Folios 119-124. Letter from James Saunders, Clerk to the East Dereham Local Board...

Folios 119-124. Letter from James Saunders, Clerk to the East Dereham Local Board in the Mitford and Launditch Poor Law Union, to the Local Government Board, enclosing a copy of the Dereham and Fakenham Times, containing the advertisement of the notice of inquiry to be held on 11 March 1885 in respect of the application by the Local Board for a provisional order under the Gas and Water Works Facilities Act 1870, 33 & 34 Vic c 70. He also encloses a copy of the printed notice of inquiry with a certificate endorsed showing that copies of the notice have been posted at the churches and chapels in the district and wherever public notices are usually placed.
Copy notice entitled The Gas and Water Facilities Acts, East Dereham declaring that John Thornhill Harrison, Local Government Inspector will attend at the office of the East Dereham Local Board on Wednesday 11 March 1885 to hold a local inquiry in relation to the said application. This being that the Local Board is desirous to supply gas in the district of East Dereham and to purchase the undertakings of the East Dereham Gas Light and Coke Company Limited. They have therefore presented a memorial to the Local Government Board requesting that a provisional order is made thus giving them the authority to acquire the aforementioned gas undertaking and also to be able to construct other gas works to manufacture and supply gas and residual products and further undertakings outlined in the notice witnessed by Harrison on 21 February 1885. The notice is endorsed to show that copies were posted at:
The Parish Church.
The Mission Church, Norwich Road.
Mission Hall, Norwich Road,
Cowper Chapel, Market Place.
Wesleyan Chapel, Theatre Street,
Baptist Chapel, High Street,
Primitive Methodist Chapel, Commercial Road,
Salvation Army Barracks, Theatre Street.
Also posted in Market Place, Wellington Road, Theatre Street, Hall Lane, Quebec Street, Church Street, Norwich Street, Commercial Road, London Road, Baxters Row, Toftwood Common and at the Local Board offices, witnessed 26 February 1885 by Charles Stewart, Town Crier.
Extract from The Dereham Times containing the advertisement of the notice of inquiry dated 28 February 1885, signed by John Thornhill Harrison, Commissioner.
Annotated: 'Letter referred to Mr Harrison [Local Government inspector] on 26 inst.'. 28 February 1885.
Annotated: internal memorandum to Mr Owen: 'I trouble with a reference at the present stage because I do not quite understand what line of action the Board may think it right to adopt in dealing with the details of the proposals now before them. The case is one in which, under Section 162 of the PH Act [Public Health Act] 1875 [38 & 39 Vic c 55], the sanction of the Board is required to give effect to the purchase of the Local Board of a gas undertaking.
If this sanction can be regarded as a mere formality or as a recognition of the [propriety] of the transfer without reference to the particular conditions which may be incidents of the bargain, it may not be necessary to consider any points arising out of the terms of the agreement between the parties. Part of Sanction Commits the Board to approval of the details of that document; I think that it may be well to note the effect of some of its stipulations. For example, as to Clause 12, see the minutes of the 16th and 17th instant. As to lands, it has already been pointed out that the tenure of a position is not stated. As to the leasehold portion, it may I suppose be assumed that as the unexpired term is longer than the period (though 50 years would be the maximum according to the draft PO) which the Board are likely to assign to the loan, the question of possible difficulty in obtaining a renewal on favourable terms does not practically arise. Probably also the leasehold and copyhold parts are of inconsiderable extent. Do you think that under all the circumstances, the Board may accept the agreement in its present form only inquiring as to the lands in Part III?', 19 March 1885.
Annotated: 'I think that the question of the issue of the Order may be proceeded with. When the draft order is sent to the [district] we might say that we shall be prepared to sanction the purchase of the gas undertaking by the Local Board for the sum of £5,400. At the same line it should be clearly understood that no liabilities as to be undertaken by the Local Board under claim 10 in respect of [illegible] to be paid for by them under Clause 9. The Board further consider that the Local Board cannot purposely undertake to repay any [compensation] whatever its amount, which may be incurred by the company under clauses 12 & 14. These should be a condition as to such expenditure. It is at least open to doubt whether the Local Board are justified in undertaking a responsibility for accidents to under clause 13 before the undertaking is transferred to them. The terms of the land should be ascertained', 20 March 1885.
Annotated: 'Enquire as to the land. Then to the Order Dept [department] to prepare PO [Provisional Order]', 21 March 1885.
[See also paper number 18282/K/1885].

Paper Number: 22649/1885.

Poor Law Union Number: 302.

Counties: Norfolk.