Plans, etc., Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Highways and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, Sept. 30th, 1914, when there were present :- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall, J. Claridge, F. Knight, J. Spencer, and T. Wilmott.

Plans

were presented by:-

Mr. F. Corby for additions to his leather shed in John-street, and no exception taken as a temporary building, provided that Mr. Corby gives an undertaking to remove the building when so required by the Council.

Mr. F. Harris for additions to his house, No. 2, Gordon-street, and passed.

Dr. Baker for additions to his motor garage in John-street, and passed.

Messrs. Nurrish, Pallett, and Co. for additions to the engine and gas plant house at their factory in Shirley-road, and passed.

Mr. John Clark for four cottages off the Wellingborough-road, and passed subject to his entering into an agreement to maintain the combined drain connecting the houses with the public sewer in the Wellingborough-road.

Mr. Eli Robinson for additions to factory in Newton-road and passed.

Mr. G. Selwood and Co. (complete plan) of their new factory in Harborough-road as erected, and accepted.

Mr. Timon Robinson for house on the Washbrook-road Estate, and passed.

The Central Machinery Co. for new workshop and offices in Rectory-road, and passed.

Mr. C. A. K. Green for motor house near his house on the Hayway, and passed.

Wooden Buildings

Plans were also presented by Messrs. Tysoe and Roberts for the erection of wooden buildings at the rear of their houses on the Higham-road, and no exception taken.

Dell Place Approach

The Surveyor reported that the owners of this street had now repaired same and had put in a gully to take away the surface water.

It was resolved to recommend the Council to take no further steps under the Private Street Works Act in connection therewith at present.

Griffith Street Corners

The Committee decided to visit the site of these corners to-morrow (Thursday) morning to set out same and give instructions for the work to be carried out.

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 6th October, 1914, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall, J. Claridge, C. Bates, and F. Knight.

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

And that the balances were as follows:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts amounting to £2,273/10/5 were examined and passed for payment.

Memorandum of General District Rate

The Rates Clerk submitted the following Memorandum of General District Rate made on the 22nd day of April, 1914:-

The Rates Clerk also submitted a list of the irrecoverable amounts, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to write same off.

Road Foreman

An application was received from Mr. Roe asking for an increase of his wages.

It was resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the application and to increase his wages by 2/6 per week.

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 7th October, 1914, when there were present :- Messrs. T. Swindall (Chairman), J. S. Clipson, C. Bates, W. Bazeley, and G. H. Skinner.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The Medical Officer reported that five cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz., one of diphtheria and four of tuberculosis; one of the latter, however, was a re-notification.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the month of September 23 preliminary notices had been issued calling attention to nuisances, etc., which were receiving attention. The Council notices served on the owners of No. 10 to 17, Gordon-terrace, had been complied with.

One lot of bedding had been destroyed after a death from consumption and the room sprayed and fumigated. It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace the bedding at a cost not exceeding £1.

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

Sale of Crops

The Surveyor reported that the sale of crops at the Farm took place on the 5th inst., and realised £86/11/6/

New Sewage Works

The Surveyor also reported that the new sewage works are now practically complete, and asked for instructions as to planting.

The Committee decided to recommend the Council to visit and inspect the works on Thursday, the 15th inst., and consider on the site the question of planting.

The report was adopted.

Free Library Committee

A meeting of the Free Library Committee was held at the Library, on Friday, the 9th October, 1914, when there were present:- Messrs. J. Claridge (chairman), J. S. Clipson, T. Swindall, W. W. Rial, W. Clarke, S. Saddler, J. T. Colson, and the Rev. C. J. Keeler.

Management Committee

The following were appointed members of the Management Committee for the ensuing year:- The Chairman, Messrs. Fox, Saddler, Clarke, Perkins, Rial and the Rev. C. J. Keeler.

New Books

It was resolved to request the Council to authorise the Committee to expend a sum of £25 in the purchase of new books.

The Secretary reported that during the eleven months ending 31st August, 1914, 307 volumes had been added to the Library.

Books Issued

The Librarian reported that the number of books issued for the twelve months ending 31st August last was 25,552, made up as follows:- Fiction, 21,033, non-fiction 712, juveniles 3,807.

Gift of Books

The Secretary reported that 81 volumes had been presented to the Library by Mrs. Blaithwaite, of Woodford, Thrapston, which had been duly acknowledged and the thanks of the Committee accorded to Mrs. Blaithwaite.

Papers and Periodicals

It was resolved to continue the present arrangement with Mr. Robinson for the supply of papers and periodicals for a further year, viz., to the end of 1915.

It was also resolved that the sale of papers and periodicals take place in December as usual and if any be not sold at the auction the same be advertised for private sale.

Mr. Claridge, in moving the adoption of the report, said that the number of books issued during the year showed an increase of 1,550 on the previous year. The new librarian, he added, was doing her work most satisfactorily.

The report was adopted.

Shops Act

Mr. Claridge moved that the closing order for hairdressers be put into force. This was carried.

Mr. Bates: Does the order apply to tobacconists?

The Clerk: No, the order cannot be made to apply to tobacconists.

A letter was received from the tailors, clothiers, and gentlemen’s outfitters, asking the Council to make a closing order for those trades as follows :- Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 7.30 p.m.; Friday, 8.30; Saturday, 10.30; Christmas-eve, 10.30.

Mr. Swindall said that the other tradesmen in High-street would probably make a similar application when they knew what the tailors were doing. He moved that the matter be referred back for a month, to see if the other tradesmen would join in the order.

Mr. Claridge seconded, and it was carried.

Belgian Relief

The Chairman mentioned the meeting held on Tuesday with regard to the Belgian Relief Fund.

The Clerk read a letter from Mr. R. F. Knight, stating what steps had been taken.

The Chairman moved that a committee be formed consisting in the first instance of the members of the Council and the gentlemen present at the meeting, with power to add.

Mr. Knight seconded.

Mr. Perkins thought that a town’s meeting should first be called, to appoint the committee.

Mr. Bazeley said that if the response for the Belgian Relief Fund at Rushden was no better in proportion that the response which had been made in Rushden to the Prince of Wales’s Fund, it would be totally inadequate. The subscriptions in Rushden from those who had means to give had been most disappointing. The money had come in much more slowly than he had anticipated.

Mr. Claridge thought that weekly collections should be made in the factories for the Prince of Wales’s Fund.

Mr. Bates supported Mr. Perkins in the suggestion that a public meeting should be called to form the Belgian Relief Committee.

Mr. Wilmott thought the Rushden Relief Committee should take over the work of raising funds for the Belgians.

The Chairman’s proposition was, after further debate, carried.

Spencer Park

The Surveyor said that the caretaker had reported to him that he had caught a boy entering the grounds over the fence after the gates had been closed at dusk.

The Chairman said that the offenders in this respect would in future be summoned.