The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-16 00:00:00

REPORTERS.

Mr. EVANS said that when reporters were admitted to
their meetings, it was expected they would convey to the
public all essential matters there discussed, with reasona-
ble discretion as to what was valuable and what was not.
Now, they had had two discussions on the conduct of
their late chairman in negociating with the owners of the
Harrington property, both of which had been suppressed.
On the last occasion they gave, under the head " Dock
Proceedings," the " letter" of the chairman, suppressing
the discussion that took place upon it. It was very im-
proper to give that letter alone, as it might be inferred
from it that the committee were indifferent to what came

talnlei, o
r»xcui; hprat,!
or etas :,mt i
c
him,. for what he (Mr. E.) -rill co unwarraht-
able withholding a off.'rs mail.e for the land. For him-
self, he received no sati',l,otion whatever frool the letter
of the late chairman, nor did he c Juside.r that it all exc.ul-
gated him.

toir'econit.era'.,
. The CHAIRMAN thought it was quite beyond the con-
trol of the committee what the reporters should or should
not report. It rested
Dock
krely with themselves, as to what
said that if they
papers pets with matter ,voterotrerCs.ouneil proceedings they
tahge
irre art,
portspre ss
aocfrionracitittel
gr matter, d
itliolervtiomnuesitthexerteonfd
published. They might'h'.,
to attempt t
3,
am e
that, on
were
rtoheot
ttdtodoi;:ttli
their
ri
Idwiii
all,tthy
Mr. EvANg said the
, and not on tl
general
ootn
restrict.
discretionaryp e oi)!e would
V must (lace
thatttoh
rretyhi
leewocuHldx public.ifiß understanding.lr A
tr,e
usual
whend atl they
certain'ley,
npoo,tvebru,yw.hicThhweereofuorgeht
net.
Mr. Amity said it so happened the occasion in
reporters (lid not know
The only reporter present was the one retained by ' .
them-
selves as their paid reporter, and it therefore struekqmueeestriino,n;,
thereforeit w as a Ntlici7 das,
that, as a portion was given, the rest ought him
to have ap-
peared. He did not agree with Mr. Evans that the re-
porter was bound to give all; but,
employed a reporter, and paid him, and he ma • d e a report
of their proceedings, they ought all to be given.
The CHAIRMAN here read a note, which was handed
to him by the reporter in question. It was to the effect
that, on that day, he was reporting only for the Mail,
and had nothing to do with the report which had appeared.
Mr. Nicol, thought that Mr. Evans was not warranted
in attributing to the late chairman the words " unwar-
rantable suppression." When the letter was read, the
only parties who objected to it were Mr. Aikin and Mr.
Evans. The committee came to no resolution that they
were dissatisfied with it, and he thought there was, there-
fore, little cause to complain of the reporters not noticing
the individual remarks of so comparatively few of the
members present.
Mr. BARCLAY said be entirely concurred with what
was said by Mr. Evans and Mr. Aikin on that occasion,
but did not think it necessary to repeat their sentiments.
Mr. AIKIN considered the word " unwarrantable" jus-
tifiable, as he thought the chairman and deputy-chairman
were bound to give to that committee such information as
was communicated to them for the use of that body. The
letter itself shewed that the late chairman was wrong.
Two offers of sale were made, neither of which were com-
municated to them. It was wrong to suppress what it
was material for them to know, and if he had known a
week ago that Mr. Nicol thought otherwise, he would
have objected to his being elected deputy-chair man.
The CHAIRMAN thought the propriety of the expres-
sion " unwarrantable " depended upon whether there was
any motive. If he himself were deputed to negotiate a
matter, arid knowingly suppressed anything material that
occurred, he should be amenable to severe censure ; but
he had no doubt but the late chairman had merely made
an omission, without any design of withholding any in-
formation that ought to have been given.
Mr. new, concurred,
man or as a member only of the coanittv, he should use
his own discretion, and with, he trusted,
advantage to the
trust.

Mr. AIKIN said that if Mr. Nicol, in the exercise of
such discretion, kept from the committee that which was
intended for them, he would be open to the censure of
the committee. The communication was made to the
committee in such terms that left no doubt that the fh,r-
rington Dock Company would not sell a part—only the
whole.
Mr. ToBIN thought that if there was any charge against
the late chairman Viey had better bring it forward. It was
frivolous and vexatious, and unworthy the Dock Com-
mittee to take any further notice of it.
The committee then adjourned.
The Mercury of Friday last makes the following, amongst
other remarks on the above conversation :—" As it is
perhaps necessary that we should explain the reason why,
in our paper of this day, the omission complained of by
Mr. Evans occurs, the meeting of the Dock Committee
which was held on Monday last, was altogether out of the
usual course, and no reporter was aware that it had been
fixed for that day. The reporter alluded to in the above
proceedings attended the dock office on their business at
the hour of meeting, and accidentally learned that the
General Committee was then sitting. After it had ter-
' minated, the reporter for the Tim es was informed that
such a meeting had taken place, and from private sources
gathered the particulars which were published on" Tues-
day, that being the only report that has yet appeared.
The fault, if any exists, rests, therefore, with the commit-
tee, who, if they had displayed that courtesy which is ge-
nerally shown to the press, would have directed their
officers to give intimation of the meeting."
We concur with our contemporary with respect to the
inconvenience felt by reporters in the Dock Committee,
though we slightly differ from him in decree in some
points. We have not ourselves experienced any serious
interruption from the noise of carts, as he has, none of
which pass under the windows, (which face the west,)
but along Canning-place, between which and the commit-
tee-room there is a chamber, by the intervention of which
the sound is considerably deadened, though it may be oc-
casionally and rather inconveniently heard. We also ad-
mit occasional irregularity and bye-talk in the proceed-
ings,
quitefro
.
though scarcely to the extent which might be inferred
g \t
mh
r te
hf
ee r eonbcse r
correct as to the relative position of many of the speakers
wit
h
a desk, for the accommodation of the latter, near the top,
from which they could see and hear the speakers on each
side as they addressed the chair, would be a great improve-
ment. The room itself is large, comparatively naked, and
unfavourable for hearing at the best, The greatest de-
fect, however, in our opinion, is, that the discussions are
for the most part carried on in a merely conversational
manner, and generally in a subdued tone. If " the
knights of the round -table" would invariably rise when
speaking,—or at least when uttering any thing beyond a
passing remark—and at the same time speak slowly and
distinctly, particularly when dealing in figures, the re-
porters would be saved much trouble, and be less liable to
inaccuracy, or, as is now often the case, to be puzzled with
a very imperfect hearing and impression of what is going
on. Mr. Evans is somewhat unreasonable in demanding

a full report of all these proceedings as an understanding
for the privilege of admission to reporters ; and the Chair-
man is right in stating that reporters and editors must be
allowed to use their own discretion in appropriating the
matter they may collect, extended or contracted according
as its importance may appear, or according to the room
they may have at their disposal. He is mistaken if he
supposes that the mere admission of reporters to the
Dock Committee is an especial " boon." For ourselves
(and we believe we may say the same for all our contem-
poraries) we are anxious to supply every information in
our power affecting the public interests, however remote-
ly ; but at the same time we must inform him that the
proceedings of the Dock Committee, and even on many
occasions of those of the Common Council itself, are but
rarely the stuff that brings any pecuniary return, in sale
or patronage, to the proprietors of the press, for the time,
trouble, and expense bestowed upon them. And we
would also remind him, if he or any of his colleagues
contemplate an exclusion of the reporters, and carry
out a proposition to that effect, that such bodies would,
in the present age, cease to enjoy the confidence of the
public, and sink into comparative insignificance. The
obligation is rather, indeed, on the other side ; and whilst
on this subject, we cannot help remarking that the re-
porters are not treated with that courtesy and respect to
which they are entitled, and which is awarded them in
many other towns. Both at the Common Council and
Dock meetings they are thrust a priori into an ante-room
or vestibule until all the members are seated, and " grace"
(we presume) is said with closed doors, when they are
summoned in, very much like culprits, or spies, or at
least exceedingly inferior beings, to whom a great favour
is awarded, and have to march through " the collective
wisdom" to the place appointed for theme which, in the
Dock Committee, is close against a wall, with a paltry
little table, and a frequent lack of light and deficiency of
chairs, so that some of them have often to write their
notes on their knee, or as they best can. It is sometimes
too troublesome, if not impossible, to procure a sight of
the requisite documents read, and then only as an especial
favour. It is, in fact, to no courtesy shown to reporters
in this town that the public is indebted for the information
supplied, but to the honourable competition of the press
in watching the public interests; and even with all the
disadvantages, the proceedings of public bodies are no
where more faithfully or assiduously reported.

A. splendid ball was given, at the Seacombe Hotel, on
Monday evening for the benefit of the Wallasey charities.
Three hundred persons of the first rank iu the neighbour-
hood were present, and the success was so great that it
has been determined to hold a similar meeting annually.

As Mrs. Ann Horstnan. late of Francis-street, Strange-
ways, (mother of Mrs. Horsman, of the firm of Sidney
and Horsman, tea-dealers,) was crossing Oldham-street,
Manchester, the other day, she suddenly started back, and
was knocked down by a cab, which was coming up at the
time, and the horse trod upon her, and fractured her
skull. She died of the injuries on Wednesday.
DEPLORABLE IGNORANCE.—At an inquest held before
Mr. Chapman, coroner for Manchester, on Thursday
last, on the body of an unfortunate woman who bad died
from excessive drinking, a girl, named Ellen Davies,
eleven years old, residing in the neighbourhood of Ashley-
lane, was brought forward as a witness, who declared
that she had never heard of the Bible, God, Jesus Christ,
heaven or hell ! Surely, this fact of itself sufficiently
attests the wide-spread and prevailing ignorance amongst
the rising generation of this town, and the strong neces-
sity for extending the means and improving the staple
, of education" amongst the poor.

TOBACCO SMUGGLING.—The circular of Mr. Maury,
of Liverpool, states that the attention of government is
now drawn to the subject of smuggling tobacce, in a
more serious manner than it bas hitherto been. It is
universally admitted, he soys, that the present rate of
duty cannot be collected ; and, that the manufacturer who
does not deal in illicit tobacco must either do so, or give
up his trade. It is shown that the consumption of to-
bacco in Ireland, when the population was but 4,000,000,
amounted to 9,500,0001 b., or 21b. 6oz. per head ; and that
now, with a population of 8,000,000, it is little more than
4,500,0001 b : that in the United Kingdom the consumption
does not amount to more than 131 oz. for each individual;
yet, that in Prussia the consumption of each person is
31b. per annum• All these points, with many others,
Is, per pound, will be the fear of hazarding so
have been placed before government ; and, in our opinion,
the only reason which can deter them from a reduction of
the duty to
great an experiment on the receipts of the Exchequer.
The first year they. would lose, in Mr. Maury 's opinion,
£750,000; but he feels confident (and so do we), that. in
three years, the revenue derived from the ls. duty would
surpass its present amount.

PRESENTATION TO TIE REV. THOS. DWYER.

On the evening of We;inesday week, at the conclusion of
thy weekly service, the Rev. T. Dwyer, chaplain of the
\Vest Derby Union Worl-louse, was presented with a
splendidly-hound Polyglot Bible, the gift and joint sub-
scription of the teacher of the school, and the little
flock entrusted to her charge. The presentation was made
by Mr. George Aspinall, of this town, (who is, we are
given to understand, preparing for holy orders,) who ad-
dressed Mr. Dwyer thus :

Ray. ANT) DEAn Sin.,—l have been requested by the
respected schoolmistress and the childrtn over whom she
presides, (and, believe me, I never obeyed a request with
feelings of greater pleasure.) to present you, in token of
their sincere regard and attachment, and as expressive,
moreover, of the solid benefit they have derived from your
miniscration among them,—this copy of the Word of God ;
and, with the gift, I am deputed to convey to you (and
here I may at least unite, and do so, most cordially,) their
sincere, their heartfelr, their most earnest wishes for your
continued health, prosperity, and happiness in this life,
and that in that which is to come, you may be made a par-
ticipator in the joys of our dear Lord, and receive, as the
reward of your faithful labours here, that crown of end-
less immortality and glory destined to encircle the brow of
the saint victorious, and which fadeth not away.
To this the rev, gentleman replied as follows :

DEAR SIR,-It is with feelings of great gratification that
I receive this testimonial from the schoolmistress and
children of the union. It is as unexpected as it is grati-
fying.. I hope I shall entertain as long as I live a lively
sense of their love and esteem in making me this present.
I also receive this mark of their love and esteem with the
greater pleasure, as they have thought proper to select for
presentation that book which contains the declaration of
God's will to fallen man. This holy book contains all that
ofiGs onode:crtelis:as
tamri necessary for usrfatofartlesr
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s obtain
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t ethl
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nttbldhi childreneoeeonkter are well acquainted with the contents
otlrhethhvoisaldrbioeitd:
kms,eywe•nihieiaesnhod,fs,rt.ehenAownwodrilrold,ppsrroeletuod-
contentsin whichto
upon t'heir understandings, and I trust, in God's grace,
upon their souls, may enable them well and truly " to do
their duty in that state of life to which it may please God
to call them," so that they may in truth be children of
God, " thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

THE UNION COURSING CLUB.

Mr. ),I` GEORGE, Judge.

• „
This club held its meeting on Thursday and Friday last,
on the manors of the Rev. Charles Hesketh and Charles
Scarisbrick, at Southport, under the stewardship of J.
Machell, E. Craven, and G. Barge, Esqs., N. Slater,
Esq. acting as flag steward, and J. Eden, Esq. as honorary
secretary.