The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-08-10 00:00:00

DUDLEY.

SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE MINING ENGINEERS. On
onday evening last the ordinary monthly meeting of
the South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire Insti-
tute of Mining Engineers was held at the Geological
Museum, Dudley; Mr. Henry Johnson, Ben., presiding,
in the unavoidable absence of the president (Mr. W.
North, Mayor of Dudley). After some formal business
explained by the secretary (Mr. Alexander Smith, (:.E ),
there were long and scientific discussions on papers bv
Mr. Joseph Williams (lecturer to to the institute, OR
" Spontaneous Combustion ; " on " Spirorbis Lime-
stone," a paper read by Messrs. Daniel Jones, F.G.S„
and Mr. H. Johnson; and on a paper by Mr. W.
Wardle, entitled, " Ventilation : Causes of Spontaneous
Combustion and Falls of Roofs." Votes of thanks
were given to the readers and writers, and suitably
acknowledged.
PETTY SESSIONS.—On Monday. at the Police Court,
William Ball (17) was sent to the Worcestershire
Sessions on a charge of stealing a pair of boots the
property of Mr. Charles Ball, milkman. Prisoner, who
vas no relative, had bean previously convicted of
robbery.—Willium Henry Rock, a glasscuttcr, WAR
charged with assaulting Inspector Wigley. The. defend-
rit hit the officer a blow on the mouth. He was fined
103 and costs.

Tows COUNCIL.—In the absence of the Mayor (Mr
W; North) from illness, the ex-Mayor (Mr. George
Thompson) presided on 3 nesday evening at the usual
monthly meeting of the above Council.—His Worship
sent a letter stating that his daughter was at the point
of: death. A vote of condolence with Mr. North was
doanimonsly passed.—After the report of the Public
Works Committee, the Chairman said the authorities in
London were not disposed to put up a better building
than the one suggested, unless the people of Dudley
would pay for the extra storey, which would cost £7OO
He did not believe in that course, but rather that the
plans should be reconsidered. One sanitary point he
wished to notice as he went along, and that was that the
;airing rooms and bedroom of the porter were in the
,iellars of the proposed new building (Oh.)—Alderman
Dudley and the ex-Mayor condemned the policy whet'
.-vould shut Dudley out of a good set of offices whilio
smaller places had them. The ex-Mayor paid a high
compliment to Mr. H. B. Sheridan, M.P., for the
rouble he had taken in connection with the new Post
Mice, and it was then agreed that the county member
should be asked to assist in obtaining justice from the
department of the Post Office,—The report was then
adopted.—The report of the Baths Committee showen
,cat Messrs. Davis and Middleton had been appotnted te
:irepare plans for the new public baths.—Aldermai
Sagott and Mr. Crew thought the question should be
open to competition, but it was shown that the matter
was too far advanced to make any alteration ; the plans
would have to be submitted to the Council. (Hear,
hear.)—After the reading of the report of the Finance
Committee, Mr. Dunn complained of the inequalities of
assessments.—Mr. Challingswordt said household pro-
perty was going up year afier year in Dudley, whilst
ither kinds of property in the town and in other parishes
if the union were going down, to the injury of Dudley.—
klderman Bagott said if the whole of the union was re
tssessed the poor rate would be is in the pound less
ban it was.—rhe Chairman said lie thought they were
ravelling out of their road, although there was no
loubt the borough suffered by inequalities.—A commit-
ee of the whole Council reported that it had been re-
:ommended that the Mayor should be authorised to
Jerry out the Parliamentary powers between Llr,
Judl.3y and the Council as to the disposal of the sewage.
—ln reply to a question from Mr. Challingsworth as
e‘isi mystery " there was. toe town Clerk said it wii-
aecessary that Lord Dudley's heirs should be bound tf
take the sewage the same as his Lordship, and that the
Corporation, not being able to make a contract for
sewage for more than twenty-nye years, Parliamentary
powers must be sought for. In reply to a question, the
Clerk said the contract for the pipes would drop.—lhe
other business was formal.
CONSERVATIVE ARSOCIATION. A meeting of Bt.
lames's Ward Association was held on Tuesday night
.ast at the Grand 'lurk Inn, Queen's Cross. • Alderman
Nilkinson presided, and there was a good attendance.—
Chairman said he was pleased to find by the
minutes that a speech had been delivered at thelast
meeting by Mr. F. Hancock upon the subject of English
trade and foreign competition. He was also pleased to
see the subject of reciprocity was being brought for-
ward by Lord Bateman, for he could speak personally to
.he disadvantages of the present system of one-sided free
,rade. It enabled the Americana and others to bring
Aoods to England, to sell them, and to take money back.
ln this they had an unfair advantage, and what was
canted was that the persons trading should be upon an
qua' footing. (Hear. hear.)—Mr. C. H. Westley and
.11r. H. C. /toper were appointed vice-presidents.—The
ousiness transacted at the meeting of the Executive
Committee was reported, and eulogistic reference was
made by the Chairman to the inaugural address of Mr.
idassano, the president--The Secretary (Mr. W. H.
dlockside) stated that the recent house-to-house visits-
ilon mede in the ward showed very satisfactory results
is to the political feeling of the burgesses.—lt was re-
solved on the motion of Mr. Evans, that arrangements
oe made for the delivering of addresses on Conservative
cirinciples.—A vote of thanks was passed to the Chair-
man, end the meeting closed.