ADOPTION OF THE LIGHTING ACT—Last (Thursday) evening a vestry meeting was held in the Parochial Schoolroom to consider the advisability of adopting the provisions of the Lighting Act in the parish.—This has long been desired by many, especially since the Wellingborough Gas Company have extended their mains to Irchester. Some twelvemonths ago a vestry meeting was called to consider the matter, but owing to the inconvenient hour at which it was held it was only attended by a select few, and these being chiefly farmers not residing in the immediate locality, a resolution was carried against the illumination of the village streets with gas. Since then nothing further has been done until the last week or two, when Mr. Thos. Smith, the way warden of the parish, and Mr. G. R. Turner revived the matter, and arranged for Thursday evening's meeting.—About 50 persons were present, and Mr. T. Smith was voted to the chair.—Mr. Willan Jackson (from the office of Messrs. Sharman and Jackson, Wellingborough) was present, and read the notice convening the vestry, and explained the objects of the meeting, and the proper course to be pursued.—The Chairman pointed out how well the parish was situated in being near to two railways, and he did not see why it should not in time be as well off as Rushden. His idea was that if a village was well lighted it would have the appearance of business being done there, and might induce other business men to settle there. From enquiries he had made he gathered they would require about 30 Lamps, 26 in the village, and four at Little Irchester, and he estimated the annual cost to the village at £15. To this must be added about £7 for payment to the person who lit the lamps, whilst the annual repairs, according to what was paid in other villages, he thought might be estimated at about £5 a year, and this would then bring the total annual cost to £27. A ¼d.rate on land and ¾d. rate on houses would raise £18, whilst a ½d. rate on land and 1½d. on houses would bring in £37 10s. He found there were 15 oil lamps belonging to the parish, which the Gas Company offered to fit up as gas lamps at 12s. a lamp, or a total of £9. They would also want 15 columns, which would cost about £43 2s. 6d., £2 7s. 6d. for each column. That would make a total of £61 10s. and with the annual expenditure would make a grand total of £88 10s. for the first year. — Mr. Letts having asked several questions, which the chairman answered, Mr. J. T. Ball proposed that the parish adopt the Lighting Act. — This was seconded by Mr. Letts, and carried unanimously. — Mr. Jackson then pointed out that the parish must appoint more than three and less than twelve inspectors to carry out the Act, and that no one could stand for that office unless he was rated at over £15. On the motion of Mr. Ball, seconded by Mr. J. Smith, the number of inspectors was fixed at six, and the following were appointed:— Messrs. E. Parsons, T. Smith, J. Ball, A. Ward, J. C. Eady, and C. Lucas. On the motion of Mr. Ball, seconded by Mr. G. E. Turner, the meeting decided to raise the sum of £90 for the first year.—Mr. E. Parsons moved, Mr. Letts seconded, a vote of thanks to the Chairman for the interest he had taken in the matter, and this was carried with acclamation; and at the instance of Mr. Slater, seconded by Mr. Letts, a similar compliment was paid to Mr. Turner. This closed business of the meeting and the inspectors present then decided to hold a special meeting on Thursday, March 13.

LIGHTING INSPECTORS—The Lighting Inspectors recently appointed under the new scheme for lighting Irchester by gas held a special meeting last Thursday evening. Mr. T. Smith took the chair, and there were also present—Messrs. E. Parsons, J. T. Ball, A, Ward, C. Lucas, and C. Matthews (clerk to Mr. Willan Jackson).—Mr. E. Parsons proposed, and Mr. A. Ward seconded, the appointment of Mr. T. Smith as chairman.This was unanimously carried.—It was decided to hold the ordinary meetings on the first Monday in the month at the Red Lion. —The Inspectors then formed themselves into a committee to go round the village to fix the number of lamps and places where they should be erected. It was agreed to have 23 lamps for the village and four for Little Irchester.