The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-12-28 00:00:00

THE VACANT TRUSTEESHIP.

A meeting was held at the Drill Hall, Easton, on
Monday afternoon, at four o'clock, for the purpose of
nominating fit and proper peroons for the position
of Trustee of Her Majesty's Onuit, vacated by the
death of Captain Manning. The meeting was well
attended, there being present about 400 inhabitants,
among whom were many of the principal tradesmen
of the island, and the quarrymen were also well
represented.
On the motion of Mr. PIIARCZ, Captain Abraham
&riven was called to the chair.

The CHAIRMAN introduced the subject by reading
over the last accounts of the Grant, showing as he
repressed it, bow wrongfully the money had been laid
out. He remarked that it WU high time the rights
and privileges of the Portlanders were taken into
consideration and attended to by one of their own
number. He proposed Mr. Benjamin &riven, the
younger, as • fit and proper person to be Trustee of
Her Majesty's Grant.
Seconded by Mr. E. PEARCE, a quarryman.
The CHAIRMAN repeatedly asked if there was any
other candidate to be proposed, and there was no
response.
Mr. BENJAMIN Seutrart, the younger, then spoke
and gated that he bad repeatedly been called upon
by many persona to offer himself for the position of
trustee; but he had refused till the present time.
As his uncle, Mr. A. Scriven, bad so kindly pro.
posed him and he bad been supported by
so strong • body of the people, he now intended to
accept the nomination • but be would wish it
to be distinctly understood that he would not hold
the position of Trustee under any sect or religion
whatever. He would do his best to give all their
' fair and proper proportion of the Grant—(applause.)
Many parties had said "We will only vote for •
Portland MAD, some one who can look alter our own
interests ." but as soon as he (Mr. Scriven) was
nominate, they had changed their mind, said there
was no man in the island to fill the position of
Trustee, arid they must have a stranger. But for •
man to say one thing in the morning, and another in
the evening, and eat his words again before the
morning—why if that constituted • man, Heaven
forbid that he should be one I—(hear.)
A person in the assembly here asked if Mr. Scriven
would vote against Captain Brown?
Mr. SCRIVEN replied that he believed he should
never be required to do so, as from what he
knew of Captain Brown, he was certain he would
wish to do nothing but what was right, being a
geutleinan of scrupulous honesty. Still if be saw
differently from Capt. Brawn, that gentleman weir d
wish him or any other man to use his own judgment,
and they would agree to differ. He did not believe
the right place for spending the money was either
on church or chapel, for if any person was foolish
enough not to avail themselves of the Privileges
either of church or chapel, that was no reason why
they ahould be kept without their full and fair share
of Her Majesty's Grant—(applaeae). In conclusion
Mr. Scriven said that now he had started, he should
keep on till toe contest WM decided, and he bad no
doubt that if his friends who had promised
him stood by him and worked well, he should
be placed at the head of the poll—(applause).
Mr. THlLaillthl made a long and much.applanded
speech, in which he said it wsa high time that the
Grant Money under the Trust should be better
divided than it had lately been. He considered
that the chapels ought to have a share of the money,
as well as the church (applause). lie also spoke
of the Dispensary as a fit object for receiving • share
of the Grant. (Want of space compels us to omit •
great part of Mr. Thresher s speech, which was well
received.)