Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 07 March 1902
Conisboro’ Parish Council. .
The Water Barrel.
The Water Enquiry.
The Churchyard Footpath.
There was not much public business to transact at an ordinary monthly meeting of the Conisboro’ Parish held on Monday evening.
There were present, Mr. C. Holmes presiding. with F. Ogley, Hy. Baker, Walker, Singleton. Hirst, J. Brocklesby, Smithies; and Brooks, with Mr. J. Hawkesworth (clerk), and Mr. Hodgson (cemetery caretaker).
Burial Board Business.
A cheque for£5 14s. 6d. was drawn in favour of the cemetery caretaker and grants of right for Meters. Appleyard and Wallace were issued.
A discussion arose out of a bill that had been received for repairing the water barrel.
Mr. Baker thought the charge of for painting, cleaning, and repairing the barrel excessive. He expressed the opinion that it would have been cheaper to have purchased a new barrel for a sovereign.
The caretaker questioned regarding it said the original cause of the tub was 10s.
Mr. Baker: And to repair it cost 18/9. I think Mr. Manager (referring to Mr. Singleton) you ought to look after that.
Mr. Singleton said in reply that the repairs were not those of the barrel itself but the framework.
Mr. Baker’s idea was to purchase a new barrel, and put it on the old wheels. Mr. Baker argued that in the bill the item was put down as barrel if it referred to the framework as well, the account was improperly made out.
The Chairman remarked that in the first instance the barrel was purchased at Wath and brought to Conisboro’. It needed painting and cleaning, and of course that made the barrel more valuable, and perhaps it then worth £1. As Mr. Baker had said, perhaps it would have been better to have bought a new one. The total repairs to the barrel had cost 27s. or 28s.
Mr. Hirst moved that the bill be passed this
Mr. Baker seconded, and it was carried.
A cheque for the total accounts, amounting to £1 10s. Id. ordered to be signed
The Council Business.
The Clerk read a note he had received with reference to the Barnsley to Doncaster tramways scheme, in regard to the enquiry that was to have held, at the Doncaster Guild Hall, and stating that the promoters had withdrawn the scheme, and that the enquiry would not be held. T
The Coming Enquiry
A question arose as to whether anything further had been heard with regard to the water inquiry, and the Chairman replied that he had not heard anything further, but he had seen a notice to the effect that the enquiry would be held on Friday next (to-day) in the Conisboro’ Church school. at ten o’clock in the morning and then, added the Chairman. “we shall be face to face again with the vexed water question”
A Case For The Clerk.
Mr Baker moved that the Clerk be provided with a case, in which to convey the Council’s books and correspondence et cetera to and from the council chamber that the case be stamped with the letters, C.P.C..
Mr. Brockleaby : Would it not be better to have the full name on the brass tablet?
Mr. Baker: I will add that to it, then.
Mr. Hirst thought a case or bag should be provided.
Mr. Brocklesby seconded the motion.
Ultimately the choice of a bag or case was left with the clerk.
lt was decided the insurance premium for the members of the fire brigade be paid.
The Churchyard
Mr Baker drew the Council’s attention to the state of the footpath through the churchyard; at present they were using that footpath more than they ever did before; owing to the presence of the church school, and there was no doubt the footpath was more damaged than hitherto. He wished to ask whether it was not right that the Council or the District Council should repair that pathway, as well as others in the parish.
Mr: Ogley said he believed a churchyard repair committee did exist, but he they had exhausted their funds and would be glad of financial assistance.
The Chairman was of opinion that if the Council spent any money on the footpath they were liable to be surcharged. The churchwardens were responsible for the repair of the footpath.
Mr. Baker: But it is as public a footpath as there is.
Mr. Hirst agreed with the Chairman that the Council would not be allowed to spend any money upon this footpath. He thought the churchwardens had power to close the footpath at any time.
The Chairman said that council’s advice was that on no account could a parish council spend money upon a churchyard. If the Council liked to defer the question an opinion could be obtained.
Mr. Brocklesby: I am not in favour of making a grant to the churchwardens, but I am in favour of mending the footpath.
The question was deferred until the next meeting in order that legal opinion might be obtained. Mr. Oxley being the proposer and Mr. Hirst the second of the motion.
This concluded the public business, the Council going into committee on the water question.