Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-24 00:00:00

- CORRESPONDENCE.

[We d* not hold ourseke; responsible fir the .pinions of
OW correspondents.]

THE FkatitlES.

TO THE EDITOR. OF TUB NOWT(. ititN_ DAILY TIMES

,
Srot„, everyona•vannltpd, with, the ,c }wall ire 8416,
of th 6 3'l 4rse-,- is anxiously mtertsted in safe and com-
paratively (Flick transit, during the fog•gy weather, I
venture to submit, through -you, 'the foiloti;ing sugges-
tions, trustiog that theiradoption may prove instrumental
during such seasons, in restoring the ferry traffic to
somewhat of its accustomed regularity.
The vexed question of management, good or ill, I
leave to others, though en passant I may remark that I
cannot agree with those who find fault with it, feeling
convinced that the most cautious arrangements, so far
as they have gone, have been effected. •
I•would suggest that two or more small steamers be
moored in the river (during foggy weather) in the
"fairway" between Liverpool Landing-stage and Wood-
side-ferry slip, at equal distances across—a bell or gong
on board'eaeh, to be kept constantly tolling; also the'
bells.at the above-named,. landing places, 'thus giving
the ferry boats sufficient :and Progressive indication of
theirwhercabouts, which would enable them to make
a c greet " landfall" at both sides.
Tho small steamers, by proceeding to their respective
stations, at " top " of high and.at .‘ dead" low water,
would, with the aid pf a compass, be enabled to arrive
at and take up their 'proper 'positions in the river,
nearly,irrespective of tidal influences. The same, plan
migielbe adopted for the Egremont-ferry.
If all were thus carried out, the Woodside,Tranmere,
and Rockferry boats might ply to Woodside, and the
SeaCombe and Egremont boats to Egremont, as being
C:ntral positicins.
The expense of the steamer moored in the'river might
be defrayed by a trifling additional toll on each passenger.
Who-would refase it?

I merely throw out these hints for the consideration
of those interested, with the hope that, if found feasible,
or capable of improvement, they may be acted on, and
thus save great anxiety to the numerous families residing
at either side of the water.-4 am, &c., R. W. R.

VESTRY MEETING AT TOXTETH-PARK.

Au. adjourned vestry meeting, was, held yesterday
morning in the public offices, Park-place' Mr. H. Hal-.
head in the chair. Messrs. John Wilson. Alexander
Miller, A. Pickup, overseers, were also present, with
"Messrs. Joseph Harrison, M. A. Johns, H. S. Alpass,
Joseph. Boult, and William Baynes.
Vie minutes of the last meeting were read.
'The CHAIRMAN said he had written to the local board

of directors with a view to carrying out the object of the
meeting, namely, the establishing of a passenger station '
'Within the township, and requesting them to state when
it would be convenient for them.to receive a deputation.
He had not, as yet, got an answer to that letter. He
sent-on'Thursday to the Lime-street`station, and received
the information that the London and North-Western
local beard met on the first Tuesday of the month, and
that• was all that he knew of the matter.. He thought
it would be well if some_gentlemen called upon members
of the local board, for they all knew that official gentle-
men-did not like to take upon themselves to give ^any
reply without the approvaL of the board.-
Mr. HARRISON thought the best course they could
pursue would be to memorialise the Maiquis of Chandos
to bring the matter before the board at once. He be-

lieved if they, did not' take theAfirst opportunity, they
should lose a month or six weeks before they could get
to the London board.'

Mr. JOHN WILSON was of opinion that if a respect-
able note was addressed to the local board, it would have
a salutary effect.
Mr. ALEXANDER MILL-gil, said the circumstances were
somewhat discouraging, but he did not think they ought
to despond. Theis request was not unreasonable, and
he could not think the directors were at' all likely to
suppose the township ,should be fastidious. The com-
pany might have some idea as, to what was wanted, but
the township must bear in mind the directors were
gentlemen selected for their known sagacity and
business , capabilities, and it would be tot) pinch,
therefore, to expeci them to •do voluntarily more,
than they were either compelled by contract or
than they conceived to be in accordance with tile'
interests of the company.' Perhaps they had an
idea that the inhabitants of Toxteth-park would
display no more zeal or vigilance than they had
shown on former occasions, but he trusted they would
be able to show them that it would be to their mutual
interest to. open 'a direct. traffic with a township num-
berisig 80,000 inhabitants. When this was done—and
he had every confidence it would be' assisted by the chair-
man and the members for Toxteth—it would be found
not only expedient but necessary to have a dock or
docks at the south end. If they succeeded in this,
he, for one, had no objections to adopt the principle
of their neighbours at the north end, and christen it
after the name of the' most zealous advocate' and pi*
motet: of it. A most admirable adjunct they might
have,, too, in the, forni of a landing-stage, and if the
chairman exerted himself and obtained this for them,
they would call it—as it might require more than
ordinary tact and wit' to procure it—the " lialhead
Landing-stage." (Hear, hear.) They were determined
to agitate until they got their legitimate share of the im-
provements to which they so liberally contributed. They
would raise their voices until they re-echoed within the
arena of the Council-chamber amongst their senators
there assembled. (Hear, hear.)
The CRAIILMAN said that Mr. Miller should bear in
mind that-the dock had been already purchased..
Mr.: Balms thought that no time should. be lost, and
moved that a memorial should be prepared for signa-
ture id, the Chairman of Directors of the London and
North'Western Railway Company of the London Board,
and'that a deputation wait on the local board of diree-
tors ''''tecOpy' of the resolution being' previously sent to
the board.
After some further conversation the meeting was
adjourned sine die.

LIVERPOOL WINTER ASSIZES.

NISI PRIUS COURT.YESTERDAY.

(Before Mr, JUSTICE WILLES.)
WARD AND ANOTHER. 4'. NAPIEHL—This WAS a cross
action, in which the owners of . the Sea King sought to
recover compensation from Mr. Napier,• owner of the ,
Lion, for an injury occasioned to the former vessel
through carelessness on the part of the officers of the
latter. Mr. Pickering, 'Q.C., and Mr. Holland were
counsel for the plaintiff ; and -Mr. James, Q.C., and
Mr. Raffles represented the defendants: It- appears
that on the 11th of July. last, • the ; Sea. King left the
-Great Landing-stage. for .Rhyl,:.the defendant's. boat
having started a short time before'her. The Sea King
being the faster boat, arrived first it. Rhyl;.and as the
river was too shallow. to .aduzik.of. her Janding at the
usual place, she proceeded .tot .beaeh. near the .mouth
of the river. As the Lion's-lauding place was further,
up the river than the_beaching.olace,she would have to
pass the tlae:tiff's
•boat on her way there, and the
rivei.bein ykry'rtiiiin* at thisf'Point, fa •oollision took,
place, the
,kYrthe Lion tearing Out a great portion
of the • Kitt' Kite:
In consequence of the
injury thus eited the 'plaimiire• boat was laid up
for a week, duTing weigh time, besides the cost of the.
repairs- amounting to 418 12.5:, the.`rew• ireceivett,fot,
wakes about £la. The learned-eoatierfbe the'deteudant
contended, at great length, that it was highit,itthittie
for' tte'''plaintiffeto beach their boat in the ma, -
did,' and, in•preof of '.this, several witnesses' were eau •
all of whom strongly deprecated the plaintiff's conduet.,
So strong, in fact, was -the evidence for the defendant,
that 'before its conclusion the jury declared themselves
satisfied that the verdict must be for the defendant. His
'lordship remarked that it was much to be deplored there
was so much animosity between the two owners. At•
the last assizes he tried an action between the same
parties; and there had also been two cases during the
present. He hoped that forllie future, there would be
a better feeling between them, and, if so, he felt sure it
would be mutually benetidial. • ' ' ' • •
The business of the assizes then concluded.
- •

A CONTEMPORARY OF Bunws.-7-Mary Bunten, who,
cliit4 a the'ltailwayr-station, Steveaston, on Xon,day last;
was eightipthreit. years oftage,,aa when a young woman
wail a servant in the house of B titres; the poet, at Messgiel:
The last time she saw Burns was previous to; his depar;
tare to,Eclinburgh, and on leaving the house ike addre,ssed
her thus 1,-:-:‘,That. elle 'would either mak'. a.- ippon ,or
SpOil. Whether she; hai, done the one or, the
other she alone could Mate; but shd lived a comfortable
life with her husband, who was, a 'sluiemlker, and after
his death she supported;herself by, white-seam sewing
She was a widow for upwards of fifty years,--,Ardrossare
Herald.