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

THE DOC.K. Co3l3ll=_E.

TIIE weekly meeting of the Dock Committee was held on
Thursday last, Mr. C. Turner presiding. The other members
present were Messrs. Shand, Evans, Holden, Langsdale,
Palmer, Hubback, Smith, Rankin, Robinson, Anderson,
Mondel, Rounthwaite, Holme, Barber, Brocklebank, Little-
dale, Lockett.
The routine-business comprised the acceptance of- tenders
for refined olive oil by Mr. Clay, for Muntz's patent sheathing,
by Messrs. Bibby and Sons. A recommendation of thanks,
and a small reward to the crews of life-boats of the Point of
Ayr and Hoylake, for services rendered to the barque-Laura—
a vessel sunk on Hoyle Bank. Applications were considered,
and the requests accorded, from Messrs. Jacot, Taylor, and
Tipper, and Guion and Co., for permanent stage-berths in the
Bramley-Moore Dock. The secretary was instructed to inti-
mate to the Watch Committee that at the expiration of siz
months the head-constable's hotise will be required as a resi-
dence for the senior harbour-master. The Mersey Steel and
Iron Company accepted tenancy of land at the south end, on
the terms prescribed by the committee-.
DECREASE IN THE DOCK RATES VPON SHIPPING
AND GOODS.

Mr. RAIIKIN, chairman of the sub-committee, said this sub-

ject had been tinder deliberate consideration;• and, looking at
the table of rates that existed, they saw that the tonnage had
been paying, from the year 1818 to the year 1827; inclusive, at
the rate of 46 per cent., and goods 54 per centoof the whole
rates. In the next ten years, from 1828 to 180/, tonnage had
been paying at the rate of 45 per cent., and goods at the rate
of 55 per cent. Then, a change took place in the mode. of mea-
suring ships, which increased the tonnage very materially; and
about the same time various reductions were made upon goods,
In the next ten years, in' consequence of those changes,- from
1838 to 1847, tonnage paid. 5% per cent., and goods 4,7 i per'
cent.,that is, just changing:theposition of goods and tonnage ;-
and from 1848 to 1855 it is, still further increased, tonnage
being 55 per cent. and goods 45, per cent. The committee then
proceeded to add 10 per cent.: Vo- the rates nn tonnage, and, in
all cases 10 per cent. on goods;: but, in some instances, such
as- cotton which was reduced fully more than one-half, in the'
year 1844, when the Birkenhead. docks were established—ini
point of fact, to prevent any of the: trade of Liverpool going
over to it, cotton was reduced, as it was generally supposed>-
_ . _

very unnecesearily. We were, np to. 1846, cliarging foi
Mobile 01 per bale, and for New. Orleans, B'd. New

Yorli'ian d-Bbiton were paying Bd., and :Georgia, 7d. These
were-reduced in 1848—Mobile and New Orleans to 4id. ; New
York, Boston, and Georgia, to 4d. a bale; Maranham and
Pernambuco; whiz were 4d., were reduced: to 2d. ; East In-
dian, vklelywas sd, was reduced to 3d.;: and: Egyptian from
3d. to f.. 1& is•no..sr proposed by the comtuitten that- some-
thing lite an:tedium rate should be established upon cotton,
which will' make all American cotton 6:14 "South American
3d. ; and East Indian:7.-Id. Proceeding from this-, there is the
article of plane; that. has been 'increased, and a few other
things have been ,addeo.. These are the main., alterations in
the schedul:OS-of rates there are some minor 'alterations, of
course, but not: of sufikient importance to name; .Probably
the increase Tvilf,amount :a. about £37,000, whielf,sofaar as my
own private vie-or'extencli,ay be considered as nottequi&ite for
making good anything in the shape of deficiency, but fear the
purpose of affirdiig greater accommodation to they trade of
Liverpool, by eitlio erecting sheds, or railways, or: adding to
the docks from tiibt to 'tines;. as may be required.. It is- true,
if the rate of initrat shouldicontinne high for a seriesof years,
we may have to take some part of this £37,000 for current
expenses, but if it hordd,onll7; extend over the present and
next years, lam hopes that this additional revenne,that in
to be derived will go'for the permanent improvement; 'so we
will be less depenclintliponborrowett money than we 'are- at
the present moment It is with,tliat view I favour the idea of
a higher rate on shipping-and. goods: tau at present eniits„ so:
that we can go on with,' iinprovements without borrowing-
so much money, holiling4t'as-iny own opinion that thereduc,
tions made in 1848 wereuncalledi fbr.

A lengthened conversation took. place as to the rating of.
tonnage, particularly as that was regulated for steam-ships,.
by a clause in the Merchant Shipping Act. The Chairman,.
Mr. Smith, Mr. Rounthwaite; Afr:. Lockett, and Mr. Shand,.
took part in the conversation; after-which the motion for tile-
increased rate was unanimously agreed: te,. to come into ape,-
ration on the sth of Janatty. -
The Clumsier( said the next (Institt to,be considered was,
that relative to goods.
Mr. STIAND then farmalry moscedi three the- revised rates
upon goods should be tines on amEafter thesth of January..
Mr. RAMON secondedithe,motion..

At the request of Mr. BA.sitzp;
Mr. RAlvitiiir at ;alit stated the fipnvs,as to (cotton. In 1848
Mobile cotton sto( xl at 9,td.?; it was, reduced hr 1848 to 4id.
• It is proposed novl it shalli be 611,.whielt is 11d.. more than it
is at present, and 31d. less-than it was, seven, years ago. New
Orleans was 81d.' and was,reduced in, 1848 to. lid. • it is now
proposed it shall be 6d. Nevr, York,. Boston, acrd Georgia
cotton was Bd. and 7d. ' • in,18•49-it was• reduced to 4d., and it
isproposed now th at it shall stand, at 6d. East Indian was
5d...; it was reduce' 1 in 1828:.to 31, and it is now proposed it
shall bell. South American 'cotton Wat+ generally 3d. or 4d. ;
in• 1848, it was redi teed to adz; is, M)11 proposed it shall be
made. 3d.

Some- criscussion ensued on the relative rates of cotton, in
which Mr. Smith," Mr. Shand, the Chairman, Mr. Barber, Mr.
EfarA. Mr. Robins on, andiMt MOndel took part, after which
the motion was ai ;reed to, 1000 copies of the revised rates
were ordered to be printed; fov sale.
The, secretary w: as directed: to give the usual notice of the
new rates coming into operation on the sth of January.
A letter was rea .d from Messrs: W. and H. Brancker, asking
the committee to reconsiclEr the .rezulations adopted for the
shipment a coal in the Stanley Dock. The secretary was
desired• to inform the Messrs. - Ettaucker that the committee
could. not alter tl ose regulations:
The?.general bit siness of the committee then terminated.