The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-27 00:00:00

PETITION OF WATERMEN PLYING AT THE SURREY

SIDE OF LONDON-BRIDGE.
Mr. WIRE presented a petition from the licensed
watermen of London-bridge-stairs (Surrey side), for
permission to land steam-boat passengers by a plat-
form and barge on the south-east stairs of the bridge.
After a long discussion, it was resolved that it be
referred to the Thames Navigation Committee to in-
quire into and report whether it will be for the public
convenience to afford accommodation for the embark-
ing and disembarking of passengers by steam-boats
and other vessels and boats at the Surrey end of the
east and west sides of London-bridge; and if the
committee are of opinion that it will be a public con-
venience, that they prepare and lay before the Court
a plan or model showing how the same may be pro-
vided.

SANITARY ARRANGEMENTS IN BILLINGSGATE-MARKET.
The Court agreed unanimously to the report
brought up on the 29th of July by Mr. Rowley, the
chairman of the Markets Committee, recommending
the adoption of a plan of sanitary arrangements for
draining, ventilating, and supplying water for the
uses of Billingsgate-market and for flushing the
drains, at an expense not exceeding 1,8401.
Adjourned.

REPORT ON THE RAMSGATE
AND MARGATE HARBOURS.
The Select Committee appointed to investigate the
revenue, condition, and expenditure of Ramsgate and
Margate Harbours, who were empowered to report
their observations, together with the minutes of evi-
dence taken before them to the House, have examined
witnesses on the matters to them -referred, and have
agreed to the following repOrt
Previously to giving their report on the evidence,
and on the information laid before them, your Com-
mittee deem it desirable, for a clear perception of the
to ot.t. .otne particulars in reference to the har-
bour of Rarnsgate. It appears this harbour was com-
menced about a century ago, and for maintaining and
improving it a power was given to certain trustees by
the 32d and 55th George 111., to levy dues on all
vessels, British and foreign, passing up or down
channel, whether east or west of the Goodwin Sands.
These dues are usually paid by British vessels on
being cleared from their respective ports, and on
foreign vessels when they anchor in the Downs, or
enter the precincts of any British port. Under the
fore-mentioned Acts the trustees have the right of
levying these dues on all vessels passing up or down
channel.
Prom the evidence given before the Foreign Trade
Committee in 1822, it appears that the sums ex•
pended on Rarnsgate Harbour up to that period
amounted to 1,500,000/. ; and it also appears in evi-
dence taken before your Committee that since that
period a further sum of 457,966/. has been expended;
making in the whole nearly two millions. The pre-
sent engineer states in his evidence that such a har-
bour might now be made on the same site for 700,0001.
Tne following extracts are taken from the report of
the Foreign Trade Committee in 1822:
" Your Committee next directed their inquiry to
Ramsgate Harbour, and the dues collected for support
of it, which are of an amount sufficient to press
heavily upon the shipping and commerce of the coun-
try, and which have been a cause of serious complaint
on the part of British and foreign shipowners, nor, in
the opinion of your Committee, without justice. The
charge is made on all ships above a certain tonnage
that may pass, whether to the east or west side of
Goodwin Sand, although many by their size and
draught of water are precluded from entering the
harbour • and a practice has prevailed in regard to
foreign ;hips, of exacting a payment upon ships ca•
pable of entering, at a rate amounting to double that
on British ships of the same description, and upon
those which are unable to enter, about 400 per cent.
more, both prospectively and retrospectively. The
management of Ramsgate Harbour has by several
Acts of Parliament (continued and enlarged by the
55th Geo. 111., c. 74) been placed under trustees,
from whom a committee of direction is chosen, con-
sisting of the chairman and deputy-chairman for the
time being, with the addition of the deputy-master of
the Trinity House ; these are elected by ballot. At
a general meeting of the trustees, annually held, 3001.
are taken annually from the funds and divided
amongst the members of the committee, by whom the
business is done. The trustees hold an annual meet-
ing at Ramsgate, where a building for that purpose
has been erected.
" Your Committee are of opinion that such of the
repairs as are considered to be absolutely necessary,
ought for the accommodation of the public, to be com-
pleted with every possible dispatch, and that persons
should immediately be contracted with by public
tender to execute the works, to be performed within a
given time, to be done under the general superin-
tendence of the engineer. That the trustees should
raise, in the manner authorised by the Act, the neces-
sary sums for that purpose, by which they would be
enabled at once to discontinue the rates on ships
above 300 tons, and to equalise the duties on foreign
ships with those on British ships, and reduce the rates
upon all vessels bound to or from foreign ports."*
It is the opinion of your Committee that the causes
of complaint enumerated in the above extracts, al-
though somewhat diminished in their extent, continue
to exist at the present day.
It is not reasonable to suppose that the Legislature
intended, when the Act of 55th Geo. HI. was passed,
to give to the trustees the power of levying for ever
the rates already mentioned; nor do the words of the
Act appear to bear this construction. It ought also to
be noticed that since that period steam navigation
has become general, the coasting trade as well as the
general trade of the country has increased consider-
ably, the exportation of coals to foreign countries has
likewise been augmented, and a greater amount of
toll, therefore, is consequently collected than for-
merly, and its further increase may naturally be ex-
pected.
Taking these circumstances into account, and hav-
ing examined many respectable and competent wit-
nesses, in accordance with the directions of the
House; considering also that since 1822 the sum of
457,9661. has been expended in maintaining and im-
proving Ramsgate Harbour (an outlay impossible to
have been anticipated from the evidence given in that
year by Mr. (now Sir J.) Rennie, and by Sir W.
Curtis—the former the engineer, the latter the chair-
man Of the trustees), your Committee on Ramsgate
and Margate Harbours, taking the whole evidence
in consideration, have agreed to the following re•
port:—
" The harbours of Ramsgate and Margate being
wholly distinct as to their respective objects and con-
structions, as also in the means adapted for the purpose
of defraying the expenses of the said 0W4111000113