Mexborough and Swinton Times August 6, 1897
Conisborough Parish Council.
A Water Famine
The usual monthly meeting of the above Council was held on Monday night, Mr Charles Holmes presiding. The other members present were Messrs. Robinson, vice Chairman Hirst, Ravenscroft, Singleton, Mosby, Roebuck, Smithson, and Ogley, with the Clerk, Mr Hawksworth.
Minutes.
The Clerk went over the minutes of the last meeting of the council, and on the motion of Mr Robinson seconded by Mr Roebuck, they were passed as read, and ordered to be confirmed by the Chairman.
A Declaration.
Mr Edward Ravenscroft, on taking his seat as a counsellor for the first time, maybe usual declaration of office.
The Barbed Wire.
The Clerk stated that he had written to the Doncaster Council the barbed wire question, and he had received the following reply:
Doncaster, 8th July, – your letter re barbed wire was read at the last meeting of the highways committee, and they request you to furnish them with the particulars as to what Road the wire complained of is fixed. – Yours faithfully, F. E. Nicholson.
Mr Robinson: I wanted Mr Singleton to give the place then, but he would not.
The Chairman: Where is it?
Mr Singleton: Down near to Mr Bradbury’s it’s a very nasty place.
Mr Ogley said they could not compel it to be removed.
Mr Singleton: I think we can.
Mr Mosby: you cannot compel him to remove it, but if he doesn’t he is liable.
Mr Ogley: yes; that’s it.
The Clerk said that was so.
The Allotments.
A letter was read from Mr T. Shearman, Doncaster, asking the council to pay £25 on account to Mr Clarkson or Mr Wigfall re the valuation. He also stated that there had been some difficulty in respect of the feeding ground.
The Chairman: I take it that this will be our full share of the valuation.
The Clerk: No, no; it won’t.
Mr Robinson: \no, of course, it won’t
The Chairman: What does he mean by the feeding ground?
The Clerk: I hardly know what he means.
Mr Robinson: I thought we paid money to the landlord.
The Chairman: We have either to pay it to Mr Wigfall or Mr Clarkson. We are paying 5 pounds per acre for a start,
The Clerk: He said to me some time ago it was very difficult.
Mr Robinson: I heard that myself about a fortnight ago.
The Chairman: If it will throw any more light and air, would be well for a deputation to go. He might like a little explanation
Mr Mosby: He has not asked for any.
The chairman said he hardly thought him justified in charging. They should wait for further developments. He did not want to develop much more (laughter) it’s at the rate of 5 pounds per acre.
Mr Hirst: And it isn’t finished yet – (laughter)
No Reply.
The Clerk said he had no reply re-the question of Street naming. He had seen Mr Barras, and he had said something was being done.
Mr Singleton asked if he had any reply about in setting up a pipe in the Holywell spring.
The Clerk stated that he had not yet written, and in answering a further question from the chairman, said he had not written to the district council on any of the matters he was directed to at the last meeting.
Mr Singleton: Well, you know it wants looking to.
The Clerk said that of the matter was he had not been able to do it. He had not had time on account of the voting list.
Mr Smithson: I think you want an assistant Clerk
The Clerk: Well, there’s more to do than anyone would think
The Chairman: I think there is plenty of time to have these matters settled. They want seeing to, you know.
Mr Mosby: Yes, we want them attending to.
Appointment of Registrar.
The Clerk reported that the registrar had been appointed in the person of Mr Smith.
The Council and Allotment Holders.
The Chairman remarked that the allotment question had again to come on for hearing. They would remember that it was left at the last meeting. At the last meeting there was a resolution moved to rescind a format resolution of the council passed in January. The object of that was to try and fix the rent of the allotment holders concurrently with our own or to do away with paying in advance. Their own rent was due on the morrow. The half yearly rent was due last Saturday. An amendment was moved, and a tie resulted. He did not feel justified in voting on the question, he was an interested party, and had been told as much. He would rather have the matter settled without lays. He understood that the tenants tended their rent money when due, but as a matter then stood the Clerk declined to take it.
Mr Smithson: Did the Clark declineto take the money?
The Chairman: Yes: Something ought to be done tonight one way or the other.
Mr Smithson: To get on with business I shall move that the resolution of January be rescinded Mr Roebuck: I shall stick to my diggings and second it.
The Chairman: I don’t think it is any good going into the matter again. It has been thoroughly thrashed out.
Mr Ogley: it looks a long idea to run away from the agreement like that. The people ought to stick to the agreement. The tenants knew what it was before they took it.
Mr Mosby: I talked about it until I am tired.
The Chairman: There is a deputation here from the allotment holders. I think we had better just hear what they have to say.
Mr H. Senior (one of the deputation) said that the allotment holders thought the council had treated them in a very nasty manner in making them pay in advance. No man got his wage nor did any landlord get his rent in advance. They were quite willing to pay the money previous to the Council paying theirs. So they would not have to pay out before they got there when. That was nothing but right and just. They had gone to the Klerk with the money, but he refused to take it. He was prepared to pay his for the six months. He should be willing to pay again next January. He did not think any of the holders wished to run away.
Mr Mosby: I take it that every allotment holder new when he took the land what he would have to do
Mr Senior: I haven’t seen an agreement to this day. A deputation should have been here from the holders before that agreement was drawn up.
Mr Mosby: We didn’t know who was going to take them.
The Chairman said he did not think they should consult the holders in that. It should be ready for him to see. He could then tell whether he would be able to keep to the conditions. He worked most of the ground when anybody asked them if there was anything to pay. He said no one else has paid any money. He also told them when there was any money to be paid they would receive notice from the Clerk. That took place in every case. In some cases the man at the land three months before the agreement was drawn up.
The Clerk: We had some difficulty.
The Chairman said it would be in April when the agreement was drawn up.
Mr Mosby: I always understood that the tenants knew at the time what the agreement was.
The Chairman: It was April when it was ready.
Mr Robinson said he had opposed the from the very first. He never knew a more arbitrary method of carrying on business. They had got some very respectable tenants, and he considered it a nasty slur to ask them to pay in advance. He was surprised at Labour members supporting it. He knew that some of the biggest tyrants sprang from working man and he thought it was so in this case. Why there were workingmen against it he did not know. They were sent by workingmen, and now they were voting against them and the resolution. He had great pleasure in supporting the resolution (hear, hear.)
Mr Singleton: I was willing to support eight last month if it had been in accordance with the standing orders. I support the resolution now.
The resolution was put to the meeting, and voted for it Messrs. Robinson, Smithson, Hurst. Roebuck, raenscroft, and Singleton – against none. –
The Chairman and Messrs Ogley, and Mosby, remained neutral.
The Chairman: How are you going to fix the rent day now?
Mr Robinson: I move that it be paid quarterly.
Mr Smithson: I second that.
The resolution was carried.
The Bridge to Cadeby.
The chairman stated that he had a little matter he wished to been following with respect to the legacy before them by Mr Lee in the shape of the footbridge to Cadeby. He thought they might get away now and try for the continuation of the footbridge at Conisborough station. It was badly needed. He thought a deputation to Mr Chambers might possibly bring matters to a head. He was often asked when the matter stood, and it would perhaps a stand it on a little.
Mr Roebuck: I move that a deputation consisting of Messrs. Mosby, Ogley, Robinson and the chairman see Mr Chambers.
Mr Smithson seconded, and the resolution was carried.
A Water Famine.
Mr Robinson stated that there was a tap near to Mr Padgins corner where they had had no water for some time. He wanted to know the reason of that. The stones round the tap had all fallen down, and children were playing round all day through. It was a very dangerous place.
The Clerk said there was a lot of damage being done to taps. There was one broken at the present time down near Marshall’s.
Mr Smithson that the water in the town well was very low.
Mr Roebuck I should like to ask what they were doing in the whole question.
The Chairman said he understood there was nothing being done.
Mr Robinson: There is no wonder fever is going about so much at Denaby.
The Chairman said he understood the work was being done, and if that was so they did not want to hamper
Mr Singleton; that’s in respect to Conisborough.
The Chairman: Yes.
Mr Robinson: Are we to sit quietly here and take the Denaby water?
The chairman: no we are not. We are to wait and see what the water is like when it comes through the new pipes.
Mr Robinson; Have they agreed to take those pipes up.
The Chairman: Yes.
Mr Robinson: they have had two months, and none have been taken up yet.
Mr Mosby: Yes, they have taken some up.
The Chairman said that it was rumoured that the pollution was not from the water, that was what the rumour said.
Mr Smithson: It comes from the river. Denaby and Cadeby water are running into one pipe.
Mr Robinson: in do you mean to say they did not know about it.
Mr Smithson: They say so.
Mr Robinson: This council did not decide to have this water.
The Chairman: We decided to wait and see what the water is like after it comes through new pipes.
Mr Hirst said there was a stench when it came through a bore hole.
Mr Robinson: I don’t think for one minute that the officials at Cadeby colliery drink that water.
Mr Mosby: Yes, they do.
Mr Hirst: Mr Mosby has been up there this week.
Mr Robinson: Has he been drinking that water. – Mr Mosby: yes, I have.
Mr Mosby: Now, how many times have you gone up to those springs? – (Laughter)
Mr Mosby: None – Mr Robinson Now! (Laughter)
Mr Singleton suggested that the council write to the local government Board asking them to hold an enquiry.
The Chairman: If the water from Cadeby does not turn out as expected the people of Conisborough can refuse it.
Mr Robinson: I say they have a right to consult this council.
The Chairman: I don’t dispute that.
Mr Robinson: they should not let a contract without consulting us.
Mr Singleton: I think we ought to go before the local government Board.
The Chairman: What have we to do, we have no scheme.
Mr Robinson: we ought to develop a scheme them, and then send it to the district council. – Mr Singleton spoke of the agreement in respect to the Holywell spring.
The Chairman: Is there a clause in its saying the height must be 1 ½ Inch one.
Mr Singleton: I can’t say I haven’t seen the agreement.
The chairman: if there isn’t an agreement to that effect we might insert a larger one. Are we going to move in the matter?
Mr Robinson: We can move a little resolution.
The Chairman: It will be the Denaby scheme when you have done.
Mr Robinson: I shall oppose the Denaby scheme all I can
The Chairman: You will not stand in the way of the people of Conisborough having a supply of water.
Mr Robinson: Certainly not. Mr Clarkson told me the other day there was a spring up in this hill as thick as his thigh
Mr Mosby: they will not last.
Mr Robinson: if they will last this weather they will last for some time. Why not call Mr White in, he has a scheme.
The Chairman: Yes; his scheme in the Serpent’s Well scheme
Mr Robinson: I should like to know what gentlemen stopped that scheme. I have often tried to get to know. There is as much water in the Serpent’s well today as there was last winter. We ought to hurry the district council a little. There is practically a water famine in Conisborough. I move that the council be written to.
Mr Smithson seconded, and the resolution was carried. –
That concluded the business of the meeting.