Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-09-02 00:00:00

COMMITTEE.

Yesterday, the Dock committee proceeded on their
annual. excursion for the inspection of light-ships and
telegraph stations under their jurisdiction. The excursion
possessed, if we may so speak, a twe-fold iuterest—it was
tte last inspection of the Committee as constituted at
present, and it celebrated thescomoletion of a great public
work, which will be a s andine memorial to ad time, that
the Corporation of Liverpool did its duty in its generation
—we allude to the new landing-stage, whic'a was yesterday
officially opined for public we. We have, however, now
not to do with the Corporation but with the Dock
Committee; and it may not, perhaps, be uninteresting t
our Manchester friends to know how their great " foemen"
behaved on an occasion which may in a sense be considered
their obsequies. It will gladden the hearts of all
sympathetic Christians to learn that, like " Mark Tapley,"
they came out strong under adverse circumstances. The
Dock Committee, by their conduct yesterday, showed that
not only are they resigned to their early approaching
dissolution, but that in that dissolution they hope to find
(and we have no doubt they will) a new official existence as
vigorous and successful as sny they have still enjoyed.
They invited, all, their friends and relatives to he
present on the melancholy(?) occasion, and by these, who
included the members of toe Corporation, the Pilot C,rn-
mittee, and several of the leading shipowners and
merchants of the porle their "last speech and dying
declaratiou" was listened to with all the Christian
fortitude with which one of Lynn's best dinners invariably
inspires poor hungry mortals. The City of Dublin Com-
pany's steamer Iron Duke, was chartered to convey the
company, and in her, to the number of about 150, they
embarked, at the new lauding-stage, precisely at nine
o'clock They were, on the whole, cheerful, notwithstand-
ing the melancholy occasion on which they were assembled.
After dinner they positively waxed " jolly," and at a late
hour of the evening we heard a voice, but not of lamenta-
tion, resounding fore and aft. Peter &ebbs' excellent
band was on board, and occasionally its melancholy notes
were to be heard in "Off She Goes," "'Pop Goes the
Weasel," "Our Mary Anne," (supposed 'to convey a
delicate adusion to the town dues), and other popular
ditties, equally solemn and fitting the occasion.. The
company started, as we have said, at nine a.m.,
rind soon the Rock Light was passed, and the
Crosby Light-ship reached—the balmy freshness of the
morning in unison with the spirits of the party. Soon
aeso was the Formby light-ship reached and the Bell-buoy,
and now the company became thoughtful, fur no one knew
what the next hour would bring—pea haps a heavy swell
and sea-sickness ; and who could smile at such a prospect ?
At this time Alderman Cooper was seen to descend the
companion-ladder, evidently sick at heart (?) and an awful
' whisper went round that it was all owing to his morning's
draught of the "Pike." It is supposed that this
calumny originated with Alderman Bennett ; and, indeed,
it was with pain we witnessed the unchristian exultation
of the worthy alderman at the downfall of the Chairman
of the Water Committee, who, until the vessel reached
Llandudno Bay, remained sick and sorrowful in the cabin.
Ile then emerged, and with the company generally, pre-
sented the neble spectacle of brave men struggling with
adversities—the wind had begun to blow pretty stiff, the

sky was overcast, cigars were Furtively cast away, and all
faith in brandy as a specific was lost. The struggle was hap-
pi'y soonover. In half anboaror so the Iron Duke was lying
at anchor under Puffin Islaud ; half an hour more was devat-

ed to the inspection of the telegraph station, and then the
business of the day commenced: Lynn, of the Waterloo
Hotel, served up one of his best dinners, and the company
sat down to the banquet to the air of " The Roast Beef of
Old England." Their grief and their appeti es soon 1 ist
their edge, and for their remaining sorrow they sought
consolation in—well, well, there is no use in ripping up
old grieves, and, in trn.h, it was a melancholy assemblage
of poor "thirsty" souls! We must not omit to mention that
at the North-West light ship a race of life boats took place.
Five started, and they arrived in the order in which we
note their names—Magazine, Hoylake, Liverpool, Formby,
and Point of Ayr. Prizes of respectively 403, 355, 303,
253, and 20s were given to them, and Mr. Charles Turner
gave a special prize of 303, out of his own pocket, to the
Corporation life-boat, a four-oared wherry. We need
scarcely say that the usual formal toasts were given,_ and
that those of a loyal character took the precedence. Maj
Greig responded fur the army, Captain Fenwick, of the
Ackbar, for the navy, and the Rev. Mr. Harke; of Edge.
hill, on behalf of the Bisnep and Clergy of the Dionege.
Mr. 0110.0.). Turner. as chairman, propozoi, in happy
terms, "The Mayor and Corporation of Liverpool,"
and his Worship responded in appropriate and
pointed language, in which he paid a merited
compliment to Mr. Turner, and concluded by
proposing the health of the Csinrnittee, coupling with it
the rams of the Caairman. Mr. Turner replied in well
chosen language, and'took the opportunity of vindicating
himself from the charges that had been brought against
him and the committee in regard to the Conservancy Bill.
However constituted, he observed, the old committee might
be, it•would leave to its successors doeles the like of which
were nut to be fotrid in the world, and a port unparalelled
in its rapid and s ,und prosperity. He then, in truly
happy phrases, proposed the health of the borough mem-
bers, coupling with the toast the name of Mr. J. C. Ewart.
Mr. Ewart acknowledged the compliment, and, in doing
so, observed that during the whole inquiry oo the Conser.
vency Bill no imputation whatever was cast by even their
fiercest opponents on the management of the committee.
Mr. Bramley-Moore, M P., responded, in a like strain, to
the toast of the " House of Commons," with which his
name was coupled. The health of the Town Clerk was
drunk with the greatest enthusiasm ; and Mr.
Shuttlewerth responded in a speech full of that
strong common sense, clearness of judgment, and general
ability for which he is remarkable. The health of Mr.
North, Solicitor to the Committee of the Plot Com-
missioners, (responded to by Mr. R iymond Houghton) ;
of the Audit Conamissiolers, (responded to by Mr. .1.
Gordo ,) ; of Captain Judkins, whose name was coupled
with the to i-t of the "Steam Navigation of the Mersey,"
(oroposed lay Mr. Alderman El Helen); of the Messrs,
Hartley, and Lieut Parke was also drunk and duly
responded to. On their return. the party reached the ties
Landing-stage safely, (thanks to Captain Triphook, the
experienced commander of the Iron D'akt), at twenty
mintiles• to nine o'clock p.m., wiser but not sad men.
As to the Dock Committee' let us say in conclusion—
may their shorf.comings be forgotten, may their good
wprks be always remembered, and mo the New Trait
keep up the custom of the" Annual E ecursion."