The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-06-03 00:00:00

_ocat anb isttict Pbrs.

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.

The monthly meeting of this body was held
on Mouthy last, at the Bostd Room, Mr. J. An-
se!) preaiding ; arid there were also preaent
‘l,aars. Bil•ingliatio, Newnan), Emery, Blunsenr,
Yining, Perkins, and the Rev. D. Mairinnis.
The minium; of the last meeting were read
and confirmed.

Tile Clerk reported that there was due bow
the treasi.rer on the noprovement net:omit th:
sum of £6OB 4: lid. and on the highway secoubt
the.euth
.of £290 18s 13d.

Tile Finati-e-e-CoMM.-t-tee's report recommended
the ayiuent of bills due, including the Gas
Company's, amounting to £l9B us 3d.
A letter was read from Mr. F. S. Saunders,
, secretary uf the Great Western Railway Corn-
-thy, in reference to the erection of a central
railway station for the convenience of the in-
habitants of this tosn. It stated that the dir-
ectors had given the subject their best conside-
ration, with the desire to meet the wishes of the
inhabitants of Stonier:4e in the matter. The
expense involved in the extension of the line
and the construction of a central dation was.
however, lar.zer than the Board would he justi-
fied in recommending their proprietors to Mem
at the present time, when works bf a more pres-
sing character were claiming their attention.
The inconvenience arising•frout the distance ed.
the present station from the te wn of Stourbridge
was fully recognised by the directors, and but
for the expense, as stated, they would be willing
without delay, to lend their aid to remove it, mutt
to meet the requirements of the inhabitant* as
represented by the deputatiou which waited on
the Board in November last.

Mr. Prescott a id he now applied for compen-
sation for Isess austaiiied by Mr. Smith, the lee.
see of the Market 'foils, as he was losdisi
weekly.
Mc. Woolley said the Committee had been
consaderiug that tpiestimi.
Mr. Pres-eott : Pardon sue, that was fur loss On
the fair day.

Tao elork: I beg to say that this is the first
time I have heard the Application for compen-
sation.

Mr. Prescott : Oh, lint I went to your 0111 Ct
011 'rUltrd.itly morning, and we have talked the
sul.ject over before.

Mr. NewLatu It will be well to take the pre.
sent tuatter s athiitional.

Mr. Prescott: I Moe also to ask the Clerk to
arrange to take the opinion of counsel upon any.
question of refusal to pay toll. The matter will
seriously affect the ratepayers, besides Mr.
smith, who is a Large keen,: ; much larger than
any gentleman who is sitting at this table.
The Chairman : What staff —(laughter).
Mr. Prescott : It's all very well to say what
stuff,- and pooh, 1.0011 Mr. Smith's appaication;
but he is a lunch larger lessee than any gentle-
man who sits at this table.

Mr. Hu'lngham ea..ayed to speak, but
Mr. PI C6CULL (interrupting) said: oh, we have
had a specimen of what you can do. Mr. Billing-
haul, for tile last twenty years —(laughter).
.1 he Cimirtuau a iid lie begged to propoae that
this Hoard take no action in the matter untit
Lie), had heard the report of the Committee
upon tee question referred to tin ni at the last
meeting. if Mr. Preacott would state his case
they should be happy to hear it.
Mr. Prescott: I want to do to. but you gentle.
men seep interrupting nie. My application I.
for compensation to Mr. Smith, for the lose le
has, and will sustain in consequence of the Com•
niissionera selling certain toils and dues wine]
tney hi a no right to sell, and also for giving t
certain notice which his prevented a numb, r oi
persona from paying toils; and also respeetiu.
the second tolls, it now appeared they were no,
entitled to. Then, sir, the next question wit
apply of course to the Closing of the door at the
other end of the Corn Exchange. It is very
desirable that there should be but one eutraitct
into the Exchange, and the door that leads inh.
toe Market Haul ought to be closed. Aoothet
question, whether the Commissioners would takt
toe opinion of Mr. Macuatuara, or any utile,
eminent, counsel, nu any Case of refusing to pay
tolls that way be submitted.
The Clerk : Have you any oue who has re.
fused?

Mr. Prescott : Oh, yes; Mr. W. C. Firmstone
sap' he shell not pay. In fact, he sets Mr.
bunth at defiance, uuu refuses to pay the tolls,
awl su,ls he shah tell every one else to do the
et.ue. rues us one tNing h 0 Lounuissiouerh
ought to love them litteutlon to.

The Uteri( salct Mr. Swith Would report a
bona fide aaae to hitu, le wuuld subei.t it to the
Cut..wittee.

Mr. Prescott: I did so, at your office, on
Thursday. Here is Mr. I,rmstone only paying
3i/a per year fur his stall, slid tovre arc Mr.
Liditr, Mr. Pmarsou, and a..other man, who if
they pu.o toll at the i.de of twopence per man
tome would be mole mousy than there id at pre-
sent from the stall. Here is a man huying
am0,..,...ds of othihela of grain every week, and
unq pa‘ 304 ior hI claim, taad gore in Rod
out 10 eel in the btreets with loony °diets with
impunity.
.

iu.ked if Mr. Prescott had heard
Mr. F,ruistuue rduse to pay.
Mr. Pre.cuLt saw h. hau out, hut he believed
tha:. all. alum* L..d.

Mr. wi id he. had not heard it himself;

bu it Witt. h 1 WAD.

Mr. Pre,emt said: I am satisfied that Mr.
rcluded to pay Loo loan, Jlle,tiou.
As regaros Lbw bond g xisting between Mr. Smith
mid WC Conthassioners, of course Mr. Smith
could not pay the Market 'Julia utitess there wa,
some arriimement for compensation.
The Core: I beg to say that until his case is
proved he must pat) his glebtlf.
Preacmt : Jaen we shall not, I am sure.
I mu certain we ShaLt UnlebB there Ia some
cumpeuaation giveu—(cries of "On, ob.')
Toe t.:hairuniu lie will be obliged,
Mr. Prescott: I am sure he will not, and an,
quite sure that ihe maul who orders proceeding,
to be taken will have to pay it out of his owh
pocket, for it shall nut come out of the rates—
On,").

Mr. l'reacutt (continuing) : We want the mat-
ter dewed. becaui.e if it is thought reiplielte ui
sued have to tat lii an equitable plea, aci the eu-
petuor COar.e wili be sherzly closed, aud it wil.
be no use winiet the judges are on circuit.. flu
simply wished it eniered in the b-iok. by the
cleric that Mr. Firuistuue relueed to pay the toll,
and tuat ne uad been advised by Mr. King, the
ms.,istrairs's Clerk, that he is nut liable to pay,
auir Call go into the etteet and sell with im-
punity..

mr: .%isginnis asked if that was an application.
Mr. Prescott suid it uss, slid he wished it in
no cubuitiseu to roinisel for ~pinion to be some
blin.e as to whether to Msgistrstes were ad-
vised by Mr. king rightly or wotigly.
Mr. Preseott : u.xt appliestiou Is whetlicr
the Counnio,ioners will talie it lease after the
settlement of the present twitter owlet dispute,
because toe bond held at present by Mr. Smith,
was nut a le:.se.

The Clerk said: We could proceed npon it.
Mr. Prescott said they could not.
The Ldiainuan tuougat that au agreement for
three years would stand.
Mr. Prese"tt recuaraed that be was not there
to be taught law.
Mr. N.:wiz:on then sad he I•hould advise Mr.
SLuILh 1,/ pay the tells.

Mr. Preeeett e.id it wee all very well to talk
like that, but he would not.
Mr. LllllllO/4111 baid Mr. Smith would find it
veryexke.ave if he did not pe) them.
'lhe tjitult end ihnt no the let of June there
weald he three instahnente due.

Mr. Prescott : I am quite naive of that, hut
we shall not pay one. Mr. Smith is smash ing
a weekly loss, and therefrre we 81141 uot poy
flnleaS conytot,ation is udowed. When Mr.
6unth entered the Coen Exchange last Friday
there were only about eight ',ennuis present.
The Clerk adia ; It is out the twit of the
Commis dollen).
Ur. Smith: lies it

Mr. Biuom : I tank you have injared your
owu canoe y not king inore civil with people.
Preacott and Mr. Swab then retired.

Xr. Wo9lley then said thut lie thought they
should not deetine to li4ten to those applications.
It woutd not affect the preacat loase, but Would
slter future ones.

The Chain:clan said be thought the matter
sh,p2ll..be d to the eolllllilitee.

M. Billo gintio said : I beg tu propose "That,
laa Mr. with refuses to pay the ineuthly histad-
'Aleuts' Ulu clerk ho Lott ogled to sway to t.ho
ourosiools,MN mom,