The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-06-03 00:00:00

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11 STOTT PP afFerE OPRETIVFII.

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVERHAMTON, WEDNESDAY.

Such a small attendance as that on 'Change
this afternoon has not been known for a very
long time, and it looked—to use the words of
one of the attendants—that both merchants and
ironmasters had gone to see the Derby. Matters
in connection with trade still remain in a very
unsettled condition ; and whilst there is a
difficulty in obtaining orders makers assert that
they experience a still greater difficulty in
making iron at a profit. But few works are at
all employed, and the continued depression has
been and is daily materially affecting other
trades in the district wh.ch are dependent
indirectly upon the iron trade. The principal
topic this afternoon was realtive to the action
of the mineowners in connection with the mines
drainage of the Bilston district. General regret
was expressed at the course adopted, on the
ground that by the reduction of the out.put of
coal the trade of the district will be still further
embarrassed. The opponents to the rate on the
other hand argue that the dietrict was drained
and works progressed satisfactorily before the
passing of the Act, and so they will when the
scheme is abandoned. The matter, as explained
yesterday by Mr. Fowler, will have to receive
the consideration of the Commissioners and
arbitrators, but it is questionable whether they
will interfere, seeing the majority of mine.
owners who were in favour of no rate. No
alteration has taken place in the prices of
finished iron, and quotations for pig iron remain
he same as last week.

BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY.

There was not a large attendance of iron-
masters on 'Change to-day, but there was appa-
rently a little more animation, and if there was
not more business actually done, there were cer-
tainly more inquiries than at many previous
meetings. There was much talk about the
closing of the works of the Mersey Steel and
Iron Company at Liverpool, which will throw ,
out of employ some 1,500 hands. The reports
coming in, too, from Sheffield and other dis-
trict in the Midlands were anything but cheer-
ing, for it was stated on most reliable authority
that many of the works have literally nothing
to do. Unless orders are speedily received,
some of them must inevitably be closed. There
is also an increased depression in the Middles-
borough district, and these things were clearly
not without their Effe A upon our local market
to-day, but there was much division of opinion
as to what will be the effect here of the closing
of large works elsewhere. There are those who
incline to the opinion that these stoppages
must necessarily bring some extra orders into
South Staffordshire. The Mersey Steel and
Iron Forge, for instance, hid almost a monopoly
for some important railway contracts, and it is
thought possible that if those large works re-
main closed, a portion, at all events, of the con-
tracts they received will go to other districts, in
which case we may stand a chance of getting
some of them. Others again take a less
sanguine view, and regard the closing of great
works elsewhere as a bad omen, to be followed
possibly by other considerable reductions in the
trade, and of which might come nearer home.
There was a fair demand to-day for galvanised
sheets, and a woderate business was also done
in Staffordshire bars. As usual, just before the
Whitsuntide holidays, the men have been stick-
ing much closer to their work, and large quanti-
ties have been turned out. Some of the mills,
it is true, have only been working about half
time, but many others are doing a very fair
trade, and in some quarters there is a strong
opinion that after the holidays a good summer
trade will yet be done. The pig market was a
shade lower than it was last week, and Stafford-
shire cinder pigs may be quoted at .£2 lOs to .£2
12s 6d ; all-mine pigs, from .£3 5s to £4; North
Staffordshire, from £2 18s 9d to £3 2s 6d ;
Northamptonshire and Derbyshire, £3 to £3 28
6d ; Lincolnshire, from £3 is 3d to £3 ss;
branded bars still remain at £9, but commoz
bars were weak and could be bought at £7 up-

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wards according to make; sheets (singles),
5s to £11; plates, -;10 108 to £ll ; wire rods.
£9 to £9 108 ; best ditto, £1.6 to £ll ; hoops.
.ka ; nail sheets, £8 10s. There was an abund-
ance of coal on the market, and it was slightly
easier, forge coal being 78 6d to 8s 6d ; slack,
from 38 to ss.

mitteit.
On the motion of Mr. Kelley, seconded by Mr.
Woolley the report was received.
Proposed by Mr. Kelley, and seconded by Mr.
Hicklin, that the sum of £45 7s 7d, payable out of
the Highway Account be paid to the several per-
sons entitled thereto. That the sum of ..V.),16 is
3d, payable out of the Improvement Account be
paid to the several persons entitled thereto and
cheques be signed. That the sum of £25 2s 4d,
payable out of the Urban Sanitary Autnority be
paid to the persons entitled thereto.
REPORT OF THE GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE.
Your committee report that the number of
deaths registered in the township of Stourbridge
from 20th April to 20th May is 21, viz: 13 males
and 8 females; 15 death 3 under three years and 3
over 55; one death from scarlatina. Death-rate
26.87. Number of births registered in the same
time 39. Birth-rate 49.91.
INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES REronT.—Nuisances
brought forward 9. Reported during the month
78. Total 87. Removed old 8. New 69. Carried
forward 10. Six cases of over-crowding are re-
ported to have been removed and the remainder
have had the usual notices. Night Soil 121.
Privies 106. Ashpits 2. Cesspools belonging to
157 houses have been cleansed. Number of loads
252. All the slaughter-houses are reported to be
in good sanitary condition.
Your committee have requested the Chairman
(Mr. H. Hughes) and the Clerk to consider the
best mode of draining part o the Longlands, also
the lighting of Brook Street and West Street, and
to report.
ErAcTioN or MEDICAL 0 FFICER..—YOUT corn-
mates advise that they advertise for a gentleman
to fill the office.
REPORT OF THE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.
Your committee have appointed a sub-committee
to consider the question of repairing Wollaston
Street.
DRAINA Cr OE WORCESTER STREET.—Your com-
mittee recommend that a drain be laid down from
the entrance gate to Greenfield near to the houses
belonging to Mr. Oliver, Mr. Millward and others
at a sufficient depth to drain Hill Street, and to
be carried on so as to drain the Heath as originially
proposed.
PARK STREET DRAIN .—This work has been done
and all the houses drained connected therewith.
DEPOSITING PLANS.
Complaints were made that persons did not first
deposit the plans at the Clerk's office according to
law, which must be done 14 days before the meet-
ing so that they can be approved of.
The Chairman said it was treating the Board
with great disrespect.
Mr. Allsop said the best thing for them to do
would be to stop the erection of the building until
they had done so, according to the power given
them. They were being laughed at.
The Clerk said all the architects and builders
knew the Acts of Parliament and well knew that
it was necessary to first deposit the plans. Some
plans were put in for Mr. J. Davis with alteration
to the front window.
The Chairman said they must go through the
orders of course before the sub-committee.
There was no other business.

single men and women. Latest advices report
arrival of the "Western Monarch" at Brisbane,
and that the emigrants are meeting with engage-

ments at good wages.
STOCK SALE AND SHOW OP WHITSUNTIDE BEEF.
—The annual show of Whitsuntide beef took place
on Tuesday last. This sale is making rapid strides
and growing in popularity since it was established
four years ago; the sale yard being in close
proximity to the railway station making it very
convenient for the attendance of the Black
Country buyers and for stock to be removed. On
Tuesday last there was =usually large attendance
of buyers from Birmingham, Wolverhampton,
Dudley, Brierley Hill, Kidderminster, Halesowen,
and the adjoining districts, as well as the local
butchers. There were three prizes offered for the
best beasts in addition to other prizes, and the
sale included nearly 50 fat beast which were of
excellent quality, 600 sheep and lambs, 22 fat
calves, a large qantity of pigs, a number of cows
and calves, and other store stock. The first prize
of .23 3s was awarded to Mr. T. B. Bowen, the
Blacklands, Claverley, for a magnificent bullock
which realized £BB, aid was purchased by Mr.
lames Lane, of Birmingham; the purchaser re-
ceiving a prize of Al is. The second prize of £2
2s was awarded to Mrs. Pearman, of Wlittington,
for a very fine heifer, purchased by Mr. W.
Young, of Stourbridge, for .235 15s; the pur-
chaser having a prize of 10a 6d, and the third
was awarded for a bullock belonging to Mr. John
Whitehouse, Bobbington, purchased by Mr.
Bennett, of Birmingham, for £32 lOs ; the pur-
chaser receiving a prize of 7s 6d. The highest
priced beast was a bullock belonging to Mr. Thomas
Parry, the Woodhouse, Chaddesley, which realized
.240, and purchased by Mr. Kirby. The judges
were Messrs. Thome Yardley, Joseph Parkes, and
James Lane. The highest price for fat sheep was
79s 6d per head. Fat lambs 525. Fat calves £6
155. The competition for calves was very sharp
said averaged high rates. The average of the 30 best
beast was £27 15s 6d. The principal senders of
beef, including the winners of prizes, were the
Right Hon. the Earl of Stamford and Warrington;
P. A. Williams, Esq., Harbro ; H. Smith,
Esq., Summerhill ; Messrs. W. Nicholls, Chaddes-
ley ; E. Maud, Churchill; P. Pearman, Claverley;
Banks, James Smith, E. Webb and Sons, T.
Parry, J. W. Parv,,eter, Mrs. Whitmore, and others
who seem to be well pleased as to the prices ob-
tained. We understand that the sale realized
nearly £3,000.
TRANSFERS.—At the Public Office, yesterday,
before Colonel Fletcher and J. Holcroft, Esq., the
following transfers took place ;—The Swan Inn,
Bagley Street, John Bristow to Henry Irwin; the
Saracens Head, High Street, from the executors of
W. Clark to Martha P. Clark, widow. An applica-
tion was made to transfer the Barley Mow Inn.
After hearini, the opposition the Bench granted
14 days' interim of authority. Mrs. Allchurch
made application for the Little Pig Inn, Coventry
Street, to be transferred, her husband being dead.
Mr. Prescottt appeared to support the application.
Mr. Homer opposed and said that the deceased
made a will and appointed four trustees, who were
to sell all the property and realise all they could
for the benefit of the widow for her life, and at
her death to be divided into six equal parts, and
he appeared for three trustees who wanted to sell
and turn all the property into money, Mr. King
(the clerk) said the widow was tenant for life.
Mr. Prescott complained of the step taken by Mr.
Homer. Ultimately the ease was adjourned for a
week for. the production of some documents that
are before the judge. An interim authority
was granted to the widow.
TOLL GATE CASE.—Samuel Cook was summoned
by John Turner for passing through the Hay
Green toll gate, on the 22nd ult, without paying
toll.—Mr. Perry appeared to support the case.
Our readers will recollect that this case was ad-
journed for the production of the Turnpike Act.—
Complainant appeared and swore that the defend-
ant did not:produce a ticket when asked and refused
to pay the toll, and said that since the last trial
he had been threatened by the defendant.—The
defence was that he paid at the other gate weekly.
Fined 2s 6d and costs.
DIGUNK AND DISORDERLT.--JOhll Cartwright,
William Woocihouse, Thomas Howles, James
Jones, and James Carpenter were charged with
being drunk and disorderly at Cleat, on the 28th
ult.—Police-constable Wallace said that about
half-past seven o'clock at night all the defendants
were very drunk and making a great noise, some
of them lying down in the road and their dress
disarranged. At that time persons were returning
from chapel. Cartwright was the only one who
appeared and the Bench fined him 5s and costs,
and the other four fined lOs and costs.
CHARGE OF CRUELTY TO A HORSE.—William
Dutton was charged with cruelty to a horse by
over working it, on the 28th ult.—Doorbar the
officer of the association, proved the case, and said
there were eleven persons in the trap and the
horse appeared much distressed.—Superintendent
Freeman corrob orated.—Defendant was fined 5s
and costs.
WAGES CASE.— Samuel Spacy was summoned
by Elijah Croft for £1 is, wages alleged to be
due.—Mr. Wall appeared for complainant.—Com-
plainant said that he worked a furnace for the de-
fendant and there was three days due to him at is
per day. He did not work piece work.—The
Bench considered the case proved and ordered de-
fendant to pay the amount claimed and costs.
STEALING A SHAWL.—At the Police Court, on
Monday, before Colonel Fletcher, Charles Cavalier
was charged with stealing a shawl, on the 18th
ult, the property of Sarah Coombs.—Prosecutrix
said that the prisoner came to lodge at her house
on the 16th ult, and early on the morning of the
18th he got up and left the house. When he had
gone she missed a shawl and pair of spectacles.
The value of the shawl was 9s.—George Whitwell,
pawnbroker, proved that he took the shawl in
pledge on the 18th ult, from the prisoncr.—Police-
constable Philpots proved that he apprehended
the prisoner on the charge at Stafford, and on
charging him with the offence prisoner said" Yes
certainly." Prisoner was further charged with
stealing a pair of boots on the 22nd lilt, the
property of William Carter, of Stourbridge.—
Complainant lodges at Mrs. Barratt's in Church
Street, and prisoner came to lodge there on the
21st ult; he got up early in the morning and took
the boots away. On going into the cell to identify
prisoner he (prisoner) at once pointed to Mr.
Barratt saying " Ah, that's the gentleman I stole
the boots off." Pleaded guilty and committed to
Worcester Sessions.
STEALING.htoN.—At, the Police Court on Thurs-
day, before F. Evers, Esq., Thomas Jones and
David Bradley were charged with stealing 6cwt.
lqr. 71b. of pig iron, on the 29th ult, the property
of John Bradley and Co., Shut End Iron Works.
—Thema,s Malpas, watchman, proved seeing the
prisoners take the iron and finding it in possession
of prisoner.s—A number of witnesses were called
to identify the iron and they were committed to
take their trials at the next Stafford Sessions.