OPENING OF THE BOSCOMBE PIER.
The new pier at Boscombe, an important and growing suburb of Bournemouth, was opened to-day (Monday) with considerable ceremony by His Grace the Duke of Argyll, who was accompanied by the Marquis of Lone and most of the principal residents of the district. The pier, which been erected by Mr. E. Howell, of Poole, from the designs of Mr. A. Smith, Southbourne, is the property of a company consisting principally of residents of Boscombe and the eastern district of Bournemouth, who have for long time felt the necessity of a pier. It is situated close to the mouth of the famed Boscombe Chine, and has an excellent approach from the gardens, the cliffs and the Sea-road. The structure is 600 feet long, and is provided with a landing stage at the end, to enable passengers to embark and disembark from the steamers. The pier is 32 feet wide for the greater part of distance, and 38 feet at the end, and it is provided with a number of comfortable sheltered seats on either side. The depth of the water at the end the pier at high tide is 14 feet, and low water 9 feet.
Boscombe, of course, was gaily decorated to-day for the occasion, and large throngs of people turned out to witness the ceremony. A procession, including three bands and some Highland pipers, started in the morning from the Shelley Estate, and paraded to the east end of the town. The ceremony of opening the pier took place at twelve o’clock, and luncheon, which was attended by a large and influential company, followed. In the course the day, addresses were presented to the Duke of Argyle from the Pier Company, the Bournemouth improvement Commissioners, and the Scotch residents of the neighbourhood.
The Commissioners’ address To his Grace the Duke of Argyll.
We, the Bournemouth Commissioners, the governing body of the town of Bournemouth, beg to offer your Grace a cordial welcome to our town, and to thank you for the consideration shown by your present visit for the purpose of opening the new pier at Boscombe. Your Grace is no stranger to the beauties and advantages of Bournemouth, and we beg to assure you that it is the earnest desire of its inhabitants to afford to all who seek it every available means of participating in the enjoyment as well of the health giving properties of its climate and of the natural beauties of the district, and the undertaking you are about to honour with your presence will not be among the least of such means. During the 12 or 13 years that Boscombe has formed part the town of Bournemouth it has shared the prosperity of the town generally and has greatly increased in extent and population, and its new pier will doubtless enhance its attractiveness and tend to a still greater increase in its development. We have, at the same time, to offer cordial welcome the Marquis of Lorne, and to thank him for his presence here to-day, and for his joining with your Grace in the object of your visit.
