The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-01-29 00:00:00

TEE LIVERPOOL STANDARD'.

LIVERPOOL SHIPWRECK AND HUMANE SOCIETY.—
The committee of this society held their monthly meet-
ing on Saturday, when numerous cases of various degrees
of merit were disposed of and the parties rewarded ac-
cordingly. Among others was that of Serjeant March,
Gunner Anderson, of the Royal Artillery, and a detach.
ment of the 46th Regiment, stationed at the Rock Bat-
tery, for their prompt and judicious conduct, under the
direction of the serjeant, by whom the crew of the Mary
Sarah were rescued from their boat, subsequently fed and
clothed by the soldiers, who vied with each other in their
attentions and the next morning directed to Liverpool.
One poor tellatv was taken out of the boat in a dying
state, but WAS restored to animation by the exertions
and judicious treatment of the serjeant. Colonel Gar-
rett, in command of the regiment, attended the commit-
tee on t:2.9
occasion, and £l5 was handed over to him for
distribution
Do CIE COMM]
,;'Hong the men.
*--2•Er.—At the meeting on Thursday
Mr. A. F. Jones deliv.7ed a congratulatory address to the
newly-elected chairman, ;:,ho made a suitable reply,
..
::
_esso er, and declaratory
highly complimentary to his prey,_
~orgies to the ser-
of a determination to devote his best
vice of the dock estate.—A letter was rest,. from Mr'
Rudd, of Woodside Ferry, complaining that veasel;.are
allowed to anchor in the direct track of the boats plying
between Cheshire and the landing-stage, rendering it very
difficult to prevent collisions, especially in foggy weather.
Mr. Rudd alluded to the decision of Mr. Rushton, that
providing proper precautions are taken by the steamer,
she is not liable for damage done to a vessel not making
the required signal. The committee had no power to
interfere.—A communication was received from Chap-
man, Bowman, and Co., the receivers to the droits of
Admiralty, complaining of the conduct of the men em-
ployed on the northern docks in retaining wrecked goods.
It was stated that the men had acted under the directions
of Mr. Hartley, the surveyor. Mr. Nicol was of opinion
that the civil power was quite competent to take cogni-
zance of such matters.
THE LIVERPOOL DISPENSARIES.—The annual meet-
ing of the governors and friends of these excellent chari-
ties was held at the Clarendon-rooms on Thursday last.
The Venerable Archdeacon Brooks in the chair. The
report set forth important services rendered and measures
taken during the cholera last autumn. The funds of the
dispensaries were much reduced previously, and the
medical staff of one of them had been necessarily reduced.
The inroads of the disease became such, almost invaria-
bly in the night, that the committee engaged additional
medical assistance at one of the dispensaries, and retained
the officers of the other, though it had been previously
contemplated to reduce their number. Notwithstanding
the probability of a deficiency at the end of the year
(from these circumstances) of £l,OOO, no fewer than
1,017 cases of cholera were attended to by the medical
officers of the institution, whose labours were most har-
rassing and dangerous. Their exertions were beyond all
praise. The committee are happy to state that their libe-
ral townsmen came to their aid. Simultaneous collec-
tions were made in the churches of the town and vicinity,
and the sum of £721 17s. Ild. was appropriated to this
charity, in accordance with a resolution passed at a meet-
ing of the clergy. Collections were also made at various
chapels in the town, and the whole contributions had
relieved the dispensaries from debt, and left a small sur-
plus for immediate expenses. Annual subscriptions,
however, are the only income to be depended upon, and
these fall sh)rt of the expenditure by £760. The insti-
tutions had offered medical aid, during the year, to
19,214 cases, and surgical aid to 12,216 cases, including
73 critical operations,—making together an amount of
31,430 persons relieved. The receipts during the year
have been £3,156, and the expenditure less by £335,
leaving a balance to meet, so far, the current expenditure.
THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.—At the weekly meeting.
on Thursday, there were present, Mr. Parker, (chairman,)
and thirteen other members. Mr. Godfrey gave notice
of a motion to rescind a resolution of the health commit-
tee of the 17th instant, as affecting the rating of the
owners of small property ; and that it be recommended
to the council to postpone the bill until 1851, to give '
time for more mature consideration of its clauses. The
Town-clerk said he should communicate with the land-
owners, and expected to be enabled to state their views
next week, when the subject could be discussed. The
inspector of nuisances gave in his usual statistical account
of the operations of the week in his department. From
the medical report it appeared that the mortality of the
week had been 197, being six over that of the previous
week. Owing to the severity of the weather, one-fifth of
the deaths was amongst persons upwards of 60 years of
age ' • eleven were•between 60 and 70, and 9 between 80
and 90 years of age. It was agreed to lay an information
against the occupier of the oil works in Gibraltar-row,
the same being considered a nuisance. A conversation
took place relative to the employment of Irishmen as
street-sweepers, and it was agreed that Mr. Newlands
should give a preference to natives of the town, who
might otherwise have to receive parish relief. An esti-
mate was ordered for flagging the footway of St. Peter's
Church, in Church-street. A long conversation took
place relative to the manner of collecting the parish rates,
in which some of the speakers complained of the conduct
of Mr. Parker. It appeared that some antagonistic feel-
ing had arisen in consequence of the health committee
appointing Messrs. Langsdale and Rimmer, and the
watch committee appointing Messrs. Lloyd and Walthew,
as a sub-committee, to report on the defaulters in the
payment of the rates. The result of a rather angry dis-
cussion was, that Mr. Lloyd threw up his office. Mr.
Parker had merely told the gentlemen who were attempt-
ing to remit rates that they were empowered only to
report on the ability of the defaulters to pay.
SAILORS' HoME.—At the annual meeting of the friends
of this excellent institution, on Thursday, Mr. James
Aikin was called to the chair, and there were present Mr.
J. Tyrer, Mr. Cotesworth, Mr. Tomlinson, and other
gentlemen who take a warm interest in its progress. The
report stated that " the large number of 16,183 seamen,
each possessing certificates of good character, have been
registered since the opening of the institution. The
number registered during the past year is 1,734. The
number of seamen shipped since the opening of the insti-
tution is 29,975, and the number shipped during the last
year is 7,358. The number of crews paid off at the insti-
tution, (which during the year 1849, was 330,) leads the
committee to believe that the advantages of the arrange-
ments are not sufficiently known, and they again try to
impress upon shipowners and consignees of vessels its
great importance, facilities being afforded thereby for ob-
taining a correct register of the characters and description
of the men. An opportunity is also afforded of inducing
=en to deposit a portion of their wages in tne Savings'
Bank,' which tends to encourage habits of economy. The
committee have pleasure in stating that the objectionable
system of giving advance notes is in progress of abolition.
No second or thirty day notes, except to a few for seamen
on voyages to Africa, have been given at the Home during
the past year, and many vessels have been supplied with
crews, which, by a small addition to the wages, have
A public meeting of the Toxteth-park branch of the dispensed with advance notes altogether." The Sunday
Liverpool Houseowners' Guardian Society was held on evening services are efficiently conducted, and extremely
Friday, to oppose the provisions of the New Senator y Act. well attended. A large sum will yet be required to cora-
At the meeting of the Architectural Society, on Wed- plete the spacious building in Canning-place. The state-
nesday, Charles Barber, Esq. in the chair, a paper was ment of the accounts was considered satisfactory. The
read by Mr. Horner, on the " Legitimate Use of Rusti- chairman said that at the time the estimates were made
cation" in architecture. An animated discussion fol- the contractors assured the committee that the building
lowed, and Mr. Charles Reid stated that the Town-hall would be equal with a common brick warehouse in point
of Liverpool presented one of the oldest specimens of of cheapness. There would only be about £5OO difference
rusticated architecture in the north of England. between the cost of the Home and a building such as that
BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.—A special meeting alluded to. The public offices would be open by autumn
was held on Wednesday, to take into consideration the next, but he could not say when they would be able to
bill to give further powers to the commissioners for pur- receive inmates, as they were deficient in the sum of
chasing Woodside Ferry, and for regulating their mort- money required to complete the building for such purpose.
gage debt, and facilitating the sale of lands. Mr. They hoped, by making another appeal, to obtain such a
Mallaby, after referring to the importance of the bill, sum as to complete the whole for inmates as early as pos-
which affected so materially the affairs of the township, sible. He called the attention of the subscribers to a bill
moved that the matter be referred back to the parlia- entitled the Merchant Seaman's Act, the object of which
mentary committee for consideration ; that every member was to improve the condition of masters, mates, and sea-
of the board should have liberty to attend the committee, men, in the merchant service. The bill was before Par-
but that those who were not members of the committee liament last session. They were all aware of the danger
should have no vote ; that the committee should then of Government interference ; besides which, their insti-
report to a future meeting of the board ; but, in order to tution was carrying out a greater portion of the objects of
save time, the law-clerk to be instructed to present the that bill ; and, as regarded Liverpool, it was quite unne-
bill to parliament forthwith, and get it read a first time. cessary, and ought to be withdrawn. Two gentlemen
After some discussion, during which the motion of Mr., came down from the Government to collect facts, and
Mallaby was objected to as unnecessary, seeing that suffi- ascertain by what means the bill could be improved ; and
cient time had been allowed for the consideration of the they were very favourably impressed with the advantages
bill, the reporter was requested to withdraw, and the fur of the Sailors' Home. There were numerous instances of
ther proceedings were conducted in private. It was late, showing an itching desire to legislate unnecessarily,
understood that the bill was finally approved of. which, he thought, was one of the greatest evils of the
SELECT VESTRY.—The usual fortnight's Select Vestry present day. He was enabled to state that the views of
was held on Tuesday, the Rev. Rector Campbell in the those gentlemen who came down to make inquiries had
chair. An allowance of 15s. per week was voted to John made a favourable impression with the Board of Trade,
Hewitt during his illness. Mr. M'Knight contended that so much so that Sir Dennis le Merchant had some inten-
the allowance was illegal; and intimated his intention to tion of coming down to see the working of an institution
direct the notice of the auditor to it. Letters were read of which he had heard so much ; and he had no doubt the
from the Poor-law Commissioners, sanctioning theappoint- bill would be unnecessary provided every place had an in-
ment of a schoolmaster and schoolmistress for the Work- stitution such as that at Liverpool. It was, however,
house, at £25 per annum each, and of a superintendent said that the differences and disputes at London and other
of the vagrant sheds in Brownlow-hill, at £4O per annum. places, rendered such a bill necessary, but if some general
A letter was read from the House-owners' Guardian scheme were established, it should interfere, as little as
Society, complaining of the harsh measures resorted to in possible, with the system adopted here, which will be
the collection of rates from the poor. Mr. Willmer gave looked upon as a model. Mr. Cotesworth considered the
notice that he would again bring this subject before the bill as objectionable altogether, and it ought to be opposed
board. After a slight discussion, it was agreed that the by every seaman. After thanks had been voted to the
motion should stand as follows : " That a special meeting officers of the institution for the past year, and some other
of this board be held on Tuesday next, to reconsider the routine business transacted, the meeting broke up.
resolution respecting the rating of cottage property." On MEETING OF PROPRIETORS IN THE MIDLAND RAlL-
the nomination of Mr. Cafferata, Mr. Thomas Savage, WAY.—The shareholders in the Midland Railway held a
coal merchant, Oldhall-street, was elected a member of meeting in the Clarendon-rooms, on Saturday, for the
the board, in the room of Mr. Avison, resigned. Mr. purpose of appointing a committee to represent their in-
Brown, in reference to observations which had been made terests at the ensuing half-yearly Meeting. The meeting
as to the oppression of the poor iu the collection of the bad been convened by advertisement, aid was attended
rates, stated that, last year, whilst the overseers had only by about forty gentlemen.—Mr. Eyre Evans, on being
distrained in fifty cases, the landlords had distrained in called to the chair, briefly stated the object of the meet-
five hundred instances for refit. Mr. Whitty said, in nine ing. Communications bad been bad with the directors,
cases out of ten the distraints by the landlords were only which, he believed, had not been entirely satisfactory, and
to obtain possession. he supposed that had given rise to the resolutions which
WEST DERBY GUARDIANS. —On Wednesday, the Mr. Wylie had prepared.—Mr. A. H. Wylie said, that,
weekly meeting of this board was held at the Workhouse, before moving any resolution in regard to the appoint-
Mr. Roskell in the chair. A question arose as to whe- ment of a committee, he might be permitted to make a
ther Mr. Griffiths, whose tender had been accepted by few observations. He alluded to the financial statement
the building committee for fitting up the new church, forwarded to each of the shareholders by order of the
should proceed with the work or not, his tender being Midland board, and sai&that, though it might be very
higher than that of Mr. M'Clay. A very warm and satisfactory to persons pleased with a multiplicity of
lengthened discussion ensued.—The clerk announced that figures, to business men like themselves it was not likely
that was the day appointed to consider the report which to give satisfaction. In consequence of that statement,
had been prepared by the committee, as to " the best some of the directors were induced to forward a memorial
mode of affording relief (medical and otherwise) in the to the following purport :—That from an inspection of
union ; and to suggest any change which might be consi- the financial statement, they (the undersigned) were of
dered desirable as to the number of relieving and medical opinion, that to save the property from ruin the prompt
officers, or the extent of their districts and salaries." co-operation of all parties interested was demanded. The
The following clauses were adopted :—" That a dispensary memorial went on to request an explanation of their views
be established for the whole of the township of Toxteth- on this important subject from the board. It was signed
park (a suitable place having been already provided at the by Eyre Evans and A. H. Wylie. The reply to this do-
Public Office, whereby no additional outlay will be re- cument stated that it was not the intention of the direc-
quired for rent) ; and that a salary of £75 per annum he tors to make any inquiry, as their proceedings had been
given to a dispenser, with an allowance of £lO a year for sanctioned by act of parliament and the proprietors, con-
an assistant. That, in consequence of such arrangement, vened at different public meetings. But as to measures
and with due regard to the extent and population of the for the improvement of the unguaranteed stock of the
several medical districts in Toxteth-park, the following company, the attention of the directors has been devoted
alterations be made in the salaries of the respective officers to the subject for some months past, and lam directed to
attached to such districts, viz.:—Districts No. 1,2, and inform you, that, among other results, they have dimi-
3, proposed salary £6O, instead of £BO ; district No. 4, nished the number of passenger trains, and lessened the
proposed salary £4O, instead of £80." Several other speed of travelling by such of them as were more imme-
alterations of salaries were made. diately under their control;, have revised the salaries of

WALLASEY LADIES' CHARITY BALL.—On Tuesday
night, the annual ball in aid of this charity was given at
the Egremont Hotel. The dancing took place in the
large room, which was decorated with ivy and splendidly
illuminated for the occasion. Mr, Robert Maurell, from
the Alblo:: Hotel, New Brighton, has recently taken the
hotel, and the exertions made on the occasion did him in-
finite credit. Among.... those present were Mr. Bucha-
nan, the president; Mr. Swart, vice-president; Mr.
North, whose lady is the patrofign Haroy Little-
dale, and several others well known in the neightm:.l'°°(l:
There were about 150 present, and the gentlemen nemea
to have the majority. However, pleasure reigned without
alloy, and the dancing was kept up unremittingly until
three or four o'clock in the morning. Gribbin's Wel-
lington-room band was in attendance.

SUICIDE BY POISON.—On Friday week, a man un-
kuowl:, but supposed to be of the name of Jordan, from
some pspe,:ft found upon him, went to the lodging-house
of Richard Gh;Yert in Union-street. He stated that he
had come from NeNT York, and belonged to London, but
did not tell his name. He took abed-room in the house.
On Friday last, at one o'clockin the morning, he was
found ill in his room. He had be:;n vomiting, and was
also purged. On being asked what he 110 been drinking
he said " nothing but a little warm liquor." He was
afterwards heard to moan, and on being again seen was
quite still in bed. About half-past six in the morning he
was found lying in bed, quite dead. A. bottle was found
with white powder in it near the top of the bed, and Mr.
Callan, surgeon, pronounced the powder to be arsenic.
It appears that deceased had recently lost his wife in New
York, and he had also been unfortunate in money matters.
GRAND BAZAAR.—The Committee of the Sailors'
Home have decided to hold a grand bazaar in the build-
ing, a peculiar feature of which project, however, is, that
it shall not be entirely dependent on home contributions,
but that donations in works of art; or specimens in natural
history, shall be likewise solicited from our countrymen,
and the friends of the British sailor in distant climes.
Circulars for this object have been extensively distributed
to merchants, with an urgent request that they would
transmit them to their correspondents abroad. Copies
have also been sent to the British Consuls in foreign
ports, as well as the Collectors of the Customs in the
ports of the colonies, and a copy has been given to every
British shipmaster sailing from this port on a foreign
voyage. However sanguine the committee may be as to
the result of this experiment in respect to obtaining
foreign aid, they must chiefly rely on the kind co-operation
of the ladies at home, who have always evinced the live-
liest interest in the welfare of the British sailor, to make
the bazaar worthy of this great emporium of commerce.

THE FESTIVA'. CHORALSOCIETY.—This musical asso-
ciation gave their forty-seventh public performance at the
Music-hall on Tuesday evening. The selection was the
oratorio of the Messiah, with Mozart's accompaniments.
Mr. G. Holden acted as the conductor, and Mr. Richard-
son performed on the organ ; Mr. C. Cummins was the
leader. Mr. Ryalls sang the first solo (recitative),
" Comfort ye my people ;', he was loudly applauded.
The chorus, " For unto us a child is born,' was admira-
bly given. " Rejoice greatly 0 daughter of Zion," (air)
by Mrs. G. Holden, was sweetly executed, the silver-like
tones of the singer's voice harmonising exquisitely with
the rapid inspiriting time of the music. Of the other
vocalists, candour forbids more to be said, than that they
acquitted themselves of their respective parts passably,
certainly not in keeping with the character of the sublime
composition of the performance which they attempted.
The native excellence of the composition, and the true
execution of the principal instrumentalists, also contri-
buted much to conceal some defects which would other-
wise have been observable in the choruses, which, though
generally very well sung, frequently suffered by the over-
zeal of a few novices, who destroyed much of the general
effect, by what can only be described as discordant
shouting.

THE TEA, TIMBER, AND OTHER DUTIES.-011 Tues-
day last a requisition, numerously signed by merchants
and others interested in the trade of Liverpool, was pre-
sented to the mayor, and his worship, in compliance with
the wish of the requisitionists, consented to call a meeting
of the inhabitants, to consider the propriety of petitioning
parliament for a repeal of those duties which press most
heavily on the health, the morals, the industry, and the
comforts of the people, including the duties on tea and
timber, especially the timber employed in shipbuilding ;
and, in order to do this, to effect such retrenchment in
our national expenditure as may be consistent with the
safety and welfare of the country. After the requisition
had been presented, a meeting of gentlemen took place
in the East India and China Association Room, when a
sub-committee was appointed to draw up the resolutions,
and make other arrangements. The requisitionists seek
to reduce, or do away with, the duties on tea, soap, tim-
ber, bricks, and windows ; also the taxes on paper and
advertisements; on wine, in order to open the trade with
France; to equalise the duty on coffee; and also to miti-
r gate the duty on hops, so that the agriculturists may re-
ceive benefit. The gross amount of the taxes on thes e
articles is £13,000,000. The day fixed for the meeting is
Thursday next. _ _

WATER IN THE RED SANDSTONE ROCK.—The com-
mittee appointed for the purpose of procuring au increased
supply of water from the well attached to the Industrial
Schools, at Kirkdale, reported to the Vestry, on Tues-
day, that they had had the well and bore-hole thoroughly
cleansed, and the depth of the bore-hole increased from
22 yards to 34 yards 2 feet. It appeared that this opera-
tion had increased the yield of the well about 1,000 gal-
lons per day, about one hour longer being required to
pump the well dry. The depth of the water in the shaft
each morning, previous to the additional boring, varied
from 4to 6 feet: it had since averaged 8 feet 6 inches.
Since the 29th of December, a period of seventeen days,
the engineer bad only had occasion to take water three
times from the cistern filled by the Corporation ; and the
total quantity so taken had not exceeded 3,500 gallons.
Had the rain water been available, even this extra supply
would not have been required. By means of an addi-
tional wood cistern for rain water, and other measures,
the increased supply would amount altogether to from
1,500 to 1,000 gallons per day, which was nearly sufficient
for the present purposes of the schools. A much larger
supply would be required during the summer months, for
bathing and washing, probably to the extent of 1,000 gal-
lons per day ; and in order to provide for this increased
supply, the committee unanimously recommended that
an excavation of about 10 cubic yards be made, and that
the depth of the bore-hole be increased by six yards, or
forty yards in all. If this be done, they confidently anti-
cipated such an increase as would enable the committee to
provide for all the wants of the establishment, and give
up the supply now obtained from the Corporation, at an
expense of £5O per annum. The total expense of the al-
terations, it was stated, would not exeeed £3O 15s.

LOCAL MEETINGS.

-4; •

the officers and the wages of the servants employed ; and
have made such other reductions of expenditure as ap-
peared to them compatible with the safety of the public
and the efficiency of the service. They are also endea-
vouring to increase the traffic by friendly arrangements
with other companies, and by all other means in their
power ar©
to ocitam better rates wherever it ap-
zYars practicable. They believe it is by the adoption of
such measures as these, the reduction of expenditure on
the one hand and the increase of receipts upon the other,
. that they can best serve the interests of the shareholders."
Mr. Wylie considered this tantamount to the directors
saying,—" Gentlemen, you have entered into a great many
bad engagements, and you cannot help yourselves, but
must abide the result." In illustrating the necessity for
a revision, he spoke of the engagements of the company
with the Leeds and Bradford line •, the company unfortu-
nately undertook a capital of £900,000 at ten per cent.
He believed that the Bradford and Leeds was a good line,
and that with proper management it might possEsly pay a
dividend of six per cent, ; but as to the extension from
Keighley to Colne, he did not believe there was a route
less adapted for a railway. In giving his reasons for ask-
ing for a revision, he said,—l would not seek to disturb
those engagements where innocent bond fide holders are
~,:ncerned, but only so far as their original framers were
persomJiy concerned, and then only in vindication of the
trust which was reposed in them, and which they vio-
lated. These were his views, and he had a right to de- I
mand satisfaction. He advocated a system of repre-
sentation similar to the parliamentary, and concluded by ,
moving rather voluminous resolutions, exhibiting the
views expounded above.