Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-04 00:00:00

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.
THE CHASE.
THE CHESHIRE HOUNDS
WILL bILNT ON

Thursday,l
IS
a-
eldunr
de t'a,
Yj.
Jan.
aTjnHaslEi GAt IHTaII.4O-aBlC—t•Fte-012.X'. HOUNDS
WILL I.IIsET ON

...... Ashton Hiye*
....... Duddon Hettli
........... .Peover Hall

5, at
A+ ' ''''''''
q
. a uartt-
• to eleven.
Thursday, Jan. 7, at

..Sheriff Hales
.Burnel Green

SHOOTING AT LONGLEAT.-.-----On Thursday and Friday lord
Bath, Lord Henry Thynne,./dr. Charteris, Mr. Bentinek, and
numbers of game at 1.-.,-
31,. L;erarcl Sturt, Ma,.
---.,:leat :---ThUrsday : Pheasants, 480;
hares, 400; rabbits,' 219
.-', I
pa
aiuges, 4; total, 1,104. Friday :
Pheasants, 300 ; laarss, 410 ; rabbits', 390; total, 1,100. Grand
itilled„the following extraordinary
total
these froin one
'one half being beaten one day,•and the
ether half the next,
°f-tlti daYs! shooting of five guns, 2,294 heads, and all

_ ~...
6
....: .
._ .... . . . . ...
BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONMS.
Mr. John Laird presided at the usual monthly meet-
ing of the Birkenhead Commissioners, which was held
at the new.offices, Hamilton-square, yesterday limning.
The other members present' were Messrs. Harrison,
Keightley, Aspinall, Peck, Beazley, Bradley, Barnett,
Hind, Baylis, Gough, McGill, Walker, Cook, and Rae.
LIGHTING AND WATCHING COMMITTEE.
...
The proceedings of this committee- contained a recom-
mendation to put up seven additional lamps in various
parts of the township.
On the motion of Mr. Beazley, the proceedings were
confirmed. _
The proceedings of the Markets 'Committee were
read, and, on the motion of Mr. Barnett, confirmed. .
HEALTH COM3IITTEM.
The Law Clerk had been directed to take the neces-
sary proceedings for the abatement of the nuisance
- arising from the' new ditch in Palm-grove.—The Re-
gistrar reported that, during the month, there had been
forty-nine death's in- the township, of which seven were
of the zymotie cless.
Mr. BRA.DLEY 'read the following return of the num-
ber of buildings and alterations to. buildings within the
townships of Birkenhead and Claughton-cum-Grange
for ten years ending 31st DeceMber, 1859, according to
the notices given to the building surveyor :
, F:. L
.09
. , 1 .: ._ . • „ 4:5 .; . ,r: '5 -5 4
- ::: .. $ .....0 ...
Years. • ..., --o rtsy-,
u., .gi Total.
.4,..5 g-e .- ' r o
'l' 5, -1 g be :,..•.r.,
t. 4 ^ 13 g ... ' -.4
4-14, `-'-' 445
14 P c..)
1330 1 28 4 32 65
1351 2 31 18 23 '77
1832 1 19 9 18 47
. 18.53 2 8 2 17 29
1854 4 16 2 13 3.5
`1855 3 .41 26 13 83
1856' 3 61 140 27 211
1357 3 81 jB5 43 215
1858 0 75 135 41 251
1859 3 .50 134 45 232
Totals. 22 416 555 282 1275
___......
Average per annum. 2.2 41.6 15..r5 28 2 127.5
increase in year above 1 .8 8.4 78.5 1611 104.5
average of ten years. 1

The analysis of the return will show that, deducting the
number of offices, workshops, &c., dwelling-houses and
cottages have been erected at the rate. of about 100 per
annum; that the number of erections of all kinds during
the last four years has been at a tolerably uniform rate;
and that this total number has been nearly three times
as great as the number erected within the six,preceding
years included in the return.
Mr. HIND asked what was the nature of the proceed-
ings taken in reference to Palm-grove ? •
Mr. BRADLEY replied that the committee had in-
structed Mr. Waln to give notice to the owners of 'the
property that they would be required to cleanse the open
ditch periodically. That was the sensible course to
take, and he hoped the owners would see the propriety of
.abating the nuisance.
The proceedings were then confirmed.
The proceedings of the Road and Improvement Corn--
mate() were read, and, on the motion of Mr. Hind, con-
firmed.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

A letter from the Birkenhead Railway Company, to
the committee, dated Dec. 27th, 1859, was read. The
letter states "'We have received the award in the arbi-
tration between this company and the Great -Wes-
tern Railway Company, and the payment of £5,000
allowed"by the previous award to this company, for rent
Will not now he paid by the Great Western Railway
Corripany, nor will we receive any payment in lieu of it.
'Phis company will not, therefore, pay to the commis-
stin&S rte upon the £5,000 as claimed by them."
_KEIGHTLY moved the confirmation of the pro-
-eeeilags; and, in answer to Mr. Cook, said that the
question of rates upon the Birkenhead Railway Com-
:pany had not yet, but would soon engage the attention
of the committee.

The CHAIRMNN said be could- not conceive that the
rateable property of the company had diminished ; for,
although they were not to receive a rent for the use of
the line by the Great Western Company, yet, doubtless,
they would receive a tell from that company.
The proceedings were then confirmed.
, FERRY COMMITTEE.
This committee recommended that the salary of Mr.
Jones be raised to £BO a year' -th3 increase to take effect
.from the Ist of September last.—Mr. Harrison, Mr.
Bell, and Mr. Aspinall had been appointed 'a deputation
to wait upon the .committee of, the Mersey Docks and
Harbour Board, to ascertain the intentions of that board
with respect to the prevention of vessels anchoring. in
the track of the ferry steamers.—Thecommittee having
inquired into the circumstances under which the 'Wood-
side ferry boats were discontinued plying at eight o'clock'
on the night of Friday, the 16th Dec., are of opinion.
that in consequence of the denseness of the fog, and the
number of 'vessels lying at anchor in the track of the
ferry boats, the manager was justified in stopping tie
boats at that time. The committee are of opinion,
however, that it was a grave error on the part of the
manager that ho did not personally remain at the ferry
during .the night, in order to take advantage of any
opportunity that.-might have occurred of resuming the
communication between Woodside and the. Liverpool
landing-stage.

Ferry receipti for the month ending 31st December in the
years 1858 and 1859
_ _

1858. • 1859.
£1,873 6s. Gd. £1,918 Os. 3d.
Receipt 4 from 24th of April-to 31st December in the year :
1858. 1859.
£19,420 4s. 4.d.
Expenditure during the same period in :
• 1853, 1359.
£15,788 1os. Id.
A- letter from the Electric Telegraph Company to
Mr. Walker was read. The communication stated that
the Electric and International Telegraph Company had
made arrangements for keeping open their office at Bir-
kenhead until midnight, when the river was overspread
by fog. It was hoped that the arrangement would give
satisfaction to the public. •
Mr. HARRISON moved the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings.
Mr: ASPINALL expressed his disapproval of the remarks
recently made in the Dock Board by Mr. F. Boult, in
reference to fogs on the river.
Dr. BAYLIS said he was very much mistaken if any-
thing had happened more damaging- than the stoppage
of the Woodside ferry-boats. The whole of the
property in the township was likely to be affected
by such an occurrence, and he trusted that there
would not be a- recurrence of the mistake, for if
the confidence of the public in the management of the
ferry were shaken Birkenhead would receive such, a
shock as would require all the efforts of the Ferry Com-
mittee to do away with. He thought it would be wrong
to endorse the first impression of the public and to think
that the entire blame rested with the manager. In such
a concern the manager must have a certain•discretion
reposed- initim;-andif Cavtain'Reed thought It-dungeriiiii
to run the boats they ought not to be " hard" upon him.
Other parties were to blame_in the Matter, and first and
foremost was the Dock Board, who had now, and had
had for some time past, the power to make a bye-law
with regard to the anchoring of vessels in the track of
the ferry-boats ; but they had not done so, and he would
say this, that it appeared to him to he only a portion of.the
viii leaVerx whiclifiad intiiated the Dock Board, but which,
he hot ed, in some degree had passed away—it was only a
part of the leaven of the bad spirit entertained by Liver-
pool towards Birkenhead. In this case any such feeling
as that had been carried too far; and where life was at
stake, as in this ease, the old feeling ought to be allowed
police of Liverpool were
to-disappear altegether. The
also deeply inipli in this matter. •
cated The last two
boats which left the stage on the occasion in question
were terrible scenes of, confusion, so much so that it was
g
impossible for females' t 0 get on board. Now, he held
that it was the duty of the Liverpool police to have kept
t.'e People back from rushing to the boat; as it was, the
police did not do so, many people were injured, others
were frightened from crossing, and several strong men
even were unable to get a passage across. The dis-
graceful ecenes continued over an hour, during which
time the authorities ought to have made police arrange-
ments for preserving
order and discipline on the landing-
stage. The absence
of such arrangements was, he
believed, one grave reason in the mind of Captain Reed
why he should not send a boat ; the captain feared there
might be a loss of life in the terrible rush to the gang-
way of the boat. But there was another body
who were ' cbargeaVe with a contempt for human
life—the Pilot Committee of Liverpool,- who, if they
liked could have ordered ships not to anchor in
track of the Woodside boats. It was a most contemp-
tible thing, because they thought their authority was
i iterfered with, that they should show such a disregard
for the safety of so many thousands of people. Ile was

inFormcidAhat thirteen or fourteen vessels‘were anchored
in the trail a damn. Sic day in question. Really it. was
time that- the matter should be.dealtmith vigorously;
indeed ittwavore;that demanded a Government inquiry,
and ifithe 'Pilot, Coinmittee continued to allow ships to
anchor in bhe tradk, he should ask-the commissioners. to
consent to a .request being nisch to.the Government that
an • officihl z incuiry might be made ,into the matter.
If-the DOck< Etoard at Liverpool would -allow feeling. to
usurp thepleee•of duty, then something dreadful would
itappen ; in -the meantime the Ferry ,Oommittee must
take further-steps in the mater,,and,he hoped the chair-
man .of. that .•committee would give an assurance that
they intendeE, if possible, to accomplish more than they
'hold 'done. 13uring the last twenty,years the boats had
not- ceased :running owing to fog, :but there had been
• danger.onlyerom ships anchoring in.thetrack. Prompt
action to 'prevent a recurrence of such aealamitous event
as that on (the night of the 16th December Must be
taken ; A for if the same thing occurred a second
:time, there would be such a storm of indignation
that it .would be overpowering in its effects.
A repetition of that fatal error mighq, too, lead to gross
:immorality, for he knew that young females had towalk
the streets all that night; young men went to very ques-
,tionable places, where injury had been done to their
morals ;-children were lying about in :twos and threes
throughout that bitter night on the bare landing-stage;
heads of families were unable to -reach home ; and,
altogether, 4 great amount of misery hacl,been occasioned,
.not onlyto thousands on the Liverpool 'side, .but to
several.hundreds on the Birkenhead side of the water.
lie:could not help thinking that there was some want
of heart, toe, in the order that caused them to be shut
out of; the waiting. rooms at the ferry on that bitter
night. !In conclusion, he would only say that if the
•committee and the board neglected their outy at this
time, they .would be quite as much open to censure as
were the authorities on the other side of the water in
connection with this matter.

Mr. lIAZIXISON said the Ferry Committee had had
several special meetings, and others were to take place
this week, with a view to making the most stringent
regulations possible, so as to prevent a recurrence, of
complaint. If the river were kept clear of vessels, how-
ever dense:the fog might be, the Woodside boats would
not be stopped; but when there was a large number of
vessels in the track, and when they remembered the
number of people crossing in the boats, when they
thought for a moment of the dreadful effects that
might ,result from a collision with any of those
ships, he would say for himself that, as one mem-
ber, he would :rot be accountable for the loss of
life that might arise under • such a circumstance.
If Captain geed, the manager, stated to the committee,
or any member of it, that he was of opinion that it was
dangerous fox the heats to attempt to cross, owing to the
number of ships in the track, and if that opinion were
backed by the masters of the boats, he (Mr. Harrison),
as chairman of the Ferry Committee, would never take
upon himself the grave responsibility of insisting that
the hats should run when the result might, probably
be the sacrifice of the lives of. many heads Of families,
and of numerous respectable people on the Cheshire side
of the, water. Ile did not know the powers of the
authorities over the water, but he .believed the. police
were responsible for maintaining order on the Liverpool
stages. Grave blame attached. to. the Pilots Committee
for allowing ships to anchor in 'the track. On Sunday
week, he '(Mr. H.) was summoned down to the ferry, for,
during the fog, no less than four or five ships came to
anchor in the track. :(Cries of " Shame," " Shame.")
Every exertion was being made by the commissioners to
avert a recurrence of the unfortunate misunderstanding
of the 16th ult. Captain Reed was blamed by the com-
mittee for having left the ferry, and for having locked
up the waiting-rooms, he admitted his error, and said
such a thing should never occur again; it was a want of
thought on his part, for when spoken. to, Captain Reed
at once admitted that he was wrong, and that it was an
oversight. In conclusion, Mr. Harrison moved that the
Chairman affix the official seal to a' memorial to
the Board of Trade, and to the • Conservancy
Board, on the subject of anchoring ships in
the ferry track. When connected with railways, he
(Mr. Harrison) knew that the Board of Trade applied
the most stringent regulations for the protection of life,
and he trusted that if that body could be induced to look
into this matter, they would see the necessity for inter-
posing their interference, and if they did, then he should
like to see the man who would be bold enough to drop
anchor in the track of the Woodside boats. (Applause.)
Dr. BAYLIS had very great pleasure in seconding the
motion. •

Mr. BELL said the Corporation of Liverpool made a
bye-law, by which 600 yards clear were to be kept be-
tween the stage and Woodside. A few days, however,
before the bye-law was to have come before - the
judges for confirmation, it was withdrawn, and
the people were told that the Deck Board
would' receive the powers at the time possessed
by the Corporation of Liverpool, and that they could
make the bye-law. The Dock Board, however, after
taking evidence-7-which to this day had never been
Published—declined to interfere. A condensation of the
evidence had been printed, but he was told by some
parties that that condensation did not fairly represent
their views, and as he should shortly wait on the
Marine Committee of the Dock Board, in his capacity
as one of a deputation from the Ferry Committee, he
should take care to ask for that evidence.

, The CHAIRMAN said there could be no 'objection to
,pass the resolution unanimously. The question was
simply whether the lives of thousands of people were to
be put in competition with the anchorage of some five or
six vessels, for, except under very extraordinary circum-
stances, there was not more than that number in the track.
Mr. Bell was correct in what he had stated. The Cor-
poration passed a. bye-law fixing the lines for anchorage,
and had the power not passed out of their hands, this
regulation would have been in force two years and a-half
ago. A memorial was then sent up to the Home" Sea-
retary, and the right honourable gentleman said' " the
Dock Board are now _taking powers and they will put it
all right," or no doubt the Home Secretary would have
interfered.. Now, he ought to state that the Board of
Trade regulated the number of passengers that the ferry-
boats should carry with a view to the protection of life,
and he thought they could not refuse to assist the Bir-
kenhead Commissioners in carrying out the Government
regulations, for no police force could prevent dense masses
of people from Birkenhead and other parts of Cheshire
from rushing on board the boats and greatly 'increasing
the number of passengers that by law the ' boat was
allowed to carry. The commissioners tried to carry
out the Government regulations, but • without some
arrangement with the Dock Board, which should allow
the ferry boats to run every ten minutes or quarter of
an hour, fog or no fog, the law could not be kept. If
the Dock Board would keep the river clear between the
two telegraphic cables over the Mersey,—which they
must do, or the lines would be dragged up by ships'
anchors every day;—then there would be no complaints
about the ferry boats to. Woodside -being stopped. He
was informed by Captain Reed that the boats could run
as regularly during fog, if there was a certainty of the
passage being clear, as they did in broad daylight.
But some gentlemen said why not run lthe boats
at all times ? The answer was obvious—the
Commissioners could not be answerable for the loss of
life which might occur if there were a collision. They
would not act wisely to run the boats with the same
regularity when they saw before the fog came on that
there were half-a-dozen ships in' the • track. (Hear,
hear.) Many observations had been made as to the
conduct of the Dock Board. A deputation had been
again appointed to see that body. The Pilot and Marine
Committees were to receive the deputation; and, from
an intimation that he had received from one or two
members of the committee, he learned that they would
be ready to listen to anything that the deputation had
to say. The meeting would soon take place he hoped,
and he trusted the Dock Board would see the necessity
of coming to some arrangement, but, in the mean time,
the Commissioners should not wait ; they ought to go to
head-quarters at once—to the Board of Trade, and to the
Mersey Conservancy Board in London. One remark
he was ,crlad to see had been made at the last meeting,
of the Dock Board by a member who seldom had any-
thing to
r3sa.v
say
Nh
for
osaid h
Birkenhead—hetatthe alludedferry was admirably
toMr..Boulbt—ly
managed. Now he (the chairman) was very glad to
hear that, because such a remark from a gentleman
whose known views were 'so strong on thequestion
carried a hundred times more weight than such an,
opinion would do if it emanated from an independent
member of the board. The telegraph cable had again
been across the Mersey, and the offer of the
Electric Telegraph Company to carry messages up
to midnight would • certainly alleviate some of the
distresses which gentlemen had alluded to, in
the case of another stoppage of the ferry
traffic. The public, however, might rest assured that
the Ferry Committee had had several meetings, that
they were taking the question up vigorously, and that
such arrangements would be made as that no stoppage
could again occur without the chairman and members

=elf ithe•committee being summoned to be present, and
that tiae manager newt- would neverledve the ferry night
or day so long as the fog continued. Every precaution
would be taken for the future, and the might say that
some of the gentlemen who had -waited upon the coin-
/thaw., and who had-expressed themselves strongly on
the matter, in reference to the ()eminence on the 16th
uh., would be quite-satisfied with ‘what was being done
to-ikeep the passage ,open as long as it was safe to do so.
He hoped the efforts the committee were now making
might accomplish- the objects they had in view, for
until vessels were prevented anchoring in the track of
the boats, the ferry-service could not be conducted with
that regularity. and certainty day or night with which
it ought to be. (Applause.)
Mr. RAE asked if -there would, be any public meeting
on-the question.
The CHAIRMAN-said several gentlemen had asked him
to convene a public meeting 0' the inhabitants; and he
told them that, on receipt of a memorial requesting him
to take such a step, he would do so at once. (Hear,
hear.) .
The proceedings of the committee were confirmed,
and Mr: Harrison's-motion was also agreed to.