The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-04-29 00:00:00

16.

Xocal anti pistritt Pius.

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.

The 'monthly meeting of this body was held in
the BORI 100 M on Monday last; Mr. Hughes in
the chair. There were also present Messrs.
Billineham, Packwood, 31 cEwen, I cling, Allsop,
Munson!, Woolley, Emery, Edwards, Newnan.,
Collis, and the Rev. D. Magizmis.
The Clerk read the minutes of the last meet-
ing, which were confirmed
Mr. Prescott here attended, with Mr. Smith,
the lessee of the Market Tolls. Ile had mad-
an application at the last Commissioners' meet-
ing, which was referred to the General Purposes
Committee. Ile would again ask for a turnstile
to be erected by the door of the Corn Exchange,
which would be required from two till live o'clock.
On the last occasion he asked for two turnstiles.
Ile now asked for one. Ile may say that he had
seen the minutes of the last General Purposes
Committee, who had refused the application.
Ile now asked the Board to consider the ques-
tion themselves. His next application was to
close the door which led into the market during
the time stated, and so have but one entrance
into the Corn Exchange. His third application
was to direct the attention of the Board to the
question of tolls. It was a very serious question
for Mr. Smith, the lessee. It came out before
the Magistrates on the 14th hist that Mr. Smith
was not the lessee; that he simply held a bond
empowering him tu ~ect the tolls, but neither
he nor the Commissioners could take proceed-
ings at law und•or it. He was very sorry he had
a complaint to make against one of the Com-
missioners, who refused to pay toll when it was
demanded.
Mr. Allsop : You had better mention the name.
Mr. Prescott : It is Mr. Joseph Horzeldine.
Mr. Newnitin said Mr. Hazeldine was not a
Commissioner: he hail allowed the time to run
out through non-attendance.
The Chairman : Tell us exactly what your ap-
plication is.
Mr. Prescott: I have already told you.
Mr. Prescott afterwards said he would not
trouble them farther with that, but proceed to
the next ---that of tolls. The receipts for tolls
during the lust four years amounted to £64 12s
3.1 d. On the last March fair day the receipts
only amounted to £6 his 6d, as persons refused
to pay toll in the streets. The consequence was
that Mr. Smith—taking the average at £l6 13a
11—had lost £9 7s 7d. If nothing was done by
the Commissioners it would seriously affect the
future fairs, and probably the tolls would dr.
crease. He (Mr. Prescott) was acquainted with
Mr. Shepherd's opinion upon the collection of
tolls, which was to the effect that the Commis-
sioners have DO right to collect the tolls. If
they belonged to any one they belonged to the
Lord of the Manor; bat with all due respect to
Mr. Shepherd he did not agree with him. The
last application he had to make was for the
Commissioners to give some reasonable com-
pensation to Mr. Smith for the loss he had sus-
tained.
Mr. Hughes remarked that the last application ,
could not be considered at the present time. He
thought before they took steps in the matter
they should hear the report read of the General
Purposes Committee.
Mr. Prescott said he should not have another
opportunity of addressing the Commissioners,
and he would ask that the question be considered
by the whole Board.
Mr. Magiunis considered that the report
should be first read, and then it would bring Mr.
Smith's application before the Board. It was
quite possible the report might be rejected.
Mr. Prescott rem:triad that the Committee
had refused the previous application, which he
(Mr. Prescott) considered was a resonable one.
'fhe Chairman: Let me ask you, Mr. Pres-
cott, for the third time, what you require us to
do, so that we may proceed with the business ?
Mr. Prescott: First, I ask you to put a turn-
stile. The next, to have one of the doors
I closed. The next for tolls on horses.

Mr. Smith, in answer to the chairman, said
that Mr. Hazeldine bad two horses running up
and down the street in front of the Corn Ex-
chauve, called Market-street.
The Chairman said they had nothing to do
with that.
Mr. Prescott said if a man had a right to do
that, another man had a right to sell corn, or
grain, or anything else.
The Chairman said he was quite sure that the
Board were willing to assist the lessee, and do
all they could for him—(hear, Lear).
Mr. Prescott then withdrew.
REPORT OP THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The Clerk read the following report:—
Improvement account, due from treasurer, £452 12s 7d.
Highway account, due frouOreaxury, £ll7 53 10d.
The Comniittee having examined 'number of accounts
i£l4 14s 6d) and finding them correct, recommended
them to be paid. And also one for the Water Works
Company connecting the water with the three new fire
plugs, amounting to £l5 15s 64, and which charge in.
eludes £7 16s for three two-inch cocks and boxes. The
Committee, after considering the explanation in it. Mir-
tent letter of April Ist, is of opinion that the charge of
£7 Ifis does not todong to the Commixsioners, and there-
fore advise the payment of the anuouot lees that sum.
The report was adopted.
IMbIIOVEMENT COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

tir THY 11AOLES-sTREET FOOTPATH. With
regard to the otter of the Trustees of the Turnpike
Roads to contribute £35 towards posing these footpaths
four feet wide with blue bricks, the said footpaths when
the work is finished, to be kept in order by the Commis-
' sioners the Committee recommend that the said otier
Omuta be accepted, and the work carried out.
The Committee aleu recommend that the flagging op-
posite Mr. Broomliall's should be taken up audre-liagged
with York shine.
Baooa STKEET.—The Committee recommend that this
street should be freed from obsti action, channelled, and
levelled, the expenses to be paid to the Commissioners
by the owners of the lands adjoining or abutting on the
said street. Bowling elreen-lane, with Lion-street,
should be dealt with ,n a similar way to Brook-street.
The Committee, having inspected the road leading to
the Public Office, recommend that the present pavement
be taken up and the road re-paved, as follows, viz., a
, width of four feet in the centre to be laid with blue
chequered squares, the sides to be filled up with pebbles,
and a channel on each side to be formed of Rowley
' squares, using the present material as far as practicable
THE SEuERS.—The Committee is of opinion that the
following openings in the sewers should be trapped, viz.,
one near Messrs. Nicholls and Perks, High-street, one
near Mr. Price's office, Upper High-street, one near the
Red Lion, New-street; and that the latter one should be
dispensed with.
Mr. Billingham moved that the report be
adopted, which was seconded by Mr. Blunsom.
Mr. Billingbarn thought if the footpaths were
laid about four feet in length, it would much
improve that part of the town, which was much
frequented by many persons, and the leading
entrance. He considered the road in its present
state as bad. If he walked in the winter time
it was very dirty, and if in the summer the peb-
bles were bad to walk on; and the Turnpike
Trustees had made a very good offer. If the
road was well laid it would last for 20 years.
'This was questioned by a member, when
Mr. Alkop said that Mr. Wilmott was it very
good authority, and had given his opinion that
to lay it was the best thing they could do.
Mr. Edwards thought the offer of 1:35 from
the Trustees was a paltry sum. He believed
the Trustees had always repaired the roads, and
i•hey had two years and a half vet unexpired;
aud concluded by motiog that the offer be not
accepted.
As there was no seconder, the amendment fell
to the ground, and the report was adopted.
GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE.

Komar Toms.—The Committee having carefolly
Comidered the subject referred to them at the last
monthly meeting, and after obtaining the opinion of
Messrs. ILirward, Shepherd, and Hansard, did not deem
it advisable for the Commissioners to take any action in
the cases which came befoie the Magistrates on the Ilth
Mat ; also that it is not desirable for the present to ob-
isn counsel's opinion on the questions raised, partiem
barly the one referring to the exposing of a sample for
sale. And that it is not desirable for tho present that
turnstiles should be erected in the Corn Exchange.
The Committee were "1 opinion that the lighting of
I CecMotreet should be deli rrod till the oommencement of
the next lighting season.

Mr. Maginnis moved the adoption, which was
seconded by Mr. Billingharn, and carried.

GAS COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The Clerk then rea(l the following report of
the Gas Company:

Your C:nimittee, having carefully considered the re-
port of Mee Cu Loundy, Harrison, end Hari is, to the Gas
:outpany, in reply to the report of tho Com Committee,
ind also the letter from the Ott Company, dated 24
February, 1871, now presents the following report
'hereon.
" '

Die Gas Committee wus correct in ascertaining from
lie COUIFIRrIy'S tltati-ments for the ten years to 1803 in-
cluai ve, the, Correct balance to bring forward in le,,C I, with
A siew of siicwen g as far as possible the actual slate of
concern, and your Committees does not agree with

prfiE r.yrr

Messrs. Laundy, Harrison, and Harris, that all i...i.ters
of account prior to 1864 require to be excluded.
Your Committee in also of opinion that the items £134
18a 5d in 1864. nod £236 18s Bcl in 1865, were also cor-
r-ctly dealt s'ir by the Gas Committee, as the Gas Com-
pany did not apply those amounts in the manner provided
by the Act.
•
Messrs. L. It. Af H., tdmit that the omission of the
profit and lorry balancer' is an error on the part of tho
company.
Your Committee thinks irwould have been more satis-
factory had the Gas Company alloired their aerionsitauto
auffirient time, and such means s ACCelitt ifollia have
enabled them to properly analyze the amounts paid for
wage. ; to ascertain whether they had been rightly divided
between capitol and rt venue. this being a most imfortant
particular, an affecting the true state of the accounts;
hut Messrs. L. H. Ai' H. throw the onus of giving this
information upon the Our Company themselves, wife,
upon application is nig made to thr in for ouch informa-
tion, stated " that they could not answer the questions
with justice to their proprietors, unless you contemplate
purchasing the works ;" by this means they have thrown
new obstacir a in the way of your Cnnimittee arriving at
anything more than on approximate conclusion so to the
real facto of the ease.
. . . . . . .

The whole of the labour vhewn to have been employed
in the laying of new mains, erection and extension of
works, Is:—

f d.
1862
1864
1866