public. The privilege of the local Board in supplying the western district was about to be attacked, and if the Board intended to oppose the application he thought they ought to manifest a bonâ fide desire to undertake the duty of supplying that district. He had learnt that the rateable value was £34,403. He did not think that in the face of opposition they could calculate upon supplying the whole of that property, as some persons would still prefer Mr. Clark’s water, and it would be a question who could supply the greatest abundance of the best water at the lowest cost. But there would be the inducement that any profit that might arise would go towards lightening their rates. Taking the gross rental at 1/- in the pound, it would produce annually an amount which would warrant the laying out of £12,000 – a sum, he trusted, far beyond what they would ever want to go, and which would yield a large profit. They might also obtain sufficient water to assist the supply in the eastern part of the borough. The total rental of the district now supplied by the Board was only about £7,000 more than that of the district they had totally neglected. His impression was that the Council should take steps to rectify this oversight, and he would propose “That this Board deem it expedient to take steps to procure a sufficient supply of water for the western part of the borough, exclusive of the township of St. Leonards”. Ald. Ginner had pleasure in seconding the proposition, and was glad to find a man amongst their body who was strenuous in his notions about the water supply. He thought it was due to the West Ward, as well as to the east, that the former should be supplied from the mains of the local Board. Carried.
The Bodiam Stream. Mr. A. Cox, writing from Burwash, on the third of October to the editor of the Hastings News, said “Sir – Taking a great interest in all that concerns my native place, I read with much interest the local news so well reported in your paper. I saw the other day there was a meeting of the Town Council respecting the water supply. The Bodiam stream was mentioned as being under consideration. I am able to give you some reliable information respecting it. For the last –teen years I have had under my notice the two streams, Rother and Dudwell, one descending the high land of the forest ridge south of Mayfield and Crowborough, & the other the Brightling to Burwash Common. These unite at Etchingham and run to Bodiam, and would, I am of opinion, supply Hastings.During the last dry summer there has been much water in both. Of course the mills stop the supply for a time, but while they work there is an abundant stream, and the quality is -
