The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-04 00:00:00

BANERUPTS.

(From the London Gazette of last night.)
John Bryan, Dyers_buildings, Holborn, electro plater,
and cutler.
Joseph Curti, Wharton, Southbridge, Worcestershire,
licensed victualler.
Samuel Baker, Birmingham, iron founder.
George Woodall, Carlise, Cumberland, grocer.
John Holmes, Bramham, Yorkshire, butcher.
John Wilks, Whitby, Yorkshire, butcher.
Wm Tyler, King's Bromley, Staffordshire, miller.
John Alfred Hatfield, Bradford, Yorkshire, draper.

The annual meeting of the St. Clement's Church Ragged
Schools was held last night, in the Church school roomer
Stanhope street, Windsor.

THE WEATHER.—The weather continues most severee
and it is feared that many poor people must suffer great
privations in consequence of being thrown out of employ-
ment. On Monday and Monday night, there was a smart
fall of snow ; and daring yesterday and last night, heavy
frost continued, with every indication of lasting for some
time. The middle of the day was fine, but unusual cola
was felt throughout.
ILLUSTRIOUS .YMTOIO3.-4)11 Sunday, the Duke Of.
Duchess De Chambru, Swiss nobles, who are on a tour et
pleasure in this country, attended divine worship in St..'
George's church, and occupied a pew next his worship thr
Mayor. The illustrious party were accompanied by their
suite, and Signor Don Francisco Tomaso, the interpreter, ter
whom the Duke presented a beautiful bible. The aultee
&e., departs this day for Glasgow.
SHAYESPERIAN READINGS.—Mr. Barrow Blake intend°
giving his first dramatic reading, at the St. George's'
Concert Hall, No. 50, Lime street, this evening, at eigl4
o'clock, and we perceive that he has ehosen probably the
most difficult and effective portions of Othello" and ‘• the
Merchant of Venice." Mr. Blake, although a stranger
amongst us, has been long and favourably known in the
western counties, as a dramatic reader of the highest order,
and we feel confident, from his previous successful careers
that he will merit the approbation of a Liverpool audience'
THE FERRY STEAMERS ON THE MERSEY.—Considering
the immense traffic on the river Mersey, it has long been a
wonder so few fatal accidents occur to the ferry boats, bat'
during the last few months we have had serious warnings,'
fortunately unattended with loss of life. A short time since,
a steamer called the Fanny, plying to Birkenhead, was raw
down at night, and sunk ; and, on Monday evening lastl
another ferry steamer, called the Wallasey, was discovered
to be leaking just as she was leaving the landing stage. Thal
captain immediately ran her aground, being close to the,.
shore, and the passengers were taken off uninjured, burl
drea&fully alarmed ; this steamer afterwards sunk.
same night an old lady was drowned at the Birkenbeaa
ferry, by falling between two steamers, no light b3iaf
exhibited to enable her to see her way across a narrow an
unguarded plank. I mention these facts to throw out a'
hint to my townsmen that the management of all the rise!:
ferry steamers, except those belonging to the Birkesheaa
commissioners, is positively disgraceful. Ido not mean to
say that the surveyor wilfully neglects his duty, but I 10°.,
,7
that people think that he is far too good natured. Mall
the ferry steamers, including those whose accidents I )1'1"
mentioned, are old fashioned, ugly, vamped uo tubs, all
though not sure, and so ricketty that they cannot stars
either rough weather or ordinary accidents, to which rivet
craft are liable. Then, again, the legal requirements as to'`
boats are almost ignored. I crossed iu a steamer the other
i".
day, in which the boat (which all steamers are required
carry) was not only placed in a position whence it 00
only be removed with great difficulty, but there was a large'
hole in the bottom, scarcely covered by a piece of raggei.x
sailcloth. These notorious evils are due to the fact that tiv
ferries are managed by private firms, whose sole object i,sti,
secure the largest profits at the smallest outlay of caPit,he
We certainly want a river police here as you have on , s
Thames, and I believe there is some idea of organisinf
corps of nautical " peelers."--Liverpool Correspoodeng of
the Sunday Times.