Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-08-09 00:00:00

LOCK BOAlt1)

Yesterday a special meeting of. the Liverpool Dock Board
was held,-for the purpose of resuming the discussion on the
motion of Mr. Bushell. Mr. Charleg' Turner presided, .and
the other members present were-Messis. Smith, Fainwortht
Laird, Bold, Macrver; Inman, :Bushell, Mondel, Rankin,
Evans, Shand, Brocklebank, Porwood; Rounthwaite, Lockett,
Tobin, Graves, Moss, and Hutchinson, The motion of Mr•.
BushelPwas as follows

" That tills Board havin,g considered the corre:oondenceWith the
timber trade, and the agreements entered into with the representa-
tives of that body. now printed, and copies of which have been
sent to each member, are of opinion that the, timber trade is not
entitled to any peenniaray concession in the terms of their leases,
already agreed to by them, and confirmed by this Board."

Mr. thniTn. rose to a point' of 'Order, 'and' said that Since
'the queition had been discussed on Thutsday they hid been
furnished with a new copy of extracts from the proceedings
.of the Works flommittoo With r.f.r.. to filie be. hntl

remaric or two to make; and probably a question or two to
ask. In the first' place he found 'in the new report-that
there was just a slight reference made to a deputation of
the timber trade, that had an interview with the board on
the 18th of February, 1858. There was a letter traced to
Mr. Farnworth ; and if the resolution of the board of that
day had been Copied, he had no-doubt that parties might
have referred to the' reported proCeedings in the paper, of
the foll Owing day, which threw an' immense amount of light
upon the subject. In the next plabe a letter of the Ist*of
March cvas omitted, which led to the letter of the 4th of
'arch, and, of course,- the reply -of 'Mr. Farnworth was
made intelligible by referring to the letter of the Ist of
March.' 'A letter of the 29th of June was alad omitted; and,
perhag Of as much importance as, all these, were
the procedingi of the 'Works Committee' of the 7th Febru-
ary, and. to which he referred verx pointedly. on the I
day. 'those were entirely omitted in the first Ftetpeodri;it and
e
to his perfect astonishment he found them tl
revised teport. Surely after the pointed ireefer't:enee lie made
on last4Yhursday to this, he could not help being astonished
that he:'Should not find them inserted in the report before
them. One, of two things inusthave acted upon the getting
of
ties documents., There must have
,been some subtle
influence at work, by which they became nothing more
than a 'garbled set of extracts to serve.the members'; and if
not so, :then, the' officials' Of that. board had been uilty of
earelessness or negligence, and ought to be called upon
to giveran explanation.

The tuAriimA.N. read the resolution which Mr. Smith
referred to, which was to the effect that a deputation of the
timber;trade had waited on' the,Works Committee,: and
after Wing been heard, it was intimated to them that the
s would wold have the earliest' and best consideration of
the committee.
Mr. SMITH asked that the proceedings of the Committee
of Wolts of the 7th February, 1859, should be read, in
order 'tat every. gentletnan might have them fresh in his
recollettion.

Previous to this being done; Mr: /3usifELL said perhaps
the boi&d would permit him to make an observation with
refererve to Mr. Smith's pointed remark. Mr. Smith spoke
of a Wilde influence being at'work in getting up the docu-
ments tbefore them. He hoped Mr. Smith would have the
goodness to' speak out, if he Meant that he (Mr. Bushell)
could have been exercised by any subtle influence in the
production of these papers. -He should feel obliged to Mr.
Smithtby doing so, if ho meant that. But he could tell
Mr. &hitla that when two people were seen quarrelling, the
man tint was the more angry of the two they would mva-,
riablv find to be in the wrong. He would be contented' o'
let thy` question' rest on that' issue.... He had shown no
anger; and he trusted Mr. Smith would exercise the same
forbearance. He called upon Mr. Sniith to say whether he
(Mr. Bushell) exercised any subtle influence.
Ildr.,S,arrn said, in looking over the documents he did go
with It:certain degree of care, and he would ask' that the
,
proceedings of the 27th February, 1858; be referred to, and
he would ask whether the words as to time and as to rent
were kit in italics., He-did not' think it was possible that
those particular words-were-put in italics upon which. Mr.
Bushiehung his arguments. He did draw an inference
fronft)snse -words having appeared in italics.
Mr: Busumm. explained that when he, asked Mrl Mason
to furnish him with certain documents, these documents
were sent to him. He (Mr. Bushell) underlined those
words',3which he considered were essential, and he conse-
quently' ,underlined an immense number. When the ex-
tractktwere to be printed, ,Mr. Mason came to him, and
askediiim for these documents, and, after, some hesitation,
he gave Mr. Mason the documents, underlined as they were ;
but
uo_424mas_ nat„accountable for...them being-pub—
lished, in that way. Those papers were the .essential papers,
as fx 4s, iMr. Mason considered, for my
,purpose. The
other papers were routine, with the exception of one letter,
whiclr'was (Mated. - - -

The CHAIRMAN said there had been a want of care in the
getting up of ,tha-papers, and the underlines were made
for llfr: Bushell's own use ; And theprinter, of his own ac-
cord, put them in italics. They ought to have been
printqd in the state as they gpeared m the books.-

- W - S'burn Mr. Bushell would excuse him. His in-
ferenie was right under the circumstances, but he was per-
fectly satisfied with-the explanation. • ' '
The CuA.inatkx then -read the proceedings of the 7th .of
Febriary, 1858, in which a motion had been made for the
adop4on of certain plans for carrying out works for the
acconiniodation of the steam and timber trades. ' The mo-.
tion, however, was lost, as was also an amen,dment which
-was prropcised, and nothing was done.
Mr:., SMITH said the proceedings came before the-board in
that state, and were referred back for re-consideration, and
this subject came again . before the committee on the 17th
Febriary. This wits the happy Meeting to which he referred,
when the members, knowing the feeling at the board,
adopted unanimously the plan for. the steam dock; 'anctfour
or five days afterwards they were in the House of Commons.
Mr. Tox said the proceedings of the meeting of the
17th oimaa- also be read.

-....... . - : • . , . ,•
Thi Crif*IRMAN accordingly-read the-proeeedings
,of this
meeting, which stated that, after having read the report of
the engineer, and considered the plans already alluded to, it
was resolved that the plans be adopted. •
Mr. Sstrill said it was then necessary to adopt these plans
at once, to 'enable them to go to parliament.
Mr BUSUELL said he confessed he hed not brains enough
to see that this had anything . to do with the question before
them:. The' 'plans submitted to parliament were the plans
porgy d of by the board.
61"
Mix."RArixrie said,n as he moved the adjournment o
.......
ThiiirdliY-last; he might be expected to say a few words.
He was perfectly convinced in his own, mlnellthaftheland
east side Huskisson Dock was to be exclusively appropriated
for the use of the -timber importers and dealers. Such was
the elfar understanding. Anq, after the perusal.of the core
respondence before him, he thought there could be .no doubt
on t minds of any one that such was the case. The
gro in the rear of the Huskisson Dock was previously in
uli
use b 'the timber trade, and there was less occasion to,make
allusion to it ; but it was shown clearly on the pans.. 800
feet fif water space was exclusively • appropriated to the
timber, trade ; and what would be the use of that-unless
ground were appropriated for stowing -cargoes. , 7:4e place
opposite .to where the• ,timber vessels were discharged w-as:
wholly unfit for stowage,' and the ground east side of the
Regent-rosAl no steps had been taken to alter it, so' that
timber could not be stowed there, It was, therefore; on the
ground that the rear of the Canada 'Dock being leased, it
was perfectly impossible for any importer of timhea•to ;bring •
a ship and discharge her cargo on the Huskisson quays, mile 4
the Huskisson. ground had been appropriate&for that Put',
pose. He, therefore,. considered any infraction of that
arratement 'made with the timber trade viouia be a grOss
dereliction of their
.duty,,,..,'-'ess it were .by-the consent of the
parties concerned... .Itwas coiwidered very desirable'tlaat, the
arrangement made in February last to execute the steamdock, •
so as to give the steam trade the'use of ii, .ed which they so
much needed,. and the Works Committee were very desirous:
that it slieidd be proeeeded with immediately. It was proved
to them that the timber trade for this year and for the heat,
and he feared for many years to come, but more particularly
for this year 'and neat, must be diiided ;" a large portion. of-
the tra4must be done at both ends of the town for two.
?ears at all events... It therefore seemed 'best, while the.
timber trade was in a state of traneition, to make this ar-
it in the present season, so that the
partgieesraemnigt and, complete .
trade bemg have the benefit 'of it neat' yodi. ' As to the
that day there on at the sou .
th 'end, he. might state that
at the ruts e
.were thirteen" vessels upon the list for entrance
It thereforevifeel,lidock, and there was only room for one.
go to the' north owed that many of those vessels must.
Dock appro • There was only-100 feet at the 'Huskiison
Triatedaef?or
vessels could be the discharge of vessels, so 'that few
It
mmodated. There were 100 vessels
arrived monthly,
therefore, absolutely impossible
that the timber trade weoast;i
be conducted this year at the'
north end or the south:eh
d>dlvith the present accommodation.
ulambbeer
Ile was free to admit that the ti
complain that any ground to dealers had a right to
the t
from them for
this. year ; but he though
werettber importers, who
were-as much interested as they.
got have advanced
been so reason-
able and !quiet,
sohtstronglytmer dealers should
their claims g as they had
to have
them an
.y•sa Ile would
have been .perfectly ;Tilling '
to
....Aka abstracted frt'ria' them fo
equivalent
a mere nominal" -mat, ta . the extent oe 30 004;;
T ards at the „north, but he thought they 'had '-',:i
lied their claims to an• extentwhicli was hardly justifehi;
wader the circumstances. The moment that the.steam dock
was arranged to 'be Carried ant, he did . suspect, indeed he

he didinot doubt, but that some complaint woad he made by
the timber trade, and. Mr. Hartley was 'desired to verito to
Mr. Farnworth, who-laid the matter open to the timber
.
trade. That correspondence was not in the. proceedings'
before them, and he would take the liberty of reading it :
Jos)/ YAM/WORTH, ESKi. • .
MY DEAR S/R,—l am instructed by the'works committee to'seek
.your assistance in learning the views of the timber merchants with
regard to the future necessity for, and if so, which will be the best
position in which to place, a bonded yard, in lieu of that we are
about removing at the east side of- the Iluskisson Dock.
to=morrow,
you
could' favour me with a call at your convenience, either (I go to
after nine and before twelve a.m. or after next Monday,l
JOHN B. HARTLEI.
'London to Morrow night,) I' shad esteem it a favour.— faith-
fully, :
Dock-yard, May 30, 1859. , .
To which Mr. Farnworth repliedbe as f
Liverpool and London Chambers,; ~ u i:rtioll°w ols, Jtine 3', 1359.
theto
yI na
rrde
aplyt
docks, in
-lieu of that required
'
'to.-your favour of, the 30th ultimo., re-
sPeMerlinDgEaAnboSnidße'—d
by the steam dock, I am
of
opinion the better plan is to wait until
11 settled nt the north, when some
the timber trade get pretty we
-441, ihts ..............:----

wade more in

.11 0.11t6 111 L-11.
of all parties. It may happen that no nonaea yara m tne nantlB of
the board will be required, as hitherto it 'has been usdai for parties
to have a small •bonded yard, of their own ; but, at all events, I think
it bette consulted should not take any steps in the matter at present.
I have several firms.—Yours very truly,
JOIIN FAIINWORTH.

After that mild letter from Mr. Farnworth, he mnsticonfess
that he felt much relieVed, as well as other memberi of the.
Works Committee. If the stand had then been made; he
would' have been desirous of postponing the excavations of
the steam dock for another iYear ; but no opposition baVing
been ;node, he was of opinion that the timber dealers were
actuated by a similar magnanimous feeling as that which
was shown by the timber impOrterS. The Works Coin-
mittee, therefore, after. mature Consideration, thought it.
desirable ,to. proceed at once with the execution of those
works; which would enable them to fill, fromthe excavations
of the southern docks, that large hole opposite where the.
timber vessels discharged, and enable Mr. Maley, also, to
proceed with the excavations of the half-tide dock and
the canal docks,. and in preparing the ' land to
the northward, by which means a . large space
would• have been provided, which, could not have been
obtained under any other circumstances, 'He therefore
thought that the claims of the timber:tr- not h.

...due nave
been put forward to such an extent as they had been. lie.
should treat the subject simply as ono of finance ; and, as
he said before, he would have been willing to grant a space
of ground 'equal to that which had been 'abstracted from
them for a nominal rent, and whiCh would have been
equal to £1,250. It would have been impossible for
them to make arrangements with the' contractor without
being at an expense of something like £2,000. By
going; on immediately in filling up 50,000 square
yards of a hole, and by draining it properly, that, with
the 40,000 yards which they had, making nearly
100,090 yards, for which they would be able to get £6,000
rent, would go to the estate. This rempved from his
mind the difficulty he had as regards the sum that had been
claimed by the timber dealers. The chairman of the Works
Committee and the chairman of the Board thought the sum
a large one, but he felt the difficulty:they were in ; and
taking all things into consideration, he had no 'hesitation in
saying that he would give his dissent to Mr. Bushell's mo-
tion, and vote for the confirmation of the proceedings of the
'Works Committee.

Mr: FARNWORTH said he supposed it would be expected
from him that he should give something like practical, ex-
planations on this matter. Mr. Bushell, a gentleman of
such respectability, of such high standing as a member of
that board, and as one of the nominee members of govern-
ment; that anything that came from Mr. Bushell would
have a proper weight at that board as well as everywhere
'moved
(Hear hear.) .When Mr. Bushell,nn last Thursday,
moved for the postponement of the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings of the Works Committee, he supported him on
flint occasion, not because he agreed with him. He thought
Mr: Bushell entirely wrong in principle, and would commit
an act 'of -injustice if the board sanctioned the resolution
which he, had -moved. He fearer ;no. investigation-r-the
timber trade feared no inrestigati-on. The terms made with

them; was an honeurable 'agreement, and a, straightforward'
understanding was entered into as between one gentlenian
and another. .There was no misunderstanding on the question.
When these negociations took place he was not a member of
that board, and he, wished' it to be clearly understood that
since he became a member of that board; -he did all he pos-
sibly could to shrink from negoeiations, and advised the
timber trade not, to ask him. The timber trade thought
otherwise ; but he believed that what he had done since he
became a member, of that board was conscientiously per-
formed, and he believed the best thing, that board oonld.do
-for the best interest of the estate, that this- arrangement
should be completed and carried out ; and ho thought lir.
Bushell was' not the gentleman to 'repudiate such an
arrangernennt, if he, could only bring his mind to think
that such 'an arrangenient ~was entered into: (near,
hear, from Mr. Bushell.). He was very sorry that Mr.
Bushel had committed-himself on this occasion to remarks
which -rteie not justified' by ,the facts, according to.his:nwn
acenmat._ He was sorry. these remarks 'were ,made, because
they, were only calculated to cause further irritation.and lead
to firth& mischief. -Mr. %shelf. had characteriged this
matter as one,of expediency,, and net One of justice.. The
timber trade asked nothing on the ground of expediency ;
they 'asked-nothing 'but -what they believed they had-a -per- .
feet right to; It had been stated further," that' the timber.
trade never came before 'that board as supplicating ,or beg-
ging, but came holding ,their heads very high, and that there
was a kind of subtle influence at work; and that he (Mr.
'Bushell) could not • understand it? but that: they got every-
thing they asked 'fin% 71Ie 'begged to say as ,an English-
Mani the timber trade never would. come to that board or any
other board as applicants. The parties in the timber trade
he >tnew to be highly respectable : they had nothing to
cringe for in coming to , that hoard. The gentlenien 'at that
board werepubli© men, and the timber trade came there
.a
Englishmen, asking that which was perfectly right and

~ust.
He thought it desir—able to notice these very7cutfing remarks
of Mr. Bushell. Mr. Bushell, had referred to the arrange-
-pent which was entered into in 1853, that the timber trade
should have the storing ground east of the Huskisson Dock
at the rate of 1-16th of a pentlyin the pound per squard
yard per week, which remained in force to the present day.
This Mr. Bushell termed a. very happy arrangement come
to by the timber trade, and yet Mr. Bushell tried to con-
vince the board that the timber trade only.held that land
one week at a time. What was the fact ? They found in
the .new :look a resolution, No. 1,., dated 4th Septeniber,
'lBst
" That it be recommended that the charge be at the rate of
3-16ths of a penny per square yard per week for the storing ground,
and double that amount if the timber lie on the quay temporarily;
and that the same rules and regulations be applicable to the east
quay of Huskisson Dock as are in use at the quays of the Bruns-
, wick Dock."

,That led to the arrangement of No.' 2, which charged the
timber • trifle With 1-16th of a penny in the pound.. Noiv,
he said, that. Mr. Bushell was. entirely in ,error, that the
happy arrangement which Mr. Bushell said had been en-
tered into with the timber, trade—which possesses such
subtle- in to say• no such influence was
brought toflubeenesacroL; ie
that begged '
question. , He put Mr. Bushell to the
test on that point. The timber trade sought no interview on
the Subjeet. The facte- were-thests=the-Mersey -Board being
in possession of a certain quantity of land in a certain
locality„, which was not bringing in a penny piece, -were de-
sirous to let it, and it was the duty of everY gentleman sitting
at that-board, and at the Board of Werks 'particularly, to
endeavour to get some rent for that. land, Which wds-paying
nothling. An offer was made to 'the- members of the timber
trade, And a deputation of that body waited on the Works
Conimittee, and the resolution. which Mr. Bushell had laid,
so., Much stress upon was passed. 'As regarded the
subtle, influence, he did 'not know that 'he had any
very great influence with any members of that board.
He did not think that Mr. Fleming had any particu-
lar influence with the members of that board,' either
subtle influence or any other kind of influence, unless it
be thawhich-Weird "right-and prelier betweefilrian-and man.
Tie looked at the members of that board, and 'he ; was not'
aware ilgt those gentlemen were W. be-exercised by such
influence,' by sutb uoinflueutial parties. What the timber
trade got they were fully and justly entitled to. It, seemed
rather retharkable that Mr. Inman, from the year '1852 to
1859, .could never discover that the land on the east side of
the Huskisson Dock was worth 4s. per yard. He under-,
stood Mr. :Inman. to say, that he was' prepared, to pay
48. foy it. He (Mr. • Farnworth) , would say that any
gentle Man , to go , down and see the site of the
docks, and he would be bOund . that they were
giving as much as, they would ever get. Mr. Bushell had
appealed to him as to what vote he would give On this .oc-
casion, If he voted, conscientiously for that 'which he
thought would be for the interest of the estate, he should
certainly vote for the confirmation of -the proceedings, and
against Mr. Bushell. But he' did Conceive that any gentle-
man sitting at that board, being interested in any lands, or
docks,- or property, had no right to use his influence, whether
it be subtle influence- or not, in order to get certain things
brought about which he knew were life and death to him,
and would make a wonderful difference in the property of
which he was in possession. He, therefore, acting on this
principle, should leave his" vote in the hands of the
board. As to the , evidence that he and, Mr. Fleming
gave in London, it had been stated, - that he did
not make remonstrance to the making of the steam dock
when it was first proposed. He begged to tell them,
and there were gentlemen about that board that would con-
firm him, that he did make a remonstrance when he first saw
the plans. He said than it was a breach of confidence, and
llnat the land belonged to the timber trade., and, that they

had no right-A° take ,it; avtar,frmthenii; Whey ,he was
asked lin London tO etidence referentel to "the
steam dock he refused, and told - the gentlemen who
questioned, him that it would not serve- their interest.
When he. was asked .by :the
,committee about the .steam
docks, ; he said he came- there to give evidence as to
the skipping and canal docks, and that he had no evidence
as to the Steam docks; and that there were gentleinen ihere
who thought the steam dock necessary, and would give
evidence on that subject. When was asked to go to
London on this subject herefu4ed, on the' ground that he
was a member of that board.. Ile, however, was prevailed
upon to go,: as Mr. Bushell, he thought,' knew, simply be-
_ cause Mr..llalhead, who was' called upon to give evidence
to the Canal Docks, had engagements-in Ireland. lie went
at the express wish of the solicitor, :to be there in case of
need. , He thought this quite justified the course he had,
taken. It was quite true, as. Mr. Bushell had stated, that
a meeting. was. called at the CNrenden-rOomS, and passed
the series of resolutions. It was quite true that they cx-
pressed themselves much inconvemencecf for 'Many years.
.Notwithstanding, this inconvenience they 'had .resisted for
the last" ten or' a' dozen Years the teniptations held
out from the other side of the water, where they were offered
land at &penny or twopence per yard, and water space for
little .4 nothing: The timber trade resisted, these tempta-
tionS simply on the ground that it would 'not suit their pur-
pose, and they came td the resolution that they would never
leave this side of the water unless they were compelled; and,
therefore, :from that day to .the' present • they had re-
mained. But, really, when he thought of the proceedings
of that board, he felt there.
,had been an influence at work
against honourable and straight-forivard deali o._ by certain
members; and that it would have been better to have paid
increased rents, or tO haVe gone across the water and left this
side altogether. As'to whether the land at the IlliSkisson-
Dock was giiek to the use of the 'timber trade until
land 'equally convenient was 'provided for them at. the
north ond, the chairnian, he expected; would answer that
but he knew it could not be contradicted; and he 'could
bring any.amountof evidence to prove it. He called their
attention to the following letter, which was not included in-
the first report :

" Daniel Mason, Esq. " Liverpool, March 4,.185/3.
" Sir,--I have to acknowlege the receipt of your communication
of the Ist instant, accompanying replies to the questions put to the
Mq!seyDock's and Ffarbour Board by the deputation from the

fiber trade, which answers they consider cicai and satisfactory

" I have further to request that you will inform me, as early as
possible, whether it be intended that the No 2 Dock, and the east
side of the iluskisson Dock, shall be applied exclusively for the
use, of the timber trade for the present.. and until other works• to
the north are executed (which the trade consider absolutely neces-
sary,) then that the docks and land north of the Huskiison will be
permanently appropriated to the timber trade.
" I am also desired to ascertain on what terms you are prepared
to lease the land marked " B" •on the tracing.

I am, Sir, your, most obedient servant,
" JOHN PARNWORTH."
The tracing referred to showed the amount of land which
the board had to give to the timber trade, and which that
trade 'considered would. be . advantageous, to them. Mr.
FarnWorth went on to allude to a statement made, by Mr.
Bankini that the land on .'the. east side of the. Huskisson
Dock,ihaving been appropriated to the exclusive use of. the
timber trade -.until. another site was proVided, and about
which there . could:be no .two. opinions. Mr. Bushell had
spoken of concessions having been made .to: the timber trade.
it might,be necessary to show what influence they had,. and:
how that influence was received. . He'then read. a letter,
signed by leading firms in the timber trade, urging, the.
boar& to the, speedy completion .of dock No. 2, and, that
they would not lose si&ht, of the propped not deck,,
whereby they would obtain the concentration, which was so
essential to the effectual,well-working. of their trade. He
-did not think there., was much ,in Pe letter which Ur.,
Rankin ,had read, and thought ,it was rather a trick
of , diplomacy which had induced hint to write that
letter,i as he was ' perfectly inneeent of. the feet, that
the whole of the land was to be appropriated. H6,objected
1 to:Mr. Bu.sltell's m.otion—first, bedause the land, at 'the
HnskisSon Dock had been . appropriated to the timber
trade until , equal ,and "suitable accommodation Was afforded
further north ; secondly, 'that the trade would, in eonse-
pence of the abstraction of so much land; suffer serious
loss and inconvenience. These two !'facts being admitted,
the question was, was .it right for the board. to do so. under
the circumstances ? ' H'e Was asked recently to accompany a
deputation from the Committee Of Works. When he put
tlve question to the gentlemen of the Works Committee as
to whether there was any.- difference of opinion. as to
the .lluslisson ~.Dock land, - being . given to the
timber trade for their use until further accommodation was
provided, the two gentlemen forming the sub-committee of
the Works' Committee 'said there was no 'difference of
opinion, between ,them. It was now for them to consider
what was best to be done
.for the interest of the • estate ; or
whether theyiwould rejecMlr. Busbell's motion or confirm
the Tree-ceilings.
..

Mr. EVANS said that he had listened to Mr. Farnwa.ith,
and he hicrdeclaimed largely abOut his disinterestedness,
but he (Mr Evans)could;find nothing in his speech' other
.than that •of an ardent
_advocate. - - The timber trade were
grasping .at what they could not use, and keeping what they
had already, got, and complaining as if all had been taken
from; thera:

Mr. INMAN said there was a statement put upon the table
in support of tho- second 'reading of the 'bill; in that it was
stated as one of the • reasons' for' carrying the bill that the
'.:steam trade had been doubled within the last.five years, and
was still greatly increasing. This, he contended, was en:-
tirelyi within the knowledge'. of the timber irade.' His
object was to show that the timber 'trade were consenting
Parties to theresumption of 'the land. -•. ' •
Mi. Toinri said, as'a member of the Committee of Works,
it appeared to. him that the whale, question hinged upon
whether the committee gave the timber trade this_land t-: be
appropriated for their use until other equal'accommodation
could be- provided:' There was no promise made- by the
committee at all upon the subject. Mr. Bushell denies that
there was any understanding of this kind, and ho (Mr.
Tobin) did not, take it as quite right that Mr. Farnworth
should take. it for granted that there was an understanding
of this nature. He had been told on more than one occa-
sion that there were documents in 'existence to prove that
these arrangements had been entered into with the timber
trade. He said at once, show him these.doeumexts, and he
had no more to say. He would ask any member of the board
whether he believed in any. vote he gave, if he thought
'he wits giving an exclusive right to that land,, so that' they
would not be in' a 'position to deal with it 'at any 'other time.
Mr. Inman, who had a berth in the' Huskisson dock, might
as well claim compensation for being removed, as the timber
trade should claim' compensation for the board 'using their
right in reference to this-land. (Hear, hear.) He 'con-
curred with Mr. Bushell that- there was" no understanding
whatever. His view was simply this, that the timber trade
made applieatibifto know what land there was at the north
end. , The committee laid' a plan, and there were 124,000.
yards for permanent, occupation,' and the rest -fOr tempo-
rary occupation. That meant that a portion of the
land was not 'urgently required for public purposes at pre-
sent ; but that when they wanted it for public purposes
they;had not the slightest shadow of a doubt, but they had
power to resume- possession of it. It was stated that the
steam dock was an -after-thought. 'lle most certainly dis.
seated from that view. It was contemplated from the first.
He did not quite agree with the resolution of Mr. Bushell,
but he did feel the- greatest possible reluctance to oppose it.
'lf he thought that anybody was' taking' a' reach at them he
was pot blind one iota. Mr.- Graves said that. the timber
trada had been increased for the last ten years 52 per cent.
'and it became impossible that they could:conduct their busi-
ness at the south end of the town. • He did believe that the
timber trade had been consenting parties:to the abstraction
of this land; in utter' ignorance as to the extent of the exat-
tion,: trusting implictly to.the board thatjhe trade should
be accommodated. He concluded by moving an' amend-
ment, that after having considered the 'correspondence with
the timber trade the agreement was entered Into, the Board.
are of opinion,' that it is desirable that the arrangement
now entered into should be carried out. •
Mr. MONnEL seconded the amendment. _ -

Mr. BROCKLEBANK made a long oration, contending, that
the Works Committee must have been aware that , they
had entered into an understanding equal to a pledge to give
the timber trade the exclusive occupation of tMs land until
they'could find them other land in a suitable locality. It.
was a matter of 4. S. • D.. It was, given to them, for tbree,
months, and if it had been worded so as .to eye them six
months more so as to renew that agreeinent, it would have
passed the board without comment.
After some remarks by Mr. Maclver, •
The CHAIRMAN said it was quite clear that the timber
trade were led to suppose that they should have a sufficient
quantity ,of land for the purpose of carrying on their trade.
Mr. B usliell had given his assent to the granting of a piece ofland
equal to that abstracted from OITA, and this admitting a
compromise ; supposing-they carried that motion, a.compro-
the timber trade. Instead of 'losing half a yearie rent they
mise was impossible. They were at daggers drawn with
would lose equal to two ,yeare rent;, and at the north end
of the town they had, twesty7five acres of land) which could
be utilised
only by the timber,trade ; and as regarded that
estate, this arrangement would be one of thegreated
tages that could- he conceived, and he hoped they would
concede to the comkproraise.
Mr. Bimini.; asked for an adjeurnment of the discussion ;
but the board were not generally in favour of it, and he
therefore proceeded 'with his reply, in which he said that,
looking at the empty chairs, he was certain he would
be beaten. He had no particular desire for victory, and
he was, therefore, not disappointed, lie "had simply done

NORTITEMe I TI MM