The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-07-17 00:00:00

THE NEW SHIP-11IIILDING YARDS AT BIRKENHEAD.--Mr.
John Laird has already commenced active operations at his
new ship-building yard at Birkenhead, between the Woodside
and Monks' Ferries. On Thursday he laid the keel to a small
vessel, which was in " frame" the following day, and at which
a gang of men were energetically at work. Mr. Laird's yard
is more advanced than the others, but in a few months the
whole of the works will be completed, and will form a most
interesting scene of industry.
THE NEW COLLECTOR OF THE CITSTOMS.—SamneI Price
Edwards, Esq., late collector of the Customs at Dublin, has
been appointed collector in the port of Liverpool, in the place
of Elias Arnaud, Esq., who retires into private life, after hold-
ing the responsible office of collector in this port for the long
period of thirty-two years. We can only hope that the new
collector may discharge his duties in the same courteous and
liberal spirit as his predecessor, and so earn the same feelings
of public respect which will accompany Mr. Arnaud into bis
honourable retirement.

How GOLD WATCHES Go AT THE RACES.—During the
three days of the races last week, several gentlemen, more
adventurous than prudent, were relieved of their gold watches,
while enjoying the "sports of the turf." We have heard Of
two having been taken on Wednesday, and four upon Thurs-
day. On the latter day a sagacious gentleman went into a
booth and agreed to play a game at cards for £5. He pru-
dently placed his watch on the table to note time. When
the game was up the watch had disappeaFed, along with his
companion. In an hour or two afterwards the owner of the
watch met the individual who had taken it, and charged
him with the robbery. He entreated the owner not to expose
him, but to let them go into a booth close by, and be would
give it up. Here, however, the fellow stated that he had not
got the watch on him, but he would make a purchase of it,
and gave the accuser £lO. The owner refused this, however,
and sent out for a policeman. In the meantime a number of
the sharper's friends crowded round the booth, and jostled so
that he effected his escape.—ln another case, where a gentle-
man reported that he had lost his watch, it was found by a
police-officer on the ground close by.
DISGRA.CEFITL TREATMENT OF TOWN MISSIONARIES.—
There are some men who have not the slightest degree of
reverence or respect for those who labour m the cause of
religion, but in a most disgraceful manner insult and annoy
them. On Friday, on the racecourse at Aintree, an occur-
rence took place which ought to draw down on those who
committed the outrage condign punishment for their improper
behaviour, Several of the Liverpool town missionaries, during
the first two days of the races, had taken advantage of the
immense concourse of people to circulate tracts, and to make
remarks entirely uncontroversial in tendency. On Friday
morning, at eleven o'clock, they were again pursuing their
labours, when some parties, who bore the appearance of
offidals on the course, induced the police-officiers to attempt
to remove them by force. The missionaries very properly
refused to go, and the police did not interfere further 'in 'the
matter. About two o'clock,however, a gang of men, who had
no doubt been organised for the purpose, fell upon the mis-
sionaries, threw two of them over the rails of the course,
knocked a third with a stone, and cut another on the
temple very severely. The proceedings of the missionaries
were of the most unobnoxious character possible.
MAJOR GREW AND TEE ORANGEMEN.—WiIIiam Harkness
and James Hampton were brought up at the Police-court, on
Friday, under the following circumstances,: dilicerLeahy
stated that he was on duty the previous dayin Wavertree-road,
when he observed the prisoner Harkness coming over the
bridge; be had an orange flag in his hand and was wearing
an orange sash; they took him into custody fearing a breach
of the peace would be committed. In Paddingiton a mob col-
lected, and he was assaulted; the prisoner Hampton was in the
mob, and he Attempted to rescue the other prisoner.—Major
Greig was in :attendance in court, and -said he was much
pleased to bear testimony to the geed•conduct of the Orange-
men on the previous day. He had had 'Communications with
the officers of 'the Orange Lodges, andle was assured by them
that every measure would be taken on their parts to preserve
the peace Of tie town, and he had been informed that very
stringent=resolutions had been passedin'the lodges, with heavy
fines attached, to any one offending. He was glad to say 'it
had saved his men from long and harassing duties, which they
wouldhave had to undergo hadit:not been for such prestu-
tions. Under these circumstances,'hntwould recommend 'the
prisoners to the merciful consideratioa of the bench, as hedid
not wish to press the charge •against them.—Mr. Mansfield
said lt'was evident there was no disposition on the part'of the
authorities to interfere with them, so long as they conducted
themsilves in a proper manner.; but they must be well aware
thatit.was necessary for their own-safety, as well •las 'that of
others, that the quiet of the town should not be disturbed.

LIVELIXOOL AND BIJOU/MEI:AD DOCK BILLS.—The select
committee appointed by the House of Lords to try the merits
of the arkenhead and Liverpool Docks (Trust Property of
Birkenhead Dock Trustees) Bill, and the Liverpool Docks
Bill,• met in the Painted Chaniber of the House of Lords, on
Wednesday, the Marquis of 'Winchester in the ,thair. The
other members of the committee were the Earl of Pontefract,
Lord. Colchester, Lord Faveraham, and Lord .Portman. Mr.
Serjeant Wrangham opened the case for the first bill, which
he explained to the committee as having been mach considered
in the House of Commons. The object of the balms to enable
the docks at Birkenhead and Liverpool to be 'united under
onegeneral management, a, meastre which wotild secure great
public advantages in more respects than one. The learned
sergeant went at length ,into the arrangement which has
been =made for paying off Ihe creditors of the Birkenhead
property.—Mr. Ewart, the .tx-Depnty-Chainnan of the Bir-
kenhead Docks, Mr. Tollemache, M.P. for South Cheshire,
and '4Daptain. Evans, Acting Conservator of the Mersey,
gave evidence in support of the amalgamation, believing that
it would greatly benefit the trade and commerce of the country
generally, and Liverpool, Lancashire, and Cheshire in particu-
lar.—:Evidence was then put in as to the financial condition Of
the Birkenhead Dock Trust and the Birkenhead Dock Com-
pany. This evidence was called for by Mr. James, Q.C., who,
with other learned counsel, appeared for the opponents- of the
bill ; but similar evidence•was given over and over again in
the Commons, and, therefore, it is unnecessary to repeat it.
The opposition came from Messrs. Gandy, Bibby and others,
who object to the arrangement which gives one set a creditors
a preference over the others. Mr. Edward James, Q.C., Mr.
Johnson., and Mr. Forshaw, were heard on behalf of the oppo-
nonts.—The case being closed for the promoters of the bill,
Mr.. Johnson addressed the -committee for Mr. Gandy, con-
tending that the bargain for-the transfer of Birkenhead• was
.very bad one, and that his,elient ought to be relieved from
its obligations. This closed-the proceedings, as no witnesses
were called by the opposers of the bill ; and Mr. James, %Who
appeared for Mr. Lawton, did not address,the committee.