The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-12-06 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

'ocai
intb istrict 4etus.
STOUR BRID GE VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE

This Brigade has now been formed twelve months,
and from the energetic manner in which the officers
and members have worked it is one of the smartest
Volunteer Brigades in the Midlands. Some few
months ago an application was made Ly th 3 Stonr-
bridge Improvement Commissioners on behalf of
the brigade, to the Royal Society for the Protection
of Life from Fire, for the use of one of their Escapes
in the Township and neighbourhood. The Society
sent down their Inspector, Mr. Chapman, to confer
with the Brigade on the matter. Af er Mr Chap-
I man's report had been sent in, the Society informed
the Commissioners that one of their Escapes should
be stationed at Stourbridge under the superintend-
ence of he Brigade. Inspector Chapman er ived on
Tuesday kst with the Escape, which was brought,
down from the sttior, by a number ef
On Wednesday, Insp, ctor Chapman gave tao
and on Thursday a eiet chment of Firemen under
the conmani ti C,ptain Turney and Lieut. nent
Ford exhibited the Escape in the presence of Mr.
Hueh. s, Mr. John Taylor and a number of the
Commissiontrs. The machine La. a mein laiiier
.28 feet long, with a canvas shoo pi teeted extern-
ally by copper gauze with the fly-1 ,dilers :tttat'ued•
The first building visited was in Lower High Str, et,
a shop occupied by Mr. Hendry. The Escape was
pitched against the house and the fly 1 dd-rs bring
attaeled th- firemen were enabled to reach the roof
from which they dfryiended by mans of the shoot.
The Escape was then taken to Mr. Emery's, whz.i.e
some fun was obtaint-d through the medium of one
of the firemen, who, dressed up in a sheet, made his
aopearance at the wind iw Captain Turney very
gallantly ran up the ladder, and rescued the poor
creature, bringing him down the shoot amidst the
app:ause of the spectators. Mr. Emery nor appeared
at the window, and on being invited to make a
Journey down the shoot, accordingly did so, amidst
considerable cheering. The machine was then t,,ken
to Messrs. Mark and Moody's premises where an-
other rescue was effected. The Escape was taken
to the Brigade Station and formally made over to
the Commissioners by Inspector Ceapman.
The buildings where the escape was tried, are the
highest in the town, and in all cases tire machine

wtTs of sufficient length to reach any part of them.
With such an escape as tl:Cs (being buil, specially for
Stow-bridge), and worked by an efficient body of
firemen, the inhabitants of the town may consider
[hemselves well protected in case of fire. Yds is
the 63rd escape presented by the Society to different
towns.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CHURCH MISSIONARY
SOCIETY.—On Monday evening last, the annual
meeting of this Society was held in the Union Hall,
Stourbridge. There was a very good attendance.
Mr. Alfred Freer took the chair at 7.31. There
were also present the Revs. C. S. Wordsworth, T.
Williams, il. Sherrard W. J. J. Welsh, and F. W.
Haynes. Mr. Welch, at the request of the chair-
man read the report of the year ending March 31th,
1679. which showed that the total amount received
was £99 4s 3d. of which the sum of £95 16s 3d.
had been forwarded to the Parent SociAy. The
chairman said he felt it a great h-nour to preside,
especially as it was a meeting so much larger than
usual, which show., that there is a greater inter-
est being taken in the missionary work and its
objects in our mid,t. He was not much acqua nted
with the missionary field, as he had not had the
opportunity of seeing the work, and Ch., deputy of
the society would satisfy them with his remarks.
He did not know that we became wiser as we be-
came older, but as we get older, convi :lions size
our minds more tllau they used to. There seemed
to be some convictions which penetra`ed into the
inmost parts of our hearts a-,cl no arguments
outside convince us they should be disturbed.
!'he gospel of our Lord. Jesus Christ was a panacea
for all souls They knew that th bject of the
society wh ch had brought them t gether that
ova ing was to spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ to the heathen. Some talk of missionfries
never doing anything any good, but he said they
did. They may find one here and teere th‘ t looked
after hims Hand merely occupi.,s his time in the
neighbouring school. He had received te-timony
from a man we had been among the missionaries
who said they that were doing a g:eat deal of good.
They who had met together to lister, to the speakers
f the gospel were living witnesses of the power of
the gospel. He thought they woald have great
pleasure in listening to the deputation Before calling
In the deputation, he would call on the Rev. C. S.
Wordsworth to address them.—The Rev, 0. S.
Wordsworth said he quite agreed with what Mr.
Freer had said, and that was to listen to the depu-
tation. He could not but say tat he thought it
was a very great duty oe his part and other people
to show what sympathy they could, in the minion-
try woik which is being carried on in other parts
of the world. Ile remarked hat the missionaries
tad a great many perils to encounter, from various
heathen kings ad people, as in the case of Zulu-
land. they have difficulties of all sorts to teat
with. It is of great imp ,rtance that we in this
couiory, -should let those who are carrying on the
work in foreign lands, know that we are not neg-
lecting, it in this country. He quite agreed with
what Mr. Freer said that the gospel of our Lord
Je3us Christ w.s a panacea for all the evils of the
world. We know that a great deal of attention is
being paid to science, and he was exceedingly glad
it is so for the well-being of the people. They had
no reason to be oppised to one another, as the
work of nature and the people proceed from the
same God. They will in the end be found to be in
perfect unity one with another. We may boast
ourselves of the knowledge which we have of the
influence of nature but it would be perfectly useless
if we did not exercise it for the good of the people.
We think we may be led by god to carry the ku .w-
-ledge of science with the knowledge of relieion, so
that it may prove a benefit to the land NO ere we
dwell. The Rev. J. B. Welting who was the depu-
tation from the Society said: I shall call your
attention to the missionary spirit at home and
abroad. There has beet a g •eat improvement
in the religious matters in this land. In the rail-
way stations you will see met going and 1 ,oking at
the small texts in these books. There was a time of
people, reading p. ople as at the present day. There
are belonging to this society 188 Missionary Sta-
tions and in those stations 205 ordained clergymen
who have gone out of England. We have 200
native clergy ie our missions. We have c :lieges in
which there are young men being trained for clergy-
men, who 1 hopi will ta,:e their place as soot as
they are prepared, we have schools in wnich we
have 600, 000, children NNho are native converts.
We have from one to two millions of churchmen in
the society who pay not less than 10s. a year. He
then proceeded at some conAiderable length to
point out the dangers and difficulties in w.,ich the
missionaries were placed. A hymn was then sung
and the benediction pronounced by the Rev. C. S
Wordsworth, and the meeting ended.
A CHILD SUFFOCATED.—A child aged two months,
nee-Jed Mary Ann., Sperry, daughter cf Thomas
Sparry, residing at Oidswinford, died on Tu sday
last. It appears the child went to bed about ten
o'clock, and about three o'clock it seamed very ill,
and Dr. Eager was called in to see the child, but it
died tefore he came. An inquest was hell on the
body, yesterday, when a verdict of ".11Yed from
natural causes" was returned.

THE SEVERE WEATHER.—Frost has' set in early
this seas ,n, and the consequence is a number of
people have been thrown out of work. Mrs. Coch-
rane, of the Heath, has, with her u-ual liberality,
thrown open her pool for skating, and a charge of
sixpence is ade, to keep it respectable. The money
will be given to the de.erving p,,or. A. brass band
plays most cycnings, but we may state that what
they receive does not come out of the money taken
at thn gate, but is sub.eribed by the gentl m- n
presruto Large numts a have attended during the
week. Mr. H. Cochrane is pre-ent anti renders all
the assistance he can, to make things comfortable for
the visitors.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—ThI weekly meeting
of this Board was held yesterday. Mr. Ray-
bou!d in the chair. There were present Messrs.
H. Billingham, Pargeter, R. B. Guest, Mullett,
Wood, J. Billingham, Gile3, Mills, Plant, Hale,
Rhodes, Lavender, Kelly, Evesou, and Brooks.
Admitted into the house during the week 12;
discharged 15;. dead 1; born 0 ; remaining
in the house 496. Corresponding period last
year 442. Out•door relief, Kingswinford district
£34 14s. Oil; Stourbridge district £2O O 8d;
Halesowen disttict £lB 17s 2d, non-resident 4s;
, total £77 Gs 41, against £65 10 10-id.
VICURIA lIALL Ruir..---Ou Monday, Tuesday

MAINS AND DISORDERLY.--:110M18 Homer was
charged with being- drunk at the Lye. The case
was prayed b), Police-constable Widdows, and de-
fendant was fined 2s 6,1 and costs.—Henry Thomas
Dunn was charged with being drunk and disorderly
at tbe Lye, on the Ist inst. Police-sergeant Payne
said the defendant was very drunk and disordc.rly at
th . Lye, on the Ist inst. Police-sergeant Payne sa d
the defendant was very drunk and disordetly and
abusive to him. A previous convictit,n was proved,
and defendant fined 103 and costs.
BIEA.CR OF THE PEA.CE.—ltichard Roper and John
Coo cr w- re charge with committimr a orpach of
the pe tce by fightinz at the Lye. Police-vons,abl
Jewson proved the case, and defendants were ordere 1
to pay c:sts.
CHARGE OF DRUNRENNESS.—George O'Dowd was
charged with being drunk on the 4th inst. Polic,—
constable Cross proved the case. Pleaded guilty..
Fi'.ed 5s and costs.
CHARGE OF CRUELTY TO A Ho.—Th ,mas
Smart was charged with using a horse t , work
while in an unfit stare, on the 26th ult, at Cridley.
Defendant p eaded guilty. The case was p.toved by
Inspector Dance. The defence was that it was not
hi-, horse, but hd hred it th t day, and was n, t
aware there w re aly wounds a'mut the ho se as i,
was harnessed when it came to him. Fined is and
costs.

CHARGE OF WILFUL DAMAGE AT CLENT.—John
Griffin. Thomas Waldrcei, George Cartwright, Elijah
Waldron, At thur Searle, Phillip Waldron, St.plien
Griffin and Thomas Cooper were charged with wil-
fully damaging a fence on the sth ult., the property
of James Bennett, who claimed 20s. as compensation
Defendants were further charged with wilfully
damaging a fence on the same date to the amount
of 155.. the property of Thomas Huxley. Mr.
Wal lroa defended. Thomas Huxley said feat on
the sth ult he had several posts pulled up and he
saw them on the bonfire burning. Elizabeth Jones
said she did not see the defendants p,iii up any
posts but saw them put on the bonfire. W Ilia i,
Hux'ey said that he saw all the defendants pull up
the posts belonging to his fattier and they threw
them on Or- fire. They all helped to pull them up.
carry them . away, and put on the flue. Thorn's
Huxley sail that he saw John Griffin, Searle and
Cooper take Mr. Bennett's fence. and put it on the
fire. Mr. Waldron. for the defence addressed the
eeuch and contended that the case of Bennett
not been proved, and so far as Huxley ho had no
right to put the pailings there, and that they were
causing an obstruction, and the defendants con-
sidered they had a right to do what they had done
in pulling them up. As to them being Lurnt, he
contended that was a case for the County C nut and
not for the Police Court. The Bench retired to
consider their verdict, and on returning into Court
Col. k letc her said there had been a setious wron:
committed. Haxley had no right to enc•oie an 7
p rt of the Common. The next thing defendanis
considered they had aright to remove the fence. If
t,ey had such right, they had no right to burn them
and they were wrong in 'doing so, and sh.uld fine
them 6d. and costs and Is. 6d. each the dama4e, in
Huxley's case. In the other case of Mr. Bennet'.
they did not think the cas:. proved and dienissed
the summons.

DINNER TO THE EX-MA.YO Et OF DUDLEY,

A. complimentary dinner was given on Wednes•
day eveaii.g to the ex-Mayor of Dudley (Alderman
W Vrth) by the Town Council, in recognition oi
his public services. It look place at the Dudley
Arms 1101,1, and ibere was a nuineruus company th
members of the Corporaton, the magistracy, and
fiends of the ex-Mayor.-:

In ihe unavoidabh, absence of the Mayor (Mr.
11. M. Wainw igbt), the thair was taken by Alder-
man George Thompson. The vice-chair was occu-
pied by Aldetman W. Wilkinson.

- After the repast the usual loyal and patriotic
toasts were duly honoured.
The Cuairman then proposed " The health of the
ex-Mayor." He was sun they would all agree with
him that Alderman North had performed a great
deal of municipal work duriag his two years of
office, and that it entitled hen to their warme-t
thanks and admiration—(hear, hear). He felt it
was scarcely possible for a member of the Town
Council to have done so much work and to" have
thrown so much zeal into municipal undertakings
unless he had a large amount of local patriotism—
(cheers). The ex-Mayor possessed that element in
a marked degree, and he had given up much valu-
able time. Without referring to the various items
of Corporation work in which Alderman North had
engaged, he might say that by it the town wou:d
be permanently benefit ted (hear, hear). It was
known to most of them that tho bulk of the work
in connection with municipal Matters was done in
committee, and it was the habit of the ex-Mayor to
attend the whole of the committees, so that he was
we'd posted up in every department, and at the
monthly meetings of therCouncil well able to deal
with all questions which came on for discussion—
(applause).
The toast was drunk with full honours.
On rising to respond, the xx-Melort was received
with-loud and repeated rounds of applause. He
said he knew not how to thank them for their
hearty and enthusiastic receptien He felt exceed-
ingly honoured by the numerous as,rembly, and
esp cially by tee presence of friends who had come
to that festive board from a considerable distance—
(..theers), The Chairman had referred in too flatter-
ing terms to the work he had done but he hid so
acknowledged that whatever he had achieved wa-
by the kind and cordial Co-(,psration of the Town
Couticii. He quite agreed with the President that
was in committees that the principal part of the
municipal work W:l4 done, and with two exceptions
he;thitd attended the whole of those conruittees—
(cheers). He had been greetly obliged to the
Council for their attendance, and he was convinced if
any members felt they had been lax in this respec.
they would take note of the complimentary allusions
which had been made to this part of munieipal
labour, and do better for the future—tapplanso).
During his Mayoralty the work broug it forwar bad
been very imp Aim, bathe should refer p irticularly
to the deep-drainage scheme. It would involve a
ge expenditure, but although they woul I have
this, as well as time outlay in connection with Pu l.
Baths alai other sanitary improvements, they could
at the same ‘ime, bear comparrson as to deets -in-
curred and money to be repaia with any of the sur-
rounding 1 oreughs—(applause). They had nothing
to fear in that respect, and he was glad to say that
althouga they might have rates to meet they had
before them tilt; prespect of better trade—(hear,hear,)
Many •buildings had been erected in the borough
during the past two years. and the town had been
considerably impair° I. Among the new erections
was the Post Office, to be opened in a few days, for
which they were indebted to Alderman Thompson—
(hear, hear). In its outside appearanceeit was not
harmonious—(laughter)—but by the increased ac-
commodation it would afford it would be a great
laam to the borough. He saw no reason why in the
new building they should not have the Telegraph
Office opened up to ten o'clock. Some time ag he
went to the present office at half-pest nine o'clock
with a telegram cif great importance. and although
he offered to pay the extra fee of 55., he was told
that it could not be sent---("ehame”). He was in-
formed, however, that by going down to the railway
station he could send a telegram up to &ever\ o'clock
Bat why, he !asked, should they be put o tia
ouble and ieconvinieuce ?—(hear, hear). He
hoped their present Mayor would look to this matter
and make the necessity representations to the Post
Office authorities in London He might mention,
too, that dating his term of office the Free Libraries
Act had been brought into operetion, and as it was
part of his programme when he entered upon the
duties of Mayor, he took that opportunity (seeing
that it was adopted by the Town Council and the
ratepayers) of tendering his grateful acknowledge
ments—(cheeis). He was not awns, that he used
say more, except to thank them for the kindness and
courtesy he had always received at their hands, and
especially to express his gratitude ta the botough
officials. He was much indebted to the Town Clerk
tine to the Clerk to the Justices. He must also
express his thanks publicly to the magistrates for
their uniform kindness since he had had the honour
of sitting with them as an amateur Justice of the
Peace--(applause).
The remaining toasts included "The Lord-Lieu,.

and Wednesday last, Miss Montkomery's celebrated tenant and the County and Borough Magistrates
company visit3d the above plaec of amusement, aitd proposed by Mr. Henry Caldicott and responded t
owing to the in,lentency of tie wsa'h. r it was not a hy Mr, Charles Cochrane and Alderman George
succes, in a pecuniary view. kiss Montgomery's Bagott ; " The Earl and Countess of Dudley,'
splendid recital of " Rot he's Drift " met with "The Mayor," " Our Town and Trade," and the
tremenduous success, end she slowed to advantatte '' Press."
in her representation of Bally Itat.le, Biddy O'FIA- 1 An excellent seleciion (.f music was given by the
1). rty, & Mr. Frank Mack, who pos-esses a -.Qne Birmingham GI. e Union
voice, is a comedian of no mean ability, and his
imitations of Santley, Vine, dm are exceedingly
good, and the way in which h - plays the violin shows
! that he is a complete master over the instrument.
Mons. Jean Adenno fairly astonished his ...ai.....6‘
! by the very clever and clean way in which he went
\' throuuh his illusionary entertainment. The otter
members of the company acquitted them-elves very
creditably.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.-It the Police Court,
on Wednesday, before Mr F. Evers, Richard Lillow,
a tailor, residing in Church Street, was charged will
being drunk and disorderly on the 2nd. Police-
ser,:eant Payne proved the case. Committed for 7
days hard labour.
'FRINsFERs.—At the Police Court, yesterday,
before Col,nel Fletcher, Lord Lyttelton, Messrs. H.
0. Fine stone and R. L Freer, the following transfers
t -ok pace: The Vine Inn, hay Green, from R. G.
Rowley to Dudley . Chance; the Crab Mill Inn,
Oldswinford, from Th •mas Moody to John Wilcox;
the Woolpack Inn, nigh Street, from John Dallo A ay
to h s wid •w ; the Wheat Sheaf Inn, Coventry Street,
from Philip Drewery to Thomas Moody; the Holy
' Bush Inn, Coventry Street, from White to --a-
Lawie ~

BKIERLEY HILL.

NON-PAYMENT Or RATES the Police Court on
Monday, before Me4irs. IL Smith_ and H. Hall a
number of persons were sommond by the collector
of the Quarry Bank Local Board, for non-payment
of rates. They were ordered to pay the rates in
14 days.
TRANSFERS.—The following transfers were allowed
The Roebuck Inn, Quarry Bank, from David Shaw,
to Sarah Morris; the Three Furnace I' nn Level
Street, Briertey Hill, from Jeremiah Mullett, to
Edward Oakes; the Stamford Arnie Inn, Kingswin.
ford, from George Dandow, to Daniel Nash; the
Co!tonercial Inn, Bromley, from John Wellings to
John amb ; Three Crowns. High Street, Brierley
Hill, from Samuel Southall to Joseph Elorton ; the
Thull Ghaut, WOrdsley Green, from Walter MornA
to William Roberts.; the ,Dudley Arms Fm, Round
Oak, from James Gillard to Fred°, ick William
Cours-; the Suo Inn, Quarry Bank, from James
Mason to Ann Mason; the Old Mansiou Inn, from
Thoma• Ti.ibti:l to Walter Dover; The Nelsm Inn,
Round Oak, from Thomas Palmer, to John Thompson
The Jolly Collor Inn, Bromley, from Isiah Baker
to Joph Henry Holioway ; The Vine Inn. Words-
ley, from James Wood to Henry Iforhert Brown;
The Park Tavern, Bretton Lane, from A.un Mallen
to Levi Rock.
DR, NICENNEsS.— Thomas Evans and John Hill
_

_
were ,har.;ed with being drunk in the highway on
he 26th ult. Police-constable Wooton proved the case
ant said tie defonds,nts were very drunk in High
Street, Brierley Hill. Defendants, who pieaded
,zuilty, were fined 2s sa each and costs ; in default
7 days.
DRUNK WHILE IN CEIA.RGE OP A: TIORSg AND CART.
- • - • •

_
—Benj ,uun Mitchll wl,l charged with being drink
vhil in chafe of a hor.e .in elrt, on the 21th. uit

_
Defendant pleaded not guiity. W sch ol-
ma,ter, said taht he was near Swindon Schools, when.
the defenaant came by with a horse and cart. De-
fendant was very drunk an
.1 :used. abusive language
toward. him, and also thr-atened him. He gave
information to the police. Police-constable Enoch
3odlle saw the defendant on tbe 2nd ult. The
Bench said they did not think the chargé of drunk-
Jnness was proved against him and should dismiss
it. _ _ _

STEALING COAL.—Thomas Shaw and James
Blesii't were charged with stealing a quantity of
coal. the property of John Knight and Co., at Wora-
hourne. on the 11la ult. Mr. Bircher appeared to
prosecute, and Mr. Waldron appeared to defend.
Police-constable C:ayton, stationed at•Wombourne,
said he was on duty near Houadsdale Bridee, Worn,
bourne, where he saw the prisoners with a lump of
coal near them. It weighed 1201bs. He asked the
prisoners what they had got and the prisoner then'
replied that it was only a bit of coal which the men
in the sand boat had given him. Witness having
some doubt as to this being true, said he would see if
it had been given them, The primer Shaws house
was near and Blewitt.said " Take it into the house,
it's all right:' The sand boat was about 6 yards
from the bridge and prosecutor's boat was about 30
yards. Prosecutors was on the towing path side, but
the sand boat was on the opposite side. Witness
asked what boat that was in the middle of the canal
erisoners said it was a coal boat and " Din the
steerer " had given theln the coal. The .pri,cinera
asked witness to go to the boat with them but he
refused and told them to go themselves. The pri-
soners went to the bout and he heard one of them
say, "The bobby's on the bridge. He has got us
Say you gave us the coal," Witness said he heard
the boatman say,, "I gave you ne‘ coal, who are you"
The boatman came on the bridga with the prisoner 4
and witness asked him if he had given those two men
any coal. Ike boatman said ha had not. Before
leaving Shaw said he would take the coal back again
to save any bother. Blewitt said " What do you
want to take it back for. It was given to us." Wit-
ness then went to the boat and saw the coal was
covered. Daniel Wa,s4l and S imuel Wa3sell, two
men in the charge of the boat, the property of Nle:sra.
Knight and Co., cltned having given any coal, at
all to the prisoners. The Beneh stated that they
eceasidered the ca.-e proved ad should commit th )
prisoners for one month's imprisonment;
avast TRESP SS James Harding, striker, of.
ourbridge, was charged wi h trespasAng il
pursuit Of game, at Whittington, on the 2nd ult.
Def ndant pleaded gully. Eli Oaker, keeper to
Lord Stamford, said that he was watching defen !-
ant for about three-quarters of an hour. He saw
him go and look at some traps and also take a
rabbit out of one of the traps, Defendant after-
wards set some traps aad wires. He went to him
and searched him and found a rabbit and a wire on
him. The evidence was coroborated by George
Voweli. Defendant was linen 203 and costs; in de-
fau!t one m9nth.