Parade Obstructions. At the February meeting a complaint was made of the lumbering state in which the parade was kept in consequence of boats, bathing machines and other obstructions in front of Eversfield parade, Warrior square and Grand parade. At the landing slip opposite to the Saxon hotel, dirty coal-waggons belonging to Mr. Parks; also black baskets and other things used in discharging cargoes of coal had been standing for three weeks. It became a question in a conversational discussion, whether it was the duty of the surveyor, street-inspector or pierwarden to attend to the condition of the parade. The Surveyor, however, took upon himself the responsibility of the duty.
At the next meeting (March 1st) a memorial was received from the residents of Grand parade, stating that the placing of capstans, boats, coal-waggons, ropes and planking on the parade was both a grievance and a danger to visitors, and a deterioration of property in the neighbourhood.
The matter cropped up again at the April meeting, when Coun. Gausden complained of a capstan being placed on the parade in front of 45 or 46 Eversfield place. It was stated that the capstan belonged to John Oliver, who had been given permission to place it there. It was admitted that it was the best parade on the coast and the worst kept. The Surveyor promised to see to it.
Capstans Again. At the same (March) meeting, Coun. Bromley asked to be taken into consideration the propriety of adopting some better method for the working of the capstans, seeing that only a few days before a melancholy accident had occurred. There was, he said, very great danger with the capstans now in use, as there was no stay or check to them. Coun. Putland said the fatal occurrence referred to arose from want of strength, a few men having attempted to do what twenty were usually employed to do. It was no fault of the capstan. As to the use of cogs it would do more harm than good. When a vessel surged there was an immense strain and the men yielded to it gradually; but anything of a fixed nature would be torn assunder(sic) through not yielding to the surge. – At the meeting in September the Pierwarden applied for two new capstans, 18 capstan bars and two ballast planks for use on the stade. The requirement was referred to the Stonebeach committee, with power to act. Their action was to accept Mr. Winter’s tender of £31 10s.
On the 5th of April permission having been applied for by the brothers Philcox to place a capstan at the landing-slip opposite to Claremont, the same was granted, with only one dissenting councillor.
