“Our Municipal Election took place on Tuesday last. The contest in
the St. Nicholas’ Ward was a severe one. It was neck and neck
between Mr. Nuthall and E. H. L. Preston all day. At length the
election was carried by a _worthy_, who, after promising constantly
to vote for Nuthall and Sherrington, was suddenly not to be found;
but about five minutes before the close of the poll he was brought
out of the Saracen’s Head, a low public-house, in a state of
intoxication, his voting paper having been changed or altered to
Preston and Fiddes. This decided the thing in Mr. Preston’s favour,
as before that time the numbers for him and Mr. Nuthall were 102
each. Such a mode of gaining an election is quite in keeping with
Tory practices, and needs no comment. The validity of the election
is, however, disputed on the grounds of a bad vote on the Tory side,
and an informality in the appointment of an Alderman to preside in
the absence of the Aldermen of the Ward. The following is a list of
Councillors returned:—_St. Nicholas’ Ward_: Mr. Sherrington and Mr.
Preston. _Market_: Mr. E. N. Clowes and Mr. Sewell. _Regent_: Mr.
Cufaude Davie and Mr. John Fish. _St. George’s_: Mr. Worship and Mr.
Lettis. _Nelson_: Mr. Robinson and Mr. Symonds. _St. Andrew’s_: Mr.
Martin and Mr. Frederick Preston.”
Nov. 10th.—A dinner, attended by 200 gentlemen, had been given to William
Barth, Esq. (the Mayor.)
Nov. 24th.—The old Bridge had been sold in one lot for £96.
Dec. 22nd.—Mr. F. Preston had launched a beautiful brig called the
“Catherine,” of 212 tons register.
Dec. 29th.—Heavy weather prevailed, with so much snow that the coaches
were obliged to cease running.
1837.
Jan. 5th.—The “Isis,” of this port, and a sloop belonging to Wells, had
been towed off the beach into the harbour.
Jan. 12th.—Eleven vessels still remained on the beach, and the jetty had
been damaged by the Henry, of North Shields, having run into it.
Improvements were being effected at the Bath Rooms.
A floating-light was to be placed at St. Nicholas’ Gat.
Jan. 19th.—The increase in the Customs for the year ended 5th January,
1837, was £7,000.
Feb. 2nd.—The Town debt was stated to have been left by the late
Corporation at £11,000, with 19s. 6d. in hand to meet that demand.
Feb. 16th.—A meeting had been held for the purpose of moving for the
abolition of Church Rates.
Feb. 23rd.—Mr. Kay, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, had been down with a
view to bringing the Town under the Poor Law Amendment Act.
March 23rd.—The “Export Merchants” had given a dinner to their friends at
the Star Hotel, when George Danby Palmer, Esq., presided.
March 30th.—At the Vestry meeting the parishioners claimed and exercised
the right of electing both Churchwardens.
April 6th.—The nomination for the first Board of Guardians (N. Palmer,
Esq., acting as Returning Officer) had been sent in. The following
gentlemen were elected:—Messrs. John Brightwen, H. V. Worship, S. V.
Moore, S. Miller, jun., E. N. Clowes, W. Chambers, J. Fish, G. Harley, S.
Cobb, R. P. Kemp, S. Palmer, and W. Grave.
April 20th.—The following officers were elected by the Board:—R. P. Kemp,
Chairman; S. Cobb, Vice-Chairman; J. L. Cufaude, Clerk; D. Turner,
Treasurer; B. L. Love, Auditor; Harry Worship and Joseph Bayly,
Registrars; Charles Bell and Henry Palmer, Joint Superintendent
Registrars; and — Kemp, Governor of the Workhouse.
May 4th.—The Guardians had fixed the site for the new Workhouse on the
North Denes.
May 11th.—Mr. Harry Worship and Mr. J. Bayly had been elected parish
surgeons.
May 18th.—Mackerel were selling at £2 14s. per hundred.
May 25th.—The inhabitants had voted an address to the Princess Victoria.
June 22nd.—The paper appears in mourning for the King. It contained a
notice that “The proclamation of Her Majesty the Queen was to be made
to-morrow” (_i.e._, on 21st June.)
June 29th.—Mr. Baring had given £25 to the Methodist Chapel.
The Queen had been proclaimed by the Mayor “in front of the Hall” and at
other places in the town.
Kerrison Kerrison, Esq., son of M. Kerrison, Esq., of Ranworth, had been
drowned while bathing from the beach.
July 13th.—S. Palmer, Esq., had called a meeting at his own house to
consider the question of selecting candidates for the representation of
the Borough, when Mr. Rumbold and Mr. Wiltshire were introduced to the
electors.
July 29th.—The election is reported, when Mr. Baring was proposed and
seconded by Messrs. Ambrose Palmer and Richard Ferrier; Mr. Rumbold by
Sir George Parker and Mr. Brightwen; Mr. Gambier by Mr. J. Penrice and
Mr. J. E. Lacon; and Mr. Wilshere by Mr. Robert Palmer Kemp and Mr. B. U.
Dowson.