The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-22 00:00:00

240, fell last wi

Same *eek of the preced
parish were 151, and in th

,sight years. The
out 54.
From diseases of the zymotie class the deathstownsh wereips the
same in number as in each of the two weeks preceding, viz ,
51. Of those:thBre were from scarlatina, 17; pooping cough,
10; diarrhcea, 8; measles, 4; typhus, 4; small-pox, 2;
syphilis, 1 ; mumps, 1. In the deaths from diseases of the
lungs there was a decrease of 13, the number being 85.
;The Borough Engineer; Building Surveyor, and Inspec-
tor of Nuisances, reported various particulars of the ope-
rations in their several departments during the week, from
which it appeared that 118 nuisances complained of by
inhabitants had been inspected, and means taken to
remedy them; 1,377 houses in the unhealthiest districts,
containing 4,944 apartments, and 716 cellars, had been put
under examination.
This concluded the general business.

DOCK COMMITTEE

YESTERDAY

The usual weekly meetiniof this committee was held
at one o'clock, yesterday, at the dock offices, Mr. C.
Turner, chairman, in the chair.
Other members present :—Messrs. F. Shand, Palmer,
Robinson, Brocklebank, Rounthwaite, J. Holme, Barber,
Monde', Langsdale, Anderson, Robertson Gladstone,
Rankin, Smith, and Lockett.

The minutes of the last meeting were then read and
confirmed.

The Sub-Committee of Works recommended that
hydrants, as a proyis!on in case of fire, be placed on the
dock quays and at the new dock at Wapping. Confirmed.
The following letter was read is
To THE MEMBERS OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE.
7, Water-street, 19th February, 1856.
Gentlemen,—Rather more than two years ago you gave me
permission to erect a certain number of water foun'ains or
drinking taps on the dock property, and in the dock walls.
Accordingly, four were erected in the walls of the north docks,
one at the south end of the Prince's dock, and one (a standard
cast iron fountain) at the bridge of George's dock.
The testimony of several dock inspectors, dock police
officers, and the enclosed Statistics, show how greatly the dock
labourers, porters, carters, and sailors hate been bcnefitted by
these drinking fountains : —ln a single summer day more than
3,000 persons have availed themselves of this means of getting
" a drink of water, gratis," at one of these fountains ; and,
even in the depth of winter, the . numbers aro very
considerable.

At present there is no drinking fountain south of the Cus-
tom-house. The north and south ends of the new Salthouse
dock shed seems to me places well adapted to receive handsome
polished granite fountains, and, with your permission, I
propose to erect two there, and others at such places as may
be approved of by your surveyor, free of any expense to the
dock estate.—Awaiting your reply and sanction, I remain,
gentlemen, your obedient servant, C. P. MELLY.
The Chairman observed, that he could have no objec-
tion to Mr. Melly's request, which was,:so creditable to
his benevolence. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. J. Holme said, that they were already much in-
debted to Mr. Melly, for the fountains he had erected in
other parts of the town, but he thought that they should
not further trespass on him, by permitting- him to do that
which was really a public duty. Mr. Melly had shown
that the fountains were most valuable to the poor people,
and as they were really a public good, he (Mr. Holme)
thought that in this instance, the dock committee should
erect them.

The Chairman said, that there was no doubt that the
fountains were a public good, and that the statistics
which Mr. Melly had furnished, were of a most curious
and interesting character
IUT

Smith, observed, that he could vouch for the fact,
that the returns were within the truth.
Mr. Mendell said, that the. cost was a matter of no
moment to Mr. Melly, and ai he wished to do good, it
would be a pity to prevent him from perpetuating his
memory in such works.

Mr. -Langsdale said, that Mr. Melly offered alto to pay
for the water, but the water committee would not permit

Gladstone observed that the circumstance was most
Lble to Mr. Melly.

ct edita

It appeared the wish of the committee to relieve Mr.
Melly of the expense of the work, but eventually it agreed
that the chairman should see him and ascertain in what
manner it could be done most agreeable to his feelings.
The Harbour-masters committee recommended that the
permission heretofore given to steam-vessels to test their
machinery in dock be withdrawn. The surveyor reported
that the practice was most injurious to the docks, and
that if it were continued, the Sandon Dock would have to
be frequently ran dry to clear the entrance to the graving
docks, or else those docks would be rendered useless from
the impossibility of working the gates.
Mr. Lockett said that the permission had been given for
the working of the engines only at half speed, but it was
found impossible to prevent the engineers from trying
them at their full power.
Mr. Holme observed that it would be a dangerous thing
to take a new steamer out without trying her engines first,
and the committee should, therefore, pause before they
sanctioned the recommendation. It would be a serious
inconvenience to steam-ship owners, and he looked on it
as another step to torte that trade out of the port.
The Chairman replied that it was a choice of evils. If
it were practicable to try the engines without injuring
the docks, the committee would at once grant the per-
mission, but if it were not, then it should be withdrawn.
Mr. Brocklebank observed that it was simply a ques-
tion of expense. The engines could be very easily tested
in the river.
Mr. Mondell asked if they could not be safely tested in
dock by being detached ?
Mr. Rounthwaite replied that it would not be a sufficient
test.

Eventually, the recommendation was confirmed.
The Finance Committee recommended that Mr. Hewitt
receive 701, instead of 501, for paying the wages. Con-
firmed.

Tide tonolnded the general busineas,