At a meeting of this Council on Wednesday night, there were present Messrs. Fred Knight (chairman), G. Denton (vice-chairman), T. Swindall, W. H. Wilkins, J. Claridge, G. H. Skinner, B. Mortimer, G. Miller, J. S. Clipson, G. Fountain, and J. Spencer, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Medical Officer (Dr. Owen), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. J. B. Martin).

The Town Water Supply

A meeting of the Waterworks Committee was held on Wednesday, 13th September, 1899. Present:- Mr. Fred Knight (chairman), Messrs. G. Denton, P. Cave, J. Claridge, J. S. Clipson, G. Fountain, G. Miller, G. H. Skinner, J. Spencer, T. Swindall, and W. H. Wilkins.

Bedford-Road Well. – The Chairman reported that the pumping operations had commenced and the present daily yield of water was found to be between 15 and 20 thousand gallons.

Mr. Eunson advised a test of a fortnights pumping night and day.

The Inspector was instructed to take samples of the water to the Medical Officer for testing as to quality.

A meeting of the Plans, Highways and Lighting Committee was held on Wednesday 20th Sept. Present:- Mr. Fred Knight (chairman), Messrs. P. Cave, W. H. Wilkins, J. Claridge, B. Mortimer, J. S. Clipson, and T. Swindall.

The report was adopted.

Plans

Plans were presented by,

Mr. B. Mortimer for three barns at rear of his cottages in Harborough Road and passed.

Mr. E. Claridge for engine house to his factory in Rectory Road and passed.

Mr. C. Horrell for additions to factory in Moor Road and passed subject to the Surveyor being satisfied that window openings comply with Bye Law 22.

Mr. C. Horrell for iron building to be used as a store shed at the rear of his factory and passed.

Mr. B. Ladds for additions to factory in Moor Road and passed subject to the bay windows being set back in a line with the adjoining bay windows, a new wall 18 inches thick at its base being provided independent of the wall of the adjoining cottage and the window openings complying with Bye Law 22. The Surveyor was instructed to apply for a correct block plan.

Highways

Footpath near the Oakley Inn. The committee visited this site and agreed to recommend that the footpath be continued at the same width as the existing path on the Wellingborough Road in a line to be set out by the Surveyor. The owner to remove the sign post and make good the surface of the ground between the present building and the footpath.

Lighting

Public Lighting. – The Committee also agreed to recommend the erection of two additional lamps, one in the Washbrook-road opposite Pychley-road, and the other at the junction of the Pychley and Oakley-roads.

The report was adopted.

A meeting of the Finance, Cemetery, and Sanitary Committee was held on Wednesday, 27th September. Present:- Mr. Fred Knight (chairman), Messrs. G. Denton, J. Spencer, G. Miller, G. Fountain, and G. H. Skinner.

Finance

Accounts. – A number of accounts were examined by the Committee and passed for payment.

Waterworks. – Claims for compensation:-

Co-operative Society. – A letter was received from the Co-operative Society agreeing to accept £2 10s as compensation in respect of their field at Wymington up to 29th September on the understanding that a similar sum be paid yearly so long as the Council use the field in question.

Mr. Goosey. – A claim of £3 was also made by Mr. Goosey in respect of his field. The Clerk was instructed to draw Mr. Goosey’s attention to Mr. Bearn’s award when acting for him last year which cleared all claims to 29th September, 1899.

Public Clocks. – Mr. Fisher attended the meeting with regard to his remuneration for winding the Church Clock and those at Vestry Hall. He is at present paid £4 7s 6d and the committee resolved to recommend that this be increased to £6.

Oakpits. – The Clerk was instructed to again communicate with Mr. Thompson with regard to this rent.

Sanitary

Crops at Sewage Farm. – The farm committee reported that they had received tenders for the crops and had sold them as follows:-

	Mangolds to Mr. W. W. Smith at £22 per acre.
	Carrots to Mr. S. T. Griggs at £3 10s the crop.
	Celery to Mr. S. T. Griggs at £6 the crop.
	Brussels to Mr. S. T. Griggs at £7 10s the crop

Duck Street. – The Surveyor reported he had inspected the premises where the flooding recently occurred. When the sewer in Duck-street becomes surcharged by storm water the house drains in the yard are also choked and act as an outlet for the sewage and the storm water which floods both yard and house.

The gulley in the roadway close by is connected with the brook and when the water in the brook rises during a storm this outlet is also choked and tends to increase the flooding in the locality.

He suggested putting in a 9 inch relief pipe from the brickwork over the above gulley to as near the crown of the arch of the brook culvert as possible and to lay 6 inch pipes from the yard complained of into this relief pipe at an estimated cost of £3.

The Committee recommended that the surveyor’s suggestion be adopted.

The report was adopted.

The Water Supply

A meeting of the Waterworks Committee was held on Monday, Oct. 2, 1899. Present:- Mr. Fred Knight (chairman), Messrs. G. Denton, J. Claridge, T. Swindall, B. Mortimer, and W. H. Wilkins.

Bedford-road Well. – The Surveyor reported that as the result of 240 hours continuous pumping from this well the daily yield of water had gradually diminished to 9000 gallons per day, which he and Mr. Eunson considered might be taken as the normal yield. A tender from Messrs. Timmins and Co. for enlarging and relining the well 6ft in diameter and for driving headings was submitted by Mr. Eunson, but it was considered desirable before entertaining the idea of additional expense that Mr. Eunson should further consider the matter in conjunction with a thoroughly competent geologist and report both on this well and on the question of water supply generally. Mr. Eunson suggested Mr. Whitaker, late chief of the Ordnance Geological Department for this district as an expert likely to give reliable and valuable advice, and he was authorized to communicate with him as to his fee for such conference and report, and communicate the result to the Chairman, who was authorised to accept the terms on behalf of the Council if, in his opinion, they were reasonable.

Water mains, Shirley Park Estate. – The Surveyor was instructed to continue the mains on this estate as far as the houses in course of erection by Mr. J. Jones.

The report was adopted, on the motion of the Chairman.

Outbreak of Fever

The Medical Officer reported that two cases of typhoid fever had occurred in Pightles-terrace. He could only account for this by sewer gas getting into the living-room. This might occur through the absence of a constant water supply, the gas getting into the supply pipe from the siphon in the W.C., the cistern of which was only 7 feet from the tap for the supply of drinking-water. The water-closet was badly ventilated and the pipes passed under the living-room. There had also been several cases of scarlet-fever in which the usual precautions had been taken.

Mr. Wilkins said the doctor’s report seemed to suggest that w.c’s inside houses ought to be abolished.

Dr. Owen said there was no doubt it was the safest to have the w.c. at such a distance from the house that a current of air passed between the two.

The Surveyor contended that it was a mistake to think that sewer gas could enter a house in the way suggested by the Medical Officer.

The report was referred to the Sanitary Committee.

Several Scarlet Fever Cases

were reported on by the Sanitary Inspector who said he was afraid that occasionally a case occurred which was not known to anyone outside friends of the family, a doctor not being called in.

The Council as a Building Society

The Clerk said a letter, too long to read or understand at once, had been received from the Local Government Board on the subject of the Small Dwelling Acquisition Bill, 1899, by which power was given to local authorities to advance money to people to build their own houses.

On the motion of Mr. Denton, it was resolved to obtain a copy of the circular for each member of the Council.

The Medical Officership

The Chairman reported that the Local Government Board had sanctioned the re-appointment of Dr. Owen for the six months ending in December.