Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-02-03 00:00:00

WALLASEY COMMISSIONERS.

The monthly meeting of this board was held last 1
evening, at the public ofßces, Egremont. The chair I
-vat occupied by Mr. Holmes, and there were also
presta Messrs. Hill, Fishwick, Harrison, Kerford,
Byerley.
The proceedings of the Works and Health Committee
contained recommendations to accept the tender of Mr.
Allen, fbr, sewerage works in Wheatland-lane ; a reso-
lution to give riotice .to Mr. C. E; Rawlins to repair a
wall adjoining his house in Wheatland-lane, which was
represented to be in a state dangerous to passengers ;
and resolutions to give notice to several parties to con-
struct drains to dwelling houses.
Mr. HILL, in moving the confirmation of the proceed-
ings, Mid that the Wallasey drainage would have to be
postponed for the present, but the question would hot be
lost sight of, The Commissioners wanted to ascertain
clearly upon whom the burden would fall before they
entered into so large an expenditure. Referring is a
report which was current that some flagging which the
board had had done at Seacombe, had. cost a gainea
a-yard; he said that as soon as he heard the report he
communicated with the surveyor' and ascertained that it
had only cost 4s. id. per yard.
The proceedings were then confirmed.
In moving the confirmation of the Gas and Water
Committees', proceedings,
Mr.' HILL said, in reference to' the question of
supplying Wallasey with gas, which was referred
back at the last meeting, the committee were- sorry
to report against the introduction of gas at the pre-
sent time into that district. Their works would
require the whole of the £lO,OOO to which they were
limited by Parliament;-L-in point of'fact, it would barely
serve for the wants of the other portions of the parish,—
and as they found it would require £4BOO to lay the
mains, and take the gas down to•Wallasey.; it was a
perfect farce to entertain the question at the present
time. The committee, however, by no means proposed
to let the matter stand in abeyance for ever. But the
inhabitants of that part of the parish must remain with-
out gas for' the present; and they had only themselves
to blame for not enabling the board to ask Parliament.
for a larger sum, They could easily haVe obtained as
large a sum as WWI revired ; but did not do so, in con-
sequence of the opposition of the: Wallasey people, and
the representation that 'they did not require a sup-
ply of gas. They had now on the books 133 cus-
tomers for the gab; thirteen houses were fitted up, and
seven houses would be fitted in the course of the
present week. They had twenty-nine customers who
were. about to fit up their houses, and had sixty-three
lamps lighted. The mains: were completed along
the lower road to New Brighton, and he was glad to say
that, the consumption of gas each night amounted to
about 14,000 feet. The engineer reported that he had
been making inquiries, and had every reason to suppose
that they would have a revenue of £350 to £4OO for the
quarter.
The proceedings were confirmed.
The proceedings of the Finance Committee were *also
confirmed, and a sum of £lOO was voted for the expenses
connected mith the arbitration between the board and
Messrs. Colbourn. .
The Ls.-w-evenx stated that the arbitrators of, Mr.
Colbourn and the board had met ; and, after hearing
counsel on behalf of the claimants, and Mr. Colbourn as
a w#ness, had adurned till the 13th of February, when
they will meet in-London. Mr. Colbourn had produced a
number of accounts which had been. submitted to Mr.
Harmood W. Banner to report. It could not be pos-
sitively settled what amount would be allowed ; but the
committee felt confident that the claim of Messrs. Col-
bourn would be considerably reduced.
lls.unisorr asked if the claim which they heard
rumoured was correct ?
The CRAIRMAN replied that Messrs: Colbourn's claim
would be about £160,000, including boats and every-
y'
I ask if Mr. Colbourn has sworn thi~
r.HARRISON_to having received profits to the amount of £lO,OOO
a-year ? has.
The CHAIRMAN---xlm e
The LAyr-CLERK—IIe has
sworn to the best of his
belief,that the accounts are correct.
The ClitaumAli—llis gross receipts amount to
£lO,OOO,
HARRisoN_May I ask if this board is repre-
sented by more than one of its members ?
The CHAIRMAN--Only our law-clerk and the chair-
man ate eres t
Mr. ell •
If A.RRISON—I must say that in an important
nithaltnteroaliet .ts.,hi,s we ought to be represented by more
cannot help exPressing my
surpthe ,thartZ ; and I
rently attended t board should been so indiffe-
ing. There is an nes-
ntright, while this arbitration is pend-
tion upon this in, me Person here to answer y q
which we are going
and astonishment.' into. and very serious undertakiLig
I cannot but express surprise
Mr. HILL strono-iy approved
Mr. Harrison, aid thou
in order of the remarks made by
stone, unturned, t they ought not to leave a
concerned. to do jaqice to all parties
The board then adjourned.

MERSEY DOCKS AND 11A.RBOUR i3OARD.

Mr. Charles Turner presided at the usual weekly
meeting of the Dock Board yesterday, and the-other
members present were—Messrs. Tobin, Smith, Boult,
Darbyshire, Littledale, Mondel, Evans, Hubback, Laird,
Farnwortb, Rankin, Segar, Holme, Langton, Lockett,
Forwood and Shand.

TILE DOCK 11011,D 'BEFORE EARLIAMEXT,
REVI,4LON OF TILE TOWN* DUES.

It appeared, when the secretary read the minutes of
the pree2ding meeting, that on Tuesday there had been
held a special
.meeting 'of the •Board, at which the
solicitor submitted a report on various bills affecting
the dock cstate, and that the bills were referred to the
Parliamentary- Committee, with instructions that they
should take such steps as they might deem necessary for
.the protection of the interests of the dock_estate, report-
ing froin time. to time, as might be necessary, to the
Board. A letfer had been receiyed from the Board of
Trade, agreeing to the amendectschedille of town dues,
on ccrtan alterations being made •by the Board. To
these the Board now assented, and the schedule; as
amer ;led; wag agreed to..

WORKS COMMITTEE.

MR. STEWART AND THE DOCK 11 WORK!? AT

BIIIKENHEAD.

The following letter from Mr. 'John Stewart, in
reference to the arbitration between the Board and the
LOndon and north Western Rail Way Company, had
been read,. and the committee resolved that it be sub-
mitted to the Board :--

Leigh-street, Jan. 28, 1880.

PEAR See,—l Beg to deltriowledo'the receiptof you'r note. of
the 21:4 inst., and in reply to say that the comp,licatetl settle-
ment of the ,ransactioff between the Railway Company and
your bolrd shall now very gam he settled.
The subject has beet: made much more tedious and dlffleult
by the chang,:etswhieli have been made on two different °ow.-
stuns, after progress had beefy made on the first arraugernents ;
the last change was only made after the lira change had then
fully carried otii and
,completmi.
However;, I hare a co t.rdete record of all, and, although it
may' be difficult to explain, I ran and will *Ade the. affaik.
very. shortly.. . : . _ .

mattes betwe.en your board and the Corporation, which
were.iu my hands, mare reported 611 by me to you more than
two years ago, and the settlement so made was beought before
the Council and adopts i by them.-1 .
R; Rankin, .E q. JOAN gTEW A AT.

The award of Meisrs. Stewart; Culshaw,. and Gee,
giving £.OO as compensation to Or; John A.tkinson for
loss sustaino] by hint is levelling the street in Wa,yping,
was yeeeivod, and an order made CIA. the stint ski £5OO
be paid.—Tile' committee had resolved that they would
receive d'deputation from the Improvement Committee
of the Town CQUileil, on Sturday not .% on the subject'
of the improvement of the.apProaches to the Laadmg-,
stages.--The engineer was authorised to,make selections.
of Quebec pine timber, for general purposes, from smop
feekofiered by: 'Messrs. Lloyd; ~Tones and Co., and from
13,000 feet offered by .Messrs. Mercer, Brothers.-4Vwas
recommended that tile tender of Messrs. Callaghan,
Arrowsmith and Co. to re=slb.te the south shed ofthe
Victoria Dock be accepted.--Lan the report of the en-
gineer, it was recommended that- the south bridge of the
Prince's Dock be closed for repairs after a week's
,notice.
shall have been giien to the puhlie to' that elect.
Mr. RANkiN moved the confirnration of the proceed=
ings, and said he lioPed.Mr. Stewart would lie ready at
a very early period to •settle the matters in dispute.
between, the board di-id the London and North,Western
•
Railway Company. (Hear, hear.)- .
Mr.,Smrru seconded the motion. .

•Bou'vr—lllith reference to the• matters infdispute
between this board and the company* -
Mr., SMITII—Oh, there are none.

The CHAIRMAN-They were settled some time ago.
Mr. BOULT observed that there WWI• a resump?ion of,
the works in the Woodside Basin, as* adjoining the
ferry. Now, he would like to ask were the board outof
danger of being interrupted by Prica'a.trnstees, as they.
were-previously ? He would. asx, ai* whether these
works were leinglaroceeded with iu anticipation, cf the
bill now before Parliament, or in pursuance 'of the
existing net ? "As the works were required to be altered
by the proposed sot, he did not exactly see-how, with•
propriety, those works could be g,me on with.-
Mr. laumuY said the works in the• Woodside Eilsin
were partly in anticipation of the proposed act, because
they had reference -to the altered approaches to the
Lauding-stage. It was out of the power of Prie's
trustees to interfere, because the works. were not on any.
portion of their property.
Mr. BOULT asked if-the bill were refused or with—
drawn, which was... very possible, what position would:
the board be in as respected this work ?:
Mr. HARTLEN did not anticipate that this would
affect the bill at all, because, the bill before Parliament
bad reference' principally to works on the Liverpool side.:
The CHAIIZIAN said it was necessary that Mr.
Hartley should go on upon some plan or another.
with the approaches to the Landing-stage on the .
Birkenhead side,' and therefore it was thought that
they might =lithe risk with respect to. the approaches-
on the other side, and that was the only explanation he
could give. It -was necessary that Mr. Hartley should
make his preparations-either for the approaches-as they,'
now stood, or for the approaches as they were proposed'
to be made... If ..the engineer proceeded with the. ap-
preaches es they now stood, and if, they should subse-
quently be altered, very great additional expense would.
have to be incurred. No doubt -the Board would lose
some Money if the bill were not passed, but not so much
as taking it the other way, as no_ works would be pr-O-'
ceeded with on this side. : .
Mr. RANKIN said the arrangements made bY Mr..
Hartley would be most convenient for the other side of
the water, because it did not interfere with the landing-
stage, for which the bill provided,,whilst the approaches
would be the bestamder any circumstances.
Mr. SMYTH said the board did not require to, go to
Parliament, so far as the alteration of the landing-stage
on the Cheshire side went; and therefore if the bill
were withdrawn, and the board should think it desi-
rable with reference to future convenience to carry out
that work, and adapt the stage for the traffic of vehicles
at some future time, when the Prince's Landing-stage
was also adapted to it, there was nothing to prevent the
board so far proceeding.
Mr. BOULT did not exactly see that.
The CHAIRMAN ,said there was no difficulty about
parliamentary powers at all.
Mr. LAIRD said, perhaps it would relieve Mr. Boult's
mind to know that the proposed works at Woodside
would materially reduce the cost of the. works to, be
constructed. by the board ; so that if there was opposi-
tion, and the board were prevented making those altera-
tions, then they would have to fall back upon the original
agreement to carry out certain works. The question of
the powers of the board had been discussed, and it having
been found that the board had power to proceed, Mr.
Hartley was instructed to go on with the works in the
Woodside basin, which, if carried out, would save
£lO,OOO ; and in any case they would be a great accom-
modation to traffic going down to the stage.

. MARINE .COMMIWTEBum....
The proceedings of the Marin 6 Committee comprised
a recommendation to liy a single-wire telegraph cable
frqm Prince's Landing-stage to the north reserve ; a
recommendation to allow the use of No. 2 office on the
Prince's Landing-stage to the police inspector of badge
porters; and a report of the proceeding.a of,the observa-
tory for the past year. The following is Mr. Hartnup's
report :

REPORT OF THE .ASTRONOMER TO TIIE MERSEY DOCK BOARD,
JANUARY, 1860.
The astronomical and meteorological observations taken at
the Observatory during the past year, differ in no material
respect from those named in my report for 1858. Observations
for time have been taken with the transit instrument on all
favourable occasions. The Greenwich mean time has been
regularly communicated to the port by the dropping of the
time ball, and by-the regulation of the electric clock. The
observations taken with the self-registering anemometer and
rain guage have been tabulated for each hour of the day
throughout year.. Thepressure, temperature, and humidity
of the atmosphere have been observed daily, and compared with
similar observations during the preceding thirteen years. The
results of the meteorological observations have been communi-
cated to the Medical Officer of Health in Liverpool, and to the
Registrar General of births, deaths, and marriages, as in former
Years. The records of all the observations and calculations
are preserved, and so, kept tlrat they may be examined and
discussed without difficulty. ' • '
The large clock in the Victoria Tower, which has sir dials,
each of which is eight feet in diameter, is now under the con-
trol of our normal clock at the Observatory, and the lirtt blow
of the hammer, at each hour of the day, indicatei Greenwich
mean time with all the accuracy that can possibly be required'
for nautical purposes, On a calm day the striking of this
• clock can be heard at the Observatory, and we frequently
compare it with the normal clock. The time which sound
takes to pass from the clock to the Observatory is two
seconds and six-tenths of a second; and so perfectly does
the small clock at the Observatory control the large one
at the tower that this difference scarcely varies the tenth
part of a second. The striking is not, however, the most con-
venient test that we have of its performance. The large clock
is made to send.a galvanic current once every minute, and, by
so doing, the needle of a delicate galvanometer is deflected at
the observatory ; and the deflection of this needle is found to
be quite simultaneous with the beat of our normal clock. I
am not aware that any clock. so large as this, was ever before
made to perform with such marvellous accuracy.
The new iron ball at the Victoria Tower, which is just com-
pleted, will require the attention of some one at the tower for
a few minutes at one o'clock every day to wind the ball and
to arrange the levers for, the clock to drop it. Theball Is 5 feet
inches in diameter, and, when raised to the top of the mast,
dropping of this
it is 134 feet from-the ground. The neCurele

NoRTRERN

ball -will not, as is the case with most time balls, be affected
by `any interruption in the passage of the electric current at
the instant of one o'clock each day. The clot] fat the tower
being controlled by electricity, is made to drop the ball by a
mechanical arrangement; and in the event of an accident to
the wire of welch a nature that no current would pass, even'for
half an hour, the clock being carefully 'regulated will scarcely
vary more than two or three-tenths of a second from correct
time. The hew ball is so well seer. from the liver and north
docks, that it will doubtless be very extensively observed, and
it cannot fail to be a great boon to mariners. The communi-
cation of time in this way was first had recourse to at the Royal'
Observa!ory at Gr,ena ich,, nearly 30 yea's ago, when a time
ball was erected there for the use of shiping in the docks on
the opposite side of ttie Thames. During the past few years
the method has been much extended. Mr. Sandys, the maker
,of the new ball at Victeria 'lower, is now constructing those
which are placed in conspicuous places on the banks of the
'Clyde. ,
The number of chronometers tested and rated at the Ob-
servatory, in 1858, was 392. The number deposited at the
Observatory, for the purpose of being rated and tested, during
the year 1859, was 396. The sum of money received for
chronometers, in 1858, was £147 15s. ; and in 1859, £169 lls. 6d.
The increased charge from 78..61. to 21s. for all chronometers
received from makers, subsequent to the let of March last,
does not appear to prevent those who wish to purchase
those instruments from having them tested; acid the makers
continue to send us more to supply the places of those
.sold.: Our stock of chronometers , does not, • therefore,
diminish. On the Ist January, 1859, we,had 135 chronometers
at the, Observatory;' and on the Ist of January, 1860, we had
152. This is too large a number for us to do justice to, with
oitr Present arran ~ements for testing. When the Observatory.,
was, built, thrauth;iiiilei then consulted did not contemplate
the. necessity for -attending to the temperature in-which chro-
nenacters were rated; so that in addition to thechrenometer
'robin being too small, no provision has been made for waiming
it daring the winter. In former years, when we had but few
in comparison to what we have now, this defect was remedied
by the use of a small hot-air apparatus, in which-a few chro-
nometers cou'd be placed ; but the ucammodation afforded
this small stove is not sufffcient to'enable us to test in the inost
eirtcleat Way so many chronometers as we nowhave had at the'
Observatory during this winter. Jour( 11.A.wrner.•

Ur:. MONDEL moved the' confirmation of the proceed-
ings. He said the committee thought that it was- but
due to Mr. llartnup that the report should be readtotho
boardia.eit was a very important one. (Hear, hear.) As-Mr. •
Tobin had last week asked fir a report as to the progress
whiCh hod been made in the telegraph to 'Holyhead, lie
(Mr. Mendel) thought it right to state the position oraf--
fairs. Tire land line of communication to Holyhead at Point
Lyons was completed, and also.the land line to Point ef. .
itAyr, and. the. cable across,the River Dee to Hilbre Island:;:
and so on, the-laud communication up to Bidston-hill and
down to the North Reserve on the• shores of-the Mersey,.
I Was completed;- and the assistants were at work in con-
I veying intelligence froth the different stations. On this
si6e, the• whole- of the dock line' was completed, and
Carried on to two.points on the quays—one opposite the
Prinee.'s Dock, and the other opposite the George's'
Landirw-stacre. The cable which had been laid across
Landing -stare.
the river had-unfertnnately been broken; and therefore
the communication,. between Liverpool and. Holyhead
was
'ccreplete, with.the exception of "the•communication
across the Mersey, and the communication between
Ormesbead and Point Lynes. The-Point Lynas cable,
Which VMS successfitily worked for three or four months,
.was, he :oelieved, broken-or overlaid by the unfortunate
ship, the Royal eharter- • They had been obliged to lift it,
'and
,the cable had suffired material injury in the process,
so that the bommunication was at present destroyed. It
was referred to the engineer and his assistant electrician
to report upon what would be the best mode of making
the communication complete across the -Mersey, and
across front Ormeshead to Point Lynas: They had sub-
mitted four -or five modes to the committee ; and he
Would read the estimates: They were-as follows :

Estimate No% 2.—Land line* from Liverpool, via Warring-
ton to Birkerthead, and from Point Lynas Ormeshead,
£3,465.
Estimate No.-I---Land line• from Liverpool, rill Warrington
to Birkenhead, and relaying- Point Lynas cable, £2;82.5.
Estimate No. d.—,Ane from, Liverpool, via Garston and.
Eastham to Birkenhead, and; relaying Point Lynas cab/R,
5.2,270. _ _

Estimate No. 5,--Line froze. Liverpool, triti Gerston an d
7Fastham to Birkenhead, and -land line frora,Point Lynes t o
o.l.naeshead, £1,9311
If rtimate No. 4t—Four separate gutta pereha wires frot
Liverpool to Birkenhead, ancl".!land line fronyßoint Lynas t
:Ormeshead,
Estimate No. 3.--Four separate gutta perelta• wires 1 iron.
Liverpool to BL-itenhead, and,; relaying Paint Lyaas• "cable ,
R 1034.

The committee- proceeded -first to donsider. the mod(
of cro6sino•b the Mersey, they had referred it to th. e
en-gineer to obtain further-. information, - and to se.
whether the communication ceuld be continued.. along th e
gra lines. of telepla.nlready in existence, withthe pernussim
of the Electric Telegraph Co. In the meantime-they re, .
Comtnetided that a: small cable, should be laid, bra- way o f
experiment,
.at a.:604 of about £l'B -10 s., as they though t
they would be able! to show that the maintenance of th .e
small cable across the Mersey, would be less than th e
interest of the cost of any landAinO they could. adopt.
Mr. LA.NGTIDN. seconded the-motion.

Mr. SMITH said be would not' object- to "the recent-
vuendation, but ha confessed that afte-the experience
they had had; he had •no hope that this line would 'be
`more successful than the ones which had been previously
laid down.

Mr. RANKIN hoped the Marine Committee would not
:confine themselves to a single line,: but that they would
have another line-in readiness to bo-laid dLwn: in ease of
accident to.the first:

The OirminfArf, explained that this matter had been
referred back ; and although the -general; feeling of the
Marine Committee was, that in all prctbability it would
be impossible'to lays down a line which would serve the
purpose in the rirer, the chairman of the committee,
and other gentlemen, thought that if they had a glender
wire across, it would easily break ;. that there was no
danger of the cable being otherwise injured and that
it might easily be 'raised and repaired.. It' was merely
an experiment.
The proceedings were then.benfirmed.
PILOTAGE COAIMITTEIt:

The proceedings of the Pilotage Committee comprised
recommendation to adopt the following terms and con-
ditions on which certificates are to begranted to masters
and mates of ships, who shall, have been examined and
found competent by the Pilotage Committee :

lst,---Evert person holding a. certificate granted by the
Mersey Docks, and Harbour Board shall, at all times, in obe-
dience to the order or summons, of the board or the Pilotage
Committee, under the hand 'of their secretary, dultdelivered
,or 'offered-to him, or left a reasonable time at his usual or last
,known place of residence, attend the board, Pilotage Com-
mittee, or any other committee of'the board, or their secretary
for the timebeing, according to the tenor of such order or
summons, to answer any complaint or charge which may be
Made against him.
2nd.--Any person holding acertificete granted by the Mersey •
Docks 'and Harbour Board, who shall-add to or in any,wat
alter such certificate, or make or alter any endorsement there-,
,on, or shall be privy to any such certificate or endorsement,
being altered, shall for every such offence incur a penalty not
,exceeding twenty pounds.
' 3rd.—Any person holding a certificate granted by the board,
Who shall fend such certificate, shall for everyw:ithsuauiecadhsreee,lcroidvffetreeirynaerwcey:
incur a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds.
4th.---Every person holding a certificate granted• by the,
board, who shall observe any alteration in any of the sands or
casleidnyna, eblesro,orkorreecntthdsaottawatnenlayoebrnuorytthsooofrrepoblfe:accieno,nswshroailftlintfohgre,thbot
to certificate granted by- the
of
5t aErvde r
yf o r thepr
stir
hboleidni
board shall from-time to .time conform himself strictly M all
directions which shall be given to him by any-of the harbour
masters of the board authorised by Act of Parliament, touching
the mooring, unmooring, placing, or removing of any ship or
vessel under. his charge, as long as such ship orvessel &hal be
lying and situate within the limits of the authority of such
harbour-master.
6th.---Every person holding a certificate. granted •by the
boardovno shall offend against any or either of the preceding
regulations, shall for every such offence, whether the same
shall_suhjeet him to any pecuniary penalty or not, and in addi-
tion 'to such penalty (if any), be liable to have his certificate
annulled 'and forfeited, or suspended, at the discretion of the
Mersey Docks and Barbour Board.

The proceedings were confirmed,"on the motion of Mr.
Shand ; the terms and conditions given above being
ordered to stand over for a week, on the suggestion of
Mr. Laird.