The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-01-05 00:00:00

either of on,
tie thought t
nariov,eu it
'orin fact a
office, that '
wise.. Mass
lieved he wa,
corporation
was ttoiir .undeu duty. as representatives of that ilatincil
not to elect any gentleman of that sort.• • ( }Lear.)
The MAYOR said, there was no motion, arca he presumed the
proceediugs were email med. ••
Mr. Councillor COOPER here rose and said;. he should move,_
that that part or the proceedingi be referred back with respect
to the dock committee appointment.
The MAYOR said, he bad sat down. If gentlemen of the Evan-
cil thought he should open the subject he would; but itlras
against all order.
•

Thir. Councillor EARLE—People should screw up their cour-
age at once.

MR CURRIE'S PICTURE. . • . „
The MAYOR read a letter from Mr. JanteS Aiken, aceompa-:
nyirrg the portrait of William Wallace Currie, Esq , which he
delivered to be hung up in the council-room. The subscribers
had selected Mr. Philips as the artist, and it now became his,
pleasing duty to present hi tlie council, a pict..ire not only faith-
ful as a likeness,.but highly creditable to British art. He c%n-
graiulated, the council on receiving-it.
Mr Councillor WALLACE CURRIE,: could not suffer this subject
to pass without one woid. He could only say this—that the
picture which was in thal room- would always be to him -a. re-
membrance of hie honourable approbation which the Council.
had entertained of his conduct; and he should -still continue to
endeavour to merit that approbation not-only from the council,
but from the public at iaige.
NOTICE TO SHIPWRIGHTS,

The Mayok placed in the,hands of the Town•rjerk a memo-
rial, which the latter said was signed by the following gentles,
men: Messrs. Humble and Milcrest, John D. Gray Son and Co.,
WilLa o Seddon, Lomax and Wilsim, P. Challoner, Sous, and
C Ma t iew Glover and Co., John Dawson and Co., Thomas
Hobert Clarke and Suns, Bannister and Simpson;
.I.rseph Steel, Hasehien, Pearson, and Troughton. The memo-
rit ran as to.lows:—
" We the undersigned shipbeilders- of the port of Liverpool,
having, received notices, dated the 15th instant, td quit the pre-
mises we now occupy, on the Ist day of July next, or be subject-
ed to a considerable increase of rent, beg most respectfully tn
call your attention to the following observations.on the subject.
and it is of so much importance, not only to ourselves, but alsts
to the general interests of the port, that We hope it may be taken
into Your most serious consideration.
" From the naturt, of our business it would be impossible for
its in almost all instances, (as it is in the present 4 to give up'
possession of the shipbuilding yards we now occupy, at a notice
of only six months, as vou are aware that there are not other
premises within the port that we, rould rensoVe to. We are;
therefore, entirely at your mercy, and hope the peculiar cir-
ininstauees of our case may be•duly,tonsidered, for, upon your
decision, 'it depends whether shipbuilding is to be continued in
Liverpool, or that the immense amount expended in so doing,
is ki he laid out an some !nuke favoured outpost, nut only to the
loss and detriment of our native tradesmen and mechanics, but
likewise to the Dock arid Corporate Estates, and thecommercial,
cenninunity generally. .
"We have been at considerable expense in erecting saw-pits,-
workshops, &c., (although not possessing a lease on the premi-
ses,) we are prevented from having either building yards, or
graving docks of our- own, which. privileges are enjoyed in
almost all other ports, and, create not only considerable piofit
to the shipbuilder, but also a great economy in the repairing of
vessels, the charges being,much lets than those of this port; as
the Graving Dock rates now exist here, the same charge is
made for ten toles as for twenty-four. And it frequently occurs
thab.two vessels have each. to pay a full &teapot hen they have
occupied the tame berth taillin the twenty-four tides. The incon-
venience arising from the extreme distance the Graving Docks
are situated from -each.other,.has nut only made it necessary for
us to have two establishments, but has created a further ex-
pense, in being obliged to employ additional foremen, and has
made it quiteimpossible to give the personal superintendence
we could wish to those vessels we niay have had in hand. These
circumstances have already-made it difficult for us to compete
with the outposts, in either the repairing or building of vessels,
and if the latter be discontinued, au additional expense to the
former will be the consequence, as the number of oui.appren4
tices must be decreased, and the importation of timber, as well
as every other article used In the building and repairing of yes-
.
sels,he greatly reduced.
" beg, therefore; most respectfully to request that a depu-
tation ft om our body maybe allowed to wait upon you, before
any final measures are adopted, and we confidently hope we.
shall be able to prove that the shipbuilding of the port is of that •
importance as to claim your protecting, infltience.
"Given under our hands this 28th Dec. 037. Signed, Ste.".
Mr. PLATT said he was acquainted with -several of the per-
sons who had subscribed the memorial, and he was of opinion
that the present rates were as high as they could afford to pay,
and in some instances more. Mr. Platt went on to say ttokt
the shipwrights had been Very roughly used in mad' res.Pects.•
and to contrast the low rents at many other places with those
at Liverpool. The interests of the shipwrights were so vitally
connected with those of this great town that he was surprised
the grievance of the former had not before been brought tor-:
Wald. They had to contend with great adVaitta,,,,4,s at other,
places, and 'he thought some concession ought to tie ,piarle tie
them. He thought a.special committee might to be a.ripoirited,
to hear the shipwrights in their own defence. There were
plenty of individuals proper to judge, amongst whoM he would
name Mr. Wood and Mr. Brocklebank.
At the suggestion of -the Mayor, Mr. Platt gave notice of a
motion to the above effect next council.
Mr. Councillor Cue etc said the revision of the shipwrights',
yards had been a part of their duty that hail been the most diffi-,
cult and troublesome task they had to perform. The animus
with which that duty had been undeltaken, was to see that the
corporation got a fair rent for the propetty entrusted to them.
He wished heartily for the shipwrights to be heard, and before,
the finance committee, for he had heard nothing from Mr:
Platt that showed any reason for the appointment of a separate,
committee. The Finance;•committee had their ears as open,
and their senses as accate as any other set ofgentlemen, and he
had paid great attention to the subject. He was in perfect
ignorance as to how the hardships that- had been spoken of
could be made out. Some of the shipwrights paid, a rent of
9301. to Md. a . square yard, and the proposed tent was now,
Is. 9d. per square yard; others who paid 10d, were to pay Is. bd.
It behoved them, as individuals entrusted with thc care of the
corpora.te_estate, to see that the land visa-not too low let.•.:The.
land in question would let pinch higher. The piestion.was,,
whether they should, to preserve the shipbuilding, take much
less for the land than it would let for.
Mr. Councillor Platt said he was perfectly satisfied with Mr.,
Currie's explanation. All the partieS wanted, was to be heard;
and their cases investigated. His ouly motive was to save the
Finance Comittee trouble.

Mr. Councillor Wallace CURRIE..L-We are not afraid of
trouble Mr. Platt.

Mr. Alderman LRATHOM said the shipwrights would have a ti.
opportunity of finding accomrhedation at the West side of the,
Brunswick Dock, shortly, if their present premises were too
hirlt rented, without being driven over to the Cheshire side.
• The memorial was then referred to the Finance Committee.
- The MAYOR presented another similar.,titemorial from the
occupiers of elate yards,.hich was also referred. • .
Mr. Councillor Worqi said, he understood the. slate yards
were to be augmented to 3s. Gd. per yard;, if so, apd the shipi
wright's .3-ards were only. to be augmented to is. 9d. per yard
the slate yards were charged-to high.
Mr. Councillor CunittE 'said, Mr. Wood was correct as to,
the price he had named. The land in the vicinity of tbose
yards was worth £4 6s. per yard.
A greet number of pirate memorials on the same subject
followed, which were referred.

. _ . _._.......
A motion was agreed to that the overseers of the out-townships'
make the necessary returns for laying a watch rate on the new
parts of the borough.

POSI,oFFICR. ij, •
Mr. EVANS, in a speech of considerable length, advocated the
expediency orhaving put the post-office at the New Custom-
house as the most central and convenient site for the merchants
who were the principal parties to be considered in a town like
Liverpool. He stated,.that he had seen Mr. Tornkinson at the
building, and ,that- gentleman had. pointed out to him how, by,
merely pulling down a wall, he critild; for art expense that would
not exceed £lOO, adapt the rooms built and intended for the
Post-office, so that they would answer.the purpose excellently,
both as regarded light and room. He Contended for the impor-
tance of concediv, to the commercial portion of the town every
convenience, and concluder!by,prnOosing, NO.proposing, a deputation
should he sent to London to communicate with the govern-.
meat on the subject, as no time was to be list, Colonel Maberly
and Mr. Baring having expressed their determination of decid-'
ing on the matter during the recess. ,
Mr. WALAISi.ky seconded the motion.
Mr. BOLTON thought it mould be well to • Purchase the Old
Fish market, at the top of James-street, and build a Yost-office
on the land. ~.

. .
,
Mr. WoOLWIIIGHT thought the interests of the shopkeepers,
ought to be considered as well as Those of the merchants, and
that the present site of the post7offl,.ce was the most convenient.
Mr. Br-Actual:7mq thought it would be well it Mr. Evans first
took the sense of the council, as to whether the new Custom-
house was the proper place for the Yost-office.„
After a long discussion, in the course of which many members
addressed the council, the motion WaS put..after the manner
proposed by Mr. Blackburn. Forty-two Members; stood up in
favour of like Custom-house as a proper place for the Post-uttice,
and only two against it. The latter were Messrs. Wootright,
and Joidan.
..

•
The question was then pat respecting the deputation with
similar result.

Mr. Evans and Mr. Shiel were then named to be the deputa-
.
,

, . .
Mr. BLA6tOCRI4 gave notice of a motion for the council to:
petition government, that the apprenticeship system, as regards
the negroes in the West Indies, cease in August, 1838, instead
of 1840. - . .

The T6WN-Ci ER K begged to say a few words in reference to
what had fallen from Mr. Leathom during the discussion on the
appointment of solicitor to the Dock trust. He could noL
remember that any such words had dropped: from him► as those
named by Mr. Leathom; hut, perhaps, if that gentleman were
afterwards to mention to bins the subject of their conference, it
might be recalled, to his mentors', and he might be able to ex •
plain the import, of, what he bad said.. He .had, he said, done
every thuw in his power to heal the breach that.bad. arisen.
The Al A yoii and Mr. EVANS bore out the 'Town•clerk in the'
latter statement. •
Mr. Las TIMM testified his readiness to confer with the Town.:
clerk, and assist, in recalling to his memory the words which be
had used.
The council then broke up at half-pa'st three.

.„ .
MECHANIC.% INSTITUTION.—The lectores ha;'e again been:
resumed at this excellent institution. Dr. Kane delivered the
first lecture of a course on chernistry; on Wednesday evening;
to a numerous and attentive audience. As there is not a more.
extensively useful science than thht of chemistry, we feel no
donbt that the .audiences will increase as the Doctor proceeds.,
There is hardly a class of persons in this town whose comforte.
are not materiallt increased by this science,,, or to whom a.
knowledge of its principtee cannot 'fail to be highly important.,
In our next publication we shall give a full report ul the lecw
tut?. ' •

MhAiunes' ANNI'AL BALL.—We perceive, by an adver-,
tisetnent, that Mr. Stubbs holds his animal ball this evening, as
the, Knighti TentPlars'-hall, Great George-street. Mr., Stubbs',
'hat'monic hand will be in attepdance,,aid will play some„splen-,
.did; new quadrilles, the music from Venice. The assembly it
expected to be an agreeable one. . •
ORMSKTRX BALL. —On Wednesday e,rtsniog the. annual ball was held
at Omsk irk, and in no respect was inferior to the former celebrated,
halis held at that•town:. There wits an' button:l4 assemblage of the
beauty and fashion of the county; and the-ball committee did-their ut-
most hy,their arrangements to render the evening agree able to all.
parties. Stubbs' lummoni6 band was in attendance, and played the
Venetian music ichielwwas so much admired at the ladies'charity•
halt. in Liverpool last Week. Amongst. the elite of the company we',
observed the Hon: Mitts'llootle V. illwahath; 'the Countess of Balearresi
the Hon. R. li. Wiihrtiliam. M P.. It. Townley Parker, Esq., M.P
the Hon. Captain li. Wilbraham, the Hon. Colonel Lindsay. Cornwall,
Leigh, Esq... of lb,:h Leigh, .—,lleccies, Esq., Kent; Colonel Raws-
thine Mrs. Townley Parker, Mr. William Rawstorn, AIiAS
Mi. Edward P‘,..rton 'Patton, Mr. Arthur Holton. Mr. J. Asprnalti
Liverpiiol; Sze.; &c.

. .
.
ohe party or the other, tvottlcttily
lit that with regard to the pi_eieoit ap
it between the.two,'Mr: North suit u•
t any: other man who was quat.ifird to u I
it they of the corporation could Hirt inive acre
r- North VMS associated with gentlemen, and he
was also their agent. in: endeavouring to dissever th
In and the dock interest; as he had said hefore;, _
►r bounden duty. as renresentatives or thrit