The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-06-29 00:00:00

DOCKS AND QUAYS COMMITTEE.

The minutes of this committee stated that the subject
of better graving dock accommodation had been under
the consideration of the committee, and had been remit-
ted to the Harbour master for a report on the subject.
Mr. Lockett moved their confirmation, which was
agreed to.

THE INDEMNITY QUESTION.

The Docks and Quays Committee had also the

question of the bond of indemnity from the owners of
vessels entering Morpeth-dock, Birkenhead, under con-
sideration at their meeting on the 13th instant, the
result being that the engineer reports it cannot be
safely discontinued.

Mr. LOCKETT moved the confirmation of this por-
tion of the minutes. He remarked that in drawing up
the form of indemnity the solicitor had tried to meet
the views of different parties, but he could not, of
course, succeed in pleasing all ; and he (the solicitor)
was of opinion that the indemnity was absolutely
necessary, in order to keep the estate safe.
The CLERK read the form of indemnity, which was
as follows :

ETRVENU'RAD nbexs.
I request permission for my ship
to enter the Dock ; but Ido so with full knowledge on
the part of myself and my owners, that the dock is (of neces-
sity) at prese,it in a defective state of repair and subject to
much leakage ; and that if from the latter, or any other cause,
my ship shall ground in the dock, and receive damage either
as to her hull or cargo, such damage is to be at the sole risk of
her owners, and that they are to indemnify the board from all
consequences.

- Mr. LAIRD, referring to the words "With full know-
ledge on the part of myself and my owners," said he
did not see how any honest man could sign that declara-
tion. It bade the captain state as of his own know-
ledge what he only knew by hearsay.
The SOLICITOR remarked that in advising the exac-
tion of a document he did not think he included a
sacrifice of character. It was quite true that the
document imputed to the owner a knowledge of the
state of the dock. It was not a personal knowledge,
however, but a legal knowledge. The words meant a
notice, expressed or implied of the owners' knowledge.
If they were omitted from it he thought it would be
needless and inopportune to use the document at all.
He might say also that precisely the same document,
containing the very words obje:..ted to, was used in six
docks in Liverpool, and instead of it being an objection,
he had the authority of the Harbour Master for saying
that they were eagerly sought for.

After a few remarks from Mr. Darbyshire,
Mr. LAIRD considered that there ought to be two
separate documents—one for the captain, and another
for the owners. At present the captain was placed in a
very false position, and he could not accept the inter-
pretation given by Mr. North. The captain was called
upoa to state as a fact what he only knew from the
representations of others.

Mr. EVANS considered the discussion was a mere
quarrelling with words. The document embodied the
conditions on which parties would be allowed to use the
dock.

The CHAIRMAN said that in the Wellington Half-
tide Dock, for instance, as well as other five on the
Liverpool side of the water, the indemnity was asked
for and willingly given. In regard to Birkenhead, it
was perfectly clear that there was danger to vessels
entering the dock, and if the board was to allow a vessel
to enter without au indemnity they would, doubtless, be
liable in a sum of money which might be very large. A
legal indemnity was therefore required—an indemnity
drawn out in such terms as would satisfy the solicitor—.
before allowing any vessel to enter the duck. We
could not alto' ships to enter it while the works were
in progress as the liabilities were so enormous. They
must have an indemnity or nothing ; as it was, however,
the matter was a legal one.
Mr. LOCKETT did not think that any captain took a
vessel to Birkenhead without obtaining the consent of
the consignees.

The minutes were then confirmed.
THE MASTER PORTERAGE
.BYELAW.

The following report was then considered as, read
REPORT.

At a meeting of the Committee for the Department of Master
Porterage, held this 6th day of June, 1660—Present : Samuel
James Arnold, Esq., in the chair, &c. The following report
On the evidence given to the Committee on the subject of the
operation of the e)cisting Laws for the qovernmant of Master
Porters, was directed to be laid before the Board, viz :
_ _

Many cases of dispute having come before the Committee for
the department of Master Port9'age, arising out of the opera-
tion Of the Act of Parliament and the Bye-laws of the Board, in
reference to the porterage of ships' inward cargoes, particu-
larly as it gards the cargoes of steam-ships, an enquiry upon
the subject has, in accordance with a general desire expressed
by the board, been instituted by this committee, and evidence
has bean taken from parties representing the Associated Mer-
cantile Bodies, and from individuals interested iu the commerce
of the port, as well as from persons practically acquainted with

"That the security of £2OO, given by the master porter,
under section 36 of the " Consulidation Act," 18.58, be increased
to £5OO, under which security a master porter shall be em-
powered to act as a master lumper also, if duly appointed to
that duty; and that so much of the bye-laws as prohibits a
master lumper from acting as a master porter be repealed ; but
that there shall be no obligation or necessity imposed upon the
same party to act at any vessel in the double capacity of lumper
on board the ship and master porter on the quay, unless he be
duly appointed to both duties by properly authorised parties."

"That the giving the security in the sum of ,E5OO shall no:
alone entitle the party applying to obtain a license to act
as a master porter and master lamper if, in the opinion of
the Board, he is not, in other respects, a properly qualified
person."
" That the master porter shall be held responsible for the
correct weighing and measuring of tile goods committed to his
care, and the furnishing of a correct account of such weights
and measurement, in a reasonable time, to each consignee, in
consideration of which a small additional charge, to be here-
after fixed, shall be made to the mister porters' rates."

"That persons acting as master lumpers only, be requir ed
to give security to the amount of £2OO, and be miler the same
control by the Board as the master porters ; the appointment
of the lumper for the purpose of discharging the cargo to be
in all cases made by the owner or consignee of the ship,"
" The appointinent of surveyors for each dock or district,
whose duty it shall be to examine the stowage of all inward
Cargoes, and the causes of damage thereto, and to furnish
certificates thereof to the merchant and shipowner, upon pay-
' ment by them of a suitable fee to the Dock Trust; and whose
further duty it shall be to give information for the levy of
fines where goods remain upon the quay beyond the allotted
tine, and to ex.ercise a general suneriutendence over, and to
report weekly to the Board upon the state of the traffic upon
the dock quays, and upon any irregularities on the part of any
licensed lumper or master porter ; the surveyors to have
power at all times during the working or discharging of the
cargo to go on board any ship lying in the open docks."
"lii the meantime, the committee recommend an amend-
ment or altert4ion in the bye-law, by which alteration the
porterage of stcam7ships will, in all cases, be placed under
the control of the owners or consignees of those ships ; but
shall commence only from the time when the goods or produce
are placed on the quay."
" The committee recommend en alteration in the rates
authorised to be charged upon the articles undermentioned,
viz.

PROPOSED POItTERAGE RATES.

Pro-
Present posed
Rates. Rates.

s. d. s. d.
Arrowroot, in boxes or canisters cwt. 0 13! 0 1
Bark, Peruvian, in bales or serous ton. 1 0 1 4
Quercitron, in bags OlO 1 0
Brandy Fruit, in Bottles 9 dozen case. 0 4 0 5
2„„0 3 0 4
1„„0 2 0 3
Caoutchouc or India Rubber, in pkgs ton. 010 1 2
loose
Coffee, in tees. brls, bags, or bales cwt. 0 01 0 0i
Coir, rough, press-packed ton. 0 8 0 9
„ Yarn, in packages „ 010 1 2
Cotton Wool, American, in bales or bags „ 0 8 t)
Egyptian, and 411 other
Mediterranean, bls. or bgs. „ 010 1 0
Divi Divi, in bags
Dyewoods, Barwood
Brazil
Camwood „ 010 011
Fustic, large
„ small
Logwood „ 010 011
Nicaragua Wood, solid ... ...... „ 010 011
„ small
small case 0 4 0 41
very small „ 0 2 0 21
010 011

Eau de Cologne

Essences, 168 lbs. to 224 lbs,

112 lb. to 168 lb.
84 lb. to 112 lb.
.56 lb. to 84 lb
under 56 lb.
Flour, in bags or sacks

„08 0 9
„06 0 7
„ 0 4 0 41
0 3 9 31
f t
ton. 0 8 0 9

Fruit, Apples and Pear' tee. 0 2 0 3
box or brl. 1 U 1
brl. 0 1 0 1i
.ton. 010 011

Cranberries
Gambier and Catch '

Ginger
Grain, in sacks or bags
Honey, in barrels
jars
Iron, bars and rods

cwt. 0 01 0 1
quarter. 0 1i 0 2
cwt. 0 01 0 1
„0 1 0
ton. 0 8 0 9

Pigs or lientledge
Isinglass cwt. 0 0l 0 1
Jute and E. I. Heuip, press-packed ton. 0 8 (,) 9
Leather, iu bales or packages cwt. 0 01 0 Of
loose ton. 1 3 1 4
Pepper, (black or white) cwt. 0 01 0 1
Pimento, in barrels or bags ................... „ 0 01 0 1
Seeds, in packages, when weighed ton 010 011
~ - when not weighed
Flaxseed or Linseed, in bulk, when weighed , 0 0 1 0
Silk, (raw and waste)
Spirits, 6 doz. cases ........ . case 0 4 0 6
4 , 0 3 o 31
3 ~ ........... ~ 0 2 0 21
2 „ ................... . .... , ....... . „ 011 0 2
1 „ - .. , 0 1 0.Z.1
Sponge, in packages ............. .. .. . . ... ... • ..... cwt. 0 1 0 lf
Staves, Pipe, 3-in thick ........... , ............. 1200 5 0 5 6
Wine Pipe .. -.' .............................. „ 3 6 4 0
-„. Puncheons ..... ~ 2 6 2 9
,I- Hogshead '• „ 26 2 9
• Do. (Ash;or Red Oak)
-. -',, Barrel , ............................. ~ . 2 6 2 9
Sumac ............ ....... ton 0 9 010
Tapioca .......... ..... cwt. 0 01 0 1
Tobacco ................................................ hhd. 0 8 0 9
half do. or tees. 0 5 0 6
barrel 0 2 0 21
2 cWt• and upwards, bale or seron 0 1 0 1
wider 2 cwt. 7, 0 Of 0 Of
Whalebone .. . ........................................... ton 1 3 .1 4
Wine, of all'countries pipe or butt 0 8 0 9
hhd, 0 5 0 6
6 dozen case or basket 0 4 0 6
, 031 0 5
Q $ 0 Si
" - . '6-2 0 21
'IP
0 li 0 2
,f
0 1 0 11
Of

• 2
1 •

And that with such alterrious the Schedule of Rates dated.
July 3rd, 1851, be approved and adopted by the Board."
SAML'EL JAMES ARNOLD, Chairman.

Mr. ARNOLD, in a; speech of considerable length and
much ability, moved- the adoption of the report. He
recapitulated the vaeious points embraced in the above
document dwelling {upon each, and showing the im-
provement that would' be effected by the changes pro-
posed. He was listeneff to *with great attention.
Mr. ROVNTHWAITE 4donded the motion,
Mr. DAnnysigAn said., lie had read the report very
carefully, and he thought it was a great improvement
on the present mode of working the docks and quays.
With respect to the licensing of maker lumpers, he
did not think that the power of employing whoever
they pleased could be •taken out of the hands of the
owners. The exaction of 'a bond of security was also a
good feature, as it would tend to give owners more con-
fidence in the man they
selected. As to the weighing
of goods on the cituYs, it - would throw a great amount
of responsibility on the masters, 410 he did
not know exactly how it could be carried out. There
was some difficulty in the way of that, but the objection
might be obviated. if
was also in favour of the ap-
pointment of surveyors as proposed in the report; but
he thought it was lowering them below their position to
cause them to be informers for the purpose of levying
fines. With respect to the master porters,,however, if
the largest consignee chose to insist on being his own
master porter, he did not see how the 1?q44.0°41
object.