This morning, at the Council Buildings, Rushden, an inquiry was held by Mr. H. Shelford Bidwell, M.Inst.C.E., Local Government Board Inspector, into the application by the Rushden Urban Council for sanction to borrow £12,300 for purposes of sewage disposal and £2,500 for the provision of a recreation ground in Washbrook-road.

  Among those present were Messrs. G. Miller (chairman), J. Claridge, W. Bazeley, and J. S. Clipson (members of the Urban Council), G. S. Mason (clerk), W. B. Madin (surveyor), F. H. Morris (Medical Officer), F. J. Allen (Sanitary Inspector), T. C. Clark, H. Adnitt, G. Selwood, and others.

  Mr. Mason, giving particulars relating to the district, said that the area was 3,775 acres.  The population in 1901 was 12,447, and in 1911 it was 13,354.  The increase since the last census had been very small – no more than 50.  The

Rateable Value

of the district was £35,395/14/1.  The Council asked for the longest periods of repayment allowed by the Local Government Board – 60 years for the land, 30 years for part of the works, and 15 years for the machinery.  The district rate was 5/- for the year and the poor rate 3/6.  A rate of a penny in the £ realised about £120.  He submitted a draft of the provisional agreement with Mr. John Clark for the purchase of 7½ acres of land for £928/2/6.

  The Surveyor gave information regarding the water supply and the present sewage works, and described the proposed new works, which were, he said, designed for a population of £14,000.

  The Inspector remarked that the use of 10.10 gallons of water per head of the population per day was very small, but perhaps it was not used much for trade purposes?

  Mr. Claridge: No, it is not used much in the shoe trade.  It is not because we have not

Plenty of Water.

  The Inspector: With regard to population, what are the probabilities?

  The Surveyor: Well, to judge by the past ten years, the number to be provided for by the works would not be reached for ten years, and I have provided for a sewage flow of 30 gallons per head as against 15 gallons actual.

  The Inspector: I take it that the work of construction will be let to contract?

  The Surveyor: Oh, yes.

  The Inspector: Is there any opposition to this application?

  Mr. Miller: We have not heard of any, Sir.

  The Inspector: Very well, I only wished to give anyone an opportunity of saying anything on the subject.

  The Clerk then set before the Inspector the application regarding the recreation ground.  He said there was no recreation ground in the town and it had been felt that such a ground was not only desirable but actually necessary.  At the Diamond Jubilee an effort was unsuccessfully made to provide a ground, and at the Coronation the Council was requested by a town’s meeting to take steps themselves.  Attempts were made by voluntary contribution but were unsuccessful and the Council

Took The Matter In Hand.

  The present application was the result and the only subject on which the Council was divided was regarding the purchase of the frontage.  The necessary provisional agreements had been entered into, the purchase price of the land being about 2/6 a yard.

  The Surveyor then gave particulars as to the way the land would be laid out, etc.

  The Inspector: Anyone wish to say anything?

  Mr. Claridge wished to support the application.  He went round with Mr. Selwood to try and get voluntary contributions, but people seemed to feel that a ground should be provided out of the rates.

  The Inspector: Is it a suitable site?

  Mr. Claridge: I think so, and at a very reasonable rate.  There was a difference of opinion with regard to the frontage, but I think the town will agree that we are

Doing The Right Thing.

  Mr. Bazeley, as one of the minority on the question of the frontage, said he did not think they were justified in paying six times as much after the rate for the frontage as for the back land.  He did not think it would be detrimental to the recreation ground to build in front of it.  If they had £500 to spare, he thought it would be better spent on an open-air swimming bath.  At the same time he would not do anything to jeopardise the provision of the ground.

  Mr. Miller, supporting the Council’s application, said the committee felt that for several reasons it would be a great advantage to acquire the frontage.

  No other remarks were made, and the Inspector proceeded to view the sites.