A meeting of the ratepayers of this parish was held on Thursday
last in the vestry of St. Thomas's Church, for the purpose of
granting a church rate of sixpence in the pound, to meet the
expenses of the ensuing year. The Rev. Dr. Browne, the vicar,
occupied the chair. Mr. Hollier, the people's warden, read the
account of the present year's receipts and expenditure up to
Easter; from which it appeared that the expenses for salaries,
&c., for the various churches amounted to £364 and upwards,
that there was about £212 which had to be provided out of the
arrears of the last rate. It also appeared that the further sum
of £423 was due to other persons in the parish. After a few
remarks from the Chairman upon the apparent hardship inflicted
upon those who had paid, while others had not paid the rate,
(and in which Mr. Steedman concurred), the rev. gentleman
stated that during the seven years he had resided in the parish
no church rate higher than 5d. in the pound had been granted,
except that when a rate of 10d. in the pound was granted, this
extended over a period of two years. He then referred to the
improvements effected, alluding particularly (_inter alia_)
to the wall surrounding the burial ground, and where nobody
could be refused interment. Mr. Pattison here observed that the
10d. rate referred to was granted for the purpose of paying
the bills of Mr. Holland, builder, and Mr. Powell, painter,
and inquired what was still owing to them, when Mr. Hollier
stated that a sum of £66 was due to Mr. Holland, and £60 to Mr.
Powell, and after giving a summary of the expenses incurred
in connection with the churches, Mr. Hollier further stated
that he had not broken faith with the parishioners on his
first appointment to office; that the expenses had been always
carefully looked to; nor had he asked for a greater rate than
6d. in the pound. Mr. Pattison submitted that he had not done
his duty in not enforcing the rate from those who refused, and
yet were well able to pay; the churchwardens had the law upon
their side, and they ought to enforce it. Mr Hollier expressed
his unwillingness to distrain upon parties if it could be
possibly avoided. The office of churchwarden had not been
sought by him, but was thrust upon him, and he should only be
too happy to be relieved from its cares and responsibilities.
The Chairman then read a resolution which had been very
recently entered upon the vestry book, to the effect that all
persons able to pay the church rate should be compelled to
do so. After further remarks, resulting in an animated but
good humoured discussion, Mr. Hollier proposed a rate of 6d.
in the pound, which was seconded by Mr. W. Sheppard. It was
then proposed as an amendment (the Rev. Chairman, however,
declining to put it to the meeting _as an amendment_, on the
ground that a penny rate was quite insufficient to meet the
expenses,) on the motion of Mr. J. Finch, seconded by Mr. D.
Lloyd, that a rate of a penny in the pound be granted. Mr.
Lloyd enquired the necessity for the present meeting if the
amendment was not to be put, to which the Chairman observed
that the meeting was called for the purpose of granting a 6d.
rate, and nothing else; whereupon Mr. T. Stanley remarked
that they (the opponents of the sixpenny rate) "were like
sheep driven to the slaughter." Mr. Hollier stated that if a
penny rate were granted, similar meetings might take place
week after week. The rev. Chairman (after some remarks about
a poll being demanded, and having stated that a minority
could grant a church rate) was then asked what was the use or
necessity of a poll at all; to which he facetiously replied,
"for amusement;" an announcement which was received with much
laughter. Mr. Insull then asked whether it was legal for the
meeting to propose either a greater or a less rate than the
one sought for. The Chairman answered that as to a greater, he
was not sure, but certainly not a less rate. T. Fereday Esq.,
the other churchwarden, here remarked that the object of the
meeting was to grant a sixpenny rate, and if refused by the
meeting, the better way was to go to the poll. The Chairman
then put the penny rate to the meeting, and afterwards the
sixpenny rate; when, on a show of hands, a majority appeared
to be decidedly in favour of the penny rate. Mr. Hollier then
demanded a poll, which was instituted immediately. Mr. Lloyd
urged the propriety of the meeting being adjourned to the Old
Town Hall. This, however, was overruled, as the Guardians were
stated to be using it at that time. The Chairman stated that
no ratepayers would be entitled to vote unless not only the
previous poor rate, but also the last church and highway rates
were paid, a legal point upon which the majority of the meeting
differed, contending that the payment of the poor rate was only
the test of qualification. It was at length agreed that the
polling should take place at the vestry, and that all votes
tendered should be taken on payment of the previous poor rate,
the votes being afterward subjected to a scrutiny. The poll
immediately commenced, and was kept up till five o'clock, when
it closed for that day. The numbers were then as follows:--For
the penny rate, 78: for the sixpenny rate, 91. The poll will be
resumed to-day (Saturday), and will continue from ten o'clock
a.m. till five o'clock p.m., and will be again resumed on
Monday, at ten o'clock, finally closing at 12 o'clock at noon.
The best feeling seems to be manifested by all parties.
April 10th, 1852. There was a majority of 98 against this rate.