The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-14 00:00:00

CHEAP OCEAN POSTAGE.

THE REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES
- POSTMASTER-GENERAL.

The annual report of the United States Postmaster-,
General holds.out hope of a large reduction of letter
postage between this country and the, United States..
It is, indeed, a shame that, while for some years letters
have been carried to aid fro between Germany and the
United States for 7d., the letters passing between the
British Isles and the United States should be subject to
the tax of Is. Is Germany geographically, politically,
or generically , nearer ,or more akin to America that 7
England, Ireland, or Scotland? We know that the
reverse is the case. A proposition to reduce the rate of
letter postage from is. to 6d. has recently been made by.
the American Postmaster-General, which, we;egret ta
learn, has not been accepted by our Post-office author -
rities. The present shilling tax is divided as follows :---

United States inland postage
,Sea postage'
British inland postage

2id.

In February, 1857, the British Post-oface proposed
a reduction to sixpence, which was to be divided as
follows :

British inland
Sea

lid.
3
1i•

United States Inland

The American Post-office declined this proposition,
and culpably let the matter rest for two years and a-half.
At length, in August, 1859, it made a counter prOpo'sal„,
which we think should, under all the circumstances,
have been accepted. Postmaster Holt's offer was t.
this effect :

British inland
Sea ' '
United States inland

. ld.

Our authorities veto this scheme, because it gives.:to
the United States a higher inland rate than to ourselves.
In point of fact, it reserves to each country its ordinary
inland remuneration. Our government, however, claims.
tbat our inland service includes a free delivery, which
the American service does not, and that in the convey-
ance.by sea the British packets render a far more costly
service than those of the United States. The United
States answer by pointing to their vast territory, their
magnificent distances, and their thinly-,concentrated
population. They say to us, " Your Post-office is a
source of income, ours is a tax on the United Stites.,
Treasury, to the extent of Sit or seven million dollars
annually.",, The two Postmasters also prOpose to reduce
very considerably the rate on pamphlets, magazine's; and
books; but here again they:cannot agree on any specific
plan We really think that the arguments of the 3
United States-Postmaster as to the greater costliness of
the American postal system, are entitled to great weight,
,1
and we hope that, whether they be right or wrong, our
Government will not, on a point of national, pride, let
the sacrifice of a halfpenny en each letter stand in the
way of a solid gain to the public of sixpence. Let it be'
said in history that one of the immediate consequences
of the Prince of 'Wales's transatlantic tour was a reduc-
tion of the rate of postage between the two countries to
one half its former amount.

*lO. is the ordinary letter rate in the United States, as a
id. with u.s. •

GREAT FIRE AT THE BEEHIVE MILLS,

MANCHESTER.

On Friday morning, about half-past three o'clock,
the Beehive Cotton Mills, situated in Jersey-street and
and Bengal-street, were discovered to be on fire. A
policeman reached the Police Yard with the intelligence
at ten minutes before four, and shortly after Mr. Rose
arrived at the mills with a strong body of the bri-
gade and two engines, six other engines coming up soon
after. The mills, which are the property of Mr. Coun-
cillor Joseph Lamb, are five storeys high, and the fire
broke out in a room above the boiler-house in the Ben-
gal-street mill, the main portion of which is occupied by
Mr. Thomas Patterson Sykes, cotton-spinner, who has
also a mill at Glossop. The pipes connected with the
boiler, in consequence of the great heat, very soon
exploded, with a noise similar to the report 'of a
gun, and aroused the inhabitants in the neighbour-
hood, crowds of them hastening to the spot. At
first the fire was considered so insignificant that it was- -
suPposed a very small supply of water would extingui.4
it ; but on the arrival of Mr. Rose and his brigade,
"the
flames were issuing from about twenty of the windows.
An arm of the Rochdale Canal passes the Bengal-street ,
mill, and an attempt was immediately made to get th*
engines to work in connection with this source of water
supply. The heat, however, was so intense, that they
had to be moved into an adjoining yard. The fire
spread with great rapidity to the Jersey-street mill, the
two mills being connected and forming nearly a right
angle. The most strenuous exertions were made to
stay the progress of the flames, which for a time almost
seemed to be ineffectual, although 13 jets were vigorously
directed upon the burning mass—three from the engines
supplied from the canal, and ten in connection with the
street mains, which afforded an abundant yield of water.
Prom the first Mr. Rose's attention was directed to the
saving of the Jersey-street mill, and, with the exception
of the top room and roof; which were completely burned,
this was happily effected. Had this attempt been,•
unsuccetsful, the loss from th.e fire, heavy as it is, would
have been considerably augmented. Great coolness and
bravery were displayed by the firemen, who maintained
their ground on the burning floor GO or 70 feet high,
and with beams falling around them. The fire in the
Jersey-street, or old mill, was at its height about six
o'clock, and the flames having then spread to the upper
storeys of the Bengal-street mill, the scene was one of
fearful grandeur. At nine o'clock the fire had been so.
far got under that no apprehensions were entertained of
its further spread ; but it was deemed necessary to play
upon the blackened ruins for some hours longer. The
entire damage is estimated at about £25,000, and the
loss will be sustained in different proportions by the .
owner—who is also a part occupant—and the other two
occupants of the mills. The loss will be in some degree
covered by insurances, chiefly in the Manchester and
the Guardian Offices. The two lower stories of the mill
in Bengal-street were occupied by Mr. Lamb as a spindle
and fly manufactory ; the three upper storeys, as well as
the main portion of the Jersey-street mill, were in the
occupation of Mr. Sykes, and the remaining portion
in that of Mr. J. K. Thorburn, also a cotton spin-
ner. The portions of the mills destroyed are the
top room and roof of the Jersey-street mill, and the three
upper storeys of the Bengal-street mill. Censiderable
damage, will be sustained by Mr. Lamb, as there is
much valuable machinery in the lower portionitof the'
premises greatly injured by the water. Nothing is
known as to the origin of the fire. Some of the hands
in the employment of Mr. Sykes were at work until ten
o'clock the previous evening, preparing a large order of
20,000 101 b. bundles, valued at about £4,000. , Super-
intendent Leary was early on the spot with a number of
policemen, and excellent order was preserved during the ,
whole of the fire. Valuable assistance was also rendered
to the firemen by some of the workpeople of Messrs.
Hugh Beaver and Co., the proprietors of an adjoining
mill, and by the hands of Mr. }lee. About three hun-
dred persons will be thrown out of employment for a
time through this disaster. The Jersey-street mill was
de,troyed by fire in 1840, and remained unoccupied until
1843, when it was purchased by Mr. Lamb, and put into
working condition in 1844. The Bengal-street mill was
erected by Mr. Lamb in 1848. A donkey-engine, for
service in case of fire, purchased by Mr. Lamb, had been
put down last week, and it was expected to be fit for
use'next week.

_.!__

THE BIRKENHEAD RAILWAY COMPANY.

Pursuant to the following notice, a meeting of the

directors and shareholders of the above company was
held on Saturday, the 12th instant, in the Secretary's
office, Birkenhead :

"Notice is hereby given, that the next ordinary half-
yearly general meeting- of the company will be held at
the company's offices, in Cathcart-street, Birkenhead,
on Saturday, the 12th -day of January next, at noon
precisely, for the general purposes of the undertaking.
"The transfer books of the Company will be closed
on Monday, the 31st instant, and remain so &Ail after
the meetidg: $, Chairman.
JOILISTON, Secretary. .
" t'ompany's Offices, Cathcart:street, Birkenhead,
18th December, 1860."
The meeting was presided over by Samuel D. Darbi-
shire, Esq , of Pendyffyrn, Conway; and amongst the
other directors and shareholders present we observed the
following gentlemen :—Thomas H. Holderness, Esq.
(Deputy-Chairman), of Liverpool; William Titherington,
Chester; John A. Hobson, Manchester; Win. H. Petit-
jean, Manchester ; Joseph Harger, Birkenhead; H. C.
Beloe, Liverpool ; J. Rogers, Chester ; &c., &c.
The CIIAIRMA.N called on the Secretary to read the
notice convening the meeting.

Mr. W. Jouisszoll then read the notice, and was about
to,read the report also, when
The CHAIRMAN remarked that, probably, as there was
such a paucity of sharelibldeis in attendance, it would
not be netessi* have the report read, as, doubtless,
P.lliiresent had copies of it in their hands.

Mr. TITHERINGTON--The report is very short, indeed,
and there will not be much time occupied in the reading
of it.

The CHAIRALIN—Oh, very well ; so then I suppose it
is the pleasure of the meeting to have it read.
The report was then read as follows
, REPORT OP THE DIRECTaItB

the ProDrietdrt at the Half-yearly getiefai meeting, held at
the bbritpfinills Office§i thtlitartLstreet, Bikkenheadi on
gaitirdaY, 12tH 1661:
he Pri3prietots at the last half yearly generat Meeting were
infoihik that the agreement for the working the undertakine
Fit* the Birketahead Railway Company, by the London and
North-western Railway and Great Western Railway Companies
was completed, for the term of 999 years, subject to the
a pprova! of the Board of Trade. On the 16th of November
last the Board of Trade granted a certificate of their approval
of the agreement, and on the 20th of that month the two
companies were placed in possession of the rad Way, working
stock, Stc„ and arc now in pursuante tlibreWith working the
traffic of the line.

In (imitate° With the arrangement, a bill has been pre-
pared and deposited with Parliament by the three companies,
for the ensuing session, for the absolute transfer of the rail-
way to the London and North-western and Great Western
Railway Companies, jointly, subject to the terms entered into
between the Birkenhead Company and the two companies.
Under the provisions of the agreement, the dividend on the
consolidated stock of the company, for the half-year ending
31st December last, will be after the rate of 2} per cent., and
will be payable on Monday. 21st instant.
Stern. D. DARBISILIMS, Chairman.
Birkenhead, sth January, 1861.

- •
The CHAIRMAN then addressed the meeting. He said
that the report was short, but, he hoped, satisfactory,
and, consequently, he had only to say a few words to
them. It was, he thought, rather pleasing to find that
they were unable to hold their meeting at the exact time
appointed for that purpose, in consequence of the non-
attendance, of a sufficient number of shareholders, this
fact, per se, showed that the shareholders were perfectly
satisfied with the position of affairs, inasmuch as they
did not trouble themselves about attending ; and they
seemed not to think it their duty to come in large num-
bers to call the directors to account: (hear, hear.) He
had now only to state, in referent° to the report, what
in fact appeared oh the r'a'ce of it, and that was, that the
aanctiott of the Board Of Trade had been obtained for the
agreement for the working of the undertaking of the
Birkenhead Railway Company by the London and North-
Western Railway, and the Great Western Railway Com-
tianies, completed for a term of 999 years. This
ipproval and sanction had been obtained after a
considerable amount of delay, and after a great
number of memorials had been presented to the Board
of Trade against the arrangements which the Birkenhead
company had entered into, and which the company had
taken very good care to make operative only within the
powers granted by the act of Parliament ; so that they
would thus see that the memorialists gained nothing by
theirmotion— There was one rather curious circumstance
connected with these memorials, and that was the very
strong family resemblance that could be traced amongst
them. TAlriugh.) One appeared to be so very like the
other, that, a person could scarcely distinguish them.
(Laughter.) It also stated in the report that a bill had
been prepared and deposited with Parliament by the
three companies, for the ensuing session, for the absolute
transfer of the railway to the London and North-Western
and Great Western Railway Companies, jointly; subject
to the terms entered into between the Birkenhead Com-
pany and the two companies. The object of this clause
was, as they were all aware, to . carry out, or rather to
transfer the undertaking entirely to the two companies.
This was done to give the two companies more absolute
control over the property, and to relieve the Birkenhead
company also. It would likewise have this beneficial
effect, that it would entirely do away with the necessity
of having a separate board. Of course, so far as they
(the directors and shareholders of the Birkenhead Rail-
way Company) were concerned, this would be an advan-
tageous arrangement, and not merely to them, but far
more so to the other two companies. Of course, if any of
the shareholders present desired to ask a question, or to be
informed on any particular matter connected with the
report, he should be most happy to give every informa-
tion his. power. , (Hear, hear.) He declared that
under the provisions of the agreement, the dividend on
the consolidated stock of the company was at the rate
of n per cent. He then moved that the report read be
received, adopted, confirmed, and entered on the minutes.
He asked if any of the shareholders had a question to
ask before the motion was seconded.
No person having made any observation,
Mr. ROGERS said, I beg' leave to second the motion.
The Cu AIRMA.N then proposed the next resolution,
that the dividend for the half year ending the 31st of
December last, as provided for by agreement, dated the
31st August last, between the Birkenhead Railway
Company and the London and North:Western and Great
Western Railway Companies, on the consolidated stock
of the company, (as declared in the report) to be after
the rate of 21 per cent., and be payable on Monday the
21st inst.

Mr. TITNERINGTON—I have great pleasure in second-
ing that resolution.
The CHAIRMAN—That is the entire business of the
meeting, gentlemen. (Hear, hear, and laughter).
Mr. ROGERS—I beg to propose a vote of thanks to
our excellent and esteemed friend the chairman, for his
~ble and dignified conduct in the chair, and the praise.
worthy manner in which he discharged his onerous
duties. (A laugh.)
The motion was seconded by Mr. Beloe, after which
the chairman returned thanks ana the meeting separated.

A MUNIFICENT GIFT.—On Friday the National Life-
boat Institution sent one of its best double-banked
lifeboats, accompanied with a transporting carriage,' to
Llandudno, near Liverpool. The cost (X 200) is defrayed
by two ladies,• resident in Liverpool, in memory of a
departed sister, and the boat itself is named The Sisters'
Mernorial. —A-commodious and substantial Muse 'has
been built for the reception of the lifeboat, her stores,
and carriage. In fact there is probably not a more com-
plete lifeboat establishment on the whole coast than at
Llandudno. •

THE ADELPHI PANTOMIME.—" Prince Peerless " con-
tinues to have a triumphant run. New " points" are
made nightly by the artistes concerned, and duly appre-
ciated by a discriminating audience. Mrs. F. Lloyd,
Mr. Steyne, Mrs. Dentith, Mr. Swanton, and Miss
Henderson, invest their characters with an esprit which
could not fail to be successful. On Wednesday last (the
juvenile night) one of the largest audiences ever seen
within the walls of 'this theatre bore testimony to the
success we are now recording, and to all appearance this
pantomime will continue its run to Easter. The little
army of volunteers are especial favourites, while the
harlequinade, with Mr. Cousens, Gardner Boleno, Mr.
Matthews, and Miss Beach, increases, if possible, in
rapidity and rollicking fun. The persecuted " bobby"
deserves a word of praise for his neat and cleanly appear-
ance; in fact, every one concerned appears to do his or
her best to continue the run of this successful piece.
'COMMISSIONS SIGNED.—By the Queen : 3rd Man-
chester or 40th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps—H.
W. Heaton, late of I4th foot, to be Adjutant from the
Bth December, 1860.—8 y the, Lords Lieutenant : Lan-
cashire-22nd Lancashire Artillery Volunteer Corps—
H. K. Gill, gent., to be Honorary Assistant Surgeon.
2nd Lancashire Engineer Volunteer Corps—T. Duncan,
Esq., to be Captain ,• C. Sherlock, gent., to be First
Lieutenant ; T. Duncanson, gent., to be Second
Lieutenant.—Memorandum : Her Majesty has been
graciously pleased to accept the resignations of the com-
missions held by First Lieutenant J. Railton in the sth
Lancashire Artillery, and of Captain J. Fenton, in the
24th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps. Cheshire—
Earl of Chester's Yeomanry Cavalry—Cornet T. H.
Marshall to be Lieutenant, vice Palin, resigned ; P. E.
Warburton, gent., to be Cornet, vice Oust resigned
2nd Cheshire Royal Militia—Her Majesty has been
graciously pleased to accept the resignation of the com-
mission held by Captain N. W. Stephens in the above
regiment, from the 7th December, 1860.
EXPLORATION OP THE INTERIOR OF • AFRICA.—OR
Saturday at noon, a meeting of cotton brokers, and other
mercantile gentlemen, was held at the Cotton Salesroom,
for the purpose of bearing an address from Mr. John
Petherick, her Majesty's Consul at iihart7n, with
reference to the proposed further exploration of the
interior of. Africa. His Worship the Mayor, pre-
sided, and briefly introduced the lecturer to the meeting.
Mr. Petherick stated that Government, having fitted out
an expedition from the South, had refused to make any
further grant ; and his object was to appeal to the public
generally, under the auspices of the Royal' Geographical
Society, for the further expedition, to
organisation of a
be cold
, by
should .himself. His proposal is .that it
Proceed from his residence at Khartown south-
ward towards Bondokora, where be hoped to meet Capts.
Speke and Grant, in command of the expedition starting
from Zanzibar, and to whom lie would render assistance
with the view of discovering, as expected, in the imme-
diate vicinity the sources of the Nile. The speaker
eiPre,sed his concurrence in the views given by Consul
Henson before the Royal Geographical Society, that
cotton was to be found in the interior, indigenous, and
not merely in -the form of- plant, but' of a trie,iirid-
that with proper cultivation it could be made to yield
au abundant supply. A vote of thanks was passed to
Mr. Petherick, and several gentlemen handed over to
him donations in promotion of the object in view. A
vote of thanks was also passed to the Mayor, and ter-
minated the proceedings.

LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.-SATURDAY.

(Before Mr. RAFFLES.)
WHO STOLE THE GOOSE?

ThomailValinsleq; a never-ma Y-care sort of lookink

homo, was,pat to the bar on a charge of baying stolen
" the goose," belonging to john King, of St. John's
Market. The long pending inquiry made by the boys
in the streets, and the men in the pantomime, and the
wits in the taveriis and other places of, ,‘,11,10 stole the

goose ?" has at length been answered; gild the delinquent
bas thus been found. out. , The prosecutor eatised seine
brighter 14 !,he manner in narrated the loss

pf."goosey,"! which was somewhat aftei: the -following
fashion. Having, made a bow,that would have -graded
any professor of '" Here we are," in the pantomime,
smiled graciously- around, and thus addressed his wor-
ship. Mai it pleaSe' your hOnour, sir, I purchased' a
goose for 4s. al'. yesterday, and 'intended it for
my own , consumption, (Laughter.) I laid it nicely.
down behind the stall, and when I went to look for it I'
found it had turned Walker—(laughter)—at all
.events
it was flown out of that, whether
,on the wing or other-

wise I can't say. I never suspected Torn would do
such. a
,thingi,-as.-1 know hini for. Years and. always.
thought the best of. him; lio*efer, human nature is-
frail, and Tom's nature wasn't fit td hold out against a.

fat ioose. Here Tom interrupted the speaker, and
said John, you know it wasn't me ; it was the drink
that done it In r_cply to Mr. gpffiCs the prosecutor
Said a witness saw the prisoner take the goose, and hide

it behind a stall in St.'.Tames's Market. A Witness was
called and proved this interesting fact. Prisoner : Jem
Hayes knows where it is, and it was the drink that done
it all. 'Prosecutor! If I
.get the goose replaced, as it
was for my own consumption, I won't press the charge.
He is a man I know for years, and I did not think he
would do it. It was finally arranged•that the glitise, or
one in its place, or the value thereof, should be given
to Mr. king for his own "consumption" by the ,priso-.
net) and then the latter was set at liberty, so that, after
all, the question of 4 Who stole. the goose not yet
settled in a satisfactory way.
THE OkßelE OF .tOitGEltt AGAINST 1‘1111";.
• . CATTEItELL.. z

In our paper of Thirrpday„Wereported at length the
charge made against Ars, patterell, by. Irs, liarris of
Berry-street,' for fererrY. The accused was then liberated
on her husband's bail. The case came on again on
Saturday, when Mrs. Catterell appeared to answer the
charge. Mr. Deighton, instructed by. Mr. Cobb,
appeared for 'Mrs. Catterell. Mr. Raffles asked chief
superintendent- Kehoe, was. there any more evidenee in
the case ? Mr. Kehoe replied he was not aware of
anything . additional in the shape of evidence ; in fact,
the Matter 'had. been taken out of his handS altogether,
and put into the hands of Mr. Walter, the public proSe-
cuter. Mr. R,affies said if there was no farther evidence,
in the case, he hall made up his mind, what to do; but,
perhaps it would, be better to send for Mr. Walter, and
hear what he had to say. After some time, Mr-Walter
appeared in court, when Mr. Raffles asked him if he had
any more evidence to offer in the case. Mr. Walters
said he had not. , The , only evidence was the signing of.
the post-office order by the prisoner Mrs: .Catterell'; but
he had not the Terser/there who sent the money. Mr.,
Raffles said that would make very little dilterence,
in-
deed, as it was very donhtful, iti his mind, whether the
money was not paid into the till. of Mrs. Harris by Mrs.
Catterell, as the latter alleged that she had paid it into
the till, and there mis'no evidence to silOW that'she littd
not, and therefore he would, give her ,he benefit of the
doubt, and discharge her. After some ;•short conversa-
tional.discussion, Mr. Raffles said—As there is no farther
evidence in this case, must discharge the accused. .Mrs.
Catterell was then discharged. Mr. Deighton then said,
now that the prisoner was discharged, he thought it his.
duty, not only to the public, but to himself and the pri-'
soner, to say something in reference to the manner in
which she had been treated. After a long imprisonment,
in a bad state of health, because she could not find hail,
she took her trial on Tuesday' last before the RecOrder'
and a jury, .and, after .a long and patient trial, that jury
acquitted her of the charge. One, would have thought that
after such suffering she would be allowed one night's
liberty; and in a Christian country like thii one would have
thought that humanity and justice would have suffered
her to enjoy her liberty one night; but no, before she
left the building, when she had been aequitted by the
jury, she was again arrested'and carried back to priSon
by what were. called two officers of justice, with-
out any Warrant or authority whatever.: The next
day she , was brought before this cenrt, when the
public:AroSeeueor was brought in to. proceed in the
charge against her, against all justice, hUmanity, and
reason: He (Mr. Deighton) did not' wish to make any
charge against Mr... Walter, because that gentleman
could not tell how the Wide imposed on him ; but he
did not think such conduct was calculated to uphold the
respectability of the law, which ought to be administered
purely, without any'fraud being practised by the police
force. Having said thus much, he thought he lad per-
formed his duty. Mr. Raffles said, since he had heard' the
case last time, be had seen the Recorder on the subject
of the trial. He found that the facts were as stated;
and that the jury, after two hours' deliberation, returned
.a verdict of not guilty. The point of the forgery was
brought before the jury by the learned Recorder, and
they having had a doubt about that,, gave her the
benefit of the doubt, and acquitted her. If she were
now sent for trial it would be substantially putting
her on her trial h second time ifor the same 'offence,
so that he would hot deem it' his duty 'to send her
for trial, but give her the benefit of the doubt, of
the jury and discharge her. He must, say that
although the jury discharged her, they did not
impute perjury to .Mrs. Harris. Mr. Kehoe said, in
regard to the police, they had ,no alternative but to
take Mrs.- Catterell into custody, as' she Was given in
charge to.the. officers by Mrs. Harris for forgery. Mr.
Raffles .said Mrs. Harris had suffered by' somebody.
Mr.:Kehoe—She has been brought into the Bankruptcy
Court. Mr. Cobb-r And deny it has been by .niy
client. Mrs. Catterell was then finally discharged.

, ;.,SUSPICIOUS CASE.
Detective officer Marsden brought up a boy named
William Henry Pearson, on a charge of having stolen
10s. 6d. from his employer, Mr. Jackson, •poulterer,
London-road. It appeared that the lad took the money
out of the till, and alleged it was due' to him for wages.
On the Sunday after Christmas Day, the shop of Mr.
Jackson was robbed of £56 in gold, and Marsden said
he suspected some one about the place, and asked for
the lad's remand, which was granted.