The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-08-17 00:00:00

THE DOCK BOARD.

The weekly meeting of this body was held yesterday,
at the board-room in Revenue-buildings. In the
absence of the chairman, Mr. Charles Turner, Mr.
Francis Shand presided ; and the other members present
were Messrs. Smith, Derbyshire, Laird, Littledale,
Monde', Boult, Bushell, Rubback, Langton, Seger,
Moss, and Evans.

THE WORKS COMMITTEE.

From the minutes of this committee, it appeared that
a letter had been received from Mr. Hilton Halhead,
stating on behalf of a meeting of the tizaber trade, that
the rates fixed by the board for land in the vicinity of
the Canada and Huskisson Dock were considerably too
high, and requesting that a deputation might be received
ou the subject. The committee had resolved that they
could not recommend the decision of the board to be
reversed, but that the rents should remain as fixed for
twelve months. They were prepared, however, to
receive a deputation on the subject on Saturday next,
at twelve noon.

Various tenders for a supply of leather for stock were
recommended for acceptance, as also one fur a supply of
greeuheart timber.

It was 'also recommended that the tender of Messrs.
W. and G. Armstrong be accepted, to furnish the ma-
chinery required for working the chain-testing machine
at Birkenhead, at a cost of £6,985, which will admit of
arrangements being made for also testing anchors ; as
likewise to supply three hydraulic hoists for the ship-
ment of coal, and engine for working the same.
Mr. BOULT askel how long it might likely be before
this machinery could be fixed ?
Mr. SMITH said it would a work of some months; and
after some further conversation on the point, the subject
dropped.

Mr. MONDEL—Is it true these machines can alsb tes
anchors ?

The CHAIRMAN—Yes, sir, they can test anchors with
very little difficulty. -
The proceedings were then confirmed.
THE WAREHOUSE COMMITTEE.—THE LATE FIRS.

It appeared from the proceedings of the Warehouse
Committee that the late fire at the Stanley-dock Ware-
houses was still the subject of investigation. A pipe
had been found in the pocket of William Ewer, an extra
labourer employed at the warehouses, and a resolution
had been passed that no labourer should again be em-
ployed under such circumstances.
Mr. HUBBACK said, perhaps the secretary would read
a communication which had been received from the
town-clerk, enclosing certain information from the
Watch Committee as to the fire.

This consisted principally of a report from detec-
tives Laycock and Patrick, giving the result of their
inquiries in reference to a bale of cotton which had
been found on fire in the warehouse No. 13, Slate-
street, Great Howard-street, at half-past eight o'clock on
the morning of the 13th inst. The bale in question
was in the centre of the room, amid piles of other bales,
when it was taken out and extinguished in the street.
It was then discovered that the cotton within it was to
some extent saturated with oil. The cotton had been
brought from Charleston in the ship Richard the Third ;
and it was foand on examination that several of the
bales discharged from her lower hold had canvass
coverings, which were also steeped with oil, but which
had not penetrated the cotton. There was no oil on
board as a portion of the cargo. A sample of the oily
cotton had been forwarded for the inspection of the
board, and was exhibited in the room.

Mr. HUBBACK, in moving the confirmation Of the
proceedings of the Warehouse Committee, said it was,
perhaps, well to state that the committee had not been
able to discover anything further as to the origin of the
fire in the Stanley Warehouses, which was still a matter
of conjecture. This report from the Watch Committee
created an amount of suspicion. Re believed it had
been ascertained by chemists that oil and cotton placed
together would, under certain circumstances,—sash as a
very strong draught—ignite. What he would suggest
should be, that a communication be made by their
secretary to Mr. Court, of the Underwriters, and the
secretaries of the Insurance offices, with a view to induce
them to take the matter into their consideration.

The CHAIRMAN—Yes, and send copies of these reports
to them.

Mr. SMITU seconded the motion.
Mr. DARBYSITIRE said he saw the committee had
declined the application from his firm for the remission
of some extra rent, which had been charged for the
storage of a quantity of bone ash in the Birkenhead
Dock Warehouses. He thought the charge a very im-
proper one. They had had the material lying in the
Birkenhead Warehouses for two years, and had no
notion that they were being charged an extra rent, but
went on selling it in the proper season, which was in
Spring. They found, however, that from September
last they were being charged 13d. instead of Id., and he
maintained that they should have had some notice of
that. He found, on enquiry, that the rent on guano
had not been raised. It was said that was an exceptional
case ; but he said they should have no exceptional
cases made at that board. He thought that in all
cases were rents were raised, or changes made, notice
should be given to all parties interested. He wished to
ask if the Birkenhead Warehouses were full at present ?
Mr. HUBBACK said, as to Mr. Derbyshire's complaint,
that he had explained to the board last week that the
rent for guano was raised, but raised previous to the
rent being raised upon other articles. The rent upon
guano was raised in June; upon other articles, not till
September. With reference to notice being given to
parties, it was well known that the book of rates was in
process of revision ; he thought it occupied them six or
eight months; then, after the book of rates had received
the sanction of the board, it could be obtained any day
at the warehouses. The rate of bone-ash was raised, no
doubt, because it was considered by those parties able
to give them information that the previous rate of ld. a
ton was too low. As to the question asked, he believed
the warehoUses were not quite full, but sufficient guano
was on the way here to fill them.
Mr. LANGTON thought it only right that notice
should be given to parties when there was any intention
of raising the price on goods.
Mr. Bonus said it seemed the Warehouse Committee
had one measure for one party, and another for others.
They had made a contract with Messrs. Gibbs, Bright,
and Co. to take in a certain amount of guano at a cer-
tain price, but had allowed the same rent to be taken on
the old guano. Some of that might be in yet. He
would ask if there was any.

Mr. HUBBACK—No ; none.
Mr. BOULT moved that the difference of a halfp9nny
a ton be returned to Messrs. Darbyshire and Co.
The motion was not seconded, and was consequently
lost.

Mr. HUBBACK reminded Mr. Boult that the guano
stored by Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co., had been put
in under peculiar circumstances. They had spent
several hundred pounds on a shed which was useless to
the trust for purposes of revenue, so that they could
put guano in, and that feet should be remembered. As
to the Warehouse Committee having one measure for
one firm and another for another, it was very unjust to
bring such an accusation.
Mr. MoNnEL (with a sample of the oily cotton before
him) said he did not recollect anything farther being
stated, than that it had been shipped in the bale ; but from
what he saw of the sample, it was his conviction that
this had been put in the bale before it was put in the
hydraulic press in America. Now, if that had been so,
it was diabolical, as endangering especially that most
frightful of all calamities, fire at sea.
The CHAIRMAN-It has all the character of a very
nefarious act.
The proceedings were then confirmed.
THE MARINE COMMITTEE.

The proceedine:s of this committee included a report
trot the Water Bailiff as to the danger to Albert Dock
Warehouses from the proximity of the steam-tugs.
This stated that he had watched himself, and caused
watch to be kept night and day, without on any
occasion being able to discover any sparks from
their chimneys. The consumption of their own smoke
might be the reason, and the only time they were likely
to infringe so wholesome a rule would be at dark, when
all the windows and doors were closed. He had noticed,
however, that the doors were often open when nobody
was working, and suggested that they should be closed
at least during meal hours.
Mr. ARUNDEL moved the confirmation of the proceed-
ings. That was the place, opposite the Albert Dock
entrance, appointed for steam boats to lie. They lay
ou Pluckington-bank, which was not sufficiently
deep for large vessels to lie there. Steam-tugs were
essential to the traffic of the Mersey : therefore they
must have a place, and they were placed there de-
signedly and thoughtfully. It was the best place,
perhaps, till they had completed the basin on the other
side of the water, and then they might be ordered over.

The proceedings of the Marine Committee, as were
those also of the Pilotage Committee, were read and
confirmed.
THE DOCKS AND QUAYS CONIMITTEE.--rEPCK EXTENSION

AGAIN.

On the proceedings of this committee being read,

Mr. Bovyt called attention to the case of the French
man-of-war, the Brandon, engaged taking in a telegraph
cable at the Birkenhead docks. It had its full crew
and officers on board, and vet, pursuant to the rule
followed with other vessels, a policeman was sent on
board to enforce the regulation as to lights and fires.
The French Consul had seen him on the subject, and
the presence of the policeman on board was felt as an
affront to which British ships were not liable. He
(Mr. Boult) thought French ships of N 7 a r and all other
ships with their crews on board should be exempted
from such intrusion, and that the policeman should be
withdrawn. He moved that the Birkenhead Commis-
sioners be requested to withdraw the man.

A lengthy letter was then read from Messrs. ,Tio.4n
Bibby, Sons, and Co. This stated their regret to learn
that till the Great Float was opened at. tirkenhead
material change could be made. They should have
increased accommodation at once, at Liverpool, or must
transfer a considerable portion of their trade elsewhere,

as neither shippers nor consignees would consent to
have their cargoes sent to Birkenhead. They asked for
the south side of the Brainley-Moore Dock, in conjunc-
tion with the north side of the Nelson Dock, the berths
to be appropriated to them for fourteen years, and they
were willing to pay one-half the requisite outlay, &c.
Mr. DARBYSHIRE, in moving that the proceedings be
confirmed, said he sympathised very much with Messrs.
Bibby, and regretted that they could- not accommodate
them. It was an urgent case, but,it, was totally out of
place to put ships from the Bramley-Moore Dock into
the other docks. He thought Messrs. Bibby had mis-
taken the answer of that board, that when the Birkenhead
Docks were open they might see what different arrange-
ments could be made. It might be that some of the
vessels on this side might wish to go to Birkenhead, and
an entire alteration might be made in the north docks,
so far as the Collingwood and Nelson Docks were con-
cerned, which should be connected with the Stanley ;
but this could not be done without a general arrange-
ment. At the present it was totally impossible from
want of room to make a move.

The CHAIRMAN—IS it impossible to give them tem-
porary accommodation in the meantime ? From my
own knowledge, it is a business of such increasing mag-
nitude, that it is of the utmost importance to give them
room.
Mr. SMITH said the Docks and Quays Committee bad
given this subject their deepest consideration. It had
been before them from time to time, and they did not
see what more they could do. That letter was of the
greatest importance, and the committee had thought it
should be read at the board. It might lie upon the '
table, and afterwards be taken into consideration by the
board. They, as a committee, did not see how they
could give the required accommodation, till they had
more accommodation to give the trade generally. He
would suggest that it stand over for a week. As a
preliminary, gentlemen might refer to the evidence
given by Mr. Bibby, before the Master Porterage Com-
mittee. He was one of the most important witnesses.
The question had become unmanageable by the Docks
and Quays Committee, and he suggested that the board
generally should think over and take up the question.
Mr. BUSHELL hoped in the mean time Messrs. Bibby
would believe, as he was sure they must, that that Board
had every disposition to give theni the greatest possible
facilities. He held a return of dock dues for six weeks,
from a certain day in June to a day named in August,
which showed that they had increased from £61,600 to
£72,000, an increase of ten thousand and a-half in dock
dues in six weeks. This showed them that at the pre-
sent time there was more than the ordinary pressure of
trade in Liverpool. Messrs. Bibby had misunderstood
the remark that nothing more could be done until the
Birkenhead docks were opened. What was meant was '
that when the great float was opened, which would be cer-
tainly within three months ; it would give such relief at
this side as would greatly facilitate the trade of Messrs.
Bibby and other houses. He had ventured on these few
words that Messrs. Bibby might see it would be unwise
in them to take steps which might contribute to their
loss and to that of the general trade of the port. He
trusted that they would regard with something of sym-
pathy the difficulty occasioned by the pressure of which
he had spoken. •

Mr. BOULT thought Messrs. Bibby had not been
mistaken at all. They were written to to know if they
would take a part of their steamers to Birkenhead, and
they had returned a categorical answer. The. American
trade, to his knowledge, was exposed week by week,
day by day, for the year round, to loss of time, deten-
tion, and annoyance, for want or sufficient dock space.
One ship which he mentioned had to wait ten days to
get into a dock, and four days further before it could
get into a berth. It was more than patience could
stand to see the whole resources of the board absorbed
in works on the other side, which nobody would use,
and that all accommodation required here should be
absolutely denied them. He called it nothing else than
a most insufferable tyranny. It was something so
unparalleled as had never been heard of in a free
country. He believed the business of the port would
increase. He hoped anti believed that this was not an
accidental pressure. He believed We had before us an
enormous import of breadstuff's. this- winter and spring,
and how that was to be provided for he did not know.'
Mr. EvANs quite agreed with Mr. Boult as to the
enormous injustice which had originated in the corrup-
► tion of landed and other interests, such as was never
performed in Parliament before- lie did not think the
Parliamentary committee were properly dealt with, or
put in possession of the real facts of the case, or they
would never have committed so glaring an act of oppres-
sion. They who had originated the Docks to be' pre-
vented going on with them ! have .arrangements thrust
upon them, and to be denied the 'right to provide for
the necessities of the trade upon this side ! But they
were in chains and shackles ; and he held that the Par-
liamentary committee going froth this place, with parti-
cular members interested in it, he held that this injustice
was entirely derivable from them.
The CHAIRMAN—I think you are going a little out of
the way.
Mr. EVANS proceeded—He was convinced if any man
of known integrity and qualified to give the Parliamen-
tary committee a knowledge of the subject had shown
his earnestness in doing it, he was perfectly clear the
result would have been the direct opposite. He had
often urged this in the warehouse question upon the
board. He had advocated, and repeated it again, that
that board was bound to make a strong remonstrance to
Parliament, and to have the thing considered. It was
not too late yet. It was an affair affecting the com-
merce of England, and ought to have a primary consi-
deration of the legislature and of the country.
Mr. SMITH suggested that it might be well to refer
the letter to the Works Committee,, and the discussion
there might possibly lead to a result satisfactory to Mr.
Evans. Only three or four weeks ago a motion on this
subject had been rejected by the board, by a considerable
majority. He argued that the question should be re-
opened, and that the responsibility of the state of things
should be thrown upon Parliament.
After some conversation, it was agreed to refer the
letter back to the Docks and Quays Committee.

Mr. Boult's motion, in reference to the French vessel,
was then taken into consideration, and -it was left to the
secretary to arrange for the policeman's withdrawal.
The proceedings of the Committee of Master Porterage
were then read and confirmed.