10th Feb 1928 - Buntingford Rural District Council

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Buntingford Rural District Council

Monthly Meeting

The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Rural District Council was held at the Board Room on Thursday in last week, when there were present: Capt. H.H. Williams (in the chair), Mrs Dimsdale, Messrs. C. Hummerstone, F.B. Cannon, H.C. Marshall, C. Fraser, H.S. Ward, A.W. Page, T.J. Stick, A.J. Hayes, G.C. Wilson, and W.J. May, with the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke) and the Surveyor (Mr E.G. Thody).

The Surveyor presented his monthly report. During the month the water consumption had been 1,060,000 gallons. The water level at the Waterworks had risen a further six feet, being six feet higher than at February last. Owing to this it was considered advisable to overhaul and re-leather the pumps.

Isolation Hospital

No cases had been reported during the month and the hospital was closed. Certain repairs were necessary to the building.

The Hospital Committee agreed to inspect the Hospital at an early date and submit a statement of what repairs were necessary.

Mr W. Houlden, of Buntingford, made application for assistance under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, and the necessary forms to be completed were issued.

The Clerk read a letter from Mr W.J. May tendering his resignation from the Board of Guardians and Rural District Council, as he was shortly leaving the district.

The Chairman said how much they all regretted Mr May's departure. They were all deeply conscious of the fact that he had been a very valuable member, and the Council would wish him the best of luck.

Mr Hummerstone, the Chairman of the Board of Guardians, associated himself with the Chairman's remarks, to which Mr May suitably replied.

The remainder of the business was of a formal nature.

10th Feb 1928 - Joint Parish Council's Meeting

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Joint Parish Council's Meeting

STREET LIGHTING

A joint meeting of the Aspenden and Layston Parish Councils was held at the Board Room, Buntingford, on Wednesday evening, when there were present: Mr H.C. Marshall (in the chair), Capt. H.H. Williams, Messrs. H.G. Stearn, C.H. Poulton, F. Camp, A.W. Wilson, G. Scarborough Taylor, P. Hamilton, J. Lawrence, H. Clarke, F. Crouch, and the Clerk (Mr J. Boniwell).

The chief business was the discussion of the question of street lighting in Buntingford and to receive a tender from the North Metropolitan Electric Supply Company for lighting the streets by electricity.

The tender submitted by the Company amounted to £131 17s. for twenty-three lights - viz., ten suspended lights, eleven mast lights and two bracket lights. The scheme included the lighting of Newtown.

The Chairman said the present system of gas lighting was costing £100 per year.

The meeting discussed the matter fully, and then decided to ask Mr Dixon-Browne, engineer-in-charge for the Buntingford district of the North Metropolitan Electric Company, to give the meeting further details in connection with the tender submitted.

Mr Scarborough Taylor asked if it would be practicable to reduce the number of suspended lights by increasing the power of the lamps.

Mr Dixon-Browne, replying, said the ten suspension lamps of 100 watts could be reduced to six suspended lamps of 300 watts. This would be cheaper than the scheme submitted.

Asked if the Company would reduce the term of years specified in their tender, from ten years to seven years, Mr Dixon-Browne said he was prepared to make the tender for seven years. He was afraid he could not hold out any hope of a lower tender than for the amount submitted, less the allowance in respect of the reduction in the number of suspended lights, as the price quoted was only just at working cost. The Company was bearing the entire cost of installing the necessary fittings and lamps, and in addition would have to bear all replacements.

Mr Wilson asked whether the lighting of Hare Street Road was included in the tender. Sunny Hill was as important as Newtown, and a lamp was badly needed.

The Chairman said he was afraid that Sunny Hill was not included, as it was not in the lighting area.

Capt. Williams then moved that the tender of the North Metropolitan Electric Supply Co. be accepted, on the understanding that the number of suspended lights be reduced to six, the tender to be for seven years, and that the lights be extinguished at 10.30 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. as mentioned in the tender.

In consequence of the amendments, the tender was reduced to £122 11s.

Mr Scarborough Taylor seconded the proposition, which was carried.

Mr Poulton asked why the parish of Wyddiall was not represented at the meeting. Wyddiall at present had one lamp in the High Street, and if the parishioners chose to keep out of the present scheme they could do so.

Mr Wilson asked what the position would be if the parishioners of Wyddiall refused to come into the scheme they had just adopted. They would be getting their light at the expense of Aspenden and Layston.

The Chairman said he thought the matter would be met if a small sub-committee be appointed to go into the matter with the North Met. with regard to the fixing of the lighting points. He would suggest that one or two of the Wyddiall parishioners who resided in Buntingford be asked to serve on the committee.

This was agreed, the following being appointed: Aspenden, Capt. H.H. Williams and Mr A. Wilson; Layston, Mr G. Scarborough-Taylor and Mr J. Lawrence; Wyddiall, Mr Claud Fraser and Mr Ernest G. Thody.

Mr Clarke raised the question of the apportionment of the cost. He thought Aspenden and Layston should divide their share equally.

It was finally agreed to leave this matter to the sub-committee to report on.

The Chairman thanked Mr Dixon-Browne for attending and for his explanations, and in reply Mr Dixon-Browne said that when they matter was settled and points fixed his Company would start with the work straight away.

10th Feb 1928 - Death of Mr H. Prior

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Death of Mr H. Prior

We regret to record the death of Mr H. Prior, son of Mr and Mrs George Prior, of Church Street, Buntingford.

The deceased, who had been an invalid for some considerable time, passed away at the age of 23 years on Sunday last. The funeral took place at Layston on Thursday, the service being conducted by the Rev. A. Howard.

The immediate mourners were Mr and Mrs G. Prior (father and mother), Messrs. T. and J. Prior (brothers), Mr F. Dearman (step-brother) and Mrs Miller (cousin). A number of friends were also present, and some beautiful wreaths were sent.

10th Feb 1928 - Buntingford Petty Sessions

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Buntingford Petty Sessions

Friday last, before J. Howard-Carter, Esq. (in the chair), Claud Fraser, William Steel, G.C. Coutts Deacon and G.W. Pepper, Esqs.

GENERAL ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING

The superintendent presented his annual report, as follows:

Gentlemen, I am directed by the chief constable to report that the number of licensed houses within the Buntingford Petty Sessional Division is 33 fully licensed, 7 beer (one), 4 beer (off), 1 grocer's and 2 registered clubs; total 47.

Four houses have changed hands during the year, being the same number as last year. One licensee has been proceeded against during the year. No person has been proceeded again for drunkenness during the year, this being a decrease of one compared with last year.

The permitted hours in the Buntingford Petty Sessional Division are week-days, 10.30 a.m to 2.30 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays 12 noon to 2 p.m., and 7 to 10 p.m.

The Chairman said he thought the whole bench would agree that the report was satisfactory. The renewel of all the licenses would be granted.

OTHER LICENSING BUSINESS

Application was made by Mr George Wickham, of "The Angel" Inn, Buntingford, for the extension of hours from 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays (Buntingford Market Day). The application was granted.

FAILING TO ILLUMINATE IDENTIFICATION PLATES ON MOTOR CARS

There were two charges against car drivers for failing to illuminate their rear identification plates on motor cars. The defendants, who did not appear, were William B. Witts, of Heathfield, Bassingbourn, and Walter C. Salmon, of 4, Rye Road, Rye Park, Hoddesdon, both motor drivers.

Evidence in each case was given by P.C. Gillett, who said that the rear light of one of the cars was alight but did not illuminate the number plate.

Asked by the Chairman if it was because of dirt on the lamp or plate, the constable replied that the lamp was bright enough but threw a light on to the ground instead of on the number plate.

In imposing a fine of 10/- on each defendant, the Chairman said cases of this kind were becoming before the Bench more frequently. If this continued the Bench may feel it their duty to inflict a more severe penalty.

NO DRIVING LICENCE

Sidney Edwards, of 62, Catharine Street, Cambridge, was summoned for driving a motor car without a driving licence at Buntingford.

P.C. Williams said he saw defendant at Buntingford at 2.40 a.m. on 2nd January, and when he asked him for his licence the defendant said he had left it in another coat.

Supt. Wright read a list of former convictions in 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1928, and the Chairman, remarking that the defendant had kept the police force busy, said there would be a fine of 10/- including costs.

GAME TRESPASS AT BRAUGHING

Herbert Petts, of Powel's Green, Braughing, Alfred Hagger, of the same address, and Frank Stacey, of Church End, Braughing, labourers, were chared with game trespass at Braughing. Petts did not appear.

P.C. Barker gave evidence of seeing the defendants in a field with dogs on a Sunay morning. The dogs were hunting the land. When he spoke to them they told him they were after rats.

Mr C.P. Mole, of Braughing, the owner of the sporting rights of the land in question, said he had never given the defendants permission to go on the land.

The bench inflicted a fine of 2/6 towards the costs in each case.

William Prior, of The Street, Braughing, was summoned for a similar offence.

P.C. Barker said he saw the defendant coming from a stack and noticed the legs of two rabbits protruding from the defendant's clothes. He told the defendant he would be reported, to which he replied "There they are; they are worth 1/6 each."

The defendant said that he was returning from work when his dog drove a rabbit into a hole. He got it out, and as luck would have it there was another rabbit in the hole.

The defendant, who had been fined twice previously for similar offences, was fined 10/- including costs.

POSSESSION CASE ADJOURNED

Mr G.H. Maughan of Messrs. Chalmers-Hunt & Co., solicitors, made application on behalf of Mrs Page for possession of a cottage situate at Sandon Lane, Buntingford, owned by her and in the occupation of Jonah Brown. The case came before the bench at a previous sitting, when it was dismissed as a notice had not been read over and explained to the tenant.

Mr Maughan stated that the applicant purchased the cottage in 1926. She was a London school teacher and was retiring on account of ill-health. Brown's rent was 2/- per week, and suitable alternate accommodation had been offered him. The alternate accommodation was at Buckland, and the cottage was larger than the one he was now residing in.

Mr B.E. Thody proved service of the statutory notice to the defendent to the effect that the owner was making application for possession at that Court.

Mrs Page and Mr Page both gave evidence, after which the defendant entered the witness box. He said that the cottage offered him was not suitable. It was three miles further away from his work, and his pony could not pull a cart up the road to the cottage. He objected to taking it.

The Bench discussed the case, after which the Chairman said it would be adjourned for 14 days to give the magistrates an opportunity of inspecting the property. [Transcriber note - Read about the next session here]

PROBATION OFFICER'S REPORT

The Probation Office, Mr H.J. Andrews, presented his report to the Bench. Of the seven cases placed in his hands by the Bench, six had proved successful and one had proved a failure. Mr Andrews then gave particulars of the number of cases - 91 - which had passed through his hands during the year, and said that there were only two failures. This meant that 89 persons had been helped to better things.

The Chairman congratulated Mr Andrews on his report, and said that the magistrates recognised in the Probation of Offenders' Act opportunity for the improvement of many people.

Mr Claud Fraser, a member of the Probation Committee for the county, said he was pleased to have recently made a satisfactory report on Mr Andrew's work.