The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-04-17 00:00:00

Socal •a 0 istrict

ACCIDENT AT THE RAILWAY STATION.—An ac-
cident occurred at the Railway Station, about
seven o'clock on Thursday night, which for some
time impeded the traffic on both up and down
lines. A goods train was coming out of the sid-
ing, when in crossing the points the wheels of
some et the trucks left the metals. This oc-
curred immediately between the platforms of the
passenger station, and one of the trucks was
pulled across the line, another heavy wagon was
reared on its side, and the wheels were torn off
a third, leaving the remaining part a tolerably
firm fixture in the ground. This mishap oc;
curred within a few yards of the junction with
the Birmingham line, and it was quite impossible
for trains to pass the obstacle, whichever way
they were bound, The 7.20 p.m. train from
London arrived soon after the occurrence, and
the passengers were transferred as soon as pos-
sible to another train, on the other side of the
trucks, and the service of the other passenger
triune coming in afterwards was met as well as
the exigency permitted. The up line was
cleared in about an hour and a half, but the other
line continued blocked for some considerable
time afterwards.
FIRST MEETING OF THE NRW BOARD OF
GUARDIANS—The first meeting of this Board
was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. Grainger,
Brookes, Rhodes, Pardoe, Doody, Griffin, Guest,
Pargeter, Rellinson, Holmes, Beckley, Wood.
Wright, and B. Wood.—On the motion of Mr.
Grainger, Mr. B. Brookes was called to the chair.
—On taking the chair, Mr. Brookes said the
first business of the Board waste appoint a chair-
mall; therefore it gave him great pleasure to
propose that Mr. Grainger be appointed chair-
man for the ensuing year. Mr. Grainger was
well known amongst them, and many of the
Guardians present had sat at the Board for a
long time with him. He Lad always done the
best he could for the Board, and he was quite
sere that when those gentlemen who hail just
been elected came to know him, they would ap-
preciate his worth. He was attentive, and did
all he could. He was also well knowii to the
poor. As time was precious, without saying any
more, he begged to propose that Mr. Grainger
do take the chair. Mr. B. Wood seconded the
proposition, which was carried unanimously.—
Mr. Grainger, on taking the chair, said it was
very gratifying to him to be again appointed as
their chairman, which post he had had the hon-
our of occupying for souse years ; for lie consi-
dered it a great honour. He was grateful to sea'
that he had been blessed with very good health,
and that this was the tweety-sevente year he
had had the honour of sitting at the Board—
(cheers). He had endeavourecrto discharge his
duties as chairman from time to time in the best
way he could—Omar, hear)—and would do so
again. He might say that the old Board, on
leaving office, had left a balance in the treasur•
ers'a hands amounting to £332 15s 2d. That,
to him, was very satisfactory, fur the Board to
commence with a balance to their credit. Not
that he approved of too much money being in
the hands of the treasurer, because if he held it
in his hands it was out of the ratepayers' pockets,
The Chairman said the next business Was the
appointment of senior vice-chairman, and begged
to propose that Mr. B. Brookes take that office,
He was a gentleman well known and appreciated
avuong them, and had done a great deal for the
Board. Mr. Griffin seconded the proposition,
which was carried unanimously.—Mr. Rhodes
moved that Mr. Richardson be appointed as
senior vieemhairman. Mr. Beckley seconded it
and it was carried unaniiimuely.—Mr. Brookes,
in returning th inks for their appointing him the
second vice-chairman, thanked the Board. It
was very gratifying to him, end he felt at all
times pleasure in attending that Board. The
Chairman had spoken very highly of him ; but
he must say that he alwaa felt pleasure in at-
tending that Board to edieinieter to the waate of
the poor, and to watch over the interests of the
ratepayers. It was to him a labour of love, for
there Was no place wheie he could aid them like
he did at the Board. He WAS very glad to hear
from the chairman that they were out of debt,
and that there WAS a good balance in hand. He
might say that often when he thought they were
out of debt, some precept would be sent in for
£5OO, or some other sum, and that had to be
The House of Lords is a body which is ire. paid. He might say for the benefit, of the rate-
quently either flattered or abused, according to payers, that large sums were voted for the
the extreme of those whose attention is for the maintenance of the police force, for the support
time being directed towards them; but neither of lunatics in asylums; and it also cost a good
extravagant praise nor wholesale condemnation deal of money to remove them, by the officers.
is just. On the whole, however, society pays He mentioned this to let the ratepayers see that
court to nobility, and the public opinion, which the poor did not have all the money. He would
s decidedly opposed to the existence of the also take the opportunity of thanking those
House of Lords, is not very great in power and gentlemen present on behalf of Mr. Richardson
influence. At all events, the House, as it stands, IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (who was on a journey) fur again appointing him
is a great fact," and if it does not in practice HOUSE OF COMMONS .—THURSDAY. as the second vice-chairman.—The next business
exercise so large a legislative inffuence as the was the passing of the bye-laws. The Clerk
douse of Commons, it is a component part of THE IRISH CHURCH BILL. read theta; after which the Chairman moved
,air legislative machinery. And rightly or On the motion for going into committee on their adoption, which was seconded by Mr. Rol-
wrongly, the world continues to pay homage to the Irish Church Bill, linson, and carried.—Assessreent Committee.—On
ancient birth, hereditary reek, gellant spirit, and Mr. Newdegate moved that the House do go the motion of Mr. Pargeter, seconded by Mr.
Indomitable pride. The Lords still repose upon into committee that day six months. He had Doody, the following gentlemen were appointed
ffieir scarlet benches, beneath the shadow of the then taken great pains to ascertain what ought as the Assessment Committee: H. W. Foley, J.
throne, as haughty, if not so powerful, as were to be his duty with respect to this bill, and he Holcroft. E. Moore (es-ofliciii), Messrs. Grain-
the Lords who effected the aristocratic revoln- had aiieertained that the opinion of his consti- ger, Broottes, Richardson, Rhodes, Burr, and
tion of 1688. The British aristocracy stands silents was that if the Protestant Church was Wood.—Building Committee : Messrs. Grainger,
airiest alone in the spirit and boldness with disestablished, it must lead to the establishment Brookes, Richardson, Guest, Beckley, Rhodes,
which it confronts its adversaries. The pr'- of the Itinuan Catholic Church. He argued at Raybould, Wood, Griffin, and Itollison.- -The
leged orders of other nations, exhausted by great length that the bill was a violation of the following is the weekly relief: Admitted into the
long-continued struggles or decrepid from uatu- Act of Union, and of the conditions on which house during the week, '2B ; discharged, 51;
ral infirmity, have suffered passively an igl/0111i- the Roman Catholic Disabilities Act was passed, dead, 1; remaining 447. Corresponding week
Mons extinction, but the aristocracy of Great mid that it most endanger the Protestant ineti- last year, 453. Oust-door relief Kingswinford
Britain, defendieg its rights with matured skill tutions of the country. district, .1:44 7s 81; Stourbridge district, .4e25
Ind youthful energy, affords abundant evidence Col. Stuart Knox seconded the amendment, 12s ; Halesoweu district, .£2.3 180 d ; total
'hat it will manfully uphold its privileges to the denouncing the bill as one of robbery and spo- £93 18s 31, against 4:93 183 sjd last year.
last. Enjoying considerable popularity, it sus- nation, and expressing a hope that the English THE LATE ATTEMPTED HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
talus most sigerons assaults from a democracy people would even now arrest its further pro- —At the Petty Sessions, yesterday, before Ma-
inly less powerful, and far more enterprising. gress. jor Fletcher and RL. Freer, Esq., James Powles
Co these attacks the aristocratic system, and the Mr. Sinclair Avtoun declared that the hill, BB and George Walton were brought up on a re-
House of Lords as its stronghold, are mainly it now stoma was-a
violation of the fourth of the mend charged with assaulting and attempting
exposed, not for their present aggressions, nor resolutions passed by such large majorities last to rob Jabez Brooks, farmer, Churchill, on the
from any fear or anticipation of future inroads session. 13th ult. Our readers will recollect that the
epon popular rights, but for the past offences of ' During his speech the hon. member was two prisoners given into custody by the late
iristocratie government against popular liberty, loudly cheered from the Opposition, but limes- Chairman of the Quarter Sessions, to be tried
that the House of Lords is now antagonistic to smithy interrupted from the Ministerial benches, here. Mr. Perry appeared to defend, and after
eopular liberty, tieing this ward in its best sense, and at one time quite a scene occurred.; some remarks, both prisoners were discharged.
;amuld be rathe ditheult to prove. We shall at- Mr. Holt pointed to the example of Lance- DAMAGING • TREE.—Alfred Hill, nailer, re-
tempt neither the affirmative nor the negative of shire which had replied to the elaborate exposi- siding at the Hawne Dingle, Was charged with
the position. But, without entering on this Comeof his policy made by Mr. Gladstone by re- stealing an ash tree, on the
12th instant, the
oiestion, we think it may fairly be maintained jecting both it and him. He contended that the property of the Oldswinford Hospital Feoffees.
that the House of Lords needs reform, though bill Wile unnecessary, was dangerous, and as re- Mary Gritter proved she saw the prisoner cut-
,' a different kind and extent, as much as the cent events showed- would fail to satisfy the Irish ting up the tree, and taking part of it away. On
House of Cumulous did before the recent Re- people, who would have nothing less than inde- cross-examination, witness admitted that she
form Act. penitence. The tax-gatherer, the army, and the had taken part of the wood herself. Edward
The hereditary principle is an essential ele- Lord Lieutenant were quite as much badges of Smith, farmer, Pedmore, proved that the timber
amain the constitution of the House of Lords, the Union, and to be consistent the Government belonged to the Feoffees, and was wortle 2s 64.
mid we cannot conceive of this element being ought to bring in a bill to repeal the Union. On being charged, prisoner pleaded guilty.
destroyed by anythiug short of a greater revolu- The debate in opposition to the bill was con- Committed to Worcester for 14 days' hard la-
Con than any we have ever bad in this country. ducted by Mr. Greene, Mr. Lefroy, Mr. Charley, boor.
But while this principle is maintained as a rule, Mr. Sconrfield, Mr. Verner, Sir Hervey Bruce, JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.—WIRIRIII Merchant
we do not see any important objection to the Mr. Raikes, and Lord Henry Scott; Mr. Charley and William Jones, two yonthe, were charged
ereution of life peerages as an exception. Lord eoagratulating the Roman Catholics upon the with felonionely dealing, on the sth instant, four
Rusaell proposes that this should be systemati- iliminguished convert they had evidently made parses, the property of Robert Broonffiall, priu-
:ally dome To the Crown, as the fountain of over the prostrate body of the Irish Church. ter. Prosecutor said that he had missed scone
honour, lie would give the power of resting 28 After SOlllt remarks by Mr. Gladstone in sup- purses like those produced. Had not sold them.
peerages, at the rate of four in each year, port of the bill, the House divided, when there ; They are a new pattern, and he knew them from
'ill the number ie completed, and then suet) ere- were—ter going into committee, 355 ; against, their appearance. Several witnesses were called,
aeonis. merely to balance vacancies by death, 229. Mejerity, 120. after which the Bench did not think there was

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THE HALESOWEN CONSERVATIVE
ASSOCIATION.
A meeting of the above association was held
on 'Tuesday evening at the house of Mr. John
Pateshall, Cradley, to arrange the rules by which
the association is to be governed, and the tran-
saction of other business.
The Secretary tMr. Job Dunn) read a letter
which he had received from the Secretary of the
National Union of Conservative and Constitu-
tional Associations, enclosing suggestions for the
formation of an association, together with some
pamphlets, and stating that they would at all
times be most ready to give them any assist-

ance.
After a short discussion, the following rules
were agretd upon : 1. That the association
shall be called "rile Halesoweu and District
Conservative and Constitutiondl Association,'
and shall be under the direction of a president,
vice-president, treasurer, secretary, and a com-
mittee of twelve members, elected annually at
the general meeting of members. 2. The com-
mittee shall meet on the that Monday of every
month, to elect members and conduct the gene-
ral business of the association. 3. Minutes of
the proceedings of each committee meeting shall
he entered in a book by the secretary. 4. The
treasurer shall take care of all moneys belong-
ing to the association, and pay all accounts, un-
der the direction of the committee. 5. Any
pers:m wishing to become a member of the asso-
ciation must be introduced by a member to the
comniittee for election, and, before admission, if
required by the committee, shall subscribe a de-
claration to maintain the Protestant religion—
in Church and State—and to resist all measures
for the disestablisliment aud disendowment of
the United Church of England and Ireland; and
any member forsaking these principles shall
thereupon cease to be a member of the associa-
tion. 6. Members shall not pay less than six-
pence per quarter to the funds of the associa-
tion ;all subscription to be paid inadvance.
The accounts of the association shall be audited
annually by two auditors, to be chosen at the
animal meeting."
It was thonght desirable to at once open a sub-
scription list for the purpose of obtaining funds
to procure for the members a library and read-
ing-room, and it was resolved that the various
Conservative newspapers in the neighbourhood
should be taken in for the purpose of instruct-
ing the members in Conservative principles.
The Secretary was ordered to write to the vari-
ous gentlemen in the neighbourhood soliciting
donations Pir the carrying out of this purpose.
A letter wait read from Mr. F. D. L. Smith,
stating that he Raw Mr. Amplilett (M.P. for East
Worcestershire) on Monday, and that he would
he en_ agel with Parliamentary and other dutit
till Whitsun week, at which time, if not delay-
ing too long, he would be very glad to be pre-
sent and assist at the inauguration. It was re-
solved that the soit•ie and inauguration should
be postponed to suit Mr. Ainphletes conveni-
ence ; also that Sir Smith Child, Bart., M.P.,
Mr. Hugo F. Meyuell Ingram, M.P., Mr. S. S.
Lloyd, and Dr. Sebastian Evans, be also invited
to attend.
It was further resolved that the whole district
should be canvassed for members, so as to make
this association one of the largest in the district.