The Infirmary
Two sermons in aid of this institution were preached at the St. Leonards Church on Sunday the 29th of January, which realised about £28, to which was added a sum of £10 by a private donor.
The 20th Annual Meeting of Governors, under the presidency of the Rev. G. D. St. Quintin, was held on the 6th of March, when it was shown that during the year 97 patients had been received into the house, eight of whom still remained; that the outdoor patients, with readmissions, numbered 1067 (the largest number of any previous year), 95 of whom were still under treatment; that the income had been £852, and the expenditure £34 greater (chiefly caused by a thorough renovation of the premises); thus reducing the balance in hand to £183, in round numbers.
The Lifeboat
A Rebellious Crew. A special meeting of the Committee on the 7th of March in consequence of the crew refusing to take the boat off for the quarterly practice. Capt. Gough had given orders for the volunteer coastguard men to assemble, and requested Morfee, the coxswain, to have the rest of the crew at the boat-house at the same time. Morfee, who was ready to go off, finding that the Hastings contingent of the regular crew (coastguards excepted) refused to man the boat, went for the St. Leonards portion, who also refused and gave the coxswain a volley of abuse, at the same time asked who was to pay them for risking life or broken bones? Fishermen about the beach said it was quite practicable to get the boat off, they having many times gone off in rougher weather in ordinary boats. The Rev. W. Hume, Capt. Gough and Mr. Ross endeavoured to get a crew by acceding to the demand of 10s., but on their return the demand had risen to 20/- each. The result of the meeting was to discharge the appointed crew of shoremen.
A Coastguard Crew. The “Victoria” life-boat, after some little difficulty, was got to sea on the 13th of June for the usual quarterly practice. The new crew of coastguardmen were rather awkward at first, but, under the management of Capt. Gough, R.N., assisted by Mr. Morfee, the late coxswain, they put the boat through its “courses” as efficiently as could be expected, it being some of the crew’s first attempt.
The next Quarterly Meeting, took place on the 11th of July, under the presidency of the Rev. W. W. Hume, when it was resolved to accept a barometer from the parent institution and to find a suitable place for it.
At the Quarterly Meeting held in the Town Hall on the 14th of October, Lord Harry Vane being present and taking the chair, an application was received from Capt. Scrivens for permission to make use of the life-boat house for placing ammunition, shot and uncharged shell under cover during the gun--
