“Civis”, one from “An Annual” three or four from “Let Well Alone”, and three at least from the Rev. J. A. Hatchard; but notwithstanding the published advice of “Deep Interest” to drop all insinuations of personal motives and to confine the harbour question to unbiassed(sic) discussion, personalities (particularly between the two writers “Let Well Alone” and the Rev. J. A. Hatchard) were such that the Editor of the Hastings News determined at length to admit no further communications that wandered from the subject.
A News Editorial of September 14th ran thus:- “The Harbour Question is the principal local matter of controversy at present. Our correspondence columns give abundant evidence of this fact. We have heard nothing to change our views on the subject, and our opinions remain precisely the same as we expressed last week. The feeling is gaining ground that the difficulty of raising means to carry out the scheme will deliver the objecting part of our townspeople from any apprehensions which they may have entertained about the matter. The resolution adopted at the recent harbour meeting embraced two distinct objects. It pledged its supporters to the assumption that a Harbour was wanted here, and bound them to recommend a particular method of constructing that harbour. A suggestion that these two distinct clauses should be separated was slighted, and the meeting swallowed both at a single gulp. The unfairness of this would soon become apparent if Hastings were really serious in its determination to have a harbour; for, amongst the many theories afloat in the engineering world on the subject of breakwaters and harbours, it is just possible that one or more might be propounded of equal worth with the theory we are asked to adopt. Without wishing to disparage Capt. Sleigh’s plan, we think it right to ask that, in case of a harbour of some kind being erected here, every business-like measure should be adopted to secure for the town the best possible system of construction. The usual course in both public and private business is to invite competition; not to take the first theoretical plan that may be offered. We write in this way because already another nautical gentleman – Vice-Admiral Taylor (who has a plan of his own to recommend) has ventured to dispute Capt. Sleigh’s claim to having the best plan to offer. In reference to the assumed power of Capt. Sleigh’s breakwater to stand a heavy sea, the Admiral thus writes to us – “Each section of his breakwater offers a surface -
