Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-04-05 00:00:00

THE BIRKENHEAD. COMMISSIONERS.
Yesterday morning, a meeting of the Commissioners,
adjourned from Thursday, was held in the Board-room,
Birkenhead. Mr. John Laird presided. The other mem-
bers present were—Messrs. Magill,•Gough, Barnett, Bell;
M'Donald, Goulborne, Hind, Bailiff, Aspinall, Harrison,
and Willoughby.
-• The Chairman said that, accordance with a wish ex-
pressed by the Commissioners, a deputation had sent word
to the Wirral Waterworks Company that the Commissioners
were willing to receive them at their Board-room. The
Company, or the directors of the Company, did not call, but
returned an answer that they would receive the Commis-
sioners at their board. The Commissioners were agreeable
to the proposal, and went to the board-room of the Com-
pany, and stated that the Commissioners were not averse to
the bill proposed by the Company, provided that their
wells were not sunk in such a position as to in-
jure the works of the Commissioners. Some dis-
cussion took place on the subject, when it was agreed
that Mr Bateman, the Commissioners' engineer, should
meet Mr. Cuningham on the part of the company, and if
Mr. Bateman was satisfied that no injury would arise to
the commissioners works by the sinking of the proposed
wells, the-commissioners would offer no opposition. The
commissioners would instruct Mr. Bateman to meet Mr.
Cuningham on Monday ; but as the • bills passed rapidly
through the -House of Lora it was necessary to take steps
to protect themselves in case no agreement should be come
to. He would, therefore, propose that the parliamentary
committee should take such steps as they would think proper
to oppose the Wirral Water Works Company's bill in the
Lords.
Mr. Willoughby said that his position at the board was
a very anomalous one, as he was one of• the promoters of
the bill, and one of its opponents. The reason why he did
become a shareholder was in consequence of his being one
of the largest ratepayers of Tranmere, and had been called
upon, as the sanitary condition of the township was in such
a low state, to do something for the improvement of it.
That was his reason for taking the position which
he occupied with regard to the Wirral Water Works' Com-
pany. As regarded the opposition of the board of com-
missioners, he thought it very strange that they had not
offered some opposition to the establishment of the Wallasey
water works, which were much nearer to the commissioners
wells than those proposed by the Wirral company. He had
advantages which the commissioners had not, inasmuch as
he had heard the discussion before the House of
Commons, and, consequently, he was enabled- to
form an opinion as to the real injury likely
- to occur to the commissioners wells. He was so
sincerely confirmed that no danger could arise from
the establishment of the Wirral Water Works Wells, that
he felt no hesitation in .recording, his vote against any
further opposition to the bill. He alluded to a passage in
Mr. Bateman's letter, on the subject, which was—" It
seems very unreasonable that you should be subjected to the
doubt and danger and probable injury which its present
position will inflict upon you." So that, Mr. Bateman him-
self, even implies a doubt, and makes use of the words
probable injury." If Mr. Bateman had a doubt as to any
injury likely to arise to the commissioner's wells, why con-
clude that injury would occur ?
Mr. Harrison seconded the resolution, and in doing
so remarked that, it was better for the commissioners
not to reject the opinion of their engineer. He
did not think any of the commissioners would take the
responsibility on themselves, and he, for one, would not
do so.
Mr. Gough suggested that, in case Mr. Bateman and
Mr. Cuningham could not agree, it would be better to
call an arbitration, to prevent any further expense.
The Chairman, in reply to Mr. Willoughby, said that Mr.
Bateman was a man of the highest character, and was the
- engineer for the Glasgow, Manchester, Wolverhampton, and
other works. Mr. Hawkesley was also of the same
opinion as Mr. Bateman, that those wells of the Wirrall
Water Works Company would affect the wells of
the commissioners. If that were the case, if those wells
did affect those of the commissioners, the commissioners
might be put to the expense of £30,000 in constructing new
wells before they would otherwise be required to do so. In
justice to the ratepayers and bondholders they ought to
oppose any such thing. With regard to the sanitary
measures which Mr. Willoughby had alluded to, he would
• And that the Wirral Water Works Company did not provide
for the sanitary measure at all, such as flushing: sewers, &c.
He would also remind Mr. Willoughby that it was quite
evident from the newspapers that one half of the people of
Tranmere were dead against the Wirral Water -Works
Company's bill.
The resolution was then put and agreed to unanimously.
• The Olaignaali niAlitl'arleiffion,—inalhartstra"s tfie
Bill. He had spoken to several of the commissioners on the
subject, and it was the common feeling that they
should withdraw any farther opposition to that
bill. In consequence of this he had drawn
up a resolution, to the effect that, it would be desirable-for
the commissioners to inform the parliamentary committee
to state that, providing they were to carry the bill in the
shape it was presented to the Commons, that the com-
missioners had no desire to oppose the bill, although they
had not had all that they could wish, still they would co-
operate with them to carry out the arrangements to com-
plete the works. In addition to that, the commissioners
had made a communication to the Mersey board, stating
that the commissioners would do all in their power
to increase the traffic of the ferries by enabling carts,
horses, and carriages, and other traffic of that kind, to be
brought over on the American principle without any charge
of cars across the ferry. There had been such a great
objection to that state of things, that he hoped the matter
would be so settled as to be agreeable to both sides. He
thought the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board would see
that they were not opposed to them.
Mr. Bell seconded the resolution, which was adopted
This was the entire business.
- ANNUAL CA:
LUCAS'S

RIAGE SALE,
EPOSITORY.
CLARENCES, PARK PHATONS,
BROUGHAMS, ALBERT PILETONS,
DRAGS, Light and Elegant Gros,
WAGGONETTS, BASKET CARRIAGES,
FAMILY PILETONS, 1 Two and Four-wheeled,
BRITSKAS, &C., &O.
By Messrs. LUCAS and Co.,
To-mortow. (Wednesday), the 6th instant, at their Repository,
Great Charlotte-street, Liverpool,
300 CARRIAGES,
__ __

70 sets HARNESS.
Order of Sale.—Ten to Eleven o'clock, Harness; Eleven to Six
o'clock, Carriages.
The whole on view this day (Tuesday).
gar An inspection of this splendid stock of Carriages is earnestly
requested.

FOR SALE, at J. HOWARD'S Music Depot,
9, MARKET CROSS, BIRKENHEAD,
A Square PIANO-FORTE, 214 Guineas.
A Six-octave COTTAGE, 5 Guineas.
A 6)-octave New DO., (Guaranteed,) 20 Guineas.
A 6a-octave DO., (Talkien's, 35 Guineas,) 28 Guineas.
Several HARMONIUMS, with Pedals and other improvements,
at equally Low prices. 12a15