Conisbro’ Parish Council

New Year Greetings.

An ordinary monthly meeting was held on Monday evening in the new Board schools, the chairman, Mr. J. Brockleby presiding, there being present Messrs. Henry Baker, Walker, Brooks, and F. Ogley, with the Clerk (Mr. J. H. Swerworth), Mr. Hodgson, cemetery caretaker.

The Chairman wished all the members a prosperous and a happy new year.

Mr. Baker: Thank you very much; we wish you the like, sir.

The Chairman said he thought no one would regret that the old year had gone. During the past year they had gone through a long, lingering colliery dispute, and yet they were suffering from its after effects, in the shape of bad trade. They had experienced a very bad summer, and the glass bottle industry was in a very bad condition. He hoped they had reached the limit of bad, that the new year of 1904 would prove to be one of great prosperity. Referring to the work accomplished by the Council during the past year, he was sure that the ratepayers could not charge them with being extravagant. During the past year they only spent one-third of what they were entitled to spend. (Hear, hear.) They had tried to use the ratepayers’ pockets in every possible way. He hoped better and brighter days were in store for all.

The minutes of the burial committee and the Council were read and confirmed.

The Chairman, referring to the removal of the gas lamp opposite the Post Office, said that the deputation appointed by the Council to wait upon Mr. Himer had done so, and had received a notice to the effect that the matter had been attended to.

Mr. Baker: A very prompt reply, too.

The Chairman: I have heard since that the Post Office authorities have granted our request for an extended delivery.

Mr. Baker said that so far as the Post Office lamp was concerned, the cost of it had been carried out very expeditiously, but the light was about the worst in Conisbro’. The burner was the smallest he had seen.

The Chairman: Then we want a new burner, I presume?

The Clerk: I will see to that.

Accounts amounting to £7 5s. 6d. were passed for payment on the burial account.

Mr. Jones, the captain of the Fire Brigade, submitted his yearly report, which was approved:—“To the chairman and Members of the Council.—It gives me great pleasure in submitting to you my eighth annual report. In the first place, we have been called out to two fires, which were both serious. The first was at the Wesleyan Church, and the second at Mr. Wilson’s saw-mill. I am pleased to say that the firemen responded to the fire bell in excellent time, and did good service, especially at the Wesleyan Chapel, and I am sure our good work was highly appreciated by the trustees of the Wesleyan Church, who entertained us to an excellent supper, and also presented us with an illuminated address, which I can assure you we are very proud of. I am sorry to say that Mr. Wilson’s fire was a great loss to him, but I am pleased to say that Mr. Wilson expressed himself highly satisfied with the work of the Brigade. We have attended several demonstrations for the benefit of charitable institutions. We attended the National Fire Brigade Union competition at Bradford, and won the Rotherham Challenge Cup previously won by Grimsby and Bradford. We also attended the Yorkshire Fire Brigade demonstration at Scarboro’. I am highly pleased and satisfied with the way my men have responded to my calls, and also with their good conduct when on duty. There is one thing that I feel I ought to call your attention to: that is that combustible material has been allowed to accumulate in the vicinity of the place at the present time, which, I am sure, is a long way behind the times for a place like Conisbro’, and I feel sure that, should a serious fire occur in some of our high buildings, where life and death is at stake, the result may be serious.—I remain, yours obediently, William Jones, Captain.”

Captain Jones also applied for the usual grant of £6 per member which, in previous years, the Council had allowed to defray expenses incurred through attending the annual demonstration of Yorkshire Fire Brigades. Last year the auditor refused to sanction the grant. The Committee stated that the salary of the Fire Brigade be 7s. per member. The Clerk said the resolution for increase of salary should be passed at the present time of the year. If a resolution such as proposed by the Chairman was carried that evening, it would be too late for the extra remuneration to be sanctioned by the auditor in March. The resolution would not come into operation until the following year.—The further consideration of the subject was adjourned until the next meeting.—The remainder of the business was of a local character.