The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-27 00:00:00

JThe _following tenders were accepted, on the recom-
mendation of the sub committee of works :—Messrs.
Jones and Jump, for lengthening the shed on the west
quay of the Trafalgar dock, and to construct and fit two
slides and weather boarding ; Messrs. Gardner and Son,
for papering, colouring, and whitewashing the dockmas-
ter's house on the Queen's pier, and the dwel'ing house
east side of Ne:son dock ; Messrs Knight and Son, for
papering and painting the refreshment aad waiting rooms
of the Landing Stage ; ;qr. G, B. Richardson. for 1,200
sheets hair roofing felt.
Mr. Robinson said, he presatni-d the officials in the
different departments would allow the (lock voters to go
and record their votes on the day of election, subject to
convenience. He did not know whether it was neces-
sary to mention this, but as the election was very near at
hand, it would be very well that the committee should
sanction it by their approval. (Hear, hear.)
The Chairman : I suppose it is usual.
Mr. Gladstone : I think every opportunity should be
afforded to every one.
Mr. Rathbone : Of course it will be understood that
the men go straight to the polling booths and straight
back again.

The Chairman : Oh, clearly ; no time must be con-
sumed beyond what is abQolutely necessary.
In the harbour masters' department authority was
requested and given to the surveyor to let the Coburg and
Union docks run dry. on the 20th of April next, for the
purpose of effecting the alterations necessary to make
the two docks into one, and widening the entrances.
The sub committee also recommended that the charges
for graving dock dues upon extra tonnage, amounting to
220 tons on the steamship Great Pain, be remitted.
Mr. Robinson : A very proper conclusion. (Hear.)

The recommendation was confirmed.
Mr. Brocklebank then brought forward a motion of
which he had given notice, to add other members to the
committee of works, for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration, according to a previous resolution, the whole
subject of dock and graving dock accommodation, taking
into account both sides of the river.

Mr. Lockett : Rave we any right, so far as the Dock
Committee goes, to take into consideration the other side
of the water ?

The Chairman : Not in the sense you mean ; but I
apprehend the sense of the motion is, that in making any
plans for this side of the water, we should take into
account that such a place as Birkenhead exists, and have
some reference to the present working of the whole, and
its ultimately coming into the possession of this estate.
Mr. Brocklebank said, in proposing additional mem-
bers, so as to form a special committee, he was merely
following a precedent. On the last occasion when they
considered the question, certain members were added to
the committee of works. In an enquiry of such an
important character as that, he did not think it desirable
to leave it altogether to the committee of works. His
opinion was, that the special committee should in the
qrst place direct its attention to the entire portion of the
dock estate already unappropriated, with the view of
bringing into operation every part of the estate, as it
could be done with the grea!est facility, and in the most
economical manner, so as to give such facili,ies to com-
merce as were now urgently required. He thought that
at the same time the great question of the river approaches
would likewise have to be considered by the committee ;
and they could not less sight of the fact, that Birkenhead
was now in the hands of the Corporation, and
might be made available for the contain, rce of the
port. When the last committee was formed it consisted
of fourteen. Of those gentlemen, he was sorry to
say they bad since lost the services of six, Messrs.
Shand, Steel, Langsdale, Tobin, Malcolmson, and Greg-
son. The Works Committee now consisted of himself,
Messrs. Bold, Clint, Rankin, Holme, Evans, Smith, Glad-
stone, and the chairman ex officio, making nine in all, thus
leaving five to be added, if the number was to be the same
as that of the former special committee. He would there.
fore propose that Mr. Lockett, as chairman of the Harbour
Masters' Committee, be added ; Mr. Rounthwaite, as the
only member who represented the great steam interest ;
and Mr. Mondell, who had in preparation some plan
which he thought, so far as he had seen and heard, was
an eligible plan to give accommodation of superior kind
to the steam trade. lie would leave it to the general
committee to add the two names remaining, or, if they
thought fit, to allow the number to remain at twelve,
Mr. Ratbbone suggested that some gentleman should
be named to represent the American trade.
After some discussion, it was agreed that the names of
Messrs, Barber, as representing the American trade, and
Hubback, as representing the corn trade, be added.
The motion was then carried, the special committee
being formed as follows: Messrs. Brocklebank, Bold,
Clint, Rankin, Holme, Evans, Smith, Gladstone. Turner,
Lockett, Rounthwaite, Mondell, Barber, and Hubback—
fuurtsen.

Mr. Rathbone expressed a hope that the special com-
mittee might be prepared at least with some preliminary
report in May next.
This closed the general business.