The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-16 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR og TER. LIVERPOOL STA3DARD.

Sta,—Generally speaking, there is but little interest
evinced among the ratepayers of Birkenhead about the
management of their local affairs; on the contrary, there
is far too much apathy. The time for the election of eight
commissioners is- approaching, and as there is not much
either of honour or remuneration attached to- the office
(except when there is a little-jobbing going on >, nor any
question of local interest upee which to create- any divi-
sion of parties,_ would it not be the most reasonable course
to make out at list of some 15 or 20 highly-respectable
gentlemen of mercantile connexions and good. business
habits, whose influence might be exercised in furthering
the good of our rising township, and to wait upon each
gentleman, requesting him to undertake the duties of the
office, which, though not very onerous, yet shoukl:be en-
trusted to the hands of. gentlemen of some standing in
society, and whose integrity and independent action may
be relied on. L may mention a few names of gentlemen,
who, if they would be prevailed upon to undertake the
duties, would, I. am sure, discharge them with: credit to
themselves and satisfaction to the ratepayers;. and who,
though not ambitious for thalionours, might nevertheless,
under the consideration that wealth has its duties as well
as its advantages, .be willing to sacrifice a little of their
time and talents to the public good.
Subjoined is- a:list :
Messrs. Riebard.Bryans). Henry Watson, Percy Dove,
Carmichael, Lamont,. Goltorne, Clayton, Clover, Charles
Cook, Little, Pritchard, Steele, and Dr. Scholefield.

Cum multis aliis.
Mr. John Laird has. reluctantly declined, in. consequence
of the urgent nature of his avocations.
Surely eight of the. above gentlemen may be prevailed;
on.—Yours, An 01,n Burn.
Birkenhead;_ May 15,1854.

FIRING WUTES ON THEMERSE.Y.

TO THE: E]orroa OF TUB LIVERPOOZ STANDARD.

have always understood that firing salutes by
merchant vessels is prohibited inside the Perch Rock
Battery ;. and not long ago a severe accident occurred on
the piethead from the wanton display. If so, it is
especially incumbent on the constituted authorities to
enforce, the severest penalties for the noisy racket on the
river.yesterda3:. When on shore police regulations pre-
vent the• passing of cabs opposite individual churches,
during divine service on Sunday mornings, surely it is
more necessary to check demonstrations which annoy all
public worship, and alarm the whole community. It is
reported that the cOmmander of one of the vessels boasts
openly that the departures of his successful voyages have
invariably taken place on Sabbath days, and it would
therefore be well to reprobate the ungodly example through
the press, lest it become general, for even now it is too
frequent.
Formerly it was the custom, at Greenock, to sail, if
possible, during church hours, under the idea that so
doing, while public prayers were being offered, the
voyage would be more prosperous ; but as it caused great
disturbance, and prevented many people, otherwise de-
sirous, from attending public worship, the municipal
powers attempted by every means to check it. It was,
however unavailing, until the clergy gave out they would
not particularly remember for the day those who so sailed,
and this being too much for Jack's superstition, it is now
seldom done. [ am no advocate for superciliousness in
anything, bnt really it would accomplish a great public,
good were all signal firing done away with, either by
night or day, opposite the town, if not altogether within
the port of Liverpool, and certainly all unnecessary
salutes, especially on Sunday, and during the high time
of Christian worship.—Yours, &c.,
Liverpool, May, 15, 1854. ANTI-Box-BAST.

BIRKENHEAD AFFAIRS.

TO TUE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Six,--It is seldom that I take any part in matters of local
arrangements or disputes, but the glaring Ws-statements
in the columns of your contemporary of Saturday last, re-
specting the affairs of Birkenhead, demand attention.
I omit any notice of the twee twang genteel scurrility,;
but to inform your readers that Mr. J. H. Greene did not
propose to lay a rate of ls. in the pound on land, but on
houses. Had the proposition extended to the land also,
it might have been fairly met ; for land has, on the
average, quintrupled in value, but houses have not. The
proposition was based on a catch, for which Mr. Greene
was only an agent.
The forthcoming election in June next—for eight new
commissioners—will show the genteel folk how the thing
is to be done.—Yours, WOODSIDE.