The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-07-06 00:00:00

MIGCELLANEOUS.

A letter was read from Mr. C. E. Rawlins, complain-
ing of the deterioration, caused by the Dock works, in
the value of five houses which he had, fronting the river.
at Seacombe. They formerly realised £240 per annum,
but now brought in only £140; so that his loss since

1845 had amounted to £1,500.
The CHAIRMAN said the solicitor had answered the
letter. They were sorry for Mr. Rawlins's loss, but
were not answerable for it.

An application was read from Mr. Leonard Simpson,
warehouse keeper, Albert Dock, for an increase of wages.
Referred to the Warehouse Committee.
A letter was read from Messrs. George Forrester and
Co., stating that they had paid, but only under protest,
153 in dock dues on the Egyptian frigate. They be-
lieved it should be exempt, the same as ships in her
Majesty's service.—The Chairman said that was a total
misunderstanding.
A letter was read from the secretary of the Birken-
head Railway Company, asking to take temporarily into
their service Mr. J. Smith, one of the book-keepers of
the board, to insure the proper warehousing of cotton at
Birkenhead.--The Chairman saying it was impossible to
serve two masters, the application was declined.

A letter was read from Captain Melly, asking that on
occasion of the review on the 14th, at Aintree, a half-
holiday be granted to volunteers in the employ of the
trust.

The CHAIRMAN said their first business should be to
see that their docks were efficiently worked, and in all
cases the men must get the permission of the heads of
departments before they go.
Mr. GRAVES thought they should do all they could.
It was entirely an exceptional matter, not likely to
occur again.

THE MASTER PORTERAGE OF STEAM VESSELS.

Mr. ARNOLD then rose to bring forward two motions
of which he had given notice; but first asked if he
could add to one of them that in measuring grain the
operation should commence on the quay, and not on
board the vessel ? It was the custom to measure it in
the hold of the ship, at the expense of the consignee of
the grain, and it had to be measured again on the quay.
The CHAIRMAN said the master porter, by law, could
only act on the quay. His going on board was only a
matter of arrangement between the parties.
Mr. ARNOLD then moved, "That, as regards the car-
goes of all steam-ships, so much of the bye-laws for
master porterage as directs that the consignee paying
the largest amount of freight shall be master porter, be
repealed ; and that. the owner or consignee of any
steam-ship be the master porter for the cargo of
such-ves4el; if duly qualified to act as' master porter."
The present system, there was no doubt, operated as a
hindrance to the steam trade. It had been remarked
at that board and out-of-doors that they desired to give
an advantage to steam-ships over sailing vessels ; but
there was this difference. A sailing ship discharges her
crew, and gets rid of expense ; but steam-ships cannot.
Coals are to be got, the engines must be kept in order,
and all the staff has to be retained.
Mr. SEGAR seconded the motion, and

Mr. ARNOLD added to the resolution, "on and after
the Ist of August next."
Mr. Foiwoon believed that tho chairman of the
committee would endeavour to carry out the whole of
the report, as to master-porterage, in its integrity ;
otherwise he should have moved an amendment on the
motion. If steamships required quicker despatch, they
made more frequent voyages ; and like justice would
have-to be done to sailing vessels. They handed over
to steam shipowners the weighing and manipulation of
cargoes—a thing never recognised in any port which he
had heard of. —.. . .
The motion was then put and carried,
Mr. ARNOLD next moved :—" That the schedule of
rates, and the increase therein proposed, in the report
of the Master Porters Committee, dated the 6th of June,
be adopted, and printed for circulation."
Mr. SEGAR seconded the motion, which was also
agreed to. • - ,