The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-01-05 00:00:00

MR CURRIE'S PICTURE.

The MXion read a letter from Mr. James Aiken, accompa
nyingthe portrait of William
,Wallace Currie, Esq:, which ha
delivered to be hung up in the council-room. The subscribers
had selected Mr. Philips as ihe artist, and it now became his
pleasing duty to present to the council, a picture not only faith,
ful as a likeness, but highly creditable to British art. He con-
gratulated the council on receiving it.
Mr Councillor WALLACE Cuaurti could not suffer this subject •
to pass without one,woid. He could
:only say this—that ahu
pictiure which was in that room would always be to him •a re-
mehibrance of the, honourable approbation which the council:
had`entertained of his conduct; and he should still continue to
endeavour to merit that approbation not only front the council; ,
but from the public at large.
NOTICE TO iiiiPWRIGHTS, .„ _
The MAYOR placed in the bands of the Town-clerk a memo-,
rial, which the latter said was signed by the following gentle-
men: Messrs. Humble and Milcrest, John D. Grayson and Co.:
Winos e Seddon, Lomax and WilSon, P. Challoner, Sons, and
C ~, Ma View Glover and Co., John Dawson and Co., Thomas
rioydon. Robert Clarke and Sons, Bannister and Simpson:
Jj.rept, Stee's Haseldeu, Pearson, and Troughton. The memo-
rial ran as torlows:—
", We the undersigned shipbuilders of the port of Liverpool.'
having received notices, dated the 15th instant, to quit the pre-.
noses we now occupy, on the Ist day of July next, or be subject,
ed to a considerable increase of rent, beg most respectfully to
call your attention to, the following observations on the subject,.
and it is of so much importance,, not only to ourselves, but also
to fhe general interests of the port, that we hope it may be taken
into your most serious consideration;
From the nature of our business it would be impossible for
us in almost all instances, (as it is in the present,) to give up
possession of the shipbuilding yards we now occupy, at a notices
of onoy six moliths as you are aware that there are nut other
premises within the port that we could remove to. We are;
therefore, entirely at your mercy, and hope the peculiar cir-,
cumstances odour case may be, duly considered, for, upon your
decision, it depends whether shipbuilding is to he continued in
Liverpool. or that the immense amount expended in so doing;
is to be laid out in some more favoured outport, not only to the
loss and detriment of our native tradesmen and mechanics, but
likewise to the Dock and Corporate Estates, and the commercial
community generally.
' • " We have been at considerable expense in erecting saw-pits„
workshops, &c., (although not possessing a lease on the premi- •
ses,) we are prevented from having either building yards, oe
graving docks of our own, which privileges are enjoyed in.
almost ail other ports, and create not, only considerable profit
to the shipbuilder, but also a*reat economy in the repairing of .
vessels, the charges being much less than those of this port; as.
the Graving Dock rates now exist here, the same charge is,
made for ten tides as for twerity-four, and it frequently occurs
that two vessels have each to pay a full neap, when they have,
occupied the some berth within. the twenty-four tides. The incon,
venieuce arising from the extreme distance the Graving Docks
are situated from each other, has not only made it necessary for_
us to have two establishments, but has creole(' d further ex-
pense, in being obliged to employ additional foremen, and has
made it quite impossible to give the personal superintendence;
we could wish to those vessels we may have had in baud. These,
circumstances have already made it difficult for us to compete
with the outports, in either the repairing or building of vessels,'
and if the latter be discontinued, an additional expense to the
former will be the consequence, as the number of our appren--
tices must be decreased, and the importation of timber, as well
as every other article used in the building and repairing of Yes;
sels be greatly reduced.
" We beg, therefore, most respectfully to request that a deptf;
tation fioin our body may be allowed to wait upon you, before
any final measures are adopted, and we confidently hope we,
shall be able to prove that the shipbuilding of the'port is of that'
importance as to, claim your protecting influence.
_ _

':Given under our hailds this '2Bth Dec. 1837. Signed, &c.!'
Mr. PLATT said he was acquainted with several of the per;
sons who had subscribed the memorial, and he was of opinion
that the present rates were as high as they could afford to pay,
and in some instances more. Mr. Hiatt went on to say that
the shipwrights had been very roughly used in many respects;
and to contrast the low rents at many other places with those
at Liverpool. The interests of the shipwrights were so vitallx
connected with those of this great town that lie was surprised
the grievance of the former had not befote been brought for.!
watt': They had .to Cdriteed with great idvatitages at other
placei, and he thought some concession ought to be made td
them. lie tliodglit a ipeetai Cointhittee ought to be appointed,
to hear the shipwrights in their own defence. There were
plenty of individuals proper to judge, aitiongst whom he would.
name Mr. Wood and Mr. Brocklebank.

At the sug;:estion of the Mayor, Mr. Platt gave notice of 0:
motion to the above effect next council.

Mr Councillor CURRIE said the revision of the shipwrights'
yards had been a part of their duty that had been the must diffi-;
cult and troublesome task they had to perform. The animnui
with which that duty luta been undertaken, was to set that the
corporation gut a 'air rent for the property entrusted to them:
He wished heartily for the shipwrights to be heard, and before.
the finance committee, for he had heard nothing from Mt.'
Platt that showed any reason for the appointment of a separate
committee. The Finance Committee had their earl as open,'
and their senses as accute us any other set ofgentlemen,' anti he
had paid great attention to the subject. He was in pet feet.
ignorance as to how the hardships that had been spy- en of.
could be made out. Some of the shipwrights paid a rent of
934(1. to 10d. a square yard, and the proposed rent was now
Is. 9d. per square yard ; others who paid hid. were to pay ls.
It behoved them, as individuals entrusted with the care of the
corporate estate, to see that the land was nut too low let. The
laud in question would let much higher. The question was,
whether they should, to preserve the shipbuilding, take much
-less-fur the land than it would let for.
Mr. Councillor Platt said he was perfectly satisfied with Mr.
Currie's explanation. All the parties wanted. was to be beard,
and their cases investigated. His only motive was to save the
Finance Comittee trouble.
Mr. Councillor Wallace CURRIE.--17v-e are not afraid of
trouble Mr. Platt.
Mr. Alderman LEATHOM said the shipwrights would have an,
opportunity of finding accommodation at the West side of the
'Brunswick Dock, shortly, if their present premises were too
high rented, without being driven over to the Cheshire side.
The memorial was then referred to the Finance Committee..
The MAYOR presented another similar memorial Irma the
occupiers of slate yards, which was also referred.
Mr. Couueillor WOOD said, he understood the slate yards
were to be augmented to 3s. 6d. per yard; if so, and the ship;
wri,,cht's )ards were only to be augmented to fs. 9d. per yard
the slate yards were charged to high.
Mr. Councillor Cumuli, said, Mr. Wood was correct as to..
the price he had named. The land in the vicinity of those
yards was worth L-1 6s. per yard.
A great number of titivate memorials on the same subject
followed, which were referred.
A motion was agreed to that the overseers of the out-townships
make the necessary returns fur laying a watch rate on the new
parts of the borough.

Posr.oFrica.
Mr. Ev ANs, in a speech of considerable length, advocated the
expediency of having put the post-office at the New Custom,
house as the most central and convenient site for the merchants.
who were the principal parties to be considered in a town likti
Liverpool. He stated, that he had seen Mr. Tomkinson at the
building, and that gentleman bad pointed out to him how, by
merely pulling clown a wall, he could, for an expense that would
not exceed £lOO, adapt the rooms built and intended for the
Post-office, so that they would answer the 'purpose excellently;
both as regarded light and room. He contended for the impor-
tance of conceding to the commercial portion of the town every
convenience, and concluded by proposing; that a deputation
should be sent to London to communicate with the govern-
ment on the subject, as no time was to be lost, Colonel Maberlii
and Mr. Baring having expressed their determination of decid--
ing on the matter during the recess.
Mr. WAINISLKY seconded the motion.
Mr. Boi.ToN thought it would be well to purchase the Old'
Fish market, at :he top of James-street; add build a Yost-office
on the laud. . _

.....
•Mr. WOOLWRIGHT thought the interests of the shopkeepers
ought to be considered as well as those of the merchants, and
that the present site or the post-office was the most convenient.
Mr. BLACKBURN thought it would be well if Mr. Evans first
took the sense of the council, as to whether thtt new Custom-
house was the proper place for the Post-office.
After a long discussion, in the course of which diantinemberi
addressed the council, the motion was' put after the manner
proposed by Mr. Blackburn. Forty•two memberi stood up
favour of the Custom-house as a proper place for the Post-office,.
and only tu•o against it. The latter were .Messrs. Woolright
and Jordan.
The question was then put respecting the deputation with a
similar result.
Mr. Evans and Mr. Shiel were then named to be the deputa-

tion.
Mr. BLACKBURN gave notice of a motion for the council to'
petition government, that the apprenticeship system, as regards
the Negroes in. the West Indies, cease in August, 1838, instead
of 1840. •
The TowN-CLERK begged to say a few "Words in reference to'
what bad fallen from Mr. Leatho►n during the discussion ou the
appointment, of a solicitor to the Dock trust. He could not
remember that any such words had dropped from him as those
named by Mr. Leatboin; but, perhaps, if that gentleman were_
afterwards to mention to him the subject of their conference, it'
might be recalled to his memory, and he might be able to ex •
plain the import of what he had said. He had, he said, done
every th►ng in his power to heal the breach that had arisen.
The 111 A yoR and Mr. EVANS bore out the Town-clerk in the'
latter statement.
Mr. LEATHOM testified his readiness to confer with the Town=
clerk, and assist in recalling to h►s memory the words which he
had used.
The council then broke up at half-past three.

MEctiAritcs INsTurcTiorr.—The lectures have again beeri
resumed at this excellent institution. Dr. Kane delivered the
first lecture of a course On chemistry, on Wednesday evening;
to a numerous and attentive audiecce. As there is not a more
extensively awful science than that of chemistry, we feel nb
doubt that the audiences will increase as the Doctor proceeds.
There is hardly a class of persons in this town whose comforts'
are not materially increased by this science, or to whom a
knowledge of its principles cannot fail to be highl/ important.
In our next publication we shall give a full report of the lee-.
tuie.
MFt. STUBBS' ANNUAL BALL.—We PerCeive, b$ an adver-
tisement, that Mr. Stubbs holds his annual bill this evening,
as
the Knights Templars'-hall, Great George-street. Mr. Stubbs'
harmonic band will be in attendance, and will play some spien%
did new quadrilles, the music from Venice. The assembly it
expected to be an agreeable one.
OKMSKIRK BALL --On Wednesday evening the anntial ball was held
'at Ormsk irk, and in no respect was inferior to the former celebrated
hails held at that town. There was an immense assemblage of Dui
beauty and fashion of tire county, and the bail coMmittee did their ut-
most by their arrangements to render the evening agreeable to all
parties. Stubbs' harmonic hand was in attendance, and played the
Venetian music which, was so much admired .at the ladies' charity
ball in Liverpool last week. Amongst the elite of the company we
observed the Hon. Miss Bootle Wilbraham. the Countess of Balearres,
the lion. 11.-15. Wilbraham, M P. it. Townley Parker, Esq., M.P.,
the Hon. Captain ft Wilbraham, ihe Hon. Colonel Lindsay, Cornwall
Leigh, Esq.. of High Leigh. Deedes,Kent, Colonel ftswa..'
tonne Mrs. Towtiley.Parker, Mr, William Rawstorn. Miss liawstoru
Mr. Edward Egerton, Tattun, Mr. Arthur Halton, Mr, Jss. Ai:4O4W
Liverpool,