The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-06-22 00:00:00

TIM STOTTRIMITEGE OBSERVER

CREDITORS MERTING.—A meeting of the cre-
ditors cf Mr. Laban Packwood, furniture dealer,
of High St lea (forint.rly of Coventry. ,
was held on Monday; Mr. W.. H. Greenway, of
Birmingham, in the chair. Mr. C. W. Collis
appeared for the debtor.—The liabilities amounted
to £1,084 17s 5d., and the total assets were
estimated at .£207 17s 6d. It was resolved to
wind up the estate by liquidation, and Mr. W. C.
Harvey (London), was appointed trustee- Messrs
W. H. Greenway, S. In,sull (Brierley Hill), J.
Moore (London), E. Butler (London), and J. T.
Green.(Stourbridge); were appointed a committee
of inspection. Mr. C. W. Collis Was appointed to
register the resolution.
AN lINWELCOISIr. VISITOR.—On Tuesday morning
last as a drove a sheep.were being driven.to the
Stourbridge Stoat Sale through the High Street
one of the flock jumped through the plate-glass
window of Mr. J. Davies, confectioner, to the
consternation of those in the shop. The square -
is a very large one and the damage done is con-
,
siderable.

THEATRE ROYAL.—Mr. Marsden, the well-known
caterer, has this week been giving a series of
entertainments in the above place, and the
combination of talented artistes and the pro-
gramme which he submits to the public cannot
fail to give satisfaction to all and is well worthy
of their patronage and sup Port. The comic duets
by Misses Minnie and Maggie Williams, the Little
Musical Dots were gate through in an admirable
manner, creating roars of laughter and applause,
being called before the curtain three times. ' Mr.
T. W. Williams gave a refined variety entertain-
ment, which was well received and reflected great
credit upon the performer as his representations
of England; Ireland, and Scotland were executed
in a first-class manner. Tom Gordon, the man
of colour .and comic vocalist, aa,ve some very
amusing songs and came in for his share of
applause. The burlesque entitled "Robinson
Crusoe and his Monkey," which was sustained
by the May Trio, Mrs. May, as Crasoe, per-
formed her part in a first-class style and the.
part of Man Friday, Mr. May, was gone through
in such a manner as the inhabitants of Stour-
bridge have not had the pleasure of witnessing in
in this town before, for the way in which he twists
and turns his legs about cannot help but to 011 the
audiende with surprise, and we think it would be
remiss on our part if we were to forget to
mention that the Brothers Leoni and Young Vollet
gave a first-rate performance on the trapeze and
rings, and for precision, agility, and grace in per-
forming their daring feats have little to fear from
any one in the profession, as all their tricks were
done with much skill, and filled those present
with awe and astonishment and kept the
house in one continual applause. Madame Evelyn
Earclley (late of Bynes's), the wonderfully highly-
gifted.pianiste, soloist, and composer is expressly
engaged for Mr. Marsden's entertainment at the
Corn Exchange,this (Saturday) evening and next
week.

LimTuitE.—A leaure was delivered at the Corn
Exchange on Monday night by Mrs. Annie
Besant. The subject was "Atheists as Citizens
and Parents." The chair was occupied by Mr. J.
V. Barker, of Stourport. The room Was more
than three parts full and the Lecturer was listened
to with marked attention.

VESTRY MEETING.—A vestry meeting *as held
in the Corn Exchange,-On Thursday last, for the
purpose of asking the ratepayers to sanction the
Burial Board borrowing a further sum of 11,500
to complete the cemetery works., On the motion
of Mr. F. Evers the Rev. C. S. Wordsworth, rector
of Oldswinford Church, was voted to the chair.
Mere were also present the Revds. Streeten,
Ling, and D. Maginnis ; Messrs. G. Perry, G.
W. Prescott, H. Billingham, H. linghes, E.
Stringer, H. James, S. Smith, W. Fiddian, H.
Ne w man, G. Burgess, R. Kelley, J. Woolley, G.
Perkins, G. Horsley, W. Platt, &c., &c. The
Chairman called upon Mr. E. W. Bernard, the
clerk, to, read the notice calling the meeting.
This being done the Chairman said he should
make but few remarks. They had heard from the
notice read that a further sum of £1,500 was
wanted to be laid out on the cemetery to complete
it. The cost of the stone wall, had he believed,
been more than was at first expected and the
estimates for other work had been found to be
below what it was found necessary to expend.
The Oldswinford Churchyard was filling and the
sooner tue cemetery was completed the better, and
he hoped the lurther sum asked for its com-
pletion would be agreed to Without any opposition.
—Mr. Shepherd, the Chairman of the Burial
Board; said allow me Mr. Chairman, on this our..
first meeting to welcome you among us. (Cheers.)
The Chairman said that the actual Qxpenditure of
the Burial Board up to\lBth April was £4,820,
and the architect estimated on that day that a
further sum of £2,407 Os Td, which would make a
total of £7,227. The vestry had authorised. the
Board to expend £6,000 and they now asked the
vestry to sanction the borrowing of a further sum.
The actual sum required was £1,220 but that was
an awkward sum to borrow and the Board sug-
gested that it should be £1,500. He regretted it
w,as necessary to do this for when they met the.
vestry before they fully anticipated their expendi-
ture would be lees than £6,000. They thought'
that when they selected stone instead of brick
that there would be great economy in doing so as
the stone was offered them free. There was a
-.difficulty in getting proper men to get the stone
and to use it. The: cost of the land, eleven acres,
was something like .21,400, the laying out of the
grounds and other expenses. The Board accepted
the plan of the late Mr. Thomas Smith, but after
his death *hen tenders came in they found them '
much heavier than Mr. Thomas. Smith estimated
them and new plans were prepared by Mr. Smal-.
man Smith. The Board had done the best they
could to keep down the expenses. If the meeting
voted 4the sum asked for he did not think the
whole would be expended. The Board was trying
to Keep the expenditure within the lowest limits
they could and he proposed "That this meeting
sanction the borrowing of a further sum 6f £1,500
for the completion-of the cemetery."—This was
seconded by Mr. F. Evers, vice-chairman of the
Burial Board, who said he endorsed all that Mr.
Sheptierd had said and that the cost of the present
cemetery would bear comparison with any other
cemetery in the Kingdom. (Cheers—Mr.
Prescott said he thought the best thing to do was
to adjourn the meeting until next Monday so as
to give every one an opportunity of attending.
l'he meeting was a very small one.—Mr. Kelley:
It is as good as we generally get.—Mr. Prescott
said it would give the ratepayers an opportunity
to consider the question. Mr. Shepherd, whoM he
might call the Attorney.lieueral of the Burial
Board, had made statements.os to the expenditure
but if he quoted the statements made at the
former vestry meeting the members of the Board
would not cut the best tigure possible. He had
no doubt that the £1,500 would in twelve months
be £2,000. The roads of the cemetery would
have to be put in repair and this would be a
further burden for the ratepayers. The Board
had borrowed £6,000 and he should.like to know
what they had received from precepts as well.—
Mr, Shepherd said the precept money had been
used for different purpose to the loan, which
met expenditure on capital account, and they had
received in round numbers from Stourbridge and
Upper Swinford £7OO during the last three years.
—Mr. Prescott asked that the meeting be ad-
journed until next Monday, if not he should have
to demand a poll.—The resolution was then put
and carried, and a poll demanded by Mr. rrescott.
4.—On the motiOn of Mr. Kelley, seconded by Mr.
Woolley, that Messrs. Newnam and D. Bottoinley
were elected auditors.—A poll was demanded on
this question.—Mr. Perkin: How many polls are we
to have ? It has already cost the ratepayers £l4B
17s sd.—Mr. Prescott:lThat is a deliberate false-
hood. He was astonished to hear a man like Mr.
Perkin, who preaches in a chapel ,say so. He (Mr.
Perkin) had put, the town to .tl2B expenses for
plans.—Mr. Evers asked Mr. Prescott to withdraw
the motion for a poll.—Mr. Prescott refused to do
so and said he considered he had acted very well
in the matter.—A vote of thanks to the Chairman
'on the motion of Mr. Maginnis, Closed the proceed-
ings.—The Chairman fixed the poll for Monday
next. •

ANNUAL MEETING OF COMMISSIONEES.—The
annual meeting of the Commissioners Ns as held
on Wednesday; Mr. C. Evers in the chair—Mr.
Kelley proposed that Mr. Henry Hughes be elected
chairman fOr the ensuing year. He had had as
much or more experience than anyone at that Board
for be had taken an interest for fostey or fifty years
in the affairs of the town, and he believed no one
would be more likely to keg m theout of
squabbles and disputes. Mr. Pagett seconded the
motion, which was, supported by Mr. Stringer, and
earrie,d.. Mr. Hughes thanked the Board for elect-
s.; himand-he afterwards proposa I a vote of thanks
to the retiring chairman, Mr. C. ' Evers, for his
services during the past year. Mr. Kelley seconded
the motion, which was carried, and Mr. Evers
briefly acknowledged it—The Clerk then laid be-
fore tilt, Board the annual statement of accounts,
and the ratepayers nominated. Mr. D. Skidmore
and Mr. 0. Bottomley as anditors,,
AssArrir CASES.—At the Police Court, yesterday
before Messrs. C. P. Noel,F.Efers and, C. Cochrane,
and" Colonel Barrows, Joseph Taylor was charged
with assaulting Samuel Robins, on the 11th inst.
—lt appears that the parties were at a club feast
and defendant struck complainant on the eye and
made it bleed. Fined is and costs. Before
Messrs. Noel and Evers, George Davis, commer-
cial traveller, was charged with assaulting William
Green, painter, Union Street, on the 15th inst.—
Mr. Perry defended. Complainant said he was
going down liigh Street about eleven o'clock and