Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 1 June 1883
Formation of a Burial Board at Conisboro
A meeting was held at the Church Sunday School, Conisboro’, on Monday evening, for the purpose of deciding whether or not the parish should buy the property adjoining the churchyard, at present occupied by Charles Hirst, for additional burial ground, also for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability or otherwise of forming a Burial Board for Conisboro’.
There was a moderate attendance, among those present being the Rev. J. G. Wood (vicar), Dr. Hills, Dr. Colley, Captain Johnson, and Messrs. Walker, Searle, Wigfall, Blyth, Horsfield, Booth, Morley, Geo. Appleyard, Jos. Appleyard, C. Kilner, H. Smith, &c.
The Rev. J. G. Wood was voted to the chair, on the proposition of Mr. Walker, seconded by Mr. Searle, and read the notice convening the meeting. He then stated that the members of the School Board had been in communication with Mr. Fisher, of Doncaster, respecting the sale of the land, and had received a reply, in consequence of which the meeting was called. He might state that the School Board had been waiting to hold a meeting on the question, but it was of no earthly use for them to meet unless the ratepayers decided to buy the plot of ground in question.
Dr. Hills then handed Mr. Fisher’s letter to the chairman, which he read to the meeting. Mr. Fisher expressed therein the opinion that provided a Burial Board were formed the sale of the ground would be a legal transfer. He had waded through numerous Acts of Parliament and had come to the conclusion that the School Board might sell the piece of land and the building adjoining the churchyard. The School Board should, however, in the first place pass a resolution authorising the sale of the land, stating that it was no longer required by the Board and fixing a price. The resolution would be sent to the Education Department, who would send down an Inspector to make inquiry. The Vicar said all that had been done. As to the power of the parish to make a purchase from the School Board and convert the requisite land into an efficient burial ground, Mr. Fisher said it appeared to be given by the Burial Act of 1852.
With reference to the course of procedure necessary the churchwardens must call a special vestry meeting, of which seven days’ notice must be given. At that meeting resolutions should be passed to the effect that the additional land must be provided, and the resolution sent to the Home Secretary, together with the resolution passed appointing a Burial Board for the parish, consisting of not less than three nor more than nine members. They must fix the amount to be expended in the purchase, and that sum and all expenses would be paid out of the poor rate. The letter concluded by stating that the Burial Board might make the purchase from the School Board.
The Vicar said it seemed to him that if the ratepayers purchased the plot of land it would be like taking money out of one pocket and putting it into another. They would pay the money from the poor rate and hand the money to the School Board.
Mr. Appleyard: Do I understand that the site has been purchased by the churchwardens?
The Chairman: No; there was a kind of understanding, but the transaction was never finished.
Mr. Kilner: I beg your pardon. The transaction was finished—the churchwardens have certainly bought it.
Mr. Searle: If there was an arrangement entered into was a deposit paid?
The Chairman: There was nothing of the kind. I know well enough that the arrangement which was made, as far as it was entered into, was entered into by the churchwardens on the understanding that if they did not buy the land it would be sold over their heads to other purchasers. The only reason they thought it right to begin the purchase was because they would not like to have had it used for any secular purposes.
Mr. Kilner: Will you put it to the churchwardens whether they bought it or not. I think they will say that they did buy it.
Mr. Walker: When the question of a cemetery came before us it was decided that it should be turned over to the parish instead.
Mr. Kilner: There was a resolution standing on the minutes of the School Board to the effect that the land was sold to the churchwardens.
Dr. Hills: On condition.
Mr. Kilner: On condition that the building should be pulled down.
Mr. Searle: Will you allow me to ask the price appointed?
The Chairman: I was not present at any of the meetings.
Mr. Ogley: Can you sell anything belonging to the Church without bringing the Royal deed belonging to the Church saying what property it belongs to. I have seen the Royal deed belonging to the land in question in this school.
Mr. Searle: I was always given to understand that if a School Board came to Conisboro’ they took possession as a legal right and we had no control over it.
The Chairman: When the ratepayers decided to have a School Board and we found that the old National School system was done for altogether in Conisboro’ we thought that as the rent of that place went towards the payment of the cost of educating children it was no use our looking after it. I am afraid in a short-sighted moment we let it pass into their hands and gave up our proper trust as vicar and churchwardens into the hands of the School Board, thinking that nearly every year the rent would be paid, and never foolishly looking forward to the time when the property might be put up for sale, or we should have let it pass out of our hands.
Mr. Appleyard: The School Board have had it in hand more than six years, and that gives them a legal right.
The Chairman: That is done with and settled, whether we like it or not. The question before us is whether the ratepayers will buy the ground or not.
Captain Johnson: May I ask the price of this piece of ground?
The Chairman: I do not know.
Captain Johnson: It seems to me that if we are satisfied—and there are many who have been here much longer than I have—the best thing we can do is to settle the lowest price we can and the manner in which the ground is to be paid for.
Mr. Searle moved that the ratepayers purchase the property.
Mr. J. Appleyard seconded.
Mr. Kilner: Before it is put to the meeting I should like to ask if the ratepayers are satisfied that the School Board have not sold this property to the churchwardens. It is now on the point of being sold to the parish. The School Board sold it to the churchwardens above twelve months ago. The deeds are not made out and there is no transfer. The churchwardens are here to-night. They know that they bought it, and if this thing had come up they would have paid for it.
The Chairman: It was never negotiated, because I was never invited to any of the meetings.
Mr. Kilner: Their word of honour was as good.
Mr. Searle: They told us that they had no money.
Mr. Kilner: They would have found money, no doubt.
The Chairman: They had no power to do it without me.
Mr. Kilner, in answer to a question by Mr. Searle, said he did not know how the money was to be fixed for payment.
Mr. Searle: Then I say it is off. Don’t you think so now.
Mr. Kilner: No, I do not. I have no objection to the parish buying it, but I want to know who the parish are going to buy it from. We, as a School Board, have not sold it.
The Chairman: The School Board have not sold it.
Mr. Kilner: That is a matter of opinion.
Mr. Appleyard: The churchwardens made the negotiations just to keep it in abeyance.
The resolution was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously.
The question of the formation of a Burial Board then came before the meeting.
Captain Johnson: It is strange that we have to form a Burial Board. It is simply an enlargement of the churchyard.
The Chairman: If it is purchased by the ratepayers, I think there must be a Burial Board.
Captain Johnson: Would it not be better to ask Mr. Fisher to state positively whether a Burial Board is or is not necessary.
The Chairman: He says he has looked through various Acts of Parliament and has come to the conclusion that it is necessary.
Mr. Kilner: You must form a Burial Board in order to have someone to sell to.
Mr. Johnson: Unless the money were to be raised by voluntary subscription.
The Chairman: A resolution has been passed that the ratepayers purchase it. It must be done out of the rate now.
Mr. Searle: If I understand it rightly we are bound to form a Burial Board. That Board, however, is not bound to spend any money.
The Chairman: Mr. Fisher says “At the same meeting another resolution must be passed appointing a Burial Board.”
Mr. White: That is definite.
Captain Johnson: There will be no expenses.
Mr. Appleyard: Are you at liberty to state what the expense of a Burial Board will be. We should be compelled to have a clerk.
Mr. Searle: No, we should not.
Mr. Appleyard: But I think you will find that you will have to employ a clerk.
Captain Johnson: It will simply be a transfer to the people who might be selected. They will be responsible, and the transaction will have to be in their names.
Mr. Walker proposed, and Mr. Searle seconded, that a Burial Board be formed, as they had no other alternative, which was carried unanimously.
Captain Johnson: I propose that the Burial Board consist of the Vicar and two churchwardens. They really are the trustees.
Mr. Searle: You had better fix the number first.
Captain Johnson: I propose that the Burial Board consist of three.
Mr. Searle: You had better have five.
Captain Johnson: I think three quite sufficient.
No seconder was obtained to the proposition.
Mr. Searle: I move that the Burial Board consist of five members.
Mr. Booth seconded.
Mr. Searle: I was going to move that the Board consist of the Vicar, the two churchwardens, Mr. Blyth, and Captain Johnson.
Mr. Appleyard: I was going to move that no gentleman propose more than one member.
Mr. Searle: I will withdraw my resolution, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. J. Morley proposed that the Burial Board consist of seven members.
Mr. Geo. Appleyard seconded the proposition, which was carried.
Several persons were then proposed as members of the Burial Board, among them being Mr. G. Walker.
Mr. Walker: I think my integrity has been rather challenged with regard to the transfer of the property, and I decline to act.
Mr. Searle: I hope Mr. Walker won’t back out. I have known him for many years, and found him very straightforward. If I had given way every time I have been challenged like that I should not have been here.
The Chairman: There is no one in the parish I respect more than Mr. Walker for his straightforwardness, honour, and uprightness. I do not think Mr. Kilner meant what he said.
Mr. Kilner: It was merely a matter of business.
The Chairman: It did look rather more.
Mr. Kilner: It was never intended so.
Mr. Walker: I receive that apology, but nevertheless I object.
Mr. Kilner: I did not offer any apology, Mr. Walker. There is no need for it; if there were any need for an apology I would offer one.
Mr. Searle: I have great pleasure in supporting Mr. Walker.
Mr. Blyth: I hope Mr. Walker won’t object.
Mr. Kilner only wanted to get at the bottom of the thing.
Captain Johnson was proposed, but objected on the ground that he had had quite enough to do with the cemetery question so far. He had done his duty, and would rather not have any more to do with the matter.
After some further consultation, the following names were submitted to the meeting, and the Burial Board was formed:—The Rev. J. G. Wood, Messrs. Searle, Booth, Blyth, Wigfall, Horsfield, and Kilner.
The Chairman said the meeting had to pass another resolution fixing the amount to be expended, and the Burial Board would make the purchase from the School Board, and do all that was necessary.
Mr. Geo. Appleyard proposed that the parish give what the licensed valuer appointed—viz., £150.
Mr. Blyth seconded.
Mr. Searle: If we were spending our own money we should make a strict inquiry, and we have a perfect right to do so in parish matters.
Mr. Appleyard: It will not make us poorer nor richer.
The Chairman: Whatever amount we pay comes back into the rate.
Mr. Searle: I would rather purchase it for less if possible, and risk its coming back.
Mr. Geo. Appleyard: I think £150 is the lowest price it could be sold for, because the Board could not realise the money to do on a less amount.
Mr. White: It is a lot too much for it. It is dilapidated now.
The resolution was carried, and the meeting separated after a vote of thanks to the Vicar for presiding.