Page:Item 9 1861.pdf/79

From Historical Hastings
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the town generally. It was not the Town Hall alone that required to be removed, but their officers ought to be found at a place that was within easy reach of the greater number of the population. He thought the Council ought at least to give an opportunity to discuss the motion in committee, when if the advocates of the proposal were beaten, they would give way. If a site were selected it need not be built upon immediately. – Coun. Poole would vote against the motion because he thought that with an outlay of £600 or £700, the present Hall could be made to answer its purpose for some years to come. – Ald. Hayles regretted to hear so much about East and West. He wished them to remember that it was all one borough, and the interests were identical. He thought there could be no harm in agreeing to Mr. Howell’s motion, as its purport appeared only to obtain a site for a Town Hall in prospective. It seemed to be admitted that if the borough went on increasing there must be a new Town Hall. He therefore thought it would be a wise measure to purchase a piece of land at an early period while a vacant site could be had. He should vote in favour of the motion. – Coun. Winter thought the present expenses of the borough were such as would not justify such an expenditure. They had spent more than £30,000 in putting the town in a good sanitary position, and the property of the town was oppressed with the rates made to discharge the principal and interest of that expenditure. He did not think gentlemen were acting wisely in bringing such a measure forward. – Ald. Ross thought a larger and better Town Hall was really required, but after the great outlay for drainage, the cemetery, and the waterworks, the Council should pause before entering upon any other large expenditure. He believed that the present Hall was much too far eastward, as to the accommodation the only place the magistrates had to retire to was the narrow passage behind the Bench. He must, however vote against the resolution because he thought the subject should be deferred to a future day. – Coun. Duke had lived near the Town Hall for twenty years, and, juding(sic) from the scenes which occasionally took place, he did not think it would be any advantage to remove it. – The Mayor said it was an extraordinary debate; thirteen persons had already spoken, and he was prepared to put the motion to the vote. – Coun. Howell claimed the right to reply, and as an answer to Mr. Bromley’s contention that the trebled increase of population and rateable value was the weakest argument for a larger and better Town Hall, all that he (Mr. Howell) could say was that it was not the weakest, but the strongest -