Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-09-30 00:00:00

THE PILOTAGE COMMITTEE

It appearing that there was not sufficient accommo-
dation for the crews of all the pilot boats in the hut at
the south end of Prince's Dock, an additional but had
been applied for. This was referred to the Committee
of Works. _

It had been suggested that, with the view of facilita-
ting the conducting of ships over Pluckington Bank into'
Brunswick Dock, black" marks should be made upon the
river wall, about two feet deep, and from sixteen to
eighteen feet above the dock sill ; and the suggestion
appearing to the committee to be a good one, they
reoommended its approval by the beard. •
SHAND, in moving the ,confirmation of the
proceedings, said it• was' essential that the latter
suggestion should be carried out ; and perhaps it should
go to the Committee of Works. He might also say that •
there was on the notice convening that meeting, bat not
on the minutes of the committee's proceedings, a draft of
a resolution, on the subject of licensing the masters and
mates of coasting vessels, which the committee were
anxious to adopt ; but they remitted it, in the first
instance, for the consideration of the board. Mr. Laird,
who was not then present, had asked that a fortnight's
postponement should be given; but it was only on the
supposition that the proposal should not be adopted, it
being his desire to see it carried out. Therefore he
should submit the resolution to-daY, and the board might
deal•with it.

The CHAIRMAN—Perhaps you had better consider it

afterwards.
~Mr. BOULT seconded the confirmation of the proceed-
ings, which was agreed to.

DOCKS AND QUAYS' COMMITTEE.
Mr. J. H. Fletcher & Co. havinc, applied for a fixed
berth in the Wellington Dock, for their vessels trading
to Spain and Havana, a resolution had been passed
that the request could not be granted, but that the
harbour-master should receive uistructions to afford
them all possible accommodation.
An application for increase of, wages had been received
from Mr. George Baker, superintendent of the timber
quays at the North ; but he had been informed that
his request could not be granted at present. A like
application from James E. Tapscott,, assistant clerk in
the harbour-master's officer had resulted in a recom-,
mendation that his salary be advanced from £BO to £95

per annum.
It kad been agreed that a hut should be put up at
the north-west gate of

Sancton Uraving

Dock, for

the use of the police, at the cost ofabout£

dock blocks, shores, &(

btr. 11OCKETT moved,• ant
confirmation • of the proceedir
Mr. Mcvsnm. inquired whether, by the new r(
as to the graving docks,- the dues would -13(
lesjened
• . Mie

. .
_ ,Err. said they were not enhanced, but great
embarassment had been caused. by master shipwrights

taking,blocks.and shores,withogt intimation. -
Mr. MONDEL hoped they would have an opportunity
orconsidcring that before adopting it. Ile should like
to know how it would affect the shipping. There was
charge for Poles per. day'.
Mr.'LocKETT,-And so there was previously.
- The CRAIRMAN—Do you wish to make a motion to
poltpone this for a week
Mr. MONDEL-I do wish it postponed.
Mr. LocitErr had no objection. ..
This, therefore, was agreed to, and the other proceed-
ings were confirmed. ,
MASTER PORTERS' COMMITTEE.

It appeared from the minutes of this committee that
the letter of Messrs. Cavafy and Co., of the 21st instant,
having been taken up, urging that the board had not
yet considered the portion of their complaint against
'Messrs `Bibby and Cas that-thatrfaern had assumed as
a matter of right the master-porterage of the steamer
-Frankfort, and that they had commenced to discharge
several -hours before they 'were legally entitled:-CO-da so.
-Messrs. Cavafy and Co. and Messrs. Bibby having
attended, and stated their views to the committee, and
the whole' subject having been considered, it had been
resolved—" That Mt. J. J. Bibby h2s, in this case, com-
niitted an infraction of the bye-laws relating to master-
porterage ; and the committee only refrain from recom-
mending his license to, e withdrawn in consequence of
tfie fact that, in a subsequent part of the day, he offered
the' master-porterage to Messrs. Cavafy and Co
proper application being made to him."
Mr. ARNOLD• said, in consequence of a severe'
widen-4 he had not been able for some -weeks to
take part in their deliberations ; but, as chairman
cif the committee, and having called a special meet-
., on the subject yesterday, .he felt called upon
mg explanatory observations. The cir-
to make a
few
"-Under a bye-law of that. oard, the
stances were these: -Under
ships' cargoes was allotted to the
Master-porterage of all
largest consignee of the ship,_ or party
.paying the largest
amount of freight,-providedhe gave.notice to the owner
or other consignees of the ship in a (riven time. Now,
b
that time for sailing vessels was. before twelve o'clock pn
the day next after the ship is reported at the Custoin-
house ; =din the case of steam-ships, within one hdur
of the entry being made. The owners of steam-ships
complained that goods were not removed with that
despatch required by the exigencies of trade, and there-
fore sought to secure to themselves the mast er.
porterage, and so evade the law. To accomplish this,
they imposed a clause at the place of shipment,
and had it inserted in the bill of lading: It was,:in
fact, an additional charge of 16 per cent. ; and it was
in the nature of a penalty to be enforced upon the con-
signee of goods here, unless he waived his right to the
master-porterage in their favour. Such was the happy
co edition of this trade, that the owners of these steam-
ships:could impose almost
any conditions upon the