The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-09 00:00:00

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1884

DUDLEY TOWN COUNCIL.

A monthly meeting of this Colin, il was hold (11
Tuesday afternoon, at the Town Hall, the Mayor
(D. Howat, Esq.) presiding.
His Worship mentioned that he had received a
oommunication from the ex—Mayor of Nolverhamp-
ton with reference to the Industrial and Fine Arts
Exhibition to be held there in May next, and urg-
ing the desirability of this Council assisting, as far
as they po-sibly could, in carryini, out the Exhibi-
tion, and suggesting that a Dudley committee
should be appointed. He (o.le Mayor)) had visited
several of the Dudley manufacturers who had ex-
hibited at the Worcester Exhibition, and found
they had had enough for the present, and did not
feel inclined to exhibit at Wolveilampton. He
further mentioned that the ex .Mayor of Wolver-
hampton had also forwarded forms to be filled up
by those who wished to obtain space for exhibits
in the Exhibition, and that these could be obtained
from the Town Clerk or himself.

Alderman Garratt (ex-Mayor) agreed with the
remarks of the Mayor, and said the Dudley manu-
facturers seemed very chary in forwarding speci-
mens of manufactures for the Wolverhampton
Exhibition. The Free Library Committee had
abandoned their intention of holding an exhibition
in Dudley, and he did not think exhibitors could
be induced to go to Wolverhampton. Ile thought
the question of forming a committee must be left
an open one, and the manufacturers must choose
for themselves whether they exhibited or not.
After a further remark or two, daring which the
Mayor observed that he had allowed his name to
be added to the Wolverhampt- n Industrial Cora.
mittee, the subject dropped.
The next communication was one from the Board
of Trade, enclosing a copy received by the Board
from Messrs. J. Smith and Co., of Wednesbury,
applying on behalf of the Consolidated Electric
Lighting Company. with reference to the Dudley
electric lighting order, for an extension of the
period for preparation, and for the deposit of capital
from six to twelve months. _

Alderman G. Bagoti Moved, and Councillor
Ch illingsworth seconded, that the Cuncil give
their consent to the application.
The Town Clerk explained that the company re•
ferred to would have no monopoly, ad that, accord-
ing to Mr. Chamberlain, it rested with the Board
of Trade as to whether another order would be
granted to any other company for lighting Dudley.
The resolution was carried.

The tender of Mr. W. R. Neale for a supply of
police clothing during the ensuing year was ac-
cepted.
The report of the Estates Committee Ehowed
that the receipts by rents and tells, &c., in connec-
tion with the markets and fairs during the past five
weeks had been £lO 13s id; anl the receipts from
the baths had been £6 143 9d.

Alderman Wainwright, who moved the adoption
of the report, congratulated the Council upon the
increase in the receipts from the markets and fairs,
and observed that the question of the baths was
still under consideration, whilst Is per ton bad
been saved there by obtaining tenders for slack.

The report was adopted. -
The Sewerage Committee recommendel that ten
ventilating shafts be obtained, at an estimated cost
of each, to be placed at different points over
the sewers. It was recommended that application
be made to the Local Government Board for their
sanction to the borrowing by the geoutleil, as the
Urban Sanitary Authority, of a loan of 1£4,00) for
works of sewerage and sewage disposal; such sum
to be borrowed on a credit of a mortgage of the
general district rates of the borough, and to be re-
paid, together with interest thereon, within a
period of 30 years from the date of the borrowing
thereof. It was further recommended that Mr.
Marten, C.E., be appointed arbitrator to act on be-
half of the Council with respect te the claim for
compensation made by Mrs. Walmsley, of the Mar-
ket placP, for damage to
.her property by sewerage
operations.
The Mayor, who proposed the adoption of the re-
port, said the committee hoped that the additional
£4,003 proposed to be borrowed for sewerage p r-
poses would be sufficient to carry them through
with the work. If they were compelled to ask for
more, it would simply be in consequence of unfor-
seen circumstances. - - -

Councillor Pitt, epeaking with reference to
Woodside Ward, expressed his belief that the rate-
payers there were now in the position of the last
straw breaking the camel's back; and Councillor
Round remarked that now £60,000 had been spent
on the sewerage scheme, he thought the time had
come when something should be done for the sani-
tary state of Netherton.
The report was adopted; Councillor Cballingsworth,
who alone dissented, observing that the deep
drainage was a foul robbery on the town —(a
laugh).
The Town Clerk read some correrpondence which
he had had with the secretary of the South Stafford-
shire Waterworks Company, respecting the basis
upon which he contended the water rates shouldbe
calculated, and during the conversation which fol-
lowed the Mayor said if the Town Clerk could get
the company to agree to a recent decision, and make
their charges upon the annual ratal, instead of the
rental of houe2s it would be a great boon to the
inhabitants. - -

The committee presented a report of a special
meeting held to consider the system of the removal
of night-soil in the borough. The report showed
that the pr sent contracts for removal expired on
the 9th of April next, and :that the expenses in-
curreo in removing the refuse from the town and
countrydistriets forthe last three years had been :
EAieg 25th March, 1881. £1,383 is 7d; 1882,
£1,512 8s 3i; 1883, £1,574 4s 9d. The committee
believed the work could be done more efficiently
and at less expense if the Council undertook the
removal by their own men and horses, and at an
estimated cost of £25 7s 61 per week. The weekly
expnditure with the pre& ut system for the year
ending 25th of iarch, 1883, was £3 4s. The
capital estimated to be required for th 3 aiteration,
provided s,tables were built, rould be £670, and it
was recommended that at the expiration of the
present contracts the Council undertake the work
with their own horses, &c.
Councillor Billing moved the adoption of the re-
port, and, after reterring to the present unsatisfac-
tory arrangement, said he thought it would be a
saving of £3OO per year if the alteration was
made.

Councillor Richards see3nded the prop )Sal, to
which Alderman Dunn moved an amendment to
the effect that the matter be postponed.
A long discussion followed, and in the end the
question WAS referred to a committee of the whole
Board.

The Streets and Gas Committees recimmended
that the Dudley Gaslight Co. having declined to
extend their mains in the direction of Dudley
Wood, the Cradley Gas Company be asked to quote
their charge for erecting and lighting 10 or 12
lamps in that district.
Alderman Bagott, the chairman of this commit-
tee, again complained of the high c:.arges of the
Dudley Gas Company as compared with the prices
charged in surrounding towns, and said, taking the
year round, the Council paid £3 Os 2d per lamp
for each of the public lamps, whilst, according to
the price charged at Tipton, the price would be
A 1 19s 3d only.
The Mayor and °then endorsed the remarks of
Alderman Bagott, his Worship also speaking of the
usefulness of the electric tight, and the probability
of its success in the future for both public and do•
mestic lighting purposes.
It was decided to purchase three cottages in tho
Ramble for the sum of £5O, as a necessary sanitary
improvement,

The Finance Committet"A re' ort showed a tota
net balance due to thel treasurer amounting to
1:5,060 17s 4d.