The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-02 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.

The monthly meeting of the Commissioners was held
yesterday, at the Public-offices, Hamilton-square. Mr.
Laird presided, and the other members present were
Messrs. Gough, Harrison, Keightley, Bradley, Walker,
Barnett, M'Gill, Whittle, Peck, Baylis, and Aspinall.
From the proceedings of the Lighting and Watch
Committee, it appeared that £5 had been awarded to
Inspector Grier and Officer Spiers, for their meritorious
conduct in apprehending the offenders in a robbery case.
The proceedings were confirmed.
The proceedings of the Health Committee were next
read and confirmed. It appeared that there had been
38 deaths, five of which were from zymotic diseases.
The Law-clerk had been instructed to communicate
with the Mersey Dock Board, in reference to a site for
the Deadhouse.

Mr. Bradley made a statement which wcnt to show
the great advances which had been made in building
operations during the past year compared with pre-
ceding ones.
Mr. Harrison, in a lengthy speech, reprehended the
conduct of the cab-drivers in obstructing the progress of
the street railway carriages. He understood that the
Commissioners had the power to withdraw their licenses,
and he certainly considered that if they so misconducted
themselves as to gc in opposition to the wishes of the
board, these powers ought to be enforced. It was an
un-English proceeding, and he was glad to find that the
most decided opponents of the system concurred with
him in thinking it most reprehensible. He would assist
in getting up a cab company on a limited liability in
order to fight those who persisted in this unmanly pro-
ceeding upon their own ground. He felt convinced
that the only way to put a stop to such proceedings
was by making the promoters lose by following them.
Mr. BRADLEY agreed with Mr. Harrison in his
opinion of the course which the cab proprietors had
taken. There was no doubt the hoard had the power,
and would use it to punish the offenders.
The CHAritmArrr said that as the commissioners had
pledged themselves to allow the thing to have a fair
trial, they were bound to protect those parties who had,
upon the faith of that assurance, invested money in the
scheme. He certainly thought that steps should be
taken to put a stop to it.
Mr. ASPINALL concurred in this opinion.
The CHAIRMAN remarked that a Permissive Bill was
about to be brought into the House of Commons, which
would empower such bodies as commissioners throughout
the country to construct street railways under their own
management, so that so far as the board was concerned,
if they had gone beyond their powers in permitting the
railway to be laid down, the defect would probably be
remedied in a short time.

The minutes of the Improvement Committee were
next read and passed. They did not include anything of
general interest.
From the proceedings of the Ferry Committee it ap-
peared that the receipts for the past month in 1859 were
£1,918 Os 3d; in 1860, £1,935 17s 2d. From the 24th
of April to the 31st September, 1859, the receipts were
L 20,473 17s 6d, the expenditure in that time being
£18,639 7s. The manager had been instructed to apply
to the Mersey Board that gas lamps should be erected at

the south side or new wall. It was resolved that the
hut for selling papers, which is situated at the top of the
ferry slip, should be given to Mr. John Wilkins.
The proceedings were confirmed.
A discussion took place as to the new Landing-stage,
in the course of which the Chairman remarked that it
would not be finished until November next.
Mr. IlAnnisoN said that he was one of the parties
who estimated the costs of this Landing-stage, and he
thought that the Messrs. Vernon ought to pay the
penalties, as it had not been finished in time. He him-
self had contracted for the construction of the stage, and
had charged, several thousands of pounds for penalties,
as he knew well that the stage could not .be constructed
by the time specified.
A document was received from the Temperance
everting to the Permissive Bill, and comment-
--,Res to which the ratepayers were
^f the number of dram shops.
Mr. tspinall took a

Alliance,
ing on the exp.._
subjected, in consequence
A discussion followed, in which
'prominent part,
Mr. Meakin, a member of the hoard, resignea
place.
This was all the business.

DOCK BOARD ELECTlON.—Yesterday, at a meeting
of electors qualified to vote at the election of elective
members of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. The
gentlemen retiring by rotation—Messrs. Eyre Evans,
Charles Turner, -William Inman, Francis Shand, Hal-
sall Segar, jun., and William Miles Moss—were re-
elected Without opposition.