The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-09 00:00:00

PRICE 4D. STAMPED, SD.

HARBOURS OF REFUGE.

A deputation from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, West
Hartlepool, and Filey, had an interview with Lord
Palmerston, at his lordship's residence in Picca-
dilly, yesterday, with a view of pressing upon
her Majesty's Government the urgent necessity
of commencing the construction of harbours of re-
fuge (as suggested by a select cothmittee of the
House of Commons appointed to inquire into the
best sites) by the formation of harbours oa the
north-east coast, the scene of so much loss of life
and property. The deputation consisted of Mr. J.
Cowen, of the Tyne Commission, Mr. R. W. Jack-
son, of West Hartlepool, and 1)r. Cortes, of Filey,
accompanied by the following gentlemen—Lord
Hotham, M.P., Lord Stanley, M.P., Major-General
Sir Frederick Smith, M.P., Rear-Admiral the Hon.
A. Buncombe, M.P., the Hon. H. G. Liddell, M.P.,
Lord Adolphus V. Tempest, ALP., the lion. W. C.
Fitzwilliam, M.P., Sir M. W. Ridley, M.P., Mr.
Titus Salt., M.P., Mr. G. S. Beecroft, M.P., Mr. J.
Somes, M.P., Mr. J. Clay, M.P., Mr. E. Cayley,
M.P., Mr. T. Bazley, M.P., Sir J. Duke, M.P., Mr.
Ilenrh Paull, M.P.. Mr. G. Ridley, M.P., the Ri7lit
Hon. T. E. Headlam, M.P., Mr. J. Farrer, M.P.,
Mr. IL Pease, M.P., Mr. R. E. I). Shafto, M.P.,
Mr. R. Ingham, M.P., Mr. H. Tailor, M.P., Mr. J.
P. B. Westhead, M.P. There were also in attend-
ance—Messrs. Hodgson and Stevenson, of the River
Tyne Commissioners • l‘ir. J. Williamson, Mayor
of South ShieMs ; Air. J. Clayton, Clerk to the
Tyne Improvement Commissioners ; and Mr. J.
Guthrie, Secretary.
Sir F. SMITH, in introducing the deputation, said
the great national work of providing harbours of
refuge had already occupied the attention of a Select
Committee of the House of Commons and a Royal
Commission appointed to inquire into the best sites,
of both of which he had been a member. They did
not appear before his lordship with a view of press-
ing the subject upon her Majesty's Government
with regard to any particular local interest, but to
deal with it as of national importance. The select
committee, in their report upon the subject to the
House of Commons, expressed an opinion that, con-
sidering what constituted the chief source of the
commercial greatness and of the political security
of the country, and considering the enormous
loss of both life and property to which the
nation was at present exposed from the dan-
gerous and unprotected state of their coasts, and
the consequent defective character of their navi-
gation, there was no object for which public money
could be more usefully or more profitably employed,
having regard to the present and future welfare of
the nation.

Mr. COWEN, of the Tyne Improvement Commis-
sion, then addressed his lordship, and noticed the
emphatic expression of the Royal Commissioners
with regard to the pressing necessity and practi•
cability of the formation of the proposed harbours
on the north-east coast.

Mr. W. JACKSON, of Hartlepool, stated that
within the 100 miles of coast in question one-fourth
of the 800 lives known to be wrecked on the whole
coast of the country were lost, besides the lives of
which ne record was kept.
Dr. CORTIS, of Filey, dwelt upon the important
character of the coal trade which passed along the
north-east coast, and the terrible loss of property
and lives which was constantly occurring through
the want of h:rbours accessible in storms,

Lord PALMERSTON having asked several ques-
tions of different members of the deputation, said
the whole subject was one of very great import-
ance, and he would lay what had been addressed to
him before her Majesty's Government. He was
indebted to the deputation for the information they
had given him, and he could assure them that the
matter would have their serious consideration.
The deputation then withdrew.