Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-11-20 00:00:00

THE

expenditure be published quarterly in connection with
the usual quarterly abstracts published of the colonial
revenue and expenditure; that the Board of Works,
consisting of the President the Chief Commissioner of
Public Works, the Surveyor-General, and two paid
members, have the superintendence of the construction
of the lines under their control ; and that on the
completion of the line, the management of the railways
should not be vested in the government. Such was the
recommendations of the committee ; but, after a long and
careful deliberation, the parliament had decided upon a
direct line to Castlemaine also.

greys are asked for. Prints are very slow of sale. In
boots and shoes there is not the, slightest, improvement,
and it is a difficult matter to sell even at inVoice.
Earthenware and Glass : Arrivals being large and the
trade stocked, the advance cannot be quoted higher than
50 per cent for suitable invoices ; many which are offering
are not worth over 25 per cent; these prices leave a loss
on shipments at present rates of freight.
Eastern Produce : The sugar market has been firm
during tho week, and owing to the news from Sydney,
which reported very extensive speculative transactions,
and an advance in their rates by the Sugar Company of
.f.. 6 a ton, holders are asking fully £2 advance on late
extreme rates. We must quote Mauritius light bright
counter £52 ; Cossipore, £63 ; English loaf 91d. In
teas the late advance is well sustained, but although the
trade is beginning to have confidence in the maintenance
of present rates their purchases are s' ill made very
sparingly, and they only buy from hand to mouth. In
rice transactions are very limited, but a demand has
sprung up for Patna opium, and some sales have been
made at £1410; few holders are, however, willing to sell
at this price, as it cannot be laid down under £2OO, duty
paid.
English coals are not saleable' at over '4ss per ton.
Flour and Grain: The market for flour is very quiet,
and transactions very limited, Adelaide is worth £23 to
£24, but the town mills have been selling as. low as .122.
Wheat is selling slowly at 95 3d. . Horse feed is well
maintained in price ; the stocks of all suitable kinds of
Colonial produce being well exhausted. Last week there
was a decided run on bran, and holders who would a few
days ago have almost willingly sold at any price, have
become just as reluctant to let it go, and now refuse to
sell even at is lid. Scotch oats are firm at 8s 6d, and
Colonial are worth lls to Ils 6d; and notwithstanding
the unexpected arrival of two cargoes of oats from San
Francisco and Bremen, and a cargo of maize from Timor,
the market has a rising tendency. The Californiaraoats
cx Formosa—some 15,000 bushels—have changed hands
on private terms ; in the absence. of Colonial they will
noatioaiat gO rapidly into. oonsnmption in prefersnce to
any other kind. .Since the above was written a decline
has taken place in the oat market, a large sale of German
oats having been forced at auction, and the price realised
for some 3,000 bags was only as 6d to 6s 91. The maize
by the Messenger has also been said, and is held we
believe for Ils 6d, prices coming higher from Sydnsy.
Metals and Timber The market for (metals, with
the exception of those used for beadily.: purposes,, remains
dull and overstocked. Timber is decidedly improving..
and whilst the cargo of the Sitka lately arrived has been
sold at. 60 for 9 x 3, another, cargo of 1,100 tons has
changed hands to arrive at the same figure. The Sitka's
cargo was by no means aaiicely aesairted. one, half of it
was white wood, and a good portion of it 'short lengths;
the actual 'price of red deals, 9 x 3, may therefore be
assumed to be 7d. :
Manilla Cigars are scarce, and worth 52s 6d in bond.
Manilla Hope is abundant, except 5, 61 and 7 inches ;
these latter sizes tare worth '.£72, but an assortment only
£65. . •
Oils : Painters' Oils are a shade higher, and we quote
raw linseed in drums 6a boiled 63 61. Chinese oil in
bulk is worth 7s, which would fix the price of Coles. in
drums at Ss.
Oilmen's Stores : The summer demand, which is
expected, to bee large,• has apt yet set, in ; meanwhile
there is a good demand for bottfed frtiits salifch; -on
account of abSence of,'stock there genes some difficulty iu
satisfying. glarter sardines are very scarce. Jams
aad mustards are saleable. Good brands of pint pickles
'comniatid 10s. Soda 'crystals have. declinbd from .£23 to
£l4, and even at the latter figure• are selling very slowly.
Sato has fallen' to • sd, and is beginning to-be overstocked.
matches are- scarce, and worth ss. Wax vests
are a drug. ,Sulptar:bas been, in,good request, and is
scarce. For soda and lemonade bottleS and corks, the
summer, demand is springing_ up.
In Tobacco a very goad trade is doing, and all new'
shipments are being readily sold at an advance of 21 on
lately ruling rates.
Wham 'and -Spirits : Martell's and other first-class
brandies are not selling, freely, and it would be a difficult
matter to place large parcels. When brandies first eose
from 16s to 203 the trade bought heavily, in order to
participate irathe rise, and they have a good part of
these 'purchases. stilt OH hand, which they complain they
find a difficulty:in moving off. We do not think that
Martell's, . if -forced, would realise over IBs, and other
brands in propostion. 'Case' brandies, both first-class and
inferior, are very saleable, and whilst U. Vineyard's and
()lard's are worth 455, inferior case brandies of low duty
have been sold as high as 193. Rums are selling fairly,
low proof at 55 9.1, and high proof 63 9.1-; Geneva is not
_quite so saleable as it. was. J.D.K.Z. is worth from 223
to 235. Whisky and Old Tom, •both bulk and case are,
unsaleable, and are just so much dead stock. Ports are,
not asked for, but for sherries a favourable feeling exists,
as the stocks, are small, and the price at which it can be
laid down in excess of present market rates. Cham-
pagnes are asked for, and there is no great stock in the
market, Of clarets 'the arrivals have not beendarge, lana
a good deal of last year's shipments are still on hand;
' the price will probathy range a little higher this season
than last, For sparkling wines uo incaary has as yet
been experienced.
'Woolpaaks are saleable; and' worth as for- 10 ibs.
Cornsacks are lower and offering at 183.

DOCK COMMITTEE.

The weekly meeting of this committee was held at one
o'clock yesterday, Mr. Charles Turner in the chair. The
other members in attendance were Messrs. Rankin,
Robinson, Lockett, Hothead, Gladstone, Mondell, Hol-,
den, Clint, Anderson, Hubback, Bold, Chilton, Smith
Littledale, and Barber.
In compliance with a request from the Birkenhead
Committee of the Town Council, it was agreed that
Messrs. Turner, Rankin, and Brocklebank should be
re-appointed to attend the meetings of that committee.
Mr. Smith remarked that the Dock Committee had
never received any report from the gentlemen who
attended the Birkenhead Committee. If they sat there
merely es gentlemen whose information was such as
could be of service to the committee, it was all right, but
that they should sit there as members of the Dock Com-
mittee, and performing duties supposed to affect the
interests of that committee, and that the committee
should hear nothing of the matter from year's end to
year's end, he could not understand.
The Chairman : We have no votes there.
• Mr. Smith said he was aware of that, but he thought
if they went as sent by the Dock Committee, the Dock
Committee ought to know something of the duties which
they had to perform. It was, however, now a matter of
very little consequence.
The Chairman : It will only last for about five or six
weeks.
Mr. Barber : I presume it does not commit this body ?
The Chairman : Not in the slightest.
Plans were produced by the Surveyor of the new works
proposed to be constructed under the bills of which
notices have been given. The plans were ordered to lie
upon the table for the information of any of the public
who might desire to inspect them.
Tenders were accepted on the recommendation of the
sub-committee of works, from Messrs. Jackson and
Ronald for cordage, Messrs. Mather and Ledward for
iron, and Messrs. Roberts mid Gibson for iron.
In the Marine Department a report was produced re-
commending that stancheons and chaius should be placed
upon the new landing stage, between the bridges, to
prevent accident, which was ordered to be done.
A resolution of the Town Council finance committee
wes produced, sanctioning the alteration in the tenders
of the lauding stage, as recommended last week.
In the Harbour-master's Department it was recom-
mended that huts be placed en the sites named in the
report of the harbonr-master, for the use of the officers
of customs, as requested last week. The work was
ordered to be carried out.
The Finance Sub-committee recommended that Mr.
George J. Jefferson be appointed treasurer, at a salary of
£750 per annum, without any retiring pension; in the
room of Mr. Taunton.

REVIEW OF THE MARY...BM.
As no Overland Mail was despatched in August, we
have not issued any Special Edition for'transmission to
Europe since the 22nd of July per Columbian, and we
have consequently to report to-day on the state of our
markets during the last two months. We wish indeed
that we could do so in a satisfactory manner, and that, we

cuuld congratulate shippers on an improved state of
matters since our last, but unfortunately our duty causes
us to do the reverse,. and to characterise the present pc-

sition of the import market as more precarious thani it
has been during the-last two years; continued shipments
are at length producing that effect, which would have
come about long before this, unless local speculation had
not now and again come to the relief of the market, and
carried matters over for a while ; but to this the con-

tinned influx of almost every import has atlength put a
stop; paper given for these speculations has matured,
and the Banks, finding the drain of money in payment of
imports inconvenient, have been obliged to restrict
accommodation and to refuse renewals, and under the

pressure of forced sales of large quantities of goods which
have been held some time on the spot, and the great

anxiety, and in fact, absolute necessity of importer s, in
face of continued shipments, to sell, prices :have fallen
very seriously. Beyond the parties engaged in the
ironmongery trade, and those who have been importing
Ilene-feed even for staple goods few importers are, in
our opinion, doing more than covering cost and charges.
i- possible that we may be mistaken, but with candles
at 13d., which is the price at which they have been scld
during the week, with butter at Hid., cheese at 12d.,
hams at 12d., boots and shoes at invoice, soft goods

(if suitable and saleable) 15 to 20 per cent. advance ;
Martell's brandy. at 18s. 6d., Bulk old Tom and whiskey

quite unsaleable, .currants ,and. Eleme raisins at
SO., bar iron at £ll, sheet and plate iron nominal; being
heavily overstocked ; bottled beers, unless Byass's, 8s to
lOs ; other goods, if even they leave a margin, selling but

slowly—we cannot see where importers are making proats,
much less how consigners are to get invoice returued for
their goods, after deduction of charges here. fact we

The Chairman said the committee were all very well
acquainted with Mr. Jefferson, and the Sub-committee
were all unanimous in recommending that he be appointed.
treasurer, at the same salary, and the same amount Pf,
sureties, as his predecessor. Mr. Jefferson qUite. under-
stood that, in taking that post, he was not to: have any
retiring pension, either as treasurer, or for the situation
he now held, under any pretext whatsoever.
Mr. Smith took that opportunity of suggesting an
alteration which he' conceived imperatively necessary fur
the committee. The principle upon which the business of
'that enormous estate bad been eonducted..hitherto, :as.
regarded the payment of money, was by cheques on the
bank, which.were signed by the Treasurer alone. A sub:-
committee, of which he `vas appointed chairman, sat
some time with reference to alterations in the way of
keeping the accounts of the Treasurer's department, and
he dwelt upon that point, but there were : objections
raised and difficulties stated to be then in the way. He
felt satisfied he was right in the opinion he then-formed;
because since that time the Corporation have felt it
imperative that a change should be made in that direction,
and the Cheques of the 'treasurer upon: fhe Corporation
were now countersigned. He thought the present was
an opportunity.-vichen, the question could be dealt with,
and. he therefore took the liberty of suggesting to the
Finance Committee that they should take the subject into
their consideration.

are safering at present from causes -which. have for along
time past been at work, and it is only the great capacity
of a' new country like this which has hindered matters
from coming to a head long ago. With deposits 'con-
tinually accruing in the banks' hands, the withdrawal of
which, up to- now, has never been threatened by any

diversion•uf these moneys_ into other channels—ns for
instance,' a large issue of debentures co: railway purposes
—the commercial public have had great facilities extended
to them, which enabled them to 'Tufa for large quantities
of goods, and to hold them over for a considerable period.
without sacrificing them ; and consumption often overtook
stock; and the thing righted itself; assisted by so Many
fortuitous circumstances, which in ,a distant and new
market like this must always rise ; and thus though since
1854, a crisis was often Rear at hand, the great consuming
powers of the country, assisted by a new rush, a fresh
discovery of auriferous land; and for a long time by
smaller average imports than are at present the rule, has
constantly. Tallied; but now, althOugh perhaps at no
previoustim& a grisiatei• iwpat h'e been 'given to the up,

Country trade than by the late rush to Ararat, which has
drained a great many of the neighbouring gold-lields of
stock; the import trade was never so dull, the pressure lo
sell so great, or money accommodation so difficult to be
obtained ; in every instance where the banks have
advanced on goods, they are . forcing borrowers
to realise, and are pressing for repayment of part or the
whole ,of their advance, whilst their unwillingness to
discount forces importers greatly to curtail their trans-
actions with many parties to whom they have been in the
habit of selling. Jobbers being thus i:iconvenieneed by a
curtailment of the credit which they have hitherto en-
joyed, are forced to sacrifice such stock as they held ; it
is this for instance which has thro viri—large parcels of
"Belnionts into the market at 13d, ,although no importer
will take" less than 14d; and the same cause towards the
beginning of August broke 'down the oat market, is
parties who had bought in at 103 and 11s, when forced to
sell, sold them at auction at so much beneath •the value
of the day that importers took the alarm, and rushing the
market, sent the price of Scotch down to 7s 6d, from
which, although the imports towards the end of August

The Chairman said Mr. Smith was no doubt aware
that the cash was checked every night before any "one left
the place: 'He might point out to the committee that the
additional security would be more apparent than real in
the way Mr. Smith suggested. The great danger.was not
in the signing of the cheques, where any fraud would be
immediately found out, but, in making use of the money
which was brought into the office by parties who paid
money on bond. There was tlie danger, if danger there
were, as no doubt there must be some in every-large ,con-
cern of that kind. No man attempting to defraud won:d
defraud in the. say Mr. Smith supposed,- but there was a
danger,; unless
.they had an honest man, and took such
precautions as they could in read fo the large payments
made into the office. That danger; however, they could
not wholly avoid. The Finance 'Committee would no
doubt consider the suggestion of Mr. Smith.
Mr; ,Barber-: Because there is danger in ono form is
scarcely an argument ..for not putting a check upon
positive danger in another form,
The Chairman : But I scarcely think there is danger in

and the beginning of this mouth were far heavier than in
July, the,prioe has recovered 8i 6d, which shows

plainly enough that injudicious holders alone disturbed
the market. '

the way suggested.
Botc.lremarked..that he had freqamtly seep, cheques
brought in to the Mayor during the sitting or the Council,
and countersigned by hint quite as a matter of form,
relying upon the treasurer.
The Chairman said the Finance Committee would en-
sider the subject. _ _

Another cause, which is acting just now very prejh-
dicially, is the high price paid for many articles in
England, which are chiefly taken for this market, and
which have advanced in London in consequence of specu-
lative mission to here, where they are now heavily over-
stocked, 'and where the high price fur which they are
held has greatly checlied consumption. We refer more
especially to brandies, of which we annex a tabular
analysis, which shows that the consumption has fallen off
one-third since the late increase in value. Butter,
entirely owing to the same reason, has 'been a losing
import for many months; forced' tip by mad shipments to
Austialia to 'll2a in the Liverpool market,- it, has-been-
selling here for a long time at 12d and 13d. If shipments
from England • had been proportioned to our actual con-
sumption, the price there would never have advanced to
over 84s.

Me.Barber''obseried that it 'was very 4ratifyin^, to find

that the Finance• Committee were silo unanimously to
select.oae of their owa officers to till such as important
post as,that,of treasurer.
The appointment of Mr. Jefferson was then confirmed.
,';;The Finance Committee also .recommended that the
salary of. Mr. Jackson,' who had acted under the late
treasurer,' and was, very efficient during, his illness, be
'increased by £5O 'per annum. The 'rheommendsatien was'
ordered,: at the suggestion of Mr. Gladstone and Mr.
Mondell, to stand over until next week, in order to
•com Ply with. all formalities. •
A memorial was received from a number of licensed
emigrant runners, praying that the Dock Committee
would not hear, an ex parte statement of the. questions
affecting their position, but that
,the memorialists might
be heard either in person or by counsel.
Mr. Lockett said the Harbour Master's committee had
had a long interview with Captain Sehomberg, and came
to the conclusion that the licessing system was a proper
one to bd carried out. In. order, however, to briqg the
whole question fully before them, he suggested that the
memorial be referred to the committee, and a deputation
from the passenger brokers, along with one from the
licensed runners, invited to attend.
The suggestion was agreed to, the deputations to attend
the meeting of the Harbour Master!sCommittee at half-
past twelve o'elock next Wednesday.
A request from the Chamber of Commerce for six copier
of the .4 Report and Digest of Evidence on the subject of
Dock Fines,'' was ordered to be complied with.
A letter from Mr. William Meacock, complaining of
serious inconvenience caused by the communication be-
tween the Duke's Dock and Wapping, being sometimes
wholly cut off in consequence of both the Wapping
bridges being opened together, and reminding the com-
mittee that he had previously obtained a promise that
such inconvenience should not be caused, was referred
to the warehouse sub-committee. •
A letter from Messrs. Farnworth and Jardine, urging
that the full rent for which they had taken ground for
storing timber in the Huskisson dock should not be
charged, inasmuch as the ground had not yet been railed
off according to the agreement made, was referred to the
surveyor.

From the East, competition amongst importers being
smaller, shipments, as a rule, notwithstanding the
advanced prices paid for Sugars, Teas, and Coffee at all
eastern ports, are leaving a lair margin; but what just
now is of even greater importance, the markets for them
are healthy, and they can be sold to a sound class of
buyers whose paper is beyond dispute, whilst to move off.
British imports a good deal of risky paper has to be
taken. 'The Flour market, after touching for Ade-
laide, being unassisted by any demand for .up-country,
has gradually declined during the last two months, and
whilst the town millers are selling at' '22, Adelaide is
worth £23 to £24. Wheat is worth here but 93 to 9s 3d,.
and is lower than either in Sydney or Adelaide, in both
of whioh markets it is worth 10s.

In Soft Goods a fair, though far- from a satisfactory,
trade is being done ; the consumption of some class of
goods is certainly large, but whilst huge quantities are
being stocked, there being absolutely no sale at present
for them, for those which do sell the price obtained is far
from remunerative, which will be evident enough if we
state that some warehousemen are opening up choice
spring goo Is at 20 per cent. advance on original invoice.
In Boots and Shoes the market has again got worse, and
for men's goods it is hard to give a value, but we doubt
whether watertight's invoiced at lOs 6d will fetch over 8s
6d, or bluchers invoiced at 8s 6d over 63 6d at auction.
Women's and children's goods are still selling, but only
at an advance which barely covers charges.
Bar Iron has greatly declined, and being an article
which cannot well be taken into stock, it has been sold
during the last month at £9 7s 6d at auction. Sheet and
Plate Iron are not selling at all, and they must be held
over whilst a demand sets in. Galvanised Iron stilt pays,
but is also on the wane; and for Tiles the demand has
much decreased. Some kinds of Steel are wanted, but
Zinc and Sheet Lead are about the only metals' that have
been selling freely. We quote Zinc £46, and Sheet
Lead £3B.
The Timber market is in a very healthy condition, and
we feel inclined to believe in a fair trade being done
throughout the whole of the summer ; during the week a
cargo of Baltic, lately arrived, has been sold at 6id for
9 x 3, and another of 1,100 tons to arrive has changed
hands at the same figure.
For Dried Fruits the trade has declined, and currants,
although imports have latterly been less, are not selling,
and it is difficult to place them even at 81d. Elemes,
owing to the very bad quality of those to hand this year,
have lost the vogue which they formerly had, and are
being replaced by Cape raisins, which are now much
preferred.
The Money market, as alluded to above, has been very
stringent, and although no advanced rates of interest are
charged, the difficulty of obtaining money has acted very
prejudicially on all kinds of local stocks, and for most
sorts there are at present no buyers and many sellers.
The rate of exchange on London remains at 2 per cent
premium for 60 days' sight, to which the banks have
latterly altered the usance, to the great dissatisfaction of
almost everyone; as net as much as usual is being'
drawn for this mail, one or two of the banks are drawing
for their customers at a shade under.
Ale and Porter : Bulk ale is in very fair demand, and
even second-rate brands are selling better, but it is
difficult to give any exact quotations for them, as the
quantity in the market is so large that the same brand
may be bought £2 and £3 a hogshead cheaper from one
holder than another, every one being anxious to push it
off. Bass's is firm at £9 ss. Stout of good brand is scarce,
and Taylor and Walker's readily fetches .66 10:. For
bottlel beers the market remains firm, and some of the
less known brands are rather creeping up in value.
Butter : It is hard to say what is to become of the
butter market. We understand that there is no difficulty
in buying butter at 11 1, every firkin being allowed to be
sampled. If such is the state of the market at the open-
ing of the season, with none of the new butter to hand,
the prospects are certainly not encouraging.
Candles: Although Belmonts cannot be bought from
any importer under 141,31nd althougii large lots were at
the beginning of the week placed at this figure, thousands
of boxes have been sold at 13d by parties who were forced
to realise.
Cheese : The consumption seems to be getting smaller,
as it is difficult to place even prime parcels. We do not
quote the price over 12d, and consider it about at
unsatisfactory an import as well can be imagined.
Dry Goods : There is rather an improved feeling, and
imports are working off much better than was expected,
but the advance obtained even for the most suitable
goods in few instanemis !over 20 per cent. Heavy 8 4

NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1857.

MRIWING OF THE RATEPAYERS OF WALLASEY.

Last night. a public meeting of the ratepayers of the
parish of Wallasey, was held at seven o'clock, -in the New
Wesleyan Schools, Brighton-street, Seacombe :—" To take
into consideration, and, if thraight advisable, to authorise
a proposed application to Parliament in the ensuing
session, to empower the Local Board of Health to contrast
gas and water-works, and to supply gas and water for
public and domestic purposes within the district ; to vest
in the Local Board two pieces of waste land left unaliotted
by the Ineosure Commissioners, under the Liscard and
Wallasey Inclosure Acts, and which are proposed to be
appropriated to the purp-ses of gas and water-works ; to
vest in the Local Board more extended powers with

regard to the - purchasing. • leasing, working, and
maintaining of all or any of the existing or future ferries
within the district ; and for other purposes not provided

for by the Public Health Act, 1848."
The meeting was numerously attended. The chair was
taken by Mr. N. Caine, Chairman of the Local Board .of
Health. Among the gentlemen present were—Messrs.
Pooley, Hughes, Hill, W. R. Coulborn, Holmes. Wilson,
Singlehurst, J. Wright, Cox, Fisher, E. J. Kent, R.
Coulborn, Dr. Henry, Dr. Parr, &c , &e.
The Climax or, on taking the chair, said his duties on
that occa ion were very simple, being merely to explain
the objects and the purposes for whic we have met.. It
was a meeting convened by him, as the Chairman of the
Wallasey Local Board of Health; but Mr.Pooley,who had
taken more interest in the subject than he had, would
explain the nature of the clauses of the bill ; but
there was one thing he would state, and that was
that all the c'auses in the bill were permissive an -not
compulsory. There was a clause for taking'possession of
two pieces of waste land—the one in Poulton, and the
other near Mr. Littledale's farm The next clause was
one of great importance—it related to the ferries. That
was a question which he hoped would be treated in all
good hunione, and he hopect, they would not tread too.
heavy. There was no doubt bat that the people had much
to complain ot— (hear, hear) —for the boats were a dis•
grace to the nineteenth century (hear, hear) they were
a perfect disgrace to the river Mersey, and some alteration
wile, necessary. They were all well for private enterprise,
:but the people had a right to expect something
batter. (Hear, hear) The present boats would not
hold more than 600, and when they were fall,
of people they want swing, swing, and were dangerous to
life. What boats they should have should be able to
accommodate 2 000, and give every assistance and comfort
to all. In fact a ferry should bo the sates as a bridge; and
it was not only practicable and possible to carry that out,
and could be done, if it was not for the cupidity and s'upi-
dity of the people of Cheshire. The next .clause was for,
going to Parliament "for other powers," but what those
other powers were he did not know, and.would call on
Mr. Hassell, the clerk, who had drawn the bill, to explain

what it meant.
Ma. Hasszeo, Law-Clerk to the Wallasey Commis-
blotters, read the, parliamentary notice ot" 'the bill which
that body are about to !remote th7s session, and which
includes the objects for which the present meeting was
called to topsider. As to the clause for " various other
purposes,'! Mr Hassell explained that it was for the
purpose of making certain corrections, and supplying
omissions in the local ac', and that it would involve the
parishioners in no expense. .
.Mr. POOLLY rose to explain the objects :which the com-
missioners proposed to secure by the present bill, and
prefaced his observationaby stating; that he would be no
party to seekng to attain publie objects by an act of
parliament. unless the.public voice- went withf them in the
matter. He had no more interest in the present bill than
any other man present, and he supported it because ho felt
it his duty, as their representative, to promote
every measure that tended to the welfare of the parish
And, first, as to the supply of water for the parish, the
Commissioners had called upon an engineer, who, from his
knowledge of the circumstances of the parish they con-
sidered best qualified to- give an opinion on the subject,
he alluded to Mr. Robert itawlinson. They went over with
him the "different sources of wa-er supply in the parish ;
they tested its volume and its quality, and they found what
ha was sure they would be pleased to hear, that, with regard
to volume, there was not the slightest doubt that, with a
very linle.exeense in sinking, g. and steam power,
there was an ample water supply under their feet for many
generations to come (Hear, hear.) Ile•took the present
population of the parish at 10,000 ; but even if it were
double that number, or 20 000. their present supply of
water would give every one of them twenty gsllona of
water per day. (Hear, hear.) 'Then, as to its
quality, they found, testing it. by the ; usual
methods, that it was vastly superior to the general
run of spring water all - over the count y. It varied in
degrees of hardness from six degress to twent4r•three
degrees, but they found that all along the margin of the
north of the Great Float the average
_degree of hardness
was something like eight degrees It was remarkably
pure, sofa and clear, and was, in fact, batter than the
spring water: of which the people of Liverpool were unfor
tunately deprived ; because, while it, was equally clear,
pure, and sparkling, it had the advantage of a greater
degree of softness. • The site they intended to occupy for
the pumping station was the land called the "Hook',"
to which they had an indefeasible claim. From
that point they would carry a " raising" main along
the -occupation road through the • village of Poulton
to the other plot of land near Mill•lane, to
which they had also a clear. title ; .> there they would
erect a tower, and place on its top a tank, which would
command every house in the district. They would have
a small engine, of twenty-horse power, and would supply
to every inhabitant in the pariah, even though the popu-
lation should be doubled, 20 gallons of water per d em
(Hear, hear.) They estimates that all the eorks connected
with the water supply would, including everything, amount
to the sum of £15,000. As to the desirability of such
a supply of water, there could be no question, and he
woula, therefore, not dwell upon that point. Then, as to
the Gas Works ; they intended to plate them on the same
footing as the- Water Works, and for this reason—that it
would bring them to the margin of the Pool, or, rather, he
should say, to the quay of the docks, and so cheapen
the carriage of their coal and waste. (Hear, hear.)
They estimated that the expense of those works would be
£B,OOO, bat in his opinion it would not exceed .€6 000;
and he prophesied that from the gas and water there would
arise a revenue width would materially reduce the amount
of their local rating. In conclusion, Mr Pooley declared
that his opinion in regard to the ferries was uachanged,
and expressed a hope that the meeting would be unani-
mous in
,sanctioning the bill which the commissioners were
anxious to pro Mote. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN then stated that it was not the will of
the commissioners to offer any opinion of their own, but
their object was to get the opinions of the ratepayers, and
he would therefore call on any gentleman, rich,or poor, to
favour the meeting with his views.
Dr. HENRY then came forward. He said he had little to
state more than had been said by Mr Poclay, but what
he did say Would be on the supply of pure water and
light in the parish. What he should say would be
entering on sanitary improvements, but he thought that it
was altogether unnecessary that he should say a word to
show the advantage, both for pare water and gas, Ile then
quoted from a work published by Dr. Shore on the
Southern District of London, shewing the advantages to
to be derived from it. He thought it was surprising that the
people had waited so long for 'ight, water. drains, roads,
and a postal arrangement, observing that no piece in
England was so bad off as this district was far all those
necessaries.
Mr WRIGHT wished to know whether he understood
Mr. Pooley correctly when ho estimated the cost of the
water works at £15,000, and the gas works at £B.OOO,
making in all .£23 000.
Mr. POOLEY : Certainly.
Mr. Ware fir : And that would go to relieve certain other
rates that might arise.
In answer to Mr. FISHER, Mr POOL'SY said it was his
firm opinion that if they did get the powers to take the
ferries, and they did take them, there would be no profits,
but that they would be a loss. He believed that the
Messrs. Colbourn did work them as eeonotnieally as
possible for a private firm ; but even if there should be a
tate to pay for that loss, the public would get a full quid
pro quo, for they would gat a good communication, and
i would make that side of the water so desirable.
Mr. WRTGIIT : But there would be the profits from the
Gas and Water Works, which would be applied to liquidate
any loss from the fee ries. He certainly, when ho came to
the meeting. intended to vote against the propositions, but,
from what he had heard, he had changed his opinion.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Fistiset expressed a wish that the meeting should
be famished with some statistics, in order that they might
have some data to work on.
Mr. POOLEY replied that it would be impossible to give
anything beyond an approximate sum.
Mr. FISHER then expressed it as his opinion that instead
of taking the three subjects all at one time. that they
should be divided into three, and then express an opinion
seriatim on each item. He then argued that the present
system of taxation was very improper and unjust, as the
ratepayers were taxed for the benefit of the land owner.
The rates had been increased from is in the pound, from
their old Commissioners to 2f. or le. 9d under the new
Board, and what it would be to Meet the defieiencies of
the ferries, he did not know.
Mr. Courisosx said, did not intend to take any pert in
the meeting, but he did object to one man frittering away
their time, by making speech-after speech, on any question
that was asked, but as he was on his feet he
would make a few observations. In the
first place it was not his intention to oppose anything that