The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-02 00:00:00

CHIEF SECRETARYSHIP OF IRELAND.

Colancl SIBTIIOIIPE gave notice that when the Hon. Member
for Kilkenny brought on his motion as to the Lord Licutenantcy of
Ireland (which Mr. Hume had fixed for Friday next) he would move
a reduction in the Secretary for !Maud's salary —(Laughter.)
_ _

The other Orders having been disposed of; the House adjourned

at a QUARTER-PACT ONE.

SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS.

The fifth half-yearly meeting of the Directors and Pro-
prietors of the Southampton Dock Company took place
on Wednesday. at the George and Vulture Tavern,
George-yard, Lombard-street. At half-past twelve
JOSEPH LIGGINS, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Direc-
tors, took the Chair, and having read the advertisement
calling the meectiag, and the minutes of the proceedings of
the last meeting having been read by Mr. LUARD,
The meeting was subsequently addressed by Mr. Hall,
of Liverpool, Mr. Heathfield, Mr. Richards, Mr. Luard,
and other gentlemen.
The Chairman t hen read the Report as follows:
REPORT.

The Directors have to announce to the Proprietors the
following changes in their body since the last .meeting,
namely, the election of Henry Luard and Patrick Cruik-
shank, Esqrs , of this city ; and of James Bent, William
Hill, and Charles Frederick Smith, Esqrs., of Manches-
ter, to the office of Directors, in lieu of Mr. Henry
Buchan, Mr. Samuel Chaplin, Major Head, Mr. Richard
Ileathfield, and Mr John Hinxman, who have resigned ;
and in conformity with the Act of Incorporation they have
furthcr to state that it devolves upon this Half-yearly
Meeting to elect three Directors, in lieu of Mr. Bushby
and Mr. Luard, who go out in conformity with the Act of
Incorporation, but who are eligible, end offer themselves
for re-election, and Mr. Le Fcuvre, who has resigned.

Although the Directors cannot yet report any material
progress in the works at Southampton, they have in con-
formity with the recommendation of the Proprietors, ex-
pressed at their last half-yearly meeting, takrn the first
step, by laying the foundation stone of the western dock,
on the 12th of October last ; they have also commenced
the building of the wall for the enclosure of the dock land
on its western boundary, and have likewise taken the first
steps towards the construction of a coffer dam, prepara-
tory to making the dock entrance.
Considerations highly important to the interests of the
Company have, however, arisen, which, independently of
the incomplete state of the subscription of the capital, and
of the winter season, have rendered the Directors less
anxious to press forward the works. The steam engine
and the paddle wheel have, more particular ly during the
last few months, arrested the attention of the whole of the
civilized and commercial world, and claimed the best at•
tention of the Company. The Directors have, therefore,
deemed it indispensably necessary in any plan for laying
out the dock ground, to combine accommodation fur
steam vessels, more extensively than previously contem-
plated. This has led to inquiries not yet completed. but
which cannot fail to result in satisfactory evidence of the
peculiar adaptation of the situation of the Company's pos-
session for all the purposes required by that Class of
shipping,
To make this suil,4ject plain it may be proper to draw the
attention of the -roprietors to the distinction between
docks open at all times to the flux and rcflux
of the tide, and cr.osn docks. Docks open to the action
of the tide, if of sufficient depth for the floatage of ship-
ping, pc3sess adrantages which, more especially with re-
ference to steam navigation, cannot be too highly appre-
ciated, and for the following reasons
The comparative cheapness of construction, neither
locks nor gates being required.
2. The width of the entrance, to which the considera-
tion of shelter is the only limitation.
3. The facility of ingress and egress at all times.
4. The accommodation which such docks would afford
to any branch of trade not seeking the advantages peculiar
to close docks.

3. The accommodation to be afforded by the open or
tidal dock, considered as an entrance basin to the close
docks.

Such is the relative position of the Company's land,
that any part of the site may be laid out in tidal ducks,
with a depth at the entrance, low water, spring tides, vary-
from twelve to twent, feet.
The advantages of this situation must, therefore, be
obvious; but it may not be extensively known, that these
meant of Accommodation for trade and passage are un-
equalled in any British port ; the tidal or entrance basins
throughout the kingdom being dry or nearly so, at low
water.