The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-22 00:00:00

PARISH OF ST. MARTIN.

Yesterday morning one of the most angry discussions
ever remembered took place in the vestry-room of the
church. It will be recollected that on Monday morning,
the day of election for churchwardens, the show of hands
was decidedly in favour of Messrs. Simpson and Fenn, when
a poll was demanded on the behalf of Messrs. Taylor and
Hayward, and granted by the Chairman, when the question
as to the manner in which the poll should be conducted
arose, viz., whether the Chairman should take the votes of
those rate-payers who were present, or whether he could
adjourn the meeting to enable those who were not present
to come and vote.

Mr. Churchwarden SIMPSON said, he had taken the opi-
nion of -Sir John Campbell, the present Attorney-General

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which stated that the right of voting 144111 eifloOo
churchwardens or any other officers is c6O- -Wilke pa'` ....
rishioners present when the question is putatialiet473,ae" ...'i
rally in the rate-payers, unless where there UPlnAtrifego" 1
17
rial custom, or an Act of Parliament authori4g4 sartie• f
None but those present had, therefore, a right ip,, , ,'nor`
could the Chairman adjourn the meeting, or ll.i time'/
for taking the poll, unless by a resolution of the rate-payers
then present. He had also taken the opinien of Dr.
Adams on the same question, which went rather farther
than the above, he being decidedly of opinion that only
those present could vote, and ridiculed the idea of a poll of
the whole parish.
Mr. DANGERFIELD, a solicitor, stated that he had taken
Sir William Follett's opinion, which was entirely the reverse
of the above.

The CHAIRMAN stated he had also obtained the opinions
of several eminent barristers and civilians, which entirely
coincided with Sir William Follett's ; and Sir John Camp-
bell's was the only one he had heard of which stated that
at a common vestry-meeting the parishioners at large have
no right to give their votes.
A discussion of some length here ensued, when it clearly
appeared that the inhabitant householders of this parish
meet according to ancient usage and custom in their vestry,
but the point now in dispute was the time the poll should
be kept open, and whether plurality of votes should be
allowed. _

At the hour of six in the evening, on Monday, the vicar
sealed the poll-books, and stated his determination that he
should open them on Tuesday morning (yesterday). Yes-
terday morning, in consequence of the above determination,
of the vicar, the parishioners assembled at ten o'clock in
the vestry-room of the church.
A letter was then read which had been received from the
Vicar, stating that he was unable to attend, being confined
from indisposition.
At six o'clock in the evening the poll was closed, and
the books sealed by the Chairman, and delivered over to
Mr. Farran, and the Vestry-clerk ; after which a scene of
confusion, seldom or ever equalled, took place in the choos-
ing of scrutineers, who are to declare the state of the poll
on Monday next at twelve o'clock. Nothing can exceed
the party spirit that has been evinced throughout this
spirited contest.

PARISH OF CHRISTCHURCH.

A meeting was held yesterday morning. After some
discussion the appointment of an assistant-ovrseevviSh a
salary of 150/., was agreed to.
The Vestry Clerk, in reply to a parishioner said, that
in point of fact the parish was already under the opera-
tion--and benefiting greatly by the operation—of the Poor
Law Amendment Bill, so far as its pecuniary interests were
concerned.

It was unanimously resolved that a petition against the
Bill for consolidating the Sussex and Surrey roads, and the
Surrey new road-trusts, so far as the same discharged the
trustees of the expense of repairs, and threw the burdens
upon the parish, should be prepared, signed by the inhabi-
tants of the parish, and presented to Parliament.
The meeting then adjourned.