Mexborough and Swinton Times February 11, 1898

Conisborough Parish Council

The monthly meeting was held on Monday night Mr C Holmes presiding.

The members present were Messrs. D Robinson, TW Mosby, WW Norwood, J Singleton, J Ravenscroft, JH Brooke, J Butcher, J Smith and JH Harrison.

Postal Facilities

The Clerk reported he had written to the Postmaster General asking for an afternoon delivery, and a Sunday morning delivery for the portion of new Conisborough within the Denaby Postal District, and had received an acknowledgement stating that the matter should have attention.

Damage to allotments

The Clerk reported that he had written to Mr Baxter, calling his attention to the damage done by his horses straying into the garden allotments belonging to the Council, and also requesting him to remove a heap of night soil which was a nuisance in one of his fields.

Mr Smithson: Have you had any reply?

The Clerk: I have had a verbal reply, but it is rather vulgar one.

Mr Butcher: What was it?

The Clerk: It was not fit for publication.

Subsequently the Clerk informed the Council what Mr Wagstaffe reply had been, and his description of it as rather vulgar was certainly accurate..

A Dangerous Hill

The Clerk reported that as instructed he had written to the Highway Committee of the Doncaster Rural District Council, asking for permission to erect a danger and caution board at the top of Clifton Hill, as requested by the Cyclists Touring Club.

He had received a reply thanks in the erection of the board conditionally to its being to the satisfaction of the surveyor.

It was resolved, after some discussion, to write to the Cyclist Touring Club informing them that the Board might be fixed as requested.

The Ferryboat Service

The Clerk said he had written to Mr Newstead, complaining of the inconvenience caused to the public by the inattention of the ferryman and every received a letter from him stating he had had no complaints on that score, but will make enquiries.

Mr Norwood: That is hardly correct, because we have made a complaint.

The Clerk: I expect he made before we wrote.

Wanted a footbridge

the Clerk stated that in accordance with the resolution of the Council, he had written to the manager of the Great Central Railway, asking for the erection of a footbridge over the level crossing near Messrs. Kilner glass works and I received a reply dated January 17 to which Mr Pollitt said, after carefully considering the matter, he could not see his way to comply with the Council’s request.

Messrs Walker and Crawshaw

The captain of the Fire Brigade presented his bill for these expenses in connection with Mrs Walker and Crawshaw’s fire, amounting to £5 9s 10d in which some 32s 4d was for refreshment.

Mr Robinson: I should think you had a barrel for that. (Laughter).

Mr Harrison: One barrel would be no good to the lot that were there.

Mr Robinson: Has Mr Walker had the bill? – The Clerk: Yes.

Mr Robinson: Was he satisfied with it?

The Clerk: I can’t say. (Laughter)

Mr Robinson: Was he satisfied with that item for ale? (Laughter)

Mr Jones (Captain of the Fire Brigade) said Mr Walker had told him the morning after he got the bill, it had been passed satisfactory by the assessor.

Mr Norwood: Did he pass this for refreshments?

Mr Jones said he supposed so.

Proceeding, he said he was not altogether responsible for the refreshment. Mr Walker was so pleased with the manner in which the fire had been put out he said they could have what refreshments they required.

Mr Brooke said it was not a large bill for the three hours work.

Mr Butcher: Is it not trade union rate of wages.

Mr Norwood asked how it was the sum of £1 had not been charged for the engine.

The Chairman said he had seen the question asked and answered several times, it was always stated that the charge for the use of the engine could not be made in the case of a parishioner. The engine belonged to the parishioners; they have paid for it, and could not be charge for its use.

Mr Norwood said normally it was for the use of the parishioners, but really was for the benefit of the insurance companies. When they modelled their rules they took the Mexborough rules as a guide, and a charge of £1 was one of  them.

The Chairman said most of their parishioners were not insured, and if the charge was enforced it would come hard on them. But he felt convinced it was not legal.

Mr Jones said the assessor had told him that if any charge was made for the engine he should object to it.

The bill was passed, as was also one of five shillings for one fireman extinguishing a fire in the house of a man named Handley, which had occurred that morning, with the hand pump.

Bellman and Pinder

The Clerk stated that two applications for the post of Town Cryer and Pinder, vacant by the death of Mr Fearn, had been received.

They were from Joseph Betts and Joseph Sykes.

The Chairman said the question was, had they the power to make the appointment. They had all the powers of a vestry except ecclesiastical powers, and he believed the vestry made the last appointment.

Mr Norwood said his opinion was they could only recommend to the Lord of the Manor.

Mr Harrison said he had heard that Mr Walker written to his the Lord of the Manor and he had replied that he wanted a Woodman, he had said nothing about the town Cryer and Pinder, merely that he wanted a Woodman.

Mr Norwood: Not a chimney sweep. (Laughter)

Mr Butcher moved the election of Mr Betts and Mr Robinson seconded.

Mr Brookes moved Mr Sykes but this will not seconded.

Mr Norwood: as not a gentleman named Dobson, better known as “Salty,” applied? (Laughter).

The Clerk said he had verbally but not written.

It was ultimately decided to appoint Betts to the post

Before the meeting concluded the council discussed the water scheme, more representation and the council’s economy.