The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-03-18 00:00:00

THE BIRKENHEAD BILLS

On Wednesday the Commissioners' Bill passed the
Commons Committee with only a few verbal alterations.
The Wallasey Pool Docks and Warehouse Bill went
into committee on Thursday ; and the attendance of wit-
nesses was large, comprising some of the most eminent
and enterprising merchants and capitalists connected with
this district. A preliminary discussion took place on the
right of the Liverpool Corporation to oppose the preamble
which was, however, overruled. The case for the pro-
moters was opened by Mr. Hilliard, who called Mr.
Rendel, the Engineer, and Mr. Bowman, with two other
witnesses, all of whom the counsel for the opposing
parties declined to cross-examine. On Friday the Coun-
sel for the Dock Committee, instructed by their Solicitor,
Mr. Worthington, moved the insertion of the clause con-
tained in the first bill, respecting the payment of light
dues, &c. This, however, was decided by the Committee
to be unnecessary ; and being the only point upon which
that body opposed the bill, they may therefore be said to
have retired from the contest. The next question was as
to the reversion of the freehold of the land, to preserve
which to the Corporation a clause was proposed by them
to be inserted. An offer was also made to refer the ones-
tion of value to the decision of the Lords of the Treasury.
It was contended, however, that !his reversion was already
parted with, undcr the usual Compensation Clause in the
act of last session; and that the Corporation were now in
the same position as any private individual, from whom
the Company had purchased or might require to purchase
land or reversionary interests, and had their remedy by
means of a Jury. The Committee took this view of the
case, and the clause having been rejected, an adjournment
took place till after Easter.

We cannot leave this subject without expressing our
sense of the want of good management, and even of ordi-
nary energy, which seems to have been displayed by the
Finance Committee throughout this V allasey affair. It
was said by them,exultingly, in reply to those who ob]ected
to the sale of this property, " Oh but we have still the
reversion. In 75 years the land will be ours again, with
all its docks and warehouses." How, th,n, have they
endeavoured to secure this vast benefit which they said
was still (although we doubt if it was ever so since they
parted with the property and the first act was obtained)
within their reach? On Thursday night, after the Bill
had been a day in Committee, one of their body reached
London—too late to take those steps which parties ordi-
narily take to strengthen themselves before a Parliamentary
Committee and on Friday their case was lost, and the
reversion of Wallasey Pool passed from their hands for
ever! Where were the remainder of this body? Where
was their chairman ?

Under all the circumstances, however, the best advice
which we can give the Finance Committee is to abandon
all further vain contest with the Birkenhead people, with
whom, in enterprise or in tact, it is evident they cannot
cope. Let them at once place themselves in treaty with
these gentlemen, for a fair settlement of the only question
left between them. They can scarcely make a worse
bargain for the town than the verdict of a Cheshire Jury,
which will, no doubt, be promptly summoned to assess
the value of this reversion. will impose upon them.

THE DEPUTATION UPON THE CUSTOM-
HOUSE RRANGEMEN I'S AND THE BONDED
WAREHOUSES.

On Wednesday the deputation appointed to proceed to
London to lay before Government the difficulties im-
posed upon the commerce of Liverpool, from the de-
ficiency of the landing waiters, &e., and from the restric-
tion of the location of bonded warehouses within 400
yards of the docks, had an interview with Sir Robert
Peel at the Treasury. They were very favourably re-
ceived by the premier, who heard, with evident interest

and great patience, their explanation of the inconvenience
of the existin;farrangements ; and retired from their audi-
ence with a very confident impression th-it concessions

would be made, and increased facilities afforded by go-
vernment, which would remove materially, if not entirely,
the grievances complained of. The deputation waited
next day upon Lord Granville Somerset, by whom they
were received with equal courtesy, but whom upon one
subject—the increase of the distance from the docks to b e
allowed for bonding warehouses—they found more st:ff in
his views than the premier. Upon the subject of a larger

number of landing-waiters being accorded to the port, his
lordship perfectly met their views. The deputation con-
sisted of Mr. T. B. Horsfell, Mr. J. Bramley-Moore,
Mr. David Hodgson, and Mr. James Aikin.
We observe that a local contemporary of Saturday (the
Journal) states, that the above gentlemen were accompa-
nied by Messrs. James Brancker, and James Mulleneux
t` 'rt of " Warehouse owners; and adds that the

.he par, me
premier "entered into- an amusing reciprocity of hilarity
with Mr. James Brancker." Unfortunately for the inter-
est of this pretty little episode, neither Mr. Brancker nor
Mr. Mulleneux were present at the interview in question,
although they were in waitirg in the anti chamber. Our
contemporary in relating it must have been in the imagi-

_ .
native mood, 'unless the c'"
reciprocity of hilarity" sp
of took place through the Keyhole.

THE FUNDS, SATURDAY NIGHT.—The English funds
have not varied throughout the day. Business has been
very slack, and scarcely a bargain is reported. Consols
for money left off 991 to -; and for the account, 100 to k.
Exehequer-bills were 66 to 68 premium ; and Bank Stock,
216 to 217. In the foreign market operations were
equally limited, and the alteration in prices was of the
least possible importance. Spanish Five per Cents, left
off 301 to ; the Three per Cents., 404 to j ; Portuguese,
664 to 671; Belgian, NO to 1014 ; Brazilian, 90 to 91;
Buenos Ayres, 43 to 44 ; Chilian, 100 to 102 ; Colombian,
141 to J : Danish 90 to 91 ; Dutch Two-and-a-Half por
Cents., 631 to #t ; the Four per Cents., 99 to ; and
Mexican, 361 to I.
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH SCHOOLS.—On Sunday last,
after two excellent sermons by the Rev. Hugh Stowell,
the sum of £llB 16s: was collected at St. Andrew's
Church, in aid of the schools in connection with the
church.