for the readiness with which they complied with the wishes of the Board.
Election of Mayor - Mr Ross
Complaint of the new Surveyor - Mr. Grisbrook's tender for the White-rock wall having been rejected because it was higher than the Surveyor's estimate, and the Surveyor having boasted that the Board had saved more then £20 by doing the work themselves under his direction, Mr. Grisbook, in a letter to the Hastings News of October 24th, wrote as follows:-I feel it my duty to inform the public how far the Surveyor [Mr. Laing] has evaded the terms of the contract. He has introduced about 60 yards of lime concrete, costing about 2/3 a yard, instead of 60 yards of blue stone, costing 9/- per yard. He has also introduced as coping such stone as is not in accordance with the specification, and which stone he would have felt it to be his duty to reject. It is not in consequence of my tender being rejected by the Council that I make these statements - nay, I feel bound to say that their's was the proper course. Neither should I have made any observations publicly had not the Surveyor repeatedly endeavoured to build up his fame by withholding certain facts; thus misleading both the Council and the public, and thereby injuring me in the estimation of my friends.
Election of Mayor - At the Council meeting on the 10th of November, Ald. Scrivens, in proposing a successor to Mr. Ticehurst as Mayor, said they were aware that the Mayor must be elected from among the Council, whilst the Aldermen might be chosen from the burgesses. Whoever took the office whould have inclination as well as leisure to fulfil its duties. The very best men, if their time was engaged, would not attend to those duties, and men of less ability might make up their deficiency by their assiduity. But he had no fear of any deficiency in the gentleman he was about to name. Mr. Thos. Ross [Cheers and hisses]. The long time he had been in the Council ought to have placed him in a position to be thoroughly acquainted with its duties. Coun. Bromley never had a greater pleasure during his three years in the council than he had in seconding the nomination of Mr. Ross; for a more assiduous man, the town did not possess. - Coun. Eldridge would not oppose Mr. Ross, who was entitled to all that had been said of him, but he felt bound on public principle to offer an opinion. He had always thought that they should have gentlemen by profession or private fortune to fill the office of Mayor. He would like to see in the Council more of the class of medical men, solicitors and bankers - such as were always admitted to first-class society; or at any rate, such as were always admitted to first-class society; or, at any rate, such as Ald. Clement, whose position would enable him to act independently. He hoped to see politics entirely removed. He had been told that he must belong to some party; but he would only join that party who sought the prosperity of the borough [Cheers]. He would propose Ald. Scrivens, not because he thought there was a chance of him being elected, but because he was deserving all the encomiums that had been bestowed on Mr. Ross, and was of the class he had mentioned. - Mr. Harvey, in seconding Ald. Scrivens, quite agreed with all that Mr. Eldridge had said, and regretted that they should now have to go the the ranks for a-
