Market Tickets

Mr. Bates asked if any reply had been received regarding the Council’s application for the re-issuing of cheap market tickets from Rushden to Northampton.

The Clerk said that the Midland Railway Co. wrote regretting that owing to the exceptional circumstances they were unable to re-introduce the issue of the market tickets asked for. He (the Clerk) had again written, pointing out that the tickets were wanted more particularly for those who wished to visit friends in the Northampton hospital. In reply to that letter the Company wrote: We regret we are unable to issue cheap tickets between Rushden and Northampton for the purpose you mention.

In reply to Mr. Knight, Mr. Claridge said that a good number of Rushden people visited friends in Northampton hospital on market days.

Mr. Knight said that the Company doubtless thought that if they issued market tickets again a good number would take advantage of them who would be better at home.

The Chairman: It is a great hardship to people who had friends in the hospital, but we can do nothing more.

Overseers

The retiring overseers (Messrs. John Claridge, J. T. Colson, T. W. C. Linnitt, and L. Baxter) were re-elected.

Plans, Etc., Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, February 28th, 1917, when there were present: Messrs. J. Spencer (chairman), T. Wilmott, W. Bazeley, J. S. Clipson, F. Knight, and T. Swindall.

Plans

Were presented for:-

A portable building at the rear of No. 127, Glassbrook-road, for Mr. G. Watkinson, and no exception taken.

A wooden barn on the garden at the rear of No. 176, Cromwell-road, and no exception taken.

Road Materials

Granite and Slag. The Surveyor was instructed to obtain prices for granite and slag from the firms dealt with last year, and authorised to place orders at once if the pries were considered suitable.

Team Labour. The Surveyor was also instructed to obtain prices from the carters in the district for carting road materials.

The report was adopted.

Finance and Estates Committee

A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Tuesday, March 6th, 1917, when there were present: Messrs. T. Wilmott (in the chair), C. Bates, J. Claridge, and J. Hyde.

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 Collector’s accounts were also examined, from which it appeared that he had collected the following sums 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 following balances were in hand:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts amounting to £1,861 4s. 5d. were examined and passed for payment.

Special Meeting

It was resolved to hold a special meeting of the Committee on Monday, the 26th inst., to clear up the accounts for the year.

The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, March 7th, 1917, when there were present: Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman), J. Spencer, C. Bates, and J. Claridge.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The report of the Medical Officer for the month of February was received.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that, during February, 31 preliminary notices had been issued, calling attention to nuisances, etc., all of which were receiving attention.

Three lots of infected bedding had been destroyed since the last meeting. It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace part of the bedding destroyed in two of the cases at a cost not exceeding £1 7s. 6d. in each case.

The Inspector also reported that the Council notice served on the owner of No. 30, Church-street, to abate a nuisance there was still uncomplied with. It was resolved to recommend the Council to take proceedings against the owner if the work be not in hand by Wednesday, the 14th inst.

A quantity of beef voluntarily surrendered had been found to be unfit for human consumption and destroyed in the usual way.

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

Sewage Farm

The Farm Sub-Committee reported that they had met at the farm, and now recommended that the Surveyor be instructed to sow barley and oats on the spare land there.

The Committee approved.

The report was adopted.

National Service

At the first meeting of the National Service Committee, held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, March 7th, 1917, at 7.30 p.m.

Present: Messrs. J. Spencer, J. Hyde, T. Swindall, J. Claridge, G. Miller, H. Brawn, C. A. K. Green, W. E. Capon, H. H. Hobbs, W. W. Rial, A. F. Weale and the Revs. P. Robson and P. J. Richards.

After some discussion, in which many of the members expressed an opinion that a house to house canvass would be either impossible or undesirable, it was unanimously resolved to hold a Public Meeting in the Public Hall on Wednesday, the 14th inst., and that application be made to the Parliamentary Service Committee for a Speaker. A sub-committee consisting of the Chairman, Messrs. Miller and Hobbs, with the Hon. Secretary, was appointed to make all arrangements for the meeting.

It was further resolved that no decision be arrived at with regard to a house to house canvass until after the public meeting, and that the Committee meet again on Thursday evening, the 15th inst., at 8 p.m.

The Clerk to the Urban Council was requested to write to the Divisional Officer at Doncaster with reference to his letter as to the interviewing of volunteers, and to point out that the intention to interview them at Wellingborough would be detrimental to the enrolment of volunteers in Rushden, who would object to losing the time a journey to Wellingborough would involve.

The Chairman, moving the adoption of the report, said they had tried to arrange a public meeting, and Mr. Capon, the secretary, had asked for a speaker for that night (March 14th), but a telegram was received stating that the notice was too short. Mr. Capon had again written giving a number of dates, but no reply had been received at present. Doubtless Mr. Capon would hear shortly, when a public meeting would be called.