The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-05-11 00:00:00

THE BOROUGH TRRABUREHSHIP.

The MAYou reniarked, that the first ditty of the
Council was to elect • treasurer for the bdrought in the
room of the late William Bridge, Esq.; and it might not
be out of place if he expressed the grief and the great
regret all felt at the late treasurer's death. Whilst the
Council united in their expression of sorrow, it seemed
to have been shared by every inhabitant of the town,
who all unanimowly deplored the loss of an excellent
man. All present, it might be said, knew Mr. Bridge
well, many intimately, and his Worship thought it
could be said of him that those who knew him most in-
thnstely had the greatest respect for him. For himself
(the Mayor) he might say that Mr. Bridge was his best,
hie truest, his oldest friend, and although the Council
must now proceed to the election of another gentleman
to supply the treasurer's place, his Worship might be
permitted to observe of Mr. Bridge, that there was no
one in the town possessed of more principle or who lied
a higher character for integrity and truth, while his
gentlemanly conduct was not surpassed by any one. Every
one present must feel his loss, and whichever of the three
excellent candidates who had been spoken of should
be elected must excuse him (the Mayor) for adding of
Mr. Bridge—" We ne'er shall look upon his like
again." The Mayor read a letter dated Dorchester, May
10, from John Brown, applying for the office of borough
treasurer' and expressing a hope to be able to efficiently
fulfil the duties of the offioe if appointed.
Mr. BISHOP, in rising to propose a gentleman to fill
the office vacant by the lamented death of the late
treasurer, begged to refer to the remarks and sentiments
of his Worship, in which every gentleman in the Council
acquiesced. Mr. Bridge not only won respect by his
kindness and courtesy in public life, but by the gentle-
manly bearing in which he carried himself in all his in-
tercourse with hie fellow men, and it might safely be
said of him that in public life lie never made an enemy.
In considering who should be appointed to succeed
Mr. Bridge, two points must bo borne in mind for guid-
ance—the qualifications and fitness for the office, and
whether or not the candidate proposed had any claims
upon the Council arising out of former connection with
the town. In proposing Mr. M. U. Weston as a proper
person to appoint to the vacant treasurership he (Mr.
Bishop) thought him a gentleman possessing both at-
tributes. It would not for a moment be denied that he
was likely to make an efficient treasurer, that he was
properly and in every respect qualified for the due per-
formance of the duties of the office ; but, besides this,
Mr. Weston formerly held the office of clerk to the
Commissioners, for • number of years in • way, it was
believed, perfectly satisfactory to the Commissioners and
the ratepayers. When the Paving Act, under which he
acted, was incorporated with the Local Public Health
Act, the office of clerk was superseded, without any fault
on the part of that officer, and without any complaint,
it being rightly held that the duties of the two offices
were so intertwined that the clerkship of the Local Board
could not be separated from that of Town Clerk. At
present an opportunity offered whereby to make, to some
extent, compensation to Mr. Weston. Mr. Bishop con-
cluded by proposing Mr. Weston IA a fit and proper
person to be appointed Treasurer to tho Council of this
borough.
Mr. Luce seconded the nomination on the oind
that, having taken an active part when the o..ce of
clerk to the Paving Commissioners was abolished in
opposing the grant of compensation to Mr. Weston, and
the Board having made, it was believed, some offer
to that gentleman, which, however, was not accepted,
the Commissioners thereby acknowledging Mr. Weston's
claims; and the course having been considered by Mr.
Weston as an act of injustice on the part of the Board,
the present opportunity should be seized to remove
from his mind such a feeling. If there was an appoint-
went in the Council's hands, the emolument of which
was something like that the clerk to the late Com-
missioners lost, it was right and good to avail them-
selves of the circumstance, and award to Mr. Weston
the compensation not thought justifiable to be granted
out of the rates without service performed.
Mr. Emma supported the nomination on the like
grounds.
Mr. GALPIN having asked lithe candidates were fully
aware of the duties to be performed, a conversation
arose respecting those duties, in the course of which
The MAYOR said that originally there was a town
steward, who received quit rents, fines upon rentals,
and everything belonging to the Corporation; but at
the passing of the Municipal Reform Act, the office of
treasurer was instituted, while that of receiver or town
steward ceased, and twenty-two years ago Mr. Bridge
was appointed borough treasurer. He collected what-
ever Was due to the Council since, and when tolls were
payable, of course the sergeant had collected them. The
salary of the treasurer was very small—only £lO a year.
The TOWN CLERK reverted to the resolution appoint-
ing Mr. Bridge on January 25, 1836, at £l.O a year. No
duties were specified, but be was required to enter into
a, bond, in one surety, of £2OO, the cost of the bond
being defrayed by the Council.
The MAYOR asked 11.2veral times if any other candi-
date was to be proposed, and no name being mentioned,
Mr. Weston was appointed, the resolution stating that
he should
.perform shnilar duties to his predecessor and
furnish a similar bond. _ .

The Council then resolved itself into • General Pur-
poses Committee, and transacted its business with
closed doors.