The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-08 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, WDNEES DA Y.

the speculators for a rise being only sufficient to
prevent it freni falling lower. Good flour of the
second qnality is easily , had at from 60f to
65f the sack, and thirds at from `of to 55f.
The stock of flour now disposable in the hands of
the factors amonnts to 17,000 quintals; and it is
expected it will reach the figure of 20,000 metrical
quintals. The accounts from the agricultural
districts as to the growing crops are most favour
able. The alternate heat and rain have developed
vegetation in a most fortunate manner, and promise
an abundant harvest. It is expected likewise
that this will be an exceptional year for
fruit, and that the crop will be the most
abundant seen for the last ten years. The
price of wine still exitinues to rise in the market
of Berry: The opinion of many good judges
on the subject is that even if the next vintage
should prove to be all that could be desired, still
there will be no great reduction of price, inasmuch
as the stock of old wine is exhausted, and that
there is but little of any description on hand.
Letters from Nantes state that the holders of wine
in that quarter are disposed to take all the chances
of the next vintage rather than dispose of their
stock of wines. Spirits distilled from beZtroot are
firm in Paris at 124 f. the hectolitre, and at Bor-
deaux 132 f.; Languedoc brandy is quoted at
Bordeaux at 215£ the hectolitre.

a cordon has been established, and the price_ of_
meat must rise, as there is a great cattle market at
fira jish, Mariazell, in. Styria, which is in possession
of a wonder working picture of the Virgin, has been
a place of pilgrireage for the last 700 years, and as it
is foreseen that more pilgrims than usual will during
this year visit tha holy shrine, the police have given
orders that their names need not be entered in
the innkeeper's books. A simple ticket, bearing
the names of the persons arriVing, *ill be all that
the police will keeittire. M. Scanzoni, an acconcheur
residing at Wurzburg, has received a telegraphic
invitation to go to St. Petersburg before the 13th
of May, about which time her Majesty the Empress
of Russia is likely to be confined.

According to the Olmutz Zeitung, the Vienna
papers were not permitted; to insert in their
columns a leader which was:in the Times of the
25th of March, on the diplomatic rupture between
Austria and Sardinia. There was, however, an
emasculated summary of it in more than one of the
Vienna evening papers.

The show of prize cattle at Poissy is to take
place on Wednesday next. There are 404 animals
entered for exhibition. Last year there were but
276. The number of oxen is 152, of which 64 are
French and 88 foreign. The French animals are
the best yet exhibited, but they are sadly inferior
to the English and Scotch.

social circle, I.catinot With a due regard I only for about 1,200 additional interments. And if their
to accuracy, apply to them the term'' responsible." , annual deaths reached' 600, it would followconclusively
that in two years time if nothing was done In the mean-
For "accidental" failures they are anSwerable to /
• tene,tney'wonld be without a yard ofground in the tovenship
no earthly tribunal! Not so with the justly dot- to bury the dead. The necessity, then, for new burial ground
plaining shipmaster. A soldier or a naval was most obvious. It was most pressing and important,
commander, it is truo, is responsible to his and he thought they would be guilty of a dereliction of
"employer," but each if
.erring is judged by his duty if they allowed the question to stand over any
compeers. The court martial is composed of his longer..
.It would be in their ecolteetiou that, in 1843 the
tchoamtmyisesairongesymoabdtaethperdovainsioanctfoorf aiplrultialimcent,cemetery.and
fellows—not thus is it with the merchant captain.
undelrn
He alone of all mankind is denied this. Hence that act they purchased a considerable site in the township.
the meeting of shipowners at the Exchange Two.thirds of that property was still unhewn rock, and
Buildings yesterday, to ask for justice to ship therefore at present unavailable for cemetery purposes,
masters, and I would repeat my question alrea but the remaining one-third might be at once applied to
proposed to the public in a ,small pamphlet.* the purpose of a cemetery. The approaches to it could
hardly be excelled ; the land had lately been visited by,
Can you point out a class of men in the whole the Government inspector, and by him declared -to be
round of society whose welfare ought to be more entirely applicable to - the purposes of a cemetery ;
anxiously Studied than that of shipmasters tro and it had also been surveyed by the surveyor,
ft is highly creditable to the distinguished who reported that fifteen acres of it was of sum.
event depth fora burial
th bpurposes. The question then
members of the class under consideration who
mys
byrlwnlichth7:
could
ddbe intodone play ?
spoke yesterday, that no attempt was made to There palliate the crime of neglect on shipboard. how
tVt'eue
private company, by a burial board, or by the Commis—sionyeras
There was no attempt to designate " carelesedests" themselves. With regard to a private Company, the only thing
by a milder or softer epithet. The " mistake" of that Could be said in favour of it, was that ft would save the
the lawyer may be called inacivertene—the fetal township from the impasNon of.a rate, but on the other hand,
blunder of the medical man may be an " error irt the company if established, would make such charges as would
juigment; '` but the hardy sailor seems to say, not Oily give them a handsome profit on the capital invested,
but also in course of time repay them the capital itself.
boldly, " call our short-comings by any name, but
Necessity a Moreover, after certain disclosures that had been mad, on the
give us sea room and fair play. "
punishment was not denied ; yet let them have the other side of the water, it would be an extremely difficult
thing
induce
get up a Ovate cemetery company—(bear, hear)—
privilege enjoyed by all other grades of society.
beliocnsttoitufatevdourthit. ( bear
ti hear.) If a
" Let our fellows try us," say they, with apparent or to
Board were the public
sysi
nweorus ha•
Tvehefirfsoturto
justice. IL can be no imputation on naval officers purchase lerti from the Commie
that they are rejected as judges in mercantile teen and a half acres according to the schedule
affairs. It is truly a lamentable sight, and one of price ' would cost in round numbers £12,000 ; but,
which I know full well the horrors, when the taking into account the depreciation of the township bonds, he
young, the gay, the aged, the parent, or child, are, would suppose that they coup purchase the land for £B,OOO.
by the act of one man, engulphed in the boiling The cost for Wailing, laying out the ground, building two
surge I I question, however, if we can, by any chapels, &c., he was informed by the surveyor, would cost
judicial sentence on a guilty or erring master,
£5,000.
Ho (the chairman), to be on the safe site, would
increase his remorse. You may extend the take £6,000 ;so that the total coat to the Burial Board would
punishment to his guiltless wife and children, be about £14,000. Borrowing that money from the Govern..
or to his infirm parent, the prop of whose corn
emerttinLteoraesnt, Cand t
om m Issioners, they would have to pay per
to repay each year. 5 per cent. That would
forts in old anti dependent age you may suddenly the
be 'a rate of 3d, inpound on Birkenhead and Claughton,
demolish, but I believe the bitter pangs of regret but a rate which would each year be reduced by the rep ay.
are often of themselves a punishment too great to went of the principal, and also by the use of the ground
be borne, and although we are a Christian and itself, and the arrangement which might be come to
civilised nation, We are at present placing the with the surrounding districts If it were' taken up by
hardiest, best, and most useful, as they are the the Commissioners themselves, they would require only
most loyal, of British 'subjects in a wrong position. £5,000, the lend being already in their possession, and
Let us leave it to- the barbarians of China and the the expense of management, they having already a s'aff of
last to punish with su,!h useless rigour Surely officials, would be also less. (Hear, hear.) Under any
corrections for the faults of commanders are under circumstances he was sure that in this matter they would
the control of shipowners and underwriters them-
receive a cordial suppore out of doors, in providing a
ground which would be beyond the reach of
selves. It may be useful, and undoubtedly is, to 'burial
desecretion, which would be really a place of rest, a
Drove guilt or innocence in every case- of " acci sepulchre, and not a charnel house, (Applause.)
dent:" then let csrtiflcates, which are given by the Dr. Baylis observed that all the clergymen of the town
Board of 7'rade, be endorsed accordingly ; and where would be in favour of such a movement.
an erring man's previous character, perhaps through Mr. M'Whirter observed that the Rev. Mr, Lendie
20,30, or 40 years, will justify mercy. extend it to him. would give it his support, although it would be to the loss
Strike him not down in the prime or wane of life of the &etch church, its ground not being all used.
Mr. Golborne said that the Rev. Mr. Knox promised to
for the error orontission of a few abstracted minutes ;
increase not the cares of wives and families, by cep -
give 'every support consistent with a due regard to the
prehension of new and heartrending anxieties. Let interest of his successors.
The Makatea said that the Rev. Mr. Brown would give
not the bronzed veteran of three score years see, as
it every support.,
at present, the whole aim and work of his toilsome A spcial commi tee, consisting of Mr •Leird, Mr Rae,
life suddenly neutralised by a misappropriation of Mr Bradley, Mr Hind, Mr Keightley, Mr M‘Whirter, and
his energies Cit times when conflicting duties invite and Mr Verelst was appointed to consider the subject.
distract his attention. Make, if you like, the heaving FERRY COMMIT ME,
of the lead the law of each ship, and entrust to The p,oceedings of this committee w,re read, they
shipowners, and their counter check, the under- comprised the following returns : —Ferry receiots for March
writers generally, the admission or rejection of 1856, £1,994 ss. 2d; 1857, £2,023 Is 3d. Receipts from
a captain's further services. Reserve the frowns 24th April, 1855, to 31st March, 1856, £25,057 14;, 2d;
of evaded , justice for those who commit a 1857. £27,716 3s. Expenses during the same period, with
second offence ; but mark me, sir, if such working expenses and rent, in 1856, £21,859 4s 41; 1857,
be the pains and penalties attached to a sailor's £10,378 17s.
The proceedings were confirmed, as were also those of
profession, if such ,be the heavy responsibilities of a the library commitfe
captain in tee merchant service, we should PAY SIM The following lett:: was read
ACCORDINGLY. Our gracious sovereign is the
sailor's friend! When her dignity was menaced a Birkenhead Police Court, March 26, 1857.
TOOmPagTillstEraCtOeMslllol7ltOhNeEcELOnFtlyf
by foreign aggression, did her merchant seamenTOßrE Chester,EA D
Dear
nE CHAIRMANSir
shun the conflict or evade the contest ? They sitting at. Birkenhead- for the county of Chester, had the
manned her fleets, and they at least were " ready." honour of Communicating with the commissioners, on the
The merchant transport ships were England's power. 7th of March last past, on the subject of the Courthouse
Their brave commanders bore her armed might and Lockup, and empowered Mr. Mills, the commissioners'
surveyor, to show certain reports made by the chief
with valour.. They else for justice. !—I have, &c't constable and county surveyor unfavourable to any outlay
4th April, l 817. , S. M. SARBY for the alteration or repair of the present lockups, and to
state that, acting on these reports, the magistrates felt
that there Was no course open to them but to obtain a site
of ground, by gift or purchase, and apply to the Quarter
94' ree.V•t2 -•
having it in intention, to build themselves for like pur-
poses, then that the county magistrates were prepared to
recommend to the Quarter Sessions that the county should
be tepants at such rent as should be agreed upon.
Presuming that these propositions have been laid before
the commissioners, the magistrates will be obliged by a
reply from the commissioners at their earliest leisure;
and must trust to their indulgende that as, in any event,
the erection of other buildings for public business must be
the work of time, the present court will be put by them
into cleaner and more serviceable condition, if only to do
credit to this rising and important town of Birkenhead.—
I have the honour to be, yours very faithfully,
fi R."M. FIELDEN, Chairman.
A special committee was appointed to consider the
matter.
A letter, numerously and respectably signed, requesting
the commissioners to call a
.public meeting of the
ratepayers to express their opinion on the gas bill, was
read.
Mr. Gough said, had it been generally exhibited, it
would have received 500 signatures.
It was referred to the parliamentary committee, with
instructions
.to convene a meeting of the ratepayers, as
requested.
The following letter was also read :
Birkenhead, April 4, 1851.
To the Chairman of the Commissioners of Birkenhead.
Sir,—The Birkenhead District Gas and Waterworks
Bill having been read a second time, and the petition of
the Commissioners having been deposited, and the parlia-
mentary notice given by the Commissioners in November,
having evidently shown their opinion that it would be
beneficial for the townships under their jurisdiction that
the rights and property of the Gas and Water Company
should be vested in them for the benefit of the ratepayers,
I have conferred with my co-directors with a view to
ascertain how far the, object contemplated by the Com-
missioners in their notice could be amicably carried out.
As a large owner of property in the townships, I feel that I
am placed in a position of some difficulty in negotiating between
the commissioners on the one hand and a company in which I
have also a large stake (though small in comparison with my
property in the townships) on the other. It must be evident
to the commissioners that my individual interest would be
best served by promoting the 'interest and welfare of
Birkenhead and its vicinity. With a view to reconcile these
apparently conflicting interests, I have consulted my co-
directors, and:they have assented to my reccommending to the
proprietors a measure which must he deemed only fair and just
if we take into consideration the rights and privileges which the
proprietors possess, and the advantages which would accrue to
the ratepayers.
The standard of the value of all joint stock commercial
undertakings being, invariably, the revenue which they
produce, I submit (without prejudice to either party) the
following proposition :-
Ist. That the revenue of the company, at a particular
period to be fixed upon, be ascertained, and mutually
agreed upon as the basis of negotiation.
2nd. That bonds, in a form to be agreed upon, should be
issued by the township, to such an amount as, if calculated
to yield interest at four per cent., would produce for the
proprietors in the Gas and Water Company a revenue equal
to that earned for them by the company at the time so
agreed upon; and, in order to obviate the difficulty which
might arise in raising money to pay off such bonds if issued
for a limited period, I propose that they should be taken
by the proprietors in the Gas and Water Company in
perpetuity,
3rd. These bonds must be secured on the works and plant
when transferred to the commissioners ; and, as a guarantee
against any undue reduction in the price of gas and water, and
against mismanagement of the concern, the consent of the
ratepayers must be obtained to the imposition of a contingent
rate in aid, not to exceed one shilling in the pound ; such rate
to be levied only in the event of there being any deficiency in
the receipts, and to the extent only of such deficiency.
4th. All excess of revenue, after payment of interest and
charges, to be applied for the benefit of the ratepayers.
This proposal does not contain any new principle, for
numerous precedents may be found in which ratepayers have
undertaken similar obligations, with a view to obtain like
advantages.
As regards the risk which they would incur, it must be
evident to every inhabitant of this district that, as the
empty spaces in the numerous streets in Birkenhead are
filled up with buildings, the receipts must immediately
increase, without any further expenditure of capital,
as the mains which the company have laid down
are sufficient 'to supply the whole district when
fully built upon. This fact will meet any objec-
tion which might be taken by such ratepayers as
are non consumers ; and by consenting
to enter into
the proposed guarantee they will make their future ad-
vantage more certain, inasmuch as it will enable them to
prevent any undue influence being exercised by those who
might have the power to do so, and to whom a reduction in
in
the price of gas and water might be a more palpable
advantage than any received by them as ratepayers merely.
It must also be apparent that, while the present bonds of

* " Captains and Calculations," by S. M. S.

ne o,l3leßwo astmrS'irWUricenneau
COmmissioners was held last night in the public oflbes,
Hamilton square, Birkenhead, Mr. Rae in the chair.
Other members present : —Messrs. Gough, Cook, Bailiff,
Baylis, M:Whirter' M•Donaldi: Golborne, Park, Hind,
Bradley, Verelst, Aspinall, and Keightley.
The minutes of the last meating were read and
confirmed.
The first question brought under consideration was the
prOprietY of placing till management of the Town Hall
altogether in the hands of the Finance Committee. After
some disCussion, it was resolved on a poll that the Com-
missioners' Room should be under the management of
the Finance Committee, and the Town Hall under the
management of the Lighting and Watch Committee.

LIGHTING AND WATCH COMMITTEE

The proceedings of this committee were read. They
confirmed a report from the county surveyor and chief
constable of the county, as to the state of the lock-ups,
which were described as being wholly unfit for the pur •
pose for which they were in: ended. They were very damp.
and badly lighted and ventilated, atifj the surveyor recom-
mended that it would be cheaper to pull them down and
re-erect them, than to attempt to improve them in their
present state• The proceedings also contained a recom-
mendation for the erection of a dead house for the use of
the township. They recommended that the overseers be
requested to bring the subject before the next vestry
meeting.
The Chairman thought there could not be a more
important subject than that contained in the last recom-
mendation, and he hoped that when it was taken up, they
would not content themselves with the erection of a mere
shed.
The proceedings were confirmed, the first recommenda-
tion being held over for the consideration of a special
committee..

—DT:Baylis drew attention to the want of a lamp near
the Post office.
It was promised that the matter should be attended to.