The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-07-16 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

At the weekly meeting of the Dock Committee, which was
held yesterday, the following members were present—Messrs.
Benn (chairman,) Horsfall, Holmes, Aiken, Sands, Mellor,
and Tobin.

The Surveyor's report was presented by the Sub-committee
of Works and read on the alterations and rebuilding of
Canning Graving-docks No. 2 and 3. The plans were also sub-
mitted. The estimated cost of the works is £16,500.

Mr. TOBIN asked how long these Graving Docks had been
built ?

Mr. HORSPALL replied at least more than half a century.
Mr. HOLMES believed they had been built more than eighty
years. _

On Mr. Holmes' motion the report was adopted, and the
Surveyor authorised to proceed with the works.
The Sub-committee of Works presented a report from the
South Harbour-master upon the best manner of accommo-
dating vessels in the coasting trade during the period of the
alterations in Canning and Salthouse Docks. The Sub-com-
mittee resolved to recommend the suggestions of the Harbour
master for adoption.
The Harbour-master's report was then read. He recom-
mended the following accommodation to be made for the
coasting trade :-Ist, the south end of George's Dock, and
300 feet upon the east and west sides-2d, the north end and
300 feet at the east and west sides of King's Dock, and 3d,
the north end and 110 feet on the west side and 300 feet on
the east side of Queen's Dock.
Mr. HORSFALL stated that the whole of the dock-masters
had been examined on this subject, and the harbour-master's
report was in accordance with their evidence.
A long discussion ensued, Mr. TOBIN insisting that the
accommodation provided was neither sufficient nor safe for
the coasting trade, and he protested, as a practical man of
50 years standing, against Canning and Salthouse Docks
being closed at the same time.
The report was ultimately adopted.
On the recommendation of the sub-committee, the two
tar stoves at the Clarence Graving Dock were ordered to be
raised to the level of the quay. The expense of this altera-
tion, the surveyor stated, would not be more than from £25
to £3O.

Mr. ATKIN asked how soon the gridiron in Clarence
Basin would be ready?
The SURVEYOR replied soon after next springs.
Mr. AIKIN was glad to be able to say that this gridiron
would be a better accommodation than a graving dock, and
that it would yield a good revenue to the estate. Ships
might, on it, be coppered and re-coppered without going into
the Graving Dock.

A communication was read from the pilots, approving of
the removal of the two buoys at the entrance to the Victoria
Channel, ordered last Thursday.
The SECRETARY read a letter from Mr. Wainwright, of
the Liverpool Office, in London, thanking the committee
for their grant of £lOO for his past services, and £3O for the
year commencing on the Ist instant.—Mr. AIKIN having
expressed his regret that a larger sum had not been granted,
the letter was ordered to be entered in the minutes.
The CHAIRMAN announced the death of Mr. Backhouse,
formerly receiver of the dock dues for goods, by which event
his retiring allowance from the estate of £250 per annum
would cease.

A letter was read from the mayor, informing the commit-
tee of a vote of thanks having been passed by the town coun-
cil to Mr. Whitty and the police force, and such of the dock
gatemen as acted with them, for their admirable conduct dur-
ing the late election. The mayor added that he had much
pleasure in stating that Mr. Whitty reported most favourably
of the manner in which the dock gatemen had discharged
their duty, and further that during the entire three days of
their services there was not a single instance of drunkenness
or absence.

Mr. MELLon observed that a grant of money had been
made to the policemen for their good conduct. Had there
been any made to the dock gatemen?
The SECRETARY said he was not aware.
Mr. MELLOR intimated that he should make further in-
quiry upon this subject.
An application for assistance in defraying the expence of
raising a wreck said to be in Wallasey Hole, which annoy-
ed the fishermen by breaking their nets, was referred for a
report to the harbour master.

Captain Emerson, of her majesty's steamer Urgent, in a
letter to the marine surveyor, dated the 10th instant, com-
plai►►ed of neglect at the Rock Light-house in the tide-ball
having been kept up when the water was three feet below the
platform. This occurred on the morning of Friday last. A
letter was also read from Curwen, the head keeper of the
light-house, dated the 13th instant, acknowledging that
Hughes, the keeper reprimanded last week, had allowed
the tide-ball to be exhibited an hour too long.__

Several members expressed an opinion that Hughes was no
longer fit to be retained in the service of the estate. At the
request of Mr. 'robin, the resolution of the committee last
week was read, from which it appeared, that the committee
then informed him that any neglect for the future would be
visited bj instant dismissal; yet the very day after that warn-
ing he had committed this gross negligence. A vote was
passed for his immediate discharge.
The committee then separated.

MR. M'CREA'S REGARD FOR TRUTH

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

DEAR Sia,—l hope I shall not again have to trespass on
your columns with any reference to Mr. Nl`Crea. I regret
to have it to say that his mode of conducting controversy
does not include within it a scrupulous attention to truth.
He states that I have made a " transit from methodism to
quakerism, from quakerism to independency, and from inde-
pendency to episcopacy, and that I attended his ministry in
the Independent Chapel, Limerick.
To this assertion I can give a most unqualified denial. I
never heard Mr. M'Crea preach. lam not aware of having
ever seen him, except one day that he was pointed out to me
in the street.

I never was an independent or a methodist, and, except
for a few weeks, never attended a quaker's meeting from the
time I was 13 years old.

I confess I am surprised that Mr. M'Crea should refer to
the history of " independency" in Limerick. Were it my
purpose to expose the private characters of individuals, the
founding of that system in my native city would untold a
painful tale of hypocrisy and republicanism.
I have no desire, however, to enter upon it. The princi-
ples of dissent are opposed to the word of God, and that is a
sufficient reason for rejecting and opposing the system, while
we love, and pity, and pray for those who are unhappily in-
volved in its sin. _

Mr. M'Crea having mentioned Mr. Ould's name, I have
now no further concern with his negociations about ordina-
tion. Mr. Ould gave me permission to state that 'Air. M'Crea
objected neither to the doctrines nor to the discipline of the
church ; that his only difficulty was the two years education.
I have now, sir, I hope, done with Mr. M'Crea. I beg to
thank you for your kindness in giving insertion to my letters,
and, in conclusion, earnestly hope that all those who vene-
rate our truly scriptural and apostolic church, may value her
ministry, her sacraments, and her liturgy, as the Lord's ap-
pointed means of becoming acquainted with the love, en-
riched with the grace, and filled with the indwelling of the
Lord Jesus, the great head of his church. I remain, dear
sir, faithfully your's JOSEPH BAYLEE.
Parkfield, July 15, 1841.