The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-10-14 00:00:00

Kist .4.
) I-111 41,1:1()

TILE STOURTIRIDGE 013 SERVER.

tune was reversed by winning the only quoit match
that the club had played this season. As regarded
the increase of members the Secretary said that
last year thdre were eight honorary members;
this year 37. Last year the playing members
were 63; this year, 95; increase of honorary mem-
bers, 29; increase of playing members, 32; total
increase, 61 members—(hear, hear)—and no doubt
to that number 30 more would be added during
the next season. A considerable sum had been
expended this season in bats, balls, quoits,
machinery, and repairs. Subscriptions to the
amount of £BB is 4d had been received against an
expenditure of £79 18s 7d, leaving a balance in
hand of ~V,B 8s 9d; besides £27 15s Gd subscrip-
tions not yet paid. He hoped that at the tune of
the general meeting the club would have ..00 to
the good. (Hear, hear.)
Song Mr. George H. Field. _ _

The next toast was that of the ladies, which was
responded to by Mr. Burlace.
song, Mr. Randle.
. The Chairman proposed the health of the
Visitors, which was responded to by Mr. W.
Squires._

The Secretary rose and said he had to propose
the health of a gentleman, which -toast he was
quite sure they would most heartily and cordially,
drink. The gentleman to whom he referred had
worked exceedingly hard during the past season
and had spent a great deal of his valuable time in
promoting the interests of the club, and he should
say without fear of contradiction that had it not
been for the exertion of that gentleman and one
or two others the club would never have been in
the position it was at present. He would ask
them to drink the health of their worthy treasurer
Mr. J. F. Otter—(loud cheers.)
The toast was drunk with musical honours.

Mr. Otter, in responding, said the greatest diffi-
culty he had experienced that season was the diffi-
culty in finding words to express himself that even-
ing. He had most heartily to thank them for the
manner in which his name had been introduced to
them, and for the kind manner in which they had
receiyed it. As far as the club was concei Ned, th•
little work lie had done they were perfectly
welcome to and whilst he remained in the town he
should feel great pleasure in rendering any
assistance that lay in his power for the benefit of
the club. (Hear, hear.) At the commencement
of the last reason they thought it advisable to
obtain the services of a good professional man to
teach the young members, but the funds not
being in such a prosperous state that idea fell to
the ground, and they had to con-tent themselves
by engaging a grould man to teach the young
players, but he hor ed that by next year the funds
would be in such a state as to allow them to
engage a professional, if not for the season they
might join some other club in the district and
have the professional three days per week.
During the past season, it had been stated, they
won 13 matches and lost 11. This he considered
reflected great credit to the members of the club.
The bowling and quoits had been a source of great
attraction to many members who could not play
cricket. They had played two bowling matches
and unfortunately lost them on both occasions,
but they may take credit on themselves in making
such good scores in their first matches against
old established players. He hoped the members
would work well together and there ceuld be
no doubt as to the ultimate success of tho club.
In conclusion he again thanked them for the
honour they had done him, and proposed the health
of Mr. J. W. Parkes.

Song, Mr. Randle.
Mr. J. W. Parkes said he had to thank Mr.
Otter, the members of the club, and the visitors
present for the manner in whish his health had
been proposed and received. Respecting the
match secretaryship he was of opinion that'it was
possible and very probable that they might have
won evcry match that season instead of losing 11,
by playing the best eleven out of the club. It
seemed a very easy matter to get the best eleven
together out of the 133 members, but it was not so.
He had been match secretary for three years and
it had always been his desire and ambition to give
every gentleman a chance of playing, There
were certain gentlemen who joined this club in
order to plly in matches and consequently every
member could not be asked to play, and therefore
they could not expect to win the number of
matches they would win, if they did not play the
best eleven He did not think he should be match
secretary next year, but he should advise his suc-
cessor to go in for the honour and not for the
members.
Sprig, Mr. Bird,
The Chairman proposed the "Press," which
was responded to by Mr. George H. Field.
Song, Mr. Randle.
The Vice-chairman proposed the health of the
Chairman, which was drunk in musical honours.

Song, Mr. Randle.
The Chairman responded and proposed the
health of the Vice-chairman.

Song, Mr. George H. Field.
The Vice .chairman responded, and expressed
his pleasure in seeing the club in such a prosperous
condition.

Song, the Chairman.
IThe Host and Hostess, and other toasts were
given and responded to, interspersed with songs,
and a most enjoyable evening was spent.

The Ship "Woodlark," took her final departure
from Gravesend, bound for Brisbane, Queensland,
and had on board the following number of
emigrants, viz. :-76 married people, 100 single
men, 46 single women, 61 children between the
ages of twelve and one, and 12 infants, making a
total of 295 souls, equal to 252 i adults. The
single girls are under the care of Mr.. Johnsen;
Dr. Henderson acting as surgeon superintendent.
IHIC BULGARIAN RIMINI? FUND.—It will be seen
by an advertisement in another column that the
committee of the Stourbridge and District Relief
Fund intend canvassing for further assistance in the
behalf of the sufferers in Bulgaria, and the aid of
ladies and gentlemen of the town and neighbour-
hood ,is earnestly solicited. The Stourbridge
Committee have already forwarded through
Mr. Long £l2O, and through Lady Etrangford
£7O.

CONCERT.—An amateur concert under the
auspices of the Church of England, was given in
the Corn Exchange. on Thursday, to a very large
audience, when the' following programme was
gone
through in a very efficient manner; the sing-
ing of Miss Fisher and the reading of Captain
Wolridge being greatly admired. Programme:
Vocal duet, "La Ci Darem," Mr. F. and Miss
Fisher; song, "The Diver," Miss Richards;
song, "Dear England," Mr. C. E. Firmstone ;
reading, Captain Wolrige ; song, "Peacefully
Slumber," Miss Edith Fisher; solo—flute,
"Operatic Selection from Lucrezia Borgia," Mr.
H. King; song, "Honour and Arms," Mr. F.
Fisher; song, "The Dashing White Sergeant,"
Miss Richards; reading, Mr. A. Freer; song,
"Eurydice," Miss Edith Fisher; song, "The
Blacksmith," Mr. C. E. Firmstone ; vocal duet,
"The Manly Heart," Mr. F. and Miss Edith
Fisher.

TRANSFERS.-At the Police Court, yesterday, be-
fore Colonel Fletcher, H, 0. Firrnstone and J. B.
Cochrane, Esqs., the following transfers took
place :—The Cottage Spring lan, Wollaston, from
Isaac . Shepherd to Thomas Butterworth; the
Golden Lion, Mamble Square, from E. Hawkes-
wood to Thomas Ketley ; the Crown Inn, Stamber
Mill, from George Munslow to Thomas Cox; the
White House, Cradley, from Joseph Walker to
George Maiming; the Old House at Home, Neth-
erend, from Sarah Ann Fraigley to Henry Perks;
the transfer of the Swan, Farfield, from George
Grant to Joseph London, was adjonrned.
ILLEGAL POWSESSION OF • SILVER MEDAL.
Michael William O'Brien was charged under the
34th clause of the Pawnbrokers Act, 1872, with
having in his possession a silver medal, the pro-
perty of Sergeant Kinnard. Prosecutor proved that
the medal produced was his property.—Mr. John
Wraight, assistant to Mr. Stringer, pawnbroker,
said prisoner brought the medal to their shop for
pledge. He said it was his ewn property and gave
his correct name and address, but not giving satis-
factory answers regarding it, witness detained the
medal and communicated with the police.—A ser-
vant at theßritannia Inn, said she round the
medal in the sergea,nts's room and gave it to
prisoner.—Prisoner was fined 10s and costs; in de-
fault 14 days.—At the conclusion of the case, Mr.
Wraight made an application under the last
paragraph of the same clause, and after Superin-
tendent Freeman speaking in high terms of the
manner in which Mr. Stringer generally conducted
his business, and his readiness at all times to
render assistance to the police, the Bench granted
him ss, as compensation.

NON-PAYMENT OF WATER RATES.—Before Col.
Fletcher, H. 0. Firinstone, J. B. Coohrane, and
R. L. Freer, Esqs., the following persons were sum-
moned by W. D. Holloway, for non-payment of
water rates :—George Hill. 14s 6d, and Joseph
Corns, 12s.—The Bench made an order for payment
in each case, and costs. _ _

DRUNKENNESS. William Moore was charged
with being drunk and incapable on the night of
the 30th ult.—Police-constable Phillips proved
finding defendant lying down in the gutter quite
drunk.—Fined 2s 6d and costs; in default 7 days.
—John Taylor was charged with being drunk and
disorderly at the Lye, on the 10th inst. Police-
constable Paynter proved the case and said he had
to turn defendant out of the house, and when out-
side he created a disturbance. Police-sergeant
Rea corroborated, and proved a previous convic-
tion.---Fined 5s and costs; in default 14 days.
REF-USING TO QUlT.—Benjamin Cartwright iivas
charged with beiug disorderley aud efuig tO

quit the Bridge Inn, Cradley, when requested, on
the 9th inst. Rhoda Bayless, landlady, proved the
case, and saidthe defendint refused to go out when
requested. Pleaded guilty. Fined 2s 6d and costs

E:IIARGE OF TnEspiss.-.-William Pearson, Isaac
Hunt, and William Lowe were charged with tres-
pass on land in search of game, belonging to John
Gilbert Saunders. Mr. Elcock prosecuted, and Mr.
Perry defended. William Pearson admitted the
offence, and the other two pleaded guilty. Edward
Reiner proved that he saw all the defendants on
the land. Went to them and asked if they had any
rabbits. Pearson said he had one, and on going
to the house he found that he had another. He
sent for the police and found a number of nets
upon them and a ferret. William Pearson was
further charged with refusing to give his right
name. Mr. Reiner proved that he gate the name
of John Jones, but afterwards:corrected it. This
charge was withdrawn, and each of the defendants
were fined lOs and costs.

SERIOUS ASSAULT CASE.—Charles White was
charged with assaulting William Norris, of Wok
laston, on the Ist inst. Mr. Addison appeared to
prosecute. Complainant said that he picked up a
stone and struck hint on the nose, inflicting a severe
wound, and blacked both hi eyes.. Mr. Addison
applied for a remand on the, ground that ho had
only been apprehended the previous morning, and
the case was adjourned for a week, bail being ac-
cepted, himself in .E5O, and two sureties in £25
each.

the occupation of Mr. J. Penn, and found the boy at
work. Defendant was a man earning good wages but
unfortunately for his family he spent it in drink, and
that the boy was a great trouble to him (Mr. Brewer.)
Defendant pleaded guilty and said he was not aware
that the boy was not over the required age.—As he had
been previously com:cted defendant was now fined 5s
and costs in each case.—Thomas Booth was charged
with neglecting to cause his son to attend school.—Mr.
Brewer proved the case.—Defendant said his son had
fits when he went to school but he did not have them
when he was working at the glede ovens. He (defend-
ant) had several children die from smallpox and he
could not tell the age of the boy in question.—He was
fined 2s 64 and costs; in default seven days.
BRUTAL ASSAULT ON A SIR ISR.—lsaac /dams,
butcher, Lye, was charged with aseaulting his sister
Maria, on the let inst.—Complainant said she was sitting
in her own hens* counting her money on the night in
question. Defeadsat went into the house and tkey had
sone words over his child when he struck her three
violent blows on the mouth, causing her to bleed
sevevely.—Defendant pleaded guilty and was fined 104
and costs; in default 14 days.
CHADUE OF POACUING.—WiIIiam Glasser and Thomas
Fownes, of,iUpper Gornal, were charged with poaching
on land in the occupation of Mrs. Jane Lee, at Himley,
on the 19th September.—Mr. Horofray appeared to
prosecute.—Police-constable Beaton, stationed at Him-
ley, said he saw the two defendants about eight o'clock
on the evening of the 19th September, at Fliniley.
They were standing in the turnpike road and had a dog
with them. He heard one of the defendants urge the
dog on and immediately afterwards he heard a hare cry
out. He went to defendants and the dog came out of
the field to them. Defendants denied all knowledge of
the animal but witness had previously seen it with them.
—Fined is and costs each ; in default seven days.
ALLEGED NUISANCE.—Andrew Bloomer, of Quarry
Bank, was summoned for allowing a nuisance to exist
on his premises by keeping pigs and a wash cistern.—
Mr. Homfray appeared on behalf of the Qaarry,Bank
Local Board to prosecute, and Mr. Shakespeare, of Old-
bury, defended.—Mr. Hodgson said he was inspector of
nuisances to the Quarry Bank Local Board. He served
defendant with a notice to abate the nuisance which
arose from keeping pigs and a wash cistern. The
notice was to abate the nuisance in three days. The
nuisance was injurious to health. Cross-examined ; I
cannot say that any nuisance existed after the 14th of
September. I have heard that Mr. Cartwright started
the Board in motion respecting the nuisance. Mr.
Cartwright and defendant had been at ill•feeling for
some time. There are other houses closer to Bloomer's
than Cartwright's but the inhabitants did not complain.
I w,ll not swear that there are any houses closer than
'2O yards.—The case was dismissed.

bRIIMIENNEB3.—At the Police Court, on Thursday,
before Mr. N. Hingley, Samuel Gibson was charged
with being drunk, at High Street, Pensnett, on the night
of the 10th inst.—Police-constable Storer proved the
ease aid defendant, who had been previously convicted
WAS fined 10s and costs; in default 21 days' imprison-
ment.—John Guest, of Hart's Hill, was charged with
being drunk and incapable, at Brierley Hill, on the 11th
inst.—Police-constable Parker proved the case and said
he found defendant drunk and incapable under a stall in
the Market Place, Brierley Hill, at half-past two o'clock
in the morning.—Defendant was fined 5s and costs;
in default 14 days.