The Recent Fatality
Proposed Asphalting Of Hayway
The Public Health

  The Council met on Wednesday evening in the Council Chamber, Rushden.  Mr. W. Bazeley, J.P., presided, and there were also present Messrs. G. H. Skinner (vice-chairman), G. Miller, C.C., J. Claridge, C.C., J.P., F. Knight, J.P., T. Swindall, J. S. Clipson, C. E. Bayes, J. Paragreen, C. Bates, A. J. Dobbs, G. S. Mason (clerk), and W. B. Madin (surveyor).

The Recent Fatal Accident

  Mr. Bates asked if anything had been done with regard to the Coroner’s letter as to the dangerous corner at the bottom of Fitzwilliam-street.

  The Chairman said the matter was being considered by the sub-committee.

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday the 26^th August, 1908, when there were present:- Messrs. W. Bazeley (chairman), G. H. Skinner, A. J. Dobbs, J. Claridge, J. S. Clipson, F. Knight, and T. Swindall.

Plans

were presented by:-

  Mr. H. Meadows for coal shed at the rear of his house on the Irchester-road and no exception taken.

  Mr. A. Austin for corrugated iron building at the rear of No. 19  Moor-road and adjourned until the next meeting of the Committee.

  Mr. J. Northern for addition to his premises in Church-street and passed subject to the drainage arrangements being found to be to the satisfaction of the Surveyor and the outside walls being constructed of 9” brickwork.

Lighting Sub-Committee

  The Lighting Sub-Committee reported that they had met and decided to recommend that two additional lamps be placed in the Hayway and one at the bottom of Carnegie-street providing the mains are laid to that point.  They also recommended that the lamp near the late Mr. Sanders’ house on the Higham-road be removed a little farther up the road and that an additional lamp be placed between that and the one near the football ground.

  The Committee approved and resolved to recommend the Council accordingly.

Hayway

  The Committee had before them a letter from Mr. E. Claridge asking that an asphalt footpath might be made along this road.

  The matter was referred to a special meeting of this Committee to be held at 6.45 on Wednesday the 9^th September next.

Main Roads

  The annual report of the County Surveyor was received.  The following is an extract from the report so far as the roads in the Urban District of Rushden are concerned:-

  “The roads in this district continue to be maintained in a high state of efficiency and their excellent condition reflects great credit upon the Surveyor.”

  Kettering and Higham Ferrers Road:-  3 m. 5¼ f.  “In very good order throughout.”

  Wellingborough and Kimbolton Road:-  1 m. 5½ f. “In excellent condition.  One of the best roads in the county.”

  The Committee congratulated the Surveyor on the very satisfactory nature of the report.

  The report was adopted.

Finance And Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 2^nd September, 1908, at 10 a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. W. Bazeley (chairman) and J. Claridge.

  A number of accounts were examined and passed for payment.    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 2^nd September, 1908, at 7 p.m. when there were present:- Messrs. W. Bazeley (in the chair), C. E. Bayes, C. Bates, G. Miller, and J. Paragreen.

Health And Sanitary Reports

  The Medical Officer reported that nine cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, seven of scarlet fever and two of erysipelas.  All the scarlet fever cases had been those of adults working in the factories.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the month of August 12 notices had been served requiring the abatement of nuisances and of this number seven had been complied with and the remainder were under consideration  Two drains from Rushden Hall discharging into the brook had been discovered, one of the drains carrying off soap suds.  The Inspector had communicated with the owners but at present nothing had been done in the way of disconnecting the drains in question.  The Committee felt that after the great trouble which had been taken in getting all house drains disconnected from the brook so that the water course might flow unpolluted it was very desirable that these drains should be also disconnected and the Inspector was instructed to further communicate with the owners with a view to this being done.  The Inspector further reported that on opening up the ground in Elm-street to connect a new drain about to be laid from Kilburn-place with the sewer he found the latter constructed with clay joints and in his opinion not suitable for the reception of the additional drainage proposed.  The Committee considered that the new drain should be taken into the main sewer on the Higham-road and instructed the Inspector to inform the owner that this must be done, the Council undertaking to make the connection and to bring the drain up from the sewer to the boundary.

  The Inspector informed the Committee that 27 lists had been received from employers containing the names of 354 outworkers and that the premises occupied by these latter were being inspected.

Veterinary Inspector’s Report

  Mr. Bainbridge reported that he inspected the milk cows in the district on August 27^th, 28^th, 29^th, and 31^st.  He visited 28 premises belonging to 26 cowkeepers and inspected 257 milk cows making special examination of their udders and throats.  On the whole he had found the cows healthy and in good condition and the committee considered the report a satisfactory one.

Drain Testing Machine

  The question of purchasing a drain testing machine, adjourned from the last meeting, was again considered.  The Committee were satisfied that the purchase of a machine would be a saving of expense and that the work more efficiently done than at present and unanimously resolved to recommend the Council to authorise the purchase of one at an estimated cost of £6 it being understood that the machine would be for the joint use of the Sanitary Inspector’s and the Surveyor’s department.

Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907

  The Clerk submitted a letter from the Local Government Board forwarding copies of an order which they had issued declaring Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 (except Section 67) of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1907 to be in force in the Urban District of Rushden subject to the conditions and adaptations specified in the order.  The Clerk explained that it would be necessary to advertise the order in a local paper and also publish a statement of the effect of the order in the London Gazette and was instructed to take the necessary steps for this purpose.

Queen’s Terrace

  A letter was received on behalf of the tenants living in Queen’s-terrace calling attention to the nuisance caused by Messrs. W. Green and Son’s new gas engine.  The Clerk explained to the Committee that they had no power to deal with the nuisance of this nature but the Committee thought that if Messrs. Green’s attention were called to the complaint they would take some steps to lessen the noise and the Clerk was instructed to communicate with them on the subject.

  The report was adopted.

House Connections

  Mr. Dobbs asked the chairman of the Sanitary Committee how much house property there was in Rushden at the present time not connected with the sewer.  A week ago the previous Friday night, about eight o’clock, the smell in one part of Duck-street was something awful, caused by people emptying closets.  If the houses were not yet connected they ought to be connected at once.

  The Chairman said the matter was now in hand.

  Mr. Dobbs:  It is time it was.

  The Chairman:  The Sanitary Inspector has made a report on the matter.

Plans And Highways Committee

  The Chairman said that a special meeting of this committee had been held that night prior to the Council meeting.

  The minutes of the meeting showed that there were present Messrs. Bazeley (chairman), Claridge, Clipson, Knight, and Swindall.

  With regard to the recent fatal accident at the bottom of Fitzwilliam-street it was reported that negotiations were in progress, with the sanction of the owners of the land at the bottom of Fitzwilliam-street, but the committee were not yet in a position to submit a definite report.  They would further consider the matter and report to a future meeting.

  With reference to the letter from Mr. E. Claridge, asking that an asphalt footpath might be made along Hayway, the Surveyor reported that he had inspected the footpath and found it to be over 700 yards in length.  The tar would cost about £40.  In the absence of any provision in the estimates for the present year, the committee reported that they were unable to recommend the Council to do the work this year, but they were of opinion that the matter should be considered in the estimates next year.

  It was reported that Mr. Young had allowed a house on the Court Estate to be occupied before a certificate had been obtained.  The committee resolved to recommend the Council to institute proceedings against Mr. Young if the certificate is not obtained by Saturday next.

  The Surveyor said he had called Mr. Young’s attention several times to the fact that the certificate of fitness for habitation had not been procured.  The house had been built about a year.  A man had bought a bungalow, which was not yet complete, and meantime he was living in the back part of this house.

  The minutes were adopted.

Cheques

were signed for several bills.

Wages

  Mr. Skinner said it was a long time since they as a Council had a list of the men’s wages before them, and it was time another list was prepared.  He saw there was an item of £50 for wages.  It seemed a lot of money.

  Mr. Claridge said the wages were lower than they used to be.  The £50 was for five weeks.

  The Chairman said that probably Mr. Skinner would like to know what each man employed by the Council was receiving.  Every member of the Council was entitled to know that.  There was a list, which could be inspected at any time by the members of the Council.

Certificate

  Messrs. John Cave and Sons, Ltd., applied for a certificate that their factory in College-street was provided with adequate means of exit in case of fire.

  The Surveyor’s report having been read and considered quite satisfactory, the certificate was granted.

Licences

  Mr. J. Bugby and Mr. G. Willmott applied for the renewal of their game licences.

  This was granted.