Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-22 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1859

the wants of at least the English residents. They did
not now want a single additional clergyman for the
English population exclusively. Although,.
' the number of clergymen had increased from 30 to 90,
and the catechists from 3 to 60, they were scattered over
a region twice as large as Great Britain, and therefore
were, in some instances, 50 or, 100 miles asunder. A
mission was now being established among the Zulus of
Natal. The Zulus were a race very mach inclined
towards the British, and who had riot been reduced by
the neglect of our government to the same condition of
disaffection and dis-satisfaction as the Caffres. A remark!.
able change had been taking place of late years, owingg
mainly to the increased sense of responsibility which
had awakened in the English Government with regard to
their duties towards the people of those regions. No
sooner had the Government risen up to do its duty, than
the Caffre difficulty, which had been in their way for so
many years, was at least for a time renewed The Caffre
nation became broken up, in great measure because of
the famine which had followed the act of suicidal folly
committed by the Caffres, some years back, in the
destruction of all their cattle, at the instigation of false
prophets. Therefore, at a time when every soldier who
could be spared was needed to suppress the mutiny in
India, the Government were enabled so far to reduce
their forces in South Africa that, instead of 12,000
'
soldiers upon those frontiers, there were now scarcely
more than 2,000. It was much to be regretted that, at
this time, the Government should have withdrawn
their grant which they had allowed to Sir George
Grey for the purpose of civilising the Caffres.
There were many posts for which teachers were now
needed, and to which want of means prevented any apr
pointment being made. There was work being done
among the Hottentots also, of a most imnortant character.
There were, however, many branches of labour which
loudly called for help, but which must remain neglected
and uncared for, unless ample means were provided. He
detailed many instances of applications made to him to
found schools and places of worship, which he was com-
pelled to decline through the want of funds. He was
also anxious to see St. Helena made a separate diocese,
and to see provision made for the races on the east coast
of South America. But more especially, he declared
that they were called upon to wine out the stain which
rested upon all Europe for having made no
effort towards the evan,gelization of Central Africa.
Other nations had been removed from that
country. The Dutch and the Portuguese have been
deprived of their influence there, because they did not
fulfil the duty which was before them. Therefore, he
urged that it remained for the English church to attempt
this work. To aid this effort, he warmly appealed to the
meeting and the public.

A collection was then made, and other speakers having
addressed the meeting, the proceedings terminated.

BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS,

Yesterday, an adjourned meeting of the Commissioners
was held in the Board Room, Birkenhead. Mr. Laird
occupied the chair. The resolution of the previous
meeting, adjourning till Monday, was read by the Sec-
retary, who afterwards said, the petition against the
Mersey Docks and Harbour Board's Bill was ready. He
then proceeded to read the petition. The petition stated,
that the accommodation sought for by the Liverpool Dock
Board would have been amply provided for at Birken-
head, if the Corporation and Dock Board had proceeded
with the works with the activity which they ought to
have exercised ; and if those works were now pushed for-
ward in the way they ought to be, all the requirements
of the board would be provided for, for many years to come.
The fact of granting the power sought by the bill would
delay the works at Birkenhead, and the money sought
for was to be applied in the construction of works
for which no appliance had been demanded, and any
surplus, or surplus revenue, ought not to be applied in
the construction and extension of docks without .the
sanction of Parliament ; but if the revenue be more than
sufficient to meet the expenditure, the rates ought to be
reduced, and the surplus applied in reducing the debts
of the board. The Chairman proposed that the petition
be agreed to, which was unanimously adopted.
The Secretary then proceeded to read a petition against
the Wirral Waterworks Bill for the construction of a well
which would be injurious to the works of the Commis-
sioners.

• When the petition was read,
The Chairman said he thought it well to say that they
had no desire to oppose the bill unless it was calculated
to damage the Commissioners' supply of water. After
having expended such a large sum of money on their
works, they could not avoid opposing it ; but if they were
satisfied that they would not be injured, then he would
say, let the company go on with their bill, as he was
satisfied the Commissioners had no desire to oppose it ;
but they hid expended £220,000 on these works, and they
must be careful of them.
A Commissioner said there was a great likelihood of
an invasion on the rig•hts of the Commissioners by the
to„-..->>..r ..r-rtatititele as it was intended to erect
gas and water works, and he thought it would be worth
the commissioners' consideration, that if the township
adopted the Local Government Act, it would give them
power to sink wells in any portion of the town they might
think proper, and there was nothing to restrain them.
The Chairman said he thought they were not likely to
suffer from that at present, and he thought it would be
well to proceed with the question before them.
Dr. Baylis : We understand that this opposition to
the bill is purely defensive.
The Chairman : Just so ; and we would be willing to
withdraw our opposition if the company would guarantee
us secure from injury.
The petition was unanimously approved of.
The Chairman said, he was glad to see that at the
last meeting they had come to a settlement of the question
between them and the Railway Company, and the com-
pany had put their seal to it on Saturday, and had
expressed their satisfaction with the whole matter. That
would place the township in a better position than it had
been for many years. He also saw that they had agreed
to the rating of Liverpool docks. One thing would he
say, had he been at the meeting he would have opposed
it. He believed that if the docks were rated, they would
be bound to watch and light them. He would oppose
the rating of the docks, unless it were the law of the
land. It could not be said that it was his interest to
have no dock rates, as his interest was the opposite way.
In any event he would have opposed that which had
been agreed to.
Dr. Baylis said it had been given them to understand
by the deputation that the warehouses and clocks on that
side of the river should come under the same rule as the
Liverpool side.
The Chairman said the law had been established on
that side of the river.
Dr. Baylis asked whether the agreement made with
the Railway Company had not placed them in a more
solvent position, in a financial point of view, than they
had been for some fifteen years.
The Chairman said he believed that the agreement
was one of satisfaction to both, and that they were in a
better position. The Commissioners could now sell their
land or their property, and he hoped that they would be
able to do so, and reduce the taxes. He was sure they
never were in such a good position as now. He might say
that a great number of his workmen were obliged to live
in Liverpool, simply because they could not get houses
on that side of the river, but now that the matter had
been settled, there could be houses erected for working
people. He believed that it would be better for them
and for the company, and better for the town generally.
This concluded the business.