The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-11-27 00:00:00

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ropeattached to it brote, and deceased immediately after=
wards sank. He was got out in about five minutes, and
was found to be quite dead. It is supposed that he had
accidentally fallen into the water.—On Thursday evening,
Theophilus Disbrasey, second mate of the ship Rienzi,
was on board the river steamer Queen, which had gone
alongside the ship with some stores, and while the crew
were getting these on board, a cask rolled to one side of
the deck, and deceased, in endeavouring to get hold of it,
missed his foot and fell overboard. A tackle fall was
lowered to him, and being good swimmer he got hold of
a part of it, but afterwards let it go. He was afterwards
found with his feet entangled in the paddle wheel, and his
head in the water. When got out he was quite dead.
Do YOU WANT ANY CHIPS ?—Such is the plaintive but
unmusical cry which resounds through our streets, occa-
sionally even verging towards midnight—catching the ear
of some neeligent housemaid or housewife. Every one
must have observed the great increase, in latter years, of
the poor little ragged urchins who are thevendors. hy,
here are two streets, Addison-street and Hodson-street,
one-half of the population of which are engaged in this
" timber trade." I was anxious to learn the process of
the business, and made many inquiries with the view of
striking an average. " Indeed the chips were a good sys-
tem once," said a man whom I addressed, " but there are
so many sell them now, that it is hard to get a market or
make any profit." A boy will, on the average, make 2d.
or 21d. a day. In the first place, wood has to be bought.
Resin barrels, which cost Bd. each, are most generally
broken up for the purpose ; but sometimes wood is to be
had, at a cheaper rate from old buildings in the course of
being pulled down. From the competition now, ty enty-
four bunches have to be given for a penny—twice the
number that formerly satisfied. I found whole families
engaged in this wretched calling. Some condemned cel-
lar, dan p and filthy, forms the workshop. The father
makes the chips, the mother ties them up, and the chil-
dren, young and old, are sent to hawk them about. Suc-
cess is various, of course. Some days nothing can be
had : and happy is the night which shows that the com-
bined family earnings have amounted to a shilling !—Cor-
respondent of Journal.

LOCAL

MEETINGS.

HEALTH COMMITTEE.—The usual weekly meeting was
held on Thursday, Mr. Parker in the chair. The medi-
cal officer renorted that the number of deaths during the
week was 133, being 10 fewer than the previous week, the
mortality in which was at a lower rate than that recorded
during any previous week. Forty-five of the deaths were
from diseases of the lunes, 73 were of children under the
are of five years, 40 being infants less than a year old.
The engineer was directed to report as to the expence of
a sewer in Great Nelson-street North, many of the houses
being in an unhealthy state from the accumulation of
water in the ashpits.
TRANMERE POLICE TRUST.—A meeting of the inhabi-
tants of Tranmere took place on Wednesday last ; sum-
moned by Mr. David Ross and Mr. Spencer. Mr. Ross
was called to the chair, and the attendance was respect-
able. The Chairman was about to put a motion. made
and seconded, that a watching rate of 6d. in the pound be
ado3ted, when one of the auditory, in behalf of the now
ratepayers, (of whom he was one,) uttered an incoherent
stammering speech, which excited some laughter, but
conveyed no information. The motion was carried by a
large majority.—Seven inspectors of police (without
emolument) were then proposed and agreed to, namely
Captain Walker, Messsra. Pritchard, Rhodes, Woodcock,
Robinson, Lewis, and Hogarth.—At a subsequent meet-
ing of the inspectors, held on Thursday evening, Mr.
Pritchard was elected president, Mr. Coulter treasurer,
and Mr. Francis, law-clerk. .

THE BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.—An adjourned
meeting was held on Tuesday to consider the report of a
deputation xhich had conferred with the railway com-
pany on the subject of the unfinished bridges in the town-
ship. Mr. Bryaes occu tied the chair. The report
referred to two interviews had with the company, and the
result was the adoption of two resolutions : " first, that the
drawback of 20 per cent. on the ferry traffic from Monks'
Ferry to Liverpool and hack, secured to this company by
an agreement hearing date 31st May, 1847, be remitted
so long as Canning-street Bridge, and the works con-
nected therewith, are suspended,"—and, secondly, "that
the exception of t"

with the exception of le express train from ,nester, a.m.,
the trains of the company shall, from the Ist December,
be so arranged as not to require a second boat to be em-
ployed at Monks' Ferry. Mr. Manatty said the deputa
tion had done their best, rnd were gratified at the ntlnner
in which the company had met the case. The company
were going on with the other necessary bridges.—Tae

report was approved.
PROPOSED CHAMBER OF COMMBRCE.-011 Thursday,
a meeting of the requisitionists to the Mayor, for the pur-
pose of establishing a general Chamber of Commerce,
was held in the Council Chamoer. The attendance was
large, and comprised most of the leading commercial gen-
tlemen of the town. Mr. W. Brown was absent from
indisposition. The resolutions (which will be found in
's) 1; a
our trl--

columns) were unanimously passea
committee was appointed, and Mr. Leone Levi was chosen
Mr. Levi addressed the meeting at conside-
length, on the important advantages of the pro-

secretary
rab

various associations, and the whole community in one in-
fluential corporation, for the promotion and protection of
commerce. "In its practical labour (said the speaker)

the trade and commerce of the town and of the country,
and will perhaps, in some degree, enable tis to attain
to more settled notions which have engrossed 0 much of
the public attention. It will acquire tor Liverpool more
weight end influence in determining commercial ques-
tions. And it will establish boards of arbitration for the

settlement of commercial disputes." He concluded by
stating that he trusted the views he entertained of the
association would be accomplished, and thus forward that
tide of prosperity which had already rendered Liverpool
one of the greatest emporiums in the world. Mr. Stitt
was appointed treasurer, ane it was agreed to open a sub-
scription. When the rules and regulations are prepared,
a public meeting will be called to obtain the sanction of
the community. Thanks being voted to the mayor, the
meeting separated.
DOCK COMMITTEE.—A report was read from the Dock
Solicitor as to the power of the Water Committee to
charge for, a supply of water from the Green-lane works
for the hydraulic machine at the Albert warehouses. The
solicitor was of opinion that the Water Committee have
not any legal power to supply the water from Green-lane
for the hydraulic machines; but he was also of opinion
that, although this diversion of the Green-lane water from
its proper purposes might be injurious to the inhabitants
in the neighbourhood, by exhausting their wells, yet the
trustees having accepted such supply, they could not now
dispute the authority of the Water Committee to charge
for that water; nor could they set that up as a reply to
the demand made by the Water Committee.—A revision
of the Graving Dock rules and regulations was ordered.—
The committee then proceeded to appoint the subcom-
mittees for the ensuing year. Mr. Nicol proposed the
following gentlemen for the Works Committee :—Messrs.
Nicol, Holt. Sandhach, Steele, Bold, and Horsfall,—the
last in the place of Messrs, likin and Holme. Mr. Jones
said the Sub-committee of Works was that on which he
thought he could he of most service. Mr. Nicol said it
was seldom that new members were put on the Suh•com-
mittee of Works. Mr. Bent, seconded by Mr. Preston,
proposed that Mr. Jones should be appointed in the place
of Mr. Horsfall. On a division, twelve voted for Mr.
Horsfall, and five for Mr. Jones; namely, for Mr. Hors-
fall.—Messrs. Bold, Tobin, Steele, Rankin, Saunders,
Lockett,' Kendal, Nicol, Holt, Fisher, Molyneux, and
Booker. For Mr. Jones,—Messrs. Horsfall. Bent, Rob-
inson, Preston, and the chairman. Mr. Fisher, seconded
by Mr. Robinson, then proposed that Mr. Jones should
be added to the committee, but he withdrew the motion
on being informed that the number of the committee
was limited to six.—Marine Sub-committee, Messrs.
Lockett, Tobin, Fisher, Robinson, and Nicol.—Warehouse
Management, Messrs. Preston, Jones, Molyneux, Rankin,
Robinson, and Nicol.—Harbour Masters', Messrs. Bold,
Lockett, Kendall, Saunders, Littledale, and Nicol.—
Master Porters', Messrs. Robinson, Holt, Booker, Ken-
dall, Fisher, and Nicol.

THE FINANCIAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.
A meeting. of the friends and supporters of financial
reform was held at the Concert Hall, on Thursday even-
ing. Mr. R. Yates presided, but the attendance was not
numerous, including many of the "reform" leaders of the
town,

The CHAIRMAN cenßured the aristocracy generally for
their neglect of the poor, and applauded the opposite con-
duct or their noble neighbours the Earl of Sefton and the
Earl of Derby, who promoted and mingled with the enjoy-
ments of the people. He noticed the ottravagance of our
rulers, and their proneness to bestow lucrative places upon
undeserving and incompetent parties. He, however,
approved of many of the present administratio to whom,
together with Sir R. Peel, they were indebted for the free
trade they now enjoyed, and the restoration of religious
liberty.
Mr. BRODRIBB adverted to the national expenditure,
and urged that it might be reduced. With respect to the
land and assessed taxes, amounting to 4i millions, the
land itself contributed only £1,600,000, while houses
alone were taxed for light and air half a million more than
all tile land in the kingdom. The landed interest paid
only one fifty-seventh part of the entire revenue of
£57,000,000. But they taxed the labouring and other
classes directly and indirectly, through the customs, ex-
cise, &c., whether for food, shelter, health, or recreation,
to the amount of 371 millions. He thought the best relief
that could be given to the farmers was to take off the
duties on malt, hops, and bricks. He noticed a variety of
other imposts which he considered highly impolitic and
oppressive, especially the tax on soap and on daylight.
He thought their rulers should be constrained either to
give a vote to every man who paid a tax in any shape, or
exempt from the payment of any tax every man to whom
they denied a vote.
Mr. F. BouLT thought the present system of taxation
must be done away with, and he would ask if they were
prepared to share the burden of its accomplishment, by
making a small weekly payment out of their wages, which
would be required to give freedom to industry, and enable
them to earn their livings without the interference of the
custom-house officer or the exciseman. (Cries of "Yes.")
A contribution of one shilling a week would accomplish
the object.
Mr. JOHN FINCH said the objects of the association
were to obtain,—first, a just, wise, and economical expen-
diture of the public money by government ; and, secondly,
a judicious and equitable system of direct taxation, fairly
proportioned to each individual. He complained of wan-
ton waste in government expenditures, and exorbitant tax-
ation, bearing chiefly on labour. He said that our exports
of iron and other commodities were greatly arrested by
indirect taxation, on—for instance—tobacco, 700 to 900
per cent. ; wines, 100 to 400 ; tea, 60 to 300; Coffee, 50
to 190 ; and sugar, 50 to 150 per cent. If these duties
were removed, our exports would be immensely increased.
After thanks to the chairman the meeting separated.