Injury and Insult

In reply to a letter from the Council, asking when steps were to be taken to carry out the promises of the Directors with regard to the Midland Railway Station at Rushden, the General Manager of the Company wrote that he would mention the matter to his Chairman when he was next at Derby. (Laughter.)

Mr. Ballard: That is almost adding insult to injury, after all this time, I think, Mr. Chairman.

Plans, &c., Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Water, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday, the 24th August, 1904, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall, F. Ballard, C. Bates, W. Bazeley, J. Claridge, G. Denton, J. Hornsby, G. H. Skinner, and F. Knight.

Plans

were presented by:-

Mr. W. J. Osbourne for a house on the Court Estate and passed subject to means of ventilation to bedroom without fireplace, being provided in accordance with Bye-law 58 and to cesspool being constructed to comply with Bye-law 89.

Mr. J. Hewitt for house and shop, stable and coach-house in Station-road and approved subject to the chimney in bedroom over shop being constructed in compliance with Bye-law 34 and the oriel bay window not projecting beyond the bay window of the adjoining property.

Mr. W. G. Willmott for villa residence on the Wellingborough-road and rejected for amended system of drainage to be shown.

Public Lighting

The Lighting Sub-committee were requested to make a tour of the town and report to the next meeting of the Committee as to places where additional public lamps were required.

Fire Report

The report of the Secretary to the Fire Brigade on the fire which occurred on the 11th instant at the premises of Messrs. Hyde and Co. in Glassbrook-road was received.

Sanitary Institute Congress

The Surveyor presented to the Committee a report on his visit to the Sanitary Institute Congress held at Glasgow in July 1904, which was ordered to be printed and circulated with the printed minutes of this meeting.

A vote of thanks was given to the Surveyor for his report.

Upper Queen-Street

The Committee appointed to make enquiries as to the owners of property abutting on this street reported that they had ascertained the names of the owners of all the plots except nine and it was resolved to recommend the Council to put into force the Private Street Works Act from a point 143 feet east of Cromwell-road to its junction with Lawton-road.

The Waterworks at Wymington

The Clerk was instructed to apply to Lady Wantage and Mr. Goosey for a continuance of the present agreements between them and the Council with regard to the water works at Wymington.

The Clerk reported that Mr. Goosey had written consenting, and Mr. Dickson was going to see him (the Clerk) on the subject on Lady Wantage’s behalf.

The report was adopted.

The New Council Offices

Another meeting of the Plans Committee was held prior to the Council meeting on Wednesday night, Mr. Clipson presiding, and all the other members being present, except Mr. Denton.

A letter was received from the Rector (the Rev. W. R. Morse) offering on behalf of himself and the churchwardens the sum of £500 for the purchase of the Vestry-hall in the event of the Council resolving to sell it.

The Committee resolved to recommend the Council to favourably consider the offer, providing they could obtain a suitable site in the vicinity on reasonable terms.

The Chairman moved the adoption of the report.

Mr. Mantle seconded, and the report was confirmed.

Public Lighting

The lighting sub-committee recommended various alterations in regard to street lamps in Park-road, Park-place, Portland-road, and other streets, and had resolved that the Surveyor obtain information as to the cost of fitting all the street lamps with incandescent burners.

The committee met again just before the Council meeting and were informed that the manager at the Gas-works would fit all the lamps with incandescent burners for 4/- per lamp, with an additional charge of 3/- per lamp for the renewal of mantles, making a total additional cost of 7s. per lamp. It was estimated that there would be a saving of 10/- per lamp per annum if the alteration were made, making a net saving of 3/- per lamp.

The Plans Committee, after considering the recommendation of the sub-committee, resolved to recommend the Council to accept the offer and to carry out the alteration throughout the town.

Mr. Swindall, in moving the adoption of the report, said that besides being a saving the alterations would give them a far better light.

Mr. Bates seconded the motion, which was carried.

Finance, &c., Committee

A meeting of the Finance, Estates, Cemetery, and Sanitary Committee was held at the Vestry Hall, on Wednesday, the 7th September, 1904, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall, J. Claridge, Geo. Denton, W. Bazeley, J. Hornsby, C. Bates, F. Knight, and W. H. Wilkins.

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 examined, from which it appeared that during the past month he had collected the following sums on the under-mentioned accounts:-

Collector’s Fittings Account

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

Treasurer’s Accounts

By the Treasurer’s account produced it appeared that during the past month the following sums had been paid to him by the undermentioned persons on the following accounts:-

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

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts were examined and passed for payment.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The Medical Officer reported that four cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz.: Three of scarlet fever and one of erysipelas, all of which were doing well.

The Sanitary Inspector informed the Committee that the case of erysipelas referred to was in Church-street and the cases of scarlet fever in Sartoris-road, West-street, and Washbrook-road respectively.

Duck Street Sewer

Messrs. Jaques and Clark attended the meeting with reference to the flooding of their property in Duck-street by the sewer overflowing at time of heavy rain.

The Committee promised to give the matter their consideration and a special sub-committee consisting of the chairman, vice-chairman, Mr. Claridge, and Mr. Wilkins was appointed to confer with the Surveyor as to what steps, if any could be taken to remedy the mischief.

Sanitary Cart

The Surveyor was instructed to obtain estimates for a new sanitary cart and was authorised to purchase same after conferring with the Chairman and Mr. Denton on the estimates received.

Cemetery

The provision of a plant-house for a caretaker was referred to the Cemetery Sub-Committee.

Stone-Throwing

The police reported two boys, Tom Robinson, aged 14, and Arthur Newell, aged 10, for throwing stones at the chestnut tree on the Green on August 29th, stating that considerable damage was done to the tree.

It was resolved to prosecute the boy Robinson for the offence.

The Clerk said the police had reported another boy named Frank Safford for a similar offence and the Committee had resolved to recommend the Council to prosecute, an amendment moved by Mr. Bazeley and seconded by Mr. Bates that the boy be brought before the Council being lost.

The Committee’s recommendation was adopted.

Game Licences

Applications for the renewal of their licences to sell game were received from Mr. G. Willmott and Mr. H. Moon, and the applications were acceded to.