Annual Parish Meeting – 24th March 1896

Editorial note: The following entries for March 1896 have been combined, as they relate to the election of Parish Councillors, the Annual Parish Meeting, and the subsequent poll on the Lighting and Watching Act.

PARISH MEETING TO ELECT PARISH COUNCILLORS — 9 MARCH 1896
Held at the School Room, Great Longstone, at 7.00 pm.

The meeting was called in accordance with the Parish Councillors’ Election Order, 1894, to elect six Parish Councillors for the ensuing year.

There were about thirty electors present.
Mr Arthur Bates, Chairman of the Parish Council, presided.
The Assistant Overseer, Mr Thomas Shimwell, acted as Clerk.

The notice convening the meeting was read aloud by the Chairman.

Nomination papers having been called for, nine were handed in, containing the following names:
Mr Arthur Bates, Mr Charles Herbert Buzzard, Mr Henry Arthur Stanton, Mr James Orr, Mr Samuel Johnson, Mr Charles Johnson, Mr John Morton, Mr George Wager, and Mr William Smith.

All nomination papers having been found in order, the Chairman read the list of names and invited withdrawals. None were offered.

The Chairman explained that each elector might vote for up to six candidates, and that the election could be decided by a show of hands unless a poll were demanded.

On a show of hands the following votes were recorded:

The Chairman then declared that, subject to a poll being demanded and the demand not withdrawn, the following were elected Parish Councillors for the ensuing year:

Mr Bates, Mr Buzzard, Mr Stanton, Mr Orr, Mr Charles Johnson, and Mr Samuel Johnson.

At the request of Mr George Wager and Mr William Smith, a poll was demanded.

The Chairman stated that the date of the poll would be fixed by the Returning Officer and that public notice would be given.

Signed: Arthur Bates, Chairman

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING — 24 MARCH 1896
Held at the School Room, Great Longstone, at 7.00 pm.

The meeting was attended by about twenty electors and a few non-electors.
Mr Arthur Bates, Chairman of the Parish Council, presided.

The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held 28 March 1895 were read and confirmed.

The Chairman stated that the business of the meeting would be:

1. To receive the accounts of the Parochial Charities.

2. To consider the desirability of adopting the Lighting and Watching Act.

3. To discuss any other parish affairs.

The Vicar (Rev. Giles Andrew) presented the accounts of the Charities.
After a brief explanation of their administration, he stated that the figures were substantially as given at the previous meeting, with no material change in income or expenditure.

Mr George T. Wright moved the following resolution:

  “That this Parish Meeting, having regard to the increasing need for better public lighting in the village, desires that the Parish Council take steps to adopt the Lighting and Watching Act, 1833.”

The motion was seconded by Mr Henry Arthur Stanton and supported by Mr Buzzard, Mr Orr, and the Rev. Giles Andrew.

It was opposed by Mr Samuel Johnson and Mr Charles Johnson, who contended that the expense would be excessive and unnecessary.

On a show of hands the motion was carried by 13 votes to 9.
A poll was at once demanded by Mr Samuel Johnson.

The Chairman announced that public notice would be given of the poll, which would be held on the same day as the Parish Council election.

Signed: Arthur Bates, Chairman

RESULTS OF POLL — 30 MARCH 1896
The poll for the election of Parish Councillors and for the adoption of the Lighting and Watching Act was held in the School Room, Great Longstone, on Monday, 30 March 1896, between the hours of 12 noon and 8.00 pm.

Mr W. Leigh of Bakewell acted as Returning Officer, and Mr Thomas B. Mellor as his Deputy.

The number of votes recorded for each candidate was as follows:

The Returning Officer declared that Mr Bates, Mr Buzzard, Mr Stanton, Mr Orr, Mr Charles Johnson, and Mr Samuel Johnson were duly elected as Parish Councillors for the ensuing year.

The result of the poll on the Lighting and Watching Act was as follows:

The proposal to adopt the Act was therefore rejected by a majority of 34 votes.

Signed: Arthur Bates, Chairman
Dated: 30 March 1896