Buntingford
Funeral of Mr H. Cooze
The funeral took place on Saturday of Mr H. Cooze, whose death was announced in our columns last week.
There was a large assembly of friends and relatives, including representatives of the firm of Messrs. J. Hamilton, where deceased was employed.
Charity Trustees Meeting
A meeting of the Trustees of the Town Charities was held at the Technical Institute on the 9th inst.
Mr H.C. Marshall presided, and there were also present Rev. L.W. Wright, Capt. H.H. Williams, and Messrs. C. Fraser, W.J. May, P. Hamilton, G. Armstrong and H.H. Macklin (clerk).
The income arising from the charities amounted to £80, which is in excess of last year, a fact welcomed especially as the money has to be dispersed in coal according to the trusts.
The old Bigg's Bread Charity produced an income of £4 9s. 4d. This was administered by the Clerk in small loaves to cottagers' families as stated in the terms of the bequest.
Between 400 and 500 of these small loaves were needed, and they were supplied by Mr C.S. Coates, of Buntingford.
Buntingford Board of Guardians
Monthly Meeting
The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians was held at the Board Room on Thursday (yesterday).
Present - Mr C. Hummerstone (in the chair), Mr F.B. Cannon (Vice-Chairman), Captain H.H. Williams, Messrs. H.C. Marshall, Claud Fraser, H.E. Dudley, E. Bygrave, F. Prime, A.W. Page, G. Graves, A.J. Hayes, G.C. Wilson, T.J. Stick and W.J. May, with the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke), the Master (Mr F.W. Butler), and Relieving Officer (Mr H.H. Macklin).
House Committee
The House Committee submitted the following report:
"The House Committee visited the House this morning, and found everything satisfactory. They think that six dozen tramp rugs will be required before the winter months, and recommend that the Master obtain tenders for them."
Tenders
The following tenders were received for repairs to the laundry ceiling and for the erection of new lavatories:
Laundry:
Mr C.E. Harradence - £11 11s. 0d.
Mr J. Aylott - £15 10s. 0d.
Mr C.H. Poulton - £17 19s. 0d.
Lavatories:
Mr C.E. Harradence - £70 15s. 0d.
J Hamilton & Co. - £72 15s. 2d.
Mr C.H. Poulton - £76 5s. 0d.
Mr Claud Fraser proposed that Mr C.E. Harradence's tenders be accepted. This was agreed by the Board.
Master's Report
The Master reported as follows:
Number of inmates for the week ending May 21st - men 17, women 16, total 33.
Corresponding period last year - 33.
Casuals - men 80, women 4, children 2.
During the month three persons have been discharged and two admitted.
Casuals
During the month the following casuals have been admitted - Men 279, women 18, children 10.
The figures for the corresponding period last year were - Men 67, women 3, children 0.
Of the men, 200 were ex-soldiers and genuine workers. Eight were unable to work, and 71 were tasked. Only five were on the books of the Labour Exchange; the majority of the others call themselves farm labourers.
Unless there is a big drop in the number of unemployed I doubt if our accommodation will be sufficient for the winter months. On some nights now our accommodation is taxed to its limits.
Gifts
The following gifts have been received and much appreciated: Mrs Veasey, books; Mrs B.E. Thody, books.
Buntingford
Board of Guardians
The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians was held at the Board Room on Tuesday (yesterday).
Present: Mr C. Hummerstone (in the chair), Mrs Dimsdale, Captain H.H. Williams, Captain E.T. Morris, Messrs F.B. Cannon, H.C. Marshall, G. Graves, C. Fraser, H.E. Dudley, W.H Kittow, A.J. Hayes, W.J. May and G.C. Wilson, with the Master (Mr F.W. Butler), the Relieving Officer (Mr H.H. Macklin), and the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke).
Master's Report
The Master reported as follows:
Number of inmates - men 15, women 13, children 2. Total 30. Corresponding period last year - 35.
Casuals 65. Corresponding period last year 5.
Gifts
The following gifts have been received and much appreciated:
Fancy cakes and strawberries, Mrs Greg; books, Mrs Tapper.
Tenders
Tenders were received for work on the casual wards at the Institution.
Only two tenders were received, these being as follows: Messrs J. Hamilton & Co., £82 15s. 6d.; Mr C.H. Poulton, £99 5s.
Messrs Hamilton's tender was accepted.
Board of Guardians
Monthly Meeting
Big Increase in Tramps
The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians was held at the Board Room on Thursday of last week.
Present - Mr W.J. May (in the chair), Capt. H.H. Williams, Capt. E.T. Morris, the Rev. L.W. Wright, Messrs. H.C. Marshall, C. Hummerstone, H.E. Dudley, G. Graves, E. Bygrave, F.B. Cannon, A.J. Hayes and G.C Wilson, with the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke), the Master (Mr F.W. Butler), and the Relieving Officer (Mr H.H. Macklin).
MASTER'S REPORT
The Master reported as follows:
Number of inmates - men 18, women 14, children 2. Total 34. Corresponding period last year 40.
TRAMPS
During the past month 56 casuals have been received, as against 13 for the corresponding period last year. On some nights we have had 12, although we have only accommodation for 10.
The majority of the tramps are young men under 40 years of age, who find tramping no hardship since the regulations have been altered. They are insolent, and make it known that they will not work two days for one night's lodging, and as each tramps is supplied with a chopper I do not think it safe to enforce the order. It is only those Unions that have proper constructed cells who can keep tramps for two days.
The blankets (24), which has been more than sufficient for our requirements in the past, are not enough now, and tenders for a further supply, also nightshirts, are before the Board today. It is not long ago since the Board were called upon to relieve 3595 tramps a year, which at the present cost of diet would mean a big charge upon the rates. The first year I was appointed we had 43 tramps, and I have been able to keep them somewhere near that number until the recent new regulations came into force.
After 20 years' experience with tramps, it is my opinion that the majority (with few exceptions) do not respond to kindly treatment, but look upon it as weakness on the part of the officers in dealing with them. Would the Board kindly consider the telephone being fixed in my office so that I am in close touch with the police?
GIFTS
Gifts of books have been receiving from the following and have been much appreciated: Mrs Greg, Mr C. Hummerstone, Mrs H. May, Miss Bowers, Mrs Hamilton and Miss Lushington.
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The Chairman said he was sure the members felt that the Master ought to be supported, and it was agreed to install the telephone at once.
TENDERS
The following tenders were accepted for the current half year:
Meat - Messrs. W.G. Clark, Ware.
Bread - Mr C.S. Coates, 8 1/2d. and 9d.
Coal - Mr E.J. Sparkes, £1 15s. and £1 17s. 6d.
Milk - C. Smith, 1/- per gallon.
Haircutting - Mr C. Miles.
Coffins - Mr G. Saggers.
Groceries and Oilman's Goods - Messrs. Forrest Stores.
Clothing - Messrs. Hirst, Kettlewell & Co.
Soaps - Messrs. McDoughall and Robertson.
Boots - Messrs. Wilkins & Denton.
Mr Hayes: I notice that no tenders have been received from Buntingford butchers. Were the tender forms submitted to them?
The Clerk: Yes.
Mr Hayes: I think the meat supplied to the Institution should be inspected from time to time. I saw some recently and it struck me that it was not English.
The Master said Messrs. Clark's contract was satisfactory. It was only during the summer months that the meat was ever discoloured, and on any occasion when it had arrived in that condition Messrs. Clark always changed it.
The Rev. L.W. Wright asked if there were any other tenders for the supply of coals, and the Chairman said there was one from Messrs. Nash, of Royston.
Aspenden Parish Council
A meeting of the Aspenden Parish Council was held at the Parish Room, Apsenden, on tuesday evening. Present - Mr H.C. Marshall (in the chair), Capt. H.H. Williams, Messrs. C.H. Poulton, F. Camp, A. Wilson, and P. Hamilton.
A precept was issued for street lighting. A discussion arose as to the allotment rents, and it was resolved that new allotment holders should pay their rent in advance.
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.