The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-08-08 00:00:00

,
BIRKEN#BAD COMiIISSfONERS.

The monthly meeting of thia body toas held' yesterday
doming, at the cominissioners' offices, Hamiffoff-velare,
the chair being occupied by Mr. Laird. There were
also present Messrs. Aspinall, Baylis, Bradley, Barnett,
M‘Gill, ll3ilneg, Gough; Graham, Evans, Whittle, Har-
rison, 'Hind, Cook, lisle! Peek, Willoughby and Gil-
bertson.

LIMITING AND WATCH CONL‘Critit,

The proceedings of this committee having been read,
_ _

Mr. COOK asked if any notice had been taken by the
committee of the assault committed by Inspector Can-
ning; Mid if soi why the fact was got entered upon the
minutes.

• Mr. WILLOUORBY „explained that the committee
thought. the magistrates had dealt tot, severely with
Mr. Ganuing ; and as they only reprimanded him and
cautioned him as to his future conduct, they did not
think it necessary to enter it upon the minutes.
After some conversation,

The Ca&IRMAN said that the subject had been con-
sidefed by the committee, and that being the case some
note olght to Irave been wade on the minutes of that
fad. •

npayrFi
The proceedings of this committee, from rthich it ap-
peared that the deaths in the township during the last
month were 39, were read and confirm Pd.

ROAD' AND ThIPROVEI,IEN't COMMITTEE.
The proceedings of this tonimittee having been read,
Mr. HARRXSO called attetitiori to tile coarse' of the
new tramway laid down in Conway-street, and said that

if that was to be the sort of a curve which was to be
placed in other parts of the township they would be very
dangerotis.

The CHAIRMAN called attention to the resolution of
the committee to proceed with the formation of Field-
street, Brassey-street, and Queensbury-streat, and asked
whether the owners had paid the amount about to be.
expended.
Mr. Govan replied that Field-street was in a very
bad condition, and the committee had thought it desir-
able to proceed at once with the formation of that street.
With regard to the others, it was not necessary that
they should adopt the streets although they formed
them, and the owners were quite willing to pay the
eltpeiise.
The CuAtuNfiri am riot think the board should spend'
one penny upon streets that were tidt to be adopted.
Mr. GOUGH said there was every probability of the
money being paid immediately.
Mr. RAE thought the same rule should be applied in
all cases, and said that in the case of Westbourne-street
the commissioners bad refused to proceed with the for-
nlation of the street until the money was deposited in
the bank, and d 011ie. Ought to be done in the present
instance.

After some conversation as to the nuisance dattsed by
the sewer in Palm Grove, which Mr. Bradley said had
been effectually remedied.
The CHAIRMAN said he believed there was a resolu-

tion formerly passed that no streets should be formed
until the owners of the land had agreed to pay the
money, and of course the committee could, not proceed
in the fate tsf that resolution.
Mr. Rae moved that the prOdeeclings be confirmed,
except that part relating to the formation cif Brassey
and Queensbury-streets, but on the Chairman agreeing
that the work should not be proceeded with until the
owners had given security for the payment of the money,
the motion was withdrawn, and the proceedings were
then confirmed.
The proceedings of the Finance Committee were also
read dud approved of.
*BRAY COMMITTEE:
The ferry accdurfts shouted that the receipts for
July, 1860, were £2;799 9s fill, add for July; 1859,
£2,729 lOs 9d; that the receipts from April 34 to July
31 were, in 1860,18,389 9s Bd, and in 1859 £8,634 5s 4d
and that the expenditure during the latter period was,
in 1860, £5,726 17s 7d, and 1859 £5,868 Os 6d.
The CuAtiittAx said that at the last meeting some
statements were made in regard to the position of the
ferries. He was unfortunately absent at that meeting,
and some statements were made by Mr. Willoughby, for
what object he (the chairman) did not know, but it
appeared to him with a view 'to damage the property of
the township as much as possible. Since he returned
home he had gone into the accounts of the feiries for
the last ten years With the manager of the ferries and
with the treasurer. In i 851) they Went to Parliament in
order to rectify some mistakes which had occurred in
previous acts, and they came to an arrangement with Mr.
Price by which they charged the ferry with £103,000,
£59,000 being for land, and £44,000 being the amount
due to him. The actual cost of the ferries, including
the boats, was -about £70,000 or £BO,OOO. - Although
the amontit was very much larger, still he Weald base
his statemefit oil the sum of £103,000. He had con-
densed his statement into as small a compass as he could,
but he was prepared with the details if any gentleman
called his statement in question. The result was as follows:
In April 1849 there was in hand £495 ss. 3d; ; and the
profits, after paying ordinary expenses from that time
up till the 24th of April last, was £101,991 Bs. 3d.,
making a total of £102,485 13s. 6d. The next point
was, how had this money been expended ? He feared
that at that time, in Consequence of the pressure which
had taken place at Birkenhead for some years, and in
consequence of their having had to reduce the rate from
2d. to Id., there was a deficiency the first year or two,
as the receipts fell off; but he found that since 1849
they had paid off £4;703 2s. Ild. of debts duo before
April, 1849. They had expended in hew boats
£17,398 13s. ld., and they had now in the bank .
£7,734 4s. Bd. for new boats and other contingencies,
and deducting from this £1,480, which - they had
received by the sale of old steamers and flats, leaving
the amount expended £23,659 17s. 9d. They had
spent on the committee-room, manager's office, in
repairing the river wall, &c., £1,568 136.13 d ; they
had handed over to the township £25,400; and they
had paid interest to Mr. Price's trustees amount-
ing to £47,161 19s. 7d., making the total amount.
£102,486 13s. 6d., which balanced with the amount
of cash in hand in April 1849, and the actual pro-
fits over expenses, from that time to this. (Hear,
hear.) These statements had been verified by the trea-
surer and by the manager of the ferry; and he did say
that any gentleman who would attempt to damage the
township by stating that the ferry had not paid its way,
wai entirely in ignorance ; and further, that state-
ment had been got from the township accounts, which
every gentleman who sat there year after year passed
and approved. The statement must be considered highly
satisfactory. Their stock was £23,682 in boats; they _
had made improvements in their buildings ; they had
benefited the township to the extent of £25,000 ; and
they had paid all their old debts and all their interest
regularly. He thought it only (tue to the commission-
ers, to the township generally, to the ratepayers, and to
the bondholders, to make that statement, which could
not be impugned ; and be did think that they should
not have attacks made unless the gentlemen who made
them were prepared to verity their statements.
Mr. WILLOUGHBY expressed regret that the chairman
should' have again alluded to what took place at that
board two months ago.
The CHAIRMAN said the statement was made at the
previous meeting, and therefore his reply might be con-
sidered out of the usual course ; but as he was absent when
so serious a charge was made against the township, and
such ad 'attempt made to damage it, perhaps ho was
justified. Mr. Willoughby had twice made the state-
ment, and he wished to !hew to the public what the
state of the ferry accounts was.
Mr. Virlia,ovonev denied that he had any intention
to injure the property of the township, and said he was
no advocate for falsified accounts. He was not sorry
that he had made the remarks he had, because it had
induced the chairman to bring before the board a state-
ment of the position of the ferry accounts which, he
had never had before for the last seven.
believed, they

years.
The CHAIRMAN said the statement he had read was
based upon the audited accounts which year by year
came before the board.
Mr. WILLOUGHBY said that he bad considered that
rates were not laid in a proper way, and that a
portion of them were applied to the carrying out of the
ferry arrangements, which, according to the Act of
Parliament, should be altered at the time the rate was
levied. He had taken all the accounts, and the only
conclusion he could come to was, that a considerable
portion of the rates mere applied to the ferry, instead of
the ferry contributing to the reduction of the township
rates. The question was discussed at the hoard, other
gentlemen disagreed with him, the rates were laid in
the usual way, and there the matter ended.
Mr. HARRISON thought Mr. Willoughby had not
examined the accounts brought before the board every
year, or he would not have made the statement he did.
The proceedings were then confirmed. •

THE -STREET RAILWAYS•

This committee recommended that in compliance with
a memorial from the inhabitants of Hamilton-street,
Market-street, &c., the return line should be laid along
Hamilton-street, Bridge-street, and Chester-street, and,
having considered a memorial from the inhabitants of
Oxton, they further recommended that Mr. Train should
be requested to extend his line to that place.
After remarks from several of the members, it was
resolved to confirm the former part of the proceedings,
but to defer the latter part for future consideration.
The proceedings of the Gas and Water Committee,
and of the Library Committee, were read and confirmed.
THE NEW CEMETERY.

The CHAIRMAN said he had been asked what was the
real position of the Burial Board question. Sufficient
took place twelve months ago to show that if the board
did not take the matter up, they would have
an annual fight, which would be a disgrace to the
place and a discredit. upon all parties. It was decided
by tite ratepayers that the Commissioners should be
formed into a Burial Board. It was prophesied by many
parties,that they never would accomplish their object ;
but by going on steadily and quietly they were appointed
by the proper authorities a Burial Board, to act
for that townehip and Claughton. One objection

at. that time Was that if they had not carried out
the through the Vestry they would only 'have
power to act for Birkenhead, and. they could not have
given the Claughton people the benefit of the cemetery
gt s 1: That diffituity was therefore got over, and the
next point was to carry out blie. act of Parliament. On
going fully into the matter Mr. Wahl suggested a doubt
whether the act gave sitffieient power to enable them
to receive the money without going to the Vestry, and
they saw at once that any attempt to raise the money
thrOugh the Vestry would be a mere repetition of the
scene which took place in the township some time ago.
He, Mr. Walt:, and Mr. Tollemache, a gentleman to
whom that township was so much indebted, applied to
the Home-office, and the result of Mr. Tollemache's
exertions was that the Government, at their own
expense, brought in a bill which, within the last few
days, had become law, by which they and similar bodies
were empowered to levy and collect the rates without
the most remote chance at litigation. They hoped to
do something in the matter by the end of September,
and as long as he was a member of that board be would
endeavour to carry out the work to the satisfaction of
Churchmen, Roman Catholics, and Dissenters.

THE HOUR OF MEETING.

Dr. BAY Lis moved that the hour of meeting be four
o'clock in the afternoon instead of nine in the morning,
as at present ; but the board, by the casting vote of the
Chairman, resolved to retain the present hour of meeting.
The board then adjourned. .

MERCANTILE MARINE SERVICE
ASSOCIATION.

The usual monthly meeting of the subscribers to this
association was held yesterday at the offices, 20, Water-
street, Captain Sproule presiding, and there was a very
large attendance of the subscribers present.
4i the absence of the secretary, the chairman read
the following monthly report:—

" The council has now to report to the members and
associates the proceedings which have taken place since
the last meeting.
"The committee for the management of the school
frigate Conway have made their annual report to the
council, and copies of it have been placed in the rooms
for the use of the members. The council has observed
with•pleasure the success which has attended the estab-
lishment of the school ship, and it has given its warmest
thanks to the committee of management for the mode
in which they have organised and conducted the insti-
tution,ltud for the admirable state of efficiency to which
it has been brought as a naval school. It may be men-
tioned, in connection with this subject, that Captain
John Clint, the late chairman of this association, and
one of the most zealous promoters of the Conway,
having intimated his desire to retire from the active
management of the ship, the council requested the com-
mittee, in recognition of Captain Clint's valuable ser-
vices to the association and the ship, to add his name to
their list of honorary members. This the committee
have done.

"The following gentlemen form that portion of the
committee of management of the school ship for the
current year, which is nominated by this Council, viz. :
—Captain James Anderson, Captain William Ballantine,
Captain James Brown, Captain W. 0. Campbell, Captain
Joseph Cornforth, Captain C. H. E. Judkins, Captain
D. ti. Mohan, Captain C. Semple, Captain Walter
Paton, ' Captain Benjamin Sproule, Captain Jcseph
Thompson, and Captain lienry J. Ward.

" A member of the Council having brought under its
notice the injustice frequently done and hardships
inflicted on the service from the constant arrest of ships,
masters, and officers, because small quantities of tobacco
are found on board, has submitted a statement to the
Beard of Trade, asking that steps may be taken, in the
revision_ of the Merchant Shipping Act., to prevent, as is
constantly the case, vessels of the very largest size, and
even mail steeniers, owned in this country, from being
seized and delayed for trivial evasions of the revenue
laws, committed on board without the knowledge or
sanction of the owners, masters, or officers. It
has, in connection with this subject, brought under
the attention of the Board of Trade a few of the
eases which have recently occurred, and particu-
larly the case of Captain Chivers, of the ship
Onward, who was arrested last month, and brought
before the magistrates, because a small quantity of
tobacco was found in his cabin, the tobacco being in-
cluded in the ship's manifest, and having been actually
reported at the Custom-house some time previously. In
order that the matter may be properly before the Govern-
ment, the council have requested the members for the
borough to move in the House of Commons for a return
' of the number of ships so seized, the number of masters
and officers arrested, the amount of tobacco for which
such, seizure and arrest has respectively been made, and
the particulars attending such seizure and arrest, in-
cluding .therein the period of detention, the amount Of
Ifine, and the length of imprisonment.
The council anticipates this return will show a most
extraordinary result, and one which will very probably
lead to the improvement of the Merchant Shipping Act
in this respect.
"The question of the command of the naval reserves
by merchant officers has also engaged the attention of
the council, which, deeply impressed with the national
importance of forming and maintaining a competent
naval reserve, and inspired with sentiments of the pro-
foundest loyalty and regard for the Queen and country,
-has to urge upon the officers of the mercantile marine the
duty of qualifying themselves to command the force.
council has had a conference upon the subject
with the committee of the Shipowners' Association, who
heartily concur in the movement, and it is about to enter
into communications with the Admiralty to ascertain in
what manner the services of merchant officers can be
,rendered available, and will use its best endeavotirs for
getting the service recognised as a body, and some pro-
per and substantive rank given to such officers as duly
qualify themselves for it.
"During the past month thirteen new members have
joined the association, and the receipts for donations and
suberiptions have been £3O 19s. ed.
" Very little progress has therefore yet been made in
getting in the large amount of arrears, nearly £l,OOO,
which was last month mentioned to be outstanding;
but the Council has now appointed a collector, and
trusts that his efforts will soon succeed in reducing the
arrears. The Council must, however, remind members
that it is very difficult for the collector either to meet
them, or to know when they are in port ; and would
urge them, as they value the success of their institution,
themselves to bear the matter in mind on their arrival
in port. If the arrears could all he collected they might
form the foundation of a fund, the interest of` which
would be available to the Council for many charitable
and useful purposes."

In moving the adoption of the report the Chairman
said he had a few words to offer on one topic alluded to
in the report, and that was in reference to the allusion
that had been made with regard to the naval reserve, by
which he (the chairman) thought every person con-
fleeted with the mercantile marine had the power of

lifting themselves in the eyes of the country. They
had reason to know that the Admiralty would come for-
, ward and render them assistance, and therefore they
would have the power to raise themselves, not only in
the eyes of the navy, but give themselves a rank
they had never held before. At present he did not know
-much about the details, but at the next meeting more
particulars would be ascertained, and placed before that
meeting. With regard to the other topic—the deten-
tion of the ships through smuggling small quantities of
tobacco—in some instance in which the masters of ves-
sels had been collared and dragged through the streets, a
report would be prepared, and he thought that great
surprise would be evinced when the delay and number
of these cases were made known.

Captain MORTON had great pleasure in seconding the
adoption of the report, and said he fully concurred in
every word that the chairman had said in reference io
the naval reserve. He was quite sure all connected
with the association would feel a deep interest in the
question, and that every member of the merchant ser-
vice would come forward and join such a reserve, and
thus do their duty to their Queen and country, when-
ever they might be called upon to do so,
'Captain WARD said he thought that part of the report

which deferred to the naval service one of the greatest .
importance to them all as shipping proprietors,—n.ot. to
them only, but to the nation at large. For years there
had been a great difference of opinion on the subject 1
of a naval service, but it was now found, for the success
and safety of the country was the great question, the
objections had been removed, as an invasion was antici-
pated, not alone by, him, but by others, even by Lord
Palmerston ; and the formation of a naval reserve was
deemed desirable. They all knew the popularity that
had attended the present volunteer movement,—it was
a national movement, and he did trust that the navel
reserve movement would meet with the same success
as the former had attained, and that every person con-
nected with the marine service on shore would come for-
ward and assist to drill the men. He did think that if
there ever was a time when such a force was required
it was at the present day. He was aware that he had
been called an alarmist; but others had also become
alarmed ; and they might depend that., ere long,
tha whole of England would also become alarmed,
and that it would be admitted that the formation of a
tnavaleeto nreserve
force
country.would
He he the greatest h
tat pnssihk,le pro-
, every
retired
officer of a merchant ship on shore would come forward
in some way or other and make himself useful in im-
parting instruction to others in the formation of such a
force, which he had not doubt would be for the honour
and safety of the country. He might tell them that he
had already performed his duty, rl A
an- joined a : corll
He had become a soldier ; but if the naval reserve had.'
been then formed he should never have left
off being a
sailor to become a soldier.
The report was then unanimously adopted.
The CHAIRMAN announced that a captain of a mer-
chant ship had himself been at the Admiralty, but what
transpired he did not know ; but they did know that on
the next day he went on board the Excellent, no doubt
to receive instructions. From that he felt sure that the
Admiralty would offer them every assistance.
"Pere being no other business the meeting separated.

GRAND REVIEW OF THE LANCASHIRE
AND CHESHIRE VOLUNTEERS AT
NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS, ON SATURDAY

One of the veatest and granciest assemblages, as yct,
of the volunteer force in this district will be that which

is to take place at Newton on Saturday. Liverpool
will be efficiently represented on the interesting occa-
sion. and all the manufacturing towns which encircle
Cottonopolis contribute their quota, to the display. -;
On reference to our advertising columns the par-

ticulars will be found as to the prices of tickets for
admission to the Grand Stands, and charges for carriages
and horses on the course. A limited number of tickets

(only twenty) for carriages in front of the 2s. 6d. stands has
been issued ; of these, a few have been sent here, and
can be obtained from Mr: Mayer, Lord-street. A plan
of the ground has been issued, with disposition of the
troops to take part in the review, containing also a
detailed list of the troops, their brigades, commanding
officers, battalion commanders; the respective head-
quarters of each company or regiment, approximate
strength of each brigade, and also a programme of the
movements of the review. It is a complete vale mecum,
and will greatly assist the spectator and facilitate the
proper understanding of the review. The whole is con-
tained in a folded sheet of card-board, and the style in
which it has been got up is very superior, and reflects
the highest credit for its lucid arrangement and skill in
execution.

.llp to the first of this month, the number of troops
estimated to take part in the review amounted to 8,500
or 9,000 men, including all ranks; and on the field
there will be about 9,700 men.
The greatest interest is excited in Manchester, the
neighbouring towns in Lancashire, and Cheshire ; and
the review is regarded by all parties with anticipations
of the greatest pleasure and delight. The present state
of the weather looks threatening and foreboding, to damp
the ardour of the troops and exultation of the spectators,
especially as far as regards that portion of the com-
munity is concerned—" the fairest of the fair"—with-
out whose presence even military reviews, with "all
their pomp and circumstance," or any other assemblies
of men only, are and would be, after all, but "stale,
fiat, and unprofitable" affairs. We are assured, on good
authority, that the ladies, in compliment to, and to prove
their high appreciation of, our gallant Volunteers, have
determined to muster in "great force," and in "full
dress" parade order ; and we may anticipate beholding
such a brilliant display of rank, beauty, and fashion as
was never before witnessed on Newton Race-course, even
in its gayest, best, and palmiest days of yore.
We are requested to amend an error which occurred
in the first lists printed of the troops and commanders
to be present at the review. The name of Lieut.-Colonel
Bourne, as Commander of Artillery, was inadvertently
omitted ; this is no xr corrected in the cards.

The following distribution of those Volunteer Corps,
which will take part in the review on the 11th instant,
is approved, subject to such subsequent modifications as
Lieutenant-General Sir G. Wetherall, K.C.8,, K.H.,
may think fit to adopt.