The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-30 00:00:00

THE LOCAL MARINE BOARD,

Yesterday, we alluded to the resignation of the Local
Marine Board of this port say, the six members
elected by the shipowners—viz., Messrs. J. P. Palmer,
James Beazley, Joseph Mondel, W. J. Tomlinson,
S. R. Greves, and William Mann, and two of the
four nominees of the Board of Trade—viz., Messrs.
J. Aikin, and Thomas Brocklebank. The gentlemen
who have thus resigned, occupy a high position
amongst their fellow-townsmen, as thoroughly practical
men, as large shipowners, and, consequently, men who have
a deep interest in facilitating the business of the port.
When such men feel called upon to resign, we conceive it to
be our duty to place the matter before the large body of
shipowners of the port. The misunderstanding between
the Board of Trade and our Local Marine Boar], originated,
we believe, some two or three months since, in the Board of
Trade refusing to adopt therecommendation of the Local Ma-
rine Board, to raise the salary of their secretary, Mr. Towson.
[And here, by the way, we may remark, that but few
of our fellow-townsmen, connected with shipping, know
how sadly over-worked Mr. Towson is, and how much our
shipowners are indebted to him as the discoverer of the
great circle route to Australia.] Considerable correspon-
dence took place on the subject referred to, and we enter-
tained the hope that all differences between the two boards
had been settled—indeed it was so stated—but it now appears
that the Board of Trade arrogate to themselves the right to
fix the salaries of the officers here, in direct opposition to

the Mercantile Marine Act, which act gives such power
to the Local Marine Boards, as will be seen by clauses 122

and 123, as follows :
In every seaport in the United Kingdom in which there
is a Local Marine Board such Board shall establish a
Shipping Office or Shipping Offices, and may for that
purpose, subject as herein mentioned, procure the regaisite
premises, and appoint and from time to time remove and
re-appoint superintendents of such offices, to be called
shipping masters, with any necessary deputies, clerics, and
servants, and regulate the mode of conducting business at
such offices, and shall, subject as herein mentioned, have
complete control over the same; and every act done by or
heron: aaj► deputy duly appointed shall have the same effect
as if done by or before a shipping master.
The sanction of the Board of Trade shall be necessary
so far as regards the number of persons so appointed by
any such Local Marine Board, and the amount of their
salaries and wages and all other expenses; and the Board
of Trade shall have the immediate control of such shipping
cffices, so far as regard! the receipt and payment of money
thereat ; and all shipping masters, deputies, clerks, and
servants so appointed as aforesaid shall, before entering upon
their duties, give such security (if an.),) for the due perform-
ance th.reof as the Board of Trade requires; and if in any
else the Board of Trade has reason to believe that any
shipping master, deputy, clerk, or servant appointed by
any Local Marine Board does not properly discharge his
duties, the Board of Trade may cause the else to be inves-
tigated, and may, if it thinks fit so to do, remove him from
IT office, and may provide for the proper performance of
his duties until another person is properly appointed in
his place.

It will thus be seen that the Local Marine Boards are
by Act of Parliament to appoint their servants, " and have
mplete control over the same"— the Bard of
to their "sanction" onl

power extendi

—and

y pro-

perly so, for how is it pos:Able that officials in Lnn,..
be at all aware of the value of the services of the various
clerks in the Establishment here—indeed what better proof
can we bring forward, as to the desirability of " Lec
al
Management," than the Board of Trade having actually, by
oridaerag,reamiseen,
raised the salary of one clerk, who was at the very
moment under notice to quit for inefficiency. No, we must

n can

have Local Ifftrlzagement —the system of " centralisation''
must be grappled with. The " Local Marine Board" of this
port, who, for the last two years, have given so much of
their time unpaid to the interest of their brother shipowners,
deserve to be, and must be, supported by them ; we must
not have our port made into a second Balaklava ; we want
no highly paid admiralty gentlemen sent here to manage
our own affairs ; it is as plain as the nose on a man's face
that this same Board of Trade are determined, if they can,
to take away our Town Dues; it is as plain as noon-day
that they will next endeavour to take our splendid docks
under their paternal care ; but we hope Liverpool will
speak out and show them that we can, and will, manage
our own affairs without the assistance of any Admiral
Boxer's, or Commissary General Filder'sl
The revenue of the Liverpool Local Marine Board, is about
£B,OOO per annum, and thecost of management about £5,000,
leaving a surplus of £3,000, which is annually remitted to
the Board of Trade, in London, derived from fees or taxes
levied, chiefly, upon our shipowners. What becomes of
this ? If Liverpool produces a surplus of £3,000, over and
and above all the disbursements connected with carrying
out the Mercantile Marine Act of this port, why not reduce
the fees? At present, every ship of a 1,000 tons pays £2
73 63, before she can " ship" a crew, and the same amount
before she can "pay off" a crew. A poor mate, before he
can get a master's certificate, must pay £2, and every sea.
man has 2s deducted from his wages, on being paid off.
Why not reduce the former, or abolish the latter altogether,
with such a surplus ? We ask why ? and will answer the
question. There are Lowe's, and Farrer's, and Bucley's,
and Wallser's, with high salaries to be paid, and who have
each a few friends to provide snug berths for. If, then,
this growing evil of " centralisatioa" is to be " nipped in
the bud," let our shipowners, before it is too late, call a
meeting, and uphold these whom they deputed to represent
them in maintaining the management of their own affairs,
so far as the act of parliament allows them.
Will any gentlemen of standing be found to succeed the
retiring board ? We think not.— Veramos.

Since the above was written we have heard that a meet
ing of the Shipowner's Association is to be held to-day, to
consider this question.

THE COURT

The Queen held a Privy Council at three o'clock on
Monday afternoon, at Buckingham Palace. It was
attended by the Prince Consort, Earl Granville, Earl of
Harrowby, Viscount Palmerston, Sir George Grey, Earl
of Clarendon, Lord Panmure, Sir Charles Wood, the
Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Lord Stanley of Alderley,
Earl Spencer, Marquis of Breadalbane, and the Duke of
Wellington. At the council, proclamations were issued
announcing the peace, and appointing Sunday, the 4th
of May, as a day of thanksgiving. Her Majesty gave
audiences to Viscount Palmerston, Sir George Grey,
Earl Granville, and the Earl of Clarendon. Prince
Albert rode on horseback in the forenoon, with the
Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred, attended by Colonel
F. H. Seymour. The Queen and Prince Albert, accom-
panied by the Princess Royal, honoured the Princess's
Theatre with their presence in the evening.

CABINET COUNClL.—Yesterday afternoon a Cabinet
Council was held at the private residence of Viscount
Palmerston, in Piccadilly. The sitting was of considerable
duration.

DEATH or MR. Fox, M.P.—Accounts reached Dublin
yesterday, afternoon, bringing the melancholy intelligence
of the death of Mr. R. M. Fox, one of the representatives in
Parliament for the county of Longford:

THE ARMY Ili THE CRIMEA.—The Gazette of list
night publishes a despatch containing Dr. Hall's report
(for the week ending April 15th) on the sanitary state of
the army, which continues excellent. The weather had
become delightful. Only 12 out of 16 deaths were fairly
attributable to disease. There were again two deaths
caused by drunkenness.

THE MARQUIS or DALtiousru.—A letter from Malta,
doted the 23rd instant, states that on the 20th, H.M.S.
Tribune left with the Marquis of Dalhousie, Lady Susan
Ramsay, and Dr. Grant. The other members of Lord
Dalhousie's suite proceed to England via the continent,
there not being room to accommodate the whole in the
Tribune. The Tribune is to be towed by H.M.S. Furious
as far as Gibraltar, so that his lordship may suffer as
little as possible from the motion of the engine. There
was no improvement in his lordship's leg, which con-
tinued very bad. The Tribune manned yards on his
embarking.

LORD STANLEY.—Lord Stanley has accepted the chair_
manship of the Kirkdale sessions. The following is his
lordship's letter :
" St. James's Square, London. April 24, 1856.

" Gentlemen,—l have the honour to acknowledge
your letter, of yesterday, announcing my election as
chairman of quarter sessions. In reply, I beg to state
that I shall have pleasure in accepting that office, and in
fulfilling its functions to the best of my power.—l
remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
" Messrs. Gorst and Birchall " STANLEY."

THE PEACE REJOICINGS.-It had been intended that
the peace rejoicings in London should follow the day of
thanksgiving, which, we believe, it was originally con-
templated to fix for the 14th of May. That day, how-
ever, falls within the Whitsun-holidays, when the Court
and a large number of persons will be out of town. It
has been determined to postpone the exhibition of fire-
works to the 29th of May. This day having been set
apart for the celebration of her Majesty's birthday, the
expressions of loyalty which invariably finds vent on
that occasion, as well as the public gratification at the
return of peace, may be most appropriately combined.
The postponement of the rejoicings from the time of the
proclamation of peace, arises from the time which is
necessary to prepare a display of this kind worthy of the
occasion, and of a great national exhibition.—Globe.

ROYAL SWEDISH RAILWAY.—At a meeting of the Royal
Swedish railway bondholders, held yesterday, at the
London Tavern, Mr. Rhodes in the chair, resolutions
were passed for authorising the '7,directors Ito issue an
amount of preference shares, (not exceeding £83,334) of
£4 each, to be appropriated to the present shareholders,
share by share, bearing 7 per cent preference dividend
during the first five years, and 6 per cent afterwards. The
first payment 0141 to be made on the appropriation, and
a further payment of .t.l in four months ; the remaining
.£2 not to be called until the result of progress made shall
be announced at the next g3neral meeting. That no pay-
ment of interest on existing shares shall be made till the
completion of the line, and that the first payment of
interest on the obligation, including that which shall then
be in arrear, be postponed till the 27th of April, 1857 ;
lastly. that the directors be authorised to appeal to the
Swedish government for such modifications ,of the con.
cession as may be deemed 'necessary.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,—It will be perceived that a meet-
ing has been called for next Friday night, to urge upon
the Legislature the abolition of the punishment of death.
The meeting will be held in the Teutonic Hall, Lime
Street, and will be presided over by Mr. W. Rathbone.
The present sta'.e of public feeling renders this a most
favourable opportunity for bringing the question before the
notice of parliament, supported by a distinct and general
expression of the opinion of the country.
THE CANVASS FOR SUNDAY SCHOLARS —A very inter-
esting meeting took place in St. Clement's schoolroom,
Windsor, on Monday evening last, in furtherance of the
canvass movement for sunday scholars in the West Derby
district cf our town. The meeting was well attended. All
the teachers of St. Clement's, along with those of Aigburth-
street Wesleyan school assembled, as well as other friends
who take a lively interest in the success of the undertaking,
and who are pledged to give their support in carrying it out.
The Rev. G. Lewis, curate of St. Clement's church, pre-
sided. Messrs. Breeze, Moore, Meacock, and Copeland,
severally addressed the meeting, setting forth the
objects of the canvass, its importance at the present
time, and the good that may reasonably be expected to
result from it, if prayerfully, zealously, and impartially
carried out, and the encouraging symptcms that have been
already begun to be manifested by the cordial union of all
Evangelical dissenting schools with the Church of England
to carry out the desired object. At the close of the meet-
ing, several donations were received to defray the expenses
of the canvass, and about fifty names, in connection with
St. Clement's schools alone, were enrolled as canvassers.

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.

LTYEEPOOL, TUESDAY EVENING.
The tone of the Cotton Market to-day has been
quiet, and only a small business has been done,
the sales amounting only to 5,000 bales, all of
which have been taken by the trade. Prices,
although not lower, are scarcely so firm. The
Share Market has not been active. Prices
closed as follow :—Aberdeen, 121 13. Chester
and Birkenhead, 151 151.1 Caledonian, 29i
291. Chester and Holyhead, 15/ 151. Eastern
Counties, 99 10. East Lancashire, 19 19/.
Great Northern, 231 231. Ditto A, 9; 91. Great
Western, 61 611. Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock.
878 871. Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 161 17k,
London and North Western Stock, 100 1001. Man-
chester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 271 28. Ditto
Pref., 111 12. Ditto New 6 per cent. Pref., 1 ip.
Midland Stock, 73; 73g. ,North British, 81
88. North Staffordshire, 6 51d. South Eastern,
21 3-16 21 5-16. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 19
3-16 19 5-16. York and North Midland, 271 28.
Leeds Capital Stock, 151 Da. Buffalo and
Lake Huron, 1; 2p. Dutch Rhenish 1/ 1-74 p.
Great Western of Canada, 25 5-16 25 7-16. Ditto
New Shares, 31 38 p. Ditto 2nd issue, 31 32p.
Great Luxembourg, 7 7d. _

There was a moderate business done in the
Liverpool Corn Market to-day, and prices had an
upward tendency.
The amount of business done in the Manchester
Goods Market has been limited, and sales were
made for both goods and yarns on easier terms.

We have advices from- Akyab to the 10th of
March, and quote the following market report from
the circular of Messrs. Wienholt, Mohr & Co.:—
Our expectations, with regard to lower prices, as
expressed in our report of 25th ult., have not been realised
to any extent. On the 27th and 28th February, the news
of peace appeared to take effect, and some rice was bought
at 58rs (equal to 6s 8d per cwt f.0.b.), 59rs,' and 6Ors, or
63 9id to Gs Ild per cwt, f.o.b. The demand for the large
amount cf tonnage in port, waiting for cargo, however,
could not be restricted long enough to establish lower rates,
and since the end of last month prices ruled steadily,
at 61rs to 64rs, equal to 7s to 7s 4d per cwt f.0.b., and
65rs, or 7s 41:1 per cwt f.0.b., has been paid for Narice.
The steamer due here the 11th inst. is expected five days
later this time, we therefore cannot receive the letters from
Europe of 26th January before the 13th inst. if forwarded
from Calcutta per Overland. The contents of the letters
expected by this mail may yet exercise some influence on
our market in case orders should be cancelled, and ships be
ordered to proceed to other ports without leaving cargo
here, but the tenor of the letters of last mail of sth January,
bringing the first news of peace, is not so depressed with
regard to the future state of the grain market in Europe,
as to warrant expectation of withdrawal of orders and ships
to any considerable extent.
Accounts from St. Petersburg to the 18th instant
mention that the market for hemp and flax had
recovered, and a brisk trade doing in tallow. Sales
of tallow have been effected at 136 roubles per
berkowitz for 100,000 poods, deliverable in August,
and 7,500 ditto at 139 roubles. Articles of import
were much in demand, but most of the traders
were waiting for the opening of navigation to lay in
their supplies, when prices are expected to be lower.
The advices from Australia, received yesterday
by the Overland Mail, report that about 300,0001. in
gold were en route for this country by the ships
Fantome, Indemnity, Sultana, and Steboneath.
Besides those, several other vessels may soon
be expected from the colonies.
Advices from Antwerp report favourably upon
the cotton and wool markets there during the past
week. The news from America of the improvement
in the quotations of cotton regulated the market,
which exhibited an upward tendency. The
business transacted was considerable, and the
following rates ruled with firmness :-2,600 bales
American good ordinary at 31i to 32 centimes per
4 kilogramme ; good ordinary ditto 33tc. to 341 c.
Public sales of wool were held an the 24th instant,
which attracted a large number of buyers, and the
prices obtained denoted a rise. These comprised
1,188 bales Buenos Ayres, 62 ditto Lamb's, and
48 bales Australian.

The report of the directors of the Sambre and
Meuse Railway Company has been issued in
anticipation of the meeting. The directors proposed
that a dividend of 3s 6d be declared on each share
of the original capital of the company payable at
the offices of the company on and after the 26th
May inst., provided a sufficient number of proprie-
tors, either personally or by proxy, and represent-
ing a requisite amount of stock, be present to
legally constitute the meeting called in Belgium
for the 9th inst. _

The proclamation of peace in the City has tem-
porarily impeded business, and the dense crowds
that assembled round the Royal Exchange
rendered the streets in that neighbourhood
impassible.
The Unity Joint Stock Banking Association
having obtained a royal charter, commences busi-
ness on Thursday.
The following were the closing quotations of
Foreign Exchanges :—Amsterdam, short, 11 19
to 12. Do., three months, 12 14 to 12 2.
Rotterdam, do , 12 14 to 12 2. Antwerp, do.,
25 65 to 25 TO. !Brussels, do., 25 65 to 25 70:
Hamburg, do., 13 114 to 13 111 Paris, short,
25 371 to 25 45. Do,, three months, 25 70 to
25 774. Marseilles, do., 25 721 to 25 771. Frank-
fort, do , 121 to 1211.1 Vienna, do., 10 21 to
10 25. Trieste, do., 10 2to 10 27. Petersburg,
do., 361 to 365. Madrid, do., 495 to 49a.
At four o'cloclo the recovery of 4 per cent, which
was established after the recognised hours yester-
day afternoon, was fully maintained, and at a later
hour a further rally of 4th per cent was quoted.
The market finally closed with firmness, the prices
being quoted at 92 5-16-92 7-16. This favourable
change was partly caused by the more confident
belief that the position of the ministry is not
imperilled by the debate on the Kars question,
but the impression was stronger in well informed
quarters to-day, that the forthcoming loan will
be altogether moderate in amount. The
influx of gold into the Bank also caused
a very favourable feature. To-day's rally was
the more remarkable. inasmuch as it occurred
in the face of a unusually heavy demand for money,
which caused as much as 7 per cent. to be paid in
some cases for short loans in Consols. The pres-
sure appears to have been chiefly for stock
exchange purposes in connection with the settle-
ment now in progress in the share and foreign
stock markets. At Paris to-day the Three per
cent Rentes closed a shade better than yesterday.
Of the 421,000/. in gold brought in by the
Blackwall and Beemah, about 341,0001. was,
to-day, sent into the Bank. The Railway Share
Alarket experienced an improvement this after.
noon, following the movement in Consols. The
heavier stocks were especially more buoyant.
The closing quotations were as follows :—Cale-
donian, 59160. Eastern Counties, 94 95. East Lan-
cashire, 7678 Great Northern, 941 95 ; ditto A , 981
991. Great Western, 625. Lancashire and York-
shire, 88. London and North Western, 1005
1005. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 274
28. Midland Stock, 731 735. North British,
344 351. South Eastern and Dover, 715 714. York,
Newcastle and. Berwick, 76 78. York and North
Midland, 545 555.

RAILWAY ACClDENT.—Yesterday morning, about nine
o'clock, a melancholy accident occurred at the Broad-green
Station of the London and North Western Railway. It
appears that a woman, with her three children, was pro-
ceeding with the train, join her husband, who is a book-
binder at Warrington, when, as the train was passing Broad-
green, one of the children, a boy about three years of age,
pushed open the carriage door—which, it would seem, had
not been properly fastened—and the poor little fellow fell
out between the train and the edge of the station platform.
The train was stopped, when it was found that the child
had sustained such extensive injuries, that it is feared that
amputation of both legs Will be necessary. The mother and
child were sent back as quickly as possible, and conveyed to
the Royal Infirmary, where the little sufferer lies in a
dangerous condition.
ALLEGED CASE OF MURDER.—iII our paper of yesterday
we published the facts connected with a murderous assault,
committed by a man, named Robert Hudson Jones, on an
old woman, named Isabella Brew, at No. 18, Great Rich-
mond-street. It was, as we stated, expected that the poor
woman would die, and, as anticipated, she expired on
Monday evening from the effects of the injuries inflicted on
her. The man remains in custody. Yesterday the coroner
empannelled a very respectable jury to enquire into the
case, and, having viewed the body, the inquest was ad-
journed to this day. The coroner stated that he had written
a letter to Mr. Mansfield, and had received his reply, in
reference to a question that arose regarding the prisoner.
He had also written to his worship the mayor, and the town
clerk, on the same point. Ho would have an interview
this morning with the mayor, and at one o'clock this day,
when he would proceed with the inquest, he would lay
the correspondence, and state the result of the interview to
the jury. The inquest was then adjourned to one o'clock
this day.