The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-29 00:00:00

REPORT OF THE GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE.

MEDICAL OFFICER OF HF.A.LTH'S REPORT.—N Urn-
ber of deaths registered in the township for the
month ending November 17th, 1879,8 males and 10
females. Death-rate 23-1. As might be expected
from the change of the weather, the death-rate be-
gins to increase, and it is in the old and very
N oung that the chief increase was. There was no
death from zymotic disease, which is an improve-
ment on last month, when two occurred. Number
of births registered in the same period 22, viz :-
11 males and 11 females. The birth-rate 28.1.
TOWN OFFICER'S REPORT. - Nuisances brought
for ward, 16; reported during the month, 28 ; total
44. Removed, old, 13 ; new, 20 ; remaining, 11.
Night soil removed, 188 privies, 99 ash pits, belong-
to 207 houses, have been emptied and cleansed of
their contents. Number of loads 191. The slaughter-
houses, and the lodging houses are reported to be
in good sanitary condition. All the bake-houses
have been lime-washed.

The report was adopted.
REPORT OF THE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.

NEW ROAD NEAR ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.—Your
Committee report progress.
SEWERAGE OF BROOK STREET.—In this matter
your C-mmittee also report progress. Mr. Kelley
called the attention of the Board, and asked what
had been done in reference to the bed of the
River Stour. Re said if another flood tame on
it would be a very serious matter for them, and he
th ught the Board should move in the matter.
Mr. Woolley said the rail b% ay company were
widening and clearing it up to the bridge ; Mr.
Baxter w,,uld then take his share and after him
Mr. John Bradley would come in, so that the only
part left would be that under the bridge, and the
Inhabitants of Amblecote would pay half of the
°oat and the other half would bP done b% the people
of Stow b idge. The men would have flnish,cl the
work they were on at present in a couple of days,
and some arrangements should be made for the
carrying out of the work.
It was decided on the motion of the chairman
thai the Clerk should be instructed to ascertain the
1 gal position of the Commissioners with referonee
to the river and to take advice in the matter, and if
advised to give notice to the owners of property
abutting on th. river to clean out the same and
remove all obstructions in that portion of the river
near to their property.
The Clerk read the following letter he had re-
ceived. _ _

Local Government Board,
Whitehall,
22nd. November,

Sir,—l am directed by the Local Government
Board to inform y,.0 that they have instructed the
Inspector, Dr. Parsons, to visit the Stourbridge
Rt‘gisterHtion District, to inquire into the Sanitary
state of the Distric' especially with reference to
tle recent presence Of Scarlatina there, and I am
to request that the Stourbridge Urbati Sanitary
Authority will instruct their off ers.
To John Taylor, Esq.,
Clerk to the St urbridge Urban
_ Sanitary Authority.
_ .

The Chairman said this was Occasioned by some
meddling booby or other writing up to the Local
Government Board. Their medical officer's report
showed they had no zymotic dis. as?.
Mr. Kelley said the visit of Dr. Parsons was no
doubt due to the great amount of fever there had
been at the Lye and Woaescote, which A ere in the
Lye registration district. In one street there had
been as many as 20 or 30 cases.
The Clerk said several of the landowners at Cllcnt
were making an applicatio2 to the Enclosure Com-
mi-sioners, under the Comm us Act of 1876, for tin
order for the regulation of Clent Hill Common,
and as he was acting for them, I e had to give the
notice to the Bwrd, and he asked the chairman to
endor-e the notice as baying been served
The Chairman said before he did that he mu-t
say that he was suspicions of that kind of thing—
(here, here)—and no doubt most of the Board
would want to know what 'hose steps meant. He
wanted to know who was going to take upon them-
selves to regulate Cleat Hi is, as it was called ; and
what they were going to do. Was the clerk in a
right position in aeting for the per-ons moving in
this matter, and also for the Commissioners.
The Clerk said he was, and he ask'd to offer
some explanation. The Commou4 Enclosure Act,
1876, commenced with a long preamble as to the
prevention of the e.closnre of commons and the
taking away commons from the use of the public,
and it provided among other things, for the regula-
tion of commons. This application at Omit was
not for the enclosure of Clent Hill Common in the
slightest possible degree.
The Chairman : Then why do they want to put
the Act. in force?

_
The Clerk: For the r.-gulation of the hill.
The Chairman a.skeil who were the p.rsons mak-
ing the application?
The Clerk : The land. owners.

The Chairman: I want distinctly to understand
the thing. You mean the landowners in the pa:ish
of Clout ?
The Clerk: Not the whole. A third of the
number having an interest in the common could
make an application to the Enclo ure Cnnimission-
ers for the purpose ot regulating this c
That regulation includes tballaniing of tree:,, and
ading other trees which shiald improve or add to
the beauty of the common; the making or causing
to be made bye-laws and regulations for the pre-
vention of nuisances, end for keeping order on the
common; the general management of su,l common
and the appointment from time to time of conser-
vators of the common for the aforesaid parpos..s.
He had given notice, not only to that Board, but the
other local governing bodies within six miles of the
hills. The next point would be to send up this ap-
plication to the Enclosure Connussioners, who
would consider the matter,and if they thought there
was a prima facia case for farther proceedings they
would send down an Assistant Commission..r, who
would told two meetings At these the Stour-
bridge Comm.ssioners and all other Boards who
had received notice could attend and urge any
point they wished, or make any objection against
the steps contemplAed. Ono of the meetings wa-
to be held between seven and ten in the evening
The Assistant Commissioner having. made his re-
port, and if the Enclosure Commis,ionors thought
there was cause for other proceedings they issued a
draft order, and sent it down, but the order was not
made by the Enclosure Commissioners or by Parlia-
ment until it had been approved by two-thirds in
value tl the landlords in the neighbourhood. He
would read a letter he had addressed to the Town
Clerk of Dudley that day on the subject, and this
would show what was intended. Th,) letter was as
follows :—" In reply to your letter of the 22nd
instant, I beg to state that the object of the applica-
tion to the Enclosure Commissioner is to obtain an
rder under 39 and 40 Vit., cap. 56, for the regula-
tion (not enclosure) of Clent Hill Common; arid' r
the purpose of meeting the expenses of the applica-
tio7n and carrying eut the provision of the order, it
is proposed to ask the Commissioners to sanction a
sale of a small piece of the common. The scheme

will provide for the full enjoymeit of the common
by the public, subject to bye-lays to be sanctioned
by the Commissioners, by mans of which it is
hoped to prevent undue tresp ;sing, disordcr, and
injury upon the common, The proposed application
has been approved at a meeting of landowners at
Clent, convened by circular, aid presided over by
the vicar."
Mr. Kelley said he did not think the clerk ceuld
serve two masters. The clerk seemed to be cngaged
by these :parties to as-it in getting the hills en-
closed.
The Clerk said it was not so. The application
was simply for an order for the regui.tien of the
common.
Mr. Kelley said there were a lot of big landowners
at Clent, and they thought it a nuisanc- because
poor ereatures and working men from the collierie
and works went there on a Sunday to breathe some
fresh air. It was a duty of the Commissioners to
take care of the rights of the public in the matter.
The bye-laws were to be made by the few, but the
many would have to abide by them. They ought
to know more ab ut the matter.
Mr. Stringer said these pro,h edings were intended
to protect the freehold, and they would not be
deprived of one iota of their rights. A gentleman
a' Malvern had enclosed some land there, and aft rr-
wards threw it open to the public. He thought it
would be a very good thing to enclose the hills. It
would not d-prive the people of their rights.
Mr. North concurred with the remarks.
A voice: It is getting the thin end of the wedge
in.
Mr. Perkins: Are there not twelve acres to be
taken out of the common.
The Clerk: There must be something to pay
the expens,-s that will be iucurred.
The Chairman: We must look upon the clerk as
an advocate of this me,sure.
The Clerk said he was simply acting as agent.
The Chairman: As agent you are acting for them
and advocating the measure. Are there not laws
already to keep order in this place ?
'rhe Clerk: There is no power to keep order on
the hil.s
The Chairman: In case of fighting on the hills
the police could stop it.
The Clerk: No.
The Chairman said he looked upon their clerk as
his guide, philosopher, and friend in most matters;
but he could not so regard him in this instance.
The Clerk said he gave them the best advice he
could, and he could assure them they would not
prejudice their position or rights by accepting
service of the notice. The notice had been accepted
by all the other Boards in the district. He only
asked the Chairman to endorse the notice as having
received it.
The Chairman decnned to do so, and the subject,
so far, was allowed to drop.
An improvement rate of 9d in the pound, and a
highway rate of 7d in the pound, were signed.
There was no other business of importance.