18th February 1927 - Buntingford Nursing Fund Whist Drive and Dance

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Buntingford Nursing Fund

Whist Drive and Dance

Miss Lushington and her willing helpers are to be heartily congratulated upon the complete success of her annual whist drive and dance held on Wednesday evening in the Benson Hall.

There was a large gathering, especially for the dancing.

The evening commenced with a whist drive, prizes for which had been kindly given by Lady Heaton-Ellis, Mrs H.C. Marshall, Mrs H.H. Williams, Mrs Mevett, Mrs Wyman, Miss Lushington, Dr and Mrs R.W. Fell, and Rev. A.L. Panchaud.

Twenty-five tables were occupied, and the prizes were presented by Miss Lushington to the following:

Ladies - 1, Mrs A. Clark (biscuit barrel); 2, Miss W. Walsingham (half tea service); 3, Mrs Wallis (tea cosy); lowest score - Mrs Geaves.

Gents - 1, Mr H. Hatchett (mirror); 2, Mr Coxall (shaving mirror); 3, Mr Mannox (pictures); lowest score - Mr Bishop.

A lucky chair prize went to Mrs Bennett, and the lucky ticket prize to Mr J. Bishop.

The Buntingford Town Band was in attendance, and dancing was indulged in until midnight, the excellent programme being enjoyed to the full.

Mr A.C. Bartlett for whist, and Mr L. Smith for dancing, were the two efficient M.C's.

11th February 1927 - Buntingford Rural District Council

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Buntingford Rural District Council

Monthly Meeting

Appointment of Rate Collector

Over 30 Applicants

The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Rural District Council was held at the Board Room on Thursday of last week.

Present - Capt. H.H. Williams (in the chair), Mrs Dimsdale, the Rev. L.W. Wright, Messrs. G. Graves, C. Hummerstone, F.B. Cannon, W.J. May, A.J. Hayes, G.C. Wilson, E.J. Marshall, H.C. Marshall, Claud Fraser, A.W. Page, and T.J. Stick, with the Surveyor (Mr E.G. Thody), and the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke).

Surveyor's Report

The Surveyor reported as follows:

Isolation Hospital

No cases of infectious disease have been notified, and the hospital remains closed.

Waterworks

The consumption of water during the month has been:

1st week - 262,000 gallons.

2nd week - 249,000 gallons.

3rd week - 248,000 gallons.

4th week - 248,000 gallons.

Four hundred gallons of paraffin are required and 40 gallons lubricating oil.

Licenses

Three persons make application for licenses to store carbide of calcium, and 14 for the renewal of their petrol licenses.

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The purchase of the paraffin and lubricating oil was approved, and all the licenses were granted.

Roads

Mr H.C. Marshall reported that he had interviewed the County Surveyor, and had arranged the matter of the roads which the County Council proposed taking over from the Rural District Council. The arrangements were subject to confirmation by the County Council.

The Chairman said the Council were very grateful to Mr Marshall and Capt. Morris for what they had done in the matter.

Appointment of Rate Collector

There were over 30 applicants for the post of Rate Collector, at a salary of £150 per annum. A Sub-Committee had been into the applications, and had chosen six applicants for interview by the Council.

Mr Hayes: I don't think there was any suggestion that the Sub-Committee should open the applications and choose any number to come before the Board. It has caused a lot of talk in the town, and I heard last week that it was almost decided who should have the post.

The Chairman: You have heard the minutes read, and no doubt you noticed that you seconded the resolution, proposed at the last meeting by Mr F. Cannon, that the Sub-Committee should meet and go into the matter immediately after the last day for receiving applications for the post.

Mr Hayes: I certainly seconded the resolution, but I did not think that the Sub-Committee would go into the matter so early.

The Chairman: Immediately after the last day for receiving applications: that was the resolution.

Mr G.C. Wilson: I quite see Mr Hayes' point. I admit that I was a little surprised to find that the Council were interviewing applicants today. At the same time I think the Council are very grateful to the Sub-Committee for going into the matter so thoroughly.

The Rev. L.W. Wright: I quite agree. It would have been a lot of unnecessary work for the Council to have to go into the question of the whole of the applicants today. The Sub-Committee has done quite the right thing.

Mr Hayes: I am quite satisfied now, only I heard that there was a good deal of canvassing.

The Chairman: As far as I am concerned I can say that I have no spoken to anyone or interviewed anyone respecting the post.

Mr Hayes: I am satisfied. Let us get on with the selection.

The Council then interviewd the six applicants recommended by the Sub-Committee, and after ninety minutes' deliberation it was unanimously agreed to appoint Mr W.G. Bonness.

The other business was of a formal nature.

4th February 1927 - Buntingford & District Musical Society

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Buntingford & District Musical Society

Present "The Pied Piper of Hamelin"

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"Rats! They fought the dogs and killed the cats, And bit the babies in their cradles"

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On Wednesday evening of last week Buntingford and District Musical Society preseted Parry's "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" at the Benson Hall, Buntingford. This is one of the most difficult works the Society has yet dealt with, and their production is worthy of the highest praise.

There was a well-balanced orchestra, the members of which came from Hertford, Letchworth, and Hitchin, while the soloists were Mr Ralph Williams, L.R.A.M. (tenor) and Mr Rintoul Johnson (baritone). These two soloists were heard at their best, their style of singing being charming and arresting.

The story goes that after the Pied Piper had cleared the town of the rats the Mayor and Corporation tried to evade payment of the thousand guilders previously offered him, and then the Piper stepped into the street,

"And to his lips again, Laid his long pipe of smooth, straight cane, And out came the children running."

Then they were led away by the Pipe to a hill, in which a caverna was suddenly hollowed. And when they were all in the door in the mountain-side shut fast,

"And Piper and dancers were gone for ever."

Although the piece had been so effectively set to music by C. Hubert Parry, the words are, of course, by Robert Browning, and if it is one of the most difficult works the Society has touched it is remarkably short, lasting little more than half-an-hour.

It was therefore necessary to fill up the programme with other items, and Mr E.E. Dennis , the conductor to the Society, git on a novel idea when he introduced Community Singing into the programme. The second part of the programme was therefore taken up with Community Singing, and after a little instruction from the conductor, the whole audience were joining heartily in the singing of such well-known songs as "John Peel," "Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag," and "Tipperary."

"Buntingford's Burning" was a special favourite, with "Shenandoah" a close second.

Mr E.E. Dennis, who has worked so assiduously for the Society, conducted the whole programme. Mention must also be made of the valuable services rendered by the pianist, Miss Macklin; Mrs Fell, Mrs Butler and Mrs H. Feasey were in charge of the catering arrangements; while Messrs H. Clarke, F.W. Butler, E.C. Clarke, and E. Martin kindly acted as stewards.

25th March 1927 - Rural District Council

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Rural District Council

Captain H.H. Williams presided over a special meeting of the Buntingford Rural District Council, held at the Board Room on Friday last to discuss the workings of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act of 1926.

The Chairman said they had met to consider the advisability of applying to the Ministry of Health for a declaration that the Council should be the Local Authority to administer the Act to the exclusion of the County Council.

The Chairman fully explained the Act, and pointed out that while the administration concerned the Rural and Urban Districts more than it did the County Councils, the Government, for some reason or other, was anxious for the Act to operate through the County Councils.

Following a discussion on the various points, the following resolution was unanimously carried:

"Resolved that this Council, in accordance with the provisions of Season 5. s.s. 1 of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act of 1926, do make application to the Ministry of Health for the purpose of being declared the Local Authority to administer, throughout the Rural District of Buntingford, the Housing (Rural Workers) Act of 1926 and any scheme made there-under to the exclusion of the Council of the County of Hertford."

In the event of the Ministry declaring the Rural District Council to be the Local Authority, a scheme will be prepared by the Council whereby financial assistance will be afforded to owners of property for putting into good habitable condition houses occupied by agricultural labourers or others coming under the same category.