The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-08-08 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE NEW NORTH DOCKS.

One of the most interesting events in the history of Li-
verpool took place on Friday. We allude to the opening
of five of the new docks, which have been constructed un-
der the auspices of the Dock Committee, at the north end
At two o'clock on Friday, the following gentlemen em-
barked on board the Redwing, Post-office tender, corn..
manded by Captain Bevis, R.N.:—Messrs. J. Bramley-
Moore, chairman of the Dock Committee ; Thomas Tobin,
J. Rankin, G. Kendall, J. N. Wood, F. Shand, W. Mann,
T. Chilton, G. H. Horsfall, Thomas Robinson, of the Dock
Committee; Lieut. Lord, R.N. ; Messrs. W. Earle, G.
H. Lawrence, Josias Booker, G. Booker, J. A. Tobin,
Samuel Holme, James Tyrer, H. Hornby, J. A. Tinne,
Alderman Cooper, Thomas Littledale, the Town Clerk,
and nearly forty other gentlemen.
The Redwing first entered the Salisbury Dock, which
has two entrances, one 60 feet and the other 50 feet wide.
Upon the island formed at the entrance of this dock is
erected a magnificent tower, intended partly for offices
and partly for a clock and bell tower, and likewise as a
place commanding a view of the entrance to the harbour.
This building has a most imposing appearance. After
sailing round the Salisbury Dock and quays,' upon which
there were about 3,000 workmen and spectators, and after
the dock had been formally named by the chairman, the
Redwing steamed into the Nelson Dock, and after having
made a circuit of , that dock, she proceeded to the farthest
of the docks now completed, and which is named after the
able and excellent chairman of the Dock Committee, Mr.
Bramley.Moore. Returning through the Nelson Dock,
and after having made a circuit of that dock, amidst the
loud cheers of the assembled multitude, the Redwing en-
tered the Collingwood Dock, and subsequently proceeded
through the passage to the Stanley Dock, and after sail-
ing round that dock, one of the Leeds and Liverpool
Canal packet boats, called the Samuel Fletcher, came in-
to the dock from the canal and proceeded from the docks
up to the canal. After entering the canal the party again
descended the locks and rejoined the steamer. By the
way, a short description of this magnificent undertaking
may not be unacceptable to our readers or to the public
at large, considering the important position which Liver-
pool holds as the first commercial port of the kingdom.
The foundation stone of the first of these docks was laid
by Mr. Bramley-Moore, on the 2nd of August, 1845.
The locks connecting it with the Leeds and Liverpool
Canal were commenced in May, 1847,—thus effecting a
chain of communication with Yorkshire, and, indeed, with
the port of Hull. There are five locks at the junction of
the canal with the docks, the level of the canal being fifty
feet above high-water mark on the river, at an eighteen
feet tide.

Previously to the party entering the docks, and after
the enthusiastic cheering, three cheers were given for the
Queen. Proceeding up the docks, the cheering for the
Queen was resumed. Cheers were likewise given for Mr.
Hartley, the veteran and able surveyor of the docks,
under whose superintendence and management these
works have been so speedily and so admirably completed.
Three cheers were next given for his worship the Mayor
of Liverpool—three for Mr. Bramley Moore, the dock
chairman—three for the dock committee; and, after
passing into the canal, three right lusty English cheers
were given for the chairman and proprietors of the Leeds
and Liverpool canal. Passing under: the viaduct of the
Liverpool and Bury railway, a similar compliment was
paid to Messrs. S. and J. Holme, the builders of that
splendid work of art.
In consequence of the efflux of the tide, the Redwing,
before the conclusion of the ceremony, was obliged to
steam into the river, and tables being spread upon deck,
an elegant collation, provided by Mr. Lynn, was served
up. The healths of the " Chairman and Members of the
Dock Committee," "the Mayor of Liverpool," "Mr.
Hartley," " Messrs. Holme," "Mr. Thomas Tobin,"
and others, were given and duly responded to.
We cannot conclude this necessarily brief account of
the proceedings, without expressing our admiration of
the manner in which the works at these new docks have
been carried out. Without any formality, the foundation
stone was laid exactly three years ago. During that
period 34 acres of most magnificent docks have been
added to the port, and about 25 acres more are nearly
completed.

ENTERTAINMENT AT BIRKENHEAD.
MASONRY AND BRICK WORK.

On Saturday evening, upwards of sixty workmen were
hospitably entertained by Messrs. Strong and Reid, ship-
brokers, at Mrs. Fernyhough's, Tranmere Hotel, on the
occasion of two handsome villas being roared in the Rock
Park. Mr. Strong occupied the chair, and Mr. Rout-
ledge, the contractor, the vice-chair; the former was
supported by Mr. Reid, his partner, and Mr. Hay, the
architect; the latter, by Mr. Hogarth, the joiner, Mr.
Cubbons, the slater and plasterer, and Mr. Wooley, of
the firm of Wooley and Palm, the plumbers.
The Chairman gave the health of " The Queen," which
was enthusiastically responded to, and the National
Anthem sung in good style. Other loyal and appropriate
toasts were given, and those of the proprietors, architect,
and contractors, most cordially received. Mr. Hay took
the opportunityofimpressingupon the workmen, more espe-
ecial ly the masons, the need of m aki n gthe m selves thoroughly
acquainted with not only the practical part of their work,
but the theoretical. He stated that he had travelled over
a great portion of England, Ireland, and Scotland, as well
as a considerable part of the continent. and he believed it
to be an indisputable fact, that in none of these places
could mason-work be done cheaper than in Liver-
pool, and who was to blame for this he would not stop
to inquire, but it was obvious, for one stone house we
had streets of mean looking brick-work. We had an
abundant supply of stone, readily excavated, and at a
smaller cost than in any place where be had been ' • and,
from the nature of the material, it was worked with great
facility, so much so, as to reduce its ultimate cost to a level
with any of these places referred to, notwithstanding the
disparity of wages which in many instances are 30 per cent.
less than in this neighbourhood. Mr. Hay then stated
that we were sadly deficient in good workmen, which was
one cause of there being less masonry than there otherwise
would ; and it was well worthy of those present to take a
deeper interest in acquiring a knowledge of their business,
I not only of the benefit of themselves, but of their fellow-
workmen, and to the trade at large. Indifference to be-
coming good workmen he had observed to be the usual
sign of talkative, idleness, and discontent. He, by no
means, condemned their unions, but would be the first to
join a union for the protection of their rights—and every
one of us had rights ; but he would recommend them to
select true, honest, and good workmen for their leaders—
men who could take a more expansive range of the state of
the country and the money market than their own circum-
scribed locality, and be certain that their demands were
reasonable. There was always a common-sense view in
social as well as political questions ; and they never would
succeed against it, but make bad worse, by diverting
capital into other channels than that of building.
Mr. ROUTLEDGE spoke highly of the facility with
which lie had been enabled to proceed with his opera ions
from the attention of their architect, and the promptitude
with which he bad received his instalments not in
patches of unproductive land, but in cash. He concluded
by again thanking Messrs. Strong and Reid for the mug-.
nificent entertainment, and hoped they would live long
to enjoy their new dwellings; and he was certain from the
solid and substantial way in which their architeethad pro-
vided for everything about the works, that many genera-
tions would pass away before the decay of these struc-
tures commenced.
The harmony of the evening was enlivened by several
excellent songs, and kept up until eleven o'clock ; and the
orderly way in which they conducted themselves proved
how much they appreciated the kindness and liberality of
their employers.

COURT AND FASHION.'

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The Court remains in the Isle of Wight. The occupa-
tions of the royal circle are but little varied from day to
day. The Queen and Prince Albert, often accompanied
by the Princes and Princesses, take constant out-door
exercise on the beach and in the grounds and vicinity of
Osborne House.
It is said that her Majesty does not intend to visit Scot..
land this year.
The Queen Dowager contemplates visiting the Isle of
Wight in the course of next month, and it is very probable
will reside either at Cowes or Ryde a month or six weeks.
The Duchess of Kent intends to reside several weeks at
Cowes, Isle of Wight, a marine residence, Powleaqe
House, having been taken for the royal duchess. It is
expected the Duchess will go there on the 10th instant.