Potter's Electric News

Liberal, though we have returned a Tory, which we never did before, lind that only through bribery and corruption. I say that. We must speak out: we must not let these things pass: we must speak out. I say, gentlemen, that we must speak out. I have occupied your time a good deal more than I ought to have done: but I ask you one thing-Is a gentleman, who holds a high position in the County, and owns a large property—is a gentleman,who ii well respected by us all to be publicly insulted, because as an independent man he goes to the poll to vote for whom he thinks proper? Are magistrates to be chaiged with perjury? brought by a man who perjured another man—men to commit perjury [Here the upeaknr paused for a moment apparently from ex- haustion.] -Are magistrates to be charged with bribery, and bringing forward men as witnesses to perjure them- selves, in order to answer the ends of a political party ? Are professional gentlemen of the town, who enjoy the confidence of the town-are they to be called rogues,- because they enjoy the confidence of the party— because they hold political views contrary to the views of the dominant party ? Is that the way in which we are to be treated ? I say every man ought to stand up in defence of our churar.ters-our rights-our liberties. I challenge anyone to bring a spot on my character, in rospect of anything I have done. I have lent t- 5,250, when no one else would do it; and what right have they to abuse me for it, when the public have had it of me at nearly a £ less per cent. than they did before. Well, gentlemen, I am sure there is one proposition I have to make now, which I have no doubt will meet with general approval. I have served the office of Mayor myself as often as most gentlemen, and I know the expense and tn uble incident to the office. I am sure I am very much obliged to any gentleman who fills the office with fidelity, integrity, and honesty. I think we all are agreed that no man in our Corporation has ever filled the office of Mayor more efficiently or with greater loyalty than the gentleman who has to-day been re- elected. During the time I was Mayor, I had to go to London to present an address to the Queen on the birth of a Prince, and I know the cost of that. Our worthy mayor has bad to go to London to present an address on the mavria;;e of the Prince of Wales, and that was attended with very great cost..If he would accept it, I would move I bat bo be re-imbursed his expenses. Mayors formerly used to be paid, but that aalarv has been abolished. I think it is very hard to press upon any gentleman to go and attend to those duties, and I think it only right that we should pay his expenses, especially when we consider that he may be culled upon to do the same thing next year. There is every prospect of it now Mr R ecp: That is a consummation devoutly to be wished for.' Mr Owen I think it probable that he may be called upon to do the same thing next year; an address may be sent through all official channel, but I think it is more respectful to the authorities, that the address should be presented by the local Mayor. I am sure we have always shown our loyalty to the Royal Family, The Mayor has gone up t) London on all occasions when required to do so indeed oil have ('one what has been required of there, and have always been loyal. I am quite sure you will agree with me in voting a most cordial vote of thanks to our worthy Mayor for the man- ner in which he has discharged the duties connected with the office of Mayor. I am sure we all feel very grateful and very thankful to him, and I propose a vote of thanks to him for the very satisfactory manner in which he has discharged his duties. (Hear, hear.) Mr Harford: I beg leave to second it, because I have worked with the Mayor. during the whole twelve months, and I think every labourer is worthy of his hire. I am speaking to the vote now that the Mayor be amply remunerated for all the expenses he has incurred in the matter A Member: He won't take it. Mr Harford If he docs not take it, he will do I wrong. I think he ought to be ruiply remunerated for so doing: it does cot in my opinion reflect upon him, because it was a very auspicious event; and ho has in- curred considerable expense. Mr Owen It has been proposed and seconded that a vote of thanks of this Council be presented to the Mayor for his services during the past year. Those who are in favour of it will be pleased to signify the same by hold- ing up their hands. [Every band was raised, and the vote was declared to be carried unanimously.] The Mayor Gentlemen,—I most sincerely thank you for the manner in which you have alluded to the dis- charge of my duties as Mayor last year. The great pleasure in filling any office ia this world appears to me so to discharge the duties of it as to give satisfaction to those parties who appointed you to the office; and I assure you to have given you satisfaction amply repays me for any trouble or expense I may have been put to. I have a great interest in the town I have lived a great part of a long life in it, and as it is the object of every man to get associated with those who have the management of the affairs of the town, I assure you no greater or more flattering compliment could have been paid me than electing me as you have done to the ancient and honourable office of Mayor. I re- member well the events to which Mr Owen has referred. I had as a man of business been engaged, professionally or otherwise, on all the great improvements that went on; and I may gay that persons are very apt to forget the benefits they have derived from individuals when some time has elapsed since they were conferred. (Hoar, hear.) My friend, Mr owen-I will not flatter any man,—I never did, and do not intend to do so, but I can look around and say that the matters be refers to were great improvements, and that no one had more to do with originating them than Mr Owen himself. (Hear, hear.) It was by bis perseverance that this state of things was accomplished. I can speak better than many of you around me, because I am nearly now as old as Mr Owen, and I worked on them, not, however, as Mr Owen did, for nothing and I regret that there is no distinction made between services rendered for nothing and with the only object to advance the interests of the public, and others which were remunerated..And I think the persons in the town who recorded their votes in favour ef the man who have so slandered us did not show that distinction. I had the honour of being appointed Mayor, and did not vote at the election. We endeavoured, assisted by the Town Clerk, to perform the duties fairly. But this attack comes ratherungraeiously upon me. I am not a political man, and whatever my opinion may be. I am not considered one opposite to the party who has done this, but I feel they have inflicted a threat upon me which may perhaps come back upon them sometime or other. I feel the town has endorsed the observations on the character of our Corporation, nnd this comes home to me very strongly indeed. They have, many of them, recorded then- votes in favour of the person who slandered us, and I feel they have paid me a very bad compliment indeed. But i' is exceedingly gratifying to me to he able to support Mr Owen in his remarks on the improvements of the town. The. Corpo- ration have enirlov-d me in most of these matters. And with regard to the Market Housa, it is the present Corporation iestiffering-I will not any suffering-—but it is this Corporation who have to bear the reflections, which from ignorance or something else or malice, are made, for that which the Old Corporation did in order to borrow the money. I have no doubt that many patties who took up the question against us are not ignorant of the matter, and know that we have borrowed, and changed our mortgages at a great expense, costing in two cases about L120 in 12 years. X120 is a small sum, for it must have cost the town X60 each time. I know that in the business castes which ceme under my notice it has cost the parties about that sum, and I am sure we are very much indebted to the gentleman who has left this property so long in our possession, and hag not put the town to any expense. This Corporation would have been much greater in debt if he had called up bis money at an earlier period, and would have incurred a greater J expense than the amount of interest Mr Owen has received. When I look at the book published under the auspices of Mr Rees, showing the property of the Corporation, I M O what a difference there is between our position and that of the old Corporation. Our circumstances are much different from that time and I say the Corporation would have been bankrupt a long 1 time since if things had continued as they were, and it is nothing but the watchful care that has been exercised from that time to this that has kept this Corporation as it is. These charges coming as they do at the tfhd of my period of office, appear to aim at me, and I feel bound to say I feel it very severely, —— Mr Rees You did not abstain from Communion on the Sunday before ? The Mayor I believe I can clear my conscience of that allegation. I say no one can find fault with what has been done, and I am sure we deserve their approval instead of their censure. Mr Owen has alluded to my having presented the address to the Prince and Princess of Wales: I assure I did so with great gratification, and it will give me v ry great pleasure to do so again if an occasion occurs, and to do all that may be required in such a proceeding. I am so loyal myself that I hope in the case to which Mr Owen has alluded, it will be a son who may hereafter inherit the high position of her present Majesty. I hope that line, under which we enjoy such blessings, will long be continued. (Hear, hear.) When I look across the Atlantic, and see the unhappy state of things that exist there, I think of the privileges we ourselves enjoy, and I hope that they may continue on and that our gracious Queen may be regarded as the is now with that affectionate interest ever manifested towards her by her people, and which so binds all our hearts together. (Hear, hear.) Long may we enjoy this happy state of things, and I am proud and shall always be proud of the honour you conferred upon me in the presentation of the address, and I shall be very happy to do the same on a similar occasion. I return you my warmest thanks for your kindness: I have trespassed too long already on your time, and I will conclude by expressing the hope that when I resign my trust at the end of the year, I shall, as I have to-day, receive your good opinion of the manner in which I discharged its duties. (Hear, hear.) ) Mr W. Davies: I think we should be wanting in respect to our worthy friend, Mr Owen, if we did not pay him some expression of our thanks for the way in which lie has treated this Corporation for many years. A charge of a most grevious kind has no doubt been made against this Corporation but it was made by a man who was not worthy of our notice. If they bad been made by a man worthy cf being met fairly at the Town Hall, I would have met him, even if I bad been the only one, and no other member had done BO. I would have slandered him, and I would have alleged before his face that he was guilty not only of slander, but of worse again than that, that he was guilty of the grossest falsehood that any man could be guilty of. I would have charged him of that to bis face; for in what this Corporation has done I would have been proud to have taken part, and bad I been a member at the time, to have joined in with Mr Owen in the course which he has adopted from his early days in this town. All honour to Mr Owen for what be has done in the tOWD-an honour, I say, to the Corporation, that has worked for many years to get this town into the state in which it is I now. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, we can boast in this CounciJ-whatøver may bn stated out of doors—of men I whose business talents cannot be surpassed in the County of Pembroke. We can boast Of men holding the highest position in the county, and are we to be traduced oy the very refuse of Society, and charged with being incom- petent and unable to manage our own affairs ? Gentle- men, we cannot do otherwise than feel indignant when we read the attack that was made on this Corporation backed by a large majority of the inhabitants of this town: but we know as regards this matter, that many men were caught up by promises, and never intended the insult to the Corporation which that filthy address conveyed. I admit—and I state it of my own knowledge-that men went to the poll contrary to thefr own wishes—con- trary to their own will: for they had pledged their word, and they went and voted for that man, as they considered themselves in all honesty bound to do so. Let that attack be renewed upon the Corporation- .ist the Corpo- ration have fair play- -and I will assert en the part of the Corporation that the result will be a very different one. But, gentlemen, it was not too late for the inhabitants of the town to mark their sense of the conduct of the man who wantonly, maliciously, and ignominiously attacked the Corporation in a manner which will reflect discredit upon him as long as he lives. Here, gentlemen, first of allwe are charged with misappropriation of public funds. I claim, gentlemen, for every member of this Corporation —I claim the credit for every member, gentlemen, that he is incapable of doing a single act that would procure any misappropriation of public property. The first charge then is misappropriation of the public funds. Gentlemen, I can clear the town of such a charge. From the labour that has been bestowed week, after week, month af- ter month, continually meeting on days in the fortnights,— from the laborthey have bestowed on the expenditure, they have narrowed it to the very narrowest limits. The interest we must feel in preventing anything like a Borough Rate would induce us to do this. A Borough Rate! Who, gentlemen, charges us with being anxious to inflict a Borough Rate? Mr Whicher Davies. How is he to be affected by a Borough Rate? How are the members of the Council to be effected by it? Why, a hundred to one to Mr Davies. The second charge was that our ex- penses are increasing: he says there are enormous ex- penses—that our expenses are increasing to an enormous extent. The charge is that our expenses arc rapidly increasing by reason of the extravagant expenditure incurred. Why, gentlemen, if we go into particulars we shall see that the charge is altogether unfounded. My brother members, or at all events, nearly all of you present, know what interest we have taken in reducing the expenditure. You, gentlemen, know that it is the case; and yet we are charged with extravagance in using the Corporato Funds. Why, gentlemen, we are the very men who proposed that the salary of the Mayor should he knocked off, in order that the public should have the good of it, and not private individuals. (Hear, hear.) Why, we have reduced the expenditure to the utmost pence; and with the regard to the outlay that has lately been done, why should that be brought against us, when it is obvious to any person that the town will find the benefit of it? (Hear, hear.) What man can justly find fault with the expenditure of the money in the Meat Market? There we expended something like £120, and we shall gain a perpetual rental of £.10. (Hear, hear.) If we live but a very short time, and continue to do as we are doing now, we shall find that the finances will be in a much better state than they have been for many years past. And the mortgage on that place was entailed on us, and why is fault to be found with us because the money has been spent in the way they have, suggested. 1 was not a member at that, time, but I ask who would have come forward as Mr Owen did? (Hear, hear.) I can, however, speak of some things tha'. have changed iii my day; and I ask whether there is a town in all England which has come on so rapidly in importance, so far as appearance is concerned, as Haverfordwest. Let them bring a single town that will compete with us in tL.at respect. Why, our town is admired by every one that comes into it. Everything that was an eyesore has been removed-or nearly all. Every man—all who were at the head of affairs,—aH who have spent their lives in it, acknowledge the improvements. All these things I have been done for the benefit of the town, and are we to be charged by a mere upstart with misappropriation and the grossest misconduct? Here is the next charge; we are charged with giving five per cent, because the gentleman is one of us—one of our party. Here is a disreputable charge! Here is an infamous charge! Mr Owen seems to have taken the transfer of this mortgage, created some twelve years before at the rate of five per cent. He reduced the rate of interest to 4k per cent. t'verty-six years ago, for the good of the town, and has never put the town to one shilling expense. (Hear, hear.) I happen to know well what the expense of a mortgage is. The expense is considerable. And Mr Owen has saved the town an enormous sum of money by kindly allowing that money to remain, I think, at five per cent., but if paid in regular time at 4t per cent. If he had not done so, we could not have been able to dis- charge Mr Owen's claim. (Hear, hear.) Mr Owen has given notice to-day that he will call his money lip. This, gentlemen, is a serious thing for the Council: it is a most serious thing for the town, gentlemen. The first thing is the expense of the removal, which will seriously affect us. Mr Owen, when the Corporation required the loan on mortgage, went to the expense himselt. (Hear, hear.) This is honourable conduet: this is the honour- able man. (Hear, hear.) This should be known throughout the length and breadth of the town, (Hear, hear.) It should be known what he did to save the town any expense, and in so doing brought it upon bim- self. Here is the real injury to the town Mr Whicher Davies comes out with his nddress, and Mr Owen gives us notice that he will call up his money. (Hear, hear.) I know the expense. I am pretty well conversant with it, and that will be a considerable one in clear money, (or it must be ready money. And how are we to meet such a serious difficulty ? I don't think we shall have this money by clap-trap—for the whcle is clap-trap -the New Bridge is clap-trap-alI is clap-trap. (Hear, hear.) And with regard to the New Bridge, gen- tlemen, what has Mr Owen done? Why, Mr Owen comes hero to-day, and says:—'I will do as much as I can to get the Bridge free: I will transfer my mortgage.' Can there be anything more honourable than that? Why, if it had not been for Mr Owen we should never have had a Bridge at all; and this Council would have been put to a most serious expense, for years last past in regard to the mortgage. (Hear, hear.) I therefore propose that a vote of thanks be given to Mr Owen for the most. liberal and most handsome manner he has behaved to the Council and town, as has been experienced here to-day. (Hear, hear.) Mr Davies then proposed the following resolution That the thanks of the Council lie tenderod to Mr Owen, for his most liberal and handsome conduct in all his transactions with the Corporation, and the Town at large, for the last twenty years and upwards, and which have greatly contributed to the advancement and prosperity of the town.' Mr Rees: Though I did not. intend to say a word upon the subject, I think it would be more fitting for me to pro- pose this resolution than any other gentleman in the Council. Mr Oweu and myself are the only two mem- bers that were originally elected under the amended Municipal Act—so that we have been together iu har- ness ever since the year 1830. Having an opportunity during the whole series of years from that time to the present—I feel quite competent to form an opinion of the value of tho services of Mr Owen. I am inclined to think that we are making a deal too much of this matter. I quite admit Mr Owen's generous services, and I beg to propose Mr Davies's resolution that the thanks of this Council be given to Mr Owen for the kindness he has manifested in every respect, from the time he has been a member of this body. As to the slanderous attacks, you know, gentlemen, that I am the subject of them just as much as you. I think our best course is just to treat them with silent contempt. They appear to me to be pitiful: they are slanderous—they are venomous-they abusive—they are as malicious as it is possible for them to be. They don't touch me. 1 know the source whence this venom arises; therefore I am quite content that they may spit it up as they like. Mr George Phillips, as a junior member of the Council, also expressed the satisfaction and pleasure with which ho had heard tha statement of Mr Owen. He thought it due to Mr Owen that such a statement should be known by the public, and he was satisfied that no state- ment could be more interesting, borne out as it was by facts.' He was sure that all the Burgesses in the town would read the reports of the meeting with peculiar interest: they would see from the statement put before them that the Council had not neglected the interest of the town, and that the charges brought against them were entirely unfounded. And when the facts were fairly before the public, he could not for a moment believe that the majority of the inhabitants of Haver- fordwest could feel otherwise than the greatest confidence in the manner in which their affairs were conducted. lie believed there were a certain number of parties who were two young to remember what had been done in the town, and it was well that their minds should be enlightened on the subject of Mr Owen's services. He 'I' was exceedingly glad that that gentleman had spoken in the way he had that day. So far as he was concerned he was old enough to remember the state of things that existed before the improvements took place; and his recollection could go step by step with him. Re had always known from his earliest years that he was the moving spirit in the matter, and that the Corporation were indebted to him for great services, and they as members of the Council at the present day, were also indebted to him. He believed that, after what had been stated, a large portion of the sober, thinking, and reflecting inhabitants of Haverfordwest, must feel the same confi- dence as he felt that it was a true statement of those matters, and one that should go before the Town. The greatest care had been exercised with regard to the expenditure during tho past year, and their managers: ent of affairs he was sure would reflect credit on the Corporation and renew the confidence of the town in the members of it. The inhabitants would see from the reports which would be printed in the public papers what had been done during the lives of the elder mem- bers of the council, and he hoped they might be long spared to be amongst them so that they might have thoir valuable services. Mr Blethyn May I ask Mr Owen as a favour, to withdraw his call for 'his money. Mr Owen No let us see what they will do let us see what they will do first. Mr Walters I am very sorry that there was occasion for the remarks that have been made to day and for what has been brought forward by Mr Owen. As regards the slanders, they, as our friend Phillips said, goes a very short way—a very short distance; but we cannot but feel that we do not deserve censure for what we have done. What Mr Owen has undertaken to do, he has done thoroughly. He rendered valuable assistance in the erection of this building. Mr Owen took upon him- self to do the work, and we met and contracted for the building of this house as hard as wo possibly could. Mr James Owen was connected with us, and we built this house for zC63 less than the contract. (Hear, hear.) We met and bought the timber at cost price, and took upon ourselves the supervision of the building. Myself and Mr James Owen went up two or three times a day, and sometimes Mr W. Owen and myself went; and we had the work done as reasonably as possible. I only make these remarks, as the question has been alluded to; and I am only sorry that there has been occasion for me to make them. Mr Harford: I very much approve of Mr Owen's conduct on this occasion, and I for one will not submit nor allow the character of my colleagues to be aspersed by any person therefore, gentlemen, I support the reso- lution. Mr J. D. Brown As a now member of this Council I beg to endorse all that Mr George Phillips has said in respect of Mr Owen's conduct, and it gives me very great pleasure to express my approval of it. Mr Owen I would not mind the efforts of any man backed on by a political party—a mere political tool. It is done for the purpose of getting political capital: I am only sorry that men of respectability-men whom I I should have expected better from—should endorse such views-mere slanders of such a man—a man put up by a political pacty. If that was all, I am sure I should not have thought anything oi it. It is not that, —it is done by a political party. I am quite satisfied to have earned your thanks, and I am satisfied when I look around the town and see what benefits have been derived. I am happy to say all these improvements—the building of the Bridge and approaches,—were done for £ 2000. We made all the approaches from Cartlett to the bottom of the Short Row for that money. My poor brother and myself took all the trouble about it, and we never had one farthing for anything we have done. I have taken my turn with other gentlemen, and I have never taken one farthing for the time and attention we took in the matter. Besides that I gave £ 75 towards the general expenses, and all the men in the town gave >61000. It is a mistake so say that the money wont to the expense of building ihe Bridge. Not one penny of it was spent on the Bridge and its approaches. And it is too bad after all that has been done to be insulted for it. I am very much obliged to you for the compliment you have paid me, and any- thing that I can do to further your wishes I shall always be happy to do. There is one remark I wish to make I have already occupied your time at some length, but what I have to say now will be short. I do not think we ought to stand still, but look about to see whether there are any improvements we can introduce. Now, I think we ought to build a Fish Market, and if no one else will lend the money, I will—(Hear hear,)—if you can find any security but if it is to be done by sub- scription, I will give something towards that. (Hear hear.) There is another matter I wish to allude to and that is St. Mary's Church. I made a model for the improvement of St Mary's, and for the restoration of the Spire. Now I belibve that the lead that was taken off the Spire wis used by tbo Corporation for Corporate purposes. That was done by the old Corporation. The building of the Spire is one of the improvements I want to sue done. I want to see the Spire on the top of the old church, and I will give a free subscription to that. (Hear, hear.) And I won't mind, if they can get security, lending my money to do that. (Hear, hear.) I have occupied BO much of your time before, that I will trespass. I upon your attention no longer. I thank you very sincerely for the compliment you have paid me. (Hoar, hear.) THE SALARY OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE. After some discussion, the Salary of the Superintendent of Police was raised to £90, it being understood that for this sum the Superintendent was to perform all the duties that might be required of him. During the dil- cussion, the Superintendent was spoken of in compli- mentary terms, and the greatest satisfaction was expressed at the manner in which he discharged his duties. I THE BURGESS LISTS. Mr Rees I myself had an opportunity last week of finding that these Assistant Overseers do not discharge their duties as they ought to do. In the case of a lot of tenants of mino—eight or nine,—they were all omitted from the list of Burgesses, except one who happened to be a sailor. One man was put down there who had left the house for five or six years.—all were occupiers of bouses in City Rflad. I made enquiries, and I am able to state that they are full of errors. There is not the least attention paid to these lists. The old ones are sent to the printers to be reprinted, and they send in to the Council to be paid, I think a Id. a name. I think when you pay people out of the public purso for their services, you require that they should do their duty. Therefore, I take the liberty of moving if the bills come before you, that they be rejected. The Treasurer here explained that the bills had not been presented. Mr Rees: Then I will suspend my observations. But T should like this to go forth that the Overseers-somo of whom I know are appointed for political purposes, of that I am certain-may be made aware of this: I have no notion of paying for services which appear to me to be merely political. Mr Davies: They are most disgraceful. The Mayor: This has happened on both sides. One gentleman who voted on the other side, told me that al- though he had a clear right for another place, he had not occupied the place for which be voted for about 8 years. It Is ridiculous to pay men for doing work which they do not perform properly-no matter to what side they belong They ought to know nothing about parties. Mr Harford: There ought to be no politics. The Mayor: Both sides are the same: tbey all com- plain 1 never was so disgusted with anything in all my life. THE OLD COUNCIL CHAMBER. Mr Whittow said ho had asked the Town Clerk if he had a copy of the memorial to the Lords of the Treasury asking for their consent to the sale of the Old Council Chamber. He had not got it with him, but he had sup- plied him with a letter which the Council afterwards sent to the Lords of the Treasury. The Council were not the promoters of the sale: they were asked to sell it by the Improvement Committee of St Mary's church, to assist them in effecting a great public improvement. The old Chamber was a sad eyesore, and they were asked to sell it to improve the handsome cathedral church of St Mary. After that came the question as to what was to be done with the money, and the Council intended to erect a new Chamber: but it was found that the money they received was much too little to erect a Chamber sufficient for the purposes of the Corporation: and it was then resolved that a temporary use should be made of the money. They had used it to widen and improve the bed of the river, and to make improvements in the Police Cells, for whenever the Police Inspector came round he said of Haverfordwest—' it is the same as usual —in a wretched condition.' This was felt to be a reflection on the council and they took np the question of erecting new cells. They improved the dwellings of the policemen, and they had a comfortable room in which the Mayor could meet to transact police business, and also the various committees of the Council. The next use made of the money was to improve the Meat Market, where they incurred a con- siderable expense. He ventured to state that the im- provements in the Market were worth the money they had laid out, and they would have a considerable increase of income by so doing. Admitting, however, for the sake of argument that the money was not spent in the erection of a New Chamber, they bad improved the Council property with it, and he could not see how they had misappropriated the money in any shape or form. They had not expended one shilling unnecessarily. He should have been very ready to build a New Chamber, but the money was not sufficient, and as long as it was used for the benefit of the public, he thought they deserved the thanks of the town. They received something like £ 400 for the Old Chamber, and if they had attempted to build a new Chamber with that sum, he thought Itey would have been very easily involved in a debt of ae400 more. He thought it was only fair to the Council that it should be made known that the Council were not the promoters of the sale of the Old Chamber, but that they agreed to it to effect a great public improvement in the Town. Mr Owen: You are charged with paying me £100 out of that money: I can't tell where the money came from: if it was so, it was the Treasurer's fault. Mr Rees: I don't think you need make yourself so little as to notice those matters. Mr Harford I perfectly approve of the open and can- did manner in which Mr Owen has brought forward the statements in reply to the charges made against him. It does him in my opinion very great honour. I find that if we obtained the money—this borrowed capital-at four per cent. we should save only £24 a year. Taking it at a rough guess it would be about X24 a year, and that is the extent of the misappropriation. Mr Owen: It is not ours: it is the Old Corporation's. Mr Harford: That is suppose we could get it at four per cent. A Member: Where will you got it? Mr Harford: That is another thing :1I say if you could get it. I am so indignant at the charges that have been brought against us in the town, that I beg leave to move that a committee be appointed to examine this account. I think it will be found that a large proportion of what we spent will not occur again. Several members stated that the course suggested by Mr Harford was a most unusual one, and the motion not being supported, fell to the ground. The Treasurer Perhaps you will allow me to make one remark on the printed account. It shows a balance of some X-69 in hand. The last meeting you held took place in August. The account is made up to the 1st of September. When I met you at that time I was not in funds to pay Mr Owen a year's interest, and that is the reason why there is only a half year's interest charged in that account. I could have paid it after, but I could not have produced a voucher to pass before the auditor, and that is the reason why that jg48 odd is not in the account. It was in fact a half year's interest at jt5 per cent. The Mayor: That is to say you have a balance of JE20 in hand. Mr Rees: I contend that we have published our account: they have been audited and been proved, and circulated. If anybody has any objection to any item lot bim mention it. We have spent a great deal more time in exculpating ourselves than We need have done. The accounts have been published, and with these observations [ take the liberty of thanking you, Mr Mayor, for your uerviceg. The Mayor: There is £100 expense which will not occur again. The Treasurer: You don't forget that you have JClOOin hand, of the salo money of the Old Council Chamber. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The report of the Superintendent of Police for the paat quarter was presented, and read. THE PEMBROKESHIRE AND HAVERFORDWEST INFIRMARY. At the suggestion of Mr George Philips, it was resolved that no charge bo made for the use of the Market for the purposes of a bazaar in aid of the Pembrokeshire and Haverfordwest Infirmary. THE ELECTKIC TELEGRAPH OFFICE. ■ • On a bill of £ 1 being presented from tbo Telegraph Newspaper Company for a huif-year's rent of the room used by the Electric Telegraph Company, the Mayor stated that he thought the Council ought not to continue to make this payment, as the Electric Telegraph Company were making a higher charge for sending messages t they had promised. After some conversation >» resolved that the Council should discontinue tho paymcn for the use of a room by the Electric Telegraph Company. Sume other bills were oxamiued and passed, and the Council adjourned.