Page:Item 6 1854.pdf/117

From Historical Hastings
This page has been proofread


who could not speak for themselves? None of them knew where to lay their hands on one who did not think it was uncalled for. What could be more vexatious than to have a name which they repudiated attached to everything? He had been in the district some years, and he had always said that he lived at St. Leonards, and had often sworn that he lived at St. Leonards, and others had done the same. He did not suppose he had committed perjury. Everybody knew that almost every house had St. Leonards on the lease and deeds. There would be one result of the change to which, personally, he could hardly object, but which would cause extra expense and trouble to the people. If they wanted to change their lease, they would have to make a declaration explaining the name in the lease. Then, again, the houses were insured. Supposing his house were to be burnt down, and he went to the insurance office. They would send down a surveyor, but he, on looking for Warrior square, St. Leonards, would find no such place if the name were altered. These were things that could be got over, but they would be exceedingly annoying for years. Although the Town Council had power to put up a name [such as that of a road or a street], they had no power to change the established name of a town or district. If they caught the gentlemen with the paint-pots the magistrates must settle whether they could fine them or not; but whether they were right in law or not, the question was whether they were right in fact. In 1823 an Act was passed with respect to the town of Hastings, limiting the town by words to the parishes of All Saints and St. Clement's, and the other parts were in the liberties of the town of Hastings. Mr. Burton's father built the town of St. Leonards, and in 1832 and(sic) act was obtained, limiting that to a certain district. The people of Hastings thought they were getting behind hand, and they obtained an Act, limiting the town to the three parishes of St. Clement's, All Saints and St. Mary in the Castle. [Cheers.] That was passed subsequently to the St. Leonards Act. If the east boundary of St. Leonards was the Archway, it was so merely for local purposes. The intermediate part was left as debateable ground. Hastings did not grow much, but St. Leonards grew rapidly, and ultimately the places met. The Hastings peoples finding they could not get any farther - like an ancient conqueror, having no more world to conquer - they began to regret what had ben done. The whole of that district was under no government at -