[The Times: Search: "Wandsworth Common"].
[BNA: Buckmaster Battersea 1878]
[BNA: Buckmaster Wandsworth 1878]
[London Evening Standard: Buckmaster Wandsworth 1878]
[NEEDS EDIT . . . ]
THE WANDSWORTH COMMON ACT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that nre the following are the NAMES of the CANDIDATES for ELECTION as CONSERVATORS for carrying the above Act into executution - namely:
JAMES DU BUISSON, of the Parish of Wandsworth, one of her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Surrey
CHARLES ECCLES, of the Parish of Battersea, ol,CT, 1871. the following far KMICTION Act into cxccu- Surrey. . . . KCCIiKS.nf th ranch Battersea, one her Majesty's Justices of t!.o rente for the County of Surrey.
CHARLES LAMBERT, tb� rarnh of Outgoing Conservators, who offer themselves for re-Election. nattorcen., ..
EDWIN RAYNER RANSOME, of the Parish of 1
THOMAS SIMONS WATSON, of the Pariah I of Wanilaworth. Dated Una ttb day of March, IS7R. NUGENT 0. WADS Clerk to the said Conservators,
[NEEDS EDIT . . . ]
Wandsworth Common.
The annual meeting of the Conservators of Wandsworth was held in the offices, St. Anne's Park, Wandsworth, on Monday - Mr. J. du Buisson presiding, the other Conservators present being Messrs. Ransome, Lambert, and Watson.
The clerk (Mr. Nugent C. Walsh) laid before the board the annual statement of accounts, from which it appeared that during the year the contributions received under the Wandsworth Common Act, 1871, from the overseers of Wandsworth, amounted to £244, and from the overseers of Battersea, £438, being in payment of a rate of 1/2d. in the pound, while the other receipts from various sources amounted to £96, making the total sum received £779. The total expenditure, including the cost of the maintenance of the common, amounted £821; but of this sum £88 had been paid to the sinking fund for lessening the loan to the Conservators of £1500 by the Commercial Union Company. This sinking fund now amounts to £393 8s. 4d., sothat the liability of the Conservators is only £1106 11s 8d.
Mr. J.A. Rose called the attention of the Conservators to a nuisance which existed at the corner of the Common, opposite the Hope Tavern. Refuse and filth of every description, he said, was being deposited there, and extended for a long distance. It was a most important part of the common, as three converging roads met there. He also drew attention to the wooden footbridge across the railway, which, he said, was in a very rotten and dangerous condition. If there came a crowd or a rush there, it would be almost certain to break down . . . He likewise remarked that the trees being planted were not the right sort of trees, or ones that would become valuable they grew up.
The chairman said the rubbish complained of was being shot into a hole to fill it up, and then trees were to be planted there. The footbridge did not belong to the Conservators, but to the railway company; and the Conservators would be glad of any hints or suggestions given to them by the ratepayers.
A gentleman present thought there had been some error in allowing acmiireetor, employed to cut cert tin ksach the common, id away and sell the Vsluab'c gravel and soil dug out. Mr. Ransome, Conservator, sail arrangement badbeu made with the contractor that should have earth took out in payment for the woik he Jid, and was not paid any other way. Toe wsnrhig were cut to divert the water from the spring *dl through the poods, as *o convert what was for nuisaoiar into a benefit.Mr Nng. i.t il-h. the dirk, ohsfrved that there was never anything dold from the common.Mr. W. H, lb ring top suggested a further exercise ot Conservators' borrowing powers. The present loan had been nearly all swallowed up in costs. The Common money spent on it now in planting trees and other improvements, which be a good investment. The rateable value of the two parishes which the Conservators rate of $d in the pound could charged had increased from .%360,151, in 1871, when the Wandsworth Common Act was passed, to %100,758 in the present year, or an increase per ecu', io eight years. This increase wonM.no doubt, continue, and enable the loan to paid off. It was had plan anticipate income, but there were exceptional esses, and this was one. Mr. Ransome observed that it was not within the Conservators% power to pay more off loan than they were now paying. Mr. Walsh staged that they had power Act of Parliament borrow to the extent of %3,of<), hnt mu,t pay off annually ooe tw ntieth part of whatever amount they borrowed. If, however, they borrowed anv more than they already owed, this iw-ntieth part and the interest would swallow op all their income, aud leave nothing to carry oo tha work of the day. Mr. Herrington said they had a yearly increasing in crime. Mr Ransome: But also increasing expenses. This year second common-keeper had been appointed, at %5O year salary. In unewe- to query, Mr. Walsh stated that the Conservator.,% income in 1871 was %597, and in 1878 it * about %7*l4, Mr. Rose thought the Conservators should soon possible get out debt and keep out, and only spend their money reasonably and rationally. He considered the contractors to the Conservators did not their work thoroughly. Certain paths were not made, and part of the common under water.Another ratepayer also complained that it was unsafe to erosi. certain parts of the common. Mr. Walsh explained that only about %2O a-year was expended with the contractor.
Mr. Ransome said the Conservators could only make improvements as the money came in, and had to little at time. Mr. Rose stated would furnish the Conservators with plan of suggested improvements. He then moved the adoption of the accounts as presented. Mr. Whitety seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Rose then moved a vote of thanks to the Conservators. Mr. Bradnam seconded, and took the opportunity of asking some questions with respect to the allotment of davs to various cricket clubs for matches more especially with regard to the Bolingbroke Cricket Club. It was explained that the Conservators waited till they had received npp icatinns from most of the lo'al clubs, and then allotted the dava early they Conll. The motion was then carried, and the meeting concluded.[Source: Link.]
South London Press - 20 April 1878
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[NEEDS EDIT . . . ]
I notice that the Spencer Cricket Club, which have so long monopolized portion of the Tooting side of Wandsworth Common, have now taken a private ground. The poets and rails still exist, but, it is to hoped, only temporarily. The sight of posts and rails on public common, which should be free and open all comers, is anything but a healthy one. the Couserrators will well to guard against any future appropriation of the space in question. yielding the petition Wandsworth Club, very unwise stop was taken, which was suitably resented the Battersea Vestry and others. Were all applications for space to play matches submitted to the ballot, all objection would cease. I understand several clubs will watch very jealously the course taken Conservators during the present season with regard to the disputed space in question, which is, or should be, the property of all. Should any undue preference shown, the opposition will take very decided shape - whether of the De Morgan character or not I am not able to say.
[PB: "whether of the De Morgan character or not I am not able to say" - ooh, a threat of direct action! (This is around the time of the Plumstead "riots".) Or is it just a joke?]
South London Press 7 December 1878
[Advert for Halbrake School, drawing attention to the school's achievements in examinations and the head teacher's translations of Moliere (see 1877).]
(Click on image to enlarge)
South London Press - Saturday 14 December 1878
[Head teacher of Halbrake not to go to Battersea Grammar.]
The statement which appeared in a contemporary on Saturday, that the Principal of Halbrake School, New Wandsworth, has accepted the head mastership the Battersea Grammar School, is wholly inuccurate. We have the best possible authority for stating that Mr. Wall has refused the offer which was, in fact, made him. That gentleman, we believe, prefers adhering to his own school, which, it will seen our advertising columns, has increased the success and popularity it enjoyed under Dr. Conder, the late Principal. That Mr. Wall would have made an excellent successor to the present master of the Grammar School cannot be denied, and the mere offer of the post to him not only testifies to the good judgment the trustees, but affords evidence of a desire their part to make the school a success.
[BNA: Link]
1877 | 1879
