The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-11-30 00:00:00

LOCAL MEETINGS.

BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.—The adjourned meet-
ing of this body was held on Tuesday. Mr. Gregory read
the two questions; viz., whether the commissioners as a
body are favourable to a tax upon property, for the pur-
pose of paying the interest on the bonded debt; and se-
condly, if they would prosecute the measure if indemni-
fied, in the event of the costs not being obtained. Mr.
Hicklin moved that the first question be answered in the
affirmative, which was carried, Mr. Laird dissenting, as he
thought the board had already power sufficient to raise
funds enough for the purpose. On the second question,
Mr. Bentham moved that the board would not be jus-
tified in going to parliament, but that they would give
their best support to any measure for the good of the
township." This was also carried, Mr. Laird again dis-
senting.

LYND SOCIETY.—The first meeting of an amateur so-
ciety under this title took place on Thursday evening last,
at the residence of the conductor, M. A. Saqui, under
whose able instructions the members have attained a de-
gree of excellence highly creditable. The programme
,
opened with the overture Lazar za Lardra," by Rossini.
and was followed by the glee, " Mynheer Vaa Dunck,"
which, with other difficult pieces, was not only well exe-
cuted, but given in a manner that would have met a lau-
ditor) public reception. Amongst the most prominent,
were The Jew's lovely daughter," " Stay, prithee stay,"
" John Anderson my jo," " In happy moments," " The
Red Cross Knight," and a German song, " Du Lycht's
mir Inheizer." Rossini's overture, " William Tell," by
Mr. Saqui was most brilliantly played. His style is a su .
perior one, and combined with his power of execution and
taste,. produces a most pleasing effect.
THE BIRKENHEAD DOCK COMMISSIONERS.—The ad-
journed special meeting of the commissioners was held on
Thursday morning, to receive the report of the deputation_
appointed to have an interview with the dock bondholders
in London. There were present (Mr. W. Potter (in the
'chair), and thirteen other commissioners. Mr. Cole
handed in a communication, which was read, stating the
particulars of a meeting between the Woods and Forests
and the deputation of bbnd creditors of the Birkenhead
Doak Trust, held on the 23d of November. The heads
of the resolutions were (as before proposed so far) that
there be 13 commissioners ' • that the chairman be nomi-
nated by the crown ; that four commissioners represent
Birkenhead, of whom Mr. Burnet and Mr. King are to
be two, the other to be chosen by the ratepayers, assessed
at not less than £3O, or possessed of £2,000 worth of
property ; that four commissioners represent the bond
creditors, namely, Mr. Goldsmidt, Mr. J. Bailey, jun.,
Mr. Garnett, and another to be named by the bondhold-
ers; that four commissioners represent the parish of
Wallasey, with Seacombe, to be chosen by rate-payers,
assessed or qualified as above ; and that the nomination
be subject to the approval of the crown. It was suggested
but not proposed, that not more than five at any one time
of the shareholders of the Warehouse Company shall be
commissioners of the docks, and no shareholder whose
calls are in arrear shall be a commissioner.—Mr. Greene
said it was strange that only two commissioners were to
be elected by the ratepayers of Birkenhead, and four by
the ratepayers of Wallasey. Mr. Cole explained that this
was done to accommodate the bondholders, who were
anxious to have some of their body in the commission,
and Lord Morpeth agreed that of the four elected by the
ratepayers of Birkenhead, two should be bondholders.
It was stated that Lord Morpeth had suggested that Mr.
Garnett and Mr. King should be commissioners. It was
finally agreed to accept the resolutions, and to ascertain
clearly how the nominations were to be made. Mr. W.
Laird proposed a resolution to the effect that the law-
clerk be requested to consult with the commissioners of
Woods and Forests, the solicitor to the bondholders, and
with the parliamentary agent, and to take such steps as
might be necessary for perfecting and completing the bill
for carrying out the agreement with the crown.—After
some little discussion, this resolution was passed.—After
some converssation, relative to the impossibility of nego-
tiating dock bonds at present, and the desirableness of
doing something to get money, and save many who were
on the verge of bankruptcy, the meeting separated.—
Another meeting will be held on the 23d of December.
SELECT VESTRY.—A special meeting of this body was
held on Saturday, for the purpose of considering the pro-
priety of obtaining a clause in the bill now being applied
for by the Peck Committee, rendering the dock ware_
houses liable to parish rates ; and at the usual meeting on
Tuesday a deputation was appointed to wait on the Dock
Committee to see if some amicable arrangement could not
be made. The Chairman (Rector Campbell) reported
that on Thursday himself and other members of the board
had had an interview with the Sanatory Committee and
the magistrates of the borough with reference to the over-
crowding of low lodging houses, and the increase of fever
and street mendicancy. The reception of the deputation
from the vestry was perfectly satisfactory. Unless the
inhabitants at large would go hand-in-hand with the
vestry, and refuse to give money to beggars in the streets,
the beggars would crowd here, and the consequence of the
overcrowding would infallibly be typhus fever. A com-
mittee was appointed to report on the amount collected
for the voluntary rate, to cover the loss sustained by Mr.
Blanchard on his contract for flour, by the influx of Irish
paupers and the rise in the price of wheat; and also to
grant a gratuity to the widows and children of the officers
of the parish who had died of fever.—A good deal of con-
versation then took place as to the politics of the vestry,
which was caused by the election of two members in the
place of Mr. Horsley and Mr. Townsend; in the end, Mr.
Pim and Mr. Wylie were elected, upon the understanding
that Mr. Haigh would propose another member at the
next meeting in place of Mr. Parkinson.—Mr. Haigh said
he had been requested, on the part of Mr. Cafferata, (who
was ill,) to give notice of motion for the next day for the
appointment of a committee to inquire into the present
mode of giving relief to the sick and indigent poor.—The
Chairman thought it important that a large oven upon the
principle of M. Soyer should be erected at the Workhouse
with the least possible delay, and the matter was referred to
the committee.—The Chairman said the church clocks
would be set to Greenwich time on the Ist of December.—
The Workhouse Committee gave it as their opinion that the
church service at the interments of the dead at St. Mar-
tin's and Walton ought to be performed by the Work-
house Chaplain; and that the salary of the new chaplain
be, as it was at present, £250 per annum. Mr. Ferguson
gave notice for the next day that he should then move the
appointment of chaplain. The cases of out-door relief for
the week ending the 15th instant, were reported to be
5200 including 1204 fever cases. This showed an increase,
in the total number of cases of 60, and in the fever cases
of 30. The returns for the following week showed an in-
crease of 46 in the total number of cases, and a decrease
of 3 in the fever cases. The sum of £lOOO was ordered
to .be paid to Messrs. Holme, on account of the new
buildings at the Workhouse. £5OOO were ordered to be
paid to the Corporation, on account of the Watch and
Museum rates. Mr. Wm. Cornforth was appointed pay-
clerk, in place of Williams, at a salary of £lO5 per annum,
he giving the necessary securities.
DOCK Commirrim.—At the meeting on Thursday there
were present Mr. Nicol, in the chair, and fourteen other
members. Mr. Nicol regretted that Mr. Moore was not
present that day to take the chair on his appointment.—
; Mr. Tobin, as• the oldest member of the committee, pro-

posed the re-election of Mr. Nicol, which was seconded
by several gentlemen, and passed without a division. Mr.
Nicol thanked the committee, and hoped by pursuing the
line of conduct that had obtained their confidence, to en-
sure a continuance of their kindness and support. The
chairman was desired to write to the Board of Ordnance
for the balance of £4OOO, due for the site of the new bat-
tery.—A letter was received from Messrs. D. and C.
M'lver, agents to the British and North American Steam-
packet Company, stating that, as the service of these
mails was to be considerably increased at the end of the
year, and as, in April, there would be an arrival and de-
parture every week, more and better accommodation
would be required at the Coburg Dock, the present being
quite inadequate for a fleet of large steamers. The letter
suggested several alterations and improvements at the
Coburg Dock. The chairman said the Coburg might, ere
long, cease to be a place for steamers, and it was therefore
a question whether permanent buildings should be there
erected. The letter was referred to the harbour masters'
sub-committee.—The sub-committees for the ensuing
year were then elected, including nearly all the old mem-
bers.—The Rev. Rector Campbell, and four of the mem-
bers of the select vestry, and also the clerk, having re-
quested an interview with the committee, were admitted.
The rev. rector said they came as a deputation from the
select vestry to enquire, with respect to the building of
additional warehouses, whether the bill for the same con-
tained a clause for the rating of dock warehouses, similar
to that referring to the Albert Dock warehouses : and, if
not, to suggest that such a clause be inserted, as the ves-
try thought it unjust that dock warehouses were to be ex-
empted from rates. The chairman said the bill was yet
in an imperfect state. After it was laid before the com-
mittee, it would then have to be passed by the Council
before it went a stage farther. The rev. rector said the
vestry were in ignorance on the subject, and wished to
convey to the committee an intimation that they should
object to the exemption of dock warehouses from rates,
and would do all they could to have a clause inserted ren-
dering them liable. The chairman said the vestry should
have a copy of the bill in time. He might state, however,
that the trust generally being exempt from rates, he did
not know how far it might be disposed to impose them
voluntarily. The rector said the Albert Docks were rated.
The chairman said that was an especial agreement : all he
could add was, that the committee were obliged to the de-
putation for the trouble they had taken, and that every
attention should be paid to their suggestions the bill
would soon be before the Council. Mr. Ferguson said
the vestry intended to memorialize the Council if it was
not their intention to insert the clause. The chairman
said there would be ample time, and that the committee
would not steal a march upon them.—The deputation
then withdrew.