The Tenby Observer Weekly List of Visitors and Directory

PEMBROKE BOROUGHS ELECTION. MR. MEYRICK AT TENBY. A meeting of Mr. Meyrick's supporters and friends was held at Tenby on Thursday last. Some hundreds of persons came by train from Pembroke and Pembroke-Dock, and upon the arrival of the train at Tenby station, a large number 1)f the members of the Tenby Constitutional Association were ready to receive them, and this they did in a most enthusiastic manner. After a little waiting, Mr. Meyrick arrived at the Green, when the horses were taken from his carriage and ropes attached thereto, a procession was then formed and paraded through the principal streets of the town-there were two bands of music, flags and banners, a large number of .Chinese and other lanterns, with red glass, all lighted up, together with a large number of torches, thus making the procession one of the most imposing sights ever seen in the pretty little town of Tenby. Flags and banners, &c., innumerable, were suspended from the houses and on the balconies of a large number of the residences of the Conservative party, ladies were observed waving streamers of red, in addition to which large stars and other designs in gas jets had been erected in many conspicuous and promi- nent positions, all evidently showing that the Conservative element was preponderant in the town. Nothing has equalled the sight since the visit of H.R.H. Prince Arthur. The programme of the procession ended when it arrived at Tenby Hoese. After a few minutes interval, addresses were delivered from the balcony by Mr. Meyrick, who was most enthusiastically cheered-he very satisfactorily placed before the electors his position with reference to Mr. Reed-he asked them to look at his past votes and stated his future intentions -throughout his long speech, it was characterised with those good Conservative principles so essential to the well being, happiness and prosperity of the country at large, and left an indelible impression upon the minds which will not easily be forgotten. The following gentlemen also delivered excellent speeches:—Mr. Richards, Mr. Jonas Dawkins, Mr. Palmer, of the Widgeon; Mr. W. Griffiths, Mr. Churchward, Mr. Childs, of the Nankin; Mr. John Thomas, Mr C. h. Wells, Mr. G. Ormond, and Mr. Williams, Mead Lodge. Three cheers were given for Major Wells, three cheers for Mrs. Meyrick, three cheers for the Conservative majority, three groans for Mr. Reed, the Liberal candidate; three cheers for Mr. Churchward, three cheers for the united Boroughs, three cheers for Captain Gilmore, three cheers for Mr. Meyrick, and three cheers for the Queen. There must have been nearly four thousand persons present. A demonstration on a large scale was held on Monday night at Pembroke-Dock, when Mr. Meyrick's friends and supporters, met in Albion Square, at half-past six, from thence they pro- ceeded up Pembroke Street, Prospect Place, Pem- broke Road, then to Military Road, down Charl- ton Place, Bush Street, Laws Street, Diinond Street, Commercial Row, to Albion Square. A large number of flags, banners, torches, and lanterns, were carried. Two bands atttended and altogether it was a very pretty sight. A platform was erected in front of Mr. Davies' house, but after two or three speeches had been given, the party retired to the Albion Hall, which was filled to suffocation. The principal speakers were J. H. Scourfield, Esq., M.P., and Admiral Elliot, M.P. We are sorry that space will not allow us to do anything like justice to the meeting. Notwith- standing a counter demonstration by the Radicals, Mr. Meyrick's party was large and respectable. Mr. Reed's party passed by during the time Mr. G. White was addressing the electors, and they set up hooting, yelling, &c., evidently to annoy Mr. Meyrick, who we were pleased to see took it all in good part. A most enthusiastic meeting of Mr. Meyrick's friends took place at Pembroke on Tuesday. A procession of the Conservative electors was formed at Pembroke-Dock, headed by an excellent band of music, with here and there a flag or banner bearing suitable mottoes, and a goodly number of torches. When the procession arrived at Bush Lodge it was met by Mr. Meyrick; no sooner was his carriage in view than simultaneously the immense crowd began to cheer, and directly lie arrived'a band 01 seamen agisted a number of voters to unhorse the carriage, that being done ropes were attached and the carriage drawn by these men. The shouts could now be heard at Pembroke, where about two thousand persons had congregated in front of the Lion Hotel, and along the Dark Lane to the Green. The procession then marched through Monkton, where most of the householders exhibited the "red colours" and had the windows illuminated. Having paraded Monk- ton and the East End, the word of command was given to return, when it was resolved to address the electors from the Lion Hotel, and by this time there were nearly five thousand persons present. Morgan Saurin, Esq., of Orielton, was called upon to preside, when Mr. Mevrick came forward, and it is almost needless to say was received with immense cheers. In a long and eloquent speech he explained his principles, and said that when Mr. Reed had done all he promised that then he would support him. Three cheers were then given for Mr. Meyrick. The meeting was ably addressed by Dr. Reid, Messrs. W, Griffiths, John Thomas, the chair- man, &c Three cheers were given for Admiral Elliot, after which Mr. Meyrick addressed a few words, and the meeting separated giving three cheers for 11 11 the chairman and three cheers for the Queen THE POLLING. TENBT. The polling in this town for the election of a member for the Pembroke Boroughs took place yesterday in the midst of the most intense excite- ment. From an early hour in the morning the town was astir, showing every indication that a severe struggle was at hand. The committee rooms of Mr. Thomas Meyrick was at the shop of Mr. James Truscott, jeweller, nearly opposite the Town Hall, while that of his opponent was at the Cobourg Hotel. The polling took place at the Town Hall, where two booths were erected, one of which was presided over by Mr. Joseph Gregory, the Mayor, and the other by Mr. H. D Baker, the Bank. The poll opened at eight o'clock, fro!n which hour a steadv stream of voters presented themselves till two p m., at which time upwards of 370 burgesses bad presented themselves. After this hour the polling was slack, and at four o'clock when the poll closed, 390 persons out of a register of 421, had recorded their votes. Nearly every person in the street wore the colours of one or other of the can- didates but there was a preponderance of scarlet, the colour of the Conservative candidate. In the neighbourhood of the Town Hall the excite- ment during the day was very great, which was increased by the presence of two rival bands who paraded the town and occasionally took up their station in front of the hall. Mr. Reed was present during the morning, and drove through the town. accompanied by Mrs. Reed and family. Mr. Mey- rick was not present during the day. The shops in the High street were closed, and the day observed almost as a general holiday, the inhabi- tants having thrown them elves heart and soul into the contest. The windows of the houses having a view of the Town Hall were occupied by the fair sex, sporting the colours of their favourite, and apparently as much* interested in the result of the struggle as the sterner sex. The Conservatives in Tenby never for a moment doubted that they would have substantial majority in the borough, and their expectations have been more than realized. In 1868 the Liberal candidate. Sir Hugh Owen, headed the poll in Tenby with a majority of 64, but this resulted from his being an old and respected friend of several of the leading inhabi- tants, and not from political convictions. This was now, however, changed, and was manifested in the contest that took place yesterday. After the pull closed bands of men and boys paraded the town, and at one time a serious dis- turbance was apprehended in the High Street, a scrimmage having taken place between the con- tending parties, and blows were freely given on both sides. Happily it passed off without any serious consequences. As the night grew on news was anxiously looked for from Pembroke at both committee rooms About half-past eleven a tele- gram was received stating, that Mr. Reed had a majority of 29 and shortly afterwards the drum and fife band of the Good Templars paraded the town making known the victory. The numbers polled were, Reed, 339 Meyrick, 1 •! 10. PEMBROKE-DOCK The dockyard was closed at noon to allow the men all opportunity of recording their vo?es. Party feeling ran high. but no serious disturbance took place. The polling was carried on at the national school-room, contiguous to the Victoria Hotel, in front of which large numbers of men congregated, wearing their party colours, the cheering ever and anon being "fast and furious." Mr. Meyrick and Mr. Reed visited the room during the day. PEMBROKE. The whole of the ballot boxes arrived here from the other districts shortly after seven o'clock, and the business of counting the votes commenced at the Town Hall, in the presence of the Mayor (Mr. W. Williams) and the other gentlemen appointed for the purpose. The excitement in front of the hall was considerable, but no serious disturbance transpired. The number of votes recorded were 2654, namely, Pembroke-dock, 1003; Pembroke, 675; Tenby, 390; Neyland, 239; Alilford, 256, Wiston, 91. There are 3146 voters on the lists, inclusive of 200 freemen, many of whom have double votes, so that the large majority of the voters exercised their right of polling. TOWN COUNCIL. At a quarterly meeting of the Town Council held on Monday last, present,—Aldermen Wells, Mason, Allen and Jenkins; Councillors Thomas, Rogers, White, Smith, Davies. Richards, Chater and Rees, It was proposed by Alderman Mason, and seconded by Mr. Rogers,-That Aldermen Wells take the chair. Proposed by Alderman Mason, and seconded by Mr. Rogers,—That the Surveyor be directed to report upon the practicability of extending the present sea-wall behind Mr. J. Rees's building in the Rope-walk Field, so as to open a footway to the sands from Victoria Street. Proposed by Alderlllan Mason, seconded by Mr. Davies, and carried unanimously, — That the Mayor and Aldermen Wells and Allen be deputed to represent the Corporation at the meeting of the landowners interested in the drainage of the vale of St. Florence, to be held on Friday, the t3th instant, and that they be authorised to otFer with- out prejudice, on behalf of the Corporation of Tenby, to pay one moiety of the cost of extending the culvert down 200 yards nearer the sea Should the landowners refuse to this proposition, that then counsel's opinion be obtained as with whom the legal liability rests to remove the nuisance occa- sioned by the occasional stoppage of the culvert draining the vale of St. Florence Proposed by Alderman Allen,- That the Mayor be authorised to expend such sums as may be required to open the mouth of the culvert which carries the St. Florence river to the sea, and that he should continue to open the mouth until the quarterly meeting; to ascertain in the meantime as to whom the liability rests to remove the nuisance occasioned by the stoppage of the culvert. This motion not being seconded, of course did not pass. The meeting was then adjourned to Monday next, the 16th instant. —