The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-15 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL TOWN COUNCIL.

A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING of the Town Council was
held on Wednesday last, to take into consideration " the report
of the special committee on the supply of gas, presented -to the
Council on the 30th day of October last, the eonsideration of
which was then postponed; the reply of the directors of the
United Gas Light Company to such report ; and the further
proceedings of the special committee thereon, including
reports from Messrs. Clegg and Taunton." John Stewart,
Esq., the Mayor, presided. _ _

The original report of the committee, and the reply of the
directors of the Gas Company, which have already been pub-
lished, were taken as read.
The report of Mr. Clegg was an elaborate scientific vindi-
cation of the opinions which he had given to the committee,
" that the quality of the gas materially affects the registration
of the meter," and which the directors had called in question.
Mr. Taunton's report was the defence of the mode of testing
which he had adopted.
A letter from Mr. King, addressed to the chairman of the
committee, and replying to a part of Mr. Clegg's report, was
also read, and then came the following resolutions of the
committee, which were submitted for the approval of the
Council :

1. That it be recommended to the Council to propose to the
Gas Company that the share property of the company be con-
verted into bonds of the company, bearing a fair and equitable
rate of interest, and that the undertaking be managed by a
board of nine directors, three of whom shall be appointed by
the Council, three by the consumers of gas, and three by the
bondholders. _ _ _ .

2. That this committee be re-appointed, with instructions
to make the above proposal to the company, and to confer
with them on the terms upon which the same shall be carried
into effect, and to report thereon to the Council, and with
further instructions to recommend to the company,—(a)
That an immediate reduction be made in the price of gas. (b.)
That the borough engineer for the time being shall have
access to all departments of the company's works, with every
facility for testing the quality of the gas and ascertaining the
pressure at which it is supplied. •(e.) That the company con-
sent to the appointment of officers responsible to the Council,
to test, examine, and adjust the meters on behalf of the con-
sumers. (d.) That the powers of the auditor be extended, so
as to enable him to have access to all documents and accounts
which he may think necessary to enable him to report fully
on the financial position Of the company, and to ascertain that
all moneys are paid out of and carried to the credit of the
proper accounts.
Mr. KITCHEN, chairman of the special committee, in along
and elaborate speech, moved the adoption of the resolutions.
In the course of his observations he reviewed the various steps
which had been taken by the special committee, dwelt -at con-
siderable length on the nature and value of the reports by
Messrs. Clegg and Taunton. He alluded to the statement of
the committee that the rental of the Gas Company had ma-
terially increased, while there had been no increase in the
cost of manufacturing gas, and contended that ne reduction
in comparison with the advantages the company had enjoyed,
had been afforded to the public. In conclusion he moved
that the preceding resolutions be adopted by the Council.
Mr. A. C. STEWART seconded the motion.
The MAYOR remarked that the first resolution of the com-
mittee proposed an arrangement of very great importance,—
an arrangement which, as he understood, would involve the
conversion of the whole capital of the Gas Company into bonds,
bearing a certain rate of interest,—and he was not aware that
Mr. Kitchen had advanced any argument whatever in support
of such a proposition. He had not noticed that he had said a
single word about it.
Mr. KITCHEN said the proposal was not that the Corporation
shouldbny the Gasworks, but that the -capital of the company
should be converted into bonds, as was the case with the
capital invested in the docks. With respect to the proposed
appointment of a Meter Inspector, 'that would involve the;
Connell in no expense, as when the time arrived he should
suggest that fees should be taken, as was done now by the
Inspector of Weights and Measures; and he anticipated that
those fees would pay the salary and 'expenses of the office.
Some conversation ensued as to the precise nature of the
different propositions embodied in 'the resolutions—the kind.
of security which it was proposed to afford to the shareholders
in the Gas Company—and the precise character of the super—
vision to which the affairs of the -company were to be sub-
jected; in which several members of the Council took part.—
A vote was taken, when there appeared
For the motion—Messrs. Crosthwaite, Anderson, Woodruff,
A. C. Stewart, Sheil, W. Nicholson, Bradley, Hornby, Loving-
iston, A. Shand, Tobin, Fleming:, R. Gladstone, Kitchen,
ttiikin, and Halhead.
Against the motion—Messrs.'G. Holt, J. C. FernihattOt,
Brancker, Robertson, Pa.rnworth, Gregson, Bennett, Preston,
Parker, Robinson, Gardner, andYthe Mayor. 12.
The motion was therefore -carried. The gas-proprietors
present did not vote.
The other recommendations ,of the committee were' then
put, and agreed to stem.-eon.
A memorial from the inhi,.bitants of Newby terrace,
complaining of a naisance, and asking 1W lights,
was referred to the Health and 'Lighting Committees.
The common seal was affixed to a return of prosecutors'
:expenses, and the Council adjourned.

4LIVERPOOL POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY.

A MEETING of this Societrwas held last night at lite Royal
Institution, in Welt:at-street ; Mr. Edward Jones, the presi-
dent, in the chair.
Mr. SMITH exhibited .a newly-invented apparatutf for giving
instant alarm in ease of 'fire, which he explained' 'by a well-
eiecuted model. It may•be briefly described as an alarum
confined by a cord which-brol-e at a comparatively low tem-
perature, and thereby sedthe -alarum free, the arrangements
being varied to suit different kinds of preniises. It was
accompanied by a plan for turning water on to the fire at the
time of giving the alarm, the discharge of water -being con-
fined to the localitrof'thefire. The subject elicited a discus-
sion, in which the invention-was generally approved of.

Mr. Arthur Jackson appeared to exhibit an ,experiment
-similar to that which he .had had the pleasure <of showing
them about twelve months -since, but with this difference,
that to-night he should deteriorate the gas with about 20
feet of atmospheric air, hoping that the discussion which it
might lead to would enable• members to determine the real
cause of the increase of light. by the insertion of the platinum
wire, and which was very considerably greater, in proportion,
-.when the gas was reduced-in quality. He wished it to be
distinctly borne in mind that he did not deteriorate the gas
for the purpose of showing that it was possible to adul-
terate in that manner.—as it was quite foreign to the subject,
--...-Jsut that it was deteriorated solely for the object of the
.experiment. It had been asserted that no one would be so
foolhardy as to dare todo so. In answer to this, while gas
was burning under pressure, as it always does, he did not
think it possible for more danger to arise from this than from
ordinary gas. It was true, if some bubbles were inflated, in
a vessel containing soap-water,mith atmospheric.air and gas,
-and then fired, the explosion -would be very loud, but no one
would so set fire to a large volume of gas, whether-it-was pure
or otherwise. To set the minds of gentlemen at rest, before
the experiment was made, it was necessary to mention that it
had. already been done in the presence of Dr. Edwards, Mr.
Boult, and others, so no fear need he entertained; and, at the
suggestion of Mr. Abrahams, . he, (Mr. J.) had inserted a
number of wires in the interior -of the gas-tube, so.as to act
in the manner of wire gauze, -which did not allow -the flame
to pass through, while the gas was at liberty to -escape ;
although he had made repeated experiments without any such
precautisn. It was remarkable, he said, to see how most persons
flew to. the conclusion that the,-eause of the increase of light
was in-consequence of the platinum wire becoming red-hot.
As to the platinum accumulating. au intense heat, such was
not the-case. Although in the: interior of the flame it was
far from leing red-hot; in fact ifit could be kept quite -cold
the increase would be the same, as would be readily proved by
passing it.
,quickly through the flame, which is inerea,sed so
long as the platinum remains inserted. However paradoxical
it might; appear, it was nevertheless a positive fact,- that
although the illuminating power -was considerably reduced
with the gas thus deteriorated, when -burners of the ordinary
description „were used, it was greatly augmented when the
platinum yire was attached, eonsiderdbly more so than when
the gas was in its pure state.
The subject elicited a discussion, in,which several members
took part, and the meeting shortly afterwards adjourned.

A GREAT SENSATION AT THE CAPE.

TILE following letter from Cape Town,ls dated October 19 :
" Cape Town has: been in a great state of excitement for the
last month. It was announced that a very rich gentleman
had arrived in the ,lightning steamer, rejoicing in the well-
known name of Montefiore, as agent for the great Rothschild,
with power to invest•capital at the Cape in whatever he might
consider most advantageous. The mining and tramway
shares rose immediately, and everybody thought there was a
good time coming for the Cape at last. The bank and two
or three of the largest•houses were advised by the Rothschilds
to give their nephew, Moutefiore, unlimited credit. Although
a Jew, he gave £l5 to the Cathedral, £lO to the Synagogue,
£5 to the Wesleyans, £lO to the public library, and £lO to
the Museum—in fact, scattered his money in all directions.
There were Montefiore races,when a greater number.of horses
•started than had ever been known on the course before, and
gentlemen riders hurried from ,all quarters—myself among
the rest. Twenty-four started to ride for the Montefiore
Stakes, value £5O. Champagne was as common as Cape beer,
and the Montefiore' drove about the course in a carriage
with four outriders—the cynosure of all eyes. The ladies
called him duck,' and the gentlemen a regular brick,'
although he was only 6ft. high, wore spectacles, had deformed
legs, only half the proper complement of feet, the toes of
both having been cut off (10, he said) by a railway engine.
He gave a grand dinner—no room was large enough for so
magnificent a person—so he ordered the lower rooms of the
hotel to be knocked into one—such a dinner ! The in-
vitations, bill of fare, and programme of music were done in
gold. Over 100 sat down. His health was drunk after
dinner, to which he responded in a very neat speech, and as
the small hours advanced his delighted guests placed him in a
chair, and carried him on the shoulders round the room in
triumph, to the tune of He's a right good fellow.' One old
gentleman actually kissed him, and called him his brother.
The dinner was followed by a ball—the ball, like the dinner,
was magnificent—the room was crowded—and Mentefiore
outshone all other attractions ; dinner succeeded dinner—and
even the Cape gentlemen were shamed into giving him a
dinner, which they did to the tune of three guineas a-head,
much to their surprise. At last he announced that he had
an engagement in Ceylon, and must be off. He accordingly
took his passage, and put his traps on board; the ladies
fainted, and all expressed their grief. The vessel went to sea,
and the nephew of the Rothsehilds had not gone in her.
Hopes revived—he proposed for a young lady—was fortunately
refused; in a few hours after he was arrested and safely
lodged in 'gaol on the minor charge of debt, backed by the
graver one of forgery. I forgot to tell you, that on his arrival
at Cape Town the principal director of the bank called on
him and requested he would patronize his bank—which he
did not fail to do to the amount of £1,800! This was the
Cape career of a fearfully and wonderfully-made Jew, who I
am told has been advertised in the Ceylon papers as having
absconded; a crippled Jew, wearing spectacles, answering to
the name of Moses Solomon—no doubt the same. He was
brought np to the court on the 15th, and remanded until
letters are received frppt g.ngland about the bills."

THE NEW CUNARD STEAMER PERSIA, THE
LARGEST STEAM SHIP IN THE WORLD.

by Thursday -last, this magnificent specimen of marine
architecture made her appearance in the Mersey, at about
half-past three o'clock in the morning, after a run unpre-
cedently rapid from the Clyde. The Persia had only left the
Cloch light, near Greenock, on Wednesday afternoon, at four
minutes before five, and she completed the whole run of 203
miles within the singularly short period of ten hours and
forty-three minutes. A run from the Cloch to the Cumbraes,
a tedious and intricate navigation of 152 miles, was performed
in fifty-oue minutes, the latter point having been reached at
5 47 ; from the Cumbraes, in an hour and seven minutes, she
was abreast of Pladda, at the south end of the Isle of Arran,
and at 7 36 she made Ailsa Craig, a distance from her starting
point of 43 knots ; at 8 40, she was off Corsewall Point, and
reached the Mull of Galloway at 10 12. The Point of Ayr,
in the Isle of Man, was passed at 11 45 p.m., and at 3 40 a.m.,
on Thursday, she arrived off the Bell-buoy, a total distance of
175 knots, or 203 miles, having throughout the whole dis-
tance maintained an average speed of 19 miles an hour.
On Tuesday, the Persia, the noble iron paddle steamship just
completed by Messrs. Robert Napier and Sons for the Cunard
Company, made her first trip in sea water, subsequent to the
adjusting of her compasses, by running some 20 miles down
the Frith of Clyde, and returning in the afternoon to the
" Tail of the Bank," opposite Greenock. With from 201 b. to
211 b. of pressure upon the square inch, she easily made 18f
statute miles an hour, while the paddles. gave 174 to 18 revo-
lutions in the minute. Wednesday, however, was reserved for
the formal trial or pleasure trip, and at the same time for the
final departure of the ship from the Clyde for the Mersey,
whence she departs for New York on the 26th current. The
Messrs. Burns, of Glasgow, the resident and principal share-
holders in the Cunard Company, had invited a distinguished
party to enjoy the trip, and at half-past 8 they left by special
train for Greenock, whence they were carried to the Persia in
a 'tender, where they met with a cordial reception from Capt.
Judkins, the future commander of the ship. The party on
board mustered 220 ladies and gentlemen, including peers,
Glasgow merchants, country gentlemen, rimean heroes, &c.
The day was surpassingly lovely. The sun speedily brushed
away the morning frost, and shone out with unclouded splen-
dour, while there was scarcely a ripple on the sea. The ship
speedily proceeded on her way, and stretched down under easy
steam a few miles past 'the Cumbrae Lighthouse. With only
15 pounds of pressure and 161 revolutions, she made the dis-
tance between Cloch and Cumbrae, the usual testing ground
on the Clyde, in 68 minutes, a distance of 15 2-3 d miles. But
this trip was not by any means intended for a trial of speed,
being in every sense of the word a pleasure sail.; and an oppor-
tunity for testing the real powers of the ship being reserved
for the passage to Liverpool, for which she was to sail on re-
turning with the party. The performances of the Persia on
the Clyde excited the admiration of-all.
The Persia, as already said, is built of iron, and her engines
are constructed by Messrs. Robert Napier and Sons. She was
launched in the Clyde on the 3rd of July last, and the inter-
vening period has been fully occupied in laying her machinery,
and fitting her out as the most magnificent floating hotel and
goods transport that has ever breasted the waters.
She is the largest steam-ship afloat in the world, far exceed-
ing in -length, strength, tonnage, and-steam power the Great
Britain 'or the Himalaya, and exceeding also by no less than
1,200 tens the internal capacity of the largest of the present
splendid Cunard liners. Her chief proportions may be summed
up. as -follows :
Length from fig-are-head tatalfrail 390 feet.
Length in the water::.::.:..:... 360 „
Breadth of the hull • ,
Breadth over all.. ..
Depth , . 4, . 32 „
Burden .. „ 3600 tons.
Diameter of paddle-wheels 4O feet.
_ According to the strict government rule of admeasurement,
'her power is equal to that of •DOO horses ; according to the
Tian laid down in the Earl of Hardwicke's bill, her power is
'equal to that of 1,200 horses ; and according to James Watt's
old established rule of '33,000.1b. to the horse, she-is espected
to work up to the pitch of between 4,000 and .s,ooo.horses.
Stupendous as 'the Persia • is, the lines of'beauty have been
so well worked -oetin'the, preparation of her model, that her
appearance is singularly graceful and lightsome. Yet this
mighty fabric, so beautiful as a whole, is made'up of innu-
merable pieces of ponderous metal, welded, jointed, and
rivetted into each other With exceeding deftness. The framing
of the ship is 'very heavy. 'The 'space between each frame is
only 10 inches, and the powerful frames or ribs are themselves
10 inches deep, with'doable angle irons at the outer and inner
edges. The 'hew is constructed in a manner at once peculiar,
and affording the greateSt possible strength to-thisimportant,
part of the &lip. The framing is so placed to' the-stern, that'
the effect is that, in' the case of collision with other ships, or
with rocks or icebergs,lthe strain would fall upon the very
strongest material-within the structure, and the'Persia would
have a good chance of,safety and successfUlrresiaance, while.
ordinary Tess& would "indeed be in great peril. She is not
as some ships have been constructed of late.
The plates or outer planking of the ship, so •to speak, are laid
alternately, so that -one adds strength to the other, and they
form a whole 'of •wonderful compactness and solidity. The
keel plates arell-I6ths of an inch in thickness; at the bottom
of the ship the platesare 15-16ths an" inch in thickness;,
from this section to tine 2, load water-line they are of an inch
and above this they are 11-16ths of an inch in thickness. The
plates round the gunwale are kths of,rar inch in thickness.
The Persiadms seven water-tight compartments. The goods
are to be stowed -in two of these -cllvisions, each about 90
feet long, 16 in-breadth, and 20 feetin height. These goods'
stores, or rather tanks, are placed in the centre line of the
ship, with the' coaleellars or bunkers on each Side of them.
At the same time,' the vessel is so, constrncted,.as to have in
reality a-double bottom under these goods' chambers, so that
if the outer were' -beat in or injured, the inner would, in all
likelihood, protect the cargo dry •and intact. The chambers
are perfectly water-tight ; and in :the event ‘of accident to
the hull, these tanks would of themselves float the ship. The
liner has two engines, and eight; large tubidar boilers and
two funnels ; and,, we need only -speak of her machinery in
general,- which is all ready, as being first-class. The firing
space for the boilers is placed in the fore and aft line,
instead of across the ship, as is usually the case with smaller
vessels.

She has separate'sleeping accommodation for 260-passengers,
disposedalong what may he called the main ,deck, lying im-
mediately above the-goods and coal stores. These cabins have
each 8 feet 6 inches Of head room, and, coupled with the ex-
cellent system of ventilation introduced into all the Cunard
liners, we need scarcely say that they will be, alike pleasant,
airy, and healthful. Exclusive of the wholesome accommoda-
tion for-the officers and engineers, -there are in the forward
part of 'the ship about 420 berthsfor the sailing crew, firemen,
and stokers. The total number of-persons employed in work-
ing the ship, from the captain downwards, is 160. Above the
main ded: there is a 'deck-house covered in, the roof of which
affords a promenade 'from stem to stern. It contains the
main dining saloon, about 60 feet 'in length by -20 feet in
width, and 8 feet in height. It is copiously lighted from the
sides by plates of glass placed in the alternate panels. In
front is that important adjunct, the pantry, which has about
300 square feet of area ; and before the funnels is the kitchen,
of equal size, with. its -cooking ranges, exceeding most and
equalling, any of the culinary establishments of the most ex-
tensive and noted. hotels:in the kingdom. But we have not
space to enter further into detail than to say, that on this deck
and belowit are also to be found the bakery, the butcher's
shambles, 'the scullery, the cowhouse, the carpenter's work-
shop, the-lamphonse, the doctor's shop, the icehouses, ..the
bathrooms, and no fewer than 20 water-closets.
The weight of the iron in the Persia, when launched, was
2,200 tons. When the engines are on board, and fully loaded,
the weight of the immense mass will be -6;400 tons, at which
time she Will-draw 23 feet of-water. Her coal cellars are con-
structed to receive 1,400 tons•of coal—an staple supply to carry
her on her voyage across the Atlantic as fast as she can burn
them. She •has also accommodation foraboat 1,200 tons mea-
surement of goods. This may be considered small when the'
extraordinary capacity of the Persia is considered ; but it must
be remembered that her main design is that of a floating hotel,
and that the goods of the liners of the British and North
American Royal Mail Steam-ship Company are principally
those by which the manufacturing • ingenuity and refinement
of the East minister to the comfort and luxury of the West.