The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-08 00:00:00

BROMSGROVE.

THE HEALTH OF TILE DISTRICT.-At the monthly
meeting of the Local Board on Wednesday night,
Dr. Cart y, medical officer of health, reported that
during the past month 17 deaths were registered,
equivalent to a rate of 29-2 per thousand, against
15 and a rate of 25.8 in tie corresponding mouth oi
last: year. The births numbered 12 only. Dr.
Corey also read his annual report, which stated
that 219 deaths were registered during the year
ended 31st December, 118 malts and 101 females,
as compared with 136 in 1877, showing an invrease
of 83. The death-rate per thousand was, foi the
past year, 31.43, against rates of 1952,. 19.95,
2856 in 1877.6.5 respectively. The principal eattio
of the increase in the mortality was to be attribut,d
to the existance of zymotic disease and a very high
rate of infant mortality. In 1878, 45 children died
under one year of age, chiefly from scarlatina and
diarrhcea, being 16.4 of the registered births. The
death-rate was very high, and in a country town
like Brotnsgrove should not exceed 19 or 20 per
thousand. The births registered during the year
were 274, 141 males and 133 females, giving a
birth-rate of 39.32 per thousand, while in 1877 267
births were registered, showing an increase of 7.
' The birth-rate was exceedingly satisfactory, and
slightly above the average of that throughout Eng-
land.

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SCHOOL BOARD.—The monthly meeting of this
Board was held on Thursday, all the members being
present ; the Rev. G. W. Murray in the chair.
The report, of the attendance officer showed the at-
tendance had fallen off at some of the schools, the
non-attendants being principally girls over eleven
years of age, who were kept at home to nurse, or do
other work by their parents. It was stated that,
notwithstanding anything that had been said atAhe
Board, these children must still be sent to scho6l, or
the parents would be summoned ; and the officer
was directed to serve them with notices to that
effect. The name of Mr. Wilkes was added to tie
School Attendance Committee. A long discussion
took place upon the notice of motion by the vice-
chairman that the resolution passed at an extra-
ordinary meeting a fortnight ago, accepting the
plans of Messrs. Day and Yates for schools in the
Stourbridge Road be rescinded, and some warmth of
feeling was displayed. Mr. Horton, however, did
not propose the motion, as he said he saw it would
be uselers, and he was satisfied with the explanations
which were offered. The question then arose as to
what should be done with the plans—whether they
should be modified, as suggested, in sonic minor
details, and sent to the Education Department for
approval; or be sent to the L Ind Society to be
passed. It was resolved, on the proposition of Mr.
Horton, seconded by Mr. Cole, to send the plans
first to the Land Society, and if they refused to pass
them t) demand an explanation of their reasons f.a-
doing sof and that thereupon an extraordinary meet
big of the Board should be called. It was decided
t) give the stun of £l5 to the architect whose plans
were sent in and were nut accepted by the Board.