The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-03-18 00:00:00

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The weekly meeting of this Board was held
yesterday; Mr. Granger in the chair. There
were also present: —Messrs. Brooks, Billingham,
Bird, Fereday, Griffin, Powell, T. H. Pargeter,
Guest, Higgs, Pardoe, Peskin, Plant, Raybould,
Rhodes, and Wright. The minutes of the last
meeting were read and confirmed. Admitted
into the house during the week, 18; born, 1 ;
discharged, 17; remaining, 453. Correspond-
ing week last year, 451. Out -door relief. King-
swinford district, £42 16s Od ; Stourbridge dis-
trict, £26 2s 81d ; Halesowen district, £24 15s
hi; total, £93 14s 50, against £93 19s 5d last

_
The Clerk read a letter from the Poor Law
Board, stating that they had considered the
application of the ratepayers of the parish of
Kingswinford, in reference to the increase of the
Guardians for the Stourbridge Union for the
parish of Kingswinford, and they have come to
the conclusion that there were not sufficient
grounds for increasing the large number of
Guardians already assigned to the abovemien-
tioned parish. Whether it may be expedient to
apply to any extent in the Stourbridge Union
the Statute 31 and 32 Vic., chap. 122, sec. 6,
may be a matter for further consideration, but
the Board are not prepared to take any step in
that direction until after the approaching
census. _

Some discussion ensued in reference to the
rating question, and a petition was adopted in
favour of providing a more simple, efficient and
less costly system of collecting rates and taxes
than at present exists.
The Clerk was instructed to forward the peti-
tion to the Hon. C. tir. Lytteiton, M.P., for pre-
sentation.

Mr. Cleaton, Commissioner in Lunacy, repor-
ted that he had inspected the Lunatic Wards in
the house, and found them satisfactory.

EVENING CONCERT.—On Wednesday evening
a concert was given in the Union flail by the
Stourbridge Choral Society. The hall was well
tilled with a fashionable audience. The first part
consisted of a selection from " Jephtha," and
Mendelssohn's " Walpurgis Night,' the solos
being well rendered by Messrs. Muston and
Pagett. Miss Davies sang the air, "Ye Limpid
Springs." The second part consisted of a mis-
cellaneous selection, which was opened with a
part song, by Mrs. Sutton, which was remark.
ably wall done. Miss Fisher sang the "May
Queen "in her usual brilliant style, and was de-
servedlv encored. A trio for two flutes and the
piano, by Messrs. Mathews, King, and Simms,
was brilliantly executed, and loudly
.applaudea.
. .

In the flute ;el°, by Mr. James gatt;ews, that
gentleman received a tremendous encore ; also,
a song by Miss Bourne, with flute obligate, was
loudly applauded and re-demanded. Mr. C.
Firuistone also sang a song, and the whole was
a success. Mr. Sutton conducted, and Mr. S.
Simms presided at the pianoforte.
OPERA COMPANY.—On Monday and Tnes lay
evenings last, Mr. Isidore de Sofia's Loudon
Opera Company gave two operas in the Corn
Exchange. The first was Balfe's Bohemian
Girl ;" the second was the "Bride of Lammer-
moor.- The principal artistes were Miss Palmer,
j Miss M. Mariana, and Miss B. Emmett ; Messrs.
J Stanley lietjetnan, B. de Sella, F. Cook,aud W.
Tills. It is needless to particnlarise where all
were so good; but we must not forget Miss