of Parliament before they came to them for the land. Mr. Beecham, who attended on behalf of the applications, explained that the Board of Trade would not entertain their application unless before the 31st of the month they could show that they could acquire the necessary land. Mr. Powell moved that the promoters be informed that the Council would let the land at a fair rental, which motion being seconded by Coun. Picknell. Mr. Gausden, moved as an amendment that the application be defended till the next monthly meeting. This was seconded by Coun. Kenwood; but was lost by a majority of one. Coun. Gausden, then presented a petition against the harbour, numerously signed by ladies and stated that there would have been many more signatures, but for the shortness of time. Resolutions were passed that the memorial be entered on the minutes and advertised in all the local papers.
The latter was not done, the St. Leonards & Hastings Gazette, which (as shewn by its leading articles), laboured equally for the good of both towns, being in this instance, as in all others, unrecognised.
At the next meeting (Feby. 7th) a motion was made and carried that the promoters having agreed to the alterations proposed at the last meeting, the Council certify in writing under the common seals, that the objections offered by them, had been explained and ratified.
"To be or not to be; that is the question?" said the Town Crier, as he announced a proposed decision on the harbour question by the Town Council. Such an unusual proclamation naturally attracted a considerable number of persons to witness the proceedings of the municipal body on that occasion, and who, no doubt, were interested, if not amused by the animated session which then and there took place. The following is a condensed report:-
Coun. Gausden, having requested the Town Clerk to read over the resolutions passed at a previous meeting, said if he was right in his conception, the point on which he brought the subject forward affected the business and transactions of the Council, and therefore he wished to say that he had no intention of impugning the motives of The Mayor, the Town-Clerk, or any other official. He had to treat it as a matter of business, and as such he brought it before them. Mr. G. then, in a temperate address, entered his protest against the resolutions in question as being opposed to the spirit and letter of an Act of Parliament which he cited. In the course of that address, he observed that they all knew how necessary it wsa that resolutions passed at their meetings should be properly done. He took it that if any resolution was passed in that Council contrary to Act of Parliament, such resolution was passed illegally and could not be in force. The Act -
