The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-04-22 00:00:00

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BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

FIRST MEEEING OF THE NEW BOARD.

The first meeting of the new Board was held
yesterday. There were present Messrs. Gran-
ger, Brooks, Plant, I'. Pargeter, J. Pateshall,
Homes, Burr, Weston, Higgs, Darby, Rollin-
son, B. Homes, W. Jeffries, Paskin, Bird, Fere-
day, Baker. hail, Wright, Rhodes, Fiddian, J.
Foley, Billingham, Ilaskew, T. H. Pargettr,
Guest, Griffin, Rose, White, and Pearsall.
Mr. Granger said the time had arrived for the
commencement of business. It was usual for a
gentleman to take the chair pro tem., until a
chairman was appointed for the neat year, and
he would therefore be to propose that Mr. E.
Brooks take the chair.

This was seconded by Mr., D.lrby, and carried
unanbnowdy:
- -

Mr. Brooks raid they had kindly appointed
him to take the chair pn, tent. They had got a
deal to do that day- and he should therefore be
as brief as possible in what he had to say. lie
would therefore propose that Mr. Granger be
appointed chairman for the ensuing year. Mr.
Granger had been a member of the Board for
many years, and he thought he was entitled to
their resrect, tie had shown great kindness and
courtesy to all with whom his duties had brought
him into contact, and also had great anxiety for
the poor, and he (Mr. Brooks);thought it entitled
him to a continuance of their respect--(hear,
hear).
Mr. Pargeter seconded it.
_

Mr. Ora"tiger then rose, sod said it was a very
great pleasure to him to he there that morning,
at the first meeting of the new Board, and he
could assure them that what he beard and saw
there that morning was a source of great grati-
fication to him and was highly appreciated, and
he would promise that everything that could be
done should be done in that room to merit a
eontintisocc of their 'avours. lie should not
occupy their lane long, as the future vice-chair-
ii had to I7l` elm eted, and there was a great
tiViki I I LIU L, a done; but ho could nut go
on without rapt essing his thankfulness for their
kindness. The nett business he had to bring
before t!b.in .he appointment of the first or
em iiiui %:e t•ehisi Man.

Mr. 1. itoilinson said he had very great pica.
sire iii prOPOtling that Mr. B. Brooks take the
vice-chair. Ile (Mr. Brooks) had been an old
member of the Board, and had always done
everything Le could for the Board, and to merit
the interest of the ratepayers.
Mr. Griffin seconded the motion.

Mr. Plant said he was very sorry he could not
endorse what had been said in reference to the
proposition, especially as it canto from one of
his own party— (cries of "party," and laughter).
He used the wont party because Ni. Robinson
had moved with him in the van of roform dur-
ing the last year. He felt exceedingly sorry to
dissent from the proposition, especially as he
had known the viee•chairman for many years.
They were boys together, and had spent many
happy hours with each other. His reason of
regret was because during the past year there
had been one uniform persecution— (disseutt—
to every proposition he (Mr. Plant) brought be-
fore the Board, with the exception of the motion
for the removal of the volcano or magazine as he
'night have called it, it was the oakum which
threatened the destruction of the Workhouse ;
and also with the exception of the enquiry into
the sanitary question. With these exceptions
Mr. Brooks had uniformly, with Mr. B. Wood,
opposed every proposition he brought forward.
kie (Mr. Multi would not oppose the motion if
Mr. Brooks had stopped short in his speech last
week, in which he said at the last meeting, "he
should come there again and claim their kind.
ness. Unless that gentleman could give some
explanation of the statement he (Mr. Plano
should declaim against his election as vice-ehain
man. If he would qualify it in some way or
other, then he would withdraw his opposition to
the motion, because he further said " that iu
claiming their kindness if they thought him
worthy of it, he should be happy to follow in
the same steps which he had already pursued.
He (Mr. Plant) now asked what were those steps
but continual persecution ? He remembered it
only the second week after the election he called
a meeting of the Board "to recommend to the
Assessment Committee the propriety of rating
all property according to law." Mr. Brooks, in
a fever of opposition, proposed an amendment
aluch, foriono.iiii) tor himself and the ratepay-
ers, was a,ti:druou on the suggestion of Mr.
rioilowa). Again, he asked for the release of
-lie poor cuildreu from their imprisonment in
toe houae.

:dr. Rhodes : No imprisonment (voices,
hear, hear.")

Mr. 'Plant continuing):( No Lyo Waste to•day
if you please (dissent). The proposition of
the boarding-out of pauper children was op-
posed. If Jr. Brooks intended to follow out the
same steps of last year by his persecution, he
should oppose his election. He repeated again
that Mr. Brooks and Mr. Wood were opposed to
everything that he (Mr. Plant) proposed, and
every proposition had been eloquently argued
with the word "bosh.' He should be glad if
Mr. Brooks would in some way qualify the state-
ments he made at the last meeting of the old
Board ; otherwise he should propose an amend-
went— (con( usion).
_

31r. Brooks, in reply, said Mr. Piaut had told
au untruth hi N hat he had said about Lim, lie
denied' that he had persecuted any man, woman,
or child, fie deuied that ever his character in
public or private, was associated with that of a
persecutor, and it was a very gross untruth what
Mr. Plant had said about him. That gentleman
wade a false statement about him last year by
charging him with baying spoken disrespectfully
of a respectable body of ratepayers, viz., the
Ratepayers' Association, at Wordsley, of which
Mr. F. Stuart, one of his (Mr Brooks's) best
trieud, was a member, and calling their pro.
ceedings "mob law." fie had proved him to be
wrong, and made him apologise for it.
Mr. Plant: I did not.
Mr. Brooks: You did.
_

Mr. Plant: I deny it.
Mr. Brooks: You did, sir. You said I called
them mob law. Its an untruth, and I have
proved it.
Mr. Plant: No, no.
.•

Mr. Brooks (continuing) said he begged to
say that he had supported many things which
tied been proposed for the benefit of the parish
of Kingswinford ? Did he not support the in-
quiry in reference to the nuisance at Wordsley,
ithick was traced to Mr. Pianes own door— (heur,
!mar). With regard to the Lye Waste, which
was represented by Mr. _Rhodes, no doubt Mr.
Piant v.e,ugut it was one of those isolated places
ice L... t., not require representing.
u rvi toe reform which had been
_dr. Brooks) would venture to
swir man in England whether the
own was not as economically managed as any
,ither Uniou ; for it was a great injustice to the
6uaril to say that the children were imprisoned
—(hear, hear). No children had more liberty
than they did, for they had more liberty than
riany of their own children in boarding schools
--(hear, hear). Dr. Moore, of Haleeowen, visi.
' Led ihe Workhouse schools some time ago, when
fie expressed his surprise at the remarkable
.iianner in which they answered the questions
.vhich were put to them—(hear, hear). The rea-
-on of the new schools being built was that the
eour Law Board worried them to erect a new
Workhouse, which would cost £2,000 or £3,000
:Lad the Board thought they could defer the mat-
,er until the trade of the district was much
setter. With regard to the bearding-out system,
it carried out, he ventured to assert that it
would not answer. In reference to what Mr.
Plant had said about him pursuing the same
steps he had taken during the past year, he
should endeavour, if elected, to do so to the very
,etcer (hear' hear) whatever Mr. Plant's
opruion or that of his party may be—hear,
near).

,
Mr. Jeffries, as a very young member, said
lie understood that the Board was composed of
gentlemen, and whatever wild scheme Mr.
Brooks may propose there were 29 gentlemen to
ilipose it, tun( if he suggested or proposed a
wise scheme there were 29 to support it, and
Liierefore he need not fear any opposition.
Mr. Brooks said it was through Mr. Plant's
p irty the Assessment Committee supported Mr.
Aeredith, which had cost them about £l3O.
i hey now bird to pay £4OO.
The Chairman said he should be compelled
Lo pm a stop to the discussion.

kr. Piaui : But he unhesitatingly said I told
lie. I deny it--(confusion).

T f"vf

Mr. White: I do think the, is Lye Wast,.
Mr. Plant : According to his statement I am
a liar—(lnterruption, followed by cries of " Lye
Waste again," and "Turn him out.")
Mr. Plant: He soid I told a he. Now I deny
it. I have DO animosity- against Mr. Brooks,
but I must ask him to qualify his statement.
The Chairman: I don't think this is a proper
time to ask for such explanations.
. . . .

Mr. Plant : But I must clear my character—
(contusion): . . _

The Chairman said he should proceed to put
the motien unless an amendment was put.
Mr. Plant said he did not propose an amend-
ment.

The Chairman said: It has been proposed and
Fec onded that Mr. Brooks be appointed first or
senior vice-chaii man, and as there was no am-
endment, Mr. Brooks was declared elected.

Mr. Brooks said he was exce dingly obliged to
them for the honour hey had done him in elect-
ing him first vice-chairman for the ensuing year,
and he should always do the best he could for
them.

Mr. P. Pargeter said he bad great pleasure in
proposing that Mr. I. PoHinson be appointed
cond vice-chairman for the ensuing year. He
had been suit mher of the Board for many years,
and he thought he would make a very efficient
vice-chairman.
Mr. Guest seconded the motion.
Mr. Plant, in supporting it, said he was very
proud to;endorse the sentiments of the two pre-
ceding speakers, and he thought he was a tit and
very proper person to occupy that position.
The Chairman then declared Mr. Itollinson
lected as second vice-chairman.

Mr. RoHinson said he was very much obliged
to Mr. Pargeter, and to the gentlemen who sec-
onded him, and he should endeavour to do his
best for the benefit of the ratepayers.
The Chairman then called upon the Clerk to
read the minutes of the last meeting.
Mr. Plant said he objected to the language
used in the proposition, to the effect that the
best thanks were due to the Assessment Com-
mittee for the efficient manner in which they had
discharged their duties during the past year.
Mr. Rhodes: You should have been here last
week, because it was proposed, and seconded,
and urried unanimously. This is a new
Board. •

Mr. Plai,t : But this is to approve or disap-
prove of. the proposition.

Mr. Plant :If 4it was carried you did wrong—
(chair, chair).

„
The minutes were then read. Mr. Holloway
then read the bye-laws.
It was proposed by Mr. Rhodes, seconded by
Mr. Brooks, and carried unanimously, that the
rules be adopted.
Mr. Hingham said he felt himself humbled
that morning with what he hail heard and seen.
The word party had been used. They were sent
there by the ratepayers to exercise economy, and
if they were there in the shape of party they
were in their wrong character (hear, hear). He
did not belong to any party, and he thought
those that did ought not to be there—(hear,
hear) —and he had great pleasure in proposing
that the following gentlemen be appointed the
Assessment Committee :—Mesers. H. W. H.
Foley, James Holcroft, and Edward :11oore,
ex•illicio members; the chairman, two vice.
chairmen, and Messrs. Bird, Burr, and Rhodes.
Three e.r-ottit.io, and six members of the Board
makes nine, which is a large and aa.ple number
for assessors.
Mr. Griffin seconded it.

Mr. P. Pargeter said he was very sorry to
have to interfere with anything that would in.
terrupt the hirinouy of the Board. He made
au appeal to the Board twelve months ago that
the parish of Kingswinford should be more
largely represented on the Assessment Commit.
tee. He should be very glad if they could add
one or two names of gentlemen in the Kingswin-
ford parish. He begged to propose that the
name of Mr. Edward Fereday be added to the
Assessment Committee. He thought they ought
to have three members added to the hingswin-
ford perish, to which he thought its extent enti-
tled it, in order for it to be fairly represented.
Mr. Paskine seconded the motion.

Mr. Plant said with regai:rito—tiTe ex-(yficios,
Mr. Foley was there but twice during the year,
and he thought he had the honour of seeing Mr.
Moore, of Halesowen ; but he was very glad to
see him, and hoped they had something better
to employ their time than attending the Board.
Men of distinction rarely attended.
Mr. Jeffries: Are we not all distinguished
men, Mr. Plant?

Mr. Plant; We are all distinguished members.
Kingswinford, that pays half of the rates of the
Union, ought to be more fairly represented.
Mr.Fereday thought it would give greater ant.
infection to the Board for them to elect the mem-
bers of the Assessment Committee singly.
Mr. Pargeter said that the reason they pro-
posed Mr. Feredey a member of the Committee
was that he was a large farmer, and as such paid
a large sum of money to the Union, whilst Mr.
Bird was connected with the mines. It was a
question for the Board to decide, aml he thought
they ought to be elected singly.
Mr. Plant considered there ought to be eleven
members on the Assessment Committee, lie
would rather take an odd number, because they
could then divide on any question, lie did not
seek any ()thee himself, kin thought it would
be to their interest to have eleven membersouill
he wou!d propose that the Assessment Commit-
tee consist of 11 members.

The Chairman said it must not be less than 6
or more than 12.

Mr. Plait: It is moved as an amendment that
we have 11 members on the Assessment Com-
mittee.

The Chairman then put the amendment to tl.c
meeting, when 13 voted for it, and it %as de-
clared carried.

Messrs. T. H. Purgetcr, Paekins, Homes, Ml-
liugh um , and Baker were proposed and seconded,
/old on being put to the meeting Mr. Pargetec
received 17 votes, Ifillinghain 15, Pdskins 11,
Baker 9, and Homes 5. The two first were elec-
ted.

Mr. Brooks proposed, and Mr. Bird seconded.
that Mr. Henry Smith be elected a member
eX•qfit'lo.
Mr. l'argeter said as there was one too many
on the committee, he would withdraw in favour
of Mr. Smith—lhear, hear).
The Clerk said he had been asked by Mr. B.
Wood, of Brockumor, to be allowed to inspect
he voting papers for that place. dhe Cleik also
reported that the election expenses amounted to
£73 tls 7d.

-.Admitted into the house during the week, 15;
horn, 2; dead, 2; discharged, 16; remaining,
425. Corresponding week last year, 337. Out-
door relief, Kingswinford district, £42 1s 5d ;
Stonrbridge district, £25 12s ; dialesowen
district, £23 11, 9d; total, £9l 68 70, against
£92 last year. . _ _

Precepts were received for the following coun-
ty rates :—Worcestershire, £451 178 7id ; in-
crease, £4l Is ; Staffordshire, .£193 us 10d ;
,lecresse, £398 3s Oid. The total expenditure
ior the half-year amounts to .£4,263, being an
average of 3s Ad per head of inhabitants of the
Workhouse.

Au excellent lecture was delivered in connec-
tion with the Christian Young Men's Associa-
tion by Mr. Shoebotharu. of Birmingham, on
Monday evening. 'the subject was " Leaf teach-
ing—uses, beauties, sod structure of leaves."
he lecture was illustrated with a beautiful col-
ieetion of leaves mounted on tinted paper, and
beautifully did the lecturer describe the connec-
tion that exists between leaves, flowers, and the
branches of troes. The audience expressed their
pleasure at the close by a very grateful vote of
thanks.

TRANSFERS.—At the Petty Sessions, yester-
day, before B. Littlewood, J. Ho'croft, and It.
L. Freer, Esqs., the following transfers took
place. The Queen's Head, Mamble Square,
from Charles Commander to Charles Millward ;
the Eagle Inn, Wollaston, from Jane Mogg to
Henry William Taylor; the Cottage Spring,
Wollaston, from Thomas Mullis to ThOUlad
Woodhouse; the New Inn, Lye, from James At.
twood to.Thonms Attwood ; the Hart-in•liand,
from Thomas Aston to Jonathan Gibson; the
Angel Inn, Coventry Street, from Edwin Parkes
to Henry Pagett ; the Foley Arms, Pediuore,
from Jacob Burford to E. Brooks.
. _

A CAUTlON.—Benjanun Pully, a youth, WEIS
charged aith absconding from the Union, on
Monday last, with theUniou clothes. William
Keightely proved the case. Defendant pleaded
guilty and he was committed for two months'
hard labour.

ALLOWING GAMINCE—Charles Powell, the Lye,
was charged with illegal] keeping his house open
for gaming, on the Ist. P.C. Walton said he
visited defendants house on the above date about
eight o'clock at night, looked through the win-
dow, and saw about 20 uien and boys. Six were