The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-11-25 00:00:00

THE DOCK COMMITTEE

Mr. Turner presided at the weekly meeting on Thursday.
From the minutes of the Finance Committee, it ap-
peared that an arbitration had taken place relative to the
purchase, by the dock trustees, of some leasehold property
at the Salthouse Dock, for the new docks. The sum
awarded was £1,875. Tehders were accepted from Ban-
croft and Co. for oil, Houlgrave and Co. for pitch, Platt
and Co. for varnish, Silver and Co. for clothing for the
dock gatekeepers, and Messrs. Conway for pier-masters'
clothing.— A letter from Messrs. Giannacopulo and
Cochilani, in reference to the charge alleged against them
of having exported, per Brigand steamer, on the 11th
September, 80 packages of goods without paying the dock
dues, was referred to the Finance Committee.—An appli-
cation by Messrs. Chaloner and Fleming, for a shed in
Sefton-street, was referred to the Committee of Works.

WAREHOUSES ROUND THE DOCKS.
The CHAIRMAN intimated that the question relative to
building warehouses on some of the dock quays would
come on for discussion. The question before them would
be the recommendation of the Committee of Works, that
warehouses bo erected on the east side of the new docks at
Wapping. The subject was postponed on the amendment
of Mr. Evans, that warehouses on the east side of the dock
at Wapping be not proceeded with, beyond laying the
foundation, till plans for warehouses on the Stanley Dock
were submitted.—ln reply to a question, the CHAIRMAN
stated that warehouses, railways, &c., on the north-east
side of the Stanley Dock, would cost £116,010, and on the
east side of the Wapping Dock £62,461. That included
cranes and all the necessary fittings, &c.—The CHAIRMAN
also read a letter from Mr. M'Knight, referring to what
had been stated by Mr. Evans and Mr. Bold, as to the
want of warehouse room in the vicinity of the Stanley
Dock. There was bonded room for 81,000 bales of cotton,
empty storage for 22.000 bales, and a building, nearly
completed, for 30,000 bales.—Mr. MALCOMSON proposed
an amendment—" That warehouses be erected on the east
side of the Wapping Dock, but that the works be not pro-
ceeded with, beyond laying the foundation, till ware-
houses are erected on the quay of the Stanley or some
other of the north docks."—Mr. EVANS seconded the
motion.—The solicitor's attention was called to the rights
of the canal, in reference to the Stanley Dock. He sub-
mitted the act of parliament, from which it appeared that
all vessels trading between the canal and the river, have
liberty to pass through, subject to the by-laws and regula-
tions.—The amendment of Mr. Malcomson was then put
to the vote, and lost by a majority of 18 to 3.
Mr. BIGHAM said that supposing it was settled that
warehouses were to be built at the Wapping docks, he
would wish the committee to consider the cost and receipts
of the Albert Dock warehouses, which had so far not been
beneficial as a commercial speculation. They had not
paid the dock estate 2 per cent. while they paid 4i per
cent. for the money borrowed. He thought leasing the
warehouses would be desirable, and then they would have
the assistance of the present warehouse-owners throughout
the town. By leasing the land they would realise about
a million, or a million and a half, and that might be ap-
plied in the reduction of the debt on the dock estate.
That would give increased security to the bondholders, and
by reducing the debt enable them to get money at 3 per
cent. He concluded with an amendment to the effect
that the sub-committee proceed with the Wapping Dock
warehouses, so far as laying out the foundation, but that
steps be taken by the parliamentary committee for selling
by auction the land intended for the building of ware-
houses on a lease, the rates to be limited by the Dock
Committee.

The CHAIRMAN intimated that a notice must be given
of such a motion.

The amendment of Mr. BIGHAM was then limited to
the first clause, in reference to proceeding merely as far as
laying out the foundation of the docks.—Mr. DOVER
seconded the amendment.

After a good deal of discussion, in which Mr. Evans and
Mr. Dover took a principal part, the amendment was put
and lost by a majority of 13 to 7. The original motion
was then adopted.

OBTAINING INFORMATION FROM DOCK OFFICERS

The CHAIRMAN said the next business would be the
motion of Mr. Barber, relative to the right of members to
obtain information from officials in the dock trust. He
wished the solicitor to state his opinion on the subject.
Mr NORTH, the solicitor, then stated his opinion, the
gist of which is comprised in the following sentence :
" I am of opinion that the members of this committee, in
their individual capacities, have no authority whatever to
require the servants of the trust to furnish them with ac-
counts, returns, or any documentary or other information
as to the state of its affairs."

After a long desultory conversation, Mr. BARBER with-
drew his motion.

Mr. MALCOMSON gave notice of the following motion :
" That the sub-committee of works be instructed to im-
mediately erect warehouses on the quay of the Stanley or
some other northern dock."

The financial business was then proceeded with

FRIGHTFUL DaATH.—An aecident, resulting in death
in one of its most appalling forms, on Friday morning
befel an unfortunate woman of the name of Mary Benson,
residing in a court in Ford-street. While in the soapery
works of Mr. Richmond, Blackstock-street, the poor
woman accidentally fell into a large pan of boiling liquid,
and although instant measures were taken to get her out,
and happily succeeded, yet life was found to be extinct.
TOWN MusEuM.—The beautiful specimen of the cotton
plant which lately attracted so much attention in the news-
room, and at the office of A. E. Byrne and Co., Rumford-
place, has been presented to the Free Public Museum,
now preparing in Duke-street and Slater-street. It
exhibits a complete series of cotton pods, for the lower
ones had been bound up in succession, so that the cotton
was not shed till the upper ones were in full blow also.
There are one or two pods which seem to have suffered
from the frosts, though the plant was grown beside New
Orleans, The donation of it to the infant institution is
very creditable to Mr. Byrne ; and the perfect condition
in which it has arrived, speaks well for the good taste and
care of his brother who sent it.

DEATH FROM FRIGHT, OCCASIONED BY AN IDIOT.—
Early on Monday morning last, a very melancholy instance
of sudden death occurred at Cheetwood,—the wife of Mr.
Wadsworth, agent, of that place, having been frightened
to death by an idiot living in the neighourhood, named
John Richardson. About seven o'clock on Sunday
evening, Mr. Wadsworth left his wife by herself at home,
and on his return, about eleven o'clock, he found her very
ill, and greatly agitated, although she was apparently in
good health at the time be left her. She informed him
that the idiot Richardson had been to the house, in his
absence, and had tried to force the door. Having, in some
measure, soothed her alarm, Mr. Wadsworth induced her
to go to bed, believing that a little rest would restore her,
but shortly afterwards she was seized with convulsive fits,
and died about two o'clock on Monday morning, before
her medical adviser could reach the house to render his
aid. We ought to state that Mrs. Wadsworth was far
advanced in pregnancy, as it will account for the melan-
choly result which followed.—Manchester Courier,

LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.

Several captains were fined, on Tuesday, ss. and costs,
for having naked lights on hoard vessels in dock.

Three boys were fined ss. each, on Tuesday, for dis-
charging fire-arms in the streets, a practice which in some
neighbourhoods has become an intolerable nuisance.
Several car-owners were summoned on Tuesday for
employing drivers without a license during the strike.
They were fined 2s. each.

On Wednesday, Bridget O'Hara and Mary and Louisa
Waters, three of a gang of thieves who are going from
house to house pilfering whatever they can lay hands
upon, were remanded on the general charge stated.
On Tuesday, a juvenile thief, named M'Goven, was
committed for trial, charged with entering the house of
Mr. Machell, Boundary-place, and stealing a considerable
quantity of wearing apparel.

A DEXTEROUS SWINDLER.—On Thursday, Edward
Thomas, who was remanded on Thursday week, on a
charge of obtaining some cloth and £3 17s. 6d. from Mr.
WlCirdy, draper, Birkenhead, by false pretences, was
again brought up. On the 18th ult. he called at Mr.
Earp's shop, and was shown several coats. He chose a
first-rate article, which he wished to be sent by a man to
Reeve's Hotel, in Great Charlotte-street, where he said
he would pay the money. The coat was given to a boy,
who accompanied the man to Mr. Garner's public-house,
in Lime-street, where. after treating the lad to two or
three glasses of ale. he succeeded in obtaining possession
of the coat, saying he would return immediately with the
money. The prisoner wore the coat when apprehended.
He was sent for trial.

CAPTURE OF HOUSEBREAKERS.—On Tuesday, Michael
Smith, alias Waters (well-known to the police), George
Woolridge, Mary Woolridge, and Ann Smith, were placed
in the dock, charged with being concerned, on the Sun-
day evening previous, in the robbery of the house of Mr.
Morris, Park-road. The house, it appeared, was entered
whilst the family were at church, and four silver spoons,
a watch, and half-a-crown, stolen. Two wi'nesses who
were called proved that they had seen the male prisoners
in the neighbourhood loitering about, and Smith after-
wards to enter. In searching Woolridge's house, a
watch, partially identified as that stolen, was found wrap-
ped in paper beneath some coals in the cellar. The two
male prisoners were remanded for seven days, and the two
females (their wives) were discharged.
PUBLICANS' AND BEERSELLERS' CASES.—On Friday,
Ellen Bulman, publican, of Thurlow-street, for having
served a jug of ale at a quarter before one o'clock (after a
previous conviction) on the preceding Sunday morning,
was fined 10s. and costs.—Peter Miller, publican, Pitt-
street, summoned for having bad persons drinking in his
house was acquitted.—John Ridgway, beerseller, Lydia
Ann-street, was fined 103. and costs.

A man, named Patrick Cohan, has been apprehended
in Dryden-street, and committed for trial for the man-
slaughter of Patrick Caffrey, in Nov., 1850. Cohan
absconded at that time, and has not since been heard of.
SERIOUS ROBBERY.—On Tuesday, Bridget Ryan, a
girl residing in Gloucester-street. was charged with hav-
ing been concerned in stealing £9O 10s. from Jas. Pem-
berton, a young man who is stated to he a butcher at
Southport. The money stolen was £B5 in gold, a£s
note, and half-a-sovereign. No portion of th• money
has been recovered. The prisoner was remanded for a
week.

On Friday, the second mate of the lady Franklin,
arrived here from New York, was fined 205., or in default
to be imprisoned seven days, for having Zibs. of foreign
manufactured tobacco concealed on board that ship.
ROBBERY OF 44 SOVEREIGNS., &c.—On Friday, a
young woman, named Ann Smith, was charged by Chas.
Tomkinson, with robbing him of a box containing 200
sovereigns, which he was conveying to Mr. Samuels,
watchmaker, South Castle-street. The prosecutor stated
that he belonged to the United States Mail Steam-ship
Pacific, which arrived at this port on Wednesday evening,
Before leuving New York he received from a party there
a box stated to contain sovereigns, which be undertook to
deliver to Mr. Samuels, on the steamer arriving at this
town. On Thursday evening, he called on Mr. Samuels,
who was not in ; and then returned towards his ship.
While proceeding along Great Howard-street, he met the
prisoner, who asked him to treat her, and he gave her a
glass of rum. She urged him to go home with her, but
he refused, and she left. Immediately on the prisoner
leaving him, he missed the box containing the sovereigns,
and ran after her, charged her with robbing him, and
took her down to one of the dock gates, and gave her into
custody. One of the officers stated that, while in Bride-
well, the prisoner told him she had taken the box and
money from the man, to whom she wished it again
restored, and that he would find it underneath one of the
arches of the East Lancashire Railway, which she
described. An officer was sent to search the railway arch,
and the box was found. On being opened, and examined,
the box was found to contain 44 sovereigns and the dial of
a watch. Mr. Samuels stated that he had been advised
of the remittance, the amount of which was 44 sovereigns,
with which he was to pay a party in Birmingham. The
prisoner had nothing but the knowledge that the box con-
tained gold and its size to cause him to say it contained
200 sovereigns. The magistrate sent the girl to prison
tor two months, observing in so doing that her desire to
restore the money had weighed with him in passing a
light sentence upon her.