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

VOTE OF THANKS TO THE CHAIRMAN : PROGRESS OF

THE DOCK WORKS.
Mr. BAILIFF, in complimentary terms, then moved a
vote of thanks to the chairman, whom he eulogised for
his invariable courtesy and kindness.
Mr. HENDERSON seconded the motion, which was
carried by acclamation.
The CHAIR3fAI, in returning thanks, stated that he
had not been absent from his post during the two years
he had held the office of chairman one single meeting,
nor had he kept them waiting one single minute. After
saying that, he begged to congratulate them on the
position in which Birkenhead stands. They were pro-
gressing most rapidly in prosperity. He believed that
there was no interest in the township which was not
prosperous, whether it was the manufacturers on the
pool, such as the Canada Company, or the tradesmen
and shopkeepers of the town, and he was certain that
the labouring classes had no cause of complaint. Of
the class of houses called cottage property, there was
not one uninhabited, and a largely-increasing proportion
of the better class of houses was now occupied. If they
wished him to say anything as to the docks (Mr. Greene
is one of the dock trustees), he should be happy to do so
Since their appointment in August last, contracts had
been entered into with Mesons. Brassey, 111`Cormick, Peto,
and Betts, to carry out the full completion of the docks ;
and although there was not now apparent probably that
progress which the public would wish to see, their names
were a sufficient guarantee that the works would be com-
pleted in the time that they had stipulated. They were
not favourable contracts for the township, but the pre-
sent state of the country, so far as money was concerned,
would produce some effect at first, but the ultimate
result would be the same. As to the present position
of the docks in operation, he should just give them an
instance. In 1852, when they entered into office, in the
first five months of the year the dock revenue was about
£700; in the five months ending the 31st of May, in the
present year, it was something like £2,500. He thought
that was a reflection which they could not fail to be proud
of; and not only that, but so far as they were themselves
concerned, they had paid every penny for which they were
accountable. (Mr. Henderson : " And arrears.") Also
some arrears, the poor-rate, and all arrears of salary
arising tillthe time that they took: office. So far as the town-
ship was concerned, they were not in debt. Then, he begged
to say that the state of the docks would have been different,
if they had not had an. unfortunate legacy of £40,000 in
small debts to pay. Mr. Greene proceeded to state that
Parliament had authorised them to issue bonds to that
amount, but complained that the parties had refused
them, and caused increased expense and embarrassment
by their litigation.
Mr. GOUGH said there was a report current that the
Liverpool people were about to purchase the docks. Was
there any truth in it ?
Mr. GREEN said that, so far as he was concerned, or
acquainted with the dock trustees and the bondholders
of Wallasey and that township, he did not believe that
there was one man who entertained the idea for a moment.
He asked what benefit Birkenhead could derive from
being under the surveillance of Liverpool ? Such a con-
nection would be an injury to Birkenhead, he thought;
to the dock trust it would decidedly. It must be effected
by an act, which would meet such an opposition that it
never could be carried through. Moreover, government had
been generous to them at Birkenhead, and had given them
property of the value of £150,000 that they might create
a rivalry on the Mersey; then he would ask any man of
common sense, if he thought that government would
sanction an amalgamation with Liverpool ? He thought
not ; and therefore he would like to undeceive the public,
and say decidedly, so far as the present trustees and the
great majority of the bondholders were concerned, that
they would not enter into any contract with Liverpool.
In answer to Mr. Hughes, the CHAIRMAN explained
that, by the word bondholders, he meant the dock bond-
holders only.
Mr. CURRY, appealed to by him, confirmed the Chair-
man's statement, and called attention to the fact that the
apparently slow progress of the works was owing to the
foundations of the sea-wall having to be dug three times
the depth that had been anticipated. The late accident,
too, had caused delay, but when that breach was repaired,
where 50 men were employed now there would be five
times that number.

Mr. HUGHES said there was a report out of doors that
day that Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid and others had agreed
to the transference to Liverpool.
The CHAIRMAN.—There has been no negotiation at all.
Mr. fluGnEs.—None on foot ?

The CHAIRMAN.—Not at all, except in imagination.
He said Mr. Brassey had stated that the accident should
not ultimately delay the completion of the docks beyond
the specified time. He was sure it would be so, and when
they were completed they would be the most perfect in
the world. He believed that if they had ten times the
dock accommodation they now had, they could find use
for it, but the great difficulty was to have an entrance.
Mr. HUGHES did not doubt one word that had been
said that evening, but the great difficulty was in getting
the public out of doors to believe it ; they had been so
often disappointed.
The board then adjourned.

LADY HALL (of Llanover) had a small reception, on
Wednesday, and a performance of genuine Welsh music.
About twelve of the most beautiful ancient national melo-
dies were executed by the Llanover harpers Gruffydd and
Watcyn on the triple-stringed harps of Wales ; they also
sang with their harps. Gruffydd is the same harper who
a few years ago had the honour of playing before Her
Majesty at Buckingham Palace, with his master, the late
celebrated Jones ; and Watcyn is the pupil of Gruffydd.
CAUTION TO SHIP STEWARDS.—At the Police-court
yesterday, Thos. Fleming, steward of the steamer "Pride
of Erin,' trading between Liverpool and Dundalk, was
charged with removing 9i gallons of whiskey without per-
mit or certificate. Mr. Sharp, collector of Inland Revenue,
and Mr. Lucas, import surveyor, appeared to prefer the
charge, and called Mr. Bower, officer of Inland Revenue,
to prove the charge, which was clearly established. The
magistrates, under the act 11 and 12 Vic., o. 121., sec. 25,
imposed on Fleming a fine of £3O, or three moths' im-
prisonment in default.

THE KING OF PORTUGAL, accompanied by Prince
Louis Philippe, Duke of Oporto, and attended by the Duke
of Terceira, arrived at Buckingham Palace on Saturday.
The King of Portugal is sixteen years old, having been
born in September, 1837. His brother, Don Louis
Philippe, was born in October, 1838. His Majesty and
the Duke of Oporto remained with the Queen and Prince
Albert until half-past three o'clock in the afternoon, when
the King and his Royal Highness quitted the Palace in
one of the Queen's full-dress carriages, for the purpose of
paying complimentary visits to her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Kent and other members of the Royal Family.
In the evening her Majesty and her Portuguese visitors
attended St. James's Theatre. On Friday next Her Majesty
will hold her fifth levee this season, in St. James's Palace.
Her Majesty, it is expected, will shortly afterwards leave
Buckingham Palace for Windsor Castle, accompanied by
her illustrioup
gAellts, miez to be preseut at the Ascot
paces,

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1854.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE=

THE EASTERN WAR.

--•--
VIENNA, SIINDA.Y EVENING.—It is credibly assete
r,
that all personal relations between the Austrian and ,
sian Courts have been interrupted during the last P".

night.
On the 29th the Russians made a combined attack
the south-east, south, and west fronts of Silistria• Acce,
ing to the Russian accounts, they were repulsed islw e
loss of 1,000 men.
The allies are advancing with all speed to the sit
war, by way of Varna.
ba
CONSTANTINOPLE, Mir 25.—Marshal St. Arnaud
been chosen Commander-in-Chief of the combined all
60,000 Russians are advancing on the two roadaiewii
from Silistria to Shumla ; and 40,000 are investing

tria.
600 Russians are reported killed in an affair at rS

covan. They burned the bridge at Slatina.
The Paris Moniteur says, orders have been trans—,,
to the Ottoman authorities in Albania to receive the s'
trian troops.
GREECE.—The Moniteur of Saturday states that -1(
Otho, on the 26th, addressed the English and frelloct,
envoys as follows :—" I declare that I will faithflaVe;
serve a strict and complete neutrality towards TY
that I will, without delay, take every necessary met
to effect the same, and, with this object in view,
summon to my assistance new ministers, best clu'v:a.?,
by their reputation and intelligence, to fulfil my Oro.
ment." The independence of Georgia has beeqi
claimed, and the princes banished will be rec': ce
The Russian army, since its communications P.O,
been interrupted by sea, is threatened with star"
The greatest dismay prevailed among the partisal3s3
Russia in Greece. The Queen, in particular, was 4
to a pitch of frenzy that made her husband fear that
mind was disordered. She is said to have repe3fr3
declared that, if the occupation took place, she would 1 f
moment mount on horseback, place herself at the lle3:j
the Greek army, and lead them across the frontiers
rouse the population to arms. Her Majesty's bagr,
had been ordered to be prepared, and everything a 0
tended her speedy departure. At length she yielded 01
the prayers, entreaties, and even, it is said, to the te*".
the King, who conjured her not to take so reckless e 51;`;
and in his supplications he was powerfully aided by
ladies in waiting and the servants of the palace.
ATHENS, May 28th.—The new Cabinet has re-osile"
yU
insurgent chiefs. It will re-model the court, dis 1-6501
public functionaries who may have been comprorniseu'
require that Athens shall not be occupied.
The White Sea squadron, under the command of 2e
Ommanney, consisting of the Eurydice, 26, Capt. °nl,
ney ; Miranda, 15, screw, Capt. Lyons ; and Blot'
Commander F. B. P. Seymour, arrived at Lerwick'
land Islands, on the 25th ult., and left on the 26',
the North Cape.

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NICE.
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