the Finance Committee to borrow £2,000. Coun. Deudney was surprised that they should have been left so much in the dark. They had been led to suppose that only £1,000 would be wanted, but now it appeared that £1,400 was due to the Gas Company, and that the Market alterations, the contract for which was £600, had cost nearly £1,300. Coun. Ginner moved that the sum be advertised for. Ald. Scrivens thought that with consols at 98, they might possibly get the money at less than 4 per cent., but he was an advocate of the system of Exchequer loans, by paying so much principal and interest every year — say for 30 years, then who lived longest would pay most. [A penalty for taking care of one’s health.]
Alleged Injustice. — Coun. Deudney presented a memorial from the parishioners of Holy Trinity, complaining of a shilling[1] highway-rate, in addition to the nine-penny rate of the Local Board. He thought it was very hard that the new parishioners should be saddled with such additional burthen. — The Mayor (Mr. Hickes) explained that when the building operations commenced, the surveyors were obliged to alter the roads; hence the expense. — Coun. Ross [exhibiting his usual political bias] also explained that when he first went into the parish there were excellent roads, but since Mr. Robertson commenced his buildings on the Crown estate, it was decided to heighten the roads. [Yes! And a very wise decision, too; not by Mr. Robertson, but by the Surveyor of the Local Board, of which Mr. Ross was a member. That gentleman should have known that the heightened road — now Robertson Street — was previously one of the worst roads in the borough, and besides being low, was so hollow from about the centre to the western end, as to be flooded by the sea at spring tides, half the winter through. The only good road was the shorter and higher one under the cliff — now Claremont — and this was kept in good order mainly by Mr. Boykett Breeds, with chalk and beach: — Mr. Breeds being a lime-burner, as well as a coal, timber and porter-merchant. From that short street to White-rock street, the still existing avenue, west of Trinity Church, descended a considerable number of feet, in just the same manner as Levett’s passage now does from North street to Shepherd street.]
The Loan Obtained. — At the Council meeting on May 7th, after much discussion, it was resolved to accept the loan of £3,500 from the County Fire Office, at 4 per cent., no person having offered money, in reply to the advertisement, at a less rate of interest. — Ald. Scrivens expressed satisfaction that the money was to be borrowed on the equitable principle of paying with the interest every year, one thirtieth of the loan.
Bathing Machines. — Ald. Scrivens had put a notice on the agenda for the better regulation of bathing machines. He did not suppose they could legislate on the charges, but they could offer a suggestion. The dearness of bathing at Hastings was calculated to prevent visitors coming to the town. They complained of having to pay a shilling[2] for going into the water. — The Clerk stated that whereas the old Commissioners Act — now defunct — only prohibited bathing other than from machines between the east groyne and the Priory -
- ↑ An explanation of old currency and coinage may be found at the following website Pre-decimal currency, accessdate: 16 June 2022
- ↑ An explanation of old currency and coinage may be found at the following website Pre-decimal currency, accessdate: 16 June 2022
