The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-09-07 00:00:00

HEALTH STATISTICS

Mr. RIDLEY said he would take that 'oppertunity of
calling, the attention of Dr. Cameron to a subject that
had been "mentioned at the Council-meeting on the
previous day, It was as to whether a return could not
Da made weekly, in addition to the regular return, of
the number of persons who died who actually belonged
to the.town. Such a return would be very desirable.
" The CHAIRMAN said he had that matter upon the
PaPer, as also another, which emanated from the Council
meeting.
Arr. ILDLEy ,wished to have a weekly return of the
number of deaths of persons who actually belonged to
the town, and those who had died after being in it lot
or eight days.
The CUAIRMAN (addressing Dr. Cameron), wished to
now if such a return could be prepared. '
Dr. CAMERON thought is very possible, and said—As
the registrar's returns were more likely to afford facilities
~ Or getting the information, he would see after them.
'they would, however, not be strictly correct, bat it
'would be an approximate number. •
Arr. BEcßwirn could not see how there could be any
difficulty in the matter.
ItinLEy said if such a return was prepared, it
Would show the number who actually belonged to the
t"'n, and the numbers would not he augmented by
such arrivals as was the case when 'the sick and dying
soldiers came in. -
On the motion of Mr. Shell, Dr. Cameron was
I:ecillesttd to consider the matter and report thereon to
thenext meeting.,

18t VISIT TO THE SOCIAL SCIENCE AT GLASGOW.
141-. M'GowAN said—l, am told that some unkind
lemarks were made in the Council yesterday in reference
l° 'll9 attending the meeting of the Social Science
"sociation .at Bradford. I don't think I • deserved
them, and the proceedings were not very gracious, seeing
that I could not have the opportunity of setting myself
tig,bt. In reference to Mr. Rathbone, he, as a-member
'3,' the association, prepared a paper to read, which I, as
another member of the association—quite his equal •
before the meeting, and in exercise of a privilege which
nobody has a right Co question,,pointed out the fallacies-,
he published to the disparagement of Liverpool, and the
deputation .of a sub-committee, which went to London ,
upon-the question of the sanitary state of the [aging-
bouses, adopted my view of the question. I beg to dig-
a3.oNV all desire to get pleasure trips at the public
.xpense: My, sole wish has been to refute the incorrect
statements of the Registrar-General as to the sanitary
%tate of this town. After what has occurred, I ask the
"talnittee to excuse me from taking part in the ap-
proaching Meeting at Glasgow; and, without wishing
to be-rnde to the committee, respectfully decline to go
thereg

UT. Avisow said it was with deep regret that he had
hid the decision to which Mr. M`Gowan had arrived
4"d still he was not surprised at it ; but he hoped he
I°llld reconsider it. He was sure that the papers Mr,
livan had read' at different times to that association,
ict 47e been very valuable, and have imparted a great
deal °I information on a most important subject (hear,
hear), ; therefore he sincerely trusted that nothing
hlss°lll.d prevent his attending at the meeting. (Hear,
)
1111 r. VERNON said he also very much regretted that
r. 11`Gowan should have come to the decision he had
sd °lle. He (Mr. Vernon) felt very strongly in the
„ ,
~matter, and he thought that the visits of the officers to
meetings had been productive of great good, to the
ell7anaittee, the town, and the officers themselves.
i got a great deal of very valuable information, and
:de use of it. He did not see how Mr. M'Gowan
4'i4 have arrived at any other conclusion than he had
done ; but he hoped he would alter it, and by all means
to
t 6 Glasg ow. For his part he thought it would be
tight
that the officers should be paid their expenses—
they Were engaged in sanitary motives, and were getting
later
tnatton. for the town and themselves; and if any
:10111e,rtditure was incurred, he did not see that they
az 'I. spend their money more advantageously to all.
ear, hear:)
The CHAIRMAN said Mr. M'Gowan was not his own
ta
taaathtei in the matter, and had taken the matter up
tta; Warmly. He said there was no officer of the
st, .4110 had fewer holidays and more devoted himself
the public interests.
Nl`Gowarr expressed his thanks for the eulogiums
sellh had been passed upon him by the committee, and
tel' the matter would be allowed to stand.
made' Bownixa s said, after the remarks that had been
ecihe should have acted precisely as Mr. M'Gowan
ad
(41. e ; but as there were great benefits to be derived
/vo„,.,such visits, he hoped that he (Mr. M‘Gowan)
iii'lefarther consider the matter.
matter then dropped.
Nwr„ti,,
4-,S AND THE SURVEY OF THE SUBURBAN

DISTRICTS.
at Th
CRAlltritax then introduced the question raised
f
'4e- Council application from the West
-Jeri) --- upon app
Y,Local Board of Health, for Mr. Newlands, the
srolio. h
I it, engineer' to prepare a drainage survey for that
°calit
tee-kon.ftcier,la brief conversation
on the motion of Mr. Sheil,
'Yere eu• bY Mr. Bowring, the following gentlemen
.4_4 elected a sub-committee, to consider and report
-acialiry, Stitt,
bn,e the whole subject :—Messrs. Avison, Bowring,
Steel, Nickson, and Crosthwaite, with the
rislll_ au and Deputy-chairman to the committees.
"18 Concluded the proceedings of the committee.

to tti:°"•—A woman, named Ellen Bakal, was sent
'd
r,_urt e sessions for trial, from the Birkenhead Police
o A
ofwearinguaY, on a charge of having stolen a quantity
apparel from house iu Seacorabe.

MERSEY DOCK 21ND HARBOUR BOARD.

At the weekly meeting of this board, yesterday, Mr.
Charles Turner presided.; and the other members present
were—Messrs. Rankin, Hubback, Arnold, Shand, Evans,
For w ood, Boult, Smith, Graves, Laird, Holme, Hutchison,
Segar, Smith, Bushell, and Lockett.

• THE WORKS COMMITTEE.
It had beet agreed to accept the tender of Messrs.
James Thornton and Sons for a supply of padlocks; and
of Messrs. G. B. Thornycroft, for a supply of the best
Staffordshire T. iron, for the roof of the Stanley Ware-
houses.-3.lessrs. W. H. Anthony and Co. had written
to the committee, requesting lanips to be placed in
Regent-road, in ftoiat, of the timber iterelatfts' offices,
Canada Doek, .and the letter had been left to the
enginett. t. • :„ ; ,
Mr. Rankin having moved the confirmation of the
••
proceedings,
Me Bo,tri said some time ago,there was a reference
made to the Works and WarehoUse CoMmittee respect-
ing the providing Of additional, *arehOuse Elkonimoda-
tion. He should like to know whether any action had
been taken upon that reference; as the time was getting
on when they should Etp.ply to Parliament. •
The CIIIIRMAN said Mr. Boult wag awn ttlf:
Works Committee bad I#ongrittbefore the.boArd it plan
of large sheds at Birkenhead; villoh the bliiiiietr had
been diftcted carry oat, and which would largely
relieve the demand.

Mr. 13c'?1:LI: was aware 9f that; but since tbql
board had adopted a substantive resolution, which had
been referred jointly to the Works and Warehouse Com-
mittees, on the subject of increased warehouse accom-

modation.
The CHAIRMAN did not think anything had been done.
The Engineer had been away, in consequence of his
health: If they constructed those large sheds, they
should relieve the pressure; they must do one thing
before they did another, and he questioned if anything
more was possible at present.
Mr. LAIRD said in walking over the ground he found
the foundations of the sheds were being got in, and the
brick-work would proceed immediately. Mr. Hartley
had told him that he should do that hits-elf, and get
tenders for the wood-work. There was one matter
which Ile wished o,merition, thdt was the necessity for
a large crane at Birkenhead:, SeVeral parties connected
with the East
•India, trade• ,lad seen him on.: the subject,
and he .wa.s conealent a. 'crane '.of.that sort would be a
vast accommodation to - the port, .as different parties
shipping goods to the East Indies might take land from
the board, and send their ships alongside for the goods,
without taking the trouble of carting them to- the quay.
When Mr. Hartley came back, he should revert to the
subject.
The CHAIRMAN said Mr. Hartley had come back the
day before yesterday, but he was suffering from
diarrhoea, and was unfortunately not able to attend
to-day. He expected; however, to be able to attend
the Works Committee on:Saturday. - •
Mr. FORWOOD asked if any new provisions, in the
shape of tanks, &G., was being made at the Stanley
Dock warehouses, as their repair was in progress,
for. the PreientiOn. of Are. He saw that there
had been an important, a Very serious report presented
to the Water Committee. He was not going to bring
that forward, for he had seen it was premature.
The CHAIRMAN—The report was not adopted..
Mr. FoawooD said this was a question \Vhi'cl must
not sleep ; and as he saw that they were making
repairs at. the Stanley WarehoUses, it was important that
the committee shonld report what stePs•they were about ,
to take as a protection against fire. The'vast amount of
property entrusted to their care rendered it imperative
that they should adopt the very best plans for the par-
pose. They had the power of protecting those ware-
houses, and should establish public confidence as to the
preservation which they could throw over property
entrusted to them by the mercantile community. If
such a report Were not forthcoming should give
notice of a motion: to the board that the whole question
be submitted to the engineer for. consideration. It was
quite &idea that so long as they were dependent
open the town for ptoteetion froth. fire they viei•e lean-
ing upon a broken reed.
.Mr. Houirp, said Mr. Tohn Hartley had got the plans
With the view of making suggestions, and it was impos-
sible to move till Ar. Hartley Came. He hoped'they•
would be able to sagest sothething which *odd be of
benefit.

kr. Fonwoon--.l3nt the Stanley warehouses are only
one branch. Let us have the whole question.

Mr. tAlltD hoped Mr. Hartley would be let alone for
another month. He had got no Test.

The CHIIRMA.N was sure Mr. Forwood had no occa-
sion to press that matter every week. The Works
Committee were anxious to get on.

Mr. HOLME said more was required than Mr. or-
wood was suggesting ; and if he waited ,for a week he
trusted he would find that more would be done than be
now wanted.

The proceedings were then confirtheit
• On the motion of
.Icri. linhiS.ol, 'Seconded by Mr.
Arnold, the nroeeeaings a the Warehouse Committr,y
were also read 3 confirmed.

THE MARINE COMMITTEE.
`the tender of Messrs. Ogden and Barnes for repairing,
Spencer's Spit Bell Beacon iv as recommended for acalk,t-
mice ; and it was also' recommended that James Martin,
aged 27, be appointed to fill 6, vacancy -in the crew of

the Liverpool life-boal.
A report to Mr. Hartley, from Mr. J. S. Gisborne, as
to the progress of the electric-telegraph to Holyhead,
was then read. It was to the effect that the poles had
been all fixed between Point Lynas knd the Ormeshead,
and he•expected the wire to be suspended alla in work-
ing order on Thursday evening next. The other wilts
continued in good working order; the only obstruction
which had taken place along the line having been occa-
sioned by the gale on the night of August the 25th,
which had caused some branches of a tree beyond
Abergele to foul the wires. These having been cut
•away, the line bad worked as usual since.
Mr. Graves moved the confirthaVion. Ot the proceed-'
ings, and Mr. Holmes stetael the motion, which was

carried.
Mr. RuslkEtt asked if there was not a letter from
Mr. Gillmore as to placing buoys across the river.
The CHAIRMAN said there was last motel:, .aila it was
referred to the Marine Committee lb report upon. It
was for guiding the Woodside ferry-boats across the
river in foggy weathe?, and 'they had " Resolved, that ,
this committee cannot recommend the adoption of the
plan proposed by Mr. Gillpiore."
Mr. ARNOLD should like to ask any member of the
Marine Committee present whether they had any report
from the Marine-Stteteyor upon the subject..
The CtiAtaltiN said the chairman of that committee
did not appear to be present. Perhaps he would Lair
the question when he was there next week.
Mr. ARNOLD—Perhaps some other theraber of the
Marine Committee was present.
The CHAIRMAN .Itobody auswers, sir. Referrink to
the minutes, he said, there. were five members present._
at the time; but none were in atiendatiOe :that day. .
A joint report, 'froth the &Vine surveyor and the.
water bailiff, tvits mid, however. It was to the following
effect :—" With reference to. the letter of Mr. Gillmore,
the marine surveyor and water bailiff consider the plan.
of mooring buoys for the ferry steamers is calculated to
be detrimental to the navigation of the river, as it is
' impossible lnit collisions with beacons or buoys in the
fairway of the river must be fregneht, in proportion
more or less to the number Of the beacons and buoys.
The plan would give rise to Many questions of loss and
liability to collisions and in the interest of navigatiolt
it woe altogether undesirable."
Mr. Atalom said that was so far satisfactory; and he
thought it should have been cepfed into the proceedings.
The proceedings 'of the. Pilotage Committee were
then read ; and on the motion of Mr. Shand confirmed.

VANAGEMENT OF THE DOCKS AND QUA

The minutes of this comniittee-com---pio-ed. report
that the American ship Middlesex ma grounded on the
sill between the Nelson dock and Salisbury dock. It
appeared, also, " inquiry had been held into an
alleged robbery by dock-gatemen of glass articles lying
on ote of the dock quays.
On the motion of Mr. Lockett, the
proceedings wetb
confirmed.
The proCeedings of the Master t'orterage Committee
comprised a recoramendation to purchase 3,000 super-
ficial feet of one-inch Anglish elm, for scale bottoms,
&c ; and the tehaer of. Messrs. Gardner and. Lee had
been accepted.
Mr. tOULT said, as touching those 3,000 feet of elm
timber, he should like to ask the chairman how many
scale bottoms he intended to make, or how many years'
stock he was for, laying in ?
Mr. ARNOLD 'said it was not se, large a stock as it
seemed. It was not appropriated to scale bottoms
alone; but they found it a favourable opportunity for
laying in a stock. They had been accustomed to buy
in the dock yard, where one department of the trust
charged the other 4d. a foot. They were now buying
it at 21d. (A laugh.)
Mr. Botryr would call the attention of the Works
Committee to that remark. It appeared they were
charging too much for their elm.

COMMUNICATIONS.

A letter was read from Messrs. James Watts and Co.,
of London, who are fitting up with engines the City of
Dublin Steam Packet Company's, new steamer, the
Munster, asking leave to work the engines in the dock,
with the vessel's, head against the dock wall. In Lon-
don it was the usual practice.
Mr. D. Mason, the secretary, said there was a resolu-
tion already which would authorise that to be done.
This he read. It was to the effect, " That the committee
having considered an application by Mr. Laird to try
some new engines in the SUndon Dock, it was resolved
that the former resolution be rescinded ; and that here-
after all steamers may try their engines in the Sandon
Dook, with a view of having them proved; that vessels
be moored heads, to the North-wall, and paddles and
screws to be turned slowly," &c.
Mr. LAIRD said there was a permission of that kind
granted, but the harbour-master had watched, and did

not allow the engine to go 'above three or four strokes.
Without going half-speed the permission was of no use
whatever: In 1.,211p1em,, •were to be tried
they allowed theni to go at fill speed! Without per-
mission, indeed, to go at full POirer t *as impossible
to get the engines into order. This was the ttiAoti that
the Munster was so long in getting ready.
Mr. Hovit did not agree to the proposition. It was
well known that some of the dock walls were on piles.
It was well enough to try them in docks where the
walls were founded upon the rock itself ;—and that was
one of the reasons why Mr. Hartley had objected to
have vessels tried in them.

The CHAIRMAN said the board were desirous to give
every facility, but they must do it subject to such
regulations as the engiteer thought necessary. If the
letter were referred to the Doeiss and Quays Committee
they Might liaiVout.,master on the'subject.
Mr. LAIRD said, as' to Piles, Chi- plate Where the
vessel was to be tried this week was the Victofia Dock.
Mr. ARNOLD. said there was no presshre upon the
wall. The object was not to try.the.power of the vessel,
btit how many revolutions the engine would make.
The enaip.:tiAtt,z-lint the Engineer says it disturbs
• the bottom of the,dock. That Was Off cif the objection,
' because the vessel did not.move, and it excavated a hole
the dock
ai the bottom' ' not be Lon-
ItllOiD thought i'l;l7 btrY4 behind
Ittythltg. • ; .• •
Mr. LOCKETT observed it was jii fely fd the Inightett
to say whether it was safe or not ; and
The subject then dropped.
A letter was read from Mr. Charles Mason, on behalf
of the Birkenhead Railway Company, wishing to know
the decision of the board as to the portion of accommo-
dation which could be afforded to that company, as car-
riers, in the Manchester Basin, on this side of the river.
Mr. FORWOOD complained tbat the board did not
provide proper arrangements for the discharge of goods
on this side of the river.

Mr. lAIRD believed there was no difficulty now,. or
would be no difficulty in a short time, in giving accom-
modation to the railway company. One company had
had a monopoly of that dock, and had sub .let a portion
of it, and the question for the board was, whether it
was not better for theM to deal With the railway Coin-
Patties add Other teliarits theMselves, arid get
_tlie best
terms they could fOr tho aeeonimedation. Theii shOnid
teen, have 4 these Parties working the trafc for the
OA of the public. , ~ .
•. The CHAIRM,A.N said this was rather a vexed question
between the Duke of Bridgewater's trustees and the
other tenants. There was sathe dispnte as to how much
was sub-let, but the question had been several times
considered, and now all parties in the dock were under
notice. The Works CoMmittee had poWer, and could
now deal with the wholerquestion. It was not a simple
question. The duke's trustees bad to be hear d, as well
as the other parties, but the Works Committee had to
recommend what would be just to all.
FoßwooD said they had not only .to consider the
Bridgewater trustees aid the railway companies, but
the general public traffic, for which there was a great
want Of accommodation atpresent, and for which it was
their duty to provide.. ,
The Ci4iiotAN . said that •Was ftirther question
Which had never been considered, the question of
carrying prod4ce froin 0r.6 side of the river to. the other.
For the board to do that would be travelling out of
their provinee. They had nothing to do with hiring
steamboats or barges.
Mr. LAIRD—But if I want to send goodS.across, or
Mr. Forwood does,.we should have accommodation for
the transthission, of those goods On both sides of the
river.

Mr. FORWOOD said that was all that he meant, and
The CH.tinm4x said he had misunderstood his
remarks.
The letter was referred.
A letter was then read froth 0. reside& at Tl,:rerton,
Whose !tithe *e aia not catch, sUggesting that for the
prevention of fire in the dock warehonses, hats should
be provided at the end of each stack, where the men
might eat their meals, and where they might be per-
mitted to smoke, depositing their "
pipes and smoking
radierials there before resuming work.
INIr. LAIRD thought there was a good deal in the
suggestion, because he had tried it an. Ms o*u. preinisss.
At meal-times; fires were often discovered in several
parts o the yard.. tie decided then to build a room
for the men to dine in, where they had their own
regulations, and where they allowed smoking for a
quarter.of an hour or twenty minutes. By that means
he had no doubt that he had prevented a deal of pilfer-
ing and also loss by fire.
The CHAIRMAN submitted, however, that the circum-
stances of Mr:Laird's works antheir warehouses were
totally different. Their warehouses contained a_ vast
quantity of goOds very liable to ignition; and the
consequence was that title then *ere all S'earelied When
they.gOt*ithin the dock waits, to see that they had no
pipes of matches about them. If they set apart a
building. for allowing the men to smoke he thmight it
would be difficult to prevent them -carrying their pipes
into the warehouses.

Mr. Evass.--You would be sanctioning and encou-
raging the vice. •
'IIAW LI
the
The Crianoia.ir—ind by, tlip ninnicipa, o
town riot onikty are Partles iiot allowed to smoke in ware-
honses, but to smoke near warehouses.
The subject then dropped.:
A letter from Mr. Inman was readi stating that the
steamer-Despatch, attending on the sea-going steamer,
Kangaroo, then about leaVing for sea, Was, that morn-
ing, ordered to leave the i'rhice'S landing:Stage; to make
room fora lAggige.Lhoat Containing, apparently, nothing
but porter casks. He was sure this need only be men-
tinned to cause an alteration in the bye-laws, so to
give sea-going steamers the preference allowed them by
act of parliament. The letter was referred.
Mr. J. J. Bibby wrote on behalf of the Steamship
Owners' Association, a suggestion. that, to save the great
inconvenience atiCl eipense now occasioned by the
doable manifests, the Board might receive the saine
manifest which had been prepared for the customs. The,
letter was referred to the Finance Committee.
A letter was read from Messrs. lialhead, Fletcher,.
and Co.,
expresitg iitappollitment that they had been
unable to "get a berth in the Birkenhead Docks assigned
for a timber-laden ship, to arrive.
Mr. LAIRD said that raised the tituestidii as to the
want of aecoiiiinodagon fOr the 'timber trade at Birken-
head. He.did 6t know whether the Board were aware
that there had been no aecommodation provided on
either side of the Great Float for timber. It was pro,
bable that some of the timber trade might go there; and
it would be a pity if any of the vessels corning here in
November should clioche to go find that no
accommodation hid ljecii provided. He hoped the ques-
tion would be taken up by the committee, so that they
might not have to alter the quays when it was too late.
'The CrikrailAN hoped the.
_board would leave the
matter in the Bands of the Works Committee. The
walls, he bolievect, *ern at present at their full height;
and till necessity arrived, be trusted they would not do

anything more. of course when the Float was open,
and the necessity arose, the, walls might be lowered, and
in the proper place.
Mr. Bourr thought it .pretty obviots the necessity
would arise, as there Meat considerable local con-
sumption of erAer where they had a population of
50;066, and shipbuilding in progress. It seemed a strange
aitonsaly that in such an enormous dock they should
not have one berth set apart for timber. Mr. Boult
said there was another matter Which he wished to call
attention to. lie observed In the dock accounts just
issued, that the tirkeulicad and Liverpool receipts, on
tonnage and goods, were blended together. He thought
it of importance that they should be kept separate and
distinct, and gave notice of a motion to that effect.
The CIIIIRMIN hoped both sides of the Water would
be worked togethei as 'citi" eacern.; and shOwecl that it
would be iiiijiessible so to separate the accounts as to
Chow clearly the business done respectively in any of
their docks, or in Liverpool as contrasted with Birken-
head. For instance, a vezzel might discharge in one of
the Liverpool docks in two days, and go over to Bir-
kenhead and be two months loading, Yet the Woild have
paid the whole of her dues, inward and outward, in the
dock which she 'first entered to discharge.
Bome conversation ensued upon the subject ; but Mr.
Boult, persisting in his notice of motion, it was accord-
ingly given.
Mr. BusRELL said, as to the letter of Messrs. Hal-
head, Fletcher, and Company, this was the second time
they had made a similar application ; and he could not
think this an isolated case. They Shohld be told that
they had received ainple notice, so he supposed it would
be competent to Mr. Laird to originate a
plan at the
Works Committee, to provide some accommodation for
the timber trade at Birkenhead. There could be. no
doubt they should be'to blame if they remained perfectly
placid.
The CHAIRMAN hoped the board would not consider
that he wished to throw any difficulty in the way; but
the walls were built up, and the few vessels which
entered might discharge in the water. This would be
better than pulling down the walls before they ' ascer-
tained what was wanted.
Mr. HOLME said nobody knew better than Mr. Laird
the difficulty which the Works Committee had in deal-
ing with Birkenhead altogether. It was a question of
what trades would go there, and where were they best
located. Take the upper part of the Pool, and say that
would do for the timber trade, but the coal trade had
chosen to 'go there. He was as great an advocate for
dealing with Birkenhead as any man, but the difficulty was
in dealing with it till some developnsent had taken place.
Mr. small was satisfied, wherever the timber trade
might go, that the most economical way of discharging
and storing it would be in the water.
Mr. GRAVES did not doubt that the Works Com-
mittee would give every facility, but would ask whether
there were cranes laid down for taking the timber out
of the water on to the quay ?
The CHAIRMAN was sure the Works Committee would
do all, under the direction of the Engineer, which they
possibly could do in the muter'. They . might go tea
fast, as well as too slow.
Thy subject theu (hopped.

_ .„.
• , • k .•
This was the .whole of,tb.e gm/11 business, and: the
reporters.were about to recite, when
Mr.. &quir wished them to remain for a moment,
He then stated, by way it was understood of gaining;
that a party were going- about collecting subscriptions
for the establishment of a life-boat at Hoylake, where
the eririirnittee already have one. The paper which was
being hat iced is 6 stilted that L'3so is required for the
purpose.
Mr. BusuELL said the parties called him, and
he saw to some names considerable sums—Mr. Shand's,.
he thought, was one.

Mr. SHAND—I am not aware of it.
THE REVERSION OF THE BIRKENHEAD PROPERTY.—THE

DOCK BOARD AND CORPORATION.

Mr. SEGAR asked what position the negotiations
were in for the purchase of the reversionary interest of
the Corporation of Birkenhead.
The Cita:mmii.x said there was only a permissive
clause WhiCh eriatted them to purchase, and the Corpo-
ration to sell, the reversion of the Birkenhead estate.
A resolution had been passed by the board, under which
he had to Write to the COrPoration; asldng them whether
they were willing to act upon' that permissive clause.'
He had
.had no official reply, but he could tell them
unofficially what had been &Me. Air, Stewart brought
that letter. before the Finance Coininittee of the Corpo-
ration. The committee. c,onsideed it too' important to
deal with withodt first asking the opinon: of the Council.
next Council the matter will Ve bion6lt before
At Illy ►
0
' to the Finance Qointiiitiee for
tlidt hotly; ',tthl teferm • -
:all gilb,cazmittee called fie
consideraff&ii: they
Real Estate comthitti:`, tit Which Mr, Roben:%,9
stone, he thought, but was ha sae, ivdg chain:daft,
That Real Estate Committee bad referred OM subject
to Mr. Weightman, their surveyor, for a report tipoii IL
That report, he believed, had been made to the Real
Estate Committee, and had been once under considera-
tion; but the chairman, he thought, of that sub-com-
mittee was absent, and the subject had been deferred.
This was a week or two since. He bad spoken to Mr.
Stewart several times ; the last time only the day be-
fore ; and he said he would see that the matter was
taken up, and that they should have an official reply.
But he was given to understand they, were willing to act
Under the clause. Cif cotirse the question would be one
6(040 and valuation. fie could only speak of &tun-
officially ; !mit Mr. Stewart had promised him that some
action., shir4d be talieii in the matter: Of course the
only alternative. they 144 was to apPly to tarlianiint, for
compulsory powers to take the revetsient by arbitration
or otherwise.. • .

Mr. LAIRD had asked the question, and was glad to
find that they had got so far. He should be sorry. to
see the Dock Board and the Corporation in an antagon-
istic position; but he could set Cledrly that, unless the
Corporation decided that they should sell, such would be
the case. They should have to give notice of an appli-
cation to Parliament, and upon the Board would be
thrown the onus of attacking the Corporation for the
reversion: He thought that, the matter having been
before Corporation for two months, they were now
entitled to a reply. If they had to go to Parliament it
would lead to a feeling which would not soon settle
down. He trusted Mr. Stewart would keep his promise,
and that, iii 4 week or two; the Corporation would say
they. were willing in setiin tale atfei l y aititrdtion.
The reporters then retired.