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

WALLASEY COMMISSIONERS.

Mr. Pooley presided at the monthly meeting of this
board last 'light ; the other numbers present were
Messrs. Caine, Holmes, Fishwick, Isaac Harrison,
Hughes, Marshall, Littledale, Boyd, Maud, Kerford,
Hill, and Byerly.
The minutes of the last meeting, and of a special one
held on the 13th of December, having been confirmed,
the proceedings of the Works and Health Committee
were read. From them it appeared that the committee
had received a letter from Messrs. Potts and Roberts, of
Chester, relative to the land contracted by purchase
from Mr. Mainwaring, for the gas and water works,
and suggesting that the price thereof be referred to a
single arbitration. The committee resolved that Messrs.
Potts and Roberts be requested to hand the board, for
their consideration, a selection of the names of a few
gentlemen to act at such arbitration. The proceedings
further stated that a letter had been received from Mr.
North, dock solicitor, asking the board to grant
permission to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board to
carry on a telegraph wire on posts from Wallasey
village, and along the road to Poulton-bridge. In con-
sidering this application, the committee had resolved
that the proposed line through Wallasey village was
objectionable, on account of the narrowness of the street
and footpaths ; and with that opinion they left the ques-
tion to the consideration of the board. The board, after
a brief discussion, confirmed the proceedings, agreeing
in the opinion that it was, as yet, unadvisable to lay
down the telegraphic wires.—The proceedings of the
Gas and Water Committee included a statement that
there are now 445 consumers of gas in the parish, and
the consumption of gas was about double what it was
last year.—The Surveyor further reported that the
cylinders had been put down, but that in consequence of
the frost they had not been able to proceed with the work
at the Water Works.—Proceedings were confirmed.

TUE FERRY QUESTION.

The CHAIRMAN said, having disposed of the other
business upon the paper, they were now in a position to
consider the amendment of Mr. Holmes to Mr. Caine's
proposition, for the confirmation of the proceedings of
the Ferry Committee.
Mr. HoLmEs rose to move his amendment. He
believed that it had been carried at the last meeting,
but as there appeared to have been some misunderstand-
ing about that he now again brought it forward. He
for one was most anxious to get the ferries, if they
could be got without an enormous loss, and he was also
anxious that the question should be discussed and
settled that night. He did not see that Mr. Penny ought
to object to their offer, and he hoped that they would
be able to ascertain his views upon the question.
He would move the adoption of his amendment at the
last meeting (but which was now an independent motion)
namely, " That if Mr. Penny will transfer the sea-
combe lease to the board, it will undertake to buy the
ferry at the expiration of the time at a valuation to be
fixed mutually or by arbitration."
Mr. Marshall briefly seconded the motion.
Mr. NATHANIEL CAINE, after expressing his sur-
prise at the motion of Mr. Holmes, said he felt
it his duty at their last meeting to submit to the
board a statement of the prospective liabilities in eon-
nection with the ferry question, if they went on at the
rate for which some disposition was manifested, and
placed the. figures before them in extenso purposely to
attract attention, and to act as a warning, lest they
should go a little too fast. He would now take a more
practical view of the subject, and see what result may
be expected upon a more economical basis. Taking
what is actually necessary for working the ferries during
the currency of Seacombe lease, the various items com-
posing the ferry plant would stand thus :
Purchase money of New Brighton and Egremont
Consideration for transfer of Seacombe lease ' 2

Expenses already incurred 6,000
Temporary alteration of Egremont slip 6OO
99 New Brighton slip 3OO
Pm chase of four of Coulborn's boats 6,000
Three new boats ' 15,000

£87,902
In explanation of the two items for improvement of
Egremont and New Brighton slips, be could say, from
competent authority—of one at all events to whom a
prize was awarded—that by means of a " drift-weir"
the slips can be effectually cleared of sand, and though
not so complete a work as it is to be hoped the require-
ments of the ferries will demand and their increased
traffic afford, still, by this means they can be rendered,
workable, and much of existing annoyances be done
away with for some few years to come at least. They
had thus in round numbers their ferry plant for £BB,OOO.
As a margin for further expenses and contingencies,
add £7,000 to this sum, the capital would then be
£95,000. They must now look at the income and
expenditure account. Of course he could only take the
figures proved before the court of reference, which
formed the basis of the award a £60,002.
Income and expenses account, viz., 5 per cent. net on
£95,000 as stated
Rent of Seacombe Ferry 950
Working expenses, on an average of last five years
including rebuilding of two boats, as accepted by
Mr. Banner and adopted by Mr. Picton ll,lOO

To meet this you have an average of receipt for five
years

£16,800
19,270

£2,470
If they took an average of the last three years (for it
should be borne in mind that during the last five there
has been a steady increase of receipts each year over the
preceding one), then they might call the sum £3,108 ;
or, as some contend that the last year should form the
basis of calculation, then the balance in favour should
be £3,707, or that prospective profit. Or, take a more
liberal view of the matter, and suppose it be deter-
mined to have better boats, and that the necessary
improvements at New Brighton and Egremont landing-
places be proceeded with, the figures might then be
estimated thus.

Amount of award ,
Expenses
Egrsmont slip
New Brighton ditto
Five new b ats

£6O 002
6.000
10,000
5,000
26,000

Two old boats.

3,000

5109,002

were secured, there would be no difficulty at the proper
time in borrowing the money at 41 per cent. Receipts
and expenses account would then be—

Interest
Seaelmbe rent
Working expenses

£4,905
950
11,100

16,955
Retained, though with new boats, would be less.
Receipts, averaging live years
Balance £2,315
But if the last year be.adopted, the receipts of which
were £20,567, then the balance in favour would be
raised to the sum of £3,612. He did not hold himself
responsible for the figures here given; but from these
figures there would be a result of from £2,500 to £3,800
upon one calculation, and from £2,300 to £3,600 on the
other, to meet depreciation, redemption fund, and other
contingencies. If the commissioners should be timid
about working the ferries themselves, there are good
grounds for assuming that highly respectable parties
would be quite willing to supply boats and make terms
for working them, under an agreement with the hoard,
for the next ten years. On this plan they might get
rid of all responsibility, and obtain possession with
funds already at their disposal. They had now,
however, to consider what steps must be taken in
the present position of their affairs. Three courses
were open to them. Ist. Make the best terms we
can with Mr. Penny for the purchase of Seacombe fee-
simple and enter into an amicable arrangement with
Messrs. Coulborn, and work the ferries upon either of
the modes suggested ; or, 2nd. Take the award, with
its infirm title to Seacombe, and run your chance of Mr.
Penny turning you out; or, 3rd. Give notice to Mr.
Coulborn that you decline further action in the matter,
and leave him to his remedy. With regard to the first
proposition, they must admit that Mr. Penny has not
met the board fairly in reference to the purchase of
Seacombe, and have little doubt that favourable terms
could be made with him on the basis of £30,000 at the
expiration of the present lease. This would get rid of
all difficulties with the Coulborns, and free the parish
from perplexities which may prove a source of endless
litigation, ruinously expensive, and uncertain in the
result. By the second course they would he free from
Messrs. Coulborn, but must run the risk of ejection from
Mr. Penny, if the board were to take possession of
Seacombe. With reference to the third proposal,
that of throwing up the award altogether and
leaving Messrs. Coulborn to take proceedings against
the board the consequences were very serious.
They had had many specimens of what discomfort can be
inflicted upon the inhabitants under a monopoly. Very
great stress had been laid on the probability of the
Mersey Docks and Harbour Trustees making a ferry on
the north reserve to meet the traffic on the Seacombe
side of the Wallasey Pool. If they consulted the
various Acts of Parliament in reference to making the
Great Float, they would find that all the rights of Sea-
combe Ferry are reserved, and it is specially provided
that passengers and goods shall not be landed at any
steps in the river wall north of Woodside Ferry. He
begged to move, therefore, as an amendment upon what
was now Mr. Holme's motion :—" That the special com-
mittee, appointed in September last, he directed, in addi-
tion to their present functions, to arrange with Mr.
Penny for the purchase of the fee simple of Seacombe
Ferry provided the price shall not exceed £30,000, pay-
able on the termination of existing lease."
Mr. HUGHES expressed his conviction that the most
prudent course the board could adopt would he at once
to decide upon purchasing Seacombe Ferry, at the price
named (payable ten years hence), and so become the
absolute owners of all the three ferries in the parish.
The one thing needed was, good ferry accommodation
with Liverpool, and he was quite certain that this could
be obtained even without levying a rate for the expenses
of the ferries.

Mr. HARRISON, in the course of some lengthy remarks,
repudiated the idea of voting £30,000 for a ferry, and
thought the sum too high. It was his opinion that the
expenses would far exceed anything that had been stated,
inasmuch as collisions and other casualties were likely
to be of more frequent occurrence when the board bad
the ferries than they are now, as the boats would then
run in foggy weather, for the convenience of the resi-
dents.

Mr. HILL made an elaborate statement, in which he
endeavoured to controvert Mr. Caines' deduction that
there would be a balance of about £3,000. He sup-
ported Mr. Holme's motion.
Mr. MARSHALL thought they were wandering from
the real question, which was not whether the ferries
would pay, but what course the board should take with
reference to Messrs. Coulborn and Penny. If any one
could think that by purchasing the ferries at the end of
the present lease—ten years hence—they would get
them for less than they could now, that person might
consistently vote for Mr. Holme's motion. But they
must all well know that instead of £30,000 it would be
at the end of that time perhaps £50,000. If he were
Mr. Penny he should certainly accept Mr. Holme's pro-
position, but as a member of the board he could not. _

Mr. llotztE, in reply, said that about two months
ago the board had declared its opinion that Seacombe
was now worth £lB,OOO ; and even supposing it to
increase in value by £l,OOO per annum, that would
only then make it £3o,ooo—the sum which Mr. Caine
proposed should now be paid.
After some further disCussion, the board divided,
when Mr. Caine's amendment was lost by 10 to 4.
This concluded the business.

PLATING CARDS.—Hitherto the keenly contested whist
cribbage, 100, &c., exhausted the use of the playing card.
Now, however, the beaUtiful, instructive, and chaste designs
imparted to their exterior, teach the form, colour, and growth
of plants which have enriched the commerce of Great Britain.
Those manufactured by De la Rue and Co., are peculiarly rich
in design, and can be had in great variety at Benson and Mal-
lett's, commercial stationers, 10, Castle-street.

CAPTAIN HANS BUSK'S LECTURE ON

THE RIFLE.

Last night, in the lecture hail of the Collegiate Insti-
tution, Shaw-street, Captain Hans Busk (of the Victoria
Rifles. London), author of the " Volunteer Service
Gazette," "The Rifle; and How to Use It," "Volun-
teers ; and How to Drill Them," " The Handbook for
Hythe," " The Navies of the World," and other admi-
rable standard works, delivered an excellent and eloquent
lecture, on " Rifle Corps and Rifle Shooting," before a
large audience, chiefly composed of the members.of the
various volunteer corps in the town.
The following was the syllabus of the lecture, which
was listened to with profound attention by the audience,
who frequently cheered the talented and gallant speaker:
1. Origin of the volunteer movement—its extent—
present number of effectives—necessity for increased
exertion—state of feeling towards this country on the
Continent—immense increase of late of the French
fleet—the drill requisite for volunteers—their training
and discipline.
2. Rifle-shooting, or the art of musketry—early fire-
arms—" Brown Bess "—its clumsy character—many
defects—percussion principle—Government musket,
pattern 1853—the introduction of the rifle as a weapon
for infantry generally—its advantages over the smooth-
bored musket—definition of a rifle—object of rifling fire
arms —rudimentary laws of projectiles—varieties of the
rifle—the best form of rifle.

3. The use of the rifle—selection—adjustment of
sights aiming drill—proper mode of handling the rifle
—sand-bag drill—position drill—blank cartridge—ball
practice—practice at Hy the and its results—what the
rifle has done on service—judging distance drill—how
the art of judging distances is to be acquired—appear-
ances of objects at different distances—" dangerous
spaces "—trajectory of the Enfield rifle—urgent necessity
for a volunteer army, &c.
His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair.
In the course of the lecture Captain Hans Bask
exhibited a new form of breach-loading rifle, which is
said to be of unrivalled power and precision. The
lecture was also illustrated by a number of other descrip-
tions of fire-arms, together with a variety of diagrams.

At the close of the discourse a vote of thanks was
cordially awarded to Captain Busk, on the motion of
his Worship the Mayor.
The gallant captain having returned thanks, the pro-
ceedings terminated.