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

A meeting of the Finance, Estates, Cemetery, and Sanitary Committee was held at the Vestry Hall, on Wednesday, the 19th April, 1905, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson, T. Swindall, J. Hornsby, G. H. Skinner, J. Claridge, C. Bates, and F. Ballard.

It was resolved that Mr. Swindall be appointed Chairman of this Committee.

The following Sub-committees were appointed:-

Estates and Farm:- Messrs. Swindall, Hornsby, and Skinner.

Cemetery:- Messrs. Clipson, Claridge, Ballard, and Bates.

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

£ s d

Week ending 23rd March, 1905 …. 53 1 0

Week ending 30th March, 1905 …. 49 3 8

Week ending 6th April, 1905 ……. 44 13 2

Week ending 13th April, 1905 ….. 42 18 7

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

£ s d

Fittings ……. 1 0 0

Other roads.. 3

Farm ……… 1 14 0

Scavenging .. 1 10 0

Water rates .. 249 2 4

District rate .. 724 10 0

Total 977 16 7

By the collector’s Green Tolls account produced it appeared that during the past six months he had collected the sum of £14/13/9.

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:-

£ s d

March, 23rd John Sargent, District rate …. 115 14 2

March, 24th John Sargent, Water rate …… 62 9 5

John Sargent, District rate …. 167 15 8

March, 25th T. Spavins, Harboro’-road …. 70 6 0

March, 27th John Sargent, District rate …. 150 4 3

March, 28th John Sargent, District rate …. 100 0 0

John Sargent, Water rate …… 81 18 2

March, 29th John Sargent, Green Tolls …. 14 13 9

John Sargent, District rate …. 125 0 0

John Sargent, Water rate …… 70 0 0

March, 30th John Sargent, District rate …. 63 1 8

John Sargent, Water rate …… 34 14 9

John Sargent, Fittings account 4 4 3

March, 31st John Sargent, District rate ….. 2 14 3

Thos. Lack, Harboro’-road …. 4 8 4

Morton, Chimney on fire …… 2 6

Newberry, Rent of Oakpits … 8 0 0

April, 14th Cave & Son, College-street … 106 3 4

Beds. R.D.C., Wymington water 25 0 0

Total 1,206 10 6

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

£ s d

General account …….. 1127 4 10

Loan account, No. 16 .. 567 7 6

Total 1694 12 4

A number of accounts were examined and passed for payment.

The Medical Officer reported that 19 cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz., one of diphtheria, 14 of scarlet fever, and four of erysipelas.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that he had visited the cases of infectious disease notified and inspected the premises but found everything in order. One case of scarlet fever had proved fatal.

During the month the officer had fumigated 19 houses, containing 34 cases of scarlet fever.

He had also sent a return to seven District Sanitary Inspectors of outworkers employed by Rushden firms.

The report was adopted.

A meeting of the Plans, Water, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday, the 3rd May, 1905, when there were present :- Messrs. J. S. Clipson, T. Swindall, F. Knight, W. H. Wilkins, A. Mantle, W. Bazeley, and G. Denton.

Mr. Clipson was appointed Chairman of this Committee.

The following sub-Committees were appointed:-

Lighting and Fire brigade:- Messrs. Clipson, Swindall, Bazeley, and Wilkins.

Water:- Messrs. Clipson, Mantle, Knight, and Denton.

were presented by:-

Mr. Joseph Knight (amended plan) for residence on the Knuston Road and passed.

Mr. Walter Robinson for house in Grove-street and rejected for proper drainage arrangements to be shown.

Mr. G. Botterill for six w.c.’s to six houses, Nos. 62 to 72 in Crabb-street and passed.

Mr. Fred Knight for wood and iron building in Park-road and agreed to, subject to Mr. Knight obtaining the consent of the adjoining owner.

It was resolved to cease general lighting on the 13th May, but to continue the lighting in High-street from Manning’s-lane to the bottom of Higham-hill as was done last year.

The Surveyor was instructed to apply to the County surveyor for sanction to erect way-posts at the bottom of the Higham-hill and on the Kimbolton-road at the top of the Hayway.

A letter was received from Mr. Albert Franklin with regard to the additional expense to be incurred in consequence of the storm water drain in the lower portion of the road not being of sufficient size to carry off the storm water from the upper portion, the drains from which had been connected with those in the lower portion and stating that his consent to this connection had only been given on the understanding that the storm water from Upper Portland-road alone would go into the drain. Mr. Franklin objected to the cost of a larger storm water drain being placed upon the rates.

The Clerk was instructed to send a copy of the letter to the owners of the Estate on the upper portion of the road.

Mr. Claridge drew attention to the fact that Mr. Joseph Knight’s house stood nearer to the road than those on the adjoining property and expressed the opinion that the line of the other houses should have been followed.

Mr. Ballard said it would be very unfair to neighbouring owners of property if the man who built first set the building line.

Mr. Wilkins said the Council insisted on the building line being maintained in streets where it was a matter of 6 feet, but where a house was set back 30 feet he did not see that they could do anything.

Mr. Denton said the Council would have great difficulty in enforcing a building line where houses were set back so far from the road.

Mr. Swindall said some houses on the road were only set back 6 feet.

Mr. Bazeley said the owners seemed to build according to their fancy.

No action was taken.

A meeting of the Finance, Estates, Cemetery, and Sanitary Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday, the 10th May, 1905, when there were present: Messrs. T. Swindall (chairman), J. S. Clipson, F. Ballard, C. Bates, J. Claridge, J. Hornsby, and G. H. Skinner.

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

£ s d

Week ending 20th April, 1905…… 44 0 1

Week ending 27th April, 1905…… 38 7 4

Week ending 4th May, 1905…… 44 17 0

The Committee examined the Collector’s fittings account from which it appeared that he had collected the following sums on the under-mentioned accounts :-

£ s d

Fittings…… 8 3

Water works…… 2 1 8

Other Roads…… 11 16 5

Infectious Diseases…… 3 4 10

Total 17 11 2

The Committee examined the Treasurer’s books from which it appeared that the following sum had been paid to him since the last meeting :-

May 10…John Sargent, fittings a/c £17/11/2

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

£ s d

General Account…… 929 0 3

Loan Account No. 16…… 567 7 6

Total 1496 7 9

A number of accounts were examined and passed for payment.

The Medical Officer reported that three cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz., two of scarlet fever and one of diphtheria.

The Sanitary Inspector informed the Committee that the cases of scarlet fever were in Oswald-road and Grove-street, and that of diphtheria on the Higham-road. He had visited all the cases and inspected the premises; everything appeared satisfactory; disinfectants had been supplied.

The Cemetery Sub-committee reported that they met at the Cemetery on the 8th instant and decided to recommend that the surveyor be instructed to complete the laying out that portion of the land which had been fenced in. They also recommended that the erection of the suggested green-house and lavatory be not proceeded with but that a w.c. be provided at the Caretaker’s cottage and connected with the sewer. The sub-committee further recommended that the fence at the bottom of the Cemetery be moved back so as to give access to the pond and that asbestos sheeting be put at the back of the notice boards and that such boards be varnished.

The recommendations of the sub-committee were unanimously approved.

The Sub-committee reported that they met on the 9th instant and decided to recommend that the grass at the Sewage Farm be offered for sale by public auction by Mr. Bletsoe in three lots about the middle of June, subject to the same conditions as last year. The Sub-committee also recommended that the grass at the hospital and in the Cemetery field be also offered at the same time, the latter until Lady-day, 1906, and no horses to be allowed in the field for grazing.

The Committee approved.

The estimates for the ensuing year were considered and agreed to. It was resolved to submit the same to the whole Council in Committee before bringing them before the Council for adoption.

Mr. Swindall having moved the adoption of the report, an amendment was moved by Mr. Bazeley to the effect that a greenhouse and lavatory be provided at the Cemetery. Last year the caretaker had nowhere to keep his plants alive in the winter and had to keep some in Alfred-street and some in Pightles-terrace. The cost would be about £100, but he believed the money would be repaid by the sale of plants and flowers for the graves.

Mr. Bates seconded the amendment.

The Chairman said the committee went thoroughly into the matter and thought under the circumstances that it would be better to drop the greenhouse and spend about £15 on the w.c.

Mr. Mantle said he was under the impression that the work would have been done last year, but the amount was not included in the estimates.

Mr. Claridge said there was very little demand for plants and flowers.

Mr. Skinner : And there are plenty of gardeners in the town to supply them.

Mr. Claridge believed people would rather supply their own.

Mr. Ballard said it was simply a question of ways and means and seeing they had a rate at 4s. 8d. in the £ he should support the committee’s recommendation.

Mr. Denton did not consider the greenhouse necessary at present.

The amendment was lost and the committee’s report was adopted.

The estimates of receipts and expenditure for the ensuing year, which had been passed by the Council in committee, were presented. They showed that the total estimated revenue for the year was £3,854/11/- and the total expenditure to be provided for was £11,803/3/9. To meet the difference between the receipts and expenditure it was necessary to make a rate at 4/8 in the £, which would produce £7,369/5/-

The Chairman moved that the action of the Council in committee with regard to the estimates be confirmed.

Mr. Ballard seconded the motion, but said he was sorry he had to second a motion which involved a rate at 4/8 in the £.

The motion was agreed to.

It was reported that the Plans Committee met previous to the Council meeting and considered the tenders for road material. They recommended purchases of granite from the Cliff Hill Granite Company, the Forest Rock Company, Mountsorrel Company, Messrs. Fergusson and Sons (Leicester), Groby Granite Company, and Messrs. B. J. Forder and Son (London). They also recommended that the tenders of Messrs. Butlin and Co. (Wellingborough), Wellingborough Iron Company, and the Kettering Iron Company for the supply of slag be accepted.

Mr. Wilkins, in accordance with notice moved that the Council meetings be held monthly, on the second Wednesday in the month, that the Plans and Highways Committee meet on the last Wednesday, and the Finance Committee on the first Wednesday. He said this would be in the spirit of the decision come to with regard to the meetings at a recent Council meeting, seeing that the work had been divided between the two committees. Monthly meetings would be better for financial reasons and would suit those members who were on the Water Board or the Education Committee.

Mr. Knight seconded the motion.

Mr. Ballard asked whether a resolution carried at one meeting by a majority of the Council could be rescinded without due notice.

The Chairman said he thought it was in order, seeing that the matter had been discussed in committee and that Mr. Wilkins had given notice of the motion.

Mr. Ballard said he did not find fault with those who voted one way at one meeting and the other way at the next, but he should vote against the motion.

Mr. Denton said the Council only met to transact the business of the town and if they could do it better by monthly meetings he did not think any quibble as to procedure should stand in the way.

Mr. Bazeley thought it was ridiculous to pass a resolution at one meeting and upset it at the next, and he should vote against a change for this year on principle.

The motion was carried by six votes to four, Messrs. Ballard, Bates, Bazeley and Skinner constituting the minority. Messrs. Claridge and Mantle did not vote.

Following this resolution considerable amusement was caused by a discussion as to when the next meeting, which would fall in Whit-week in the ordinary course, should be held. Resolutions were proposed to fix the date at three, four, five, and six weeks hence, and eventually, after a good deal of hilarity, it was decided to meet in the week before Whit-week.

Mr. Wilkins gave notice that at the next meeting of the Council he proposed to raise the question of the appointment or the re-appointment of the Rushden Charity Trustees. There was a vacancy at the present time. As secretary and treasurer to the trustees, he presented the balance-sheet. The receipts were:- Balance in hand for last year, 12s.; from the Mayes charity (land at Wollaston), £20; Latham’s charity, or Bull money (from the executors of the late Ald. T. Sanders), £3; total, £26/12/-. The expenditure had been:- Payments in doles of 3s. to 175 poor persons, of whom 152 were widows, £26/5/-; paid to church-wardens in accordance with the scheme of the Charity Commissioners, 6/8; Postage, 4d; total £26/12/-. The present trustees are the Rector, with Messrs. G. S. Mason and Geo. Skinner (churchwardens), and Messrs. John Claridge, G. Denton, F. Knight, and T. Tailby.