A numerous meeting of the Reformers of the Eastern division
of Surry was held on Saturday, at the Crown Inn, Croydon ; Mr. Har- man in the chair. Among the company were—Major Beauclerk, M.P., Mr. Samuel Palmer, Mr. Hurst, M.P., Mr. Leader, M. P, Reverend Mr. Courtney, &c. It was stated by the Chairman and other gentlemen, that in the several districts of East Surry the number of voters registered on the Liberal side already exceeded, by upwards of one thousand, the number registered last year. This announcement was received with loud cheers. It was afterwards resolved, that a deputation should wait upon Mr. Briscoe, inviting him again to stand for the county in the event of another dissolution.
The Birmingham Advertiser, in noticing the system pursued by the Duke of Bedford in Huntingdonshire, where his Grace's forty tenants are facetiously called " the forty thieves," says—" The same system has been adopted by the members of a " vote manufactory," named the Reform Registration Committee, in Birmingham. A freehold house, in Sun Street, the rent of which is 81. per annum, bag been purchased by one of the secretaries and three other individuals of the same clique ; and by this means four votes are secured for the county ! We would have these worthies to bear in mind, that others can play at this game besides themselves, and that ultimately the stratagem must recall to their own discomfiture." [There is abundant evidence of the proficiency of the Tories in the business of vote-making; but as I regards the Duke of Bedford, the fact is, that his Grim manufacturer of the Huntingden votes, nor were they made property. If the Tories will abandon their system of vote-making I:Adine! and Scotland, they may be assured that the Reformers will not continue it.) Whilst the Conservatives are busy canvassing for their " Blue una known," for the representation of the East Riding in the event of an election, the Reformers are not sleeping at their posts. Many free- holders have already enrolled their names, pledging themselves to sus. port the honourable Charles Langdale as a candidate in the Liberal interest.— York Courant.
A list of city property, of considerable value, has been adver- tised in all the Bristol papers (with the exception, of course, of the Mercury), to be let by public auction, on Thursday the 23d instant, at the Guildhall, on leases for ninety-nine years, subject to mere nominal rentals. For the information of such as may have contemplated bid- ding at the said letting, we beg to remind them that the Municipal
Itsforai Bill contains a clause to the effect that " all dispositions" of corporate property, made subsequently to the introduction of that mea-
sure into Parliament, shall be " null and void." As we take it, a leasing of property for so long a period is dearly "a disposition," within the meaning of the clause in question ; but, if there should be any drink upon the Tnind of any one disposed to bid for either of the lots, 1!:. had better, to save unnecessary trouble, take the opinion of his own professional adviser.—Bristol Mercury.
It Nvill be recollected, that during the discussion of the Municipal Bill in the House of Commons, Mr. Cayley called the attention of Lord John Russell to certain proceedings of the Corporation of Scar- borough ; that body having let some corporate land on seven years' leaies, in order to tic up the hands of the new Town-Council, and pro• vide for their own friends, or themselves. A few days afterwards, Sir Frederick Trench—the Duke of Rutland's Colonel Trench—de- nied the correctness of Mr. Cayley's statement, and quoted a passage floor the Report of the Corporation Commissioners, to the effect that " the terms on which the leases had been made were not to be im- peached." A correspondent, who appears to be well acquainted with the subject, states that this is a misrepresentation ; that the subject of leasing corporate property was not agitated when the Commissioners were at Scarborough ; and that the expression in the Report, quoted by Colonel Trench, related to a transaction which occurred twenty years ago—the sales of some corporation lands. Our correspon- dent also states, that soon after the introduction of the Munici- pal 13111, the Corporation of Scarborough let a large piece of orna. mental ground, near the sea, for a long term, at a nominal rent ; and passed a vote enabling Bailiffs to let land for seven years, on such terms as they pleased. Notwithstanding, therefore, Colonel Trench's guarantee of the purity of the Scarborough Corporation, bolstered up by the unfair quotations from the Commissioners' Report, it appears plainly enough, that most discreditable work has been going on among the members of that body.
A meeting took place on Monday, at the Steyne Hotel, Worthing, for the purpose of promoting the emigration of farmers and other capitalists to the new colony of South Australia. Resolutions were passed, highly approving of the plan of colonization to be pursued, and a Committee formed with a view to facilitating communication between emigrants from Sussex and the South Australian Commis- sion. The chair was taken by Mr. Osmond Gilles, a London mer- chant, largely engaged in the Australian trade ; who informed the meeting that he intended to emigrate with the first body of settlers, and who is appointed treasurer of the colony. Mr. Gilles's relatives and connexions are amongst the wealthiest landowners, flockowners, and merchants, in the flourishing colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, to which latter settlement he sent the first fine wooled Saxon flock. lie informed the meeting that the sales of Australian wool in England would amount this year to about 500,0001.;
being eiii ti g an increase of nearly one-fourth upon the importations of last year.
A proposal fur a church-rate at Wolverhampton was negatived, on Monday, by 948 to 303.
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