The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-28 00:00:00

FRA.UD.—A man, named Ruffiey, has been committed
for trial by the Manchester magistrates, for obtaining a
certificate of his wife's death from the registrar (while
she was yet living), and using it for the purpose of begging.
Tire EMPEROR or HAYTI.—Mr. J. A. P. M`Bride, of
Russell-street, has just completed a bust of the Emperor
Soulouque I, decorated with several orders. The head is
large, and the features indicate a character of considerable
intellectual range and great firmness. The bust will be
on view at the artist's studio for a few days.
Mr. FULTON, the Scripture-reader of St. Barnabas' Dis-
trict, in this town, has received twenty-five volumes of
valuable theological and other works, accompanied by a
flattering note, from " A few of the inhabitants of St.
Barnabas' District, who appreciate his zealous labours
among them as Scripture-reader."
ISLE OF MAN—NEW STEAM CONVEYANCE.—From an
advertisement, in another column, it will be seen that a
new Steam Navigation Company for conducting the traffic
between Liverpool and Castletown, is being formed under
very promising auspices. As explained in the prospectus,
the southern shores of the island are the great resort for
the herring fleet, and abound with fish of various kinds ;
the fisheries alone giving promise of a profitable trade ; in
addition to which there will also be an important traffic in
farm produce.
INGENIOUS MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.—It is ever pleasing
to notice works of ingenuity and art. We were yesterday
gratified with viewing and hearing play, at the manufac-
tory of Mr. Rushworth, organ builder, Pudsey-street, a
most ingeniously-contrived self-acting organ, on an exten-
sive scale. The instrument, which is in mahogany, is of
beautiful exterior, elaborately carved in the Gothic style,
the interstices throughout being filled up with silvered
plate glass. The interior, to one not acquainted with the
principle of its construction, appears intricate, but, when
explained, is of the most simple and ingenious contrivance.
The music produced is at once melodious, sweet, and
powerful ; and the barrels are constructed for airs martial,
national, comic, sentimental, and sacred. The whole work
is very creditable to the builder, Mr. Rushworth, who
has attained a high stand for his skill in the construc-
tion of self-acting and other organs, and who is now en-
gaged in building the organ for the new church of Saint
Chrysostom, Everton. The self-acting organ has been
erected, at great expense, for Mr. Roger Duxbury, of the
Albion Hotel, Over Darwen, Blackburn.
HEA.LTII COMI&ITTEB.—The weekly meeting was held
on Thursday, Mr. Langsdale in the chair. Mr. Fresh re-
ported that Mr. Rose had nearly cleared away the accumu-
lations from the various manure depots, and that the land
at the south part of the town, about which so much con-
troversy had taken place, was now enclosed for shipbuilding
purposes. The demand for night soil amongst the farmers
and landowners is now, it appears, particularly brisk.
Several letters were read complaining of neglect in the
emptying of ashpits, the cause of which was attributed to
Mr. Rose, the contractor. A conversation followed as to
whether measures ought not to be adopted to enforce the
performance of Mr. Rose's contract, and it was agreed that
the town clerk should take the necessary steps for that
purpose. It appeared from the proceedings of the parlia-
mentary committee that it had been decided not to present
the petition in reference to compelling railway companies to
carry manure on special terms. Tenders for sewerage in
various parts of the borough were accepted. The town
clerk said that if the bill, as now agreed to, became law, the
committee would have a remedy against the landowners ;
besides the out-townships in the municipal borough would
have to pay for all sewerage made for them since 1847. A
recommendation was received from the sub-committee,
that the inspectorof scavengers have their salaries increased
from 255. to 28s. per week. Agreed to. After some
matters of a mere routine character had been disposed of,
the board adjourned.
DOGS COMMITTBIL—The weekly meeting took place on
Thursday. Mr. Charles Turner presided. It was agreed
that a house on the west side of Hurst-street be purchased
from Mr. Scholefield for £250. Three seamen were ap-
pointed to be foremen of the holds in discharging ships.
The marine department produced a detailed report of the
services rendered by the crews of the life-boats in the gale
on the 18th instant, and it was agreed that a day's extra
pay be allowed to each, in consideration of those services.
Mr. Gregson called attention to the necessity for more
protection at George's Dock, where a man had recently
fallen into the water. The chains were not more than
two feet six inches in height. He suggested that there
should be a double row of chains. It was resolved that
the secretary's and solicitor's offices should have double
windows. A letter was read from Messrs. James Bibby
and Sons, complaining of the serious loss they had sus'
tamed, as owners of the steamer Danube, in consequence
of the vessel having been prevented from going to sea, on
account of several -sailing ships being in the way. A
remedy was suggested in the letter, and it was referred
to the Harbour-masters' Committee. A memorial from
the dock-gatemen for an increase of wages was referred to
the Harbour-masters' Sub-committee. The wages of the
men are now a guinea a week.
EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY.—The half-yearly meet-
ing took place on Wednesday, at Bury, Mr. T. Dugdale
presiding. The report being read, the chairman congra-
tulated the company that they had assembled to declare
a larger dividend than they had ever yet received since
the company was established, and said this was the more
encouraging when they considered that there had been
protracted strikes in the large towns on the line, which
had decreased the traffic. ()lithe subject of the amalga-
tion with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Company, the
report afforded all the information the directors could at
present give. They thought that they should amalga-
mate on equal terms, and believed that it would be for the
interestof the proprietors in both companies that the two
lines should be worked under one management ; but, when
the terms of amalgamation had been fully arranged, a
meeting of the company would be called, at which the
terms would be laid before them, and their consent to the
proposition would be formally asked. Mr. Rosson regret-
ted that accommodation had not yet been afforded to
farmers for carrying their produce to the Liverpool market.
That traffic was on the increase, and the prospects of the
company were rising. The report was adopted. The
chairman moved a dividend of 3f per cent. per annum on
the capital stock of the company, to be paid on the 4th of
March. Mr. Fert. seconded the motion, and it was agreed
to. The retiring directors, Messrs. T. Ashton, J. R. Kay,
M. J. Fielden, M.P., and J. Holt, were re-elected. Mr.
Wm. Bates was re-elected auditor ; and Z2OO was ordered
to be paid out of the capital stock to the benevolent fund
of the company's servants.
CONSERVATIVE BALL AT CLITIIEROB--PRESENTATION
TO Mu. ASPINALL.—On Thursday evening, a splendid ball
took place at the Swan Inn, Clitheroe, under the patronage
of the elite of the Conservative party of the borough. The
object of the ball was to assemble the supporters of the
Conservative body to witness the presentation of a very
handsome piece of plate to J. W. Aspinall, Esq., late M.P.
for Clitheroe, which had been purchased by subscription.
The ball room was very magnificently decorated, and at
the entrance a tastefully-ornamented orchestra was erected
for the accommodation of the quadrille band. The sides
of the room were embellished with flags and banners, in-
terspersed with wreaths of evergreens, intermixed with
artificial flowers. The window at the bottom end of the
spacious room was covered with a large flag, bearing an
inscription of the memorable words of Nelson, " England
expects every man to do his duty." In the centre of the
side wall was placed a flag of the party colour, containing
these words, " Clitheroe Conservative Association.—Pro
aril et focis," opposite which was a flag with the inscription,
" The Town and Trade of Clitheroe." The guest of the
evening, J. T. W. Aspinall, Esq., was attired in the cos-
tume of a deputy-lieutenant, an was accompanied by T.
G. Parker, Esq., Le G. N. Starkie, jun., Esq., M.P., and
other officers of the militia, in their military costume.
The number present amounted to about 150. Dancing
was continued until about half-past ten, when Le G. N.
Starkie, jun., Esq., M.P., came forward to present to Mr.
Aspinall the piece of plate, which consisted of a handsome
candelabrum, with five branches. The centre one is re-
moveable, and may be replaced by a flower vase. The cost
of it was about £lOO. The following inscription was neatly
engraven upon it :—" To J. T. W. Aspinall, Esq., of Stan-
den Hall, who, after two severe contests, was returned
representative in Parliament for the borough of Clitheroe
in the session of 1853, this piece of plate is presented by
his political friends, in testimony of their approval of his
public principles. February, 1854." Mr. Aspinall briefly
returned thanks. Dancing was afterwards resumed, and
kept up until an early hour in the morning.
THE LIVERPOOL IMPROVEMENT BILL.—The following
petition against the Liverpool Improvement Bill was
agreed to by the directors of the Manchester Chamber of
Commerce, and forwarded on Tuesday for presentation :
" That your petitioners have just heard that a bill, intituled
' Liverpool Improvement Bill,' has been introduced into
your honourable house, and after being carried with
unusual haste and secrecy through a second reading, is
now before a select committee. That your petitioners are
surprised to learn that the said bill contains a provision
by which the corporation of Liverpool seeks for power to
mortgage that portion of its income usually denominated
'town duties,' as security for money to be borrowed for
its own use. That the said town duties of Liverpool are
chiefly levied upon imports and exports passing in transit%
the town itself contributing to them in a very small
degree ; that they form a grievous tax upon the commerce
of the country, which has long been a source of grave com-
plaint, not only in respect to the extravagant amount
which it produces (that for the year ending the 31st
August, 1853, haying been £113,578), but from the most
unjust manner in which it is levied, the freemen of the
borough being exempt from any liability to the charge.
That your petitioners are of opinion that the area over
which the corporation of Liverpool exercises the levying
f these town duties is extended beyond that w hich they
think compatible with the interests of the interior, or the
rights and dignity of the crown, inasmuch as a local body
oven-ides an estuary of the sea, and enforces payment of
money over many miles of the inland course of the
Mersey, on merchandise which merely passes by and in
no way makes use of the town. That the uses to which
the said town duties are applied are not distinctly marked
or clearly apportioned; but are, in a great measure,
expended for purposes in which the payers of the tax have
not the slightest interest, and frequently in most improper
attempts to encroach still sore upon the interests of those
from whom those duties are wrung. That your petitioners
willingly admit that the buoyage, lighting, and mainten-
ance of the water-way of the Mersey should be perfectly
performed, and that the cost thereof should be borne by
the commerce of the country ; but they are distinctly of
opinion that beyond the charges thus specified, the town
of Liverpool ought not to be permitted to tax the interior.
That your petitioners have long thought that the manner
in which the corporation of Liverpool has exercised the
levying of town duties, and the rates imposed, deserve the
attentive scrutiny of the government, or the legislature,
and they would rejoice in these questions being submitted
to a searching examination; and believing that the power
of pledging the town duties would not only preclude the
possibility of such inquiry hereafter, but fix the present
enormous rates permanently upon the public, or, quite as
probably, lead, under sonic specious pretence,'to a future
increase of them. Your petitioners humbly but most
earnestly pray that the cost of any improvements which
the corporation of Userpool may contemplate • may, as
this and other cities and towns, be borne by the to
this
itself, and that y our honourable house may reject an
clause in the bill herein referred to, or in any other bill,
which shall, ether directly or indirectly, serve to per-,
petuate the 'present system of levying town duties at
Liverpool, or permit the corporation of that town to
mortgage, for its own purposes, its real or assumed right
of taxing, other communities than its own. Maneb'ester,
Februar:y 21, 1851. The directors of the Commercial
Assoeiation have also agreed to a similar petitiw, winch
war vent to 'mutat ou Friday.