West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. Friday 7th February, 1851. SHERIFFALTY OF CORNWALL - At the Council of the Prince of Wales, held at Somerset House, on the 4th instant, before Prince Albert, and the other Members of the Council, WILLIAM WILLIAMS, Esq., of Tregullow, was sworn in as High Sheriff of this county for the ensuing year. We understand also that the Rev. THOMAS PHILLPOTTS, of Porthgwidden, Feock, has been appointed Sheriff's Chaplain. TRURO INSTITUTION - On Tuesday evening last, MR. McMILLAN, the ventriloquist, gave a second entertainment at the Assembly Room, and excited roars of laughter by his very clever displays. It has been announced that the lecture on Friday evening, the 7th instant, will be given by Mr. STOKES, on the "moral influences of knowledge." FLAX CULTIVATION - Since the last annual meeting of the Wadebridge Farmer's Club, the subject of flax cultivation has occupied the attention of its members, and at the monthly meeting held on the 17th ult., it was resolved, that prizes should be given to the growers of the best crops of flax, with a view to test the adaptation and suitability of the soil and climate of the district to its production. Mr. EDWARD STEPHENS, of Trewornan, has kindly consented to give a lecture on the 21st instant, on the best mode of tillage, when the members will be glad to see any persons interested. THE GREAT EXHIBITION - A meeting of the Cornwall Central Committee was held at Truro, on Wednesday last, Sir C. LEMON, Bart., M.P., in the chair. MR. TWEEDY informed the meeting that Mr. ROBERT HUNT, of the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn-street, St. James's, London, late Secretary of the Polytechnic Society, was preferred to act as agent for all Cornish productions in receiving, unpacking, and arranging them in the building. The meeting resolved to recommend the several local committees and individual exhibitors to avail themselves of Mr. Hunt's services, and undertook hereafter to apportion Mr. Hunt's remuneration amongst the committees and exhibitors in proportion to what each might exhibit. ABATEMENT OF RENT - At his annual receipt, on Thursday, MR. POLLARD, of Clapper, near Wadebridge, returned to his tenants ten per cent of their rents. MISSIONS - The anniversary services of the Primitive Methodists, at Penzance, in behalf of the home and foreign missions, of that society, were held on Sunday and Monday last. The REV. J. GRIEVES, from Shropshire, Rev. W. NATION, the resident minister, Revds, R. TUFFIN and J. WHITE, and Mr. JACOBS, of Poole, a converted Jew, took part in the services, which were throughout very satisfactory, and the collections almost double those of any preceding year. TRURO TOWN COUNCIL - [this is only a portion of the whole article, with the subject of police officers] - Mr. STOKES read the report of a sub-watch committee which had been appointed in reference to the police of the borough. [They reported the general conduct of the inspector is spoken favourably of by his subordinates as well as by the magistrates; but that he has occasionally been reprimanded by the magistrates and suspended for misconduct. There is not a good understanding and co-operation within the force which is essential to efficiency. It was recommended the inspector visit various officers during the evening hours, and view how they're carrying out their duties. The inspector and officers all feel there should be more police; the present force is insufficient for the increased extent and population of the town. When the Sessions or Assizes are held, the town is unprotected as the officers must go to Bodmin to testify, where they may be kept for days. The report was discussed, and it was moved the report be adopted. Various amendments were moved, most especially regarding the number of police. It was felt 5 were sufficient. No special constables were needed during the sessions or assizes, if another policeman were to be hired. So voted.] MR. HAWKE moved, that as the duties of the inspector were not so trying to the constitution as those of the policemen, that his salary be reduced from 30s. to 20s., which he thought sufficient. Mr. HEARD seconded, but suggested the inspector's salary be a guinea per week. In London, the police were paid 18s. a week; we pay ours 14s. with about the same amount of clothing, etc. At Plymouth the men were paid 18s. weekly, the sergeants a guinea, the inspectors, 25s., and they have three principal inspectors who are paid 30s. There, he believed, they had a force of about 300 men; now surely an inspector of five men could not have so much to do as where there was a greater number; and therefore he thought the pay of a serjeant in Plymouth and other large towns ought to be enough for an inspector in Truro. Considering that the committee had thought another policeman necessary, he should support Mr. HAWKE's motion, that the savings might go towards the expense of a fifth policeman. Mr. J. BARRETT opposed the motion, on the ground that they had had their inspector down specially from a situation in London, and ought not to reduce his salary after ten or twelve years servitude. Mr. CHAPPEL and Dr. BULLMORE also opposed the amendment, and on a division two voted for and five against it. The Council then proceeded to elect a policeman in the room of STAPLE. JOHN DENNIS, of Truro, was recommended by Captain KEMPE, but could not write. JOSEPH WARD, of Gerrans, put in excellent recommendations with a certificate from the commissioners in London, he having been some years in the E division, which he was obliged to leave from ill health. Mr. J. Barrett proposed MARTIN TEAGUE, of Truro, and Mr. H. ANDREW seconded him; but Teague being forty-seven years of age, was too old, there being a regulation that those elected should be between twenty-five and forty. JOSEPH WARD, aged twenty-eight, was therefore declared elected. This concluded the business of the Council. FALL OF A WET WALL - Owing to the very great quantity of wet during the last month or two, a large part of a garden wall at Camden House, Falmouth, was loosened, and on Friday night last it fell into an adjoining courtlage with a tremendous crash, breaking in the roof of a long shed belonging to a dealer in glass and earthenware, and doing considerable damage. The persons living around were much frightened till the true cause was known, but the occurrence taking place at night, no person was near at the time. THE LATE WRECK On the BRISON ROCKS - At the fortnightly meeting of the Committee of the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, held on Thursday last, in London, after awarding various sums to boats' crews for rescuing lives from shipwreck, it was agreed that the gold medallion of the institution should be presented to CAPTAIN GEORGE DAVIES, Inspecting Commander of the Penzance Coast Guard Station, as a mark of their appreciation of his gallant and humane exertions in proceeding with his boat's crew (consisting of four coast guard boatmen who are respectively to receive the silver medal of the institution for so nobly seconding the efforts of their brave commander) under his direction to the Brison rocks in a tremendous sea, and at the imminent peril of his life firing a rocket apparatus from the boat, and thereby being the happy instrument under Divine Providence, of rescuing from their perilous situation the master (and his wife who was his companion during the terrible night on the solitary rocks, but who unfortunately died soon after she was brought ashore) of the ill-fated brig "NEW COMMERCIAL," wrecked at that place on the 11th inst. The committee also agreed that the gold medallion should be presented to MR. T. R. FORWARD, commander of the revenue-cutter "SYLVIA" in acknowledgment of the intrepidity and self-devotion displayed by him on that distressing occasion; and his brave crew of five men are each to be presented with a silver medal; and the ten fishermen and the miner, in consideration of their daring and valuable services in rescuing the Mulatto from a floating piece of the wreck, are awarded GBP11, to be divided among them. We may observe that Captain Davies has, on three different former occasions, been presented with the silver medal of this old and valuable institution, which never selected more meritorious acts of gallantry for the distribution of its honorary and pecuniary rewards than those just recorded ECCLESIASTICAL - The Rev. JOHN TURNER FISHER has been licensed to the chapel of St. Anne, at Hessenford, in this county on the nomination of the Rev. TOBIAS FURNEAUX, Incumbent of St. Germans. BAPTIST CHAPEL ANNIVERSARY - The first anniversary services of the opening of the New Baptist Chapel, Truro, were held on Thursday the 23rd, and Sunday the 26th ult. On Thursday evening and Sunday morning sermons were preached by the Rev. J. JACKSON of Falmouth, and in the afternoon and evening of Sunday, by the Rev. N. HAYCROFT, of Broadmead, Bristol. In consequence of the illness of the minster of the Independent chapel, that place of worship was offered for the evening service, on which occasion it was densely crowded, many persons being unable to gain admission. The collections amounted to between GBP18 and GBP19. The erection of the above place of worship was completed about twelve months since, and with the purchase of the land, cost about GBP1,700, of which GBP1,100 have been paid, and it is determined to use every effort to liquidate the remaining debt as soon as possible. MISSIONS - The anniversary services of the Primitive Methodists, at Penzance, in behalf of the home and foreign missions of that society, were held on Sunday and Monday last. The Rev. J. GRIEVES, from Shropshire, Rev. W. NATION, the resident minister, Revds. R. TUFFIN and J. WHITE, and Mr. JACOBS, of Poole, a converted Jew, took part in the services, which were throughout very satisfactory, and the collections almost double those of the preceding year. PACKET INTELLIGENCE, FALMOUTH - On Sunday last, the "Linnet" packet, Lieutenant JAMES, arrived with mails from the Brazils; she sailed from Rio Janeiro on the 19th December, and has brought on freight about GBP40,000 in gold, diamonds, &c., and several passengers. The following ships of war were at Rio, - the "Southampton," "Portland," "Cormorant," "Conflict," and "Spider." The "Linnet" spoke on the 19th December going into Rio, the "Petrel," with mails from Falmouth. An arbitrary arrest, with violence, on a French Milliner by the public authorities of Rio Janeiro, had led to great excitement among the French residents and had been taken up by the French legation. The result was not known when the packet left.

Is it with great delight that I read the article about Truro Town Council - see snip below. Joseph Ward was my Gt Gt Grandfather and it's because of him that I took on the OPC role for Gerrans - and almost certainly why my first name is Joseph, as was my grandfather and his father before him. Joseph went on to become one of the first Police Inspectors when the County Constabulary was formed. The ill health that is mentioned may be the early stages of TB from which he died twenty years later. Thanks to the WB team for this article and I look forward to seeing further mentions of his name in the reports of Truro court cases. Regards, Bill O'Reilly TRURO TOWN COUNCIL.... JOSEPH WARD, of Gerrans, put in excellent recommendations with a certificate from the commissioners in London, he having been some years in the E division, which he was obliged to leave from ill health. Mr. J. Barrett proposed MARTIN TEAGUE, of Truro, and Mr. H. ANDREW seconded him; but Teague being forty-seven years of age, was too old, there being a regulation that those elected should be between twenty-five and forty. JOSEPH WARD, aged twenty-eight, was therefore declared elected. This concluded the business of the Council.