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| Rushden Echo, 20th April, 1906, transcribed by Gill Hollis |
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Rushden Urban District Council
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Electric Lighting
Precautions Against Fire at Public Entertainments Members Attendances |
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| A meeting of this Council was held on Wednesday night, when there were present: Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall (vice-chairman), F. Knight, G. Denton, J. Claridge, C. Bates, A. J. Dobbs, A. Mantle, W. Bazeley, F. Ballard, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), and the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin). Electric Lighting Committee A meeting of the Electric Lighting Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday, the 21st March, 1906, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall, F. Ballard, W. Bazeley, and A. J. Dobbs. Electric Lighting Order The Committee had under consideration a letter from the Board of Trade dated 2nd inst., referred to them by the Council at their last meeting. The Clerk read a draft reply which he had prepared, and the same was unanimously approved by the Committee. The report was approved. Plans, &c., Committee A meeting of the Plans, Water, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday, the 28th March, 1906, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall, F. Knight, W. Bazeley, A. J. Dobbs, and A. Mantle. Plans were presented by:- Mr. E. Claridge for coach-house in Spencer-road and passed. Mr. W. H. Chapman for stable in Allen-road and passed subject to a ventilating shaft being erected at head of drain. Mr. T. Chapman for house on the Rushden Court Estate and passed subject to the cesspit being made to comply with bye laws 88 and 89. Infringement of Bye-Laws The Surveyor reported an infringement of the bye-laws by Mr. Mumford by the erection of a wooden building in front of his house, No. 136, High-street. It was resolved that Mr. Mumford be required to give an undertaking to remove the same whenever called upon so to do. Council Offices The Surveyor was instructed to obtain prices from a number of firms for a fire proof door for the strong room about to be constructed at the new Council Offices. The Surveyor reminded the Committee that the door was not included in Mr. Marriott’s contract. Coffee Tavern Road A letter was received from the Rector asking for permission to erect a small covered way from the upper outside door of the Public Hall to the door of the yard leading to the Church Institute adjoining, on the occasion of a Bazaar proposed to be held in the Public Hall on May 17th, 18th, and 19th. The Committee unanimously resolved to accede to the application. Road Materials – Granite Tenders for the supply of granite for the current year were considered and the Surveyor was instructed to place his orders for about 1,700 tons in the following quantities at the undermentioned prices:-
Slag Tenders for the supply of slag were also received and the Surveyor instructed to place his orders for 1,700 tons in quantities as required from the following firms at the respective prices quoted by them, viz. :- Wellingborough Iron Co.:- Unbroken, 4/-; Spoutings, 5/3; 2¼”, 5/3; 2”, 5/3; 1¾”, 5/3; 1½”, 4/9; 1¾”, 4/6; 1”, 4/-; ½”, 3/9. Thos. Butlin & Co.:- Unbroken, 3/6; Spoutings, 5/-; 2¼”, 5/-; 2”, 5/-; 1¾”, 5/-; 1½”, 5/-; 1¼”, 5/-; 1”, 5/-; ½”, 4/-. Kettering Iron Co.:- Unbroken, 3/6; Spoutings, 5/6; 2¼”, 5/6; 2”, 5/6; 1¾”, 5/6, 1½”, 5/6; 1¼”, 5/6; 1”, 5/6; ½”, 5/-. The report was adopted. |
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Finance, &c., Committee A meeting of the Finance, Estates, Cemetery, and Sanitary Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday, the 4th April, 1906, when there were present:- Messrs. T. Swindall (chairman), J. S. Clipson, J. Claridge, F. Ballard, J. Hornsby, and G. H. Skinner. |
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Surveyor’s Cash Account The Committee examined the surveyor’s cash account with the wages books, the expenditure shown therein being as follows:-
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Collector’s Accounts By the Collector’s accounts produced it appeared that he had during the month collected the following sums:-
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Collector’s Fittings Account The Committee examined the Collector’s fittings account, from which it appeared that he had collected the following sums during the month:-
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Green Tolls By the Collector’s Green Tolls Account produced it appeared that during the past year he had collected the sum of £15/16/5. |
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Cemetery Registrar’s Account The Committee also examined the Cemetery Registrar’s account from which it appeared that the following sums had been paid to him during the month:-
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Treasurer’s Accounts From the Treasurer’s accounts produced it appeared that the following sums had been paid to him during the month:-
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And that the following balances were in hand on the under-mentioned accounts:-
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Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts A number of accounts were examined and passed for payment. |
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Memoranda of General District Rates The Collector submitted the following memoranda of General District Rates at 2/4 in the £. |
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Rate made 12th July, 1905
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Rate made 10th January, 1906
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Memoranda of Water Rates The Collector submitted the following memoranda of Water Rates. Rate made 6th December, 1905.
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Rate made 14th February, 1906
Lists of the irrecoverable amounts were also submitted and were ordered to be written off. Health and Sanitary Reports The Medical Officer reported that 15 cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting – 14 of scarlet fever, with two deaths, and one case of puerperal fever. The officer stated that he had visited and inspected the house where the latter case occurred but could find nothing to account for the disease; he also saw the mid-wife who attended the patient and examined her appliances; he found everything perfectly satisfactory. The patient was now convalescent. The Sanitary Inspector submitted particulars of the notified cases and stated that, with the exception of the two deaths from scarlet fever, all were doing well. He had visited and inspected all the premises and supplied disinfectants. He had also fumigated one room at a factory. The Inspector laid upon the table a return of outworkers which had been sent him from the various manufacturers in the district and stated that he had sent to the Sanitary Inspectors of the adjoining districts a list of outworkers residing in their respective districts. The report was adopted. Electric Lighting Committee A meeting of the Electric Lighting Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday, the 4th April, 1906, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall, A. J. Dobbs, and F. Ballard. Electric Lighting Order A letter was received from the Board of Trade stating that in the opinion of the Board it was desirable that a meeting should take place at their Offices between representatives of the Promoters and the Council and that they had accordingly fixed Monday, the 9th April, at 3 p.m., for such meeting and requesting that representatives of the Council would be good enough to attend at that time. The Clerk informed the Committee that he had acknowledged the receipt of the letter and stated that the Council would be represented at the meeting. It was resolved that the Chairman, Vice-chairman, and Clerk be appointed to represent the Council. The Chairman reported that Mr. Swindall, Mr. Mason, and himself attended the meeting on the previous Monday. The Electric Company were represented by Messrs. Morse, Nesbit, Morse, jun., and others. They were also supported by Ald. Patenall (Mayor of Higham Ferrers), Mr. J. Brown (chairman of the Wellingborough Urban Council, and Mr. Willan Jackson (clerk). The only opposition was from the Rushden representatives, excepting that of Messrs. Harvey and Barker, who were represented by Mr. Wyatt, solicitor. The case for the company was opened by Mr. Morse with his usual tact. He brought out every available argument as to why the order should be granted without the Council’s consent. He contended that the Council had every opportunity to apply for an order themselves but had not done so. The Mayor of Higham strongly supported the Company, stating that he believed it would be a great acquisition to the Borough to have the electric current for lighting and power purposes, but that they would be unable to get it without coming through Rushden. Mr. Mason stated the case for the Rushden Council in an able manner and on behalf of the Council promised that if arrangements could be made whereby Higham could get the electric supply no opposition would be offered to the laying of mains through Rushden parish. The promoters of the scheme, however, seemed to be much more in favour of supplying the two towns than of taking advantage of this offer. Mr. Pelham, of the Board of Trade, suggested that it would be better for Rushden to come to terms with the Company and mutually agree to go in with Higham Ferrers. He did not wish to deprive Higham Ferrers of having an electric supply if the town desired it. He promised to give the matter his close consideration. Mr. Ballard: Some little time will elapse before we get a decision, I suppose. The Clerk: Probably a week or ten days. Members’ Attendances The Clerk produced his annual return of the attendance of members for the year 1905-1906, as follows:-
At The Play Mr. Dobbs asked whether the Council had power to order that persons waiting to enter the Public Hall when a play was to be given should stand in couples instead of making a rush when the doors were opened. The Clerk said it was a matter for the police to deal with. Precautions Against Fires Mr. Ballard asked whether it was possible to secure the attendance of two firemen at the Public Hall when entertainments were being given. Mr. Claridge understood that that was done at present. In reply to the Chairman, Mr. F. Knight, Captain of the Brigade, said the men went if they were asked. Mr. Ballard thought firemen ought to be at the Hall and that the companies giving entertainments should pay them. The Clerk suggested that the Directors of the Coffee Tavern Company might include the firemen’s fees in the charges for the Hall. Mr. Swindall: What about the Co-operative Hall? Mr. Ballard said that his remarks applied equally to both places. Mr. Bazeley believed that firemen were generally present at the entertainments at the Public Hall, and that the theatrical companies were pleased to see them, but if the men were formally authorized by the Council to attend they would feel more at home. Mr. Denton thought it was more necessary to take steps beforehand to prevent any danger from fire. Mr. Knight believed that under ordinary conditions the Public Hall was fairly safe, but, of course, with the scenery and with two curtains flapping close to the footlights there was more danger than in a private house. Bazaars where decorations were used were perhaps more dangerous than theatrical performances. The firemen always attended meetings when requested, but though very willing to go had no desire to go where they were not wanted. The matter was referred to the Plans Committee. Complimentary Mr. Claridge said as that was the last meeting of the Council before the annual meeting, he would move that the best thanks of the Council be given to Mr. Clipson for the manner in which he had presided over the business. Mr. Denton, in seconding, said he thought Mr. Clipson deserved the gratitude of the Council and the town for the way in which he had devoted himself to the town’s interests. The vote was heartily accorded. The Chairman, in reply, said there had been a lot of work to do, but it had been a pleasure to him, and if the Council were satisfied he was well repaid. He moved a vote of thanks to the Vice-Chairman, the Clerk, the Surveyor, the Sanitary Inspector, and the Press. The officers had been most courteous and ready to assist, and the Press had reported the meetings fairly and well. Mr. Knight seconded the motion, which was carried. The Annual Meeting It was decided to hold the annual meeting of the Council on the Wednesday after Easter. |
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