24 REPORT — 1856. 



better securing, maintaining, and preserving a free, open and perfect navi- 

 gation into and through the said harbour of Liverpool, and to dig, cut, re- 

 move and take away any sand, gravel, rocks, stones, anchors, cables, timber 

 and other things, wrecks of ships, or other vessels, or any other obstructions 

 or impediments to the navigation leading into and being within the said 

 harbour of Liverpool from the sea or mouth of the said harbour, and so far 

 southwards as the liberties or lordship of the Corporation of Liverpool ex- 

 tend, be it the ground or soil of the King's Most Excellent Majesty or any 

 other person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, whatsoever." 



2. The property of the Corporation in the Strand at Liverpool and part of 

 Toxteth Park. 



The Corporation of Liverpool are the owners of the freehold of the whole 

 of the strand, forming the river front of the ancient borough, such owner- 

 ship so far as respects the docks now standing vested in them in their 

 capacity of " the Trustees of the Liverpool Docks," by virtue of appropria- 

 tions under the Dock Acts. As to the small dock of the Trustees of the late 

 Duke of Bridgewater, that property, with certain limited privileges over the 

 strand, is leasehold for lives, with a right of perpetual renewal on payment 

 of a small fixed fine, the Corporation still owning the freehold in reversion. 

 Of the title of the Corporation there is, from 1670 downwards, the strongest 

 proofs, by grants, leases, and various other acts of ownership, as in 1828 

 was fully admitted by the Duchy of Lancaster, Mr. Wyndham then being the 

 Duchy Solicitor. Upon this occasion extracts from the Corporation Records, 

 with three explanatory maps, were laid before the Duchy. 



Of the strand in Toxteth Park, so far as the Liverpool Docks extend into 

 that toM'nship or extra-parochial place, the Corporation, principally in their 

 capacity of " the Trustees of the Liverpool Docks," are also the owners of 

 the freehold by purchases from Lord Sefton and others under the Dock 

 Acts. 



The docks of the trustees and the river-walls were all made under acts of 

 Parliament. 



3. The property of the Corporation in Birkenhead and Wallasey, 



The Corporation by purchases are entitled to their land at Birkenhead 

 and Wallasey in fee, with the rights of the lords of the manors to the shore 

 of the Mersey. The only erections (called by Mr. Eyes encroachments) 

 made since the purchases of the Corporation are parts of the public road, 

 viz. where that road crosses Gill Brook, and where it crosses Bridge End, 

 and one other erection, the unauthorized act of a tenant. All the other 

 erections on the shore were made by prior owners. 



(Copy.) 



No. 7- — Letter from T^ieut. Wm. Lord to the Chairman of the Conservancy 



Committee. 



Marine Surveyor's Office, Liverpool, 

 March 23rd, 1840, 



Sir, — Referring to those points to which it is most desirable the attention 

 of the Conservative Commissioners of the River Mersey should be primarily 

 directed in the event of conservative powers being obtained from Parlia- 

 ment, I would premise, that the existence and maintenance of the sea chan- 

 nels leading to the port, vitally depend on the preservation of the back- 

 water which the Mersey and its tributary streams afford ; that this body of 



