The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-29 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIME S.-LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY.

were merely formal, and descriptive of the works to be
carried on. The eighth clause was as follows
The corporation shall, immediately after the com-
mencement of this act, proceed to put the same into execution,
and shall complete the works connected with the Birkenhead
docks by the respective periods hereinafter mentioned (that is
to say) :
" So much of the works heretofore authorised, as are not
abandoned under the provisions of this. act, the landing stage
opposite or near to the Woodside Merry pier,-the enclosure of
the Woodside basin and part of the River Mersey, the forma-
tion of the said now road, the enlargement of the Morpeth
dock, and the alteration of its present entrance, and the
construction of the new and additional entrance thereto, and
the low water basin opening into and extending from the
River Mersey towards, and communicating with, the Great
Float, as such works respectively are shown on the plans and
sections deposited as aforesaid, or with reference thereto, shall
be completed on or before the first day of September, one
thousand eight hundred and sixty two ; and the outer or
low water basin, immediately adjoining the authorised entrance
from the River Mersey, and the inner basin connected there-
with, the permanent embankment, and the locks, gates,
passages, and other works communicating with the said outer
basin and the Great Float, shall be completed on or before the
first.day of September, one thousa ad eight hundred and sixty
nine."

The Town Clerk stated that it was now proposed
to alter the period for the completion of works, ex.
tending them from two to three, as follows :—The
great low water basin to be completed by the Ist
September, 1860; the filling up of the Woodside basin,
and the alteration of the Morpeth Dock to be completed
by the Ist September, 1862 ; he large entrance and the
other portions of the works to be completed by the Ist
September, 1869.
The alterations were'agreed to. Clauses 9, 10, 11, and

to them was brought before the Queen's Bench, and Lord
Campbell decided that, under the acts at present in
existence, the Birkenhead Docks were liahle to be
rated for parochial purposes. They were accordingly
rated, and they paid the rate. This was a question
which did not merely affect the Birkenhead Docks : it
might have a farther and ultimate bearing, and he
therefore thought the council, before passing the
preamble, should have a distinct understanding whether
any alteration in the position of the Birkenhead Docks,
in reference to this important subject, was contemplated
or not. He thought the Birkenhead public and the
Liverpool public had a right to understand how this
matter woulds and after this bill was passed (hear, hear).
The Town Clerk said that Mr. Picton correctly stated
that the property at Birkenhead being in the hands of a
company was rateable, and the rates were paid.
Mr. Picton : I do not apply my observations to the
property of the Birkenhead Company : I apply them to
the docks managed by the trustees and comtnissioneri.
The Town Clerk continued to say that the Trustees of
the docks disputed their liability to rates, but the Court
of Queen's Bench held that they were rateable.
While in the hands of the Corporation they were also
rateable, and so long as they continued in their hands
the rates should be paid They paid the rates last year
and so long as the docks remained in their hands they
should continue to pay the rates.
Mr. Picton : I wish to a4k will that liability cease
should the Docks be transferred to the Liverpool Dock
Trustees F

Mr. Alderman. S. Holme : That is a question of law.

Mr. Piston : It is not a question of law ; there is a
provision in the act of 1855 for the transference of this
property to the Liverpool Dock Trustees.
The Mayor : That can only be done-zby an act of
Parliament.
•
Mr. Picton : But it refers to an act of Parliament now
in existence ; and I wish to know if the provisions of
that act now in existence be carried out as here contem-
plated, they would affect the question I have asked,
namely the liability of the Birkenhead docks to parochial
rates ?

The Town Clerk replied that the present bill in no
way affected that question. By the bill of 1856 the
Corporation were required to transfer this estate to the
Liverpool Dock Trustees as soon as the Trustees were
authorised to receive it ; but before they could obtain
that authorisation, they should apply for an act of
Parliament. The question of rating the docks when in
the hands of the Liverpool Dock Trustees, could only be
treated in the bill transferring the docks to them.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Alderman Dover observed that the water of the
Birkenhead docks was not rateable, but the quays being
the property of the Dock Company, were rateable ; and
therefore there could be no doubt that so long as the
property remained in the hands of the corporation, it
would be subject to parochial rates. When they became
the property of the Liverpool Dock Trustees they would
not be liable to parochial rates, unless a special clause
in the act of parliament were introduced to that effect,
as when so transferred, there would be " no beneficial
interest in them," in the legal acceptation of the words.
Mr. John Stewart suggested that the council were
stepping out of their way in this discussion. The Town
Clerk distinctly stated that so long as the property
remained in the hands of the corporation it would be
rateable. What more then had they to do ? or what
right to discuss a bill which might not be before them
for two or three years. (Hear, hear.)
The discussion NS as then allowed to drop.

Mr. B. Hall observed that he saw it was provided in
the bill that the rates payable oa the other side of the
water should be the same as the rates payable on this
side of the water. Hitherto they had discovered that
ships did not feel disposed to go to the other side of the
water, and therefore he thought it would be well, if thy
had the power, to hold out some inducement to ships to
go there, by admitting them at somewhat lower rates
than were charged on this side.
Mr. Charles Turner said, that it was the feeling of
the committee, and of all the gentlemen who were be-
fore the committee of the House of Commons, when the
bill was passed for the purchase of this property, that
the whole of the dock works of the Mersey, should be
under the management of the dock committee, and that
there should be no difference in the charges or regulations
oa either side of the water--(hear, hear) —in order that
the docks might be worked and used as one concern. If.
however, Mr. Hall would refer to the bill, he mould
find there was a provision made for apportioning the
rates equitably between the dock estate and the corpora-
tion ; but it was essential for the proper working of the
docks, on both sides of the Mersey, that there should be
no difference in the rates, and no difference in the
management. (Hear, hear.) That was the feeling of
the committee, and it was also the feeling of the mercan-
tile community. There would be only one rate payable
whether vessels used the docks on both sides of the river
or not ; but that rate would be apportioned as might
'be equitable between the dock trustees and the corpora•
tion

Mr. Woodruff observed that. surely Mr. Hall would no+
contend that the rates should be lower on the other side?
Mr. Alderman Hohne suggested there was no use to
continue tho discussion, as there was no question before
them.

The preamble was then agreed to ; and the clauses
were proceeded with. The first clauses were purely
explanatory of terms, &e. The fifth provides that the
Birkenhead Dock Trustees and Birkenhead Dock
Company should continue to exist until wound up. The
thirteenth empowers the corporation to lay down railways
oh the quays of the Birkenhead docks.
Mr. Alderman Bold suggested► that they should take
power to charge rates for these rails. The dock trustees"
had the power of charging for the rails on this side of
the water.

The Town Clerk replied that it was intended that the
same rates should be charged in respectlo the same duties
on both sides of the river.

The sixteen h clause empowers the corporation to let
out water from the docks for repairing upon giving one
week's notice.
Mr. Robertson thought a week's notice too short.
The Town Clerk explained that it WAS the minimum
notice. •

Mr. Robertson expressed himself satisfied with the
notice.

;.Clauses down to 39 are re-enactments. Clause 39
empowers the corporation to levy tolls for crossing the
embankment.

The Town Clerk explained that if they made a railway
there, they could also demand the same tolls.
Clauses down to 50 are nearly all re-enactments.
Clause 50 enacts that payment of rates under this act
entities to saline privileges as p tyment under Liverpool
Docks Acts. Any person, therefore, who pays rates of
the stip dated amount at Birkenhead will be entitled to
vote for the election of dock trustees in Liverpool just as
if the rates were paid in Liverpool.
Clauses down to 77 are re-enactments. The 77th
clause enacts that ordinary repairs way be executed by
the dock trustees.

Mr. Alderman Bennett thought that this clause gave
too much power to the trustees. They might undertake
works which would be so expensive that at the end of the
year the corporation, in place of receiving anything,
would have to pay out money.
Mr. A!derman Holme pointed out that they could
enter upon no risks but those of necessity, inasmuch as
they could enter upon no work which would occasion
any stoppage of the docks„
Mr. Alderman Bennett replied, that being so, why put
in the succeeding clause, which enacted that notice
should be given to the corporation, and they called upon
to perform the work.
The Town Clerk said that the 78th clause was put in,
because it was thought that where there were large
works, the corporation should have the option of executing
them. The very wording of clause 77 showed that the
works there should b 3 works of immediate necessity.

Mr. Alderman Holm said it should be borne in mind
that the surveyor of the dock trustees was also the
surveyor of the corporation.
- - - -

•
The objection was not pressed, and the clause passed.

Clause 78 was as follows : #--

" If and when at any time or times any of the Birkenhead
docks, which shall be undei the management of the Liverpool
dock trustees. shall iu their judgment require substantial
repair or alteration, they may, by notice in writing under the
hand of the secretary of the Liverpool dock trustees, specifying
the particulars and extent of the repair so required, call upon
the corporation to execute the same, and to do all acts necessary
and proper for that purpose, and in case the corporation shall
refuse, or shall, for fourteen days after the service of such
notice, neglect to execute or commence such repair, the same
may be executed by the Liverpool dock trustee., and the cost
thereof may be charged as part of the current expenses of
management, and credited as such in the account, to be then
next furnished by such trustees to the corporation, of income
and expenditure in respect of the Birkenhead docks,"

Mr. Fernihough observed that this clause was more objec-
tionable than the preceding one.
Mr. Charles Turner thought that, looking at the constitution
41 the dock committee, there ought not to be any jealousy of
it. It consisted of twehty four members, twelve of whom were
appointed by the ratepayers, out of the merchants ot Liver-
pool, and twelve by the council ; and the members had to choose
a clairman, who must also be a member of the council. He
did not see how it was possible to commit the performance of
repairs to a body more fairly constituted.

Mr. Piston said he could not help thinking that the jealousy
was rather the other way. The council had a committee°
appointed from among themselves for the management of their

dock estate. It would seem that the dock committee dared
not trust, or could not trust, that committee to execute the
repairs, but must have a clause inserted authorising them to
undertake the repairs thetwelves. He did not know why the
committee appointed by the council to have the management
of the estate should not be quite as likely to look after the
repairs as the dock committee.
Mr. Turner said the dock committee never asked for the
insertion of any such clause. It was inserted by the Town
Clerk, as a matter of course, and by the committee specially
charged from the council.

Mr. Pietoa : I only took it from tho the Town Clerk's
statement.

Mr. Turner : I never heard of it.
Mr. Picton : Did not the Town Clerk say so ?
The Town Clerk : Oh, no ; certainly not.

Mr. Turner said if the dock committee wore to have the
management of the Birkenhead docks, and to be responsible
for the whole management, they must receive some discretion-
al), power. It was impossible that the dock committee could
undertake the management if they had not some discretionary
power as to advising what repairs were to be made:
The clause then passed.
The remaining clauses, which were 'principally of detail and
formal, were passed without discussion.
The council then resumed.

Mr. Alderman Dover expressed a hope that the committee
would give the council some assurance, that if any merely
unfounded opposition were made to the bills on the part of any
railway company, they would not spend too much of the money
of tho burgesses, and the money of the proprietors of the
different railways. What he wanted was to have an assurance
that in the case of any, merely wanton or unfounded opposition
to the bill, the money should not be too much wasted. He
declared that he should strongly desire to treat conflicting
engineers like jurors ; turn them into a room without fire or
light, and keep them locked up there until they came to a
decision. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) As long as their fares
were paid, and they got tickets for the opera, and whitebait
dinners at Greenwich, they would never agree. (Laughter.)
Mr. Stewart said, although agreeing with Mr. Dover in
regard to the expense, still he thought it would be very unwise
to limit the committee. (Hear, hear.) The council must
depend upon the judgment of the committee to deal with the
circumstances as they might arise for the best interests of the
town.

Mr. Robertson Gladstone asked would it not be possible to
come to some sort of understanding with the agents in London
as to their charges. He understood that a system was in
existence of making an arrangement in such cases, and that
very considerable discount was sometimes submitted to.
Now, that corporation had been mulct long enough, for
generations almost, by the lawyers, and he thought it was
high time to bring them to book. He hoped their reign
would not last much longer ; but he was quite satisfied,
paying so much as the corporation did for law, that some
arrangement might be made, and a very satisfactory one, for the
funds of the pubiic.
The Mayor said the council could scarcely enter into that
part of the business yet. The question at present only
involved the referring of the bills before them to the' Birken-
head docks' committee.
The following resolution was then adopted.
_ _ _

"That two bills, deposited in accordance with the
standing orders of parliament, entitled " a bill for carry-
ing into effect certain proviskins of the Birkenhead Docks
Act, 1855,' in relation to the constructions and completion
of the Birkenhead Docks, for authorising alterations
therein, and new works, and for other purposes ;" and " a
bill for carrying into effect certain provisions of the
Birkenhead Docks Act, 1855, relating to the management
of theißirkenhead docks, and for other purposes now laid
before the Council, the preamble and clauses of which have
been considered and are hereby approved, subject to such
alterations as may be made therein by parliament, and
that it be referred to the Birkenhead committee to take
all necessary steps to procure the passing, by parliament,
of the said bills, and to make all necessary alterations in
clauses, and to consent to the introduction of new clauses
as circumstances may arise during the progress of the
bills, and that the Mayor be authorised to affix the com—
mon seal to a print of the bill, and to any petition, memo •
rial, statement, or other document necessary during the
progress of the bills, or either of them."

THE MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS.
The following letter was read from Mr. Brown, M.P.
" Richmond hill, Liverpool, Jan. 24.
"My Dear Sir,-1 have had the honour of receiving from
the Town Clerk copies of reso'utions passed by the council on
the I,t and 7th instant, which convey to me, in the most
complimentary manner, the way in which they propose to
avociate my name with the Freo Library. May I therefore
beg you will be kind enough to inform the council that it adds
much to my gratification and pleasure to find an act of mine
is considered by them deserving of such resolutions.—l have
the honour to be, yours very respectfully,

‘IWILLIAN BROWN.
" His Worship the Mayor of Liverpool."
The letter was ordered to be inserted in the minutes.
A letter was read from Mr. W. F. M'Gregor, requesting
the use of the Town Hall rooms for a fancy dress ball, about to
be given on behalf of the public charities. The application was
referred to the Town Hall establishment committee.
The council then separated.

In the use of the knife our rowdy population exceed tha
Spaniards. —Philadelphia News.
Nearly all the negcoes hung in the late insurrection in
Kentucky and Tennessee were preachers.—Montreal
Transcript.

THE GARROTE.—This new method of robbery has been
introduced into this city, and was successfully practised
one night last week on a printer who happened to be
out rather late.—New York Tribune.

A NEW YORK ALDERMA.NIO APPETITE.—A late NeW
York paper says .---Councilman Hugh O'Brien of the
Fourteenth Ward made a desperate assault upon a man on
Suniay evening in a bar-room in Prince street, near
Elizabeth, and in attempting to bite his nose -6ff inflicted a
very serious wound. Thu individual assailed was sitting
quietly by the stove, and is an invalid from consumption
and rheumatism. [Had such an ocuutrence happened here,
the press would have rung with denunciations. In New
York, however, it serves only for a little obscure paragraph,
and is dismissed without further notice.—ED. N. T.]
CRIME IN MANCHESTER.—The following is a summary
of the total number of felonies reported to have been
committed in the city of Manchester during the months
of October, November, and December, in years 1853, 1854,
1855, and 1856 ; also of the number of robberies by force,
which are included in the informations :

1953. 1854. 1850. 1856.
Total information of felonies .... 1,898 .. 1,835 .. 1,968 .. 1,774
Robberies by force 53 .. 24 .. 19
As the robberies by force include those garotte attacks
which have excited so much alarm, the return is calculated
to reassure the timid ; while it behoves both the courageous
and the timid to be on their guard against the onertions
of this daring class of criminals.—Manchester Etanuner.
OPEN-AIR GAMBLING.—At Manchester, on Monday, a
was charged
A
d awith gambling
o
lingf dwciatrhsand
cards
aomnab
tnohaner adStretfordwere
Buckley
ua din
w Road,
on sahis possession, besides a couple of
imitation sovereigns, a number of prepared nut shells for
thimble rigging, and other implements used in gambling.
The man did not attempt to deny the charge, and said he
went out to try to pick up a few shillings, as he was
badly off. He begged hard for mercy, but he had been
before convicted of the same offence, and then he had been
told what the punishment would be if he came again. He
was sentenced to three months' hard labour, and the
money found in his possession was ordered to be applied.
as far as it would go, in maintaining him while in prison.'
As; EPISCOPAL APOLLO.—A story is current in polite
circles that, Fair the advancement of the Rev. R. Bicker-
steth to the tSishoprio of Ripon, Lady Langdale (who is
now abroad), wrote to thank Lord Palmerston for having
so promoted him ; adding that she was sure it would be a
eery popular appointment, as he united in himself the
qualifications of both " Apollo and Appollos." His lordship
is said to have replied that he was very glad that she was
so pleased; that he understood perfectly her first allusion,
for he had been told the bishop elect was a very good
looking man ; but that he was qui'e at a loss to understand
what she could mean by Apollos ; unless,,undeed, it was
that her relati▪
ve was so handsome that he possessed the
graces of more than one Heathen Deity of that name.
POLITICAL SOIREE AT ST. MARTIN'S HALL.-011 Tuesday
evening, Mr. Ernest Jones gave another political lecture ;
the main subject of which was the foreign policy of the
Ministry, and which, as usual, was studded with strong
invectives. agai▪
nst the "crowned miscreants of the age,"
and espeTally against the despotic Governments of Austria
and Russia. It was characterised, also, by all the fervour
of language andextiression which has marked his previous
lectures. He likewise took occaasion to 'denounce the
" wretched babblers," who met the ether day in Smithfield,
and who expressly -repudiated the ail of " professional
agitators" in making known their present privations, The
Hall was well filled, and the musical arrangements formed
an agreeable feature of the evening's entertainments, and
certainly competed powerfully with the somewhat windy
declamation of the lecturer for the favour of the audience.
eg A PICTURE OF THE WESTERN CITIES OF AMERICA.---. 111
most of the great towns which have sp-ung up so rapidly in
the West, to the intense admiration of the writer in the
Times and other tourists, those matters which in England
are deemed essential to the health and comfort of the
Vmmunity are almost entirely neglected—most of the streets
are neither paved nor lighted—then:, is no drainage—the
filth is thrown into the streets where hogs are the only
scavengers—in dry weather the inhabitants are suffocated
with dust, in wet weather they are up to their knees in mud,
The climate is very hot and dry in summer, and excessively
cold in vinter—bad health is the rule, good health a rare
exception—fever and ague are almost universal—there are
no public amusements, no public walks, parks, or gardens
—all are struggling hard to get a living, and a good many
fail; indeed, a large majority of those engaged in business
are unsuccessful—fires are frightfully common—and there
is a vast deal of poverty and crime,

THE LOSS OF THE POINT OF AYR LIFE-BOAT.

There was a meeting of the committee of the subscribers
to the fund collected for the benefit of the wives and
children of the men who were lost in the above boat, held
yesterday in the Underwriters' Room. William Potter,
Esq., the chairman, presided, and the following gentle-
men were present—Messrs. Hubback, W. Moss, T. Palmer,
R. Wyn ), Morris, Kendall, Molyneaux, Jas. Livingston,
&e., &c.

The Chairman explained the object of the meeting,
which was for the purpose of ascertaining the best means
of appropriating the surplus, if any, of the sums subscribed
for the benefit of the wives and children of the men who
were lost in the Point of Ayr lite boat. There was a
large sum of money collected, and no doubt it would be a
long time before the distribution of the fund would be
completely finished, because there were so many children
to be provided for out of the money, and it should
be so managed that the parties left depending on it,
should not be left destitute hereafter. He said
in the case of the ship Cherokee, lost a few years ago,
wader similar circumstances, there was a fund collected,
and the gentlemen who composed the committee for the
distribution of that fund came to a resolution that, after
providing for the wants of the parties entitled to relief
from the fund, the surplus was to be appropriated as a
reserve to be applied for the relief of sufferers under
similar accidental circumstances of disaster. If the
present committee passed a similar resolution to that
which he had alludq,d, the surplus amount, if any, would
be similarly applied.
Mr. Mos's said it should go abroad that the wives and
children of the sufferers were first fully provided for.
The Chairman said—certainly, and that was done also
in the case of the Cherokee ; and then the surplus was
handed over to the Shipwrecked Humane Society, and
that body had in the present case voted £lOO for the
collection to this fund.

Mr. Moss suggested that the money should be given to
the parties in small sums, as if given otherwise, most
likely it would be squandered away, and in that case it
would become a source of misery instead of comfort to
them.

Mr. Hubback then proposed a resolution to the follow-
ing effect—" That, after providing adequatelyfor the wives
and children of the sufferers; by the loss of the life boat of
the Point of Ayr, out of the sum subscribed, should the
fund now in hand exceed the sum required for that
purpose, that the excess be appropriated at the discretion
of the committee for the benefit and relief of sufferers from
like casualties."
Mr. Kendall seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
It was stated that the fund amounted to £3,025 10s,
including £ll6 2s 6d from Manchester, and £2O from the
Belfast Gaslight Company, and that some additional
subscriptions were expected. After a short conversation
a vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, and the
meeting separated.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE

LIVERPOOL.' .
BEFORE MR, MANSFIELD.

A SAD CASE.—A poor young fellow, named William
Webster, was brought up by officer 303, who said he got
him loitering about the streets in a very destitute condi-
tion, and he told him he had had no place to sleep for three
nights, and hardly anything to eat, and that he was
obliged to walk about the streets to keep himself warm
In reply to Mr. Mansfield, the poor fellow told the follow-
" in!' story :—He was born in Prince Edwards Island, but
that latterly he lived Boston (America) with his friends.
He went, some time ago, to Charleston, in South Caro-
lina, to look for employment. He fell in with some people
there, who made him drunk, and then put him on board
a ship as a sailor; and he arrived here; all his clothes
having been stolen whilst on the voyage. Mr. Mansfield :
What ship was it ? She was called the Kossuth, sir.
Mr. Mansfield: Did you get any money? No, sir, not a
penny ; and all my clothes were stolen. Mr. Mansfield :
Would you wish to go back again ? Yes, sir ; I would
like to get back to my friends in Boston. Mr. Mansfield :
Did you apply to the American Consul ? Tes, sir, but he
said he could do nothing for me, as I had no papers to
show. Mr. Mansfield asked Mr. Clough (the superinten-
dent) if he could do anything to send the poor fellow
back, and he said he could get him a ship this day, and
would take care of him in the meantime.

A BAD BON.—A professional gentleman (a solicitor).
applied to his worship on the part of a gentleman, for a
warrant to apprehend his son. He said the :complainant
and his son had not been on good terms for some time
,past ; that tho father had given his son considerable sums
of money, but lately he had refused to give him any more,
and the son had written several very threatening letters,
and the gentleman was much afraid of him, and wished
for a warrant to arrest him. He handed up the letters to
Mr. Mansfield, who, on reading them, ordered the warrant
to issue.

PUNCH AND JUDY.—Three young fellows named Mkt.
Barton, William Parting, and John Brown, who are well
known to the police, were brought up by detective
rviTulloch, on a charge of having picked a lady's pocket.
The officer watched the prisoners from the Post Office
into Frederick-street, when there was a grand per-
formance of " Punch and Judy," and amongst the passers
on was a lady, whose pocket they picked. The officer
called the assistance of a civilian and arrested the
.prisoners, who were sent to gaol for three months with
hard labour.

Do You WANT CHEAP BEEP.--John M'Carthy and
Joseph Reece, were put forward by detective officer
Patrick, on the following charge. Mr. Bluck defended
M'Carthy. The amount of the officer's story was as
follows:—He was in Pownall Square the previous
evening, and from what he heard he watched the prisoners
from a publichouse into Back Brick-street, where they hired
a cart, and went on to a slaughter house in Parliament.
street, out of which they took two quarters of beef. Ile
asked them to account for how they got it ? and M'Carthy
replied that Mr. Ditchburn sold it to a man named
Morgan, and he sold it to Reece. This Reece denied, and
said he bought it from M'Carthy. The officer went to
Mr. Ditchburn, who said he knew nothing of the affair.
On making enquiry of Mr. M‘Ghee, the owner of the
slaughter house, he told him that on Monday the prisoners
drove a fine cow into the house and slaughtered it. It
appeared also that a portion of the beef had been sold to
a Mrs. Benwell, of James Street, for 4-34 d per lb, although
it was worth 50; and M'Carthy's wife had received of 8
for the beef. M'Carthy told the officer that he went with
R-ece to the cattle market on Monday, when they went
into a field and drove out the cow ; and that after the
animal was killed, Reece took the hide and flung it into
the river. It seemed that the beef was of the finest
quality, and that the hide was. worth about 50s. Mr.
Bluck elicited from the officer, that M'Carthy told him he
went with Reece to drive the cow, the latter alleging
that he had purchased the beast. Mr. Bluck contended
that as there was no owner for the cow, that his
client ought to be discharged. Mr. Clough said an
owner would probably be found on next Monday, the
market day, and he would ask for a remand to that day.
Mr. Bluck said there should be an owner and the beast
recognised before the prosecution was entered on. Mr.
Mansfield said, considering all the circumstances of the
case, and the interruption of their navigation by the
deposit of a hide worth 50s, he thought the circumstances
very suspicious, and he would therefore remand the
prisoners to Tuesday.
THE TEA ROBBERY.—William Knight, the person who
has been remanded on a charge of being concerned in
stealing 70 pounds of tea, from the ship Ontario, vo:s
brought up, and the evidence being perfected, he was 'sent
for trial. Mr. Coodere made an application to bar e the
prisoner admitted to bail, but his %Worship refrased the
application.

CORONER'S CO UR T.— Yester day.

The coroner held the following inquests :
On the body of James Ellison, aged 23, whQ was drowned
in the Coßingwood dock, on Tuesday night. The deceased
went to see a friend (a soldier) off in the Cork boat, and
by some accident he fell into the dock. Ile was got out in
15 minutes, and the usual remedies were resorted to, but
life was extinct. Verdict accidentally drowned.
CHARGE or INFANTICIDE—The coroner held another
inquest on the body of a female child, alleged to have been
destroyed by its mother, Mary Anne Wright, 27 years of
age, who resided as housemaid at the house of Mr. John
Thompson, master mariner and boarding house keeper,
62, Bedford street South. The accused was in custody of
detective officer Povey, who had her Conveyed to the
workhouse, where she lies at present. From the evidence
of Martha Turtle, it appeared that for some time past she
lived in the service of Mr. Thompson, as well as the
prisoner Wright. Latterly, the witness suspected some-
thing about the appearance of the woman, and it would
appear that on Sunday last the prisoner gave birth to a
child, but went about the house and performed her work
up to Monday. About twelve o'clock on that day a box
was found in her room, which contained the dead body of
the child. Mrs. Thompson and some other witnesses were
examined, after which Dr. Mitchell was examined, and
said he had made a pest mortem examination of the body;
the head was much pressed, as if by a heavy weight, and
the bones were broken. Death was caused by violence to
the head. Detective officer Povey said, when he arrested
the prisoner she admitted the fact of having been confined.
The coroner then summed up, and said, from the evidence
of Dr. Mitchell there was no doubt that the death of the
child was caused by external violence, and that it was done
maliciously. The jury consulted for about half an hour,
and then returned a verdict of wilful murder against
Mary Anne Wright, and a warrant for her committal was
at once issued.

INSJRANCE News.—The third annual meeting of the
English and Foreign Life Assurance Society was held on
Tuesday, Lord Frederick Kerr in the chair. During the
year the Company had received 279 proposals, of which
they had accepted 223. insuring £66,712, being £1,282
more than the business of the previous year. The claims
of the year bad been 2, amounting to £6OO. The expenses
were £2,600, which amount included items not recurring
to the extent of about £5OO. The society now held 519
policies in force, assuring £126,509 13s 9d, and producing
a revenue of £4,320 Us sd. The report was unanimously
adopted by a very harmonious meeting.