OPENING OF YARMOUTH PIER.
As announced in our last impression, the new Pier was formally opened for public traffic on Wednesday, and the result of the opening day must have exceeded the most sanguine hopes of the promoters. The Mayor and Corporation, accompanied by several influential residents, and preceded by the town sergeant, bearing the mace, walked in procession from the Townhall to the Pier head, where the Mayor (Dr. Hollis), addressing the assembly, stated that the Pier being sufficiently finished to allow of its being opened for traffic, he declared it now open, an announcement which was received with enthusiastic cheering, which was renewed with even greater vigour when Mr. Lambert called for more cheers for the Mayor, who he described as the best and most energetic Mayor Yarmouth had ever had. The company then adjourned, by invitation of the Mayor, to the Bugle Hotel, where a capital lunch had been provided by Mr. Butler, in a style which left nothing to be desired. The chair was occupied by the Mayor, and the vice-chair by the treasurer (Mr. Cole), and amongst the company we noticed Messrs. Grigg, Butler, Meager, and Richardson (members of the Corporation), Lambert (Freshwater Gate), Hall (London and South-Western Railway Company), Bright (Southampton), J. A. Blake, Green, R.N., Denham, Salter, and others. After the usual toasts, the Mayor, in a concise and interesting speech, proposed “Prosperity to the New Pier,” which was most heartily responded to. Mr. Den- ham, the builder of the Pier, returned thanks for complimentary allusions to him, and expressed his confidence in its stability and general advantages. The next speech was that by Mr. Lambert, who, in proposing “The Health of the Mayor,” took occasion to remark in his own cheery and animated manner, that he believed the Pier would be a permanent and increasing benefit both to Yarmouth and Freshwater, a remark which was cordially endorsed by all present. A few more toasts having been given, the meeting broke up. The town and the vicinity of the Pier during the remainder of the day presented quite a gala appearance, and we question if ever, in the annals of the town, so many people landed and embarked in the course of one day. No less than five steamers from Lymington, Ryde, and Southampton called during the day in going and returning, and we should think a thousand persons must have paid toll, and though these figures may appear small to inhabitants of large towns, yet to this quiet, sleepy town, just awaking from the sleep of ages, they represent an amount of progress and life which is cheering indeed.
