Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-26 00:00:00

DOCK COMMITTEE.

The weekly meeting of the Dock Committee was held
at one o clock on Thursday. Mr. Charles Turner in the
chair. The other members in attendance were Mews.
Rankin, Palmer, Robinson, Brocklebank, Beano, Rounth-
Waite, Littledele, Birber, Clint, Bold, Anderson, Rath-
bone, Hubback, Smith, and Gladstone.
On the recommendation of the sub committee, the
tender of Messrs. P. Weaver and Co , was accepted for
iron railirg sad gates f)r fencing the bridge recesses from
the south end of the Queen's Dock, to the north end of
the Prince's Dock ; the tender of Messrs Sanderson,
Brothers was accepted for aug re for boring hardwood ;
and that of Messrs P. Smith and C.a., for ingot copper.
It was agreed that Mr. James Thompson be accepted as
the tenant of the committee's premises in Sandhils

The W,.rrhouss Stib.C.lmMittee reported that they had
diree,ed to be trensferrtd from the vr‘rehonse accounts to
the credit of tha general committee the following sums for
the half year ending the 21 h instant : —from the Albert
warehouses, £13.000; f.om the Stanley, £2,000; from
the Wapping, £2.500
Mr. Robinson stated that that%) were soma arrears still
uncollected.

The Mester Porters' Sub-Committee reported that they
had considered the letter referred to them from the
Cuetoms authorities requesting that sworn meters might be
appointed by the Dock Committee for the measurement of
grain, and hat they did not consider it within the province
of the committee to reek., any such appointment, or to take
any action upon the subjec men,ioned.
Mr. Hal)lealk toad be had attended the meeting of the
sub-committee, and he agreed that it was net within the
province of that es ate to appoint meters, seeing that the
estate received but 2d or 31 a quarter, while the revenue
derived a thit!ing. He admitted that the mode of mea-
surement was nos regular at present, but he considered it
the duty of .he revenue to see that the work was done
properly. The mode of eiarging duty by measure at
present adopted, he thought extremely unegaitable. The
syetem of taking it by weight would b 5 much more equi-
table. At pr-sent le was charged upon a quarter of wheat
weighing 504 tbs., and open a quarter of oats weighing
296 lbs.

A. letter was read from Mr. John Harrison. presenting
to the Committee a chart of the Irish Sea, which WAS ac-
cepted with thanks.
A. letter WAS read from Mr. Roger Sutton, Commis-
sioners' office, Bt,kenhead, stating that he was instructed
by the Ferry Committt e to direct Attention to the innef-
fectual manner in which the approaches feom James-street
to the larding-stage were at present liahted, and Euggibt-
ing that one of the tarp lamps shoali be placed there.
The Chairman Osaul that land belonged entirely to the
Corporation.
Mr. Anderson said it was one of the places where the
Watch Committee contemplated having a large lamp put,
but they thought it better to defer doing so until SO3lO
arrangement was made in reference to the intended im-
provements there.
The letter was orderei to be sent to the Watch Com-
mittee

A letter was read from Messrs. George thoker and Co.,
stating that is c :nserinence of the docks at the South-end
being literally crammed with vessels, Vie! ware unable to
find space thare for one of their vessels la•len with timber,
and on account of the number of ships lying in the river,
no prospect was held out as to the time when the vessel
might be accommudateti. Under throats circumstances, the
writers stated that they had ordered the vessel to the
Huikisson dock, which was quite out of the market for
cs.rgoes of that kind. If such inconveniences continued,
Messrs. B.xdrer stated that they would be compelled to
sank some other port and had indeed a fair weeks ago
sent a cargo to a poi; whe-e every facility was offered tor
discharging, and the rent of storing was very reasonable.
The letter was referred to the Harbour Master's Com-
mittee.

An application was read from the Bootle Dispensary
Committee, requesting a subic iption or donation from the
committee, to the funds of that institution, and stating
that 32 men in the employment of the committee, had
received the benefit cf the Dispensary during the past
year.
Mr. Gladstone said he supposed the men were ertployed
by the contractors, and not by the Doek Committee.
Mr. Evans objected to any donat'.on being given, on the
ground that that Board was not an eleemosynary
Institution.
The letter was referred to the Finance Sub• Committee
A. latter was read from Messrs. Gibbs, Bright and Co ,
calling attention to the fact that the manager of the Bir-
kenhead warehouses refossi to store more than 600 tons
of guano in the upper flcor3, although it had been usual
previously to have more than 800 tons stored there.
The Surveyor said that he hal advised that no more
than one too to the square yard should ba stored there,
cone iving that to be as much as the floors would bear.

It was agreed that the Surveyor should report as to
whether anything could be done to strengthen the floors.
Mr. Ilubback then moved, in accordance with the notice
he had given, that the report read some time since
from the special committee appointei to consider the
present system of dock flues, ba received and recorded on
the books. He thougit it necessary that it should appear
upon the books, in order that the new Board might deal
with it. He remarked that the present system of levying
fines was wrong in p t3uch powers should never be
granted to a policeman. The system mast leave a demoral-
ising effect upon the policemen. One-third of the fines col-
lected went to a superannuation police fend, and in the year
1856 that one third amounted to ncarly .El,OOO. Mr.
Runback advocated the system suggested by some cf the
witnesses cf sube'ituting a penalty rent instead of fines,
while retaining, of course, the power of removing obstruc-
tions.

Mr; Clint said he supposed the receiving of the report
woul I merely amount to leaving till new board perfectly
free to deal with it as they thoaght fit.
Mr. Hubback : Certainly.
The Chairman did not understand that it would bind the
committee to anything except recording tho report upon
the b )oks, and could, therefore, see no objection to adopting
the motion.

G!adstone seconded the motion, which was adopted
without opposition.
This e:osad the general business.

AIIRTRIAN TROOPS TN LOMBARDY.—The Government of
L)mbardy has issued a notification, fixing the continunt
of recruits for that province at 8,357 men for the year
1853. he tltal for Vie whole Austrian empire amounts
to 103,115 man.

RIOTS AT MIDDLESBORWGIL—A. strike took p!ace last
weak at M ddlesb3rough am.mg the men in the employ of
Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughsn, who were joined by several
labourers out of work. On Saturdty, after arming
themselves with bludgeons, they assemblel in the market-
place, loudly demanding treed. They then pro ..eeded to
a provison shop, at which Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan's
men had been accustomed to expend their wages, but,
after threatening the proprietor, marched tow&rds the
polite-station, on their way to which they were met by a
strong body of police, who cleared the streets. Later in
the day the mayor addressed a considerable number of
them, promising that any necessary relief should be
afforded. In the evening a detachment of the 4th Dra
goons arrived from York. Four of the ringleaders were
apprehended, and brought before the magistrates on Mon-
day, and remanded till to-day. Yesterday the town was
quiet.
- -

ESCAPN AND RAPID FLTIIIT OF A LUNATIC.—About
five o'clock on Sunday afternooe last a matt came rapidly
riding on horseback into Otley, without hat or neckerchief.
and enqnired his way to Denton Hall, of which he said
he was going to take possession as owner. It was of coarse
soon discovered that the poor fell )w was a lunatic, sad he
was therefore detained, and safely lodged in the house
connected with the lock-up. Shortly afterwards the
governor of the lunatic asylum at Acomb, near York,
arrived at Otley, in pursuit of the fugitive. It appeared
that the man attended Divine strviee at the asylum in the
morning of the same day, and that after getting his dinner
he went out into the yard, and having first placed a table
and then a chair upon it against the wall, he succeeded in
climbing over the latter. He afterwards went to Ihe stable,
saddled and bridled a horse, and thus effected his escape.
At the first toll-bar, having ne money, he gave his necker-
chief as payment far the toll, and at the second bar he tock
off and deposited with the collector what he called his
" dickey," or loose front, for a similar purpose. His hat
was lost from his head as he galloped through Wetherby ;
not daring (as he afterwards naively observed to Superin-
tendant-constable Rmith) "to stop to pick it np, lest they
should catch him." Tne name of the maniac, who has
be n some time in confinement, is Sampson Spnght,
formerly residieg at Ilk!ey, and where he carried on the
business of a blacksmith. Taking into account the circuit-
ous route which he took in his journey to Otley, it is
calculated that he must have travelled upwards of thirty
miles in less than three hours ; and he teemed in perfect
ecstasies when recapitulating the clever mode by which be
had effected his escape, and the achievements of the day.
The poor fellow quietly left Otley in company with the
governor for the asylum the same evening, under the
impression at the time that he was really going to take
possession of the preperty alluded to, and incessantly
talked about the improvements an i alterations he would
make upon the estate, his intended hospitality and liber-
ality, and the rich presents he should then make.—Leeds
Mercury.