The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-06-08 00:00:00

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Bishop of Chester will preach in his Cathedral
next Sunday to the volunteers of the city.
The Liverpool case of "M‘Larty v. Middleton" was
before the Vice-Chancellor on Wednesday:- HE found
that the Chief Clerk's finding, resulting from the former
trial, was, incorrect,, and the case must go back for that
to be varied.

AccIDENt. —Yeaerday, while a labourer named James
Dooley, residing in St. Anne-street, Birkenhead, was
employed on board a steamer in Sandon Dock, he accf-
dentally fell -into the bold, and sustained a sutere
Imund on the leg. Ho con+eyed to the
Hospital.
sziiings AGAINST A SURGEON.—A serious
.urge made against a surgeon, a day or two since,
at the Polite-cdurt. A warrant was placed in the hands

of- an• active officer for his arrest. The officer, on,
making enquiry for the person, discovered that he had
sailed for, a distant colony, in a well-known ship, as the
medical officer of the vessel, and tliat at present pursuit
is unavailable.
LECTURE ON CEYLON.—Last night a lecture was
delivered irißope-hall, on Ceylon, with especial reference
to Christian missions in that island, the lecturer being
the Rev. Edatd Mopfaart, M.A., her Majesty's chaplain
at Point de Galle. The chair was occupied by the Rev.
G. W. Warr ; and the lecture, which was of the most
interesting character, and illustrated with beautiful
drawings, was listened to with deep interest and great

attention.
LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS! ASSOCIATION. Last night
the eighteenth meeting of the session of this association
was held in the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street,
When several new Were elected,-some donations
of books announced, and an interesting and instruetiv?
lecture delivered on "Coal Tar," by Mr. Mercer. A
conversation followed, and Mr. Mercer received the
thanks of the meeting.
A REApING Room eon, GARSTON.—OIIe of the most
encouraging features of the present age is the increasing
taste of the middle and loWer classes ter , healthy and
ihstrtictive literature. in Liverpool the plan of having
Cheap and respectable reading-rooms for the working men
.o't the various districts has been eminently successful.
Gaston is also to have a reading room, which will be
supported by subscriptions, and from the unanimous
feeling of approval evinced at a preliminary -meeting
held in the village last night, there can be no doubt of
its ultimate success. Intending subscribers, or persons
desiring the details of the plan ,upon which the reading,
room is to be conducted, should communicate with Mr;
Harvey, solicitor.
TOSTETH PARR GUAEDIA.NS.—MT. H. S. Alpass
Presided at the weekly meeting of this board yesterday ;
and the other members present were Messrs. Joseph
Wilson, John Wilson, Carter, Harrison, Baynes, Leigh,
Layland, Ogden,. Miller, Grindrod, and Johns.—The
governor reported that .the number of paupers in the
house was 361, against 349 last week, 19 having been
admitted and 17 discharged during the week.—A cheque
for £77 was granted for out-door relief.—The other
business was the appointment of a nurse and school-
master for the workhouse. To the latter situation Mr.
t. Bedford was elected.
New PATENTS.—The following are the new patents
for the week ending June s:—William Hutton, of
I)urham, "Improvements in preventing the destruction
of the timbers of piers, docks, and other structures, by
the action of sea worms and other marine animals."--
John Chatterton and Willoughby Smith, of Middlesex,
"Improvements ,in insulating telegraphic conductors,
and in the treatment of gutta percha."—William Read-
man, of Bedford, a Improved apparatus for communi-
cating motion to roller blinds, maps, and other articles."
—Ferdinand Potts, of Birmingham, " Improvements in
the mode of manufacturing or finishing tubes for certain
Purposes."—John Macintosh, of Middlesex, " Improve-
ments in the manufacture of waterproof and other
fabrics, and of moulded or formed artieles."—William
Horatio Harfield, of London, " Improvements in wind-
lasses, capstans, and shackles for chains."—Conemuni
ea'Ssel from the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 4;
Clayton-square.
HEALTH COMMITTEE.—Yesterday, the usual weekly
Meeting of the Health Committee was held in the
Council-ohamber,—Mr. Alderman Dover presiding.
The other members present were —Messrs. Shell,
Crellin, Crosthwaite, Haydock, Ridley, Nickson, Steel,
Job, Stitt, Bowring, and Beckwith.—The borough
engineer, building surveyor, and inspector of nui-
sances, reported various particulars of the operations in
their several departments during the week, from which
it appeared that 256 nuisances had been inspected, and
means taken to iemedy them. 995 houses in the
unhealthiest distriats, containing 3,013 apartments, and
569 cellars, had been put under examination with the
view of improving their sanitary condition.--The medi-
cal officer reported that the number of deaths registered
in Liverpool during the week ending last Saturday,
was 187, being 37 less than the average of the corre-
sponding weeks for the last ten years. The deaths in
the parish were 125, and in the out-townships 62.
Deaths from zymotic diseases were less than ever recorded,
23—or about 12 per cent. of the general mortality ;10
were from measles, 8 typhus, 2 croup, 1 hooping cough,
1 diarrhoea, I syphilis. From small-pox and scarlatina
no death was recorded. The average zymotic mortality
in the corresponding week of former years was. 55,
against 23 last week. From diseases of the lungs the
deaths were 74, being about the corrected average, but
7 more than in the week previous. An application was
read from the chairman of the Houseowners' Association,
desiring tables of the number of houses built annually
since 1846; and the rental at which they are estimated
to be let ; also the number of houses erected in
Toxteth-park since 1846, and the rental of each .of
them. It appeared that these returns would neces-
sitate the employment of extra clerks, and the
application was considered most unreasonable, and was
therefore refused. Mr. Stitt introduced a deputation
from the inhabitants of Everton, consisting of Messrs.
Leicester, Morrison, and M'Connell, praying that the-
Council would clear out and place rails around St.
Domingo pit. Large concourses of persons were said to
assemble at the pit, especially on Sundays, and swim
their dogs therein, occasioning a very great nuisance.
A member said the expense must be sustained by the
ratepayers of Everton ; and Mr. Leicester replied'that
he had no doubt the ratepayers of Everton would gladly
pay for the removal of the nuisance ; if not, the deputa-
tion would pay for it themselves. The subject was
referred to the Sub-committee, which meets on Tuesday.
WORKHOUSE COMMITTEE.—:The usual weekly meeting
of this committee took place yesterday. Present Mr.
Churchwarden Cropper (chairman), Messrs. Denton,
Smith, Satchell, Peck, E. Byford, Williams, Lightbouwl,
Goodacre, and J. Whitty. From the accommodation
returns it appeared that the number of paupersin the este-
bliehment last week was 1,865; during the week there bad
been a decrease of 5, but as compared with the corres-
ponding week or last year there was an increase of 76.
The returns of medical officer stated that the num-
ber of sick paupers in the wards last week was 592 ;
new cases since, 136 ; discharged; 113 ; 'died, 30. The
number remaining for treatment was 05, including 28
fever and 20 itch cases. The number` of destitute
persons relieved in the vagrant sheds during the week
Vag 176- men, -116 women, 28 children ;- total, 319,
being an increase of 31 persons Over tMi• return 'of the
previous week, and,- when' compared with the corres-
liondbig leek of list year, an increase of 31 peraorss.
The governor, Mr. Carr, reported that the butter sup-
plied
by Mr. Price was bad, and that daring the week
he had returned five firkins to the contractor. Some
conversation took place as to 'the mode of supplying
beef, and ultimately Mr. Denton moved that they ,
return to the old system of contract, by buying an entire
carcase instead of pieces "as now. On a vote being
taken the motion was lost by 4to 3. A letter was read
from Mr. ChillinglaW, Ilately dispenser in the Work-
house, stating that owing to the trouble he had been
put to in attending to the sufferers from the' Great
Tasmania, the sum of £2 10s, voted since by the
committee, was totally inadequate, and he therefore
enclosed a note of his fee, amounting to,£lo 10s. The
sub-committee appointed to consider and report upon
the applications by the resident medical officers for an
improved scale of rations, submitted their report. It
stated that after having given the subject their best
consideration, they had come to the resolution of
recommending a more liberal scale of rations
to the matron and medical officers, viz., 2 oz.
of tea, 4 oz. of coffee, Q lb. of moist sugar, t lb. of
currants, f lb. of raisins, lb. of bacon, and 1 dozen
eggs weekly, in addition to the rations at present
allowed. They also recommended a bottle of ale or
porter instead of the draught ale now supplied, and
that vegetables, other than potatoes, should, when in
store, be occasionally issued to these offi
Applica-
tions were also read from various official:eors.
of the Work-
house, representing that the quality of some of the
rations supplied to them•was very indifferent, and that
-the-- quantity of others -furnished -was not sufficient.
Mr. Critchley, chairman': of the sub-committee, .being
Absent, it was agreed that the subject shOurled
dlie over
till next meeting. The following letter was a

TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKHOUSE COMMITTEE.
SIR,—We, as the contractors for the last ten years alluded to
by Mr. Turner, during last Thursday's proceelings, beg to
'protest against his unjust remarks, reflecting discredit on our-
selves and the officers of the Workhouse. His insinuations
with regard to our dishonourable conduct towards a fellow-
tradesman we repel with disdain. confident it would in no
degree influence the gentlemen of your board. At the same
time, it was most unjustifiable and ungentlemanly to mix up
our firm in an affair with which we could have no concern.
It appears that what we have hitherto considered a mark of
distinction, in being chosen for so long a time to supply the
Workhouse, is no proof, in Mr. Turner's opinion, we merit
approval,---rather does it show some sign of injustice in the
administration of parish affairs.
However superior the meat reguired by Mr. Turner for his
"private trade," we cannot permit him to deprecate the article
we supply to the general public ; but we believe it is without
precedent a man in the discharge of his public duties vaunting
the excellence of his own wares, to the disparagement of his
.neighbours."—We remain, your obedient seftants,
JAMES ItALL AND SoU.
76, St. James's-street. and 2, Preeson's-row. June 6, 1360.
Considerable diseusiion then ensued with respect to the
necessity for paying some attention to the memorial
sent by certain old men to the Poor-law Board, setting
forth certain grievances under which they laboured.
-The...Governor having been examined as to making
their situation more comfortable, it was agreed, on the
motion of Mr. Williams, that the floor of their sitting-
room be boarded, and that fires be again lit, The
other business was of minor importance,

MERSEY DOCKS AND HARBOUR BOARD

' The usual weekly meeting of this' board took place
yesterday. • Mr. C. Turner,' chairman of the board,
presided, and there Were present Messrs. Laird, Little-
:dale, Mondel, Segar, Smith, Shand, Langton, Evans,
Hubback, Boult, Darbyshire, Holme, Arnold, Bushell,
Lockett, Graves, Forwood, Moss, Rounthwaite.
The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

WORKS COMMITTEE,

The minutes of this committee were then submitted.
They stated that the engineer having represented the
necessity for caulking the marts of the Princes Landing-
stage, they hall agreed tci recommend that the same be
e:meuted, They else contained a recommendation to
the effect that the offer of Messrs. Thomas Vernon and
Son, to construct a landing-stage at, Woodside be
accepted, the contract price being .E 74,624 9s 9d, and
that the securities, Wm. H. Dawes, of Birmingham,
and George Dawes, of Barnsley, be approved of.
The minutes also included the following letter from.
Messrs. W. and H. Laird:—

TO THE CHAIRMAN OT THE H REOURMASTERB' COMMITEEE,

LIVERPOOL.

Sin,---We ship annually a large quantity of cannel and other
coal for the United States, in the North Docks. It would be a
convenience to Us, and the tradetienerally, if we were allowed
to take it alongside in rail Way wais, the low-level on
Wellington or Sandon Dock ; butt on
the, Price you charge for
the use of the rails, viz., 6d. per ton, is altogether prohibitory.
At present vessels loading this kind of coal take in their car-
goes in Stanley or Collingwood Dock. They are limited to
these docks, as the canal boats, being very shallow, are not
fitted to go.from one dock to another without great risk. The
rate by the canal to the ship side is 2s. per ton; the rate by
rail to the North Docks is ales 25., and landage on to the quay
6d., so that this 6d., with the 61. added by you, stops all
business being done by rail.

As this Niel pays the Harbour Trust 31d. per ton in export
dues, and as some advantage will be gained by relieving the
; Stanley and Collingwood Docks of ships, for which there is
hardly accommodation there, may we enquire—First. Whether
you Will sanction the use of the low-level rails for loading
cannel ? Second. Whether you will allow the use of the rails
without charge, seeing that no charge is made for the use of
the docks to Platt or lighters for Idading vessels in illy of the
Liverpool Docks? !•

We may remait, respeeting the cannel coal, that it does not
make the same amount of dust as other coal.---We are, your
obedient servants, w. & H. LAIRD.

Mr. SHAND moved the confirmation of the minutes.

Mr. HOLME having made a few remarks,
The CHAIRMAN said that the letter raised many dif-
ficult questions, which would require to be decided by
one. committee or another. One question which it
raised was, whether they could give the "use of the rails
free of charge. On this point he thought that if they
granted them for coals they, of course, must grant them
for all other classes of goods as well. He did not say
whether or not this proposal should be agreed to ; but he
'considered that the matter was a very serious one. Then
.again, the question occurred as to whether it was possible
.to use the low level railway for coals. If it was put in
use for the shipment of coals, it was quite clear that it
must be used for something else ; and he was afraid there
.was not sufficient space at their disposal for doing so
The entire subject was one which both the Works Com-.
'mittee and the Harbourmasters Committed 'should take
into consideration, with the view of bring up a
recommendation to the general board. In the mean-
time the engineer might give his opinion as to how far
it was practicable to ship coals by the low level line.
Mr. HARTLEY, the engineer, said the only quays at
their disposal for the purpose were those at the north
end; and to have the quays crowded with quantities of
coal waiting to be shipped, would cause a great deal of
inconvenience.

Mr. HOLME was su►e this was a question which
would press itself upon theft- attention when the opening
of the Birkenhead Docks was under consideration, for
certainly the different railway companies would not
consent to be taxed sixpence per ton when they could
have free rails on the other side. He could not see
how there was any difficulty in the way, because suffi-
cient opportunities could be granted for the shipping of
coals. It was a matter to which they ought to give
their most serious attention. When they saw the very
great facility on the Thames, and found that a consi-
derable portion of trade was being diverted from Liver-
pool in consequence of the insufficiency of their accom-
modation, they ought to give the subject all the consi-
deration they could.

Mr. LOCKETT considered that there was not sufficient
space at their command for the more speedy shipment
of coals.

Mr. EVANS remarked that if there was no room, then
it was no use entering any further into the matter.
With regard to the other side of the river, he did not
think that facilities should be given gratuitously there.
The CHAIRMAN suggested that the whole subject should
be referred to the Harbourmasters Committee, and the
Docks and Quays Committee. (Hear, hear.) He might
state, with referenCe to the remarks of Mr. Rolme, that he
was as anxious as any one to make the facilities as great
as possible, but they must remember that the circum-
stances of the two sides of the river were totally
different. ,
Mr. LAIRD remarked that the question had been
asked several times as to whether the corinnittee were
bound to accept the lowest offer for building the
landing-stage at Woodside. They were bound by no
such condition ; but for the satisfaction of the public,
he might state that the tender of Messrs. Vernon and
Son was the.owest. (Hear, hear.) •
Mr. BOULT said he understood they were about to pro-
ceed with the constructing a stage upon plans which had
not yet received the sanction of Parliament; and it was
quite possible they might be defeated when they applied for
that sanctien. In the meantime, therefore, it would be
competent for any interested party to apply for a man-
damus to the Court of Queen's Bench, to stop the work.
He considered that it would be inadvisable to accept
any tender before receiving the requisite power from
Parliament.
_ Mr. HARTLEY observed that the landing-stage to be
constructed by Messrs. Vernon and Son was exactly
that which had been already sanctioned by Parliament.
The other bill was a matter to be considered sub-
sequently. •
Mr. BOULT—Then we have not the whole cost of the
erection before us ?
Mr. HARTLEY—Certainly net.
The suggestion of the Chairman with regard to Messrs.
W. and H. Laird's letter was agreed to.
The minutes were then confirmed.

WAREHOUSE COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of this committee were then read.
Mr. HU33BACK, in moving their confirmation, stated
that with reference to the storing of cotton in Birken-
head, arrangements for storing 24,000 bales had been
made, and they were in course of transit thither.
Mr. GRAVES inquired whether it was intended to
store guano at Birkenhead ?

Mr. LAIRD said that the allusion made at last meeting,
was only to the warehouse, and he wished now to ask
whether it was intended to store cotton in the mahOgany
shed ?

Mr. HUBBACK stated in reply to Mr. Graves that the
committee had received a letter from Messrs. Gibbs,
Bright and Co., requesting storage room for a quantity
of guano in the warehouse at Birkenhead, but without
stating when the cargo would arrive. The committee could
not consent to allowing the space to lie unoccupied in an-
ticipation of this arrival, but they were willing to receive
and consider any future application. , They wished to
retain the guano trade, but still they could not consent
to allowing the premises to be left empty. In reply to
31r. Laird; he said it was contemplated, to store part of
the,cotton in the mahogany shed.
Mr. FORWOOD wished to know if the cotton was to
be turned out to accommodate the guano.
Mr. GRAVES said that Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and
Co. had done everything they could to induce shipowners
to go across to Birkenhead, but, in consequence of the
extraordinary indemnity demanded, they had refused to
do so.

Mr. LAIRD was desirous of knowing the total quantity
that could be stored in the warehouse and mahogany
shed.

Mr. ARNOLD said he estimated them to be capable of
accommodating about 35,000 bales.

The CHAIRMAN understood that cotton could be stored
here on the same terms as it could anywhere else.
The minutes were confirmed.

MARINE COMMITTEE.
The minutes of this committee included a report from
the Marine Surveyor as to the capabilities of the new
lifeboat. It stated that the trial had not been made—in
favourable circumstances, as the water was compara-
tively smooth. It stated further that the crew had
objected to her construction in some respects; but he
would not advise that she should be altered in any way
in the meantime.

Mr. MoNDEL moved that the minutes be confirmed.
Mr. GitAvEs suggested that as the lifeboat had only
been tried in smooth water, and considering the discus-
sions which had taken place at that board on the subject,
some early opportunity should be taken of testing her
full powers in rough water. He thought it would be
advisable to experiment before putting her into actual
service ; and he hoped, therefore, that a competitive
examination of the boats would take place on the first
occasion a gale of wind was blowing. (Hear, hear.)
The minutes were then confirmed.