The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-02-03 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

The usual weekly meeting of this body was held yesterday.
There were present, Messrs. Sands, (chairman,) Aikin, Bul-
ley, Bold, Barclay, Evans, Horsfail, Holt, Molyneux, Nicol,
Royden, Smith, and Tobin.

The sub-committee of the Marine Department alluded to
the services rendered by the Magazines' life-boat to the
schooner Dalkeith, which got aground on Burbo Bank on
the 22d ult. The crew of the life-boat remained with her
all the night, and in the morning succeeded in getting her
into deep water, where they left her in safety. The Liverpool
life-boat also rendered considerable assistance to the brigan-
tine Douro, which also grounded on the Burbo Bank. The
master, together with three passengers, finding the difficult
situation in which the vessel was placed, went on board the
light-ship, whence the master proceeded to Liverpool,
and having obtained the Albert steamer, as well as the life-
boat, proceeded to the vessel, from which a quantity of specie
was conveyed, and, as well as the passengers on board the
light-ship, placed on board the steamer, and the life-boat re-
turned to port.
Mr. UORSFALL thought some compensation ought to be
given by the. owners of the vessels to the crew of the life-boat
for their services.

After some conversation it was thought that it was a mat-
ter that would be better settled between the parties themselves ;
the committee having no power to interfere.

Iche Sub-committee of the Marine Department reported,
that they had considered the suggestions contained in the let-
ter of Capt. Sarsfield, but were not prepared to, make any al-
teration in the mode of mooring the fight--%ips.
The SECRETARY read a letter from Messrs. Chapman,
Bowman, and Co., to the following effect :

" January 30, 1843.
" To the Chairman of the Dock Committee.
" Sir.—We are under the necessity of giving notice, in
behalf of the owners of the ship Ashburton, that we shall
hold the Dock Committee liable for all damage sustained by
that ship, in hull and rigging, in consequence of having got
aground in the Prince's Dock Basin, owing to the improper
directions given by the pierhead-master. We have also to
state, that Captain Huttlestone has abandoned the charge of
the ship to the north harbour-master.

" Your obedient servants,
" COIAPMAN BOWMAN, and Co."

The SECRETARY said that he had also received a second
letter, dated 31st January, from Messrs. Chapman, respect-
ing the vessel alluded to, which was then read :
" Liverpool, January 31, 1843.
" To the Chairman of the Dock Committee.

" Stn.,—Referring to our note of yesterday, we have now
to state that we are in possession of evidence to prove that
the accident to the Ashburton was entirely caused by the
stern hauser being let go when it ought not to have been,
(and the order was not given, as at first represented, by the
pierhead-master,) without receiving orders to that effect
from the pilot. The dock trust is, therefore, excused from
any liability. Vs e have great pleasure in bearing testimony
to the attention and services rendered by the harbour-master
and dock-master of the Waterloo Dock on the occasion.—
We are, your obedient servants,
" CHAPMAN, BOWMAN, and Co."
A letter was then read from Mr. Hodgson, the north har-
bour-master, to the effect, that the vessel lay in a very dan-
gerous position while in the Prince's Basin, as there was a
strong breeze blowing at the time, and would have been ma-
terially injured had not proper measures been taken. She
only remained aground during one tide, arid the captain had
assured Mr. Hodgson that she had not received any damage.
No blame could he attached to any of the officers connected
with the Dock Estate.