Members more conspicuous. At the quarterly meeting on the 2nd of May, the water extension scheme was again debated. Mr. Penny, who was present, having given an estimate of £3,450 for the pumping system, Coun. Ross moved that the plans and estimates be forwarded to the General Board, with a request to borrow the money. Coun. Putland once more opposed the scheme in a lengthy speech, renewing his assertion that there was water enough for all except the Barrack Ground and a few houses in the Long Fields. He did not say that the people in the Long Fields had pump water of their own, and that the wells on the Barrack Ground had served from 3,000 to 5,000 troops, but doubtless, he was conversant with the fact. Anyway, he challenged the Council to get up a public meeting, and then, if they found a majority of people in favour of the scheme, he would cease his opposition, but until then, he would oppose it as long as he had an opportunity. Doubtless, Mr. Putland's land-surveying, town-surveying, road-making, water-getting and practical observations gave him more opportunities of knowing the resources of the locality than any other member of the Council and that fact would serve to fortify what he believed to be a correct attitude and not a mere whim of opposition. The original motion on this occasion was carried by 13 to 4.
Still Undecided. At the next meeting, on June 6th, Mr. Austin, having been down from the General Board, had sent in a long report, in which he recommended considerable deviations from Mr. Penny's plan, and which would entail greater expense. He contended that Hastings, with its rapidly increasing population would require more water than Mr. Penny's scheme was likely to produce. But Mr. Penny contended that as his plan was supplemental to the existing supply, it would be ample and less expensive. The matter was again left undecided. What were they to do? At the meeting on August 1st, it being proposed to borrow £,3000 on the water extension a/c. Coun. Williams moved that it be deferred for another month. This was carried, and it was next proposed to raise the water-manager's salary from three to five per cent. This was also carried by 8 votes to 2. Another motion was carried by 10 to 3 that Mr. Clark's offer be accepted to supply water for the roads at 2d. per budge, from three stand-pipes west of Robertson terrace. Then came the Manager's statement as to the quantity of water then available. There were, he said, rnning into all the reservoirs that morning a total of 45 gallons per minute - namely 9 gallons in the Ecclesbourne tank, 14 in the old tank, and 11 each at the tank and basin at the bridges. Coun. Ginner remarked that while the town required 120,000 gallons per day, the supply was only 64,800; and out of that supply, 11 gallons per minute came from the tank in Mr. North's ground, which was known to be hard water, and therefore unfit for the use of Hastings. The new works would not be ready for some months, and what were they to do?
Mr. Winter's Tender of £1,650 for No. 2 Water Extension had been previously accepted, the higher tenders for the same work ranging from £1,660 to £1900.
