The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-07-04 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY.

DOCK COMMITTEE.-YESTERDAY,

The usual weekly meeting of the Dock Committee was
held at one o'clock yesterday. Mr. Charles Turner in the
chair. The other members present were Messrs. Palmer,
Robinson, Brocklebank, Evans, Gregson, Holme, Barber,

Mondell, Anderson, Ilubback, Bold, Rankin, and Smith.
The annual excursion of the committee to inspect the
lightships was fixed for Monday, the 14th inst„ and it was
arranged that the members of the Town Council be invited.

The tender of Messrs. Holme and Nicholl was accepted
for the construction of an office on the King's pier, for the
water guard of the Customs.

It was announced that the first discharge of goods into
the new Wapping warehouse had taken place; and a
letter was read from the Board of Customs approving of
the warehouses and vaults as stores for bonded goods
upon the usual forms being complied with.
The marine committee recommended that the offer of
Messrs. Cato, Miller & Co.be accepted to repair, for £lO7
145., the damage done to the lightship Albert by the vessel
Arran, on the 7th ultimo.

A letter was read from the surveyor, placing the King
and Queen's half-tide (locks, and the working of the gates,
under the charge of the harbour masters, from the 2nd
instant.

A plan was produced for bricking up a portion of the
sheds on the quay of the Wellington Dock at an estimated
cost of 428.

Wednesday, the 9th:linstant, was fixed as the day for
the annual revision of the list of voters under the dock
act, and Messrs. Gregson and Smith undertook to perform
the duty.

A letter was read from Messrs. McClune & Tamplin,
calling attention to the insufficient berth allotted to their
London, Bristol, and Plymouth steamers in the Coiling
wood dock, and requesting that they might be permitted
to remove to the berth formerly occupied by them in the
Nelson dock.

The letter was referred to the harbour masters' com—
mittee.

A letter was read from Messrs. D. & J. M'Donald, in
reference to a claim made upon them for damages sus-
tained by the Mirzapore having upset in the Prince's
basin on the 9th ultimo, in consequence of the bank having
been allowed to accumulate to a considerable height. The
writers urged a claim on the dock committee for the
damage, and suggested that the question should be referred
to arbitration.

The Chairman said the committee were informed that
the vessel was acting against the instructions of the gate-
man at the time she caught the bank.
The subject was referred to the harbour masters com-
mittee.

A letter was read from the Rev. T. M. Lester, incum-
bent of Kirkdale, requesting that the committee would
make the usual grant of £5O towards the maintenance of
a licensed :room for the performance of Divine Service
on the north shore. The letter stated that as St. Aiden's
church was about to be immediately opened, the applica-
tion was made for the last time.

Mr. Evans: Have we had any enquiry into the religion
of the working people there ? I believe the majority of
them are not in the church.

The Chairman : We are informed that the room is
filled.

Mr. Smith said he believed it was not filled by the
working people connected with the dock works.
The Chairman : The clergyman represents to us that
it is.

Mr. Anderson said he was well acquainted with the
locality, and could state that much good was done by
having the room there. As St. Aiden's Church was
opened last week, there would, of course, be no further
claim.

Mr. Barber : If I recollect rightly, the previous appli-
cation was to have been the last.

The application was ordered to be granted.
Mr. Evans ; I move that this be recorded as the last
grant.

The Chairman : Certainly, it shall be so recorded.
Mr. Mondell drew attention to the total inadequacy of
the means at present in use for getting yessels in and out
of the docks. When vessels were only of 500 tons, these
appliances sufficed, but they were totally unfitted for
ships of 2,000 or 2,500 tons. He referred, as an instance,
to a letter recently received from Mr. M'lver regarding
the steam hip Persia. He suggested that steam-power
should he brought into requisition, and that 20-horse
po-ker engines should be placed on some of the principal
pier-heads for the purpose of warping vessels into and out
of the docks.

Mr. Brocklebank said the object might be gained by
having further privileges allowed to steamers to come into
the dock basins to bring vessels out.

The Chairman suggested that the question should be
referred to the harbour masters' committee to bring up
some recommendation.

The suggestion was agreed to.
This concluded the general business

HEALTH COMMITTEE,-YESTERDAY.

The usual weekly meeting of this committee was held at
half past two o'clock, yesterday, in the town hall, Mr.
Langedale in the chair.

Other members present : Messrs. Beckwith, M Guffie,
Dover, Godfrey, Sheil, Haydoek, Stewart, Hodson, and
Crosthwaite.

HEALTH OF THE TOWN

The medical officer of health reported a continuance of
the low rate of mortality which has prevailed fur the last
three months, the deaths in the borough during the week
ending last Sa'urday having been 164, or 74' less than the
corrected average of the same week of the preceding eight
years. In the parish there were 110 deaths ; in the out-
townships, 54. The propartion of deaths from diseases of
the zymotic class was larger than it has been of late. Of6o
deaths ascribed to these diseases, 14 were from diarrhoea
(the average being 11), 13 from measles, 9 from scaritina, 6
from typhus, 3 from smallpox (unvaccinated), and 1 from
syphilis. A female, aged 68, died from English cholera. A
child, two years of age, died from typhoid fever, caused by
exposure to the fumes of a midden. Diseases of the lungs
caused 42 deaths, being 22 fewer than in the previous
week. The mean temperature of the week was 61 6-10
degrees, slightly below the average. On Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday, the temperature was high, the
maximum on the two latter days being 70 4-10 degrees.
The wind was from the north-west. The rain fell was only
6-100ths of an inch.

The borough engineer, building surveyor, and inspector
of nuisances reports various particulars of the operations in
their several departments during the week, from which it
appeared that 135 nuisances complained of by inhabitants
had been inspected, and means taken to remedy them.
1,448 houses in the unhealthiest districts containing 4,775
apartments, and 562 cellars had been put under examina-
tion with the view to improve their sanitory condition.
The inspector of nuisances regretted that he had to report
that Mr. Nathan Ellison, one of the contractors, had began
to place market refuse and fish garbage in a pit situate on
land between Great Homer Street and Scotland Road
which smells badly, and is much complained of by the
inhabitants. Twenty-four hour's notice has been given to
Mr. Elliston to remove it, and discontinue the practice.
The borough engineer submitted plans for public waiting
rooms in Clayton Square. They were generally approved.
One building will first be erected in Clayton Square, as an
experiment, and if it should prove successful similar build-
ings will be opened along the various lines of omnibus
traffic.
This concluded the general business,

THE " LATCH-KEY" DENIED.—The married ladies of
Honolulu have lately presented a petition to the Legis-
lature, praying for the suppression of theatres and
circuses, on the ground that they kept their husbands
out all night.
SIR JOHN NEWPORT'S PROPERTY.—The lands of Rath-
culliheen (part of) and Snowhaven, containing 163 a. 2r.
38p., known as " Sir John's," near this city, which were
sold on last Friday in the cumbered Estates' Court for
£5,750, havelbeen purchased for Colonel Sheil, brother of
the late Richard Lalor Sheil, where the gallant Colonel
intends fixing his future residence.—Waterford News-
THE LATE CAPT. THOMPSON.—We are glad to be able to
announce that it is the intention of the Government to make
provision for the distressing case of Mrs. Thompson, the
widowed mother of the gallant defender of Kars. In reply
to a question from the Earl of Malmesburv, the Marquis
of Lansdnwn stated in the House of Lords that the
Government had determined to come to the relief of Mrs.
Thompson, and that would be done partly through the
War Office and partly through other channels.

- -
THE MURDER AT SPONDON.—The atrocious murder
perpetrated on the high road, near Spondon, still remains
shrouded in mystery. The police officers and local con-
stables, have been indefatigable in their efforts to discover
the perpetrators of the foul deed. It was naturally sup-
posed on Tuesday, that the hamper which Stone had with
him contained a considerable quantity of clothing, but his
son states that the shirt, pair of stockings, and a hand-
kerchief, found scattered on the road, were all the articles
which he sent from Appleby Hall to be washed—thus the
motive which first suggested itself for the butal attack,
(that of plunder,) is shown to be groundless, unless,
indeed, the murderers were disturbed in their fearful
work. The time at which the tragedy was perpetrated
is fixed ; it must have taken place between twenty
minutes and half-past eleven o clock, several witnesses
speaking positively upon this point. One of them, Wm.
Peat, of Ochhrook, left Derby Nat half-past ten, and
walked leisurely towards Spondon ; and walking an hour
to within a few minutes, and when between the turn-pike
road and the village of Spondon, on the footpath, he
heard the cry of "murder" distinctly uttered, but hearing
other voices as of persons engaged in altercation, he did
not turn back, thinking that some parties the worse for
liquor, were "larking." Another witness, John Wheel-
don, of Ockbrook, left the Chesterfield Arms at five
minutes to eleven o'clock, and. in company with another
young man, overtook the deceased, and bade him good
night. The kindly wish was answered, and they proceeded
forward, meeting no one until about 20 yards, when they
met two men, whom also they wished good night, but
received no reply. These men, (at present unknown,) it
is calculated, must have met Stone at the precise spot
where he came by his death, and at the identical time
when Peat heard the cry of " murder." The two Irish.
men and a sailor, in custody on suspicion of being con-
cerned in the murder, were brought before the county
magistrates of Derby, and discharged, no further evidence
having been 'obtained against them. A woman, found
upon the road soon after the murder was committed, and
who gave a very confused account of her proceedings, is
still detained.

MEETING OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION

A meeting of the medical profession of Liverpool and its
vicinity was held in the lecture hall of the Medical Insti-
tution, Hope-street, at seven o'clock last night, for the
purpose of considering the best mode of conducting elections
of honorary medical officers to the public charities. There
was not a very numerous attendance of medical gentlemen.
The chair was taken by Dr. Bickersteth.

The Chairman stated that the present meeting was called
in consequence of a resolution passed at a meeting of the
medical institution, held in April. The resolution, which
was proposed by Mr. Desmond, was condemnatory of the
practice of canvassing for appointment to offices under
public charities, as being derogatory to the profession, and
harassing to the trustees. A committee was appointed to
carry out that resolution, and a generally favourable reply
had been received from the Infirmaries and other quarters
to which the resolution was submitted.

Mr. Long proposed the first resolution. 111 strongly
condemned she practice of canvassing, and opposed the
general idea that such a system procured the alvantage of
extended practice to a medical man. The resoluti n was
as follows—" We, the members of the medical profession,
resident in Liverpool and its vicinity, believe that the elec-
tion of honorary medical officers to the public charities,
through means of canvassing, whether by personal applica-
tion, circular, newspaper advertisement, organised agency of
friends, or otherwise, is unworthy of the members of a
liberal profession, and cannot secure the election of the
most worthy candidate, but only of the m)st active can-
vasser."

Dr. Cameron seconded the resolution, which was carried
unanimously.

Dr. Maclntire proposed the second resolution, which was
as follows :—" We, therefore, declare that we will not in
future canvass for any honorary medical appointments
ourselves; and we shall regard any medical man who may
resort to canvassing in any form as forgetful of the true
interests of his profession." The speaker advocated the
importance of adopting this resolution as a necessary
corallery of the de laration contained in the first.
Dr. Imlach seconded the resolution, observing that the
practice of canvassing, i 1 not absolutely wrong, was
decidedly unworthy of the profession. Even those who now
found it necessary to canvass, while no decided arrangement
existed to the contrary, admitted that it was an evil, and
that it would be well all should join in getting rid
of it.

Mr. Steele thought, with so comparatively small a
number of the profession present, it would be assuming too
much to pass a resolution which dictated so decisively
regarding the future course to be adopted. He urged that
the profession of the town had not had a sufficient oppor-
tunity of coming for ward to discuss the question. It had
not been sufficiently advertised, and unless it were agreed
to universally, or at least to a large extent, the resolution
would be wholly ineffective. He was not in favour of canvas-
sing for honourary appointments, or perhaps for accepting
such appointments at all, because he thought they should
show that they placed a proper value upon their services,
but at the present moment he did not think it would be
judicious to pass such a resolution.
Dr. Nevins proposed the following as an amendment :
" We therefore declare that we will not in future canvass
for any honorary medical appointment to any charity which
shall have adopted a plan of election by which canvassing
may be dispensed with." He urged that this resolution
would sufficiently express the opinion of the profession,
and would at the same time allow the medical charities
the opportunity of altering their plan of election, where
alteration was required to meet the wishes of the medical
profession.
Mr. Grinsdale seconded the resolution.

Mr. Behrend proposed a second amendment, to the effect,
that the meeting adopt no pledge whatever.

Mr. Lewis seconded this amendment

Mr. Hakes proposed a third amendment, to the effect,
that the resoluti n first passed be submitted to the public
charities, with the view of having some plan adopted to
obviate the necessity of canvassing.

Mr. Ellis Jones seconded the third amendment.
Considerable discussion took place on the severrl propo-
sitions. The meeting finally divided upon the second
amendment, the third amendment having been withdrawn.
The second amendment was lost by sixteen to eleven. The
first amendment was then put, and carried by sixteen to
twelve. The original resolution was therefore lost, and
the amendment of Dr. Nevins became the adopted resolution
of the meeting.
Mr. Desmond provsed a plan for the conducting of
future elections, to be submitted to the public charities, as a
ground work for them ninon which to act, if they approved
of it. The general effect of the plan proposed was, that
when a vacancy took place it Ehoul I be advertised, and each
candidate be directed to fill up, and send to the institution,
a form of application, stating qualifications, length of time
in practice, whether holding any other public appointment,
and similar particulars. A copy of all the filled up farms should
be sent to each voter, along with a form of proxy, which the
voter should fill up with the name of the candidate for
whom he desired to vote. When all bad been filled up,
the name of the successful candidate might then be
made known to the public on the day appointed for the
election.
Mr. Banner seconded the resolution.

Dr. Imlach mentioned that the plan brought forward was
adopted from a pamphlet published by Dr. Sutherland in
1845.

Mr. Hakes suggested that a recommendation to have every
election conducted altogether by proxy, be made a prominent
part of the plan.
Mr. Behrend moved an amendment to the effect, that the
public charities be recommended to conduct the elections in
future, by the committee and the medical boards of the
respective charities, without the general body of subscribers.
(Crie4 of '' No, no.")
This amendment was not seconded, and therefore fell to
the ground.
After a very desultory discussion, (luring which several
amendments were proposed, and either not seconded or
withdrawn, Mr. Desmond's resolution was put and carried
by a large majority.
Mr. Rakes proposed that a second plan bo also submitted
to the public charities, to the effect that future elections be
conducted by a committee of each institution.
Mr. Desmond seconded the resolution.

A long discussion took place, after which, Dr. Iligginson
moved, as an amendment, the previous question, which was
seconded by Dr. Maclntyre, and carried.
It was then agreed that the secretary, Mr. Fletcher,
forward copies of the resolutions to the committees of the
public charities, and request their co-operation in the
objects of the meeting.

The cDmmittec by which the meeting was organised was
re-appointed, to confer with the different public charities.
The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.