The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-16 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD DOCK COMPLETION.

The three bills introduced into Parliament relative to
the Birkenhead Docks, went before a select committee of
the Commons on Tuesday last. The committee included
Lord Charles Wellesley, Admiral Bowles, Sir G. Strick-
land, Sir P. Egerton, Mr. Tollemache, the two members
for Liverpool, &c. A large model of the entire works
was placed before the Committee. The Bills were sup-
ported by Mr. Sergeant Wrangham, and two other bar-
risters, and Messrs. Austin, Talbot, and Venables ap-
peared for the Liverpool Dock Trustees. The several
railways interested in Birkenhead were also repreSented,
as were several petitioners, owners of land, ratepayers,
owners of coasting vessels, &c. Mr. Sergeant Wrang-
ham, in a speech of three hours' duration, supported the
bills—entering into all the details of the money already
expended, some of it illegally, by the Dock Commis-
sioners, the provisional offer of government towards the
completion of the works, &c. A sum of £37o,ooowould
be required to accomplish this and pay the outstanding
debts. With regard to the coasters, he contended that as
neither the admiralty nor the conservators of the river
had assented to their view of the case, they had no claim
upon the attention of the committee with regard to the
northern point of the works to which their petition
related. With regard to the petition of certain inhabi-
tants and ratepayers, he submitted that if they represented
the trading public, the arrangement with the crown would
be clearly beneficial to them ; for it was the only mode
by which the works would be completed, whilst the bar-
gain was expedient and advantageous. The valuations
made by Mr. Stewart showed that the arrangement with
the Crown would be advantageous to the Crown, whilst
the estimates of Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Rendel estab-
lished the fact, that the bargain was a provident one as
regarded the works. This, however, was a question
entirely for the committee. To the petitioners of Sea-
combe and Wallasey these measures would be eminently
advantageous, for they would be represented in the Dock
Commission by three members. He considered that no
valid objection could be made to the chairman of the
trust being a barrister, nominated by the Crown, for
after what had occurred the Crown ought to have a veto,
so long as the Crown advances remained unsatisfied. The
present was not a time to consider of art amalgamation
with the Liverpool Dock Trustees. The works must be
completed before such a negociation could proceed. He
wished the independence of trade on both sides of the
Mersey to remain ; and if an union has hereafter to be
made, to enter upon its consideration equitably towards
both, but the present was not the time to go into the
question of amalgamation. It would be most unfortunate
if, now that the Crown was willing to stretch forth a help-
ing hand to complete this vast design, the whole should
sink from the want of the necessary funds caused by the
refusal of Parliament to assent to their application.
The works could not be completed without the aid of the
Crown. Give the Crown permission to act upon its own
discretion, well-advised and deliberate as it always was.
and a valuable estate, a mighty boon to the commerce of
tae Mersey would be created. Refuse it, and all that had
been done at so much cost would return to its original
chaos—opera interrupta minceque 272firOMM ingentes—
and so would end the dream of Birkenhead.

The only witness examined this day was Mr. Hookey,
harbour-master of Birkenhead, who proved the dues and
rates charged on the dockage in Liverpool, upon vessels
going to the latter place after landing cargoes at Birken-
head.

On Wednesday the Committee again met, and Mr.
Rendel was examined at great length as to his estimate
for the completion of the works. He expressed his
opinion that the bargain with Government would be
most advantageous to the public, as the works would
thereby be completed. The next witness was Mr. Dun-
can Gibb, who approved of the designs for completing the
works, but on the whole his evidence was considered as
unfavourable to the promoters.

On ThursdAy, Mr. Itendel said, in further evidence, that
the completion of the upper part of the Pool was essential
to the success of the scheme. In reply to questions put
by Mr. Cardwell, he said that he considered the security
to the Crown to be good, and was surprised that the bond-
holders did not think so too. Mr. Maynard, solicitor to
the bondholders, said that bondholders to the amount of
£390,000 had signified their assent to the arrangements
with the Crown. There was but one dissentient—Mr.
Wm. Stewart.

Mr. Talbot addressed the committee against the rating
bill. He considered the_ effort to obtain the bill
most audacious and unjust to the dock estate. Tt went to
alter the estates of the mortgagers. He considered it a
transfer of the security,—an attempt to get for Birken-
head what she was not entitled to. He proceeded to show
at great length, that, if Birkenhead were, as proposed,
converted into a distinct and independent port, the Li-
verpool Dock Estate would be seriously injured, inasmuch
as its tonnage and goods rates would be almost taken
away, and the security of the bondholders destroyed.
Mr. Bramley-Moore, on being examined, said, that
when the Birkenhead scheme was first promulgated, it
was represented that no rates would ever be charged, or
any privileges asked for Birkenhead. Reductions lvid
been made in the Liverpool dock rates in the years 1836,
1845, and 1847, to the amount of £1,400,000 ; and a.
further reduction was now going on at the rate of £40,000
per annum. If the present bill were successful, it would
operate upon all vessels trading foreign, both inwards and
outwards. A vessel of 700 tons entering Birkenhead
would pay there ls. 14d. per ton, amounting to £39 is. 6d ;
she might then go over to Liverpool, remain there four
months, and then load outwards by paying 21d., which
would be only £6 lls. 3d., and would leave £32 16s. 3d.
in favour of Birkenhead. This was upon the tonnage
only, no rates being charged upon coasters. In July,
1847, the foreign rates upon tonnage were £10,852. As-
suming the whole of the foreign tonnage had gone into
the Birkenhead docks, and afterwards passed into the
Liverpool docks, there loading outwards, they would have
paid £2BBB, leaving a loss to Liverpool, per month, of
£7963. Assuming this system was in operation upon all
the tonnage coming to Liverpool, it would snake the total
loss amount to £209,000 per annum. There would,
therefore, be a deficiency of £75,000 upon the interest of
the debt.

Mr. Marrow, collector of the Liverpool dock rates,
produced documents confirmatory of Mr. Moore's testi-
mony. The committee then adjourned.
The Committee met again on Friday, when Mr. Mere-
wether opened the opposition on the part of the Cheshire
Junction Railway Company, who opposed the bills be-
cause they had expended a considerable sum of money
in opening a railway communication with the docks, in
expectation that those docks would not be rated, and that
money would not have been laid out if the rates at present
proposed had been contemplated. They had also ex-
pended £BO,OOO on the edge of the great float, under the
belief that a fixed level of thirteen feet was to be main-
tained in the float, and unless that level was maintained,
the company's land would be useless.
Mr. John Laird was called, and stated that the railway
company had expended £300,000 on the faith of the
dock works being carried out in their original integrity,
and that they would never have thought of carrying the
line to Manchester if they had not believed that the
great float was to be made into a dock and the rates made
as low as possible, in order to compete with Manchester.
He had not received any notice of the alteration in the
level of the great float. In his opinion the inner and
outer works should go on together. If the outer basin
was not kept clean by sluicing from the inner pool it
must be kept clean by dredging, which would be expen-
sive, but how the expense was to be met "he did not
know.

Mr. W. Gibb, member of the Manchester Chamber of
Commerce, stated that that town took a warm interest
in the entire scheme of the docks and railways, on account
of the proposed cheap railways and intended docks, but
the proposed rates would change the feeling of Manches-
ter towards the scheme, inasmuch as they would mar its
advantages:
Mr. Lowndes then opened the case on behalf of the
coasting trade, which by the present bills would be de-
prived of the advantages which they obtained under the
act of 1844.

Mr. W. Marrow proved that the amount of tonnage
dues received from coasting vessels at Liverpool had in-
creased fifty per cent between 1843 and 1847.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

INFORMATION UNDER THE SANATORY ACT.—On
Tuesday, William Byrom, estate agent, Kent-square,
agent to Adam Lodge, Esq., of London, was fined £5 for
refusing to repair nineteen privies and ten ash-pits in
Roper's-row, Lodge-lane.
A SAVAGE DOG.—On Tuesday, Thomas Fazakerley,
of Bridgewater-street, was fined forty shillings and costs,
for allowing a large dog, of ferocious disposition, to go at
large. The animal had bitten a little child three times
within the last three months.

- STOWING AWAY EMIGRANTS.—On Friday; Terence
Smith, a tidily-dressed Irishman, was brought before Mr.
Rushton, charged with having defrauded a young woman,
named Margaret Flynn, out of a sum of £1 4s. 6d. He
had offered to secure her a passage to America for XI, and
induced her to purchase a large chest, which he at last
requested her to get into, that she might he stowed away !
He was discharged on technical grounds, but it will be
proceeded against by information.
CHARGE OF DAMAGE.—On Wednesday, the owners
of the flat Charles, summoned Captain Hackstaff, of the
steamer United States, for £7 9s. 6d., amount of damage
done by the steamer whilst being removed from the Coburg
Dock to the Graving dock. It was the opinion of the
pier-head master that the hands on board the flat were to
blame, and the other circumstances of the case bearing
out this opinion, the case was dismissed, Mr. Rushton
remarking that flatmen were generally very careless,
relying more upon the strength of their boats than any
thing else.
STABBING.—On Wednesday, Elizabeth Wilson was
charged with stabbing Margaret Kaye, in Peter-street.
From the evidence, it appeared the prisoner went into the
house, and going up to Kaye said, " Receive the contents
of this, killer of my heart ;" at the same time striking
her in the breast with a sharp dagger-knife, seven inches
long. Prisoner said, " Now I have had my revenge,"
then threw down the dagger, but picking it up again,
struck Kaye again three times, wounding her so severely
that her life is despaired of. The prisoner acknowledged
the offence but said she had seen her husband sitting
with his arms round Kaye's neck. The witness denied
that the prisoner was married, but said that she lived with
a man. The prisoner was remanded, in order to await the
result of the injuries inflicted upon Kaye.
MISCONDUCT OF SOLDIERY. —On Saturday, Air.
Rushton heard a case in which Mr. Breed, merchant, of
this town, was complainant, and Michael Brennan,, pay.
sergeant of the 43rd regiment, Michael Cassidy hiS orderly,
and two privates of the same corps were defendants. On
the 22nd March, the two first-tanmed defendants were
billeted upon the house of hiss Keale, who keeps the
Commercial Coffee-house, iu.Dale-street, and came in the
afternoon, when the rooms.were full of gentlemen, dining
or taking lunch. From: thirty to fifty soldiers came along

May 16, 1848.

with the sergeant, filling the kitchen and front passa2.st;
Miss Keale remonstrated against so unusual an intraut
at the busiest hour of the day, but the orderly swore 8e
ta
aDnudriwn-agstvheereyxicnisteomleteintttomArl.islisrKeeedalcea,manedforrefauseludneh,
id
was requested by Miss Keale to interpose, which he `.4
l„,
but ineffectually, as the men refused to furnish anYthel.
formation. On leaving he again asked the men to
names, when the sergeant ordered two of the soldiers.„
take hold of him and put him out, which they did by fobs
Mr. Rushton said Cassidy had behaved in a very ;4;
manner, but over his conduct he had no jurisdiction.
Ile
sergeant it appeared was a man of good character-
,10
expressed his regret at what had occurred, but be The
much excited and could not get on with his work. ~.+0
other men were allowed to go, but Mr. Rushton infb' t,
a fine of £5 on the sergeant, or a month's imprisonmell
The fine was paid. l/
SRAM PRACTICE.—JohnHughes was summe— ace.
the Gas and Coke Company on Tuesday, at the PO':,e
court, for a sum of money said to be due. The
that
turned upon a dispute of 145., the defendant stating ape
he had been insolvent, and owed the company ;ure
money. He commenced business again, paying cleverly
in question on the new account, but the company
credited the old account with it, and wanted it paid '!',l
Several papers were handed in, and the collector ch
best to throw dust in the magistrate's eyes, but missed bat
object. Mr. Rushton said wit was very dexterousAel
would not do. They might call it ability, but he
it cunning. The claim was disallowed.
; Col'
HEARTLESS CASE OF SWINDLING.—CAU„--or Cor
COUNTRYMEN.—On Thursday, three men, Liver, ej
lies, and Frith, were brought before Mr, Rushton,`ll alhlo
with having defrauded a Yorkshirenian named ,101
Frith of £4O. The complainant, a respectable sma.lls",;fe.
keeper, thinking the sea air would benefit leis
was ill, to leave Yorkshire and take a shop' in Liver05
For this purpose he sold up his stock, and came herLebila
foot, arriving here on Friday week. He brought witufiot
only a sovereign and some small amount itr silvertrel lea
finding a place to be let that would suit him, he E
bo
iettohnefiohCuilmenrit Cayes
about the docks, where he met two of the prisoner`' Abe
county,cn laami mesedo fa acquaintancenpdalg.tai
gained
e dini l
it
sin,
a•
is
know. They all adjourned to a public-house, an'. „r tO
Wang' ; 0
the third prisoner, who pretended to be quite a
the others, made his appearance, and said he had had:terf
to him £2,300 by an uncle, and had come from the eeuol3
to secure it. The others affected not to believe Inm„'o-teo
he then produced a pocket-hook containing £3O inof
(flash), which he said be had already received as Parties
the legacy. He added that if any one would she's' se,
that lie was worth £5O, he would lend that amount °`^ole
wb belonging
yh ot
itni
e htiele tnhotai
pot
pnieeo4badtc,
curity of a promissory note. The. complainant, after sever,
further conversation with the parties, put down his se tge
eign as a guarrntee that he would produce the sum oerei
Monday following. The silly man then went toYorksielie
and raised the sum by borrowing it from neighbours. 1113
returned to Liverpool on Monday, in company srith,
at
wife, and found one of the prisoners waiting for n'e'sr,d
the railway station. The others afterwards came uP,r'bere
they all went to a public-house in Circus-street.
the parties induced him to deliver up his X49', be
to accompany one of them to purchase a stamp in• oto
promisory note. The man, however, made an exen,rott
leave him for a short time, and did not return neiiiers
going back to the public-house, he found that the °' tbe
had decamped with his money. On Thursday, two °feat!
detective police who had received information, slice eof
in capturing the three offenders. In the house of oa
them was found a gold watch and £lO. The coterda'the
ants wife had strongly advised him not to advance ule
money.' Two of the prisoners are said to be beer-n.OO.
keepers. They were committed for trial at the ses,sllo4
One of them had the effrontery to request the wole,"nn.'
money to be delivered up to his wife. Mr. Ras"'"'lld
ti
No, they shall go to the complainant as a dividend for
~.. Ir
loss he has sustained. I cannot order it, but, at the
,;„tor
I shall make application to that effect.—The
thanked Mr. Rushton for his kindness, and the Pr's—
were sent to gaol.

Btstrirt etus.
C
Dr. Watts was elected physician to the iVian-
V°
Royal Infirmary on Thursday.
The Preston corporation are going to erect a <Ore;
. . .

market within the space bounded by Fishergate, -
The
street, and Friargate.
ten hours' bill has been well received by the 100°51;
facturing operatives, and is working well for the late
both of masters and men. - 11
BOLTON.—Nearly all the cotton mills in this town pre-
ham
tea-party,.liolshrutaner
tars
been running the full time allowed by law during tin!''
sent week, and the ten hours' bill being now in cr dr" scil'
there appears to be a reasonable hope that the trail
keep in this improved state. 91)01
HORRIBLE DEATH.—On Thursday, Luke Ketton4ttoa,
ten years of age, was accidentally run over at Log
Lancashire, by one of Croskill's patent clod crusi,,le„;fice„/
was attempting to get up to ride, when he overl'n-iotsy
himself, and fell beneath the rollers, the spit:eq.-0/0r
which literally tore him to pieces on the spot.--"`"
din,NA,vwesidillwill
commemorationeeybs,deai;
,er l.dtr ei.
n7Fttoil
odt hfeFner
je,
upeila,ae!rts. le; .1;,, lit a
etc.
f
11,
he
, on
it
Ten Hours
tl‘polenac ecadiniedt Admiralty,
he
Oldham, threl.
10Hr aoCsat:l e heir
W.
REMARKABLE CIRCUMSTAIkpNirC'eEsPe..—n, tAA:rhatbui: it1'11181.5.1,134:det a -
idCllioebywe.,per. one of the lord,: o
nest beneath one of the sleepers on the Lanela-Ne'ston.
Preston Railway at Cadley, about four miles fon't,ere four
When the workmen discovered the nest there,'" 0
young ones in it, but on Sunday week it was leaquiet
some one had stolen them. Of all the places a„tor9 90:
retreat a situation under a railway sleeper aPPe bunny •
the most unlikely, though it seems that little
thought otherwise.
CHESTER SPRING MEETING.—The receipts at the er
stand during the four days were £1,402 12., bein,
cess of £5B 12.,. over the proceeds of last year. v, e.,tet
the past week the number of passengers taken to
by the Birkenhead railway was 8,789, of whom 4,.a",,,139
rived on Wednesday, the " cup day." On the sa'°`fers,
the Shrewsbury and Chester trains took 1,020 nas‘seinfittati
and the Bangor about the same number. The Wl'
ber of passengers taken to the Chester station fr 00,26,
lines was 50,170 ; of horses, 256 ; of carriages and va,?:,
EMPLOYMENT IN MANCHESTER.—Trade genera,' ,• fen
not this week been so promising as was anticipate ° oa
days ago, but still there is no cause of complaint, 3:jer
the whole, there is much more activity than was e:c1101•il'5
ced weeks ago. The gloom is not so palpable as
the past months, although it is the opinion of 111°5
tical men that some time must elapse before it 1%000
disappears. Employment has this week been givel; aQd
increased number of hands, both in the staple tre. t sti
in other branches connected with manufactures ; Yevolor
there are more than 8,000 hands wholly out of el
ment. ~oers
STRANGE PROCEEDINGS.—On Monday, eight '
were charged before the magistrates at Lancaster,,,ols
climbing the walls of the workhouse, and aloeePrivi-dr
themselves without leave, refusal to work, and uthepolice
misconducting themselves. It appeared that on the tlid
proceeding to the workhouse to apprehend Otero,
made a vigorous stand, barricading their bedroolabreo
dows and doors. The police were compelled t°„ ebasa
open some of the doors, and it was not till after "tore
was had after a few of them that they were earesceg
The case was proved against all of them, with the 000
tion of Smith. The prisoners pleaded in extent-tad, ela"A
their offence too scanty allowance of food. 5,1',1, free'
discharged, and the others were committed to jevs,,s
ton House of Correction, with hard labour, for 2't,
FESTIVITIES AT HIGH LEGIT.—On Monday °
Legh was the scene of great festivity; being the °excl.%
which the infant heir to the estates of his father, birt_ll.;
Cornwall Legh, Esq. was first introduced to thei,ati';
place of his long line of ancestors. The infantile
been born in London on the last day of 1847. 01,
met and greeted on the auspicious occasion of
.1 bor'„
visit to High Legh, by the numerous tenantry n' bpoTee
back, and some hundreds of persons from the no: 01„,
ing towns and villages. The day being fair, air, er
shower of rain in the morning, added much to ail
scet;.,
resque appearance of the place, and every oneeso, 'jt)
delighted with the object they had come to Witn
pro i 0
to welcome the little stranger home. The Prk, ia 't
started from the hall at half-past three o'el,ne,t, baae,oll
following order;—first, two banners ; on the ar'coroii.
was " Long life and happiness to Mr. and Mrs. farii,,
Legh," and on the other were the arms of Per,,,,bar
Then followed a band of music, tenantry on au
tenantry on foot, labourers, work-people, fficialiogi
THE REV. MR. GERMON'S ROBBEBS.—The vea,""tba
quiries as to this rookery are, we believe, st"
with what result, as concerns O'Brien and Colaiiie I'o4
public are extremely anxious to be acquainted•
sijlce ea,
been able to glean little available information the
last, but we may state that the watch stolen frail% the P„ter
Mr. Germon has been recovered, and that is nt'lN'ioache,9to
session of Mi. Superintendent Leary. of the,
police force. Although in possession of tolerant ?sr in v. 04
information as to the circuitous and tortuous wail ice oi
it has been traced and passed from hand to hail ,t it.ob
precluded at present from saying more than to
delivered up by the Rev. Carberry, the F4goded )ir•
to Mr. D. Lee, a magistrate of this city,
watch Pberr'y
Captain Willis, by whom it was in turnwgilis°'cuartijrat°qlosciae
Superintendent Leary. It is asserted, with bee -0D
leave the public to believe, that the
Manchester ever since it was stolen, and tha rob Id,
who had possession of it never beard of cobteioos
Such is the only account given by the eOiroireiti
Let us hope, however, that through the be e` Di°
of Mr. Leary the whole mystery maY
up, and despite they jugglery of the confession, ro,Oevge.
it is sought to bury all trace of the guilty, garlefiere
and the receivers may be brought to justice. _ that tb_f
Courier. [The Manchester Guardian saY:!,O,OIH °
little doubt of the guilt of O'Brien and
of lf
crime of which they stand convicted.] idoce 14114
CHEAPNESS BUT NO PLENTY.—AS an evfroulAco
we give the following extract from a letter , ibt
respectable mercantile house at Livenunolcluode
realer!,
really very bad here, partly owing to the DL. plop oiso,
• Elbe, which closes all export orbale good
sho" vfhers.
Germany, and partly owing to rumoursa'L„orts, Pool9
be true, for continued heavy losses on alLl"'„iroini9 rot
to the losses last year, must cause a fear'Wettell. rot v.t
of means, and bring down many houses. k
coo;
rible. The losses on the imports this
teriean A...er
less than £lOO,OOO, and what comes on AF„
is 111 tile;
will not return to the planters more than
for an article they cannot grow under Giefentosi
continue to produce just to gratify our
_s, 1."430at'.0
It will resolve itself into ultimate deartnec`bearatejoe tur
chester school have attained theix'
sides, but are worse off than vt,ten the „o a
price; for now, however cheap they Par It is hen
terial,. they cannot find bAYRII- • •
WOY,eII.. QbettetOchnaWsr Oro, ifirla

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