The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-04-06 00:00:00

DUDLEY.

THE FATALITY AT THE OAKEIAH COLLIERY.-011 Mon-
day moruino, Mr. R. J. Watts, deputy coroner, held an
inquest at the Queen's Head Inn, St. John's Road,
Kate's Hill, on the body of Joseph Timmins (55), collier,
who was killed on the 22nd ult., in the Oakharn Colliery
Oompany's pits. -- Joseph Smith, deputy, said the
deceased was an overman for the b3nd or loaders. It
was Timmins' duty to examine the pit before the bond
went on. He had worked half a turn on the previous
night, and during that time he had displaced a tre.e.
The next morning he began to work without replacing
the tree, and the coal fell upon him. Deceased bore
the reputation of a careful man. Witness had cautioned
all the men that morning, Timmins included. The pit
was not at work on Thursday. By the jury : Did not
tell him the tree was out, because he knew it. Could
not account for Timm:ns doing so careless an act.—Mr.
Elijah Davis, the certificated manager, explained the
plan of the place, and said that the pit had not worked
above an hour and a half from the time Mr. Scott, the
Government assistant-insp,ctor, had seen it. That
gentleman had seen the place since the accident.—
Joseph Westwood, miner, said he knewa tree had been
removed between the Wednesday and the Friday morn.
ing. It was necessary to remove it to get the tubs by.
—A juryman said it appeared ,to be the neglect of
Timmins who shouid have fioished the coal on the
Wednesday night.—Another juryinau said it was plainly
the duty of Timmins to make the place safe before the
man began to work on the Friday moruing.—lhomas
ellings, horse driver, saw Timmins take the tree out.
Thomas Davis, uude:ground manager, said the
deceased should have tried the Coal for a safe place be-
fore resting himself beneath it.—The jury returned a
verdict of " Accidental death."

OVERSEERS' APPoINTSHIsT. -- On Monday Messrs.
William Hotehkiss, James Nicholson, Charles H.
Westley, and :William Jewkes were chosen overseers.
SCHOOL BOARD.—The Rev. W. R. Cosens presided on
Monday afternoon at the fortnightly meeting of tbe
above Board. A report from the committee of the
whole Board recommended that the Wolverhampton
B.reet proposed schools should be built for 800 children.
The committee agreed to put back the schcols to the
line of other buildings, to meet the wishes of the
Council. In pursuance of a motion returns were read
from the schools, and it was shown that at Kate's Hill
£5l 3s 4d was owing fir arrears of echo .1 pence ;at
Hart's Hill, £24 is 3d. Ttni arrears from otner schools
were read, au I showed that at least £l4O was owing.
Dr. Cosens complained that the teachers of the schools
were setting themselves above .the School Board, and
really remitting fees without enquiries. The School
Board sat and excused fees where the people showed
they could not pay, but the teachers allowed the chil-
dren to attend with the simple excuse that they had nct
their money. If the masters and mistresses had insisted
on the payment of the fees a farthing in the pound
would have been saved, and this was the difference in
the rate of 1876.7 and 1877 8. An analysis of the
figures showed that in Netherton the fees were far
more regularly collected than in Kate's Hill and other
schools. Mr. Sbeward held that the Board was liable
to blame for not taking up the matter earlier. The
Clerk said that two years ago the Board passed a rtso-
lution demanding extra attention from the teachers on
the subject-of payment of fees. Mr. Stieward and Mr
Evans suggested weekly returns of arrears as a pre-
veutaeive of accumulation. Dr. Cosens read the rcs An-
hon. which held the teachers reaponsible for all fees
owing at the end of more than two weeks. He moved
thrt a copy of the resolutiou be sent to the head
teachers, with the statement that their iaglect had cost
the ratepayers id in the pound. Mr. terry suggested
th it the Board should try to get home of the money
from the teachers, who ought, to get it from the parents.
Dr. Cosens said in the schools he had the teacher had
an interest in gettiug in the fees, because his salary was
higher or lower as tele fees were paid or owing. Even-
tually, on the motion of Mr. Terry, seconded by the
Chairman, it was resolved "That a copy of the resolu-
tion passed in 1875, respecting the liability of the
teachers, be sent to all the teachers, with a request
from the Board that they endeavour to collect the
fees as far as possible that are in arrears, the
serious amount of which has taken the Board by sur-
prise."