The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-04-02 00:00:00

EASTER TUESDAY.—This evening the Town-hall will
be graced by the presence of the noble and distinguished
patronesses and patrons of a spirited effort to extend the
blessings of education to the most destitute of our towns-
folk. The general and hearty support already accorded
to the Roscoe Club, in its generous attempt to aid the
founders of the Ragged Schools, will ensure a numerous
and brilliant company, and we hope a considerable sur-
plus. _ _ _

SALE OF CORPORATION PROPERTY.---A sale of land
belonging to the corporation took place on Wednesday, at
the George Inn, the result of which must prove extremely
cheering to the owners of property in this town. The
lots, which were sold by Mr. Winstanley, consisted of
land in and near Lime-street, in the vicinity of St.
George's-hall. The first eight lots in Lime-street sold at
an avera-e of £4 13s. per square yard. The adjoining
lot, 10, realized £5 2s. 6d. per square yard. Lots 11 to
15 inclusive, brought from £4 4s. to £5 12s. per square
yard. Lot 17, in Elliott-street, was knocked down at
£l5 15s. per square yard, and lot 18, in Parker-street,
was sold for £l3 per square yard. These are considered
excellent prices.
LIVERPOOL TUG-BOATS.—At the Admiralty Court on
Monday, the court gave judgment in the suit instituted
by two steam-tugs Uncle Sam and the Countess of Lons-
dale, of this port. The steamers, on the 26th of Septem-
ber, took in tow and brought to•port the ship Tigris, then
outward bound from Liverpool to Calcutta, which they
represented was lying off Point Lynas in a dangerous posi-
tion. They were assisted by the Victoria steamer, which
had accepted £52 10s. for her services, but the other two
tugs claimed £2500. The learned judge considered the
tender (X 157 10s.) insufficient; he therefore overruled it,
and decreed £350. He thought the underwriters were
extremely well off to get the ship back to Liverpool at so
small an expense.

VOLUNTARY STARVATION.-Mr. James Dwyer, a bar-
rister from Dublin, died at Birkenhead on Wednesday
from voluntary starvation. He has been lodging in the
latter town since the 6th ultimo, and refused to take any
food. Some beef tea, arrowroot, &c., were only taken by
him when forced down his throat. Mr. Edgar, surgeon,
who had attended deceased once or twice, and had, sub-
sequently to his death, made a post mortem examination,
said that he considered the deceased was labouring under
monomania. The post mortem examination indicated
that inflammation of the stomach and congestion of the
brain were the cause of death, more immediately accele-
rated by the absence of food. Such a disordered state of
the system might, when the deceased tuok nutriment,
produce the agony of which he complained ; but, had he
taken it, his life might have been prolonged for a few
months. The jury returned a verdict of "Died by the
visitation of God."
TESTIMONIAL TO THE REV. DR. CARPENTER.-011
Saturday last, a deputation from the congregation of St.
Jude's Church waited on the Rev. Dr. Carpenter, at his
residence in Pembroke-place, to present their much-
beloved pastor with a valuable testimonial of the esteem
in which he is held by the flock for whom he has so affec-
tionately and industriously laboured. The testimonial
consisted of a splendid piece of plate, valued at £75, a
purse containing a handsome sum of money, and an ad-
dress expressive of the feelings of the congregation on
separatini
Pilcher.

Le reve

;tins prc

time a beautifully-written and touching address from the
Sunday-school teachpr. - several hand-

panied

some volumes, was presented to the reverend doctor, on
behalf of the subscribers, by Mr. T. J. Alsop, the effi-
cient superintendent of the Sunday school, who has long
and successfully laboured for the moral and spiritual
improvement of this densely-crowded district.
BIRKENHEAD DOCK BILL.—On Tuesday and Wednes-
day week, Edward Lawes. Esq., barrister-at-law, and
James Abernethy, Esq., C.E., held a Court of Inquiry at
the Town-hall, Birkenhead, under the preliminary inqui-
ries act 12th Victoria, for the purpose of making inquiries
in relation to the bill now before Parliament, promoted
by the Dock Trustees, seeking an extension of time for the
completion of the dock works, and for the exercise of cer-
tain powers. The bill, however, does not appear to en-
counter much opposition, Mr. J. B. Lloyd merely oppos-
ing on behalf of the railway, so far as power is sought to
increase the tonnage of goods passing to the railway, and
the Liverpool Dock Committee opposing a clause which
proposed to exempt vessels from Liverpool dock dues
which discharge part of their cargo into the river and
afterwards complete the discharge in Birkenhead Dock.
It was stated in the course of the inquiry that 50 acres of
the great float would be completed for the use of the
timber trade by the Ist of July, and 150 acres on the Ist
of January, 1851, with quay wall all along the south side
of the pool.

EVERTON.-At the annual meeting of the ratepayers on
Tuesday, Mr. Councillor Freme occupied the chair. Let-
ters were read from the Poor-law Board and the Lords of
the Treasury with reference " to certain alleged malprac-
tices in the collection of the assessed taxes in that town-
slur," which informed the overseers that "although
there is apparently no moral doubt of the delinquency of
the individual referred to, that the case is so surrounded
by difficulties, both as to questions of law and fact, as not
to justify them in further prosecuting it with any reasona-
ble hope of a successful result." After a stormy discus-
sion, it was moved by Mr. M'Cormick, seconded by Mr.
John Ewart, " That the meeting recommend to the Poor-
law Board the dismissal of Mr. Shaw, the assistant-over-
seer;" and the votes being equal, the chairman gave his
casting vote against the motion. It was then proposed
that Mr. Shaw should resign either his situation of assist-
ant-overseer, or that of registrar of births and deaths, with
which Mr. Shaw refused to comply. It was then resolved
that his salary as assistant-overseer should;be reduced from
£l2O to £7O per annum. The following gentlemen were
appointed overseers :—Messrs. Edward Langsdale, Geo.
Kerford, and W. T. Kilshaw.

BIRKENHEAD POURS' RATES.—Upwards of forty-four
summonses were placed on the paper for hearing, at the
Birkenhead Police-court, on Wednesday. Amongst
others, Mr. R. Brown appeared by Mr. Atkinson, soli-
citor, who took several objections, which were overruled.
The defendant prayed for a reduction of the rate, as he
was over-rated by the overseers, who placed an additional
value on his premises, in consequence of some contem-
plated improvements which were not carried out until
some time after the assessment was made. The magis-
trates said that, as the appeal day had gone by, they could
not interfere, but intimated to the overseers the necessity
of making arrangements with the party, particularly under
the circumstances, and in order to avoid these weekly
exhibitions between them and the public. Several cases
were then called on where the parties had been grossly
over-assessed, several of the cottages belonging to Mr.
Wm. Hughes, of Chester-street, having been increased
from £lO to £l6, though it was proved that Mr. Hughes
was only receiving a rental of five shillings per week, in-
cluding all rates and water rent. The magistrates
strongly condemned the conduct of the overseers, and
regretted that they had not the power of affording re-
dress, as the party had not appealed to the petty sessions
on the day fixed for the appeal. Mr. Hughes stated that
the overseers had departed from the conduct of previous
overseers, by not informing the ratepayers when the
appeal day was fixed for. The bailiff said they were not
bound to give such notice. The Rev. Mr. Feilden said,
when the overseers were altering the whole course of
their proceedings, by such wholesale increase in the
assessments, it was their duty not only to give all pub-
licity to the rates, but also of the day of appeal, more
especially as the sessions for such appeals were held at
Neston. After some further discussion, Mr. Hughes
offered to pay the rates for his tenants without costs.
The bench considered this a liberal offer, and it was
acceded to.