The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-06-20 00:00:00

THE LATE FIRE.

The sub-committee of works recommended that the
tender of Messrs. Jones and Jump, for restoring the
damages done by the late fire at the premises at the
corner of the Huskisson dock, should he accepted. The
tenderers agreed to complete the works to the satisfac-
tion of the surveyor for the sum of £l,OOO, taking
certain beams at £lO each, and to complete the works
by the 23rd day of August next. 'Chey also recom-
mended that a certain portion of the Canning pier
should, at the request of the officer of the customs be
appropriated for the reception of wreck, instead of the
present site.
These proceedings were confirmed.

THE FORTIFICATIONS 07 THE PORT.
The Chairman then read the following letter from

Lieut.-Colonel Servante, of the Royal Engineers.

Royal Engineer's Office, Manchester, 12th June, 1856.
Sir,-With reference to a resolution of the Dock Committee, dated
15th February, 1855. I have the honour to request you will favour
me with a statement of the measures contemplated with reference
to ,he dock works at the north extremity, near the Bootle land-
marks; and sshether, In the event of there being no immediate
intention to complete these works, the Dock Committee will be pre-
pared to give any facilities, and to what extent, towards 'he further-
anco cf the contemplate I defensive works on the north dock extre-
mity (near the lan'-marks above ref rred to), by completing a
sufficient portion a the north dock wall, filling in, or supplying
materials tor filling in, the proposed site; also, affording access to
the same site, &c. I shall feel obliged by an early reply.—l have

the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
H. SEaVANFE,
Lieutegant-Colenel Commanding Royal Engineers,
C. Turner, Esq., Chairman of the Dock Committee,

Liverpool.
The Chairman said that the letter he had jest read

had reference to what it was proposed to be done last
year. Certain sites of land had been given for the

}erection of forts, amongst which was one on the Bootle
shore, at the extreme end of the property belonging to
the corporation.- When we went to parliament with

our bill for doing certain works at the north end of the

town we granted the sites and agreed to contribute a
certain amount, but since then the bill we had before

parliament for making certain works had been thrown
out, and we now have not the power of doing anything
of the kind that is asked for in this letter. He then
read the following resolutions, which had been adopted
at a former meeting of the committee:—

Memorandum as to terms on which, subject to the rights of the

public if any, as to the use cf the marine parades, and to the
approial of the dock trustees in 'I own Council assembled, and to
confirmation by parliament, to be expressed by :tom! clause to be
introduced into the pending dock bill, the sub-committee of works
recommend to the general dock oommittee the cession to her
IVojesty's government tf s.t:3 on the dock estate for the following
defensive purposes. such sites, and the proposed works thereon,
bemg more particularly described in five plans signed by Captain
Westtnacott, 11. E., and the dock engineer.
1. —A Fort to be situate at the present north-west ex ,remity of
the dock estate, on land, as yet only partially formed. This site
will be a triangle of 100 yards on each external face, with power to
the Ordnance to enclose with posts and chains a further space, not
exceeding, in the whole, 110 yards from the north-west angle, and
beyond this extent the docl trustees agree not to erect or suffer to
be ere :ted any permanent t wilding of any kind or description (except
with consent of Ordnanc.-) upon a farther space included within
the circle of .t radius of 250 ,k,rds front the befo.e.mentioned north-
west angle. such last-mentioned agreem net being in conformity
with the existing stipulation against building on the radius of the
present Fort, by th,, contract dated the 27th Sept., 1850. The dock
trustees do not engage to form the land for this sits, nor to make
or maintain any spec,al, nor other than the present means :of
access to the above, or any otht r of the said defensive works ; but
they do agree to allow free access thereto by their present or any
future roads and bridges, and, so far as respects the said Fort, if
they shall construct further works to the northward, th-y will p•o-
-vide and maiotaitt `sufficient roads and bridges to ensure a prol•er
communication therewith.
2.—Sites for the following batteries, numbered from 1 to 4,

respectively, viz. :
No. 1 Battery.—A portion of the Salisbury south entrarce pier
and parade, extending from the barge entrance 280 feet southwardl.
and occupying the whole width of the parade up to the dock
boundary wall, but gut ject to the provision by the ord,,ence of a
passage of not less than mine feet wide over the top of the sea front
of the battery, for the use of, and to be accessible, at all times to
persons engaged in the docking and undocking of vessels, and all
other persons having lawful business there, and also rese-ving the
passage of five feet w.de (as shown in the plan) for access to this
customs depot in the rear.
No. 2 Battery.—A portion of the central part of the marine
parade, west of the Victoria Dock, about 1:0 feet in length, and
extending backwards so far as to leave a cleir passage of not less
than ten feet. from the dock w .11, a d a passage over the seaward
front of this battery with proper steps thereto, is to be reserved to
dock authorities for all necessar; purposes connected with the docks.
but to be closed at each end by a gate, so as to exclude the public.
No. 3 Battery.—A portion of the south pier head of the Prince's
Basin, about n nety feet front and forty live feet deep, so situate as
to allow a apace of not less than seventy-feet between the south
extremity of the Battery, and the present dock master's house, and
of hot less than twenty feet from the east vtard extremity of the
Battery to the west wall of Prince's Ilasie, as shown upon the plan,
No. 4 flattery.—A portion of the south pier head of the Queen's
Basin, commencing about sixty feet from the south hollow-quoin of
tle south entrance, and extending south-eastwardly about 180 feet,
r,, the south boundary, there, t f the dock estate, and running in
depth to the same boundary to the extent of so mach of the hu'lctng
as is defined by the lines shown og the Van. but to be so set back,
for its whole length, as to allow a clear space of twenty fe.t from the
coping edge of the river wall, for the purpose of efficiently working
the sluices for scouring the approaches to that entrance.
In the event of t II or of any of the works ceasing to be required by
goveta.epnt for defensive pm-p 0.0.. thoy- s, en
dock trustees, tree of ant xpense, and, in the mean:line, are not to
be used for any other purpose.
The Chairman : Those recommendations might have
been very well in tho time of war, but now we are at
peace, and are likely to have peace, it is questionable
whether such preparations are necessary. But at all
events, as parliament have thrown out the bill, we have
no power or funds for doing anything in the matter.
Mr. Brocklebank thought that the whole subject had
been abandoned altogether some time since.
In answer to Mr. Smith, the Chairman said that they
had granted the site fcr the fort at the north end
(Bootle), and that was all that they could do ; and that
if the government intended to proceed with the erection
of the forts they would, in consequence of the bill they
had applied for to parliament having been rejected%
complete them at their own expense.
After some further conversation on the subject, it was
agreed that the clerk should write to the authori•
ties, stating that the committee had no finances at their
disposal, as the bill they had introduced into Parliament
had been thrown out.

CONTRACTS.
On the recommendation of the sub-committee, it was
decided to receive the remainder of the pine planks
from Messrs. Rimmer, as per contract, Mr. Shand exL

plaining that the error had arisen through some irregu-
larities of the surveyor, which, however, could not
occur again, from the investigations which had taken,

THE WAPPING WAREHOUSES

The following recommendations from the sub-com-

THE GRAVING POCK ACCOMMODATION

TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE,

IRON LIGHT SHIPS

This concluded

mittee, with regard to the future working of the new docks
were read—that the Wapping warehouses be worked in
conjunction with the Albert-dock warehouses, under the
superintendence of M►. Cowan—that a separate set of
books be kept--that a warehousekeeper be appointed at
a salary of X,200, and a ledger clerk at £llO per annum
—that if necessary, the following clerks he appointed t
an assistant warehousekeeper, a managing foreman,
four apprentices, an examiner, a landing clerk, and a
foreman keeper.
In answer to Mr. Barber, Mr. Robinson explained
that he believed the working of. the two docks
together would be bent9cial, but it was only an experi-
ment, and the committee would, if they thought it more
desirable, have two establishments, although at the
present time there were no offices in the Wapping docks
to keep a separate establishment,

A letter was read from Messrs. Humble and Co. (to
the following effect), requiring greater graving dock
accommodation.

Sir,—Hav n 4 been irnorumental in drawing up the memorial
recently presented to your eamniittee asking for increased graving
dock accommcntat:on, we trust you will pardon the expression of
our conviction that no alteraton in the system of regulating the
present docks car in any degre, meet the chtficulty For a cc,n,
iderable time past much inconvenience and risk has been ineutreti
by the "high wessure " speed at which the graving docks tiave
been worked by the harbour masters, a preference being g.ven sc4
those parties who would accept the shortest ti,r e ; the result heist,
that many vessels have teen pre into d ck tor a much less time

than they required for the efficient execution of their repairs rather
than suffer further det.ntiou. We are not complaining of this. but
mention the fact as showing that the most has been made of the
existing graving dock space. With regard to the proposal for limit-
ing the period of entry to five weet:s, I believe it would be positivf y.
injurious, inasmuch as, without creating one additional bertl,, ib
woull simply thr„w the burden of delay upon a class of vessels of
all ot era the least able to bear it, namely steamers. NV%
trust, therefore. that your committee will adopt the opinion recently
expressed by the shipbuilders of the po't, that the construction ot
au additional number of graving docks is absolutely essential totbe
well-being of the whole flipping it.terest.—We are, sir, your
obedit rat servants. II lllii 11 LE, G RAYSON. and co.
The Chairman : We have not the means of granting/
the request, as Parliament has refused us the power of
doing it.
Mr. Evans : They did not refuse your making graving
docks, what they refused was your great scheme.
Mr. Smith, after a brief conversation, hoped that the
subject would be entertained by the committee, for it
was one of great importance; for, although the Birken-
head graving docks were opened, still there was not
sufficient accommodation. He wished to know whether
it was the intention of the committee to apply to Par.
li aTrule,: tc forhai
ramnaynbi
repliedl lduring
thlaitie thneeyxtcsoeuld s3imin.ot discuss so
important a questionlasscEthizatA,NaEtotrs.
the present time.
MISCELLANEOUS.

A letter from Messrs. Allen and Co., requesting to
have a place allotted to them at the corner of the Wel-
lington dock, to deposit coals for their steamers, was
referred to the harbour master's committee.

A letter was read from the elder brethren of the
Trinity board,requesting the committee to furnish them
with the costs of iron and wood ships, in order that
they might ascertain the advantages of the former over
the latter.

The clerk was directed to give the necessary informa-
tion.

is business of the committeg

. FOR SALE, a SCREW STEAMER; 66
.4. •)1 tons register. 184 tons gross. length 100 feet,
‘vlri 11, breadth 18 feet inside, depth 10 feet 6 inches
Built at Montrose, of wood, in 1849.
team engine in first-rate

uer, 40-horse power;
speed S knots with 10 lbs. pressure, 10 knots including canvas ; was
coppered at the bows in 1855 ; onsumption of coal 4 cwt. per hour,
bunkers contain 15 tons; has 11 sofa berths in cabin, and is admir-
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Brokers for the Purcuase and Sole of Ships, 5, York-buildings,
Dale-street, Liverpool; and 150 Leadenhall-street, London.

FOB. SALE, the floe fast sailing brig -KATY
PARLING; 163 89-100ths tons ty new act, and about
*, 250 tons o.m. Length, 101 feet 5-10!hs: breadth,
23 feet s_loths ;_ depth, 11 feet 6-10ths. This
nun vessel was Du It at Prince Edward Island ;
launched in the fall of last year ; has a good floor ; sails
well, and will carry largely of dead v eight. In Brunsvr'ca Dock.—
aor inventories and unbar particulars appIyBRETT
nd AUSTEN, Brokers for the Purchase and Sale of Shipa, 5, York-
buildings, Dale-street, Liverpool ; and 150, Leadenhall-street,
London.

FOR SALE, BY PRIVATE TREATY, A
New Iron SCREW STEAMER, of the following
411.W.131,, dimensions, now building here under particular
inspection, Pnd can be ready for •
weeks, v z., length of '-
8 feet 6 inches. '-
her machln,
propelled by
When loaded she is
all respects a very
further particulars ap
street, Liverpool.

ery and coals, I
air of d

reidtb,l6 fee

❑a of carg

:et acting

horse power

,cted to steam 7 knots

e vessel for the coasting trade.—For
4r. GEO. S. SANDERSOS, 13, James-