At a meeting of this Council on Wednesday night there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall (vice-chairman), G. Denton, F. Knight, J. Claridge, F. Ballard, C. Bates, W. Bazeley, G. H. Skinner, and A. Mantle, with Mr. G. S. Mason (clerk) and Mr. W. B. Madin (surveyor).

Plans, &c., Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Water, Highways and Lighting Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday, the 28th June, 1905, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall, W. Bazeley, A. Mantle, F. Knight, G. Denton, and W. H. Wilkins.

Plans

were presented by:-

Mr. Fred Corby for coach-house and stables in John-street and passed.

Pightles Estate

The Surveyor reported that all the roads on this estate had now been completed. The Clerk was instructed to prepare an account of the expenditure and submit to the owners in accordance with the agreement and it was resolved that the Council be recommended to have the usual notices posted on the respective streets declaring them public highways.

Oakley Estate

The Surveyor was instructed to complete the roads on this estate in order that similar steps may be taken with regard to them.

Harborough Road

The Surveyor reported that Mr. F. Bayes required to connect his property with the public sewer, but there was difficulty in draining the property into Little-street and no sewer was laid in the Harborough-road between Little-street and High-street.

It was resolved that the Council be recommended to lay a short length of sewer in Harborough-road to a point at the rear of Mr. Bayes’s property on Mr. Bayes agreeing to contribute £2 towards the cost.

Public Lighting

The Surveyor was instructed to have the lamp columns re-painted as usual.

Water – Wymington Supply

The Clerk submitted letters he had received from Mr. Goosey’s solicitors enquiring if the Council wished to renew the present agreement as to the springs and pumping station on his land for a further period.

The Clerk was instructed to reply that the Council were prepared to renew the agreement for one year from the 29th September next. The Clerk was also instructed to make similar arrangements with regard to Lady Wantage’s springs.

A letter was received from Mr. Sartoris’s agent asking for a supply of water for cattle by meter to a field on the Wymington-road, occupied by Mr. C. E. Bayes. The Surveyor was instructed to reply that, as the present water supply was insufficient to meet the domestic requirements of the town, the Council were unable to afford a supply for other purposes.

Sale of The Vestry Hall

A letter was received from the Local Government Board enclosing sanction to the sale of this property to the Rector and Churchwardens and the Clerk reported that in acknowledging its receipt he had pointed out that the sale of course entirely depended on the sanction of the Local Government Board also being obtained to the purchase money being applied in the purchase of another site and to a loan for the erection of new offices, which he presumed would be received at an early date.

Public Seats

The Surveyor was authorised to construct a few additional public seats from materials in hand and have them placed in convenient positions on the outskirts of the town.

Telephone Poles

The Committee visited the Higham-road and instructed the Surveyor to authorise the Telephone Company to remove two of their poles on the South Side of the Hill near Gordon Terrace, from the curb to the other side of the footpath immediately adjoining the houses. He was also instructed to apply to the Company for the removal of the posts on the North side of the Hill nearer to the field boundary, in order to leave sufficient space between the telephone and telegraph wires for the sewer ventilating shaft, and on the posts being so moved he was further instructed to have the ventilating shaft altered to a new position so as to stand clear of the wires.

Mr. Bazeley asked whether Mr. W. W. Smith was supplied with water at Wymington by meter or not. He had been told the water on the premises ran to waste.

Mr. Denton said it was a matter which affected the Wymington Council only, as the parish of Wymington was supplied with water up to a maximum amount, and that amount had not been exceeded.

Mr. Bazeley thought it affected Rushden, too, through the water supply of the town.

The subject was allowed to drop and the report was then adopted.

Finance &c, Committee

A meeting of the Finance, Estates, Cemetery, and Sanitary Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday, the 5th July, 1905, when there were present: Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), C. Bates, F. Ballard, G. H. Skinner, J. Hornsby, and J. 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 Account

By the Collector’s account produced it appeared that he had collected the following sums on the under mentioned accounts during the past five weeks:-

Cemetery Registrar’s Account

The Committee examined the Cemetery Registrar’s account from which it appeared that he had received the following sums on the under mentioned accounts:-
Total 22 16 4

Treasurer’s Accounts

The Committee examined the Treasurer’s accounts from which it appeared that the following sums had been paid to him by the under-mentioned persons on the following accounts, during the past five weeks :-

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

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts were examined and passed for payment.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The Inspector informed the Committee that the report of the Medical Officer had for some reason not yet been received. He stated that since the last meeting 11 cases of infectious disease had been notified, viz.: 10 of scarlet fever and one of diphtheria; there had been one death from scarlet fever; all the other patients were doing well. He had fumigated eight houses and the Infants’ School on the Newton-road. No case of scarlet fever had been notified since the 26th June and only six cases were now on the books.

The Medical Officer visited the case of diphtheria but was unable to account in any way for the disease.

Hospital

Eight tenders were received for the painting of the Hospital, and that of Messrs. Nichols & Co. for £11 15s. accepted.

Sanitary Carts

The Surveyor, as instructed, submitted prices he had obtained for the supply of three covers for these carts. The prices were 10/10 each and he was instructed to at once purchase three.

Farm Sub-Committee

This Committee reported that the sale of the growing grass and produce at the outfall works took place and realized as follows:-

Railway Facilities

A letter was received from the Raunds Council asking the Rushden Council for their co-operation in the matter of getting an extension of the Midland branch line from Higham Ferrers to Raunds.

The Chairman thought they might very well support the Raunds proposal, which only asked that the original promise of the Railway Company be carried out. He moved that the Council give the Raunds Council general support in the matter.

Mr. Denton seconded the motion, which was carried.

General District Rate

The seal of the General District Council was affixed to the new general district rate at 2s 4d. in the £ for the half-year.

Pawnbroker’s Licence

An application was received from Mr. H. W. Beaverstock for the renewal of his pawnbroker’s licence and the application was acceded to.