The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-18 00:00:00

TRADE OF HULL.

We are glad to find that the attention of all parties
in this town is now steadily directed to the consider-
ation of the best means of effecting an early reduction
of those heavy charges which are beginning to en-
danger the trade of the port of Hull. To the Dock
Company the greatest praise is due for taking the ini-
tiative in a measure of which the importance to the
people of Hull cannot be exaggerated. And now
that we begin to examine the question in all its bear-
ings, we confess the surprise we.; feel that a state of
things so long calling for changl:las been suffered to
remain in the position in which we find it. Why, for
example, should the freemen 'of Hull be exempt from
the water-bailiff's dues, while the merchant or ship-
owner from other places settling in Hull, and infusing
new life and spirit into the trade, is compelled to pay
these heavy and vexatious dues? Why should the im-
porter of corn, or timber, or pitch, tow, hemp, and
other articles be taxed heavily, when linseed and
other produce cf more modern date are exempt from
the impost of water-bailiff's dues ? Why should
freemen be exempt from anchorage, to the detriment
of their neighbours who are not free of Hull ? And
why, in these days of free trade, should British
vessels pay nothing for hostage to which foreign ships
are liable ? Why should foreign vessels be fined for
coming to the port of Hull, when the policy of our
corporation should be to encourage the arrival of
alien ships ? Why should the Dock Company, who
have lately expended upwards of half a million ster-
ling for the benefit of the port, in making docks and
building
alone called upon to make
the trade of the port, to the
x
the other corporations, which
esacrificesc l
usive warehouses,
benefit
preserve
of
have done nothing to increase the facilities of trade ?
Will not the trade cf Hull decline as the trade of
Bristol has declined if no reduction of our port
charges be effected ? And, in such case, will not the
and Trinity House suffer
fact that the high rates
of
acting prejudicially as
in revenuespproorptocr
ht o
proportion
charges
g t 1
er s Corporationalts iiitunllot
aret
h e
regards its trade with Northern Europe and America?
increaserce it? Are not Goole,
And if such be the case, should we not be up and do-
ingve r tyo—possessing, as we do,
e
Grimsby, Gainsborought Sunderland, Hartlepool,
Leith, Yarmouth, Lowestoft,
facility largely
ea
roguerlyctoomtne
Harwich, and other
ports, connected as they now are with the manufac-
turing districts by means of railroads, making every
exertion to participate in the trade carried on for cen-
turies at Hull ? Has not Leith shipped 15,000 bales
of cotton this year to Northern Europe ? Did not
30,000 tons of foreign shipping pass our port last
year for Goole, having on board 160,000 quarters of
grain ? Are not our charges higher than those of
any other port? And are we to be told that the cor-
porations of the borough and Trinity House cannot
lower their rates without Acts of Parliament, and yet
hear of no steps being taken to obtain such Acts ? If
they be necessary, let the requisite notices be given at
once, that the next session of Parliament may furnish
us with the necessary powers for making all ror
reductions. We recommend the Mayor to consult
with the Town Clerk upon the desirableness of call-
ing an early meeting of the Town Council, for the
purpose of authorising the giving of notices in time
for legislation in the next session of Parliament. We
wish everything to be done legally, and in order, al-
though we are not without an impression that the
Town Clerk could suggest a mode of practically re-
ducing the dues during the period between this and
the passing of the Act in question. There is such a
thing as taking a toll with one hand, and returning it
with the other; and the Town Clerk is as competent
as any man in England to advise the Council how
this process may be carried on, till an Act of Parlia-
ment can be obtained enabling the Corporation to re-
duce or abolish the duties now exacted. The Corpo-
ration of the Trinity House will not, we feel confi-
dent, throw any obstacles in the way of reductions so
essential to the prosperity of the port. The
Brethren are trustees for the poor, and in any
change care will be taken to protect their just in-
terests.—Hull Advertiser.

----
" DALIEITH Run.—This annual market for the
•
sale of feeding and wintering cattle took place yesterday,
when the number brought forward was
fully an average of
former years, though in point of quality much inferior, a
great many being of a sort of which no person could define
i
the breed. Such lots as were forward n condition, either
short-horns, crosses, or Aberdeenshire, found purchasers,
though at a great reduction on the prices obtained at the
same market last year, varying according to the quality from
15 to 20 per cent. The best lot of short-horns that appeared
in the market are said to have brought nearly 12/. each, and
one or two other lots are said to have commanded 10/,
although the greater proportion of the two year olds of that
breed brought on a descending scale from 81. to Li.,
and s tirks of the same description from 4/. to SI. , whilst
theinferior portions of all ages were selling at from
al. , down •to 30a., and at nightfall a great number of the latter
description of stock were left over unsold. It may be ob-
salved that some of the best lots shown were labouring un-
der murrain, and consequently their original value was
greatly deteriorated. The show of horses was considerable,
and although good draught horses brought prices correspond-
ainbgle ; iwtthhefusarmmeerrenmi markets, inferior
reinafeprpiolircaabnlie to
olst
those
ee
used N-ery ufonrsatlhee-
saddlei—Scotsman of Wednesday.