The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-08-07 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

The weekly meeting of the dock committee was held yes-
terday. There were present Messrs. Leathoni, Benn, Dix-
on, Martin, Evans, Yates, Ripley, G. Holt, Holt, Bulley,
Gladstone, Tobin, and Segar. Mr. Leathoin took, the chair.

The CHAIRMAN mentioned that the five gentlemen an-
nounced last week, as having to retire by rotation from the
committee, had been re-elected by the town council without
a division, but that a protest had been entered against the
re-election of Mr. Alderman Evans, by Mr. Bushell.
The SURVEYOR presented a report on the subject of the
placing of graving blocks on the east end of the north side
of George's dock basin. The substance of it was, that the
working of the dock would thereby be much impeded. After
some discussion between the chairman, Mr. Evans, and Mr.
Tobin, the report was received, but the further considera-
tion of it postponed until after the committee had inspected
the place.
The SURVEYOR, to whom Mr. M'Tear's letter was referred
last week,'applying for additional shed accommodation, on
the south side of Trafalgar dock, presented a report, and a
plan of the alterations he recommended. He proposed to
extend the shed on the west end, the cost of which he esti-
mated at £285. The surveyor further reported that Mr.
M`Tear refused to make good the damage, amounting to £3O,
done to the bridge, by his steamer Finn M'Coull. Some
conversation followed, at the end of which it was resolved
that the shed be enlarged according to the plans of the sur-
veyor ; and that application be made again by the solicitor to
Mr. M`Tear, for payment of the damage.
A communication from the paying board, relative to the
paving of a portion of Bath-street, was referred to the
solicitor.

The SURVEYOR reported that the expense of fixing gates
to South Brunswick Dock would amount to £4,600. He
added that if gates were not put down the dock would have
to be cleansed two or three times a-year, at very considera-
ble expense.
On the motion of Mr. EVANS, seconded by Mr. RIPLEY,
the Surveyor was ordered to take the necessary measures for
fixing the gates.

The SUH-VEYOR next reported upon a memorial from .the
residents of Seacombe, Egremont, and New'Brighton, pray-
ing for a bridge to be placed across the south gut of Prince's
Dock. It-stated that on further consideration the Surveyor
did not see that an additional bridge could be of use, unless
it was fixed as near the gates of the dock as possible.
The road to the ferry then would necessarily be through the
dock-yard and across the quays.
Mr. TOBIN and Mr. J. HOLT observed that that would
interfere with the working,of the south end of the dock.
Mr. GLADSTONE remarked that a bridge would be a great
accommodation to the public.
The CHAIRMAN was of opinion that proper attention was
not paid to the speedy shutting of the present bridges by the
men who had to perform that duty. The public were fre-
quently kept waiting longer than they ought, and yesterday
he himself saw them kept a quarter of an hour longer than
was necessary. Somemethod ought to be imposed upol'lthe
men, to make them give greater accommodation to the pub-
lic, for he was sure they did not give all they might.
Mr. BENN expressed a similar opinion.
After some further conversation, in which Mr. EVANS and
others took part, resolutions were passed directing the dock
masters to cause the gate-men to afford the public as much
accommodation as possible, and the policemen on duty to
cause the passengers from each side to cross the bridge on
different sides.

The Master of the Queen's Dock presented a report sug-
gesting the erection of gates to Queen's Dock basin for the
security of the graving dock works. This report was pre-
pared in consequence of the Oriental, steam-ship, having re-
cently been in some danger from the want of gates.
The CHAIRMAN said the expense would be very great, and
it would be merely for the convenience of the large steamers.
The estimate made by Mr. Hartley last year was £67,000,
and now it would be more. Besides, all the evidence taken
before the sub-committee last year was in favour of keeping
this basin open.
Mr. EvAys said accommodation must be found some-
where for the large steamers. It would, he thought, be very
easy and convenient to find them accommodation in other
parts of the river, without injury to Liverpool._

The SURVEYOR said there was no opportunity of doing it
effectually on this side of the river. _

Mr. EVANS remarked that Queen's Dock Basin, if gates
were put up, would never answer for the great steamers.
Mr. GLADSTONE said the difficulty with regard to the large
steamers did not appear to arise from their size, but from
their large projecting paddle boxes. But improvements had
lately been made in steam navigation, which went far to show
that, ere long, steam-boats would be constructed on a very
different plan to the present. He referred to the success of
the Archimedes, and mentioned that the Admiralty were
about to introduce that principle. Should that principle be-
come general, it would make a great difference in the accom-
modation to be provided for the large steamers.
Mr. YATEs said the wants of trade were so pressing that
the committee ought to give more dock room.
Mr. G. HOLT and Mr, EVANS made a few remarks, after