The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-06-14 00:00:00

BROMSGROVE.

FIRR.—On Tuesday night, about half-past nine, '
the Brornsgrove Volunteer Fire Brigade were called
to extinguish a fire at the Beacon Farm, the
Lickey, occupied by Mr. E. Hadley. The conflagra-
tion originated in a barn, in which there Was some
straw and other produce, and extended to a coach-
house and stabling containing a quantity of guano,
&c, The brigade were unable to save this pro-
perty, but they confined the fire within those
limits, and prevented it from extending to the
house. The building and contents were insured.
The origin of the fire is uncertain,
BOARD OF GUARDIAN9.—At the meeting of this
Board on Wednesday, Mr. Wright presided. A very
lengthy discussion took place upon the question of
superannuating the late relieving officer for the
13elbroughton district, Mr. William Wyatt, who
has resigned his office at the age of seventy-four
years, after a service of forty-seven years.—Mr.
Booker proposed, and Mr. Huband seconded, that
he be allowed £3l) a year for the remainder of his
life.—The Chairman proposed, and Mr. Parry
seconded, that he be paid £5O a year for two years
as at present. —Mr. Lewis proposed, and Mr,
Pountney seconded, that no allowance whatever
mould be made on him.—Five voted for Mr.
L3Wia'S amendment and seven for the Chairman's
amendment, while nine voted for Mr. Booker's
motion, which, on being put as a substantive
motion, was declared to be carried, nine voting for
and six against it.—Mr. Humphreys (Clerk) pre-
sented his estimate of the expenditure of the School
Attendance Committee for the half-year. amount-
ing to £52 Bs.—The report of the Special Committee
on the building of the new hospital, recommending
some alterations in the specifications, &c., was
unanimously adopted, and it was decided not to
open the tenders sent in to Mr. Edge, the architect,
but to advertise for fresh tenders, to be sent in to
the Clerk to the Board.—At a meeting of the Rural
Sanitary Authority subsequently held, Mr. Wright
in the chair, Mr. J. L. Hobbes was re-appointed
Medical Officer at a salary of 2,40 a year.
A SINGULAR CASR.—At the Petty Sessions on
Wednesday, before Messrs. R. Smallwood and R.
H, .M.ilward (magistrates), Henry Warrhall was
summoned under the 18th section of the Industrial
and Provident Societies Act, 1876, for causing to be
omitted from the balance-sheet of the Bromsgrove
Provident Co-operative Soc'ety an invoice of goods
amounting to £32 lOs 6d with intent to defraud.—
The proceedings were take.). by James Powell.
chairman of the committee of the society, re, re-
seutedby Mr. Owen, Birm'ngliam.—Mr. Raiford,
from the office of Messrs. T. and H. Corbett, Wor-
cester, defended, and took objoction to the
summons, which was dismissed; and a second
sumir ons, returnable at once, was issaed.—
Mr. Owen, in opening the case, said the effect of
withholding the invoice was that the society's
balance sheet for the half year ended Christmas
showed a profit of more than £3-3, out of which a
dividend of 5 per cent, had been paid, whereas it
should have a loss of more than £5O. William
Tutnacy, secretary, showed that the invoice dated
Novernb,r was not produced at the audit in
January, and in February, when it was produced,
the date:was altered to December 27, and de-
fendant tallnitttA that he had altered it. In
cress-e xamination he said there was a large
deficit when defendant came to the society
to manage the busioes4, and he had helped
to clear that off. Did not know what benefit it
could be to defendant to withhold the invoice. In-
voices had previously been withheld, with the co n—
mittee's knowitdge. The butter to which the
voice referred was in ao out-house we en stock was
taken on December 27, and it was not taken into
stock, as the invoice was not produced, but some
other goods in the invoice were taken in.—Mr.
Oa en said this evidence had taken him by surprise,
and was not part of his instructions,—The magis-
trates dismissed the case, but refusal the applic-i-
-tion of Mr. Halford to allow*defendant cents.