culvert, the Local Board were empowered to prevent it from the east groin to the St. Leonards Archway, and from the west of St. Leonards to the extremity of the borough. — Ald. Clift said, at Ramsgate for the last two years, the price of bathing from a machine was only sixpence, and he had known a gentleman staying, with his family of 14 persons at Brunswick House, leave Hastings for Ramsgate, because the bathing here cost him a guinea a week more than it did there.
Narrowing the Parade. — At a special meeting of the Local Board, it was resolved to widen the road from the Infirmary to the Archway, by taking ten feet off the Parade. This was done under the superintendence of Mr. Putland, as well as the heightening of Robertson street, Mr. Putland being then the Town Surveyor. He was, however, complained of by some of the Liberal members at this meeting for having heightened the road in Robertson street without authority; but the Surveyor, at some length endeavoured to justify the act as one of urgent necessity. — Coun. Deudney thought they should have confidence in their surveyor, and not tie his hands in cases of emergency. — Coun. Ginner, while testifying to the ability and integrity of their Surveyor, said he sometimes commenced new works without authority. The discussion ended with a resolution to limit the Surveyor’s power to an expenditure to sums not exceeding £5.
Footpaths. — The Roads Committee reported that Mr. Shorter, the Town Clerk, had taken up the question of public footpaths, as great complaints were abroad on the subject. A fence had been placed by Mr. Crawford across a footpath near St. Mary’s terrace, but it had been cut down by order of the Town Clerk. A path had also been illegally closed, leading along from the Gas Works to the western side of the Hop Gardens by Mr. Webb of the Hole Farm. Another path similarly jeopardized was one leading past Kite’s Nest farm towards Ore. Coun. Deudney expressed his desire that the public rights should not be encroached upon. [To the credit of that gentlemen, be it said, he never prevented persons using even private paths that had an outlet over his own grounds]. — Coun. Williams referred to Mr. H. E. Wyatt’s conduct in closing the bridle road in front of his house at Mount Pleasant and compelling people to go round at the back of his house, where unruly dogs were kept. — Resolved that Messrs. Clement, Clift, Ross, Williams and Deudney be a committee to look after the footpaths.
Committee’s Report. — At a special meeting on July 2nd, the Footpaths Committee reported that several footpaths within the borough boundaries had been stopped up, which having been used by the public for over 20 years, without protest, could not legally be closed. They recommended an immediate removal of the obstructions. This was afterwards done, and various improvements effected in connection with the right-of-way. Several paths were at once widened and repaired, and as many as fifteen -
