The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-09-25 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

The weekly meeting of the Dock Committee was held yes.
terday. The following members were present :—Messrs.
Leathom, Benn, Barclay, Thos. Holt, Holmes, Middleton,
Horsfall, Miller, Bulley, Ripley, Chapman, Evans, Tobin,
Moon, and Martin.
The proceedings of the last meeting were confirmed, and
the accounts of the week passed.
The SURVEYOR submitted an estimate of the cost of
placing reverse gates between Union and Coburg Docks.
The cost, with the sill of the same depth as at present, would
be £6265, and the time required to complete the work would
be ten months ; if the committee wished the gates to be
4ft. Gin. below the sill of the old dock, the cost would be
£9751, and it would take sixteen months to complete the
work.

Mr. HORSFALL asked the Surveyor whether he meant
sixteen months' interruption to the working of Coburg Dock,
or whether he meant to make a coffer-dam ?
The SURVEYOR said he meant to make a coffer-dam.
Mr. HORSFALL asked whether the Coburg Dock was now
deepened to the level of the sill
The SURVEYOR replied that it was, and that there was now
plenty of water for the largest vessels.
Mr. HORSFALL enquired how much more water there was
now than when the President was supposed to have taken the
ground ?
The SURVEYOR replied, about 2ft. din. At a 9-feet tide
there would now be 17ft. water in the dock. He denied that
the President had been aground.
Mr. HORSFALL.—WouId she have floated with the pre-
sent water?
The SuuvnYou.—Yes.
Mr. HORSFALL.—Suppose reverse gates are fixed, how
much more water can you preserve in the dock?
The SURVEYOR.—We can keep the level of the tide in,
but no more. A great deal depends upon the discretion of
the dock-master. With reverse gates we shall always main-
tain l7ft. water.
The CHAIRMAN said the question was whether the sill be.
tween the two docks should be deepened, or whether they
should put down reverse gates without lowering the sill.
Mr. HORSFALL.—Do you mean that the simple deepening
of the sill will cost £9OOO, and the placing of the reverse gated
only £6000?
The SURVEYOR.—Yes : it will be a tedious process, and
we shall have to put down a powerful engine, which will re-
quire some time.
Mr. CHAPMAN had given a good deal of attention to this
subject, and the question, he should say, was whether the
committee should incommode the trade of the Queen's Dock
for 10 or 16 months at so much outlay. Having 16 to 17
feet water at neap tides in Coburg Dock, was not that as
much as steam proprietors could expect. He thought that
the committee, in having spent £lO,OOO upon the Coburg
Dock, had spent enough for the accommodation of one trade.
Besides, the Halifax boats did not take so much water as the
President, and they could much easier go in the river to take
in coals than in dock.
The CHAIRMAN thought Mr. Chapman was under a mis-
take when he spoke about the accommodation of one trade.
The expenditure he described was not for one trade only, but
for the purposes of general trade.
Mr. HORSFALL said Mr. Chapman had misunderstood Mr.
Hartley. Mr. Hartley said there would be 17 feet water only
when the reverse gates were put down.
The SURVEYOR.—Yes.
Mr. CHAPMAN admitted that he had been mistaken.
Mr. HousFALL contended that the inconvenience during
the progress of the proposed work could not be great. The
expense was certainly serious ; but the inconvenience would
be trifling.
Mr. CHAPMAN said, when he looked, at the last committee,
at the enormous expences of the docks, he thought this mat-
ter ought to be postponed for further consideration ; the de-
lay of a month or so could not make much difference in the
end, and at the same time it would enable the committee to
make themselves better acquainted with the whole subject.
Mr. HousrALL quite agreed with Mr. Chapman that it
would be wise to defer the consideration of this question. It
was a matter of serious moment, and should be most carefully
considered

The further consideration of the subject was then postponed.
The SURVEYOR submitted an estimate of the expense of
erecting shears upon the east quay of Union Dock. It would
be about £3lO. A long desultory discussion upon the ques-
tion, whether shears should be erected, then took place be-
tween Mr. Chapman, Mr. Horsfall, and Mr. Tobin. Even-
tually the subject was referred to a sub-committee.
A letter was read from the assistant-surveyor of Toxteth-
park, stating that the surveyors of that township had no ob-
jection to the improvement proposed to be made by the
committee in Sefton-street.

An application from one of the steam-packet companies for
permission to board up a portion of the shed on the south-
east quay of Clarence-dock was then re-considered. The
conversation like those on many other subjects, was carried
on in a tone too low to enable us to hear it ; but we under-
stood Mr. Bulley, as the chairman of a sub-committee, to
report that there would be no objection to complying with
the application on certain conditions.—Application granted.
The SURVEYOR wished for the instructions of the com-
mittee to put the stages on the dock quays under the charge
of the several dock masters. It was stated, that these stages
ere always lying about, without being considered in the
charge of any one. A resolution was passed to the effect that
the masters of the several docks be held responsible for the
removal and safe custody of the stages.
The NORTH HARBOUR MASTER requested permission to
place an additional buoy in George's and Prince's Basin.
His letter stated that if another buoy were placed as he sug-
gested no inconvenience would be caused to the working of
ships in and out of the docks, and that the bridges would not
be kept open so long as at present. The subject was referred
to a sub-committee.

A letter was read from Jane Nichols and her husband,
keepers of the Bidston telegraph station, stating, that in
consequence of ill health, arising from excessive labour, they
were compelled to resign, and requesting some donation in
consideration of their fan4ly having been upwards of half a
century in the service of the committee. A short discussion
followed, in the course of which the Chairman stated that
the laboui of the station was very severe ; and Mr. Ripley
mentioned that this was one of the stations which the sub-
committee on telegraphs had not visited. It was ultimately
decided that assistance should be rendered to the applicants,
and further enquiry made.

. .
Toe Keeper of the Crosby Lighthouse complained, in a
letter, that if the committee continued to charge him rent
for the laud he occupied, or declined to build him a stable
and car• house, he must resign. It appeared that the rent
was only £B, and the salary of the situation was £BO, whilst
the salaries of the keepers of other lighthouses was only from
£4O to £5O. The chairman added, that he feared the man
was not as steady as he might be. The resignation was ac-
cepted. _

On the application of the widow of the late Edward Tyrell,
a superintendent in the police, the arrears of rent (four
months) for the south station-house, was granted on her im-
mediately giving up possession of the premises.
The SECRETARY read a letter from Messrs. John Winder
and Co , written under the following circumstances. A ves-
sel was lately sunk near Beaumaris, and a person (whose
name we did not hear) applied to the committee for the loan
of their diving apparatus, to assist in raising it. Messrs.
Winder and Co. having become sureties for the safe return
of the apparatus, it was lent. This person it appeared had
subsequently hired a flat. The owners of the flat, not being
able to obtain the hire, seized the diving apparatus. The
present application pas to request the committee to inter-
fere with the party who had seized the apparatus. The
secretary said the solicitor was of opinion that the committee
could not recognise any party in the transaction but Messrs.
Winder, as they were responsible.—Referred to the solicitor.
Mr. RIPLEY mentioned that the committee had a lease of
the Great Ormeshead telegraph station from the Woods and
Forests, but he understood that the land was the property of
the Bishop of Bangor. The committee was therefore liable
to be turned out of possession any moment. He believed,
however, that a lease might be obtained from the bishop.—
Referred to the solicitor.

The consideration of the surveyor's annual re port was
postponed till the next meeting.
Mr. EVANS moved, according to notice, " that a sub-
committee he appointed with instructions, with the assistance
of the solicitor, to prepare a bill, having for its object the
construction of a new dock or docks, and warehouses upon
the dock quays, with such regulations or improvements as
may be conducive to the efficient working of the docks, and
the good management of the dock estate." It was not
necessary for him to enter into the merits of the question,
and therefore he should merely move the re-appointment of
the sub-committee of last year—namely, Messrs. Leathom,
Benn, Horsfall, George Holt, and Evans.
Mr. BARCLAY seconded the motion.
Mr. HORSFALL said the only objection be had to the com-
mittee was the fact that his name was upon it. He should
be glad if any gentleman would take his place ; but at the
same time he entertained the same opinions now as he did
when the bill was originated, of the importance and necessity
of it.

Tile CHAIRMAN and Mr. EVANS said Mr. Horsfall's name
could not be withdrawn.

Mr. SMITH moved, as an amendment, that the words re-
lating to the erection of warehouses upon the dock quays, be
left out of the resolution.
Mr. Tonts seconded the amendment.
A division took place, when there appeared—For the
amendment, 3; against it, 13; majority, 10.
Mr. CHAPNIAN, in reference to the contract for oil, read a
letter from a gentleman of scientific pursuits, named Taylor,
with the object of shewing that the experiments adopted by
the committee for ascertaining the quality of the several
samples of oil, were not decisive tests of their quality. The
letter was referred to the sub-committee, the chairman and
deputy-chairman in the mean time to decide upon which
tender should be accepted.
Messrs. Evans. Horsfall, Chapman, Mellor, and Ripley,
were appointed a sub-committee to consider and report upon
Mr. Gage's plans for the proposed new dock, by which he
says he could afford more water and quay room than will be
afforded by Mr, Hartley, and an equal amount of warehouse
accommodation. The first meeting of the sub-committee
will be held on Saturday (to,morrow). The meeting then
separated.

THE ANNUAL. EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS.—The annual
exhibition of paintings in Postoffice-place, nothwithstauding
the inclemency of the weather, has been visited by very
numerous parties of ladies and gentlemen, who are unanimous
in their praise of the collection. We regret that we are
obliged to defer until Tuesday next the first of our series of
notices of the various works of art which the rooms contain.

LAIDLAW'S MOVING PANORAMA.-Thig truly interest-
ing exhibition is still as attractive as ever ; and is daily fre-
quented by numerous parties, all of whom seem highly de-
lighted with its well-executed scenes. The view of Gibraltar
is, at the present moment, an object of very great interest,
owing to the probability that its strength as a fortification
may again soon be tested, in the event of a war with France.
This painting struck us as peculiarly well designed and beau-
tifully finished.

EVERTON AND KIRKDALE FLORAL AND HORTICULTU-
RAL SOCIETY.—Next Monday this society will hold its third
exhibition for the present year, in the gardens attached to the
house of Mr. New, at Kirkdale. A marquee will be erected
as usual, in the vacant space at the north-east corner of the
grounds. The show of Flora will be but confined as regards
species, though abundant in quantity and beautiful in ap-
pearance. We have hopes that, notwithstanding the very
unfavourable state of the weather, the show of dahlias will be
good. The prizes for this favourite are numerous, and the
regulations such as to induce vigorous competition. We are
in hopes also of seeingpraopfiirtieioduiss,palafayshofiofnruabitlse
aatutdenvdeagnectaebmleasy.
Should
beantictiphaetedday. prove

MR. HOLDEN'S LECTURES ON ASTRONOMY.—The very
interesting series of lectures on astronomy, delivered at the
Liver Theatre, by our old and respected friend Mr. Holden,
have attracted very numerous and highly respectable
audiences. The pupils from most of the boarding schools in
town have been gratified with a view of Mr. Holden's
beautiful illustrations of this sublime science. The last
lecture of the second series will be given this evening ; and
on Monday evening next, and the two following evenings,
he will deliver a course of lectures on optics. We have no
doubt that these lectures will also prove a source of great
attraction.

Dr. Timmon was on Wednesday last elected one of the
honorary physicians to the Liverpool dispensaries. The
number of votes recorded was 361, of which Dr. Timmon ob-
tained 214.

CURE OF SQUINTING.—On Tuesday morning, forty-three
persons submitted to the operation at the Derby Infirmary,
in addition to those we mentioned last week, for the cure of
squinting. This defect will soon be rare in the neighbour-
hood : persons are to be seen in every part of the town with
a bandage over one of their eyes, who have undergone the
operation.—Derby Reporter.