one of its own. Coun. Beck, in supporting the motion, compared the conduct of Hastings towards St. Leonards in this matter with his buying a gig on credit, taking Mr. Williams for a ride in it, and then, because the expense of the vehicle proved to be rather heavy, trying to make Mr. Williams bear a part of the cost. After all there was a question as to the legality of the order. The motion was then put and lost by 3 votes — 12 against 9. This was a foregone conclusion and when it is considered that Mr. Burton’s part of St. Leonards had only a part of the representation of the six West-ward councillors, as against the twelve East-ward councillors, it goes to show that in obtaining so many as nine votes for Ald. Burton’s motion, some of the East-ward members must have voted for the cause of justice. But although thus thwarted, it will here be shown, the Commissioners were not to be beaten, numerically powerless as they were in the matter of representation at the Council board.
- “Truth and Justice oft may fail
Nor should any doubt they will;
But let energy prevail,
And then Truth shall triumph still.”
- “Truth and Justice oft may fail
At the next meeting (Dec. 3rd), Coun. Harvey having moved the adoption of the Finance Committee’s recommendation that certain bills be paid, including £150 for making the map, Coun. Deudney moved, as an amendment that the said map be paid for out of the Local Board funds. In supporting the amendment, Ald. Burton again protested against the original motion, whereby St. Leonards was called upon to pay for what was specially ordered by the Local Board, particularly after what the Town Clerk had stated on a former occasion that the course was illegal. He would suggest, even as a matter of courtesy, that Counsel’s opinion be taken on the point, and if such opinion be against them, then the St. Leonards ratepayers would cheerfully pay towards the £150; but if the contrary, he hoped the Town Council would agree to pay for the map out of the funds of the Local Board. Coun. Beck, in supporting the amendment, said it was of no use taking votes, as the result was a foregone conclusion. If, they first took counsel’s opinion, he would abide by that opinion whatever it might be. — The amendment, when put to the vote was negatived as expected. Counsel’s opinion was nevertheless obtained, and notwithstanding that it was strongly worded against the pretensions of the East Ward Councilmen, and notwithstanding that their own Clerk was against them, as also the decision of the County-Court judge, they yielded at last with the utmost ill-grace. Further details will appear in chapter fifty, as the question was not settled until in 1853.
Cavendish Place. — The Clerk desired to know how the £60 was to be raised that had been voted for the improvement of Cavendish Place? In the Finance Committee’s report it was recommended that a penny-rate be levied within the district of the late Commissioners’ Act, towards the Commissioners’ debt. Coun. Harvey complained that the Board should know so little of its financial position. They were called upon to -
