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CHAPTER XV.
ELECTIONS, PAROCHIAL AND MUNICIPAL.
Sketch of the Local Government arrangements up till 1859.—The first Local Board.— The great Epidemic of 1863.—First system of main drainage. —Incorporation of the town in 1883.—Wanted a Town Hall.—Bickerings ■over a site.—Author a member of the Local Board.—Steps taken to bring about Incorporation.—Proposed inclusion of Willingdon.—Guardians of the Poor.—Lady Guardians.—County Council Elections.—The danger of splitting votes.—Political Dissenters.—End of the Author s Career.
4i §etoau of Connate islgtix too full: number makes long otsnutes."—
(Sie J. Denham, 1615-1668.)
" Conn-tils bo not Lessen foils, but xxtlgtv inmas* fjmn."—
(Quoted by Lord Bacon.)
** Wit |ao« ami fricnos together; ^n sunshine ano in slgzot."—
(Hon. Mrs. Norton.)
I
N my early days, neither Sussex generally nor East-Bourne in particular were very advanced in what we now understand as Municipal Local Government. Rye, Hastings and Chichester had Mayors and Corporations, but even Brighton had nothing better than a Board of Improvement Commissioners, whilst East-Bourne had practically no local government at all. There was a Board of Guardians to deal with the Poor Law matters only, whilst the municipal side of civil .government rose no higher than the 5 Lighting Inspectors appointed in 1852, under the " Lighting and Watching Act, 1833," plus the Common Law Parish Vestry which had not yet been clothed with any sanitary powers. The " Watching " section of the Act just named had been adopted as far back as December 4, 1837, but the vote was rescinded a fortnight later ! There were also of course " Surveyors of Highways " who looked after the highways in a certain fashion, with powers derived from the " Highway Act, 1835." |
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