The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-21 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.--LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.

belief that, if the house sanctioned his resolution, they
would be able altogether to avoid new taxes, he left it to
the impartial consideration of the house.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer remarked and con-
gratulated himself upon the absence in the speech of the
right hon, gentleman, of criticism upon the general finan-
cial scheme. The remarks of Mr. Disraeli were, he said,
confined to the non-appearance of estimates for the Persian
and Chinese wars. Upon the votes and the odiousness,
as he characterised it, of the tea and sugar duties—with
regard to the Persian war, a vote had been placed on the
estimates of £250,000, which was half the expense up to
April next; and in regard to the Chinese war the opera-
tions.kad been performed by the vessels on the station
and therefore no extraordinary expense had occurred.
With regard to the tea and sugar duties, he did not know
on what grounds they were characterised as odious im.
posts. They had been included for a long time among
articles on which custom's duties were levied, and they
were not subject to the objection of being protective
duties, as they were articles produced abroad. He
denied that he had presented estimates of expenditure
for the two following years, and stated that what
he had done was to take the estimated revenue for the
two years, and set off against it the expenditure
of the year presenting the nearest simili'u le. and for that
reason he had takan the expenditure of th' year 1853 and
1854, the last year of peace. The Right Hon. gentleman
had stated that there would be a great deficiency in the
income as compared with the expenditure in the next two
years, and that thereby great difficulty would be
experienced in the income tax settlements in 186 To
this statement, then, without undertaking to present
a budget he would address himself. The revenue which
he bad estimated for the two years 1858 9 and 1859-60
was about £62,300,000, which was greater than the
revenue in any year previous to the war since 1830, and
there was no year from 1830 to 1853 in which the income
was more than £58,000,000, or £4,000,000 less than on
the two approaching years In 1854 5 the revenue was
£64,000,000, in 1855-6 it was £70,000,000, and the
revenue for the next year he estimated at £66,365,000.
and for the two following years at £62,300,000. The total
expenditure for the year 1853-4 was £55,840,000, and
deducting this from the revenue for the two next years,
there was a surplus of £6,460,000. He did not think that
thore was any prospect of a deficiency in the three next
years. and he therefore would without expressing an opinion
upon the motion, move that the house should go into com
mittee.

Mr. Glads'one supported the sargument of Mr. Disraeli
and warned the house and the country against accepting a
financial scheme which must end in financial confusion.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer had departed from the
principle laid down by Sir Robert Peel, that indirect
taxation should be reduced, and would, if his propositions
were carried into effect, cause a deficit of £8,000,000 in
two years.
Mr. Wilson opposed the motion, contending that there
was nothing to create such doubt as to the settlement of
1853. He held that all that it was in the power of the
Government to do do in regard to that settlement was to
abstain. in the meantime, from endangering that settle-
ment by any hasty reduction of revenue, or increase of
expenditure.
Mr. Laing remarked, that he thought the effect of the
accumulating deficit which it had been shown would
r, stilt from the Chancellor of the Exchequer's scheme
might be averted for a time, by the postponement o f
obligations incurred during the war to diminish that defi
ciency ultimately, the expenditure must be largely reduced.
He thought that the war should have reduced the expense
of public buildings, and that now, being at peace wi.h all
Europe, reductions should take place in the army and
navy.

On the motion of Mr. James M‘Gregor, the debate was
then adjourned till Monday.

MISCELLANEOUS BILLS, &C.
The Reformatory Sehools Bill was read a second time.
The lonian Subjects Commission Bill went through
committee.
The Public Health Supplemental Bill went through
committee.
The Grand Juries Ireland Bill was brought in and read
the first time.
Mr. Maguire brought in a bill to amend the act Geo.
IV. cap. 82, for making provisions for lighting, cleansing,
and watching towns and cities in Ireland.
The house adjourned at twelve o'clock.

HOW TO "IMPROVE" THE ♦\EN INCOME TAX ACT,—
The first act on the present income tax was passed in 1842,
when it was, according t) its language. to remain in force
three years, " and no longer," and the last act was passed
in 1855, giving the additional 21., making the tax Is. 41.
in the pound. By the act of the year 1853, 16 and 17
Vict., c. 34, it was to ba two years at 7d., two years at 6d.,
and three years (from April is the present year) at sd. in
the pound. By the present arrangement the war portion
of 9d. is to be taken off on the Gth of April, and it is
proposed that a tax of 7d., instead of Si, be levied for three
years. According to the spirit of the act in force, the
twelve months from the articles of peace would expire this
year, bnt the word " ratification" being in the act, the
strict letter of the law would extend it to next year ; but
the Chancellor of the Exchequer promises not to enforce
that view of the matter, if it could be prevented. Instead
of reducing the tea duties 2d. per lb., the income tax could
be reduced to sd. in the pound, and would benefit all parties,
as the public will not participate in the benefit of so small
a rEduction in the tea duties.

RATS.—There are two objections to the common mode of
killing rats by laying poison for them ; first, the :danger to
which it exposes other animals, and even human beings,
seaond, the possibility that the rats, having partaken of it,
may retire to their holes, and dying there, cause an intohx-
able stench, and produce numerous crawling insects. Gt eer's
Patent Anti-Vermin Mixture for the immediate destruction
of rats and mice, is free from these objections and has
effectually cleared dwelling houses, ships, and other places,
that were much infested with these destructive and
disagreeable inmates. Tho smell of the bait will attract
the vermin from their holes, and it being such a special
delicacy to them, they will devour it with greediness,
and die on the spot. To be had at the Anti Vermin
Office, 49, Brownlow hill, Liverpool, at 6d, Is, and 4s each.
Can be sent free by post to any part of the United Kingdom,
America, Australia, &c.—Advt. _ _

CURIOUS STATISTICS —By request and for the sake of
euriosity, we have been furnished with the following
curious statistics, showing the °aerations of one of the
most novel and original sanitary departments extant—for
who ever heard of an Anti- Vermin (Vice ? Such is now
established at 49, Ifrownlow hill, Liverpool,--an office,
having for its objact that of furnishing the public with
a newly discovered scientific and rational remedy for the
extinction of vermin of every description, without danger
to any of the higher order of animals; and how
essential is the existence of such an office, particularly to a
town like Liverpool, where. in the lower localities, the
dwellings of the poorer classes are so densely and fearfully
overrun with the bed bug and flea that, in the spring and
summer seasons, their inmates are often obliged to choose
for their night's resting place the steps of their doors ! In
poor families, at such times, they are like Pharoah's plague
of frogs—'• In their bedchambers, and upon their beds,
and in their ovens, and in their kneading troughs."
Few houses, indeed, at any time, are • free of
one er other kinds of vermin ; and as no nui-
sance to human beings can he more inconvenient or
troublesome, and none hitherto more difficult to remove,
the utility f such am office can only be appreciated by
those who, from necessity, have fairly tested its merits.
An idea, however, of its utility and appreciation may be
somewhat formed from the following detailed account of
its operations during the first six months of its infantile
period, ending December 31, 1856 :—Dwelling hour a
cleared of bugs per contract, 207 of fleas, 89 ;of cock-
roaches, 104 ; of crickets, 22 ; of ants, 19 ; of rats and
mice, 74. Ships cleared of bugs, 19 ; of cockroaches
(East India kind), 4 ; of rats, 42. Orders supplied at
counter, per post and parcel conveyance, to different
parts of the -United Kingdom, America, and Australia, to
chemists, druggists, and others, for the destruction of
different kinds of vermin, 32,453. Irrespective of this
number, there was, of poor, supplied gratuitously (for
bugs only), 209. Number of bugs bought to experiment
on at counter to convinpo the public, to remove scep-
ticism, and to disprove the popular fallacy, that " there
was nothing to destroy ' bugs,'? by giving occular
demonstration of their real antidote, 202, for which in many
instances were paid as much as Id per head, and in some
instances even more, in exchange for bottles of " Anti-
Bug Lotion," to encourage sellers. Public lectures
delivered on bugs, 4. Number of persons employed
exterminating vermin, and manufacturing preparations
against vermin, 51. The above speak volumes in favour
pf the energy and perseverance of the ingenious and enter-
kismet proprietor, Mr. Greer, who, from finding the great
want which had prevailed among the poorer classes
(amongst whom his many years' avocation, as sanitary
official, under the able supervision of Mr. Fresh, had
naturally brought him in contact) for some efficacious
remedy against vermin, combining safety, simpli.
city of application, and cheapness, did not think it
beneath him to dOvote a share of his attention to the
discovery of such a remedy, till at length, after much
research, and many experiments, he has now supplied the
great desideratum, by which ho calculates ridding Liverpool,
at least, of so great and formidable a nuisance of centuries ;
and in his calculation we wish him every commensurate
Success. Ibis having resigned his office under the health
committee, from the pressure of his own business, and to
attend to it exclusively, will enable the public to receive
more largely the benefits of his services.


THE LONDON

AND

NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY
COMPANY.

HALF YEARLY MEETING.

(FROM OUR OWN RE PORTER

The ordinary half yearly meeting of the directors and
shareholders of the London and North Western Railway
Company was held at the Euston Station, at twelve
o'clock yesterday. There was a very large attendance.
The chair i‘as taken by the. Marquis of CHANDiS,
chairman of the company.
The Secretary, Mr. Stewart, read the advertisement
calling the meeting, and the minutes of the last half
yearly meeting.
The report and statement of accounts was then read.
The report is as follows :

London. It is the line upon which the whole, or almost
the whole of the chief postal accommodation of the
country is carried on. The large development which
has taken place in railways throughout the country, has
rendered punctuality, certainty, and speed, combined
with safety the only real seeurity you can hope to have
for the retention of the traffic from any important
points. In the earlier days of railways, the traffic could
not be abstracted from your line because there was not any
means of communication which could enable other
trains to have taken it. But at the present moment
there is hardly any town in England between which and
any other point three or four means of eommunication
cannot be found. Looking at the condition of the
kingdom, and looking at the probable extensions which
will further take place, your directors have clearly seen
that your reliance for the protection of your traffic must
be by the safety, punctuality, and certainty with which
you can deliver either goods or passengers, and upon
what conditions with respect to goods trains you can
deliver goods. They find also that the delays occasioned
upon the lines by the irregularities of the trains coming
from remote parts of England not tinder the control of
the company, and many coming, perhaps, from the north
of Scotland, and delivered an hour or two late at the
entrance of the line of this company, have caused no
small amount of actual extra expenditure in con-
ducting the delayed trains on their journey to London.
They find that the locomotive expenditure, in consequence
of these delays, the actual consumption of coke, and the
wages paid during the day, amount to a very considerable
sum. They find that these delays arise from circumstances
which this company can never hope to control, because
they are caused by the necessity of bringing forward
snails and other trains delivered to the company late
from causes beyond our reach. They find then, that as
they cannot hope wholly to get rid of the causes of these
delays by any arrangement of their traffic, they should
look, and in fact are compelled to look to the means by
which they can lessen the expense occasioned in this
way, and lessen the other evils which the delays produce
upon the line. They find that taking the total traffic for
a short period, the period of one mouth, that had we
had for some time past a third line, from Bletchly to
London, it would have enabled us to have separated
through that length, the passenger and merchandise
traffic, and that a very large saving indeed would have
been the result. They find, on further inquiry, that
the land belonging to the company, purchased for the
arrangements in the formation of the line, would, in
almost every ease, all perhaps but one or two insignificant
cases, suffice for placing the proposed line of rails
They find that the relief which will be afforded by
such an arrangement to the up traffic, will re-act
also upon the downward traffic, fur a large number of the
delays which have occurred upon the down line during
twelve months are traceable when examined into, to delays
which have arisen on the up-line by delaying engines or
causing other engines not so efficient for that particular
work to have to take out trains. They ask you therefore
confidently to grant them the sum of money necessary to
place that third line, in the full belief that it will lead not
to increased expenditure, but to increased economy, in
the working of the traffic, which I really believe will be
almost if not entirely equal to the interest of the money to
be expended upon it; and will give you that security for
the retention of your traffic which you look for, by enabling
you to do your work in the best manner, with the greatest
certainty, with the greatest punctuality, and at the same
time, although 1 am not an advocate for very high speed,
to maintain upon your line with perfect safety whatever
speed is necessary and demanded by the public for
the conduct of passenger traffic. They have there-
fore thought fit to place this subject before you and to
ask you for this amount. There are some other estimates
to which, perhaps, I need hardly refer, for which
we ask you for votes, in accordance with the resolutions of
the board, all of which have been discussed and re-discussed
three or four times over, and which your directors have
found absolutely necessary for the performance of the work
on your line. There is one matt'r slightly referred to in
your report, to which I may allude—the introduction of a
bill, to convert the Shropshire Union Canal into a railway.
This is a small portion of the Shropshire Union undertak-
ing, which goes through the mining districts, and from the
increased working of the mines, the maintenance of the
canal has become so costly as to render it, in the expectation
of your directors, likely to be an economical arrangement to
convert it into a railway. But the measure, although intro-
duced, requires and will have from your directors further
consideration, and, ifprosecuted, it will come b. fore you fully
at the usual meeting, when your sanction will be asked to
it. One subject also there is, to which we could not allude in
the report, may be a subject of discussion at this meeting,
namely, the regociations for the improvement of cemtnni-
cation with Ireland, in accordance with the act of parliament
obtained two years ago, upon that subject we could say
nothing to you in the report, because the negotiations are
going on, and still pending, but no decision has been arrived
at in regard to that question. The views of the government
appeared in the first instance to be to ask a speed and to
ask conditions which would have entailed, donbtiess,
enormous risk. I believe they are now likely to vary the
conditions; but the question is still under negotiation, and
I cannot give you any further information upon the subject
than what I have done. With reference to the position of
this company to others, you have been told in the report,
and you are aware from the previous meeting, that the
differrences between this company and the Great Northern
with regard to traffic are submitted to the arbitration
of Mr. Gladstone, that arbitration Mr. Gladstone
entered npen with the greatest attention. It is
likely to be very shortly concluded, I believe
Mr. Gladstone will be in a position in a very
few days, upon some necessary papers being placed
before him, to complete and deliver his award, and I am
sure I am only expressing the sentiments of the board of
directors, and I think I must be expressing the sentiment
of all connected with this company, the Great Northern,
the Midland, and other companies, in saying that the
public are extremely indebted to Mr. Gladstone, and to any
person in his position, and with his talents, who gives his
attention to the solution of questions so important to the
interests of railway companies. (Hear, hear.) Over the
several bills introduced by other parties in the House of
Commons it will be the du y of your directors to watch.
Many of them may drop before they go further—l hear
that one or two have dropped, fortunately —but some of
them require a good deal of attention. Ole remark I may
make in reference to the position of the company with
regard to the North Staffordshire Company. I was seery
to see that at a meeting of that company it was stated, that
although our dividend was to be large, we had paid them
a far smaller atno4nt, and that they were obliged
to take whatever they could get, without the
means of checking the accounts. The farmer fact
may be literally true. The nett money they received
chances to be small, but I have fonnd neon inquiry that the
grow amount was between 4,000 and 5,000 more, the cause
of the actual nett amount being less, being the difference of
the working expense upon the North Staffordshire and
upon the North Western lines, I also found that the very
voluminous accounts—much too voluminous to trouble the
meeting with—were sent to the secretary of that company
about a mouth ago, with a request th t he would indicate
anything he objected to, and no objection reached ns. In
consequence, as li have said before, of the report being
issued-with the papers, I have not gone into detail as much
as upon former occasions—not, indeed, from any desire to
withhold any information, but because I thoughts ties the I
report and the aooounts have been beforo you for some time,
it would not be necessary to detain yeu. (Cheers.)
Mr, Dickenson suggested that some farther explanation
should be given as to the proposed works, and as to whether
an alteration of the tunnels would be required. He
remarked that if they meddled with snob works it was im-
possible they could make the alteration for the sum
spoken of.

The Chairman : With reference to the widening act, as
it was called, which was obtained by this company some
four or Ave years back, authorizing, and, in fact, imposing
upon the company the necessity of completing six lines
between Camden Town and Willesden, a distance of about
six miles. Qf these lines the directors have let the contract

for making two line®, with an additional tunnel at Kensa
Green. These works, which are under the old act of
parliament, are not included in the estimate of £350,000
for the widening. It is proposed to carry a single line of
rails on the east side of the existing railway, that is on the
up aide of the existing railway, from Willesden to the
point where the already authorised lines terminate, and
where the Hampstead Junction, and the North and Son'h
Western, and the West London Junctions take place : to
carry a single line of rails np to tha Watford tunnel, not to
affect the tunnel. It is proposed to lay a single line of
rails from the north end of the Watford tunnel to the
Bletchley station, forming a short tunnel at Leighton, and at
Northchurch, neqr Trine., a small tunnel for that single line.
Tiles@ works are included in the estimates. The details of
the estimates have been gone into with very great care,
not formed upon a general view at so much per mile, but
upon an aotual review and examination of each particular
bridge and work which is to be effected. In the case of
the two short tunnels at Leighton and at Northchurch, near
Tring, some additional land is required, which has been
provided for at n large rate in the estimate. With reference
to the stations, I may say that several of the stations are
already set back a sufficient distance to allow the line to
pass in front of them rithout interference. In the cise of
the Harrow station, from the necessities of the traffic and
the great increase of traffic at that station, it has been
decided for Some time to rebuild it. This work can be
done concurrently with the third line. It has not been felt
necessary to have a third line; and it is not thought that it
ever will be necessary to have a third line through the
Watford tunnel, for the reason that the St. Alban's Junction
is very
near the Watford tunnel within a mile of it, and as