A meeting of this Council was held at the Council Chamber on Wednesday night, when there were present: Messrs. F. Ballard (chairman), J. Paragreen, F. Knight, J. Claridge, G. Miller, G. H. Skinner, C. E. Bayes, J. S. Clipson, T. Swindall, C. Bates, and A. J. Dobbs, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. H. Hunter.)

A Happy New Year

  The Chairman said, though somewhat late in the day, he wished them one and all a very happy new year.  He trusted that the year upon which they had entered would be happy and prosperous, both for the town and the Council.  (Hear, hear.)

Plans, &c., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 1^st January, 1908, when there were present:- Messrs. F. Ballard (in the chair), W. Bazeley, C. E. Bayes, J. S. Clipson, A. J. Dobbs, F. Knight, and G. Miller.

  The County Council for an amended drainage scheme for the new North-end schools and approved.  The Committee also agreed to recommend the Council to extend the storm water drain in the Hayway about 25 yards towards the new schools at an estimated cost of £7.

  Mr. H. W. Chapman for additions to his box factory in Cromwell-road and passed.

  Mr. Joseph Harrison for house on the Wellingborough-road and passed subject to evidence as to party wall being produced to the Surveyor.

  Messrs. Jaques and Clark for new engine-house and store-room to their factory in Station-road and passed.

  Messrs. Okins and Thompson for workshop (corrugated iron building) off Coffee Tavern lane and passed.

  Mr. Charles Sanders’ Executors for corrugated iron shed covering the gas plant at their currying works in Duck-street and passed.

High Street South Improvement

  A letter was received from the Local Government Board with regard to the enquiry recently held in connection with the application for sanction to a loan for this improvement, pointing out that the surplus land should either be sold or laid out as a pleasure ground, and in the latter case, intimating that the Board would be prepared to sanction a loan for the purpose.

  It was resolved that the Clerk be instructed to reply that the Council did not propose to sell the land in question, and would in due course lay the same out as a small pleasure ground;  they did not, however, contemplate a loan for this purpose, but would make provision for the cost in next year’s estimates.

Old Fire Engine

  A letter was received from the Secretary to the Yardley Hastings Fire Brigade enquiring if the old fire engine was for sale, and also the price.    The letter was referred to the Fire Brigade Sub-committee to consider the report.

Main Roads

  The Surveyor reported that he had received a request from the County Surveyor for an estimate of the annual cost of the maintenance of the main roads for a term of three years from the 31^st March next.    The Surveyor was instructed to furnish the estimate required.

Mile Stones

  A letter was received from the County Surveyor authorising the erection of three mile stones on the Kettering and Bedford main roads.

Street Numbering

  The Surveyor submitted samples of numbers, from which the Committee made a selection, and he was instructed to purchase sufficient for the houses at present unnumbered.  The Surveyor estimated that about 600 would be required, the price of the numbers being 11s.  6d. per 100.

Wentworth Road

  The Surveyor reported that this road had now been completed in accordance with the specification approved by the Council, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to forthwith declare the same a public highway repairable by the inhabitants at large.  The report was adopted.

Finance Committee

  A meeting of the Finance Committee was held at the Council Buildings, on Wednesday, the 8^th January, 1908, at 10 a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. F. Ballard (chairman), W. Bazeley, J. Claridge, and Geo. Miller.

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 Account

  The Collector’s District rate account was examined from which it appeared that he had collected the following sum since the last meeting:-

Collector’s Fittings Accounts

  The Committee also examined the Collector’s fittings account, from which it appeared that during the past month he had collected the following sums:-

Cemetery Registrar’s Account

  The Cemetery Registrar’s account was also examined, from which it appeared that he had received the following sum since the last meeting:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

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

  And that the balances on the under-mentioned accounts were as follows:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts were examined and passed for payment.

Memorandum of General District Rate

  The Collector submitted the following memorandum of general district rate made on the 10^th day of July, 1907:-

  A list of the irrecoverable amounts was also submitted by the Collector and ordered to be written off.

  The report was adopted.

Estates, Cemetery and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Estates, Cemetery, and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 8^th January, 1908, when there were present:-  Messrs. W. Bazeley (chairman), C. Bates, J. Claridge, J. Paragreen, and G. H. Skinner.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The Medical Officer, in his monthly report, stated that no case of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, and that everything was in a very satisfactory condition.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that with one exception all the Council Orders as to drainage had been complied with.  Mr. James Sargent had as yet taken no steps to comply, and it was resolved that the Clerk be instructed to write to him stating that if the work was not commenced by the next meeting proceedings would be taken.

  The Inspector also reported a nuisance at No. 23, Harborough Road, caused by defective drainage, and it was resolved to serve the owner with a notice requiring him to abate the nuisance forthwith.

  The Inspector was instructed to have printed about 100 cards containing suitable precautions to be observed and carried out with regard to consumption and exhibit same in the public places and factories of the town.

  One application was received to register as a Dairyman and acceded to.

  The Inspector submitted his usual detailed statement of work done, Notices served, and complaints investigated during the month.

Pig Slaughtering

  The Sanitary Inspector drew the attention of the Committee to the fact that pigs were still being killed in other places than registered slaughter-houses.  It was explained that there was no difficulty in arranging with the local butchers for the pigs to be killed in their registered slaughter-houses at a reasonable fee.

  The Committee agreed that this course must be insisted upon, and instructed the Inspector to report any further cases coming to his attention, with a view to proceedings being taken before the Magistrates.

Slaughter-House Licences

  Applications for renewals of their slaughter-house licences were received from Messrs. T. A Knight, E. Hollis, and E. Warren, and granted.

Petroleum Acts

  The Inspector reported that he had made several inspections under this Act during the month.  Applications for licences to store and sell petrol and carbide of calcium would be made to the Council at their next meeting.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to make a charge of 2s.  0d. for each licence taken out.

Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907

  The Clerk submitted a circular from the Local Government Board calling attention to the provisions of this Act.

  It was resolved to defer the consideration of this matter until the next meeting, and the Clerk was instructed in the meantime to obtain copies of the Act and Circular and supply to the members.

  The report was adopted.

Licences

  Licences to store petroleum were granted to Messrs. G. Miller, High-street; G. W. Bates, Church-street; G. Denton, jun. (trading as the Lightstrung Cycle Co.), Church-street; A. Okins and A. Thompson, High-street.

  Licences to store carbide were granted to Messrs. Okins and Thompson, G. Miller, G. Denton, jun., G W. Bates, Woodman and Co. (Church Parade), and Chamberlain (18 Glassbrook-road).

Main Roads

  The Chairman said that some time ago a deputation was appointed by the Council to attend a conference at Wellingborough respecting the main roads.  All the delegates attended and they had a very satisfactory conference.  He saw that another conference was held last week, and he had no doubt the main roads would be left in the hands of the Urban Councils to carry on as heretofore.

Health Visitor in Residence

  The Chairman said the Council might like to know that the lady appointed as health visitor in connection with the County Council had started her work in Rushden.