good. Both streams are used --–wing by the farmer and a very clear and sparkling generally. Now, if you can get from Bodiam or Robertsbridge a communication with this body of water, you might use it without stint. Sometimes both these streams become rivers, and are turbid, so that it would be necessary to have works to filter the water; but my object now is to state that if you can get a communication with this water, there is enough for all”.
Rainfall and Water Supply. Mr. John Banks also sent a letter to the News, from which the following is extracted: “It is very well known that I have kept for a series of years past, an account of the rainfall for Hastings, and it is pretty generally known that of late the annual rainfall has been decreasing. I append it for the last ten years.
| Inches | Inches | Inches | Inches |
| 1849 – 32.54 | 1852 – 42.74 | 1855 – 21.08 | 1858 – 17.42 |
| 1850 – 30.03 | 1853 – 28.30 | 1856 – 29.43 | 1859- 14.01 |
| 1851 – 24.18 | 1854 – 21.87 | 1857 – 22.51 | to Sept |
“My object is principally to show that if advantage be taken of the natural capabilities of the immediate neighbourhood, the disastrous effects of a short rainfall may be obviated, at least so far as a supply of water to Hastings and St. Leonards is concerned. Without going far away, the watersheds of the neighbourhood, i.e. those that are wholly or in part of the Borough of Hastings, may be taken to be as follows:
| 1. | Ecclesbourne Valley, | approximate average | 600 acres | |
| 2. | Valley N. E. of Hastings | " | “ | |
| 3. | Priory Valley, with Bunger Hill and Old Roar | “ | 2000 | “ |
| 4. | Magdalen & St. Leonards Valleys | “ | 300 | “ |
| 5. | Hollington Valley | “ | 11000 | “ |
| 6. | Crowhurst Valley | " |
Now, if we take the average rainfall at 24 inches, and reject one-half for evaporation and for the requirements of vegetation we shall have remaining the following quantities:
| Nos. 1 & 2 – | 432,000 | gallons per day |
| No. 3 - | 1140,000 | “ |
| No. 4 - | 216,000 | “ |
| Nos. 5 & 6 - | 7,920,00 | “ |
| Total - | 10,008,000 | “ |
So that proper storage room being provided at the proper levels, and with the present pumping power, I think, without doubt, that in average seasons these valleys would be capable of supplying the wants of the borough for many years to come. As, however, the question of how the natural capabilities of the neigh-
