The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-08-13 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Lt3CAL NEWS,

BIRKENHEAD DOCK TRUSTEES.—At the first meet-
ing, under the new Birkenhead Dock Act, for the election
of Dock Trustees. Mr. William Jackson was elected
chairman of the meeting, and the whole of the commis-
sioners were selected as trustees. Those present took
the necessary declaration, and the proceedings terminated.
SUDDEN DEATH.—An awful instance of the uncertainty
of life occurred at Oxton, on Sunday week. John James,
Esq., of Oxton Hall, attended church in the afternoon,
apparently in bis usual health. On the way home he was
taken unwell, and very shortly after his arrival at home
was a corpse. The deceased was formerly treasurer to
the Birkenhead and Chester Railway Company.

We have much pleasure in calling the attention of our
readers to the announcement, in another column, of a
second edition of the Rev. G. Fisk's " Tour in the Holy
Land." The eloquent sermons preached in this town by
that eminent divine, on the late missionail aNniversary,
are, doubtless, fresh in the remembrance of our readers.
The preface states that no less than 2000 copies have been
disposed of in about eight months, a satisfactory proof that
the eulogium of the reviews have not been overdrawn.
CAUTION TO HOUSEKEEPERS:—A few days ago a most
audacious imposition was practised at a gentleman's house
in Edge-lane, in the following manner :—A man rang at
the door, pretending to come from Mr. Tate, the grocer;
he had no coat on ; his shirt sleeves were rolled up above
his elbows, and with a great affectation of haste, he anx-
iously inquired whether Mr. Tate's lad had not just left
a loaf of sugar there along with some other groceries. On
being answered in the affirmative, he said that the loaf
which had been left was the wrong one, that he must take
it back, as it was to go off by the coach that afternoon to
Bootle, and that the right one would be sent up by his
master. The servant, believing the story to be true, gave
up the loaf, and the right one not coming to hand, inquiry
was made at the shop, when the story was found to be all
a hoax.
MILK PUNCH ROYAL is at any season of the year a
healthy and invigorating beverage, but in weather like this,
in the heat of summer, it is beyond description. The very
name Milk Punch Royal carries with it the idea of some-
thing delicious ; but, however capacious may be the ima-
gination, few can conceive the delicacy yet fullness and
richness of its flavour. It is a beverage approved of and
patronised by royalty, and yet its limited price brings it
within the reach of almost exery individual. The city of
Chichester has long been famed for this liquor, and the
improvement in its flavour, by the addition of a little
American ice, promises to make it equally acknowledged
in Liverpool. Some have described it as the Nectari of
Jupiter, some as Madeira, some as Champagne, but we
have discovered what it really is—it is inimitable. The
agent for Liverpool is Mr. J. Haram, of Chapel-street,
whose advertisement will be found in another column.
WARRINGTON BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The ordinary
weekly meeting of this board was held, as usual, on
Wednesday last, at the Workhouse; ten guardians were
present, and Mr. Kerfoot, the chairman, presided. From
the returns, it appeared that the number of cases re-
lieved in the town, during the previous week, by Mr.
Cruikshank, was 457, and the amount expended £52 7s. ;
of this sum £37 10s. 3d. was in money, and £l4 17s. 9d.
in kind. In the corresponding week of last year, the
number of cases relieved was 436, and the amount of ex-
pense £5B 14s. 10d. In the rural disiricts, the number
of cases relieved, by Mr. Owen, was 472 and the amount
expended £4B 10s. Id., of which £42 lls. 6d. was in
money, and the balance in kind. The number of in-
mates in the woikhouse, at Newton, was 60, and in the
one at Warrington 79. Total in both, 139. Balance in
treasurer's hands, due to the union, £645 Bs. 31. The
business transacted was not of sufficient public importance
to require notice.

A FEMALE BURNT TO DEATH.—An inquisition was
held on Monday before Mr. Curry, the borough coroner,
on view of the body of Jane Hughes. John Adamson,
a labourer, residing at 69 Great Howard-street, said that
deceased was servant in the house. A few minutes before
twelve o'clock on Saturday night last, deceased was up
stairs in her own room. when he heard a noise which he
at first thought proceeded from the next house. He went
up stairs, and found the deceased standing on the landing
of the first flight, all on fire. He tried to put it out by
tearing off her clothes, but could not ; and he then car-
ried her down stairs to the outer steps and called for
help. Mr. George Wade, manager of the oil mills, in
Oil-street, and who lived next door, came up, and suc-
ceeded in extinguishing the flames. She was severely
burnt all over her body, and was sent to the hospital,
where she died in a few hours after, from the injuries she
had received. The Jury returned a verdict to that effect,
with the addition that how or in what manner her clothes
caught fire, there was no evidence to show.
DEATH BY DROWNING.—On Sunday afternoon week,
Wm. Matthie, a fine young seaman, aged eighteen years,
son of Mr. John Matthie, and nephew of Mr. Hugh Mat-
thie, was walking along the beach between Tranmere and
Rock Ferry, with his father, mother, and a young ship-
mate, when tempted by the fineness of the weather and
the appearance of the water, he proposed to bathe. As he
was unable to swim his mother felt very unwilling that he
should do so, but he promised to be very careful not to
get beyond his depth. Shortly after entering the water,
he slipped into one of the holes, of which there are many
on the shore, and was drowned in sight of his parents and
companion who were unable to render him any assistance.
The body having been recovered, an inquest was held at
Mrs. Fernyhough's Inn, Tranmere, on Tuesday morning,
when a verdict was returned in accordance with the cir-
cumstances, The frequency of such accidents near this
spot (this being the fifth, we believe, within eighteen
months) induced the jury to present a memorial to the
overseers, calling on the proper authorities to adopt some
means in order to prevent a recurrence of similar fatal ca-
tastrophes.
DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.— Present, Messrs.
Moore, (in the' chair,) Nicol, Barclay, Holt, Trotman,
Bulley, Boyden, Tobin, Bold, Shand, Sandbach, Holmes,
Aikin, Middleton, Kendall, and Evans.—From the mi-
nutes which were read, it appeared the committee had of-
fered, on condition that the Harrington Dock Company
would give up the control of their property to the trustees,
to pay one-third of the purchase money in cash, and the
remainder in bonds payable in seven years, and bearing
interest at the rate of n per cent. per annum.—The tender
of Messrs. Cowie, Jones, and Marsden, being the best
offer for the old metal of the dock-yard, was accepted.—
A temporary building, as an office for the dock master,
was ordered to be placed on the west side of the entrance
between the Canning and the Salthouse docks.—The erec-
tion of a public clock on the quay at the Clarence dock
basin was postponed till the plans for the northern docks
are agreed upon.—The shed on the east quay of the Cla-
rence dock was ordered to be proceeded with according
to the plans submitted, and not being a subject for fur-
ther consideration.—The annual report of the surveyor on
the progress and state of the dock works was submitted
and ordered to be printed.—The Chairman said a diffi-
culty arose in getting the evidence given on the Liverpool
Dock Bill in the House of Lords, in consequence of no
sufficient reason being shown for its publication ; it was,
however, now printing for the use of the trustees, but
could not be obtained for the use of the public generally.
The sub-committee for the marine department submitted a
report recommending that the dock trustees should pay the
steam tug company 400 guineas a year, and seventy-five
guineas for each service, on condition that one of the first-
class steamers belonging to the company should always be
ready, with steam up, to take the life-boat in tow, and pro-
ceed to vessels in distress, for the purpose of saving life.
—After some conversation the consideration of the sub-
ject was postponed, in order that the chairman might
consult with the chairman of the Finance Committee, with
the view of inducing the Council to bear one half of the
expense.—lt was reported that the Marine Surveyor was
about to take a survey of the channels on a plan pro-
posed by Mr. Hartley.—The marine department Sub-
committee reported that they had inspected the line of
telegraphs from Holyhead to Hilbre Island, and found all
in good working order.—A letter from William Wood,
master of the flat Charles, was referred to the Harbour
Master's Sub-committee.—Three dock-gatemen for the
Canning half-tide dock were appointed, and the committee
adjourned.
WINSPEAR'S INGENIOUS NEW MODE OF REEFING
TOPSAILS.—We several months ago noticed at some
length an invention, by our. townsman, Mr. Winspear, of
Waterloo-road, for the greater facility of reefing the top-
sails of ships. From an examination of the apparatus, we
had then occasion to commend it strongly to the inspec-
tion of shipmasters, and we are glad to find that it has
since, as the Yankees would say, been getting " pretty
considerably ahead," on its intrinsic merits. The yard is
the same as that at present used. In front of it, and pa-
rallel with it, but lower than its centre, is a wooden roller,
through the middle of which runs a strong iron rod. This
rod, or spindle, is secured with eye-bolts at each end,.so
as to allow of the roller being turned. The roller is also
supported, at different points, by iron crooks or S's, the
shanks fixed in the yard ; and these, where the roller rests
upon them, form rather more than a semicircle, inverted.
They are sufficiently large in the arc or circle to receive
and support the roller with great part of the sail upon it,
(as in close-reefing,) and are covered vtith leather to pre-
vent chafing of the canvas. At each end of the roller
there is a small iron barrel or reel, round which there is a
coil of chain reaching to the middle of the yard, and
thence, by blocks, to the deck. As we have before stated,
if a reef is required the yard is lowered, and by clapping
on to a tackle attached to the lower ends of each of the
two chains, the whole spindle alongside the yard is easily
turned by a few hands, and the sail taken up or reefed to
any required extent—half a reef, three-fourths, a whole
reef, or two or three reefs. The sail we saw in operation
(that of a large schooner) was readily reefed by only one
man, who pulled down a chain with each hand with the
simple purchase of a single block and fall : and we should
think a very large topsail might be reefed by four men,
two to each tackle. The iron rollers, at the extremities,
on which the chains work are proposed to be 8 to 9 inches
long, and about 3 inches diameter, in a vessel of about
400 tons burthen. From the gradual widening of the sail
towards the lower yard, the bolt ropes do not ride over
t
each other in reefing, and the whole apparatus is so snug,
hat though additional to the usual topsail-yard, it pre-
sents no eyesore, the roller being scarcely observable at a
moderate distance. One considerable advantage appears
to be, that as there is a space between the main roller and
the yard, the sail splits itself to a considerable extent
through this opening at the top when the yard is lowered
for reefing, and thus facilitates the operation. The inven-
tion has already been applied to several vessels from this
port, and has, we learn, given the greatest satisfaction.
Several distinguished naval officers have given their testi-
mony in its behalf, and amongst others the gallant Ad-
mint Napier, whose only objection was that it would
render the seamen lazy, as they might order the ship lads,
swehtehnsat
theyreef
might shorten sail while lying in their berths !
was required, to hand them down the ropes,
seen at the
inventor'sAs
yard,apparatus mayme n
recommend
practicallyecaptainsto satisfy them-
selves by
an early inspection.

MEETING OF THE BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.—
On Tuesday the usual monthly meeting took place at the
Town-hall, Birkenhead, J. D. Case, Esq., in the chair.
The improvement committee recommended the roads
in the park should be immediately proceeded with, and
that tenders be advertised for in the London, Liverpool,
and Birmingham papers for completing the paling, &c.,—
agreed to. In reply to Mr. J. S. Jackson, Mr. Watson,
of the health committee, said that he had no doubt the
slaughter-houses would be completed this year. The
market committee recommended additional ventilation in
the new market, and the communications respecting the
building were satisfactory. The ferry committee reported
continued improvement in the receipts of the Woodside
Ferry. Mr. J. S. Jackson intimated that a weighing-
machine had been placed near the shore, and suggested
that carts plying for hire should be registered and licensed,
under the cognizance of the township, in the manner of
hackney coaches. Several handsome plans of villas
and mansions in the park were submitted by the improve-
ment committee. The board adjourned to the 20th inst.
PAVING AND SEWERAGE COMMISSIONERS.—At the
usual weekly meeting of this board on Thursday, the
following gentlemen were present :—Messrs. J. Holmes.
(in the chair,) Hope, Leyland, Plumpton, Birkett,
Cooper, Procter, Ackers, Kaye, Kilshaw, Wood, Whitty,
Gladstone, and J. Lawrence. The Law-clerk's charges
for the half year, amounting to £253 16s. 6d., and includ-
ing the ex,,enses of deputations, &c., upon the Dock and
Water Bill were produced, and laid upon the table for the
inspection of the Commissioners.—A letter was read from
Mr. Franklin, the Corporation Surveyor, submitting a
plan for the further extension of the width of Lime-street
from Elliot-street southward, at the expense of the Cor-
poration. The alteration was approved of.—The new law
for regulating inhabited cellars, having rendered alter-
ations in the cellar entrances necessary, the Commit-
tee, with the view of ascertaining what powers they had to
grant accommodation to the owners of property, had a
case submitted to counsel by their Law-clerk. The
counsel, in his opinion, said the question whether en-
croachments on the foot-walk in particular cases were
nuisances, would depend on the circumstance of the case.
If the space taken up left a sufficient breadth of foot-way,
then he thought it could not be considered as a nuisance.
The proper course for the commissioners to pursue would
be to set out, in all the old streets and the new, a line on the
foot-walk, so as to make them of uniform width, and no
indulgence should be granted by the Commissioners that
would at all interfere with the convenience of the public.
After considerable discussion the District Surveyors were
directed to furnish the board with the width of the streets
and foot- paths in the town, in order that the width to be
allowed might be fixed. Mr. Barke, of the Wellington
Hotel, appeared before the board to complain of the state
of the sewers in Dale-street. He produced several articles
of silver, which, although cleaned the day before, had
now the appearance of brass, in consequence of the ob-
noxious steam and gaseous matter which escaped from the
sewer openings. The Surveyor of the District was or-
dered to put down stench traps, and to report next week
as to the cause of the nuisance. Tenders for the works at
the Kensington reservoir, were ordered to be advertised
for, and the board adjourned.