Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-04-08 00:00:00

DOCK BOARD,

Mr. Charles Turner occupied the chair at the usual
weekly meeting of this board, held yesterday. The other
members present were—Messrs. Brocklebank, M'lver,
Monde!, Boult, Anderson, Sager, Forwood, Laird, Smith,
Tobin, Langton, Rankin, Bushell, Moss, and Farnworth.

NN'OItX.S COMIAITTEE

The proceedings of this committee included recommenda-
tions to make alterations according to plans submitted by
the engineer in the locks leading to the Liverpool
and. Leeds Canal, to the amount of £950, also
to make alterations at Nova Scotia to the extent of
£309. To accept the tenders of Mesrs. Ogden and Barnes
to place two patent capstan on Morpeth-dock, and :also two
at Birkenhead.

In reply to Mr. Moael, the engineer state
could be applied to the capstans.
The proceedings were then confirmed.

hat steam

NPAIIINE CO3IMITTEE,

The proceedings of this committee contained a recom-
mendation to plao3 two electric time balls in a high
position, one oh the summit of Victoria Tower, and the
other on the south-west corner of the Albert warehouses,
at a cost of 1250.

On the motion of Mr: Mendel, the iproceedings were

confirtned

The proceedings of the pilots, docks and quays, and
master porters committees were then read and adopted
,necial observation.

without any

BIRKENHEAD TRAFFIC.

A letter was read from the mai:anger of the Birkenhead
krrics, asking the opinion of the board in reference to a
proposal for establishing steamboats made on the American
principle, and erecting stages for the better accommodation
',of-the troAc to Birkenhead.
Tiklr.'l3rocklebank said, in strict order the letter should be
-referred to the works committee.

:Lushell : The question was ,clearly one of the
-very 'deepest importance. There was a. time, no doubt,
when-such a proposal would have been—for the interest
of that trust, at least in the minds of some—met with
opposition, and every impediment and obstacle thrown in
its -way.. There might have been once, a nd so every possible
•expedient thrown in the way of the transit of the river;
bat—now the Birkenhead estate had beei3me part of their own

estate, and, as just stewards, they should give every pos-
sible facility to the transit. He rejoiced that the initiatory
steps had been taken by the Birkenhead Commissioners,
and he hoped they would be met in a fair spirit by that
board (Hear, hear.) Birkenhead. was a great natural
fact, which it was impossible to get -rid of ; whether in their
hands or not, its existence could not be ignored. Their
greatnes had been the extension of their docks. It
might have been a question whether they should at one
time extend the docks on this side so as to go 'under that
very building itself, but that was too late now,
and what remained for them to do was to develope
that portion of their estate which they had
on the other side of the river. He 'would there-
fore beg to move, with the ii.ew of getting a declaratory
opinion of the board, " That in the opinion of this board,
it is of the highest importanoe to the interests of the trust
which are now so deeply involved in the progress and suc-
cess of Birkenhead, that every possible facility be obtained for
the passage of the river, as regards produce and passengers."
He would also move, in addition, " That it be referred
to the works committee to ascertain the cost of meeting the
suggestions of the Birkenhead Commissioners, and to com-
municate with the corporation of Liverpool, •and report as
to the proportion of the cost to be borne by the respective
bodies interested therein." He said, the Liverpool Corpo-
ration and the Birkenhead Commissioners would have to
bear a share in the cost of the undertaking.
Mr. Smith said, he agreed with the :remarks of Mr.
Bushell ; but the subject being brought up in the form of a
letter, the usual course is to refer it to the works' committee.
It did not rise out of the proceedings of the d4y.
The Chairman said, if there was no objection, the matter

could be taken that day.
Mr. Laird said it was right the board should know that
the letter had been before the works' committee.
Mr. Brocklebank said it was before the works' committee,
but the matter was of such importance, they considered it