OPENING OF BOGNOR PIER.
The ceremony of opening the beautiful pier, which has recently been completed at the improving watering place of Bognor, took place on Thursday last, and was carried out in a very satisfactory manner. Since the town has received the advantage of a connection with the extensive railway system of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Company. It has greatly increased in importance, and has become quite a favourite resort for fashionable visitors during the summer semen. About eighteen months ago a number of gentlemen, rightly judging that a promenade pier would greatly add to the attractions of the place, set on foot a movement for obtaining that desirable object. The measure unfortunately did not received that support from the inhabitants which might reasonably have been expected, and therefore the promoters had great difficulties to contend with. The preliminary obstacles were, however, swept away by the energy and determination displayed by the gentlemen who had taken the matter in hand, and steps were taken to carry the matter out. To Mr. J. W. Wilson, engineer, of 9, Buckingham-street, Strand Minted. was entrusted the task pf devising the form which the pier should take and the work was pieced in the hands of Mr. Dowson of 4, Victoria-street. The first pile was fixed in the month of April, 1864 and it was the intention of the directors that the pier should be opened the autumn of that year, but again difficulties intervened, and its completion was unavoidably deferred to the spring of the present year. The work was finished about a month ago, and Bognor has now,—thanks to the skill of the engineer, and the admirable manner in which his design been carried out by Mr. Dowson, the contractor—one of the prettiest piers that adorn the south coast. It is constructed with the screw-pile principle, mainly of iron, and presents a very light and elegant appearance. It is 1.000 feet long; the head is 40 feet across and the width of the deck is 18 feet., and its height above high water mark about 12ft. The morning of Thursday broke wet and cloudy, rain continued falling for several hours, and it was much feared that the interesting ceremony would have to be performed under the depressing influence of drenching showers. Nevertheless, the excellent band of Bognor paraded the streets, and performed.
