EASTBOURNE BOROUGH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 93, 17 October 1906, Page 10

EASTBOURNE BOROUGH.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. At the meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council yesterday there were present: — The Mayor (Mr. F. G. Bolton), and Councillors Shortt, Mackenzie, Foley, Wood, and Bannatyne. It was decided to hold a special meeting on 16th November for the confirmation of the bylaws. The Mayor reported that the council had got no satisfaction from the Hutt County Council with regard to the special loan for the Gollan's Valleyroad, and it would be necessary to proceed by way of Local Bills next session. The clerk was instructed to expedite the survey of the recreation reserve. The clerk reported that he had sent to the authorities the allocation of the cost of carrying out thß sand-drift scheme. The action of va.9 clerk was confirmed. < The board's solicitor sent in a written opinion that the foreshore of the borough was nofc public property, and would need to be acquired by the borough on payment of compensation to interested owners. The Mayor said the only portion of the foreshore practically vested in the public was a portion to the north of Fabian-street and a portion running from Fabian-street southwards as far as Makara-road. It was a question for the council whether the time had not arrived when it should take the whole of the frontage while the facts were clear and while the compensation payable was reasonable. The owners had not been approached or rated on the foreshore, or assessed by the Valuation Department, and if the owners refused dedication, it was a question as to whether they should in future be specially rated. If they refused to dedicate the council should take the land under the Public Work's Act. One owner on the Marine-parade hod had his foreshore area included in the sand-drift scheme to the extent of £120. His Worship pointed out also that the provision of a public road along the parade might be of advantage to owners of property in cutting up their sections, by giving thsm a frontage which they

do not now possess. That being so, it would be obviously a reasonable thing that some of the expense of making that frontage should fall on to the property ownera. Councillor (Dr.) Mackenzie said the proposal was to form a shipbuilding yard at a certain frontage of his property, and the proposal outlined by tho Alayor might interfere with that. The Mayor: We have heard so much, about that shipbuilding yard. However, he added, Councillor Mackenzie had dealt very liberally in tho past, and he had no doubt a reasonable arrangement could now be come to. There was no reason why the whole foreshore 6hould not be acquired for public purposes. The matter was referred to the Reserves Committee, to whioh the name of Councillors Mackenzie and Shorttwere added, the committee to report, if possible, at the next meeting of the council. It was decided that the main road be cleared as far as possible of sanddrift, the sand lemoved to be placed in hollows clearly in the sand-drift area, and that the large openings near tho beach be filled with sand and barricaded as found necessary. It was decided to reply to Mr. Geddis that the council cannot consent to his proposed plan of subdivision, as the marine frontage has nofc been dedicated. The council decided to communicate with the Survey Department as to the projection of rock at Rocky Point, to see whether its removal would interfere with the "trig" station in that vicinity, as the rock is regarded at present as a public danger. Some discussion took place as to the dangerous state of the road at that point, owing to the rock coming down at times, and the clerk was instructed to employ labour to make the road more secure. Tho clerk reported that he had laid informations against owners for allowing their stock to wander, and thafc the cases would come on for hearing next week. The action of the clerk was confirmed.