The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-30 00:00:00

THE MARKETS.

MARK-LINE.-MONDI.Y.

Business at Mark-lane was not extensive, but a firm tone
was imparted to the trade by the warlike rumours afloat.
The attendance was sot large. English wheat was in short
supply, but good condition. The quantity offering is not
likely to increase so long as farmers are engaged on the
usual field work. A fair trade was done, at frill quotations.
Foreign wheat was in moderate supply. The trade was
quiet, but at fully late rates. Fine malting barley was
scarce and dear. Grinding descriptions sold very slowly at
about late rates. Malt was quiet and unaltered. For oats
the market remained quiet at previous currencies. Maize
experienced a slow inquiry, but was tolerably steady. Beans
and peas were firm, but not active. The flour market was
quiet but fairly steady.

MARK-LAXE.—IVEDIasa&Y.

At Mark-lane the grain trade has been in much the same
position. There was only a moderate attendance. English
wheat was rather scarce, but in tolerably good condition.
Of foreign a fair show was offered. The demand was not
active, but prices ruled firm. Barley was in moderate
supply. The value of fine malting produce ruled firm.
Other kinds moderate. Malt sold at late rates. Oats
changed hands quietly at previous currencies. Maize was
quiet, but tolerably steady. Beans and peas sold slowly,
but at full prices. The flour market was without ifresh
feature.
METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.-MoNDAT
The total imports of foreign stock into London last week
amounted to 17,600 head. u the corresponding week of last
year we received 19,525 ; in 1876, 23,803 ; in 1875, 8,411 ,• in
1874, 9,350 ; and in 1873, 7,262. In the cattle market there
was no special feature. The fine cold weather did not
stimulate the demand to any extent, and whilst beasts were
hardening in value sheep were lower to sell. Beasts ware
rather sparingly offered. The show of home-fed stock was
comparatively small, and the quality and condition were
not above the average. Prime stock was in request and
commanded full prices, the best Scots and crosses sell-
ing at from Gs. 2d. to 65. 4d. per 81b. ' • and other descrip-
tions were steady. From Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cam-
bridgeshire we received about 1,500, from other parts of Eng-
land about 250, and from Scotland, 64. The foreign side of
the market was more liberally supplied with beasts. There
were 100 American, about 170 Spanish, and a good show of
Danish. An increased amount of activity was observed in
the demand, and full quotations were reatised. The show of
sheep was larger than usual. There was again
a variety of prime small breeds, the balk of the supply
being heavy stock. The show was in excess of require-
ments, consequently quotations were weak. Oces.-
sionally a choice small Down in the wool made 7s. 64.1., but
Ts. 4d. per 81b. was the more general top quotation. The
best clipped realised about Os. per Slb. Lambs were hardly
so good, and were quoted Si. to Bs. 6d. per Slb. Calves and pigs
were quiet, at about late rates. It Deptford there
were anout 90 beasts and about 1,100 sheep. Coarse and
Inferior beasts, is. to ss. ; second quality ditto, ss. to ss. 6d;;
prime large oxen, Os. to Gs. 2d.; pfe Scots, (14., Os. 2d. to
Cs. 4d. ; coarse and inferior sheep, is. 6d. to Cs.; second
quality ditto, 6s. to Gs. 6d. ; prime coarse woolled sheep, 7s.
to 7s. 2d.; prime Southdowns, 7s. 2d. to 7s. 6th; lamb*, Ss.
to Ba. 6d. ; large coarse calves, ss. 6d. to Os.; prime small
ditto, 6s. to es. 6d.; largo hogs, 48. to 45. 6d.; and neat
small porkers, 4s. 60. to is. 10d. per 81b. to sink the offal.

METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET.-110NDIT.

The cold, frosty weather imparted a firm tone to the
meat market to-day, but trade was slow. Inferior beef,
3s. to 3s. bd.; middling ditto, 4s. to 4s. Bd.; prime large
ditto, 4s, 10d. to 58. 2d. ; prime small ditto, ss. 4d. to ss. Sd. ;
veal, ss. 4d. to Cs. ; inferior mutton, Ss. 4d. ton. ; middling
ditto, 4s. 4d. to ss. 4d.; prime ditto, Sc. 6d. to 6s. 4d. ; large
pork, Is. 4d. to 4s. 2d. ; small ditto, Ls. 4d. to bs. 2d. ; lamb,
Ss. to Is. 4d per Slb, by the carcass.

THI

'
,tAINBOW GARDEN SEED COL- ; Tower of Siloam fell were n 6 worse than their ' analogous position having to pass his own
batd-,-•te n. iel;bon;e., neir'ner W.3re the brave fellows to . accounts and he thought some other person should
c•_,.iivated. and na;4° cooshi ---
. • " "11""" lu"."13 whom the sea metes out snail a hard fate. ,be appointed.
iu mtivati,n. 15 v:rietis. 1,. Pest froz• 14 roanaps
I:.ialiiral J'i,e'io,c..a op • .-ich pa.,..1r,. ---`,2 Lt. Fro,-“nan " The plashing surge e rl'he Chairnian said it was will nown that the
E"lern't 'lrg'9 till t'''a Clerk had ' bestowed an immense lot of time and
heeatn::-.. Seea-tne2e. '.‘:,- 71,ie is sea gives •
up itS th-i..i.
.—_ .-_. _....._ , .t.ouble on the dutiei he dischareecl and that for
e ,
_ .. _
coN'(:).llW„Kfki:Hit_lti I:41We:- sEleu Ae 3r. qnieni shall sing for Oeh. who iie ;i: the- paltry sum of £2O. He would Suggest that the
- ...• -4" 'e h.-• 1
le, ..,-,_,LlAtiallON,',l, 6(1 , f.,.., i.',.?••• ti-,',., and 21,,.. . ''- - ' -‘ ' sum be raised to £5O so that they may 'still have
each. ee•• west ;Ifrefece,l.and are infiiciew for si whole - . ! the service, of elx.'Taylor who eopd employ some
year ,apely oi a fairoiy.—C.l-2:. Fratooari, Ec >Bowie :. :•,.. , ' ' '• v- I other person to do the duties and they should
Secedroian, Norwich.. • - - --4.4 cat aa4 ~4.ltstxtct 1101:,:. ! still have the services of their Surveyor Who
e_. • ...e ......) . would be responsible, and moved that the subject
be referred to the General Purposes Committee.
ItS".NI EIs:TING, Carried.
Tne - Sewage Committee reported that they li-el
The usual monthly meeting of this body was had an interview with Mr. Roberts .as to•the
held in the Board Room, on Monday; Mr. Hughes sewage scheme of the town and Mr.' Robertsiii..c:r-
in the chair. There were also present Nlessrs sante." a repurt, on which he 4yeugly aditld44,'th,i,,,,
Kelley, Woolley, Mills, Scott; Stringer, Billingharn, the sewage would be , taken down the -valley
Pagett, and Ick. of the Stour in the direction of Bell's Mill,
The minutes of the last meeting were read and which would be done ;by the mere force of
confirmed. - , gravitation, without involving £16,000 expendi-
FLNALNCE COMMITTEES' REPORT. ttl.rein pumping it up to the Ridge Top (as before
The Clerk read the Finance Committees' report suggested).
i which showed the following balances : Highway' The report of the engineer was referred to the
•
Account due from Treasurer to this date, Sewerage Committee. •• • .
£B7 18s 3d; Improvement Account balance due Mr. Kelley said Mr. Roberti had told them they
from Treasurer £l6B 17811 d ; Urban Sanitary Au. would have no difficulty about the sewage when
thority Account balance due to Treasurer .e 134 his plan was accepted, but now he had virtually
2s3d. adopted the plan sent in by another engineer, Mr.
1 Your committee have examined a number of Marten. He al,o talked at first about
.26,0e0
,ccounts and recommend that the following ac-
being tha sum required, but now raised his figures
: a
counts be paid :—Highway Account, £65 12s H; to £16,000.
Improvement Account, £27 lOs 2d; Urban The i
Chairman replied that t was the coin-
Sanitary Account, .01 5s Od. mittee who had altered the plans, nor the en-
On the motion of I.lr. Billingham, the accounts gineer• .
were received. After which on the motion of Ur. The meeting then ended after a long sitting.
Kelley, seconded by Mr. Woolley, the accounts
were ordered to be paid.
REPORT OF THE GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE.
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH'S REPORT.—
ar.......... ....c 1i,4.1.1,1113 regiscerea rrom February 18
to March 18 is 10, viz., 6 males and 4 females.
The number of births registered in the same period
is 86, viz., 19 males and 17 females. The death-
rate is much lower than last month, scarlatina
still continues and caused 4 deaths out of a total
of 10. In all instances the Inspector disinfected
the houses and gave directions for them to be
whitewashed.

SPRING, 1878.

Mrs. E. IL HUNSTON

SOLICITS AN FARLY : lON

aza
OVELTIES
-17"
122, 111G11 STREET, STOURBRIDdE,

t;1011 SALE, a quantity of ASPARAGUS,
tLE. DOUBLE and SINGLE WALL-
CA,RNA.TIONS, GOLDEN FEATHER,
Two roN 'STOCKS, HOLLYOCKS, DAISIES.
PA' I 4, ARIBIS, GEEEN and VARIEGA TED
AN lICUITS, PENSTESIONS, RHUBARB
ROO, aud others; chap.—Samtiel Cox, Seedsman
awl Flonat, Hagley Road, Stonrbridge. Estimates for
fs-ont Gardens, &c., on application.

WI ANTED a Second Hand Sack or Weigh-
ing Machine to weigh from Ito 10 cwt. Ad-
dress. sating lowest cash price, to Joseph Pugh, 51,
Ce;vt.Ltri Street, Stourbridge.

NNTANTED, some Light Employment by a
Middle Aged Man. Would not object to make
him4eli generally useful. Good references.—Apply
"Ci. O." Obsema.

COMMISSION 'MEETING.

The Medical Officer's Journal was laid before
your committee. Premises at Bouchall, Mount
Street, Gig Mill, and Pepper Hill have been
visited and instructions given for the same to be
disinfected, which have been carried out.
Towx OFFICER'S REPORT.—The number of
Nuisances remaining from last month, 17;
reported during the month, 60; total, 77; re-
moved, old, 5; new, 53; remaining, 119. Re-
moval of Night Soil, 85 ashpits and 3 cess-
pools belonging to 193 houses have been emptieu
and cleansed and the contents removed. Number
of loads, 202. The registered slaughter-ho,:ses,
lodging-houses, and bake-houses (with one ex-
ception) have been reported to be in good
sanitary condition. One case of overcrowding
was reported and was removed. The Inspector
brought forward a statement of extra expenses
incurred in cleansing the streets formerly Turn-
pike Roads, which cost £3 3s 6d.
Your committee recommend these sums to be
paid to Mr. Horsley and the system continued ou
till the next monthly meeting. 6everal ap„.iica-
tions for Petroleum licenses were made ant;

granted.
On the motion of Mr. BiHingham, seconded b.
Mr. Woolley, the report was adopted.
REPORT OF THZ 131PROVE=ZT COHNITTEE.
Your Clerk was directed to examine and report
a projection over the windows of the Seven stars
and the new building at the top of Church
Street.
Mr. Billingham moved that the report be
adopted, which was seconded by Mr. Kelley, and
carried.
The Clerk read a letter he had received from
Mr. Knott charging ten guineas for one day's
auditing the Urban Sanitary Accounts. The ClerK
said it was two years accounts.
After some discussion, on the motion of Mr.
Kelley the amount was ordered to be paid.
Mr. Taylor, the Clerk, said he had received
the following letter from the Local Government
Board:—

THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

TUDLLIC irLIiIjNG.

A public meeting was called by requisition and
held in the Corn Exchange on Tuesday morning

lat. At the ppointed time there wee but few
persons prtsent but soon after the meeting coin
tueneod tdere was a fair attendance.

Mr. H. Hughes was voted to the chair and he
called upon" Mr. Taylor, the Clerk, to-read the
notice who proceeded to read it, when Air. Prescott
said the resolution of the COmmis-ioners on the;

notice of the meeting was different in terms from
those which appeared in the Daily Post as an ad-
vertisement.
The Chairman said the first thing to do was for

the Clerk to read the notice calling the meeting
and as Chairman he should ask him to read the
notice, which having been read
Mr. Prescott asked for the notice to be read
which had appeared in the Daily Post.
Mr. Mills asked the Chairman if a ratepayer had
not paid his rates if he was entitled to speak.
Air. Prescott I have a right to speak and Shill
speak.
Mr. Hughes said as Chairman Mr. Prescott was
out of order as there was nothing yet before the
meeting.
'Mr Prescott said the meeting was irregular
until the original notice had been read.
The Cliairman : We do not want any law from
Mr. Prescott, and proceeded to read the resolution
asking the ratepayers to formally as.s,-uit to

passea 4 the Cominis-sioner, to g,iv,.
them power to oppose tha application of the Great
Western Railway Company's Bill in the House ol

Lords. As Chairman of the hadlway Committee
he had always found the company ever ready t
meet the Commissioners in everything that was
i'easonable, and he oelieved it would be so in this
case. 'The Commissioners had no right to expend
a penny in opposing the Bill of tie railway com-
pany without the sanction of the ratepayers, and
in now asking for this sanction it did not fol-
low that they should use the power given to
them. The Commissioners had no wish to
spend money unnecessarily, neither would they do
• so.

Mr. Kelley seconded the resolution.
Mr. Prescott rose to move an amendmea ;
but the Chairman ruied that he could not do
80.

Sir,—l am directed by the Local Government
Board to transmit to you for the consideration of
the Stourbridge Improvement Commissioners,
the accompanying copy of a letter which the
Board have received from Mr. G. W. Prescott,
of Stonrbridge, with reference to the proposed
opposition by the Improvement Commissioners to
the Great Western Railway Bill, 1878, and I am
to request that the Board may be furnished with
the observations of the Commissioners on the
subject.

Mr. R. L. Freer, J.P., said he only wishel th,
step now proposed to be taken had been take ,
before the railway company were requcsted—nay.
urged and compelled—to do what thy had done
(Hear, hear.) It was the gren,iest mistake evei.
committed as effecting the interests of the town
(Hear, hear.) The duty of public bodies was,
amongst other things, to assist in facilitating the
trade of towns, and facilitating their inlets.
Under a mistaken notion, and he believed un-
inteutionaliy, the ,onimissioners had depreciate .
.he property of t 0..: town to the extent probabi.)
of .410,000 'uy their past policy regard ng the rai..
way. The railway cotupany had been cope.
reluctantly, he knew, to cotuna sn,e the branch.
'they did not see their for their quo, and iret
to spend trioasau.-14 'upon thou3an..is far which
they would have no requ.'..i. If i.hey na,l carrie,
out the line against the opinion of the town it
i would nave been didwrent, out the Commissioners

HUGH OWEN, JUN.,
Assistant Secretary.
Stourbridg,e, March 18, 1878.
Gentlemen,—Foster Street, Stourbridge, Com-
missioners under the Stourbrige Improvement
Act, 1866, Great Western Railway Company. As
a ratepayer of the township of Stourbridge I beg
to give you notice in pursuance of sections 4 and
5 of 35 and 36 Vic., cap 91, that I object and pro-
test against your approval to the said Commis-
tnissioners incurring any expense in opposing any
Bill in Parliament prornotA by the Great
Western Railway L;ompany to stop up or nivert
the said Foster Street on thcfolioiag greunus ;
—lst, The same was never prep•erly_ deuicaled as a
highway und r. 6 and 6 section of Wilhani 4, cap.
50 9nl, hat although tt.e late Turnpike Road
Counn,s,ion. .1i:.1 repair tue street, the Coin-
tnissiontrs uh.ler the 6toarbridge huprovoineat
Act have no legal rigut to so as the !egad
estate of the street beiongs to the I,Judon awl
North-Western Railway k.,ornpa.iy.
I am, your obectieut servant,
G. W. PAESCOTT.

seemed to have called upon the railway company
to do all the damage they could, without any
benefit to the town If 000 of the people ha.o
met, and the railway plans had been shown to

them, not one in 506 would have consented to
them. In Plevna the Turks were shut in s'y th,
Eussians ; but here, in this case, the Stourbridge
veuple had shut themselves in by the making oi
ails line. 'fhey had stopped one road anti
Luaterially damaged another; and if such action
was continued, thay might soon find themselves
shut in on the other side ot the town.

The Local Government Board,
Whitehall, London.
M. Taylor said he r, plied as follows :
Stourbrilige, atreh 2oth,
Gentlemen,--I have toe honour ot aekno Tv-
lodging the receipt of your 'letter isio. 21.1.62 ii, un
the 22nd lust, forwarding a cop.), oi L letter re-
ceived from Mr. G. W. Prescott, of Stouroridge,
with reference to the proposed opposition of the
Improvement Commissioners to the Great Western
Railway Bill, 1878, and have laid the same ue,ore
the monthly meeting of the Commissioners held
this day. I am instructed to state in reply to tee
first allegation in Mr. Prescott a letter that
Foster Street has been used as a public road for
between 30 and 40 years. that for several years it
has been lighted and cleansed and watered by
the Commissioners, and that in the year 1t372 3i
square yards of land were puchased in conjunction
with the Trustees of the Turnpike Roads to
widen the approach to the same street from High
Street. That with regard to the second allegation
the London and North-Western Railway Company
have sold all the property in the .locality where
the street is situated.
I have the honour to remain,
Your most obedient servant,.
Join; TAYLOR,
Cerk.

:air. Pres.:oU said. he gave notice to the clerk t.
the l'urnpie Trustees, and the cler T.:to the Corn
unssiouers, some time back witu regard to th
closing of Angel Street and Poster Street, an,
the ieply he got was that there was a committ
appoiAed, and that the Commissioners wool,. .
ca.., care of the interests of the town. The pub-
lie saw now they oat! done is.). The ehairmai-
,igut seak of the courtesy with which tne
ay company cumpany had treated the Cinninissioners, an
rh.n.e hati been deiokationa to London. 13.
Lonna, however, tnoxigh their far:A were paid,
Were was a but for champagne dinner.,
no.) He had seen the bill, and the auditor
would`not pass it. Mr. Prescott then referred to
an objection he had lodged with the Local Govern-
ment hoard against the Commissioners expending
money in opposing the bill, from the fact that
Foster Street was undedicated, and that the Com-
missioners had expended nothing upon it since
it was formed till November 1, 1877. The COLD-
thisslioners had dragged the railway into the town
at a cost of £42,000, and now they wanted to put
the town to expense in opposing the Great
Western Company. It they went to the House o.
Lords, the company would close .Cosi• Street in
defiance of them, for the towa had ne.thore to
do with that partieulnx street than a privat,,,, in-
dividual. All the railway- 1144- to do was ti
build up a wall by Mr. Ledbury's- 'anti another
at the end of Cook's Stone :01%1 and stop
,u the traffic and no one could s.Ly till)/ could.
not. _ _ -

The Chairman said with regard to Mr. Prescott's
mention of a champagne .clinner he
.was one of the
deputation and he never tasted cha,wpagne nor
did the other members of the deputation at the
expense of the ratepayers. It happened to be the
birthday of one of the members of the deputation
who ordered and paid for two bottles of cham-
pagne.
Mr Prescott: That was not true for he had seen
the bill charging for the champagne and the
auditor refused to pazis it.
The Ch.:di:man said that Mr. Prescott's remarks
were very amusing but they were not instructive.
With regard.to Mr. Freer's remarks he was very
much mistaken ia his position. The railway com-
pany had to give certain notices and deposit plans
regarding their proposals and any ratepayer might
have seen them at the Clerk's office.
A voice: I have-applied to see them many
times but never could and was refused
The Chairman continued that he did not agree
with Mr. Freer that the railway would do .210,000
worth of damage to the town but was likely to do
..ZlOO,OOO worth of good. (Laughter and cries of
"No, no," and "All gammon.")
Mr. Kelley said no one had bothered him like
:gr. Prescott to try and get the railway com-
pany to make a station into the town, and
it was now being done still Mr. Prescott was not
satisfied.
Mr. Prescott said he did not wa,nt, it to be car-
ried out t. was being done. is all very well
for Oiivu Nock, Stringer, and otaers who had
property_wijoining.

It was proposed, seconded, and carried that the
reply read be sent. •
The Railway Committee furnished a long re-
port dealing first with negotiations which they
had had with the railway company as to the •
alterations in Birmingham Street, in reference to '
which they had laid before the Commissioners a '
plan sent by the company. They had directed the .
Clerk to write to the company a letter explaining
what had taken place, and thanking the com-
pany for the manner in which they had en-
deavoured to carry out their views in the matter.
The company proposed to alter the footways in
Ei.min•sham Street so as to make the carsiage way
17 feet wide. Other correspondence showed that
in relation to Foster Street the committee had
surested a subway under the railway to connect
that stis t with others adjacent. Mr. Lancaster
Ow-ea ~xereQsed his willingness to recommend
the company to ; nt in a subway for passengers,
and '6B ) a footway 6 feet wide from Foster Street
to Angel Street. The company were very desirous
of meeting the wishes of the inhabitants as far as
possible, and would doubtless accede to these
arrangements; but they would be glad to hear
that this would be acceptable to the Commis-
sioners " as a final settlement of all questions wAi.
them upon the subject of this railway." Tile
committee, having regard to the inconvenient
character of the road proposed to be substituted.
for Foster Street thought that veil important steps
\
should be taken to obtain from the company, with
the assent of Parliament, such additional accom-
modation as they should consider duirable. They
therefore instructed Messrs. Freer and Per.ey,
solicitors, to take the necessary steps to enable the
Board to oppose the company's Bill in Parliament
as regarded Foster Street and the time for filling
up the Stour Viaduct. On the recommendation
of the solisitora' London agents, it has been
decided to let the matter stand over till the
Bill was in the House of Lords.
The report was adopted, on the motion of Mr.
Kelley, seconded by Mr. Ick, the resolution
empowering the committee to carry out the
negotiations with the company and the opposition
to the Bill.
The Chairman observed that he. was firmly
convinc,ed the railway company would meet
them in everything that was rational and reason-
able.
, The Clerk said he thought the time had
I a rived when the offices of Clerk and Town Sur-
v. yo s"; ).1' 1 h:, s.-..T v:atLyl, th.J. duties of , v hich
h w 0,.; , to ;,;..:'a g; -,a....5)en I;reaB,: e • .
cgtllat )7ueziefice. Ode had tver. ~in _rathqr al;

said they had met to ask th,)
rat3payers wh:,ther the Commissioners shoal]
0,.,p05e the railway company in the House of
Lords. If ha was to give hio own opinion he
should say respectfully to the ratvayers " Give
the CommissiOners the power to act." (Cries of
"No, no," and disorder.) You have the right
to say "No." He .was quite sure the railway
company was willing to do all they could for the
town.

A Voice: Why then oppose the bill?
Mr. Woolley said he was glad to hear Mr. Freer
come forward and speak but he thought that Mr.
Freer was in error. It was the comoany who first
proposed to make the line, and the Commissioners
then opposed it. As to the champagne which
Mr. Prescott had referred to, if he had been pre-
sent at the dinner, he (Mr. Prescott) would not
have been the last man that would have been will-
ing to have some. (La1.4.-,rhter.)
.Mr. Prescott (riging impatiently) : Really!.
Mr. Woolley proceeded to say be did noL tli:nk
ve 'y dinilied in Mr. Pres..ott to come forw.iid
CPPOgitiOLI to the rttiiwoy atter what Mr.