Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 November 1881
Conisborough School Board
The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held in the Board-room, Conisborough, on Thursday evening last, Dr. Hills in the chair. Other members present, Messrs. C. Kilner, E. Greaves, G. Walker, and J. Wigfall. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
The Clerk stated that at the last meeting he was requested to write the Education Department, stating that the Board now proposed to transfer the cottage and ground at the corner of the Churchyard to the highway authorities and churchwardens, for improving the road and enlarging the churchyard, and to ask their Lordships’ sanction for the same; but before he had an opportunity of writing, he received a letter from the Department giving consent for it to be sold to the vicar and churchwardens of Conisborough, for the sum of £150, as valued by Mr. White. The matter therefore had stood in abeyance to the present meeting.
Mr. Kilner thought the proper way would be for the Board to sell the property.
Mr. Walker: Have we the power to sell it?
Mr. Wigfall did not think they could.
Mr. Kilner: Then have we the power to give it away?
Mr. Wigfall said the vicar had never signed the deed, and there was, he understood, no proper conveyance of the property to the Board.
The Chairman thought the matter should be now dealt with one way or the other.
Mr. Walker said in his opinion the best way would be to give a portion of it for enlarging the churchyard.
Dr. Hills was of the same opinion, as the churchyard was already full, and it would be a serious expense if they were compelled to have a cemetery.
Mr. Kilner said certainly if they gave a portion of the ground for this purpose it would put off the evil day of providing a cemetery a few years longer.
The Chairman said as far as the Board’s legitimate right to the property was concerned, he had no doubt about it. It had never been disputed, and the Board had hitherto received the rent.
Mr. Wigfall said the deed was not signed by the principal persons concerned.
The Clerk, at this juncture, got out the deed, and on examining it, found that it was duly signed and sealed by the then churchwardens and overseers, and it was also found that the vicar was the chairman at the time when the transfer of the property to the Board was agreed upon.
Mr. Kilner: You at the last meeting, in a conference with the vicar and churchwardens, thought it was not our property, but now you see it is.
Eventually, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Greaves, seconded by the Chairman, that the Clerk write the Education Department, asking their consent for the Board to transfer the property in question to the vicar and churchwardens (the portion) for enlarging the churchyard, and the remainder for improving the highway. The Clerk was instructed to give the Board’s reasons for this proposal.
A precept, amounting to 6d. in the £, was signed for meeting ordinary expenses for the next half year.
It was also resolved that the Rev. J. G. Wood, vicar, be allowed the use of one of the school rooms for a night school free of charge.
A cheque was signed for £14 14s. for teachers’ salaries, &c., and the Board adjourned.