The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-06-12 00:00:00

SATURDAY, itnlE 12, lug.

Goala CAsk.—George and Ella' Smith ifather and soli)
were charged with haring, on the SOth of April. toed a
certain dog for the purpose of killing • hare, on land
belonging to the Earl of Dudley. Mr. Maltby prosecu-
ted, and Mr. Addison defended. William Nash said he
lived at Inkford. On the above date he heard a voice say,
" Loose the bitch, there is a hare coming ;" and saw a
dog run out of the tent, followed by the two defendants
The dog caught the hare, and the defendant Elias took
it up, and stru,k it on the back of the head three times.
The elder defendant took it off his son, and carried it
into the tent. Cross-examined My son was with the
defendants. Do not know whether the dog wee tied up.
George Smith was on the other side of the gate. Will
swear they were urging the dog on. Police-const Able
Hill said he was stationed at Swindon. He served the
summonses on the defendants. Thesyounger defendant
admitted killing the hare. but said his father was inno-
cent. For the defence, Mr. Addison called Henry Nash,
I who said on the above date he wan with the defendants,
in their camp. Heard some men shouting and clapping
. their hands. Dad not see the defendants do anything.
, The elder defendant was not in the field. Saw the dog
go, but will not swear whether he was tied up or not.
! Valentine Smith said he was son of the elder defendant.
ou the above date they were in the camp making pegs.
,1 The dog was tied under the cart by a piece of string. It
• broke loose when it saw the hare running. Heard his
- brother call the dog back. The Bench said there was •
. doubt in their minds as to whether the dog's breaking
loose was accidental or not, and should give defendants
the benefit of the doubt, and dismiss tha case.

WILFULLY DAANAGINO A FINCH. Edward Southall
was charged with wilfully damaging a grimiest fence, the
property of Elizabeth Bennett, on the 2ilth ultimo. Mr.
i ion apprared ti prosecute, and Mr. Maltby defended.
Complainant said on the above dale she saw the defend-
ant cutting the fence with a billhook. The damage done
is 10s. Thomas Arnold said he lived at 'Solver. Ite.
membered the property being sold. A foot was left for
each tenant to put a hedge or anything else on. Ann
Ourbett said on the above date she saw the defendant cut-
ting the hedge with a billhook. Had seen him cutting it
previously. Mr. Addison asked for an adimrornent for
the production of further evidence, and the case was ad.
jimmied for a week accordingly.
PITCH any Toss—John Simpkiss, William Mansfield,
John sircenan, Josiah and Eli Cartwright were charged
with playing at pitch and toss on the 3111 alt, at King-
swioford. Isaiah Harrison said on the above date he
beHY the whole of the defendants playing at pitch and
toss in Pottermtreet. Poliee-oonstable Mee said be saw
the defendants playing in Potter-street. Withdrawn on
payment of costa.
Demsoe.—Mary O'Donnell was charged with
damaging • fence, the property of Mr. Foley, on the 11th
ult. Fitted fit and Coats; in default aeven day*.

COAL STKALlNO.—Elizabeth Reeves was charged with
stealing a quantity of coal, the property of the Earl of
Dudley, on tile ::.kh tilt. William Coley proved seeing
the defendant taking 50.1•11 of coal, valued at 2.1. De-
fendant, who pleaded guilty, was ordered to be locked up
Sr 48 hours.

B F. IttIOUSE OFFEN(' E.—StIMO el Grainger, landlord of
the Gladstone Arms, Audnarn Bank, was chaiged with
keeping his house open for the sale of drink on the Ist
lost, during prohibited hours. Police.constable Freeman
proved the ollonce, and defendant was hued 2s titt and
cents; in default seven days.
I LLIIIEATING I Honey.—Mrs.
was charged with illtreatiug a horse on the hlat
Police.constable Freeman said on the above date he saw
the defendant's horse in the cart lucre were two
wounds under the collar, which appeared to give the
horse mulls p sin. Police.sergeant Buds in corroborated
the la.t witness, and defendant was lined in and costs;
in default seven days. Allowed one month to prey it in.

denotation caused eons:der:Ode Sensation in the pa-ish ;
and eapecial:y there was 5 strong feeling manifested with
regard to the unequal manner in which coal mines had
for some time toed been rated. Under these eireuni-
stance. a nublie meeting of the ratepayers WAII celled on
Monday last, at the Vestry, to take into consideration
the irregularities in question. end to take such pureed.
ings as might be deemed advisable. Mr. Reuben Plant
having been voted to the chair, the meeting adjourned
from the Vestry to the Schnol.room. the former not
fording accommodation for the numbers attending,
Among those present were Messrs. Pargeter. W. Roberts,
Stewart, F. Webb, W. Webb, C. Williama, C. Robed..
Wood, Mills. Williams. Powell. Rollinson, Huss*lbee,
Bannister. Pewter, Rollinson, Fletcher, Jeffriea, Dud-
ley. Howes, And Smith. Mr. Heckford attended for Mr.
John Harward on behalf of the rector of the parish.
The Chairman, in opening the proreedinea, said that
when it was found • part of the inhabitants of the parish
' were not paving at all. and that another part were insuffi-
ciently rated, it followed 114 • matter of course that thou;
who paid hail to pay more than they would otherwise
have if all were assessed to their fair amount. A short
time ago a deputation bad waited unon the Ansessrueet
Committee. and had called their attention to tas mon-
strous • piece of neglect as could possibly occur in any
parish. Some were shown to be rated at too stash an
amount, and others were not rated at all, while it was
proved that the coal mister. had for some time back been
assessed on a six months' get of coal, and latterly only
;on a three months get. That he considered manifestly
unequal and unfair. Then he found that in 1e66 the
; rateable value of the parish was £83.292. while now, with
; all their apparent proaperity, the rateable value if the
parish was only pat down at £75.882. In the former
case they were only rated at Is in the pound, while in
the latter they were rated at Is 8d in the pound. In
eonclendon the Chairman suggested the appointment of
a Surveyor to re assess the perieh—(cheers).
, Mr. W. Roberta moved the first resolution, which wee
as follows:—" That this meeting is of opinion that for •
considerable period the rating of tee various properties
in Wm parish has been partial, unjust, and oppressive,
some properties not having been rated at all, and some
conaiderably under-rated: the coal mines which have so
mach increased pauperism by the daily accidents in and
about the pits, have not been fairly rated in consequence
of the coalwasters being charged upon a six months'
and then upon a three mouths' get of coal, whereaa the
other properties in the parish are assessed upon the an-
nual cable." Mr Roberts went on to say that from the
facts laid before the Asseasment Committee of th• Board
of Guardians, it appeared that in that pariah they had
been paying Is Stl in the pound. He represented there
the Stourbridge Canal Company, which was rated at
about £4.000, and if that company were called upon to
pay 6d in the pound more than war right it wauld am-
ount to about £lOO per annum that would come out of
the pockets of the shareholders. That was, of course,
an important matter for the Canal Company ; but the
few shillings a-year that persons in huinble circumstan-
ces had to pay in addition to what was just and tight fell
quite as oppressively upon them as the large amount
paid by each a company as the Canal Company fell upon
the shareholders. The reaolation bald that the rates had
been unjust and oppressive., but that did not mean there
had been anything intentionally malicious in the making
of the rates. The Gnardians, the Overseers, and the
Assistant Overseers no doubt did their work as well as
many men; but the truth was they had not got • swum-
nal interest in the matter, and hence the miatakes—
(cheers). He had touch pleasure in moving the resolu-
tion.
Mr. It. Webb seconded the resolution.

The motion was car;iie-d.u.Minitnouiy-..
Mr. P. Pargeter moved the second resolution "That
we wait until the adjourned meeting to see what Course
the bill celled The Valuation of Property Bill, now be-
fore Parliament. trill take before proposing that the
he put to the espouse of a new assessment, but in
the meantime this meeting recommends that some etli-
Meat person be appointed to assist the overseers in rat-
ing such properties as have not been rated at all, or very
much underrated , and this meeting is of opinion that
Mr. Meredith, of Wall Heath, is a fit and proper person
for such °lie, Arougly recommend his appointment
to the Guardians, • Ile thought they could not expect
the overseers to faint all the requirements of their ap-
pointment ; and when the collectors had collected the
rates they had done all they could be expected to do.
In a great polar like that, where therewas such a va-
riety of property, there should be some independent
person to assess the propera:, and see that every one
paid his fair and proper proportion of the rates—
(cheers). Mr Meredith hail been employed in connec-
tion with perish matters for seven•anditwenty years, and
no man had a more perfect knowledge than he had of
what wa, required in the matter of assessment.
Mr. Hall seconded the motion, which was carried ite.A.
Coo.

Mr. C. Williams asked what were the duties of the
Asse.sment Conimittve.

Mr. P. Pargeter, who M a guardian, explained that the
duties of the Assessment Committee were only to hear
appeals.
Mr. Williams snggested that it would be better to ap-
point a committee than to put the pariah to the expense
of employing a person specially to masons the parish.
Mr. Pargeter :mid that a committee could not do the
work, and stated that a competent man would be able to
add about .C2o,tesi to the assessment of the parish with.
out unduly °part suing any one.
Mr. Stewart mooed, " That the Guardians be regime-
ted to direct the collector of poor rates to call upon each
coalrnaster with the recount of the deficiency of the res.
pective asse-sinent on the last rates with which they were
not charged through • mistake in making out their as-
sessments, and that the said eollector report at the ad-
journed meeting the result of his applications."
Mr. E. Webb seconded the motion, which was carried.
Mr. W. Webb in.ived that the meeting be adjourned
till that day month to receive the answer from the coal-
insstera.

.....
Mr. J. Beddard seconded the resolution which wallah.°
carried unanimously.
Votes of thanks were then passed to the deputation to
the Assessment Committee for calling attention to the
inilualitiee in the amiegotnent of the parish, and to the
Chairman for prin.:ling. The proceedings then termi-
nated.