The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-05 00:00:00

REGULATION OF STEAM-BOATS
ON THE RIVER.

A Committee of Aldermen was held on Saturday at
Guildhall, for the purpose of hearing any objections
parties interested in the steam navigation of the River
Thames might have to the draft rules suggested to the
Court of Mayor and Aldermen for the regulation of
steam-vessels, pursuant to the provisions of the Water•
men's Act, 7th and Bth George IV., cap. 75.
The Lord Mayor, Aldermen Sir John Pirie, Thomas
Wood, Gibbs, Farebrother, and John Johnson, formed
the Committee, and the Chairman and Members of the
Navigation Committee and several of the proprietors of
the steam-boat companies, and a few of the body of the
Watermen's Company, were present. Solicitors also
attended on the part of some of the steam-boat com-
panies. Mr. Cooper, the Secretary to the Watermen's
Company, appeared for that company.
The LORD MAYOR stated that he had received a letter
from Sir John Hall objecting to one of the rules, which
went to interdict any steam-vessel from being placed
alongside any ship whilst towing her within certain
boundaries. Sir John urged the indispensable neces-
sity of using steam tugs under certain circumstances
alongside of vessels, and added that the prohibition
might vitiate the policies of insurance, which demanded
that every protection should be yielded.
Mr. Newbon, the Solicitor to the Watermen's Steam
Company, said the company he represented, although
the smallest company on the river, was seriously inte-
rested in the regulations. He was anxious to know
whether the rules emanated from the Court of Aldermen
or from the Watermen's Company ?
The LORD MAYOR said the Court of Alderman had
seen the necessity of making arrangements for the better
regulation of steam-vessels, and had deputed the City
Solicitor, in conjunction with the Watermen's Company,
to frame a body of rules for the approval of the Court,
and before the Court would agree to these rules, they
were desirous to hear any objections which might be
made.

Mr. Newbon then suggested that the Committee
should postpone the consideration of the rules, that the
various steam companies might have opportunities of
producing evidence on matters of such great importance
to them.

The LORD MAYOR said the Committee considered they
were justified in making rules adapted to the altered
condition of the river, and fur the public safety, which
was seriously endangered by the present steam-boat
practices of over-crowding and rapid speed.
Mr. Matthews (solicitor to the Star Steam-vessel
Company), objected to the propo•ition that the Water -
men's Company should have the power of compelling the
licensing of steam-vessels, and of inflicting penalties in
case of refusal. He saw nothing in the Watermen's
Act to justify the exercise of any authority of the kind,
that Company's power being limited in its operation to
watermen themselves.

The Loan MAYOR said the Committee contended that
all those who are to come under the operation of the
rules must be watermen, and no others had a right to act.
Mr. Matthews submitted that time ought to be
afforded to produce evidence on so important a qubject.
His objection was to the authority of the Watermen's
Company.
The LORD MAYOR asked whether Mr. Matthews
denied the right of the Court of Aldermen to make regu-
lations for the improvement of the navigation of the
river?

Mr. Matthews replied, that he did not deny the
right of the Court of Aldermen, but he disputed the
right to delegate such authority to the Watermen's Com-
pany.

The LORD MAYOR said the rules should be carried
out if some practical objections were not shown. It was
quite clear that somebody had the power, whether that
power existed in the Court of Aldermen or in the Water-
men's Company, and it was as evident that the time had
arrived for exercising it.
.The TOWN CLERK read several regulations, the prin-
cipal of which (that which related to the number of
persOns to he allowed to be taken on board, and that for
the regulation of the speed of the vessels), ruled that no
steam-vessel, whose voyage was within the limits, should
he licensed to-carry more thin one passenger for every
four square feet of the deck; and that the speed should
not exceed six miles an hour with the tide, nor four
miles the hour against the tile. By the second of these
regulation, the dangers hitherto so imminent in the
pool would be averted, and by the first the nuisance and
inconvenience, as well as the danger to the passengers,
would be completely obviated.
_ _ _

In explanation of the rule on the subject of carrying
the passengers,
Mr. Corh er (the secretary to the Watermen's Com-
piny) stated (and particularised some) that the steam-
vessels which were now notorious for carrying 1,000 or
1.100 p.issengers would, according to the calculation
made, be pei mitted to carry no more than about 635.

It was stated that in order to prevent a greater num-
ber from going on board than would be admissible by
the regulation, it would be absolutely necessary to have
the whole body of police in constant attendance at the
places of embarkation.

The LORD MAYOR said that the proprietors of steam•
boats were under no necessity of troubling their heads
upon that subject, as the necessary preparations should
be mad,.

It was objected that the steam-vessels might, with
perfect safety, be allowed to carry at the rate of foui
passengers per ton, and that the speed might he per-
mitted to be at the rate of eight miles an hour with the
tide, and six miles against the tide.
The Committee stated that the objections should be
taken into consideration with all possible expedition, so
that the public may rely on an early decision. There
can be no doubt as to the result.
It is proper to state that the readiest disposition was
expressed upon the part of the several steam-boat com-
panies:to agree with the Committee in any regulations for
the security of the public.

REGULATIONS RESPECTING EN-
GINEERS IN HER MAJESTY'S STEAM-VES-
SELS, PAY, &c.
(From a Correspondent of the Shipping Gazette.)
The following important regulations respecting the quali-
fications of engineers in the Royal Navy have been issued, by
order of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, which
prove how anxious Government is to have an efficient corps
of engineers for our steam-vessels

First Engineers.—No person will be considered qualified to
hold the warrant of a first-class engineer, who is not able to
keep accounts, and to make notes in the log of every particu-
lar of the work of engines and boilers. He must be tho-
roughly acquainted with the principles on which the ma-
chine works in all its parts, and capable of setting right any
defects which may arise in the engine or boilers, and also to
adjust the length of the various rods and motions, slides,
valves, and eccentrics. He must have been at sea as engi-
neer, and be capable of working, starting, and stopping the
engines, &c.. and able to make rough sketches, correct in
proportions, of any part of the machinery, and willing to take
charge of and teach the apprentices.
Second engineers must not be inferior in education to the
first engineers, and but little behind in mechanical acquire-
ments, with the exception of the nice points of adjustment of
slides, parallels, motions, &c.
Third engineers should be equal in education to the second
and first engineers, and will be selected either from the
senior class of apprentices, or appointed direct from a factory.
They must be accustomed to engine work, and acquainted
with the principles of the engine, with the names of all its
parts, their uses, and effect in producing motion.
APPOINTMENT.—Engineers to be appointed, after exami-
nation,by warrant from the Lords Commissioners of the
or by commanders in chief on foreign stations,
Admiralty,
on vacancies occasioned by death, &c., in the same manner
as otheriwarrant officers of the navy are now appointed.
No person to be deemed eligible for an appointment as
engineer of any class until he shall have passed such exami-
nation as the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty may
from time to time think proper to require for such class,
before the chief engineer and inspector of steam machinery,
or such other officers as they may appoint.
RANK.—Engineers to be distributed into three clases, and
to rank next below carpenters, and with each otheraccording
to their standing on the official list.
PAY AND ALLOWANCES.—To engineers when serving on
board one of her Majesty's steam-vessels in commission, or
in any of her Majesty's dockyards, whenever their services
may be required there ; or in repairing their own or any
ether vessel in the home dockyards, Holyhead, the River
Thames, Portsmouth, or Plymouth harbour ; or where the
vessel to which they belong is paid off, and they are still re.
tamed on board :-
Ist class, 121. per lunar month, and 6d. a day extra for each
engineer's boy whom they instruct ; 2d class, 8/. per lunar
month ; and ad class, 51.65. per lunar month.
When serving on board one of her Majesty's steam-vessels
within the tropics, while the steam is up, one-half the amount
of the pay of the respective classes in addition.
Engineers of vessels in commission, when employed in re-
pairing defects of other vessels than those in which they are
serving, except in the home dockyards, Holyhead, the
River Thames, Portsmouth or Plymouth Harbour, to be
allowed extra pay as warrant officers in addition, according
'to the scale established by her Majesty's regulations, when
borne on the books of the guard-ships of the ordinary, and
not actually employed in the charge or repair of steam ma-
chinery :-
Ist class, per month, 71. 17s. ; 2d class, per month, 41. 18s. ;
and 3d class, 3/.Bs. per month.
Pay of Engineer Boys-Ist class, 11. 14s. per lunar month ;
2d class, IL 6s. ; 3d class, 1/. 38. ; and 4th class, 14s. 6d. per
lunar month.

The superannuation of engineers to be upon the so& esta-
blished for warrant officers of the Royal Navy.
By command of their Lordships,
Admiralty, Aug. 1. SIDNEY HERBERT.

The Earl of Selkirk and suite were among the
passengers by the General Steam Navigation Company's
mail-packet Countess of Lonsdale, from Hamburgh, which
vessel brought the mail of Wednesday from that place.
Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., at his audit
last week, caused a return of 10/. per cent. to be made on
the rents of all his tenantry at Llangedwin, Llaurhaiad, and
Llansilin.

THE CROPS IN FRANCE.—The Courrier de Lyon
gives a flattering account of the state of the crops in that
part of the country. The harvest is going on most satisfac-
torily, the grain in abundance, and very fine. The vines
have recovered in consequence of the late favourable
weather, and should it continue, the crop may be expected
to be an average one and of good quality. A tolerable after-
crop of hay is also expected. In Champagne and in the
Vosges, however, the prospects of the farmer are not so
favourable. The wet weather, in many parts, has rendered
the harvest backward, and it is feared that much of the corn
will be spoiled.
THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.—The complaint
of want of rain is no longer heard from the farmers ; the
copious showers of the last ten days have filled the ground
with moisture, and though it has been scarcely sufficient
to open the springs freely, an apprehension began to prevail
on Tuesday, when the barometer fell in twenty-four hours
from "fair" to "change," and from " change" to "rain," that
we were doomed to have a wet harvest. The rising of the
mercury since that time has served to dissipate these alarms,
and in the southern counties, where the harvest has com-
menced pretty generally, the prospects are said to be grati-
fying for the wheat crops, and that even the spring corn, such
as oats and barley, turn out better than was expected. In
our northern counties little corn has yet been cut, and the
latter hay harvest bas been retarded by the late rains. The
second crops of clover and grass form a striking contrast to
the meagre produce of the first, and the potatoes and turnips,
without any very great prospect of abundance, have improved
amazingly within the last three weeks.—Leeds Mercury.