The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-02 00:00:00

oca anb pistrict Vetirs.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The weekly meeting
of this board was held yesterday, Mr. H. Billing.
ham in the chair. There were also present
Messrs. Raybould, Haskew, Hingley, Siviter,
Barr, Parkes, Griffiths, Wood, Homer, Plant,
Wright, Fiddian, Lavender Kelly, and Brooks.
Admitted into the house during the week 14 ;
discharged 8 ; dead 8; remaining 419 ; coy
responning week last year 429. Out-door re-
lief, Ningswinford district, .227 19s Id; Stour
bridge district, £l9 11i 01; Halesowen district,
£l6 2s 8d ; non-resident paupers, 93 4d ; total
£64 2s Od ; against £57 8s Od last year.—A
preceipt was received for the Staffordshire
County Rate amounting to 852 4s. 01 being
an increase on the last quarter of £l6l 7s, 7d.

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.
The usual monthly meeting of this body was
held in the Board Room, on Monday; Mr. Hughes
in the chair. There were also present Messrs.
Kelley, Perkin, Scott, Mills, Griffin. Hicklin, Ick,
and Woolley;
The minutes of the last meeting were read and
confirmed.
REPORT OF THE GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
The committee ha l instructions from the clerk to
prepare a statement showing the rateable value
of properties in Brook Street, Gigmill Road, and
Wheeler Road, and the number of lamps required
for lighting those ".streets. The particulars re-
ferred to were furnished by the clerk, and the
meeting authorised the lighting of the roads in
question. It was resolved to put one lamp each in
the two last-named, and a number not exceeding
seven in Brook Street.
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH'S REPORT.—
Number of deaths registered from September 23
to October 25th is 14, viz., 4 males and 10 females.
The death-rate is 16.8 per 1,000. The number
of births registered in the same period is 17,
viz., 11 males and 6 females. The birth-rate is
21.6 per 1,000. One death occurred from typhoid
fever.
The Medical Officer reported as follows on the
Post Office :—"The chairman of the General
Purposes Committee requested me to visit and
report upon the state of the General Post Office.
I visited it on the 2nd October, and found that
the ventilation was defective, and that it was in
an unclean condition. I spoke to Mr. Wilson (the
postmaster) about it, and he said that he did not
consider the ventilation defective, nor could he
afford to have the place cleaned. He also stated
that the enlargement of the Post Office was under
consideration, but that the enlargement would
not include the cleaning of the present office.
There was discussion on the report, and Mr.
Kelley said there could be no doubt as to its pre-
sent unsanitary condition, and it would be very
unfair on the part of the Commissioners to allow
such a "dirty, filthy hole " to escape, while they
required a poor man to put his half-a-crown-a-
week house in order. (Hear, hear.) He con-
sidered they should take the ordinary course of
serving the postmaster with a notice requiring
him to abate the nuisance, and if he did not do
so, to do it themselves, and charge him with the
expense.
'Other members expressed similar opinions. On the
motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Kelley,
it was ordered that notice be given to the post-
master to have the Post Office put in a proper
state.
-Mr. Kelley called attention to the price of gas,
add said now there had been such a reduction in
coal the gas company ought to reduce the price to
consumers. They promised to do so when coal
was cheaper.
Mr. Malin said they should have the electric
light after a time.
Mr. Kelley said they mist not wait for that.
The townspeople thought the Commissioners
ought to make an application to the Gas Company
on the subject, and he proposed that the Clerk be
instructed to write to the Gas Company
calling their attention to the promise made to
reduce the price of gas when coal was cheaper.
Mr. Icke seconded the motion, which was car-
ried.
The Clerk read a letter he had received from
Mr. Lancaster Owen, engineer to the Great
Western Railway Company, in reply to his letter
to the company, enclosing a letter from the vicar
and churchwardens of St. John's, and stating the
representations made by a deputation on the sub-
ject of the stoppage of Foster Street. The vicar
and churchwardens, Mr. Owen said, raised a ques-
tion of the legality of what had been done
by the company. As a matter of fact, the com-
pany had a perfectly legal right to do everything
they had dune in the matter, but it would be out
of place, for him, as an engineer, to discuss that
point. As to the way in which the inconvenience
might be met, the, directors could only mitigate
the inconvenience to individuals by giving, as
they had done, special instructions to the contrac-
tor t) get the work out of hand as quickly as
possible. With regard to the access to the
church, and in view of the temporary closing of
Foster Street, the company scene time ago ex-
pressed its readiness to construct a new road to the
church from Foster Street, provided the church-
wardens would obtain the necessary permission
from Mrs. Akroyd's trustees, to pass over a smal
corner of land about 16 superficial yards in extent-,
and really of no intrinsic value. Up to the pre-
sent, however, the churchwardens lad not ob-
tained this, and the company were unable to
execute the work which was contemplated. A i
temporary foot bridge at the point indicated in
the letter of the clerk to the Commissioners would
do all that was required for the present; but he
should hesitate to recommend the directors to
expend money in tempoaxry works. In view, how-
ever, of the difficulty the churchwardens seemed
to experience in obtaining the necessary land from
Mrs. Akroyd for the improvement of the road on
the side of the railway, and assume that the
expense of: the road would be saved to the com-
pany, he should have preferred to recommend the
directors to erect a permanent foot bridge over the
line at the point indicted, if the erection of such a
bridge would be accepted by the Commissionersts
and the church authorities as a final solution of all
outstanding
huttsteand church.ingestions :withEregudlto
The Commissioners passed a resolution that, as
far as they were concerned, the proposal to erect
a foot bridge mentioned in Mr. Owen's letter
would be acceptable to them,.and they trusted it
would be to the church authorities.
The Fire plugs Committee reportedithat they
had examined and tested the fire engine, the hose,
and the fire plugs. They found oue of the euction

pips of the engine defective, the hose in an
effective state, except one 50rt. length. They re-
commended that another stand pipe be procuied
that the extincteurs be removed from the police-
station to the custody of the town officer and
repaired. They also recommended that ten addi-
tional fire plugs be laid down. Several other re-
commendations were contained in the report, and
the committee advised that the formation of a
volunteer fire brigade be invited and encouraged.
The report was adopted, and the committee
were instructed to make a fire engine house in the
Market Hall.
REPORT OF TUE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.

Au improvement rate of 10d in the pound was
made. It is estimated to produce £650 on a rate-
able value of £19,827,
The Clerk read the following letter from Mr. E.
B. Marten, engineer to the Mines Drainage Com-
missioners :---•• In accordance with our conversa-
tion this morning,: I have to ask you to call the
attention of the authorities to the good effect of
improving the River Stour by removal of the
gates at Turney's, Parkes's, and Wollaston mills,
and thus preventing floods and facilitatinc, drain-
age: We thought several bodies interested might
unite in securing their removal, and the Town
Commissioners among them. Perhaps you could
obtain leave. Consider the matter, and ascertain
the probable cost."

Tlie Chairman said they were perfectly aware of
the desirability of the thing, but was it possible to
do it?

The Clerk said the several bodies in the ques-
tion would have to join. He suggested that the
consideration of the question be part of the in-
structions to the Drainage Committee.
The Commissioners acquiesced in this sugges-
tion, and a committee consisting of Messrs.
Hughes, Hicklin, Pagett, Scott, and Mills to con-
sider the best mode of draining the town, dis-
posing of the sewage, and removing the gates In
the ,river Stour was appointed as suggested by
Mr- Marten.

The Clerk said that the railway company had
as a matter of courtesy, forwarded a plan of a pro-
posed new road across the Mill Meadow, thong
it was not a place within the jurisdiction of the
Commissioners. They were going to cover the
whole of the Mill Meadow with sidings and erec-
tions for goods traffic, and in lieu of the present
footpaths they proposed carrying a raised footpath
upon a, bridge.

HOSPITAL SUNDAY.—The following is a return o
tho collections in the Churches and Chapels in thi
neighbourhood.—Oldswinford, £lB 18s lid; Chris
Cnurch Lye, £7 7s Od; Hambrey Hid Mutual Im
provement Society, £1 is Od; Hambury Hill Bibl,
Class, £1 is Od; Hambury Hill Chapel, £4 Os Od
Congregational Chapel, £8 16s 6d ; Wesleyan
Chapel, £l5 Os Od; Prosbytarian Chapel, £lO 83 2d •
Chawnhill Mission Church, £1 14s Od; St. John
Church, £7 is Od; Catholic Church, £6 16s Od •
Norton Barn, £2 Os 6d; St. Thomas's Church, £l2 Os
Od; Primitive Methodist Chapel, £1 103 Od; Wollas-
ton, £7 88 Od; Hagley Church, a 103 Od; Total,
£llO 14s id.

DRANUTIC ENTERTAINMENT, - The liemble
Dramatic Club have given three entertainments
during the week in aid of the Aberearne Collier
Explosion. It is much to be regretted that our
townsmen do nlft rally round and support enter-
tainments of this kind. Here we have a number
of talented gentlemen who give their time and
talents with the object of doing good in aid of
the distress, and have been supported by poor
audiences. There cannot be a doubt that trade in
the district is bad, but surely if the members of
the club give their time in rehearsing the various
parts and give their services gratis they
may naturally expect to receive a fair share of
public patronage. Some slight sacrifice should be
made on behalf of the gkeeral public to support
the efforts of gentlemen who come forward with
the philanthropic object of supporting the dis-
4Tessed. We very much regret that the attend-
ances were so meagre, and that the club did not re
ceive that support it so well desesved. Stonrbridge
is fortunate in possessing so many good per-
formers and can rank with any amateurs in the
Midlands. The Rink is one of the best in the
country, being capable of seating upwards of one
thousand persons. A stage has been erected by the
energetic proprietor, Mr. H. J. Hainge, thus
giving facility for dramatic performances, opera
companies, concerts, &c. The pieces selected by
the limbic: Dramatic Club were—Monday and
Tuesday evenings, the celebrated Irish Drama,
"The Colleen Bawn," and on Wednesday evening
the well known drama "Lady Audley's Secret."
'The characters were as follows :—Myles Na-Cop-
paleen, Mr. Alfred Wall; Hardress Cregan, son of
Mr. Cregan, Mr. H. J. Bird; Danny Mann, the
hunchback servant, Mr. D. Williams; Kyrie Daly,
a college friend to Hardresa, Mr. Wallace;
Father Tom, parish priest of Garryowen, Mr. W,
E. Gething; Mr. Corrigan, a pettifogging
Attorney, Mr. C. H. Holmes; Bertie O'Moore, Mr.
J. Davies; Servant, Mr. Cooper; Corporal, Mr.
W. Purchase; Eily O'Conncr, the Colleen Bawn,
Miss S. Davis • Anne Chute, the Colleen Rua,dh,
Miss Jessie Warner; Mrs. Cregan, Miss Eliza
Vaughan; Sheelah, mother of Danny Mann, Mr.
J. Coker. We need not say that the various
pieces were well and carefully selected, and the
parts were well sustained. Messrs. Wall,
Bird, Williams, and ;Gething were the lions
of the evening. Miss Eliza Vaughan as Mrs.
;i•egan was a great favourite, and each of the
above came in for a good deal of applause, which
was well deserved. On Wednesday evening
"Lady Audley's Secret" was played. The fol-
lowing were the characters:—Sir Michael Audley
of Audley Court, Mr. H. J. Bird; Robert Audley
his Nephew, Mr. D. Williams; George Talboys,
the husband of Lady Audley, Mr. W. E. Gething,
Luke Mark's, a Drunken Gamekeeper, Mr. Alfred
Wall; Lady Audley, Miss Eliza Vaughan; Alicia
Audley, daughter to Sir Michael by his first wife,
Miss S. Davis; Phcebe Mark's. the Lady's Maid,
Miss Jessie Warner. Mr. H. J. Bird appeared
quite at home as Sir Michael Audley, also his
nephew, Robert Audley, Mr. D. Williams. Mr.
A. Wall as Luke Marks was simply perfection.
Miss Vaughan as Lady Audley was much
applauded. The various characters she had
to assume were admirably rendered. The
other characters were well supported. The
farce "Turn Him Out" was very amusing. Mr.
T. B. Mapp as Nicodemus Nobbs caused roars of
laughter. Mr. T. Cooke as Mr. Mackintosh Noke
ably sustained the character; also did Mr. H. J.
Bird as Mr. E. Roseleaf. Miss S. Davis as Noke's
wife and Miss Jessie Warner as Susan, maid of
all work. In concluding our remarks we cannot
help saying that it is the best performance that
the Kemble Dramatic Club have given since
its formation, and we are sorry that the efforts
of the gentlemen who have given their time
have not been crowned with that success
they deserved, and that instead of; being a
success for the object'it was intended it is likely to
be a loss to the members.
SOCIETY FOB THE PAVENTION OF CRUELTY TO
ArnmeLs.—The annual meeting of this society was
held in the Commissioners' Room, on Monday
evening last; the Hon. and Rev. W. H. Lyttelton
in the chair. The Rev. D. Maginnis read the re-
port, which showed that the work of the society
had been satisfactorily carried on during the year.
Eleven convictions had been obtained before the
magistrates for cruelty. There were 160 appli-
cants for the office of agent, which became vacant
during the year, and Roland Dance, formerly
under the Royal Society, was appointed. The
report called attention to the desirability of
encouraging school children to be kind to animals.
The report was adopted, and ordered to be printed
and circulated. Lord Lyttelton was appointed
president; the Rev. D. Maginnis, Mrs. Holier,
and Miss Fortey secretaries; and Mr. S. Hughes
treasurer. Attention was called during the pro-
ceedings to the irregularity in the payment of
some of the subscriptions.
FOOTBALL STOURBRIDGE a. BURTON.--This
match was played on Saturday last at
Burton. The ball being started by the home
team was immediately returned to the middle of
play, where it remained in the hands of the for-
wards for the greater part of the game, the teams
being very equally matched. The game resulted
in a draw, each side touching down once in self-
defence. Players :—Burton: F. Fellows (captain)
and F. Evershed (quarter-baeks), F. Jennings,
and W. Richards (three-quarter-backs), E. A.
Jennings and W. Shilton (backs), C. S. Christopher
A. Adams, H. Moody, A. Foss, J. Porter, C. Brace-
well, H. Roder, A. Jennings, and M, Taylor (for-
wards).—Stourbridge : J. Aston and F. Simms
(backs), G. Trotter and J. F. Plant (quarter-
backs), T. Clulee (captain) and B. B. Dean (half-
backs), A. Plant, 8, Meredith, A. Otter, W. R.
Penn, W. Sneyd, J. Hack, S. Newman, W. Collett,
and R. Boardman (forwards).

AN. INTERESTING ADVERTISRAtENT.—The adver-
tisement of fortune of Samuel Heckscher, sem,
in Hamburg in the number of our gazette of this
day is very interesting. This house has acquired
so good a reputation by the prompt and discreet
payment of the amounts gained here and in the
environs, that we beg all our readers to take notice
of his insertion this day.
GRAND CONCERT.—A grand concert will be
given in the Victoria Hall and Rink on Thursday
and Friday evenings next by the celebrated Green.
head family. The names will be fresh in the re.
collection of many of our readers. They are re-
markably clever as instrumentalists and play
choice selections of operatic music. It is to be
hoped they will meet with that success they
doer ve.

CAPTURE OF A BURGLAR.—On Saturday night '
last, an alleged Birmingham " craeksman " was
entrapped while pursuing his avocation at a
public-house near Stourbridge the Labour
in Vain, kept by Amos Valentine Carter,
at Lower SW- inford. Between seven and eight
o'clock a domestic went upstairs to take the chil-
dren to bed, and entering their bedroom discovered
a man in the act of hiding himself. Fortunately
she did not lose her presence of mind, and while
the children ran down to tell their father she held
fast the door of the room so that the man could
not escape. Mr. Carter, accompanied by another
man, went up to the room, and the former secured
the prisoner, his companion snatching a "jemmy"
from-his hand just as he was about to use it. On
the police being sent for the man was removed to
the station, and on his being searched a complete
equipment of burglar's,tools were found upon him.
The instruments were all remarkably well
-shed. The man gives the name of "Henry
ellows, ironworker, 30, Great Francis Street,
Birmingham." On Sunday Mr. Wheeler, superin-
tendent of police, asked him what brought him
into the bedroom. "After money, of course," he
coolly replied. He is to be taken to Birmingham,
where it is thought the police will be able to say
something as to his identify.—The prisoner was
brought up on Monday at the Police Court, before
Messrs. It. L. Freer and J. B. Cochrane, on the
charge of being found with burglar's implements
in a bedroom at Lower Swinford on Saturday
night. The defendant was remanded to Birming-
ham till Friday when he was brought up before
Lord Lyttelton, Messrs, H. 0. Firmstone, and J.
Holcroft, Sarah Capewell was the first witness.
She proved taking the children to bed. She heard
someone in the bedroom and sent one of the chil-
dren to fetch her father while She held the door.
Amos Valentine Carter, the landlord, proved that
he went up stairs and found the prisoner in the
bedroom. He asked the prisoner which way he
got in and prisoner said "up the stairs." Witness
_

LXinis

dim sent for Pollce-constal;le Woodhall. William
Walters, maltster, said he was in Carter's house
on the day in question. About seven o'clock he
heard Sarah Capevvell calline, out. He went up
stairs with the last witness and saw the prisoner
in a bedroom. He had the jemmy produced in his
right hand in a position to strike. Mr. Carter
collared him and he (witness) took it out of his
right hand. Pollee-constable Woodhall said that
he received the priamer into custody from Mr.
Carter, He received a jemmy from Walters, three
large double skeloton keys, four picklocks, one
gimlet, three wooden wedges, a box of silent
striking matches, two pieces of candle, a pair of
spectacles, and 2s id in money. He afterwards
took the boots produced from prison's feet and a
pair of stockings was over the boots He charged
him with being on the premises of Amos Valentine
arter with the intention of committing a
burglary. Prisoner said "I have nothing to say."
.Prisoner was committed to take his trial at the
next Worcester Sessions.

VIOLENCE BY HAwKEns.—On Friday, the 25th
ult, a desperate affray occurred between some
hawkers at Broom, which led to a serious aasault
upon one of the number. The men are brothers
named Skarratt, and their feeling went so far that
one of them picked up a mattock, and struck
another Levi Skarratt, on the back of the head.
The injured man became insensible, and when he
recovered, and was rising from the ground,
another brother struck him in the face with a
spade, cutting through his lip and breaking off one
of his teeth. The two men made off, but informa-
ion being sent to Police-constable Payne, he bor-
rowed a horse, and overtook them. Their names
are Henry and Ishmael Skarratt, and they belong
to Worley Bank, Staffordshire. They were
brought up at the Police Court, on Monday
before Messrs. R. L. Freer and J. B. Cochrane
The prosecutor was very reluctant to proceed with
the case, and he did not wish to press the charge
against his brothers. The roadman whose tools
were used for the assault on complainant said the
man who was assaulted was as bad as the pri-
scners, and the men were each ordered to be
bound over in £5O to keep the peace for six
months.

CRUELTY TO A Hons.—.-At the Police Court, held
yesterday, before Lord Lyttelton, H. 0. Firmstone,
and F. Evers, Henry Tomkins, of the Lye, was
charged with cruelly iltreating and torturing a horse,
by beating it on the 28th ult. Police-constable Rea
proved the case. Defendant pleaded guilty, and was
fined £5 and costs; in default 14 days
CHARGE or DRUNKENNESS. Samuel Southall,
nailer, residing at the Lye was charged with being
drunk on the 27th ult. Police-constable Holingsworth
proved the case, and a previous case was proved
against defendant The chairman said they were de-
termined to put down drunkenness if possible, and
fined defendant 80s and costs ; in default 14 days.
THEATRICAL LICENSE.—Mr. Wall made an appli-
cation on behalf of Mr. Patch for a theatrical license
for 12 months, but not to play for more than four
months during the year. The application was granted
DRUNK AND INCAPABLE. -7 Thomas Smith was
charged with being drunk and incapable on the 25th
ult. Police-sergeant Rea said he was on duty on
the night in 9nestion and found the defendant lying
in the road quite drunk and incapable. Fined 5s and
costs ; in default 14 days.--,-Bridget Welch was charged
with being drunk and disorderly on the night of the
26th ult. Police-sergeant Jones proved the ease and
defendant made use of bad language. Fined 58 and
costs; in default three weeks hard labour.
PROPANE LANGUAGE.—MarY O'Donald was charged
w:th using profane language on the 10th ult. Police-
constable Madely proved the case. Defendant pleaded
guilty. Police-sergeant Jones proved several pre-
vious convictions and the Bench fined defendant 108
and costs; in default 14 days hard labour.
DRIINKENNESS.—EIijah Cartwright was charged
with being drunk at the Lye, on the 26th uit. Police-
constable Payne proved the case Pleaded guilty.
Fined 5s and costs; ih default 14 days.
SCHOOL BOARD PROSECU.TIONS.—The following
persons were summoned by William Jasper for neglect-
ing to send their children to school, Henry Page,
Benjamin Micklewright, Thomas Griffin, and each of
the defendants were fined.