The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-09-01 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

amined the following accounts and finding them
correct recommend that they be paid. Highway
Account, £63 8s 7d, Improvement Account,
£2l Os 6d, Urban Sanitary Authority, £44 7s id.
A list, of assessments reduced by the assessment
committee was laid before your committee and
they recommend it be paid.
The report was adopted.
The Medical officer of Health reported that during
the month 17 dfaths had occurred, giving a death-
rate of 20.9 per thousand per annum. The number
of births and average was exactly the same. There
had been four deaths from zymotic diseases, includ-
ing one from typhoid fever. The medical officer
called the attention of the Board to his suggestion
for the prevention of zymotic diseases contained in
his report. The journal of the medical officer was
laip before the committee and considered. The
officer recommended, first, isolating as the most
certain way of at resting the spread of infectioes
diseases; second, a disinfecting apparatus; third,
flushing of all public sewers; fourth, attention to
the water supply for drinking purpos ; and fifth,
issuing a public notice with respect to the cleansing
of ashpits s.nd the disposal of house refuse. These
recommendations were considered by the committee
who recommended the Board to purchase two
tent hospitals with the view of isolating all casis of
infectious diseases. They had requested Mr. Bland,
member of the committee, to make inquiries as to
a suitable disinfecting apparatus and they had
given instructions for a regular and systematic
flushing of the public drains. In regard to the
water supply from private wells, the committee had
requested the medical officer to repott thereon from
• time to time as occasion required, The committee
also recommended the printing and circulation in
the township of a notice similar in substance to the
one_refetred to in the off er:s report.

Mr. Bland moved a resolution "That the com-
mittee hire two tent hospitals, for ieolating the
spread of diseases.
Mr. Edwards: Why not hire two houses for a
time?

Mr. Turney thought the resolution made by
Mr. Bland should be supported. As to the hiring
of houses he thought th,it there would be a difficulty
in obtaining them. They couldluot remove houses
as they could tent hospitals. They could not
perhaps find houses properly isolated.
Mr. Haskew : It is no use buying a tent yet, as
the disease has not broken out yet and Ihope it will
not.

Mr. Woolley asked who would keep the patients,
and could the commissioners compel yitients to go
into the tents?

Mr. Edwards : Only the lower classes would go
into the tents. It was only fouling the town's
money away. There were one or two gentlemen
there who copped all these things and laid them
before the Bard; but did not consider the cost.
Why not let the patients to the Union? We
pay enough money towards it.
Mr. If askew then proposed that the committee be
referred to the Union Aut•iorities and see whether
the tents could be utilised.

Mr. Bland then withdrew his resolution and
seconded Mr. Haskcw's.

Mr. Hughes proposed that the question as to the
disinfecting apparatus be referred back to the com-
mittee.

This was seconded by Mr. Turney.
Mr. Edward 4 said he thought the medic 11 officer
was, a perfect noodle to make such a report (meaning
the Medical Officer of Health's report).
Tne Chairman : I must call you to order Mr.
Edwards.
Mr. Edwards: [am in order. I came here to re-
present my cohstituents and shall speak in spite of
anybody.
The Chairman: Mr. Edwards, if you do not behave
yourself properly, I shall resign till you do.
Tie Town Officer reported that the number of
nuisances reported during the month was 35, of
which 31 bad been removed. There had be3n
emptied and cleansed 119 privies, JOl ash pits,
arid 1 cfss pool belongingato 719 houses. Number
of bads 167.

The registered lodging houses and slaughter
hJuses are reported to be in good sanitary con-
dition. Two cases of overcrowding are reported one
in Angel Street and the other in Al ount Street. The
nui-4ances are removed.

The Chairman said with reference to the question
of the incorporation of Stourbridge the Board would
, °collect that at the last meeting they appointed a
committee to investigate tiie matter. The committee
had had several meetings, and at the first meeting
they appointed Messrs. Harwarde, Shepherd. and
Mills as their solicitors. Souse work was being done
in connection with the proposition, and at tile last
meeting Mr. Shepherd presented his report. A
resolution was Passed theeffect that Mr. sheeee,e4
JLA v in Cll 11113 report to tne uommiesioners that
day, and that the Special Committee should also
present their report at the same time, but there
was not time sufficient between last Ft iday evening
and that day for the Special Committee to prepare
any report arising out of Mr. Shepherd's report,
and to be in order it was imperative the committee
should draw up a report and present it to the Board
on tne question. After the committee had broken up
last Fremy evening he (the Chairman) thought they
were going a little too fast in tee matter—(hear
hear). It struck hie), to say the least, that it looked
as if they were trying to rush the thing through too
quickly, especially as several important members of
the committ€e were absent from the last meeting,
and, therefore, he took upon himself to call up: n
Mr- Shepherd to tell him that he would not be
wanted at the meeting of the Commissioners that
day to read his report, which would le of no use
apart ~from the committee's report. It struck
him also that there were a good many other facts
which would have to be got together and embodie i
in the committee's report, and which they woula
clear 4 see it was quite impossible to have done
since last Friday night. The annual election, too,
was close upon them, and he thought it was better
to leave that matter—the committee's report—until
after the elect on, as the committee might not be
formed exactly in the same way after that had taken
.place. In any case it would look better for the
committee to wait a week or ten days before present-
ing their report, and in the meantime they should
collect all tee facts they possibly could. He begged
to report progress in reference to that matter,
T.he report of the Finance Committee was read
and was as follow'. Your committee recommended
that the street at the junction with High Street be
widened according to the plan adopted by your
committee and now laid before your committee.
Wieh regard to alterations at the nose and Crown
Inn, Market Street, your committee report progrese
Your Committee report that Mr. A. Green is willing
to sell a strip of land containing 14 square yards for
the sum of £5, Your committee recommend that
this offer be accepted, subject to a rounded come:
on Hill Street.
Mr. Jones called attention to the desirability of
putting on a train to leave Foster Street Station at
9.30 p.m., caliing at the Lye, Cradley, Old Hill, and
other places. He said that at present the last train
left the town at 7.30. and the junction at 7.50.
Persons coming to do business in the town found it
very iuconveuient to be compelled to leave at such
aa early hour as at present. He also called atten
lion to the anomalies in the railway fares on the
t )wn line. They varied from one half-penny to
one penny and three-halfpence by different trains.
lie pointed out too that at one time the uniform
charge by all third-class trains from Stourbridge to
Birmingham was 114 d. It was raised to is. 3d. on
account of the dearness of coal, tut although the
price of coal had been lowered the railway fare
ietnaieed the same. He concluded by proposine.—
" That it was very desirable that there should be a
train leaving Foster etreet Station at 9.30. p.m. for
Biuningh en, and that it should call at the Lye,
Cradle., Old Hill, &c. ; and that the Commissioners
should take steps with the object of inducing the
Great Western Railway Company to put on such a
train."

Mr. Hasketv seconded the resolution, which was
slpported by the Chairman and others, and ca,ritd
mainunouz;ly.
Plans an t elevation for the erection of a new front
to the Co c'el and Horses, High Street, wee ex-
amined aa t pass d by your conimittee, rubject to
compliance with the bye lawS.
Mr. Ta.n?y moved, and Mr, Elivisrd3 seconded
thaL the r.-vort be received.

NEW ALHAMBRA THEATRE.—This popular place
of amusement was opened for the season on mon -
day last, when Miss Lily Mortimer coname.nced
six nights engagement with a capital company of
artists. The piece seleeted was entitle I "Esmeralda"
adapted from. Vict.nr liugo's work "Notre Dame,'
and was put on the stage in very good style. The
Esmeralda of Miss Mortimer wee much admired,
and she was warmly applauded. Mr. Frank
Syniour, us Quasiniodo, performed his part to per-
feetion, and was well received, as also were Messrs.
Fischer and Norman. Mr. lle‘ereux was a first-
class King of the Gipsies and Mr, Frank Lester
created roars of laughter as Pierre Gringoire. The
charming and graceful sisters Crnvelli, assisted by
Mr. Joe Devereux, her; (laced their pleasing enter-
tainment and were loudly encored. On Thursday a
new and original play entitled "Falsely accused"
was produced with all its peculiarities. To-night
(Saturday) Esmeralda will again be performed.
Next week Mrs. Patch has announced a great treat
in the eiwagement of Mr. Charles Darrell's London
"Trump Cara" company. This will be undoubtedty
one of the most brilliant engagements ever made at
this Theatre. Mr. Darrell is a manager and actor,
well known to Stourbridge, and his charming pan to.
mime of last Christmas will not be soon forgotten.
"The Trump Cad" " will be produced here by
special arrangement with Messrs. 11.dt and Willmot,
the well-known managers !)f the Grand Theatre,
London. Mr. Charles travels with some
magnificent and costly scenery w ich has been pre-