Conisborough Parish Council

Naming of streets.

The chairman asked the clerk if he had heard anything from the district council respecting the naming of the streets?.

Mr Hawksworth: nil; but I have heard, by the way, that it is to be referred back. They could not agree to the name of High Street.

Mr Norwood: they’ve referred it back to us and the sanitary committee.

Mr Pagdin: We had better leave it with the district (laughter)

Land at Kilner’s buildings.

The chairman reported that a deputation – himself and Mr Singleton – had waited upon Mr David and Mr Thomas Booth, about the land adjoining Kilner’s new buildings. Mr Thomas Booth had seen Mr George White, agent for Mr Montagu, about the matter, and had been requested to put his request in writing. Mr Booth had done so, but had no reply, and therefore could not give the deputation any understanding as to whether they should, have the land.

Mr Booth however had informed them that it was let on a yearly tenancy but he could not say whether they could sub let it

Mr Holmes: is their tenancy up?

Mr Pagdin: I don’t think they will be willing to give it up, they are willing to sublet it to the council. The matter must stand over until we hear from Mr Booth

Postal facilities.

Mr Holmes had a resolution on the agenda referring to petitioning the Postmaster general for better accommodation at Conisborough, but has he had found that Mr R. H. Sharp was already in communication with the proper authorities and was then present, he would prefer to hear Mr Sharp speak first.

Mr Sharpe, having been invited to speak said they would already collect that several attempts had been made during the years pass to obtain an increase of the postal service. The objection that had always been in the way was that the Postal Service would have to be done by cart to Rotherham; now, the authorities had themselves falsified this recently by the very fact of the establishment of a pillar box down at the station.

A fortnight ago he had come across a gentleman in his travels who turned out to be one of the managers in connection with the postal service staff of the district, and there conversation turned on the accommodation at Conisborough. The result was that he (Mr Sharpe) wrote to the official, stating that he could fortify his application by a memorial, which he got signed by several of the inhabitants with whom he came casually into contact. He did not make any canvas. The memorial was as follows:

“Dear Sir

We beg leave to direct your respectful attention to the inconvenience arising from the early hour in the evening your post office closes here. At present we cannot post letters at your P. O. After 7:10 p.m. and any letters after that period had to be taken by the inhabitants down to the railway station a distance at about half a mile, where they may be posted in a pillar box up to 9:30 p.m.

We beg to notify you that this same late train service is the same by which the adjoining district of Mexborough has served, but that they have the privilege of posting at their PO to the later hour, and we asked that the same may be extended to Conisborough that we may be able to post letters up to say 9 PM and that you arrange to send the bag down to the station.

It is superfluous to add that this would be an immense convenience to the inhabitants. And we respectfully submit, with an insignificant extra expense to the postal authorities. We have confidence in inviting your esteemed investigation and commands for the alteration named to be made.

Mr Sharp continuing, said he was certain it would very much strengthen the application if the council would support it. He had made enquiries at the station as to the use made of the box there, and he found the average number of letters a day was more than 50, and he thought that ought to be very conclusive evidence that the public convenience was not at present properly served.

Mr Norwood asked if he would suggest keeping the wall boxesopen to that time.

Yes, in time for the bag.

Mr Holmes said that when he decided to bring the matter as postal facilities before the council he did not know that Mr Sharpe had taken any steps, but under the present circumstances he thought they could not do better than support Mr Sharp’s action. He therefore would move the following resolution, as drafted by Mr Sharp, that the council earnestly supports Mr R. H. Sharp and memorialists under date of fifth of December 26, 1896, for an extension of postal facilities to 9 p.m. daily, as necessary requirements for the convenience of the inhabitants of the town, and asked for facilities to meet the commercial demands of the district. We also beg to draw your attention to the smallness and inconvenience of your present post office at Conisborough, and respectfully solicit your consideration for larger premises.

Mr Pagdin read a letter from the Post Office official, Mr F. W. Faveur ,acknowleging receipt of Mr Sharp’s petition.

Mr Norwood seconded the resolution, which was unanimously carried.

Fire Brigade

The chairman read the report presented by the captain of the Fire Brigade (Mr WM. Jones.)

The brigade had had eight dry and four wet drills during the year, they had been called out on two occasions, 1^st to Mr Bentley’s of Micklebring , and secondly to Mr G. Bradleys. The members of the brigade had given him every satisfaction.

The total expenses for the year were £16.13 s 6 d which included charges from a pair of horses on six different dates, at six shillings each time; payments to the men, £14 8s 10d; and repairs of boots and clothes, et cetera.

The only complaint of the brigade was the delay in payment after Mr Bentley’s fire. The clerk said the delay was due to the investigation of the insurance company. It was agreed that in future the council drawn a cheque for the amount due to the firemen, at the next meeting after the fire.

Some discussion arose as to the liability of the Council for the occasions on which the horses had been used.

Mr Pagdin asked if one occasion was not when the council had a drive round the village. (Laughter}.,

Capt Jones: no, sir; I think that once paying yet. (Laughter).

Mr Robinson: The council don’t want the parish to pay for the drive round.

Mr Norwood said it was paid.

Mr Robinson, moved that the report be accepted, and that a cheque be drawn for the £16 13s 6d

Mr Lee seconded. And the motion was carried. Mr Norwood voting against.

On the motion of Mr Norwood. Seconded by Mr Hurst. The brigade were elected for the ensuing year. At the close of the meeting the council went to inspect the fire engine in response to the brigade’s invitation.