Huddersfield Chronicle (11/May/1867) - Meeting of the Moldgreen Local Board: The Incorporation Movement
MEETING OF THE MOLDGREEN LOCAL BOARD.
THE CORPORATION MOVEMENT.
The usual monthly meeting of the Moldgreen Local Board was held at the Board Room, Bridge End, Moldgreen, on Monday night, Mr. John Day presiding. The other members present were Messrs. I. Robson, G. Wilson, J. Milnes, W. Ely, J. Byram, J. Hirst, E. Sykes, A. Kaye, W. Haigh, and C. Mills, the clerk. The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed.
Mr. Robson reported the result of the meeting with the Huddersfield Improvement Commissioners on the subject of a charter of incorporation for Huddersfield. It seemed, he said, from the remarks made, that a diversity of opinion existed as to the desirability of applying for the charter. Bradley, in particular, appeared to be determined against such a movement. He thought the Moldgreen deputation did not commit themselves to anything. He thought by joining Huddersfield Moldgreen would be amply supplied with water. According to the statements of the Huddersfield Commissioners, the only extra expense to Moldgreen would be the payment of a borough rate, which would include the watching of the locality. Against these advantages he pointed out the fact that in the council of a corporation Moldgreen would only be represented by two or three members, while any improvements required in the district of Moldgreen would have to be decided by the whole council, thus Moldgreen would stand in the proportion of three to 27 — supposing the council numbered 30 members. He considered the advantages of being well supplied with water, and the carrrying out of an extensive system of sewering and drainage, would be better effected under a corporation than they, as a Local Board, had the means of accomplishing.
Mr. Sykes considered it of the utmost importance that the Board should use their endeavours to obtain a constant supply of water, as by so doing some of the property would be enhanced in value from ten to twenty per cent. He believed if they were joined to Huddersfield it would not be long before the Huddersfield Corporation would obtain a large extension of their powers, and would supply Moldgreen with an abundance of water. The expense, he considered, would be little more than they were paying in rates at present, while the advantages conferred upon them would be very great. The sum they might pay extra would not enhance the price now paid for their own establishment charges. After enlarging upon what was stated at the Huddersfield Conference on this point by Mr. Hirst, Mr. Clough, and other members of the Improvement Commission, he concluded urging the Board to consider the question, and go with Huddersfield for the incorporation.
Mr. Hirst thought the Board ought to consider the question in all its bearings, and before they took any decided steps the ratepayers ought to be consulted.
The Chairman sugges that the Board should first pass a resolution on subject, and then consult the ratepayers as to what should be done in the matter.
Mr. Kaye thought the ratepayers should first be consulted, and the Board should be guided by the decision of those who had the greatest interest in it.
Mr. Mills, the clerk, coincided with Mr. Kaye's opinion, considering that whatever decision the Board might arrive at they could not bind one single ratepayer to that opinion, and suggested the calling of a public meeting of ratepayers for that purpose.
Mr. Milnes asked if Dalton was included? Being answered in the affirmative he expressed himself in favour of the movement, but did not think the ratepayers of Dalton cared for incorporation.
Mr. Sykes considered the corporation would take the whole district in its entirety in any charter that might be sought for.
After some further discussion, Mr. Kaye proposed "That a public meeting of the ratepayers the Moldgreen Board district be held at Malham Place Schoolroom at seven o'clock on Monday evening next, to take into consideration the proposed charter incorporation with Huddersfield."
Mr. Milnes having seconded the proposition, Mr. Ely suggested the Board should adjourn till Tuesday next, to receive the result of the public meeting in order to convey the same to the Improvement Commissioners at their meeting on the following evening.
After several other suggestions had been made, the Chairman, in commenting upon what had been advanced, spoke of the anomalous position in which Huddersfield was placed in the event of any great national or other important event occurring. He considered it time the dignity and commercial standing of Huddersfield was placed on a different footing, in order that the town might take its proper place which its commercial importance demanded. After adverting to many advantages he conceived Moldgreen would reap by being allied to Huddersfield, he alluded to the extensive system of sewerage which must ere long be carried out in Moldgreen, and urged that money to complete such extensive public works could be obtained (by borrowing) at much easier rates under a corporation than under their authority as a Local Board. He expressed an entire willingness to leave the decision of the question to a public meeting, believing there were a large number of intelligent working men in the district of Moldgreen, who would look at and examine the question with a view to ascertain whether joining Huddersfield would be advantageous or not. He was of opinion it would be best for Moldgreen to go with Huddersfield. He did not consider the rates would be any different to what they had been paying. Their usual rates were about 1s. 3d. or 1s. 4d. in the pound for highway purposes, and they had a district rate of 1s. in the pound. This was 2s. 3d. or 2s. 4d. in the pound, and Huddersfield had in their year a rate of 2s. 1d. in the pound, which was the entire expense of the Improvement Commissioners with the exception of a small sewerage rate and a cemetery rate that Moldgreen would not be subjected to. This with the addition of a borough rate of perhaps 4d. in the pound would be all the additional rates they would have to pay, in compensation for which they would have the watching of the locality and thus save the county rate for police purposes. The resolution for holding a public meeting was then put and carried.
Mr. Beaumont renewed his complaint of the intolerable nuisance caused by Messrs. Shaw and Sykes's brewery stables adjoining his house, and on the motion of Mr. Ely, seconded by Mr. Haigh, the clerk was instructed to serve an additional notice on Messrs. Shaw to discontinue the use of the building (sanctioned for a cottage) as a stable without the consent of the Board.
The Highway Committee reported the letting of dross breaking at 1s. per yard.
The committee reported having accepted the offer of the contractors of the Huddersfield and Kirkburton Railway, for damage to the roads of the Moldgreen district by the cartage of materials over the same for the formation of the said line of railway.
The salary of the road surveyor (James Sykes) was advanced from 20s. to 22s. per week.
The Finance Committee reported that during the month the collection of rates on highway account amounted to £80, and on district account to £105. The amount yet to collect of the district-rate is about £161, and of highway-rate £654. To collect on Occupation Road account £280, and of No. 11 highway-rate £11. During the month the Board had paid the first instalment (£381) and interest on the £1,000 borrowed for the formation and making of Occupation Road. The amount of payments for materials, bills, &c., was £119 7s. 7d. The amount expended on district account was £23 17s. 5d., and for wages and current expenditure £79 14s. 4d. There was a balance in the bank in favour of the Board of £103 3s. 3d. On the motion of Mr. Hirst, seconded by Mr. Ely, the minutes of the Highway and Finance Committees were adopted.
Mrs. Ruth Eastwood and Messrs. Bates and Gibson, of Dalton, renewed their complaint of the alleged fouling of water by the formation of the new sewer in Occupation Road. Mr. Thos. Brook, surveyor, being present stated the arrangement that was made with Mrs. Eastwood at the time the sewer was being constructed, viz., that a stream of pure water was to be conveyed to the yard of Mrs. Eastwood, for domestic and other purposes. The Board informed Mr. Brook that a resolution was passed to lay pot pipes across Mrs. Eastwood's field to her yard, but she declined to allow them to be laid down. A short conversation ensued, when Mr. Robson and the chairman, along with Mr. Brook, were appointed to view the premises and decide what was to be done in the matter.
Plans of new streets, on Mr. Richard Brook's estate, were laid before the meeting; also plans for the erection of intended new privies near Bank End Road. On examining the plans, it was found the intended buildings were placed too near a public well known as "Calf well," and were objected to on that ground. Messrs. T. Brook and Nephew, surveyors, deposited plans for a complete system of sewerage for the Moldgreen district, which they had been instructed to prepare. After a short inspection, they were referred to the committee appointed for the purpose of examining plans, &c., with instructions to report thereon.