The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-27 00:00:00

INDIA.

DARTMOUTH, TUESDAY MORNING.
Tha steam ship Robert Lowe arrived at this
port last evening at 8 o'clock.
Her dates are—Calcutta, Feb. 17; Madras, Feb
24; Ceylon, March 2; Mauritius, March 18 ; and
Cane of Good Hope, April 5.
She brings a heavy mail, and 41 passengers.
The mail ship Harbinger arrived at the Cape
from England on the 28'h of March.

Confidence was complete!y re-established on the
Cape frontier through the energetic measures
adopted by the Governor.
The French steam-transport La Meurthe and
gun-boat Valanche had arrived ; also Fl.M.'s' ship
Actaeon, and gun-boat Dove, on their way to
China.

H.M.'s troop ship Simoom put into Simon's Bay
on the 2nd of. April, frbm Dublin for Mauritius,
with the 83rd Regiment, all well.

THE EAST.

News from Constantinople to the 14th has ar-
rived.

Baron Talleyrand, the French Commissioner in
the Principalities, has sent his secretary to Con-
stantinople, entrusted with an urgent mission to
the Divan. . The movement for the union of the
Principalities is constantly spreading, and the press
now gives it an energetic support.
The Turkish Government have provided for
insertion in the Journal de Constantinople, their
official French paper, accounts of all the meetings
held in favour of the rutting of- the Isthmus of
Suez, at the instance of M. de Lesseps.
An assembly of merchants and bankers has been
held at Constantinople for the purpose of agreeing
upon a new bank scheme.

The Sovereigns of Ruasia and Austria are rivaling
each other in sending decorations to influential
persons in the Principalities.
The Sultan has sent the order of the Medjidie
to the King of Prussia.

THE BIRKENHEAD GAS AND
WATER BILL.

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS-TUESDAY.

The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the
Birkenhead District Gas and Water Bill, re-assembled this
morning, at twelve o'clock'
The members of the committee present, were—Mr.
Packe, chairman ; Mr. W. J. Garnett, Mr. Dillwyn, Mr.
Willoughby, and Mr. Sclater.
Mr. William Cole, the first witness, was examined by
Mr. Monek. He said he was an architect and surveyor,
and had been one of the improvement commissioners for
Birkenhead, from 1835 to 1841. In 1839 he made a
survey of Birkenhead, in connection with the sale of
some land there. At that time there was no regular
supply of water, nor were the streets marked on the plan ;
in fact they were only projected. From 1840 gas
mains had been laid down by the commissioners,
but in consequence of their not being laid upon
proper levels, the commissioners had been com
pelled to take up a great portion and relay
them. The plan produced showed the townships of
Tranmere, Bebbington, and Oxton, and all districts
included in the gas supply. In 1842 and 1843 considerable
progress was made towards the completion of Market-street,
Hamilton-street, Argyle-street. and Conway-street, which
were the principal thoroughfares of Birkenhead. When
the existing waterworks were first established, they were
the subject of much comment in consequence of its being
thought that they were placed too far from the place to
be supplied. The result, however, had proved that they
were not improperly situated. At Oxton witness had
purchased a large plot of land from the Earl of Shrews
bury which had since been laid out in streets, and sold for
building purposes. One very great btjection on the part
of purchasers had been the want of a regular supply of
water. In Claughton, the adjoining township, building
had made much more rapid progress for some years than
in Oxton, and he attributed this to the want of a proper
supply of water. Claughton, since the sixth year of the
reign of her present Majesty, had been amalgamated with
Birkenhead, and supplied by the Commissioners with gas
and water. Such was the great requirements for water
in Oxton, that the inhabitants were obliged to cart it from
pits at a very considerable cost. Witness resided in Oxton
himself, and the same pump which supplied his establish-
ment also supplied those of eight or ten families. A
large number of the cottage residents were dependent
upon a land spring, which often failed, and great incon-
venience was thereby created. [Witness here produced
returns of the poor-rate assessments from 1840 to 1856.)
From those returns it appeared that there had been an
increase in the rateable value of the property at Birken-
head, between the years named, of £67,726. In 1840,
the rateable value was £35,569, and in 1856, £103,295.
In higher Tranmere, in the district contemplated
by this bill, the supply of water was equally
inadequate. In Lower Tranmere, one of the principal
sources of supply had recently failed. The rateable value
of property in Higher and Lower Tranmere in 1840, was
£8,663, and in 1856, £27,796. In the townships of Higher
and Lower Bebbington, there was also a very imperfect
water supply, the inhabitants being still supplied by means
of private wells, notwithstanding the large increase in
the value of rateable property. In 1841, the sr ateable
value of Lower Bebbington was £4,635, and in 1856,
£6,632 ; in Higher Bebbington the rateable value in 1841
was £4,767, and in 1856 £12,020. Had never fonnd that
the existence of the water works was looked upon as a
nuisance, but on the contrary ; he had sold land in the im-
mediate vicinity for the erection of villas. The water
works had bad a material effect on the property of
Birkenhead. It would have been impossible to have
developed the resources of Birkenhead without such works.
Until within a recent period the supply had been sufficient,
but the town had now outgrown the supply, and the con-
struction of new docks would increase the necessity for a
larger supply. The witness then put in a statement
showing the population of the districts which the bill pro-
posed to supply with water.
Cross-examined by Mr. Calvert, Q.C. : Was not ac-
quainted with any persons who had petitioned in favour of
the bill, but he knew that petitions in its favour had been
presented from the neighbourhood of Oxton. Within the
last six months the supply of water in Birkenhead had
not been sufficient. Until that period there had been no
complaints. Had no connection with the company who
were promoting the preient bill. Was a commissioner
in 1847, but was unable to state whether he had taken any
part in a discussion for opposing the taking of the works
by the commissioners.
Re-examined : There had been considerable strife
between persons having an interest in Birkenhead, which,
in his judgment, had prevented the development of the
place, and had caused an immense destruction of property.
He was sorry to say that that strife had continued, with a
gremr. atdßoegrggieeonfa,acrimony, down to the present time.
agent to the late Earl 'inf Shrewsbury,
said the want of a proper water supply had been a source
of great anxiety to the managers of the Shrewsbury estate.
He thought the supply ought to be in the hands of an
independent public body. The ratepayers of Oxton would
prefer being served by a public company, rather than by
the commissioners.
Mr. Hasyksley, C.E., examined by Mr. Hope Scoot, Q.C.,
said he had had 27 years experience in the construction of
water works, both in this country and abroad. For seve-
ral years he had been concerned for the company whose
bill was now before the committee, and he had also been

concerned for the commissioners in reference toaet Y ippl of
gas and water. Was well acquainted Birkenhead and
the neighbourhood. The population of Birkenhead and
Claughton Proper was about 30,000, but the population of
the district which the bill sought to supply was 50,000,
and in a few years he believed it would be increased to
100,000. The works of the company were already laid out
to a considerable extent. About forty miles of gas pipes
were laid down, and the quantity of water supplied by
the company at the present moment was about 500,000
gallons a day, which was inadequate for the wants of the
people. The general wants of the town would require a
supply of about 600,000 gallons a day, but there were
also special wants to be provided for, such PS ti supply for

t'm railway station and for the docks and shipping. In
Birkenhead Proper there was ample accomm )dation, in the
shape of houses, for a population of 60,000. F miles
of streets were laid out, and a large portool of them were
termed, and very excellently formed, too. Including the
whole disirict which the bill proposed to Roo ,ly, he thought
provision ought to be made for 2 000,000 gallons d ily
for ordinary purposes, and probed, a supple of abou-
-500,000 gallons more would als ► be reqeiroi for extra-
ordinary purposes. Was well acquainted with the natur
of the formation, of the district round Birkenhead. Mr.
Rawksley then proceeded to explain to th.- committee the
character of the works which he proposed to construct
and add that he expected to ohnain from them a supply of
2,000,000 gallons per day. Ha proposed to construe three
reservoirs at a very considerable I,valion above Birken-
head, by which means the company would be.enabled to
command a constant pressure sufficient to convey the
water into all the houses built, or proposed to be built,
throughout the entire district. The mains and
reservoirs would all be calculated with reference
to the powers and obligations of the company
to afford an adequate supply. The parliamentary
estimate for the construction of the works was £107,000.
He proposed that addlional water pipes, o the extent
of forty miles, should be laid dawn within the next fiv
years. Birkenhead was vsry favourably situated for a
supply of water. The water obtained there now was
very good and soft, being only five degrees of hardness.
Mr. Hope Scott asked if the water was as good as
the Pike supply at Liverpool.

Mr. Haviksley said it' was, and he was sorry to see
that te-mo•row there was to he a special meeting of the
Liverpool Town Council to consider whether they would
expend £200,000 more in getting water from the red
sandstone independent of the present supply from the
Pike.

Mr. Hope Scott: That is, the Liverpool people want
one set of mains to shave with, and another to drink.
(A laugh.) Very proper toe.
Mr. Calvert : The Town Dees will pay for all.
Examination resumed : Wlth regard to the gas supply,
the producing power of the present works was about
400,000 cubic feet per day. The works were not far
from the top of the Great Float. When the new works
were completed. he estimated that the power of supply
would be a million cubic feet per diem. The present
charge for gas was 5s 10d per 1000 cubic feet of gas,
which was very moderate, considering the character of
the supply and the quality of the gas. The maximum
price which could be charged under the present bid
would be 6s 3d, but the consumers would have the
benefit of a diminution when the dividend realised by the
company re, ched a certain rate. The company at present have
a capital of £lOO,OOO, and upon the dividend reaching I 0 per
cent they are bound to 'ever the price of gas. The new
stock would be sold by aaction, and the ratepayers would
have an interest in the sale, as the amount realised would
be the capital which was to bear a dividend. The com-
pany took power in the bill to reserve their right to arrears
of dividend—in point of fact, to make up the deficiency of
one year out of the surplus of another. With regard to
the gas supply, he considered that the duties which would
devolve span the commissioners, if the supply was en-
trusted to them, would be quite foreign to their capabilities
and Dowers. The same remark applied to the connection
of the commissioners with the water supply, but not to the
sauce extent. He believed that the commissioners bad
acted wisely in tran=ferring their powers to Mr. Jackson.
He entertained a strong opinion that public bodies could
not properly manage important undertakings of this descrip-
tion. Birkenhead would naturally endeavour to make a
profit out of the adjacent districts, which bad been the case
in other places. Re believed there was an urgent necessity
for an increased water supply. The concession made by
the commissioners to Mr. Jackson, was worth twenty
years' purchase upon £5OO or £lO,OOO.
Cross-examined by Mr. Calvert : There had been
frequent contentions between Liverpool and Birkenhead.
At one time there appeared to have been a desire on the
part of Liverpool to keep down Birkenhead, but all the
land available for docks on the Liverpool side of the
Mersey was already occupied, and it was absolutely neces-
sary to provide shipping accommodation at Birkenhead.
Since the Liverpool Corporation had taken possession of
the docks at Birkenhead, he believed the feeling to which
he had referred had been considerably modified. The
works which he proposed to construct for supplying
Birkenhead and the surrounding districts, would be
adapted to the increase of population, which was
likely to take place. As a general rule the wells
sunk for the purpose of feeding the reservoirs,
would each afford a supply of about a million
gallons per day. Such a supply would be amply sufficient
for the wants of the district during the next seven years.
If, however, Birkenhead should materially increase within
the next seven years, the company would be called upon to
mend their works. In the course of the next five years
the expense of supplying the district with water, exclusive
of Wallasey, would not be more than £45,000, and includ-
ing Wallasey, about £50,000 or £60,000. For that outlay
a supply of 1.500,000 gallons per day could be obtained,
together with an increase of 500,000 gallons, by means of
the present works. The total cost of the reservoirs would
be £30,000, £lO,OOO of which would he required during
the next five years.
The witness was then cross-r.x twined at some length by
Mr. Grecory, parliamentary agent, on behalf of Mr. Perry
and the inhabitants of Wallasey, but nothing of import-
ance was elicited.

Re-examined by Mr. Hope Scott : The whole of the
works could be completed within 18 months or two years.
The necessities of Birkenhead and the adjacent districts
required that the water works should be commenced forth-
with.

Mr. James Athe, ton, examined by Mr. Jackson, said
he was treasurer to the Birkenhead and Claughton Gas
apd Water Company, who were the promoters of the
present bill. He produced an abstract of the capital
account of the company from 1842 to 1856, inclusive,_em-
bracing a statement of receipt, expenditure, profit, and
loss. within that period. had been treasurer to the com-
pany since October, 1851, and during the time he had held
the office, the books had been carefully and properly kept.
The company had supplied the public tamps with gas for
the commissioners. By the defalcation of a former treasurer
the company had sustained a loss of £1,441. Latterly the
commissioners had been good payers, but some years ago
they were considerably iu arrear. The statement of
dividend showed a deficiency below 10 per cent, for each
year.

Cross- xamined by Mr. Calvert : Entered the company's
service as an apprentice in 1841, but had had nothing to
do with the accounts of the office until 1851.

Mr. Calvert asked tor the production of Mr. John Jack-
son or Mr. Wm. Jackson, as it was absurd to cross-
examine a witness who knew nothing of the proceedings
of the company previous to 1851.
Witness, in reply to Mr. Calvert, said, Mr. John Jack-
son was the manager of the company, and was at present
in Birkenhead.
Mr. Calvert asked if it was the intention of the promoters
to call Mr. Jackson ? . . _

Mr. Hope Scott said he was entirely in the hands of the
committee, and if it were considered necessary, in 1857, to
enter into matters which occurred sixteen or seventeen
years ago, he was ready to afford any information that
might be required.
Mr. Calvert contended that it was necessary, in a case
of this kind, to sift all the transactions of the company
from the very commencement. It ought to be satisfactorily
proved that the money expended by the company had
been properly laid out for the benefit of the gas consumers.
He submitted to the committee that he was entitled to ask
for the production of a witness who could speak to the
whole transaction.
After a brief consultation,
The Chairman said the committee were of opinion that
Mr. Calvert was fairly entitled to a fall explanation of
the proceedings of the company.
Mr. Hope Scott said he was perfectly ready to afford a
full explanation, so far as his powers of calling evidence
were concerned.

The cross-examination of the witness was then proceed-
ed with. Mr. Atherton was questioned at considerable
length, in regard to the annual return of profits which the
act of parliament required the company to make to the
clerk of the peace. The returns which were read by the
witness differed from the returns of profits made to the
shareholders. He, however, accounted for the discrepancy
by stating that the returns made to the shareholders, in-
cluded the profit upon fittings which was merely a trade
acc:unt,

At the close of Mr. Atherton's examination, the com
mittee adjourned till Wednesday.

A Parliamentary return gives the names of all the
officers who were present with the army in the Crimea
throughout the war, together with the particulars of the
arrival and departure of those who left or arrived during
the occupation of the Crimea by the allies. The number
of officers who remained the whole time is 231.
VISIT or THE QUEEN TO PRUSSIA.—A letter from Berlin,
in the Debate, says .—" It is expected that Queen Victoria
will come to this capital towards the end of the summer.
It is said that her Majesty has promised the Prince of
Prussia to visit him at Coblentz, and it is thought that on
that cccasion she will continue her journey to Berlin."
NEW LINZ OF STEAMERS BETWEEN SOUTHAMPTON, HAVRE,
MARSEILLES, AND THE SPANISH PORTS.—The Berenguer,
Captain Maccadell, the first of the above line of steamers,
registered under the Spanish flag, arrived at Southampton
on Saturday, with a general cargo of fruit, wine, leather,
wax, wood, &c. These steamers are 1,000 tons, and 300
horse power, and will leave Southampton regularly once a
month for Havre, Coruna, Vigo, Cadiz, Santander, Malaga,
Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona, and Marseilles,