The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-23 00:00:00

KIDDERMINS I'ER TOWN COUNCIL.

The Mayor (Mr. D. W. Go.,dwin) presided at the
monthly meeting of the Council oa Wednesday.
Che Drainage Committee ()ported that a sub—
committee had visitel Greenhill and other high
parts of the town, and made inquiries as to the
alleged insufficient water supply. They found the
pressure at the iifferent hydrants varied from 30 to
40 feet, and the occupaats of the different houses
made no complaints as to shorti es of water. The
commi tee recomruen 'el that at tne expiration of
the current quarter no private houses should be
supplied with water by m2ter, but that the
occupiers should be rated for :11.3ir water supply
in the usual way.
Alderman Biunian moved the adoption of the re-
poit, and said that charging for the water accord-
ing to the rates, instead of by meter, wuuld bring a
much larger income to the funds of the town.
Mr. Roden said the proposed charge would inflict
a great hardship up.in some small houses that were
rated highly, and at which the consumption of
water was very small.
The Mayor, in reply, said that from a return he
held in his hands, it appeared as if the town had
been suffering a hardship, as lie found that at
houses which were rated at £6O per year, only al
per year had been paid for the Water. That showed
that the meter must have been out of order, or
thet the occupiers could not have used much
water. _

The report was adopted.
The report of the Improvem n Corn:nit!ee con-
tained a recommendation with reference to the
proposed road from Mill Strew; to Broadwaters,
"That Provided the proposed road was nande,
sewered, and completed to the satisfaction of the
Corporation, the Committee recommended the
Council to build a bridge over the Stour at the Mill
Street end, at a cost net exceeding £4OO, and to
adopt the road,"
Mr. Herring, the ChArman of the Committee,
explained that that resolution had been come to in
conscciu, nee of an intimation having been received
that the owners of the property would make the
proposed road, whi::h would be of considerable
benefit to the town.. _

Mr. Holloway said there was a very strong ex-
pres4on of Leling in the town with reference to
the bui!dino• of a wall at Blakebrook. For his own
part he did not believe it would cost -t5OO or more ;
but it was rumoured that it would amount to that
sum. _ _

Mr. Herring explained that XlOO would more
than cover the cost. _

_ _
The report was adopted.
The annual report of Mr. Corbet, the Medical
Officer of Health, stated that during the year whoop-
ing cough had been epidemic. In the early months
of 1883 there were 13 deaths from whooping cough,
but the disease had now abated. Eight deaths,
mostly of children, had oecured from diarrhcea.
The births during the year numbered 850, or
33594 in the thousand, as against 868, or 36007
in the thousand for the year 1882. There had been
466 deaths, or 18 159 in the thousand, as against
496, or 20 040 in the previous ycar. Forty-seven of
the deaths had been from zymotic diseases. The
Medical Officer's monthly report stated that the
births had been 80 as against 79, and the deaths 42,
or 21193 in the thousand, against 31 or 15.082 in
the corresponding month. Since his last report 23
fresh cases of small-pox had been repo-ted to him,
making altogether SO cases. Thera had been five
more death, making a total of nine; Lut he was
pleased to say that no fresh case had been reported
to him since Friday week. He believed they had
now seen the worst of the outbreak.

The Free Library Committee reported that a
deputation from the committee of the proposed
School of Science attended a meeting of the com—
mittee, and suggested that a Free Library should
be erected on a site adjoining the new School of
S ien e, so as to form one bui;ding architecturally,
by which a saving of several hundred pounds would
be eff( cted. The committee at a special meeting
on the sth inst passed the following :—"That in
view of the gravity cf the question and expense to
be incurred in the erection and equipment of a
Free Library'adjoinin, the School of Science this
committee, whilst fully recognising the desirability
of the proposal; is of opinion that the su,ject re-
quires further discussion and information before a
report is made to the Town Council, but that at
present they do not see their way to a greater ex-
penditure than a sum of £1,500."
Mr Greaves, in moving the adoption of he report
said it was estimated that £2,500 would erect a free
library in conjunction with the School of Science,
but after given the matter careful consideration
the committee did not see their way to recommend
the spending of that sum at present.
Mr Herring, by way of relieving the overcrowd-
ing of the news room, suggested that the Corn Ex-
change adjoining sh mit 1-e used on so no evenings
for the purpose of a news room.
It was decided that the committee would take the
tnatter into consideration.

On the motion of Alderman Willi itwas resolved
that a petition should be p-i s ntid to the Chanc3l-
- of ih , Exchequer in favour of tie repeal of the
assessed taxes upon carrilges.