Collection Of House Refuse
The Rectory-Road Improvement

  At a meeting of this Council on Wednesday night there were present: Messrs. W. Bazeley (chairman), J. Claridge, G. Miller, F. Ballard, C. E. Bayes, T. Swindall, J. S. Clipson, J. Paragreen, C. Bates, and A. J. Dobbs, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. W. Kingston).

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 25^th November, 1908, when there were present:- Messrs. W. Bazeley (Chairman), G. H. Skinner, J. Claridge, J. S. Clipson, A. J. Dobbs, and T. Swindall.

Plans

were presented by:-

  Mrs. Featherstonehaugh for additions to house in High-street South occupied by Mr. S. Winsor and passed.

  Mr. F. Corby for additions to his factory in John-street and passed.

  Mr. C. Hester for conservatory to his house on the Bedford-road and passed.

  Mr. J. W. Bright for open shed in the yard at the rear of the Drill Hall and no exception taken.

  Mr. C. W. Horrell for additions to his factory in Moor-road and passed subject to the drainage arrangements being amended, and ventilation provided to the sanitary block to the satisfaction of the Surveyor.

  Messrs. Sanders and Sanders for shoe manufactory in Spencer-road and passed.

  The Co-operative Wholesale Society for extensions to their factory in Portland-road and Rectory-road and passed subject to compliance with Bye-law No. 17 as to the footings of the walls, and an additional manhole at the head of the drainage system being provided.

  Mr. B. Ladds for shed for gas plant at the rear of his factory in Moor-road and no exception taken.

  Messrs. Jas. Hyde (Rushden), Limited, for shoe manufactory at the rear of their present factory in Glassbrook-road and passed.

Factory Acts

  A notice was received from H. M. Inspector of Factories stating that in his opinion the factory occupied by Messrs. Sanders and Sanders was not provided with proper means of escape in case of fire and requesting the Council to require the owners to provide additional means of exit from the factory.

  It was resolved that the Surveyor be instructed to call Messrs. Sanders’ attention to the notice and request them to comply therewith.

High Street South Improvement

  A letter was received from the Clerk to the County Council stating that the Roads and Bridges Committee of that Council had agreed to pay a further sum of £16/15/6 in respect of the extra cost of this main road improvement.

Fire Brigade Sub-Committee

  The Fire Brigade Sub-Committee reported that Mrs. Burgess had left the Fire Station cottage and they recommended that Mr. James Whiting (a member of the Fire Brigade) be allowed to occupy the cottage on the same conditions as Mrs. Burgess.  The cottage however, required thoroughly renovating, they had obtained estimates and accepted that of Mr. Chamberlain at £6/15/0.

  The Sub-Committee also recommended that an engine pit be constructed at the Fire Station 5’6” x 3’3” x 3’3” deep so that the under part of the engine may be cleaned and examined more effectively.

  The Committee approved and decided to recommend the Council accordingly.  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 2^nd December, 1908, at 10 a.m., when there were present:  Messrs. W. Bazeley (chairman), F. Ballard, and John Claridge.

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 District Rate Account

  The Collector’s District Rate Account was examined from which it appeared that he had collected the following sum since the last meeting:-

Collector’s Fittings Account

  The Committee also examined the Collector’s Fittings account and found that he had collected the following sums since the last meeting:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

  The Committee also examined the Treasurer’s accounts from which it appeared that the following sums had been paid to him on the following accounts since the last meeting:-

And that the following balances were in hand on the undermentioned accounts:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £337/14/5 were examined and passed for payment.

Pension Committee

  A letter was received from the Clerk to the local Pension Committee asking for the use of the Council Buildings for their meetings free of charge.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the request.  The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  The Medical Officer reported that eight cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz., two of diphtheria, five of scarlet fever, and one of enteric fever.  Both cases of diphtheria were connected with the Moor-road Schools and he recommended that the drains be tested and also that the Schools be disinfected every Saturday.  He had examined two samples of water taken from wells at 49, Queen-street, and on the Court Estate.  The former he found very unsatisfactory and unfit for drinking purposes and in the latter case recommended that the sides of the well be raised about a foot above the surface, cemented inside, and covered with a stone slab to prevent any influx of surface water; there would then be no fear of pollution and the water would be satisfactory.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that he had served 46 informal notices for the removal or abatement of nuisances since the last meeting, 36 of which had been complied with, the remainder being still under consideration.  He had tested the drains of five houses and any defects found brought to the notice of the owners.

  The Inspector informed the Committee that a number of houses in the town were not supplied with proper refuse receptacles, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Inspector to require all owners to provide proper receptacles where required before the 31^st March next.

  The Sanitary Inspector also reported that the factories in the occupation of Messrs. W. Sargent and Co., and A. Sargent and Sons were not provided with sufficient and suitable sanitary accommodation as required by the Sanitary Accommodation Order, 1903, and that the factory in the occupation of Mr. J. Northern was without any sanitary accommodation whatever.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to serve notices on the firms named requiring them to provide the necessary accommodation forthwith.

  The Inspector also reported that he had inspected two houses, Nos. 61 and 61a, Duck-street, the property of Mrs. Ebenezer Cox, which he found in a very bad state and quite unfit for human habitation.

  It was resolved that the owner be informed that the houses in question must be closed.

  With regard to the samples of water referred to by the Medical Officer, the Inspector informed the Committee that the town water had been laid on to the property No. 49, Queen Street, and he would draw the attention of the owner of the house on the Court Estate to the Medical Officer’s remarks.

  The Inspector also reported that the drains at Nos. 84 and 86, Moor-road, the property of Mr. W. Garner, were defective and required the joints making good.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to serve Mr. Garner with a notice requiring him to repair the drains forthwith.

  The Inspector submitted a detailed statement of complaints investigated etc., and work done during the past month.

Consumption

  The Circular from the Northampton Branch of the National Association for the Prevention of Consumption was again considered, and while sympathising with the object, the Committee could not see their way to recommend the Council to make a promise of any pecuniary support and considered that it was more properly a matter for the county as a whole through the County Council to take up.

Milk Supply

  A circular letter was received from the Clerk to the County Council enclosing a print of Part 4 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1907, showing certain amendments introduced by the County Council for the protection of dairymen in rural districts.

Medical Officer of Health

  The Committee recommend the Council to resolve into Committee at the close of their next meeting to consider the appointment of Medical Officer for the ensuing year.

  Mr. Claridge asked what kind of receptacles were to be provided by the owners.  He took it they had no power to compel owners to provide receptacles of a particular kind.

  The Chairman said the committee were of the opinion that galvanised sanitary bins, with lids, would be the most suitable kind to use.  If there was proper provision already, no fresh receptacles would be needed.

  Mr. Clipson:  Is it a fact that cardboard boxes are used in some instances?

  The Chairman:  Those are provided by the tenants. (Laughter.)

  Mr. Claridge did not think it was so necessary to provide improved receptacles now as it was when the refuse was put out in the street.

  The Chairman differed from Mr. Claridge.  There were all sorts and sizes of receptacles used, some weighing probably a hundredweight or a hundredweight and a half.

  Mr. Claridge:  No cardboard? (Laughter.)

  Mr. Ballard thought it was very desirable that the recommendation of the committee should be carried out.

  Mr. Swindall agreed, but thought the tenant should provide the receptacles.  If the recommendation were carried out, the tenants would have no inducement to take care of the receptacles.

  Mr. Miller said it had been charged against him that he brought this matter forward for business purposes.  (Laughter.)  The matter came up on the officer’s report, but he supported it in committee and he should support it that night.  The alteration in the system of collecting refuse, he contended, had made the streets much tidier than before.

  Mr. Dobbs said they heard a lot about landlords’ losses on their houses, but thought they could afford receptacles for refuse.  Some landlords gave the impression that they were losing money every week, but if that was so they must have had a lot to start with.  It all came from the workers indirectly.  If the landlords lost money on their property, they would soon get rid of it.

  Mr. Claridge:  Some of them are doing so.

  Mr. Dobbs:  I would not mind the loss.

  Mr. Paragreen thought the expense of the receptacles should fall on the broadest back, not that of the working man.

  Mr. Dobbs said he was not satisfied with what the committee had done with regard to consumption.  The subject was a most important one and he considered that the Council should support the proposed sanatoria with the idea of being able to send consumptives to it from Rushden.

  The Chairman said the committee were fully alive to the importance of the matter but they were informed that one bed would cost £78 per annum. They did not see that the different authorities were going to contribute sufficient to equip and keep up the sanatoria and if the proposal was not properly financed it would be a great failure.  They thought it was a matter for the County Council, and the Clerk was instructed to write to that effect to the Northampton Branch of the Association for the Prevention of Consumption.

  Mr. Miller said the matter was on the agenda paper for the next meeting of the County Council.

  Mr. Claridge thought each town ought to take its share of the cost.

  The report was then adopted.

Rectory Road Improvement

  The seal of the Council was fixed to an agreement for the purchase by the Council of two houses in Queen-street from Mr. E. Claridge for the purpose of the Rectory-road improvement.  The price agreed upon was £720.

  A letter was received from Mr. G. Bayes, secretary of the Ratepayers’ Association, acknowledging receipt of a letter agreeing to receive a deputation from the Association.  It was pointed out, however, that it was useless for the deputation to meet the Council now, as the particular question concerning which they wished to give their views – the Rectory-road improvement – had already been decided.  The members of the Association had directed that an emphatic protest be sent to the Council against the undue haste with which the matter had been settled.

  Mr. Dobbs:  What would they call slow?

  The Chairman:  I could not reply to that question, I am afraid.

  The subject was then allowed to drop.

Unemployment and The Provision of Lavatories

  The Chairman said that at the recent town’s meeting concerning unemployment it was suggested that lavatories be provided for both sexes.  It was also resolved that a distress committee be formed.  The latter recommendation had been carried out and the committee was getting into working order.

  Mr. Miller moved that the question of the provision of lavatories be referred to the Finance Committee.

  Mr. Dobbs:  When will they consider it?

  The Chairman:  At their next meeting.  The motion was agreed to.

Resignation of The Assistant Surveyor

  A letter was received from Mr. E. Madin stating that he had been appointed surveyor to the Irthlingborough Urban Council and he therefore wished to resign his position at Rushden.  He thanked the Council for their kindness during the time he had been in their service.

  On the motion of Mr. Ballard, seconded by Mr. Paragreen, the resignation was accepted and it was decided to give Mr. Madin a testimonial.

  The Chairman:  If he gives as much satisfaction at Irthlingborough as his brother does at Rushden, there will not be much the matter.

  The Council then went into Committee.

Free Library Committee

  At a meeting of the Rushden Urban Council on Wednesday the following report was received:-

  A meeting of the Free Library Committee was held at the Library on Friday, the 4^th December, 1908, when there were present:- Mr. J. Claridge (chairman), the Ven. A. Kitchin, Rev. W. F. Harris, Messrs. C. E. Bayes, T. Swindall, J. T. Colson, S. Saddler, J. S. Clipson, W. Clark, J. H. Derbyshire, with Mr. W. H. Brown (secretary). 

Minutes

  The minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee having been printed and circulated amongst the members, it was resolved that the same be approved and confirmed under the hand of the Chairman.

Management Sub-Committee

  The Sub-Committee reported that they had met three times since the last meeting of the Committee, dealing with various details of management.

Gift of Books, Etc.

  The Secretary reported the gift of two books and pamphlets from the Rushden and District Band of Hope Union.  The gifts had been acknowledged and the thanks of the Committee tendered to the donors.

  The Rev. W. F. Harris informed the Committee that Mr. Frank Sharwood was about to present to the Library an autobiography of Marianne Farningham.

Papers and Periodicals

  It was resolved that Mr. Phillipson’s contract for the supply of papers and periodicals be renewed for the year 1909 at slightly increased prices for the morning papers.  The total increase would amount to 8s. per week.

New Books

  It was resolved to request the Council to authorise the Committee to expend a further sum of £15 in the purchase of new books.

Sale of Papers

  It was resolved that the sale of papers, etc., be held on Thursday, December 17^th, at 8 o’clock, and that Mr. J. S. Mason be asked to kindly conduct the sale.

  The Secretary was requested to have a list of the papers and periodicals to be sold prepared and posted on the notice boards in the Library and outside the Council Buildings.

Books Issued

  The Secretary reported that the number of books issued from the Library from the 1^st July to the 30^th November was 9,478.     The report was adopted, on the motion of Mr. J. Claridge.