The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-08 00:00:00

LIGHT DUTIES ON SHIPPING.
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, JAN. 5.—A public meeting of
shipowners and others interested in the trade of this port
was held this day at noon, for the purpose of petitioning
Parliament to abolish the light duties on shipping. The
Mayor presided.

Mr. Alderman Lamp, president of the Chamber of
Commerce, moved the first resolution, which set forth
the injustice and oppressiveness of the light duties, and
recommended the adoption of the suggestion of the last
Parliamentary Committee on this subject; namely, that
the expense of maintaining the necessary lights be de-
frayed out of the ordinary revenues of the state. In
conclusion, Alderman Lamb proposed a petition to the
House of Commons, in accordance with these views.
Mr. LOWREY seconded the proposition, and, as a ship-
owner, enumerated various facts to show the unfair ope-
ration of this tax, which, he contended, was in reality
for the protection of the revenue, and ought, therefore,
to be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund.
Mr. HUTT, M.P., supported the [notion at some
length. He believed that the shipowners had reason and
justice on their side in the present movement, and that
no Government could refuse to listen to the it demands
without culpable neglect. He thought the time was come
when it behoved all to use every attainable means for
the relief of the shipping interest. It appeared to him
that the position of the British shipowner was at this
moment one of a very critical character; and he did
think, that whether this country should hereafter retain
that large share of the commercial navigation of the
globe which it had long enjoyed, or whether it should
surrender that pre-eminence to other nations, was a pro-
blem which the wisdom and prudence of the next few
years would probably decide forever. The British ship-
owner was now engaged in an anxious struggle with his
foreign competitors, and under the many disadvantages
which now existed it really seemed as if the prestige
which we had long possessed was passing from our
hands. He was a member of Mr. Lyall's committee,
and it was satisfactorily established before that com-
mittee, that the carrying trade of the globe was no
longer in the exclusive possession of the British ship-
owner, but, on the contrary, that at the various ports
of South America, the Dane, the Swede, and even the
Prussian was often preferred to the British shipowner,
and obtained more readily their charter parties, and
even a higher freight. Not only had the British ship-
owner difficulties to contend with abroad, but at home
he was subjected to difficulties of no ordinary character.
He had difficulties in what he (Mr. Hutt) conceived to
be the unfair competition of railways, lie called it un-
fair, because it did not arise out of natural circum-
stances, but parliamentary enactments. But this was
' not all. The principles of free trade had been applied
to the manufacturer, the landowner, and the West In-
dian colonist, and their application t,, shipping was now
inevitable. What were they to do, then ? He could
not suppose that they would put their hands in their
pockets and sink quietly. On the other hand, he trusted
that they would demand of the Legislature the removal
of every possible obstacle. At the head of those ob-
stacles were the light duties, and he was glad to think
that efforts were at length being made to remove those
duties from the shoulders of the shipowner, and to
place them—where they ought to be—upon the state.—
(Applause.)

Mr. G. STRAKER said a few words in support of the
proposition.
Mr. W. RrcrtmoND maintained that the removal of
the light duties would benefit the consumer, not the
shipowner; and moved, as an amendment, that the con-
sideration of the subject be deferred for twelve months.
The amendment was not seconded ; and after some
remarks by Mr. W. H. BROMETT, the original motion
was carried, with only one dissentient.
Thanks were voted to Mr. Hume, M.P., for his pro-
tracted labours in behalf of the British shipowner; and
after making arrangements for the presentation f the
petition, the meeting- broke up.

ABOLITIOA of the LIGHT DUES.
A public meeting of ship-owners, and other persons
interested in this question, was yesterday held at the
London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. The chair was
taken at one o'clock by Joseph Hume, Esq., M.P.
The meeting was well attended, and among those
present we observed Sir James Duke, M.P., Mr. Moffatt,
M.P., Mr. Forster, M.P., Admiral Codrington, Captain
Washington, F. Philips, Esq., &c.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the
meeting, said, if the consideration of the present question
was one which only affected the interests of the city of
London, he would not have consented to occupy the
position which he then held, as chairman of so respectable
and influential a meeting as that which he had the honour
to preside over. It was, however, a question not of local
importance, but one which affected vitally the interests
of the whole country.—(Cheers.) The Hon Gentleman
then went into a brief review of the efforts which had
been made upon this subject. It was in the year 1821
a petition was presented to the House of Commons, pray-
ing for an inquiry into the subject. The prayer of that
petition he supported, and subsequently obtained a Com-
mittee to inquire into the subject of the lighthouses of
the country. The report of that Committee brought to
light a considerable amount of grievance, but still that
Committee did no go far enough, although it was a move
in a right direction. The report of that Committee
showed that one half of the lighthouses in the kingdom
were the property of private individuals, held upon leases
from the Crown, and the Committee recommended that
upon these leases running out they should not be again
renewed by the Crown. Notwithstanding this recom-
mendation, and the promise of Mr. Huskisson, made to
him in his place in the House of Commons, that the
leases should not be renewed, nine of these leases, which
had expired, were renewed by the then Chancellor of the
Exchequer (Mr. Goulburn). This act was not
only a most gross breach of faith on the part
of the Government, but an act of oppression
upon the merchants, which entailed upon them
the loss of the enormous sum of 480,0001. In the
year 1834 he supported a Bill empowering the corpora-
tion of the Trinity House to purchase the remainder of
the private leases of the lighthouses of the country.
Eleven of these lighthouses had accordingly been pur-
chased at an expense of 1,182,0001. It appeared, from
a return made to the House of Commons, that the
amount of light dues paid by British and foreign vessels
in the foreign trade was 48,7001, whereas the amount
of light dues paid by British vessels employed in the
coasting trade amounted to the large sum of 308,0001.
This was most unfair to that portion of British vessels
employed in the coasting trade, which was
always considered as the nursery of seamen
for the British navy ; and, unless some of
these oppressive charges were removed the coasting
trade would be ruined, for it would not be able to com-
pete with the recently-increasing number of the rail-
ways of the country. The Hoeourable Member went
on to say that it was the duty of the Government to
support the light-houses. France and the Unite]
States paid all the expenses themselves, and why
should not this country do the same ?—(Loud cheers.)
He did not wish to cast any reflection upon the Elder
brothers of the corporation of the Trinity House, and, in
conclusion, called upon those present to unite in forming
an agitation which should awaken the Government to a
sense of its duty. Nothing but agitation had ever been
effectual in removing abuses, and nothing but a strong
and vigorous opposition would be successful in removing
t eA
"Thati prr. e sEa
oenonfnat
ssegsThroEii
ope
Ili grievance.—(Cheers.)
A moved the first resolution :
Shipowners
for the Abolition of the Light formed, to be called the ' Asso-
ciation
e (Cheers.)
be
Dues,' for the purpose of adopting such measures us
might be deemed requisite to further the interests of the
association, and to
,?btain the abolition of the unjust
and oppressive dues."
Mr. PHILIPS, who represented a large shipping interest
in the United States, seconded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
Mr. MITCHELL, who was deputed by the merchants
of Leith to attend the meeting on their behalf, moved
the second resolution, appointing a committee to carry
out the objects of the Association.
Mr. WILLIAMS, from Ireland, seconded the resolution.
He represented the Dublin eiteam-packet Company, and
as an instance of theunfair mode of levying the dues,
he would state that the company which he represented
paid between 5,000/. and 6,0001. per year under that head.
Between Dublin and Liverpool there were but four lights,
and the sum paid by that one company was more than
sufficient to pay the expense of the whole of the lights.
Mr. BURRELL, of Plymouth, supported the resolution.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
On the motion of Mr. MOFPATT, a memorial to the
Board of Trade, praying relief from these dues, was
then agreed upon.
A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman, and
the meeting broke up.

Upper House, on the 18th
nuTal:eerAolfarmgeumnisboerfsLo:rthzdeOwne, the Ministerial leader
in the House of Lords, will give a banquet to a large
in,tant.

Tun INFANT SAPPHO. -- In noticing a concert
recently given in Manchester, the Manchester Examiner
of Saturday says----" That delightful little creature, the
Infant Sappho, to whom song seems to be a natural
utterance, led off the performances with a couple of her
favourite airs, contrasted so as to exhibit her powers in
the pathetic and mirthful. Her efforts in both pieces
received, and deserved the enthusiastic applause which
they elicited from the very large
and respectable attdi-
tory. But it was in Sir Henry Bishop's " Should he
upbraid," which the tiny songster has caught up from
having heard it sung by one of our celebrated vocalists,
that the Sappho exhibited most markedly her quickness,
her fine appreciation, and wonderful execution. She has
only given this classical song three or four times in
public, and yet, so well did she render its music and
meaning, that a loud encore was the result."
A I3RIDEWELL TO BE LET.—Yesterday, the ma-
gistrates, at the Town-hall, Preston, had the satisfaction
of leaving the bench without transacting any business.
There was not a case for investigation of any descrip-
tion, neither was there a prieoaer in Bridewell during
any part of the preceding evening. This is indeed a rare
occurrence.—Manchester Guardian of Wednesday.
MATH OF JOSEPH JOHN GURNEY.—This gentle-
man, who has been so long before the world in the
ekaracter of a philanthropist died at Norwich on
Monday last. During the very sharp weather Mr.
Gurney attended the meeting of the District Visiting
Society for the
purpose of providing for the great
distress the poor of Norwich were experiencing, and
on returning horn* his pony slipped and tell with him on
passing over Orford-hill. Mr. Gurney was thrown over
the pony's head on to the ground. He was quickly picked
up, and in whoa time, considering that no serious injury
had been sustained, he rode home on the same pony.
We regret to add that ether symptoms followed, and a
special telegraphic dispatch was sent to London at 6
o'clock on Monday morning last, and before ten a
physician from London was in attendance ; Mr. Gurney,
however, we regret to add, died the same night, about
aged fifty-nine. The city is generally in
all the shops in the market-place and those
in most
g:
other parts of the city, are closed, so uni-
vniteeennullorn'cyilnouigekd;,
highly
the deceased
respected.