your lordship’s most obedient servant. W. Ginner, Mayor”.
“Privy Council Office, March 17th, 1859. Sir, I am directed by the Lord President of the Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, enclosing a report from Dr. Taylor, of Guy’s Hospital on the quality of the water supplied to the inhabitants of the borough of Hastings. The Lord President has read with great attention Dr. Taylor’s very lucid report, as well as the pamphlet which was also enclosed in your letter; and I am also instructed to convey to you and the other members of the Corporation the expression of his lordship’s appreciation of the zealous public spirit with which you have had instituted and brought to such a satisfactory issue your investigations of this important matter.” “I am, sir, your obedient servant C. Greville”.
On the motion of Coun. Duke, the letters then read, and other documents referred to by the Clerk, were to be entered on the minutes. The Mayor remarked that although the investigation had cost a good deal, he thought it would have good results. Coun. Picknell complained that the Board should have been put to such an expense through the rash assertions of Dr. Garrett, and thought he ought to be called upon for the amount of costs. Coun. Winter had no doubt that the Council owed much of the success of the investigation to the East-Sussex Medico-Chirurgical Society, he therefore moved a vote of thanks, under seal, to those gentlemen for their assistance and lucid statements. Ald. Ross thought the investigation would materially assist the good name and prosperity of the town.
Boring for Water. At the meeting on the 6th of May, there was no report from the Water Committee, but it was stated that the boring had been sunk another 15 feet – 300 feet in all – and that 20,000 gallons per hour over previous supply had been obtained, or 80,000 gallons altogether.
Mr. Shirley’s Offer to the Board was that he would transfer his lease of the garden ground and water therein, of which there was a tenure of 17 years unexpired, by the Board paying the annual rent of £15, and taking the crops, buildings, fences, trees etc. at valuation. This was acceded to, and at the July meeting it was resolved that all the growing crops on the land should be sold by tender, up to the month of November. The said crops were mostly those of a kitchen garden, fruit trees etc., together with a fish-pond. Before Mr. Shirley leased it, the ground, together with the rest of the valley (now a portion of the Alexandra Park) had been cultivated for hops, beans, peas etc., and was familiarly known as “The Hop Gardens”. Lady Waldegrave offered to renew this (late Shirley’s) land in St. Andrews, if the Corporation would pay and rent increased from £15 to £24 -
