Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-05 00:00:00

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THE TRANNIERE WATER QUESTION.

GOVERNMENT INQUIRY.
Mr: Dickens, the Government inspector who has been
appointed to inquire into the evidence upon the Tranmere
, water question, commenced his investigation yesterday
morning, at rernihough's Hotel, Tranmere. Mr. Bre-
therton appeared for the Wirral Company, and Mr..
Lloyd for the supporters of the local act.
Mr. Dickens, before proceeding with the evidence,
-said the inquiry had' taken place in consequence
of a petition, which had been presented to Govern-
ment by the inhabitants of Tranmere, praying that
they might be excluded from the operation of a.*
Wirral Water Works Company, and be subject to a
local act, which they contemplated passing. Several
reasons for this request had been advanced by the
-petitioners, and he would have in the course of the
inquiry to examine the validity of the reasons, as well
as the claimi of the Wirral Company. Some of the-
reasons were that the township was situated on an
eminence, consisting.for the most part of red sandstone,
and that it required no bathing accommodation in conse--
qUence of its situation with respect to the Mersey. Ire
thought that it would be advisable, before going into
the evidence to inspect a portion of the township.
The inspection having been finished, James Gregory
was the first witness called. He said" In3:waS the regis-
trar for Wirral Union, in which Tranmere is included.
The number of deaths in Tranmere in the year 1858
was 175,.0ut of: 'a population of 9,'300.: He could pro
duce the number for other years, but he had not pre-
pared them. _

Mr.: Dickens thought it would be desirable to have
the annual returns, and the witness will produce them
to-day.'
Mr. C. Woodward was the next witness. had
lived in Tranmere about sixteen years, and had, many
opportunities of observing its 'sanitary condition. He
did not consider it particularly unhealthy or liable to
epidemics. , In his present situation as a member
of the Board of . Guardians he had an opportunity
of seeing the medical officer's reports, and they testi-
fied that the inhabitants enjoyed an average rate of
health' with other townships. He should judge from
the , returns that Tranmere was healthier than Bir-
kenhead, arid 'he did not think the situation of the
former place was likely to promote an -anhealthy
condition, of its inhabitants. Tranmere was supplied
with gas by the Commissioners, buit he did not think a
market would be beneficial. He knew the: buildings
called Birkenhead-buildings j they had been built about
seven years. The neighbourhood around them was the
worst in the township, but he never heard of complaints
about an unusual amount of sickness even there. The
area' of the'town was 1,174 square acres. He thought
that the adoption of the proposed act would not he
beneficial to the township, and it would materially in-
crease the rates, the burden of which must fall entirely
upon the tenants.

'By Mr. Lloyd—He had not inspected the township
since the. nuisance act was adopted.- He recollected
stating, at a meeting in 1856, that a certain portion of
the township beggared description. He was not a
shareholder in the Water _Works Company. He consi-
dered the Board of Nuisances quite sufficient for cleansing
the town, provided it exercised its power in a proper
manner.

Mr. Britain said he was a surveyor and engineer. He
had lived in Tranrnere ten years. He believed it to be
a very healthy town. He knew, the Birkenhead:build-
ings. They were situated on a very flat portion of hind,
and consequently were the most liable to have a surplus!
of stagnant water. lie thought they could be drained
by the owner of the property at a comparatively small'
expenditure. He thought the Board of Nuisances
possessed sufficient power to improve the condition of
the township.
The inquiry was here adjourned till twelve o'clock
to-day.

WATERS OF THE SEINE.—M. Barral states that the
water of the Seine, at Paris, was lower in 1858 than at
any period since 1732, when regular observations com-
menced. The mean rainfall of Paris for 1858 was
scarcely less than usual, but in thirteen of the'depart-
ments the rainfall was 21 per cent. below the average.
PRIZE FIGHTERS AND RAILWAY COHPANIES.—The
conduct of the South-eastern directors, in reference to a
recent prize fight at Etchingham, was the subject of
discussion among the magistrates at the quarter sessions
at Lewis, on Monday. Mr. Beattie, one of the directors',
in offering explanations on the subject, stated that the
company were desirous of affording every facility for
inquiry, but that the train which conveyed the party of
prize fighters was hired as an excursion train to'
Etchingham, and the train stopped and returned from
that place. The motion was then withdrawn,. and, tht
discussion dropped.