The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-02-05 00:00:00

THE PROPOSED MUSIC HILL.

In adjourned meeting of the Commissioners
was held on Thursday evening, to consider the
erection of a Music Hall, and other business.

Mr. Hughes was in the chair.
There were also present Messrs:Kelley, Stringer
Allsop, Woolley, Mills, Franklin, Flavel, C. Evers
Hicklin, Perkin, Alichurch, and Griffin. _

The Chairman asked the members of the Board
to give their opinion as to the best mode of erect-
ing a Music Hall.
Mr. Woolley thought it was not a question for
the Commissioners to decide, and he suggested
that a committee of the Board be deputed to con-
fer with the gentlemen that were in favour of the
schema as to the best way of carrying out such a
great undertaking.
Mr. Edwards said he had a circular sent to him
to attend a meeting to consider the best way of
erecting a Music Hall, and he proposed at that
meeting that a deputation should wait upon the
Commissioners. Being a Commissioner he should
not wish to take an active part in the proposal.
Mr. Stringer also said he had received a circular
but he did not attend the meeting. He said with
regard to the Corn Exchange for singing it was
one of the worst he had ever seen. With respect
to the concert that took place there last Wednes-
day week he said they had not had such a geod
concert for some time.and he was afraid they
would not have another for some years to come if
they did not get abetter room. He thought the
Commissioners ought to favour the proposal for
the benefit of the town. He remarked that Kid-
derminster had &beautiful Music Hall and a fine
organ in it which Was a credit to that town.
Mr. Franklin said it was a very serious matter
for the Commissioners to consider, and they ought
to *ell weigh it over.
Mr. Woolley moved a resolution as follows
That a committee consisting of the members of the
Board be appointed to confer with the gentlemen
of the deputation that waited on the Commissioners
on Monday last, to obtain the confirmation with
regard to such, and probable cost of the proposed
Music Hall, and report therein to the adjourned
meeting of the Commissioners:to be held on Thurs-
day, the 17th inst.
Mr. Stringer seconded the resolution.
Mr. Kelley made a few remarks as to spending
the ratepayers' money in building a Music Hall
which he objected to strongly.
After a short consultation the resolution was
put and carried unanimously.
The following members of the Board were ap-
pointed to wait on the deputation of gentlemen
that are in favour of the Music Hall :—Messrs.
Hughes, Franklin, Hicklin, Blunsom, Allsop,
Edwards, and Woolley. -
The next business was the drainagelof Worcester
Street.

Mr, Kelley moved and Mr. Edwards seconded
that the Chairman, Mr. Allsop, and the Cleric be
appointed to wait:upon the Turnpike Road Trus-
tees to lay the matter before them.
There was no other business.

Tax SPELLING BEE.—The spelling bee, which
was announced to come off in the Corn Exchange
on Tuesday evening last, did not take place. The
reason was, that sufficient enieries were not made
and bills were issued that it was postponed.
DISESTABLISHMENT.—A meeting of the Stour-
bridge Liberal Association was held on Monday
evening, at which Mr. J. B. Shepherd, the presi-
dent, read a paper on " Disestablishment." Mr.
Shepherd argued that in a national church as
many forms of thought shoad be comprehended
as found their basis in the New Testament, and-
that all these should have free play' and not pos-
ses any advantage the one over the other. Mr.
Shepherd supported this levelling up as the most
desirable course, but if disestablishment was the
only outcome of the present state of things he
said that recent endowments should not be affected
by the consequences of disestablishment. The
queston was, should the work be attempted, and
if so was the present the right time to attempt it.
--The Rev. J. Richards said Uhl) was a clergyman
he should think Mr. Shepherd worse than a Dis-
senter. (Laughter.) Should such a proposal as
he referred to ever be made he should give it all
the opposition of which he was capable. When
the Church was disestablished the property. must
be otherwise applied than to doctrinal teaching.—
Mr. C. Cochrane said he for one longed to see a
national establishment if it were possible to make
it truly national, tut he felt himself that it was
utterly impossible for 650 members of Parliament
to settle what shonld be the national faith. There
was little hope of coniprchension, and the Church
of England itself was so divided that it only
needed to be freed from that cementing bond
called the State. and it would be rent into three
or half a dozen settions,—Mr. G. Green, Mr.
Pagett, Mr. Woolley, and others continued the
discussion, and it was resolved to take up the
subject again at the annual meeting, which will be
held shortly.
CHARGE or STEALING IRON.—.At the Public
Office, on Wednesday; before Colonel Fletcher,
Edward Quick was-cliarged with feloniously steal-
ing Vbs. of iron the property of William Orme
Foster. Frances Winnall, of the Gig Mill, watch-
man in Mr. Foster's works, said on Friday, the
28th January he was on duty at t.iie works.
When near the canal prisoner came towards him.
Saw something hanging heavy in his pockets.
He said " Neddy, you have got something in you
pocket, and I must see what you have got."
Prisoner said" I shall notlbe searched by no one."
I collared him and we had a tremendous struggle.
Saw him take a piece of iron from his pocket and
put it on a stock of pig-iron and another piece of
iron he dropped down. He then called for help
and Henry Pope came to his assistance. He let
the prisoner go and handed the pieceof iron to.the
police. The iron produced is the same. Henry
Pope, roller, proved that he came to the assistance
of the last witness. William Thomas, overlooker
of the puddlere, said the iron produced he put be-
hind a door, as it was to large for Beray4,on going