Hillsborough, Northam: Oct. 13, 1376. Sir, —The Bideford and Plymouth papers of Tuesday, and the ‘North Devon Journal’ of Thursday, give in almost the same words a report of the meeting of the Northam Local Board on Saturday, the 7th inst. I infer there from that each of these reports was supplied by the same reporter. One paragraph of this report, in which my name appears, is certainly not accurate it runs thus — “Mr. Pynsent applied for an improvement of the road from Jacket’s-lane Bridge to Northam Burrows. Mr. Lemon moved, and Mr. B. Piclcard seconded, that the improvement should carried out. Mr. E. Williams moved, and Mr. Basset seconded, as an amendment, that it should not be carried out. Seven voted for the amendment and four against it. The amendment was therefore carried.” The inference that any one reading the above statement would draw there from would be, that I desired to put the ratepayers of Northam to expenses for improvement of a road, whereas my application by letter, which was of course read at the Board meeting, and which I append a copy, was simply to obtain the sanction of the Local Board to carry out by voluntary subscriptions in cash and cart labour, under the supervision of the Surveyor of the Board, a footpath, alongside of the road leading from Northam village to the Burrows, commencing at a point below the broadest part of the space between the hedges, which part is now utilized for deposit and breaking stones for road repairs. Further, I should have been prepared, under sanction of the Burrows Committee, when obtained, to have carted rubble stones wherewith to fill up the deep ruts of the road on the Burrows at its principal entrance at Pimpley, and also to place some on the arch of the adjacent bridge, now almost dangerous to ride drive over, the stonework of the arch having little metalling thereon. Towards effecting these small improvements, I sought from the Board no aid, and expected none. Opposition and obstruction my proposal got, which truly I was unprepared for, recollecting, as I did, a precedent, that about a year or two ago the Board had sanctioned a similar improvement namely, a subscription footpath from the road at Edy Cross to Northam Cross. To make the case quite clear, I subjoin a copy of my letter the Clerk of the Board, and his reply thereto, subsequent to the Board meeting.
[COPY OF LETTER.] Hillsborough, Northam, Oct. 6, 1876, Drear Sir, —As it appears to me that circumstances are at present very favourable for carrying out the following improvement, I write to request that you will lay this statement before the Local Board at their next meeting. – Yours truly, Thomas Pynsent: Charles Hole, Esq., Clerk to the Northam Local Board: “Suggested footpath along the lower part of the road leading from Northam to the Burrows at Pimpley, commencing near the Bridge, at the west end of Jacket’s lane, being below the wide part of the road now used for the deposit and breakage of stones, for road repairs. “There is now, belonging to James Blackford, in Hillsborough Quarry, a large heap of stones computed at 120 yards, which, as shown in the accompanying paper, written out by him, he agrees to sell for L1 10s. In the event of the above improvement receiving the sanction of the Northam Local Board, I will endeavour to provide subscriptions in cash for the purchase of the above stones, and for the discharge of some other incidental expenses for labour in loading the carts and spreading the stones, together with voluntary aid in cart labour for drawing the stones and depositing them at such places along the road as the Surveyor to the Board may direct”. With the above was sent to the Clerk of the Board the original of James Blackford’s terms, as follows: — October 5, 1876. Sir, — I have put back a heap of rubble stone in the centre of Hillsborough Quarry, amounting to about 120 yards, which I will sell, if it be required, for the sum of one pound ten shillings —£1 10s — Yours truly, James Blackford. To Thos. Pynsent, Esq., Hillsborough:
I subjoin a copy a letter which reached me by yesterday’s post. Northam Local Board Office, Willett Street, 11th October 1876. Dear Sir, — I am directed by the above Board to acknowledge the receipt of your letter the 6th inst, and to inform you that this Board will not consent to the improvement being carried out by you. Yours truly, C. W. Hole, Clerk: T. Pynsent, Esq., Hillsboro’, Northam. There is surely much to be learned from the above although, but few words are used; they may be regarded as a declaration of the principles which actuate the intelligent majority of this Honourable Board. First comes the candid admission, that the formation the proposed footpath would be ” improvement: Second, the using the term “being carried out by you” shows that “This Board” at 1east knew this, that the carrying out the suggested “improvement” would cost the parish nothing. Third, the climax of absurdity and obstruction is now attained by the resolution passed that this Board would note consent to the “improvements”. An honest and candid declaration truly of the principles of action, or rather inaction, which guides the conduct of the majority of the members of this model Local Board, which may be briefly summed up “This Board will not submit to improvements though the cost is nothing”. Able proficients indeed are too many of its members, of the class, so happily described by Dickens as skilled in the practice of “How not to do it”. I remain, yours truly, THOS. PYNSENT
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0835 Hennock: Thomas Pynsent: 1808 – 1887