An advert from the Rushden Echo
Smith Optician later became Smith and Cottingham
It was reported that there were hopes of settling the dispute with the miners, and talks had continued during the week. However, owing to the threatened strike, in order to save coal, the Government made an order to the effect that, for domestic use, it was not lawful, without the authority of the local coal officer, to obtain by any means whatever more than 1 cwt. of coal a week for consumption, or to deliver coal to any house where there was already more than 10 cwt. The consumption of coal in factories was to be limited to not more than half the weekly average of coal used during the month of September, though this amount could be increased at the discretion of the local fuel authority. Stock of coal at either private houses or on business premises could be commandeered for the benefit of the community.
Public lighting was to be reduced, and shops and streets were expected to be as dark as during the war. The consumption of coal to make gas was to be limited, but the supply of electric lighting and power to Rushden was not expected to be seriously affected by the strike. The Rushden and Higham Ferrers Gas Works estimated that they could keep going for five weeks on the stocks of coal already in hand.
The price of coal had trebled, but it was thought that most householders had done their best to get in supplies for the winter.
An Invoice from Mr. T. Swindall to Mr. Joseph Knight, who had obviously been stocking up on his coal supplies.
The Ministry of Agriculture had decided to hold a National Rat Week from the 1 – 6 November, and asked the Rushden Urban Council to assist in the matter. The Council decided to take part in the campaign and to offer three prizes for the largest number of rats killed (£1, 10s., and 5s.), no number below 20 to be counted.
A census of traffic on the Irchester and Wellingborough Roads, taken during the week ending 11 September, showed that the number of vehicles registered was :- Irchester Road – 4,300 and Wellingborough Road – 4,719. At the Council meeting Mr. John Claridge said that the figures for Wellingborough Road, Rushden, surprised the County Roads and Bridges Committee more than any other figures sent it. The tonnage was two or three hundred more than that on any other road. The tonnage on Irchester Road was not so high but still surprising.
Wellingborough Road, Rushden
The Rushden Echo also reported an incident in the High Street. Through resting on the track that had been opened in the High Street, a heavy steam van sank and nearly overturned. The vehicle, which belonged to W. A. Pinks, of Kettering, had been left outside Mr. F. Clayson’s shop whilst the men in charge had tea at the Waverley Hotel. They were called out to find that one of the back wheels had sunk to the axle, and the van was hanging over at a dangerous angle. After about 1½ hours spent in jacking-up and packing the recess with stones the wagon was able to be removed to safety by its own power.
The same evening one of the stones used for packing shot out from under the wheel of a passing motor vehicle and broke a window in the High Street.
The incident occurred in this part of the High Street.
One of W. A. Pink’s vehicles pictured in Market Place, Thrapston.
The Northants Education Committee appointed several new teachers to the Rushden schools – Certificated assistants, Miss Elsie L. Manning to Rushden North-End Infants’ School; Miss Lilian Norman to Rushden Church of England Infants. Uncertificated assistants, Miss W. M. Wooding to Rushden Alfred Street Mixed, Miss B. L. Short to Rushden Alfred Street Infants, Miss L. M. Wooding to Rushden Newton Road Mixed. Temporary appointment, Miss W. Bates to Rushden Alfred Street Mixed.
The County Council also sanctioned the payment of £12 10s. 0d. for new radiators for the North-End School, in Hayway, Rushden. The Finance Committee recommended that only one-half, instead of three-fourths, of the sum of £23 5s. 6d. expended on heating apparatus at the Newton Road School at Rushden should be charged to the parish of Rushden.
North-End Schools, Hayway, Rushden
The tenders received for the erection of the memorial to the men of Rushden who fell in the great war were considered at a meeting of the Executive Committee. The lowest tender received was that of Messrs. Morris and Sons, of Kettering, and this was accepted. The work was to be started at once, under the supervision of Messrs. Gotch and Saunders, architects, of Kettering.