The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-02-12 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

Yesterday, the Dock Committee held their weekly meet-
ing at the office in Revenue-buildings. There were present,
Messrs. Benn, Horsfall, Barclay, 'l'. Holt, Smith, Holmes,
Aitkin, Booth, G. Holt, Evans, Tobin, Chapman, Moon,
Martin and Sands.

Mr. BF.NN presided.
The sub-committee of works recommended the deepening
of the Queen's Basin according to a plan submitted, but re-
ported that they wished to take the sense of the general com-
mittee whether the work should be executed by contract or
by the men on the ordinary dock-yard establishment. Mr.
Hartley being absent, and the case not being urgent, the
decision was postponed till Thursday next.

The committee confirmed a resolution of the Finance
Committee of the town council, that the footwalk from
George's Dock be continued to the landing stages on the pier.
A report was presented from the sub-committee of works
stating that the crane at the south end of Brunswick Dock
had been broken in raising a much less weight than it was
intended to raise. It was stated that in the opinion of the
aurveyor, the injury was caused by th%action of the frost on
the cast iron, and not through negligence or overstraining.
It was calculated to raise twelve tons, but broke in lifting
eight and a half. In answer to an inquiry from Mr. CHAP-
MAN, the CHAIRMAN stated that the crane had been manu-
factured in the dock-yard. A resolution was then passed for
the crane to be repaired. _ _

On the recommendation of the sub-committee of works,
three new masts and three new lanterns were ordered to be
procured for the use of the Comet, light-ship.
The CHAIRMAN stated that a letter had been received
from the solicitor to the trust, suggesting that an appeal
to the Cheshire quarter sessions should be prosecuted against
the poor and highway rates imposed on Bidston light-house.
It appeared that the light-house was assessed at £l5O, and
the highway and poor rates charged in respect of it amounted
to £l6 13s. 9d. lie (the chairman) thought the claim had
never been made before, and that the ground of appeal would
be for excessive rating, Application had been made to the
Trinity Board, to know what was their practice in similar
circumstances ; and the reply was, that they paid rates for
their light-houses as for cottage tenements sufficient for the
accommodation of the keeper, namely, £lO, £l2, or £l4.
The rates had been paid—
Mr. EVAN s inquired who had paid them ?
The SECRETARY replied the treasurer.
Mr. EVANs.—Did he pay them without authority ?
The SECRETARY replied that he did not know.
Mr. EvANs continued.—lt would establish a bad prece-
dent to pay money without the authority of the general com-
mittee ; but he supposed that if it had been paid in error, it
might be reclaimed.

Mr. T. HoLT said the object of the application was to give
the solicitor power to prosecute the appeal, as lie thought
the rating could not be sustained.
Mr. EVANS said it was not right, on the part of the trea-
surer, to pay any money without proper authority.
The CHAIRMAN observed, that the money had been paid
by the treasurer in the first instance, and the present ques-
tion had arisen on the bill being laid before the committee.
Mr. WITHERS, the treasurer, was then called in.
The CHAIRMAN mentioned to him the payment of the
rates, and asked him if, as it appeared to be a new charge,
it had not been made without consideration?
Mr. WITHERS replied that the charge was not a new one.
The CHAIRMAN.—Have you been in the habit of paying
rates before for lighthouses ?
Mr. WITHERS in reply said, the present bill was rather
larger than on former occasions. Rates had been paid in
respect of all the lighthouses, and they amounted to about
the same sum every year.
Mr. HORSFALL.--DO I understand you to say that you
pay for every lighthouse ?
Mr. Virrnms.--We pay for them all, but this is the
largest amount.

The CHAIRMAN remarked that the lighthouses, under the
control of the Trinity Board, paid rates merely as cottage
residences, but in the present case a tax was laid upon the
utility of the building.
Mr. HORSFALL thought the principle laid down by the
Trinity Board the most equitable.
After a few words from Mr. EVANS and others, the soli-
citor was authorised to proceed with the appeal.
A quantity of chains, wanted in the department of the
marine surveyor, were ordered to be procured, by contract.
The sub-committee for the department of the harbour
master, reported that they had carefully considered the
question of the mode of paying the dock-masters, and their
decided opinion was, that the principle of paying some of
them by a rate on the tonnage, and others by a fixed
salary was objectionable. They therefore recommended that
the general committee should direct fixed salaries to be paid
to all from the 25th June next. The sub-committee fur-
ther recommended that a dwelling-house be erected at each
of the docks not already provided with one, for the dock
master; and that a house should be provided for the south
harbour master, in the vicinity of the quays. A short dis-
cussion followed on this report, between Mr. Evans, Mr.
Horsfall, Mr. Sands, Mr. Chapman, the Chairman, and Mr.
Moon, after which, on the suggestion of Mr. G. Holt, the
question was postponed till Thursday next, when a fuller
meeting might be expected.
The sub-committee for the department of the harbour mas-
ters reported that they had received a letter from the south
harbour master, recommending certain alterations to be made
in Clarence graving dock.—Referred to the sub-committee
of works, with a recommendation to take the opinion of the
master carpenters on the proposed alterations.
A letter was read from the head constable, requesting that
the custody of the depot for stray property found on the dock
quays might be transferred from the police to the harbour
masters, to whom it legally belonged. The solicitor to the
committee, however, had given his opinion that the custody
lay in the police of the borough. A copy of the solicitor's
opinion was, after a few words from Mr. Horsfall, ordered
to be sent to the head constable.
A recommendation from the north harbour master to place
signal lights at the entrance to the different basins, to pre-
vent the crowding of ships there by night, was ordered to be
complied with.
The meeting then adjourned.