Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-09-17 00:00:00

BREACH OF THE PASSENGERS' ACT.

The Melbourne. Argus gives the following decision upon
a breach of the Passengers' Act :
"At the Williamstown Police Court, on the 15th of
June, Archibald Grey, master of the ship War Spirit, from
Liverpool, appeared to answer to the information of Mr.
Charles Broad, senior assistant emieration officer
oreacnes or ins tame section of the Passengers' Act,
1855, which enacts that three quarts of pure water shall
be issued daily to each passenger, exclusive of the quantity
required to be issued far cooking purposes. A large
number of passengers were in attendance. Mr. Broad in-
formed the bench that the War Spirit sailed from Live:-
pool on the 9th March, and that for 30 days of the voyage,
the passengers had been placed upon an allowance of
three pints of water per diem, for eve-y purpose. The
ship was only 95 days on the passage, and by the act,
she should have had a fall supply of water on board
for 140 days ; and yet, on the fifty-ninth day out, it
was found necessary to put the passenge:s on short allow-
ance. He did not attribute any blame personally to the
master, of whom the passengers spoke favourably. The
ship was chartered by James Baines and Co., of Liverpool,
who found the water and provisions, and the master only
joined the vessel a few days before the time of sailing ; bat
a serious breach of the act had been committed, and the
eharte'ers could only be reached through the master, who,
in his turn, could have his remedy against them He called
James Kelly, a passenger, who corroborated what he had
stated, and aided that the master had a ?witted to him
that he believed there was only about 80 or 90
days' supply of water on board when they left Liver-
pool. Mr. Read, who appeared f,r the defence, said
be wee prepared to admit the deficiency of water, but
said the captain, having found that five of his casks had
leaked out, had exercised a Ea and discretion in curtailing
the supply, and that the master endeavoured to condense
salt water, and succeeded in producing fifty gallons
a-day, which the passengers could have had if they liked.
He blames the emigration officer at home whose duty it
was to have assured himself there was a proper supply
of water on boatel before the vessel sailed. Mr Broad
stated that, with reference to the condensed water, the
passengers assured him it tasted of salt and lead,
and could only be used for washing purposes. Mr. Read,
the doctor of the vessel, states it was wholesome and
good water. The bench here inquired how many wit-
nesses were in attendance. Mr. Broad handed in a large
bundle of contract tickets, by which the passengers were
ca►led over, Mr. Read objecting to all those for whom
another appeared. Ultimately there remained 73, who were
sworn, and corroborated Kelly's statement. The resident
magistrate said he considered the case fully proved, and he
fined the defendant a penalty of for each offence, one
moiety to the passengers, and costs, £8 is Gd, amounting
in all to £233 le 6d ; in default, three months' imprison-
ment. Mr. Read applied for time. Mr Broad pressed
for immediate payment, inasmuch as the passengers would
be put to farther expense in coming down to receive com•
pensation, if any delay occurred. The bench ordered
immediate payment, stating that the penalty would have
been higher did they not so intend it. The 171a3cer said he
was prepared to go to prison, and he remained in custody
at the rising of the court.

At LEWIS & CO tl PAN Y'S. Ranelagh-street.
BOYS are CA.O 111 ED from the Ages of Six to Twaiity Years.

EXTRAORDINARY 'NW:AMT.—The following almost in-
credible statement appears in the last number of the
Drogheda conservative:—'' Oa the 27 h ult., the boey of
a female infant was f and by the police at Kells, concealed
in the soil of a privy, at the back of the house of Mr.
Rieliard Close, medical practitioner, nee ucleur, proprietor
of a medic:l establishment, &c. . They reported the cir-
cumstance at ouce to a local magistrate. Witneses were
instantly summoned, and a most respectable medical man,
Dr. Pentland, all of whom agreed that Rose Xlere.dyth, a
servant in tie eel iblishrnint, was the mother of said infant,
and that it was dear'. b rn, and had not come to maturity.
After a short co, saltation between the magierates and the
police, having summed up, they came to the following
conclusion :—' We fiad that Rase Meredyth, in,,ther of the
infant, is not only not guilty, but perfectly free from any
blame whatever ; and we further add, t! at she was Ju.st-
tified in buying her offspring, deal born, even in a privy,
dung heap, er sink, or where it suited her convenience.
Mv. H. MarCn, coroner of the county, having got private
information, lost no time in aseerteihing the fee's, when
he was called on to interfere, and at once issued his pre-
cept and warrant to disinter the body preparatory to
holding a legal inquisition. He summoned fifteen
respectable jurors ou Thursday, the 3rd inst., fourteen of
whom attended and were sworn, and after a most minute
and particular inquiry, without the slightest hesitation,
the jury returned a verdict that the b-dy of the said
infant veas found concealed ia a privy in the town cf Kells,
and that Rose Meredyth is the mother thereof, and,
fiaally, that she concealed the birth of the same. In the
interim between the former and latter inquest, Rose
Metedyth was allowed to escape, when the coroner
bad no alternative but to issue his warrant for her appre-
hension."