7th May 1926 - Buntingford Bowls Club

Original image on Facebook

Buntingford Bowls Club

Opening Match

Mr and Mrs W.J. May's Generosity

The Buntingford Bowls Club opened its 1926 season at Layston Cottage on Saturday.

Although rain fell during the morning, weather conditions improved by the afternoon, and a party of about 30, consisting of members, their wives, and friends, spent a very enjoyable time. To prevent damage on the soft turf of the bowling green, which is now in excellent condition, Mrs Ashford kindly placed her tennis lawn at the disposal of the club, and this was marked out into two rinks.

The match, which was between teams captained by Mr W.J. May and Mr F.W. Butler, was more of a practice game than anything, everyone being invited to take part. The result was a win for the Vice-Captain's team by 30 points to 12.

During the afternoon an excellent tea was provided in the summer house by Mr and Mrs W.J. May.

Mr F.W. Butler, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs May for their kindless, said the Club was fortunate in having such an excellent captain. He (Mr Butler) was glad to see such a good number present at their opening match.

Mr May, in returning thanks, said Mrs May and himself were delighted to have the pleasure of entertaining such a good company. He was glad to see so many of the members' wives present, and he hoped they realised how near the Club came to winning the Cup last year. It was necessary for the members to be away from home for some matches, and he hoped the ladies would be patient while their husbands were away. (Laughter). The Club would always welcome them on its green. (Applause).

----

Several new members joined on Saturday, and League forms were signed by all the old members of the Club.

19th Nov 1926 - British and Foreign Bible Society

Original image on Facebook

British and Foreign Bible Society

Buntingford Auxiliary

The Annual Buntingford Meeting, which was one of 14 meetings being held in the district between November 8th and November 26th, was held on Wednesday in the Congregational School, and was considered by many who have attended them year after year to be one of the best ever held here.

The deputation was Mr Gracie, Sec. in Ceylon. The meeting was as usual preceded by a social hour, with tea arranged and given by the ladies of the Buntingford Committee and other friends.

After tea, Mr and Mrs H. May sang two sacred duets. Mrs Saggers kindly recited twice, and at the commencement of the meeting the anthem "O taste and see" was sung by a special choir, all the items being much appreciated.

In the unavoidable absence of Sir Charles Heaton-Ellis, through indisposition, the chair was taken by Rev. A. Howard. Mr H. May read a portion of scripture, and Rev. John Cole offered prayer.

Mr Gracie, who has worked in Ceylon for 33 years, gave a deeply interesting and instructive address on "the island of spicy breezes," and the wonderful progress which has been made there, and which would have been impossible without the work of the Bible Society.

He related the remarkable way in which the Bible Society had first taken up work there, before any missionary had arrived, through the labours of a young Indian civilian of wonderful linguistic powers and Christian zeal, who was the first translator of the Singhalese New Testament.

Now the Bible is being read and studied by tens of thousands of students, many of whom, though not bapized Christians, are framing their lives by the teaching of Christ. Here at home people are decrying and neglecting their Bibles, but in India and Ceylon it is becoming more and more the one Book worth studying.

The meeting closed with a hymn and prayer. The collection amounted to £2 12s. and the proceeds of the tea to nearly £2.

Appended is last year's report:

[Transcriber note - There is a list of accounts at the end of this report, the layout of which didn't entirely make sense. Please see the original image if you want to see the accounts].

19th Nov 1926 - Board of Guardians and Rural District Council

Original image on Facebook

Board of Guardians and Rural District Council

Monthly Meeting

Mr C. Hummerstone presided at the monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians held on November 11th.

The Master of the Institution (Mr F.W. Butler), reported that the number of inmates was 38. During the month 80 casuals had been admitted.

Gifts had been received from the following: Mrs Greg (books), Mrs H. May (books), Mrs Scarborough Taylor (books), Mrs A. Dixon (cakes), Great Hormead - pre Rev. W.L. Shepherd (vegetables, jam and eggs).

Several relief cases were dealt with, and the Board decided to grant 1/- per week extra coal to persons, for a period of one month, in certain relief cases where the recipients were living solely by themselves.

The Clerk submitted the basis for County Rates for 1927, which showed an increase of £200 on the assessable value for the current year; this increase, however, compared very favourably in proportion to the increases made in other unions in the County.

COUNCIL MEETING

Capt. H.H. Williams presided at the meeting of the Rural District Council which followed.

The Surveyor reported that the Isolation Hospital remained closed. The consumption of water during the past month was 1,060,000 gallons. The work of leathering the pumps has been completed.

Complaints had been made respecting the condition in which the pavements have been left by the contractors who recently opened up the paths for the purpose of laying a telephone cable.

The Clerk was instructed to write to the County Instructor on the matter.

The other business was of a formal nature.

30th April 1926 - Rural District Council

Original image on Facebook

Rural District Council

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

Mr G.C. Wilson proposed that Captain H.H. Williams be elected Chairman for the ensuring year. Capt. Williams was one who had done a large amount of work for the Guardians and the Council, and he was one of those members who attended every meeting.

Capt. E.T. Morris seconded.

Capt. Williams, in thanking the members for electing him, said he appreciated the honour and privilege. The position meant a certain amount of work, but one's labours were lightened by the way in which the members worked together and by the Council's excellent clerk.

The Chairman then proposed that Mr G.C. Wilson be appointed Vice-Chairman. Mr Wilson had done a large amount of good and practical work.

Mr H.E. Dudley seconded.

Mr Wilson thanked the members for his appointment, and said he would do his best.

COMMITTEES

Mr C. Hummerstone proposed, and Mr W.J. May seconded, that the following be appointed to serve on the Housing Committee:

Mrs K.J. Dimsdale, Captain E.T. Morris, Capt. H.H. Williams, Messrs. F.B. Cannon, C. Fraser, G. Graves, C. Hummerstone, W.H. Kittow, H.C. Marshall, W.J. May, E.J. Marchal and G.C. Wilson.

The following were appointed to serve on the Hospital Committee:

Mrs K.J. Dimsdale, Rev. L.W. Wright, Capt. E.T. Morris, Capt. H.H. Williams, Messrs. John Bygrave, C. Fraser, C. Hummerstone, A.J. Hayes, H.C. Marshall, W.J. May and A.W. Page.

The following were appointed to serve on the Water and Sewage Farm Committee:

Capt. H.H. Williams, Messrs. F.B. Cannon, H.E. Dudley, W.H. Kittow, W.J. May, T.J. Stick and A.J. Hayes.

SURVEYOR'S REPORT

The Surveyor reported as follows:

ISOLATION HOSPITAL

No cases of infection disease have been notified during the month, and the hospital remains closed.

WATERWORKS

The consumption of water during the past month has been:

1st week - 264,000 gallons.

2nd week - 249,000 gallons.

3rd week - 256,000 gallons.

4th week - 258,000 gallons.

The water level remains stationary at 42 feet, being the same level as April 29th last year. Water services have been made to premises in the High Street for the Electro Tanneries, LTD., and to premises in the London Road.

WESTMILL WATER SUPPLY

In consequence of complaints made by the tenants of the Council's cottages alleging impurity of the water supply, a sample of water has been submitted to the Counties Laboratories for analysis.

The analyst reports as follows: "This is very hard water of the highest degree of organic purity. The hardness is such that it will rapidly fur kettles, boilers, &c. We regard the water as a pure and wholesome supply."

A same from the newly-dug well at Westmill has also been submitted for analysis, and the analyst reports: "This is a hard water containing a trace of vegetable matter in suspension, which is doubtless due to the recent sinking operation. In other respects it is satisfactory and of a fair degree of organic purity. Assuming that the well is efficiently constructed, we regard the water as suitable for drinking and domestic purposes.

HOUSING

The Survey reported on the Housing Scheme as follows:

All the cottages owned by the Council are in occupation.

A tenant makes application to erect a small motor shed at one of the cottages at Meesden.

The Chairman said the application would be granted.

A letter was read from the Ministry of Health with reference to the sundry expenditure in connection with the Housing Final Accounts, and stating that subject to audit the amounts would rank for financial assistance.

ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY

The North Metropolitan Electric Supply Company wrote stating that they had been obliged to alter their proposed route owing to the trouble of getting way leave. The route would not be about 500 yds. further east.

The Chairman said the Company had not stated where the new line would be diverted, and he thought it would be a good thing if the Clerk wrote and asked the Company.

This was agreed.

LOCAL EDUCATION

The Clerk stated that the Herts. County Council had asked the Council to appoint three members on the Local Education Committee of the Herts. County Council. The following were then elected: Capt. H.H. Williams, Messes. C. Hummerstone and G.C. Wilson.

ADVERTISEMENTS REGULATION ACTS

A circular was read from the Council Council respecting the above Act which gives power to protect from disfiguring advertisements.

1. The view of rural scenery from a highway or railway or from any public place or water.

2. The amenities of any village within the district of a Rural District Council.

3. The amenities of historic or public buildings &c.

The County Council also pointed out that a conference upon the subject was being held in London on Friday, 7th May, and asked for two representatives of the Council to be appointed to attend.

Capt. Morris proposed that Capt. H.H. Williams and the Rev. L.W. Wright be appointed. This was agreed.

GRANT

The Clerk stated that the sum of £93 0s. 10d. had been placed to the credit of the Council under the Agrucultural Rates Act of 1896.