The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1898-06-24 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

GOLCAR URBAN COUNCIL.  The usual meeting of this Council was held at the Knowl Bank School last (Thurs s day) evening, the chair being occupied by Mr. Wm. Crowther (chairman), There were  also present Messrs. A. Shaw, R. Pearson, S. Stephens, John Crowther, R. Brook, R. Taylor, Edgar Sykes, W. Lockwood, and D. J. Bailey (vice-chairman). The minutes of the last meeting having been confirmed, the Clerk repoited that the wages paid during the past month amounted to £69 3s. I id. The Collector had . .  bra,  obtained on the general district rate account, £69 3s. ild; and miscellaneous receipts were £3O 15s. od. Accounts received for payment by the Finance Committee amounted to £124 i4s. 3d., but there were other accounts to be paid before next meeting of £286 ss. id., so that the total payments due were £4ll 19s. 4d. The debit balance was £l6t 4s. I Id. Toe Clerk detailed what had passed between Mr. Howard, agent of the L. and N. W. Railway and himself, and Mr. Lingard (the collector), relative •to the rating of the station property. It was alleged that several portions had been rated which should not have been, and demurrage was specially made to the rating of the paved yards, the staircase of the two platforms, and the cabins. The rating of the property, the Clerk said, had been increased some£l2 per annum. As the result of an interview bctween Mr. Howard, Mr. Lingard, and the Clerk, the latter said he could not advise the Council to accept less than the amount which they proposed at first. He did not know the result, but if he received a notice of appeal it would be advisable to call a special meeting of Council, and consider whether it was advisable to run the risk of taking the matter to the Quarter Sessions. . _ _  A letter had been received from the Waterworks Manager of Huddersfield (Mr. J. W. Schofield), stating that his Council did not intend to raise the water mains belonging to the Council in the matter of raising the road at Scar House. If, however, the Golcar Council wished to have the mains lifted it could be done at their cost. The Clerk said they had no intention of doing this.  The Clerk read correspondence which had passed between himself and Mr. J. E. Lunn, architect, in respect to the plans which had been prepared for the sewage arrangements of the new mill in Dale Street, the property of Messrs. C. and J. Hirst. Mr. Lunn now appeared before the Connell with amended plans, the originals had been referred back, and after some explanation they were approved and passed. The Secretary of the Cyclists' Touring Club had written calling attention to the " Vehicles Lights Bill," which had been introduced into Parliament session after session, but owing to pressure of business it had never got to the committee stage. In many cases County Councils had themselves framed bye-laws compelling drivers of vehicles to use lights in the same way as cyclists were, viz.: for one hour after and • before sunrise. A form of queries accompanied the letter, which, the Clerk reported, he had filled in and returned as requested. A communication in answer to a previous letter of the Clerk's had been received from the Cyclists' Touring Club relative to the erection of danger boards in certain places in the district, pointing out the necessity of having a complete record of every board erected. They did not supply posts, but if the Council would see to their provision the Club would bear the expense. The Clerk added that he had sent for a tender for the posts, but had not received it. The annual report of the Urban District Councils' Association for the past year had been received, and was read by the Clerk. the opinion of the members being that much good work had been accomplished through the efforts of the association. 'rhe following letter was read in reply to the vote of sympathy passed by the Council : llawarden thistle, Chester, 14th June, 1898. Dear Sir,—On behalf of my mother and the family, I beg to thank the Golcar Urban District Council for their very kind messages of sympathy. —I remain, very faithfully yours, I.ll:Nta GLAwium..  Oa the motion of Mr. E. Sykes, seconded by Mr. E. J. Bailey, it was unanimously agreed that the Clerk write the Royal Humane Society and acquaint them of the ivery of the men, W. H. Roberts and Joseph Shaw, in saving the lives of the two children and the man Dryden, when the latter attemrted murder and suicide in the canal at Low Westwood, Golcar, on the I th inst.  The Nuisance Inspector reported several cases where ashpits were left uncovered, and on the motion of Mr. Bailey, seconded by Mr. Crowther, the Surveyor was ordered to serve notices of abatement within one month. This was all the business of public interest.