The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-10-30 00:00:00

TITF, STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

granted • license of that kind, would make eu.
gnities int f the oharacter of the person apply-
ing, and whether the neighboPrhorei4eidirett 14.
Before lie sat down he witilfed Yu male a remark.
It mold not bc deli that drunkenness was the
parent of vide, crime, and hum 'relay, and en-
tailed want and misery, not only on the drunk-
ard, but on the innocent members of 111£4 family
—(cheers. lie believed, however, that the pro
hibition of tha sale of spirituous liquors in the
place where the inhabitants wished it. as was
proposed hy a poweiful League, would create
more evils than it would core. Rich men and
well-to-do would take care to provide themselves
with stimulants, and if the poor man was de-
barred from them by an absolute law, it would
give rise to so much dissatisfaction that it would
be difficult to see the end of it—icksers4. In
conclusion, Mr. Ampbled urged Upon the li•
censed victuallers to strengthen the hands of
their supporters, by enforcing good order and
sobriety in their houses, and to look upon drun-
kenness as not only bringing disgrace upon them-
selves but as endangering the very existence of
the trade by which they got their living—
(cheers).
Song—Mr. T. Green.
. .

Mr.-Hughes, Chairman to the Society, re-
plied. In doing so, he said that the worthy
chairman had said so much of the society that
it left him very little to say. However, he
might say that the society had been in existence
three years and they now numbered upwards of
sixty members. He hoped the time would come
when they should, as a body, be able to do as
many other of their friends had done, by sub-
scribing liberally iii this town for the education
of children. The speaker then went on to enu-
merate a number of places were hundreds of
children were being taught by the aid of the
Licensed Victuallers' Society, and clergymen
were employed in teaching. He believed they
haul something like 13,000 at the present time
being taught, and concluded by thanking the
chairman for proposing prosperity to the society
—applause).
Mr. G. Perry then proposed, " The Members
of Parliament for the Eastern Division of the
County of A, orcester," and in the course of his
remarks eulogised the two members, and said he
was quite sure that if at any time the society
should require the assistance of them in Parlia-
ment, the application would be received with
every consideration. (The toast was drunk amid
great cheering).
Song—Mr. F. Mien.

_ .
Mr. Amphlett, in responding, said that al.
though himself and colleague sat on different
sides of the House through politics, yet there
were many things they both agreed upon, and
he was quite sure that himself and colleague
would do the best they could for the county—
(cheers). '1 he only thing he regretted was that
they gave him nothing to do. However when
they did he should be happy to do it —(cheers).
The Chairman next gave' The Army, Navy,
aud Volunteers." In doing so, he wished to
couple nail it the name of Captain Walker—
(cheers)

Captain Walker, in responding, referred at
some length to the noble days of the army—the
Rataklava charge, the Indian Mutiny, and the
fight of Luchnow, where they were overmatched
and badly fed. He then gave a history of the
volunteer movement, and the result of a visit to
some friends of his in a crack regiment, and he
was proud to sty that he should not be afraid
but that either of his officers could put the men
through their evolutions as well as be had seen
it done iu the regular regiments— (cheers).
Mr. Brooks proposed the next toast, "The
Health of the Chairman," and thanked him for
coining among them, and for the way in which
he had received them as a body. Ho assurdil
the honourable Chairman that all they (tile
Licensed Victuallers) wanted, was to be allowed
to trade id a fair and legitimate way, the same
as any other tradesinan—(cheers). After sonic
other remarks, he concluded by expressing a
hope that the honourable chairman would never
Live c:ntse to regret coining amongst them
(drank with musical hands).
tiong—Mr. Cotterill.

The Chairman, in responding, thanked them
for she honour done him, awl that he felt great
pleasure in being among them.
The Clutirmam then proposed the'' Health of
the Vice-Chairman "—(cheers).
Mr. Brooks in replying, sad he thanked the
honourable Brooks,
for pr..posing his health,
and to his neighbours for the kind way in which
they had drunk it. He had Bred in the town of
Stourbridge for many years, aud he hoped to die
in it The Chairman had said lie was about to
get married shortly to a yery amiable lady. It
was true he was, and he would say there was not
a better family in the neighbourhood than the
GrazArooksacheer:;). It was also true thathe
had at at the Board of Commissioners for some
time, and that he had now the honour of being
first vice-chairman at the Board of Guardians.
He had attmded the Hoard for a uumbor of
years by the side of his late friend, 3fr, Akroyd,
and they hat always worked harmoniously to-
gether. There had been many contests for the
po,d of Guardian, hot whenever an election
took place, he was proud to say he had been at
the head of the poll by some hundreds —(eheers)
—and concluded by expressing the pleasure he
always felt hi attending to the wants of the poor,
at the same time looking after the interests of
the ratepayers; and if at any time could do his
neigbours good, he was always glad to to it—
(applause),
Mr, .1, Hughes then proposed 44 The Honorary
Members of this 53 miety, and the Visitors,"
Song --Mr, A. Brookes.
_ .

-Cotterill, in repl3.ing to the toast, said
that the object in calling the society a" protec-
tion society," was to protect them from the corn.
moo informer—(applauso —and to protect their
interest. Soule time ago Mr. Abel .timith brought
forward a bill to shut up the public-houses on
Sundays. At that time it cost the society some-
thing like t5OOO to engage eminent men to look
after their interest, and the interests of the
public. Then, again, there were the "Alliance'.
friends, who gave them an little trouble. There
was another thing tobe considered, if the friends
of the Alliance succeeded, thore would no a great
loss to the Revenue. The Licensed Victuallers
paid sixty millions to the revenue, and the brew-
ers more than eighty. The speaker urged upon
the society to form a Benevolent Fund, to pro-
vide assistance for ag3d innkeepers, the same as
they had in Wolverhampton.
The Chairman next gave the " Town and
Trade of Stourbridge."

Song—Mr. B. Brooks.
Mr. Stringer responded.
Mr. Brooks proposed "The Health of Mr.
Perry, solicitor to the society."
Mr. Perry, in responding, said his advice to
the society, was strict observance of the law—
(cheers).
Song—Mr. T. Green.

Mr. Hughes then proposed the "Health of
Brooks, the Treasurer to the Society," which
was responded to by that gentleman.

Mr. Cods proiosed Success to the Glass
Trader responded to by Messrs. J. Walker and
E. Smith.

" The Ladies" was p:aposed by Mr. T. Perks,
and responded to by Mr. F. Joseelyne.
fhe Press," "Our Absent Friends," and
other toasts followed, and a very enjoyable even-
ing was spent.

aa I knew whet end ft arc e.lmine tO.—Thornes Perry
nrnved that he did not sell the nrienner any iron. nor
‘;;re him any instraetinns ti fetch it away. Hsi not seen
hirn for aeven weeks —Mr ft tn'tes then male * pnwerfol
sncech fer the defence. enntendine that the only evidence
a2ninst the prisoner was that nf Williams. who had h-en
convicted end sentenced Visit rannthe imprisonment for
reeelvinit stolen iron, and said it would be ttojost, to con-
vict the primmer on eneh etdd.nee, and that no jary
wnold eonsict him.—The Bench then retired tore (inert,
of an hnnr On their return, Mr. Parrs said they did
not think there was IPA-lent evidence to commit the
prisoner. and direhsraml him
_ _

_ .....
REMOVAL np TEE REV. B. Aron. M.A..— Many of
nor readera will be sorry to learn that the Rev H OWN.
M.A., now enrate of St. Luke's, Cradlev Reath. is about
to remove to another part of the enuntry. A living at
Herhorne, near Birmingham, of the value of MO a.vear
has been offered to him. and he ha. creptel i. the
rev. gentleman fothroinced 1.15 determination to the eon.
cregatinn of St. Lake's on Sunday evening. It was ro-
w...wed that if he had not accented this living he would
hive returned to the curacy of Cradley, which had been
offered him by the Rev. A. Thompaon ; and Mr. Thomp-
son informed his congregation of this arrangement on
Sunday morning last. Many were highly pleased. but
their pleasnre was short lived, for at the evening service
thy were Brain Informed that Mr. Gregg wan going to
Harborne. We wish the rev. gentleman eery 6access in
his new aphere of Mon%