Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-13 00:00:00

MERSEY DOCKS AND HARBOUR BOARD.

Mr. Charles Turner presided at the mu& -weekly
meeting of the Dock Board yesterday, anti die •other
members present were—Messrs. Darbyshire, Roan-
thwaite, Moss, Mondel, Graves, Holme, Ranlim, Hutchi-
son, Shand, Inman, Hubback, Brocklebanic, 'Bushell,
Farnworth, Lockett, Arnold, Langton, Beult, Tobin,
and Segar.

WORKS COMMITTEE.
Mr. Brocklebank had been appointed chairman of
this committee.

The proceedings comprised a recommendation to con-
firm a charge to be made to the omnibus proprietors for
the use- of the dock line of railway. The proposal was
to charge is. per trip, to-and from the place of starting,
for every omnibus using the line, and that the payment
should date from the Ist of January last. There was
a recommendation to accept the tender of Mr. Chadburn,
for the supply of 2-1 sulphate batteries for the purposes
of the dock line of telegraph.
`The following report which had been presented to the tl
committee was directed to be read to the board :

TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WORMS COMMITTEE.
518.,—11 is my unpleasant duty to inform you that en
on Thursday night or Friday morning- last a portion‘of,
the large culvert, which drains the low land around
Wallasey and Leasowe, gave way and fell in, the result
of which is to dam up the water and overflow the low
lands.. I have given orders to have the culvert opened
and the water drawn off with the least possible delay,
hut until this is done I shall not be prepared to inform
you to' what extent the damage goes, or what will bethe
cost of repairing it.—l am, :&c.,
7th January, 1860.- JOHN B. HARTLEC
The committee had given the engineer instructions to
drain off the water with the least delay possible, and to
proceed with the necessary repairs.
Mr. BROCKLEBANX. meved the confirmation of 'the
proceedings.
Mr; MONDEL asked if that was the culvert running
out at the south end of the dock entrance.

The Engineer replied that it was. It was the first
piece of work done by the Birkenhead Dock Commis-
sioners to enable them to naade'the Great Float.

The CHAIRMAN said he would like to ask the-engi-
neer whether these accidents from time to time would
not Occasion."(felay in opening the Crest Float.
The FAgiiider said no doubt it would seriously inter-
fere with the Opening of the Float, for he was -obliged
to Juke -then from his own legitimate work to put.them
on these repairs:. There was great difficulty in getting
men at all: - •

The CHAIRMAN asked whether the engineer could
tell the rn-rthen-iir.mri -likelly--he-wotild-100. -prepared to,
let the water into the Great Float.
The Engineei did.not thinkhe coulkillati.4(the water
before August next.
Botwr asked whether the biealiage,was"owing to
accident, or would the same sort of thing be likely to
occur throughout the whole length of the culvert.
The'Eligineer said, until they had got the whole of
the " debris away he could not tell the cause of the
accident.

The proceedings vere confirmed. •
WAREHOUSE COMMITTEE,

The proceedings of this committee were next read.
111r..11ubback was re-elected the chairman of the com-
mittee, at the firsenieeting. There was nothing impor-
tant in the proCeedings, which were confirmed without
comment, on the motion of Mr. Elubback, seconded by
Mr. Arnold. .

MARINE COMMITTEE.

Mr. Mendel was re-elected chairman of this com-
mittee, at their first sitting. Two letters had been read
from Mr. Gisborne, in reference to the breaking of the
cable which has been-laid ,across the river, from the
George's-pier to Woodside.
Mr. MONDEL moved the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings.
Mr..BOULT should like to know, this cable having
been broken twice in a week, with every reasonable
prospect of its being done tOrice a week during the year,
whether it was the intention` of the Marine Committee.
to go 'on repairing and re-laying this cable, which it
appeared would ,be perfectly useless for eonmunication
or anything else. Unless they took the line a long way
to the south he thought it would be 'better to- leave it-
alone altogether.
Mr. Momon replied. He said there was. one point
which was notiTt carried out, and that was a provision
that the cable should break- in one place, so that the
expense of breaking would be the only cost. In the
meantime, the. -mode suggested . by• the surveyor for-
accomplishing the communication was to run a line
up above Garston, take it once over the river there, and
come down on the opposite side. He had been in-
structed by the marine committee to prepare an estimate
of the cost of the work; but the board must not
forget' that if this cable were laid above Garston, it
would alw.ays be liable—though not so liable as between
Liverpool and Woodside—to he broken, as they had it
in-evidence that about sixty sails of flat came down, and
anchored between Garston and Liverpool every day.
The whole plan of the committee was not yet carried
out, as it was always-intended :that there should be: two
wires, one from the north landing-stage, and- one from
the south landing-stage, meeting at the
.warehouses on
the other; side, and connected with „the two wires
running to Holyhead, so that in the event of an acci-
dent to one of-the wires, communication might still be
carried on. He hoped they would be allowed to attempt
to carry out their whole plan; and if the cable were
made to break in one place, the cost of repairing would
only be £4 or £5.

ifr. LANOTON suggested.that it would be desirable to
lay the newcable until the:theory of the cable breaking
in the weakest point were established.
Mr. BROCKLEBANK said the Marine Committee had
taken steps for the purpose of inquiring how the cable
could be laid from the south, but the first thing to ascer-
tain was, whether they had power to bring it down the
other side of the river on private property. Re had grave
doubts himself whether there was any Such power.
Mr. SHAND did not understand the reasoning about
the weakest part of the cable, because it was liable- to
break anywhere.
Mr. HUBBACTE wished to ask the chairman of the
Marine Committee if there had been any progress made
during the past week with regard to the application to
keep the course clear between the Liverpool and Birken-
head.side, because if the plan were adopted by which a
certain space of the river was kept entirely clear between
Woodside ferry and the George's dock basin that would
be the proper place in which to lay the cable.
Mr. MONDEL, in reply to Mr. Shand, thought it
would be possible to make the centre part of the caisle
so weak that it would be sure to break there, and if
that were so, the ends of the cable could be easily hove
on shore, and then they would be able to effect the
junction.. As to the question of Mr. Hubback, it was
more a question with the Pilot Committee than the
Marine Committee, . just now. It was a very
difficult and vexed question. People wrote letters,
it appeared to him, for amusement, and without
understanding the subject at all, they, heaped
all kinds of refleetions upon the board, and called them
almost homicides, as if they desired that a limb or
fihger of any resident at Birkenhead should be injured.
Heieonld.assnre them they had no desire; but they
might in vain offer a thousand pounds to a man who
would tell them how to keep the space safely clear in a
fog. It was a much more difficult question than the
nnitiated thought.
Mr. BUSHELL said that Mr. Mandel had not
answered the question as to the possibility of buoying
the line of the telegraph cable so that it might be
reached across the river. At the last meeting of the
board it was thrown out by Mr. Brocklebank that the
day must come when they must keep the passage of the
ferry boats clear. There was an immense traffic be-
tween this side of the river and the other. The ques-
tion was whether they could devise some plan for the
safety of the inhabitants who passed to and fro now, or
whether they could wait till it was a question of mere
gentlemen might think of
goods and cargo, which_ some e
He suggested that
cabtleantheycoottilz
more importance h
indicateT its track,. and
by buoying the
that might be considered the track of the ferries. And
surely if there was any sense of moral right existing
after all that had been said about this question, thbe,
captains of ships and the members of the Pilot Com-
mittee would see the fearful responsibility they were
taking upon themselves if they did not strain every
nerve to abate 'the evil. If by any collision some 400
or 500 801113 were sent into eternity in consequence of
those precautions not being taken, he would be bound
means to say that afterwards
would be found by which
people might cross the river safely in fogs. But it was
not wise to lock the door when the steed had been
stolen.
The proceedings were then confirmed.

Mr. Francis ShandPILOT COMNIITTEE.
this committee. had been re-elected chairman of
A letter from the Mercantile Marine Service Ass"ill" lion, referred from the general board, had been consi

dered, -andiekvitis resolved that the examining committee
had been already appointed epeciay fer-the examination
of masters and mates of coaktinvsteanvrs for pilotage
licenses, and that they did noklennitsexpedient to add
thereto.
Mc.-Stratrin, in moving thweotifintration of the pro-
ceedings, said the qUeition of ,kepping a clear track for
the Woodside Ferry boats hadlibeen referred by the
boarditothe Marine and Filot&Committees, and they
were tto have met a deputation.= Monday last, ateleven
o'clock;; but the Commissioners f Birkenhead could not
fludit convenient to come,over, and consequently the
unfair-was postponed until Monday next.
Mr. BOULT rose for the•purpose of protesting against
theimputations cast uponthe board and the Pilot Com-
mittee by Mr. Bushell and others oat of doors, of hard-
heartedness, trifling with men's lives, and other things.
Now, he was not aware that the committee were less
open to kindness, or had less of humanity in their
-breasts, than other gentlemen. Ile thought the board
-should not give way to this idle clamour, which he took
this outcry to be. He would say, after having crossed
theriver for several years, that he disputed the fact of the
danger,,and that he believed there was no reason for all
this alarm ; and as the ship laid in a straight line,
whilst the ferry-boat was compelled to cross digonally,
even in case of collision no injury would result either to
the boat or to the ship. For twenty years past there
had been no loss•of line, and it was too bad to fling all
¶this dirt upon the. Pilots Committee and make all this
idle diiturbance. Gentleinen at that board should
,understand the subject before they talked so hard and
administered to the panic.
Mr. BUSHELL did not know whether Mr. Boult was
.aware that within a very few days past a boat arrived
at Birkenhead with her funnel on deck. He would not
be so cruel as to wish' Mr. Boult's head under the
chimney—(laughter)—but if it had been he might not
have been at that board to express an opinion that a
collision between a steam-boat and a ship m that track,
,could not by possibility result in any danger to any one.
The chimney fell, and if any one had been under it,,
.hard headed as he might be, even Mr. Boult might not
have beenthere that day to tell them that there was no
.danger in crossing the river in a fog. Mr. Bonit had
proved' himself by his remarks that day, to be perfectly
unequal, perfectly incompetent to deal with the ques-
tion; and, he hoped, 'Mr. Boult would absent himself
from the committee when they considered the matter,
and he would leave the public to judge whether'Mr..
Boult's antagonism to" everything on the other side of
the water had not so farwaiped his judgment as that
he would not be very angry if the other side were sunk
altogether.
Mr. DIARBTSHIRE said that sinde•thelast meeting. he
hadread over the evidenee taken before the Marine
Conimittee on this question,' and had arrived at the
conehisiOn filet the report of the "COMmittee was not in
conformity with' the evidence.
The..eitainmAN said next week a joint. committee.
were. going" to consider the question, and he would ask
was it desirable therefore to press the matter further
Mr. HARM'S/TIRE proceeded to say that the hoird had
the power to make a bye-law, and that tfieyeonid put it
in force if they would. Three master 'pilots; resident
at Liverpool, who gave evidence before the committee,
stated that it was desirable, if possible, to keep the track
clear; 'hut the board had. not yet tried to do so. He
contended that they ought to make the bye-law and enrolee
it. He belieVed 'the' Pilots Committee". had done all
that they: could do in the matter, and in fact a great
deal More than the public gave them credit for; Again,
he believed that'the 'pilots were not so much to blame
as the ship" captrii*kilin-manv cases, but 'at present,
whoever was the offender, the board had not the 'power
to punish him, although they could have that power by
enacting a ibye-law to meet the case.
Mr. SuAlin, in replying, declined to discuss the ques-
tion- at that particular time, but in reference to the case
mentioned by Mr: Bushell; said the ship was clear of the
ferry track, And" that the boat which had ber funnel
kndeked'iloWn was out 'of her track. • The ship, there-
:fore, 'Coat not be Maine&
Mr. BUSI4LL said h'eltave the instance only as show-:
ing thedanger that there was in crossing the river in
a tog. - - • •
• The prooe'edings were then confirmed.
DOCXS AND QUAYS COMMITTEE.
The proceedings.Of the Committee for the Manage-
.ment Of the Docks and Quays comprised a recommenda-
tion to grant: a berth at the N.E. corner of Queen's
Dock, for tliV' temporary use of H.M. ship Hastings,. or
a permanent berth in Canada Dock, until the Birken-
head Float be re-opened; 'and that to 'Charge. be made
to the Government for the. use of the docks.
Mr. LOCKETX, in moving the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings, . .
said that the committee recognised the great
inconvenience that would arise.from the admission of a
war ship within the docks, but they thought as a-Matter
of expediency, the vessel shquid be taken into the Queen's"
Dock, for if she were refused admittance the Admiralty
might turn round upon the Board and say, " You won't
assist us to find men to defend your port when forts are
'placed there." ;
Mr. FAuN'wOrtirir protested againit the admission of
the }Listings into. the,Cd4oka Dock, on the ground that
that dock had teen by special resolution lent to the tim-
ber trade for the conduct of their busine'ss. They would
require every yard of space there, and indeed he expected
they would have to come to the Board and- ask for more
:room to be provided. He would ask whether it was true
that the Brunswick Dock would shortly be shut ?
Mr. Locimi-rrepliedthatit would, and the .probability
was that it would remain Closed for 'several months for
repairs.
The report of the Harbour-Master was read. It stated
that the berth proposed in the Queen's Dock would be
the least inconvenient one. 'to the' trade of the port, if
given up to the Hastings. '
'Mr. Bnocxr...En.irm objected tothe Canada Dock being
interfered with, as by arrangement with the board it
had been handed over to'the timber trade.
The CHAIRMAN suggested that that part of the reso-
lution of the committee referring to the Canada Doek
should be expunged.
Mr. LOCKETT, on behalf of the committee,. consented
to the proposal.
Mr. DARBYSHIRE said it would be necessary to .decide
the matter at once for the Hastings must dock that
night, or she could not get-in ler another month.
Mr. RAN IN believed that the admission of the
Hastings wculd be fraught with inconvenience fo the
working of the doeir ; that it would not answer the end
that Captain Mends had in view; that it would lead to
a greatly increased expenie for police purposes, and,
therefore he hoped these facts would be• represented to
Captain Mends with a view to postponing his vessel
being docked until Birkenhead was open.
Mr. MONDI% objected in toto to the introduction of
war ships into commercial docks, and asked, where
would be the security to property at the queen's Dock
in the event of the Hastings going there
Mr. BOULT said, no doubt that Captain Mends would
appoint sentries to keep the quays.
The CHAIRMAN said. probably the board -you'd pass
the resolution as amended, and allow Mr. Lockett to see
Captain Mends, and so bring prominently under his
notice, the fact, that great inconvenience might arise to
the trade of the port by the Hastings being docked here,
leaving it then to eaptain Mends to determine what he
would do.

This eourse was agreed to, and the remainder of the
proceedings were confirmed.

MASTER PORTEER COMMITTEE.
From the proceedings of this committee, it appeared
that Mr. Arnold had been unanimously re-elected chair-
man; and that the committee were proceeding to take
evidenCe on the whole question of the master porterage
system at this port.
The proceedmss were confirmed on the motion of Mr.
Arnold, seconded by Mr. Segar.