The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-09-11 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

The weekly meeting of the Dock Committee was held yes-
terday, at the office in Revenue-buildings. There were
present Messrs. Leathom, Benc, Holmes, Evans, Mellor,
Middleton, Ripley, Thomas Holt, Martin, Barclay, Chap-
man, Smith, Horsfall, G. Holt, and Tobin. Mr. Leathom,
chairman of the committee, presided.
The proceedings of the last meeting were confirmed ; and
the accounts of the week were passed.
CROSBY LIGHT-HOUSE.

The SURVEYOR presented a report relative to Crosby
Light-house. The report stated that when the lighti.house
was erected, it was thought desirable that the interior should
receive a coat of fire-proof plaster ; but it had since been
found that the least quantity of moisture caused the plaster
to run. The plaster, too, still retained its orighial offensive
smell ; and the surveyor requested permission, •under these
circumstances, to substitute common plaster, the cost of
which he estimated at little more than £56.
In answer to a question, the SURVEYOR repeated that the
smell from the tire-proof plaster was very offensive.
Mr. HORSFALL said he had visited the light-house about
10 days ago, and the smell from the plaster was then most
offensive. In his opinion it would be desirable to get r•id of
it as soon as possible.
The CHAIRMAN asked the surveyor what the total cost
would be ?

The SURVEYOR replied about £lO.
- MORTAR FOR DOCKS

The SECRETARYrWd a letter, signed John Walker, from
the commissioners of St. George's Quay, Lancaster, ad-
dressed to the surveyor (Mr. Hartley) stating that they had
been in hopes of finishing their graving dock, but that it was
not water-tight, .a circumstance which they attributed to the
quality of their mortar. The letter further stated, that the
commissioners had been strongly recommended to use hy-
draulic mortar, and that unless the dock committee supplied
them with it. they, should not be able to obtain it. They
hoped therefore that the committee would accommodate them
with the quantity they wanted, and it should be paid for at
the price charged.
The CHAIRMAN said he had received two letters on the
subject, and he had replied to both, that they should be laid
before the committee. He thought that under the act of
parliament the committee had no right to sell any part of the
materials in their yard, and that if they did so, they should
have parties continually asking them for mortar, bricks, and
other articles.

Mr. HORSFALL enquired what quantity the commissioners
wanted ?

The SURVEYOR replied, about £l2 worth.
Mr. llomdEs (and others)--Let them have it.
The SURVEYOR stated that the commissioners had applied
to him twice for his advice on the construction of their grav-
ing dock, but on neither occasion had they adopted his sug-
gestions, and now they wanted this mortar to keep out the
water.

The CHAIRMAN asked the committee whether a reply
should be sent to the commissioners, and also to Mr. Ste-
phenson, who was building a light-house at the Isle of Mull,
who had applied for it, to the effect that the limestone from
which the mortar was made, was to be had at Hawarden,
where it was got?
Mr. CHAPMAN considered that if the committee acceded
to this application, they might be asked to become purveyors
for all the docks in the world.
_ _

Mr. HORSFALL said the principle laid down by Mr. Chap-
man, was very proper, but still, as the quantity they wanted
was so very trifling, they might have it without setting up a
precedent.

The CHAIRMAN observed, that in order to get the mortar.
the commissioners had only to get the limestone, as the com-
mittee had. and grind it down.

Mr. CHAPMAN said it appeared to him, that although the
commissioners would not take Mr. Hartley's advice in the
first instance, they now not only wanted it, but the commit-
tee to supply them with mortar. By and .bye he supposed
the committee would be called upon to supply them with
engineers.

Mr. RIPLEY remarked, that if the commissioners were to
obtain the stone from Hawardeti, they had not the means of
grinding it down. He would let them have the mortar.
The CHAIRMAN'S impression was, that if this application
were granted a door would be opened for the establishment
of a very inconvenient principle. The application, hOwtver,
was only for a small quantity.
After a few further observations, the Surveyor was autho-
rised toteupply the mortar as.requested.

GATES TO THE SOUTH BASIN

The SURVEYOR requested the instructions of the commit-
tee on the erection of a gate to the South Basin, the object
of which was to convert that basin into a dock.
Mr. CHAPMAN said, that before this matter was decided,
two questions should be consid3red, the utility and the cost
of the contemplated alteration. The estimated cost was
£2.1,000, and when that sum had been expended the dock
would be of no earthly use in sending timber ships away, or
in taking them in. It would not return sixpence in the way
of revenue. The committee had now an opportunity of
making this into a graving dock, capable of containing two
large steamers of 3,000 tons burden each. If, however, there
should be no large steamers, there would be the large timber
ships from Canada or the United States, and thus the com-
mittee would derive a revenue from it.
The SURVEYOR observed that the dock would not hold two
large steamers, but only one large steamer and one large ship.
Mr. CHAPMAN said the great point in his mind was to be
prepared for the increasing business of the port, and a return
in the way of revenue.

Mr. HORSFALL remarked, that if the gates were made
large enough, the dock might be converted into a graving
dock whenever required. _

- - if
Mr. CHAPMAN said, that was the case, the object he
had in view would be gained.

Mr. RIPLEY intimated that a few hundred pounds addi-
tional would be sufficient to make the gates suitable for a
graving dock.

Mr.EvArrs, after a few remarks upon Mr. Martin's ob-
servations upon revenue, which were totally inaudible to the
reporters, said, that looking at the future great wants of the
port, he had no idea that they could ever be provided for on
this side of the river, where every convenience would be at
hand. He considered that the space on this side the river
would soon all be wanted for the convenience of trade ; and
then the repair and building of ships must be carried on on
the Cheshire side.

After some further discussion, in which Mr. Horsfall, Mr.
G. Holt, Mr. Evans, Mr. Chapman, and the Surveyor took
part, a resolution was passed authorising the Surveyor to pre-
pare gates for the basin, 40 feet wide and 5 feet below the old
dock sill.