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 Wrong-
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 £370,000 would
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
he 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 an amalgamation
with the Liverpool Dock Trustees. The works must be
completed before such a negotiation 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 Bras 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
the Mersey would be created. •Refuse it, and all that had
been done at so much cost would return to its original
chaos—opera interrupta min&gue murorum 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. Rendel 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 had
been made in the Liverpool dock rates in the years 1836,
1815, 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. lid. per ton, amounting to £39 7s. 6d ;
she might then go over to Liverpool, remain there four
months' and then load outwards by paying 2d., 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 make 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 integrityi_
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 £l, and
induced her to purchase a large chest, which he at last
requested her to get into, that she might be 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 inllicted upon Kaye.
MISCONDUCT' OF SOLDIERY. —On Saturday, Mr.
Rushton beard a case in which Mr. Breed, merchant, of
this town, was complainant, and Michael Brennan,, pay-
sergeant of the Ord regiment, Michael Cassidy his orderly,
and two privates of the same corps were defendants. On
the 22nd March, the two first-named defendants were
billeted upon the house of Miss Keale, who keeps the
Commercial Coffee-house, in Dale-street, and came to the
afternoon, when the rooms were full of gentlemen, dining
or taking lunch, From thirty to fifty soldiga tame along

May 11,1845.

with the sergeant, filling the kitchen and front Passeg.et4
Miss Keale remonstrated against so unusual an intrusion.
at the busiest hourof the day, but the orderly swore et
and was very insolent to Miss Keale, and refused to leave;
During'the excitement Mr. Breed came for a • lunch, all
was requested by Miss Keale to interpose, which he did
but ineffectually, as the men refused to furnish any in-
formation. On leaving he again asked the men their
names, when the sergeant ordered two of the soldiers to
take hold of him and put him out, which they did by force:
Mr. Rushton said Cassidy had behaved in a very bad
manner, but over his conduct he had nojnrisdiction. The
sergeant it appeared was a man of good character. He
expressed his regret at what had occurred, but be wag
much excited and could not get on with his work. The
other men were allowed to go, but Mr. Rushton inflicted
a fine of £5 on the sergeant, or a month's imprisonmen
The fine was paid.
SHARP PRACTICE.—john Hughes was summoned hY
the Gas and Coke Company on Tuesday, at the Police-
court, for a sum of money said to be due. the ease.
turned upon a dispute of 145., the defendant stating that
he had been insolvent. and owed the company sole
money. He commenced business again, paying te sqn
in question on the new account, but the company cleverli
credited the old account with itrand wanted it paid again'
Several papers were handed in, and the collector did hi
best to throw dust in the magistrate's eyes, but missed his
object. Mr. Rushton said it was very dexterous, but
would not do. They might call it ability, but he called
it cunning. The claim was disallowed.
HEARTLESS CASE OF SWINDLING.—CAUTION
COUNTRYMEN.—On Thursday, three men, Liver, C°"_,
fins, and Frith, were brought before Mr. Rushton, charged
with having defrauded a Yorkshireman named Willi°
Frith of £4O. The complainant, a respectable small shor,
keeper, thinking the sea air would benefit his wLe, who
was ill, to leave Yorkshire and take a shop in Liverpool.
For this purpose he sold up his stock, and came here on
foot, arriving.here on Friday week. He brought with htm
only a sovereign and some small amount in silver. Nn''
finding a place to be let that would suit him, he strolled
about the docks, where he met two of the prisoners, who
claimed acquaintance with him as belonging to the same
county, and gained his confidence by the mention of the
names of parties in that county whom he happened to
know. They all adjourned to a public-house, and there
the third prisoner, who pretended to be quite a stranger°
left
the others, made his appearance, and said lie had had
tt( oofl
(flash),
seihcm7.tew2hi 13;c0h0Thbheyesaaoni
others
ehnrecsl
affectedad dalli
ea comeadndoyt
rteocbferieovl from
believe
el:gh country
he then produced a pocket-book containing £3O in ock—
part f
the legacy. He added that if any one would shew him
that he was worth £5O, he would lend that amount on
se-
curity of a promissory note. The complainant, after some
further conversation with the parties, put down his sover-
eign as a guarrntee that he would produce the sum on the
Monday following. The silly man then went to Yorkshire,
and raised the sum by borrowing it from neighbours. ne
returned to Liverpool on Monday, in company with his
•
wife, and found one of the prisoners waiting for him at
the railway station. The others afterwards came up, an
thCy all went to a public-house in Circus-street. The
the parties induced him to deliver up his £4O, an
to accompany one of them to purchase a stamp for the
promisory note. The man, however; made an excuse to
leave him for a short time, and did not return ; and, °ngoing back to the public-house, he found that the others
had decamped with his money. Oh Thursday, two of the,
detective police who had received information , succedeJa
in capturing the three offenders. In the house of one u'
them was found a gold watch and £lO. The comPlain-
ants wife had strongly advised him not to advance the
money. Two of the prisoners are said to be beer-house
keepers. They were committed for trial at the sessions'
One of them had the effrontery to request the watch
money to be delivered up to his wife. Mr. Rushton.,
No, they shall go to the complainant as a dividend for the
loss he has sustained. I cannot order it, but, at the trial,
I shall make application to that effect.—The prosecut°l;
thanked,Mr. Rushton for his kindness,-and the prisoner'
were sent to gaol.