The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-09-30 00:00:00

TflE STOUTIPPITGF OPFFINER.

The Clerk then read the following certificate:
Stourbridge, Sept. 23, 1871.
We hereby certify 11,t the effluvia arising from the
glue manufactory belonging to Mr. Turney, at The Cliff,
Duke.street, Stourbridge, constitutes a serious nuisance,
and one which we believe must prove detrimental, in •
greater or less degree, to the health of the inhabitants i”
the neighbourhood. We are, therefore, of opinion that
it ought forthwith to be suppressed.
(Signed)
FRANCIS BILES, Surgeon.
ALFRED FREER, Surgeon.
" It. 1.. CAMPBELL, M.D.
4` it. L. BAYLEY. M.D., L.L I).
tiio BIRT,

A letter was also read from Mr. Thos. Penn
complaining of the nuisance, and asking that
something might be done to suppress it.
Mr. T. Hand also came to complain of the
nuisance on behalf of Mrs. Wall and himself.
Mr. Emery said that he could express sym-
pathy with the inhabitants of Lower High-street.
He considered there was a great nuisance, which
ought to be suppressed.
Mr. Perkins asked the Chairman if the smell
was detrimental to health. The medical men
had not said it was injurious to health. He con-
sidered they ought to be very careful what steps
they took.
The Rev. D. Maginnis said he considered they
should not be too hasty, as they would be inter-
fering with the industrial enterprise of the town.
Mr. Turney had engaged experienced chemists
upon his premises with the specific purpose of
abating the nuisance. He thought they should
give Mr. Turney every opportunity of seeing
whether those experiments were successful or
not, before they resorted to extreme measures.
Ho then moved the following resolutions
. .

Ist. "That this Board Ca's always been sen-
sitively alive to the existence, and has never
ceased to exert its influence for the abatement,
of the nuisance arising froni the glue works;
that, inasmuch us the proprietor has from the
first shown an earnest desire, and has gone to
considerable cost, to abate the said nuisance, and
is now completing extensive alterations, which
lie is confident will remove it, the Board has
hitherto been unwilling to have recourse to ex-
treme measures, that might be regarded as in-
jurious to industrisl enterprise in the township;
but that in the event of the remedy now being
applied not proving sufficient, the Board deems
it a duty, out of regard for the public health,
and hereby resolves, to authorise the General
Purposes Committee to adopt, without delay,
whatever steps may be necessary for the sup-
pression of the nuisance."

2nd. "That the Clerk send the following re-
solution to the gentlemen who attended as a
deputation, and other gentlemen who have writ-
ten to the Board on the subject."
Mr. 11. Hughes seconded the resolution.
Mr. McF:wen said that having heard com-
plaints of the smells arising from the Glue
Works, he visited the works with two others
present, not in the capacity of Commissioners,
but as neigboure. He found that Mr. Laney
was making extensive alterations, which cost
him many hundreds of pounds. When the case
came before the Board on a former occasion,
various alterations were made, which had not
proved successful. Since that time Mr. Turney
had employed one of his sous, an engineer, and
others of his family were now engaged in making
extensive alterations, by moving the vats from
their previous position, so that the east winds
will not have the amount of power upon them
they have, and by putting a number of gas jets
in the inverted funnel he hopes to destroy the
smell. As Mr. Maginnis had said, it would be
a sad thing to knock down industry before orris'.
ing at anything definite. They ought to wait
and see the result of the present experiments.
He was at the bottom of the town a good deal,
and did mot experience anything offensive. It
was true at times there was a smell, but it had
never caused him any sickness. Mr. Blew lived
at the bottom of the town, and from his appear.
once, it did not seem tO affect him much. As
regarded Mrs. Wall's complaints, he may say she
had allowed Mr. Turney to put some pillars on
her property, and judging from that, he did not
think she complained much of the smells.
However, be thought it best to wait a time, as
Mr. Turney felt sure that the present alterations
would remedy the evil. If Mr. Turney was
obliged to leave the works unless he was a weal.
thy man it might be the ruin of bins, because
his plant was so extensive.
The Chairman said that if Mr. Turney chose
to bring in and lay down an extensive plant in
the town, and the works proved injurious to
health, they could not allow the nuisance to take
place.
Mr. Allsop remarked that at the time Mr.
Turney was about to rect his works, some of
the Commissioners utnt to him, and he assured
them th re would he no nuisance. He (Mr.
tl,•htnith of the town para-
mount to the works.

Mr. Woolley said he considered the smell to
be a great nuisance. He had heard there were
some twenty females, or less, employed there.
He thought they ought nut to be considered
before the health of the town. He could not see
where the justice was. The other day two poor
men had pigs of their own, and because they
were a nuisance they were ordered to remove
them, and had to sell them at a sacrifice ; and if
Mr. Turney's works were a nuisance, he,did not
see why he should not be ordered to remove
them. If the case was taken before the magis-
trates, they might be urged upon not to take
severe measures.

Mr. N0%1114111 said he was vassing down the
bottom of the town, and the smell of sulphur
was very offensive.
Mr. McEwen said there was no sulphur smell
at tbe Glue Works, but there was from the Gas
Woiks ; and he had often experienced offensive
smells from the Gas Works.

After some other discussion, the Chairman
put the resolutions of Mr. Maginnis, which were
carried unanimously.
A letter was read by the Clerk from the Local
Government Board in reference to the existence
of measles and other diseases in the township,
but nothing was done in the matter.

REPORT OF THE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.
Your Committee report that the paving of Hagley•
street footpaths is in progress, bricks having been sup-
plied according to sample.
Your Committee recommend that seven days notice he
given to Mr. Henry Taylor to remove the grating and to
restore the pavement opposite his shop, in IliA.strert.
to its former state ; also that 1.4 days' notice be given to
the occupiers of property in High-street, to make the
iron doors to their cedar openings, safe for passenger.
An application has been received from the Postmaster.
General for permission to carry telegraph wires from
Union-street to the Post Office.

Your Committee recommend that the required psrmis.
sun be granted, and at the same time advise the Com-
missioners to represent to the l'ostmaster-General that
they are more strongly convinced than ever of the neces•
ally for a Receiving House, which the Inspector led them
to expect would be provided, they having reason to be-
lieve that the wall litter uut is inadequate for the wants
of the upper dintric a' It.. own.

The Committee La. 11.1 attention of the Coro-
IliOnera to the to.dea., toned from Parkfield to tht.
Railway Station, and advise that your Clerk be rept:fit—l
to cell the liar/won of Mr. Florseley, the tenant of thc
(tell, to ti.e subject.

_ _-
An applaanon has been made to tour Committee, by
Mrs. SPII"UrY, foe permission to alter the shop front of
the home occupied by Mr. Alford, Ifiglestreet, and your
Comniittee, having impuetcd the premises, advise thee
the required permission be granted.

Mr. Maginnis moved the adoption of the re•
port, which was seconded by Mr. Emery; and
after discussing them seriatim, the report was
curried unanimously.
The Clerk then read the following report :
REPORT OF THE GENERAL PURPOSES
COMMITTEE.

Your Committee report that the Inspector of Nuisan-
ces ~ttended this day, and submitted his monthly reports
front whom it appear, that a complaint had been made
to him of the foul state of the River Stour, near the bot-
tom of High-etreet:

Property in Bell-lane, Griffith's Yard, and 'firming-
hamutreet. bad been reported to your Committee, an de-
ficient in rlo.rt accommodation.

A communicatton from the itey. W. J. J. Welch, ac•
companied by a certificate from the medical officers, res-
pecting the Glue Worka. and a communication from the
Local Government Board, on the prevalence of measles
and diarrltTa in the district of Stourbridgo.
The mortality returns, according to Or. Campbell's
book of parish practice, showed that from the 27th of
August to the 21st MA, twenty-six eases of sicknese had
occurred, five being of diarrhea, and twenty of fever;
olle death.

Your t ommittee advise that instructions be given to
the owners of all houses not having nufficieut closet ac•
commodation, to supply such deficiency without delay.
Your Committee recommend the Commissioners to
arrange. if possible, for an early Volunteer Inspection of
the towniffi.p by members of the Board; such inspector
to report to the General Purposes Committee, who shall
have power to all cases reported to them without delay.
The Chairmen moved the adoption of the re-
port, which was seconded by Mr. H. Hughes,
and carried unanimously.
Mr. McEwen remarked that he saw the Kid-
derminster people were asking for better railway
accommodation in the shape of a loop line. U

that was made, probably Stourbridge would get
nothing yet a while. He therefore suggested
that the Clerk should write again to the Secre-
tary of the Great Western Railway Company to
know whether he had laid the last letter before
the Directors.
A motion to that effect was proposed, seconded,
and carried unanimously.
AIm.•INTIIENT OF COMMITTEES.

The following gentlemen were appointed on
the various Committees :

FINANCE COmmiTTEE.—Moved by Mr. Stringer
and seconded by Mr. Al!sop:that the following
gentlemen form the Committee: Henry Billing
ham, James McEwen, John Hughes, William
Galin, James Walker, Henry Hughes, and
Labatt Hughes Packwood,
pitoVEMENT COMMITTEE.— Henry Billing.
James McEwen, Edwin Stringer, David
,ginuis, Charles Blunsoin ,James Allaop, Henry
Hughes, John Blew, and William Young.
GENERAL PURPOSES CoMMITTEE.—Henry Bil-
lingbam, James McEwen, Godfrey Rowley Per-
kins, David Maginnis, Joseph Worton Woolley,
James Walker, Henry Newnan), W. W. Frank-
lin, John Emery, John Blew, and Henry
Hughes.
The Board then separated.

of the Scripture., did a vast amount of good amongst
the wounded soldiers. The Ancient city of Rome was
now one of the most interest ng places in the world.
It was a centre If evimgelistic work, and the Bible was
now printed in the principal street, and copies were pub-
lished throughout the city. The supremacy of Popery
had received its death-blow in Rome, and was now on
the decline. whilst Christianity was rapidly spreading.
When the brat Bibles were issued from Rome, during
the recent war, they were instantly bought up, and labs.
loss prices were given for them by the inhabitants of the
city. In Rome at the present time there were six con-
grecations, consisting of various sects, who are working
In unity to spreadthe Gospel, knowing that their voly
existence depends upon their efforts. During the eon
ing he related a number of interesting incidents, and
concluded with an appeal in aid of the funds of the so-
ciety by seconding the resolution.
The motion was carried unanimously.
The meeting terminated by singling the Doxology, and
pronouncing the beuedketioa.
A collection was made at the dent, and a id.usideroble
sum realised.

A GOoDS' RAILWAY Outfit) Is TRorDit.. At the
Police Court, on Tuesday', before It. L. Freer, Esq.,
Joseph Law (30), • goods' guard in the employ of the
Great Western Railway Company, was charged with
stealing Ille Hioz. of tea, and six iron hinges, the pro-
perty of the company.—lnspector Hutchings said from
information received lie searched the prisoner's van at
Btoarbridge, on Tuesday night, and found in it the tea
and hinges produced. When charged with the offence
the prisoner said that he knew nothing about the hinges,
but he picked up the tea from one of the trucks, it use.
lag fallen out of a chest. —Police-sergeant donee proved
apprehending the prisoner, who said that • man named
Brown first called his attention ,to the tea.—ln answer
to the Bench, prisoner said that what the last witness had
said was true. He found the tea in one of the trucks.—
Superintendent Freeman asked the Bench for a remand,
as it would be necessary to get witnesses from Teubury,
Bewdley, Manchester, and other placea—Prisoner aaa
then remanded to_Worceater until TUesday next.

JOSEPH Bin, MB.—We have to lament the curly
death of Mr. Joseph Birt, MB., which occurred recently
at his father's house, at Leamington. His medical edu-
cation was conducted at Sydenhum College. Birmingham,
where ho was a distinguished pupil. Having passed the
College of Surgeons and the Hall, he graduated with
hocoara at tha Univ. nay of Loudon, and was shortly
afterwards elected House-Surgeon to the Stourbrotge
Dispensary, where the kindness it his manners and the
assiduity with which he discharged his duties gained him
the respect and regard of all with whom he came into
contact. But it is not merely OD account of his personal
qualitiea and domestic worth that special notice is here
recorded. In him the medical profession and the min
inanity at large have, there is reason to believe, sustained
a real lisS. Mr. flirt was devoted to his profession, both
is a science and a practical art, in no ordinary degree;
and as his abilities were much above the average, a dis-
tinguished career for him Was confidently anticipated by
all who had opportunities of judging of his talents. In
his Case there is reason to fear that