The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-06-20 00:00:00

MR. L. DinvairEßT, of Liverpool, has been appointed
agent for transports.
Mum WoorroN.—A provisional order has been re-
ceived from the Board of Health for the application of the
Public Health Act to the district of Much Wootton, ex-
clusive of the hamlet of Thingwall. This has been dope
according to the report of Mr. Rawlinson, the government
inspector, but cannot take effect until an Act of Parlia-
ment has been passed confirming the order. It provides
that the local board shall consist of nine persons, of whom
one-third shall go out of office on the 31st of March in
each year.
THE SHIP FITZTAMES, belonging to Messrs. Pilkington
and Wilson's " White Star" line of Australian Packets,
left the Mersey for the Antipodes on Thursday last,
under the command of Captain Hamilton. She had a
large- complement of passengers, numbering 430 adults,
and for these the ship has every accommodation and space,
more especially in her between-decks, which are lofty,
and tastefully fitted up.
Scnoor. EXAMINATION.—The children educated by Mr.
William Clarke, late of the training schools in Cornwallis-
street, were publicly examined on Tuesday before a nume-
rous company. The chair was to have been taken by the
Rev. Archdeacon Brooks, from whom, however, a letter
was received stating that he had to attend the consecra-
tion of a new church near Windermere, and expressing
the hope that the result of the day's proceedings
would be as highly gratifying to those who attended
the examination, as it would have been to him to be
present.
LAUNCH OF THE FIRE-FLY.—On Tuesday, a screw-
steamer, called the Fire-Fly, was launched from the iron
ship-building yard of Messrs. Thos. Vernon and Son,
Brunswick Dock. The Fire Fly is a duplicate of the
Black Prince, launched a month ago, namely—a vessel of
70 horse-power, and capable of carrying a cargo of 600
tons of coals. Like her predecessor, the Fire-Fly is built
for the General Iron Screw Collier Company of London,
and she will form one of a fleet of vessels now largely in-
creasing in London.
THE MAGDALEN INSTITUTION.—An adjourned meet-
ing of the pronioters of the proposed Magdalen Institution
in connexion with the Church, was held on Wednesday, at
the Savings Bauk, Bold-street, for the purpose of consider-
ing the report of the provisional committee appointed at
the public meeting held in the same place on the 9th ult.
Mr. John Eden was called to the chair. The report was
adopted and a resolution passed that an institution be
established to be called the Magdalen Institution. A
committee was appointed to collect subscriptions.
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—On Monday last, the Foresters
held their annual gala at these gardens, which was cele-
brated by a very numerous company, those admirers of
Robin Hood mustering in great numbers, and many of
them wearing the uniform of their society. A variety of
amusements was presented on the occasion, including the
pantomime, and the evening's entertainments were con-
cluded by a ball. The pantomime may now be said to be
in good working order; it is well put upon the stage, and
the drollery and fun of Herr Nicolo Deulin (the clown),
and Mr. Leclercq (the pantaloon), produce hearty shouts
of laughter. The graceful dancing of Madame and Miss
Louise Leclercq, who appear during the pantomime, is
also admirable. Etna bursts forth with renewed bril-
liancy and startling effect every evening, and on Tuesdays
and Fridays a ball concludes the entertainments. Up to
the present time, the gardens have been eminently suc-
cessful, and we trust will continue so whilst the proprietor
caters so liberally for the gratification of the public.
A CANNONBALL FROM ODESSA.—In the Under-
writers'-room may be seen a curious relic of the
bontbardment of Odessa, being the first cannon-
ball fired by the Russians on that occasion, and
which fulfilled its murderous purpose by killing
James Slater, a seaman on board H. M. steamer Ter-
rible. It is of great weight, and apparently a thirty-two
pounder. Its history will be found detailed in the fol-
lowing letter June 15, 1851.—Sin,—Just before my
leaving Constantinople, I was requested by a gentleman
to take charge of a Russian shot, marked to your address,
and also to give you the particulars of its history in con-
nexion with the bombardment of Odessa. The above
shot I received from the gunner of the steam-frigate Ter-
rible, on her arrival at Constantinople after the engage-
ment—the etiquette of the service allowing that indivi-
dual to claim it as his lawful prize. Being acquaint ed
with the officers, I visited the ship ; and from them I
learnt that this shot was the first that struck the Terri-
ble ; that it passed through her side about the fore-rig-
ging on to her main deck, killing in its course one man
and wounding four. The same facts were related to me
by one of the lieutenants, who came home in my vessel.
You may feel interested in knowing that, though the
Terrible had eleven shots through her, the above shot is
the only one that touched any of the crew. It may also
give you confidence in its identity to know that all the
shots belonging to the Terrible are of a much larger size
than any of the Russian shots that struck her, and it could
not, therefore, be mistaken.—l remain, sir, your obedient
servant, (Signed) JOHN MILLER, Commander s.s. Arabian.
To S. R. Graves, Esq."
WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.—On Wednesday, at the
usual weekly meeting of this body, the Rev.' W. Badnall
presided. The board directed proceedings to be taken
against Mr. Mather, of Park-terrace, Toxteth-park, a
contractor on the dock railway, for having turned out of
doors Sarah Marsh, an orphan and a relative, who had
thus become chargeable to the township. The board was
also informed that the child of Sarah Wilcock, for the
maintenance of which an order was made by the magis-
trates on Mr. Shrivall, was dead, and, in consequence Mr.
Shrivall having neglected for some time to obey the order,
the child was buried at the expense of the ratepayers of
the union.—There were reported to be 567 paupers in the
house, against 643 in the corresponding week of last year.
—A proposition to sell a piece of land, now appropriated
as a kitchen garden, was negatived.— A man named
Mecham was engaged as messenger at the hospital for
four shillings a week.—The clerk was instructed to apply
to the Public Works and Loan Commissioners for a loan
of £3,200, for carrying out the intended alterations.—A
statement was submitted of the extra cost of the hospital,
above the original estimate ; and, after some routine
business had been transacted, the board adjourned.

DOCK COSIMITTEE.—The weekly meeting was held on
Thursday ;Mr Charles Turner in the chair. The sub-
committee of works recommended that the tender of M.
Neville, to supply six tide bells, each half a cwt., at £3los.
each, be accepted. The Chairman said the next subject
for consideration was the lock 100 feet wide, the basin to
be 500 feet long, to be used temporarily as a graving dock
for large steamers. This subject had been referred back
to the special sub-committee from the last meeting, and
after undergoing tne most careful examination he believed
the committee were pretty unanimous in deciding that the
lock should be 100 feet Week. and 500 feet long in the
chamber, as proposed last They did not consider it
necessary to make any alteration, and he believed the sur-
veyor was prepared to recommend something of the kind.
—Considerable discussion followed, after which Mr. Ran-
kin moved that the recommendation of the committee be
approved, with an instruction to the sub-committee to
consider with the surveyor and harbour masters as to
improving, if possible, the entrance.—Mr. Rounthwaite
seconded the motion, which was passed. The Marine
Committee recommended that the annual inspection of the
floating lights, light ships, and life boats be made on the
21st instant, and that the members of the Council, the
Dock Audit Commisioners, and the Pilot Committee be
invited to attend. Mr. North, the solicitor, then read
his report as to the legality of the grant v oted to the Rev.
Mr. Dover at the previous meeting, for the support of a
clergyman at the North Shore. The report declared there
was no direct legal authority for such an allowance, but
the Trustees were authorised to expend considerable sums
towards certain specified objects, of an analagous, and
some of them of an inferior character, and the solicitor
could not therefore think that in making this grant the
Committee would be doing anything wrong, or incurring
any responsibility. A long conversation ensued as to
whether Mr. North meant that the act was legal or illegal.
Mr. Gladstone moved that Mr. North's opinion, as read, be
recorded on the proceedings, This was agreed to. The
grant was carried, and this terminated the general busi-
ness of the committee.
lairan CommfTrur.—Mr. Dover presided at the
meeting on Thursday, and there were present : Messrs.
Beckwith, Fleming, Nicholson, Johnson, Henderson, Hal-
head, Gladstone, and Moss.—The medical officer reported
that the deaths registered in Liverpool d uring the week
ending on the previous Saturday, were 232, of which there
were in the parish 155, and in the out-townships 77. This
exceeded by 16 the average of the same week of the pre-
ceding six years. Of 76 deaths caused by zymotic diseases,
30 were from measles, D. from diarrhoea, 7 from hooping
cough, 6 (each) from scarlatina and croup, 3 from cholera,
5 from typhus, and 1 from small pox. 69 deaths were
caused by diseases of the lungs, the number being still
above the average. Among the deaths registered was that
of an infant four weeks old, caused by "the fatigues of
travelling." Two-thirds of the deaths (155) occurred below
the age of 15 years.—Mr.lll`Gowan informed the commit.
tee that, on the previous day, he had brought before the
magistrates several cases of illegal cellar occupation, under
the new act. The first set of cases consisted of the cellars
in the court with respect to which the coroner's jury gave
a recent presentment, to the effect that, though inhabited
by human beings, they were not fit for pigs. In these
small fines were imposed, the cases being the first under
the act. The second class of cases consisted of those where
the landlords, in letting places to tenants, had stipulated
that the cellars were not to be re-let, and where, notwith-
standing, the tenants had let such cellars. In these cases
also the magistrates inflicted a small penalty ; and explained
with regard to the meaning of the term occupation, that
it was no longer necessary that a bed should be found in
such premises, since, if the ordinary indications of living
were apparent, occupation must be considered as proved.
In answer to a question, the clerk explained that the
penalty was imposed on the party who sub-let, not on the
landlord.—Mr.M`Gwan,the clerk, read a statement which
had been prepared by Dr. Duncan, in reply to the allega-
tions contained in the recently pi.iblished report of the
General Board of Health. The principal allegations were
that "in Liverpool, where extensive sewers have been laid
reported to be corrdown, repo in principle and self-cleansing,
the cesspools in houses being allowed to remain, and the
house-drains continuing unimproved, the only reduction
of the mortality effected has been from 31 in 1,000 to 29
in 1,000, even if that can be ascribed to the new sewers,
and not to other improvements ;" also, " that there is no
systematised connexion of the main sewers with self-
cleansing house drains." The facts, Dr. Duncan ex-
plained, were that upwards of 1,600 welling-houses had
been drained (with the improved tubular pipes recom-
mended by the Board of Health) since the sanitary act
came into operation, or 28 per cent. of the entire number,
while the proportion in the metropolis was less tkan 9 per
cent. The existence of cesspools, too, was the exception
in Liverpool, and not the rule as in London. The reduc-
tion of mortality in the borough, from 31 to 29 in 1,000,
as stated by the board, is in reality a large reduction, and
one which affords cause for congratulation, as an instal-
ment, at least, of what we may ultimately expect ; but in
the parish of Liverpool, where the largest proportion of
house drainage has been effected (12,661 out of 16,141),
the reduction has been even more considerable, namely,
from 35 to 32 in 1,000, being equivalent to a saving of 800
lives yearly in the parish alone. Dr. Duncan also explained
that the statement as to 34,000 persons living in cellars in
Liverpool, contained in the report, referred to what took
place at the meeting of the British Association in 1837,
ten years previous to the sanitary act coming into opera-
tion, and eleven years previous to the constitution of the
General Board of Health. A copy of the report was
ordered to be transmitted to the General Board
of Health,