The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-03 00:00:00

S 1 4 -47
AA, NOVEMBER 3, 1848.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

BEWDLEY.—There was a very warm contest in this
borough, but thosa included in the Conservative list were
successful by a majority of twenty. The following gen.
tlewen were elected :—Mr. John Keightley Gill (Whig),
Mr. James Bancks (Conservative), Mr. James Holkin
(Conservative), and Mr. J. Tait (Conservative).
BRISTOL.—on Wednesday the annual election of town
councillors took place, and was marked by a total ab-
sence of all excitement, and presented a strange con-
trast to the scenes witnessed on former occasions. In
most of the booths the polling was over at the end of the
hour allowed by law, and the aldermen and assessors,
relieved from their all but solitary duties, shut up their
books, and sent their voting boxes to the council-house,
glad to be freed from a task unenlivened by any of the
fun that is usually to be met with on election days. The
following is a list of the councillors returned :—Bed-
minster, R. Phippen, Esq.; Bristol, J. G. Shaw, A. Alex-
ander, Arthur Hare Palmer ;* Clifton, Charles Wait,
W. H. G. Langton,* C. Warde, R.N. ;1* District, H.
Pritchard;* Redcliffe, C. Hare, T. Powell; St. Augus-
tine, T. Powell, F. W. Green ; St. James, W. Hera-
gath ; St. Michael, 0. Coathupe; St. Paul, H. 0. Wills;
St. Philip, H. Visger. Those marked thus (*) are new
members. Though there was no party feeling in any of
the elections, it may be stated as a fact, that the Liberals
gain two by the elections, viz., Mr. Palmer and Mr.
Langton.—Bristol Gazette.
CANTERBURY.—These elections took place on Wed-
nasday. In Northgate Ward matters were very quiet,
the two retiring councillors, Messrs. Holland and Sneller
being re-elected. In the other two wards there was
some spirit by reason of a split in both parties—in that
of the Whigs in respect of Westgate, and in the Con-
servatives in respect of Dane John Ward. Mr. E.
Southee having retired from Westgate, Mr. Chipperfield
announced himself for the vacancy—Mr. Walker for re-
election. Beside these Mr. Avann and Mr. Welby
started at. the last moment. And in the Dane John
Ward there were four candidates, there being a sere-
rence between the retiring councillors, Messrs. Sladden
and Goodwin, the former taking for a coadjutor Dair. T.
W. Collard, and the latter Mr. E. Soutbee. The follow-
ing is the result:—Dane John Ward: Goodwin, 202;
Southee, 188; Sladden, 68; Collard, 56; Westgate Ward:
2Csh.i pirserofirethid, gatle6ll; ‘,arldV:alikieorlianl2dB, ;
6; Welby,Sneller, 665.
K
e,,Avann,6.—Kentish
Observer.
CARLISLE.—The municipal elections in this city
passed over without contest in any of the wards. The
following gentlemen were elected to serve for the year
ensuing:—Botchergate Ward: Mr. Joseph Richardson,
innkeeper; Mr. Edward M'Gibbon, manufacturer. Cal-
dersgate Ward: Mr. Robert Simpson, builder; Mr.
Joseph Lansdale, shoemaker. St. Cuthbert's Ward:
Mr. William Robinson Martindale, druggist; Mr. Henry
Tweeddle, painter. St. Mary's Ward: Mr. John Hut-
hart, hosier; Mr. John Wallace, grocer. Rickergate
Ward: Mr. Ellwood Brookbank, timber merchant; Mr.
John Bell, currier.

CHESTER.— St. Oswald's War]: Mr. Clare (Whig),
Mr. Thalwall (Conservative). Trinity Ward: Mr. Ro-
Jgers (Conservative), Mr. T. Evans (Conservative). St.
ohn's Ward: Mr. J. Smith (Conservative), Mr. Gard-
ner (Conservative). Boughton Ward: Sir E. J. Walker
(Whig). Mr. Myers (Conservative). St. Mary's Ward:
Mr. Robert Turner (Whig), Mr. E. V. Parry (Whig).
GLOUCESTER.—East Ward: Mr. Thomas Mann (Li-
beral), Mr. George Samuel Wintle (Conservative), re
lected. A Mr. John Hillier opposed them in the Li-
beral interest, but lost by a large majority. West
Ward : The candidates were—Mr. Thomas Pearce and
Mr. Char:es Cmike, the outgoing councillors, and Mr.
John Henry Cliffs; and a poll being demanded, at its
close the numbErs stood thus:—Mr. Pearce (Conserva-
tive), 204; Mr. Cliffe (Conservative), 153; Mr. Cooke
(Liberal), 127. South Ward: Mr. Chail..s Washbourne
and Mr. Edward Leader were re-elected without any
opposition.
HASTINGS, Nov. I.—East Ward (close of roll).
George Clement (Liberal), 496; Alfred Amoore (Tory),
490; Edward West Stubbs (Liberal), 447; Thomas
Hicke3, (Tory), 408; James George Langham (Tory),
363; Stephen Th waites (Liberal), 264; Charles Duke
(Tory), 55: first four returned, in the place of three
Tories and one Liberal. Wess Ward :—James Mann
(Liberal), 115; James Beck (Tory), 81; John Austin
(Liberal), 75; first two returned, in the place of two
Liberals.

lIIINTINGDON.—There was no contest et the municipal
election in this borough. Three Conservatives and one
Whig went out by rotation, and by mutual consent were
re-elected.

KING'S LYNN—In this borough the Conservatives have
carried almost exclusively the elections in the whole of
the wards. At the close of the pt-,11 the numbers were :
North Ward; Mr Cook (Conservative), 173; Mr. Sme-
than (Conservative), 134; Mr. Laws(Whig), 100. Middle
Ward: Mr.! Masters (Conservative), 206 ; Mr. Soyle
(Conservative), 177 ; Mr. Cooper (Whig), 137. Soath
Ward: Mr. J. Platten (Conservative), Mr Joseph Wales
(Whig), re-elected. Two first in first and second wards
elected.

LICTIFIELD.-The contest in this city has terminated
as follows :—North Ward: Thomas Johnson, Esq.
mayor, 182; T. newly, Esq. (C), 182; T. Purdew, Esq.
(C), 180 ; Mr. Brassington (W), 143 ; F. Bond, Esq.
(W), 144 ; Mr. Hawkins (W), 140. South Ward: Hal-
ford Hewitt, Esq. (W), 115 ; Mr. Harding. (W), 114 ;
Mr. Thorneloo (W), 113 ; Mr. Smith (C), 87 ; Mr.
Astley (C), 87; Mr. Purdew (C), 66. Three first elected
in each ward.

READING, Nov. I.—A very spirited contest has been
carried on in each of the three wards in this borough in
the election of town councillors, and this has arisen, not
so much from a desire to place any particular political
party in power, as to elect men known to be decided op-
ponents to such an extravagant "and expensive system
of drainage and sewage as was attempted to be thrust
upon the town nearly two years since by a majority of the
then corporation. This is the point upon which all
municipal elections have turned since the beginning of
1847, and thus it is we see placarded in different parts
of the town, on such occasions, the name of the candi-
date with his particular qualification stated to be, in
bold letters, "No sewage," &c. In Abbey Ward Mr.
John Moggs (Liberal), and Mr. Lediard (Conservative),
were the oetgoing councillors. Mr. Moggs had been in
the council nearly ever since the Municipal Corpora-
tions Act came into operation, and it is most singular to
remark, that he died On the very day on which his ser-
vice of office expired, he having prcvioudy announced
his retirement from public duties. The candi-
dates in the fieM were Mr. Lediard, Mr. W. Brown
(Liberal), Mr. Fall (Liberal), Mr. Haslarn
Conrer-
vativd.) At four o'clock the nwebers stood thus :—Mr.
W. Brown 192, Mr. J. Fall 151, Mr. J. Hallam 109,
Mr. Lediard 13. Castle Ward—Mr. James L. Farrow
and Mr. IL Adams were the retiring members, and up
to the close of last week there was no sign of opposition
to their re-election, but a third candidate appeared in the
person of Mr. Clecy, postmaster, on the anti-sewage
interest. The result of the polling is as follows :—Mr.
Clacy (Liberal) 162 ; Mr. Adams (Conservative), 92 ;
Mr. Farrow (Liberal), 48. Church Ward—A strange
re-action has taken place here. Mr. Exall (Liberal),
the ppular candidate three years ago, has given great
great offence by his advocacy of the s) stem of drainage
to which we have already adverted, and he was com-
pletely deserted by his former friends en that account.
Mr. George Cooper, whole term of office ex fired to-
day, &cline,' b, ing no.ninated again, and two new ear-
didatee were started ; Mr. John Smith Q taker), and
Mr. John ll,,oper (.3ons,mttive) The 1; Bowing rotes
were recoldel ; M. J. Hooper, 177 ; Mr. J. Smith' (Li-
bend), 175 ; Mr. NV. Exalt, 70.
RocrmsTEß —'l't:e contest for town councillors has
been carried on in this city with more than usual vigour.
So far as the strength of parties in the corporation is
concerned they re.nain the same—three Conservatives
for St. Margaret's ward, two fur Sr. Nicholas, and one
Liberal for Strood, going out of otliie. ; and the same
numbers being again returned. But the Liberals boast
of the reduction they have effected in the majority in
St. Margaret's ward, sad with a list of claimants ready
to place them foremest when another registration shall
have been completed. A lamentable feature in the con-
test has been the debauchery and bribery, which is said
to have been carried to a great extent.
SALlsuuay.—The whole of the wards in this city were
contested. At the close of the poll the numbers were as
follow (two to be elected fur each ward):—St. Thomas's
Ward: Mr. George Fulferd (0), 99 ; Mr. George
Brown (C), 9i; Mr. W. Faucett (L), 89 ; Mr. John
Toone (L), 72. St. Edmund's Ward : Mr. William
Smith (C), 102 ; Mr. It. Cother (C), 95 ; Mr. N. V.
Squarey (L), 81. St. Martin's Ward : Mr. James
Hussey (C), 85; Mr. Woodlands (L), 79 ; Mr. B. B.
Hole (C), 74.
SOUTHAMPTON, Nov. I.—The election for councillors
took place this day, but little or no interest was taken
in the matter. The ward of All Saints having been
most successfully contested last year by four influential
and persevering gentlemen, the Conservatives offered no
opposition in the present instance, and Messrs. Borrett,
Sharp, Copeland, and Ellyett were duly returned. The
ward of llolyrood returned a Liberal, by a single vote,
given in favour of Mr. Brett, who professes independent
(though not Conservative) principles. In St. Mary's
Ward three Liberals were returned, viz., Messrs. Lan-
kester,
Purchase, and Degree. The only opposition, in
fact, was in the wards of St. Lawrence and St. Michael,
where Mr. Hunt and Lefeuvro (Tories) were returned,
in lieu of two gentlemen entertaining similar principles.
Total gain to the Liberal party, four seats.
Wea WICK.—la this borough the Liberals have lsuc-
ceeded in returning the whole six town councillors,
viz., four in St. Mary's Ward, and two in St. Nicho-
las's Ward.
WELLS.—The elections for this city have terminated
in the return of four Conservatives, viz., Mr. William
Petkins, Mr. Henry Powell, Mr. Charles Barber Taylor,
and Mr. Samuel Hobbs.
WINCHESTER.—Ward of St. Thomas: Mr. C. Lam-
pard (Conservative), Mr. Charles Seaguin (Conserva-
tive). Ward of St. Maurice : Mr. James Forder
(Whig), Mr. John Wallis (Whig). Ward of St. John:
Mr. Charles Ruby Thomas (Conservative), Mr. W.
Kelsey (Whig).
KENDAL. East Ward : Mr. John Jowitt Wilson
(Liberal), Mr. Charles Lloyd Braithwaite (Liberal).
West Ward: Mr. John Fisher, jun. (Liberal), Mr. Miles
Thompson (Tory). North Ward: Mr. Isaac Edmond-
son (Liberal), Mr. Simon Mashiter (Liberal). All re-
elected without opposition.

VAUXHALL - BRIDGE COMPANY.
A half-yearly court of the proprietors of this, com-
psny was held yesterday at two o'clock, at the George
and Vulture, Cornhill; Mr. Parnell in the chair.
The usual preliminaries having been gone through,
and the minutes of the previous meeting confirmed,
Mr. JEFFREY, the clerk, lead the report and accounts.
The report stated that the unpaid dividend amounted to
8681. 25., that the company still held 200 shares in the
bridge, and Exchequer-bills for 3001. The assessment
upon the company for land-tax for the Middlesex half
of the bridge, had recently been increased from 5001. to
5,108/. An appeal had been made against this excessive
increase, without admitting the liability of the bridge,
in the hope that such a reduction would be made as
would render it better for the Bridge Company to redeem
the land-tax altogether than to carry the matter into:a
court of law. The Commissioners had refused to listen
to that appeal; the directors, therefore, intended with
the approval of the shareholders, to resist this rate
altogether in a court of law. Again, they had been com-
pelled to pay an advanced assessment for the relief of
the poor of St. John's, Westminster, amounting to 2251.,
and an appeal lodged against the justice of the impost.
The opening of the South-Western Extension to Water-
loo-bridge had reduced the amount of tolls, which the
directors believed was principally occasioned by the
public not having the facility of using the station at
Vauxhall-bridge, only two of the down trains
to Southampton, Gosport, and Portsmouth, being
allowed to stop there. The directors had applied to the
company upon the mutter, but without success. The
tolls for the six months, ending the 31st of October,
amounted to 5,4921. 6s. 7d. (those received during the
corresponding period of last year having been 7,0011.),
showing a decrease of 1,5081. 13s. sd. The receipts on
account of the pier for the same period were
1971. 19s. 6d., and the expenditure 1231. 6s. lid., show-
ing a profit of 74/. 12s. 7d. The report concluded by
recommending a dividend for the half-year of fourteen
shillings per share.
Mr. FEARON inquired what the revenue yielded by
the pier for the whole year was?
The CHAIRMAN replied that the revenue for the first
half of the year had been 2781. 10s., and for the second
half, terminating with October, 1974 19s. 6d.
Mr. FEARON—Making the total receipts for the year
4761. 9s. 6d.

The CHAIRMAN replied in the affirmative. It would
seem, therefore, that the pier has proved more profitable
than the directors or the company generally gave the
pier or Mr. Fearon, its originator, the credit of being
likely to bring about at the outset. It was opened on
the Ist of August, 1845, and produced by the 31st of
October, 1846, when it was reported to be a loss,
a nett revenue of 211/. 1 ls. 5d., or 11i per cent.
profit. From the Ist of November, 1846, to the 31st
of October, 1847, the receipts were 500/. 18s. 9d.,
or 34 per cent. profit on the outlay (1,4731. 2s. 10d.),
and in the last year it had yielded 2741. 19s. 5d., or near
20 per cent. nett profit, notwithstanding it had been shut
up three months, pending a dispute with the Boat Com-
pany as to the rate of dues, which, like the sewer rate,
the directors ultimately conceded. Shutting it up ill
accorded with the loud professions of public accommo-
dation by the directors.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply to a shareholder, then pro-
ceeded to observe that he was before the Commissioners of
Sewers three-quarters of an hour, but though he did his
best to convince them of the injustice of the rate, he
had failed, as they had made au order for its payment.
Ile endeavoured to make them understand that the
bridge obtained no break from the sewerage, rather an
injury—that they (the Commissioners) had no control
over the river, and that the bridge ought not to be
rated. It was right he should state that the chairman
was not a lawyer, as would naturally be supposed, but
a clergyman. One of the Commissioners said, " I sup-
pose the Bridge will pay, if we make an order;" and an
order
.accordingly was made. The off-hand way in
which the gentlemen composing the board decided points
of law, which would occupy the judges weeks or months
in consideration, was most extraordinary and unjustifi-
able. Then they had appealed against the increase of
the land-tax, from 5001. to 5,108/ ; but, as they might
suppose, with no better success, as an order had been
made for them to pay. They intended to resist this ex-
travagant claim to the utmost ; he believed they had an
excellent case, and no doubt they should succeed. With
respect to the recent extension of the South-Western to
Waterloo-bridge, doubtless they did not feel surprised
at anything that railway companies might do, but really
they could not fail to be astonished at the great want of
faith evinced by the South-Western. They stated in
Parliament, when they obtained the Extension
that whenlhe trains ran to Waterloo-bridge the public
would have the same accommodation as heretofore at
the station and pier at Nine Elms. Now, they had vio-
lated their promise altogether, since they only allowed the
two trains mentioned in the report to stop, and even then
at most inconvenient hours. The public had remon-
strated, and the Bridge Company had backed them,
because they lost iu the same ratio as the public were
inconvenienced. As the trains were not stopped at
Vauxhall, they were diiren across the viaduct at so
great a speed that the noise, from some cause or other,
resembled thunder. Some serious accident, from the
horses below taking fright, must inevitably ensue. If
so, he trusted the inhabitants would testify to the rapid
speed of the trains at that part of the line. The dan-
ger had been pointed out to the Railway Company, but
they heeded it Dot, being utterly regardless of the safety
of the public. The Bridge Company had also called the
attention of the Commissioners of Railways to the
matter, who stated in reply that it did not quite come
under their jurisdiction. That day they had pre-
pared another memorial. Then the Railway Company
had increased the fare to Southampton from 14s. to 18s.
Two trains, however, started at once—one got in several
hours before the other, so that parties who did not wish
to lose half a day were obliged to pay the additional
fare, namely, Es. He would willingly subscribe his
quota to bring in a Bill to compel railway companies to
act with greater justice.

Mr. Fikuoti said he could not but believe that the
directors of the Bridge Company had given the direc-
tors of the South-Western much provocation, for he
could not forget the conduct of the former with respect
to the proposal made to them for carrying the wires of
the electric telegraph over the bridge to the Palace, and
thence eastward. A rent of 30/. a year (of the present
estimated worth of 9001.) was offered for this accommo-
dation; but the directors refused to accede to it unless
they received 501 What was the result? The wires
were carried acro .s Waterloo-bridge, and ;acrimony to.
wards them on the part of the South-Western was the
natural consequence of such conduct. Hence, perhaps,
the non-stoppage of the trains, and the absence of a de-
sire to accommodate them in any way. He had the
strongest reason for believing that the Bridge Company
had thus, and in other ways, generated most unfavour-
able feelings towards it. __ _

The CHAIRMAN said, considering the bridge had not
returned more than two per cent. to the proprietors, the
directors considered that 501. was not too much to pay
for the privilege referred to, inasmuch as it would have
cost a great deal more to have obtained the same end by
any other means. Ho thought it light to state that he
had just been informed that none of the long trains
stopped at the Vauxhall station, but that some of the
intermediate traffic did.

Mr. CHALMERS considered that the company would
experience considerable loss by parties not liking to
drive under the viaduct, and pass over the bridge, in
consequence of fearing their horses would take fright.
The memorial to the Railway Commisibioners W4S then
read and approved, the reports and accounts received and
ordered to be entered on the minutes, the dividend re-
commended declared, and made payable on and after the
Ist of December; the proceedings with respect to the
poor-rate, the land-tax, and the terms on which a lease
with the Western Gas Company for the passage of their
pipes across the bridge, left to the decision of the com-
mittee; and a vote of thanks having been accorded to the
Chairmen, the meeting separated.