The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-16 00:00:00

THE DOCK DILL

The report of the deputation on the Dock and Warehouse
bill was read. It set forth that the bill had been met in its
progress by various petitions in opposition to its provisions.
The object of one pasty was to prevent vessels from paying
the present rates ; of the Ellesmere Company to get more
wharfage ; and of parties on the opposite side of the river
to get better accommodation for landing on this side.

The Council proceeded to the consideration of the clauses
in the bill which had been altered during its progress. The
several clauses were read, and much discussion arose upon
the alterations which have taken place, and a few amend-
ments were framed.

Sir JositUA WALMSLEY moved that the Dock Committee
be instructed to frame amendments, to be approved by the
Finance Committee, for making the powers of the trustees
and the ship-owners to land from any vessel and warehouse
goods subject to the right of the merchant to the benefit of
any lay days to which he may be lawfully entitled ; and in
the case of any such vessel lying in the intended new dock,
to give power to the trustees, if the despatch of business
should be obstructed by the lay days, to remove the vessel
from such dock to any other dock.

Mr. BIRKETT proposed an amendment to the effect that it
be an instruction to the Dock Committee to prevent the
exempting clauses from passing through the House of Com-
mons. lie said the corporation of Liverpool resembled A
Shrovetide-cock, tied to a stake, at which every passer-by
had a kick. (Hear, hear, and great laughter.)
_
looked at the opposition the town met with from people

lot, ging to all parts, he thought he should not be very wrong,
when he said that the very objects had been gathered to-
gether against it. The cause of all this had been the intro-
duction into parliament, sour years ago, of the conservancy
bill, which was framed in such a manner as to set their hand
against every man, and every man's hand against them.
(Hear, hear.) That was the first cause, and they had finished
it last year by going to parliament, and attacking various in-
terests. Mr. Birkett continued, at some further length, to
support his amendment, and concluded by calling on the
council to stand up for the town, and not to commit a suicidal
act by adopting the exemption clauses.
Mr. GLADSTONE seconded the amendment, and in doing
so said they ought not to give up that which in reality was
not theirs to give.
Mr. EvANs said they had given up nothing. It had been
taken from them. They had been assured that the bills
would be opposed, and that they never would have a con-
servancy or any other bill without ,having those exemptions
interpolated in them. But it was no novelty, for he had fre-
quently stated in the counoil on former occasions that be-
fore the present Dock Committee came into office the old
committee had a bill in which they admitted exemption for
Runcorn, and that clause had not been opposed by Mr. Bir-
kett or those who held with him on the occasion. (Hear.)
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE saw no alternative but to submit
to the exemption clauses, and that submission he would make
most reluctantly.

Mr. EARLE could not vote for the amendment, because lie
thought it a side wind to get rid of the bill, and, though lie
was opposed to it from the first, he would not lend himself to
any underhand work of that sort. No bill could be got
without some concession being made, and he was not acting
improperly in yielding to the concessions in the present in-
stance in the situation in which they were at that moment
placed.

A division was come to, when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it

Majority..
For—Messrs. I. Holmes, Sandbach, Blundell, Cooper,
Birkett, Gladstone, Kilshaw, Parker, R. Jones, Leigh, and
J. Smith.

Against—Messrs. J. Holmes, Houghton, H. Holmes,
Thornhill, Case, Wahnsley, Aikin, Woollright, Bright, B .
Hornby, Robinson, Morecroft, Slater, G. H. Lawrence,
Jordan, WlCee, Platt, J. Hornby, T. Holt, Bulley, Freme,
Blackburn, Booth, Sheil, Evans, Barclay, Earle, Benn, J.
Holt, Moon, and the Mayor. For the atneudment-12 ;
against it-30 ; majority-IS.

ARRIVAL OF COMMODORE NAPIER.
Mr. CASE begged to bring before the council the circum-
stance of Commodore Sir C. Napier having arrived in this
town in the Oriental, and he thought probably the council
would think it necessary to receive the gallant commodore
with some tokens of respect. It was the intention of some
parties to give him a public dinner in the town. The commo-
dore was at present confined on board the Oriental, which
was performing quarantine. It was probable he would not
come on shore before Friday next. He moved that a special
committee of five be appointed to propose an address to Com-
modore Napier, to congratulate him on his successes, to ex-
press admiration of his skill in war and negotiation, and to
concur with others in any manifestation of public opinion as
may be deemed desirable.
Mr. EARLE seconded the motion.
Mr. CASE named the following gentlemen to form the com-
mittee—the Mayor, Messrs. H. Hornby, Earle, G. H. Law-
rence, J. Gladstone, and the name of Mr. Case was added.
The council adjourned at half-past three o'clock.