midnight
Some were for Barrington of Armstrong , others for Brenchfield the Mayor . They could n't agree . Royce Pederstone was chairman of the meeting . At midnight they were as far off a decision as ever . Someone proposed John Royce Pederstone , and it carried without a dissenting voice . `` He 's a cracking good man , is Pederstone , on the platform . He is straight , honest and more or less of a farmer .