The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-04-26 00:00:00

THE STOURTMIDGE ODRERVER.

went off at .26 10s. Pig makers were in-
clined to ask a little more money, the
Durham strike having restricted the com-
petition on the part of the North of England
miners, who, however, sought to obtain a
higher value on their iron. West Coast pigs
and South Wales brands were in very fair
inquiry, but there was nothing noticeable in
the quotations. Manufacturing fuel was
still in sluggishdemand. Household sorts
had a better demand. In Walsall, Pelsall,
and the neighbourhond the miners have ac-
cepted a drop of 3d per day's wages.

BIRMINGHAM, Thursday
There was generally a more hopeful feel-
ing on Change this afternoon, though the
actual business was not much in excess of
the average prior to the quarterly meeting.
Pig iron makers have been benefited by the
advance in the price in Cleveland iron conse-
quent upon the strike of miners in the
Durham district. Benefit has not been ac-
crued in the shape of higher prices of local
pig but in sustaining existing quotation
which had a tendency to descend. The com-
moner qualities of the raw material were
chiefly in request. Messrs. Williams Brothers
of the Parkfield Furnaces, are preparing to
blow in one of their furnaces for the produc-
tion of a good quality of mine iron. At
present the demand is not such as to encou-
rage other makers to restart furnaces, but if
the strike continues in the Durham district a
considerable impetus will no doubt be given
to the Staffordshire pig iron trade. Leading
makers of finished iron are somewhat disap-
pointed at the meagre business that has re-
sulted since the quarterly meeting, and they
are not keeping their works in operation
more than two or three days a week. A
very fair order for boiler plates of a special
quality has been received by a leading firm
in the Tipton district, the plates being in-
tended for local consumption. This will
serve to impart a degree of activity to the
works referred to for some weeks to come.
The other leadinafirms in the neighbour-
hood are quiet. It was the opinion of rep-
resentatives of houses doing -business with
Russia that a good trade would spring up
with that country if confidence could be
placed in Russian credit. The apprehen-
sions of the commercial unsoundness of
Russia, however, are atpresent the principal
impediments in the way of business. Pro-
ducers of medium-class finished iron secured
somewhat more favourable specifications this
afternoon. Nail rods were without improve-
ment. Since the reduction of 3d per ton in
the wages of the Cannock Chase miners the
rates for household coal have been declared
is per ton lower, but as rule sales had been
effected at these rates prior to the fall in
wages, and in anticipation thereof.:

ALLEGED LIBEL BY A BIRMINGHAM
NEWSPANR.

Proceedings have been commenced by Mr.
Williams Martin, of the firm of Martin and
Chamberlain, architects to the Birmingham
School Board, against M. Robert Simpson
Kirk, painter and publisher of the Birming-
ham Lart, a "journal of sense and satire," for
alleged libel. Plaintiff's contention is that
defendant insinuated that he (the plaintiff)
in some dealings in rand had been "guilty of
a breach of duty both towards the Town
Council and towards the School Board, and
was not a proper person to continue to be
architect of the said School Board." The
statement of claim just delivered by Messrs.
Sharpe, Parker, Prichard, and Sharpe,
Bedford-row, -Middlesex, lays the damages
at £5OO. The case ii expected to come on
at the ensuing Warwick Assizes.