The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-04-06 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OF A SPECIAL TRAIN FROM LONDON

Shortly after 11 o'clock, a special train, which had been
provided expressly for the conveyance of guests to the
opening of the docks, reached the railway station from
London. It was fully freighted with noble and dis-
_ _

tinguished guests. Amongst others who arrived by this
train were Lord Monteagle, Lord Lincoln, Sir Philip De
Gray Egerton and Lady gerton, the Dean of Chester,
&c., &c.

EMBARKATION ON BOARD OF THE LORD WARDEN

All the guests who had arrived by the special train from
London, accompanied by the Birkenhead Dock Company
and Commissioners of the township, went on board the
steamer Eliza Price, at the Monks'-ferry, and embarked
in the Lord Warden, and were introduced to Lord Mor-
peth on the quarter deck. His lordship, who was dressed
in a blue body coat, blue satin vest, striped trousers, and
blue satin stock, appeared in the enjoyment of excellent
health and spirits. He •paced up and down the decks
rapidly, conversing in the most affable manner with most
of the ladies and gentlemen on board, and it was but too
evident that 1- lzingly the 0- stiff breeze

enjoyec _ .ono
amounting almost to a gale, which was blowing at the
time from the north-west.

THE OPENING OF THE DOCK

and delightful appeirance. 'The sh6res were densely crowded
with an eager and expectant multitude, A detachment of the

foot arti
the nort

United Order of Odd 'Fellows, in full costume, and decorated
with all the insignia of their order, were drawn up in ranks on
the pier. The platform was crowded with a numerous and
elegant assemblage of spectators, and two excellent bands of
music added still more life to the exciting scene. by performing
some national and patriotic airs in a highly creditable manner.
The steam having been got up, the Lord Warden got under
weigh. and proceeded down past the new docks, as far as the
Seacombe slip. and from thence to the Liverpool side of the
river,-steaming past the Prince's Dock, George's Pierhead, the
Albert dock warehouses, and across to Woodside. She slowly
entered the new dock by the Woodside Basin, or beaching
•

ground, amidst the firing of artillery and the euthUsiastic cheer:
ing of the multitude, crowding together at every available
point of sight, and proceeded slowly through the first and
into the inner Dock, immediately smposite to the platform,
and gallery, upon which were assembled some thousands of
fashionably dressed ladies and gehtlemen, where the company
disembarked. Lord Morpetll was escorted on shore by Mr. John
Laird_ -.(1 by the remainder of the distinguished guests,

t0n.... a)
two and two, and walked to the warehouses, their proceb...
to which was hailed with the plaudits of the' delighted specu
lators, the booming of cannon, and the martial strains of the
celebrated band of the First Royals, from Chester. Notwith-

standing the strong breeze which was blowing from the north-
west, the day was most favourable for the auspicious event;
until just as the company were retiring from the dejeuner for the

what the out-door

Although the number

v.--
assembled upon this occasion were exceedingly great, covering
for the most part the entire margin of the Docks, yet we should
.z_. urns. ~....n 1.11. whnla !ITIII

the visitors to .Birkenhead less numerous, than upon the oc-
casion of the laying of the foundation stone, in October, 1844.

OPENING OF THE CHESTER AND BIRKENHEAD EXTENSION

It will, doubtless, be in the recollection of our numerou
readers, that at the time when it was proposed to form docks
at Birkenhead, it was also suggested that a branch line be
added to the Chester and Birkenhead railway, running to the
quays and warehouses. This . plan has since been carried out,
by the formation of an extension line, which joins the trunk
line about a quarter of a mile beyond the station, and is in-
tended for the conveyance of goods from the ships' side, direct
to its destination.
The project had received much discour
entific persons and others ; nevertheless, the spirited di
of the railway were not daunted, being satisfied of the pr
cability, and also of the value of their scheme. They proceeded
with their work, and have at last brought to a successful com-
pletion, their contemplated designs.
Determined not to be behind their brethren, the Dock Com-
missioners, they appointed yesterday for the opening of the
line, and, accordingly, proceeded to do so about half-past one,
p.m. With the mad train, which arrived from Chester at
half-past two, there came a small train of waggons, laden with
coal, which species of goods were selected as most suitable for
the occasion ; accordingly, after the carriages had left the coal
waggons, and proceeded to the station, the Zillah steam-
engine was placed behind the-waggons; and driving them be-
fore it, proceeded at a rapid rate through the various cuttings
and embankments, till, arriving within a hundred yards of the
platform erected at the west- end of the dock, the engine
stopped, and the waggons proceeded onward till they came
opposite the Lord Warden, into which steamer they were dis.

.ment from sci-

clairged.
The following gentlemen were on the tender at the opening:
John Wakefield, superintending engineer, Ellis, civil engi-
neer, Jeffreys, superintendent engineer of the Shrewsbury
and Chester line, henry Watson, Thomas Truss, engineer,
John Roberts, one of the managers, John Barnett, superin-
tendent of works, and Scales, superintendent of the building
department. The trip was most satisfactory to all parties, and
too much praise cannot be bestowed on Mr. Roberts for his
ability and skill, he having had the management of the whole

STIVAL AT BIRKENHEAD

THE GREAT 1

Upon the return of the engine to the station, the company
regaled themselves at the Birkenhead Hotel upon the substan-
Vilest and most accurate accounts of the opening of the tials of the season, and after a short time separated, extremely
head Docks, with the particulars of the well pleased with their day's work.
VISIT OF LORD MORPETH, The coals, it is worthy of mentioning, were dug out of the pit
will be found in the various papers at belonging to Messrs. Corner, Roberts and Co., I Madoc C1_0..,
.
Rhuabon, at ten o'clock in the morninK; put into the
THE ORIENTAL DIVAN, CLAYTON-SQUARE. fiery,
.a.monzst the papers on the tables will be found the Bill of waggons at half-past twelve, sent to Chester, arrived at Birken-
Fare, wiiich comprises every article within the scope of imarsi- ' head at half-past two, and shipped on board the steamer for
nation or the precincts of the Metropolitan or Provincial whose use they were intended.
itlarkets, at prices that must be satisfactory to every viritor. Under the able management of Messrs. Williams, Aykroyd
J. FERNY, Proprietor. and Co., the line has been completed within three mouths? /lot_

i3irken