been defeated at the Lewes Spring Assizes in his attempt to obstruct the right of way over the very ground in question, bethought him to get the Corporation to take over the same that he might turn it to his own advantage by offering the sides of such road for sale to builders and others. He denied Ald. Clement’s allegation that such was his intention, and, indeed, publicly contradicted the Alderman’s statement; but the latter was corroborated by Mr. Shirley, Mr. Harris (Mayor of Leicester), and Mr. Gurner, of London, to all of whom Mr. Wyatt, himself, had communicated what Mr. Clement had stated.
Numbering of Robertson Street:- At the June meeting of the Town Council a letter was received from Mr. W.B. Young as follows:- “On behalf of Mr. Robertson, who is a lessee from the Crown of several houses in Robertson street, and who, since the lease to him, has granted sub-leases of the same, I respectfully call the attention of the Town Council to the serious inconvenience in point of titles that is likely to arise from the proposed alteration in the numbering of the houses in that street. The several houses are in such leases and sub-leases described and identified by their present numbers, and (confining my observations to the south side of the street) I believe I am right in saying that the houses are all regularly numbered with the exception of two houses known, respectively, since they have been built as No. 1A & No. 1B. I venture to hope that these exceptions, from which no practical inconvenience has arisen, may not be thought a sufficient reason for altering the numbers on the south side of the street, which accord with the present title as they stand, and which alteration, if carried out, it would take many years to rectify in point of title, besides putting the owners to expense where the alteration was not notorious to parties purchasing or otherwise dealing with the property.” [A similar objection had been urged by another lawyer (Mr. W. P. Beecham) although a comparatively subordinate one to the general argument against changing the designation of several hundreds of houses in St. Leonards to that of Hastings. Not only would it have been a long enduring source of inconvenience – to say nothing of expense to tradesmen in particular – but, as pointed out at the time, might have been used to invalidate titles and title-deeds.] As regards Robertson street, Mr. Young’s letter had its desired effect, and the original numbering has remained unaltered.
Floating Breakwater. At the September meeting, Captain Sleigh was permitted to explain his plan for a floating breakwater, which appeared to consist of large flat-bottomed caisons of such a shape as would allow the waves to gradually exhaust their force, and moored by means of anchors. He referred to some eulogistic opinions which had been passed on his plan at Lowestoff, and was, he said, the main instrument that enabled the large marine works to be carried out there. A floating harbour for boats could be made in a couple of months at an ex-
