collecting for the Visitors' List, as the reporting work of the news sheet - a work than which he "ought to be doing something better" he was once told by one of the very men who in the Town Council passed the resolution to deprive St. Leonards of its long accustomed name. As a further proof that Hastings was well cared for in the visitors list, weekly or fortnightly calls were made at all lodging-houses even in such districts as High street, All Saints street, East Hill, Exmouth-place, Castledown, The Croft and Croft place, St. Marys terrace, Meadow road, St. Andrew's terrace and Belle Vue. Yet, for all that, nothing would have prevented the determination of the proprietor to resist to the utmost any attempt to change the arrangement of his visitor's list, for the purpose of throwing into Hastings that which by usage and prescription was really St. Leonards. But in addition to his own resolve he was desired by almost every owner and occupier of property, and through them by many visitors, not to place their names in the Hastings list; such desire being the more necessary in consequence of a Hastings , as well as a St. Leonards list being attached to the Gazette, whilst Southall's Visitors List was for St. Leonards alone.
So unanimous also were the trademen in the coveted district in retaining the name of St.Leonards, that such name, printed or written on cards, was placed in shop windows. Some, also, instead of daubing or rubbing out the word Hastings that had been painted on their houses, added other words thereto, and thus thwarted the intention of the Council. Mr. Hempsted, to wit, at 14 Grand parade, allowed the word to remain, but with the prefix "A mile to", so that it read thus - "A mile to Hastings" On the opposite side Mr. Hoad's office was made to inform the public that its proprietor was "Late of Hastings". One or two other person had painted up "☞ to Hastings". Mr. Montgomery, a gentleman residing in the part of Warrior square then known as Belgravia, changed the word to that of "St. Leonards House".
These facts will show how impossible it was for the majority of the Town Council to carry out their own sweet will, but so exiting and important was the question that further correspondence and other proceedings, pro and con, will occupy considerable space in the following chapter.
