The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-04 00:00:00

not. - The engagement was a sacred one, and it will be
fulfilled.

Mr. BROCKLEBA.INK thought he should state, in fair-
ness, that never, in one instance, had he seen a case
where Mr. Laird's private interest had clashed with the
interest of the Birkenhead estate. He had, upon many
occasions, afforded them valuable assistance, for his
knowledge 'of that property before it came into the
hands of the trust was very considerable—more so, per-
haps, than that of any other member of the Works
Committee. No doubt Mr. Laird had endeavoured, as
far as he could, to see that the works on the Birkenhead
side were prosecuted ; but, as he had observed himself,
there was a deliberate compact between that board and
Parliament that those works should be completed. There-
fore he saw no reason why Mr. Laird should be removed
from that committee ;. but be thought there were strong
grounds why he should be continued there.

Mr. Foßwoon said he should not have voted for Mr.
Laird being on the Works Committee at an earlier stage
of the works at Birkenhead, for he thought some one
more independent might have been placed on the com-
mittee to the advantage of the trust, but seeing that
now they must fulfil their undertakings to Birkenhead,
that they must make the property as readily available
as possible for the trade of the port ; and seeing that
Mr. Laird had valuable information for the Works
Committee in the position in which be was placed, he
thought it would be most injudicious and undesirable to
make any change on the Works Committee. Ile was
sure that Mr. Laird would allow no private interest or
personal consideration to interfere with his duty to the
trust.

Mr. ANDERSON hoped Mr. moult would withdraw his
name.

Mr. BoULT did not wish to withdraw it.

Mr. BUSHELL hoped Mr. Boult would see that his
proposition was an illogical one, because if Mr. Laird
had a great interest at Birkenhead it was perfectly clear
that what promoted the interest of Mr. Laird must
promote the interest of their estate at Birkenhead.
Nothing had occurred at the Works Committee which
could possibly place Mr. Laird's interest in antagonism
with that of the board; and he went further, Mr. Laird
had never, upon many occasions when it might seem
that he could have withheld most valuable information
—and some men, perhaps, would have withheld it—
Mr. Laird had always been the first to give every infor-
mation which he could to the advantage of the Trust.

Mr. Boult then consented to withdraw his motion.

The following committees were then appointed :

WAREHOUSE COMMITTEE.

Messrs. Arnold, Brocklebank, Evans, Littledale, Segar,
Smith, and Ilubback.

MARINE COMMITTEE.
Messrs. Lockett, Inman, Rankin, Darbyshire, Moss,
Langton, and Mondel.

DOCKS AND QUAYS COMMITTEE.
Messrs. Boult, Darbyshire, Forwood, Graves, Hut-
chison, Langton, Rounthwaite, Smith, and Lockett.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Messrs. Anderson, Bushell, Hubback, Farnworth,
Littledale, and Rankin.

MASTER PORTERAGE COMMITTEE.
Messrs. Rounthwaite, Forwood, Inman, Hutchison,
Segar, and Arnold.

THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE.

Mr. BROCKLEBANK moved the re-election of the fol-
lowing gentlemen on this committee :—"Messrs. Tobin,
Bold, Graves, Ilolme, Laird, Rankin, Shand, and Brockle-
bank.

As Mr. Graves would not be able to act this year,
from his peculiar position as Mayor, it was agreed, on
the motion of Mr. Littledale, that Mr. Smith should be
appointed in his place. Mr. Littledale said he should
also like to see Mr. liubback and Mr. Arnold on the
committee, as they had taken such great interest in the
bill which the board were promoting this year.

Mr. Bouvr—We have a bill before Parliament which
may bring us into collision with the Town Council.
Here we have our Parliamentary Committee filled with
town councillors.

Mr. ARNOLD proposed Mr. Hubback's name in the
place of Mr. Holme, seeing that they had a bill to con-
duct in Parliament, to which he found, in its progress
through the board, a majority of the members of the
proposed committee were in opposition.
The CHAIRMAN protested against the idea, that be-
cause gentlemen might individually be opposed to a
measure first brought before the board, when it was
decided to proceed with it, they should not, in their
executive capacity, give it their best support.
Mr. BROCIELEBANK also called attention to the fact
that the bill was divided into two portions. One related
to the purchase of the reversionary interest of the Cor-
poration at Birkenhead ; and on that subject, and the
value of the land, no gentleman could render them more
valuable assistance than Mr. Holme.

Considerable discussion followed ; and after it had
been agreed to retain Mr. Holme's name, on the motion
of Mr. Anderson, the standing orders were suspended,
when the committee was enlarged to nine members, by
the addition of Mr. Hubback.