The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-03-04 00:00:00

T I I V, FTOTTIITIAIPOF OBSFAINTIER.

hundred this pestilent fungus is conveyed into
the human system by the medium of impure
water. Mere filtration will not intercept it, and
it is only by thorough boiling, accompanied by
subsequent filtration, that water from a foul
source can be rendered innocuous. The poison,
however, is so subtle that it has more than once
been conveyed by the drinking of wine or some
other 'perfectly wholesome fluid out of vessels
that have been washed or Tinged in impure
water. This extraordinary fact suggests yet
another precaution easily to be adopted in any
well-regulated household. Whenever the pre-
sence of typhoid in the neighbourhood is
suspected, all the cleansing operations of the
kitchen should be performed with boiled water.
We have, in a word, simply to bear in mind the
fact that a single drop of water from a polluted
source may be sufficient to poison an entire
household. The prospect may be an alarming i
, one, but if the danger is terrible, the means of
averting it are simple and eiLay. In all proba-
bility it will be many years before we item") out
these scourges. As long as we allow our sewage
to percolate into the weds and rivers from which
we take our drinking water, we must expect
variaus forms of malignant fever to be more or
less endemic amongst us. Some day, perhaps,
we shail construct our drains and watercourses
with as much care as our houses. Meanwhile
it is for all of us to protect ourselves as well as
we can; and the thanks of the public arc due to
men like Dr. Klein, who at great labour and
trouble, and often with but a scanty chance of
success, devote their lives to the investigation of
unpleasant and occasionally dangerous problems
of human pathology. The man who discovers
how to stamp out a deadly diieas3 deserves
better of the human race than the general who
wins a decisive victory. The Government has,
amongst its list of measures for the session one
for the prevention of the pollution of rivers,
and there can be no doubt that this subject is,
in its way, as important as the consolidation of
an empire. The water supplies of towns are
very often taken from rivers, which are on the
other hand regarded as the natural receptacles
for refuse of all kinds. Manufactories grow up
Oil the banks of streams, and pour their rubbish
into it as the most easy and inexpensive way of
getting rid of it. Town drainage and the wash-
ings of a thousand farms find their way into the
i
rivers, which, as they augment n volume in
their course towards the n
sea increase iii
materials, showing that rivers are regarded
more as the great open sewers for vast tracts of
country, than as streams of health-giving water
for people to drink. It would be bad, of course,
to shut manufactories and mines, which the pro-
prietors declared must result if a Rivers Pollu-
tion Bill passes into law; but it is worse to go
on poisoning the community by the spreading of
the terms of typhoid in the manner indicated in
the report, of Dr. Klein.

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.

The monthly meeting of this Board was held
in the Board Room, on Monday last.

Mr. Hughes was in the chair.
There were also present Messrs. Kelley, Perkins,
Griffin, Flavell, Woolley, Allehurch, Turney, All.
sop, Edwards, Stringer, Penney, Blunsom and
Hicklin.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and
confirmed

FINANCZ Connirrrxx.—Your committee report
that the various balances at this date axe as
follows: -- Highway Account. Balance due to
Treasurer, £42 2s 11d. Improvensnt Account.—
Balance due from Treasurer .2139 3s 9d. Urban
Sanitary Authority.—Balance due from Treasurer,
£l3 17s 10d. Your committee having examined a
number of accounts recommend them to be paid.
Highway Account, £1704s 6d. Improvernant Account,
£7 3s 9d. Urban Sanitary Authority, £4l 10s.
Your committee have considered the estimates for
the Improvement and Highway Rates which esti-
mates will be laid before you. Gas Account.—Your
committee will consider this account at their next
meeting.
On the motion of tap Chairman, seconded by
Mr. Kelley the report was received.
Proposed by Mr. Hughes seconded by Mr. Kelley
that £4l 108 payable out of tie Urban Sanitary
Authority Account to be paid to persons entitled
thereto; and that cheques be signed by the Chair-
man on behalf of the Board.

GENERAL . PuItPOSES COMMITTEE REPORT.—
Medical Officer of Health's Report.—Number of
deaths registered in the township from January
20 to February 19, is eleven, males, 4; females, 7.
The Officer reports that during the last 'month the
mortality in the township has been unusually
small for this season of the year. Diseases of the
refractory organs however have somewhat e xceed-A
the average. Five deaths have occurred from
bronchitis and two from inflammation of the
lungs. The death-rate is 14.07 per thousand.
The number of births rog,istered at the same
period is 22. The birth-rate is 21.14 per thousand.
The Visitation Report Book contains but one
entry of place and premises visited or inspected
during the month, at Portobello where there is a
well Of water unfit for use. Instructions have
ni given to have the town water laid on. Town
Officer's Report—Nuisances from last month, 9;
repot td during the month, 39, total 48; removed
old, 8; new, 34; carried forward, 6. Night Soil,
7(; privies ; 54 ash-pits, belonging to 123 houses
have been emptied and cleansed. Public lodging
houses and slaughter-houses were reported to be in
good sanitary condition. Your committee have
had the attention called to their nuisance near the
School of Art and have directed your Clerk to
write the proper parties respecting it.
The Clerk read an estimate for an improvement
rate for the half year ending September 20th,
1876. The requirements for that period were
..£BOO 3s 44 and the assets were £135, while £245
was expected from Market Tolls. An improve-
ment rate at 9d in the pound on .217,833 was
estimated to produce .t 615. The estimated high-
way requirements for six .months was £825 17s
and the assets were £32 108 7d. A. highway rate
of Bd. in the pound on £22,820 would produce
£7BO. It was explained that the highway rate
before had ranged from over twelve months, but
fox the ensuing year a rate of ls 44 instead of ,is
would be required, and it was thought better to
-make the rate half-yearly as was the case with the
improvement rate.
Mr. Turney said ha believed there was a debt on
the Market Hall of some £)6,000 or £17,000, and
asked what rate of interest was being paid.
The Chairman said they were paying .14 per
cent, but if requested they should be obliged to
pay 5.
Mr. Turney considered they were paying too
much and that money could be had at a cheaper
rate.

Mr. Penney thought they could get it at 31 the
same as they did at Birmingham.
Mr. Turney had no doubt they could get it at 3
or 3; and ought to pay them off.
The Chairman: We can't pay them off, we have
no power. The next thing they could do was to
go in for a new act which could be got very cheap
unless some pettifogging person opposed them for
the sake of plunder.
Air. Edwards said if the Pollution of Rivers
Bills was passed this year they should have an
expense of £20,000 or £30,000 to meet.
The Chairman: That is what is coming in the
future.

Mr. Edwards: Better incorporate the town at
once, and take in the surrounding neighbourhood.
Proposed by Mr. Penney, and seconded by Mr.
Flavell that the estimates/ of sums required on
meeting, and that the Clerk do °(nye the required
notice to make an Improvement Rate of 9d in the
pound, and Highway Rate of 8d in the pound.
REPORT OF THE IMPROVEMENT COMMITT
New Building.—Your committee have considered
the Improvement and Highway rates laid before that
the plans for a new building to be erected in
Worcester-street for Mr. Thomas Richards, and
have approved thereof. Your committee have
under their consideration a plan for widening Hill-
street.

Mr. Stringer in moving the adoption of the
report. said that it would be a great improvement
to that district if the road was widened. Some
discussion ensued and the Board considered it
would be a good thing to widen, and it was
seconded by Mr. Kelloy and carried.
PUBLIC HALL CONMITTIE.—The Clerk then read
the following :—At a meeting held in a room of the
Church of England Association on Saturday last,
the following resolution was moved by the Rev.
H. Sherrard and seconded by Mr. W. J. Turney
"That the committee are pleased to hear that the
Commissioners entertain the scheme of .an im-
proved Public Hall, but are strongly of opinion
that the same room would not snit both for a Corn
Exchange and Public Music Hall. If, however,
the Commissioners will eroot a Public .
probably over the Corn Exchange, and proviAe
with an ()Nan and suitable. ante-rooms, the
committee would approve', bf. Such a scheme ae•
likely to meet the iner.aied requirements of h_
town and neighbourhood,- hut Would be glad first
to s•-m, it plan or ketch of Krell building."
In answ....r to a member as to the probable cost,
Mr. Turney sail he thought the cost would be
42,000, probably it may be .43.W0, but he should
say not more.
Mr. Woolloy thought it would cost X 5,00.1.
Mr. 'Varney : So far as my opinion goes as to
the value of bricks and mortar if you would hand
me a ch,que for .23,00 J I should be willing to
do it.

- Thu Cur.iunsuggest.2,l that tho qth.stion 1,42
refiiered to a emuunittou with Mr. Turwy•ii na:de

M. Perkin proposed and Mr. Kelley seconded
tliat the whole Board be forme,' into a committee.

The Chairman said he was quite agreed to that.
Mr. Stringer said in the meantime he thought it
would be desiralde to call in ,oine efficient :Livid-
tect, as to get his opinion as to the probable
cost. This was agreed to and the further con-
sidef ation was adjourned until next Monday evun-
ing.
The Chairman said the next business was Mr.
Dorricult, the collector of the Improvement and
Highway Rates, had sent in his resigna.ion.
Moved by Mr. Kelley, seconded by Mr. Perkin
and carried that the resignation be accepted.
resolution was also passed on the motion of
the Chairman, thankiu Mr. Dorricutt for the
fidelity with which ho had discharged his duties,
and expressing sympathy for him in hisillness
which had cau,ied his resignation.

5 o'clock in the afternoon of Mondays and Thurs-
days in each week. The Board receiving the
power of determining the lease at the end of the
first seven or fourteen years thereof.
After some further conversation, the Rev. H.
Sherrard. on behalf of the Managers, assented to
those terms.
On the motion of Mr. Wall and seconded by Mr.
Stringer, it was resolved that the Clerk apply to
the Education Department for the consent of the
Department to the arrangement.
It was moved by Mr. Wall and seconded by Mr.
Stringer, that a committee of the whole Board 1.0
appointed to prepare for the consideration of the
Board, bye-laws under the powers of section 74 of
the Education Act, 1870.
There was no other business.

" SPBLLING BRl."—This entertainment in con-
nection with the Church of England Association
and the Mechanics' Institute, attracted a large
audience to the Corn Exchange, on Monday even-
ing, and the proceedings were-watched with much
interest. There were 48 ladies and gentlemen
entered as competitors. Mr. F. Evers presided.
The interrogator was the Rev. W. J. J. Welch,
and the referees were the Revds. H. Sherra,rd and
D. Maginnis. Mr. F. Evers in his introductory
remarks commented on the large audience, and
said he was very pleased to find the people take
such a great interest in it. He was also glad to
see the two institutions had combined together
in this movement. It was showing a good spirit
between the two institutions and he hoped they
would always continue to do so. The proceeds
from the" Bee" would be divided between them.
The rules and regulations for the " Bee " were
read, and the Rev. W. J. J. Welch said he should
like to make a few remarks before he commenced
his duty. He hoped the audience would listen
attentively because he had not a very strong voice
and he wanted every one to hear him, and he
trusted the competitors would peak out so that all
c )uld hear them. There weie three bags contain-
ing the words written on a piece of card and he
explained the difference between the three bags.
The first one contained very simple words, the
second difficult, and the third very hard ones.
The competitors were ranged on the platform in
rows, and (Taps soon began to be made ia their
ranks as the unsuccessful were requested one by
one to retire. Amongst the errors made were
scinister for sinister • breach for breech; sybilant
for sibilant; descendent for descendant; pursar
for purser; bain for bane; eightly for eighthly ;
guilotine for guillotine; can for Khan; chile for
chyle ; corroberate for corroborate; calendor for
for calendar; brocoli for broccoli; dibauch for
debauch; labaratory for laboratory; cresendo for
for crescendo; philipsite for phillipsite ; encyclo-
pcedists for encyclopedist; empireal for empyreal;
chrysolyte for chrysolite; escutechion for escute-
cheon ; cobocched for caboched ; screeh for
screech; .slight for sleight; abot for abbot;
goosebery for gooseberry; intzeetteer for gazetteer;
rasbury for raspberry; atialaogus for analogous;
apocryphar for apocrypha; counterpain for counter-
pane ; archetype for architype; pusyism for
puseyism; peninsular for peninsula; sluce for
sluice • rigerous for rigorous; postilion for
postillion; demon Tor demeans; epolet for
epaulet; satir for satyr; eleaunt for elysium ;
oatipillar for catterpillar ; ragou for ragout;
phonoetypy for phonotypy ; pylarous for pylorous ;
ie., &c. The first prize was obtained by Mr.
Samuel B. Barrett, of Belbroughton. It was 10
volumes of Chambers's edition of Shakespeare.
The second prize was awarded to Mr. Garland, it
consisted of six volumes of Tennyson's Works.
Mr. Handel carried off the third prize. Master
Evers was successful in carrying of the fourth
prize and great credit is due to him for his good
spelling. His prize was three books of Murray's
works entitled" Smiles," "Thrift" and" Charity."
Mr. Bennett took the fifth and Mr. Cope the sixth
prize. The Rev. H. Sherrard proposed a vote of
thanks to Mr. Evers for presiding, and to the
Rev. W. j. J. Welch as interrogator for the able
manner in which they had performed their duties.
Mr. Evers and the Rev. W. J. J. Welch acknow-
ledged the compliments paid to them which
brought the "Spelling Bee" to a close.
STOCK SA.LE.—Mr. H. King held his usual fort
nightly sale on Tuesday last, which was well sup-
plied with fat stock, and high prizes were ob-
tained. The sale comprised 250 sheep, 60 head of
cattle, several fat calves, and a quantity of pigs,
including a number of bacons. The highest prices
realized were for some fat wether sheep, 795 per
head; fat cows, £27 12s 6d; fat bullocks, £25;
cows and calves, .£l9 17s 6d ; fat calves, .t 4 lOs Od
fat pigs, £8 12s 6d. There was a low() attendance
of Birmingham, Black Country, and focal butchers
and the quality of the stock caused brisk competi-
tion. _ _

TRANSFERS.—At the Petty Sessions, yesterday,
before Colonel Fletcher and C. Cochrane, Esq., the
Talbot Hotel, from Stephen Winkworth, to Mary
Howlett; the Salt Brook End, from William
Williams, to Ann Maria Williams, widow; The
White Lion, Market Street, Stourbridge, from
Alfred Davis, to George Young; The Crown Inn,
Enville Street, from James Haywood, to William
Weaver ; The Swan inn, Belbroughton, from
Charles Davis, to George Grant
CHARGE OF GAMBLING.—WiIIiam Watkins and
Joseph Jones were charged with playing at pitch
and toss on the footpath, at Hay Green, on the
22nd ult. Police-constable Payne proved the case
and said that Watkins offered him 2s to say no-
thing about it. Defendant said he only offered
him one shilling. Fined 5s each and costs.
CRUELTY TO A HOlLBR.—Willitua Harris was
charged with cruelly illtreating a horse on the 24th
ult. George Count said that on the night in
question, he saw the defendant who had charge of
a horse and trap. The defendant. violently beat
the horse, and there was a wound on the side,
fresh made. The horse was very low and poor.
Police-constable Payne and Doorbar gave evidence
and said the horse was not in afit state to work.
l'or the defence, Mr. Wall said that his client is in
the employ of Mr. Platt, grocer, that Mr. Platt'f
horse was not well, and he hired the horse of
David Eulwell to go a. journey,, to Belbroughton.
That he baited the horse twice, and defendant did
not k• ow that any !. ore was upon the horse. He
depied that defendant beat the horse as stated.
Jut the het se was a *.jibber," and defendant
merely Earn:eked the whip. A boy named Fulwell
was callel I lor the defrnee, and said that defendant
only set:v.:l:cal the whip. Lid not hit it.—David
Fulwell was charged will-IL dii. lty to a horse, by
letting hint on hire whilst in an unfit state, on
the Mli nit. Harris was lined Is and costs, and
1 ulricll Z.s and costs.
SF AULT CASE.—Ann Salmons was charged with
assaulting William Henry Green on the 4th:.' ult.
Defendant was further charged with assau:tir4;
Soromon Walters, and further charged with using
threatening language to Sarah Ann Green, on the
same date. Complainant said that some boys had
been sitting on some bags in Mill's yard, when the
defendant came the boy ran away and the defendant
canto to him and struck him on the face, and told

_
him to fetch his - mother and she would paste
her. Amelia Roberts said she saw defendant box
complainants ears, and knock his head against thp
wall. Sarah Ann Green said that the defendant
threatened her, and she was afraid of her life.
Mr. Perry addressed the bench for the defence,
and said that the complainant had been jumping
on some bags, when defendant's husband told him
if he did not go away he should box his ears, when
defendant came, and complainant was making
faces, when defendant gave him a box on the ears.
The assault case was dismissed, and defendant
bound over herself in £lO. and one surety in £5.
to keep the peace for six months. The charge of
assault against her by Walters was adjourned for
14 days.
CHARGE OF THrournia.--Charies Ifeathcock was
charged with using threating language to George
Bourne on the 28th ult. After hearing the evi-
dence, defendant was bound over in £lO. and one
surety in .25. to keep the poace for six months.
A VIOLENT WOXEN.—Mory O'Donold, was
Charged with assaulting Sarah Brett, on the 2nd.
Complianant said that the defendant struck her
several times, knocked her down and when down
kicked her on the eye, inflicting a sever cut over
the eye. Ile defence was, they both fought.
Superintendent Freeman said the defendant Is a
very violent women, having been frequent before
the court. The Bench considered it an agravated
assault, and oommitted her to prison for two months.