Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-16 00:00:00

CHAMBER .OF .COMMERCE

The Chamber of Commerce met on Monday, for the
purpose of reoeivina the results of the voting appointed
to take place for the election of members of the Council.
Mr. Bushell took the chair.

It will be remembered that the gentlemen nominated
for election as members of the Council, were—Messrs.
Edward Heath, J. Torr, R. W. Kelly, Charles T. Bow-
ring, Thomas Bunch, and S. Itathbone. It was announ-
ced that Messrs Heath, Torr, and Bouch had received
the highest number of votes, and were, therefore, elected
members of the Council. _ _

Some conversation arose as to the threatened opposi-
tion in the Ilouse pf Commons to the Mersey Dock
Board's Bill, to obtain borrowing powers to the amount
of £300,000, for the purpose of providing increased dock
accommodation at this side of the water.

Mr. Charles Robertion said, a very strong feeling was
entertained that all the Liverpool public bodies should
petition in favour of the, bill, and he had in his hand a
copy of a petition which he hoped the Chamber would
consent to adopt, and request their chairman to sign on
their ,behalf.
Mr. Forwood suggested a memorial to the Board of
Trade, instead of a petition to the House of Commons.
Mr. Robertson expressed his readiness to adopt the
suggestion, remarking that he believed the almost unani-
mous opinion of Liverpool to be in favour of the bill. He
felt satisfied that the works for- which the amount was to
be borrowed, were absolutely necessary for the promotion
of the. commerce . of the port, and that,, even were the •
works on the other side-complete now, the proposed new
works would still be required within a very short time,
in order to carry out improvements. which were necessary.
to facilitate dock arrangements. As far as Liverpool was
concerned, therefore, he apprehended there could be no .
objection to the bill, and it. seemed strange that parties
not interested in any way in Liverpool should be the
parties opposing it. The proposal seemed to him a
reasonable- and. modest one. At the same time, he hoped
that the dock board. would. take into consideration the fact
that there was also a very strong opinion in the town that
very much more might he done with the docks by. increas-
ing the facilities; that by the employment of improved
machinery a very much greater amount of service could.
be done, to the trade of the port by the existing dock
quays and dock accommodation. He believed there were
members of the. board now who were exceedingly desirous
to promote this object, who, before the nomination of the
board, expressed themselves very strongly in. faiour of it,
and who were now prepared to do all then could to make
the existing docks more available for £ho wants of the,
community. He begged to move that a memorial to the,
Board of Trade in favour of the bill promoted by the-
Mersey Docks and Harbour Board for power to. raise
£-300,000 for the purpose of providing increased dock
accommodation on the Liverpool side of the Mersey,
be adopted and signed by the chairman on behalf. of the
Chamber, .
Mr. Tomlinson seconded the motion.
Mr. Robertson : Perhaps some member of the Dock
Board present would give us some information as to the
nature of the opposition to the bill.
Mr. Forwood said the opposition had come rather
of the bill. They did not expect that in going to
Parliament for a bill of such a modest character they
suddenly upon the committee that had the management
quite extraneous
with the port, nor, as far as he could learn,
toshouthlde
Interests
eresitnsf
etewitthhe
apnorTau sitiolosition not eon-
nectodfrom parties connected with the trade of the, impor-
tant counties of Lapc4sitiro and YoKip*q.,. it was.

remarkable that the-opposition was against- the-second
reading of the bill; so as not even to give the Dock
Board, who were most anxious for the welfare of the
port, an opportunity of urging their arguments in its
tn
favour before a comittee. The opposition had come
suddenly upon them, and hence the very brief notice that
had been given to the different associations. The
American chamber bad alramiy met on this question, and
after discussion it had unaniiszonsly resolved not only to
send up a memorial, but also to send up an influential
deputation in support of it. lie eovsidered that the dock
board were the proper parties to iuns-re how the money
could be best expended for the interests of the port, and
he was quite, satisfied that it would be . judiciously and
properly expended. He could not stae very specifically
the precise objects to which the money would be de-
voted, but he might state generally that it was, for the
completion of some necessary works at the.no.rth end, to
afford facilities for the inland trade, and it connection
therewith to the timber trade. _ _

The Chair►nan suggested, that as he had ceased to be a
member of the council, it might be more fittinsthat some
gentleman still in office should act as Chairman,. and Sign
the memorial..

Mr. Rawlins moved, that Mr. Robertson, the rice-
president, should• takethe chair.
The motion was agreed to, and Mr. Robertson took the
chair accordingly.
Mr. Rawlina expressed a hope that the specici corn-

_
ntittee which the Dock Board had appointed to inquire
into the system. of working the docks and. quays, would
follow out their inquiry fully and fairly. He did 'not
think the board had done wisely in rejecting; the proposal
mad by Mr. Bushell, and he could not help s'aying that
_ he did not. think touch confidence in that inquiry was felt
out of doors. He hoped, however, that the board would
redeem, their error in that-respect, by.taking care that the
inquiry was most full and fair. (Hear, hem
•
Mr. FOrwood said, being a member of t
allUded to, he could not remain silent without expressing
his full conviction, that whatever might be the impression
out of doors, the committee would endeavour to fulfil its
duties to the utmost possible extent. He knew several
members of the committee and he appealed to Mr. Bushell,
who also knew them, to say whether they were not men
'who would not shrink from their duty ; and though Mr.
Bushell was not a member of that committee, he trusted
the committee would still have his valuable assistance,
and that of any gentleman, even•. of Mr.. Rawlins, if he
thought lie could give them any information which would
tend to the better management of the dock esta

Mr. Busliell declared that no feelin
kind had entered into his refas

a committee which

on the

the 'do(

committee

of a personal

was the executive

to be put

working of the port of

s aid quays •c:ornini

worked for a

acting upon- the same principle, was not exactly the com-
mittee to institute an inquiry as to whether any improve-
ments could be effected.. Although there were gentlemen
upon it highly, qualified by experience and by judgment
to prosecute the inquiry,, he did feel that there was some
one head required to preside over the committee who
should.be independent of former • prejudices and former
proceedings, and who should devote his whole time to ,the
Inquiry. -He did not choose the other day, when the

411pstiim was raised, at the dock board, .to•enier into any
further discussion; but he still did feel that the. whole

question was beset with difficulties, and that many
inipedifpentswould arise to.a full inq,uiry into the manage-
ment or the docks And quays.. Ho thought au independent
head would best have carried out the inquiry. 7
Mr. Forwood : Let
the future decide ; and if the
inquiry is not full and efficient, it. will then be for the

town to pronounce its opinion..
The petitioa was then adopted, and the business of the
meeting concluded.

MEETING OF THE BRITISIL AND, IRISH
MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
Yesterday, at the Clarendon-rooms, the shareholders
held the second ordinary general meeting; Mr. E. Crop-
per presiding.
Mr. Edw. Bright, secretary, having' read the notice
convening the meeting, the following -report and-state-
ment of accounts were as read:

" In the annexed accounts of the Company's business
during the past year, now forwarded to the shareholders,
there is little calling for any particular remark on the
p art of the directors. Notwithstanding the general
depression of trade •during the period, and especially of
those particular branches to which telegraphic 'corn-

munication is most necessary, the gross receipts Ore
larger thin in the previous year by
...£1,600. The

expenses, howevor, have al

so increased the same ratio,

and .both receipts and expenses have• been in a great
degree influenced by additional demands of -.the Press,
and the cost of obtaining- the information required. By

recent arrangements with foreign agents,

the directors

are able to afford 'a better supply of general news; and
the Press, with very -few exceptions, have cheerfully
agreed to an increased tariff to meet this extra outlay:

" .Daring the past year 215. miles of additional line,
comprising Sit miles of telegraph wire, have been erected,
viz.:—aver the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Railway ;'
Bradford, Wakefield, and Leeds Railway; 'St. Helens

lingtonl3ranches, etc.; and workj are approaching com-
pletion on the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway ;. the
Llngford and Cavan' Branch ; and, the Portadown and
Dinannon Railway

—ill tending to the extension. of the
&Iterations and im-

general system of cOmmttaication.

Provemerits are also being carried out in connection: with
the company's wires hetwaon Liverpool, Manchester, and
Llndon.

"The Company's line between London and. Wey-
bourne, on the coast of Norfolk, passes through,Cam-
bridge, Newmarket, Norwich, Sr.-J., and is to be worked
in connection with the Submarine CoMpany's cables to
the north of Europe, which were referred to in the report

for 1857. The nahoverian cable was successfully laid
between Weybourne and Embden, on the comet of Hano-
ver, at the end of Oetober last. A considerable part of
the additional capital required for the extension to
Hanover was subscribed by the shareholders bf this
Cxnpany; and an agreement has been entered into with
the Submarine Company for the inland transmission of
the traffic to arise thererom, on similar terms' to those
previously existing for the traffic by way of Dover to
Franee'and Belgium, with the same Company, to whom
an extended concession: for thirty years has just been
granted by the French Government. Wires are also
being erected from. Cambridge to join the Company'S

line;' at Doncaster, so as to give Liverpool, Manchester,
Hull, Leeds, 'Bradford, and other important places that
direct communication with the north of Europe so mach
needed.

"A beneficial agreement has been entered into with
the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company-, for.
supplying their mainlines and branches with telegraphic-
communication between 101 of their stations. The works
are being pushed on to completion, and a large develop-
meat of tratfie is anticipated from this source as soon as
these stations are open to the public.
" Asatisfitctory contract has been nude with the Mid-
land Great Western Railway Company. of Ireland for an
improved system of telegraph, which is. being carried out;
and in connection. with this line a considerable business is
now springing up. in the transmission, of messages, via,
Newfoundland, to and from America, by means of the
Galway steamers. .

"The construction of the company's new premises. in
London, facing, the Royal Exchange, on the site of the
late Baltic Coffee-house and adjacent premises, referred
to in the last report, has been proceeded with ; they are
now on the point of completion, and satisfactory arrange-
ments have, been made with the Submarine Telegraph
Company, tlw London District 'telegraph Company, and
others, for their occupation of part of these premises.
" The lease of 72, Old Broadtstrect, has been disposed
of; and upon the new station being opened, the Corahill
offices and.present Stock Exchar4e station in Throginorton-
street, will be given up.
• "The-terms of an agreement have been settled for the
mutual. interchange of traffic. between this company and
the LNi.clon District Telegraph Company, whose system
is to., comprise upwards, of 100 stations. in and about
London ; and by this =anis a considerable developoment
of this company's metropolitan business may be looked
forward to. " SosEpii C. EWART, Chairman.
"
".EDWARD B. BitlGuy, Secretary.
The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report,
stated that, considering the great depression in trade, and
especially in the, Stock Exchange during the last six
months, the report mast be deemed a very satisfactory One.
Mr. Parker seconded the motion., which was adopted

unanimously,
On the motion of Mr. Ifornby, seconded by Mr.
Mr. J. Ewart,Dag-
M.P., Mr...E. Cropper, of Liver-
pool,lir Luke M'llonald, of Dablin, were elected
direct and
ors; the two first being re-elections, the last in
place of Mr. Barton, retiring..
The Caairman then proposed a resolution to the e ffect,
that the following gentlemen be added to the direction
to represent the British and Irish Telegraph interests
on the board • Str James Carmichael, Bart., Messrs.
w, W. Pearson, John W. Brett, David Webster.
Lightly Simpson, Alexander Cowan, and Anthony.
Hannay._

Some discussion arose with regard to the name of Mr.
Cowan, who it was said had been absent from England
for some time, an who had signifled his wish not to be
re-eleotod.
Mr, Symonds proposed that Mr. Gibb be elected in his
iilace. "Ultimately, however, it was resolved, out of
respect t. 120, Iltr, Gowan, to elqc.t thAt gentleman, and Mr.

renders, of Manchester, was named as the most likely for
the office, should Mr. CoWan decline to serve. -
Mr. Gibb thought it necessary that there should be a
proper representation at Manchester, in order that com-
plaints might be heard, and grievances remedied more
effectually, and that customers to' the company might not
be lost through want of proper attention.
Mr. Symonds then seconded the- resolution, which was
carried unanimously. •

•
Mr. Pickering Moved that the grahts to directors be
£l,OOO, and he thought they very richly deServed this
acknowledgment of their unwearied and :tillable services.

The resolution was seconded by Mr. Rea le, and carried

unanimously

The auditors were then re-elected, and th,
)sed with a vote of thanks to the chairmen

LIVERPOOL GAS COMPANY.

The h

...yearly meeting,
Gomnany was held y

,fOceediugs

sterday

of the Liverpool Unitocl Gas
neon, in the Board-
Newingkon. fit the

room, at the Company's oh
absence of Mr. Hardman Earle, the ehairmac
tames Bateson took the chair.
➢ir.. Carson, the„ solicitor, read the notice convenin

meeting, and then read the following

REPOICT

The directors have had submitted to them an estimate
of the profits of the company for the half year, ending
the 31st December last, in accordance with the require-
ments of the company's act of parliament ; aud, having
duly considered the same, they feel justifed in recom-
mending the proprietors to declare a dividend of' £5 for
eveiV £ICM as above, and

for the half-year, enclir

12s 6d:per.S.,2s.share on the 4.35 shares praid up on the
Ist October last. The 136. £25 shares, which were sold
pternber last, having been fully paid up, the directors
n, converting
the financial

will iubmit to.tlie.propietors

he same into consolidated- stock

resolutio

n vtesar

Ede a the corapany,,the (Etcetera observe tl

the redue-

aS.was anticipated, caused a considerable diminution in
the nett profits of the company';- but they have the satis-
faction of stating that the increase• of the business of the
company which has taken place is, the last half-year, and
no doubt will bo'continued, will cause the arnount which
Will be required to lie taken from: the reserved fund at
the end of the current year, in order to maintain the
usual dividend, not to• be so larger as might have been.
expected. The continued increase' of the, demand for

gas will, of ours

ldational capital,

authoris
(Si!