The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-12-11 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

The weekly meeting of the members of the committee took
place yesterday at the committee room, Revenue-buildings ;
Mr. Leathom occupied the chair.
The proceedings of the last meeting were read by the Se-
cretary, and a list of accounts for payment was read and
agreed to.
A report of the sub-committee relative to Queen's graving
dock, No. 2, referring to the charges against Mr. Hartley,
recommending that (m accordance with Mr. Chapman's sug-
gestion), the upper walls should be taken down, and thrown
back as far as the present steps, was then read.
It was enquired how much narrower the quay would be
made by the alteration recommended.
The CHAIRMAN said—five feet on each quay. There
would be about 25 feet of quay room left. The trade, he be-
lieved, would rather be deprived of the quay room, than have
the upper walls of the dock in their present form.
After a short conversation the report was adopted.
DOCK SHEDS.

The Secretary read a recommendation that the new dock

sheds should be covered with slates-in -preference to ;Inc:
They had carefully considered the comparative advantages of
each.

The CHAIRMAN said they had arrived at the conclusion that
slates were the cheapest and most durable.
A member enquired whether slates could be secured from
being blown off in gales of wind ; and the reply was in the
affirmative.

CITY OF DUBLIN STEAM-PACKET COMPANY.
An application from this company was read requesting the
use of, one of the stone flats, with hoisting tackle, for the
purpose of placing moorings in the Sloyne for the use of the
steam packets employed by the post-office, for any reasona-
ble amount. The sub-committee recommended that the ap-
plication be granted for a small remuneration, and subject to
the payment of any damage to the fiat that might arise. The
committee concurred.

DOCK IMPROVEMENTS.
On the recommendation of the sub-committee, it was
agreed that a crane should be placed on the east side of the
Queen's Dock, near the south end. It was also agreed to have
the proposed graving blocks on the north side (or basin) of
the Prince's Dock, and that in accordance with the opinion
of the harbour-masters whom the Surveyor had consulted on
the subject, that they should be 300 feet in length from the
east end, 3 feet further from the wall, and on an inclined
plane rising 2 feet 6 inches from the west end.
THE FORMBY LIFE-BOAT. •

The crew of this boat having applied to the committee for

some remuneration for saving- the crew and passengers of
the ship " Scotland," lately stranded near Formby, the sub-
committee to whom the matter was referred recommended
the parties to apply to the Humane Society. An extract was
read from the log-book of the vessel, showing that she was
in imminent danger when the life-boat came off, after being
on the bank, and exposed to the fury of winds and waves
over night; and that the captain of the Formby Light-boat,
which came off at nine in the morning, stated to the captain
that there was every probability of the gale continuing and
freshening ; that he could not again reach the ship when the
tide turned, and that the safety of those on board would be
endangered by their longer remaining with the vessel. Under
this persuasion the captain got his passengers and crew into
the life-boat and his own long boat, and they were safely
landed. After leaving the ship, the Magazine life-boat came
up, and asked them if they wanted any assistance, and the
reply was in the negative. The Magazine boat afterwards
went to the ship, and with assistance which she subsequently
procured, got the ship off and towed her to the Magazines.
The CHAIRMAN said that considerable discussion bad

taken place at the Humane Society, yesterday, on the sub-
ject, which ended in their awarding £2 per man to the crew
of the Formby boat, and £3 to the captain. He thought the
boatmen were deserving of some reward from their body. The

other boatmen that towed the vessel to the Magazines had
also made a claim ; but they were to receive £250 for towing
her, bringing her into dock, and unloading her. He did not,
therefore, think they had any claim upon the committee.
Mr. CHAPMAN said men ought to be rewarded for doing
their duty, in such cases, in the saving of life, not those who
merely went to secure wrecked property.
Mr. TOBIN said that there was an inclination amongst
some to underrate the services of the life-boatmen. He
thought the crew of the Formby boat should be rewarded.
Mr. H ORSPALL moved that £3 be given to each of the men,
and £5 to the captain. The primary duty of life-boatmen
was to save life—not property. This motion was agreed to.
A short conversation arose as to the Magazine boat, which
resulted in the opinion that the men would receive amongst
them the £250 for saving the property, and that their claim
for saving life could not be entertained.

LIGITT-SHIPS, LIGHT-HOUSES, &C.
A report of the inspectors 'of light-ships, light-houses,
telegraph stations, &c., was read. From this it appeared
that the light-ships were visited on the 13th October, and
were found to be in a most efficient and satisfactory state.
The report noticed the light-houses respectively, and the re-
pairs which some of them required; and recommended an
increase and equalization of the salaries of several of the
keepers, which will. of course, become a matter of future con-
sideration. The committee adopted the report.
DOCK GATEMEN._ _ _

The SECRETARY read a recommendation from the sub-
:ornmittee in favour of the appointment of several new
Dock-gatemen.
Mr. HORSFALL recommended that gatemen and persons

employed at the docks ZOuicii)e prohibited from asking for
Christmas boxes. It was agreed that a former order should
to that effect be communicated to them by the harbour

Laster and dock masters

KING'S DOCK

It was stated that the west quay of the King's Dock was
not covered with a shed above half its length, and that it
would be desirable that the whole should be covered. This
was referred to the Committee of Works.