Library Report At Rushden Council Meeting
New Councillor Takes His Seat
St. Crispin Request
Hundreds Of Houses To Be Re-Decorated 

  Returned unopposed as a representative of the west ward on Rushden Urban District Council, Mr. Horace Waring took his seat at the Council table for the first time on Wednesday at the monthly meeting.

  The vacancy was caused by the death recently of Mr. G. W. Coles, J.P.

  Welcoming Mr. Waring to the Council, the Chairman, Mr. J. T. Richardson, said he had stepped into the position occupied by an honourable member who had been esteemed throughout the county.

  “You are conscious, I am sure,” he said, “that you follow in the steps of a useful man.”

  In a brief reply the new councillor said he realised that he followed an able man.  He expressed appreciation of the fact that there were many citizens as fully qualified to take the position as he, but they had refrained from forcing the contest out of consideration for the finances of the town.  He thought it was very considerate of them to allow him to be returned unopposed and thus dispense with election costs.  He hoped he would be able to serve the town in a manner which would lead none of them to regret what they had done.

  Committees allotted to Mr. Waring were the Plans, Highways and Lighting Committee, the Housing Committee, and the Parks, Baths and Hall Committee.

Popular Book

  In her annual report the Librarian, Miss M. Perkins, stated that the most popular book in the Free Library was Lawrence’s “Seven Pillars of Wisdom,” for which, she revealed, there was still a waiting list of eighteen.

  The total number of books issued during the past twelve months was 40,400, the total last year being 37,201.  The issues of non-fiction had increased from over a thousand to over four thousand.

  Of a stock of books of 3,523, 1,251 were in circulation on March 31 this year, and 2,272 were on the shelves.  Miss Perkins added that most of the books on the shelves at that date had not been borrowed for a considerable time and were not likely ever to attract readers.  The majority of books in circulation were those purchased during the last two years.

  The rebinding in bright colours of 193 books had proved a satisfactory step, and 704 volumes were added in the year, the general state of the stock having considerably improved.

  The Library Committee, with £135 to spend on new books, decided to spend £80 on works of fiction, £30 on non-fiction volumes, and £25 on juvenile books.  They reported that members’ tickets will in future be renewable every two years instead of annually, and that the age limit for children has been reduced to 10 years.

Leaflet Complaint

  A small matter concerning the distribution of leaflets at houses in the town was raised by Mr. J. J. Sawford.  He said it was not advisable nor hygienic to leave leaflets in houses and then collect them again for re-distributing elsewhere.  In answer to Dr. Greenfield’s question he said they were leaflets respecting the collection of rags and bones.

  The Sanitary Inspector, Mr. F. S. F. Piper, said he had no power to deal with the matter, which was quite outside his province, while the Clerk, Mr. W. L. Beetenson, said charitable organisations did the same thing.

  It was decided that the addresses of condolence in connection with the death of King George V, together with the acknowledgments received from the Home Office, be framed and hung in the Council Chamber.

  The Council agreed to the erection of a telephone kiosk at the junction of Tennyson-road and Highfield-road.

  Support was given to a letter by Mr. H. G. Lay, of Wellingborough-road, complaining of the lack of adequate posting facilities for parcels, etc., in the St. Crispin estate, and asking for the provision of a sub-office.

  Mr. A. Allebone pointed out that the Parks Committee was not in the habit of meeting regularly.  One or two gentlemen had seen him recently in connection with the greens in Spencer Park, and he hoped that the chairman of the Parks Committees would be able to call a meeting in the park next week to adjust the complaints.

The Bandstand

  Members of the Parks Committee stayed after the meeting to discuss details of the opening on Saturday of the bandstand in the Hall grounds, the gift of Mr. John White.  Following a procession of bands through the town, Sir Leonard Brassey, of Apethorpe Hall, Peterborough, will perform the opening ceremony.

  A letter of appreciation was read by the clerk from Mr. L. Bradshaw, secretary of the Rushden Hospital Week committee, who thanked the members of the Council and the officers for their attendance and support at the church parade on the Sunday previous.

  Application for permission to hold a flag-day in Rushden was sought by the British Empire Cancer Campaign in a letter which gave the date for the flag-day as May 23^rd.  The letter asked the Council to organise the event.

  The chairman pointed out that on that date the Hospital Week committee expected to hold its annual house-to-house collection and it would be unfortunate to have the two collections on the same day.

  It was decided to request the applicants to suggest another date, and also to make their own arrangements as the Council did not make a practice of organising flag-days.

Choir’s Request

  The Adult School Male Voice Choir received permission to give two concerts in the Hall grounds during the summer, and the use of Spencer Park was granted to the Co-operative Society for a children’s fete on July 14 and to the Rushden and District Sunday School Union for a procession on Whit-Tuesday.  The Council accepted an invitation to view the march-past of the Sunday School children.

  On the retirement of Mr. Edward Robinson his second man, Mr. Samuel Kimberlee, was appointed manager of the sewage farm.

  A demolition order was directed in the case of No. 29, Duck-street.

  Eight charges for the services of the Fire Brigade, including one of £64, were among a list of debts written off as irrecoverable.

  An expenditure of £22 on officers’ uniforms and £5 on trouser overalls was sanctioned in connection with the Fire Brigade.

  House rent arrears were reported to be much smaller than they were twelve months ago, and a tenant on whom notice to quit was served had paid the whole of his debt, the notice being withdrawn.

House Decoration

  Tenders for the decoration of Council houses were issued as follows:- 188 houses, Irchester-road estate, internal decoration, Mr. A. T. Nichols, £628 19s. 6d.; 118 houses, Irchester-road estate, external painting, Mr. A. T. Nichols, £262 13s. 6d.; 157 houses, Newton-road estate, internal decoration, Mr. F. Sharwood, £497 13s.; 80 houses, Newton-road estate, external painting, Mr. F. Sharwood, £128; 41 houses, Kings-road estate, Messrs. Prickett and Dunkley, £43 14s., Mr. A. T. Nichols, £66 4s. 6d.

  Building plans were as follows:- House, Griffith-street, Messrs. T. Swindall and Sons; bungalow, Beech-road, Mr. Reg. Tye; bungalow, Washbrook-road allotments, Mr. W. Dickens; bungalow, St. Margaret’s-avenue, Messrs. M. M. Drabble; two houses, Prospect-avenue, Messrs. T. Swindall and Sons; wash-houses to the two cottages at Grange Farm, Mr. W. Dickens; shed, Oakley-road, Messrs. Allebone and Sons, Ltd.; garage, St. Margaret’s-avenue, Mr. F. Burton; garage, Wellingborough-road, Mr. F. Robinson; garage, Adnitt-road, Messrs. J. F. Cook and Sons; garage, Griffith-street, Mr. A. Hanger; extension to garage, Station-road, Mr. Jack Joyce.

Street Lighting

  It was decided to discontinue full street lighting on Saturday, May 23, but the all-night lamps will continue to operate.

  “The better lighting of Wellingborough-road” was put down for consideration at the next meeting of the Highways Committee.

  The committees announced the appointments of the following chairmen: Housing, Mr. Spencer; Library, Mr. W. C. Tarry; Parks, Baths and Hall, Mr. White; Plans, Highways and Lighting, Mr. Cox; Health and Sanitary, Mr. Allen; Finance and Estates, Mr. Green.

  Members in attendance were Messrs. J. T. Richardson (Chairman), W. E. Capon (Vice-Chairman), J. White, J. Roe, T. W. Cox, F. Green, D. G. Greenfield, M.D., A. Allebone, J.P., C.C., L. Perkins, M.B.E., J. Allen, J. S. Denton, A. Wilmott, W. J. Sawford, E. A. Sugars, J. Hornsby, J. Dilks, H. Waring, and J. Spencer, J.P.

Rushden’s New Bandstand
The Opening Ceremony

  The official programme of the opening of the Bandstand in the Hall Grounds has now been issued, as under:-

2.30 p.m. – The Rushden Temperance, Rushden Town, Mission, and Salvation Army bands will meet at the railway bridge, High-street, and march en masse to the site of the stand in the Hall grounds.

3.00 p.m. – The company will sing the first verse of the National Anthem, the bands still en masse, accompanying.

  Prayer by the Rector of Rushden.

  Three verses of the Doxology will then be sung, accompanied by the bands.

  Presentation by Mr. John White of the bandstand to the Council on behalf of the town.

  Acceptance and thanks by the Chairman of the Council, Mr. J. T. Richardson J.P.

  Formal opening of the stand by Sir Leonard Brassey, Bart.

  Dr. D. G. Greenfield to propose a vote of thanks to Sir Leonard.

  Professor Richardson, A.R.A., to second and give a short description of the stand.

  Thanks to Mr. White on behalf of the bands by Mr. George Dallas, J.P. (President of the Northants Bands Association).

  Selections will be played by the various bands of the town at the close of the ceremony.