The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-06-04 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TIIESDAY

There being only thirty-eight members present at four
o'clock, the House stands adjourned till to-morrow, (this
day.)

THE BIRKENHEAD
DOCKS' BILL.

ANTICIPATED DEFEAT OF THE
CORPORATION.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY NIGHT.

In consequence of the Committee not having broken up,
yesterday, until an unusually late hour, I vas obliged to
leave the room with my despatch whilst the conversation
which followed the announcement of the Chairman, was
proceeding, and was only enabled to announce simply the
unexpected decision of the Committee. I now forward
you the resolutions of the Committe, and an outline of
what followed, from which you will perceive that the pro-
ceedings stand adjourned to Thursday next.
After deliberating for about half an hour after the close of
Mr. Rendell's evidence against the bill of the promoters,
strangers were re-admitted into the room, when
The Chairman, after a few prefatory observations said, the
committee had unanimously agreed upon the following

resolution :

" The committee consider that the evidence that has been
adduced, places sufficiently before them the facts bearing on
the question involved in the preamble, and they are willing
accordingly now to hear couusel, as well in explanation of
the evidence given on part of the opponents, (if by the
vlsvo❑ents such eNplanutiuu be thougut to be necessary,) as
in reply on behalf of the promoters."
The reading of this resolution, there can be no doubt,
astonished all parties, both promoters and opponents, for
the latter had an immense weight of engineering evidence,
in addition to Mr. Rendell ; besides directors a❑d others
connected with the Birkenhead, Lancashire and Cheshire,
and Great Western Railways, and they were not prepared
for the committee being satisfied on every point, with the
evidence (important though it may be) given by their first
witness, Mr. Rendell, when a powerful array of engineering
talent, including Mr. Hawksley, Mr. Abernethey, Mr.
Hartley, and others, had been called and examined, in
support of Mr. Hartley's plans. The promoters, on the
other hand, looked staggered, inasmuch as the resolution of

the committee appeared exceedingly significant of the fate
of the bill. After a conversation between counsel and

ts, on behalf of the promoters,

Mr. Hopo Scott, addressing the committee, said, that
their resolution had taken him completly by surprise, and
under the circumstances he should be glad if the committee

would grant him until Thursday next in order to give time
for communicating with parties at Liverpool, as to the
course which he should pursue.

The committee at once assented, and there was an adjourn-

ment to Thursday at noon.

I understand that last night there was a considerable rush
down to Liverpool of members of the town council, dock
committeemen, and others, who have been in the committee-
room daily, since the proceedings commenced, and, in all
probability, to-day and to-morrow will be fully occupied in
discussing the question as to what is the most advisable
course to be pursued in the present ticklish position of the
bill promoted by the corporation. It would be idle to con-
ceal the fact that, in the opinion of those most conversant
with the proceedings of the committee "up stairs," the
decision of the committee on this bill has sealed its fate,
and is only the forerunner of their declaration that " the
preamble is not proved." Even many who have given evidence
in its favour hold this opinion now, and an eminent engineer
who was called on behalf of the promoters remarked to-day,
that unless some compromise was entered into amongst the
several parties between now and Thursday, his conviction
was that the bill would be lost. The truth is, and it is
useless to deny it, that there can be no doubt of the com-
mittee's having been much impressed' with the statements
made by Mr. Rendell in favour of retaining the
great low water basin, which is already sanctioned
by parliament, as an essential part of the original plan
for the completion of the docks. In defending the reten-
tion of this basin against its abolition, which Mr.
Hartley's plan involves, Mr. Rendell not only insisted on
its many advantages, but he also endeavoured to show
that in the event of its being abandoned, the railway
companies, who had spent a large sum of money on the
faith of its construction, would be heavy sufferers.
Another very strong impression said to have been made
on the committee is Mr. Rendell's statement that esti—
mates for the low water basin plan are ..200,000 less than
the estimates for carrying out Mr. Hartley's plans. In a
word, the gossip in the committees of the house to-day is,
that Mr. Rendell has demolished the evidence on the
part of the promoters of the bill, and that the bill itself
will be " squelched" by the committee.

ROYAL INSTITUTION SCHOOL.—On the 2nd of this month,
Mr. John Parry, late Miff scholar of the above school, was
elected to an additional scholarship at Corpus Christi Col-
lege, Cambridge. Mr. Parry stood first of his year in the
examination, and also obtained the annual college prize of
a silver cup.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Monday night a boy, named
Henry M‘Givan, aged four years, who resided with his
parents in a court off Jamaica-street, was run over by a
lorry in Greenland-street, and died yesterday in the Southern
Hospital from the effects of the injuries he had sustained by
the accident.
GoRGoN LAndr.—One of the most splendid lamps ever
erected in Liverpool is at present being put up in the
angle between the Custom House, Salt House Dock, and
Strand-street. It was much required in this place. It is
of enormous dimensions, and will be capab'e of illuminating
a considerable portion of the neighbourhood.
ST. ANNE'S DISPENSARY AND EYE AND EAU INSTITU-
TION, 9, ROSE HILL.—New patients entered on the books
last week, viz. :—May 31st : Relieved at the institution,
164 ; relieved at their own dwellings, 51 ; cases of prevail-
ing epidemic, 0. Total 215. Visitors, Mr. E. Watts and
Mr. T. Kirk, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Jos. Kitchen,
Esq.