Conisborough Parish – Allotments – Urban Powers – Footpaths – Fireman’s Clothes

July 1896

Mexborough & Swinton Times July 3rd  1896

Conisborough Parish Council.

Allotments

A meeting was held in the Conisborough Board School on Wednesday night, when there were present Messrs. Pagdin (in the choir), Mosby, Holmes, Robinson, Les, Butcher and Hirst. The first part of the business was for the allotments committee, half-an-hour being understood to be devoted for this purposes.

Mr. HOLMES inquired if the Clerk had a letter from Mr. J. Wigfall as to land. The Clerk produced the letter, which was to the effect that the land could be had at 50s. Per acre, and that the Council would be considered as yaerly tenants, they being held responsible for the rent. The land is near Mount Pleasant. Mr. Holmes pointed out that the Council were the responsible party whether Mr. Wigfall held them so or not. He thought the Clerk had better write and see if the land could not be had on lease.

The CHAIRMAN agreed that a lease would be preferable. Were the Allotments Committee agreed that the land was suitable for allotments. Was it suitable as to situation.

Mr. HOLMES: I don’t know that they have decided on that point. It has been talked about for over a twelve month now, and the only difficulty we had, as far as I could see was that we could not get it. I move we ask Mr. Wigfall to grant a five year’s lease.

Mr. ROBINSON: Would you not say seven?

Mr. HOLMES: I will make it seven.

Mr. ROBINSON: I will second that.

This was agreed to.

Urban Powers

The minutes of the last Council meeting having been read, Mr. Holmes said there was the question of applying for urban powers, a resolution having stated that Conisborough , Denaby and Cadeby would be included for that purpose, and that a town’s meeting should be convened to sanction the expenditure incurred by obtaining legal assistance. Mr. Holmes said he thought the resolution on the minister hardly conveyed a right impression as to his voting on the matter. He had his name down as being against the proposal.

The CLERK: Yes.

Me. HOLMES: It does not say what my views were.

The CLERK: No, you voted against the proposition.

Mr. HOLMES: Do the minutes not ought to briefly state why?

The CLERK: There was nothing else put to the meeting except the resolution.

Mr. HOLMES: By this, it would be supposed.

I was not in favour of the scheme for urban powers.

The CLERK: I have entered on the minutes as the voting was taken.

Mr. LEE: I moved it.

The CLERK:You had no seconder.

The CHAIRMAN: I think the reason why Mr. Holmes voted against it should be given. Mr. Holme’s amendment not finding a seconder, will do it.

Mr. HOLMES: The minutes are supposed to be a faithful record of the proceedings of the meeting. I am satisfied with my position, but anyone reading that minutes would suppose I was opposed to ??? of urban powers.

Mr. BUTCHER: You want a mask putting? – something different!

Mr. HOLMES: I only want a correct record of the proceedings.

The CLERK then altered the minutes as desired, and they were confirmed.

In answer to Mr. Lee, the Chairman said he would make arrangements for the holding of a town’s meeting now that the minutes were, confirmed.

Footpaths

Mr. HOLMES asked if there were not some business arising out of the minutes of the General Purposes Committee, respecting footpaths.

The CLERK said there was a letter from Cusworth Park, from Mr. Wrightson stating that there was no public footpath from Martin Well’s Farm; is was merely an occupation road for his tenants.

Some years ago workmen were given leave to go that way, and the general public afterwards tock the liberty of doing so, but they had always been stopped when on his (Mr. Wrightson’s) property. The large scale ordinance survey map directly showed no public right of way. The Clerk mentioned that the ordinance map had not been made more than five years, it was not guaranteed to be right because it was on the map. Reference was made to a person who had been recently summoned for being on the land, and it was remarked that he might have won the case of a lawyer had been engaged. The Clerk said the man had no idea that he was trespassing. The old parishioners said it was not a public road. He could personally remember when the footpath went in a different direction.

Mr. HOLMES: How long have the public used it ?

The CLERK: They have been stopped dozens of times, and for years back. Mr. Wrightson is not the sort of gentleman to say the path is not a public thoroughfare if it was not to.

The CHAIRMAN: I move the reply be accepted as correct and let it drop.

Mr HOLMES: Has the Clerk written to the District Council on the subject?

The CLERK: No.

Mr MOSBY: Have the Council’s opinion on that.

The CHAIRMAN: On the Ordinance Survey Map it says no public right of way. I move that the matter be referred to the General Purposes Committee to “sift” out.

Mr HOLMES seconded, saying the public was very much interested in the matter.

The motion was carried.

The Fireman’s Clothes

A letter was received from Mr Jones, captain of the Fire Brigade asking that Fireman Clarkson be provide with an outfit. He had been in the Brigade 5 months.

Mr BUTCHER said the clothes had been talked about some time.

The CHAIRMAN said he had seen Mr Smith respecting the suit of clothes. He had no grounds to work on and it was simply stupidity. He hoped the Council would see the fireman got his clothes.

Mr ROBINSON: It is rather funny that the whole Council should be set at defiance. Let the Clerk write demanding the clothes.

Mr HOLMES said the fireman would like his clothes for the demonstration on Sunday.

On the motion of mr Rayner, it as resolved that the Clerk , accompanied by a policeman go to the person concerned, and that failing the obtaining of the clothes, legal proceedings be taken.