The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-08-06 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS

The monthly meeting of the Commissioners forming
the Board was held at the Public-office, Hamilton-square,
Birkenhead, last evening. The commissioners present
were—Messrs. Cook, Hind, Verelst, Bailiff, Reightley,
Goulborne, M'Donald, Park. Aspinall, M'Whirter, Bell,
Wilkinson, Bradley, Gough, Rae, and Dr. Baylis. Mr. J.
Laird, the chairman of the board, presided.
The Clerk read the minutes of the last meeting, which
were confirmed and adopted.

IHE BIRKENHEAD DOCKg.
The Chairman said : At the last meeting of the board I
was requested to apply to the Corporation of Liverpool
as to what had been done, and what progress had been
made by them relative to the docks. I will place before
which has taken place on the

you the eorresponden

matter.

The Clerk ti

en read t following letters :
Birkenhead, 17th July, 1856.
911 wiP ge me by laying the enclosed
,er and tion. ed by the Birkenhead Commis-
sioners, before your committee, for carrying on the dock
works on this side the water, and shall be glad of a reply
to lay before the commissioners at their next meeting.—
I remain, gear sir, yours truly, JOHN LAIRD.
William Shuttlewortb, Esq.

Dear Sir,—you will obl
rosolution, pass(

Commissioners' Offices, 11th July, 1856.
Dear Sir,—Enclosed I forward you an extract from
the board minutes, requesting you to communicate with
the corporation of Liverpool, relative to the completion
of the Birkenhead Docks.—Yours truly,

(sig,ne
John Laird, Esq.

AMBROSE WALK

Commissi

oners' Rooms, Birkenhead, Ist July, 1856.
General Monthly Meeting.
Re,olved,—That the Chairman of this board be requested
to communicate with the Corporation of Liverpool, in
order to ascertain what course they intend to take as to the
completion of the Birkenhead Docks, as their late appli-
cation to Parliament for an alteration in the plans has
been rejected.—Extracted from the proceedings.
(Signed) A:111311.0SE WALN,
Clerk of the Birkenhead Commissioners.

Town hall, Liverpool, 22nd July, 1856.
My Dear Sir,—l submitted to the Birkenhead Dock
Committee the resolution of the commissioners, requesting
you to ascertain the views of the corporation with refer-
ence to proceeding with the Birkenhead Docks, and our
committee has passed the resolution, of which a copy is
enclosed. —Yours, very faithful,

(Signed)

VIM. SIIUTTLEWORTH,

J. Laird, EsQ

At a meetint, of the Special Committee on the purchase of
the Birkenhead Docks, held on Thursday, the 17th day
of July, 1856, present, Hugh Hornby, Esq.; chairman,
&c., &c.
Read, Resolution of the Commissioners of Birkenhead
as to the intentions of the corporation with reference to
proceeding with the dock works.
Resolved,—That the Town Clerk be directed to inform
the Chairman of the Commissioners that the corporation
are most anxious to proceed with the construction of the
dock works at Birkenhead, and that the same would now
have been in progreas had it not been for the interposition
of unexpected difficulties, of some of which the chairman
is aware.—Extracted from the proceedings.
(Signed) WM. SUTJTTLEWORTFI, Town Clerk.
Town Hall, 22nd July, 1856.

Birkenhead, Ist August, 1856

Dear Sir,—l am favoured with your letter of the 22nd
ult., enclosing copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of
the Special Committee for the Birkenhead Docks, in reply
to my letter, with copy of the resolution passed by the
Birkenhead. Commissioners, reques'ing information as to
the progress of the dock works. Having been informed
that the only obstacle to contracts being entered into for
the excavation and walling of the Great Float was the
consent of Sir Joseph Bailey to a permanent railway being
made through his land, and that difficulty being now
arranged, it will be satisfactory to the commissioners that
I should lay before them at the monthly meeting on Tues-
day next, the following particulars, which I hope the
committee will authorise you to give :

Ist. When will the contracts be entered into for walling
and excavating the remainder of the Great Float up to
Wallasey Bridge, and in what time will the contractors
be bound to complete the work?
2nd. Are contracts to be entered into at once for the
river wall of the south reserve, and altering and
strengthening the coffer dam at the entrance of the tidal
basin, both these works being common to any plan that
may be decided on for the outer works.
3rd. Are the Corporation going on with the outer works
on the plans already sanctioned by Parliament, or do they
intend applying to Parliament next session for alteration ?

The Commissioners of Birkenhead, since the passing of
the act transferring the docks to the Corporation, have
not obstructed the Corporation in any way ; but, on the
contrary, have, during the last session, done what they
could to bring about a satisfactory settlement of all differ-
ences with the railway and other opposing parties ; but
feel strongly that immediate steps should be taken to
commence and carry out the dock works without further
delay, and if they can in any way facilitate the operations
of the Corporation with that view, they are prepared to
do so.—l remain, dear sir, yours truly,
(Signed) JOHN LAIRD.
William Shuttleworth, Esq.

Town Hall, Liverpool, sth August, 1856

Birkenhead Dock Works

Dear Sir,—l have laid before the Birkenhead Docks
Committee your letter of the Ist inst., and I am instructed
in reply thereto to state generally that the committee are
making. arrangements for the vigorous prosecution of
the works, and expect to be in a position in a few days
to invite tenders for contracts. Sir Joseph Bailey has
accepted the proposals of the committee for the land
required for the extension of the railway on the south
side of the Pool, and those proposals now only require the
ratification of the Council which meats to-morrow. Other
material points which have arisen will, we expect, be
finally adjusted this week, and our specifications will then
be forthwith completed and issued to contractors.—l am,
dear sir, yours very faithfully,

(Signed)
John Laird, Esq.

Wit. SHUTTLEWORTH

The Chairman said it appeared from that correspond-
ence that the answers from the corporation were most
satisfactory, and he would also state that he had been
informed that there was every probability that the diffi-
culties that had beset them on a former occasion would
be overcome, as there had been an interview held with the
railway companies, and Mr. Brunel was then there, and
he believed that some arrangement would be come to
which would satisfy all.parties. (Hear, hear.)

. -
Mr. Clark did not think the letters were as satisfactory
as the statement made by the chairman. If the chairman
would see that the promises were carried out, he should
be more satisfied.
The Chairman replied that he should be most happy to
see to the matter, and if the board wished he would com-
municate with the corporation from time to time and see
what was doing. The whole subject would be discussed
in the Town Council meeting on the morrow, when they
would be better able to see what was pine to be done ;
at the same time he should do what he could, and would,
if necessary, make a report and call a meeting, but he had
no doubt but that the works would go on.
The matter then dropped.
THE LIGHTING AND WATCHING COMMITTEE.

The proceedings (with the exception of the changes
which had been made in the police force, through miscon-
duct) of this committee contained no matter of public
importance, and were confirmed without comment.

THE MARKET COMMITTEE

The proceedings of this committee were also confirmed,
after Mr. Bailiff had directed attention to the contract
for painting the market, insisting that the stipulations
with the contractor had not been complied with.

THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.

This comittee recommended that the registrar should
be instructed to furnish a weekly list of the deaths at a
salary of £lO per annum.

Mr. Keightley, the chairman of the finance committee,
directed the attention of the board to a resolution which
had been adopted by to-at committee, to the effect that
while the board rare/A with the principle, the financial
position of the board was such that they did not feel
justified in expending the £lO for the report as
recommended. _ _ _

Dr. Baylis regretted the position of the board was in
such a state, and hoped that when the board was in a
better position that it would be done, as it would much
facilitate the committee in performing their duty.
Mr. Gough moved that the proceedings of the Health
Committee be confirmed, except so far as relates to the
expenditure of the £lO.

Mr. Keightleyseconded the amendment:
Dr. Baylis then brought forward a motion of which he
had given notice. He at great length explained the desir-
ability of adopting the course he 3wrgested, believing that
it would be in every respect beneficial. He earnestly im-
plored the board to take the subject into their c )nsidera.
tion. The resolutions, as amended, according to the
suggestion of the chairman, was as follows :

"That the Health Committee be requested to confer
with the Law Clerk and Surveyor. and draw up such
clauses as may best securo the attainment of the object in
view.

" That the first suitable opportunity in going to Parlia-
ment for any acts, the necessary powers be sought for to
enable the Board to require all new houses within the
limits of their acts to be provided with water-closets in
lieu of the present unhealthy system of open privies."
The motion was unanimously adopted. After which,
Mr.
Rae expressed a hope that the board world not
objectd eats
lto the expenditure of the £lO for the returns of
ship.
The proceedings ,48 he believed it would be a saving to the town
of the Health Committee were then