,71."
—A
match was also played on Saturday re foilowilotic4;
the Athenmum and Bootle Clubs, Il'inniogs •
the game being decided by the fir" „;ght ‘l,Ol,
innings 51; Athenaeum, Ist innings , ..orfPfer,,
majority 114 runs.
the pohcf_e_stini.
two loose characters, were charged at, So paTadls,jolsetie,
a watch el he e,
terday, with robbing a man of Said that stt ,ibjrsl
Saturday night. The complainant,said th‘tlf sc"-eve e
Yankee master-mariner, out of employ',t„ _,Tfecu. s ,i 0
he was " neither drunk nor sober, b tDecl4o
(Laughter.) The watch had not been iibero4 pres:or
A TRANSITION STATE.—Elizabeth
of the prisoners' companions were aroundroba that the red Ott
they were apprehended, it
had been passed to them. The -" reached t„
thing in which the word " dischar&iewe
'Z; set I'4°e tlece4
Bridewell keepers, and they at with sort' licaqois
liberty. The magistrate was engaged the doe", jet Yt, sn.
for a few moments, when, looking u
lii)ould not 11:,./f.ted °oot'.
• marked
surprised, and le " You s fficiais tbe ?is;
of the o . ts ro
go." Immediately two or three .
iyo
In the Preellc r
was E;-agistrate voi to
caught the unfortunate womannbiout
lialf au 11°01 of
Lydiate u.'coart_4, 0;
She was brought up again, in a.
afourdtsweontnitoontthhes.house of correction (the new gaol

i 5
cessiwe
pbtained,olll
the 10710
us to1;15'"`
d all °t
t° u
ers into "iit
iv, 25 °4 ,d,
f thiS ,4
will be th
wi
Birkenbe,a
!.1 she ,
sents.