comparatively small – is not “increasing at a fearful rate”, but decreasing at a gradual rate. We further undertake to tell Mr. Ginner that which if he does not already know, he ought to – namely, that the public do not have the inconvenience of waiting till the afternoon for letters which ought to reach them in the morning; but that a provision is made by the post-office authorities for a simultaneous delivery of letters, whether rightly or wrongly addressed. This is shown even by the statement of Alderman Rock, which, unintentionally proves too much. “I might say” observed the speaker just named “that my letters reach me at Fairlight early in the morning, and that they are directed sometimes Hastings, sometimes St. Leonards, and sometimes Fairlight.” What is there, then, to prevent Alderman Clement getting his letters equally early, and what becomes of the assertion of Alderman Ginner that mis-directed morning letters are delayed till the afternoon? The truth is that whatever inconvenience there might have been years ago, in consequence of letters getting into the wrong bag, the evil has long since been remedied by an exchange being made previously to the time of delivery. We suppose, however, that no exposition of their shameless assertions will convince these gentlemen that they are not the real guardians of the public and that the St. Leonards people are only contending for their rights when they strive to retain the present postal arrangements as those that are entirely adapted to their requirements.
We can assure those gentlemen who are so anxious to remove an evil which does not exist, that their proposed abolition of the St. Leonards post-office will find no favour in this part of the borough, and that, to a man, we shall resolutely oppose it”
A Memorial, numerously signed by both residents and visitors, to the Postmaster-General, was prepared with great avidity at the time when the above article was written, praying that no alteration be made in the postal arrangements as proposed by the Town Council.
The Hastings News, of the following Friday put forth its sentiments thus:- “Greek will soon meet Greek on the great Postal and Boundary controversy. The tug of war threatens to be severe; for both parties are hard at work – arranging for deputations and preparing memorials. The present effort of the Town Council is founded on the fact that, with two head post offices in one borough mistakes are constantly occurring, as the postal bundaries between Hastings and St. Leonards are very artificially marked. The denial of this fact is one of the most barefaced pieces of blundering into which the -
