The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-02 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

OPENING OF TRANMERE FERRY.

The report of a disagreement between the Corporation
and Messrs. Willoughby, the late lessees of the Birken-
head Ferry, and the announcement of the transfer by
these gentlemen of their most efficient packet establish-
ment to Tranmere, have created in the minds of a great
portion of the inhabitants on both sides of the water equal
surprise and sincere regret. During the past few years,
and indeed from the commencement of their management
of the Birkenhead ferry, Messrs. Willoughby have dis-
played an amount of liberality, enterprise, and regard for
the convenience of both communities, which cannot be
sufficiently praised. With powerful opponents to compete
with in the Birkenhead Commissioners—the owners of the
Woodside andthe Monks' ferries—they have not only stood
their ground, but even gone in advance in the race ; and,
up to the last day of their connexion with the Birkenhead
property, it has not been in the power of the most cynical
to point to any establishment upon the river more perfect
in all its arrangements, conducted with more unvarying
urbanity to the public, or more actively useful to the in-
creasing traffic of the locality, than this ferry. We regard,
therefore, with regret, in connexion with hundreds of their
friends, the step taken, both on private and—so far as the
interests of Liverpool are concerned—on public grounds;
for we cannot anticipate that the Corporation will be en-
abled to provide themselves readily with lessees of the
property, whose management will be so advantageous to
all parties.
We shall not here enter into the question as to the
grounds of the unfortunate disagreement which has taken
place. These will; most likely, be elicited in the Council.
Our object was only to convey to the late lessees of
Birkenhead the tribute of approval of their past exertions,
which they have so fully earned ; and, at the same time,
to congratulate the sister locality of Tranmere upon the
acquisition which they have gained in the reopening, under
such management, of their long disused ferry. ire are
not quite so full of Liverpool sympathies as to be warped
by the fact, that the benefit now extended towards Tran-
mere and the neighbourhood must be attended with some
depreciation of the property of our Corporate estate. The
time must inevitably have come, in a year or two, when
the Tranmere Ferry must have been reopened. It is
urgently required for the accommodation of the population,
which is fast extending from the south of 'Birkenhead
towards Limekiln-lane. Rock Ferry, and Bebbington ;
and we doubt not it will be found after awhile that there
will be traffic sufficient for all the ferries. In the mean-
time, we look for a considerable increase in the value of
property in the locality now to be supplied with increased
facilities of communication with Liverpool. _ _

The present Tranmere slip has been greatly improved
recently ; and will now be found to be one of the most
commodious upon the river. A spacious waiting-room
for ladies has been erected, and is well fitted up. Of the
boats whiCh will in future ply to it we need say nothing
in praise, inasmuch as they are known to be unsurpassed
for speed, comfort, and safety. The charges for con-
tracting, &c. will be upon the same low scale as those
made by Messrs. Willoughby at Birkenhead.

Yesterday morning, Mesrs. Willoughby commenced
running their boats from Tranmere, and throughout the
day all was life and bustle on the slip, which for so many
years has been entirely deserted. Up to twelve o'clock,
they also had boats plying to Birkenhead, but at that hour
the Corporation entered into possession of that ferry, and
three steamers engaged by them will continue to ply, we
presume, until other arrangements are entered into. We
have no doubt that the ferry will be worked by the Council
with energy and punctuality, but they will now find verl,
formidable competitors, both north and south, and great
economy must be exercised to make the property at all
remunerative. We believe every one of the contractors
at Birkenhead have followed Mr. Willoughby to Tranmere.

THE SUPPLY OF WATER,

As considerable interest is attached to the result of the
experiments now in progress to ascertain the actual yield
of the wells sunk by the late Water Companies, a e have
endeavoured to obtain some information as to how the
inquiry is progressing. We learn that so far the calcu-
lations have been confined to the wells of the Harrington
Company, in the Park, in Copperas-hill, and in Soho-
street, and that the yield of these three is found to be
nearly, if not quite, equal to the supply which, we believe,
Mr. Hawksley calculated would be obtainable from all the
resources of that company ; whilst the wells of the same
proprietary at Windsor and Bevington Bash remain yet to
be tested. We are informed that the three wells we have
mentioned are capable of yielding almost two million gal-
lons a day.

The, precise figures will shortly be laid before the
Council, and that body will, no doubt, come to such a
decision upon them as the necessities of the town require.

The Niagara,—another of the splendid steam-ships be-
longing to the British and North American Company,—
arrived in the river yesterday, from Greenock.

SUDDEN DEATH...—On Sunday night, John Bell, aged
40, who lodged at No. 10, Hockenhall-alley, went to bed
quite well, and had never complained of ailment. He was
found dead in bed next morning.
AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH. —Ann Taylor, aged 51,
a servant to Mr. Christopher H. Jones, silversmith,
Castle-street, and whose residence is in Everton, com-
plained for some time past of pain in her side, and diffi-
culty of breathing. On Sunday, she was left alone in the
kitchen, and on the return of another of the servants in
a few minutes, she was found lying on the floor quite
dead.

BAZAAR IN PRESTON.—On Wednesday, Thursday, and •
Friday next, a bazaar will take place in Preston, under
the patronage of all the distinguished ladies of the town
and neighbourhood, in aid of the funds for the completion
of All Saints' Church, in that town. It will be held in
the Corn Exchange-rooms, and will be graced by all the
fashion and beauty which prevail in that district. Great
preparations have been made for the event, and we hope
that a large sum will be realised on the occasion.
ACCIDENT AT GEORGE'S PIER.—EXTRAORDINARY
ESCAPE.—On Sunday evening, shortly after five o'clock,
Robert Auld, (a pattern-maker, of Chester, who had for-
merly worked for years at Messrs. Bury & Co.'s Foundry
in this town), was in the act of descending the temporary
wooden stairs leading to the large landing stage, and had
got down only six steps, when his heel caught the edge
of a step and he was turned round, precipitated over the
outside of the stairs, and fell upon the deck of the flat
below, a depth of about 16 feet at that time of the tide.
He was picked up quite insensible by a police officer and
assistant and did not appear to breathe until the cab in
which he was placed had got half-way to the Northern
Hospital. He was there attended to, and in a short time
recovered so far as to state the manner of the accident.
Strange to say he only complained of a pain in the left
groin, and was found to have sustained no injury beyor
a few bruises,—though all who witnessed the accide
concluded that he was killed on the spot. The ste
alluded to are dangerous from their steep

to be reconstructed, or in some way protected, if months
are yet to be expended in fixing the two intended pon-
derous bridges, which are to span the space between the
quay and the monster landing stage.
HISTORIC SOCIETY.—We understand that this society,
which has not yet come formally before the public, but
has had a practical existence since the end of last autumn,
has a prospect of unusual popularity and usefulness. Al-
ready donations have been received ; and several collec-
tors of antiquities, manuscripts, curiosities, objects of
natural history, and other articles illustrative of the two
palatine counties, have promised to place their stores at
the disposal of the society. In the neighbourhood of
Manchester, and in various parts of Cheshire, the litho-
graphed circular has been read with great enthusiasm ;
and among the adhesions already received are those of
many of the peers and baronets connected with the two
counties, knights bachelor, knights of the shire, borough
members, magistrates, clergy, lawyers, &c. Our late
venerable diocesan felt much interest in the subject, but
he received the circular on the day that his official con-
nexion with the district was broken, and just as he was
summoned to London. An interesting fact connected
with those whose names are already received, is, that
more than twenty are men of letters, and favourably
known to the public in various departments of authorship.
_ .„.

become members are the Worshipful and Rev. Chancellor
Raikes, Canons S:ade and 111`Neile, the Rectors, the
Principals of the Collegiate and Royal Institution Schools,
the Principal of Birkenhead College, &c. His Worship
the Mayor expressed his warm interest in the matter from
the first, and offered some valuable suggestions. The
. .
`he im-

mends of one institution in town, anticipating t
nortance of the subjects, and the interest of

_ .
munications, are ready to place a suite of apartments at
the society's disposal, to accommodate both the meetings
and collection. It has been found necessary to issue a
large number of additional circulars, but it is understood
that the meeting for the formal institution of the society
will be held during the present month. _

HORSE STEALING—CAUTION TO KNACKERS.—At the
alice-court. yesterday. a miserable-lookinz voun2 lad.

named William Brownbill, was charged with stealing a
horse, the property of John Derbyshire, carter,-Toxteth-
park, from a field in the neighbourhood of Berkeley-street.
A man, named John Stritch, who is foreman in the Park
Tanning Company, was also charged with having pur-
chased the same horse from the prisoner BroWnbill,
knowing the same to have been stolen. It appeared from
'ime past

the evidc

under the care of Mr. Ellis, veterinary surgeon, and that
it had been grazing in the field before alluded to. On
Friday morning last, the boy went to the field and brought
the horse with him to the tan-yard, where he sold it for
is. 6d., although the owner alleged that it was worth £2O.
These facts having been proved, Mr. Rushton committed
I,a+l, t 1 nriQnners to the Assizes for trial, observing at

the same time that the idea of a boy like the priso'ner
being possessed of a horse valued at £2O, which he could
dispose of for is. 6d., was preposterous. If such a state
of things was allowed to continue, no man would be safe.
Mr. Tyrer appeared for the. prisoner Stritch, and said

that it was quite customary for such boys to tiring norses
to the yard and sell them—in fact a man did not come in
one case out of every twenty.—Mr. Rushton : Then all I
can say is, that if the company continue such a practice,
some one of them will run the risk of being sent across
the seas.—Mr. Tyrer then applied to have Stritch allowed
to bail.—Mr. Rushton : No. I will not. He is more
guilty than that wretched boy, and deserves to be punished.
I always find in cases of this kind, that the plea of respec-
tability is set up ; that it is only done in the way of trade,
and all the other excuses ; but the man who purchases a
horse from such a wretch as that deserves to meet with
the reward of his conduct.—The prisoners were then re-
moved. At a subsequent period of the day, however, in
consideration of Stritch!s past good character, he was
allowed out on bail, finding two sureties in £lOO each for
his future appearance.

GENERAL TRADE REPORT

Monday Evening.

We have had a tolerably quiet week in the political
arena, and, with the exception of the intelligence from
Denmark, our continental advices are comparatively of a
satisfactory nature: The triumph of the moderate party
in the French elections is a great fait accompli, and the
position on the poll occupied by Ledru-Rollin and his parti-
sans is a clear proof that the ultra-democratic party has no
chance in France. Had it not been for the arrival of this
intelligence in London on Friday, and the advance of
about 3 per cent. in the Rentes in the Paris market on
Thursday, the Schleswig affair would have considerably
depreciated the value of public securities. We are not,
however, quite so enthusiastic in our approbation as the
Paris correspondent of the Daily News, when he swal-
lowed the hoax that the Bank of Englandi had contracted
to supply the Bank of France with two millions sterling,
upon security of French treasury bonds and Bank shares
in deposit. There may be "a good time coming," but
they must " wait a little longer." The conjecture that
a portion of our bullion has found its way to France to
purchase manufactured goods, which are to be had at a
very low figure, has more plausibility; and this, combined
with the small demand on the Continent generally for
goods from this country, and the increasing desire to send
commodities here for security, several cargoes having been
put into British ports which were on transit to other
parts of the world, brings under our notice the im-
portant consideration as to whether our markets are
not in danger of becoming overstocked with the pro-
ductions of foreign labour to the detriment of our own.
The average price of Consols during the week has been
rather higher than for some time past, and trade for arti-
cles of Colonial produce and general consumption has
improved ; but little business however, is doing in any
department on speculation. In consequence of the Bank
returns showing a further diminution of £535,913 in the
bullion, the English funds opened on Saturday morning
at a slight depression from Friday's prices. Several pur-
chases, however, having followed, a reaction took place of
about a half per cent., which was maintained in some
measure up to the termination of business. The first
quotation of Consols, for money and account, was 82k to
I, and after advancing to 82k, they closed sellers at 82i.
Prices of SHARES have again been steady during the
week with a tendency upwards, being at the end of the
week slightly higher than at the commencement. This
change is not so much the result of any great increase of
purchases, but arises from the confidence inspired from
the peaceful manner in which the elections are proceed-
ing in Paris, and the absence of any belligerent news from
Germany. To-day is a holiday here and in London.

The demand for CorroN throughout the week has been
regular and steady, and prices have been fully sustained,
notwithstanding the large importation of 40,622 bags from
the 21st to the 28th ultimo, and the quantity at sea, esti-
mated at 100,000 bags. The small stock of good Cotton
in our market, and the extensive orders here from Russia,
have caused that class of Cotton gradually to be enhanced
in value, whilst, on the contrary, inferior Cotton is not
only abundant, but will probably become much more so,
consequently we quote this description id. per lb lower up
to the close of last week, and " Fair" very firm at the
quotations, which will be found in page 7. To-DAY a
good business has been transacted ; the sales are about
9,000 bales, nearly all to the trade, 200 only being for ex-
port, and we have had a decidedly stiffer market, at an
advance of id. upon common sorts.
The business done in foreign WooL, during the past
week, has been on a very limited scale : and, as the accounts
from the country are very discouraging, we fear it will be
some time before we have anything like an average de-
mand. Public sales commence in London on the 4th inst.,
and will continue until the 20th inst. There will be nearly
18,000 bales fine Wool brought forward. Imports for
the week :—Foreign—Nil; previously, 22,621. Scotch-
-355 ; previously, 5,094 ; total, 5,429.
COLONIAL MARKETS.—The demand for Sugar, which
was so extensive, continues, both grocers and refiners
buying very freely. Since the brokers' circular was pub-
lished, a further advance of 6d. per cwt. has been ob-
tained, and the sales amount to 7,000 bags Bengal, 200
!Aids. Demerara, 100 mats Mauritius, and 50 cases Per-
nams : the market has a healthy tone, and holders evince
much firmness.—Molrsses are more enquired after • fine
description are scarce and much wanted : 300 puncheons
of old Barbadoes in store fetched 18s. 6d. per cwt., which
is a full price.—Saltpetre is lower : the sales are 2,000
bags, 6 to 318 refraction at 30s. to 315., and a parcel of
300 bags 13g refraction, 28s.—Rum lower and little doing.
—The London markets opened on Wednesday, after the
Easter holidays, and business has since presented some
symptoms of improvement. In the sugar market both
grocers and refiners have shewn greater desire to purchase,
and there has altogether been more animation than for
some time past, an advance having been obtained of 6d.
to is. per cwt. Rice 6d. per cwt. dearer. Coffee at pre-
vious rates. Saltpetre heavy, at a slight decline.—At
Manchester there has been an improved demand for sugar,
at an advance of 6d. for all descriptions.
The CORN trade here, although we have no improve-
ment in value to notice since Friday's market, exhibits
considerable firmness at the slight advance then realized,
with a continued active demand for Indian Corn on Irish
account; in fact, until the potato crop in some measure
supplants this article, its very general consumption in
Ireland will still call for an extensive supply. We have
received letters this morning from most parts of this
country and Ireland, the tenor of which leads us to the
conclusion that the trade generally is steady, and in some
of the leading markets prices for all articles have an up-
ward tendency, but particularly for wheat. The weather
to-day is fine and warm, and its continuance would
speedily remove any unfavourable symptoms in the grow-
ing crops which may have appeared, and also afford the
much-desired opportunity for completing the spring
sowing. - _

There have been two sales of AMERICAN Lard this week,
one on Tuesday, at which 158 tierces, 400 barrels, and 2,500
kegs were offered ; the other on Friday, when 186 tierces,
1,785 barrels, and 1,056 kegs were brought forward :
at the former, the tierces and barrels and about 1,000 kegs
found buyers at previous rates ; and at the latter, a great
proportion was sold at 6d. under Tuesday's prices : the
remainder were withdrawn, but were afterwards taken by
private, in some instances at an advance on the
sale prices—At the public sale of Bacon on Tues-
day about 1,100 Western found buyers at improved
prices upon previous private sales, which about cleared the
market : since which there have been 1,000 boxes sold of
this week's import.—There is a considerable inquiry for
Hams and Shoulders, but the price remains moderate.—
A good business has been done in Beef, within the range
of the quotations.—The majority of the imports of Pork
are of very ordinary quality, and anything fine is taken
eagerly by the trade at full prices.—The little business
done in Cheese has been at full prices.—The following are
the current rates :
Cheese—(duty paid)—Fine, 48s to

50s per cwt. ; middling,
..r_iT C lfrppl—Prime

42s t. J ,
mess, per tree. 3041 b., 85s to 92s 6d ; Jdinari" 76s to 838, old
60s to 68s; extra, India, family, &c., 97s to 105 s • ditto, per
half-barrel, 30s to 35s;—mess, per barrel, 2001b.;50s to 56s ;
Os ; prime. 348 to 365. Pork—
to 725, old 48s

s,rold 358 to 4C

family mess,