Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-10-31 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES. LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY, OCTOBER: 31; 1857.1r'

MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

EVERTON AND KIRKDALE WARD.

MEETING OF MI MELLY'S FRIENDS.

Last evening a meeting of the friends of Mr. G. Mellf,
living in the locality of the Zoological Gardens, which
comprises that pardon of the ward lying between Everton
and West Derby, was held at a rojin called the Whitefield
Hall, for the purpose of taking the necessary steps to
secure that gentleman's return as the representative of the
same ward, at the a,proeching municipal election, which
will take place on Monday next. The meeting was con-
vened for eight o'clock, but, probably owing to the unpro-
pitious state of the weather, at that hour not more than a
dozen persons had assembled, but shortly after, a great
number of the electors arrived, and this large room was
well filled. As Mr. Melly was not able to attend, a copy
of the epeech he delivered at the meeting held on Wednes-
day evening, reprinted from the Noternaare TIMES, was
furnished to each elector as he entered the room. At
half-past eight o'clock, Mr. Thomas Corkhill was
callel upon to preside. In taking the chair, he said tha
electors were all aware for what purpose they had met
together, that of electing a gentleman to represent them in
the local parliament for the next three years. He thought
they could not have a better person than Mr. George Melly.
(Hear.) He then called upon Mr. Walker to move the
first re3olution, which was to the effect that, Mr. George
Melly was a fit and proper person to represent that ward
1n the Town C3uncil. He then explained the reason why
Mr. Melly was absent, -the fact being that he was en
gaged in important busttess in London, where his wife was
sick. He then denied that the reformers of the ward. had
been the first to disturb the peace of the ward by a contest,
as it had been done on a former occasion by their oppo-
nents, when they had five Members for the ward of their
owe party, and then tried to take the ward by storm, and
have the sixth. He attributed the reason for
for the Present contest was to have a balance of party in
the Council, where everything was carried by the tnaj trity,
whether they elected the man of money or the man of stu-
pidity. He then eulogised Mr. Melly as a man of pluck"
and a man of " courage," who, as a large merchant, had
ever descended to join and take a part in working mess'
associations. Besides, he was related to the brother, who
had estab:ished the water founraius, and who was well
known as the great philanthropist of the day. Another
reason was that he was the friend of civil and religious
l berty. He sail that he hoped the man who had attacked
him—a Mr. Bennett—who was a Scripture reader, as to
his religious creed, would read his Bible more than he had
done, and th-ri he would show that Mr. Melly lived by the
Bible,while Mr. Bennett only took it as a thing for gaining
his livelihood. He then expressed a hope that the electors
would be early at the poll, and, without saying a word
against Mr. Cresth vaite, vote for Mr. Melly, whom he
bliend to be the best, by far, man of the two.

Mr. WHITS seconded the motion, and stated that it was
through their having sent Mr. Stitt to represent the ward,
that Mr. Crosthsvaite had become an advocate of parks
aud other amusements, as he had never said anything about
th-m before. Ile earnestly hoood,that the'electors would
do their duty, and elect Mr. G. Melly. (Applause.)
Mr. JACKSON supp rted the resolution, and in the course
of his observations stated that he had been informed, that
while the Corporation was borrowing large sums of money
at 4 and 5 per cent., there• was the Newstinm estate
only paying one per cent. He hoped to see a-committee
appointed, that would periodically show what the corporate
estate was really worth, and how it was appropriated. He
concluded by hoping that the electors would form
themselves into sub-committees, as they had done in Lime-
street Ward, and each vote and take as many voters up to
the poll, before ten o'clock, and thus secure the election
of Mr. Melly, whom be believed to be a fit and proper
person to represent the ward. (applause.)
Mr. C. R. Hann then came forward and moved, " That
this meeting pursu, every legitimate means to secure the
return of Mr. G. Melly, as the representative of that ward,
at the approaching municipal election." In his observations
he wished to know who, out of the whole Council, had
ever put a motion on the books for a park in each ward, ,
as he had advocated. Why, none; and the reason was
that they had net the power of looking into the Corporation
estate. He had looked into the accounts that had been
published, but they had certainly, to some extent, con-
founded him, for they did not state how and what the estate
and income of the Corp nation was ; nor could he, by any
possible mean, ascertain whether it was rightly or wrongly
apprepri ited, or whether it was so spent as to give saiis-
faction to the -electors. At the present.tinap there was
a balance ill favour of the Borough fund to the amount of
S160,00(5, which ie the hands of the burgesses might be
well spent, hut there was no knowing how it would be
Ix2ol'FkipPilikittifire&RlPAV Ariiilfda"that-ttitubM
be the same in the Town Council as it was in the Houso
of Commons, that the Town Clerk, or Treasurer, for he
was the financier, should annually give a budget, the same
as they did there, and let the ratepayers know what amount
of money they would issue before it was collected. He
next spoke of the edicatim question, which if carried out
would pro Mote the moral happiness ofthe greatest number,
and would have a tendency to diminish crime, and therefore
what was spent ea that subject would be spared in the
expenses o;* maintaining a large police and bridewells for
the punishment of crime. He next alluded to the late
contest, \shut Mr. Stitt was elected, when he had advocated
that the estuary of the Mersey on both sides should be as
one-, and stated that he was not one who regretted that the
town dues had been taken away, because they would still
be appropriated to the benefit of the commerce of the port,
because it showed that the Corporation had not formerly
expended the money properly. It would now come under
the Conservancy Bill, and would be applied so as to be of
the greatest benefit to all classes. He then apologised for
the manner he had addrassaed the meeting, and concluded
by hoping that all would strive to send to-the' Council
such men es could comprehend the principles he had
enunciated, and be believed, that of the two candidates,
there was only one, Mr. G. Melly, who had the pluck to do
it. (ChePrs.)
Mr. G. M'CONNELL briefly seconded the motion.
Mr. Mmewano, the secretary, then expressed a wish to
explain an error which had been made in the report of
Mr. Melly's speech in the Daiiy Pose, on that all-imPoitant
subject, the water supply. They had, by a mistake of the
editor, or of the reporter, made Mr. Melly to say; " that
iu quantity it was good, and in quality it was acceptable,"
when he stated, "that in quantity it was abundant, but in
quality it was execrable." He hoped the electors would
receive that correction.

Mr. J. R. JEFFRRY, who had just entered th 3 room; was
then called upon to address the electors with' the most
enthusiastic spelause, and after a few preliminary remarks
said, on coming forward to address that meeting, he had to
apologise for coming so late to the meeting, but the
fast was that he had been speaking at auothor meeting;
and could not be there before: lie. then alluded
to the candidate who was before them, with whom
he had sat on committees, and a more valuable, a more
honest, a more talented, or a better man could pot be found,
and he was sure that he would ba a most valuable Member
of the Town Cauca, of which he had bean a member.tor
twelve Months, and had stood his ground through evil
report, and through good report. He had also sat on
Crramittecs with Mr. Crosthweite, and he was quite sure,
that if that gentleman was asked, in a straigetforward
way, whether he or Mr, Melly.could 'beet servo the rate-
payers of the ward, he was qeite sure that Mr, Crosthwaite
would not hesitate to acknowledge that Mr. Melly eould—
he was hit:melt too holiest, too straightforward, teedisevow
that fact, He next cooratula`ed the electors, that they had
such a men as Mr. Melly, who had $o ably expressed himself
ou the water question, and then d tilled at great length
what steps he'(s.lr. J.) had tekea on the same question,
in the Town Council, and ke hoped that they would stand
firm to such a man. Mr. Mes:4 was also a friend to civil
and religious liberty, while Mr. Crostbwaite was of an
opposite 'e: ling. He next eu'ogised the principles enunci-
ated by Mr. Melly in centre t's inction to those of Mr.
Crosthwaite, showing that one was a Liberal and the other
was a Tory, and warmly advocated the former in p eference
to the latter. He then rated that after the next meeting
he should advocate that the public should be present at
the discussions, b:ciuse he believed it would be a check os
some et the irregularities that were sometimes committed
by some of the member,. He next alluded to the attend-
ance of Mr. Crokthwaite in the Council, and stated that he
was not there when the important division- on the water
question took place, which was lost by a majority of two, nor
was he present on that day, when more-important business
was transacze'd. Councillers were very fond of talking
about money twitters, but when it was voted away they
followed the example of those in a " higher p'ace," and
then there was nothing but "empty benches." He called
upon the electors to elect men who did their duty ; and be
hoped that their candidate would be successful on Monday
next, for it wanted such men as him where there was such.
a large majority to watch the enemy. Mr. J., after a few
other remark., sat down amidst much applause.
The resolution having been unanimously carried, a .vote.
of thanks to the Chairman concluded the business of tte
evening, three claim being given for Mr. Melly.

SCOTLAND WARD.
ast evening, the ratepayers favourable to the return of
Mr. Liversidge, met that gentleman, and Rs he had on
former occaq•ttiv, explained most fully his opinions on the
public topics of the day. After rezolutions had been passed,
binding the meeting to give all legitimate support to ensure
his return, Mr. J. R. Jeffery addre,sed the meeting in a
rgry eicquent speech, euforciil au claims of Mr, Livtisidge