ors) opinion that the town would never get a better supply till they went beyond their own hills; but whether to Brede, Bodiam or Crowhurst, as the best source, he could not say. He thought, however, they must take an extensive view of the question. The town was increasing in population very fast, and property was proportionately increasing; and the object of the Board should be to progress with such increase. For his own part, he had seen no part like Bodiam River, where an unfailing supply of water could be obtained. He felt satisfied they could take any quantity out of that river without anybody missing it. There was a run sufficient to fill several large pipes. If they laid down an 18 inch pipe, probably they would not take away more than one-fifteenth part of the water there. That was the sort of thing that would become necessary. His Worship concurred in the rejection of Mr. Clark’s offer, and said it must be years, even with average rainfalls, before the earth would be restored to the condition which existed before the commencement of the dry seasons. The Mayor then read some extracts from a paper by Mr. Thos. Spencer, F.C.S., a gentleman who had spent forty years in studying the meteorological condition of the country, and whose opinion was that the available pure water (particularly in the south) was gradually decreasing in quantity, whilst the demand for it was gradually increasing. Also during the last 40 years the most reliable statistics showed a continuous decrease of rainfall. The Mayor was heartily applauded for his information, and he concluded with laying before the Board the following resolutions:
- “This Board having the experience of a short water supply in past years, and noting the rapidly increasing population of the borough, consider the gathering ground - from which only the rainfall can be conveyed for the use of the inhabitants by gravitation, owing to the situation of the town and the peculiar geological formation of the surrounding country – is insufficient in extent”.
- “That the Board, having surveyed the various streams of water which can be brought into the town, have come to the conclusion that the River Rother, at or near Bodiam Bridge, is the nearest source from which a plentiful and regular supply can be obtained in times of drought”.
- “Resolved, that in the opinion of this Board, the Town Clerk -
