by a fixed salary. – Coun. Wingfield would have no objection to an increase to £45, but he held to the opinion that £60 was too much. Throughout the lengthy discussion there were frequent interruptions of approval or disapproval of the speakers’ opinions, and in which a good deal of excitability manifested itself, and on Mr. Winter’s amendment being put to pay 6s. for each interment it was carried by a majority of two amidst much applause, particularly by the members, who professed to be Dissenters. But that part of the business was not even then concluded; for before the meeting broke up, the Clerk announced that he had just received a note from the Rev. T. Nightingale, in which that gentleman said he had just been informed of the result of his application, and that he begged to tender his resignation, with a request that he might be released from the duties of the office at the earliest moment. The reading of this unlooked for communication caused a long and acrimonious discussion, during which occurred one of those too frequent forgetfulness of self-respect and municipal dignity which seems to be a characteristic of bodies vested with the powers of local government. – Coun. Bromley moved and Ald. Ross seconded that the resignation be accepted. Coun Howell asked what certain members meant by endeavouring to get the Board into difficulties? and alluding to Ald. Ross’s statement that there was an under current of feeling, said it was now shown to be on the other side. He spoke in condemnation of a member leaving the Hall to convey information of the proceedings out of doors, and he hoped the Board would mark their sense of it by referring the letter to the Burial Board Committee. During the former discussion a note had been handed to Ald. Ticehurst, soon after which he left the Hall, and that circumstance gave rise to suspicion that he had done so to acquaint Mr. Nightingale with the result, and hence the resignation. – Ald. Ross, replying to Coun. Howell’s remarks, spoke warmly and declared that every word of the last speaker’s insinuation was untrue. – Coun Bromley (interrupting) said “Tell him it’s a lie, sir, tell him it’s a lie!” [Cries of “shame,” “Order,” “Chair,” &c.] Ald. Ross, resuming, explained that the note handed to Ald. Ticehurst contained an intimation that a person was waiting to measure him for his military uniform, and it was possible that he might have accidently met Mr. Nightingale and told him of the result. The discussion then diverged into the right or wrong of a member giving information of the proceedings before the business was over, so that it could be acted upon before the business was over. Messrs. Putland, Duke and others condemned the practice, whilst Ald. Rock and others supported it, on the ground that -
