Parish Meeting – The annual parish meeting was held on Tuesday evening. Mr H Shepherd Cross presided, and there was an unusually large attendance. Mr WC Mole mentioned the subject of the parish footpaths and rights of way, but the chairman said the proper authority to deal with the matter was the parish council. Mr A Long introduced the subject of street watering, saying it was brought forward at the end of last summer, when it was too late to do anything. At the recent Standon parish council he was asked to bring the matter to the attention of the Braughing parish meeting and Mr Groom undertook to lay it before the district council. The dust nuisance at Puckeridge was intolerable and as one side of the street was in Standon parish and the other in Braughing it was thought that the two parishes might set conjointly. The expense could be borne in the proportion of two thirds by the District Council and one third by the Parish Council. The discomfort constituted a real grievance. The Chairman said the matter required consideration and should be brought before the next Parish Council meeting, while in the meantime the Clerk could make full inquiries. In reference to the County Council school repairs, a number of ratepayers desired information and a lengthy discussion ensued. The chairman said the contract entered into for the repairs to the school had not been satisfactorily completed. The managers asked and obtained from the County Council a copy of the specification. They then interviewed Mr Urban Smith, the county surveyor, and pointed out the deficiencies. The county surveyor reported, but the managers were still dissatisfied. Subsequently, a deputation from the Education Committee of the County Council consisting of Mr Barnard and Mr JS Symons, met the School Managers, together with Mr Urban Smith and other county officials. The two committees presented a report in which they said "Our conclusions are that the work has been done in an unsatisfactory manner, and the result most disappointing." A reply has since been received from the County Council thanking the Managers for the action they had taken in the matter.

Indian Mutiny – On Tuesday evening the Rev SM Stanley gave an interesting lecture in the Church Room on the Indian Mutiny, illustrated by 40 lantern picture. On the previous evening the lecture was given to a juvenile audience.

18 April 1908

Braughing Conservatives and Unionist Association – Last week the annual meeting of this association was held in the old Boy’s School. The President, Mr H Shepherd Cross was in the chair. The meeting elected Mr R Lanyon and Mr M Mole as councillors, and Mr AW Gray was chosen as secretary. The old committee, which is pretty representative of the parish, was reappointed en bloc. Some matters of interest were discussed and then the meeting closed.

Annual Parish Council Meeting - The annual meeting of the Parish Council was held in the old Boy’s School on Friday evening. Mr H Shepherd Cross presided and there were also present: Messrs WC Mole, WH Woodward, J Keast, CP Mole, J Marshall and E Lanyon with MR AW Gray (clerk).

Overseers - Both the old overseers Mr EA Drew and Mr AG Hart expressed a wish to be relieved of their office, the former from ailing health and the latter because he has removed to Bosen Green, a distant hamlet of the parish. The Council unanimously appointed Mr CP Mole and J Marshall to the office.

Braughing Sewage Field - The correspondence relating to this field between Mr AR Percival and the Clerk to the Hadham Rural District Council was read. It appears that the District Council wish to become the tenants of the field, so that they may have the sewage system better under their control. Mr Percival pointed out in his letter that the Council’s official could have free access to the field, and any additional ditches required could be cut. He would also arrange for the removal of deposits. Some of the Councillors advocated the District Council becoming tenants of the field as it would be a great advantage, though it might entail more expense. Mr E Lanyon thought it was unwise to cut the nettles that grew by the side of the sewage ditches as they acted as absorbents. It was at length decided, on the suggestion of Mr Keast, to refer the matter to Mr Percival.

Puckeridge Street – Watering - The clerk said that as requested he had made full inquiries respecting street watering. Mr Gwynn informed him that application to the County Council would be to no avail and that the District Council could apply for urban powers, which would entail a cost of £36 resulting in about 3d rate for the parish. It was acknowledged that the dust nuisance at Puckeridge arising principally from motor traffic was very bad, but the council owing to the great expense, could not second the suggestion made by Mr A Long. The Chairman gave an instance of a road in the North of England being watered by a by product of soda ash mixed with water and it was found effective to abate the nuisance. Moreover, it need only be applied twice during the summer months. This waste substance was under £3 per ton and the latter would last two years. Some local authorities used calcium chloride mixed with water to spray the roads with during the dusty months; but the palliative suggested by the Chairman is more economical and would doubtless enable the Puckeridge residents by a little cooperation to cope with the dust annoyance.

Revision of Public House Assessments - At the last meeting Mr CP Mole inquired why the licences of the public houses in the parish had been increased, so as to inflict a hardship on the publicans. The Clerk said he was informed Excise Officer that the licences were assessed on the gross value of the public houses. Mr Gwynn told him the reason for the increase was the need of providing the corporation fund and also for purposes of revenue. Out of 168 public houses in the Bishop Stortford Union 145 had been reduced in assessable value; but the assessments had now been raised again.

Prospective retirement of Mr WC Mole - For over sixty years Braughing has had no one to serve its public interests better than Mr WC Mole. He now said that owing to the infirmities of age and failing memory, he wished to be relieved of all responsibility at the expiration of his term of office as District and Parish Councillor. Many things had altered in the parish; but there were certain matters he should like to bring to the notice of a committee. Some discussion followed, and it was agreed on the motion of CP Mole, seconded by Mr Woodward, that the Vice Chairman be requested to submit again at the next meeting the memorandum with regard to footpaths and bridleways that he had previously brought to the notice of the Council.

Beating the Parish Boundaries - It was suggested that the parish boundaries should be beaten. The Chairman said in old times there were no maps, and it was necessary to carry out this custom. Boys were taken round and means adopted to cause them to remember landmarks and so the information was handed down, but with such good ordnance maps as they now possessed there was no need for observing the practice. Mr E Lanyon concurred, and the Council did not further discuss the subject.

Rating of Untenanted Property - Mr J Keast drew attention to the fact that the ratepayers of the parish had to pay the county rate on the kennels and stables at Hay Street, as they were unoccupied. He thought it would be wise to reduce the assessment. The Clerk pointed out that the county rate was levied on the whole rateable value of the parish even on all empty property. The Chairman said it was a matter for the Assessment Committee, who would doubtless reduce the assessment to a merely nominal sum.

25 April 1908

Prize Distribution at the County Council School – Just prior to the breaking up of the County Council School for the East holiday, the Rev SM Stanley attended the mixed department and presented the County Council awards for attendance. He congratulated the scholars on the improved attendance and pointed out that the mere cramming of their heads with facts was only one side of school work. It was far more important to build up character by acquiring good habits and carrying them out with firmness. He hoped they would make the most of their opportunities. He then awarded medals to George Head and Frank Drage, five book prizes and thirty certificates. He then went to the Infants Department, and after a few friendly words presented a book prize and four certificates.

Lantern Service – On Good Friday evening, instead of the usual church service, there was a lantern address in the Church Room. A shortened form of service was used, and the Vicar the Rev SM Stanley gave an earnest address on the crucifixion that was listened to with rapt attention. Some fifty pictures, mostly copies of famous paintings, beautifully illustrated the sacred theme. On the preceding evening, the Vicar gave the lantern address to the school children.

Easter at the Parish Church – The daffodils planted by the side of the churchyard path were out in all their loveliness on Easter Sunday, and presented quite a picture. The interior of the church was adorned with artistic taste and was much admired for the harmonising floral effect. The vases on the altar contained arum lilies, white narcissi, and white tulips, set off with fern fronds. The font with a graceful palm rising from the centre of the basin, the rim adorned with narcissi, and the basin with narcissi, arum lilies and ferns, looked very pretty. A large cross of moss and primroses was a feature in the recess on the south wall. The decorations were carried out by Mrs Shepherd Cross, Mrs Longman, Mrs Richards, Mrs Foster, Mrs Thompson, and Miss Skipp. The services were very bright and hearty, and were attended by large congregations. There were three celebrations of the Holy Communion – at 7am, 8am and midday and the number of communicants was exceptionally large. The services were fully choral, the anthem which was well rendered both in the morning and evening, being "He is risen" by Simper. The organist, Mr FJ Hubble also selected his voluntaries from Simper. The vicar preached at each service. Both in the morning and evening the bells rang out joyous peals.

Vestry Meeting - The annual vestry was held in the Old Boy’s School on Thursday evening, when the Vicar (the Rev SM Stanley) presided. Mr H Shepherd Cross, who was unable to be present owing to illness, resigned his position as vicar’s warden after five years service and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to him. The church accounts were passed, the expenditure being £90 1s 6d with a deficit of £6 3s 8½d. The church collections showed an increase of £7. Mr CP Mole was nominated as vicar’s warden, and Mr J Marshall was unanimously re-elected as people’s warden.

Annual Parish Tea – The annual parish tea took place in the School Room on Wednesday evening. Over a hundred persons were present and spent a very enjoyable time.