Widnes Examiner. — 1885-07-04 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THURSDAY.  Mr. A. Adamson, naval architect, f )rmerlv with Messrs. Elder, of Glasgow, stated on Thursday that ocean-going vessels, either as new constructed or with trifling alterations ef the masts would be able to pass under the proposed bridges over the canal.—Mr. Wheeler, engineer to the Boston Harbour Commissioners, stated that in his opinion the quantity of water entering the upper estuary would not be aiminished the works connected by the eaanal.—T4 Chairman: Do you say that the flood tide has almost as much scouring effect on the Bar as the ebb tide ? Witness : Almost with the full force of the Atlantic dashing against the Mersey sand hanks This must be scouring action. There was a large attraction of water by the Liverpool Docks, but no injurious effect has followed. The proposed works will not take the channel from the Garston to the Eastham side. In cross-exarnination, the witness observed that all the engineers for the promoters were practical men, and those for the opponents were theorists—but able ones, no doubt. (Laughter.) Mr. Wills, engineer to the Weaver Trustees, said he had known the Mersey intimately for the last 20 years. Ile had been engaged in the construction of the Garston docks, and also of the Runcorn Bridge. • He had lately carried out the construction of an important dock at Weston Point. There was a very large net return from the Weaver Navigation, which was paid into the fund of the county of Chester. The salt from the salt district passed down into the Mersey principally through the Weaver Ntvigation. After coal and iron, salt was the largest of British exports. The quantity ant from Liverpool was about 1,000,000 tons a year, and was shipped in very large vessels. The Weaver Trustees were convinced that the canal would do no injury to their navigation, and they were satisfied with the clauses that had been introlueed for their benefit. Witness went on to state that 54 steam lighters were now employed in carrying and towieg salt down the Weaver. The canal would give great facilities for loading ocean-going vessels with salt. He did not consider the altered gradients cau,sed by the canal to the railways was of any consequence whatever.—Mr. T. S. Hudson, managing director of the" Hudson Shipping Company," said he had built his latest shin with fidded masts, with a view to navigation on the Manchester Ship Canal. Captain Andrew Pearson, Board of Trade assessor, akc., at Liverpool, said he had had 26 years' experience at sea. The most paving Olass of ships now were from 1 260 to 2,000 tons. From his experience there would be no difficulty in I navigating the proposed canal.—Captain William Waring said he had conainand4cl vessels of 500 to 2,000 tens. There were several very awkward curves in the Suez Canal. The curves in the Manchester Canal were very much better.  William Bart, amackmaster, Yarmouth, was arrested on Thursday night, charged with attempting to murder his wife by cutting her throat, and inflicting serious wounds upon a man named John Andrews. The motiVe alleged is jealousy. The woman is not expected to recover. A jury was empanelled in the London Sheriff's Court, on Thursday, to assess the damages to be paid by Mr. Irving ) Bishop, the thought-reader, for the libel upon Mr. ) Maskelyne published in Truth, for which the plaintiff had obtained a verdict of £lO,OOO damages, upon which a new trial had been ordered. The jury now awarded Mr. Maskelyne