The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-02 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD DOCKS.

The question of the Birkenhead Docks being now before
the House of Lords, the parties on both sides are looking
forward to the result with great interest. The promoters
declare that their scheme will be of the greatest benefit to
the public; that the construction of their docks is desired by
all the commercial and manufacturing establishments of the
surrounding country; and that it is solely opposed by the
Corporation of Liverpool, on account of the preponderating
influence in that Corporation of the warehouse interest, who
having invested their property in these buildinv, regard
with alarm the prospect of a dangerous competition on the
Cheshire side of the Mersey. The Corporation of Liverpoool
are not less active in combating the allegations of the pro-
moters of the new docks, and in representing their state-
ments as much exaggerated, and their scheme likely to be
injurious to the river. The documents on each side are too
lengthy for description ; but a statement of the " case" of
the promoters, and of the " reasons" ,for opposition on the
part of Liverpool, may be useful in bringing before the pub-
lic a question of such general importance.
The " case" of the promoters sets forth the great capabi-
lities of Wallasey Pool, which is a creek of the Mersey, oppo-
site Liverpool. The Corporation of Liverpool, some years ago,
perceiving how it could extend the dock accommodation,pur -
chased a large quantity ofproperty on its shores, to get the con-
trol of its appropriation into their own hands, and to frus-
trate a plan for constructing docks in the locality. Last year,
however, they sold a portion of this property, and the pur-
chasers stipulated that they should be allowed to erect docks
upon it, and were bound by the Corporation to build wharf-
walls in lines approved by the acting conservator of the river,
within two years from the time of purchase. The plans and
report of the purchasers, setting forth how the pool was to
be converted into docks, were submitted to the Admiralty
and Lords Conservators, and letters of sanction were obtained
—a fact that was made public and universally approved.
The Corporation of Liverpool, under these circumstances,
sold all the remainder of their land on the south shore of the
pool at an advanced price, consequent on the public convic-
tion that the Birkenhead Town Commissioners would exe-
cute the plans, and did not raise a voice against the project
till the laud was all sold, or indeed till the measure was
brought before Parliament. The demand for additional docks
in the port of Liverpool was admitted by the Liverpool dock
trustees, and the Corporation treated for the purchase of the
Harrington Dock Company's land did docks, with much other
property, intending to prepare plans and apply to Parliament for
powers to construct the works. These plans would add 40 acres of
additional dock accommodation to the port, for which the
estimated cost is 1,400,0001. As the session of Parliament
approached, the warehouse interest of Liverpool, which is
very influential in the town council, commenced their oppo-
sition. The promoters estimate the expense of constructing
the whole of their proposed works at 336,000/., this cost in-
cluding a basin of 37 acres, with 12 feet water at the low
water of spring tides, walled all round with suitable wharfs ;
a tide basin of 10 acres protected with a pier, and having a
beaching ground of six acres ; a walled dock of 3 acres ; and
a great dock of 150 acres, not walled, but which may be
walled and deepened to a depth of 20 feet within five years.
Thus the promoters of the Birkenhead docks offer 200 acres
of dock accommodation at the:cost of 336,000/., while they
say the Liverpool plans offer no more than 40 acres at a cost
of 1,400,000/.
This is the promoters' case. The objectors—that is to
say, the Corporation and Trustees of the Liverpool docks—
allege that their opposition is solely caused by the desire of
preserving the port from the injury which they are advised
will result from the proposed works. The sea channels, they
say, being kept open by the refiux of tidal water, and the
present quantity being scarcely sufficient to maintain the
depth of 11 feet on the bar in the Victoria Channel, any
reduction in the quantity of water will produce an inju-
rious effect upon the sea channels, while the Victoria
Channel is the principal entrance to the port of
Liverpool. Now the proposed works at Birkenhead will ab-
stract 5,600,000 cubic yards of water available to the scour.
As for the dock accommodation offered by the promoters,
they remark that it really amounts to no more than three
acres, or room for 30 vessels; while the tidal basin of 37 acres
would be very inadequate for the discharge of ships, since
the vessels lying there would be exposed to a rise and fall of
the tide of 27 feet. Such accommodation, they contend,
would not be of much benefit to the trade of Mersey. The
expense of constructing the works will, according to these
objectors, equal, if it does not exceed, that of providing the
same extent of dock space in Liverpool ; while Wallasey
Pool and the adjoining shore are, as at present used, of great
service to the port. With respect to the leases of the land
by Wallasey Pool, it is stated that the Corporation believed
that the docks to be constructed would only be used in con-
nexion with such works as shipwrights' yards, &c., and that
when they required the construction of a wall, they never
intended the erection of a permanent diun to the entire ex-
clusion of tidal water.
Such seem to be the principal arguments on both sides.
As for their value, we must at present leave the public to
judge for themselves.—Times.

TILE WEATIIEE. For several days past the
weather has been exceedingly variable, bright sunshine
and heavy showers succeeding each other when a change
was least anticipated. On Sunday we had delightful sum-
mer weather. Not a drop of rain fell ' • and the sultriness
of the atmosphere under an unclouded sun was scarcely
mitigated by a gentle breeze from the west. The early
part of Monday was nearly of the same description.
The sunshine, however, was suddenly interrupted about
mid-day by the return of rain, which continued through-
out the afternoon in the shape either of gentle showers
or of " Scotch mist." Under the influence of an abun-
dant supply of moisture and of a warm atmosphere vege-
tation, is making rapid progress ; and a period of dry
weather is all that is now wanted to realise the antici-
pations which may be entertained of an early and plen-
tiful harvest. Tha accounts_: from diffarcnt.parts of the
country are as favourable as could be deured.—Edin-
ilmrgh Advertiser.