Sheffield Daily Telegraph — Friday 09 June 1893
Parish Affairs at Conisborough.
Lighting and Consecration.
Last night a parishioners’ meeting was held at Conisborough, Mr. G. Walker, J.P., presiding, to take into consideration and adopt means for the lighting of the parish, and any other matter for the good and better government of the parish.
Amongst those present were Messrs. C. Kilner, W. H. Chambers, W. H. Smith, J. Blyth, Boomer, Gillott, Appleyard, Brockleby, Witty, Harrison, Pagdin, Holmes, Savill, and others.
The Chairman, in reply to Mr. Brockleby, said he believed the meeting was quite legal; if not, many meetings had been illegal. Mr. R. H. Sharp moved, and Mr. C. Kilner seconded, “That this meeting requests the Rural Sanitary Authority of the Doncaster Board of Guardians to light the parish of Conisborough with gas at as early a date as convenient.”
The Chairman said if the resolution was adopted the whole parish would be rated. Mr. W. H. Smith said it was time they had light, but he was opposed to the Rural Sanitary Authority doing it. Mr. Whitfield said the motion was illegal (laughter). Mr. Brockleby said he did not want to hinder the place being lighted, but the matter was already in the hands of the parochial committee.
The Chairman put the matter to the vote, and there were 34 hands raised for the motion.
Mr. C. Kilner brought before the meeting a letter received from the Home Office, ordering the Burial Board to at once have a portion of the cemetery consecrated according to law. He said he felt they were now bound to consecrate.
Mr. R. H. Sharp inquired as to the letter sent from the Burial Board to the Home Office. Mr. C. Kilner preferred not to read it; it was merely a recapitulation of the facts. Mr. Kilner sent for the letter and read it.
The Chairman said some of the Board members were showing an intolerant spirit, in the face of the fact that the Vicar would not accept the fees, but that the Vicar would now enter into a compact with the ratepayers, and he did not blame him for that. Mr. Brockleby said the Vicar could not bind his successors.
The letter from the Burial Board to the Home Office was read, and Mr. R. H. Sharp said it was excellent, and could not have been better prepared by a lawyer.
The Chairman, in reply to Mr. Smith, said three guineas would be the cost of consecration. Mr. C. Kilner and Mr. Walker had agreed to pay it. Mr. Walker said, “Yes, rather than you should go to prison.” (Laughter.)
Mr. Boomer said there would be a mandamus. Mr. R. H. Sharp said there was nothing diabolical in that; it was a harmless document under certain conditions.
The Clerk said the late Vicar was actuated by the purest motives in the matter. Mr. C. Kilner said he was not going to be a law-breaker, and he could say the Board would consecrate. He might be unpopular by that declaration, but it did not matter.
He then moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and the meeting ended.