The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-04-17 00:00:00

THE STOURI3IIIDGE 011St11Vtlt.

His lordship proposes that life peers be taken
from SiK classes—Acotch and Irish peers not
having already seats in the House of Lords;
men who have been ten years in the House of
Commons ; men of eminence in the army and
navy ; men who have Elled high judicial Aces;
I men of eminence in aoience, art, and literature ;
I end men who had served the Crown for not less

than six years.
Suppoiing that any gliela scheme is ever
adopted, there will he one consideteatin which
ought to weigh with the Crown in carrying it
out more thee any other, and that is, the legis-
lative efipacity of the person to be elevated to a
life peerage. The object of the scheme is to in-
fuse new blood and new vigour into the Upper
House. Lord -Selisbary, speaking on the sub-
ject, said : " We belong too much to one °lase,
and with respect to a large number of questions
we are all too much of one mind," And we ean.
not dispute the dictum of BO eminent an autho-
rity. Considering that the Hones of Lords
numbers some 00 members, 28 life peers would
have no very powerful effect as a mere represen.
tation of other classes, but this number would
be powerful were they individually eminent for
their legislative capacity. Moreover, Lord Rua
sells classifications are not quite in harmony
with the " new blood" theory. For example,
Scotch and Irish representative peers exist al.
ready; men who have formerly been in the
House of Commons are numerous; the army
and navy are already amply represented in the
3, considering they are over-represented in
the Commune; and however much we should
like to see life-peerages bestowed upon men of
eminence in science, art, and literature, if we
are to have any settled scheme of life-peerages,
the main question as to such men, as with yea,
pert to men of any other class, ought to be, is
how far they possess legislative capacity for the
benefit of their conutry. A man may be a bra.
liant author, a learned soientitio philosopher, or
may excel as an architect, and yet may make a
very poor legislator, Mr. Hepworth Dixon,
editor of the At/nee/me. neide some remarks at
the banquet given the other night to Mr. Dick-
ens, which bear upon this point, "The greatest
mluist're we have lately had," he said, " are in.
telleetual men; they are distinguished authors
even—at 4 yet in epite of their sympathy with
the intellectual movement of or time they can-
not overcome the inertia of the departments.
And yet, ladies and gentlemen, neither corn.
merce nor literature comnlaius of this. Both
enterprise and thought know what they are
about—they have their own duties, and they feel
beside that they have their oan exceeding great
reward." By all means let us occasionally have
distinguished authors as life peers, if we are to
have life peers on system at all, but of far mere
impottanee la it that any man elevated to the
peerage be capable of bringing the ability of a
statesman to bear on the discussion of the affairs
of the nation.- Per se, the system of life peer-
age in contradistinction to hereditary peerage,
would, we bet ;eve, hoof high moral and political
value. To raise a man to the peerage for emi-
nent services rendered to the State may be a
very fitting reward, but whether his posterity
should therefore be ennobled is, at the least,
mu to argument.

'Sine-a

lonotooe to her on the
ef mot, they hoth thy
• -

trentel,

__ ------------ d
discharged
threat.
usin . tth ult. The
i aufficient evidence against :trineS, ang
THE IRON TRADE. I him. Merchant was sentenced to have twelve threat ,otel>l' stoned In kill
stripes with a birch rod. IVe and tsar tier new nut. AIM' nearlnt., the evidence.
The attendance on 'Change at Birmingham, 1 the Bench .ii,i not think there was sufficient evidence to
on Thursday, was not large, but on the whole ' STEALING SHOES.—Elizabeth 3ilattliews was , bind defendant' over, end dismissed the ease.
the tone of business was steady. There are charged with feloniously stealine. two "airs of
• •-, --yi - • t
fewer complaints of slackness in foe soot Stat. i boots, on the flth inst, the propertv of Sammon 1
fordsh. ire and F-02.5.0 ...vorcestershire iron-produc• Robert Xendrick. Paciseuter Sara he Wed at
'...ig district, and the works and mills are kept Brotusgrove, and had a branch establishment at i
going moderately well. Prices of merchant iron client. Prisoner formerly lived with him as a ,
ace not positively better, and if, among second- , domestic servant. The boots produced are sim• 1
class houses, there is less underselling, it is only ilar to those he sells. Police.constable Hall
because there is a general belief that rates will proved that he saw the prisoner, and charged
be really stronger by the end of the summer her with stealing them. Prisoner said she was
quarter. The pig iron trade keeps up pretty , very sorry. She should
not have done it, had
well, and makers are not disposed to take orders not Mrs. Lewis asked her to get her some. He
below the quotations prevailing at the close of found one pair in the possession of Mrs. Lewis.
the last quarter. Prosecutor gave the prisoner a good character,
. She
accounts reach us from the North Staffordshire had already been in prison seven days. and he
More favourable, though still not satisfactory, and hoped the Bench would be merciful
iron district. The recent quarterly meeting hoped it would be a caution to her. The Bench
clearly showed that there is no intention to ac- then discharged her—Emma Lewis was then
cept lower prices, and merchants are beginning charged with receiving two pairs of boots,know-
to send in orders which, though small, indicate jog them to have been stolen. Elizabeth Mat- ,
a revival of trade. The works, indeed, are al- thews said she lived at client, in the employ of !
ready pretty well employed, and as the present ' Mr, lieudrilk. On the oth ultimo she went to
weather must lead to the re.opening of the trade Bromsgrove, and took the shoes from her mac-
with the North of Europe, there probably be a ter's. She went to the prisoner, who was at her
brisk business in a short time, provided that a mother's, and told her that she had brought the
fair share of foreign orders come into the die- boots, and that she could have them for is 61
trict. The limited make of pig-iron during the Prisoner had previously asked her to get the
past few months has gone into immediate cos- shoes. Poliee-oonstable Hall proved apprehend-
skuption, and stocks have been kept down, but lug prisoner on the Oil instant, and charging
the demand has now improved, and there is her with receiving two pairs of boots, knowing
comparative activity in this branch. This keeps them to have been stolen. The Bench said it
up the requirement for ironstone, for which last was a case of strong, suspicion, but there was
quarter's rates ilea readily obtained, : not sufficient evidence to send the ease for trial,
! and discharged her.

A PoLtre-coserant.e CH inns n Wtlll Agatrt.T. At
the Petty Sessiens. on Wedneeilay Ifiet. befor• M .
A. Budge and G Hewitt. Pelie•-ennstable Let-elle wail
charged by Charles William Chellineeworth with aaseult•
ing him.—Mr. Stokes, whn 'preened for the complain-.
It ONVIVY REGIS. ant, in opening the case. chereeteriaed it aft the gnn t
abuse of euthority whieh hint ever enme limier hi* nn.
•'• • • -2v met, for Or fir-t eanetiosed by the Chief-Coneteble of ellnwieg raw re.
• e Tem tricot linann or 71 v. tt.Vn.-- tice, and he animedverterl very etrongly upon the custom
Flitter MKSTINo ''' -
On Monday last this newly.electea e
. -
Messrs James F. Hunt. A. F Barre. Waltey
present . into the ou..
at. eisy force, It was not right to take adven.
thee, in the Veetry of the Parish Chneeh There wi•T. --••• its anti venne sn3 inexperienced officer. to be breught
that they had a very able on.
that borough untrained no.
Joseph Taylor, %rime] Johnson, W. Whitehonse, .7. T am.intendent by sending to
Rumen, Joseph Penn. George Oneen Henry Bonnet'.
- The first witness Mr. Stokes
Piton, Joseph Parley, Joe. Hackett. inn . Themes New- phisticatell polieetnee. ^hellingswrinth, the com•
all. and James Plant. At the eninmeneement of the called was are. ism •-- ,elnek no Qatar.
meeting the chair was occupied by Mr. William Jokes, plainant, who said that at ahnet twelve e •i„
loge of the eircumetance
father's
Returning Officer. The usual declaration was made.— day night Police. coneteble Lavelle came into As
Mr. John Thomas Dixon then proposed, and Mr. Then 1
i house. and a few minutes after leaving he eosin nes .
Darby seconded. a proprisition that Mr. A. F. Burro be
appointed chairman of the Board.—This wag carried
the door at which witnees was standing with his father,
unanimonolv ; and Mr. Barre boning token the chair,
1 who said, '• How is it policemen are always annoying me'
returned thanks. He said thet it wan his intention to Don't you think Your time would he better employed inlooking after others? Do vim ever visit the hotel or the
burr Proposed Mr • Hunt so chairman hut that gentleman Bush ?" Defendant said, •• Oh. they are different hnnses
bail intimated that he should he unable to give the 111.• altogether to yours." His father then said there wee no
ceeaftry time to the duties of that office. He (Mr. Barre) difference. for they were all alike licensed house.. and lie
felt it to lie his duty to devote all the time he could corn' difference,
told defenilent to go about his business The de•
mend to the service of the parhih in which he reaided.
He hoped they would never elle,. a spirit of party to
fen said "Don't be ins•ilent." and Le threatened to
lock them both up. Upon this witness said. " i know
influence them in the transaction of their business— VOL ynn are Lavelle. the Irishman ;" and defendant re.
(hear. beer). He should wish for every member to en.
\ plied. " If yen eel' me out of my name I will lock You
press himself openly upon every subject which might be up... He then laid hold of witness. at-Wei him from
1 the steps, and took him to the police station. There
under dieenssion. and to vote honestly i. whatever way
his conscience dietated—(hear. heave —Mr Barre then
I Police.ennetable Hardwieke was in charge, and defend•
proposed a vote of thenks to the retirine officer.. which I ant having feiled to make out any ease ageing* complain.
having been unanimously carried, the Chairman imist—
ant. Superintendent Burton wee fetched and witness was
" I think, Mr. Jukes. we can dispense with von now."— then discharged. In ernes-examination he said his father
Mr. Juke.; " I ern kw of it. jam ant sorry to here' del not call defendant Mr. Bobby, nor did he name him
a bog -trotter." He did not put his hand upon Lavelle's
lieyed of my duties. Mr. Hunt I hope you will always e
be able to get through hnoiness se pleasantly RP yell have
shoiler, pinch him, and eay, "Go away, you Irish bogs
this in conuection with the new Board "—A long discita• trotter."—William Chellingeworth. the father of corn.
',ion then ensued in reference to the appointment of a
. plainant, and a councillor of the borough. We corrals).
clerk. Ultimately the following resolution was passed :
rative evidence, as Men did Several witnemaec—ln his
--`- That the Appointment of clerk to this Board be
defence, Police-ennetable Lavelle said that he had been
abeeed be the complainant and hie father, who had mud
offered to Mr. Wright for the eatery of £75 per annum, .
for the next three years, the duties of the Bahl office to , the lengnege tow:trate him which had been adduced in
be flied at the next meeting of the Board." it was.
afterward, resolved nnanlmouely that Mr. Frederick eroni-examination, and that they had alon laid hands up.
on him. end pushed him in the way indloated.—Defend•
Burrs be anpointed treasurer, and that an account be
ant was fined 2., ad and coat..
opened at the Dudley and West Bromwich Bank.—A re.
eleeted :—Me,ssre..lliill.ier..o. Bagott. N. Hinglev, G.
ELECTLIV op Lie tenforea —The following have beew
solution was also adopted empowering the ehairman to
bd on all.i
~ 0
.. antso f n
theei•e ehaiaoravr
hoard
n—r ikh e. presenth.,nm n, ei
tatre7 I n,
ag
r,fi ni .
toi of
gt the i
Messrs. Bores. Baaaann, and Taylor, were then appointed il 1+11717;71T Cria.rtwP'rrictfel;t,UiV.l'ohlialolirntog:w.o7l:llll. ill"ra'
job
to fendat Mr. Wrieht in preparing bye-laws to he eubmit. semewmgr."---
terl for eporoval at the next meeting. to he held on the
following Monday at three o'olock in the afternoon.