Recreation Ground To Be Enlarged
Five Acres More To Be Purchased
No Great Extra Cost

  A meeting of this Council was held in the Council Chambers on Wednesday night, when there were present: Mr. J. Claridge (Chairman), Mr. G. Miller (Vice-chairman), the Ven. A. Kitchin, and Messrs. G. H. Skinner, F. Knight, F. Ballard, C. E. Bayes, J. S. Clipson, T. Swindall, C. Bates, J. Spencer, W. Bazeley, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Medical Officer (Dr. Morris), 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 28^th Feb., 1912, when there were present:- Messrs. John Claridge (chairman), G. Miller, F. Ballard, C. E. Bayes, W. Bazeley, J. S. Clipson, and Fred Knight.

Plans

were presented by:-

  Mr. Alfred Clayton for additions to his factory at the corner of Manton-road and Grove-road and passed.

  Messrs. Ashford and Campion for an open shed adjoining their factory in Newton-road and no exception taken.

Storm Water Drain, Wellingborough-Road

  The Surveyor reported that on completing the storm water drain from Gordon-street he had found it necessary to re-lay some portion of the drain running down the Wellingborough-road, and as the matter was urgent he had carried out the work.

Main Roads

  The Clerk submitted draft agreement received from the Clerk to the County Council for the maintenance and repair of the main roads for five years from the 1^st April, 1911, and explained that it was based on the figures already agreed upon and approved by the Council.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to seal the agreement at their next meeting.

Higham-Road Footpath

  Attention was called to the need of repairs to the footpath from Sussex-place to the Higham boundary, and the Surveyor was instructed to re-top the same with asphalt.

  The report was adopted.

Finance And Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Tuesday, the 5^th March, 1912, when there were present:- Messrs. J. Claridge (chairman), G. Miller, W. Bazeley, F. Knight, and T. Swindall.

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:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

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

  And that the following balances were in hand on the undermentioned accounts:-

Tradesmen’s And Other Accounts

  A number of accounts, amounting to £507/15/5 were examined and passed for payment.

  The report was adopted.

Council In Committee

  A meeting of the whole Council in committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 6^th March, 1912, when there were present:- Messrs. J. Claridge (chairman), G. Miller, C. E. Bayes, C. Bates, J. S. Clipson, F. Knight, J. Spencer, T. Swindall, and the Ven. A. Kitchin.  Messrs. J. S. Mason and Geo. Selwood also, by invitation, attended the meeting.

Recreation Ground

  A letter was received from the owners of the Spencer Park Estate stating that they would be prepared to sell to the Council the land on the west side of the brook containing about four acres and also the remainder of the lower field from the sewer embankment to the hedge on the same terms as previously agreed upon for the eight acres which the Council had already decided to purchase.

  The Committee thought it desirable to acquire this additional land and resolved to recommend the Council to accept the offer, subject to the sanction of the Local Government Board being obtained.

  The Chairman said that, with the exception of the Rector, the Council were unanimous in making the recommendation.  He thought that with the finances in the state they were, the Council would have to be very careful, and not embark on any very large schemes for some time to come.  He trusted that the present scheme would receive the approval of the general public.  He hoped the recreation ground would increase the enjoyment, health, and pleasure of the young people of the town.  He moved that the recommendation be adopted.

  The Rector said he was still of opinion that it would be a mistake to buy so much land in one particular part of the town.  For his part, he thought it would be wiser if they contented themselves with the eight acres.  If at any future date they wanted to provide a recreation ground in a more central position, they would not be able to do so if they bought 13 acres.  For that reason he thought it would be unwise to expend the whole of the money that Council was able to spend on that particular acreage.

  Mr. Ballard said he regretted that he was absent from the Council meeting in committee, but if he had been present he should have supported the recommendation.  He trusted that that land would be used for a recreation ground and for nothing else, and that there would be no lavish expenditure on decoration.

  Mr. Spencer supported the recommendation.  He thought the ground was splendidly situated and believed it would be much used by all townspeople.  If they made this extra purchase, it would be a great advantage.

  Mr. Knight said he thought the whole of the Council were of the same opinion as the Rector was, so far as the eight acres were concerned.  But in looking at the surroundings, the Council considered that they would save a very considerable sum in fencing by purchasing the remaining five acres rather than the eight alone.  At the price at which the land was offered the Council did not think it was going to be quite such a burden as it looked on the face of it; in carrying out the scheme they would find it was not going to be such an additional cost as might appear on the face of it.

  The Rector asked if any estimates had been made as to the total cost of the ground, including fencing, laying out, etc.

  The Clerk said that the total cost was estimated at between £1,750 and £2,000.

  Mr. Bazeley said that he thought that was a detail to be considered after the purchase had been made.

  The Clerk, answering a question, said that the loan would cover a period of 60 years.

  The recommendation was adopted, the Rector not voting.

Overseers

   Messrs. J. Claridge, H. H. Hobbs, L. Baxter, and J. T. Colson, were re-elected overseers.

Health And Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 6^th March, 1912, when there were present:- Messrs. G. Miller (Chairman), J. Claridge, C. Bates, J. Spencer, T. Swindall, and the Ven. A. Kitchin.

Health And Sanitary Reports

  The Medical Officer reported that he visited Rushden on the 20^th February and inspected four houses in Milton-place which he found in an unsatisfactory condition.  The Committee decided to personally visit and inspect the property and deal with the report at their next meeting.

  The Medical Officer also reported that twelve cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz., four of scarlet fever, two of erysipelas, and six of diphtheria.  He suggested that the drains at Alfred-street schools should be tested and cleansed and disinfected at regular intervals.  The Inspector was instructed to give attention to this.

  The Officer also recommended that pocket spittoons should be supplied on application to all persons notified as suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Inspector to order 2 doz. Spittoons for this purpose.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the month of February 37 preliminary notices had been issued calling attention to nuisances, etc. which for the most part had received attention.

  A book belonging to the Free Library found in an infected house had been destroyed.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace the book.

  The Inspector also reported that acting on the advice of the Medical Officer he had destroyed three lots of bedding after deaths from consumption and had replaced the same at a cost of £2/19/6.  The action of the Inspector was approved, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to pay the account.

  The Officer further reported that he had inspected five houses situate in and at the rear of Victoria-road and also the workshop adjoin, recently occupied by Messrs. Whitney and Co. and found nuisances arising owing to the following defects:- House occupied by Mr. J. Robinson, defective and unsuitable yard paving; workshop lately occupied by Messrs. Whitney and Co., insufficient and defective eaves gutters causing dampness to buildings; house occupied by Mr. Corby, defective joints in drain at foot of vent pipe.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Officer to serve upon the owner, Mr. Jeremiah Jones, Council notices calling upon him to abate the nuisances forthwith.

  The Officer also reported as to the nature of the accommodation for the deposit of refuse for the above mentioned five houses, four of them having no receptacle whatever, and the house occupied by Mr. A. Seamark having a defective box.  It appeared to the Committee by this report that the several houses referred to were without a sufficient ashtub, ashpit, or other receptacle for the deposit of refuse and it was resolved to report to the Council accordingly with a recommendation that a notice be served upon the owner requiring him within 28 days to provide for each house a sufficient and proper receptacle.

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

M.O.H. And S.I. Annual Reports

  Prints of these reports were submitted and ordered to be circulated amongst the members of the Council, and it was resolved to invite the Medical Officer to attend the next meeting of the Council.

Public Mortuary

  With regard to the provision of a public mortuary the Committee were unable to make any recommendation to the Council thereon.

Sewage Disposal Scheme

  The Surveyor submitted a sketch plan of the proposed cottage for the foreman of the works, on the Kimbolton-road, which was approved by the Committee.

  The report was adopted.

Health Reports

  The annual reports of the Medical Officer of Health and the Sanitary Inspector, which are given in full on page 7 of this issue, were adopted, and the officers were thanked for the same.

  Dr. Morris said the urban and rural districts had the lowest infantile mortality rate in England.  During the hot summer he had issued leaflets showing how to feed and attend to children.  He considered the health of the town satisfactory.

  The Chairman said it was creditable to the Medical Officer and the Sanitary Inspector.

Police Court For Rushden

  Mr. Spencer asked if there was any reply with regard to the Petty Sessions scheme for the town?

  The Chairman replied in the negative.

County Council

  Mr. Spencer gave notice that at the next meeting of the Council he should move that the Council make an application to the County Council for increased representation on that body.

Mr. John Claridge’s Chairmanship
Hearty Thanks From His Colleagues

  A meeting of this Council was held in the Council Chambers, Rushden, on Wednesday night, when there were present: Councillors J. Claridge (chairman), G. Miller (vice-chairman), the Ven. A. Kitchin, G. H. Skinner, F. Knight, J. S. Clipson, T. Swindall, J. Spencer, and W. Bazeley, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason) and the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin).

Accounts

for £535 were passed. 

  The Ven. A. Kitchin asked if the year would work out as anticipated.

  The Chairman said they were £90 out as they had not spent that amount on repairing footpaths during the last three years out of the £100 allowed by the County Council, but they did not get the £90.

  The Clerk mentioned that it was unlikely that it would occur again.  They had a five years’ agreement with the County Council for the usual amount.

Thanks

  Mr. Knight said that that being the last meeting of the year and consequently the last one over which Mr. Claridge would preside, he wished to propose that the best thanks of the Council and also of the town be given to Mr. Claridge for his chairmanship.  When Mr. Claridge was appointed to the chair at the commencement of the year he was quite satisfied in his own mind that the office was in safe hands.  Mr. Claridge took the deepest interest in the welfare of the town, and all that went for the good of the town.  During the past year they had not done anything exciting with regard to improvements, but they had had one or two

Important Matters

in hand which had entailed a considerable amount of work.  There was the addition to their sewage scheme, which, he thought, now that they had fixed upon the methods which would be adopted, would be a success.  Mr. Claridge had attended a large number of the meetings to consider this scheme.  At the commencement of the year he did not think many of them expected they would go so far as to recommend for the town a recreation ground.  But they had done so, and he was glad to say they were unanimous in making the recommendation, and under the superintendence of Mr. Claridge the scheme would no doubt benefit considerably.  Then again the coronation had entailed a large amount of work for their chairman.  The success of the local celebration was greatly due to the efforts of Mr. Claridge.  He was sure Mr. Claridge had presided over the meetings in a

Most Impartial Way.

  Mr. Miller seconded, and added his testimony to the impartial and zealous way in which Mr. Claridge had occupied the chair.  Mr. Claridge always showed the most profound interest for anything that was going forward for the welfare of Rushden.  He had been brought into very close contact with Mr. Claridge during the past year as vice-chairman, and he could truthfully say that Mr. Claridge had shown intense interest in the town of his birth.  Their Chairman had attended every Council meeting and he believed every committee meeting during his year of office.

  Mr. Swindall endorsed the remarks of Mr. Knight and Mr. Miller.  They could not have had a better chairman than Mr. Claridge, and he hoped the time would come when he would again be able to occupy the chair.

  Mr. Skinner supported, and said they were very much indebted to Mr. Claridge for the way in which he had carried on the business.

  Mr. Spencer also supported, and said it was always a wonder to him how Mr. Claridge got all his meetings in, but he was always able to do so, and the took a

Very Great Interest

in the work.  He could testify to Mr. Claridge’s thorough impartiality as a chairman.

  The resolution was heartily carried.

  Mr. Claridge, responding, said he always took a very great interest in the work of the Council and town, and he was more than pleased if he had discharged his duties satisfactorily.  Although they had not carried out any great improvements they had considered matters of very great importance to the town, such as Mr. Knight had mentioned.  He was very glad that they had decided upon the provision of a recreation ground.  That matter had been before the town a good many years, and he was pleased that it was taken up in coronation year.  It had been a pleasure to work with the Coronation Committee, who were unanimous in their work.  The

High-Street Improvement

had, to a large extent, to be left to the decision of the Road Board.  He was very thankful that he had been supported by every member of the Council, otherwise it would have been impossible to carry on the work.  His task had not been a very arduous one, but it had been a very pleasant one.  He was sure they were much indebted to the officials of the Council, to the Clerk for the able advice he had always been ready to give, to the Surveyor, who had always been anxious to please them, and also to the Inspector.  As a Council he thought that they were much indebted to their able officials.  He wished to propose a vote of thanks to the vice-chairman, who had attended every meeting and took a very great interest in the work of the Council.

  Mr. Clipson seconded, and said they were looking forward to Mr. Miller going to the higher office.

  Mr. Miller briefly returned thanks.