Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/367

 signed by the chairman on behalf of the meeting, praying that a Charter of Incorporation be granted for the town of Blackpool, and that the same be forwarded to the proper authorities; and that the necessary steps be taken to obtain such Charter." The proposition was adopted without a dissentient; and at the ensuing assembly of the Local Board of Health on Tuesday, the 10th of November, a similar motion was brought forward by W. H. Cocker, esq., J.P., with an equally successful result. The prayers were forwarded to the appropriate official quarters in London, and on the 26th of May, 1875, Major Donnelly, R.E., the commissioner appointed by Her Majesty's Privy Council, attended at the Board-room to hold an inquiry as to whether the importance and necessities of the place warranted a favourable answer to the request. In the course of the examination, it was stated, amongst other things, that the rateable value of the proposed borough was in 1863, £17,489; 1866, £35,175; 1869, £45,755; 1872, £55,653; 1874, 63,848; and in 1875, £73,035. Also that the town contained three churches, seven chapels, three rooms used for religious services, two markets under the Local Board, other markets owned by private individuals, four public sea-water baths, three banks, an aquarium, public gardens, etc. On the 16th of the following July information was officially conveyed to W. M. Charnley, esq., the law-clerk of the board, that the lords of the Privy Council had determined to accede to the prayer of the town, and that the borough should consist of six wards, with one alderman and three councillors for each. A draft of the scheme of incorporation was prepared by the law-clerk, and forwarded to London. On the 22nd January, 1876, the charter, having passed through the necessary forms, obtained the royal assent, being received by W. M. Charnley, esq., two days later. The document, after quoting several acts of parliament, proceeds to "grant and declare that the inhabitants of the town of Blackpool and their successors, shall be for ever hereafter one body politic and corporate in deed, fact, and name, and that the said body corporate shall be called the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of Blackpool, who shall have and exercise all the acts, powers, authorities, immunities, and privileges which are now held and exercised by the bodies corporate of the several boroughs" similarly created. Further, the deed