The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-23 00:00:00

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LOCAL MEETINGS.

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
THE DOCK BILL.
A special meeting of the Town Council was held yes-
terday in the Council Chamber, at the Town-hall, for the
purpose of agreeing to the Dock Bill, as now passed by a
Committee of the House of Commons.
At eleven o'clock, there being a full Council present,
the MAYOR (T. B. Horsfall, Esq.) took the chair, and
having explained the object of the meeting,
Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE said it would only be necessary
for 'him to occupy the attention of the Council for a very
short time, inrsmuch as the bill came back to the Council
in substance as it went from them the alterations were
so slight that he had no doubt that they would at once ap-
prove of the measure. There were some clauses intro-
duCed at the instance of the admiralty, but as those were
the same as were generally introduced in all bills of that
description, and as they did not affect its principle, they
would not require any observation whatever on the part of
the Council. The rating clause, however, was a new
clause, one which the Council, as trustees of the dock
estate, gave instructions to have inserted in the bill, and,
as he (Mr. Bramley-Moore), then stated, that he never
entertained any serious apprehensions of difficulty in pro-
cuiing the insertion of that clause, so it had turned out.
The clause had been introduced, and he had no doubt it
would be satisfactory to the Council, but however accept-
able and desirable might be to the town, it did not
escape opposition. Certain parties had opposed the
clause on, the ground that it was a tax on the commerce
of the Mersey, although that same party had a bill before
parliament to enable them to impose rates upon commerce
which they have not now the power to do. He might,
however, just observe, that from the Birkenhead Dock
Bills every clause had been expunged which at all
affected the Liverpool Docks, so that with respect to that
measure matters remained remained just as they were at
present, and with regard to the bill then before the Com-
mittee he thought there was no alteration, (but he wished
the Town-clerk's opinion on the object) which it was
necessary for him to call the attention of the Council to
except the freight clause.
The TOWN-CLEAK.—Exactly so.
Mr. BRAMIEY-MOORE proceeded to observe that as
the bill went from the Council it enabled the Dock Com-
mittee to dispose of goods in the Albert Dock Ware-
houses for the payment of freight at the expiration of 30
days—that was the state in which the bill went before the
Parliament, but Parliament thought that too little, and
the period was finally changed to 90 days. On this sub-
ject he understood some parties were not quite satisfied
with the proceedings of the deputation : and it had been
said by some of them that they had not used due diligence
to secure the passing of that clause as it went from the
Council. He however begged to assure the Council that
every diligence bad been used by the members of the
deputation, and the question was pushed as far as it was
possible to push it without endangering the security of
the clause altogether. He believed many of the commit-
teehad such serious difficulties on the subject, and they
thought the powers so sought by it were so extraordinary,
that if if had been pushed any further they would have
lost the clause altogether. and therefore have lost the im-
portant benefit it was calculated to confer upon the port.
He wished to impress upon the Council the danger and
risk which existed of having the clause expunged altoge-
thei if the matter was again mooted in Parliament—for
he could assure them it was most imminent.; and he
would further remind the Council that on the first of
Nay there were in the Albert Dock Warehouses no less
than £llO,OOO worth of goods, which that bill would
have the effect of releasing immediately, by enabling them
to sell unless the freight was paid—the effect of which
would be to enableship-owners to pay their tradesmen's bills,
and thus confer very great advantages on the town at large.
Mr. Alderman TURNER inquired whether the clause
was already in operation ?
Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE said it would come into opera-
tion immediately after the bill had passed, and on giving
ten days' notice, the property could be sold. There was
one other subject to which, with their permission, be
would allude, and that was the building of the fort. That
was simply postponed until the result of that act of par-
liament was known. The Board of Ordnance had sus-
pended their operations in order to ascertain whether it
might or might not be necessary to select a new site for
the intended fort. The speaker then proceeded to read
a letter from the chairman of the Shipowners' Associa-
tion (Mr. J. Lockett), approving of the course pursued
with respect to the clause to which he bad alluded, and he
concluded ity observing, that so far as he could ascertain
their feelings, every party seemed to approve of the 90
days. Before resuming his seat, however, he trusted the
Council would permit him to pay a compliment to the
members for their great exertions in behalf of their con-
stituents. He was at a loss for words to express the
approbation they deserved for the great zeal, talent, and
untiring industry displayed by the honourable Members
for this borough, in behalf of their constituents.—(Hear,
hear.)
Mr. AIKIN said he merely rose for the purpose of mak-
ing a few remarks on the observations which had fallen
from the CI airman of the Dock Committee, on the sub-
ject of the extension of the time from thirty to ninety
pays. It was quite clear to his (Mr. Aikin's) mind that
he thought ninety days far more preferable than thirty,
and that accounted for the change in the clause, because
where there was a foregone conclusion in a man's mind on
a particular subject, he was not very likely to take any
pains to obtain the insertion of a clause contrary to his

. . .
liberately come to the conclusion that thirty days and not
ninety should be introduced into the clause. (Hear.)
The MAYOR said lie thought it only right to inform
Mr. Aikin that, previous to his entering the room, Mr.
Bramley-Moore had stated to the Council that every
effort had been used to obtain the clause so agreed upon
by the Council.
Mr. Aticix felt obliged to the Mayor for his informa-
tion, but at at the same time he begged to state that he
differed. in toto from the chairman of the Dock Committee
on that subject. He should like to know in what those
efforts consisted—he wished to know whether counsel had
been instructed on the subject, and whether the evidence
of parties like himself, (Mr. Aikin,) had been ten-
dered to the committee of the house. (Hear, hear.) He
bad reason to know, from one member of the committee,
and a very influential member too, that if proper exertions
had been used thirty days would have been inserted in-
stead of ninety, because the great opposition was not to the
number of days, but the principle. The chairman of the
Dock Committee had produced a letter, to sustain his
views from the British Shipowners' Association, but he
begged to say that all foreign vessels ought to have the
same opportunity of recovering their freight as well as
British. They ought to be placed in the position of reco-
vering their freight the moment it was due—as soon as it
passed the King's beam ; and the merchant who could not
pay it ought to be placed in the position of a person who
could not meet his engagements. He hoped the subject
would be renewed in the House of Lords, because the
more the principle was discussed the better • and even if
the clause was thrown out of the present bill, he felt as-
sured its justice would become so apparent that, before
long, a general law on the subject would be passed by the
legislature. He, however, felt convinced that if strenuous
efforts had been used the clause, as agreed to by the
council, would have passed the committee.
Mr. MANN said, as one of the deputation on the bill in
London, he could assure the Council that every effort had
been used to obtain the claim as agreed upon in council,
but the deputation heard, on all hands, that if the
thirty days were pressed, it would be the means of endan-
gering the clause altogether. The Council ought to bear
in mind that the powers sought by that clause were most
extraordinary ; quite contrary to the general law of the
land, and, therefore, if the subject had been much can-
vassed, there was every reason to suppose that it would
have been lost. It should also be borne in mind that it
was confined to one dock in Liverpool, and he (Mr. Mann)
-was quite sure that the shipowners themselves would be
averse to the loss of the clause, even as it now stands.
Mr. Nicol, impressed upon the Council that the clause,
as it now stands, did not alter the nature of the contract
entered into between the shipowner and the holder of
goods. What the clause did was to give additional powers
to the Dock Committee for the benefit of the shipowner ;
and this power only applied to goods in the Albert Dock
warehouses ; but it did not in the slightest degree affect the
interests of those who bad goods in private warehouses.
So far as he (Mr. Nicol) could ascertain, there was but one
opinion amongst the members of the committee--that it
would be a monstrous power to sell a man's goods at the
end of thirty days for the payment of freight, seeing that,
according to the contract entered into with the shipper, he
might have sixty days to pay it.
Mr. PARKER asked whether the subject was discussed
before the Council at all.
Mr. Nicol, replied that he was not present at the time
and could not tell.
Mr. BATHBONE complained that the ship-owners of
Liverpool had taken upon themselves to settle this ques-
tion, whereas they formed a very small minority in com-
parison with foreigners. He was also of opinion that the
evidence Of such experienced men as Mr. Aikin should
have been given before the Committee.
Mr. Nicol, said foreign ship-owners were placed in no
more difficult position by that bill than they were at
present.
The Council then resolved itself into a Committee on
the Bill.
Mr. AMIN then again addressed the Council on the
subject of the clause, contending that the effect of the
introduction of 90 days instead of 30 would be injurious.
He said that on one cargo of rice, had he been compelled
to wait three months, as under the bill, he should have had
the loss to himself, which would have been net less than
£7OO. After repeating his arguments in support of the
30 days clause with considerable energy and eloquence,
he concluded by observing that as the Council had twice
come to the conclusion that the 30 days should be
adopted it was the duty of those who went to London to
do all in their power to have the clause carried.
Mr. BOOKER said he had hoped to see the clause as
agreed upon by the Council, inserted in the bill, as he
considered it the most important part of the measure.
The Council were no doubt aware that a bill of lading,
if effected in this country, was generally upon a proper
stamp, in order to render it legal, and therefore he held
that Mr. Aikin had stated the truth when he said that
the man who did not pay his freight, ought to be consi-
dered as unable to meet his engagements. Why should
not a shipowner possess the same privileges as others ?
If the merchant did not pay the freight upon goods con-
signed to him, they had the power to put them into their
own warehouses if they thought proper, but the moment
they were placed in the Albert warehouses they were
sealed up for 90 days. He very much mistook the cha-
racter of the Council if they would sanction such a pro-
ceeding.
Mr. SHAND said the object of the clause was merely to
meet a difficulty which attached to the Albert Dock only.
It did not affect other freights at all. They were finding
fault with the deputation who went to London very un-

-`44\

necessarily, for it was, in fact, findiuglault with them for
not doing what it was impossible for them to do.
Mr. S. IlausE asked whether the 48th clause would
affect all future warehouses ?
Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE.—Yes.
Mr. TYRER.—But only dock warehouses—rat those
erected by private parties. He then event on to -state that
had evidence been given respecting the clause, he had no
doubt it would have been thrown out altogether, and
though the shipowner would have preferred the thirty
days clause, they would rather have ninety than none at
all.
Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE then replied, contending that
the deputation had done all that could reasonably be
required of them on the subject. It had been said that
they would not use their endeavours to have the rating
clause inserted in the bill; yet, notwithstanding, the
rating clause was inserted, and with respect to the clause
in question, those efforts had been used which to the
deputation appeared most likely to forward the objects the
Council had in view. If the Council were to send the
bill back again, he felt sure it would endanger the clause
altogether, and he believed, as it now stood, it would meet
with Nary general approval in the town.
The MAYOR then put it to the Council whether they
approved of the bill.
Mr. AtioN said he was afraid there -would be oppo-
sition to it before the House of Lords.
Mr.IIOORE said a clause had been handed to the depu-
tation on behalf of the parish 'authorities, requiring the
insertion of a clause compelling the Dock Committee to
make good any deficiencies of assessment which might
arise from pulling down property, but the clause did not
come to hand until just at the close of the labours of the
committee, and too late to take so important a subject
into consideration.
The question was put and carried.
Mr. PARKER then rose and attempted to address the
Council, but was prevented by the MAYOR, who said the
subject was at an end.

THE ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN.
The MAYOR read the following answer to the address
to her Majesty :
" To the worshipful the Mayor of Liverpool.
" SIR,—I have had the honour to lay before the Queen
the loyal and dutiful address of the mayor, aldermen, and
councillors of Liverpool, expressive of their attachment to
her Majesty's person and crown, and of their determina-
tion to support, by all means in their power, the constitu-
tional monarchy of England and its free institutions, and
I have the pleasure to inform you that this address was
very graciously received by her Majesty.
I am commanded to convey to you her Majesty's grati-
fication, and entire satisfaction at this expression of
loyalty and affection from a body so identified with the
great commercial interests of the empire as the Corpora-
tion of Liverpool.
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
" Your obedient servant,
" G. •GREY."
The reply was ordered, on the motion of Mr. Tinne, to
be recorded, and the Council broke up.

WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.—On Wednesday there was
a very full attendance. The business possessed very few
features of general interest. It appeared that there are
514 inmates in the house, of whom 38 are in the fever
hospital. Mr. Appleby called attention to the necessity
of retrenching the expenses, and it was agreed that the
time had arrived when some diminution of the weekly
expenditure might with propriety be made. One of the
assistant relieving officers was ordered to be discharged,
and some of the able-bodied women, who can earn a live-
lihood as servants, are to be permitted to leave the house.

THE LIVERPOOL HIDE AND SKIN MARKET .ASSOCIA-
TION.-A meeting of this association was held at the
Caledonian Hotel, Duke-street, on Tuesday evening, to
consider the propriety of removing from office seven mem-
bers of the committee of management who had become
objectionable to the general body of the proprietors. Mr.
James Wilson presided. The meeting was called by ten
proprietors, under a power contained in the deed of settle-
ment. An objection to the legality of the meeting was
taken by Mr. Townsend, solicitor, but the chairman de-
claring it not worth a " rush," the meeting proceeded to
vote out the seven objectionable members of the commit-
tee, and to elect the following gentlemen in their places,
namely, Messrs. J. B. Farrall, Samuel Butterworth, James
Brandon, John Grindley, Edward Clough, John Outram,
and Samuel Farmer.
SELECT VESTRY.-The usual fortnightly meeting of
this body was held on Tuesday, the Rev. Rector Brooks
in the chair. After the usual routine business, it was
resolved that in future quorum relief should be adminis-
tered to paupers at the work-house, and not at the parish
offices. Mr. Dowling having sent in a report from Super-
intendent Riding to the effect, that " the Night Asylum
in Soho-street was a refuge for thieves and prostitutes-
that the disgusting language they were in the constant
habit of making use of was most offensive to the inhabi-
tants of the neighbourhood-that on Sunday evening men
and women were rolling on the ground under the arched
entrance in disgusting attitudes-that this nuisance was
principally observable upon the Sabbath, and that the
felonies in the neighbourhood, caused most probably by
the inmates of the asylum, were numerous," Mr. Earle
moved that, " considering the asylum to be a resort for
thieves and and vagabonds, the vestry should no longer
pay any money for its support." The resolution, having
been seconded, was passed. There was no other business
of importance.
BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.-An adjourned meet-
ing was held on Tuesday, Mr. Watson in the chair, for
11Alf nrcinsSr no
pnaTk'ECNZT, 1f225h1 rt. I's fMawr
mar-
ket, 1£571 : slaughter-house, £194 ls. 9d. • improvement.
rate, £3,269 3s. 3d. ; lighting, &c., rate, 13,114 9s. Bd. ;
rent account, £332 9s. ; new street account, £96 13s. Qd. ;
interest, £1,265 19s. 4d. ; Woodside ferry, £2,493 Ils.
sd. ; general bond account, £2,924 6s. 10d. ; total,
£18,714 Bs. Bd. Expenditure-law and parliamentary,-
Charges, £3,479 9s. 6d.; town-clerk's establishment,
£3Bl 4s. 3d. ; treasurer's ditto, £707 lls. Bd. ; surveyor's
ditto, £449 Bs. 7d. ; Town-hall ditto, £142 Os. ld. •, park
formation, £368 10s. sd. •, park establishment, £792 lls.
2d. • market ditto, £516 14s. Ild. ; slaughter houses,
£lOl 10s. 4d. ; highways, £938115. 7d. ; night-soil, £412
13s. sd. ; lighting and watching, £2,285 ss. Ord. ; scaven-
gers, &c., £461; interest paid, £854 6s. Bd. ; North and
South Wales Bank, £3,249 4s. Bd. ; dock commissioners,
£2,320 ; Heywood's £330 10s. ; Milligan's deficiency,
£859 ss. 41d. ; balance in the treasurer's hands, £64115. ;
total, £18,714 Bs. Bd. After a desultory conversation,
Mr. Nicholls inquired whether the accounts showed Reed's
deficiency ? Mr. Wilcox replied that they did not, as he
had only put down the actual receipts as paid to the trea-
surer, but the deficiency appeared in the market books;
as to Milligan's deficiency, he had stated that after de-
ducting two month's salary due to him. The accounts
were then passed upon the motion of Mr. Hicklin, who
expressed a hope that there would not be any necessity for
the expenditure of such large sums of money in legal and
parliamentary proceedings.

RAILWAY AFFAIRS.
-.-
Dr. Wardlaw's chapel was sold on Friday to the Edin-
burgh Railway Company. The sum obtained is said to
be above £12,000.
The directors of the Newcastle and Carlisle railway are
empowered to treat with either the Caledonian or the
York and Newcastle railways respecting a lease of their
line.
At the end of 1845, it appears that 2441 miles of rail-
way were available to the public ; 595 miles were opened
in 1846, and 780 miles in 1847—making the whole extent
of railway complete, at the end of 1847, 3816 miles ; of
which 3157 are in England, 440 in Scotland, and 219 in
Ireland.
BANQUET TO MR. ROBERT STEPHENSON.—A grand
banquet was given to Mr. Robert Stephenson, the emi-
nent engineer, at Conway, on Wednesday, in celebration
of the erection of the tubular bridge. The Hon. E. Lloyd
Mostyn, M.P., presided. Upwards of one hundred
gentlemen were assembled.
From official returns it appears that the amount of traf-
fic for the lapt week, on 3,671 miles of railway, was
£196,953, thus accounted for :—£103,356 for the convey-
ance of passengers only, £48,358 for the carriage of goods,
and a remainder of £45,239 for passengers and goods to-
gether, not respectively apportioned ; being an increase
of £30,306 over the corresponding week of last year, when
the mileage was 2,845. The average earnings per mile
last week were £53, whilst in 1847 they were £5B.
THE LATE ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN.—
The adjourned inquest on Mr. Arthur Augustus Lea was
resumed at Swindon, on Wednesday, and terminated in
a verdict of manslaughter against James Weybury, Wm.
"Willoughby, and George Pargetter. The latter, who is a
policeman, was not included in the verdict returned by
the Shrivenham jury. We regret to add that, on Thurs-
day, Captain Blair, who suffered so severely from the
accident, expired from his injuries.
RAILWAY FINANCES.—The Parliamentary barristers
have adopted a very salutary regulation for compelling
companies to be honest—by determining to reauire pay-
ment of their arrears before accepting new business. We
understand this was directed against the Great Western
and South-Eastern Companies ; the former being up-
wards of £20,000 in debt to Mr. Talbot and Mr. Austin !
They paid their debts and withdrew their retainers !
The loss will be more to them than to the counsel, who
had the courage to inculcate honesty of principle and
suavity of demeanour. Mr. Talbot is free from irksome
trammels, and the Company have accomplished their wish
of shaking him off. Both these Companies have taken
up with common-law barristers, who, of course, over-
ruled the resolution we have referred to.—Railway Re-
cord.