The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-04 00:00:00

APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN.

Mr. SMITH rose and said—Gentlemen, I believe the
first duty we have to perform is the election of a chair=
man—an election to an office of such dignity, that I
think it is second to none in the power of the port of
Liverpool to offer. This time twelve months I made a
few remarks, having reference to the fact, that whoever
should be elected to that board should feel that he owed
his dignity to the respect in which he was held by the
members of the board, that he was so elected by the
courtesy of the board, and that he should not under-
stand he obtained, by re-election from year to year, such
a life interest as should make it an offence to propose
anybody else. On the present occasion, lam about to
propose a gentleman who will perfectly coincide, I am
sure, with the remarks which I have made ; and when
I name that gentleman, I have every reason to believe
I will meet with an amount of support which
will carry the proposition which I am about
to make. We have had very considerable experience of
the gentleman who has occupied the chair for a great
number of years. I believe he fills that chair with great
dignity. I think I may say that he has conducted the
proceedings of this board with, on• the whole, great
fairness and impartiality, although from time to time one
may differ in opinion, and may imagine that occasionally
he may hold to an opinion with a degree of obstinacy
sometimes utterly astonishing : but even that has its
advantages, for I think it of the utmost importance that
the gentleman who occupies that chair should have an
opinion of his own, and when he has formed that
opinion that he should be able to give his reasons for it. ,
The gentleman I am about to propose possesses all these
qualifications pre=eminently. I will not take up the
time of the board more than by proposing that Mr.
Charles Turner be re-elected to the chair for the ensuing
year.

Mr. ThirmiN said—l have great pleasure in seconding
the motion. Mr. Turner has filled the chair for a great
number of years. His ability and his integrity in'mat-
ten connected with the trust are so well known, that I
need not expatiate upon them. A single word, however.
Notwithstanding my personal friendship for Turner,
if I thought any one of the board was equal or superior,
I might be induced to vote for him, but I know of none
such, and have therefore great pleasure in seconding the
proposition.

Mr. ARNOLD said he was not disposed at all to place
himself in opposition to Mr. Turner, from whom he had
always experienced great courtesy and kindness; but as
he made an observation on the last occasion that his
election took place, he wished to say that he had not
altered his opinion that they should not go on from year
to year re-electing the same gentleman. Ile did not
/fish to take from the shoulders of Mr. Smith the mantle
which he had so gracefully assumed as leader of the
opposition. Ile acknowledged the peculiar fitness of
Mr. Turner for the post; but he thought they should
follow the. example of the council in this matter, and
that there should be a sort of rotation in the chair. He
was satisfied with merely recording that as his opinion.
Mr. TURNER then took the chair. He said—l thank
you, gentlemen, for the honour you have done me, in
electing me as your chairman, and for the uniform sup-
port which I have received. I trust I shall be fortunate
enough to retain your good opinion. I thank you all
sincerely, and wish you a happy new year. (Applause.)
The •standing orders were then formally passed.
The next business related to the appointment of com-
mittees.