The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-06-13 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.

The first meeting of the recently-elected board was
held yesterday, when the following members wefts
present : Messrs. John Laird, Aspinall, Bradley,
Baylis, Walker, Peck, Gough, Rae, Whittle; • Harri-
son, Graham, Meakin, Barnet, Evans, Milnes, and
Keightley.
The names of the gentlemen elected by the 'rate-
payers to fill the ten offices which were vacant upon the
sth of this month were first read. They were as
follow :—Messrs. Cook, Harrison, Hind, Baylis,
Keightley, Graham, Meakin, Evans, Milnes, and Menzies.
The next business being the appointment of a chair-
man for the ensuing year,
Mr. KEIGHTLEY moved that Mr. John Laird, be
re-appointed. He said he felt sure that when they con-
sidered the valuable services which Mr. Laird had already
given to them, by devoting his time and his energies to
the interests of the township, they could net do better
than to re-elect him as their president. Perhaps it was
not beneficial in every case to adopt the system of
re-appointments, and thus make the office a perpetual
one, but in the present instance there could be no
objection to it.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Harrison, and

carried unanimously.
Mr. LAIRD returned thanks for the honour they had
conferred upon him. He agreed with Mr. Keightley
that the appointment ought not to be a perpetual one,
and he would be most happy to give way to any gentle-
man they found willing to undertake the duties. As
they had elected him, he would do his best to conduct
the business of the township in a manner advantageous
to the ratepayers in general. If the business was
carried on iu the same orderly manner as it had hitherto
been he would have little trouble in presiding.
Mr. William Hind was elected deputy-chairman.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES.

The appointment of the various committees was then
proceeded with.
For the Watch Committee, Mr. WALKER, proposed
Messrs. Evans, M eakin, Gilbertson, Manes, Peck,
Willoughby, and Walker.
Mr. PECK asked to have his name withdrawn from
this list. He had served upon several committees last
year, and thought he could not now give the requisite
time which was required for the proper performance of
the duties.
Mr. ASPINALL moved, as an amendment upon the
original list, that Mr•. Peek be appointed to the Gas and
Water Committee.
A member of the board said that Mr. Peek had been
upon the Gas and Water Committee, and had been
withdrawn.
Mr. ASPINALL thought that to withdraw any mem-
ber's name from any of their committees was taking a
most unwarrantable liberty.
The CHAIRMAN said that if that principle of asking a
member's permission previous to the withdrawal of his
name from a committee, was fully carried :out, it might
be applied to the election of the committee, and thus
make the serving upon them a mere optional matter.
Mr. ASPINALL then moved that Mr. Evans be substi•
tuted for Mr. Peck upon the committee.
This motion fell to the ground, and the original list
was carried.
The Markets Committee was next appointed. Mr,
Barnet proposed Messrs. Baylis, Bradley, Gough,
Manes, Peck, and Barnet. This list was adopted.
Upon the Health Committee there were Messrs.
Baylis, Bond, Graham, Menzies, and Gladstone.
Upon the Road and Improvements Committee,
Messrs. Cook, Graham, Gough, Hind, Peck, Walker,
and Whittle.
Upon the Finance Committee, Messrs. Aspinall,
Barnet, Cook, Baylis, Gilbertson, Willoughby, Keight-
ley, and the chairman of the other committees.
Mr. GOUGH objected to Mr. Gilbertson's name being
placed upon this committee, because that gentleman
was unable to attend. • He would therefore wove, as an
amendment, that Mr. Peck's name be substituted.
Upon a division, there were eight in favour of the
amendment, and five for the original list. Mr. Peck's
name was therefore placed upon the list.
For the Ferry Committee was proposed Messrs.
Aspinall, Bradley, Graham, Meakin, Harrison, Keight-
ley, and Whittle.
Mr. ASPINALL thought that as l,r. Deakin was a
new member it would be better to substitute Mr.
M'Gill. If this was done they would have a•man upon •
the committee thoroughly acquainted with the practical
working of the boats, and one who well understood the
subjects likely to come under consideration. He would
therefore move that Ntr, MVill's name be placed upon
the list.

Mr. HARRISON objected to Mi. Aspinaills amend-
meat. Mr. Meakin resided near the ferry, and it was
most important that they should have a man who lived
in the neighbourhood. He did not object to Mr. M‘Gill,
but he would not consent to remove Mr. Meakin.
Mr. RA.E thonght that the services which Mr. M'Gill
had rendered when chairman of the Gas and Water
Committee were invaluable. He wonld be glad to see
each a man upon the Ferry Committee.
The CRAIRNAN agreed with Mr. Rae that it would
be desirable to 'secure Mr. M'Gill's services upon the
Ferry Committee, but Mr. Meakin was also most valu-
able, from the fact of Ws rAsidiug so near the ferry. He
would advise Mr. Aspinall to withdraw his amendment.
The amendment was then withdrawn, and the original
list agreed to. Notice was given that a resolution will
be brought forward at the next meeting to the effect
that an additional member be added to this committee.
For the Gas and Water Committee were nominated
Messrs. Baylis, Cook, Evans, Menzies, Walker, and

This list was also agr.eed to.
Upon the Library Committee were Messrs. Laird,
Willoughby, Baylis, Menzies, Graham, anti Mikes ;
and Ratepayers Messrs. Jones, Peck, Ifiggins, Had-
field, and Dove. The last name on the ratepayers' list
was objected to by Mr. Walker, on the ground of non-
cAleiylance during last year, but the objection was over-
ruled anti the list was carried.

Upon the Geinatery Committee were Messrs. Evans,
Brad!ey, Gilbertson, Iliad, garrison, Rae, and Walker.
The members of the Finance Committee syere appointed
as a Parliamentary Committee.
A communication was acknowledged from the total
abstainers at Oxton, in which they urged upon the com-
mittee ,the importance of not appointing to the Watch
Committee for the ensuing year, any member who was
connected with the iiror traffic.

NORSE RAI!.W4YS.
A memorial was presented froin the tenants of the
Birkenhead market, in which they expreased tar gra-
titude for the course which the commissioners have
followed respecting Mr. Train's proposition to introduce
horse railways into the township. They prayed that
the lines might be carried through Hamilton-street, and
thus by increasing the traffic make the market more
valuable.

Mr. RAE hoped that Olehot/rd would remember that
they had a valuable frontage along the intended route—
from the ferry along Argyle-street and. Conway-greet to
the park.

The CHAIRMAN said he quite agreed wieh the memo-
rial, and thought there should be a line in Hamilton-
street. But if they took the line from its intended
route, they would be diverting traffic from their pro-
perty
zid thus itrjnring their interests. It would be
better it' Mr. 'l.7.a'n coma any another line to be placed
ur).
in Hamilton-street. ,11. e behaved thqht Train's pro-
posals had been received vet'' favour).* ti 4ql. corpo-
ration' of Liverpool, and were likely
42 be carrier cut.
The Birkenhead line would be ready in j:127. and the
.
scheme would probably be in operation by August.

THE MERSEY DOCKS BILL.
The CHAIMAN intimated that the committee upon this
bill would sit on Monday next. He need not tell them
that a strong opposition to it has been got up, partly on
the Birkenhead and partly on the Liverpool side of the
river. Ile thought it desirable that a committee should
be appointed from the board to assist the Dock Board
with respect to the bill. The Parliamentary committee
will sit on Monday next, and it might be advantageous
if some parties could be there on Saturday, to see what
evidence would be required and do all they could to sup-
port the Dock Board. It was easily seen that the
attempts which are now being made to oppose the bill
were direct attempts to damage the interests of the rate-
payers of Birkenhead. They should, therefore, endeavour
by supporting the bill to obtain the great advantages it
would confer upon the Cheshire side of the Mersey.
The opposition from the Liverpool side was chiefly because
of the false notion that every parcel would be charged
additional toll ; the opposition from the Birkenhead side
was based upon the principle that they ought not to
improve their ferry, because such improvement would
injure the property of other people who refused to come
forward and accommodate the public, as the commis-
sioners are doing, by establishing an improved commu-
nication between the two sides of the river. He
thought that such objections would not have much
weight with the committee, but that the bill will be
carried.

Mr. GOUGH said there was au opinion prevalent out
of doors that the public will have to pay, by increased
tolls, for the improved accommodation. He wished to
know if such was the case.

The CHAIRMAN felt very glad that Mr. Gough had
mentioned this. He himself believed that the opinion
was a very general one, but it was erroneous. The
principle was simply this, that the commissioners should
pay the Dock Board one-fourth of their receipts in con-
sideration of the improvements. Thus, if they charged
4s. for the carriage of a parcel, ls. would be handed
over to the Dock Board. He believed that from the
great facilities which this means of passage afforded they
would be able to materially decrease their tolls. At
present there was a great daculty in getting
parcels delivered from Birkenhead to Liverpool, and
from Liverpool to Birkenhead. The iutended ,system,
however, would obviate all these difficulties, and the
convenience to persons on that (the Birkenhead) side
would be greater than one could easily imagine. Car-
riers would be ,establisl4 in Liverpool to receive and
transmit parcels. The system, had been tried in

America, and found very successful. An American
gentleman Who was speaking to him upon the subject
wondered how they had-managed so long under the
present system.
Mr. Itiin said his impression of the matter was this,—
that as the Commissioners have a certain schedule of
tolls which they were allowed to charge, it was not
proposed by this bill that those charges should be
exceeded, but that one-fourth of the receipts should be
paid, for the approaches to the landing-stage.
The CHAIRMAN—You are quite right. We are
limited by Act of Parliament to certain charges for
goods, &c., but we think that the increased facilities, we
will have are worth paying 25 per cent. for. He went
on to say that the public would have to pay no addi-
tional charge. It was open to any of the other fer-
ries to come forward and say to the Dock Board, "We
will produce our books; we have received £2,000, and
we will give you £500." He believed that when the
thing came before the committee all the difficulties
would vanish. He was glad this would be so, as there
seemed to be a strong improssion in Liverpool that
every one crossing over would be charged extra toll.
In reply to a question from one of the monbers,
The CHAIRMAN said this money was not to be paid for
the use of the stage, but for the use of 250 feet of the
ground belonging to the Dock Board. The stage
was built in consideration of certain parades which
were the property of the Commissioners, and
which being of comparatively little value to them
were given to the Dock Board. That bad nothing to
do with the £60,000 now to be expended in approaches.
They were thus getting for their 25 per cent., not only
the use of the stage, but the improved approaches to it.
The money they would pay would be in perpetuity.
Ml'. BRADLEY said that considering the great expense
and lose of time incurred by porterage under the present
plan, he would be rejoiced to see so great an improve-
ment in operation.
Mr. WALKER proposed that Aft. Aspinall, Mr.
Keightley, Mr. Harrison, and the chairman be appointed
to the committee. These names were approved by the
board.

_
Dr. BAYLIS gave notice that he should move at the
next meeting, that the meetings of the board be held in
the evening.
This concluded the business.

LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY.

(Before Mr. HOUOHTON and Mr. E'nEsToz.r.)

A ROW, A BROKEN FINGER, AND CRACKED HEADS.
William and Bridget Walsh, husband and wife, who reside
in Collingweod-sreet, and a young man named John Hickey,
were charged by Policefofficer Wilson, 703, for having broken
one of his fingers. The prisoners had their hands, arms, and
heads bound up, and were covered with blood, and seemed to
have come out of a fierce conflict : their clothes were torn into
flitters. The policeman seemed to have come off only second
best, for he was bandaged up also. Mr. Cobb defended the
ptisoners. The officer said at half-past seven the previous
evening he saw a crowd in Collingwood-street, and on going to
see what_ it was, he saw a drunken man, who was very dis-
orderly. He was proceeding to arrest the man, when the man
Walsh, wile vat tipsy, attacked and knocked him down. The
woman then came UP Witk i piece of wood, and struck him on
the head and knocked him down, and when he got up she hit
him on the 'lrma and broke one of his fingersinto smash. Tc?
Mr. Cobb : I knocked him two or three times on the head, but
they were not "gentle taps "_I gave him. Officers 777, 468,
and 473, were examined, and it appeared that the parties got
into Scotland-road, where a crowd of at, least 500 persons col- •
leeted, and an alarming riot took place. The NValshes, hew-
ever, appetred to be the most furious of the lot, and fought
more like tigers than haman beings ; stones and sticks, and
everything available, were 'used, and ,leverel other policemen
came from the station ; they had to use their sticks very freely,
and for some time the battle raged with fury. Offleer 473 was
singled out by the two Welshes, who gave him a great thrashing--
the woman particularly, who knocked him down clean on two
occasions with a piece of wood. At last, a large reinforcement
of police coining up, the prisoners were captured. The charge
against Hickey was for throwing stones at the police. Mr.
Cobb addressed the court for the prisoners, and pleaded in.
mitigation Ale heating the \yalshes got; and he said there
ought to be compassion en the :women, as she was near • her
confinement. lie called two witnesses, vibes sworethat
.they
saw some one policeman break a staff WI the woman's hest d ;
but the police denied this statement, Themagistrates said the
woman was the worst; it was a very bad case; and therefore
they would fine the Welshes £5 each, or three months ; and
Hickey £l, or one mmth's impeisoument.
A WOMAN FIGHT.

Catherine Dugdale, Eliza Gayman, and Fanny Riley, three
young women (sisters), were charged by a female named
Mary Goodall with having violently assaulted her. It
_ _

appeared the complainant is separated from her husband, and

that he had been rather more attentive to Mss Dagdale than
was deemed to be proper.' Tkis le; to ill.feeling, and the
parties met the previous evening Limekiin,iane, and it was
alleged that the prisoners were not sober. They attacked the
complainant and very nearly stripped her head of all its hair,
and one of them cut her with a knife on the forehead, and also
in the palm of the hand, dividing the tendon of the limb. The
prisoners were remanded to this day.

HEADS AND BRICK&

James Culkin, a careless looking young fellow, was .charged

f9r having assaulted John Loftus. It appeared that on the
night of the 29th May, the prosecutor was sitting on some
steps in Newhall:street, enjoying a balmy smoke, when the
prisoner came up, and witho'uf rhyme or reason, Efave kiinl a
blow on the head with a brick, inflicting a wound, vhiiigi
according to the evidence of surgeon Cavanagh of the Southern
Dispensary, was up to the present time very dangerous, but
he is now out of danger.--The prisoner was fined £2, or one
month's imprisonment.
4013IiERY BY A SERVANT.
Matilda Latium, (agec) 14) servant at Mr. G. Hirst, hoot-
maker, Great Crosshall-street,' was charge 4 for 4aving stolen
about 20 pairs of boots, from her employer. The girl was in
the service since last February, and had opportunities of

taking boots. She was not suspected of dishonesty until
Saturday evening, when she was watched, and boots were
found in her possession. Search was then made, and it was
discovered that the prisoner had pledged several pairs of boots
at different pawnbrokers. The prisoner was remanded.