The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-01-22 00:00:00

anb 4gistritt 7131eilas.

TiIE CHURCH OF ENGLAND ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the members of this as-
sc,ciation was held in the Vine Assembly Room,
on Tuesday evening last.
The Rev. H. Sherra,rd, who presided, read the
aunual report, which stated that the society had
maintained its ground with a fair degree of success
and usefulness. The present number oj quarterly
members was 159, being one more than last year.
Only two classes had been in operation—viz., a
dramatic class and a shorthand class, but the rea-
son why so few classes had been carried on was
that the members were entitled to attend the
classes in connection with the South Staffordshire
Education Association at a reduced fee, and it had
been thought expedient not to have separate chts-
on the same subjects.
Several lectures had been delivered during the
year, which had been fairly attended; amongst
those given was a very interesting lecture on New
Zealand by Sir James Fergusson, late governor of
the islands. The thanks of the •committee were
conveyed to the lecturers and others who had con-
tributed to the success of the association during
the past year. A conversazione was held in the
autumn, at which there was an exhibition of valu-
able paintings, kindly lent by Mr. H. Rogers, of
Hagley, together with paintings by Mrs. Fennell
and Mr. Bowen, and regret was expressed that the
pictures were not visited by more persons, owing
to the inclemency of the weather at the time. The
committee hoped that some other opportunity
might, through the kindness of Mr. Rogers, be
given to the public of Stourbridge of inspecting
these and other interesting works of art, Lord
Lyttelton, with his accustomed kindness, granted
the use of his park for a picnic in July, but the
inclemency of the weather caused it to be a total
failure. The number of volumes issued from the
library last year was 726, which was considerably
below the issues of previous years, and the com-
mittee attributed the falling off to the fact that
the books in the library had been pretty well read,
and that additions to it were needed. The com-
mittee had long felt that the rooms of the asso•
ciation were ill adapted for its purposes, and they
thought the time was come when larger and more
commodious premises should be provided. A
movement had been originated at the rooms of the
association for providing Stourbridge with a Music
Hall and Public Rooms, and if this highly desir-
able result was attained the committee would be
! prepared to occupy some portion of the premises
at a fair rent, thus benefiting themselves, and
! contributing, it was hoped, to the furtherance of
' the proposed scheme.
The balance-sheet showed that the income for
the past year was £92 5s 101 d, &c., and the expen-
diture ..tB2 3s sd. The report having been adopted,
officers were elected for the ensuing year. The
Rev. H. Sherrard was elected president, and the
vide-presidents were re-appointed. Mr. G. Boden
was elected treasurer; Mr. C. E. Davenport, secre-
tary; Mr. J. E. Wraight, assistant secretary; Mr.
F. G. Holloway, librarian and cash secretary;
Messrs. Hingley and Dickinson, assistant libra-
rians; Messrs. H. Pearse, J. F. Otter, S. Sheppard,
J. W. Woodward, J. Kidson, .T. Bird, W. Maybury,
H. Ridley, G. Moody, and G. F. Rossiter, the com-
mittee.

Votes of thanks were passed to the president and
other officers for their services last year, and after
other business the meeting terminated.

PROVIDENT SOCIETY IN CONNECTION WITH TIIE
PRESBYTERIAN CHAPEL.—The annual meeting of
this society was held at the Wollaston Road
Schools, on Monday evening, the 10th inst. At
half-past five the members and their friends, over
100 in number, sat down to a most substantial. re-
past; after which the Rev. D. 3.ilaginnis was called
to the chair, and spoke at some length of the great
usefulness of the society. He also took occasion
to thank the members for the kind address and
well-filled purse of gold which they, in conjunction
with the congregation, recently presented to him.
Mr. Job T. Short, Hon. Sec. read the statement of
accounts for the past year; from which it appeared
that the number of members is G 2; there were two
deaths; six members were on the superannuated
list: that the receipts for the year amounted to
£143 16s 6d, and the payments for sickness, &c.,
to £132 10s. The funds of the society amount to
£2,497 14s sd. The auditors having testified to
the excellent state in which they found the books,
the statement of accounts was adopted unani-
mously, on the motion of Mr. W. Newnain, sec-
onded by Mr. B. Shakespeare. On the motion of
Mr. J. Pagett, seconded by Mr. T. Richards, Mr.
W. Willings was re-elected treasurer; and on the
motion of Mr. J. Guest, seconded by Mr. E. Blur.
ton, Mr. Job T. Short was re-elected secretary.
The Committee for the ensuing year was then
appointed as follow :—Messrs. B. Shakespeare, T.
Guest, H. Leeson, J. P. Maginnis, and J. Pagett.
Messrs. C. Perks and C. E. Leeson were appointed
auditors. Mr. Chas. P. Moore was elected a mem-
ber of the society. On the motion of Mr. W. H.
Packwood, seconded by Mr. W. Newman, it was
unanimously resolved that the lengthened and de-
voted services of Mr. Short, as hon. sec., entitled
him to a substantial recognition of such services,
and a committee was appointed to carry the reso-
lution into effect. A cordial vcite of thanks to the
chairman terminated the business proceedings.
Music followed, and a most enjoyable evening was
closed with a quadrille and a country dance.—[The
above was crowded out of our last week's issue.—
ED. S. 0
RIDING WITHOUT REINS.—At the Police Court,
yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher, Messrs. F.
Evers, and C. Cochrane, Thomas Whatmore was
charged with riding in a waggon without having
reins to his horses, on the 11th inst. Police-con-
stable Webb proved the case, and defendant was
ordered to pay the costs.
ROBBERY AND ASSAULT.—Patrick Macdonald, who
from his appearance, evidently belongs to the
genus " rough, " was charged with robbing George
Lee, of a hat, on the 15th inst, and, in company
with fonr others, wounding him whilst doing so.
—Mr. Addison prosecuted, and Mr. Perry defended
prisoner. Complainant, who was formerly driver
of the 'bus at the Talbot, was proceeding
on his way home shortly after eleven o'clock
on Saturday night last, and when near the
Freemason's Arms Inn, Birmingham-street, some
one tried to trip him up. He turned round, and
asked some of the men who were near him what
they did that for, when five men set upon him,
knocked him down, kicked, and struck him. He
was kicked on his eye and on his lip, and two of
his teeth were loosened. He was also kicked
about his head and body, and was bleeding pro-
fusely. Whilst he was lying dowii,he put his hand
over his watch, as he thought they wanted to rob
him of it, and turned his face to the ground. He
also shouted out, "Murder." Prisoner then
pulled him up by the collar of his coat, struck him
on the face, and took his hat from him. The hat
produced was the one he was wearing at the time.
He could swear to it, because tnere was a mark
round the top where he had tried to wash some
dirt off it. It was also a little too large for him,
and the shop keeper from whom he bought it had
put some pieces of felt inside the lining which
were there now. There was also a small yellow
spot upon the band. When he got up he went to
the nearest public-house, but could not get admit-
tance. He then went to a house which was near
and whilst he was standing near the door he was
struck by prisoner under the chin. Directly after
that Police-constables Firth a.nd Philpot came by,
and they escorted him home. Whilst they were
doing this they were pelted with brick bats.
He described his hat and the appearance of
the man to the police officers, and about
an hour afterwards Sergeant Jones and
Police-constable Philpot came into his house,
bringing the prisoner with them4rho had his (com-
plainant's) hat on. When they'Zame in he said
"That's my hat, and that is the man who took it."
Prisoner said he had the hat from West Bromwich.
Complainant told prisoner that he bought the hat
from West Bromwich, and that it cost him 4s. 6d.
He had bought it only a fortnight before Christ-
mas. Mr. Birt, surgeon, had attended him ever
since.—Police-sergeant Jones proved apprehend-
ing prisoner who'had the hat produced on his head
at the time.—Police-constables Philpot and Firth
corroborated Jones.—Mr. Birt, surgeon, described
the the injuries inflicted on the complainant, and
prisoner was committed to take his trial at the
next Worcester assizes, bail refused, Colonel
Fletcher remarked that it had come out as evidence
that some of the witnesses had been threatened.
He wished to tell them that to tamper with wit-
nesses was a very serious offence, and punishable
by penal servitude.
Wo UNDING A FOWL.—Henry Taylor was charged
with wilfully wounding a cock fowl on the 18th
inst, the property of Henry Hall, who claimed
10s compensation. Mr. Prescott defended. Char-
lotte Hall proved that shcb.saw the defendant pick
up a cinder and throw it al the fowl. The missile
struck the fowl on the head, and seriously injured
it. Ordered to pay 2s 6d and Costs.
NEGLECT OF WORK. Amos Dunn, Thomas
Leedham, and three others were brought up on
remand, charged with neglecting the work of
George Wooldridge and Son, anvil makers, of the
Lye. Mr. Perry was for the prosecution, and Mr.
Waldron for the defence.—The case had been ad-
journed, because a point of law had been raised.
The orioinial contract was now produced, and after
Colonel Fletcher had inspected it he said it was an
extremely unfair one for the defendants, and thlt
it was adviaable to employ professional men to