The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-09-05 00:00:00

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE,

Your Committee report that the Treasurer's
balances on the teveral accounts at this date are as
follows: Imprevernet t Account, balance duo to
treasurer, £509 Cs 6(1 ; Highway Account, balance
duo from treasurer, £236 03 6d ; balance due to
treasurer, £196 16s 61 Your Committee having
examined the following accounts, and finding them
correct, recommend that they be pail: Improve-
!tent Account, £33 16s 11d; Highway Account,
£69 168 id; Urban Sanitary Account, £47 14s 2d.
Your Committe have examined the vouchers of ac-
counts ordered to be paid at the last monthly
meeting and find them to be correct. A bill of costs
has been reccived from Messrs. Corser and Walker
in connection with the Foster Street property,
amounting to £33 lis 2d. Your Committee beg to
report that the audit of the Town Accounts has
not yet been completed.
In moving the adoption of the report, Mr.
Haskew said it may be in recollection that it was
stated that their accounts were overdrawn at the
bank. He was not present at that meeting or he
might have stated why it was that their accounts
were overdrawn. The accounts were fairly made
during the year, and before making the new rates
the collector was urged to get in the outstanding
rates. The rates were considerably in excess of
what they were last year, but it was not their fault;
it had been forced upon them. In framing the
estimates for the current year, the Finance Com-
mittee were careful to consider the depression ex-
isting in the town, and they framed their estimates
a little too close to meet their requirements, but it
was from a regard for the interests of the ratepayers
that it was done—(hear, hear), They had a burden
arising from the drainage which had increased the
rates 10d in the pound, but that was a burden over
which they had no control, and he was sorry they
would have to bear it for 30 years. 1 here was the
incorporation expenses. At the time every one
thought a charter would have been granted, and
the expenses fell upou the tot\ n, causing an increase
of 5(1 in the pound in the present rates. '1 hat was
an excepti„ nal charge, which would not occur again
in their lifetime. His object fer making this
statement was to lay before toe ratepayers the true
state of thuie accounts. He Loped tiny would take
particular notice that Mr. Shepherd had met the
Board in a most honourable manner. Some thought
there was a laree amount o wirg, but practically
the amount was settled.

The report was udoptctl..
Mr. Mills, solicitor to the Board, explained the
terms of re-payment of the sum of £5128 agreed to
be advanced by the Public Works Loan Commis-
sioners. Mr. Turney proposed and Mr. Billingbam
seconded that the money be borrowed on the an-
nuity system, by which it would be repaid in equal
instalments of £278 16s 3d, extending over thirty
yea' s.

REP3ItT OF THE GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE.

Medical Officer of Health's Report. Number of
births registered in the township of Stourbridge
from July 20 to August 24, 1885, 26, viz , 15 malt s,
11 females. Number of deaths registered in the
same period, 15, siz , 5 males, 10 Lmales. Birth—
rate 31 8, death rate 18.4 The officer reports that
the deathirate for the pact month, which hasicou-
sisted of five weeks, is much higher than the pre—
ceding one, and higher than the corresponding
month last year, which was 14 7. After the great-
est patience with Perkin, of Cemetery Road, pro-
ceedings were taken against him, which resulted in
his having to lay on the tap water. The tap water
has also been laid on in Cecil Street by Mrs. Green.
The journal of the Medical Officer was laid before
your Committee. Five persons in Bowling Green
Lane were reported for keeping pigs so as to be a
nuisance. Your Comm7ttee instructed the Sanitary
Inspector to enforce removal.