The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-04-02 00:00:00

Xocal aub iistrcit tidos.

VESTRY MEETING AT OLDSWINFORD.

On Saturday a vestry meeting was held in the
school-room for the purpose of appointing sur-
veyors for the ensuing year, and nominating
petsons for overseers. Mr. B. Holloway WRS
voted to the chair. The following gentlemen
were nominated for constables: David Osborne,
henry Owen, William Hargreaves, Charles King.
Overseers: Samuel Greeii, and John Chamber

On Wednesday last a second meeting was
tailed by the surveyors for the purpose of ap-
pointing two surveyors for the ensuing year.
Mr. E. Westwood occupied the chair. There
were also present Messrs. W. H. Westwmod, W.
H. Jones, W. 13. Collis, J. Griffin, J. Chamber-
lain, J. Chance. B. Holloway, (tc.
The Chairman asked for the notice calling the
meeting, when

Mr. Griffin said he had no notice. He had
placed one on the church door, and some one
had taken it oft

Mr. Collis said he believed the notice had ken
properly put on the church door by Mr. Griffin
himself. Some person had taken it off; why he
could not say.
, Mr. Chamberlain asked why the meeting was
called? He believed it to be an illegal one.
The meeting for appointing surveyors and no-
minating overseers was called by the overseers,
and the notice was signed by Samuel C. Williams
and William Holeroft, and it was put on the
church door. The meeting was held according
to the notice, and Samuel Green and himself
were appointed. Mr. Griffin knew of the meet-
ing called for that date. He was told of it by
Mr. Dallow, and he could have attended if he
thought proper._ . _

said lie was told of the meeting,
but it did not suit himself, Mr. Collis, and
others to attend, and he told Mr. Dallow that
he should call his meeting for Wednesday.
Mr. Collia submitted that it was quite compe-
tent for the surveyors to call this meeting. The
notice was placed on the door, as Mr. Griffin
could prove, and had been on three clear days;
and considered this was a legal meeting. He
did not consider it proper to take the notice off
the church door. It looked as if the business
was done in au underhand manner.

Mr. Chance said if any one was present who
had taken the notice off the door, he hoped they
would get up and give some explanation. They
iimit have known it was illegal, or they would
have pii another on.
Mr. Griffin said he considered it an underhand
job, to do what they had done.
Mr. j. I Lines said he waa at the first meet-
ing. and asked if it was a legal one. He was
told it was, and said that if that was a legal
meeting this must be an illegal one.
The Chairman called the attention of the
meeting to the General Highway Act, 1835. In
the 6th sec. it is enacted •• That the inhabitants
of every parish making its own highways at the
first meeting in vestry for the nomination of
overseers of the poor in every year, shall pro-
ceed to the election of one or more persons to
serve the office as surveyor or surveyors of high-
way in the said parish, for the year ensuing.
Mr. Collis said after hearing that, it was quite
clear that the first meeting held was a legal one,
but he thought if the parish wanted to remove
himself and Mr. Griffin they ought to have told
them so. He should have been willing to have
gone out; but the meeting had appointed Mr.
Green and Mr. Chamberlain. He had no objec-
tion to Mr. Green, but the appointment of Mr.
Chamberlain was. he considered, illegal, he
being a Government officer, and not being al-
lowed to take office.

Mr. Chamberlain said in reference to himself,
he could act if lie thought proper. His office
was a minor one, and the prohibition did not
apply to him, it only applied to the post officials
who were wholly engaged in it. Since he had
held the post office he had held the office of sur-
veyor three times, and hail been constable.
Mr. B. Holloway thought that being turned
out, it looked to him like as if there was some-
thing they did not know, or they would not be
so anxious to keep
,olliee. If that was so, he
hoped it would come out—doughteri.
Mr. Collis: Yea; I have worked three years
for nothing.
. _ _

Mr. Chamberlain: Yea and I have for eight
yetti:s.
_ _