The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-08-16 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

grove, Coleshill,Smethwick, and Westhromwich—
f 'ruled in procession in Ilagley Street, and, headed
by the Stourbridge Brass Band, went down High
RHEUMATISM. Street, and then to the He ith. The Kidderminster
IHEUMATISM, Gout, Lumbago, Pains steam fire-engine brought up the rear of the pro-
JL the Head, Side, Back, Joints, and Limbs cession. The first competition which took place was
cured by DAY'S IstriEumATic PILLS. price is. lid• a dry drill for one man, the first prize offered being
per box. Sold by Mr. Pugh. Patent Medicine Vendor, a gold medal, and the second and third prizes silver
51, Coventry Street. Stourbridge ; and all Chemists oncs e.
The tctal value of the prizes in the several
Wholesale by ail the London Houses. competitions was .225. The engines were handi-
capped so as to equalise the work done, and the
time given below is, therefore, the time subject to
this handicapping and to any additional seconds for
any defects in the work done. There were twenty-
nine entries for the one-man competition which oc-
cupied a considerable time.
The quickest time was made by Jones, of the
Co:e.hill brigade, who did his work in 4645e0 , but
to which 6 sec. were added, making the time 524-
sec. ; F. G. Bishop, Aston, was second, time 53 see,
(actual time 50 sec.) ; and W. H. Wilmott, Stour-
bridge, was third, time 60 see. (actual time 52 sec).
In the dry drill for two men, F. G. Bishop and J. A.
Slee took first prize, with a clean drill of 53i sec. ;
second position was won by 11. Cochrane and W.
H. Willmott, Stourbridge, 584 sec. (actual time 514.)
and Jones and Morgan, Coleshill, were third, time
6I sec. (actual time 58 sec.) A. dry drill for four
men followed, Stourbridge won Ist and 2nd prizes.
time 40 and 41 sec. respectively. Aston was the
next in order, time 51-Z sec. (actual time 471 sec.)
The increased number of men in each drill repre-
sented an increased amount of work to be done.
A wet drill for eight men followed the dry drills,
and in this instance the hose was run out a con-
siderable distance, and the water had to be played
over a cross piece of wood elevated in the air. The
quickest time was made by the Stourbridge brigade.
The eight men competing were on the engine at the
moment when the signal to start was given. They
had their engine gear all fixed, successive lengths
of hose braced together, the pumps at work, ancithe
water playing over the woodwork referred to in 51i
see., but to this 6 sec. hal to be added by way of
handicap, making the computed time 571 sec. It
had been provided in the rules that: if they proved
successful, the prizes should not be awarded to them
but to the next in order of merit: Aston, therefore,
took first prize, time 61 sec. (actual time 59).
Smetbwick was the second, with a clean drill of
674 sec. The hose of the Coleshill brigade burst,
and threw them out of the competition ; and West
Bromwich did not compete. The remaiaing brigade,
Bromsgrove, scored 874 see. (actual time 77i). The
time was now so advanced that the fifth competi-
tion, a purely local one, was posponed. The judges
were Captain Banbury, Woodstock brigade, and
Captain Comber. Kidderminster brigade.
(1). Dry Drill for one man.—Aston :F. G. Bishop,
53sees ; J. A. Slee, 674 secs ; J. Norris, 674. Broms-
grove : Burrows, 78 ; F. Harvey, 78 ; A. Harvey,
754 ; Smith, 90; Stevens, 82. Coleshill : A. Drake-
ford. 78+ ; Watson, 75+; Jones, 52+; T. Drakeforcl,
71; Morgan, 59-4; Freeman, 654-. Stnethwick : J.
Wa.rdie, 694 ; Howell, 774-; J. Barber, 77; J. Bailey,
701. Stourbridge : H. Bird, 62+; 11. Cochrane-, 63;
C Nicholls. 604 ; A. Pears in, 604- ; W. H. Willi—
mutt,, 60; T Walker, 69. West Bromwich : 'l'.
Harper, 70 ; S. Silvester, 87. The winners were
Jones, of Coleshill, 1 ; Bishop, of Aston Park, 2 ;
and Willimott, of Stourbridge, 3. In this competition
the handicaps were :—A,tun and Smeth wick, nothing;
Coleshill and West Bromwich, 3sees. each; Stour-
bridge. 6sees; and Bremsgrove, llsecs. In the other
eo:npetitions the handicaps are relatively tbe.
S ime.

TRADESMEN'S ADDR EES.

(2) Dry Ulrill for two men-1•4on :F. G. Bishop
and J. A. Sloe 531 sets ; J. Morris and 'l'. Laws, G 6.
Bromsgrove : Burrows and Smith. 94k; Boulton
and F. Harvey, 76-1 ; Lucas and Wilcox 92 ; Stevens
and Harvey, 86. Coleshill : Watson and Freeman,
6'4 ; T. Drakeford and A. Drakeford, 61k; Jones
and Morgan, 61 Smethwiek : Wardle and J. M.
Harley, 761; H. Howell and J. Bailey, 661. Stour-
bride : H. Cochrane and W. 11. Willimott, 58i ;
C. Nichols and H. Bird, E;3l. ; A. Pearson and. W.
Perry, 62i. West Bromwich: C. Ault and G. P.
Walker, 681. Winners : Bishop and Slee, of Aston
Park, 1; Cochrane and Willimott, of Stourbridge, 2;
aid Jones and lorgan, of Coleshill, 3.
(3). Dry drill for four men—Aston; F. G. Bishop,
J. A. Slee, W. C. Allen, and G. Lowe, 511- s,es.
Bromsgrove : Stevens, F. Harvey, A. Harvey, and
Boulten. 50k; Wilcox, Lucas, Burrows, and Smith,
58i. Coleshdl : Jones, Watson, Freeman, and Mor-
gan, 58. Smethwick tE. Stokes, 11. Howell J.
Wardle, and J. Barber, 62 ; J. M. Harley, L. Brough-
ton, J. Bailey, and J. C. Nicklin. 574. Sturbridge :
A. Pearson, H. Bird, W. H. W. Willimott, and
Nichols. 47; W. Perry, C. Nichols, H. Cochrane,
and' r. Walker, 48. Winners :—First team of Stour-
bridee, 1; second team of Stourbridge, 2.
(4). Wet drill for eight men—ln this competition
which greatly interested the spectators, Stourbridge
won, ai,iing a jet in 571 secs. (handicap included),
against Aston, 81; Bromsgttove. 87i ; and Smedmicti,
671; Coleshill not completing the drill in cou-equence
of the hose bursting. The first prize won by Stour-
bridge was given by them to Aston; and Stnethwick
took second prize. The ollowing were the com-
petitors, Messr,. Pe trson, Nichols, Bird, Willmott,
J Wall, Cochrane, Perry, and Webb. We under-
stan 1 the above have entered ti compete at Aston,
on the 23rd inst.
Competition No. 5, for members of the Stourbritho
Brigade only, was postpon d because of the late hour,
and to conte-t thus over, a very interesting display
w. .s given by the Kiddermidster Gteam fire engine.
At 3 514 p.m. the fire was lighted, at two minutes
pa-t seven there were 10 lbs. of steam on the boiler,
at ten minutes pas seven 501bs. of steam were up and
two jets of water were brought' into u-e, and a few
mintites afterwards the steam pressure had reached
100 lbs, and the eegine was thro..ving two jets u_i t, a
h is,ht of 150 tent.
In the evening upar..rds of 31 fieemen aid frlenJs
sat ttb.,wa to ciinu-r at the Talb )t Hotel. M•. H.
Ha
.;hes occupied the chair. intt Captain H Turne7.-
Vre vice-chair. There were alt-o present Dr. H.
Seii•h, Dr. Eirgar, Messrs. J. Taylor, C. B otter, 11.
Wii.i.trns, W. rqevcr,s. R. Brotilohall, T. Peon. W.
3. T.atztey, T. W",)11, W. Paize, A. halt lE. S.aul..:y,
The f .Ilowin4 teastaxte r i proiro•oil :rad reS-
P n lcrl t,.. "Her M !jest), the (la -en " °The
l'i inc..: rind Pi inc,iss of \‘',iles, and th - rest of the
It )yal Family", "The Army, Naer, and Volunteers",
• The Judgeti", "Tae Health of the Winners", " rho
B:!earles who have Lonely() -I us with their pre,enite
t;•-day", ".i'he Health of the I funerary Members",
6•"1 It • Heulth if tile Chaiten-in'', ' Prosperity to the
, St urbridge Veltutt,,er Fire • Brigade", "The Press",
"The L •dies''. Darinz the e-aiti.:: the chairinau
ectiv-red the pr:zes to the various winners who ap•
pcat.ed pleased with the hoaours they had won.
iSome excellont songs were sung, and a pleasant
ev rung waA ?pent.

VaITRY MEETING.—A ves ry meeting was held
on Monday, at the Corn Exchaug,re, to fill three
vacancies in the Burial Board eceasionel by the
expiration of the term of office of the Rev. C. S.
Wordsworth, and Messrs. F. J. Haskew and E.
Stringer. The Rev. C. S. Wordsworth (rector of
Oldswinford) has usually presided at similar pro-
c :edings. Mr. Prescott o'ojected to his doing so in
this instance, because be was a candidate for
election, and might be called upon to act as re •
turning officer. Mr. Wordsworth said he had no
wish to preside, providing Mr. Prescott did not call
the validity of the meeting in question because the
reetor of the parish was not in the chair.—Mr.
Prescott said tie would not do so.—The Rev. D.
Maginnis was voted to the chair.'—Mr. Kelley
proposed the re-appointment of Mr. Ilaskew, which
was s.-2conded by Mr. Hughes.—Mr. Prescott said
Mr. Haskew was a Roman Catholic, and could have
no interest in the cemetery, and he objected to his
appointment. Mr. Kelley was a co-guardian with
Mr. Haskew, and, of course, under Catholic direc-
tion, 8.3 they voted for one man or three men, or
whatever was suggested. If Mr. Haskew was ac-
cepted by the meeting, he should demand a poll
upon it —Mr. Kelley said he had not consulted Mr.
Hoskew or anyone e:se with regard to the motion.
He proposed Mr. Haskew because he thought all
religious bodes should be represented on the
Board. Mr. Prescott: If you have not seen him,
you have seen persons that represent him.—Mr.
Kelley: Well, make an amendment.—Mr. Prescott:
No ; I would rather put it to the test by a poll.—
On Mr. Elaskew's name being passed, Mr. Prescott
demanded a poll. The Rev. C. S. Wordsworth and
Mr. E. Stringer were afterwards proposed and
carried, and Mr l'recott demanded a poll on each
name.—The Chairman asked Mr. Prescott not to
put the ratepayeni, Arhose friend Mr. Prescott
always represented himself to be, to the expense of
a poll. —Mr. Prescott declined to wiihdraw his
demand for a poll.—He had been a ratepayer
longer than any present, and perhaps owner of
more p:ope; ty in the town than any present, nail
he 110.1 as much interest in the matter as they had.
—Ube (airman then fixed the poll from 11 a.m.
till 3 p.m. next Monday. In. the course of the
proceedings Mr. Wordsworth stated, in reply to a
remark of Mr. Prescott's, that he did not intend
making any claim against the Burial Board for
compaisation in regard to funeral fees.
PLEuno-rxxxixorns.—This disease has again made
its appearance in the neighbourhood. A cow was de-
tected last week suffering from the (1722:.:3 in a herd
kept ar the Heath. Another case has occurred within
the la-t day or two :it Pedmore, and this appearance
of the disease at different p,ints should lead to special
w.iteliftilne.is on the part of owners of cattle. Last
er here was an outbreak of the disease in July,
and ti,ere were intermittent cases up to the October
following, necessitating the slaughter of a number of
valuable animals
-
OPENING OF THE BRANCH RAILWAY. The
dinner about to take place at the Talbot Hotel,
on Monday next, to celebrate the opening of the
above line, is postponed for the present.
FALL :DOWN A LADDER.—On Wednesday evening
a •n d Or'ord met with a sad a,Tident at Ohl_
I swinh-r 4 scheol,. His father was et.gaged painting
t Liao, and the buy lad-like, wounted high Istader

without being noticed. By some means he slipped
and Ml upon his face, receiving dreadful injuries.
Medical assistance was procured, and all the atten-
Lion possible given to him. He lies in a dangerous
state.

SUICIDE AT THE LYE.— Ann Penn, a woman about
sixty years of age, living in Bott Lane, at the Lye,
committed suicide on Thursday morning at an early
hour. She got up between twelve and one a.m. and
left the house, and was not seen again till she was
found lifeless in a pit of Mr, Harrison's. An engine
was at work drawing water from the pit, and on a
search being made for the deceased she was found
hanging by the arm to the tank used for raising the
water. It is supposed that she jumped dqwn while
the tank was empty, and was afterwards sucked to-
wards it when it descended. It is stated that the poor
woman has been suffering lately with violent pains in
the head.

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. —At the Police Court,
yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher, Lord Lyttelton,
Messrs R. L. Freer and J. B. Cochrane, two men
mimed Perry and Darnsell, were charged with being
drunk and disorderly. Police-sergeant Jones proved
the ease. Fined 2s &rand costs.—Charles Locke, of
Wollaston. was charged with being drunk and dis-
orderly on the 12th inst. Police-constable Eaves
proved the case. Fined 2s Gd and costs —Thomas
Tromans, of Cradlev was charged with being drunk
on the 9th inst. at Cradley. Police- constable Oakey
proved the er‘se. Fined ss. and costs ; in default 14
days.—Henry Hill, miner, was charged with being
drunk and disorderly on the 11th inst. Police-sergeant
Payne proved the case. Fined 5s and costs; in de-
fault 14 days.
CAUTION TO CARTERS—George Hoskins was charged
with being drunk on the 12th lust, whilst in charge of
a horse and cart. Police-constable Woodhall proved
the case. Superintendent Wheeler corroborated. De-
fendant pleaded guilty. Fined ss. and costs.
CHARGE OF BEING DRUNK IN THE PUBLIC STREETS.
—Alfred Morris, solicitor, and George Yates, clerk,
were charged with being drunk in the public streets,
on the 12th inst. Police-constable Madeley said that
on the above date he saw the defendants in Union
Street. They were both drunk and staggering about.
They then went into the Spotted Cow and asked for
something to drink, but were refused. They came
out, and went into another public-house, and were re-
fused there. He ordered them home and they refused
to go. Police-constable Battager corroborated.
Joseph Nock, landlord of the Spotted Cow, said the
defendants came into his house and asked for beer.
He refused to fill them any because they were the
worse for liquor. Police-sergeant Jones said the two
defendants came to the Police Office at 7-40. They
were both the worse for liquor. Police-constables
Williams and Eaves corroborated Sergeant Jones as
to the state of defendan-s at the Police Station.
Mot ris denied being drunk, and applied for aa ad-
journment for a fortnight for the attendance of Mr.
A. Freer, surgeon. Yates also denied the offence, and
ended a witness named Charles Hill, who, to the
amre,ement of the Court, said that Yates was quite
dlun:c, and was refused ale at the Coin Exchange
Vaults, where he put down a half-penny to pay for
glasses of ale supplied to three other men. He was
Lined 5s and costs; in default 14 days.

CHARGE OF PERMITTING DRUNkENNESS.Sha
Partridge, landlord of the Bridge Inn, Birmingham
Strew, was charged by Superintendent Wheeler
with permitting drunkenness in his house on the
12th inst. Mr. Waldron defended. Police-sergeant
Jones said that on the above date he visited the
defendant's house and saw a woman in the house
&tin's. He called the attention of the defendant
to the state she was in and he said she was a tramp
and had been in the house five minutes. and only
had a half-pint of ale. Police-constables Madeley
and Eves corroborated, and Superintendent Wheeler
said the woman [came to the station at 12 o'clock,
and she was then drunk. Mr. Waldron add, essed
the Bench for the defence, and called Dr. Eagar,
who said the woman was brought to his surgery by
the defendant. He considered that she was sober,
from her walking and talking, and the summons
was dismissed.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—Patrick Heston was
charged with being drunk and disorderly in High
Street, on the 14th inst. Police constable Williams
said that he found the defendant in the High-st.,
cursing and swearing. He refused to go home, and
he took him into custody. Fined 5s and costs.—
William Blakeway was charged with being drunk
and disorderly on the 14th inst. Police-constable
Battager proved the case which was supported by
Superintendent Wheeler. Fined 5s an costs.
ROBBERY BY A DOMESTIC SERVANT. Mary
Ann Seabourne, a domestic servant, was charged
with stealing gold ear rings, brooch, sleeve links, and
other property belonging to Harriet Mary Escott,
of Cleat. There were several other charges
against the prisoner. Mr. Collis appeared to
prosecute and said the prisoner was very young,
and was housemaid to prosecutrix. They did not
propose to go into any other ca .e, neither did they
wlish to press the case. Prosecutrix proved that the
articles produced were her property. Police-con-
stable Wsllace proved that he searched the pri-
soner's box and found the articles produced which
she admitted stealing, and that she sold some of
them to Mr. Blurton for 6s, and that her mother
had bought them back and returned them to Mrs.
Escott. Prisoner received an excellent character
end was sentenced to one month in the house of
correction.

" deputation " was Sir William Fraser's. There
was no deputation at all.—Mr: W. H. Green said
he had never stated that there was a deputation
from the chamber of Commerce, but persons had
waited upon the authorities who were connected
with that body. They did not let Mr. Wood know
all they were doing, although he imagined that thcy
(lid. He (Mr. Green) was in favour of the Post
Office being placed where it would be most con-
venient for the greater bulk of the inhabitants.—
The Improvement Committee recommended the
payment of bills on the district rate account
amounting to £1,037 17s. 10d., and on the kerbing
and channelling loan account of £l5O, and on the
borough fund account of £6B 3s. The collector
had collected on the general district rate £1,246
2s. 3d., leaving £3,409 2s. 10d. to be collected.
The committee recommended that the houses in
the borough should be re-numbered. They had
passed plans fur tne erection of 25 new houses
during the past month.—ln answer to a question,
Mr. Comber (borough surveyor) stated that £457
worth of kerbing and channelling had been done
out of the £1,003 worth. They were going on
with the work as steadily as possible, taking the
worst places first.—The Medical Officer of Health
reported that there had been 38 deaths during the
past month, or 22-4 in the 1,000, as against 16 or
97 in the 1,000 for the corresponding period last
year. There had been five deaths from measles,
live from scarlet-fever, one from diphtheria, and
one from fever. There were also four deaths from
disease of the respiratory organs. There had been
60 births. He was convinced that it would be
impossible for the borough to be in a good sani-
tary condition until the committee took the empty.
ing of all ashpits into their own hands.—The re-
port was received, and Mr. W. H. Green gave
notice of a motion to the effect that the Sanitary
Committee take into consideration the desirability
of emptying the whole of the ashpits in the town,
and report thereon at the next meeting of the
Council.—The Sanitary Inspector, in his report,
stated that during the three and a half-years he
had been in office 600 new houses had been erected,
and the town was in a cleaner and more healthy
condition now than it has been previously.