The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-06-22 00:00:00

FACILITIES FOR SHIPPING COALS,

The following memorial was then read :
'0 THE SECRETARY OF THE MERSEY DOCKS AND HARBOUR

Sta,—Having reference to our letter of the 23rd March to the
Secretary of the Mersey Docks and Tfarbour Board, and our
interview of the 24th March with the Docks and Quays Com-
mittee, on the subject of accommodation for the coal trade at
Birkenhead, and to the current report out of doors that the
Mersey Harbour Board have determined, either themselv,s or
by arrangement with the Cheshire Junction Railway Company,
to erect shipping staiths for coal at Birkenhead, on the same
plan as those at Cardiff or Newcastle, and believing that there
is some misunderstanding as to what the views of the parties
chiefly interested in the trade, and who ship nine-tenths of all
the coal that is shipped at Birkenhead, are on the subject of
coal accommodation, we have met to-day for the purpose of
discussing the subject, and placing before the Mersey Harbour
Board our views thereon, which are as follows :
The undersigned beg to assure the Harbour Board that the
only object they have in thus addressing them is to give such
information as will lead to the establishment at Birkenhead of
the most complete plan for the shipment of coal.
In common with the board, they desire that whatever plan be
adopted shall be that which will insure the best as well as the
cheapest accommodation, as they are quite aware that in one
way or other the cost for better arrangements for shipment will
eventually fall on the coal proprietor.
The high level systems at Cardiff and Newcastle, as advocated
by Mr. Laird in his pamphlet on the coal trade, were, when
that was published, ten years ago, the best in existence; but
since that period great improvements have been made, and all
the new coal docks, and even the extension of existing coal
docks, have been constructed with lines on the ordinary level
of the quay, the coal being carried at particular points from
the low to the high level by means of hydraulic lifts. As
examples, take the new coal docks at Swansea, Newport, and
Port Silloth, the latter the last coal dock built, forming the
western terminus of the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, where
at least it may be supposed that the Tyne high level system
would have been adopted if it had possessed all the merits
attributed to it by its advocates.

The present mode of shipment at Birkenhead has certainly
contributed a great deal towards introducing the coal there
shipped to the notice of purchasers, and as it gets rid of the
coal as fast as it can at present be supplied, it should not be
hastily abandoned, but any change in the mode of shipment
should be gradually made as the trade increases, and as the
necessity for increased speed in shipment is found necessary.
Delays to ships have arisen in Birkenhead docks from three
causes—want of coal, insufficient depth of water, insufficient
quay space. New collieries are being opened out, and, when
completed, the short supply of coal may be remedied ; but
that will not be for one or two years yet. The opening of the
Great Float will remedy the latter.

Under these circumstances we recommend that a certain
quay space, say 2,000 lineal feet, be set apart for our trade at
Birkenhead; that ve or six lines of rails be laid parallel to

tkis on the level, for the eoal waggons to stand qn.
That two hydraulic lifts be put down on this space, of simi-
lar construction to those at Newport new dock, or Port Silloth,
and preparations be made to put a further number down, sup-
posing that the above are found an accommodation to the
trade, and to answer their intended purpose.

By this arrangement the present plan of shipping coal could
either be continued, or the hydraulic system of high level, if
found better, extended to an indefinite exteat ; and, in any
case, when not in use for coal shipment, the space would, be-
ing on the level, remain available for all general dock pur-
poses.

W. & LL LAIRD.,
W. & C. BATTERSIIT & CO.,
RICHARD .ANDERSON & CO.,
Agents Westminster Brymbo Company
MAOLELLAND &
ISAAC KITCHENER & CO.,
P. H: MARSHALL,
Agents for Garden-lodge Colliery.
Liverpool, June 20, 1860.

Mr. FORWOOD thought that, before coming to a deci-
sion on the matter, the Board should ascertain what
facilities the railway would give.
Mr. ToBIN remarked that the Railway Company was
making arrangements at Tranmere by which great faci-
lities for the storage of coals would be given.
Remitted to the Works Committee.
SAI3EATII SCENES ON THE LANDING-STAGES.

. .
A letter was read from Mr. Edward Johnson, calling
the attention of the Board to the congregation of young
persons, of both sexes, which took place every Sunday
on the Landing-stages, whereby passengers were sub-
jected to considerable inconvenience.
Mr. TomN remarked that the Board had no power in
the matter, unless tho parties acted in a disorderly

manner.
Remitted to the Marine Committee,
GRAVING DOCK ACCOMMODATION,
The following memorial was then submitted :
TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE MERSEY DOCKS ♦ND

HARBOUR BOARD.
GENTLEMEN,--.YOR will probably recollect that in the month
of February, 1859, a deputation of master shipwrights waited
upon you for the purpose of explaining the urgent necessity
which existed for the construction of additional graving docks,
both on the Liverpool and Birkenhead sides of the Mersey, the
reply given being that there were no funds available far the
former purpose, but that prevision would be made for remedy-
ing the evil complained of at Birkeuhead. We thereforeo feel
it is our duty, as the members of the deputation alluded t, to s
state that, for several months past, the difficulty
of getting ship
into the graving docks has been greater than ever, and the
loss and inconvenience thereby entatled upon the shipping
interest most ruinous. There are at the present moment 118
vessels on the list for the graving dock, 66 of which have been
entered since the Ist of June, whilst the whole amount of
graving dock accommodation is only sufficient for about 46
vessels, the result being that numbers are leaving the port to
get their repairs executed elsewhere. whilst others have been
detained weeks for a berth. The formation
be utterly of
inadequate to
only two new
graving docks at Birkenhead ill
remedy this state of things, and we therefore most respect-
fully beg to urge upon you the absolute necessity not only of
trebling that number at Birkenhead, but also of increasing the
accommodation on the Liverpool side by the construction of
several additional graving docks.--We remain, gentlemen,
your most obedient servants,
Tuos. ROYDON,
CHARLES GRAYSON,
JOHN WILSON Secre
tary;
CALEB SMITE, SeCretarys

Bath•lane, east side Prince's Dock,
Liverpool, June 20th, 1a60,.
The CI AIRMAN said he did not know what could be
done in the matter.
Mr. GRAVES said it appeared to him that the time
had now come when they should consider the whole
question of the Graving Dock accommodation. It was
evident that they should not allow such a vast number
of vessels to remain waiting for theit turn to enter
dock. It was perfectly true that those docks were not
returning the board a fair remuneration, and he had
seen a steam vessel lying for a considerable time,
occupying a large amount of space, for a comparatively
small tonnage, and thereby reducing the revenue from
the docks. He was quite certain, however, that if superior
accommodation were provided, shipowners would no
object to an addititional charge for its use.
Mr. INMAN also referred to the difficulty experienced
in the matter by shipowners.
Mr. LOCKE'FT observed that for some time, a few
months ago, the graving docks were not occupied at all.
Mr. RANKIN said that several vessels had occupied
the docks almost the entire season. The Turkish frigate
was a case in point.
Mr. MONDELL considered that the present mode of
levying the dues on tonnage was open to objections.
They-onght to be made on the lineal feet of the vessel
and the time she was in the dock. (Hear, hear.)
Remitted to the Docks and Quays Committee.
CLAIM FOR
ALLEGIED OVERSUIPMENT
Th
e Secretary then read the following correspon-
dence :

TO THE DOCK AND TOWN oFFiCE, CUSTOM-HOUSE.
GENTLEMEN Von Schack Rey, Captain Evers, Liverpool to
Pernau. With respect to this vessel there was entered 418
tons white salt, which should havedbeen 275 tons in place.
This mistake arose by the captain stating his vessel could
carry 418 tons, and our clerk entered this quantity in error, as
it was the captain's intention from the first to take only the
smaller quantity. As we are in account with this vessel's
owner, we have placed the amount to his credit. Yours
respectfully, MANGER, HAUROWITZ, & Co.

MESSRS. MANGER, HAUROWITZ, AND CO.
GENTLEMEN,—Referring
to your letter, dated 18th of April,
MO, requesting a return of dues upon salt stated to have been
short-shipped per Von Schack Rey, for Pernau, evidence was
laid before the finance committee of the Mersey Dock Board
yesterday, showing that the quantity of salt upon which dues
have been paid was actually shipped : and I ara, therefore,
instructed to request from you an explanation of the circum-
stances under which the application is mace, PTior to the sub-
ject being laid before the board,--I am, gentlemen, your
obedient servant, DANIEL MASON.
Sth June. 1860.

DANIEL MASON, TSQ., LIVERPOOL.
Sia,--Your note of the Bth to duly to hand, and in reply we