The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-07-01 00:00:00

'Soca! anb pistrict

COMMISSIONERS MEETING.

The monthly meeting of this body was held
in the Board Room, on Monday last; Mr- Bil-
lingham in the chair. There were also present
Messrs. Woolley, Newnan', Blunsom, McEwen,
Emery, Packwood, Allsop, Captain Walker, and
the Rey. D. Magnolia.
The Clerk reau the minutes of the last meet-
ing, which were confirmed; also the minutes of
the annual meeting.
FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The Chairman said that the Finance Commit-
tee bad reported there was due from the trea.
surer on the Improvement Account, £1934s id;
on the Highway Account, £829 15s 10d.
The Clerk reported there were bills due on the
Highway Account amounting to £l5O 5s 11d,
and on the improvement account the sum of
£4BB 8s 3d. The accounts were passed and
ordered to be paid.
The Clerk submitted an estimate for sums re-
quired for the half-year ending Deoember 81st
next. It stated that the interest on £16070 6s,
at 4i per cent., less income-tax, amounted to
£B5l 10a 9d; haul eat on £1,500, at 5 per cent.,
less income-tax, *incanted to £B6 Ils 3d; for
the lighting of the public lamps, £l9B ; lighting,
extinguishing, ac., of the town clock, £l3 9s ;
salaries, £45 15s; stationery, law charges, &c.,
£74 fls ; fire engine establishment, £8 8s ;
election, £l5; total, £772 12810 d. In order to
obtain the requited sum, it was estimated that
a rate at 95 in the pound, on £16,597 141 7d,
would produce the stun of £540. There was due
from the lessee of the market tolls the sum 01
.697 Os 10d, and they would realise at the end of
the six mouths the sum of £195.

Captain Walker P-ir:olio-s-ed7-a-n-ii Mr. Newnan'
seconded, that the accounts be approved, and
the motion was carried unanimously.
The Clerk then read several letters from the
sureties of Mr. S. O. Smith, the lessee of the
market tolls, in reply to the application for the
rent due from the lessee for the tolls. They
both stated that they were quite prepared with
the co-operation of the Commissioners, to sub.
nit a case to an eminent counsel as to the dis-
puted tolls and also as to compensation, and
should the matter be decided against the lessee,
they would pay the arrears of rent. A letter
was also read from Mr. S. O. Smith, offering to
submit a case to counsel as to the legality of the
tolls and their bcing enforced. The Cho k, in
reply to the letter, had informed Mr. Smith that
if the relit I%i:re not paid payment would be en-
forced. Mr. Smith wrote a second letter com-
plaining of persons selling articles in the streets
instead of going into the wholesale market, and
also of others taking their carts over the River
Stour, out of the township, into Aniblecote,
where many of the shopkeepers went and pur-
chased their articles. He also stated that in
consequence of a certain printed notice having
been issued, he had lost considerable sums of
money, for which he had already asked compen-
sation.

Captain Walker remarked that Mr. Smith had
taken the market tolls for three years, for better
or worse, and it struck him that Mr. Smith was
the man to proceed against persons who evaded
the payment of the tolls, and not the COliallie•
sioners.

Mr. Woolley said that the lessee complained
of two lots of bills that bad been issued by the
Clerk, requesting persons to go at the back of
the Market Hall to make their purchases, and
that in consequence of those bills being issued
it had driven tne people over the bridge into
Staffordshire.

The Chairmau remarked that the bills were
cent out by the rtquest uf the Board.

~ . _ ........
Captain Wulker thought that by persona being
regnest.,tl to go to the back of the Market Hall,
it would be a benefit to the lessee rather than
otherwise.

The Rev. D. Maginnis thought it WIIS a mat-
ter to he referred to the General Purposes
t'ommittee.

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The Clerk read the report of the General
Porposes Committee, which stated that they ad-
vised the Board to insist upon the unconditional
and immediate payment of the instalments due
upon the market tolls.
After some desultory conversation, the Rev.
D. Magiunis moved, That the report be adop-
ted, and that the General Purposes Committee

be empowered to take such steps as were re-
quired to carry it into effect."
Mr. Newnam seconded the motion, and it was
carried unanimously.
The Rev. D. Maginuis also moved, "That the
General Purposes Committee be empowered to
proceed as they may be advised against any per-
son or persons refusing to pay the market
tolls." _ .

Captain Walker considered it was the duty of
Mr. Smith to take sueh steps.
After some discussion, the motion was
seconded and :carried.

THE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
The Clerk read the above report, which stated
that they had received a tender from Mr. B.
Houghton, of Brierley Hill, offering to make
Brook-street, as required, for the sum of .04,
and Bowling tireen-laue for elif
This was accepted on the motion of Captain
Walker, seconded by ),lr. Blunsom.
Messrs. Evans and Smith sent a tender to
pave the footpaths in Hagley-street. The first
was a large blue brick, which would make the
road four feet six inches wide, for the sum of
£l2B 16s 4d; anti a similar brick three feet ten
inches wide for .XB4.

On the [notion of Mr. Allsop, seconded by Mr.
Woolley, the larger brick was accepted; as was
also Messrs. Evans and Smith's tender.

The Chairman said the mortality returns
showed the health of the town to be in a good
condition. The number of cases reported at the
last meeting was.4o, which was now reduced to
28.

A grate by Mr. Edwards's was ordered to be
re-instated to its former size, on the motion of
Captain Walker, seconded by Mr. Newnain.
A letter was read from the Rev R. Eland,
complaining of a nuisance existing near his
house in Eidderminster-street.

After some discussion, the subject was referred
to
.the Turnpike Trustees.

There waS no other business.