Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-04 00:00:00

Parliament has recognised and sanctioned
for nearly two hundred years, as
the port of Liverpool, should be altered ;
and that Birkenhead and the river Mersey
should not form (as the law lays down, )
any taxable portion of the port of
Liverpool. Independent of the legality of the
impost, we have to remind the promoter of the
Liverpool and Birkenhead Docks' Bill, and his
lieutenant, Mr. WEIR, that, when Parliament
arranged the limits of the port, and authorised
the imposition of the "rates and dues," it did
so from a sense of justice to those parties who
had invested their money in the Liverpool Docks
—to pay, as we have already remarked, the
interest upon Dock Bonds, cost of main-
tenance, and perpetuate the value of the original
investments. No doubt, Mr. LAIRD, feeling
that this would be a natural view of the case,
resorts to a little impunity in his bill, and seeks
to relieve all vessels loading or unloading in the
river from the Dock charges thereon.
Now, the most addle-pated advocate in the
world who knows anything whatever of Liverpool,
and its extensive and daily increasing commerce,
must be aware that to conduct that commerce
efficiently, and without let or hindrance, there
must be no encouragement given to this species
of trade. It behoves the Dock authorities to
keep the river as free from obstruction as
possible, without which the ordinary business
of the port could not be transacted with regularity
or safety. The Committee took a similar view
of the matter, and rejected Mr. LAIRD's Bill,
thereby affirming the justice and the legality of
the dues and rates now levied by the Liverpool
Dock authorities.

The other Bill—that promoted by the St.
Helens Canal and Railway Company —is similar
in its objects and principles to that promoted by
Mr. LAIRD. From what took place on Wednesday,
it was to be expected that it would not be pro-
ceeded with. But we shall notice this last bare-
faced attempt at Railway interests to monopolise
the regulation of the Liverpool Docks.

WIND CHADT3.—We recommend to all shipowners the
purchase of the charts lately prepared by Government,
showing the prevailing winds of the great oceans. A short
time only is necessary to make any intelligent shipmaster
familiar with the mode of applying the information they
contain, which may be the means of shortening very
much the duration of extended voyages, such as to India,
Australia, &e. The principle 'adopted is very simple,
though much tronble-and a careful examination of ships'
logs'was necessary before the results could be arrived at.
Our readers will better understand'these charts by a shor t
explanation being'given. Suppose a point taken on the
Atlantic Ocean, the next process' is, by means of all the
records to be met with, to ascertain the direction of
the wind at this point during the year ; this being
ascertained, a line is drawn, which not only shows the
direction, but the duration and the months in which it
prevails. Other winds are taken in like manner, until a
star is formed on the chart, a glance at which enables the
mariner to ascertain that on an average of years, at cer-
tain periods,' the, wind blows in one arc for a certain
period. The chart being covered with such stars, it is
only necessary to find out the point where the proper wind
s ach? met with masher to la AnkfemPlinaZ
ling the Cape of Good Hope, the chart at once, according
to the season, shows the very line in which the fair wind
may be expected; so that if there be two vessels, the one
furnished with a chart and the other depending on the
chance of a wind, it will occur that: while the one is be-
calmed, or baffled by a head wind, the other, by keeping
a little more north or south, as instructed by the wind
chart, may not require to alter a sail for days at a time.
We earnestly recommend our shipowners in the foreign
trade to furnish their ships with these charts, which, we
have no doubt, will be found to cause such a saving of
time as will increase the relative profit on the freights.—
Belfast Mercantile Journal.

TRIG HOUSE Or COMMONS AND REFORM.—Thus far, then,
the new House of Commons has exhibited a dscided hos-
tility to any and every question of Parliamentary Reform.
In the reception given to every proposal on the subject,
and the clamorous impatience with which it has been
received, as well as in the result of the division, we may
see how small is the chance that any real reform measure
will meet with acceptance next year. It remains to be
seen whether the public out of doors share this apathy•
The appeal is now from Parliament to the people. If,
during the interval between the present time and the next
session, there is no general and unmistakeable expression
of a desire for a thorough measure of reform, our leading
statesmen will not be slow to take advantage of the
indifference of the public. From last night's debate we
may gather that the Whig leaders, whether in office or
not, retain their traditional aversion to any plan which
will make the House of Commons really representative of
the country. If left to themselves they will either pro-
crastinate, or propose some peddling measure, which will
be nothing better than a mockery.—Nonconformist.

Recruiting for the followinz regiments has now com-
menced in the Liverpool district, by order of the Com-
mander-in-chief, viz.:-Ist Royal R-giment, 18th, 19th,
20th, 34th, 38th, 51st, 54th, 66th, 94th, 97th, and Rfl
Brigade.

To INVENTORS.—Mesirs. Prince and Co. have this day
advertised in our columns an important circular for the
perusal of inventors, and it will be seen that Mr. John
Smith has accepted their agency for patents in this town
and county.

PICKING POCKETS AT SEACOMBE.—Yesterriay a fellow,
who gave his name as John James, was committed to take
his trial for robbing a poor oyster girl on the Seacombe
slip. The girl was about crossing the river by the early
boat, and had to wait for a short time until it arrived.
During the time she sat down and fell asleep, when the
fellow robbed her of every halfpenny she had in her pos-
session. He was immediately given into custody:
CORONER'S COURT.—Yesterday the death of the little
boy, John Scott, the son of detective officer Scott, of the
Liverpool police force, was reported at the coroner's court.
Oa the the 22nd of the last month, he was playing in Fox-
street, when he was knocked down by the wheel of a
lorry, which passed over his body. He continued in the
greatest agony until Thursday night last, when death put
an end to his sufferings. An inquest w ill be held on the
body this day

Talking of " manufactures," there is no country, as I
have frequently had occasien to remark, which manufac-
tures divorces with the same facility and to the same
extent as we do in California. As an instance, I clip from
one of the papers :—" Within a very few months we have
had, in San Francisco only, 130 cases of divorce, 24 at the
request of the husbands, and 106 at the prayer of the ladies.
This fact decides the amiability of the gentlemen. We are
at a less to account for the frequency of these dissolving
♦iews.' "

SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT BIRKENHEAD.—Yesterday after-
noon, a little boy, about twelve years of age, named
Michael Dunn, met with a most severe injury. It appeared
that he was employed on the works going on at the Great
Float, under the contractors, the Messrs. Thompson. His
occupation was to grease the wheels of the waggons, and
was doing so when he accidentally fell dawn, and the
wheel of the waggon, which was heavily laden, passed
over his leg, and literally smashed the bane in several
places. He was immediately conveyed to the Birkenhead
Hospital, where every surgical assistance was rendered
him, but there is scarcely a doubt but that the limb will
have to be amputated. On the previous afternoon a man,
named Wilcox, had Ills arm touch injured Qil the same
works.