1821 a portion of waste land adjoining the Priory water was sold or leased by the Corporation to Mr. Simmons, and afterwards possessed by his son-in-law, Mr. Peter Banks. Several years later, when the Priory Bridge was taken down and the Priory stream conveyed to the sea by means of a culvert, the channel was filled in as the property of the Corporation. Hence the joint owners of the land in question. A view in the writer’s possession shows Mr. Barham’s conservatory to have been more ornamental than obstructive.
The Police Force. At the same meeting a letter was received from the Secretary of State, Sir George Lewis, informing the Council that the Inspector’s report certified that the police force of the borough had been maintained in a state of efficiency during the whole year ending on the 29th of September last. This certificate entitled the borough to one fourth of the expenses from the Government funds.
Suggested Change of Mails. Mr A. Beattie, a St. Leonards director of the South-Eastern Railway Company having requested the Postmaster-General to dispense with the 12 o’ clock up day mail, per South-Coast line, and to send the bags instead by the 2.30 p.m. train, Dover line, a letter was received by the Mayor from Mr. Newman the purport of which was that the Council would consider the matter and let the officials know which route would be preferred, the letter at the same time pointing out that if the 2.30 train were used the letters could not reach London in time to be delivered during business hours. Counsellors(sic) Bromley strongly urged the desirability of the change, observing that it would give a longer time to reply to letters received in the morning. – Alderman Clement, the Mayor and Coun. Gausden were as decidedly against the change being made, they contending that by existing arrangements letters by the 12 o’clock train letters were delivered at business houses in London, soon enough to be replied to the same night, whereas, if despatched by the 2.30 train they would not reach their destination before 6 o’clock or later, when the offices of solicitors and merchants would be closed. – Coun. Winter moved that Mr. Newman’s letter be referred to the Watch Committee. As himself a branch postmaster, he regarded it to be inconvenient and injudicious for the branch offices to be closed from an hour to an hour and a half before the mails left. He considered the existent mail to be a great deal the best if more time could be gained at the branch offices. Mr. Winter’s motion having been seconded by Ald. Rock, the previous motion and amendment were withdrawn.
At the next monthly meeting (Feb. 1st) the Watch Committee recommended “That Mr. Newman be informed that no alteration in the time of the despatch of the second day-mail from Hastings, which will have the effect of preventing a reply from London the following morning would -
