The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-20 00:00:00

KIDDERMINSTER:

BOARD or GUARDIANS.—Mr. Kitele ypresided over the
meeting on Tuesday morning last.—lt was stated that
Mr. James Bradley, of No. 7, Boulter's Lane, took the
Workhouse children to Cleat on Monday last, where
they heartily enjoyed themselves. There had been
expended in out-door relief in the borough during the
past fortnight £56 15s 10/cl, and in the foreign £6l us
22d. The number of paupers at present in the house is
226, as compared with 209 in the corresponding week
last year. Mr. Plevey, saddler, of Bewdley, brought back
a.girl whom he had taken out of the house as a domestic
servant. He said that she not only told lies, but was in
the habit of pilfering and neglecting her work.—The
Chairman said that altogether the girl had been re-
turned with the worst character given to any child who
had been taken out of the house within his experience.
He was sorry Mr. Plevey had had so much trouble with
her. She must, of course, be re-admitted —The cook
sent in her resignation of her office, through" the con-
iinual annoyance and disagreeable interference of the
nurse." Her resignation was accepted, and it was re-
solved to advsrtise for a successor to fill her place.
THE LIBERATION SOCIETY,—A lecture was delivered in
the Town Hall on Monday evening last, by the Rev. C.
Williams, of Accrington, on behalf of the Liberation
Society, in reply to one delivered by Mr. H. Byron Reed
ou behalf of the Church Defence Association, on the
evening of the 9th inst. Mr. G. Turton took the chair,
and directly after he did so Mr. S. Tovey, J.P., entered
the room, followed by Mr. Reed (the lecturer on the
previous occasion), and others. They were greeted by a
siorm of groans and cheers mingled. Mr, Williams
adopted the same title for his lecture as Mr. Reed—
" Our national Church: what it is, what it does, and
who pays for it." At the close of his discourse Mr. Reed
begged leave to reply, and after some little demur he
was told that be would be allowed to speak for half an
hour. Mr. Reed accordingly addressed himself to
various points raised by Mr. Williams, but was fre-
quently interrupted, and at the close told his hearers
that he should give a lecture in reply in the same place,
and expressed a wish that Mr. Williams would be pre.
seat at it.—Mr. Williams said he could not be present,
and commented at some length on the remarks of Mr.
Reel—Votes of thanks to the Lecturer and the Chair-
man closed the proceedings.
TOWN COUNCIL.—The monthly meeting of the Council
was held on Wednesday last, the Mayor (Mr. J. J.
Harvey) in the chair.—lt was resolved to petition in
favour of the Parliamentary and Municipal Registration
Bill, the .object of which is to make oue register suffice
for Parliamentary and Municipal purposes.—The report
of the Drainage and Waterworks Committee notified a
number of payments, including £534 to Mr. Law for
building an engine house, and £350 to Messrs. Wood,
Baldwin, and Co. on account of contract for new sewage
Caginess The tender of Messrs. Bradshaw and Co., Bir-
mingham, for asphalting the reservoir was accepted, the
amount being £598 13s. In reply to Alderman Hollo-
way, Mr. Comber said the asphalting was a patent, and
that was the reason there was only one tender. The
work is to be completed in six weeks.—The Improve-
ment Committee reported (inter alia) the payment of
£5OO, the purchase money of the Earl of Dudley's
cottages on Comberton Hill, and recommended that
'waft be giver to the several tenants to quit at the end
their several tenancies. The committee recommended
the acceptance cf the terms of the Gas Company for the
lighting of the public lamps for a period of one year.
The whole of the lamps are to be lighted on the night
following the fall moon in November, December,
January, and February, instead of upon the third night
after, as heretofore.—The report was adopted.—The
Medical Officer reported that the death-rate of the past
month had been 16'9 per 1,060. Whooping•ccugh was
epidemic in the town, and there had been cases of
diphtheria and scarlet fever.—The Mayor read a report
from the Watch Committee, part of which referred to
the late fire at Messrs. John Brinton and Co.'s Works
ihe committee had enquired into the conduct of the
police in not calling the captain and other members of
the fire brigade, and passed a resolution expressing their
with the conduct of the force in this particular, and
censuring the superintendent for not having taken steps
to ascertain that the fire brigade was present. The com-
mittee had directed that in future the officer in charge
at the police-station should be held responsible for the
fire brigade being duly called on an alarm of fire, and
that the fire ball shouid be kept ringing till the brigade
had assembled. The best thanks of the committee were
due to Messrs. Shand and Mason for having so promptly
supplied another engine. The report recommended the
payment of £ll7 17s. 21, magistrates' cleric's salary for
the five months ending June 24. The fees paid to the
treasurer for the same period were £72 19s 6d.—The
report was adopted; and the Town Clerk was directed
to transmit the thanks of the Council to Messrs.
Shand and Mason,—On the motion of Mr. JefTeries it
was resolved to provide an illuminated clock in High
Street.