Parochial (St. Mary Magdalen) Meetings
At an unusually large meeting held at the Horse and Groom inn on the 26th of March, the parishioners named for overseers were John Wellsted, Sam’l Woodgate, Samuel Sinden, Chas. Pain and Newton Parks. Three of these resided within the Archway district, and two without. Mr. C. V. Levett was appointed collector of the borough-rate, and a deputation, consisting of James Mann and George Voysey, was elected to wait on James Everett to explain to him the appointment of C. V. Levett, and to request Everett to make up his a/cs., together with those of the highways and lighting rates, and to hand over the same, with the books, to the overseers.
At the meeting held at the Albert Tavern on the 26th of April, there were nine ratepayers present, but the only business transacted was the making a poor-rate at 3d. As Everett was not present and his books not produced, there was an informal conversation indulged in, and the conversation was not favourable to him as a rate-collector.
Another meeting was held on May 7 — this time at the Anchor Inn, with J. J. Ryall in the chair. There were seven persons present, but the meeting had to be adjourned in consequence of Everett not being there as requested.
The adjourned meeting was held on the 13th of May, when, after passing a poor-rate at 2d. the borough-rate was audited and a balance of £13 paid to the overseers. There appeared to be £38 15 11½ uncollected, and the collector was desired to clear up quickly.
The next meeting was held at the Horse and Groom, on the 12th of October, when Mr. Everett and his books were still absent. It was resolved that C. V. Levett be allowed 6½d. in the pound for collecting, and that a borough rate at 3d. be assessed.
The last meeting for that year was on Nov. 4th, at the Coach and Horses. Mr. S. Putland was in the chair, and the vestry-book received 12 signatures, but the only business was that of passing a borough-rate at 3d.
Railway and other Accidents
A railway accident occurred on the 8th of January to John Risbridge, aged 21 years. He was proceeding from Bopeep (St. Leonards) to Rye, with 17 waggons, drawn by an engine, and when nearing the Hastings station, on seeing the red light, the train was stopped. Risbridger being in the last waggon but one, stood up to ascertain the cause of delay, when the train again started and jerked him off. By that means his arm was so crushed by the last waggon as to necessitate amputation.
On the night of the 15th of August, out of a number of cows that had strayed on the South-Eastern railway near the Ticehurst-road station, two were cut to pieces and the train was thrown off the metals, which caused delay, but no further injury.
