The Chairman apologised for the absence of the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason) through illness.

Plans, Etc., Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, March 25th, 1914, when there were present :- Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), J. S. Clipson, J. Claridge, J. Hyde, F. Knight, J. Spencer, and T. Wilmott.

Plans

were presented by:-

Messrs. Ashford and Campion (amended plan) for additions to their factory in Newton-road, and passed.

Messrs. W. Green and Son for open shed at the rear of their factory in Queen-street, and no exception taken.

Mr. James Jaques for eight houses in Glassbrook-road and passed, subject to the usual agreement as to the combined drain.

Mr. L. Tysoe and Miss Roberts for two houses in Higham-road and passed.

Messrs. Cave Brothers for two houses in Higham-road and passed.

Higham-Road

With reference to the proposed erection of two houses on the Higham-road by Messrs. Cave Brothers, the Surveyor was authorised to arrange a building line with their architect, and, in case they decided to set it back, to undertake on behalf of the Council to make up the road and construct a footpath and provide a post and rail fence on the unbuilt-upon frontage.

Public Lighting

The Lighting Sub-Committee reported that they had visited the Wellingborough-road, and decided to recommend that two additional lamps be erected before the next lighting season at the entrance to Gravely-street and Beresford-street respectively.

Main Roads

Surface Tarring and Tarvia Grouting

The Surveyor submitted a letter from the County surveyor stating that the County Council had approved the following estimates and grants for the above work in this Urban District during the ensuing financial year:-

Road Board grant for tarvia grouting, three quarters of the cost, not exceeding £129/18/9. Grant for surface tarring, one half of cost, not exceeding £32/16/3. Total Road Board grant, £162/15/0.

In addition to the above, the County Council make a grant of one-half of the balance, not exceeding £21/13/1, for tarvia grouting, and £16/8/2 for surface tarring.

The Surveyor informed the Committee that the amount allowed for this year was considerably less than his requirements, and a reduction on previous years, and in his opinion did not compare favourably with grants to local neighbouring Authorities, having regard to both the length of the main roads and the amount of traffic thereon; and he was instructed to convey to the County Surveyor the Committee’s disappointment at the amount of the grant.

Culvert, Wymington-Road

The Surveyor was authorised to make a slight extension to the culvert crossing the Wymington-road near the entrance to the fields, which at the present time he considered dangerous.

Road Materials

Granite

Slag

Tenders for the supply of slag were also received, and the surveyor instructed to place orders as required from the following firms at the respective prices quoted by them, viz.:

T. Butlin and Co.	2¼ in. 5/0, 2 in. 5/0, 1¾ in. 5/0, 1½ in. 5/0, 1 in. 4/0, ½ in. 3/6, un-broken 3/6, spoutings 5/0.
Wellingborough Iron Co.	2¼ in. 5/6, 2 in. 5/6, 1¾ in. 5/6, 1½ in. 5/6, 1 in. 5/0, ½ in. 5/0, un-broken 4/9, spoutings 5/9.
Kettering Iron Co.	2¼ in. 5/9, 2 in. 5/9, 1¾ in. 5/9, 1½ in. 5/9, 1 in. 5/9, ½ in. 5/9, un-broken 4/1, spoutings 5/9.

Road Metal – Team Labour

The Surveyor was also instructed to advertise for tenders for carting the road metal for the ensuing year and submit same to a special meeting of this Committee, to be held on Wednesday, the 8th April, at 6.45 pm.

Hayway

A letter was received from Messrs. Sanders and Sanders calling the attention of the Committee to the surplus water from this road flowing on to their property.

The matter was referred to the surveyor for his consideration.

The report was adopted.

Recreation Ground Committee

A meeting of the Recreation Ground Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 25th March, 1914, when there were present:- Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), C. Bates, J. S. Clipson, J. Claridge, J. Spencer, and T. Wilmott.

Band Stand

The Committee conferred with the representatives of the bands and others interested with regard to the proposal to provide a band-stand in the Recreation Ground. It was thought that subscriptions amounting to about £40 could be obtained and that an open stand somewhat similar to that at Bedford would meet the present requirements.

It was arranged that the Chairman and surveyor should view the stand at Bedford and ascertain the approximate cost.

Damage to Tree

The Surveyor reported that some branches of one of the large trees in the fence dividing the Recreation Ground from the allotments had been cut off by one of the allotment tenants without notice to him.

The Clerk was instructed to write to the tenant in question, informing him that such an action must not be repeated or serious notice would have to be taken of it.

Mr. Knight, with regard to the band stand, said : On Monday the surveyor and I went to Bedford, and the Surveyor there kindly met us and went with us to the to the band-stand, giving us all the information he could, which I think will prove valuable to us. The Bedford stand is rather a nice-looking one, because it is rustic, but Bedford is in the midst of an oak-growing district and they also have workmen who can do this rustic work very well indeed. In a few days I hope we shall be able to place fuller facts before the committee, because the bands are very anxious, if possible, to get the stand erected this season. From what I can see of the finances, I do not think there will be any difficulty in erecting one which will be satisfactory to the band and will not be a disgrace to either the Recreation Ground or the town.

The report was adopted.

Finance and Estates Committee

A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday the 1st April, 1914, at 10 a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), J. S. Clipson, J. Claridge, F. Knight, and T. Swindall.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

The Committee examined the surveyor’s cash account with the wages books, the expenditure shown therein being as follows:-

Collector’s Accounts

The Committee examined the Collector’s accounts, from which it appeared that the following sums had been collected since the last meeting:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

The Treasurer’s accounts were also examined from which it appeared that he had received the following sums since the last meeting:-

And that the balances were as follows:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts were examined and passed for payment.

Memorandum of General District Rate

The Collector submitted the following memorandum of the General district Rate made on the 29th October, 1913:-

The Collector also submitted a list of the irrecoverable amounts and it was resolved to recommend the Council to write same off.

Mr. John Sargent

It was resolved that an expression of the Council’s appreciation of Mr. Sargent’s long service to the town as Collector be recorded on the minutes and that the best thanks of the Council be accorded him therefore.

The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 1st April, 1914, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), C. Bates, W. Bazeley, L. Perkins and T. Swindall.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The Medical Officer reported that 15 cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz., two of scarlet fever, three of diphtheria, two of erysipelas, and eight of tuberculosis, six of which were pulmonary.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that 32 informal notices had been issued during the month of March, calling attention to nuisances, etc., all of which were receiving attention.

Two lots of infected bedding had been destroyed during the month. It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace part of the bedding at a cost not exceeding £1.

The Inspector also reported that the yard paving at No. 8, Essex-road was defective and unsuitable. It was resolved to recommend the Council to serve a notice on the owner requiring the defects to be remedied forthwith.

The Inspector further reported that the rain water pipes on the fronts of the houses Nos. 25, 27, 29, 31, 39 and 41, Pemberton-street, were connected direct to the drains in contravention of Section 37 of the Public Health Act, 1907, and thereby causing a nuisance. It was resolved to recommend the Council to serve a notice on the owner requiring him to abate the nuisance forthwith.

The Inspector gave a detailed statement of his work during the past month.

Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops’ Order

The quarterly report of Mr. Bainbridge was received, from which it appeared that on the 7th, 9th, and 10th March last he visited 29 premises belonging to 27 cowkeepers and inspected 254 cows and heifers, making special examination of their udders and throats. The report was considered satisfactory.

C.W.S. Factory

A letter was received from the occupiers of the houses in Queen-street abutting on the Co-operative Wholesale Society’s premises, complaining of the noise of the engine, the stench of the gas, and the smoke from the chimney of the factory; and the Clerk was instructed to forward a copy of the letter to the Society, asking them to be good enough to take steps to remedy the nuisance with as little delay as possible.

Public Swimming Baths

The Committee resolved to visit the open air baths which they understood had been erected at Chesham, Letchworth, and other places.

Northants Surveyors’ Association

The Surveyor informed the Committee that the members of this Association wished to visit the new sewage works before completion, and he was instructed to inform them that the Council would be pleased to afford them every facility for so doing.

Housing, Etc., Acts

A letter was received from Mr. Courtenay Clifton, the Local Government Board Inspector, stating that he proposed to visit Rushden on the 8th inst., and would be glad to confer with the Council at 2 pm.

The report was adopted.

Peace

A letter was received from the Rushden Trades and Labour Council for sanction to hold a Peace Demonstration in the Recreation Ground on Sunday, May 17th.

Mr. Knight moved that the application be granted.

Mr. Clipson seconded, and it was carried.

The Annual Meeting

of the Council was fixed for April 22nd.

Team Labour

The Plans Committee, at a meeting preceding the Council meeting, received tenders for carting road metal to the various places where required, and recommended that the tenders of Mr. A. Sharpe and Mr. W. G. Wilmott be accepted.

The Council concurred.

Bye-Laws

The Council in Committee, meeting on Wednesday afternoon, resolved to recommend the Council to forthwith take the necessary steps to amend the building bye-laws in force in Rushden.

The Council agreed.

Thanks

Mr. Knight : As this is the last meeting of the year I should like to express our appreciation to the chairman for the way in which he has conducted the business of the Council during the past year. I am sure every member of this Council is entirely satisfied with the manner in which Mr. Bates has carried out his duties and with the attention he has given to everything appertaining to the work of the town in every detail. He has been very regular in his attendance – I don’t think he has once missed a meeting. From a magisterial point of view, also, he has given a great deal of attention to his duties. He has had a great many calls upon his time, and, from what I see, his judgment in regard to cases coming before him has been most considerate, fair, and lenient. I am glad he has had health and strength to attend these meetings. We are extremely obliged to him, and I am sure the town is also. (Applause.)

Mr. Claridge : I should like to second that. I associate myself with all that Mr. Knight has said. Mr. Bates has not only been fair and impartial, but he has taken a great interest in the work of the Council. He has been most loyal to the decisions of the committees, and sometimes, to his credit, he has maintained the position of the committee when it has been against his own private views. (Hear, hear.) He has been most regular in his attendance on the Bench, and has made friends for himself there and has otherwise done good for the town. One very good feature about Mr. Bates is that he has not delayed with lengthy remarks the business of this Council, and that is very good in a chairman. (Applause.)

Mr. Perkins, in supporting, said : I think you might hold up our Council as a pattern in that the business has been done quickly. I have often watched the clock and wondered whether we should get away in good time, but our chairman has been very prompt and perfectly fair. Some people have said “Oh he is

Only A Labour Man;

we do not want him,” but Mr. Bates has shown that a Labour man has made an efficient chairman. I hope he may live long and be elected again to that position. (Applause.)

Mr. Spencer : The chairman is a colleague of mine and I fully endorse the remarks made by the members in respect to him. Mr. Bates has made an ideal chairman and has carried out his duties in a painstaking manner. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. Wilmott : I also fully endorse those remarks. At every meeting I have been to, Mr. Bates has been quite impartial to all sides of the Council. (Applause.)

Mr. Clipson, in putting the resolution, said it had been a pleasure to him to serve under Mr. Bates, who had made the vice-chairman’s duties very light by being so thorough in all his work as chairman. (Applause.)

The resolution was carried unanimously.

Mr. Bates, in reply, thanked the Council and said : I am pleased with some of the progress which has been made during the 12 months I have occupied the chair. We have now a splendid Recreation Ground. It does not suit some people, but I am satisfied with it, and I think the majority of the people are. I move a vote of thanks to the vice-chairman, clerk, surveyor, and sanitary inspector. They have assisted me very considerably. I also wish to thank the whole of the Councillors for the kind way they have treated me while I have occupied the chair. I think the business has been carried out amicably and satisfactorily. I wish, too, to thank the Press.

Mr. Bazeley seconded and said : I am very pleased with the way in which Mr. Clipson has carried out the duties of vice-chairman. He has worked with the chairman in a very amicable way and has given him all possible support.

The motion was carried.

Mr. Clipson returned thanks and said his duties had been light because the Chairman had attended practically every meeting. The officials, too, had done their work most efficiently.

The Surveyor and the Sanitary Inspector also returned thanks.

This was carried.