The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-06 00:00:00

THE

MANAGEMENT OF SEACOMBE
FERRY.

PUBLIC MEETING LAST NIGHT.

LAST NIGHT, a public meeting of the contractors and
others interested in the accommodation and safety of the
traffic of the Seacombe Ferry was held at Seacombe Hotel,
" to take into consideration the inefficient manner in which
the ferry is now conducted." There was a very numerous
and respectable attendance, amongst those present being
Mr. Penny, the agent of Mr. Smith, the owner of the
ferry, and a strong and evident interest appeared to be
manifested by all the inhabitants on the subject.
Mr. BUCHANAN, who was appointed chairman, ex-
plained that the meeting had been called through no ill-
will to the proprietor of the boats, but from a desire felt
by all the residents of the neighbourhood that there
Should be punctuality and efficiency in the management
of the ferry. At a preliminary meeting, on Wednesday
last, a series of resolutions had been drawn up, which he
supposed that some gentlemen were prepared to submit
to the meeeting. They were :

1. That the ferry at Seacombe, when conducted with punc-
tuality and efficiency, is one of the best, if not the very Lest,
of the ferries on the Cheshire side.

2. That, in a circular addressed to the contractors, and
dated so far back as the 21st February last, the proprietor of
the ferry expressed his hope that the inconvenience to which
the public were then subject would shortly he removed, and
such arrangements made us would secure its efficient working.
3. That the working of the ferry since that period has not
been-efficient, but such as to call forth the strong disappro-
bation of the meeting; and that the contractors, owners, and
occupiers of property, and all others using the ferry, are
seriouly injured thereby.

4. That an immediate remedy for this state of affairs is now
demanded, and that we hereby call upon the proprietor to
carry out his intention as expressed in the said circular,
and to supply boats of a sufficient and efficient character, and
keep them permanently on the station.

The eIIiIRMAN said that there was a limit to all en-
durance, and they had borne, it till it had ceased to be
a virtue.

Mr. &ARIGHT proposed, and Mr. FORD seconded the
first resolution, which was carried nem. con.
Mr. GARDNER then moved the second resolution. He
said that the ferry was very far from being in an efficient state,
and night after night there was nothing but disappoint-
ments. He thought it was due to themselves that they
should express their feelings on the subject. At present
many gentlemen were obliged to go from Seacombe to
Egremont or Woodside, and that was a state of things he,
felt which could not be tolerated.—(Applause.)
Mr. HoLatz seconded the motion.

A GENTLEMAN who was present said that, he had come
across that evening, and they were exactly twenty-nine
minutes on the passage. (Laughter.) The reason that
the engineer had given was, that it was impossible to get
up the steam. Had it been later in the evening, and the
steam a degeee less than it was, he supposed that they should
have drifted out to sea, and he did not think that there
was the provision of rockets made to fire as a signal of
distress. (Laughter and applause.)
Mr. PENNY then rose, and requested leave to address
the assembly. He admitted the inconveniences arising
in the working of the ferry, and said that none were
more painfully aware of the fact than himself. The
meeting were aware of the circumstances by which the ferry
had come into his hands from Messrs. Parry, and that
the approaches to it had been raised by the dock works.
Mr. Penny then stated the attempts that had been made
to let the ferry into competent hands, but all the agree-
ments for which had broken through, In the month of
March, the Wallasey commissioners had entered into
negociations with him, which were still pending, and he
had not been able to get from them an answer either
of acceptance, rejection, or modification of the pro-
posed terms. In January Mr. Smith had a voluntary
offer, differing very slightly from that made to the com-
missioners, and from a very competent party, but he (Mr.
Penny) had not been able to accept it, in consequence of
the negotiations; and he wished to state frankly that he
had himself neither time nor inclination to work the ferry,
and he would indeed be glad to allow any one who would do
do so £2oa week as profit. If the inhabitants wished that the
negociations with the local board should be determined, he
was authorised to say that Mr. Smith would ask to be
released from that obligation, and would let the ferry to
the best bidder. (Applause.)
In answer to Mr. LEWIN,
_ -

Mr. PENNY explained that, of course, he only offered
the douceur of £2O a week for working the ferry pending
the arrangements with the commissioners.
Mr. LEWIN said they might not be concluded for twelve-
manths. The majority of the board were for relieving
Mr. Smith at their last meeting ; but Mr. Penny, as Ins
agent, had objected to it. _

r. HYDE and the CHAIRMAN both thought that better
arrangements were imperatively called for, pending the
negotiation. .

Mr. WILSON thought, that if so numerous and influen-
tial a meeting were to express an opinion whether the
commissioners should take the ferry or not, the question
would be settled in a week.
Mr. SZAIIIOUT said, the real point wa4s as to their

having good boats. He was a bit of a sailor, and had Wen
all oyer the more than once, but he had revere
so frightened inworld his life as he had been in crossing in fjj
of the Seacombe packets—(laughter)—and he hey
',,mmend those who had wives or families to gend
-cmont or Woodside, else they might be strice
in the river for two, or three 'hours. (1,331 p
1. applause.) . Some of them thought they were b
in the hands of the' Parrys, but they were far
ond
0'
Britannia should be removed flt
suod boat in addition to the Invnlofln
klr. Smith fight the parish as he Do"

, ere not only a disgraCeuattos
(Laughter.) Egre"
Mr. BLACKBURN said he had often had to go by rve
eu
mont or Woodside. A comet passing in a wonde _bop
or parabola was nothing to that which the Seacoin thee
described. (Laughter and applause.) He hoped 031 a tiot
them,were sob uitn
tehffiecineleiti Viotti!!
would be some practical result from the meeting, $
it would not pass away as what the Yankees ivold "-
mere " Indignation meeting.' for
Mr. THOMAS proposed that the meeting be adjiourn„etthe
six weeks, that the local board might in the rnenn"Weasisi
opinion of the Attorney-General as to the legaliti ,40 0.
the ferry; but the proposed delay was met with as'
indignation.
Ater some iregur discusson, 4tt
Mfr. HotHEr thenla formally i
moved the 2nd, 3rd, and
resolutions. ?go'
Mr. MOCATTA proposed, as an amendment, oncettlo-jos
ee
ing thought it the duty of the commissioners at ~outel b
the ferry •, and that a deputation of five gentlemen Ir'd
apointed to wait upon and urge them to a decision, an
touture meeting f the r°°l4
rts was seconded by a gentleman in the boclY 0 , or
and, on being put from the chair, was carried, ao,%:entiefo:
position from Mr. Lewin. with only two or three (11z.* depots
The following gentlemen were then appointed H.
and gO•
tion :—Messrs. Buchanan, Holme, Searight, JOll4 the Pre
catta. A vote of thanks to the chairman clos
ceedings.

INDIA-HOUSE.—The Directors of the East
pany have appointed James' Grant Lumsden,
visionally a member of Council at Bombay.

Leo'
~ pro'-
Esq

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LATEST INTELLIGENT

MONDAY EVENING, DICEMBgR b.

BY ELECTRIC T.E.LEGR Ill" A 45,
Ripon arrived at Southampton, at 10,,
with the heavy portion of the E.ast India and or'

Me steam

mails. r 4...
LONDON.—On the Stock Exchange, ate' bei
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