The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-20 00:00:00

RATING OF THE BIRKERREAD DOCKS.

Yesterday (Thursday), a meeting of the ratepayers of
Birkenhead was held in the vestry of St. Mary's Church,
to consider the advisability of empowering the overseers
to take the necessary measures for introducing a clause
into the " Birkenhead Docks Management Bill," which
would render the docks liable for the payment of the poors'
rate. From the statement of Mr. J. Townshend, the legal
adviser of the overseers, it appeared that several fruitless
communications on the subject of rating the docks had
been made to the Mayor and Town Clerk of Liverpool,
and the overseers, therefore, having taken counsel's
opinion, resolved to bring the subject before the whole
body of ratepayers. At present, in their unfinished state,
the docks produced £l5O of rates, while, if the bill, now
before Parliament, passed in its present form, neither the
Birkenhead Docks nor the Corporation property on the
Cheshire side, could be assessed for the poor rate. After
speeches from Mr. John Laird, Mr. S. Bailiff, Mr. Bryans,
Mr. Robert Hughes, Dr. Baylis, and other gentlemen
present, Mr. John Laird submitted a motion to the effect
that the meeting should be adjourned, and that in the
meantime, in order to save expense, the overseers should
consult with the Birkenhead Commissioners, as to their
joint action relative to the procuring of a rating clause in
the Dock Bill.

PARTNRRSS IPS DISOLVED.—J. M'Greir and CO., Liver
pool, grocers. Schroeder, Goddard, and Co., Old Broad
street, Russia brokers ; as far as regards C. Goddard. J.
Pender and Co., Manchester and Glasgow, merchants.
Howard and Thomas, Manchester, quilt merchants.
Dividends—March 12, J. Ridgway, merchant, Liverpool.

SINGULAR AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT BARNSLEY.-013
Tuesday, an accident occurred which caused the death of a
youth named Crowe. nine years of age, son of Mr. Richard
Crowe, bleacher, Old Mill. Deceased was standing behind
a gate in the King's Head Hotel yard, and a person corning
through with a load of wheat, the vehicle caught the side of
the gateway, and knocked down the gate, and a portion of
the stonework of the wall, which fell upon the poor little
fellow and killed him on the spot. The body was taken
from beneath the gate, when deceased's head was found
to be dreadfully crushed. He was removed to the
King's Head Hotel, and is now awaiting the event of a
coroner's enquiry.
PROPERTY OF MARRIED WOMEN.—By a bill of Lord
Brougham and Vaux the real and personal estate of a
married woman at the time of her union will be held by her
to Ire separate use, as if she were a ferne sole. The real
or personal estate, earnings, &c., of married women accruing
during their coverture will also be held to their separate
use. A married woman, with respect to such property,
may be sued as a feme sole, and a husband will not be liable
for her antenuptial debts except as to property settled by
the wife on the husband or children. The real and personal
estate of a married lady will be jointly liable for joint
contracts of husband and wife. The persons of married
women are to be sacred from arrest for debt under the
provisions of this act. A wife may dispose of and bequeath
her property as if she were a.ferns sole.
A HORSE SHOE WITH HIT NAILS.-Horse shoes without
nails are one of the most usefal inventions of the day.
The inventor makes the whole in two pieces, employing,
in addition, two small screws, to aid in crewing the parts
together. Both are made of malleable iron—the lower
portion, or sole, being very similar to the horse shoe
ordinarily employed, but without a gro we around its
exterior, and withont nail holes. The upper portion, or
,
vamp,
is thin, and has a flange projecting inwards from its
lower edge, to match the groove in the sole. These parts
are so arranged as to secure a tight and firm connecq
and the whole is made additionally secure by the aid of the
set screws at the heel. One practical advantage to be
derived from this style of shoes is the facility with which
they may be removed or exchanged.
Mu. WILLIAM CRAFT AT CROSBY HALL, LONDON. —Mr.
Craft proceeded to say, that many persons thought if the
slaves had ouly enough to eat, their condition was not bad
after all, and nothing more need be done. Now, if they
were merely animals, there might be some show of
argument in this; but they were men—(cheers)—profess-
t e image
of ing the same feelings and aspirations as their fellow
acnredatuerreesa,tehavingdinh the styleblotohrel
sflaomweinggreiat G
in thoedir. veins,The
slaves, however, were generally
overworked, ill fed, and
frequently flogged. Their allowance was a peck of Indian
corn a day, which they had to prepare af.er having left the
plantation at the close of a day of toil. This would not he
sufficient for their subsistence ; but they got other food by
fishing, and by hunting for racoons, during the night or on
the Sabbath day, At such times, also, they obtained vege-
table food, and made baskets and other articles for sale.
The masters favour this state of things, because it so occu-
pies the min.ls of the slaves as to prevent their concocting
plans of escape ; and because, also, it was more economical.
—Annual Meeting, May 31,1855,