The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-04-01 00:00:00

THE DOCK NEGOCIATIONS

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE DOCK TRUST
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

At a special meeting of the Dock Committee, held yes-
terday, at one o'clock, Thomas Li,tledale, Esq., in the
chair, the following report was read :
" Report to the Liverpool Dock Committee by Mr.
Bold, the Chairman of the Sub-committee for Parliamen-
tary Purposes, and Mr. Littledale, the Chairman of the
General Committee, of their proceedings with reference
to a negotiation with the dock authorities of Birkenhead.

" We beg to leave to report that, pursuant to the reso-
lution of your Parliamentary Sub-committee, of the 18th
instant, for opening, during the interval allowed for that
and other purposes by the Committee of the House of
Commons on the Liverpool Dock Bills, a communication
with the Dock Trustees and Dock Company of Birken-
head, for uniting the docks on both sides of the Mersey
under one management, we addressed the following letter
to the Baron Goldsmid, the Chairman of the Birkenhead
Dock Company, and to whichwealsoappend his reply :

" Liverpool, 'March 19, 1851.
Strt,—You are probably aware of the proceedings
before a committee of the House of Commons, last
week, upon the Liverpool Dock Bill, and also upon
another bill promoted by certain-dock ratepayers, with a
view of effecting some alteration in the constitution of
the Managing Committee of the docks; and that those
proceedings, after two days' sitting, were adjourned, with
a recommendation from the committee that the differ-
ences at issue before them, if possible, be adjusted here.
A suggestion was at the same time made by an influential
member of that committee, and, we have reason to be-
lieve was also entertained by the other members, that the
adjournment would afford a desirable opportunity for
ascertaining whether an arrangement might not be effected
for uniting under one management all the interests at
present in conflict on the opposite sides of the Mersey,
and all parties then present considering that suggestion
very important, the adjournment was made longer than
was first proposed, and now extends to the 3d April next.
And in deference to that suggestion, the Parliamentary
Sub-committee of the Liverpool Docks, of which I am
chairman, subject, in all things, to the approval of the
General Committee, by which they are authorized, are
now ready, on their part, to act upon such suggestions,
by receiving and considering, in a fair and liberal spirit,
any proposal with a view to negociation which the Dock
Bondholders and Dock Company of Birkenhead may be
willing to submit to them ; and am requested to make
this communication, both to yourself and Mr. Bailey,
without delay. lam also the more inclined to address
you now by information which has just reached me that a
meeting of leading members of the above bodies is to
take place in London on Friday next, which will afford a
favourable opportunity for the firsteonsideration, on their
part, of this subject ; and I need hardly add, that it is
very desirable that whatever is done should be done
quickly, as the interval allowed us by the committee of
the House is fast running on.
" I have the honour to be, sir, respectfully yours,
(Signed) THOMAS BOLD.
" The Baron Goldsmid, St. John's Wood, London.' "

" Sir, I have had the honour of receiving your letter
of the 19th instant, with an intimation that it is desirable
to consider whether an arrangement can be effected for
uniting under one management the docks an either side of
the Mersey.

" ' I beg to say that we shall have much pleasure in
conferring with you on the subject, and will meet you for
that purpose on Tuesday morn next, at ten o'clock, at the
British Hotel, Cockspur-street, or at any other place in
London which may be more convenient for you.
"'`'T have the honour, &c.,

" I. L.•GOLDTSUID

' London, 21st March.' "

" We also addressed at the same time a precisely simi-
lar letter to Joseph Bailey, Esq., M.P., the chairman of
the Birkenhead Dock Trustees, who replied thereto ex-
actly to the same effect as Baron Goldsmid had done.
" We thereupon proceeded to London, accompanied by
the, Dock Solicitor and Mr. John Stewart, and, on the
25th March, met at the British Hotel, the Baron Gold-
smid, Mr. Bailey, and Mr. John Laird representing re-
spectively the above-mentioned two Birkenhead bodies,
and accompanied by Mr. Stephens and Mr—Hull, their
respective solicitors.

"After a carefully-expressed understanding on both
sides, that every communication between any of the per-
sons present, or consequent on their meeting, must be
considered aswholly without prejudice, and as preliminary
only, and would be in no way binding upon either party
until approved of, on the one part by the Dock Committee
and Dock Trustees of Liverpool, and, on the other part,
by the Dock Trustees and Dock Company of Birkenhead,
and, also, after a lengthened discussion as to which party
should take the initiative, we proposed that the Liverpool
Dock Trustees should take over the whole property,
rights, and credits of the Birkenhead Dock Trustees and
Birkenhead Dock Company, at the amounts expended and
and invested by them respe;tively, but that such consi-
deration money should be payable in bonds of the Liver-
pool Dock Trustees, at twenty-five years' date, without
any interest for three years, and afterwards bearing inte-
rest, for ten years at £2 per cent., for seven years at
£2los. per cent., and for the remaining five years at £3
per cent., and subject, as to the whole arrangement, to
the approbation of Parliament being obtained, and to the
repeal of all the Birkenhead Dock acts, except as respects
such powers and privileges as it might be desirable for the
Liverpool Dock Trustees to retain.
"After some further discussion and explanation, but
which gave us no reason to expect that the offer would be
entertained, we retired, on the understanding that we
should receive a formal answer in the course of the fol-

lowing day, and we did receive, at about th

from Mr. Bailey, and at about' eight o'clock, from tl
Baron Goldsniid, on the 26th instant, the followir

letters

" 26, Belgrave-square, 26th March, 18M.
" SlR,—Sinee the interview which we bad yesterday,
I have examined the proposal made by you, that the pro-
perty under the control of the Trustees of the Birkenhead
Docks should be handed over to the Liverpool Dock
Trustees, in exchange for their Bonds at par, but bearing
no interest for the first three years, two per cent. for the
next ten years, two-and-a-half per cent. for the following
seven years, and_three per cent. for the final seven years.

" Under all circumstances, I find, that I, as Chairman
of the Trustees, cannot recommend the Bondholders to
accept these terms.

" I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient
servant, (Signed.) " JOSEPII BAILEY.' "

" Thomas Bold, Esq.' "
" ' Birkenhead Dock Company, 30, B

ford-ro

BIRKENHEAD DOCK CO

" Sir,—l have this day submitted to the Board of
Directors of this Company the proposal which was made
to me yesterday by the Parliamentary Committee of the

Liverpool Dock Trust, for an_ array

lent between that

umay and this Company, and the Bit
and I beg leave to inform you that the
mously resolved that the terms proposed are not such as

they can entertain

I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient
lt, (Signed,) ISAAC L. GOLDSMID,
" Chairman of the Birkenhead Dock Company.

Dock Solicitoar and Mr. Stewart, coT
tion to be thereby terminated, rem._ _.
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