Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-31 00:00:00

DOCK COMMITTEE.

The weekly meeting of this committee was held at oils'
o'clock yesterday. Mr. Charles Turner presided, and the
other members present were—Messrs. Brocklebank, Palmer;
Robinson, llalhear, Rounthwaite, Barber, Monde'',
Uubbaci, Chilton, Clint, and liohne,
An application made by Mr. Betheil to rent a piece
of land in B:rkenhead, fir the erection of creosote works,
and which was referred by the Town C,)uncil's Coro•
mittee to the Dick C immittee, was referred by the latter
to the Worki Sub-committee.

In the Marine Department, the sub-committee recent'
mended, that an advertisement be issued for tenders for $
line of electric telegraph between Liverpool and noir
head, including communication with the semaphore
stations, which it would be necessary to retain.
Tho recommendation was confirmed.

The Master Porters' sub-committee, recommended that
the salary of Mr. H. D. Clarke. superintendent of the
weighing materials, be raised from £l3) to £l5O.
Mr. Irotme objected, that whatever might be the
merits of the officer, the situation was not wor h paying
more than £l3O a year for.
Mr. ROBINSON said, Mr. Clarke hal been a candidate
for the office of deck-master, and was rather prevented bf
the committee, wh3 did not kn3w where they could get
person equally qualified for his present office. He had to
find his own residence.

Mr. MONDELL thought it would be well to have the
matter further considered by the committee.
The subjsct was finally refereed back to the cool'
mittee.

A letter was read from Messrs. M'lver, stating that thel
found the accommodation at the engine-works of the
Huskisson Dock inadequate to the wants of their trade
without the erec'ion of another furnace, which they ac'
c ,rdingly req'iested the Deck Committee to allow them to
put up at their own expense.
The letter was referred to the Works Committee and
the surveyor. . _

The folr.owing memorial was read from owners, shipperer
and consignees of timber cargoes :

TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LIVERPOOL DOCK COMMITTER.

Liverpool, 29th July, 1857.
Sir,—We, the undersigned owners, ship-masters, and
consignees of timber cargoes, beg leave to call your particular
attention to the unfortunate position in which we find our
selves at the present time, from want of accommodation for
discharging the cargoes of the vessels recently arrived frail
British America. Just now there are upwards of twenty
vessels waiting in the riser for permission to dock. Many of
them have lost the last spring tides, and some of them are
certain of losing the coming tides, unless you can find some
remedy for them. The timber trade is in a very peculiar
position ; for, unlike other trades, which have the whole
range of docks open to them, it requires special adapta-
tions, which are only supplied by the Brunswick and Rut"
kisson docks. And it is in ono of them—the former--in
the very height of the import season, that the obstruction
exists of upwards of 21,000 tons of empty laying-up ships,
which, if removed, would give immense relief to the trade.
The 'Aka of this letter is, therefore, to request that you
will endeavour to make the required robm by removing
the empty ships to other docks, where there is sufficient
space for them to lay up without occupying quay berths.
Until lately Liverpool was always a favourite port with
shipowners engaged in the timber trade, because of the
despatch they ured to receive in discharging. But now, owing
to the difficulty which we are sustaining, and which has pre•
vailed more or less for the last two or three years, but never
in so marked a degree as at present, the whole of that
advantage is lost, and the preference is given to the Bristol
Channel and other places where an arriving ship is enabled to
get rid of her cargo without delay : a most important point at
this season of the year, when they are desirous of making a
second voyage, and have only a limited time to do it
We are, sir, your obedient servant.,
Fern'e Brothers & Co. Jolla Forzakai•ley & Co.
S. R Graves. James Lord.
David Cannon, Sons & Co. Duncan Ewing & Co.
James Bland & Co, Massey & Mollyneux.
Robert Curwen. Mercer Brothers & Co.

Charles Henry Wright. Wilfred Carter & Co.
Gibbs, Bright &yo. Hugh Pierco & Co.

James Johnson & Co.
James Alexander.

James M'Afurdo & Co.
Thomas Rimoaer & Sou.

Pro. Ritchie, Mackay & Co., Wm. Anthony & Robinson.
John Ritchie, Farnworth & Jardine.
R. J. Jones.

Mr. HALHEAD thought some eff.irt (tight to be mailer
and even some little expense incurred by the Dock Corn.'
mittee, to meat the request of the memorial. The timber
trade had been increasing for several years back, while the
accommodation was diminishing, lie thought the Bruns-
wick Dock would be suitable for the purpose.
The CHAIRMAN said that the ships could be removed very
easily from one dock to another if they bad an opening
from the Brunswick to the Queen's dock ; but the difilonlty-
would be in taking the ships into the river. In case there
was any loss or damage to any of the vessels in going
round, the committee would be liable, unless they had the
consent of their owners.

Mr. lIALREAD said they could insure against such
dancer for a very trifling sum.
Mr. MONDELL did not know where the vessels were to
go to. There were 360,000 tons of shipping in the docks
at present, which he believ.'.d were only calculated for
350,000 tons.

Ur. HALHEAD recommended that some gentlemen of the
committee not connected with the trade should go down
and make themselves acquainted with the facts.
The CHAIRMAN had no doubt some of the members of
the Harbour Master's Committee would undertake the
duty.

the subj,:et was then referred to the Harbour Master's
Committee.

The following letter was read from Messrs, Edward
Higgins and G.). : -

TO CHARLES TURNER, ESQ., CHAIRMAN OF THE LIVERPOOL

DOCK COMMITTEE.

Liverpool, July 30, 1857.
Sir,—On the 7th instant we had a note from your secretary,
debiting us with the expense for damage done to your crane on
the south side of George's Dock Basin, caused by an attempt
to lift, a• boiler considerably under the weight the crane is
guaranteed to carry, to which we replied, remonstrating against
the charge in question. We have since found it necessary to
apply for the use of another crane situated on the north side of
Canning Dock, for the purpose of lifting another boiler, also
considerably under the weight the crane is guaranteed to carry.
A similar misfortune, we are sorry to say, has occurred with
regard to this second boiler, resulting in very serious loss and
damage, from the inability of the crane to perform the work
contracted for. The chain of the crane broke while the boiler
was hanging in mid-air, causing great damage to and nearly
sinking the flat into which it fell, and injuring the boiler to an
extent which has taken nearly £lOO to repair.
Before using these cranes we find it is customary to sign a
document agreeing to be responsible for damage done, but we
looked upon this as a formal proceeding, and more to guard
against attempts to try the cranes more than they are able to
bear than with any serious intention of claiming upon us for
damage done through no fault of ours—we paying for the
accommodation which the canes are supposed to give. We
therefore beg to suggest the propriety of your reimbursing us
for the loss and expense caused by the inefficiency of your
cranes, on special ground—that having paid for their use, and
the work that we required to be done being much within their
guaranteed capability, we ought not to be the sufferers from the
consequences of their failure.
We will thank you to lay this letter before your committee,
and are, sir, your most obedient servants,
EDWARD HIGGINS & CO.

The CHAIRMAN sail it must be referred to the surveyor,
to inquire into the circumstances. The weight might be
very much under the weight guaranteed, and yet the crane
might be easily broken if jarked. He did cot say it was
so, but that it might be so.
Tne letter was referred to the surveyor accordingly.
In consequence of the 6th of August, the day for the
annual election to fill the place of members retiring by
rotation, being the day of the Town Council meeting, the
Chairman requested that some member of the committee
might be appointed to preside in his absence.
The committee accordingly appointed Mr. Rounthwaite
to preside.
This closed the general business,

SLANDER BY A Coy Nuns l—Lady Harrington, in a case
tried at Derby assizes, has been found guilty of slandering
a clergyman. Damages, £730.
PARIS, Wednesday Night.—The Emperor arrived here
at six o'clock this evening. He drove along the Boule-
vards in an open carriage without an escort. He left
immediataly for St. Cloud.
NEW MAIL CONTRACTS TO viz Cars —The admiralty
will be ready to treat on the 28th August for monthly con-
veyance, each way, by steam vessels, of the mails between
England and the Cape of Good Hope, the old contract
having been given up.
THE NEXT MAIL FROM INDIA.—The writer of the Times
city article says that, judging from last year, the day for
the receipt of the telegraph will be Wednesday week, the
12th of August. It is not improbable, however, that sup-
posing anything of great importance to have occurred
shortly after the despatch of the Indian mail, the authori-
ties in India will have made an effort to transmit the
intelligence by means of the steamer from Australia en
route to Suez, so that, in the event of a steamer being des-
patched from Bombay to Aden, news to the Bth or 9th of
July, or a week later than that just brought, might be
received here via Marseilles, about the sth August.