The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-04-04 00:00:00

REPORT OF THE WATER COMMITTEE,

We have received a copy of this important document
which will be laid before the members of the council at
the monthly meeting to-morrow. We gather the follow-
ing facts from it :—Of the sum payable to the Harrington
Company, £147,031 has been paid in bonds, and the re-
mainder in cash. To the Bootle Company, £127,680 has
been paid in bonds, and the rest in cash. The nett rental
of the two companies for the past year was £33,685, re-
presenting a capital of upwards of £660,000. The reve-
nues of the companies have been gradually and annually
increasing, and will, doubtless, continue to do so, whilst

•
the expenditure will be materially diminished now that
the works are conducted under one management. From
Mr. Hawksley's report it is now an ascertained fact, that
the quantity of water distributable from the works of the
two companies conjointly does not exceed three millions
of gallons daily, and if the quantity be assumed at
2,800,000 gallons, this would only afford a supply not
exceeding seven gallons per individual per diem, inclusive
of what is supplied for trade and shipping. Twenty gal-
lons per head per diem are, however, absolutely necessary,
and the quantity required for the present population and
for the purposes of trade is therefore eight million gallons
per diem, which shows a daily deficiency as regards the

wells of the two companies of five million two hundred
thousand gallons. Towards meeting thigi deficiency the
works at Green-lane will yield a daily supply of 1,200,000
gallons, but of this 400,000 gallons will daily be wanted
for watering streets and flushing sewers, and the obliga-
tion still remains upon the Council to keep the mains
connected with these works constantly charged, so as to
be instantly available in case of fire. There will still,
however, remain a daily deficiency of more than four
million gallons, and the committee therefore consider it
necessary to put in force, with the least possible delay,
the powers with which parliament has invested the Coun-
cil for the purpose of obtaining such supply. The Coun-
cil cannot give a constant supply from the present sources,
neither can the adjacent districts receive any benefit un-
less a large addition is made to the present limited supply.
The committee therefore recommend " that immediate
steps be, taken for connecting the mains of the water com-
panies with those of the Green-lane works," and " that
the committee be authorised to take the necessary steps
for the construction of the reservoirs and works referred
to in the Water Works Act." The power for the com-
pulsory purchase of land under the act will expire in July,
1850, and for the completion of the works in July, 1852.
The committee ask for powers to retain the services of
Mr. Hawkesley for the purpose of carrying into execution
the new works, and completing the combination and adap-
tation of the existing ones. Mr. Ashlin (the efficient
treasurer under the Sanatory Act) is also the treasurer
under the Water Works Act. He recommends the ap-
pointment of five clerks for the in-door department, and
the committee recommend the gentlemen employed at
the works, when purchased by the corporation, at the
salaries theythen received. Mr. Ashlin states that there are
at present employed under him in collecting the lighting,
fire police rates, &c., twelve collectors, and he recom-
mends that six be appointed in addition to these, for col-
lecting the water rents. The total salaries of the six persons
thus employed will be £lO5O (exclusive of bonus.) There
have been hitherto employed by the two companies four-
teen collectors for collecting the water rents and charges
alone, who were paid by a per centage on the amount
collected, which per centage amounted last year to £2869,
so that by adopting the system nowrecommended,a saving
of £1305 per annum will be effected in this branch of the
establishment.

Mr. Hawkesley recommends, in addition to the general
workmen, foremen, &c., the appointments of a principal
engineer (versed in hydraulic science); a superintendent
of stations and tnachinery : a superintendent of distri-
bution : a pipe-master ; a superintendent of shipping
supplies :, a bookkeeper, and an inspector or assessor.
The report of the committee is signed by Mr. Ambrose
Lace, the able chairman of the Health Committee, who,
in conjunction with the other members of the committee,
has contributed greatly, by unwearied exertions, in im-
proving the sanatory condition of the town.

IMPORTANT DEMONSTRATION OF THE SECU-
RITY AGAINST FIRE OF .MILNER'S SAFES,
AT OXFORD.

At the meeting of the Liverpool Polytechnic Society,
on Monday evening last, W. BENNETT, Esq., ironfounder,
the president, in the chair; the SEMETA AT rose and said :
Sir, observing from the papers that some.yery interesting
experiments have been made on Milner's Safes at Oxford,-
by a number of scientific gentlemen, and seeing Mr. W.
Milner present, perhaps you will request him to give us
the particulars.

The PRESIDENT having called upon Mr. MILNER., he re-
plied :-1 would in the first place, Mr. President and gen-
tlemen, return our best thanks to you and the council for
your introduction to the Ashraoleau Society at Oxford,
which at once secured for us the interest and attention of
that noble scientific body, and of the Universities, under
whose sanction and superintendence our public test was
arranged and conducted. They saw that the fires were
hot enough to prove that it was no sham fight was made
against the enemy, keeping the armour of our principle
(ow safes) red hot for five hours, and I have great plea-
sure in reading their high testimony that we brought off
our.oolours from the ordeal without a singe upon them.
In bringing their manufactures under the notice of the
Universities, Thomas Milner and Son had letters of re-
commendation to the Lord Bishop of Oxford, to many
scientific gentlemen, and from the Liverpool Polytechnic
Society to the Ashmolean Society, who have kindly inves-
tigatedthe claims of their invention, by witnessing a se-
vere public test of its merits, for which the patentees re-
turn their sincere thanks, and beg to lay the following
testimonial, with which they have been honoured, before
the public :

" Oxford, March 16, 1848.
" Having this day attended the testing of Milner's Fire
Resisting Manufactures, conducted under the sanction
and superintendence of the authorities of the university
and city (by kind permission, in Mr. F. Symonds' Close),
Milner's Banker's Safe, filled with books, gunpowder, a
£5 note, a watch, &c., &c., being surrounded with fire
for five hours—Milner's No. 1 Safe similarly filled, and
kept in red heat for two hours and a half, add an Iron
Safe, not of their make, for one hour and a half, (to chew
the contrast)) ; its contents being reduced to tinder, and
those of Milner's Safes unsinged. We have much plea-
sure in expressing our decided approval of the principle
of these Safes—combined non-conduction and evapora-
tion—our great satisfaction with these experiments—the
fires being made to convey the most intense heat—and,
from the very perfect state of the contents of each of Mil-
ner's Safes, our unhesitating opinion of the perfect secu-
rity they afford to hooks, deeds, records, manuscripts,
&c., &e., against the ravages of fire in all ordinary cases,
and we do with great confidence recommend them to the
public for general use.

•
H. G. ,Sfrickland, M.A.F.G.S., President of the Ash-
' molean Society. •
Robert Walker, A.1.A.F.R.5., Reader in Experimental
Philosophy, and Secretary of the Ash molean Society.
Charles Daubeny, M.D., Professor of Chemistry.
Richard Greswell, 8.D.F.R.5., Tutor of Worcester
College.
H. Wellesley, D.D., Principal of New Inn Hall.
.1. Hannay, Fellow of Worcester and Senior Proctor.
H. Binney, Fellow and Tutor of Worcester.
R. Barnes, M.A., Ch. Ch.
H. S. Slight, Bursar of Corpus Christi College.
R. Muckleston, Fellow and Tutor of Worcester
William 4ndrm., Tanr.
Charles n.ew, Fellow of St. John's_
W. W. Stoddart, F..ll^ -
W. Jacobs, ALA
Fred. J. Aforre'
B. Badcock, Laud Agent

~Low and Tutor of St. John's.
.1., New College.
Solicitor.

C. R. Hick Man, Sheisii
W. Biddle, Solicitor.
T. Tay/or, J.P.
James Pike, Merchant
F..Symonds, Surgeon.

. .
John Taunton, Solicitor.
J. Bradstreet, (London and County Bank).
William Kirtland, Ashmolean Museum.
G. A.' Rowell, Alfred-street.
R. P. ilookham, (Ilookham and Minty).
T: L. Robins, Commander R.N.
T. G. Cousins, Beaumont-street, &c. &c.
This certificate is most numerously signed."
The PRE'4IDENT here remarked ;—Milner's • Safes may
be said to have been one of the most useful and important
developments of this society ; and for our knowledge of
them we'are greatly indebted to Mr. S. Woods, and those
gentlemen who acted with him. You will remember the
first' xperiments upon them, when the general investiga-
tion-of the means of preserving doenments from fire took
place, I attended, throughout those trials—strongly preju=
diced', I oonfess, against this invaluable invention—not be-
lieving,' beeause not knowing, the merits of Milner's
safes. I went to the ground deter Mined to burn them
out, nor did I look for any difficulty '•' but after I had seen-
the contents of the other fireproof safes consumed to
tinder, in the same fires of which Milner's had borne the
far greater heat; . and Mr. Milner, at my request, still
putting his safes into the hottest holeS I could make or
find in the tires,:and to my astonishment bringing them
out red hot, with'the papers tinburnt, and so cool within
theth, that I amid hold them in my bands.—l became,
and tlll am as strongly their advocate as I Was before their
opponent.

Sm- 'nil and others bore similar testimony.
again said :-311r. President, I thank you
ueePly,, more than words can express, for your kind and
candid avowal, invaluable as coming from you ; and I re-
joice in thiS opportunity of making my heartfelt acknow-
ledgments to this society for their patient investigation of
the subject, and for the kind support we have received
since you proved us deservin& of it. Every larze fire jus-
tifies your approval of our principle, and we shall -labour
incessantly to maintain a daily improving, and better title

to the honour we aspire to, the sanction of the/Liver-
pool Polytechnic Society, the Ashmolean Society, and
that enlightened scientific, and practical body of our coun-
trymen, who constitute similar societies. The proceed-
ings were warmly and loudly cheered throughout.

GENERAL TRADE REPORT,

Monday Night.
The eccentric and mischievous vagaries of King People,
with his plaything, monarchy, have become matters o
every day occurrence. Exchanges are nearly obsolete,
and bank-clerks are taking leave of absence to play at
soldiering. Those old-fashioned principles which shave
hitherto been deemed essential to national and individua
happiness and prosperity, are passing like shadows into
the dim obscurity of the past. Functional diseases are to
be remedied by organic changes. Democracy stands
forth in the face of the world a power acknowledged and
obeyed : the denounced charlatan of yesterday is the
favoured physician of to-day; and the pill " equality" is
prescribed as the universal panacea, gilt over by the spe-
cialities of the time-serving sophists who have frothed
themselves to the surface and may float for a season, until
the bubble bursts. While "fraternity" is spouted forth
in theory, but forgotten in practice ; and the world is told
that nothing can be good which is not new. So long as
international policy remained intact, we entertained hopes
that the peace of -Europe would not be disturbed beyond
the civil squabbles which had occurred, and were impend-
ing; but the step taken by the King of Sardinia in the
south, and the position of Denmark and Poland in the
. _
north, give a warlike aspect to aff •
willingly, we are compelle

which, ho
owledge.

present movement is of a character so orrginal
control is so far lost for the
matter of doubt whether the T

kingly

;--that it become
if Austria will not

rather than impede L.—
pendence; and it is more than
of the same influence may produce
north. But these are only speculations ;
of present anarchy is before our eyes, and while it cot.
nues so we should not be surprised if public
remain at their present low figure, or if trade be limited
to the imperative necessit:
might have been expected, C
and on Friday were done at 8O
Saturday, after fluctuating betw&
at 81k to 4. To-day the closing p
Influx of bullion to the co'-

ies of t

riilar• results in the

vat fact

utraliiedto 81 lx

lin receded,
;on

En.rlar

still continues, the return for the week ending the 25th
March shewing a further increase of £193,653, the total
in both departments being £15,316,794. The notes in
circulation amounted to £17,603,075, shewing an increase
of £155,985, when compared with the preceding return.
There has been no great improvement in the SHARE
MARKET during the past week; some slight fluctuations
in the smaller shares and speculative
the jobbers an opportunity of making
then, to whom the business has been an.,
confined. We do not think that capitalists
present opportunity of investing ;
will, shares cannot be much lower

socks have afforded

rofit now and
lost altogether

tor, come

The ti•affic;re ex

ie times are, shew
At the I

ceedingly good, and depressed as t
generally an increase over last year.
..anburgh
and Glasgow.meeting, on the 28th, it was unanimously
resolved to pay no dividend this half year, but to retain
the whole of it (61 per cent.) as a reserved fund. This,
strange to say, caused a considerable rise in the
stock. London Stock rose, from 124 to 128, +-Shares
1* to 21; Midland Stock from 97 to 101, I-Shares from
54 to 6 dis. We give a list of this day's prices elsewhere.
The average per month of railway calls from January to
April, 1847, was £3,843,477, or at the rate of £46,121,724
per annum ; during the same period of 1848, it has been
£3,194,847, or at the rate of £38,338,164 per annum.
At the meeting of the shareholders in the London,
Brighton, and South Coast Railway, on Thursday, an
adjournment until the 17th instant was agreed to, with
the view of affording time to the committee for comple-
ting their favours and preparing their report.
We cannot better describe the languid state of the
COLONIAL MARKETS here than by quoting an apt ob-
servation made on 'Change to-day, that " the grocers
seemed afraid of being caught with a pound's worth of
stuff in their possession." The London markets have
been all more or less influenced by the disturbed state
of the Continent, and nearly every sale effected has been
at lower quotations. The inquiries for saltpetre, how-
ever, have continued, and the article has again advanced
about ls. 6d. per cwt.
A general and very good demand for COTTON to-day,
and entirely from consumers, who have purchased freely
at Saturday's prices. There has been some little uneven-
ness in prices to-day, yet on the whole it is a steady, firm,
and satisfactory market. Holders do not press their
stock, but are willing sellers at fair market prices. The
newly landed cotton is freely brought out, and the sales

--.--
to-d 4 reach 5000 bales. On Saturday, the ii.arket was
steady, but the trade were buying only in small quantities,
just to supply their immediate wants; nevertheless, the
sales amounted to 3500 bales, all to the trade. The
'market during the past week has shown a slight improve..
ment, and in most descriptions a rise may be quoted of
ad. per lb. The computed stock of cotton in Liverpool,
on the close of March, was 286,800 bales, against 489,800
bales in 1847 ; the imports had amounted to 242,210 bales,
against 289,238 bales in 1847 ; and the exports to 11;805
bales, against 20,940 bales in 1847. There have been—

Taken on speculation this year
Ditto, in 1847
Stock in Liverpool 31st Decem
Ditto, in 1846
Forwarded unsold this year ,
Ditto, last year

13,860
115,200
363,530

Decrease of import this year as compared NNith las,
Decrease in stock, as compared with last year
Quantity taken for consumption this year
Ditto, in 1847, same period
Increase of quantity taken for consumption
The CORN TRADE still continues exceedingly
everywhere ; and all accounts speak of a decline in pries.
In fact, the country is in such an anomalous state, that,
notwithstanding the consumption is going on, the public
have lost all confidence, and both buyers and sellers
seem resolved to transact as little business as possible.
In this town prices are steadily on the decline, and
up to the time of writing no improvement had taken place
in any branch of the trade. The chief an'
Friday have been 494 qrs of Wheat, 1,370 qr
Ids. Oatmeal, and 3,010 sacks Flour,
qrs Barley, and 1,752 qrs. Malt, Coast
Barley, 960 qrs. Beans, and 690 qrs. Pease
9,177 qrs. Indian Corn, and 2,630 qrs. Corn Meal
the United States : and the chief exports have been
3,983 qrs. Indian Corn, and 1,208 qrs. Corn Meal, to
Ireland. The corn fields in our own neighbourhood am
in excellent condition, and with a little fine weP"
vegetation may be expected to burst forth 11,--
From the east coast of Englard gratifying rep,—
reached us, and the growing, crops of wheat in th
district as being very fine.
There has been a considerable diminution in the deir
fOr old Irish Butter, and middling and low qualitie
sold with difficulty at a decline of some shill'
good fresh shipments sell in retail. s
new. have been brought into thr
ties of Waterford are taken reach.
con and Lard in moderate demand

203,000
307,200
217,600
68,000

s since
tts. 798

f-om Ireland ; 5(
10 Qr

from Europe

FtS per (

a alt parcels of

market, and best qua
7at 102 s. to 106 s. B

A greater breadth of land hp
growth of POTATOES in this district than t 6
past; we are informed that in some places
compared with last year, has been quadrupled
' No improvement has taken plat—
Scotch Pig IRON, and the business t/u.
been limited. Some heavy sales have been n.
gow within the last few days. No. 1 may be
435. to 445. free on board at Glasgow.
The TIMBER TRADE here has been remarkably
during the week, and the country demand partial] Ly
low. Some cargoes of Quebec Pine. forced upo' ne
market, have been taken by the mercha
irg rates.-1 cargo of good Quebec, per it. ;
another at 13.1 d. per foot; 4 others at 13d. per foot; itith
Elm at 16d. ; and Red Pine, at 19d. per foot. :.om.
Standard Staves, of good quality, at £42105. per standard,
and some inferior at £4O per standard. 7102 Halifax
Spruce and Yellow Deals, at lid. per foot of 2 inches.
The public sale of Wool, which took place here on the
30th ult. drew together a very large attendance of buyers,
and on the whole gave great satisfaction. About 30f
bales of Australian were offered and sold with great spirit
at prices fully equal to those lately sold in London.
greater portion of the East India was taken at former
rates. There were 100 bales fine Entre Rios brought for-
ward, which attracted much attention, and were all sold
at prices varying from Bd. to 131 d. per lb. The Buenos
Ayres was almost all withdrawn at once, in cons,—
of the limits being too high. 3259 h.
which 2056 warn. withdrawn. Iw port
week, 1301;. previously, 17,703 ; ton
of Scotch for the week, 238 ; previo

been appropriated t

he amo

the market for

acted in it has

is at the folio'
at 14"

were offered, of

gn for the

From Paris the business letters contain nothing to cal 1
for remark, except the continued decline in the shares of
the Bank of France, whiCh are now quoted at 1,200 f. Just
before the revolution the price 'was 3,195 f. By a decree of
the Provisional Government, the notes of the banks of
Lyons, Rouen, Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille, Marseilles, Haw,
Toulouse, and Orleans, are to be received as legal
by the public coffers and private persons in the a-
partments in which those banks are situated; until fur-
ther orders, the same banks are exempted from the obli-
gation of reimbursing their notes with cash. The Moni-
tear contains the following decree respecting the payment
of commercial bills :—The Provisional Government having
taken cognizance of the decree of the let of March, which,
has prorogued for ten days the echeance of commercial
bills due from February 22 to the 25th of March, and con-
sidering that the ordinary delay of fifteen days is insuffi-
cient in the present circumstances, and that besides it is
useful to the endorsers to effect, without exposure, the
reimbursements which weigh upon them, on the report of
the Minister of Justice, decrees that the delay of fifteen
days granted to the holders of bills is prolonged for flftP-
days more, not including the delays of distance. "
conservatory acts done previously -
available.

The Three per Cents. c
Thursday at 40f. 50c. ; the
Advices from Vienna to the
panic had taken place in tl
quence of the receipt of Intel.
dared itself a republi

ion that a

et, in conse-

Bence that Venice had de

i;.Holstein affair

announoe furt

Icl ueneva.
arrived in Liver

:to de Janei
Comme