The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-11-10 00:00:00

WFMIOI7 ni TOWN CoUNcIL MEETING.

ELUTION OP XATOR.
IPPOIAIMENT OF 111AUISTILITSS.

---
M lay, Present -Ti,., Deputy Mayor, Mr. J 11,11111,1
Milleilte, Aldermen W. Eliot. Ti 11,14,n, Adding. I °ward
Aw ,
'e ; Councillors Welk,. C. Eliot, Roberts.
Th.rinas, J. Devenish, Aslev, Talbot., Aylesbury, Vincent,
chart,. notices, I,llindie, Walker. Snook, .1. Groves, with
Mr. F. C. Steggall. Town Clerk. Italy the Mayor aud Mr.
CosincillorXason were absent. Besides the ahoy°, there
i
el., n the Council climulscr, Mr. .1. J. Rolls, Mr.
T. George, Mr. Dame, Mr. %V. J. Reynolds, Mr. A. In•nnis,
Ileum Monte (m. manager). Pitt, Ter,Tett. It Prince,
liooper, F. 11..trilen. Revn,4,1,1, S. 1.., Dr. Tizar.l, J. P.,
Dr. 3. Drew, J.!' , ljeot. I Dr. Si 1/11Will;
Grahain, Rev. F, Fisher, .1. Parems, Talbot J.P.,
et., kc. Thor., were • large number in the oittei
ball, the partition between that atiA U.. ealibber hAybis
been removed.
The Town tli.saa having read the Inlngts jwm
anhouneed that the first businees was the

EiztTION OF MATO/t.
Ahlermaa W. Ei.un said the important duty devolved
, upon the Council this ~,,, mine, of electing tho Mayor for
• the ensuing year. In the first place, he w 11.4 sure thoir
I feelings were in union oath his own, M.et of very deep
• regret that the Mayor had not been in the poseesaion of
henlth for some months past, and of the greatest hove
that the Mayor indy be soon restored to his family and
friends. lie hegged to propose that Mr. I :enrxe lloulter
Welsfenl be hlnyor for the enoling year—deem). lie had
. . . . . . . .

_
known Air. Welsford from los hoyhoo he had lived
among them all his life :as far AA he (Mr. Eliot) knew,
his character was irreproachable, his property in the town
was large, and he was sure he would discharge the duties
of this office with seal. fidelity. and impartiality he
would net with kindness and urbanity, and at the same
time with fairness and decision. At the same time he
would entreat of him to avoid any political Mae, and if he
acted upon thr,e principles, and he was sure Mr. Welsford
would, lie would at the close of his term of office, retire
with the approbation of his brother Councillors, and
brother townsmen. He looked upon it as the greatest
jewel a man acquired in the course of his life, when he
obtained approbation and honour from his fellow-towns-
men, and he felt great conddence in proposing Kr. G. B.
Welsford as Mayor—(applause).
Mr. J. H. Digrexisit had much pleasure in seconding the
proposition.
Mr. W said before the vote was put, he wished to
make a remark. He was struck very forcibly with the
remark of Mr. Alderman Eliot, who said he hoped Mr.
Walstond would not introduce any political bias. If he
(Mr. Walker) was rightly informal, this nomination had
been made • political nomination. On Thursday and
Friday he was informed meetings had been held at the
Royal Hotel to settle who should be Mayor, and of those
meetings he had had no notice.
The Inteurr Maroa (Mr. Milledge) asked if Mr. Walker
was going to propose any ameedment I Unless he did, he
was not in order in speaking.
Mr. WALIIIII said he might propose an amendment
before Ile sat down. Ile continued that he had been a
reader of the Standard newspaper, for years past, and
they had no right to suppose he was not a Conservative.
But if they made the nomination of Mayor a political
question how could Mr. Welsford avoid introducing
political questions? He objected entirely to any proceed-
ings of that kind, he became a candidate for municipal
honours entirely free from party bias, and he claimed the
right to meet his brother councillors, whenever they met
to discuss such • question as the nomination of Mayor
—(heer.)
No amendment WM proposed, and the Deputy Mayor
having put the question declared Mr. Welsford elected
unanimously. . . . .

... .
Mr. ‘V ALKER : I held up my hrmd against it.
The DEPWIT 1tAT01: Then. Mr. Welstord, you are NOT
unanimously elected.
__ _

Mr. WIUSFORD, as Mayor elect, then was Invested with
the cloak and chain of office, and took the usual declara-
tions and the Chair —(apelaues.)
The MAYOR then, addressing his fellow townsmen, maid
it was his duty, in the first place, to return his sincere
thanks for the great Ahow of oonfidence they had that
day put upon him in having by an almost unanimous
i vote, placed him n this most responsible office, some-
times attended with a considerable amount of difficulty.
In taking the chair, he might perhaps be excused for
referring to the past. his much honoured father was the
first who was called upon in that Council Chamber, to
take the chair, and declare that ['own Hall open. he was then
called upon bye unanimous vote of the Council 18 pursue.
At the time of one of the most important events that ever
happened to Weymouth, the open-Ingot the railway which
gave us communication with London, Bristol, and all parts
of Great Britain, he was then again unanimously
elected. Ile then obtained the confidence of his fellow-
Councillors, and not only that but of his fellow-townsmen.
one simple plan, one single principle—unswerving un-
doubted honesty. He (the speaker) regretted exme&ngly
to have heard a word of politics today I but he made
great allowance for • gentleman who has not been so very
long in this town, although he might stay here a long
time yet. He assured them that however great and
surging may be the waves of politics outside—and
perhaps there might be most ferocious storms—between
the first and ninth of November they would decidedly
subside—(hear).—and afterwards it would be a time of
placidity and quietude. They were there as gentlemen of
business, and business was their only object. lie IVIA
fully assured that hl father, when he took the chair,
never deviated from that • he never deviated from the
path of duty, never sacrificed the interest of the town
for party purposes. lie (the speaker) wished
to follow in his steps ; but he would only
be enabled perfectly to do so, if he obtained the impartial
and entire support of all those sitting around that table.
He trusted that when his term of office expired, he would
he able to ask them If for any party or purpose he hid ever
deviated from that which he believed to be right,
the hest interests of the borouxh. In the disc of
those duties they might very possibly inset with &Bleu ties,
but they would face thou difficulties and few are the
difficulties which could not to met and overcome, lie
hoped and trusted that with heartanol hand they would join
for the purpose of meeting thoee difficulties. They 'had
responsible officers, one especially naponsible officer, the
Town Clerk, who had done his best in times past, to meet
and encounter difficulties and to get them out—(hear
head and no doubt when the present Mayor's term of
office expired, they would be able to show they had made
satisfactory arrangements. He again returned thanks,
and expressed his reliance on those Wound him to assist
with their help in his office, without which lie should feel
himself utterly incompetent and unable to accept it— I
applaus
Mr. THOMAS said they would be wanting in their ditty
if they did not propose and pass acute of thanks to their
late Mayor, Mr. James Robertson. Mr. Alderman Eliot
hail very appropriately alluded to the cause of the absence
if Mr. Robertson during the last twelve months • but
there hail been two years of active labour Mr. Itobernson
had bestowed, and although Mr. Robertson had been
unable for the last year to take that active part he had
before, he had hull kept alive to the circumetances of
the Town Council and the town at large, and he had
taken the deepest interest in them. He had not been
able to give that supiwirt to necessary measures which lie
would otherwise have dune; but, nevertheless, they
might net to separate without ',using a vote of thanks to
Into for his past services.
Mr. Alderman HOWARD MSC with great deal of pleasure
to second the resolution, lie need hardly say that not only
be, but every member of that Hoard extremely regretted
the cause of the absence of Mr. Robertson. lie had brought
Intelligence arid energy to bear, he had done his utmost
for the town in which he Heed, and although he had been
unable lately to do what he had before, yet, even during
the time he had been affiietni with disease, he had taken
elre teox ,
much end
4)-41
ao he
well knew
'luring nt
h
o
the deepest interest in the well-being of the town. And
although James Robertson, ill, was not no beneficial to
othnee Wwl7oneasoujldarnhauve dß°ii
the time, as had Mr. Robertson. In the strongest
lauF, if he could command it, he would second the
pro non of Mr. C
uncillorThomas.
Mr. Roam said he felt quite as deeply u Mr. Rowan!,
that they owed Mr. Robertson a deep debt of gratitude.
He always strove to do his best for the town of Weymouth,
end if there had been errors, they had been errors of the
head, and not of the heart. No one could discharge his
duties In a more conscientious way than Mr. Robertson
ha I done. And no member of that Board but must feel
the deepest sympathy with Mr. Robertson, and hope
that his restoration may not he long postponed, but that
we may find him hack among us agaso, doing his best for
tlie intfrerts of the borough.

The MATOR aabl it would he quite unneowtary for the
resolution to be put to the meeting.
Carried unanimously.
Mr. blitxtuxie first thanked them for the expressions
they had uttered toward. hie friend the Late Mayor, and
he would new read them a letter he had recently received

"17the Aldermen and Burgessts of the Borough of Weymouth
anti Melcombe BAula.
Gentlenten,—lt is a matter (4 sincere regret to me that I
shall be preyeoted front attending your important meeting on
Monday. Although I arn thankful to my that I bane to a
grum extent recovered from my recent Weal. illness, yet the
staln of my health will. I fear. Mitt prevent me, for the prom:tit
at learnt, from taking any active pirt in public matters. Before
the tent, of Atte, egtruca to which you did me the honour of
electing me a year ago, for the thin, suoeursive time, I tun
ueelgatts of espressing to you my deep regret that I have
poen pprented by illdnalth during the greater part of the
from discharging those professional dutirs, which I
ahoUd otherwise have gladly performed. 'Under these circuut-
*sneer, I should be ver7 remiss were I not gratefully to
scknowledge the kind indulgence which you have estentitti to
me meanwhile late deeply tensible of the great consideration
which I have received at your hands sod which is only the
counterpart of that kiod and ciiirdiel stipport which ea. htetettgir given me by all turtles both within and without
the Council Chamber during the two former years %%Irk I hew
the Aim of Meyor. Although I have bean debarred fnsu
Mltioil soy active part In Public) sdlairs during the
pelt few months, I have, however, bum time to time st.stchtei with Indy Interest the turrecedings
ilt the Council soil tu the town at large. Sanitary matters
have again ouchlikal great, ileal of your this
yes,.
This suhleet it one whitit is everywhere engaging more Mid more puhlie attention, and those lontsirtant works, in the earning out of which I was associated whit you, will, I 111712ty
believe, ass', or later materially add to the health alat pneperity if the Men The largo ilirreiNoof tl,it..fls during
the pest comolOr is but the tamest, I trust, of the presperous
future which means our beautiful watering-place, aml which
will folly re pay 14, for any outlay we have made I toilet not
fill mention hoe much indebted I feel to Mr Alderman
Millelge tor haying noilrirtaken the dull., lilefou
nd ty.na)or
a aloi to the Town Ivrk AM! the othee „flew;
whoa s eiale.vimrs to Prr, en; the town front enacting '
•ity 111001Vcilivilec throl;g4 14.1' eitnircul abscises, deserve my
eannert thanks. conehlaion, I oannot ref rain from LAIN;
Ufa,. .rttpoty of ~.I.Proulou tie gratitrode which I owe
parsonally, both to Petreeireit nmi the town 1:4:M:rally, for the
guest yymihlhy and Itindmies menifested toward. mv,lll
soil
my family in a time 4 severe trial, and beiteve tue ti; remain,
gentlemen, yours faithfully,

JAME. HORIRTION, Moors
". Math, November 7th, 1,74."
Mr. WALKER said he wished to offer a word of explara•
tion—that he did not vote against the prexent Mayur
from perweal . feelings oe, Personal motives, Auk
front principle. 'Having been • member IS a Itmn
Onincil before coining to Weymouth, be
the Aldermen and Councillors mitt beiZre;" th77.4led "—.7
November, as • %hole boxty, tu settle who should be
nominated as Mayor. Uettainly felt that thuee who
were not incited to the meetings which had been held
here wet° isolated, and therefore from principle be vow
against the nomination.
The M %von mid it atfonled him much pleasure that Mr
Walker did not oppose him on lienional grounds. It had
been the custom in Weymouth, immemorial, he believed
—he could not say for how long, and believed the date when it began could not be fixed -that some previous
meeting should he hell a, that they might have some.
thing like an idea as to who phould he the Mayor, to that
they might not be all looking at one another in doubt ar
what war ti be done. If this hail been a Party
lolitical piestion it would he very difficult to say Wti;eti.
side had dune it more than the other.
Mr. IdiNDIE said he Tone to ORKVAA his ow ti fpllings and
drive of the whole Council beside T‘th
.. y Inn hint It
the superintendence of their late Vtdner. they hest
ini..64 it very greatly at Mud: nt IV tn. Matter*
outside the conned. But the town imed ta Mr. Alderman
mileage its warmerA thrtnlM for the fair and impartial
nui„„er in which helm. presided over the meetings of
the 4.,j0,41. As eenior Alderman he hart heen
sPOn to discharge the duties of office, andl without Cithial
inter.
(ming with the rights cf "there he undertook the 'lntim.
With a fair and implutial spirit am any ono could, he
fulfilled those diitiex and it would he extremely migrate-
lid if they were to separate without expreiud I the thanks "( the Council s- '
_

H CNTINta APPOINTMENTS.

Call Mack Matilda - Tutaday, (this day), F. aud Umiak
Friday, 0,11.it,5, %tuition Fmk at 10.45.
11r. Itadrl)ll,4 11..unda - Tuaralay. (this day), laa14111„
%V hitachurclt ; Friday .t mum 01— at 11
East Dorset llouisis Wediaaday, Sturmiustee Comma;
Friday, Durassion Bridge -at 11
Blackmon: Vsk Hounds—Tuesday, (this day). Clittalawood ;
l'hunalay, 111.1,11aatarah ; Vrklikv, llettaitalge Agit • at 11.