The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-02-20 00:00:00

DOCK COMMITTEE.-THURSDAY

Mr. Hartley was allowed to run the Coburg Dock dry
for two tides, to enable him to make some repairs. The
Marine Surveyor reported that, on the 11th instant, the
Magazines life-boat proceeded, in tow of the Mona and
Victoria tug-boats, to the assistance of a vessel called the
Franconia, which was in distress at the Great Burbo
Bank, near the Formby Light-ship ; the Liverpool life-
boat also came up soon afterwards; the passengers, 155
in number, were transferred to the tug-boats without the
least accident, although there was a heavy sea running at
the time, and the promptitude and exertions of the life-
boat crews on the occasion were extremely praiseworthy.
There were as many as 40 persons, besides a crew of
eleven men, at one time in one of the life-boats.
A letter was read from Mr. W. Ashley, Chairman of
the Steam Tug Company, offering to the Dock Trust the
use of a first-class steamer, to be in readiness to tt ke out
any life-boat whenever practicable for saving life when a
signal of distress was made; she would also remain as
near as possible to the vessel requiring her assistance to
receive persons saved; the charge for such service to be
£l,OOO per annum, or they might take the same for an
annual payment of £s^o per annum, and £25 per trip
when they were called on to go out. When such service
was attended with injury, the compensation to be deter-
mined by the chairman of the Dock Trust and the chair-
man of the Steam Tug Company, and another person ap-
pointed by both parties.
Mr. RIPLEY thought it would be better to have one of
their own, constructed of iron, which would be more effi-
cient than any that could be supplied to them.
After some conversation the matter was referred.
A letter was read from Mr. C. Lawrence, calling the
attention of the committee to the expediency of appro-
priating a few quay berths in the King's Dock, opposite
the railway entrance, at Wapping, for ships having goods
on board per railway, or for the convenience of shipping
goods by railway immediately on arrival ; the adoption of
such a plan would, it was thought, be advantageous to the
commerce of the port. The subject was referred to the
Harbour Masters' Committee.

A letter was read from parties who were in the habit of
crossing the river in the ferry-boats, complaining of the
great want of accommodation and civility shown by the
persons at the north and south gates of George's Dock
when the gates were open, which often occurred about
the time of the boats starting, thereby causing great dis-
appointment and delay. Referred to the Harbour Mas-
ters' Committee.

A letter from Messrs. Wm. Dixon and Co.. complain-
ing of partiality in the disposal of quay berths, for ships
at the Canning Dock, was referred to the Harbour Mas-
ter's Committee.

DOCK ACCOUNTS.
The CHAIRMAN said that as some statements had been
made by members of the committee as to the amount of
the income and expenditure of the Dock Trust, he had
requested the treasurer to draw up a correct statement for
their satisfaction. and also for the information of the pub.
lie, for he fell convinced Ghat the me,ro tlac wwupnto wcre
examined the more satisfied would parties be.
The Secretary then read the following statement :
Total income from the 25th Dec., 1842, to the 24th Dec.,
1843, £221,877 10s. Id. Expenditure, exclusive of new
works :
General repairs at the different docks £24,942 3 10
Interest on old and new debt . . 66,172 14 11
An n uities .
Officers of the establishment, police and
dock gatemen
Lighthouses
Floating Light vessels
Telegraphs
Life-boats.....
Buoys
Lamps and lighting ..
Rent .
Law and parliamentary expenses
Miscellaneous disbursements .

28,744 3 4
2,242 19 5
6,904 7 4
1,673 14 2
1,527 12 4
1,235 7 11
2,111 13 0
172 0 0
2,802 11 II
1,711 4 7

Tot al .. .. .
Surplus . ..

..Z140,638 18 9
. 81,238 11 4

£221,877 10 I

-----
New works within the year £132,868 10 1
Property purchased do 54.916 2 0
Amount brought

Total expenditure .. ..... £328,423 10 10

The CHAIRMAN said the treasurer was in attendance,
to answer any question the committee might wish to ask
on the subject.
Mr. Hour suggested that tho document should lie on
the table for the consideration of the members.
The TREASURER said the accounts bad been prepared
with such great care that he had no doubt the more they
were investigated the more satisfied would parties be with
their accuracy.
Mr. RIPLEY thought it was hardly fair it should go forth
to the public that they bad a constantly increasing revenue
of £20,000 or £30,000 a-year. The Dock Trust might be
considered something like a mercantile body, and subject
to fluctuations. Although they were now gaining, a season
might come when they might have a heavy loss, We had
reason to believe, during the present year, there would be
400,000 less bales of cotton than last year ; and as nearly
one-half of the revenue of the trust was derived from that
source--

The CHAIRMAN interposed, and observed that he could
not permit the mere speculative opinion of a member to go
forth in opposition to a statement founded in fact.
Mr. BOLD moved that the document be recorded on the
proceedings of the committee.

Mr. ROYDEN seconded the motion, which was unani-
mously adopted.

The Secretary then rend the following statement :
Amount expended on New Works, scc., for Act 4 Vic.,
to 12th February, 1844 :
Saltbouse Dock
Albert Dock and Canning Half-tide Dock 96,567 3 IL
River Wall 16,809 0 6
Warchvurscs
Central Works, to be divided amongst )
the foregoing 47,283 17 10
Transit Sheds
Canning Graving Docks
Clarence ditto

Purchase of Property..

£297,226 18 5
239,045 1 7

Total .

£536,272 0 0

---
Amount borrowed under Act 4 Vic. .... £430.940 12 7
Amount yet to be borrowed . 450,059 7 5

Total.

£884,000 0 0

This was also ordered to be recorded, and the commit-
tee adjourned.

A fair correspondent informs us, that we should not be
doing our duty to that class of our readers of which she
forms one, if we did not intimate to them the splendid
treat which an examination of the Parisian Artificial
Warehouse, opened in the Upper Arcade, by Mrs.,
Givan, would afford them.

ADULTERATION OF TOBACCO.—Henry Laffer, talacco
manufacturer, of this town, appeared at the Police—court
on Tuesday, to answer a complaint preferred against him
by the excise, for having, on the 12th of last month,
mixed sugar in the manufacture of his tobacco. The de-
fendant was fined in the full penalty of £3OO, and 1501 b.
weight of the tobacco was condemned.

ACCIDENT AT THE DOCKS.—On Tuesday last, Patrick
Casey, a labourer at the docks, was knocked dow,r) by the
handle of a winch, while engaged in discharging the cargo
of the Nimrod, lying in Waterloo Dock. 'de remained
insensible for a short time, but afterwa;•da got up and
went home to his lodgings in Waterlo'o.road, where he
complained of injury having been d0.",,e to his head. He
was put to bed, but died about two o'clock on the follow-
ing morning morning. The catr,e of death was effusion
of blood on the brain, from the injury he had
received.