Hockey on Sunday
Free Church Council’s Complaint
The Recreation Ground
Shall There Be a Public Opening
Direct Labour v Public Tender

Wednesday, present Councillors C. Bates, J. P. (in the chair), J. S. Clipson (vice-chairman), W. Bazeley, John Spencer, T. Swindall, F. Knight, J.P., John Claridge, J.P., C.C., T. Wilmott, J. Hyde, and G. H. Skinner, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin, and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. J. Allen).

Plans Etc., Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 23rd July, 1913, when there were present:- Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), J. S. Clipson, J. Claridge, J. Hyde, F. Knight, J. Spencer, and T. Wilmott.

Plans

were presented by:-

Mr. John Clark for three barns at the rear of No. 73, 81, and 83, Duck-street, and passed.

Mr. W. B. Sanders for leather storeroom near his factory in Spencer-road and passed, subject to the gable end wall being in brickwork instead of corrugated iron and wood, and the drainage arrangements being carried out to the satisfaction of the Surveyor.

Mr. W. Macdonald for house in Robinson-road and passed.

Mrs. Scott for house on the Court Estate and passed, subject to the drainage arrangements being made to the satisfaction of the Surveyor, and the fire-place opening complying with Bye-law 40.

Mr. W. P. Orrell for house on the Newton-road and passed.

Mr. C. W. Barker for open shed at the rear of No. 45, High-street, and no exception taken.

The Surveyor reported that Mr. C. E. Young had allowed the bungalow, the plan for which was provisionally passed on the 18th May, 1909, to be occupied without first having obtained a certificate of completion; the drains were in a shocking state. It was resolved to recommend the Council to institute proceedings against Mr. Young for letting the house without having satisfactorily completed the drainage thereto or having obtained from the proper officer of the Council a certificate that in his opinion the house is in every respect fit for human habitation.

Public Lighting

It was resolved to commence full street lighting for the winter season on Saturday, the 16th August next.

Dangerous Corners

A letter was received from the County Surveyor stating that the Road Board had requested the County Council to submit a full detailed scheme for widening the whole of the dangerous corners in the county, both on main and district roads, and had sanctioned the appointment by the County Council of a temporary assistant for the work. The letter also stated that it was the intention of the Board to deal with a certain number of corners in the county each year, and the Board had intimated that they would make a grant for the purpose, but assumed that where it was necessary to acquire land for widening the land would either be given or paid for locally. The letter further stated that the assistant appointed (Mr. W. Maughan), would be glad of the co-operation of the Surveyor in preparing the necessary details for any dangerous corners in this district and if the Council agreed would make an appointment with him to discuss the matter.

The Surveyor was instructed to make an appointment with the County Assistant and discuss the matter with him and provisionally decide which of the corners in this district should be included in the scheme. The provisional list to be submitted to the Council for approval before being so included.

Washbrook-Road Bridge

The Surveyor reported that the work of widening this bridge on the Recreation Ground side had now been completed to his entire satisfaction.

Rectory-Road

The Surveyor was instructed to proceed with the work of making up this road under the Private Street Works Act 1892, by direct labour.

It was resolved to substitute concrete kerbing for the cast iron specified.

Mr. Swindall, with regard to the Rectory-road, moved that the work be done, not by direct labour, but by public contract. In many cases, he said, where public improvements were being effected, he agreed that direct labour was the best course, but in this case they were spending public money and he thought they ought to get the best value possible. He thought this was a case in which the work should be tendered for.

Mr. Wilmott seconded.

Mr. Spencer, supported the committee’s recommendation, said that the cost of the Surveyor’s direct work had never given dissatisfaction.

Five members voted each way, and the Chairman gave his casting vote for direct labour, which was carried.

The rest of the report was carried.

Recreation Ground Committee

A meeting of the Recreation Ground committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 23rd July, 1913, when there were present:- Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), C. Bates, J. S. Clipson, J. Claridge, L. Perkins, J. Spencer, and T. Wilmott.

Fencing and Gates

Tenders were received for the fencing and gates required on the Washbrook-road side of the ground and it was resolved that the tender of Messrs. Bayliss, Jones, and Bayliss, of Wolverhampton, be accepted as follows:-

About 530 feet of wrought iron unclimbable fencing 4ft 6ins high at 6s 10d per yard.

Two wrought iron gates at £4 6s 0d each.

Two wrought iron entrance gates and one side gate, £24 15s 0d.

Football Pitches

Mr. Perkins and the Surveyor were requested to stump out the ground showing the football pitches available, and the Surveyor was instructed to post a notice on the Board outside the Council Buildings requesting applicants to meet the Committee on the ground on a date to be fixed by the Chairman, with a view to allotting same.

The report was adopted.

Opening The Recreation Ground

Mr. Bazeley: It has been asked me by a good many people whether the Council intend having a public opening of the Recreation Ground. I promised to raise the question at this meeting. I have not heard that the committee have discussed this in any way. I am of opinion that there should be a public opening by the Council. The ground is a great boon, and is much appreciated at the present time. I think that if the Recreation Ground Committee get regulations completed and the other part of the work pushed forward, it would be an opportune time for a public opening of the Recreation Ground on Feast Monday, and the Chairman and the Recreation Ground Committee should be in attendance and give the regulations to the public. I think we should ask the residents to use the recreation ground in a proper manner and to assist the Council in this way. It would be a very good thing to have a public opening ceremony on Feast Monday if it could be completed by then.

Mr. Knight: I am sure the Recreation Ground Committee will take the matter into serious consideration, especially as it is the wish of a great number of inhabitants that it should take place. So far as the consideration of the question is concerned, it has not been considered. We do not consider the ground complete until the fencing is in a complete state. Mr. Bazeley said there are a large number of people who wish for a public opening, and the committee will take it into consideration at the right time.

The Chairman: I can bear Mr. Bazeley out. I think it is only right that we should have a public opening of the Recreation Ground.

Mr. Claridge: I agree, but I think it rather late in the day to do it. I have mentioned it to the committee, but they seemed rather indifferent about it. I think there ought to have been some public opening ceremony but it should have been before it was thrown open to the public. I am not going to object to the opening ceremony. I think we should have a formal opening.

Mr. Bazeley: I think it can be done when the fencing is completed.

Mr. Swindall: Can it be done by the Feast Monday?

The Surveyor: The difficulty is in getting the iron work. We cannot hurry the manufacturers.

The matter was referred to the Recreation Ground Committee.

Finance and Estates Committee

A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Tuesday, the 29th July, 1913, at 10 a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), J. Claridge, F. Knight, T. Swindall, and the Ven. A. Kitchin.

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 Committee examined the Collector’s accounts, from which it appeared that the following sums had been collected since the last meeting:-

The Treasurer’s accounts were also examined from which it appeared that he had received the following sums since the last meeting:-

	£	s	d
Collector, District rate	893	14	10
Collector, fittings	25	16	3
Collector, burial fees	5	9	6
Collector, Green tolls	1	15	10
N.U. Bank, Int. on Loan 19	4	16	0
County Council, main roads	255	0	0
Free Library, fees, fines, etc	1	5	10
Total	1187	18	3

And that the following balances were in hand:-

A number of accounts, amounting to £1,318/12/5 were examined and passed for payment.

Surveyor’s Staff

It was resolved to recommend the Council to increase Mr. L. Penness’s salary by 2/6 per week, dating from the 1st August next.

Recreation Ground

It was also resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Clerk to apply to the Local Government Board for sanction to a loan of £500 to complete the works at the Recreation Ground.

The report was adopted.

Plans, Etc., Committee

A special meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 30th July, 1913, when there were present:- Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), J. S. Clipson, J. Claridge, J. Hyde, J Spencer, and T. Wilmott.

Plans for New Buildings

The plan presented at the last meeting by Mr. W. B. Sanders for a leather store adjoining his factory in Spencer-road was re-considered, and the Committee decided to recommend the Council to take no exception to the gable-end wall being constructed of corrugated iron and wood, in accordance with the plan originally presented.

A plan was presented by the Co-operative Wholesale Society for a new engine room to their factory in Portland-road and passed.

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 30th July, 1913, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), C. Bates, W. Bazeley, L. Perkins, G. H. Skinner, T. Swindall, and the Ven. A. Kitchin. Dr. Baker was also in attendance.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The Medical Officer reported that five cases of infections decease had been notified since the last meeting, viz., three of scarlet fever, one of diphtheria, and one of tuberculosis.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that, during the month of July, 34 preliminary notices had been issued, calling attention to nuisances, etc., which were receiving attention.

Three lots of bedding had been destroyed since the last meeting, after deaths from consumption. It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace the bedding in two of the cases at a cost not exceeding £2.

The Inspector gave a detailed statement of his work during the past month.

Petroleum Acts

An application was received from Mr. Charles Bennett for a licence to store and sell petrol, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto.

Common Lodging House

An application was also received from Mr. Josiah Brown for the house numbered 57, High-street South, to be registered as a common lodging house and for himself to be registered as the keeper thereof.

The Medical Officer was requested to make an inspection of the house and report as to its fitness to the next meeting of this Committee.

Isolation Hospital

A letter was received from the Local Government Board with reference to the prevalence of scarlet fever and diphtheria during 1912 and previous years, and enquiring whether the District Council had recently had under consideration the question of Isolation Hospital accommodation for their district either by themselves or in combination with a neighbouring local authority, and, if not, requesting the Council to take the matter into consideration at an early date and inform the Board of the result.

The Clerk was instructed to reply that a conference of the local authorities in the district was held at Higham Ferrers a few years since, summoned at the instance of the Health Committee of the County Council, when the matter was fully discussed, but the Local Authorities were unable to come to any decision in favour of providing a hospital jointly. The matter had not been seriously considered since that date, and this Council would be quite prepared to attend a further conference with a view, if possible, of agreeing upon some joint scheme. The Committee did not think that this Council could at the present time undertake the provision of an isolation hospital for their own district and were advised that the cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria were not more numerous in this district than in districts of similar character in the neighbourhood where isolation hospitals were provided.

Disinfecting Apparatus

The same letter enquired whether the Council had considered the question of providing suitable disinfecting apparatus for their district, and, if so, with what result.

The Committee thought it might be desirable if some steps were taken in this direction, and the Surveyor was instructed to submit a specification and estimate to the next meeting of the committee, and the Clerk was instructed to write to the Local Government Board to this effect.

New Sewage Works

Manager’s Cottage. – The Committee had a proposal before them which had previously been mentioned to the Plans Committee and also to the Finance Committee for substituting a site on the Wellingborough-road near the entrance to the works for that on the Kimbolton-road as proposed in the original scheme, and the Clerk was authorised to negotiate for the purchase of a plot of land for this purpose.

Tenders for the cottage were opened, but referred back for the Surveyor to make the necessary modifications in the building consequent upon the change of sites.

Motive Power for Ejector Plant. – A Sub-committee consisting of Mr. Bates, Mr. Clipson, and the Surveyor was appointed to consider as to the best and most economical power for the ejector plant and report to the next meeting.

The report was adopted.

Consumpton Hospital

Mr. Spencer asked if any further communication had been received from the County Council with regard to the use of the infections diseases hospital on the Bedford-road for the accommodation of consumptives.

The Clerk: I have heard nothing officially.

Mr. Claridge said the scheme was not yet completed.

Sunday Hockey

A letter was received from the Secretary of the Rushden Free Church Council asking for the Urban Council’s support and aid in putting a stop to the youths who frequented Cromwell-road and Upper Queen-street for the purpose of playing hockey on Sundays. The letter stated that the inhabitants of the district had expressed themselves strongly against the habit, not only because it spoiled the peace and harmony of their day of rest but also because it was a source of great annoyance to those who lived in the neighbourhood.

The Clerk said that if the youths played hockey in the streets it was a matter for the police, but if it was on private land the police had no power to interfere.

Mr. Bazeley: Any more than they could stop gentlemen playing golf on Sundays. (Laughter.)

Mr. Claridge: The owner of the land would be the person to approach.

Mr. Knight said he did not think the peace of the Sunday should be broken, but, as there was no authority except with regard to the highway, they could do nothing.

No action was taken.