The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-03-30 00:00:00

THE MERSEY CONSERVANCY

A public meeting, convened by the Mayor of Manchester, in con-
sequence of a requisition presented to him, signed by 176 firms and
individuals, was held at the Town-hall, Manchester, yesterday, for
the purpose of taking into consideration the several bills affecting
the navigation from Liverpool to Manchester, brought into parlia
ment this session : which bills involve the right of exacting dock
and town dues on vessels passing the town of Liverpool, and other
matters deeply affecting the interest of the borough; and also for
the purpose of authorizing such measures as may be deemed expe-
dient in relation thereto.

The movers and seconders of the resolutions were Messrs. James
Consterdine, David Ainsworth, John M'Viccar, Joseph Owen, Wm-
Gibb, Alderman Cobden, J. C. Dyer, Joshua Radford, Wm. Entwis.
tie, James Atherton, Thomas Hopkins, and T. 0. Lingard. The
resolutions passed were to the effect that the navigation of the
tidal water of the Mersey being a public right, the exaction of dock
and town dues on vessels and their cargoes which merely pass the
docks of Liverpool appear unreasonable and ought to be opposed;
and, that as the conservancy of the Mersey belongs to the crown,
such power cannot with justice be granted to Liverpool, but as the
navigation between Liverpool and Manchester may be improved so
as to allow produce from Ireland and other places to be brought to
Manchester without transhipment, the co-operation of the shippers
of the produce in Ireland may be safely anticipated.
Resolutions were passed authorising the Town Council to watch
the progress of the several bills referred to, and appointing a com-
mittee of thirty-three gentlemen to co-operate with them in any
measures they might deem it necessary to take.

Swallows made their appearance at Knaresborough on
Sunday last ; an infallible sign of an early spring and fine
weather.—Leeds paper.

THE THAMES TUNNEL.—Tbe great difficulties which have
impeded the completion of this undertaking may be said now
to have been overcome. The work has been completed under
the river, and the shield, avant courier of the structure, is
now below the company's wharf on the Middlesex side. The
operations at Wapping for completing the shaft, by which
foot passengers will descend, are in full activity. 30 feet of
this shaft have already been completed, leaving about 40
more to be accomplished. The natural ground which has
been already touched is favourable for the gradual and safe
descent of this enormous mass of brickwork. The engineer
has in some respects varied the scale upon which the shaft is
constructed as compared with that which was sunk years ago
at Rotherhite, by constructing it larger at bottom that it will

be at its sunMiii. Immediately the shaft has been sunk to
its required depth, the shield will be advanced from its pre-
sent position, having traversed 33 feet 6 inches. The com-
munication throughout the entire length of the tunnel will
be then thrown open. The run of water from land springs
into the tunnel at present is from 400 to 500 gallons per mi-
nute. When, however, the communication has been thrown
open between the whole line this influx will cease. The en-
gine, with less than half its power, throws off the water
arising from land-springs, and the visitors' archway up to
the shield is perfectly dry.• It is expected that the ceremony
of opening the Tunnel will take place about the end of next
summer. We hear that her Majesty is about to confer the
honour of knighthood upon Mr. Brunel. The shield pre-
sents a very novel appearance, as now lighted up—viz., that
of a Gothic window.—Times.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT NEW MILLS.—On Tuesday fore-
noon, a fire broke out in a blowing room, at the cotton mill
of Messrs. James and Joseph Stafford, situate in the Gnat
Hole, New Mills ; it originated in consequence of some hard
substance coming in contact with the beater of a blower, in
one of the lower rooms. The manufacturing carried on in
the premises was of a coarse description, being chiefly card-
ing and spinning of candle-wick and banding. More than
£lOOO. worth of cotton waste, which was the only material
worked, was on the premises' at the time, which, being of a
loose and inflammable nature, burned with such fierceness,
that the whole building was one heap of ruins, in about an
hour after the fire commenced ; though the greatest efforts
were made by the workpeople and neighbours, to arrest the
progress of the flames. Unfortunately, the town of New
Mills does not possess a single fire-engine ; the nearest being
one being one belonging to Messrs. Andrewand Co. of Coin-
stall Bridge. A person rode off for this at soon as the fire
fire was discovered; but, the distance being five miles, a
considerable time had elapsed before it could be brought to
the spot, and the building was in ruins before it arrived.
Nevertheless it was of service in preventing the flames from.
spreading to a larger and more valuable mill, adjoining, be
longing to Mr. Barnes, in which a considerable number of
hands are employed. The building destroyed was between
thirty and forty yards long, about ten yards wide, and four
stories high. It was the property of Mr. Barnes, and was
fully insured. The machinery and stock which it contained
were the property of Messrs. Stafford, and we understand

were not insured. At the time the tire broke out, Mr.
Stafford was in the mill, and had pulled off his coat and hung
it up in an upper room, he having bank notes to the amount
of £2OO in one of the pockets, which were saved with the
utmost difficulty. We have not been able to ascertain the
whole amount of damage sustained ; but no doubt it will be
considerable.—Manchester Guardian.