The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-08-02 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.
BIRMINGIIA3I, Thrasdoy.

Orders for finished iron and pig iron were
distributed a little more equally this after-
noon, and the tone of the market was conse-
quently of a more cheerful character. As
usual the sheet makers came in for the bulk
of the specifications, which ran upon both
plain and corrugated descriptions for the
galvanisers and the wagon companies. The
wagon companies, indeed, are exceptionally
busy, and the orders for sheets for India are
assuming very gratifying proportions. Me-
dium-class bars were also in increased re-
quirement for our Eastern dependency. If
prices showed the same indication of im-
provement as demand there would be sub-
stantial reason for encouragement. Such,
however, is not the case, and the undersel-
ling is as marked as ever. The Northamp-
tonshire makers were pressing their pig
metal upon the market at ruinously low
rates, and one or two contracts were even
effected at Li 15s a ton, short weight. A
leading local maker of part-mine iron having
effected a transaction at the ordinary quote..
;,-it-,as of his firm was subsequently informed
by the purchaser that he had bought North-
ampton iron at 5s a ton less than he had
just paid for the Staffordshire iron. With
such keen compnition on the part of outside
makers, local smelters are unable to sustain
quotations at a reasonable point, and hence
certain producers Of common ion are con-
templating the blowing out of their furnaces.
On the other hand, cold-blast iron is meeting
with increased demand. The coal trade is
still lan:ruishing, tie warm weather affecting
the demand for household coal.

g,ccat an -.41171i5trti.,1

11.114_,ETING.

a this 131,1 Was (
l‘Lad/y ..asti Mr. Ilugh•. ia th chair.

tzi Cierk read the Iniuute; of thi3 last ineelinr,
Z 2,.; C7= e'-02ovee
YttEPORT 0F TB? FINANCE C031.7.11:i TEE.

r-s the several accounts
ss this date are aa follows:—Highway Account,

b-dance due to treasurer June 30. 1879, .2358 Ss
6d; cheques ordered, .2119 18s 3d; balance due to
treasurer at this date, .2478 Os 4d. Improvement
Account, balance due to treasurer June 30th. 1379,
-0168 Os 6d : cash paid to treasure 2136 Os 9,1
cheques ordered, .2602 10s lid; balance due to
treasurer at this date, £466 lOs 2d. Urban t,7anit‘
ary Account, balance due from treasurer June 30
tb. 1879, .2117 Os 7d; cheques ordered, ~c.:65 144 7d;
balauce due from treasurer at this date .251 Os Od
—Your Committee having examinel the various
accounts, and finding them correct, recommend
. them to be paid. Highway Account, :0168 5s 1,1 ;
Improvement Account, .259 Os 2d. ; Urban Sanitary
Authority, .245 12s 10d.
The report was adopted.

REPORT OF TILE GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE.
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEAT:l'll's REpoßT.—Num-
ber of deaths repistered in the town,ship for the
month ending July 30th, 1879, 5 males and 4
females. Death-rate 11.9. The death-rate durinc,,
the past month is very low. The infant mortality
during the month of May was very hjgh, during
June not a child died under 5 years of age. There
is no zymotic disease. Number of hiit'is
in the same period 20, vrz :-10 maleA and 10
females. There is nothing recorded in the Medical
Officer's visitation book.

TOWN OFFICER'S REPORT. - Nuisance, brought
for ward, 8 ; repotted during the month, 30 ; tot
38. B.ernoved, old, 7 ; new, 19 ; remaining, 12
Night. soil removed, 99 privies, 99 asi, pits, belong-
to 182 houses, have beet, emptied and cleansed Of
their contents. Number of loads 211. The slaughter-
houses, and bakehouss are reported to be it, good
sanitary condition. _ _

The chairman moved the adoption of the report
which was seconded by Mr. Billiugham, and carried.
Mr. Skelding and Mr. Grove attended as a depu-
tation to urge the desirability of a footbridge being
carried over the new railway at the east end of St.
Johns Church. The Commissioners' concurred in
the views of the deputation, and the subject was re-
ferred to a committee, who will probably bring the
matter before the railway authorities

The Clerk mentioned that a statement had been
circulated that the new line would probably be
opened on the Ist of August, but be learned from
Paddington that, as the line had not yet been in-
spected by the Board of Trade, it would not be
opened on that date.
A general district rat, of 3d. in the pound for the
half-year was signed.