The Cardiff Times

pitrg & Jlppiitmoiiti SATURDAY, OCT. 9. Cardiff Police, at 12, for night charges only. Jenny Jones, Bristol to Cardiff, 7.30 a.m. Taliesin, Cardiff to Bnrnham, 7.0 a.m.; Burnham to Cardiff, 5 30 p.m. Ely, Cardiff to Bristol, 5.0 p.m. Osprey, Cardiff to Cork, 7.0 a.m. Caerphilly Fair. MONDAY, OCT. 11. Cardiff Police, at 12, for general business. Sale of Cider, by Mr. Bennett, at Cardiff, at 11 a.m. Jenny Jones, Cardiff to Bristol, 6.30 a.m. Taliesin, Cardiff to Burnham, 6.0 a.m.; Burnham to Cardiff, 9.0 a.m. Ely, Bristol to Cardiff, 8.30 a.m. Newport Police, at 10. TUESDAY, OCT. 12. Cardiff Police, at 12, for night charges only. Jenny Jones, Bristol to Cardiff, 9.0 a.m. Taliesin, Cardiff to Burnham, 6.0 p.m.; Burnham to Cardiff, 9.0 a.m. Ely, Cardiff to Bristol, 6.45 a.m. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 13. Cardiff Police, at 12, for general business. Jenny Jones, Cardiff to Bristol, 7.0 a.m. Taliesin, Cardiff to Burnham, 8.0 a.m. Ely, Bristol to Cardiff, 9.15 a.m. Newport Police, at 10. THURSDAY, OCT. 14. Cardiff Police, at 12, for night charges only. Jenny Jones, Bristol to Cardiff, 9.45 a.m. Taliesin, Burnham to Cardiff, 9.15 a.m. Ely, Cardiff to Bristol, 7.45 a.m. FRIDAY, OCT. 15. Cardiff Police, at 12, for general business. Jenny Jones, Cardiff to Bristol, 8.0 a.m. Taliesin, Cardiff to Burnham, 10.15 a.m. Ely, Bristol to Cardiff, 10.45 morn.

§irt!)S; gtatTmges, mtir geatljs. BIRTHS. On the 4th inst. at Newport, the wife of Charles Lyne, Esq. R.N., of a daughter. On the 2nd inst., at No. 4, Park Place, Cardiff, Mrs. Waring, of a son. On the 7th inst., at Caerphilly, the wife of Mr. Samuel Webb, of a daughter. MARRIAGES. On the 7th inst., at the Wesleyan Chapel, Charles-street, Cardiff, George, second son of Mr. Samuel Hallett, of Canton, to Catherine, third daughter of Mr. Kirkpatrick, of Working- street, Cardiff.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. We are informed upon good authority that the Cardiff Editor [1] of our Newport contemporary has been out on drill all week, with the Glamorganshire Light Infantry, in which corps he is distinguished for his eccentric movements. We have no doubt whatever but he will use the musket with as great an effect as the goose quill. This circumstance will account for the absence of all Cardiff news from the" Star's" penny edition—"the working men's new paper Our Shipping List is crowded out this week, owing to the long report of the Ratepayers' meeting at the town-hall.

The Cardiff Times has unquestionably double the cir- culation of any other newspaper circulating in Car- diff and neighbourhood, and is therefore the best and cheapest medium for Advertise nents of every tind.

€|t Cardiff Ctmes. SATURDAY, OCT. 9, 1858. CARDIFF MUNICIPAL ELECTION. THE attempt to laugh the ratepayers out of court, made by the Guardian and the people of the same stamp, has again signally failed. The Rate- payers' Committee is not a mythical body, un- I authorised by any one, nor do they hold hole and corner" meetings. The committee deliber- ates as to the course to be pursued in a manner perfectly constitutional, and then gives effect to its deliberations by calling together the interested parties-the great body of the people. It has done so on several very important occasions dur- ing the year it has elicited and directed public opinion in that period; it has achieved results, one of which is the adjustment of the new valua- tion and now it can point to the successful de- claration and establishment of another principle of action—the right in public meeting of nominat- ing town councillors and calling to book those gentlemen who have sat or may desire to sit at the deliberations of the corporation. The meet- ing on Monday night, which we fully report to-day, is as triumphant an assertion and establishment of a principle as we ever witnessed, and all the more remarkable from the antecedents of the town. The tide of popular opinion has sent in in the right direction, and the town is reaping the first fruits. The meeting acted as a touchstone, and it answered its purpose. Whilst it elicited frank avowals from Mr. Owen, and somewhat equivocal expressions from Mr. Bird, it did not fail to show Mr. North's mettle; and as to the two gentlemen who, with Mr. Bird, had taken time by the forelock, they never showed face-a pretty good indication that it did not accord with their ideas to pass through such an ordeal. It will not be out of place if we take up the salient points of the meeting and discuss them for the edification of our readers. We will begin with that wholesome procedure which was so ably led off by Mr. Willett. Of course there could be no objection to questions being asked about sub- jects that were indispensibly associated with the corporation, such as lighting the docks, and a due regard to the position of dissenters when the cemetery fees have to be arranged. It was no use kicking against manifestly proper topics of that kind. Objections, however, to questions of national policy might be anticipated; and we are not sorry that they were taken, because it enabled the Chairman, in his own clear and satisfactory manner, to lay down a principle which we hope will not in future be departed from—that corpora- tions are political bodies, and therefore ques- tions bearing upon polities were admissable. To attempt to ignore the political character of cor- porations is absurd. Even the Tories themselves, though the first to cry the principle down, are the most ready to use municipal power for political purposes. We have exj>eiienced this in the most marked manner elsewhere. It is only the other day that the Newport corporation adopted a peti- tion in favour of marriage with a deceased Avife's sister; Swansea, too, has petitioned parliament on political questions; and Cardiff, since we com- menced our career, in a fit of enthusiasm one day passed a resolution to the effect that a memorial to government be got up praying for the libera- tion of the men transported for the Rebecca riots If any one disputes the fact, let him examine our file and he will see the record of the meeting at which the talk was indulged in, but which, for- tunately or unfortunately, ended in talk—a me- morial was never prepared So that it is quite clear, both from precedent and the reason of the thing, corporations are a political power, and may be used for political purposes. We are glad, therefore, that the Chairman ruled the questions were relevant, and that Mr. Willett pursued his questions regarding the ballot and church-rates- Both were well-timed, because the course of events points to the day being not far distant when the peop1* will be asked for a full expression of opi- nion on the one and on the other. Nominations were in no way lacking for the two divisions of the town. The South Ward had, it will be observed, several gentlemen proposed for its consideration, and the three selected by the meeting were Mr. John Owen, Mr. E. Mason, and Mr. M. A. Lisle, each of whom have issued 7 addresses to the electors, and declared their intention to stand. Mr. North declared on Monday night he was not in the field, and there we will leave him, as we do not think the rate- payers would exercise a wise choice in electing him. There is 'every reason to believe that lie would only be another addition to the Castle in- fluence,and as it is desirable to keep that in check, the ratepayers will know how to deal with Mr. North, should lie alter his mind. Let us give the ratepayers this advice—if Mr. North does come out, take up Mr. Willett's catechism and put the questions respecting lighting the Bute Docks, cemetery fees, vote by ballot, and church-rates. Turn we now to the North Ward, where a con- test is inevitable. We regret that Dr. Edwards was not earlier in the declaration of himself, as that might have prevented an alliance which we believe is looked upon with disfavour by a large portion of the ratepayers. Dr. Edwards acquitted himself manfully on Monday night, and com- mended himself to the intelligence of the meeting unmistakably. He is well-known as a consistent Liberal, and has always stood by his principles. Therefore on that score the people have no mis- givings. The counterpart of the proceedings re- lating to the North Ward is not of so pleasurable a nature. Mr. John Bird was handled very severely by the meeting, and in some respects be- yond what was legitimate but we can have no hesitation in saying he did not acquit himself so satisfactorilv as his able address warranted us in expecting. It may be that he made an alliance which in honour he could not sever. He says he knew nothing of the meeting till he saw the an- nouncement on the previous day. We should have thought that a man who is all eye ,and all ear could not have been ignorant of what was passing through the week. A fortnight ago we sounded the alarm. We published the announce- ment relative to the preparatory meeting. And as Mr. Bird is very anxious to make the people believe that he comes out thoroughly indepen- dently—a statement which it is not for us to im- pugn—he might at all events have waited for a short time to see the current of events. Had he done so he would have stood much better be- fore the public mind. One of the gentlemen with whom Mr. Bird has allied himself is not unknown. We have watched his conduct at the council for twelve months, and whilst we give him credit for business talents, we cannot con- clude in our minds that lie has acted in that free and impartial manner which such a gentleman might be expected to take. As a public man he has not the confidence of the Liberal portion of the borough. How strange, then, that with such Liberal views as Mr. Bird delivered himself of, he should have joined Mr. Pride in the canvass of the North Ward. What Mr. Nell is we know not. He is untried. We should like to know what his views are upon cemetery fees, the lighting, &c., &c. These are the most im- portant questions, because they are purely local. Here, however, the parties are. Dr. Edwards stands alone, on the principle which ought to become sacred to the town. The slumber of the North Ward has been shook off. Plenty of jmaterial is before the minds of the rate- payers on which to determine. Doubt there can be none as to Dr. Edwards's fitness. Mr. John Bird has promise well, there cannot be much harm in trying him. Return these, and we do not care which of the other two, Mr. Nell or Mr. Pride, as the ratepayers may in their wisdom determine. As to their respectability there can- not be a doubt,and therefore the gentlemen's known sentiments must guide those on whom the choice depends. Henceforth let the North Ward be an open constituency. There must be no more of this or that peculiar influence to stifle public opinion. Neither the Castle" nor the Court," as such, must have more power than is legitimately their due, and then we may hope to see the great in- terests of this flourishing town duly cared for. The days of the dark ages and an antiquated Press are numbered. Enlightenment is the order of things. Everything must be open and above board, and that can only be done by each one. acting for himself, in a honest and truthful man- ner. — Since the above article was written, we have received Mr. Abbott's address, that gentleman having declared himself for the South Ward. We had anticipated no opposition, but as Mr Abbott has thought fit to test the feelings of the ratepayers, and as lie has been prominently before the public of late, they must decide in this as on all other occasions where a variety presents itself.

THE CARDIFF GUARDIANS AND OURSELVES. INSTRUCTIVELY do the little sayings and doings of public bodies fall upon our ears. Sometimes those said public bodies exhibit a patriotic spirit and largeness of heart that is quite refreshing, but it frequently happens that a chill is spread over their proceedings which covers one like a wet blanket, and it is difficult to escape from im- pending ague. There was a little matter con- cerning ourselves on Saturday last at the Cardiff Board of Guardians, which was of the latter character. We sent in a tender for printing the half-yearly abstracts, and the Guardian did the same. It so happened that both tenders were alike—. £ 15. The question then arose which should be accepted. A proposition was made that the tender sent from the office of the Car. diff Times be accepted; but that was met by an amendment, that the Guardian have the con- tract, because it had so long served the board, and had served it so well. Now mark the in- consistency of the Chairman and Vice-chairman, in their endeavour to sustain the paper of their party. On the Saturday previous, tenders for gro- ceries were opened, and a new man had sent in, j whose prices were generally the same as had been paid to the person who had often had the contract. To encourage competition, it was sug- gested that the new man should have the con- tract, this time, although his prices were not less than the old one, and the Chairman acquies- ced in the suggestion, thinking it was a good one Now, however, when the same principle is sought to be caried out in another department, the Chairman can't see why they should leave a tradesman who had served them so well! But further. The inconsistency of the whole thing is still more ridiculous. Before, Mr. Webber used to receive T16 for printing the abstracts, and on the last occasion he got £ 2 extra, because the work was heavier; and yet, when competition is brought to bear, he can afford to do the work for £15 We ask where is the consistency of such men as the Chairman and Vice-Chairman? The reason for this conduct is quite plain. They are determined, as far as they can, to put the ex- tinguisher on the Cardiff Times, because it inter- feres with their old-fashioned prejudices and pro- ceedings. Why is the Guardian to be subsidised by public money ? Simply because it represents the country party. That is the practical operation of all such movements, and it is found to work not merely in the manner now referred to, but in many others about which we shall have to say a word on some future occasion. The Avhole tiling is so remarkable a perversion of right prin- ciple that we wonder there could be found any two gentlemen belonging the town who would support the proposition made by the Vice-Chair- man and seconded by the Chairman. The pretty little exhibition in taking the votes, "I votes for Mr. David," is only a fitting conclusion to such a contemptible affair.

Stal Intelligent. THE OSRREY.-This vessel had a very stormy pas- sage from Cork to Cardiff this week, where she arrived on Thursday night. There was large number cattle, sheep, and pigs on board, some of which were washed off the deck. THE REVIVAL MEETINGS.—On Tuesday evening, the English service was held at the Assembly-room, Town-lmll, when there was a large attendance. The Welsh service was held at the Ebenezer Chapel, in con sequence of a lecture in the Crown Court. PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL.—The anniversary sermons for this place of worship were preached on Sunday, Mrs. Firbank, of Newport, being one of the preachers. A tea meeting was held in the same place on Monday afternoon. THE TRADE AT THE DOCKS.—We are glad to state that trade is looking up a little at Cardiff, both in the iron and coal trades. ACCIDENT.-On Friday se'nnight John Housely, a mason, who was at work at some new buildings at the docks, fell from a scaffdd and was severely injured. A policeman had him removed to his home. REDUCTION OF THE VALUATION.—We are authorised in stating that the reduction made in the valuation of the town is at least £ 30,000. That is a fact for the ratepayers, and upon it they may ask the question, by whom was the change brought about? WESLEY CHAPEL.—On Wednesday last the Rev. J. llattenbury, chairman of the Bristol District, preached in the above chapel, Charles-street, Car- diff, the occasion being the anniversary of its erec- tion. To-morrow (Sunday) the Rev. J. Bond will preach with the same subject. ALTERATION OF TRAINS ON THE SOUTH WALES RAILWAY.—There are some alterations in the table for this month, which have not been made in our paper. They are these:—The up trains altered are the two morning and one of the afternoon trains; the other up trains start as usual. The altered up trains now start from Cardiff at 7.5, 10.18, and 4.3. The down trains have not been altered, except the afternoon short train between Newport and Cardiff, which has been discontinued.. A STRUGGLE FOR THE MASTERY.—One of our police- men (Price) had a severe tussel with a Whitmore- lane bully last Saturday night. The fellow attempted to take a man's cap away, which the officer observed, and took him into custody. The prisoner's compeers rescued him no less than four times from the indo- mitable officer, and the last time the rescued man jumped into the canal, swam across, and escaped. DR. R. F. LEES'S LECTURES.—This popular and able exponent of the principles of temperance and the Maine-law, delivered two lectures in Cardiff' on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, to large audiences. The Rev. A. Tilly presided at the first lecture, which was on temperance. Mr. Alderman Vachell was to have presided, but he was absent on account of in- disposition. Mr. R. Cory took the chair the second evening, when Dr. Lees explained at great length the permissive liquor law which the Alliance was seeking to establish in this country. The exposi- tion of the whole scheme was exceedingly able, and elicited loud and repeated applause. REVISION CouRT.-On Tuesday LAST Mr. Giffard, barrister-at-law, sat at the Town-hall, Cardiff, to revise the lists for the county and borough. There were two claims for the borough, but as the parties did not appear to support them they were not in- serted in the list. Mr. Hopkins, registration agent, appeared for the Liberals of the county; Mr. Gi over represented the Conservatives. Throughout the day there was nothing calling for report. The Liberals, we understand, have increased their num- bers on their lists. STREET PREACHING.—The well-known G. C. Smith, known as Boatswain Smith, of Penzance, has been in Cardiff this week. He has laboured very zealously, although 76 vears old, in the visitation of seamen from ship to ship, distributing tracts, &c., and preached on Sunday afternoon out of doors, besides preaching twice in the Methodist Free Church place of worship morning and evening. This somewhat extraordinary man has been engaged for a great number of years in labours of this kind in London and the provinces. He publishes a magazine, en- titled the Soldiers' and Sailors' Magazine, which contains accounts of the labours he enters into, and from which we learn that he has been instrumental in bringing religious matters before a large number of all classes of the people, some the vilest of the vile. He is, in fact, one of those men who is needed for the present religious necessities of the masses. THE COJIET.—The comet was seen to great advan- tage on Tuesday evening. About half past seven o'clock the star Arcturus was shining brightly through its luminous tail near the nucleus. The tail extends to a length of about 37 degress. Since then owing to heavy clouds, there was no opportunity of viewing it. A scientific correspondent at Edinburgh thus describes the appearance on Monday night: Just after it had become visible to the naked eye (at ten minutes past six), the comet presented a very marked ap- pearance when seen with a telescope magnifiyiug 60 times. The nebulous matter, which reached to a distance of about 40 sec. below the nucleus, had the form of a crescent, the darker part between the cusps giving the idea that the opaque part cast a shadow into the nebula. As the darkness of the evening came on this seeming shadow grew narrower, but the cen- tral part remained very decidedly fainter than the edges, as if the luminosity of the comet was confined principally to the outer layers of matter. FIRE AT SWANsEA.-On Thursday morning, about half-past one o'clock, a fire was discovered to have broken out on the business premises of Mr. Joseph Richards, builder, at the back of Northampton place. The alarm was given by police-constable William Lewis, and the engine of the Norwich Union was soon on the spot, with the Corporatio ergine, when a plentiful supply of water being obtained from the mains of the Board of Health, the flames were got under, but not before considerable damage had been done by the fire. The upper premises were used as workshops; and chests of tools belonging to the workmen were burnt to the amount of £144 In ad- dition to the tools of the workmen,a large quantity of work was destroyed,amongst which was the wood-work intended for a green-house for Mr. Sydney Hall. A stable and coach-house at the south side of the premises contained a horse and gig, belonging to Mr. Jacob Rees, both of which were fortunately re- moved, hut some hay and corn in the loft was de- stroyed, which was not insured. Nothing is known of tho origin of the fire. The stock and premises are insured in the Birmingham Fire Office, for the sum of £500. This sum, it is thought, will not cover the loss. None of the tools were insured, with the exception of a small insurance of £10, which was luckily effected on a chest of tools belonging to one of the workmen, and which sum, though considerably under the value of the articles destroyed, will of course be of great assistance in the untoward emer- gency.

CARDIFF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. On Monday evening a large and influential meet- ing of ratepayers was held at the Town-hall, pursu- ant to notice by the Mayor, a requisition having been presented to his Worship for that purpose. Although the Mayor called the meeting, he refused to preside. The duties of chairman, however, were ably per- formed by John Batchelor, Esq. A number of candi- dates for municipal honours were present, a.nd figured in the course of the interesting proceedings. The CHAIRMAN was received with loud applause, and addressed the meeting thus—It was with great pleasure that he took the chair on the present occasion, for he be- lieved that this was the only proper way of sending mem- hers to represent them at the town council. (Hear, hear.) The course which had hitherto been adopted was one eminently unlit, in his opinion, to send the right man to the right p)&ce. They had been in the habit of allowing any one whose ambition or any other motive led him to seek the suffrages of the people to nominate himself, without coming before a public meeting and stating his views broadly and publicly, and allowing him to go round to the ratepayers and obtain from them the promise of sup- I port, and then go into the council, where he would remain sustained in that place by this understanding— that those who were in the council before him were, when his term of office expired, to see that he was returned again without going out of the council. Members of the council for the different wards were elected three at a time, and the three gentlemen who came out, instead of asking the suffrages of the ratepayers publicly, went round from house to house, and secured their return by that means, whether worthy or not. The ratepayers had now commenced a different course, and he had no doubt the result would be that they would send men better fitted to perform the functions of that important office than those who had hitherto filled that office. (Applause.) He would not detaih them by any further preliminary observations, but read the announcement by which the meeting had been called. [The requisition upon which the meeting was called was signed by 111 burgesses and ratepayers.] He then stated the order in which he pro- posed to conduct the meeting-to receive nominations, then to call upon the gentlemen nominated to address the meeting and to answer questions, and then take the sense of the meeting upon the formal nominations which might be made. He trusted they would support him in the delicate and important office he had to fulfil. He should endeavour to secure fairplay to everybody, and to sse that no one was put down by the unseemliness of others. He did not wish to restrain their enthusiasm for their friends, but he would ask them to let everything be done like Englishmen. (Applause.) The nominations were then handed in to the chairman. For the North Ward.-Dr. Edwards, Mr. John Bird, Mr. J. T. Barry, and Mr. W. Nell. For the South Ward.—Mr. John Owen (ship-broker), Mr. Edward Mason, Mr. Joseph Elliott, Mr. S. D. Jen- kins, and Mr. North. The CHAIRMAN then proposed to call upon each gentleman to address the meeting. Mr. JOHN OWEN said he had nothing to say to the meeting, but was there to answer questions if the meeting wished to ask him any. (Hear, hear.) Mr. TwiGG Will you attend a little more regularly than you have done? (Laughter.) Mr. OWEN: Yes. Mr. TWIGG: And vote upon the right side? (Re- newed laughter.) The CHAIRMAN: I suppose that will depend upon which is the right side. Mr. GOODMAN: How many times has Mr. Owen at- tended during the last year ? Mr. BIRD Are they not written in the book ? Mr. W. LEWIS said he wished to put Mr. Owen in a position to defend himself. Some people said that Mr. Owen went to the council to vote with hi.s father-in-law, and there was a report current that Mr. Owen always voted with his father-in-law, and that his father-in-law said from one end of the room, Owen, Owen." (Roars oflaughter.) He would put the question to Mr. Owen, did he go in for the purpose of voting with his father-in- law or independently ? Mr. OWEN: To vote independently. (Loud applause.) Mr. WILLETT had a more important question to put than that. It appeared to him that the question of light- ing the docks was not altogether settled. In fact the Board of Health had at any time the power to consent to light the docks. In the event of the question being raised again, what course would Mr. Owen adopt—would he vote for lighting the docks at the public expense ? Mr. OWEN: Certainly not. (Applause.) Mr. WILLETT: Sometimes corporations took upon themselves (he was not there to discuss the propriety of the course,) to petition parliament. There was a variety i of political questions te petition parliament upon in 11 difiereiu jmu nieipal boroughs, and very likely this corpo- ration ungli follow the course WHICH ifiiu ueeti auoprti: other towns In the event of the corporation petitioning, parliament in reference to vote by ballot, would Mr. Owen vote for or against the ballot ? Mr. OWEN For. (Applause.) A RATEPAYER objected to that question, as he thought it had nothing to do with municipal matters. The CHAIRMAN said he should be quite willing to hear that question discussed per se. It was either relevant or not. He s hould be happy to hear Mr. Willett's views that he had a right to put these questions. Mr. BIRD apprehended that the objection should come from the candidate. Mr. WILLETT: It would be in their recollection that not very long since a question was taken up by the .Car- diff corporation of a somewhat similar character. It was the adoption of a memorial to the Secretary of State on behalf of the parties known as the llebeccaites. The board took upon itself to pass a resolution. Whether the resolution was carried out, or it did not go any fur- ther, like many committees that were appointed but were burked, he could not say. All he knew they did pass such a resolution. The question was fairly before the board, and the board had a perfect right in its cor- porate capacity to memorialise the Government on that subject or any other. There was not a corporation scarcely but took up political questions—the ballot, or church rates, or some other question of political importance. How did he know but some party might take upon himself to bring forward a motion against vote by bal- lot. Some crochetty gentleman might get extremely annoyed at seeing publicopinion increase in favour of the ballot, and he might say, "Politics are growing mad. Its high time that in our corporate capacity we should peti- tion parb ament against vote by ballot, or we shall have a revolutio n in the law of the land." (Hear, hear.) Mr. TAYLOR said there was one question he must ask -whether burgesses or ratepayers were to speak ? (Cries of "both.") The CHAIRMAN said his course was clearly laid down by the terms of the requisition, which was signed by burgesses and ratepayers. (Applause.) The RATEPAYER who before objected said that general politics were only a waste of time at a meeting like that. The CHAIRMAN said corporations were not merely municipal bodies—they were political bodies, and had political relationships, and from time immemorial they had dared to memorialise the throne upon great questions affecting the rights and liberties of the subject. (Ap- plause.) If a corporation had a right to petition for or against any great political measure, it might be possible to send men into the council to petition against some great public measure in which the public were all in- terested and if the burgesses knew they would so act, they would not send them to the council and give them the opportunity. The question was certainly relevant. (Applause.) Mr. WILLETT said there were many important ques- tions discussed in parliament which might probably be discussed in the Town Council—church-rates, for instance. Would Mr. Owen vote for an unconditional abolition of church-rates, providing a petition was brought forward in the council to that effect ? Mr. OWEN: Yes. (Applause.) Mr. WILLETT would come nearer home, and then, perhaps, he should satisfy the gentleman who had ob- jected. There was a very important local question—the new cemetery, and the settlement of the fees to be charged to dissenters and churchmen on a fair and equitable basis. That question had been an exceedingly sore place in many towns, and had been a very sore place in Swan- sea and Exeter especially. Would Mr. Owen vote for the dissenters being placed on the question of fees on an equal footing with the members of the Church of Eng- land? Mr. OWEN: Yes. (Applause.) Mr. MASON then came forward to address the meeting, and was loudly cheered. He said he was exceedingly proud to see Mr. Batchelor in the chair. Last time they met in public they were opposed to each other. The CHAIRMAN You wanted me to walk the plank. (Laughter.) Mr. MASON continued. He had great pleasure in seeing so large a number of ratepayers present, and as this was the first opportunity he had had of meeting them since he was elected a guardian, he would take the liberty of returning to them his sincere and heart-felt gratitude for the very handsome manner in which they returned him. It was not a majority of units, tens, or scores, but of hundreds, and the only way in which he could repay them for their confidence was by energetically, faithfully, and diligently discharging his duty. (Applause.) When he entered upon that important office, the first thing he did was to pay a visit to the sick wards of the Work- house. These were objectionable in many points, and he stated his objections to the medical officer, who agreed with him, and he had no doubt but an alteration would be made, which would be for the benefit of the poor. (Applause.) He could assure them that the alteration in reference to the food was decidedly of an improved cha- racter. ("Question.") He only availed himself of this opportunity—(" It isn't required.") As regarded muni- cipal questions, he had appeared so frequently before them of late, that it was scarcely necessary for him to explain to them his local or national political creed. Again and again he had laid before them his views and principles upon these important matters. It might be said that he lived in a glass house upon the top of a lamp-post. It certainly could not be said he had hid his light under a bushel, having taken a prominent part in local reforms. He ventured to assert that great improve- ments had taken place. They had acted so as to secure