The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-04-28 00:00:00

CHIEF. ONFFICE;t's FOURTir REPORT TO THE COM.
Missi NEl45_l.
REPORT FOR THE TAB 1882.

Gentlemen,

I have the honour to report as follows :
The Brigade has been called to eight fires during
the year, being two loss than for the year 1831, and
two less than the average for the previous three
years. Mme of the fires were of a serious nature,
the damage in no cise amounting to one-sixth of
the value of property at risk, the total amount of
damage is estimated at about £303 103. Od., and
the value of property at risk at about. £33,730, :is
cwnpared with .t 2,022 and .£17,320 for last year.
Two fires were caused by spwancout igni ion of
cotton waste; one, spark from fire pL,ea ; one,
leaving a lighted pipe in a coat pocket; one, decor-
ations hanging over a gas jet; one, boiling over of
tar; and two, cause not known. One fire occurred
in a leAher works, one in a chain works, two in
spnle works, one in a rope warehouqe, and three in
shops and (INN elling-houses.
In going to and from fires, the Brigade has
travelled 21i miles. The to at time occupied in ex-
tin;uishing was 7h. 16m., giving an avera.2,k to each
fire of 54 u. 30sc., the time being reckoned from
the members leaving the station, to when they are
dismissed on their return. The average attendance
of members at fires was ten; and the average time
occupied in turning out, where horses were used
thn. 30sec., and 2m. 33sec. to fires in The town,
when the hand hose reel only was used.
The Superintendent's return of drills, shows that
the members of the Brigade have carrie.! out 97
thins of different kinds during the year The
strength of the Brigade is as fel'ows :--One
Captain, one Lieutei:ant, one Superintendent, n'e
Hon. Surgeon, and thirteen firemen. "• The Fre
Briovie Commit!ee are taking steps to ezrolsr2verai
new members, who reside in tee immediate .neigh-
bourhoort of the Fire -Station, as the increased
appli daces require that the streng:h of the Biiade
should b , increased.

The following appliances are in charge- of the
Brigade,—One Fire Escape, presented by the Boyld
Society for the Prot ction of Life from Fire, one
hand hose reel, with ladders, 1,240 feet canvas hose,
160 feet leath,r hose—the property of the . Com-
missioners. One Steam Fire Engine, one s:retcher
and ambulance box, complete, members' uniforms,
and one 6-inch Manual Engine, very old, the pro-
perty of the Brigade. One 7-inch Manusl Engine,
the property of the Alliance Insurance Company.
There are 20 hydrants, the property of the Com-
missioners ; 18, the property of the Water Works
Company; end 8 private hydrants. Ido not con-
sider the number of hydrants sufficient for the pro-
tention of the t.,wn. There is always an excelle..t
pressure of war 1., but in some districts in the town-
ship the Brigade would be powerless at a serious
fire, as there are no hydrants to enable them to get
at the water. Hydrants should be placed in all
streets where there are water mains, at most leo
yards apart.
Five nundred feet of hose is fitted with Morriss
patent couplings. Tees couplings are exceedingly
simple and efficient, and at a small cost the whole
of the hose could be fitted with them, thereby
saving considerable tim in getting to work at a
firo.

I herewith append tabulatA statement of fires,
And have the honour to be,
Yours obediently,
HENRY TURNEY,

Ca pt tin of Brigade.
Tbe chairman said the report was very satis-
factory. The Brigade had done good service and
he hoped the public would continue to support
them with subscriptions. The uniform mid
ma!erial used dopreci,t. d in value and thy would
soon require more. The chairman moved tho aflop-
awl of the report, which was secondel by Mr. A.
Froc.-r, J.P. _ _

Votes of thanks wtre, proposed and seonded to
Captain Turney, Lieutenant Fot d, Superintenien
Williams, and the brigade.
The officers were re-elected and Mr. Scriven
appoiwe:l accountant.

LICiNSED VIC TUALLER3 A.SOCIATION. —A meet-
lug of this sock ty was held at the Woolpack Inn,
Lower High Street, on Wednesday evening, and
was fairly attended. The president occupied the
chair. The proposed revised rules were submit icd
to the meeting and were ordered to be taken into
consideration. Copies of letters addressed by the
secretary to the members of Parliament for East
Worcestetehire were read on the Sunday closing
(England) question, and their replies. One from
Mr. W. 11. Gladrtone, on apost card, was cons;dered
very unsailefaetory, -Corre,pondence betw,en the
sect-e.t.ay and the scctetary of the Woicester City
and County Coffee Tavern Company, relv.cting
the openin4 of the Stourbridge Coffee Huse the
whule of Good Friday afternoon las', was laid be-
fore the meeting. The committee have very much
p.leasure in sating tiia the society is now in a sat-
isfactory position, and invite non-members to join
without. del;iy.
SHAKESPEARE CELEBRITION.-011 Mon ay even-
ing eemineraeration of Shakespeare took pace in
the Corn Exchange, and a pleasing evening's rater-
taietnent was arranged in memory of the great
national pot. The. programme was entirely Shake-
speerca,n, and it is !proposed to have an annual
meeting of the kind. The Rev. U. Sherrard, pre-
eident ot to Church of England Association, in
connectioe wizh which the meeting was hell, tiok
the chair, and opened the proceedings with an ad-
dress en Shakespeare. The songs from Shakespeare
given durilig the evening were pleasingly rendered
by Mrs. Hammond Smith, Miss Clara Surgey, and
Mr. J. Muston ; and there were approprtate inane-
forte sell,: by Mr. J. E. Bottomley anil Miss Legge.
The elocutionary part of the programme was by
Miss Barlow, 2the H. 0. Firmstone, and Mr. E. 11.
Cox; concluding with a scene from" The Merchant
of Ven.ce," in which Mr. H. o:limestone (Shytock)
Mr. L. Firmstone (Bassanio), and Mr. J. E. Jones
(Antonio) took part. The it,ye. H. Sheirard read
Mr. J. F. Timmins's Shakespearean sermon to
I.:lies during the evening. Thu whole programme
passed off well, and appeared to give pleasure to
the audienc-:...
CeessicAL CONCER,T.—The experiment of holding
classical concerts in this town has been received
-with increasing favour by the public. The fourth
concert took plao) in the Corn Exchange on Tues-
day evening, and was attended by a numerous and
appreciative audience. The instrumentalists were
Miss Agnes Miller (pianoforte), Mr. F. Ward (first
violin), Mr. W. Griffin (second violin), Mr. J. Owen
(violoncello), and Mr. S. Sums, jun., accompanist.
Alm J. Mason was vocalist. A Wall-arranged pro-
gramme had been devised, and the concert was
most successful one. -

A recent writer in our local papers has wisely
observed that "one of the follies of the ego is to
buy dear Wines and Spirits." Another folly is to
suppose that buying from those who make fte
largest return of duty is buying them in the
cheapest market. The Merchant who pays duty
upon thousands of gallons, pays in exact propor-
ton to the retailez clearing a single cask. A great
profit must be gained to cover enormous expenses
of large business premises, cost of tuivottising, abzd
:an aliowamce 9f profit to the Agent, greater in
many instances than taken by them in the respec-
able Merchant. To buy cheap is to buy were but
one profit is made, and we cannot better illustnte
our argument than by pointing out the way in
which our townsmen, Messrs J. Rutland and SoP., of
63, iligh.st, have opened up the trade. We have
no hesitation in saying that 25 per cent. is now
f a red by their bringing the producee nd the on.
-u.ner together, over the prices paid a few
b. and a trial will fully bear out our ass itioni
Dudley Herald, December 21th, ISI.
"ROUGH ON RATS: '—The Thing desire.l found at
last. Ask chem'sts, grocers or oilmen, for Rough
on Rats It clears out rats, mice, beetles, roaches,
bedbug,, insects, ground moles, eLc. 7-Id. and
is Aid boxes.

" 13UCHIIPA.BIL."—A new, quick, complete cure
for all urinary affections, (Smarting frequent or di 111 •
cult) and kidney diseases, 4s. At Druggist. London
Agency No 1. King Edward's Street.
Beautiful women are made pallid and unattrac-
tiva by functional irregulariff.es, disorders and
weaknesses that are per:eotly cured by following
the suggestions given in an illuctrated treatise
(with eolourest pates) sent for three letter postage
stamps, A hif oss WoRLD's DTSIPEN4.III,Y MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION, No. 3, New o.y.lford B:rect, Lonclo! Q
W.C,

Youthful indulgence in Penicious Practices pur-
sued in Solitude, is a most startling cause of Ner-
vous and General Debility, Lack of &If-confidence
and Will Power, Impaired Memory, Despondency,
and other attendants of wrecked manhood.
Sufferers should address, with three letter postage
stamps, for largo illustrated treatise, pointing out
unfailing means of perfect cure, WCZLIiii DIEWEN.
8 A litYß
a, I: NewzAciANOuxfGsl.'A
ord.trteet, W.C.
o
'sshaonnd ias
e and
feo.r the Pclice Court
yesterday, before Col. Fletcher and Messrs. T. D.
f
Pus.iNagoe obscene
h ianSanguk4ge, on the
17th fin .d
17th 'flat.
C. Webb proved the case.
011..TRUCTI ,N,—George 8.11 rig was (h)rgel with
causing an obstiuction on the public road at Ilagley
on the 17th inst. P.C. Crouoher proved the case
cigellOgat wag Mod os wad 09011,4310aal