The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-10-29 00:00:00

DOCK COMMITTEE.-THURSDAY

Present—Messrs. Littledale (chairman), Sandbach, Steele,
Fisher, Robinson, Hall, Jones, Lockett, Rankin, Horsfall,
Tobin, Kendall, Bold, and Holt.
The sub-committee reported on the conduct of the life-boat
crew, in reterence to the wreck of the ship Providence. The
inquiry had occupied their attention for five hours, and nume-
rous witnesses were examined ; amongst these were the master
of •the steam-tug, the crew of the life-boat, Parry, the pilot,
Mr. Cook, superintendent of pilots, and the master and mate
of the Providence. The conclusions to which the sub-com-
mittee arrived were-1. As regards the crew, they did not give
up the attempt to reach the ship until they felt themselves in
great danger of being washed out of the boat, but not from a
feeling of cowardice. 2. The tow-rope was let go on board the
steamer, and not cut. 3. As regards the boats, the evidence
goes to show that they are the most efficient for the service.—
Mr. Lockett thought the men bad done their best under the
circumstances, seeing that their lives were placed in the great-
est jeopardy.—lt was stated that since the year 1843 the life-
boat had gone out to 93 vessels, ;and saved 245 lives.--Mr. Ro-
binson acquitted the life-boat crew of any improper conduct,
but thought the steam-tug might have approached nearer the
vessel.—Mr. Fisher said it ought to be borne in mind that the
men were in the greatest danger, and twelve lives might have
been lost without any of those on the wreck being saved.—Mr.
Jones, who was referred to for his opinion as to the life-boats,
said they were efficient for the required purposes ; and as to
the proposition that they ought to be on the self-baling princi-
ple, its adoption would be most mischievous and foolish.—Mr.
'robin had a strong opinion that the crew of the life-boat ought
to have persevered to a greater extent than they did, though
he would not go so far as to say that those on the wreck would
have been saved. As to the life-boats they were not equalled
in the world.—The report was adopted. The master of the
Crosby light-ship reported that the crew of a small vessel,
which grounded on the Burbo Bank yesterday morning, left
their vessel and came on board the Meteor light-ship.—A letter
from Cram and Co., requesting special berths for their vessels
employed in the London trade, was referred.—A letter was
read from Mr. Phillips, calling attention to some experiments
which he intended to make with his " fire annihilator."

The following letter was read from the chairman of the
Chamber of Commerce :

" Chamber of Commerce, Liverpool, Oct. 24th, 1850

" Sir,—The subject of the establishment of a Home tor Emi-
grants at this port, as also the use of fires and lights on ship-
board in the docks, having been under discussion at a meeting
of the Council of this Chamber, I am requested by them to
bring the matter again under the notice of the Dock Commit-
tee, as being in the opinion of the Chamber one of the highest
importance, not only to the dock estate, but to the town at
large, and respectfully to request their re-consideration of
these subjects, with the view of procuring such power as may
be necessary for the attainment of an object of such deep in-
terest to Liverpool, and the retention on this side of the Mer-
sey of a most valuable branch of trade.
" I am, sir, your obedient servant,
" (Signed) THOMAS B. HORSFALL, President.
"Thos. Littledale, Esq., chairman Dock Committee."
After some conversation, during which the feeling of the
committee appeared to be that, under present circumstances
the subject could not be re-considered, a motion was submitted
to the effect, that the secretary reply to the letter, stating, that
as the matter referred to had been so recently under consider-
ation, it would be inexpedient to bring it again before them.—
Mr. Bold thought an explanation of the reasons against recon.
sideration ought to be embodied in the reply. He proposed
the following amendment, which was seconded by Mr. Holt :
"That this committee;
iea establish
itsateob Chamberthesh thoughu:she o gomfroeeffiafc
ortolerys regrettingmeanmnlideg rrcaen lights
.asemigrants,
tawhinneedl rltvheiesnosouslteghi
tion of the trustees, at their meeting. on the Bth instant, pur-
porting to annul the determination ,of this committee on the
2nd instant, to apply to Parliament for powers to relax the
ipcnor present restrictions
oirncekgs tssr,
ti
aiclitli
downti
ots 1
propriety and necessity of those measures, as in the peril of
withholding them, are nevertheless restrained from again at-
tempting to carry them out, pending the said adverse decision
of the trustees, by the following considerations :-
Ist. Because this committee are most unwilling, under any,
circumstances, however embarassing and irksome, to become
accessary by any proceeding of theirs to the public calamity of
a collision between the two great estates of the town, and
2nd. Because the committee are advised that to renew now
the said resolution of the 2nd instant, would, in point of. fact,
be inoperative and useless, inasmuch as at the present period
of ,the. municipal year they could not be legally acted upon
until it would have become too late to give the Parliamentary
notice.. . .

Resolved also, .that, the above resolutions be coromunicatad
to.the Chamber of Commerce, with. an expression of the regret
of this committee that they were thus precluded from giving
effect to their said letter. On a, division:the Amendment wait,
lost by a majoritrof one.
The solicitor submitted a fAong written opinion upon the
mode of; conducting the business of, the committee,,, and some
suggestions and alterations ar , to tea present practice of record-
ing the proceedings.. The 0 octuaixt was referredfor consider-
atwa.

The Chairman stated that he had communicated with Mr.
Hayter, of the Treasury, in accordance with the decision of the
previous meeting, as to the buildings required for the Post-
office. Since that time the Government had expressed a wish
that the Dock Committee should take a less amount of rent,
and Mr. Stewart. the surveyor, had been called upon to give an
opinion. Mr. Stewart thought .t l 2) per annum would be a
fair arrangement. The Special Post-office Committee had,
however, come to the conclusion that a nominal rent should be
charged, say one shilling per yard, in order that an arrange-
ment might be come to in accordance with the wishes of Abe
town.. The question was whether, if they asked the full
amount, the arrangement could be carried out.

The recommendation was agreed to, the Government to be
at the expense of making the alterations.
Mr. Steele inquired, on behalf of several persons at the south
end of the town, why so little progress was making with the
railway along the docks, which was to form a junction with the
London and North Western at Wapping.. He also remarked
that the building at the bottom of Crosbie street was, in its
present state, a great nuisance.

The Secretry-said the committee were not in a position to
pull down the building, as they had not got possession: In a
short time, however, the arrangements would be completed,
and the work would be proceeded witb.