showed an excess of outlay for the six months of £2,137. Coun. Deudney was sorry that a lower rate could not be safely taken, and Coun. Ginner regretted the necessity for making so high a rate, but hoped that the increasing property in the borough would lighten the rates in future.
Refusals. — At a special meeting on March 5th, Mr. Hy Tree’s application for beach in front of two houses east of Denmark place, was not complied with. Mr. Simmons’s application to construct an ash-pit in Gower’s Walk, on the site of the old Town Wall [between East Bourne-street and Pleasant Row was also refused.
Removal of Rocks. — At the Council meeting on the 2nd of April, the Stonebeach Committee’s recommendation was adopted to remove the rocks at the foot of the short groin near the site of the old battery, to obviate the great scarcity of beach at that spot. It would have been well if other rocks had been removed. I once believed, with Mr. Beckles that rocks were a protection to the sea-front, but a long course of observation afterwards, convinced me that Dr. Bowerbank was right in his contention with Mr. Beckles, that where there were most rocks there was less beach.
A Capstan to be put down near the Saxon hotel for the use of a new pleasure-boat, would be permitted by Mr. Lynn, the owner, doing it at his own expense and paying 18s. a year.
A Barrack-ground Well. At the same meeting a long discussion took place on a proposition to clean out a well on the late Barrack Ground, 81 feet deep, and to erect a pump at an estimated expense of about £60. Coun. Ginner said the Local Board by taking over the road had got possession of the well near the Hope Inn, which well was both filthy and dangerous, and from which a dead cat had recently been drawn up. — Coun. Harvey corroborated Mr. Ginner’s description, except that the cat, which had been missed for a fortnight, was drawn up nearly dead, but was now running about quite lively. He moved that the expense be paid out of the general district rate. — Coun. Deudney proposed an amendment that the expense be a special district rate, it being for the special benefit of a particular district. — The West Ward had never asked the East Ward to pay for their water supply, and he was sure that if they had asked they would have been thrown on their backs. — Ald. Scrivens was apprehensive of a new principle of supply to a district with water provided by the Local Board. The waterworks were only made to pay by the rates from those who used the water, and he did not see that those who paid should also pay for those who did not. The principal proposed was therefore a dangerous one. Those who could build houses could dig wells, or repair those that were already dug. The original proposal to pay the expense out of the general rate was, however, carried.
£2,000 Wanted. — Another long discussion ensued on the recommendation of -
