The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-06-06 00:00:00

Tay DOCTOR'S PEN WIPER Doctor Raffles —the
papers tell us—was recently arrested in Italy for having
"in his writing-desk a pen-wiper which assumed the
shape and colour of a cockade." We hardly think this
the true cause of the doctor's arrest : it no doubt arose
from a philological blunder. The authorities may have
considered the pen-wiper as a venomous, mortal article :
and for this reason—in Italian there is•no W ; hence, for
Pen-wiper, the sagacious authorities read Pen-viper.—
Punch.

LAUNCH OP THE CITY OF PUILADELPHIA.-011 THeS•
day there was launched from the building-yard of Messrs.
Tod and Macgregor, on the Clyde, another magnificent
iron screw steam-ship, intended as a consort to the City of
Manchester, for the Liverpool and- Philadelphia trade.
The Philadelphia has only been six mouths on the stocks.
Some idea may be formed of her capabilities, when we
mention that the length of the keel and fore rake is 300
feet, her breadth 39 feet, and depth 29 feet. She is to be
driven by engines of 460 horse-power, and her tonnage is
estimated at 2,400 tons. It is caleulated that she will
comfortably accommodate 180 first-class, and 420
steerage passengers.
ST. Joint, N. 8., LINE OP PACKETS.—A fine new ship
arrived here on Saturday, from St. John, N.B. and is
now discharging her cargo in Huskisson Dock. The
vessel is named the John Bannerman, and. is intended to
form one of the line of packets between this port and St.
John, N. 8., conducted by Messrs. Fernie Brothers. The
John Bannerman is a medium clipper," 179 feet in
length, 33 feet beam, 21. feet in depth, and of 1,131 tons.
The vessel is built of the strongest materials, under the
superintendence of Lloyu's agent, and will class A 1.
There are two decks, with plenty of height between them,
and there is a poop cabin aft with good accommodation for
first-class passengers. There is excellent accommodation
for a large number of emigrant passengers.
THE QUEEN OF THE SEAs.—Among the many mag-
nificent vessels at present on the berth loading for the
antipodes, is the new ship Queen of the Seas. She belongs
to the Fox line of packet-ships, registers 1,337 tons, or
2,000 tons burthen ; is 237 feet in length, 40 feet in
breadth, and 23 feet in depth. The bow, though sharp,
possesses all the fulness requisite for a good sea boat, and
the run is easy and clean, with good bearing. The ma-
terials used in her equipment are of the best description,
and the fastenings throughout, which have been executed
under the superintendence of Liverpool surveyors, are of
the strongest kind. The accommodations for passengers,
which are well lighted and ventilated, are fitted up with
every attention to comfort and convenience, and on the
decks ample space is allowed for exercise and amusement.
Her commander, Capt. Charles Gardner, is a skilful
navigator, and possesses the advantage of considerable ex-
perience in the Australian passenger trade. The Queen of
the Seas is now loading in the Waterloo Dock, and it is
intended to dispatch her for Melbourne about the end of
the present week.
LIE NEw AI-Arnica Docx.—The site of the works at
Wapping presents just now a very busy scene at their
northern extremity ; the intended enlargement of the Salt-
house Dock is progressing towards completion. This
dock is to be made square, by an addition of water-space
at its southeast corner. A gate, with a swing-bridge, is
nearly finished from this new portion, communicating
with a small passage-dock between SalthOuse and the new
Wapping Dock. Mr. Hartley, the dock engineer, has a
large force of masons, &c., engaged here, and the walling
is in a state of considerable forwardness. The Wapping
Dock itself is far advanced in the necessary excavations,
and the walling is being rapidly proceeded with. The
stonework for the bridge to the Duke's warehouses, and
an entrance to the north end of the King's Dock, are pro-
gressing pan pawn with the other works. The founda-
tions for a line of warehouses along the east quay are
completed, and a portion of the lower arches are being
turned. At the south end of the dock there will be a
passage to the Queen's Dock, which will complete the
design of a line of docks extending the whole length of our
river frontage, communicating with each other. Messrs.
M'Cormick, the contractors, expect the works to be com-
pleted, and the Wapping Dock in working order, before
the close of the present year.
THE NEW STEAM-SHIP BATIIINA.--011 Wednesday
the new screw steam-ship Bahiana, Captain Daniel Green,
made a very successful trial trip in the river. The
Bahiana which has been built by Mr John Laird, for the
South American and General Steam Navigation Company,
is full barque-rigged, and is fitted with a lifting screw, so
that, if circumstances require it, she can be propelled by
her sails, an arrangement which will no doubt greatly
economise the consumption of fuel. Her engines are of
200-horse power. During the trial the Bahiana attained
a speed of fully 101 knots. Although the performance
fully justified the expectations which had been formed of
her, the company, in order to further test her capabilities
before they despatch her for South America, sent her on
'Thursday on a cruise for four or five days in the Channel,
during which time her sailing qualities, both under steam
and canvas,:were fully:tested. Captain Matthews, late of
the Great Britain, Mr. Hadfield, secretary of the Com-
pany, Mr. Thompson, one of the managers, Mr. Miles
Barton, Mr. John Laird, and several other gentlemen
were on board. The day was beautifully fine, and the
progress of the Bahiana all that could be desired. She
was accompanied, as far as the Bell-Buoy, by the steam-
tug Constitution, in which the majority of the visitors re-
turned to Liverpool, shortly after 6 on. The following
figures indicate the performances of the Bahiana between
the measure of distances :—Abreast the Rock-light, 2 24,
p.m. ; Crosby light-ship, 2 511, p.m. ; Formby light-ship,
3 4 p.m.; and Bell-buoy, 318 p.m. During that time
the engines averaged 24 revolutions per minute. In the
course of the afternoon an elegant deseuner was partaken
of in the cabin. The Bahiana made the Skerries—a dis-
tance of 4,5 miles—in three hours and thirty minutes.
While easing her engines, the Lusitania, which she had
left, came up with her, and they ran a short distance
together ; the Bahiana then got up full speed, and quickly
distanced the Lusitania, showing the superiority she
attained over that rapid steamer by her improved model.
Both ships are by the same builder, and their engines,
which are nominally of 200-horse power, arc from the same
pattern, but the Bahiana is 1,000 tons, while the Lusitania
is only 1,014 tons burthen. It is fair to say, however, that
the latter had a considerable cargo on board, while the
Bahiana was in light trim. The Bahiana then altered her
course more to westward, and the most interesting ex-
periment, and the one having the most important bearing
on the use of the screw-propeller, was tried. At 10 a.m.,
on Friday, orders were given to lift the screw, which was
accomplished in ten minutes, and the ship was put under
canvas alone. Close-hauled, she made 51 knots, increasing
to 91 knots as the wind rose from moderate to a fresh
breeze. She was then tried before the wind, and answered
equally well, proving that with canvas alone she will be a
match for most clippers. In her operations she will thus
be enabled to economise fuel—a matter, at this time, of
the greatest importance. Captain Matthews, of the screw
steamship Great Britain, and a number of scientific
gentlemen, were out in the Bahiana for the two days'
trial, and have returned highly pleased with the result.
LIVERPOOL SHIPWRIGHTS AND THEIR WAGES.—
The wages of the Liverpool shipwrights, which ruled at
15s. per day, have descended to 10s. per day, an amount
likely to be considerably reduced by the scarcity of work '
which now prevails. Although 15s. per diem was the
nominal rate of wages, an amount equal to a guinea per day
was, in some instances, paid to shipwrights. This tariff,
however, must be taken to apply solely to the members
of the shipwrights' club ; the strangers,—shipwrights
brought by the masters from the outports, and not mem-
bers of the Liverpool Shipwrights' Club—being paid in
pursuance of an agreement with the master shipwrights,
10s. per day. The exorbitant rates of wages demanded by
the Liverpool shipwrights seem now in danger of being
reduced to their original level. Local owners found the
cost of repairs at this port to be so enormous, particularly
in the item of wages, and the delays so great, that they
have sent their vessels to the outports, where the delay
was avoided, whilst an immense saving was effected.
American captains refused almost to a man, unless in some
extreme cases, to submit to the payment of 15s. per day
wages (they were content to pay 10s.), and have taken cop-
per and other materials with them from this port, to have
their repairs executed in New York and other American
ports ; and last of all, owing to the high wages prevailing
iniLiverpool, the admiralty are determined that no More
transport ships shall be fitted out at this port. The result,
as might be expected, is that work to a very great amount,
which would have kept the shipwrights of Liverpool fully
employed during the summer, has passed into other hands,
and its want is now being felt here. A meeting consist-
ing of deputations from the shipwrights belonging to the
Liverpool club sod the strangers, was held on Wednes-
day. It was rumoured that a proposition had been made
to the strangers to become members of the Liverpool
club. If this were agreed to on the part of the strangers,
it would bind them not to work for a less sum than the
society might fix upon, but it would also entitle them to
many privileges which they do not now enjoy,,—members
of the society refusing to work with them at present.
DOCK COMMITTEE.—The weekly meeting of the Dock
Committee was held on Thursday, Mr. Charles Turner in
the chair. The sub-committee of works recommended
that permission be given to Mr. C. F. Mellor to place a
water fountain, at his own expense, on the landing-stage,
on condition that it be removed whenever required by the
Dock Committee. Mr. Langsdale said the Water Com-
mittee had agreed to supply any water which Mr. Mellor
required. After a brief conversation, the subject was
referred to the Marine Sub-committee.—the sub-committee
of works recommended the immediate construction of the
south entrance to the lock of the new north basin, to be
100 feet wide and 500 feet long in the chamber, to be tem-.
Porarily used as a graving dock for large steam-ships, and
to form part of the permanent works at the north docks.—
The Chairman said this was a very serious question, and
it was brought before the sub-committee of works in con-
sequence of Mr. ver's letter, stating that further
graving dock accommodation for large steamers was
required, there being no place at presentred except the Hus-
kisson lock where they can be repai, and during the
time that lock was so occupied there was no ingress to, or
egress out of the Huskisson dock, and it was found to be
a great inconvenience. In consequence of this the sub-
committee of works came to the conclusion that this lock
should be made for this purpose, at the same time that it
would be available for. any plan which might be decided
upon by the committee for the construction of the north
docks. The estimated cost was £BO,OOO, and finishing the
dock necessary for its occupation £22,000, making a total
of £lo2;ooo.—After some discussion directions were given
to the engineers to proceed with the stank, the remainder
of the plans to lie on the table.—The Chairman announced
that lie, with the deputy-chairman and Mr. Rankin, ac-
companied by the two borough members, Messrs. Horsfall
and Liddell, had an interview with the President of the
Board of Trade, to discuss the question of .the maiming
of ships. 'They were received with great courtesy,
i and the
President of the Board of Trade entered fully into the
subject. He had representations, as they were aware,
from the steam-ship owners of the port, who seemed to
think that the proposed mode of measurement bore im-
properly on the owners of steam-vessels. Mr. Cardwell
seemed inclined to thiuk that the matter should be com-
promised between theuwners of sailing and steam-ships,
and, if a fair compromise could be entered into, that was
the mode in which he would deal with it in presenting Li',
bill to parliament. lie said he would endeavour to co':ne
's fair a conclusion as lie could on the subject, and that
thl recommend it to parliament. If that v, as not
—.:story to the owners of steam or sailing v easels, it
would be open to them to oppose it in parliaresmt.—Seme
disssussion ensued, but it was put a stop to ',is, the chair-
man, as it could lead to no practical rcrult.—This con-
cluded the general business,