Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-21 00:00:00

Tug MEIBET CONsERVANCT

" 6, Parliament-street, Aug. 15, 1857:
"Dear appears settled that this toll istob 3 ..vitharawa • and
Mr. Wyatt called on us to-day to a-k us to consent ta a waiver of the'
to.ders of the house; and to ob:ain the trustees' assistance to the pass*
ing of a second bill with all potsible despatch. We then Informed
him that we sill wanted amendments made in the bill, to improve
the constitution of the new trust, Ste.; and he thereupon expressed a
fear that it might causoithe loss of the bill, but r. quested us t* send
him the alterations with which we would be content. We told him
that after all that had passed you did not wish to be the cause of the
rejection of the bill, but that you were not satisfied with it as it now
stood, especially as many of your alterations were rejected, at his in-
stance, upon questions of privilege, or so as not to threw obstacles in
the w.,y of its passing the Co:an:tons in consequence of the multitude
of the amendments. We have therefore ventured to exercise a certain
am= tof diacretion, which we felt we might u.,e, and have written
to tell him that if lie will make the enclosed amendments the trustees
--ill not throw any impediment:in the way of the feta e rapid pm ogres'
of the new bill. You will °beam: that we have not 'misted upon the
attention of the revising barrister or the quorum clauses, -s we
felt it was expedient not to eooeavour to exact too much. We have
no doubt that we shall be pressed on all sides to give uksessie, if net
all, of our requirements, with the threat of withdtawing the bill.un-
less we assent; and however amyl/ling we may fest to trouble you or
your chairman to come to town again, we do feel that it is vary neces-
sary that some one having authority to instruct us how to sea in thi
matter should be here, to whom we may refer in cases of doubt or
ditlicul•y.
" We beg to send you adraft petition, which when sealed, should be,
sane to ns on Monday, and If we could by any means reeeirentbefore
Ida o'clock on that day we shou!d be glad as se shout then be in a
po,ition, should circa again°, require it, to have it lodged on that
evening; and we trn t that some gentlemen armed with full authority
will be here at the latest on Tu.sday morning. To what local mem-
ber may we re er to support the dock trustees' views, iu case it shoo d
be necessary to oppose any mo lin Which the promoters may make in
the house in regard to the bill? The impression is that Parliament
will be ptorogu don Saturday next, but it depends upon the progress
:made wi:h the Divorce Bill, whether it may not be deferred for a few
days.—We remain, dear sir, yours very truly.
"J. DOBINGTON, ELLicomszs, Sir Co.
"J. North, Esq , New Brighton, Birkenhead.
The following resolution was then passed :
"Reseved—That the proposed Mersey Conservancy Bill (No. 2) he
opposed by this comm ttee an ess the following alterations be agreed
to by the pro note: s, namely-
-Ist. As regards iti ndel's plans, the words if they think fit' to
be restored, or the bill to be opposed—which upon a division of the
committee was carried by ten for to flys against.
" 2nd. Voting by proxy' to be struck oat—carried by twelve for
to three against.
" 3r I. The ' river clause' to ba struck out—carried by ten for to
five against.
"At a special melting of the dock committee, held this 19th des of
Augast, 1857 —present, Messrs. Fra cis A. Clint, Thomas Robinson,
Taomas D. Anderson, J. P.slmsr Palmer, J. K. Rounthwaite William
Rothbone j on., James Smith, Joseph Hubback, Joseph Moodel, and
John Lockett Mr. Robinson elected chairman
"In the :absence of ths chairman and deputy-chairman, it was
unanimously reso ved—That Thomas Robinson, Esq, be electei to
preside as chairman of this meeting, in compliance with the 33:d
sect'on of the 'Liverpool Dock ketelSsl.'
" The follow ng letters tram the dock sol citor and the town-clerk
having been re .d, and the subject therein referred to very fully con-
sidered by this commiqee, both with reference to the intere tt of
the dock estate and the genera' commerce o the port, it was moved
by Mr. Hubback, seconde 1 by Mr. Smith, and unanimously resolved
—That the resolutions of this committee of Monday last be and flies,
are heteby sescinded. And that the petition against the Mersey
Conservancy Bill, No. 2, be not presented.

RATING OF TENEMENTS.
Lord Stanley moved for returns from the severe
parishes in the townships in the counties of Lancashire,
Suffolk, Hampshire, and Gloucestershire, respectively, of
the number of tenements assessed to the rate for the
relief of the poor made next before the rate now collect.
ing; specifying the amount of such rate, the number of THE FINANCES OF GREECE.
Mr. Spooner inquired of the Government whether any
assessments rated under £4 annual value, at £4, under report had been received from the commissioners. ap-
£s, at £5 and urder £6, at £6 and under 'B, at £8 and pointed by the protecting powers to inquire into the
under CO, at £lO and under 'l2, at £l2 and under xl5, finances of Greece, and if there was any prospect that
at £l5 and under £2O, at £2oand above respectively. of tfheiti• better administration would relieve the consolidated
the number of tenements assessed at each of these several the Goref :knylopaonrg"uoanraonf thetecd
byan Garleactha trirgtetsaitnb interest
,r
which
values of which the occupiers have been excused (so far now paid.
as the same can be ascertained). And, of the number Lord Palmerston replied that a• commission was ape
and amount of compositions with owners of small tens- leaxoaietntlndeltthuetthheresetreontetetthinegdpnoawnueress,usome time ago, to
f Greece, and to
meats. . make a report to the Governments whenever they, brought
Agreed to. es• their inquiries to a conclusion, but in the meantime they
DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES BILL. were to suggest from time to time such measures of im-
provement as might occur to them. He believed that
On the order for considering this bill as amended, the Greek Government had given facilities for the
The Attorney-General moved to leave out clause 18, for inquiries of the commissioners, but he feared he could not
the purpose of substituting the following viz., "Applies,. hold out hope that the result of their inquiries would lead
tion for restitution of conjugal rights, or for judicial to any early fulfilment of the engagement of the Greek
Government to pay the sinking fund of the loan.
separation on any one of the grounds aforesaid, may be ' INDIAN L !ANS.
trade by either husband or wife, by petition to the court, Mr. Disraeli inquired what was the precise nature of
or to any judge of assize at the assizes held for the county the securities for the loans negotiated in India by the
in which the husband and wife reside or last resided Indian Government.
Mr. V. Smith stated that loans raised in India were in-
together, or to the court of quarter sessions of the peace variably raised on the secnrity of revenues of that country.
held for the county or borough in which the husband and He wished to take that opportunity of correcting a mis—
wife are or were last resident, and which judge of assize understanding which appeared to have arisen in reference
and courts of quarter sessions respectively, are hereby to his reply to a question put by the right hon. gentle-
authorised and required to hear and determine such mreal.autinen Ttnhuursudnlayenlsaastti.nu floer yunsdseersstosoudstatinheedqbuyesttiohne
petition according to the rules and regulations which shall insurrection in India to refer only to the compensation to
be made under the authority of this act, and the court or be given to the widows and orphans of military and civil
judge to which such petition is addressed, on being servants who had lost their lives in the mutiny, and had
satisfied of the truth of the allegations therein contained, replied to it under that impression.
r Disraeli said his inquiry was as to the compensa-
and that there is no legal ground why the same should not tionl to. be' given to British subjects in India for loss of
be granted, may decree such judicial separation accord- property, and he begged now to repeat the question.
ingly, and where the application is by the wife, may make Mr. V. Smith said tee question embraced a very wide
any order for alimony which shall be deemed just; pro- field, but, without further consideration and additional
vided always, that any judge of assize to whom such information, it was impossib!e for him to reply.
MILITIA BILL. •
petition shall be presented, may refer the same to any of On the mode n for the third reading of the Militia Bill,
her Majesty's counsel or serjeant-at-law named in the com- Colonel North again drew attention to the injustice
mission of assize or nisi prius, and such
.counsel or serjeant inflicted on officers in the army by the warrant of 1854,
shall, for the purpose of deciding upon the matters of such and quoted the case of a meritorious officer who had sat'-
petition, have all the powers that any such judge would feted by its operation.
Sir G. Smith urged the necessity for sending sappers
have had by virtue of this act or otherwise." and miners to Delhi.
The motion was agreed to, and the clause was added to Sir De • Lacy' Evans corcurred 'in the opinion, and
the bill. alluded to the distribution of the order of valor, and
-
The Attorney-General next moved to insert after clause expressed a hope that instructions would be given to Sir
11, as above, the following .--n For the purpose of hearing Colic Campbell to distribute the order to those who merited
and deciding all applications under the authority of this it in India upon the field of battle. Referring to military
discipline, the gallant general offered a number of sugges-
act, the judge of assize, or person nominated by him as
aforesaid, and also the courts of quarter sessions for any tioes to tare government,
Sir W. Wil iams also recommended that sappers and
county, district, or borough, shall respectively be entitled miners should be sent to Delhi. And referring to the
to avail themselves of the services of all officers, and use number of strong places now in the hands of the rebels,
and exercise all powers and authorities which the court of he thought 1,000 of these corps should be sent out as soon
assize and the courts ot quarter sessions respectively may as possible.
Sir R. Verney hoped the government would act with
employ, use, and exercise, for the determination of causes great vigour in the measures necessary to restore tran-
and other matters now usually heard and decided by them quility in India.
respectively, and the said judge of assize or other person, In reply to a question,
and covets of quarter session respectively, shall also for I Sir John Ramsden said, as soon as it could be done
the purpose, have and ,be entitled to exercise all the consistently with the public interest, the house would be
iy
powers and authorities hereby given to the court for the Thosee dw
o uwllid
a to
fr ecgoi
umres ne t s
be i te
inn 'bac, sd i
ei
dn t ewhich
twoe r
ee mi bn o dg
e. •
hearing and deciding applications made to it ; and also the greatest state of efficiency, and were nearest to the full
powers hereby given to the court to make provision touch, compliment.
ieg the custody, maintenance, and education of children, After some remarks from Admiral Walcott,
and every order made by any judge of assize, or other Lord Palmerston stated that the recruiting had
person, or any court of quarter sessions, under authority of gone on with the greaeest success, and there was no
menbt that the numbers enlisting would be increased at the
this act, may, on the application of the person obtaining
close of the harvest. He deteuded the system adopted
the same be entered as an order of the court, and when by the government in the transport of troops
so entered shall have the same force and effect, and be to India, and dwelt upon the inexealiency ,of
enforced in the same
-manner, as if such orderhad been sending Out the line 'of battle ships which wont! be
originally made by the court.. The court shall from time available for the protection of the country, in case of attack.
to time fix and regulate the fees which shall be payable With rega-d to the peace establishment, ha admitted that
upon all proceedings under any application to a judge of it had been reduced lower than might have been advisable ;
bat nations were not gifted with foresight, anii. the govern-
.assize or court of quarter sessions or magistrates under
this act; and such fees shall be received in money, for tmheenst
unt,i a:el et . the
T hreductionsr
ii s e deference to
!npiube n c
ec owp
hi ne in to n et: ne
their own benefit, by the persons to whom or for whose exigencies of war again required a large army should
use the same shall be directed to be paici. be employed---an lit was the duty of the government to
The motion Was agreed to, and the clause was added to reiee the force voted by parliament; but if that was not •
the bill. " found sufficient for the suppressiva of the mutiny in
Several amendments were made in the bill on the motion India, he did not think members would grudge an earlier
attendance than usual in parliament. There were, it a.-
of the Attorney-General.
pearecl, greet doubts as to the good faith of Persia, and it
Clause 19 in the original bill was struck out. had been reported that reinforcements had le,en sent into
The Attorney-General brought up a clause in lieu of . Herat, bat this had been denied by the ambassador at
clause 19, relating to the separate property and earnings Paris.- Ha would only add that the government were fully
of a married woman, whose husband' was guilty of alive to the importance of Eastern events, and would take
adultery. rigorous measures to restore tranquility in India.
Wr W. Heathcote thought theeprovision should be made Mr. Disraeli said it was net to be expected that the
to prevent collusion between the husband and wife in Government could immedietely send forty thousand men
getting a judicial separation, and the wire's earnings pro- t ) India, but a smaller ferce might
wouldhaebehen sehntii,hrought
reeled, and their afterwards coming together again, and Ectie,yept at.
na and
terrifying their ro map: appearance
'He ' approvedte
the property under the decree being held against the proposed embelliweet of the Militia, though he condemned
subsequent creditors of the husband. tab practice of looking upon the Militia as a means
Mr. Henley asked the Attorney-General if he thought of recruiting the lit ?. Proceeding then to refer to
the clause gave sufficient protection to the earnings of a the si ate at affairs in India, the right hon. gentleman
wife as against the husband or his creditors. C xpressed an opinion that if the troops now
there could only_ hold out ti'l November they,
The AttorneyeGeneral said in case of seizure by theln No-
husband hieeself, the 'magistrates' order, milting the wife
a feennesore, would be a sufficient protection; but there vm:rbter rlereasonly ntilt"cwiPoautled be expedient that an
advance should thoughtbe made up the endue, in order
was a technical objection against giving the wife the do impress the natives with the conviction that our
tight of proceeding against her. husband by action. In forces were irresistible. He wished to learn from
case of attack by a creditor or easignee of the husband, the Government whether they were to expect that
the . army in India wculd be strrngthened by
the wife could take .an action for the redoveey of her
troops from the Cape, or whether the 'fear of another
property, if under £5O, in the. county court, and, above Kates war prevented that step being taken. With
that sum, In the superior courts. rep: i to Cie ill-advised reduction of the army at the
Mr. Macaulay asked how the wife was to be protected restoration of peace,'he contended that memb:rs were but
by the criminal law; it was Provided that if any creditor doing their day in course whieh they had taken, and
of the husband stated in contravention of the law, the that the government were open to eeesare fon not 'having
foreseen the changes in India, and resisted the demands of
wife might sue as a femme sole. He wished, therefore, in the house.
reference to the technical obstacle, to know how tho wife Mr. V. Smith denied that the government could have
would get her remedy against the husband ? e foreseen what had occurred, and added that no cemplaint
The Attorney-General said that at present the right of was mace of the course which members had taken i 4 press-
separate property in the wife was a matter of contract irg for a reduction of the war establishment. In reply
to the hon. gentleman, he stated that instructions had
before marriage, or of the husband's consent afterwards i
beentheCapeseet
forto Sirser
vi Georgece
Te IndiaG re y toas inturtild as
emsarnayr
e d. troopsH front
e d
t.
but this was a case in which the legislature for the first
time by positive enactment gave her the same right of not doubt that these instructions would be carried out to —_—.,„
property, as if she were a femme, sole, and for that reason the fullest extent.
he thought there Would be a remedy by the criminal law. Mr. Henley was not aware that there was any pressure Oar Palle cotAemporary, the Presses in aramvietnritrhoaft the.a
placed upon the Government to obtain a reduction of the late General nson, rates, wi
He considered it the most important clause, and was open
• . war establishment.
to any suggestion for its ithprovement. .theny
B fter a few words from Mr. Spooner,sot,
hli
lat3:lt,
,h
(the b eefaanct being,
en
gr
,e pt
breast! iihtgea 'i
After some discussion, , The bill was read a third time and passed. sionugotlf
meat by accepting the Chiltern Hundreds) ar,.id was at
left
ftth ep
artn'il ei
ai :
The Attorneys General moved' the clause as follows :_.„. The °tate business was disposed or, and the lioustt the same time appAated to a high command, th the East
"Provided also, that it. the hushud in violation of any adjoMect at harlot tan. ' ' Indies,".

"London, 18 h August, 1857.
"My dear S;r,—l write you o ily In am slideation of .Mr. Turner's
telegraph as to the general tneeting of dock. committee to-m r ow, and
for the t.urpose of preventing any misapprehension as to the effect of
their vote, by explaluing more clearly perhaps than we coul I by
telegraph, its consegue aces, for no middle course will be attainable
und•r that vste. It must decide whether the peti ion shall be
presented or not, and with the fall knowledge that if presented the
b.ll will be withdrawn. At least, such certainly is the present
poniti in of things here as we understand them.
" I enclose a memorandum of the m titers which will come before
the dock committee to-morrAv ; but 't duff rs fro,u that presentel to
them yesterday only from being fair copied, nd by the ..ddit.on of
the carom ttee's own requirement (N). 1) yesterday. Tel graph the
retail as quickly as possible to No. 6, Peril ment•stree., Wastmin:ter
—Yours very truly,
"D. Mason, Esq • " Jo El N NORTH.
" P.S. Since the above was written the letter copied below
hat been receivea by Messrs. Dorington and Co. from the town-
clerk:—

" MERSEY CONSERVANCY NO. 2

"25, Parliament-street, 'Westminster,
18th August, 18

"Dear S'rs,—l am much enneerned to hear that it is the intention
of the dock committee to present a petition ag dust this bitl. for it
appears to be clear', understood in the house, from what passed last
n ght, that if a petition be presented it will be fatal to the bill. My
instructions are to use my best exertions to get it passed in the
present ,ession, as it is cons•dered that the terms of transfer of the
corporation property having be -n settled and adjusted, we skoutd not
gain, If it can b 3 avoided, have to come before [ornament on the
subject.
"I hove no deputation from the corporation in town, but Mr.
Robertson Gladstone and Mr. Jeffrey, who happen to be here on
private business, and who are both members of the council and of
the B rkenhead docks committee of that body, entirely concur w.th
me in th s view, and desire me to accord their strong protest against
the course oroposed to e ptlrsued by the Dock co nmittee. of which
body Mr. Gladstone is also a member.—Yours very truly,
•• WILLIAM SMUT rLEwoRt a.
" Messrs. J. Dorington Elicombes, and Co.
- - - -

After the above resolutions had been pa .sed , it was moved by Mr.
Ra hbone, seconded by Mr. Palmer, a id assente t to by the com•
mittee—That a minute be place i on the books of the committee 10
state that the grounds on which the doe t committee rescinded their
reso:uilon on onday were that they were assured that it was im-
possible now that any alte•ations could be made in the bill, and that
by allowing tne bill to pass they would no:; prejudice the chance
of gettieg the objectiona'ile clauses withd,awn, bat, on the contrary,
have t` e ass•atance of the Bo erd of Trade and others therein."
Mr. Matson also read the follawiny memorandum of Mr. North,
solicitor :

" CONSERVANCY RILL, NO. 2.

" Reqnirerrenta by the dock committee at their specie meeting of
the 17th August:—
•' 1. That the words if they think AV be restored to the 51st end
52nd claases.
2. Clauses allowing voting by proxy to be struzk out. (Parts 4
and sof ci!tim 13 and part 3of scr.tion 22.)
"3. River elluse to be struck out. (Part 4of secant 56.)
" Additlolal alterations pro;)oied by Sir. Eilicombe's letter of the
15th Augn.t.—
" 4 lectife and nominee members to be coaltied by the payment
of rated and residence within ten miles of the Toa, Hall or two miles
of the port. Numt.er of mem ers to be 27 in lieu of 21.
"5. Electors to be qualified by residence within ten miles of the
Town Hrii and payment of RlO in. rats 4.
"6. The word c'aargz.s' to be restored in ,ection 50."

A letter from Mr. James Hookey was referred to the
surveyor to repo. t on.
A letter was real from Messrs. NPwall, and Co ,
offering to rent the Birkenhead warehouse B. 6.
Mr. Robinson said that it was before the Warehouse
Committee, but as the insurance would be effected,
Messrs. Newall, and Co., proposing to erect a steam-
engine on the premises, they thought it should go before
the Town Council.
It was referred to the committee to report on first.
A letter was read from the members of the Timber
Trade, suggesting the propriety of railing off a portion of
the ground at the Huskisson Dock as a bonded yard.
Referred to the Warehouse Committee and surveyor.
A letter was read from Messrs. Diamond and Claytop,
of London, offering to pay a rent of £5O a year for the
privilege of putting up an export commercial dictionary
on the walls of the docks.
The Chairman observed that they had invariably
declined such offers.
Mr. Mandel said that they could not give an exclusive
privilege to any party.
The offer was declined.
A letter was read from Mr. Owen Carrean, agent for
the Isle of Man steamers, suggesting the g
convenience it
would be to the public if the new landing'stage were
promptly opened.
Mr. J. Hartley observed that the stage was not yet
taken out of the contractors' hands.
Mr. J. Holme asked when it would.
Mr. J. Hartley replied that on Wednesday next Sir
William Cubitt would come down and survey it.
The letter was referred to the committee.