The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-10-10 00:00:00

VOLUNTEER PROCESSION.

TO THE EDITOR OF T} FPAILY TIMES.
SlR,—Your correspondent, " Expec*,a," makes the
•
following curious and mischievous remarks
" Surely there cannot be any jealousy wifS our
colonels. The artillery would be first ; but, of the rifles,
the Ist Lancashire would most undoubtedly take the
lead." _ _

N,ot to keep "Expectans" waiting, I hasten to inform
him that the last battalion will be at the end, and the
centre one in the middle. _ _

I am in a position to state that there is no jealousy
with our colonels, and every volunteer knows that if
there was, it could not alter a military formation.—l
am, sir, your obedient servant,
CARABINIER VOLONTAIRE ET SPORTMAN.

THE BiNKENIIEAD AND CHESHIRE
RAILWAY COMPANY VERSUS THE
BIRKENHEAIY COMMISSIONERS.

Another amazing, but which is likely to turn out a
rather expensive fracas, took place at an early' hour
yesterday morning at the Birkenhead arid Cheshire
Railway Station, Monks Ferry, Birkenhead. For some
time past, as we understand from very reliable
authority, a dispute has been pending between the
Railway Company and the Commissioners. The
former assert their right to have the passengers by
the mail train from Holyhead conveyed to Liverpool by
a steamboat from the Monks' Ferry slip. The latter
deny that such a right exists, and refuse to permit the
passengers to enter upon the ferry slip. Thus matters
stood on Monday night, when it was contempla'ted to
put an end to the dispute—not by the regular legal pro-
cess, nor by a civil conference, but by physical force.
The Birkenhead Commissioners sent a notice to the
Railway Company that they intended to prevent, for the
future, passengers by the mail train going by that route;
and from the wording of the epistle the railway autho-
rities imagined that it was their intention to resist the
right by force of arms, and, to be prepared for such an
emergency, the steamer Lion was brought into requi-
sition, and was moored off the slip ready to receive the
passengers upon their arrival, while a reserve guard,
consisting of every description of railway officials, was
in attendance at the station armed with full authority
to enforce the company's right of transit by the slip.
Instead, however, of backing up their notice with
1 a regular force always at their command ; and doubt-
-1 less having a vivid recollection of the last melee with
the same company, the commissioners were on this
occasion content with placing a chain round the gates
leading from the station, to the slip, securely locking
the same, and placing a few police constables to keep
watch and ward and see that no person bad ingress or
egress upon their property. About two o'clock in the
morning the train arrived at the station. The mail-
bags were sent off as usual by a cart to the Woodside
ferry, but the passengers had to remain at the station.
Mic Andrews, the station-master, insisted upon their
going from the4Monks' Ferry slip by the Lion, which,
with steam up, was awaiting their arrival. Police-
constable Castle kept to his post, and, armed with the
majesty of the law—as well as the commissioners'
authority—refused to let them pass. Their entreaties
were in vain—persuasion had no effect whatever—
not the slightest impression could be made upon—
indeed, perfectly impenetrable was Police-constable
Castle. Finding that matters were getting rather
soions, the station master at once gave the word of
command, " Cut the chain on the small gate." Never
did an army perform a movement with greater alacrity
than did the Monks Ferry Railway Brigade the one
given. The necessary tools appeared as if by magic—
the gate was at once thrown open, and the passengers
were triumphantly conducted to the steamer. The
Commissioners' agent (the policeman) was vexed—he
rushed to the steamer and attempted to let her loose,
but even in that he was frustrated; and then he pro-
claimed that he had been insulted and assaulted, and
that the Railway Company should hear further from
him on the subject. The passengers were safely con-
veyed to Liverpool by the regular route, having, how-
ever, been subjected to the annoyance of heir).g detained
for some time while the officials of the two boards were
discussing about a legal point, and which can only be
settled in a court of law. Which parties—the Railway
Company or the Birkenhead Commissioners—have
broken the agreement, will have to be decided, no
doubt, at a great cost to the shareholders of the com-
pany, and also to the ratepayers of Birkenhead.