The following account is given of this:—“With the exception of two or three of the candidates who came forward as Liberals, the aspirants for Municipal honours did not this year favour the public with any printed expositions of their views, or any explanations of the grounds upon which they came forward. The elections of Friday, however did not cause much excitement, although at the eleventh hour the Conservatives found themselves opposed in all the wards except St. Andrew’s, in which Messrs. W. T. Clarke, and R. Steward were elected unopposed. In the Market Ward, Mr. Gourlay (L) and Mr. E. Aldred (C) sought re-election, and the new candidate was Mr. Lawn, Liberal. The result of the voting was—Gourlay, 60; Aldred, 59; Lawn, 20. The two former, of course, were elected. In the Regent Ward, Mr. Barber, Conservative, sought re-election, and in the place of Mr. Norman, surgeon (C), who retired, Dr. Stephenson (C) was put forward. The candidates on the other side were Messrs. Livingston and de Caux. The ward again showed its partiality for medicine, and polled as follows:—Barber, 109; Stephenson, 106; Livingston, 81; de Caux, 69.—In St. George’s Ward, the Conservative candidates, who sought re-election, were Messrs. R. Ferrier and B. Jay, opposed by Messrs. Scott and Palmer. The poll—Ferrier, 101; Jay 101; Palmer, 39; Scott, 37.—Nelson Ward: C. J. Palmer (C), 93, C. Woolverton (C), 93; G. Moore (L), 3; Playford (L), 3. North Ward: W. Worship (C), 118; J. B. Hylton (C), 118; S. W. Bly (L), 83; J. Neave (L), 84.—It was rumoured that during the day some bribery was effected by such moderate sums as half-a-crown and five shillings per man.
Nov. 13th.—At the Council meeting Mr. C. C. Aldred proposed, and Mr. Shingles seconded, Mr. Robert Steward as Mayor, and he was elected accordingly.
Nov. 20th.—There were between 200 and 300 fishing vessels at sea during the recent gales, of which only 30 luggers were then unaccounted for. About 100 lasts of fish had been delivered on the Quay on the previous Saturday, when prices ranged from £15 upwards.
A new Lifeboat had been stationed near the Britannia Pier.
Nov. 23rd.—Among the smacks which had been injured in the gale was Mr. Todd’s new vessel the “Christiana;” some of this owner’s other vessels had suffered damage, and his loss was estimated altogether at £1,000.
Nov. 27th.—Mr. Downing’s fish-offices had been destroyed by fire.
Nov. 30th.—In the Town Council, Messrs. Gooda, Burroughs, Clowes, S. B. Cory, and another had voted against the question of the Mayor being “decorated by the wearing of a gown;” 17 members had, however, voted that the question be referred to the Lands Committee.
The Artillery Volunteers had salved a boat and obtained £7 salvage money to the annoyance of the Beachmen
The Parish Authorities “remained at loggerheads” with the Vestry Clerk.
In the opinion of the inhabitants the “robes question” seemed only a plan to run up a bill for another “folly.”