The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-05-05 00:00:00

DOCK COMMITTEE.

Mr. SANDS moved, and Mr. Alderman EVANS seconded,
the confirmation of the proceedings of the Dock Committee.
Mr. A. SMITH said a rumour had been current in the
town that a deputation from the warehouse owners kad
waited upon the fire-oftices in London, and had ascertained
from them that they had a serious objection to the situatio
of the new warehouses round Albert Dock, and they ha°
stated that nothing should induce them to insure propertd
there. He should be glad to hear from the Chairman of thY
Dock Committee whether there was any foundation, or note
for the report.

Mr. SANDS, in reply, said that no doubt such reports had
been in circulation, but at the same time he had very grave
doubts of the fact. It so happened that he (Mr. S.) was in
London, last week, upon dock affairs, and he called upon Sir
John Hall, to ask him as to the truth of the statement, and
he explained the whole of it very satisfactorily. He (Mr.
Sands) believed there would be no difficulty whatever in in-
suring the dock warehouses, and that at a very low rate.
Mr. A. Ssturll said he asked the question because it was
desirable that the fact should be ascertained beyond a doubt,
before the Dock Committee proceeded any further.
Mr. SANDS.—There is not the shadow of a shade of doubt
about it.

The MAYOR. thought Mr. Smith's question was whether
the chairman of the Dock Committee could give a contra-
diction to the statement.

Mr. SANDS, in continuation, said he could only state to
the council what Sir John Hall had told him. Sir John Hall
was the superintendent of the St. Katharine's Docks, round
which warehouses were built as they were proposed to be
built upon the margin of Albert Dock. A difficulty arose,
as he 111 r. Sands) understood, as to the insurance on St.
Katharine's warehouses, with the gentleman who made—
Mr. A. SMITH.-1 was not speaking of London, but of
Liverpool,

!qr. SANDS.—But I am speaking of warehouses which
will be precisely the same.
The MAYOR.—You were speaking of matters in London,
whilst NI r. Smith referred to the warehouses in Liverpool.
Mr. SANDS, in continuation, said the matter originated in
this way. The Dock Committee were about to build ware-
houses like those found St. Katharine's Docks, and it was
stated that the offices in London would not insure in St.
Katharine's—consequently they would not insure in those
of Liverpool. He (Mr. Sands) applied to Sir John Hall to
know whether this was the fact, and he stated to him the
way in which the report originated. The St. Katharine's
Company had £55,000 insured upon their warehouses with
one office in London; the office requested that it should be
reduced by the amount of £5,000, namely, to £50,000.
Sir John Hall consequently called upon them, and said,
" All or none : you shall either take the whole or none."
The office, having passed a resolution, adhered to it,
thinking it most likely that the company would come to
terms, but they did not. Sir John Hall applied immedi-
ately to another office, a great proportion of whose direc-
tors were interested in the West India Docks; of course,
these being opposition docks, if it had been contrary to
their usual practice, they would have been indisposed to
accept the offer ; but instead of that, they accepted the whole
£55,000 at once, and since then there had been no difficulty
whatever. The £55,000 was accepted, one portion at 2s.
per cent., and the other at 35., making an average of 2s. 6d.
Mr. PLATT confirmed the chairman of the Dock Com-
mittee.

The MAYOR said that still Mr. Sands had not given a po-.
iitive answer to the question. The question was, whether
the Dock Committee had received information as to any ob-
jection having been made by the insurance offices in Londo❑
as applied to the warehouses round Albert Dock, in Liver-
pool ?

Mr. SANDS.—Certainly not ; and these being similar
cases, I infer we shall have no difficulty whatever.
Mr. Alderman EVANS said that if Mr. Smith had had the
inform ition which was very easily to be obtained in Liverpool,
he would never have put this question. The chairman of the
Dock Committee was wrong in his statement that the Dock
Committee were building their warehouses exactly in the way
that St. Katharine's warehouses were built. The St. Katha-
rine's warehouses were of wood ; they were all ignitable ;
whilst those of the Dock Committee would be as nearly as
anything could be fireproof ; and so far from havin any
difficulty with any office upon insurance, he (Mr. Evans)g be-
lieved there would be little or no insurance at all required to
be effected in the dock warehouses, they would be so safe.
Mr. A. SMITH did not think any proper reply had been
given to his question.
Mr. SANDS.—It is impossible to give a better, for the
warehouses are not yet built; consequently we are not in a
position to ask the offices whether they will insure or not.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said be should be very glad on the
part of the Liverpool Fire Insurance Company, with which
he was connected, to insure the warehouses—at what reduced
premium he did not know, but he should think it would 1* a
low one.

Mr. A. SMITH eaid that he bad received what he stated
from one of the deputation which waited upon the offices in
London, who had told him they would not insure property
in these warehouses. The rumour being afloat, he thought
it was the duty of the Dock Committee to make themselves
acquainted with the fact, before they proceeded any further.
Mr. O. H. LAWRENCE.—I can only state further, that
the Liverpool office were glad to hor the report, and will be
glad to insure.

Mr. N top', said no doubt such a report was brought from
London by the warehouse deputation, and that the agent for
the Sun office, Mr. Ford (we believe), had given them to un-
derstand that the London offices would not insure. But
when it was ascertained that the gentlemen belonging to the
Sun would not insure, what difference could it make to the
Dock Committee in the erection of the warehouses ? They
were to be erected as nearly as possible fireproof; and he
(Mr. Nicol) would join Mr. George Ilall Lawrence in saying.
that the Liverpool office would be glad to insure all the pro-
perty whether the London offices would or not.
The proceedings were then confirmed.