Potter's Electric News

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. -I HAVERFORDWEST MUNICIPAL ELECTION. The election of Town Councillors took place on Wednesday last at the Market Hall. The Coun- cillors whose period of office expired were Mr Thomas Rule Owen, Mr George Phillips, Mr Alfred Beynon, and Mr Wm. Marychurch. The two first mentioned did not seek re-election, but Mr Beynon and Mr Marychurch were nominated, and solicited a renewal of office. In addition to these there were nominated Mr John William Phillips, of City Road, Mr William Llewellin, of High-street, Mr Richard Williams, of Dew-street, Mr Henry Phil- lips, of Hill-street, Mr W. Bletbyn, and Mr Thomas Williams, druggist, of Market-street, all of whom issued addresses, expressing their willingness to serve the office. The appearance in the field of so many candidates excited some surprise, for up to Saturday last not one of the gentlemen mentioned, except Mr A. Beynon, had publicly intimated his intention of becoming a candidate, and it seemed as if the once much-coveted distinction of being a member of the Corporate body, had lost its attrac- tions, and that the office itself in Haverfordwest, after centuries of honourable associations, bad almost gone a-begging." The reputation of the Corporation of Haverfbrdwest in the year 1865*— a year which will be ever memorable in the Corpora- tion annals for its extraordinary financial under- takings-is not one of which the Burgesses can be proud indeed it may be questioned whether there is at the present time another similar body in the kingdom which enjoys so little of the confidence and respect of those whose interests it professes to serve. There are, it is true, some respectable and highly intelligent men still members of the Town Council, but even their reputation and fair fame cannot save its character. The ignorant and uneducated element predominates, and the municipal office has gradu- ally descended in public estimation until the very name has become a bye-word throughout the whole y t, county. The seats of late years have been wholly at the disposal of some powerful members of the Liberal party, and they have dispensed the muni- cipal offices as they do their own private patron- age,—bestowing them upon some of their own adherents, sometimes as a reward for political ser- vices, and not unfrequently as a sop to pre- serve the allegiance of a doubtful supporter. The nominees of the Liberal party would as a matter of course become the holders of the Corpo- ration places, and during many years very few efforts were made to displace them. Latterly attempts have been made from time to time to break up an order of things so prejudicial to the interests of the town but the measures adopted by the Liberals to retain their power over the seats in the Council were so unscrupulous, that the voices of the respectable and intelligent electors were systematically stifled, and there seemed to be no chance of success for any candidate whose self- respect would not allow him* to imitate the unfair and mean artifices of his Liberal opponents. Last year their proceedings were so discreditable that public indignation was aroused, and Mr Wjicher Davies, who was declared by the Corporate officials as the defeated candidate, applied to the Court of Queen's Bench, and after considerable litigation succeeded in ousting Mr Blethyu, and obtained the seat which the voting papers of the electors had in the first instance unquestionably assigned to him The Corporation were ordered to pay the expenses of Mr Davies's application, amounting to upwards of £ 82, and they with an audacity which completely astonished the public, paid not only this large sum out of the Corporate Treasury, but also their own expenses in resisting the application, amounting to rather more than JE39, makinj a total of £121 of public money shamefully squandered in their en- deavours to resist the admission into their body of one who happened to bold a different political creed. This wholesale expenditure of the Corpo- rate moneys seems to be unparalleled in the history of Corporations, and has so exasperated a large proportion of the public as to make them desire nothing less than the extermination of the prexent Corporation, and in a few years, with such results as we chronicle to-day, that object will be fully accomplished. The electors generally strongly desire a change of representation, but the candidates possessing the necessary fitness for the position are obtained with difficulty, for men of education and respectability are unwilling to have their names associated with an office which is held in almost universal contempt. 'I his year, gentlemen combining ability and reputation were prevailed upon to allow their nomination, and if the Mayor had permitted poll clerks to tbe several candidates, as on former occasions, there is no doubt what- ever that Wednesday last would have witnessed the rejection of so useless a member as Mr William Marychurch, and the return of a nw candidate in every way better qualified to discharge the duties of Councillor. Why his Worship refused the applica- tion which was made to him we cannot understand, as what was asked for is usually granted in other towns in the Principality and while we write we have before us a report of the Cardiff election, which contains an announcement of the state of the poll at every hour of the day. We cannot suppose that His Worship allowed any private fee!ing to influence his decision delivered in a public capacity but it is a matt?r of some signi- ficance at the present moment that the opinion most generally held is, that Mr W. Marychurch owed his success on Wednesday last to the system of secret voting of which His Worship was the advocate. Whether this opinion is correct or not we do not pretend to say but when the numbers were announced, the fact that this bucolic celebrity -who was decidedly an unpopular candidate,- stood third on the poll, and before candidates of greater attainments and of fairer reputation,- took the entire electoral body by surprise; and there are scores of burgesses who hold the opinion that if the state of the poll had been declared in the same manner as in previous years, Mr William Marycburch's name would have been where it ought to have been-at the bottom of the list. Mr W. Blethyn, whom his party considered the elected candidate at the election last year, only came for- ward this year to find that he bad gone down in popular estimation. Mr Blethyn, in his address, announced himself as the choice of the people, and appealed to the sympathies of the Burgesses by describing himself as having been deprived of his seat by a quirk of the law; but though his friends tried their utmost to shove him into a seat, the electoral verdict put him in the place which was assigned to him by the Judges of the Court of Queen's Bench. Mr J. W. Phillips, as will be seen on reference to the figures, which we insert in this report, stands lowest on the list of the elected candidates; perhaps we ought, by way of explanation, to state that his candidature was very seriously affected by a report which bad been circulated through the town in the afternoon, that he had been nominated without his consent, and that he did not wish to serve the office. This an- nouncement was made the most of by the Cor- I poration party, and there is no doubt whatever that they prevented many persons voting in his favour. The fact that Mr William Marychurch occupies a higher position on the list would itself require some explanation for no comparison can be made between the two candidates without something approaching very near an insult to Mr Phillips, whose character is so well known and appreciated by the electoral body as to render any recommendation to them entirely unnecessary. Mr A. Beynon, who was certainly a very popular candidate, and who on account of the general es- teem in which he is held has always been largely supported, polled the greatest number of votes, Mr Richard Williams, of Dew Street, a new can- didate, who was supported by the respectable men of both parties, being next on the list. The unsuccessful candidates were MrW. Llewellin, Mr Blethyn, Mr Henry Phillips,.and Mr Thomas Williams. Mr Llewellin was only six behind Mr J. W. Phillips, and had these gentlemen exerted themselves and taken an active part in their own election, they no doubt would have polled a greater number of votes. The result of the poll as de- clared by Mr Meyler was as follows :— Mr A. Beynon 328 Mr R. Williams 315 Mr W. Mai-yohurch 309 Mr John W. Phillips 291 Mr Wm. Llewellin 285 MrW. Blethyn 277 Mr Henry Phillips. 265 Mr Thomas Williams 260 The polling was conducted quietly and orderly, with few of the unseemly squabbles which have been the leading incidents of former elections. A dispute, in which some warmth of feeling was exhibited, oc- curred on the Bench between the Mayor and one of the Assessors, Mr T. D. Meyler, respecting His Wor- ship's questioning of particular voters, in which re- ferences were made to 'doing dirty work,' when Mr Meyler retorted that he had never done the dirty work of any party since he had been connected with the Town, and firmly contradicted the Mayor's asser- tion of right to put such questions as had been complained of. At the close of the poll which took place at four o'clock (local time), the Mavor and Assessors adjourned to the Council Chamber, where they were occupied in counting up the votes uutil nearly 10 o'clock, when the result was declared as above stated. As we have commented upon the Mayor's refusal to allow check elerks, we think it is I but justiee to His Worship to acknowledgp the ability I with which the arrangements were made for the con- I duct of the election in the Market Hall, which pos sesses decided advantages QyerUia Shire Hall for such purposes. On the platform was erected a large desk, affording accommodation to the Mayor and Assessors. I In front of the platform was a strong barrier with two openings, and the voter entering on the one side, after recording his vote, passed out on the other,— an arrangement which afforded a clear passage way to the poll, and very greatly facilitated the pro- ceedings. The passage way was kept clear by the Borough Police, who were reinforced by about eight special constables. The election is a decided victory over the dominant party in the Town Council, and was celebrated by several hearty peals from the bells of the parish church on the following day. The election of Mr Phillips and Mr Williams is a result which the inhabitants can contemplate with satisfaction, and if the victory has not been so complete as they could wish, there is good grouud for the hope that future efforts will meet with greater success. Public opinion has begun to make its influence felt in the Council Chamber, and-it does not require a prophetic eye to perceive that ere many years elapse, the tenure of office by the designing politicians who have com- manded its seats for so long a time, will come to an end, and be numbered among the things that were. MORAVIAN MISSIONS. The anniversary sermons in aid of tbe above tuitions will be preached at the Brethren's Chapel in thia town, on Sunday next, by the Rev. J. E. Eberle. The annual meeting will be held in the same Chapel on Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock, when the chair will be taken by the Rev, J. H. A. Pnilipps, M.A., of Piuton Cattle.) j HAVERFORDWEST. v [i NmrLAND.-The band of the 62nd Regiment perforatd as usual on Friday afternoon last In the South Wales Hotel grounds The weather was very fine, and there was a great number of persons present. This conciudea the Friday assemblies of the band, which will be dis- continued until the spring of next year. Their perform- ances have given great satisfaction to large numbers of persons, who came from the most distant parts of the county. The music-loving portion ot the public are greatly indebted to the officers of the 62nd regiment for the amusement which has thus been afforded them. FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday last a little boy, six years of age, the son of Mr William Blethyn Eiiis, of Merlin's Cottage, while playing in a meadow behind bis father'b house, accidentally fell into the river and was drowned, and the body carried off by the current, the rivur being at the time very much flooded. Every search was made, but to no purpose further than the finding of his cap, which was picked up on Wednesday, ahout 200 yards from the place where the accident happened. The search was continued on Friday when the body was found in the stream, about halt a mile dis- tant from Mr Ellis's bouse. SERIOUS OUTRAGE.—Some time durirg the night of Saturday last, a rick of bay the property of W. Owen, I Esq, of Withybush, situated behind the Boot and Shoe public house, near Witbybush, was set on fire. Fortu. I nately the fire was discovered, and through the exertions of Mr Owen's servants, the flames were got under, and a large quantity of the hay recovered. The fire was the act of some malicious persons, and a notice signed by the Chief Constable has been issued, offering a reward of £ 10 for such information as will lead to the detection and conviction of the perpetrators of this most disgrace- ful outrage. i SUDDEN DEATH OF CAPT PIIIUPPS, OF PENTYPARK. 1 -It is with a deep feeling of regret that we record the death of Capt Philipps, of Pentypark, which melancholy ] event took place this morning with great suddenness The deceased gentleman was in Haverfordwest yesterday transacting business, and appeared in his usual health. Some time during the night he was suddenly seized with illness, from the effects of which he died in a short time. ( Capt Philipps was a magistrate of the county, and took an active part in the management of public business. lie was highly esteemed, and his untimely death will t east a deep gloom in the homes of many of the leading 5 families of the county of Pembroke. POLICE CASES.—On Monday, Mary Tompkins, of Merlin's Hill, was brought up before the Mayor, J. Marychurch, E-q, and S. Harford, Esq, charged with e begging alms in Victoria Piaoe. The prisoner was sent to prison for seven days. Adelia Davies, of < Merlin's Bridge, was charged with sleeping on I Cartlett Kilns. The defendant was remanded till I next petty sessions. Thomas lbills, of Prender- gast, was charged with disobeying a bastardy order. t The defendant paid the money, amounting with I costs to jEl 83, and was discharged—On Tuesday, William George, of the Kilns, was brought before S. I Harford, Esq, charged with using language towards I Mr George Llewellin, of North Gate, calculated to create I a breach of the peace. The defendant was bound over in his own recognizances of £ 10, to keep the peace for I three months. I RIFLB CONTEST.—The competition for the prize pre- 1 sented by Col. Peel to be shot for by the members of the ] Haverfordwest Corps who had attended two drills during the month of October, took place at the Rifle Range on < Monday afternoon. The ranges were 200 and 500 yards, t five shots at each distance. Wimbledon targets and scoring. The following II the result:— 200 600 Total. < 1. Private R. I. Jones, (10s). 14 16 30 2. „ D. P. Davies, (5s) ..15 15 30 3. Sergt. T. L. James, (3s) .15 14 29 4. Private John Jones, (2.») .11 15 26 Col. Scrgt. W. E. Jones .13 13 26 W.H.Morris.13 13 26 Private J.O fid .12 12 24 „ D. Phillips 13 11 24 Sergt. Major Reid .11 12 23 Sergt. Simpson 11, 12 23 THE BAPTIST QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE LOWER DISTRICT IF CARMARTHENSHIRE.—On Tuesday and Wednesday, the 24 b and 25th of October, the above meeting was held in Ainon, near Salem (Meidrym), under] the presidency of the Rev. John Lloyd, the minister of the place. The first evening the RI'n. D. Jones, Cwm- felyri; and B.'rIJ.mtn Thomas, Drefach, preached; at 10 the next day, the Revs. D. D.vies, Bwlchau; J Ll. Owens Ffynon; and H. Price, Rhydwilym; at two the Revs D. Davie", Login; J. Davies, Hebron; and T. Lewis. Carmarthen; and At six. the Revs. D. Richards, St. Clears; Morgan Griffith, Siltem and T. Williams, Ebenezirr. preached. There were etTara) other ministers present on the occasion. At the Conference the following resolutions were passed: —1st, That the meeting highly disapproves of the conduct of the Committee of the flaver(ordwest College, in receiving the resignation of Mr Bnrditt, M A., so hastily <nd unceremoniously. 2nd, That the meeting call* on the Haverfordwest Committee to give explanation on the Deeds of the New College House, in answer to the questions of the Nov. W. Lewis, Felinfoel, &c. The aervicw woo highly interesting on both days.-Baner ac Amserau Gvmru. ROOSE PSTfY SESSIONS. These sessions were held #t tbe Skfre Hall on Satur- day, before O. E. Davies, Esq, C*p» Child, and the Rev P. Phelps. CHARGE OF NON-I?AYJIBNT OF RATES. Mr George Whittow, of Syk*, ^Mirehacflrd by the over- seers ot the parish of Walwyn's Castto with non-payment of poor rates, amounting to jg4 1 Is led. Mr Paulett. the collectoi, appealed for the oxQKSQece. In reply to the charges, The defendant said If you w.111 lapk at the rate book, you will find that there is a balitnaa ciua to IDC of. £4; 11s, 10d, certified by the auditor; biH they will not allow it to uie. The Clerk Why don't you allow Mr Whitto^ this balance? Collector: The auditor will not allow it to me. The Cltrk The auditor says in "his own handwriting, I find a balance of £ 4 lis lOd due to the overseer.1 That ih to Mr Whittow. What do you thiuk he means by that? Collector: Ht1 would have disallowed It. The Clerk How do you know ? Collector: He told me so. Thp C'erk: Why? Collector: I am employed to collect the rates, and I must collect the whole. The Clerk: Why would he disallow It to you ? CuLector: I can't tell. The Clerk: He states himself that there is a balance of Xq 118 lOd due to the overseers, Mr 0. E Davies: What Is the objection, Mr James? The Cierk: Thetuatter stands thus, atr: Mr W lutlow is sumna ned for not paying £ 4 11sl0d poorratea. Mc Whittow admits that the rate is due, but he claims a set- off, inasmuch as when he was overseer last year, there is a balance of that amount due to bim. Here is his took. and the Auditor says: '1 filtd a balance of X4 llIJ IUd due to the overseer," dated 31st of May, 1865. There is no doubt as a pure proposition of law, that Mr Whittow is not entitled to set off the claim, not "Ii against ft poor rate; but still I want as a point of equity, to ask why, if the parish owe him this money, they dp not allow it to hin> ? Collector: The auditor looks to every overseer to pay himself, and if there is a balance due to him when his suceet;sor coraes in. he will not allow it. He enters it as due to hilll, bu: he will not allow it to be made good by his successor. Mr O. E. Davies: I have heard of that before; but as the audiior certifies that amount to be due to Mr Whittow, I should like to know what remedy has be got against the parish ? "Defendant: None at all. Mr O. E. Davies: There ie no doubt the collector has ncted quite correctly, so far as it goes. The auditor will not allow the incoming overseer to pay the balance. Defendant: He has allowed it to me. Mr 0. E. Davies: He finds a balance due to you: bnt he requires that every overseer should hand over to the new overseer his books entirely unencumbered. That is the principle upon which be acts. He finds a balance to be due to you, but he will not allow it to be paid by the new overseer. Defendant: He has not tried it. Collector: I could not try it without paying the money first: and it would then have rested on my shoulders. The Clerk: The only way to got over it that I can see is to let the auditor strike It out, and then appeal to the Poor Law Board to allow it in their equitable jurisdistion4 Then the rate would stand over, and you can pass it. I know there is a rule of the sort by which the auditor will not allow matters of this kind but how is the Overseer to tell exactly what the amount will be? But it any rate there is no set off according to law I only suggest this a* a point of equity but a" a matter of law you can't be allowed a set-off, and are bound to pay the rate. Mr O. E. Davies If the overseers call a vestry meeting, and the vestry sanctions his paying the amount to you, that will remedy it. (f the vestry authorises him to pay it, the responsibility will not rest oil his shoulders. Defendant: The collector can take it out of the high- way rate: it h 's been done before. The Clerk You have a very cantankerous parish-I don't apply this epithet to any one person-and if you pay it out of the highway rate, it may be obj cted to when it comes before the magistrates, and they will be hound to strike it out. If I may suajrest, the better way will be to let the matter stand over for a fortnight, and in the meantime Mr Whittow can memorialise the Poor Law Board to allow it to him. Mr 0. E. Davies: It is very hard upon Mr Whittow if he can't he allowed the money. The Clerk: It is very hard, sir: it seems a crying shame. Defendant: I ought to have bad it last May. The Clerk: The auditor is bound by the rules: it is a great hardship upon you. The magistrates are, like the auditor, bound by the law to do things very often when they can't help themselves. The case will stand over for a fortnight, and if I can assiit Mr Whittow in any way, I shall be happy to do so. Mr O. E. Davies: If you had continued in office this year you could have paid yourself. Defendant: All would have gone on straight then, sir. Mr 0. E. Davies: The case is adjourned for a fortnight: in the meantime who will interfere on Mr Whittow's bebali? TbeCierk: He had better write himself to the Poor Law Board. The case was then adjourned. ASSAULT. Thomns TValters, shoemaker, of Merlin's Bridge, was charged with assaulting Sarah Bennett, of Popehill. This case bad been adjourned on two previous occa- sions. The complainant, at the first hearing, deposed that the defendant assaulted her, and kicked her with such violence as to break two of her ribs, on the evening of the 5th of October. There were no persons present, but on the following Sunday the defendant came to her house to excuse himself, and in the presence of Mary Lloyd, admitted that he had assaulted the complainant, saying that he had been paid for his trouble. Mary Lloyd, who*was evidently a very reluctant witness, deposed that the defendant came to the complainant's house, but that she did not hear what took place between him an,l complainant. After a good deal of pressing, she stated that the defendant said that he was p sid for his trouble. The complainant was tipsy on the evening the assault was committed. The defendant denied the charge of assalt. He was requested by some women to accompany them on the road, for the purpose of ascertaining whether a person named Jones was in complainant's company." He simply said. GJod night' to her and the man who was with her, and returned to Merlin's Bridce. Lettice John deposed that she, defendant, and a person named Mary Jones, went after the complainant, who wits very drunk, to see whether a person in her (com- plainant's) company was Join s's young man or no'. They saw the complainant and a man sitting by a heap of stones. The defendant went forward, and asked what o'clock it was, and finding that the man was not the person they suspected, they returned to Merlin's Bridge. Mary Jones corroborated the last witness's evidence. The Bench dismissed the case. CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS AND RIOTOUS CONDUCT, AND ASSAULTING A FOLICKMAX IN THE EXECUTION Ot HIS DUTY William Lewis, jun, of Fenton, was charged by P.C. MCutcheon with drunkenness and riotous conduct at Little Haven Fair. He was also charged with a'saulting P.C. M'Cutcheon in the execution of his duty. P.C. M'Cutcheon deposed that he saw the defendant at Little Haven Fair, on the 1st of November, very much the worse for liquor. Hd was fighting with a mmi named Wdliam Evans. With respect to the charge of assault, the compiainant stated that he and other officers appre- hended the defendant's brother and .William Evans for fighting, when the defendant interfered, and through his interference, the defendant's brother escaped from cus- tody. P.C.s David Phillips and Nicholas corroborated the complainant's testimony as to the charga of drunkenness. The defendant said he was quite sober, and was never drunk in his life. He was struck by William Evans. and was compelled, in self defence, to make an effort to protect himself, In answer to the charge of assault, be said that the complainant hnd his bro-her by the throat, and was nearly choking him, when he interfered. His brother was much injured by the violence, and was still suflei irtg from the effects of it. His brother had really done nothing: he was struck br the same person as had assaulted him (defendant), and was bound to protect himself, and whilst he WAS doing so, the policeman took him mto custody. Mr Thomas Harries, of Talbenny, Mr Philpln, Mr R. fPTilttow, and a person named Atln Phillips, proved that the defendant wa* perfectly wilier. The Bench dismissed the CrOse. HAVERFORDWEST BAPTIST COLLEGE. The following letter has been addressed to the Editor of a ColitomporiTy:- Sir,—The Rev Thomas Burditt has resigned his oflSofl as classical tutor of the above college, after ably and faithfully serving that institution for tt period extendi" S over more than twelve years. Mr Burde t is not on J well v.r.sed in mathematics, the classical and modern languages, but possesses aWo a thorough acquaintance Witia English literature and theotogy his fund of general knowledge, obtained by var\«d and expensive reading and study, is perh p-> equal to th.it of any Di»seutii*' £ minister i;i th Principality.. AH who k' ew him loved him for his. geniality warm-heartedn.c# IWIJ manly, straightforward way of say in g and dping e¥ rything. He was always—and al.. ways will be—beloved by all tbe young men who were favoured to be his students, as he invariably behaved to tb"m like a personal friend and companion, rather than a master pr-teacher. Remembering tfojut Mr Burdill is a scholar and a gentle- man, and also a man vsbo possesses an independent aiiiiet it is scarcely to t)j.- pondered at hat he had to submit to were contrary to his idea-i 0" propriety ind Christianity* (N.B.—Iu using the word 'Christianity,' we do not meaO Theology,' or W¡¡tI'lI Christianity, but Christianity 88 Christ taught it.) iFor alas, ata.<! many men loudly cry out against 'State' authority in religious matters. solelf that they may, unchecked, exercise their own autocratic rule and tycanny iu the chureb of the Gentle Jesus* and so Mr Burditt, not caring to have a daily V-Itb, or render a daily submission to, hia iufcriors, re- solved that he would reoi^n his connection with tl10, would-be 'great ones of the little town of Haverfordwest. It is a very significant fllct that the resignation of the rev geotlotnan Vas hastily accepted by a small local tee without his being asked to reconsider his deterill" nation, and, if possible, withdraw his resignation; 8Dj| not only so, but his resignation was actually accept" without his even being given a chance to state the r,;a~0" tbat led to such a stsp f This looks very like as 'fl aforementioned oaaicmUee'—or at all events the fe* big wigs' co uprising it, feared that if tliev asked flf' Burditt bis reasons for resigning, p>rhaps lie would, tbe language of our old friend the. Ghost in Hamlet, replied—'But that 1 aiu forbid to tell tbe secrets of my Prfj sou house, 1 could a tale unfold whose lightest word wou* harrow up thy soul,' &c., &c. Of course the little s?11" constituted 'committee' who yxepted the re.'igna'10 of sucb an able man as Mr Blrditt without earnest/ ''egging him to withdraw it, or even giving h;m »D portunity to state the motives that determined resign (so that the 'committee' may endeavuur to r r0 move any real or fancied grievences), cannot any 131" re appeal to the public of England and Wales to Buppo'-t institution that no longer belongs to the Baptist def' mination as a whole, but is simply the property of #r autocrats who happen to live in thelown and vicinity of Haverfordwest. 1 am, Sir, &c., CHABLES WHIT«- Mertbyr, Nov. 3, 1865.

TENBY LECTURE OK MBMOBT—On Monday week Dr Pick gave « lecture, with demonstrations, on }gt Tbe lecture, owing to the very severe weather, waS well attended.