The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-06-18 00:00:00

TFIE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

If they delayed it, it would be three weeks be-
fore the problem came before the Board for
their consideration, and before that time they
may dispose of it.
Mr. Billingham said as he was a member of
the committee appointed by the Guardians to
see to providing a sitting and a sleeping room,
in connection with the new schools, it would not
be a matter of £lOO to build two rooms. It will
only cost £lO, and he did not know the reason of
the discussion. He hoped the Board would do
as the committee recommend ; that the two
rooms be made and taken as soon as possible.
Mr. Plant said if the boys were all sent out,
it would take from the place 90 inmates. He
did not think they need make any alteration for
three weeks. They might depend upon it, if
they consented that the boys and girls should
be had out, they would have the people come
and pick them out. He was at a house last Sun
day, when a mother said she should be very glad
to have two of the boys out of the Workhouse
at her house. He told her the time had not
come yet, when she could have the boys out;
but he hoped the time would not be long before
she could have them out. He hoped Mr. Bil-
lingham's resolution would be withdrawn.
Mr. P. Pargeter said he considered it the fault
of the architect that the two rooms were not
built.
Mr. Brooks, addressing Mr. Plant: Perhaps
you will say who, you consider, made the mis-
take. You were not a Guardian at the time.
Mr. Plant considered the schoolmaster could
stay in the same place three weeks.
Mr. Peeking: Can't he stay in the same place
as he is now for three weeks?
Mr Bird wanted to know if the resolution
was before the Board ?
The Chairman said the resolution was ad-
journed for five weeks.
Mr, Wood said in respect to the defect at the
school-room, he was one of the committee ap-
pointed. He had examined the place. Two
rooms had been put up as store rooms, but as
they had not been used they would do very well
for the schoolmaster's rooms, as a sitting room
and a sleeping room. The old school is greatly
overcrowded. Mr. Plant is trying to bring in a
scheme to remove the children. He thought it
would be better to remove the children to the
new school rooms. If they were to send the
children out, they should soon have the new
place inhabited.
Mr. Paskins said he went round the old ,
schools last week, and considered there was am-
ple room for the children.
Mr. Plant asked for the question to be ad-
journed for three weeks.
Mr. Fereday : No, no.
The Chairman remarked that Mr. Plant had
said the people were the proper persons to„take
care of the children.
Mr. Plant: You are quite right, and if we are
to bring them up into a position to the life they
are to live in. It appears to mothers is a strong
feeling in the matter, and I withdraw my amend-
ment in favour of the resolution.
Mr. Wood said he had been asked the same
question as Mr. Plant. Some time ago a woman
asked him if she could have a boy out of the
house, and asked him what they would allow her
for keeping sue. He told her the cost of a boy
in the house was 2s 6fd, and she then said she
would not take one for that amount.
Mr. Plant said he should make a few observa-
tions on a subject that had come before the
Board on a previous occasion—the assessment
of coal mines, on which something had been
said during his absence. His object then was
to wake the subject a home question. A man
going forward to take a lease for 21 years, is a
different thing to a man'going and takings lease
from year to year. He considered all mutes
should be rated the same in the Union. He be.
tiered the Chairman was present at Worcester
when the arrangement was made. It was ar-
ranged amongst them that all the mines in the
parish should be rated at one•sixth.
Mr. Granger said he had not the slightest re-
collection of being there. If his memory served
him right he was not there.
Mr. Plant : All the mines in the parish are not
rated at one-sixth ; there are exceptional cases.
in some out of the way place there may be one
or two. Generally speaking the mines in King-
awinford Parish are wealthy ones. Some one
was recommended to assess the mines, cud as-
sessed them at one-sixth. Coal masters were
paying 78 in the pound, when he himself was
forced to pay 208 in the pound. This was the
44111113 among some of the ratepayers, and it
raised an angry feeling within their breasts.
His object was to make it it a home question, to
ask the Assessment Committee to ascertain if it
would not be possible to have the mines rated
according to law. He considered, in conclusion,
that what one paid was proper for all.
Mr. P. Pargeter concurred with Mr. Plant, in
reference to the dissatisfied state of the rate-
payers in Kingswinford, and said it was the
same in other parishes. If a rate of one-eighth
on thick and one-twelfth on thin coal with 15
per cent, off was made, there would be a rate on
the coal masters of 45 per cent. There was a
rate of one-eighth per cent, on thick coal, and
one-twelfth per cent, on thin coal, with 15 per
cent, off, in the following districts: Amblecote,
Lye, Cradley, Wollescote, Lapal, and The
Hawne.
'There was no other business.

spent the money improperly, they could make
them pay it out of their own pockets.
Mr. Billingham said he thought it was in the
hands of the chairman to address the ratepay-
ers—(applause).
The Chairman said he thought it his duty to
do so.

_
Mr Hughes said he hoped the chairman would
allow him to say another word; that was, he
hoped those present would appoint proper and
efficient men.
The Chairman then informe4those prosent
that it was their duty to appoint two auditors to
audit the accounts. The auditors, he considered,
were fairly remunerated, and he hoped they
would appoint some efficient persons. Had
there been no latepayera present to appoint
them it would have devolved upon the Commis-
sioners to do so. He would ask thcm to
name the best men they could.
. . _

Mr. J. Hughes then proposed that Mr. Dan
Bottomley be one ot the auditors, which was
seconded by Mr. C. Blunsom.
Mr. 0. Doody then proposed Mr. Samuel
Moore. In doing so he said that he believed
Mr. Moore to be a very competent person. He
was one of the auditors last year, and gave great
satisfaction, and he had no doubt he would again
if appointed.
Mr. J, W. Ife seconded the nomination.

Mr. M McHale proposed Mr. Prescott, but as
there was no seconder the nomination fell to the
ground, and the Chairman declared Messrs.
Bottomley and Moore elected.