ASHBURTON REGISTRATION: FIRST DAY: The revision of the list of Parliamentary voters for this borough was commenced at the Market Rooms, on Wednesday last week, and was continued until Friday, the revising barrister being Richard Roope, Esq., Mr. John Beer (of the firm of Beer and Rundle, of Devonport), assisted by Mr. G. Gaunter, Mr. H. Tozer, and Mr. White-Way (of Ashburton) attended on behalf of the Conservatives Mr. F. B. Cuming (of Totnes), with Mr. R. Tucker (Ashburton), and Mr. Windeatt (Totnes), watched the cases for the Liberals. … (description of challenges) … Mr. John Furneaux (Buckfastleigh) claimed in respect of property consisting of a building at Old Mill, Ashburton, and he was objected to by the Conservatives as he has also been for two years past. The claimant stated that he rented the building (a drying loft) of Mrs. Pinsent at £10 a year. He used the loft for the purpose of drying shreds and glue pieces. He had not, however, as yet sold any of the shreds this year but he had forwarded about £20 worth to market. He obtained the shreds from Messrs. Hamlyn, tanners of Buckfastleigh, to whom he was a nephew, and acted as clerk. The shreds were given to him by his employers. Mr. Beer contended that the claimant was nothing but a “pretence” occupier. Moreover the building was in such a wretched and dilapidated condition, the roof and floor being full of holes of considerable size, that it was monstrous to suppose such a place was worth £10 a year for any purpose whatsoever. Indeed, he considered the building so insecure, that he apprehended no sane person would ever venture there; much more give £10 a-year for it. The Barrister remarked that if the claimant was foolish enough to pay £10 a-year for the loft, the vote must be retained.
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