Smallpox Outbreak – No Need For Alarm
Disease Unlikely To Spread

  Wednesday, present: Councillors C. W. Horrell, C.A., J.P. (chairman), C. Claridge (vice-chairman), T. Swindall, C. E. Bayes, T. Wilmott, T. F. B. Newberry, J. Roe, D. G. Greenfield, M.D., W. C. Tarry, A. Allebone, F. Corby, F. Knight, J.P., L. Perkins, B.Sc., J. Spencer, J.P., J. Hornsby, G. W. Coles, J.P., W. Bazeley, J.P., and C. Bates, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. S. F. Piper).

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A special meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Isolation Hospital, Bedford-road, on Tuesday afternoon, May 19^th, 1925, when there were present: Messrs. F. Corby (chairman), W. Bazeley, T. F. B. Newberry, T. Swindall, J. Spencer, and Dr. Greenfield.

  Dr. Muriset, the Medical Officer of Health, was also in attendance.

  The committee inspected the Hospital, which they found in good order, but were strongly urged by the Medical Officer to proceed immediately to provide further accommodation having regard to a number of smallpox contacts in the town and the possibility of the Hospital being required.

  Instructions were given to the Surveyor to proceed at once to have a temporary building erected, which was estimated to cost about £300.    The report was adopted.

Finance Committee

  A special meeting of the Finance Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, May 20^th, 1925, when there were present: Messrs. C. W. Horrell (chairman), C. Claridge, C. Bates, J. Hornsby, L. Perkins, and J. Roe.

Smallpox Hospital

  The Chairman reported that the Sanitary Committee at their meeting the previous afternoon had instructed the Surveyor to immediately proceed to provide further hospital accommodation on the Bedford-road site, at an estimated cost of £300, and this special meeting of the committee had been convened in order to sanction the expenditure, the whole of which would fall upon the current rates.

  It was unanimously resolved that the expenditure proposed be sanctioned.  The report was adopted.

Smallpox and Publicity

  On the presentation of the above report Mr. Bates said it had been reported in the town that some men had been discharged from the Council’s employ because they had refused to be vaccinated or that they had refused to work at the Hospital.  He would like to know what were the facts.

  The Surveyor said they were not dismissed because of refusing to be vaccinated.  They were never asked to be vaccinated.  The men left work at the Hospital, and that was the reason they were dismissed.

  Mr. Coles asked that the Chairman make a general public statement on the position of smallpox in the town.  There were many rumours in the town, some grossly exaggerated, and a statement from the Chairman of the true position would ease the situation.

  Mr. Horrell:  I have not heard much gossip in the town.

  Mr. Coles:  The greatest publicity should be given to the town to stop the exaggerated rumours.

  Mr. Swindall pointed out that a report of another meeting of the committee, dealt with further on, gave a full statement up to the present.

  Mr. Coles said that if the position had not altered from that he was content with that statement.

  The Chairman:  The position has not changed.

Housing Committee

  A meeting of the Housing Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, May 20^th, 1925, when there were present: Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), W. Bazeley, C. W. Horrell, C. E. Bayes, T. F. B. Newberry, and T. Wilmott.

Progress

  The Surveyor reported that the builders had signed written tenders for the erection of the 38 houses and that the total amount to be provided, including streets and sewers and the purchase of the Irchester-road site, was £18,338.

  It was resolved to ask the Finance Committee to make the necessary arrangements for the raising of a loan of £18,500.

  With regard to these houses, it was resolved to provide gas fires for the heating of the coppers and to allow the electric Light Company to wire the houses on the Irchester-road site and provide six lights for each house at a cost of £5 per house.

Sites for Further Houses

  The Surveyor reported that he had inspected the land on the south side of Irchester-road belonging to Mr. Sartoris and found there was about 800ft. of frontage to Irchester-road, where sewers, gas and water mains, and electric cables were already provided.  The land was well situated for building purposes.

  The committee were of opinion that it was very desirable to acquire this land, and the Clerk was instructed to negotiate for the purchase of the whole frontage as far as Knuston Spinney.

  With regard to the Bedford-road site, the committee decided to modify their previous recommendation and in lieu thereof recommend that the frontage on this road be acquired from Mr. Sartoris’s cottages to the bottom of the hill beyond if arrangements could be made with the owner.

Sales of Land

  The Clerk reported that the sale of the plot of land in Newton-road to Mr. Cunnington had been completed, and also the sale of the plot of land in Oval-road to Mr. Headland.  The purchase moneys had been paid over to the Treasurer.

  The report was adopted.

Land for Housing

  Told that the road frontage up to Knuston Spinney would be enough for about 80 houses and that the sewer and water main did not go beyond Mr. J. Knight’s house, Mr. Swindall opposed the purchase of land more than enough to erect 44 houses on that particular road site.

  Mr. Spencer said it was very difficult to get land for houses.  It was an important road, and it was no use the Council buying a little portion if they could acquire the whole piece at a reasonable price.

  Mr. Bazeley said it was merely a business proposition and would in any case come before the Council for sanction.

Baths Committee

  A meeting of the Baths Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, May 20^th, 1925, when there were present: Messrs. C. Claridge, A. Allebone, F. Corby, J. Hornsby, L. Perkins, and J. Spencer.

Appointment of Chairman

  It was resolved that Mr. C. Claridge be appointed Chairman of this committee for the ensuing year.

Sites for Baths

  The committee had under consideration various sites for the proposed open-air swimming bath, and the matter was referred to the Chairman and Mr. Perkins to interview the owners and ascertain upon what terms the respective sites could be acquired.

  Mr. Claridge said he was sorry the committee had not yet interviewed all the people they wanted.  It was because some of the members had been away from home.  Probably by the next meeting they would be able to report.

  In reply to a question from Mr. Newberry, minutes were read out to the effect that the Council had decided on an open-air swimming bath.

  The report was adopted.

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, May 27^th, 1925, when there were present: Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), A. Allebone, C. E. Bayes, G. W. Coles, F. Knight, and W. C. Tarry.

Plans

were presented for:

  House in Prospect-avenue off the Higham-road for Mrs. L. Ward, and passed.

  Bungalow off the Wymington-road for Mrs. M. A. Dilley, and passed.

  House in Spencer-road for Mrs. C. Dorks, and passed subject to evidence as to party wall.

  Bungalow on the Higham road for Mr. A. W. Kebble, and passed.

  Applications for subsidies in respect of the foregoing houses were received, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Surveyor to issue certificates in respect of same as coming within the Council’s scheme for the subsidy of £100 each.

  Workshop at the rear of No. 65, Trafford-road, for Mr. A. E. Sturgeon, and no exception taken.

  Workshop at the rear of No. 13, Pratt-road, for Mr. H. Waite, and passed.

  Alterations and additions to grocer’s shop in High-street South for the Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society, Ltd., and passed.

  Cycle-shed near her house on the Newton road for Mrs. K. Rice, and no exception taken.

  Cycle-shed at the rear of his house in Carnegie-street for Mr. L. Clark, and no exception taken.

  Cycle-shed at the rear of his house on the Higham road for Mr. B. Fensome, and no exception taken.

  New street off the Higham road for Mr. T. Swindall, and referred back for further information to be supplied to the Surveyor.  The Surveyor was authorised to allow the work to proceed on the plan being amended to his satisfaction.

Road Materials

  The Surveyor reported that he, with the Chairman, had opened the tenders and, as authorised by the committee at their last meeting, had placed orders for 900 tons of granite, 1,700 tons of tarmacadam, and 750 tons of slag with the firms usually supplying the Council at the respective prices quoted by them.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to confirm the orders.

Newton-Road

  Attention was called to the state of the footpaths near the Cemetery, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Surveyor to provide and fix concrete kerbing on the south side from Winchester-road to the Cemetery and on the north side from Hove-road to the land recently sold by the Council, at an estimated cost of £65.

Surveyor’s Staff

  The Surveyor reported that, as instructed at a previous meeting, he had advertised for temporary help in his office and submitted six applications.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to engage Mr. E. J. B. Mulligan, of Edinburgh, at a salary of £2  15s. per week.

  The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A special meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, May 27^th, 1925, when there were present: Messrs. F. Corby (chairman), W. Bazeley, D. G. Greenfield, T. F. B. Newberry, J. Spencer, and T. Swindall.

  The Medical Officer reported that a case of smallpox had been notified, and it was advisable that the patient should be removed to the Hospital at once.  It was resolved that the removal should take place the next day.

  The Medical Officer pointed out that it was necessary to provide accommodation for a nurse.  The Clerk and Surveyor were requested to make inquiries as to suitable buildings and to place an order forthwith.

  The report was adopted.

  Mr. Perkins, on the above subject, said there was no need for any alarm in the town.  Steps that had been taken were for readiness lest anything desperate should occur.  There were only three cases, and they had been tackled boldly by the Sanitary Officer and the Medical Officer.  Great credit was due to those officers for their confidence and care in working so effectively to prevent the spread of the disease which was very unlikely to occur.  If there was any alarm, it was due to Dame Rumour.

  Mr. Corby said that the steps taken and the expenses incurred had been very largely a precautionary measure.  The money so spent had been well invested.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, June 3^rd, 1925, at 6 p.m., when there were present: Messrs. C. W. Horrell (chairman), C. Claridge, C. Bates, L. Perkins, and J. Roe.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

  The committee examined the Surveyor’s cash account with the wages books, the expenditure shown therein being as follows:

	£	s	d
Week ending May 7th, 1925	115	13	8
Week ending May 14th, 1925	114	7	8
Week ending May 21st, 1925	113	18	7
Week ending May 28th, 1925	119	15	3

Collector’s Accounts

  The Collector’s accounts were also examined, from which it appeared that he had collected the following sums since the last meeting:

Treasurer’s Acounts

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

And that the following balances were in his hands:

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £4,462  14s.  10d. were examined and passed for payment.

Allen-Road

  The Clerk was instructed to communicate with such of the owners of land abutting on this road as had not paid their apportioned charges, asking them to be good enough to do so by the end of the month.

National Institute For The Blind

  A letter was received from the secretary of this Institute asking for permission to hold a “Geranium Day” in Rushden during the summer in aid of the funds of the Institute.

  The Clerk was instructed to reply that the Council were unable to reserve any particular day for them and to suggest that they place themselves in communication with the secretary of the local Blind and Crippled Children’s Fund.

Isolation Hospital

  The Health and Sanitary Committee reported that they had arranged for the construction of additional wards to the hospital and the provision of accommodation for nurses.  The works had been placed in hand as of an emergency nature, and this committee were asked to authorise the expenditure.

  It was resolved that this be done.

Newton-Road Footpaths

  The Plans Committee reported that they were recommending the Council to provide and fix concrete kerbing on this road at an estimated cost of £65, not provided for in the estimates, and asked this committee to agree to the expenditure.

  The committee agreed.

Housing

  On the report of the Housing Committee it was resolved to recommend the Council to apply to the Ministry of Health for sanction to the raising of a loan of £18,500 for the erection of 38 houses on the Irchester-road and Oval-road sites.

  The Clerk reported that he had been in communication with the Ecclesiastical Commissioners inquiring if they would accept repayment of £650 on account of their loan of £3,030, and submitted their reply stating that they were prepared to do so subject to the payment of an additional sum of £60 as compensation for loss of interest.

  This proposal was not favourably received by the committee, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to invest the money available in 5 per cent. War Loan.

£3,950 Loan

  The Clerk reported that the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives had agreed to advance this loan at 4¾ per cent.

  The committee resolved to recommend the Council to accept it on these terms.

Surveyor’s Staff

  The committee agreed to the recommendation of the Plans Committee to engage additional assistance in the Surveyor’s Department at a cost of £2  15s. per week.

  The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, June 3^rd, 1925, when there were present: Messrs. F. Corby (chairman), W. Bazeley, D. G. Greenfield, T. F. B. Newberry, J. Spencer, and T. Swindall.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The monthly report of the Medical Officer of Health was received.

  The Medical Officer further reported that three cases had now been removed to the Smallpox Hospital and that he had succeeded in obtaining the services of a nurse.

  The works of making additions to the Hospital and providing accommodation for nurses were proceeding satisfactorily.

  It was decided to have the Hospital connected with the telephone.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that since the last meeting 15 secondary visits had been made in respect of existing nuisances.  Forty-five visits had been made to premises where food was prepared or sold, and during these inspections a quantity of beef and pork offal had been found to be unfit for human consumption and destroyed in the usual way.  Thirty-five rooms had been disinfected since the last meeting, all after cases of infectious disease.  Various schools had also been disinfected.  A quantity of bedding, wearing apparel, and other household effects had been disinfected, and a quantity destroyed, also after cases of infectious disease.

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

Duck-Street

  Mr. Arthur Sanders wrote complaining of the nuisance arising from the open brook near his house No. 4, Duck-street, and suggesting the Council should consider the question of constructing a culvert, and offering, in case the Council did so, to provide materials and labour required for the work.

  The Surveyor was instructed to inspect the site and prepare an estimate of the cost.

Washbrook-Road

  Letters were received from residents complaining of the damage done to their properties by flooding on the occasion of the storm on Monday, May 18^th.

  The Surveyor explained to the committee the position with regard to the drainage at this point, and said that the nuisance complained of would be very greatly modified if the Midland Railway Company would allow a kerbed footpath to be placed over their bridge.

  The Clerk was instructed to write to the Railway Company on the subject.

Rats and Mice Destruction Act, 1919

  The Inspector also reported that three complaints had been received and seven premises inspected under this Act.

Milk and Dairies Act, 1922

  An application was received from Mr. Charles Holley, of 15, Ebenezer-terrace, to be registered as a milk trader, and it was resolved to recommend the council to accede thereto subject to the premises being to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

  The report was adopted.

The Cemetery Gate

  A petition was received signed by all the tenants of Harborough-road, asking the Council’s permission to use a gate already provided at the top of Harborough-road for entrance thereby to the Cemetery.

  Mr. Wilmott moved that permission be granted between the hours of 6 p.m. and the time of closing the Cemetery.

  Mr. Perkins seconded.

  Mr. Spencer supported.

  Mr. Bates suggested that as the Council had purchased land a footpath could be made outside the Cemetery through to Newton-road.

  Mr. Hornsby said the gate could lead into the top of the recreation ground and an outlet be made to Pyghtles-terrace.  Or let the Council inaugurate a ’bus service round to Newton-road. (Laughter.)

  The motion was carried, the matter of a footpath being referred to the Cemetery Sub-Committee.

Fire Brigade

  On the initiative of the Chairman, hearty congratulations were passed to the Rushden Fire Brigade on their recent brilliant successes at the Spalding competitions.

Church Parade

  The Council accepted an invitation of the Friendly Societies Council to attend their annual church parade on Sunday, July 12^th.