Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-11-10 00:00:00

I have not said one word in favour of Mr. Preston but
what I could with equal confidence and truth say of Mr.
Holme—except this, that I have not had the honour and
the pleasure of his acquaintance for so long a time; but I
am convinced that when we compere the merits and the
qualifications of the two candidates, we will see many
points of resemblance between them. (Rear, hear)
Many traits of character are so similar, that I am alnecest
tempted to exclaim with Captain Macheath,
"Row happy could I be with either, •
Were t'other dear charmer away." (Laug'ter.)
Bat reflection, and the sense of right which rises from the
conviction, that Mr. Preston has a priority of claim from
length of services of seniority induce me to support him.
I am well aware that nothing I can Fay will affect the votes
of most of the gentlemen whom I have the hono' of
aidressing, I have every reason to believe that they have
made up their minds whet way they will vote. But I
have some reale n to believe that there are two t r three
gentlemen present who have totally independent feelings,
who are waiting for some valid reason, why Mr James
lichee should be preferred to Mr. Preston. I now appeal
to them and ask them, if they lave heard one reason ?
They have heard a warm panegyri,: upon the talents and
character of Mr. Hahne from Mr. Turner, in which we all
unite,—(hear. hear)—for I believe, there is no difference
of opinien upon that suljact in any respect. (Hear, hear.)
But let it not appear to the town that this question is
decide-I as a party qua ion. (Hear. hear) 1 ask these
gentleman, the two or three to whom I have referred, and
in whose hands I believe hs elec ion will turn, whether it
wonid be right in the present temper and state of the
town ; whether it weull be decent, whether it w:ul 1 be
judicious, to make this a party question, and prove to the
pecple out of doors, that you systematica ly, and by rule,
exclude every gentleman who is suspected of
even the slightest liberal tendencies? Were it not so,
would such gentlemen as Mr. Alderman J. H. Turner, and
Mr Alderman Preston have been passed over so long?
(Hear, hear.) Ido hope, for the credit of the Comte 1, for
the gratification of a large potion of this vast community,
for the honour and dignity of the town, that the Council
will affirm, by a majority, the proposition of Mr. Glad-
stone, that M-, Preston be now elected mayor—(Hear,
bear)—feeling well as- tired that his virtues will adorn, his
good sense dignify, and his hospitalities uphold the high
position which his friends now claim for him at yours
panda. (Hear, hea-o_

The voting was as.follows :-
7 For Mr James Holme—C3unc llors —Thomas D. Ander
son, Daniel Crosthwaite, James ereMu, 'Tames Tyrer
Charles Turner, Thomas LittMale, Joseph G. Livirgston,
Walter P. Jeffreys, Samucl it. GrAves, Alexander Shand,
Thomas Wagstaff, John B. Brancker, James Aspinall
Tobin, Robert Hutchison Francis A. Clint, John Farn-
worth, James Robertson. John Stewart, Hilton Hothead,
'Thomas Vernon; Aldermen —Tnotnas Ch;lton, Thomas
Bold, George H Horsetail, Thomas Dover, James Park
Thomas Robins° a Joseph Cooper, J. Bramley- Moore. M P.,
Raymond W. Houghton, Thomas Toulmiu, Samuel Holme,
and F. Shand,—Total 32

k For Mr. William Preston—Councillors—Lhn Johnston
Stitt, Richard Sheil. John Woodruff, C. C. Corbelly.
Thomas Godfrey, Oliver Holden, William Barton, James
Steaine, James Ryley, John C. Fernihough, Charles T.
Bowrieg, John Lawrence, Charl-s Meeley, R)bertson
Gladstone, William Earle, James A. Pic'on, James R.
Jeffery, James Johnon. T. Llewelvn Hodson, James
Mellor, Joseph Kitchen, John Aikin, Richard 111 Beckwith,
William IL Anthony; Aldermen—William Bennett, J
Heyward Turner, and Richard C. Gardner --Tet d 21-
Mr. James Henste was thee introduead amidst 100 1
applause, by Mr. Turner and Mr. Parker. Mr. Shand
vacated the chair, and after the usual oaths had been
taken, and the necessary formalities compile] with, it was
occupied by Mc. liolme.
Tne CHAIRMAN said : Gentlemen, I cannot express to
you as I could desire to do, what my feelings are upon the
present occasion, when you hive just been pleased to con-
fer upon me the high and important office of the
chief magistrate of this large town. I can assure
you th it when I entered upon public life it was
fram no ambitions motives, but it having pleased God to
b'ess my industry, I thought I could not do better, having
time u1.,0u my bald t. than to devote it in endeavouring
to promote the public in.erest, as connected with this
town. (near, hear). So far as my own feelings are con-
cerned, I can assure you that I should have preferred t 3
have occupied my usual seat in the Council, believi, g that
perhaps I could have been of more service there than
even in the high p-,sition you have been pleased to place
me in But, at the same time, having been identified with
the great middle clss,,es of the community for so many
years, I thought I should be wanting in feeling if I did
not comply with the requ'at of many very intimate friends,
by allowing myself to be put in nomination upon the pre-
sent occalion. lam quite aware, gentlemen, of my want
of ability to this high and important office and parti-
san, cs pi cuM4O,l WO. Lity, 1 win giro place io no one
in an hcneA and faithful de-ire t v fulfil all ins duties,
and at the same time to promote the interest of the
whole community. Differences of opinion will arise,
and it is quite natural that they should do so, but
I hope that we are one and all animated by the same
spirit, and that is, a desire to do the best we can, nit only
for the constituencies which have sent ns in here, but for
the general welfare of the c ;untry. (Hear, hear.) You
have called upon me to occupy this pasi ion at a very
peculiar time. There seems a cloud about to break, as
has already broken, over the great commercial interest of
this country, bat I hope that if God spares my life to !he
cot elusion of my year of office, we shall again have re-
turned to that prosperity and that important position
which this town should erjoy among the commercial
interests of the world. Gentlemen, I will not detain you
any louger, I feel deo/ ly the high position in which you hsvo
placed me, and I h ape and trust I may be able to fulfil its
duties to the satisfaction of Son all. I need only state
that I shall, acc n!ding, to the custom that has so long
prevailed, proceed to St. Peter's Church on Sunday next.
I may beg to exerees a hope, not for my sake, but for the
&Ake of the charity—one of the oldest charities in Liver-
pool, that so many as can find it convenient to fatten'',
will on that occasion be present to give their countenance
to that worthy object. (A.pplanse )
Mr, Alderman S. 'Deus moved that the usual allowance
of 12,000 bs made es the Mayor's salary.
Xr..Ald?rman COOPER seconded the motion.
Mr. GIADTIONE remarked that members of the Council
might keep it in their contemplation, that some members
might pcysibly hereafter propose that that salary should
be reduced. The motion was then carried

The ruintees of the last special Council were read.
DOCK COllll iTTAE.

The proceedings of this eommt•tee were read.
Mr. C. TURNER moved their c mfi7matiou

Mr. AIKIN begged to be elhwed to ask a few questions
in reference to the pension proposed to be voted to the
dock treasurer, Mr Taunton, of £250 a-year. Mr.
Taunton held the office of treasurer for only four or five
'ears, at a salary of 1.750 a year, and it appeared to him
(Mr. Akin) that the pension now about to be awarded to
him was too large, eTecialy as he believed was for life.
(Hear, hear.) He should like to know whether the pen-
sion was to be for life—whether it was to be subject to
confirmation by the new trust, and also whether it had
passed with perfect regularity through the Dock Cora
mittee ? He did not think, seeing that their tenure of
office was to bo short, that the Dock Committee should
award such a pension for life irrespectitv of any control
by those who would eueceel them.
Mr C. TURNER had no objection to ansTer 'be question,
but ho would first like to knew from the Town Oleic
whether the question came under the supervision of the
Council ?

The TOWN CL' RI replied that it did. The Council had
power to canvass everything except a res3intion dismissing
an oftlzer.

M-. C. TURNER sail, that being the cage, he should
proceed to answer the question. Mr. Tauatnu was, uu
fortunately, from ill health, incapeciated from attending to
his du ties as treasurer, or to any business requiring much
exertion either of body or mind. It was true
that he had filled the office of treasurer only for
a few year., an 1 that he had taken the situation
under the stipulation that there was to be no retiring
Fusion allow,d as treasurer ; and, accordingly,
proposing a retiring all maga, to him, the committee
did not look at his present position, but at the position he
would have been in, in case he had not been elected
treasurer. When he was elected treasurer, he filled the
office of Receiver cf D ca Due.3—a very responsibie posi.
tion, at a ealary of £3OO a year, but there was no doubt,
had he continued in the situation, his salary would have
been raised to £4OO, in ceneideratien of his bung service,
extendne over thirty years in the service of the Trust.
ghe Committee took that circumstance into consideration.
and also considering his infirmities, they did think that he
w:s entitled to a pension of £230 a year, not became of
his position s treasurer, but because of the position he had
so long held as Receiver of Dock Da, a.
Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE was sorry to say that Some
irregularity seemed to have been committed in this matter.
In the first place, if he was not mistaken, the day on
which the Finance Committee of the Trust decided
to allow this 'retiring pension to Mr. Taunton, the pro-
ceeding was brought b;•fore the General Committee for
einfirmetion. Now, he was of opinion, that a matter of
such serious moment was entitled to more serious conside-
ration, and that notice should have been given before. the.
matter was brought before ,he General Comm Mee for
confi oration. (Hear, hear.) It appeared to hi mthat if
Mr. Taunton was entitled to a pension as Receiver of
Doak Dues, when he resigned that office and accepted the
offiee of treasurer, he resigned the right to a
p•nnon, because, in thi advertisement for Po