that the rate was the first of its kind under the new arrangement, whereby the old Improvement Act rate would be done away with, and the District rate be spread equally over the whole district of the Local Board. Coun. Gausden asked, Did the Board mean to transfer the debts of the East on to the shoulders of the West? – Couns. Ginner and Winter replied that the whole of the originally contracted by the Commissioners had been paid off, and the Board was in possession of a considerable amount of property. The bonds remaining to be paid off arose from the construction of the Waterworks, and as the whole of the district now received the benefits of those works, it was thought to be only just that the whole district should help to pay the balance. This tenpenny District was confirmed and adopted at the next meeting in August.
Extension of the Telegraph. At the January meeting an application was received from the London, Brighton and South-Coast Company for permission to lay down pipes for telegraphic wires to be extended from the West Marina railway station to the Marine parade, Hastings, under such portion of the roads as were within the Local Board district. – Ald. Clement had great pleasure in moving the solicited permission. It would be a great convenience to have it brought to the centre of the town. The office would probably be at the Arcade. A friend of his (said the Alderman) recently sent a message to Portsmouth via South-Eastern line, and to pay 8s. for it. A similar message was sent from Bopeep to the same town by the South-Coast Company for 4s. – The Mayor said a similar instance of exorbitant charge had occurred within the last 48 hours. A message of 20 words had come from Boulogne which cost 7s. 6d., and a reply was sent from St. Leonards, with half the number of words, for which the South-Eastern Company charged 12/6. – Coun. Winter characterised the South-Eastern Company’s monopoly as unbearable. The motion to grant the permission was passed unanimously, with the proviso that the Company pay £1 per year and all messages be treated as main-line messages.
The Water Supply. At the January meeting the Town Clerk reported he had prepared a memorial against Mr. Clark’s new Waterworks Bill. At the March meeting a letter was received from the Clerk, then in London, in which he stated that Mr. Clark had got leave to proceed with his Bill, and had also applied for an injunction to restrain the Local Board from extending their mains, which latter he (the Clerk) had got the hearing for postponed for a fortnight. He requested permission to draw on the Board for £100, to enable him to pay fees to Counsel and other charges in opposing Mr. Clark. Coun. Gausden wished to make a few observations as to the water supply of the western district. Although a member of the -
