The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-06-06 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

MEETING ON THE CONSUMPTION OF SMOKE

FROM FURNACES.

A meeting took place yesterday afternoon, at the Cla-
rendon-rooms, (adjourned from a preliminary meeting
held last week,) of gentlemen, owners of manufactories,
mills, steam-ships, &c., who considered themselves ag-
grieved by the mode of administering the new local act,
requiring owners of steam-engines to consume the smoke
from their furnaces, under certain penalties, which
have been enforced with, in their opinion, a rigour
not contemplated by the framers of the bill. There were
upwards of forty gentlemen present, nearly all principals
in respectable firms. The object was to consider certain
resolutions, which had been prepared by those who
attended the former meeting, for the consideration of all
parties interested.

Mr. WALTER F. MACGREGOR was called to the chair.
He stated that the fines imposed upon them had become
a great annoyance, and the object of the meeting was to
ascertain whether they could meet the views of the Town
Council, which they had a wish to do as far as in them
lay. He then read the resolutions which had been pre-
pared, and which (as amended) will be found inserted in
another part of our paper. On inviting discussion upon
them_

Mr. M`lvEn, (of the Transatlantic Mail Steam-ship
Company. &c.,) stated that he thought the resolutions
were rather wanting in point. He knew that no effectual
smoke-consuming apparatus bad yet been discovered. It
was in fact utterly impossible for them to consume the
whole of their own smoke. He knew this from his own
He and his partners had tried two of the
tus, and Mr. C. W. Williams's own man in that

experience
aPP

struction,

in the 'v

ps was the

Admiral, and there was certainly but little smoke; but
at the same time little steam. It was still believed,
however, that the desideratum could be accomplished,
and his friends in Glasgow had put another similar smoke

consumer (as it was called) into a smaller vessel at

.welve mon t

hs, (as

found the apparatus bad been removed, having proved to
be of no advantage. They had tried the apparatus on
this cold air principle, and it was defective and would
prove deleterious to the boilers, so that accidents might
in time be the result. He declared that the evil of the
smoke might be much mitigated by care and attention
on the part of the stokers He and his friends had
not employed Mr. Joseph Williams's plan; but they
bad fully carried out the principle of using hot
air and found its advantages to be little or nothing
They had it in their American ships. The speaker here

quoted a letter from a Liverpool paper, signed J. 8.,
author unknown, evidently written by a scientific man,
in reply to other letters in the newspapers, and which
bore out his (Mr. M`lver's) opinions. It was to the
effect, that numerous inventions had been brought out,
and seemed to answer to some extent on a small scale,
but not in extensive practice. An improvement had
certainly been effected by reducing the smoke from fur_
but this was not due so much to any apparatus as
in stoking. and to the r- ler and proportionate

naces,

construction of the boilers, flues, &c., which would do it
when no apparatus could do it so well, for none of the
latter were certain. All who used Liverpool coal must
make smoke. some description of Welsh coal emitted
much less smoke, but none was altogether free from it.
The public had erroneously been led to think that great
results would be attained ; but he was convinced nothing
would reduce smoke so effectually or so well as well con-
structed boilers.

The CHAIRMAN said they would willingly adopt the
Corporation plan, provided it were really practicable, and
would relieve them from the responsibilities laid upon
them.

A gentleman remarked that the bill was overstrained
in its construction, and was never meant to be so severe

against them

-Mr. NORTH (of the North Shore Cotton Mill) said that
the difficulties of smoke prevention were gretaer in steam
vessels than in engines on shore. Inthe concern to which
he belonged he had used every known plan, at great ex-
pense. All depended upon the stoker. He had made
alterations for admitting air at the back of the furnaces,
which had cost £l5OO. He had also given up the use of
slack, and used coal alone. He believed the additional
cost would be £5OO a-year. The furnace bars were, by
the new plan, consumed much more rapidly then by the
old. Mr. Grantham had said that he could for £2O cure
any furnace of smoke ; but this appeared to him prepos-
terous, for how could a furnace with several boilers, and
of varied construction, be fitted at the same cost as one
simple one. He thought Mr. Williams, too, was in error
when he stated that there would be a great saving in coals.
In fine, unC,er the present construction of boilers, much
more smoke might by care be consumed, but that would
be at the expense of the boilers, the fire-bars and the
steam.

A gentleman stated that one of his reasons for removing
his works to Wales was the grievous operation of the new
law.

Mr. M`lvErt remarked that he had gone to the Clarence
Dock to witness the operation on board the Dublin boats
in the Clarence Dock, where some of his own Glasgow
boats were; and he found that the Dublin boats emitted
fully as much smoke as the others.

On that clause of the resolutions being discussed
which required " that the best practical means" should
be used by owners of furnaces to consume their smoke,
and which words had in the police-court been construed
to mean that the consumption could in all cases be
effected, so that parties were fined for not accomplishing
an impossibility,
. . .

Mr: NORTH said that these words had been introduced
by the parties who framed the bill—one of whom he had
conversed with—for the purpose of protecting parties from
an arbitrary administration of the law.

A GENTLEMAN said that when Mr. McKinnon, who
had for years given his attention to the smoke question,
brought in his bill two years ago, -Sir Robert Peel (and
this was on the Parliamentary record) had opposed the
measure, on the ground that he had consulted the most
scientific men in the country ; and that they were of
opinion that it was a thing impracticable, and that to
endeavour to enforce it would be an injury to trade and
manufacture.

Mr. M'lvEit said that no apparatus could be applied to
well-constructed boilers that would reduce the smoke,
without decreasing the creation of the necessary steam,
besides insidiously injuring the boilers. He considered
that it would be quite fair were any party compelled to
use the apparatus, and a blow-up took place, where there
was no accounting for it in a scientific way, to turn upon
those who had insisted upon the change, and tell them,—
" It is all your own doing : you compelled us to use your
destructive and dangerous apparatus, on the plea of con-
suming smoke which it did not accomplish !"

Mr. SHAW said, with respect to police summonses,
served long after the alleged offence, he had called upon
Mr. Dowling and remonstrated, along with two other gen..
tlemen. He Avas afterwards called upon at his works by an
officer, who told him he had just seen his chimney smoking
most densely. He said, in reply to the charge,—" Let
us go out and look at it." The inspector said,—“ It is
of no use to go now, for it is all out !" (A laugh.)
Mr. BANKS suggested an addition to one of the reso-
lutions to the effect that manufacturers and others would
be compelled to move their works to other localities if
the system were persisted ie. They had quite enough to
pay in taxes and rates without being subjected to fines at
the whim of the police. The suggestion was in substance
adopted.
Mr. Ross said, that in March last Messrs. Fawcett had
been fined for an alleged offence, committed in the pre-
vious October.
The several resolutions were moved, seconded, and
passed unanimously, without a show of bands.
On moving the Bth resolution, in which the engineer
employed by the Corporation as against parties charged
with infraction of the new law was alluded to, Mr.M'lver stated that in doing so he entertained no feeling
of personal hostility whatever towards Mr. Grantham.
The question was a public one of great importance, and
he but wished to do as he would be done by. In like
circumstance:he should expect, were their places changed,
the allusion to be conveyed to himself by that gentleman,
who should at all times have free access to any of their
vessels upon application to him. Neither would he pro-
pose the motion as conveying any imputation upon the
decisions of Mr. Rushton, or the convicting magistrates,
who were merely performing a duty according to the act.
The appointment of the deputation to the Mayor hav-
ing been moved by Mr. NORTH and agreed to, thanks
were voted to the Chairman by acclamation, and the
meeting, which was unanimous throughout, dispersed.
Another meeting, to communicate his Worship's decision
when it becomes known, will be called by Mr. Macgregor.

THE FERRIES.—The Finance Committee of the Cor-
poration have recommended the reduction of the ferryage
at Birkenhead to one penny for each person, with a like
reduction in respect of cattle, carriages, &c. The subject
will be taken into consideration at the monthly council
meeting to-morrow.

STEALING MONEY IN A SHOP.-At the Police-court,
yesterday, a woman, named Catherine Ellis, was charged
with having, in the shop of Mr. Cummins, in Byrom-
street, possessed herself of a halfcrown, which another
woman had put on the counter in payment for some butter
and bacon. She was sent for trial.

THEATRE ROYAL.—This establishment was opened last
evening for a period of six nights. Van Amburgh was,
with his trained animals (which are certainly highly tu-
tored), the principal attraction. The piece went off well,
and the house was tolerably filled.
ScoTTISH MINSTRELSY.—Mr. Sherers will deliver a
lecture on Saturday at the Concert-hall, on the general
Minstrelsy of Scotland, illustrated by a selection of several
favourite Scottish songs. We observe that Mr. Sherers
is highly spoken of in the Manchester, Bristol, and other
papers, as presenting his illustrations with much power
and discrimination. His songs are given with great taste
and feeling. His voice is a beautiful tenor, of great vo-
lume and compass.
THE CENTRAL-FIRE GUN.—The shooting season will
soon be here,'and our sporting friends will do well to call
on our neighbours, Messrs. Bentley, of South Castle-
street. Prince Albert, last July, had a gun made
by them on their patented principle, and they have, in
consequence, recently been appointed gun-makers to his
Royal Highness, a proof that the Prince, who is an excel-
lent shot, must have been pleased with their work. We
repeat, our sporting friends will do well to call on Messrs.
Bentley.
THEFT OF MONEY FROM THE PERSON.—At the Police-
court, yesterday, a man named Samuel Caulfield, a car-
driver, was charged by the captain of a vessel, named
Mawdsley, with having forcibly taken from his person the
sum of 19s. 6d. The complainant it appeared had in
some frolic got into the car driven by the prisoner, and
after a long route from place to place, left him without
paying his fare, but giving him a reference. Some days
after, prisoner met complainant, who treated him, and
while the latter was in the back yard of the public-house,
and unwell, prisoner forcibly took from him the money
stated. He was sent for trial.

ARCHES' COURT, SATURDAY, JUNE 3
(Before Sir H. J. Fust.)

GORHAM (CLERK) V. THE BISHOP OF EXETER.
This was an application to the Court to decree a mot

tion to issue under its seal.to the Lord Bishop of Exeter,
to show cause why he refused to admit the Rev. George
Cornelius Gorham to the vicarage and parish church of
Bramford-speke, in the county of Devon, diocese of Ex-
eter, and province of Canterbury, vacant by the death of
the late incumbent, Mr. Gorham having been duly pre-
sented to the vacant vicarage by her Majesty, the true and
undoubted patron thereof. We have already given the
particulars of the case. The judge directed the motion to
stand over till next session.

THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE PROMOTED BY FREELAND
V. NEALE (CLERK.)

This was a proceeding brought to this court by letters
of request, against the Rev. Mr. Neale, for having read
prayers, preached, and administered the holy ordinance
of the Lord's Supper, in an unconsecrated chapel con-
nected with Sackville College, East Grinstead, notwith-
standing the injunctions of the Bishop of Chichester to
desist from the exercise of his clerical functions in the
diocese. A libel was given in, charging the offence to
have occurred on the 9th of May, 1847, and to have been
repeated to the present time. No defensive plea was
offered by the rev. gentlemn ; but interrogatories were
addressed to the witnesses examined in proof of the libel.
After the advocates of the respective parties had ad-
dressed the Court, the Judge said, that the question was
one not confined to Sackville College, but of general
importance. He should like to have had some authority
stated to him upon which the court could rely, for saying
that any clergyman had a right to perform Divine offices,
save to his own private family, without the license of the
bishop. There was nothing to satisfy him that the
inmates of this college formed one family establishment.
There was, however, something in this case behind what

appeared on the face of the papers. He collected it from
an interrogatory addressed to one of the witnesses, who
stated in reply that the parishioners of East Grinstead
were composed of two parties, the high and the low
church ; that by the former Mr. Neale was highly
esteemed, and by the latter equally disliked. The 71st
canon was conclusive on the point before him. There
was nothing to satisfy him that the inmates of this col-
lege formed one family establishment. There was, how-
ever, something in this case behind what appeared on the
face of the papers. He collected it from an interroga-
tory addressed to one of the witnesses, who stated in
reply that the parishioners of East Grinstead were corn-
posed of two parties, the high and the low church ; that
by the former Mr. Neale was highly esteemed, and by
the latter equally disliked. The seventy-first canon was
conclusive on the point before him. There was
no *proof whatever that there was in this college
any chapel dedicated and allowed by the ecclesiastical law
of the realm. Mr. Neale, according to the evidence, was
the warden of the college • but why the Court was not to
have laid before it in the usual course of pleading the
foundation of the college, and why Mr. Neale claimed to
himself a right to officiate in spite of the bishop, he (the
learned judge) could not conjecture. After some further
remarks, he said that the Court would be satisfied with
admonishing Mr. Neale; but he must be condemned in the
cost of the proceedings.

THE WATER QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

SIR—Mr. Danson, the councillor for Lime-street Ward,
states, in a published letter to his constituents, that " the
quality" of the Rivington Pyke water, " according to all
able and unprejudiced persons, is undeniable."
The good quality of the Rivington Pyke water is not so
" undeniable" as Mr. Danson, a thorough-going " Pyke"
man, would wish to make it appear. Carried away by his
enthusiasm in its behalf, he stated at the last meeting of
the Polytechnic Society, that it was " the finest water in
the world," though two gentlemen, members of the so-
ciety, had just stated that they had been, a few days
before, over to Rivington Pyke, to see and taste the water
and judge for themselves, and they found that the water
of the running streams had a strong odour, and was any-
thing but what they would select for themselves to drink.
They also stated the remarkable fact, which is worth
more than a whole host of theoretical arguments to the
contrary, that the inhabitants of the district will not drink
of the water of these streams, even when passing their
very doors, but will invariably go " fields off" to obtain
the water of any chance spring there may be in the neigh-
bourhood.

The opinion of the resident inhabitants is worth some-
thing ; and an opinion which they prove by their practice
is surely worth more than that of a London geologist and
an Edinburgh professor, both strangers in the district,
and will be considered by most persons as " an able and
unprejudiced opinion of the quality of the water which is
undeniable."—l am, sir, &c.
A MEMBER. OF THE POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY.