The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-05-21 00:00:00

MELTING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

This meeting was held yesterday. There were present,
Messrs. Benn (chairman), Horsfall, T. Holt, Middleton,
Quayle, Aikin. Bulley, G. Holt, Evans, Tobin, Chapman,
Mellor, Holmes and Booth.
DOCK AND WAREHOUSE BILL

The CIIAIRINIAN stated that the royal assent had been
given to the new dock and warehouse bill, and that the bre-
viate prepared by the solicitor would now be read.
Mr. TOBIN asked wnether any alteration was made by the
bill in the constitution of the dock trust?
Mr. HORSFALL.—I am afraid ycu, have been remiss in
looking after that, Mr. Tobin. (Laughter.)
The SECRETARY then read the solicitor's report on the
bill, which is as follows :
I. The payment to the Corporation of the borough for
their interest in the strand and other property purchased by
the Dock Trustees may, at the option of the trustees, be
made at the expiration of six months after the passing of the
act, or may be made before the expiration of six months with
a rebate of interest at the rate of £4 per cent per annum, or
may be made by three yearly equal instalments, with interest
half-yearly, from the expiration of six months after the
passing of the act.
2. In the proviso limiting the compulsory obligation of
the trustees to form a landing slip with stages, at and ad-
joining the river wall of the new dock, by the construction of
another slip at St. George's Pier, the words " the Mayor,
Aldermen, and Burgesses," having been struck out, the ob-
ligation to construct such landing slip with stages now rests
upon the Dock Trustees, though it is doubtless open to the
trustees to negotiate on the subject with the Corporation of
the borough.

3. The Corporation arc specially empowered to prescribe
the terms and conditions on which they may construct slips,
basins, or wharfs, for the reception of vessels and goods of
the proprietors of canals, and other navigations opening into
the Mersey. In other respects, the clauses enabling the
Dock Trustees to provide such accommodation, remain un-
altered.

4. To the clause, reserving the surface of the quay of the
new dock'as a public quay, the committee consented that a
declaration should be added, stating in express terms, and
not leaving to implication, the liberty which it was intended
the owner, consignee, or shipper of goods, landed or shipped
at the quay, should possess, as to using the dock warehouses,
or removing the goods to other warehouses.
5. The Committee also consented that the clause requiring
the owner, master, or consignee of any vessel making a ware-
house entry of goods, and landing and warehousing the same
to effect an insurance of the goods from loss by fire, should
be struck out of the bill ; and they also consented that the
indemnity from loss or damage given to the trustees should
be extended to such owner, master, or consignee. Lord
Shaftesbury, immediately before the introduction of the bill
into the committee, objected to such indemnity being given
to the owner, master, or consignee of the vessel, and ex-
pressly stated that such clause would, own° account, be al-
lowed by the House. The Solicitor of the Dock Trustees
and the Parliamentary Agent had, on.the instant, an inter-
view with Lord Shaftesbury and Mi. Falk. The objections
raised against the clause were combated, and the adoption of
the clause was strenuously urged, but without avail. The
act, therefcre, is silent respecting the obligation of the owner,
master, or:consignee of the vessel making a prime entry to
effect insurance on the goods
6

A new clause has-been adopted, giving power to the
Trustees, whenever the despatch of business may require its
exercise, to remove vessels from the new dock into any other
wet dock, without taking the vessels into the river. This
power, it is hoped, will conduce to the more efficient work-
ing of the new dock.

7. The owners, shippers, or consignees of goods landed or
shipped at the quays of the new dock may, by special enact-
ment, employ their own carts in the conveyance of goods,
and may employ the carters in loading and unloading the
carts; but the carters are subjected to the same regulations
as the servants of the Trustees.

8. It may be proper to state that a proviso was proposed to
be inserted in'the bill limiting the power of the trustees and
the power of the owners, masters, or consignees of vessels to
make warehouse entries, until after the expiration of any lay
days to which the owners or consignees of the goods might
be entitled ; but as such limitation was subsequently consi-
dered a deviation from the agreement between the promoters
and the opponents of the bill, the clause was abandoned.
9. Lastly, the prohibition as to a director or other officer
of the Harrington and Herculaneum Docks being a member
of the dock' committee has been extended to the director or
other officer of any dock, quay, pier, or landing-place which
may be formed within the port, and which maybe entitled to
exemption from the dock rates.

The committee, on presenting their last report, rejoice that
their parliamentary labours have been at last rewarded with
success ; for although the original object of obtaining the ad-
vantages of dock warehouses, unfettered by any hostile or
repugnant limitations, has not been completely aciaieved,
they have the satisfaction of considering that their labours
have resulted in a measure which forms a new era in the his-
tory of Liverpool, and which they firmly believe will, by
facilitating and fostering commerce, extend her connexions
abroad, increase her prosperity and influence at home, and
elevate her still higher amongst the maritime cities of the
empire.

CHAS. HORSFALL,
Chairman to the Committee.

Mr. BOOTH begged to move the thanks of the committee
to the parliamentary sub-committee for their long and very
able exertions in carrying this bill through parliament.
Mr. T. HOLT seconded the motion.—Carried.