Act be paid off; also to be paid off the £4,500 advanced by the London and County Bank; also that £3,000 be placed in the London & County Bank.
Reappointment of Treasurer. On the 3rd of July, the Finance Committee recommended that in consequence of the stoppage of the Bank, the Treasurer, Mr. Frank Bennetts be requested to find two fresh sureties. A letter was also received from Mr. Bennetts, stating that he was prepared with them. (These afterwards were proved to be Mr. James Emary and Mr. Abel Shirleys.) Hereupon a discussion ensued as to the propriety of having a fresh treasurer, but it was urged by most of the Council that a well-tried and faithful servant ought not to be dismissed on account of the failure of his sureties, and it was ultimately decided by 14 to 3, that Mr. Bennetts should remain Treasurer at a salary of £35 a year, and he provide sureties for £2,000 as before. At the Council meeting on Dec. 4th, it was resolved on the motion of Ald. Clement, seconded by Ald. Ross, that the Treasurer receive an additional £5 for the Burial-Board a/cs, and addditional sums of £5 for Municipal and Local Board, respectively, thus raising his salary from £35 to £50. It was stated by Messrs. Ross and Bromley that they were greatly surprised at the work Mr. Bennetts had been doing for so small a sum as £35. - (See memoirs of Mr. Bennetts in Historico-Biographies of Local Worthies Vol ).
Water-Works. The offer of a loan of £400 for the Water-works extension was accepted at the February meeting. Agreeably to the recommendation of the Water Committee on the 3rd of April, it was decided to engage Mr. Thomas Mann, of St. Leonards, as engineer, at a salary of 25s. a week. At the time of writing this, in 1899, Mr. Mann is living in retired affluence which he has enjoyed for many years. In the month of June, the Water-works manager, Mr. Hide tendered his resignation and afterwards committed suicide, for account of which see "Inquests". At the July meeting of the Council, Mr. Hide's resignation was accepted and Mr. Pierce was appointed to fill the vacancy at a salary of £75. At a later period he also resigned the situation in consequence of financial embarrasments, which was not the case with Mr. Hide. From the 24th of June the water-rate was raised from 6d. to 1/- in the £ and the collector's salary was raised to 3½ per cent. At the meeting on August 7th, Mr. Penny reported the completion of the new water works and a bountiful supply of good water.
Capstans. - On the 6th of February, two new capstans and twelve new bars were ordered to be provided. At the next meeting, Messrs. Winter and Sons' tender of £27 for the capstans and bars was accepted - a price from which -
