The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-03-09 00:00:00

WORKS COMMITTEi,

' Tha proceedings of the committee of works, comprised
a recommendation to accept the tender of Mr. William
M'Cormick, for levellianL, ground south §ide Battery-
.street; the tender of Z. Robinson, 'for the supply of
iron. for:, general purposes,' the tender. of Mr. William
41ootmick for pdiing. the &rad; rtotth side of Wallasey
`15(101; and a reeenmiendatioriiigliirit.a
retiring allow-
_ance.ot'.£loo-per to Mr. Gilbert Oumming;Mhief
clerk to the engineer, after a service of thirty-tour years:'the .
committee reported that. thpy -had received a depu-
tation from the chain cable and alithe4 - manufacturer
of Liver Pool, and that, having heal.rdlihLr opinions, had
'resoled that the committee sacs no reason for suspending.
the works already authorised at Birkenhead, whilst the.
question of erecting a testing indchine-en the Liverpool
side of the water was still open for consideration, should
additional facilities hereafter he. found necessary.
Mr. BROCKLEBANK moved the confirmation of the
proceedings,

Mr. DAntIYSIIIItE stated that his attention had been
draft ri to the fact that dti Sthiday last sonic men were
woiking at the rails on the dock estate at Birkenhead:
He -wel§ sure that it was the wish of the board that all
work should stop on Sunday.
The CuernmiasHAs far as possible.
Dti.. H.kß.Ttris: Aaid there were eases where it was
IS*Ol4 Working on the §tirida, and this
was one of them.

Mr. JANE' HoLmE said if these five or six men had
not been employed shifting points on Sunday, 500
or 1,000 men would 114ve been stopped working on
Monday.

Mr. EvAs'—Are you giving a retiring allowance ?
The CHAIRMAN—Yes; to Mr. Cumming, a deserving
officer in the engineer's department, whose health has
failed, and who has been thirty-four and a half years
in the service of the .esttl4:
The proceedings were confirmed;
wonxitoirst

. ,
The preeedings df, this: committee *ere ne±t read.
They contained nothing of public inteiest;' and do thc
motion of Mr. Hubback, seconded by Mr. Smith, they
were confirmed without comment.

MARINE COMMITTEE.

The•proceedings of 'this :committee included an item
to the,effect that, having considered the application of
the Birkenhead Commissioners, they had decided that
at preseilt they' could not allow the Commissioners to
have an office on the Great tiliding-sidge fur the
receipt of small parcels, to be delivered on the Cheshire
side
,of the water. A letter having been read. from
Mr: 'James Bland, inquiring ,when the dock line of
telegraph would be available for public messages, the
secretary was instructed to write in reply that the
erigirieer hoped the lino would- be• ready for work in
about 14 days. A report was read irdrii lfr. Oisborne,
as to carrying wires to Birkenhead /44, Warrington ;: and
he was requested, to inquire whether the Telegraph
Comp my would carry the line from Colwyn to Valley,
and at what cost. I,

On the motion of Mr. Monde], the proceedings were
confirmed.

PILOTAGE COMMITTEE.
The proceedings of , this committee were confirmed,
*Ada disetissiori;-on the motion of Mr. Shand, seconded
by Mr. Farnworth.
DOCKS AND QUAYS COMAIIITEE,
• , The proceedings of this committee which presented
no pOiiils of general interest, were confirmed' on the
motion of Mr. Lockett.
MASTER PORTERS COMMITTEE.

From the proceedings of this committee, it appeared
that a depututiOn• from the Charriber of Commerce
had been examined' in 'reference to the present system of
master porterage ; and the inquiry was again adjourned.
On the motion of Mr. Arnold, the proceedings were
confirmed.

w ATER bl.utres COMIITTEE4

This committee reported that Mr. Cox bad appeared
before them,' and had explained the state.o.fhis health.
The physical condition of Mr. Cox did
to'
appearld the
committee to be suoh as to lead them to suppose that be,
was incompetent to the discharge of his duties, but Mr.
Cox persisting that from sudden attacks of rheumatism
and lumbago he was unable to do so, the committee
resolved that it was not
.desirable t,) reappoint .that
gentleman te.,the office of, water bailiff which; he for-
iiierly held, and that under all theciteemstances of the
care the retiring allowance of •ayeat sheitld be
continued to.hiu . , '
Mir. Mosnm, moved the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings. .
Mr. EyiNsfsaid this wes one of thelm,ost insufficient
reasons he had ever beard for a man retiring into leisure
and idleness.

Mr. HoLME could not agree with the decision of the
committee.

Mr. GRAVES supposed the gr4n.t,was given during the
pleasure of the boat,d.

The said that Was so, but' tinder these cir-
cumstances.the pension would, no doubt, be for lire.'
Mr. Locx.ttr Was. of opinion that unless Mr. Cox
could show, by medical certificate, that he. was incom-
petent,.bis allowance ought not to be continued.
Mr. Llikto said'it should not be forgotten that Mr.
Cox.,expressed no desire, to resign, but was fore6.d to d 6
so by the board,- who ordered the amalgamation of the
offices of water bailiff and marine-surveyor.
Mr, GRAYEs thought it undesirable that Mr. Cox
should be appointed- to th vacant office, because it was
one which, if efficiently attended to, vas of very great
importance. .

. - - -
The proCeedings wcre then confirmed.
A letter 'from W. 'Ainlq, shipping-master, Local
Marine.Boari ; and a letter from the manfigll. of the.
Eoilnburgh, Perth, rind. Dundee Railway Company,
offering tvo hydraulic cranes for sale, were referred to
the Works Committee:,

1 A letter was read froth Messrs. Lava, and Messrs.
Pao, Brasser, dzid Betts, stating that the land lately
leased by Messrs. Helms having been taken by Messrs.
Logan for the purpose of erecting works thereon, they
were anxious to has-a the canal' between the Canada
Tioch and the land deepened. It would also be neces-
sary to have now walls built alii,.,-, the canal ; and the
lessees of the Canada Works were desirous of having a
small graving dock for steamers. They were willing to
pay the usual interest on the outlay of the required
works.—lieferred to. the Works Committee.
Mr. EvAxs—l hope that no part of the docks will'
ever become private property.
The CHAIRMAN-71111i is a loam which was gran' ted
before the property came into our possession, .

THE WORKS AT THE WOODSIDE BASIN.

A letter was read from Mr. Wain, the Law-clerk to
the Birkenhead' Coniinissioners, stating that the commis-
shlners would find it more convenient that the author
rised sea Wall tcrenclose 'the north landin'g, slip should
be constructed 'at the same time•with the other works,
and that the site of the graving dock should be changed,
The CIIA.IRALIN explained that the authorised plan was
altered at the request of the commissioners, and the pre-
sent proposal was to a certain extent' reverting back to
the original plans.
Mr. ,11. RILE !said the circumstances were shortly
these. By the act of Parliament, the board were to
make at Birkenhead 'certain 'walls and a graving dock.
.The'eminnissioners of Birkenhead after Wards
that they. could do, the wall and the graving
dock, and the board were asked to suspend that part of
,thework. They had Ito*, however, reverted back to
the parliamentary plan which they set out. with. .
The.CHAIHMAN said the altered plan would have been
a considerable saving to the dock estate,' and in con•
sideratien of that they had given a piece'of land to the
commissioners. Having now reverted to the original
plan, the 'expense would not be greater than, was
originally intended.
Me.Buociti,EPANK said a clause bad been'putinto
the pre;ent act. of Parliament, authorising the board to-
:Janda those particular works now demanded ; but if
the present request was complied with, that would have
tq be erased hem the bill altogether.
gt, gum, thought the proposal would involve the
pulling up of an amount of work already completed.
Mr, BARTLEY explained that no part' of the work,to,
be altered Was yet commeaeed upon.
Mi. Gu.A.VEs wished to know whether any concession
had actually been made ,to the Commissioners in consi-
deration of the alteration in the plans'.' "•
Mr, Itorri,ti said it was intende& to give them
small piece, of, land in consideration, at the top end of
the. Float, for a gridiron. That would now, however,
revert to the Dock Board.
Mr. LAIRD said it should he understood that it was
,proposed to substitute for the graving dock a gridiron;
,but it was found it would be iinpossible to get vessels'
',under the bridges of the landing-stage to the gridiron.
'He -begeied the expellee of the work would be consi-
derably reduced, compared . with what they were now
(bound to carryout by the act of Parliament. Without
/the:eOnsent of Parliament the original plans could not
be departed from, and Price's trustees had petitioned
against the present bill on that ground.
The letter was referred, to the Works Committee.

SEEMS CLAIM UPON THE DOCK BOARD.
A letter from Mr. Charles Mason, trattic manager of
the Birkenhead Rail tvii:y Company, was read. The letter
enclosed the company's account against the li t•
c.)3oard
for extraordinary expenses incurredin working the goods
traffic, of the company, between the 24111 Septemberand
, the 31st December, 1859, amounting to £829 12,... od.
';ln addition to this. it was intimated, that the company,
`had a further claim on the board for damages and cons-
pensation consequent upon the loss of traffic which the
com any had incurred by reason of the works now being, p
'earned on by the board.
The Cii.kimiAN "said the amount claimed seemed to,
',be a very heavy one, and. one, certainly, that could not
he allowed without . considerable. consideration. of the
matter: . .
x
Mr. BROCKLEBAN said the whole question would
have to he inquired into.
4 Mr. SMITH said .the board bad at an expense of
lsi x or. 'seven • thousand pounds,-
given the • compt a v
temporary accommodation with a view 'to lessen the
express his surprise at such a chum as this being
inconvenience as much as possible. Re therefore) could
not but
preferred by the company. .It was a monstrous
„thing. .
I Mr. Baocic.tyniiit.' said that as the hoard had not
,fulfilled the agreement as to time, that might probably
be the cause of the claim.
..

stilteeSttA that to dieetiss the matter
wouldVTheV
tnwis.e. The letter was then referred to the
Works Committee.

. . 711}1 ACCOA. DIODATIoN FOR. T RA DE
,AT 1111 x. EI:MEAD.
. The tbilowing letter was rem" :____
Birkenhead Railway, Secretary's Offi:c.
Ilirkeiffical, Alarch 7, 1860.
.. GENTL,,EN —Thd attention of this'eomPaiiy: h..•• been cakedtt°o Board;tthath hpepoeolrdtritoooi Thursday
f otfhteh 'en ee tb g°f'th
proceedings
e Mersey Docks and Harbour
last,the .Ist of March, and especially
warehouser and sheds, and other accommodation for traffic on
the Birkenhead Doak Estate.
urge that to make the water space
availablel yboard desire me to
and
remunerative, a very considerable extent of ware-
hotises and sheds, railway approaches, and other appliances,
will be required for the reception of general goods, raw mate-
mid that they are anxious to co-operate rlals, and manufactures;

with the Mersey Board with regard to ev.,ch,rueasAres, to,pe4Y.
be deemed Necessary bring into effecti+e operctlen ;the'
imoortillt fl4e4-workS,simultaticously with their tieing epe..ted
to the public. •
The company are prepared to arrangements with the
the use of c )al-slips for loadltig and d'scharg,
diteCirri,r *ad to the trunks.
hi ft exttresJ, the disti;i6i anti cpiniou cf my bear
thdt, rtith pfgpet ttetit; t'c par; coal mu
ether Tuinera!t, nticrCh'andt.Tc.; be
creased :to an .e.hdr.rndas ‘,l-7C -
ll:anent revenue to the. Mersey Boat t ,
Tic questionof graYia.g=doelc l'eernn, odliti'an Is 'am s;f gr,!a`t.
in-went, and. 4y board' Ire- of opinion that th. 2 number 0
yesse,N.wqii.9ilegg4s4l44,tl traakr.Tirrui oft:uiteient magni-
tude tc find fuii fait:We or t'llsce af_43.iit of such
docks.--I am; geh !men, youi rant', . .
f3Tctafy• To the Chairman and Monbers of the
Mersey Docks and Harbour Board: : •
The letter was referred' to the special committee.:!
aPPointecr ltibt week, on the motion of Mr: Laird.:
otfElicitowDEgo-OP-THE WOODSIDE DOATS.
A letters .tlid Altrdagcr of thO'oodside-ferry
ask( d permission to 4thrdi t a ln Wei bf ,a plan by- which,
daring fogs, r lkitioit Of the tandifig-,sidge sliotbi be
iiiiled;off, so that riot more thatt oople'iVotild lie
able, at one time, to get oh ho'ald tlab,Nfroodside boats. be
The letter was referred tothe eimneet fdr afeport.

MR. BOLL? AND

The Cit.kilorrXN said the following itoeice of inotion
had been given bylk.fr.• Bodit That it be an instrtic-
tion to the Works Comniittee reie'ree the board's
rights of way or otherwise in and Ithid in
Woodsidd Basin, and not to alloW them to lie infririged
or darnaged, without payment of a full equivalent."
Now, Mr. Boult. was not present, and
,had not 'autho-
rised any gentleman to take up the motion for him,
therefore it.ivould become a dropped motion, and beforS
it could be moved, notice-of it would again have to be
given.
BROCKT:ErkN* said ffre'iiiOtion l'ijas a toPection
on the Works Catmultfeei and ,6omoluiried that that •
committee had not been treated 6,tirikkisiy• by Mr.
Bolilt, in the way in which he had dealt *Hih his motion:
This was the whole Of the general business. ,

EMIGRATION FROM mi,ERPOOL.

.
The official returns of the emigration from the Mersey
'have just,been completed for the month of February' by
the Government officers, and exhibit, when compared
with those for the several months 'previous, a marked
and steady improvement, the number during the past
month being nearly one-fourth more than in. January.
These returns show an aggreg:ite of 122 cabin and
,2,800. steerage passengers " under the Act" in February,
against 121 cabin and 1,890 steerage in January. This
increase it more observable in the pfisserig,iir trade to the
.United States; Which !Oi February -nttrubered 104itabin
and 1,738 steerage piraiditgers-591 English, 68 Scotclif
•
993 Irish, and 176 foreigners, while in January the
numbers were 976abin arid 895 steara'ge:--395 Englisb;39
Scotch, 479 Irish, and ;2- foreigners—,being an increase
of 850 souls, the majority of whom were Irish; In the
corresponding month of last year •72, cabin, and 1,717
steerage passengers sailed from the Mersey. In "short
ships" and the Cunard and Canadian mail steam-ships
"not under the act" 436 cabin and 336 steeragapassen-
get's , sailed In February against 191' -cabin and 115
steerage passengers.. in jantiary; ' the returns for
February are included the unfortunate passengers by the
ill-fated Hungarian. Indeed, the. emigration to the
United States is at present in a hea'thy state, and
a continuance of the improved feeling is. anticipated.
Not so with regard to the Australian ernigration trade,
which continUes v,ery. dull and depressed. "Under the
Act". Only two vemels tailed for Melbourne during the
past month, with 18 cabin and 318 steerage passengers
—153 English, 20 Scotch, 128 Irish, ancl.l7 foreigners ;
against in 'January 24 cabin and 538 steerage pas-
sengers-222 English, 70 Scotia, 159 Irish, and 63
foreigners. It should be added -that- the returns for
January include upWards Of 100 passengers' for New
Zealand, per Pied ,JaCkef.... In the corresponding
period of 1859 48 cabin and 607 steerage passengers
sailed "under the act" to New South Wales -;-=-372
Government emigrants were despatched, 142 of whom
were English, 35 ScOtch, and 195 Irish. In " short
ships" to Australia 12 cabin and 58 steerage passengei t
sailed in February, against I cabin and 43 steerage in
January. There has been no emigration, public or
private, to the' Cape .of Good' Hope ; but in " shor
ships " 14 cabin passengers sailed for the West Indies,
and 12 for the West Coast. of Africa._ ,Of the steerage
Passengers carried out during the month; 796 were
natives- of Eugland (against 672 in January), '122 of
Scotland (against' 109 in Janaary), and 1,816 of Ireland
(against 63S in January), being ,doublo the number of
Irish emigrants