The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-01-26 00:00:00

KIDDERMINSTER.

THE OPENING OF NEW BOARD SCHOOLS.—SOMO
nevi Board school; the erec ion of which has just
been completed, were formerly opened in Mill Lane
on Tuesiey. The schools have been erected from
the designs of Mr. J. T. Meredith, architect, by
Messrs. Binnian and Son, and are replete with every
modern convenience and contrivance. They are
capable of accommodating 460 children, and are
separated into three classes, for boys, girls, and
infants. Thi having comphted the provision if
the necessary school accommodation for Kidde-
minster, the Chairman of the School Board—Mr. J.
13rinton, M.P.—made a statement to a public meet-
ing held in the new schools as to the work that
had been done by the School Board in Kidder:
minter since its formation twelve and three-
quarter years ago. Before that period tho total
number of children on the rolls of the elementary
schools in Kidderminster was 2,481, whilst at the
preent time the number was 4,765 ; an incrctse of
2,284. Ot this number the Board schools ook care
of 1,750, and the voluntary schools of the remainder
The present average attendance at the schools,
including half-timers, were—denominational schools
2,5.57; Board schools, 1,536. That was an average
daily attendance of 82 per cant. This was a high
average as compare! with that of all the school s in
the country, the general average being only 74 per
cent. The Board. c'-:oo's had been placed in different
parts of the town so as to meet the wants of the
population, an I also with a view of not intetfering
with existing schools. The cost of the erection of
the different schools, ineluding sites, was—Coverery
; Street Schools, accommodating 722 children £4,967;
Hutne Street Schools, to hold 241 children, £1,630;
Lea Street. to hold 389 children, £5,033 ; and Mill
Lane Schools, which would accommodate 465
children, £5,174. The total outlay average I as
nearly as possible £9 per scholar. He then pro-
eeeded to give the cost of the maintenance of the
• chools, and said that taking the School B. arcl
rates for the last three years they averaged only 4d.
in the pound. He contended that the Board had
not only benefited their own but also the voluntary
schools by producing more regular attendance, and
a consequent increase in the amount of the Govern-
ment grant received by them. He also spoke of
the harmonious way in which the School Board had
worked together since its formation —At the clos.!
a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. J.
Brinton, Id. P., on the proposition of Mr. E. Perry,
seconded by the Rev. J. F. Kershaw.
THE BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—At the meeting of
the Board of Guardians on Tuesday it was stated
that infermation had been received to the effect
that the wife and children of the defaulting rate-
collector. Tompkins, had emigrated to Canada, and
it was probable that Tompliins himself was there
als.).—lt was decided to eree.'t a temporary con-
valescent hospital at the Workhouse, to accom-
modate ten persons, at a cost of £135.—1t was
stated that the building w iuld be completed be-
fore the end of the week.—Mr. Milnes gave notice
that at the next in: cling of the Board ha should
move a resolution to the tffect thal-, in consequence
of the great increase in population and of the rate
able value of properiy within the borough of
Kiddermi aster since the formation of the Union in
1836, it was the opioion of the Board that two ad-
ditional Guardians wore required to represent the
ty4rough of Kidderminster on the Board, and that
application should be made to the Local Govern-
ment Beard for an older to that effect. He said
that since the formation of the Union both the
population and the rateable value of property in
Ktddermineter had Leen more than doubled.

t•IIOCKING ACCIDENT TO A 130 L-A. boy named
Joseph Har.is (14), met w,th an accident, which
resulted fatally, on Wednesday night. He has
been acting as as,istant to Mr. Perry, the librarian
at the Free Library. About a quarter to five on
Wednesday evening he was found lying in an un—
conscious state on: a landing near the bottom of
some stone steps leading to the room in which the
library is kept. He was picked up and conveyed
to the infirmary, where he died about two hours
after from concussion of the brain. It is believed
that he had been gliding down the wooden railing at
the side of the stew, and that he fell on to the back
of his head.