A meeting of this Council was held on Wednesday night, when there were present Mr. J. Claridge (chairman), G. Miller (vice-chairman), the Ven. A. Kitchin, Messrs. G. H. Skinner, F. Knight, F. Ballard, C. E. Bayes, J. S. Clipson, T. Swindall, J. Spencer, W. Bazeley, and C. Bates, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. J. Allen).

Plans, Etc., Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 26th April, 1911, when there were present :- Messrs. J. Claridge, G. Miller, F. Ballard, W. Bazeley, J. S. Clipson, C. E. Bayes, and Fred Knight.

Appointment of Chairman

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

Sub-Committee

The following Sub-Committee was appointed :-

Lighting and Fire Brigade :- The Chairman with Messrs. Bazeley, Ballard and Bayes.

Plans

were presented by :-

Mr. Oliver Claridge for conversion of outbuildings at the rear of his house in North-street into a Motor House and passed.

Mr. Joseph Knight for open shed at the rear of his factory in York-road and no exception taken.

Messrs. Wm. Green and Sons for shed at the rear of their factory in Queen-street and no exception taken.

The Industrial Co-operative Society for Office in Station Yard and passed.

Mr. J. Oliver for house in Gordon-street and passed.

The surveyor submitted an amended plan sent in as promised by Mr. Packwood showing the five houses in Trafford-road as finally completed.

Road Materials – Granite

Tenders for the supply of granite for the current year were considered and the surveyor was instructed to place his orders as follows :-

Slag

Tenders for the supply of slag were also received and the Surveyor instructed to place orders for about 1000 tons in quantities as required from the following firms at the respective prices quoted by them, viz.,

Thos. Butlin and Co. Ltd. :- Unbroken 3/6, Spoutings 4/9; 2¼” 4/9; 2” 5/-; 1¾” 5/-; 1½” 4/-; 1” 4/-; ½” 3/6; ½” seconds 2/6.

Wellingborough Iron Co. :- Unbroken 3/6, Spoutings 5/3; 2¼” 5/3; 2” 5/3; 1¾” 5/3; 1½” 5/3; 1” 4/6; ½” 4/9; ½” seconds with dust 3/9.

Kettering Iron Co. :- Unbroken 3/6, Spoutings 5/6; 2¼” 5/6; 2” 5/6; 1¾” 5/6; 1½” 5/6; 1” 5/6; ½” 5/6; ½” seconds 4/-.

High Street

A letter was received from Mr. Horace Brawn requesting the Council to point up the stonework of Nos. 84 and 86, High-street, rendered necessary by the removal of the footpath some years ago.

The Committee were unable to recognise any liability, and instructed the Clerk to reply accordingly.

Public Lighting

It was resolved to discontinue full street lighting on the 7th May but to continue the lighting in the High-street from Mannings Lane to the Hayway during the summer.

The Surveyor was instructed to have the lamps painted one coat as was done last year.

The Surveyor was also instructed to have painted the posts on the Green.

Road Metal – Team Labour

The Surveyor was instructed to advertise for tenders for carting road metal for consideration at the next meeting.

The report was adopted.

Council In Committee

A meeting of the whole Council in Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday the 26th April, 1911, when there were present :- Messrs. J. Claridge (chairman), G. Miller, F. Ballard, W. Bazeley, C. Bates, J. S. Clipson, F. Knight, J. Spencer, G. H. Skinner, T. Swindall, and the Ven. A. Kitchin.

Estimates

The estimates for the current year were considered and agreed upon. It was resolved to recommend the Council to adopt the same and to instruct the Collector to prepare a rate of 2/6 in the £ on account thereof and submit to the next meeting of the Council for sealing.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the estimates, said that it was found that the receipts and expenditure were very close. They were very anxious to keep within a 5s. rate, and they would not therefore be justified in incurring the expense of a number of small improvements which were in themselves desirable. According to the estimates, the balance in hand at the end of the year would be only £669, as against £868 last year so that it would not be wise to spend money otherwise than as provided by the estimates. He hoped that in course of time their receipts would be increased by payments from customers for water, but until then they would have to carefully watch all their expenditure.

Mr. Skinner seconded the adoption of the estimates.

Mr. Spencer moved as an amendment that £50 be added to the estimates to provide for the widening of the Washbrook-road bridge on the Spencer Park side. He thought it would be a bad precedent if they did not carry out some improvement, and an addition of £50 to the estimates would not be felt.

Mr. Bates seconded the amendment.

The Chairman said he agreed largely with what Mr. Spencer had said, but he did not think they were justified in spending the money.

The amendment was lost, and the original motion was then agreed to.

Mr. Bazeley said he supposed it would be a forlorn hope to move for a second urinal, but he hoped after the remarks of the Chairman that the rates would not be touched in any way for the Coronation festivities. In the circumstances, he and his colleagues would very much object to a sovereign being spent on the festivities.

The estimates were then agreed to.

Finance and Estates Committee

A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings, on Tuesday, the 2nd May, 1911, at 10 a.m., when there were present :- Messrs. J. Claridge, G. Miller, F. Ballard, W. Bazeley, F. Knight, and T. Swindall.

Appointment of Chairman

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

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 Committee examined the Collector’s accounts, from which it appeared that the following sums had been collected 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 on the under-mentioned accounts :-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts, amounting to £316/16/3 were examined and passed for payment.

Oakpits

It was resolved to recommend the Council to let the Oakpits to Mr. Samuel Winsor, of High-street South, from the 31st March last, at a rent of £3 per annum.

The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 3rd May, 1911, when there were present :- Messrs. J. Claridge, G. Miller, C. Bates, J. Spencer, G. H. Skinner, T. Swindall, and the Ven. A. Kitchin.

Appointment of Chairman

It was resolved that Mr. Miller be chairman of this committee for the ensuing year.

Sub-Committees

The following sub-committees were appointed:-

Farm : Messrs. Miller, Skinner, and Swindall.

Cemetery : Messrs. Claridge, Bates, Spencer, and the Ven. A. Kitchin.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The Medical Officer reported that five cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, all of diphtheria.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that since the last meeting 65 notices had been issued calling attention to nuisances, etc., which were receiving attention.

The Inspector informed the committee that the cases of diphtheria referred to by the Medical Officer occurred in Fitzwilliam-street and Cromwell-road. There was, however, nothing to connect the cases.

An application had been received from Mr. Chas. Spriggs, of No. 10, Windmill-road, to be registered as a cowkeeper, and his name was placed on the register.

The brook had been inspected and the Inspector found that the overflow from a cesspool was running into same. He had called the Agent to the Owners’ attention thereto who had promised to rectify the matter at once.

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

Anti-Toxins

It was resolved to increase the amount of stock of anti-toxin to about the value of £2 and the Inspector was instructed to purchase same, together with his other requirements, locally, if found practicable.

Knacker’s Yard Licence

An application was received from Mr. G. Chettle for a renewal of his knacker’s yard licence, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the request.

Brook, Sewage Farm

The Surveyor was instructed to clean out the brook between Kimbolton-road and the River.

John-Street Sewer

The Surveyor reported that this sewer was still unsatisfactory. The Syphon in Alfred-street near Mr. Darnell’s property was not working properly and he suggested that it should be replaced by one of Adams’ Patent Automatic Flushing Syphons.

The Committee resolved to recommend the Council to give instructions for this to be done.

Electric Lighting

The Clerk read a number of letters which had passed between the Board of Trade, Messrs. Brown and Wells, Northampton (solicitors to a proposed company to supply electricity in Rushden and Higham Ferrers), and the Wellingborough Electricity Supply Company. The correspondence showed that Messrs. Brown and Wells’s clients proposed to obtain a provisional order from the Board of Trade, who were asked to revoke the order previously made in favour of the Wellingborough Company, the latter having taken no steps to carry out the provisions of the order. The Wellingborough Company, while not encouraged by their Wellingborough venture to extend their mains to Rushden, intimated that they were willing, if there was now a demand for electricity in Rushden and Higham to co-operate in the matter with Messrs. Brown and Wells’s clients. The latter declined the offer and proposed to start afresh altogether. The Board of Trade asked for the observations of the Council on the subject.

The Clerk said that when the first order was obtained the Council opposed it out and out, in the hope that they might some time have their own supply.

Mr. Spencer said that was what he was in favour of, but he would not like to hinder the supply of electricity in the district and he would therefore move that the Council approve of the revocation of the old order.

Mr. Clipson seconded.

In reply to a question by Mr. Knight the Clerk said it would be of no use for the Council to oppose any provisional order unless they were going to start a supply themselves.

Mr. Knight : But if we had to provide a dust destructor, it might make a difference.

Mr. Bazeley wished the Council was in a position to undertake electric lighting, but that, unfortunately did not seem likely for a considerable time.

Mr. Knight took it that if the old order was revoked the Council would have the preference as against another company applying for powers.

The Clerk : Only on the understanding that we proceed with the work at once.

Mr. Knight said there was no doubt they would have a dust destructor some time, and the Council would, no doubt, in that case take advantage of the opportunity to provide electricity.

The Ven. A. Kitchin thought that if it was desirable that the town should supply its own electricity it would be better not to favour the revocation of the old order, which the promoters were either unable or unwilling to carry out.

Mr. Bazeley thought it would look rather like a dog-in-the-manger policy if they stood in the way.

Mr. Miller asked if it was necessary to come to a decision that night.

Mr. Spencer did not oppose the postponement of the discussion.

On the motion of Mr. Knight, seconded by Mr. Ballard, the subject was referred to the consideration of the whole Council in committee.