The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-11-06 00:00:00

Lora Iterners aim) diToterl a I:f.ttement that IMPOR T ANT SALE OF LANDED
the preaerration of glllll6 tended to prornot.. the
inezease of erhoc. We cannot understood how ' ESTATES, MINES, Sze.

anyone, however, can fail to see that game pre-
eervation directly !settle to crime. Poaching may On Monday night iftet an important sale of
have something 'like natural right on its side ho
at the Tallint Hotel. The auctioneer was Mr.nied eststea and mining property took place
and it may be said to spring out of the natnroi '
love of man to pursue wild animeele, but we set B, Wooldridge. of the well-known firm of Oates,
ete one side all spurious mentiment of this kind ; Perrene. and Wooldridge. of this town.
we have no sympathy ; pleasure
with react:in,- or poachers; , Mr, Wooldridge, on rising, said: We have the
but it must he borne in mind that under the ri offering by Anetion, to-day, some
Game Laws, to speak generally, game bseornes very interesting and important properties in the
preperty, and a emu has at leest legal right to parishes of Einver, Oldswinford, and Kingswin•
tee protection of the law in the possession of ford : and, whether we refer to the residence at
his property. Poaching may be to some extent Steerbridge, to the model farming property and
a lair-made crime, bat it is a crime nevertheless, reeidentied eetete ° The Gem," at Kinver, or to
and it notoriously leads frequently lto groaa out- the more diversified properties in the parish of
rage, and even to lenreler. Lord B. mere admits Kingswinford, no stronger evidence could weed-
that great evil arises from the over preservation dare to its interest and importance than the
of game, but, entertaining the opinion that the very large and hiehly respectable company by
if, wstion of gains Omuta be left for agreement which we are surrounded. We have a large
b lween landlord and tenant, he moved a resolm ! number ef lets of considerable importance to
Coil to that effect. It is significant, however, offer. I must, therefore, necessarily be brief in
that this resolution was lost, and flint an amend- the remarks I may have to make. At, however,
; the ereat•r portion is land of increasing value,
meet of a very different character was carried
I will just observe that land is universally ark-
by a large majority. This amendment puts so i .
neeledgcd to he one of the best and safest in-
concisely the principal evils of the Game Laws i
vestments for capital that can he found, and that
that we will geote it entire—. Thot in the opins )
it contributes to give standing and importance to
ion of this Chamber the ever preservation of i
our loading men. in no matter what position or
greeted game is fraught with much mischief, i
seriously tends to diminish the profit of the sphere they are placed. Thinks and commercial
occupier of the soil, tends to increase crime
undertakings of various Mints break and carry
in .
thee rural districts, and dimiuishes I lie food avail-
min and desolation and broken heeds even, to
al le for the supply of the population of this . many families, unfortunately. throughout the
country; and that the time has come when the length and breadth of this country. But land
slovernment should be nreed to take legislative is a bank that never fails, and, gentlemen, allow
action on the game laws; and that in any legis- toe to observe Unit if you can purchase land to
legion thereon ground game should Is struck out pay 2or 21 per cent, that will also add 2to 21-
: Per
of the category." We believe that all thee° cent, per annum to its principal value, yen
h
prepositions' ire susceptible of clear proof. The have the best of all inveetments. I will abstain
front making any more general remarks, but will
I dineuelsion of the predits of the occupier of the I
, Olivia niore specifically to the various lots as
soil is beyond ellepute. In a discussion on the
they come before von, and will state the parti•
guile et, some time ago, at the Midland Farmers'
Club, Mr. A.. Rehothaus cited the ease of a far- enters of timber, fixtures, colliery plant. Ste., re-
nter in Shropilfire in illustration c.' the ravages lative to each lot before I proceed to offer it.
menneitted by game. He said the produce of Lot 1. consists of IMO acres 1 rood and 21
the farm was "la be auction. ee al the amount perches, 65 acres being copyhold of the manor
received on the total produee of 72 'mem of good of Kinver, and the rest freehold, is a property
desirable alike for investment, for occupation.
land was not quite .£47, or one-thirteenth part of
what it, should have been hnt for the vermin or for residence. It presents several good sites
foe a mansion, and is within ensy distance of
called game." In this gentleman'e opinion the
price Of meat was increased 2d per pound owing business localities. The soil is light, fertile, end
to the depredations of game, and thus the popu• i mow of culture, and I have only to point to the
lathes of the country were all inte
rested in the setnbbles, clover. seeds find root crone, and cape.
game 'awe, and he entered into eI , leorate caleu• chilly to the rick a med as proof of its produe-
letions to show that the ravages of bares and lion. The locality Is particularly healthy The
robbits were serious in their elicits upon the views of Malvern, Cie.,. and Tingley are e'er&
diminution of our food supply. To refer to a The estate abounds with game, being surrounded
part only of these calculations: "'lwo hares and by the preserves of Earl Stamford and Mr.
two rabbits," said Mr. Robotham, " ate as much Foley, and not the least of its features, it ad-
as one sheep, and desteoyed as much more as loins the celebrated " Camp," and the fine old
they ate, and this would keep three million more lesweish church. It is within reach of two or
sheep than are kept at present. itt, twelve three pecks of hounds, and the soil is still caps-
mouths old the sheep would be worth 40a each, he of improvement. The lodge has been the
which would make £6,000.0e0 worth of food in residence of a gentleman, and may be made
place of £1,200,000." Without ex:enduing into suitable for such again at a moderate outlay.
the strict accuracy of such statements, they are There are good rooms:, good floors, and stair'
at least worth consideration, and even admitting ease. Thee farm buildings are suitable. The
to save the trouble of disputing St,tiStieg, that farm house is is comfortalele one, and if not
they may he exaggerated, still the conclusion is deemed large enough by the purchaser nifty
obvious that our food is seriously diminished readily be enlarged and improved. And besides
by the over preservation of game —1 feet whieh the comfortable little residence occupied by Mrs.
the Leicestershire Chamber of Agriculture agree Wharton. there is a public-house and six cone-
liven by a large majority. gee npon the estate. And be would menthin
. „ lastly. that when Mr. Foster exhibited, this farm

Lmking at the matter from a s:,orting point
of view, the game laws, as they at I:resent exist,
are quite inimical to true sport. The love of
sport is almost universal, and colt:duly is not
confined to a class; it exists among tenants and
peasantry quite as strongly as /WIWI Lt the lauded
gentry, the only- difference being the :itdlity or ,
inability to indulge to gratify the liking. Bat-
tne-sheoting does not tles,•rve the name of sport
at all ; it is wanting in the elements ot true
sporting, and no more merits the reputation of
sport than the miserable pastime of pigeon-
shutting or sparrow shooting from traps. True
sport, however would be promoted if in tiny le-
gislation on the subject of game •' ,tround game
should be struck out of the categoe...." But this
cdosideration is of little import:woe compared
with the graver questions involve,, in the guide
laws ; and now that the evils tirisini!'out of these
laws are so generally admitted it vi its high time
that the Legislature turned its atteutiou towards
reform.

grew the prize-taking Shropshire sheep at evvry
agrienitural show they appeared. This lot was
started at 0.'2,000. and after a spiritad compe-
tition was knocked down to Mr. llentley, of Wor-
cester. for £19.600, which was Imneht for Messrs.
E. and W. Webb, millers and glasstuakers, of
Wordsley.
Lot t. three enclosures of land adjoining
Einver Edge, were bought by Mr. J. Taylor, for
Mr. nolcy for £.O.
Into 4. 5,6, and 7 were bongbt by Messrs.
E. ual W. Webb, for t 450.
Lot M. a parcel of freehold land, comfortable
cottage, and farm buildings were knocked down
to Mowirs. E. awl W. Webb for 1340.
Lot 9, consisting of 18 acres 3 roods and 1
perch, with farm house and garden, was not sold.
tlino WIIS bid, but the reserve was .t 1,500.
Lot 10, a freehold house in Lower High-
street, now occupied by Dr. Campbell, at £6O
rental. bl(10 wits bid, but it was not sold.

Lot 11. freehold premises at Wordsley, (wen.
pied by Mr. Hammond, rental £2,6 per year, and
eon! prisin bl eks n dth's shop, fitting shop, yurd,
t 22,0 was offered, but it was not sold, the
reserve being £3OO.
Lot 12, six freehold dwelling,-houses at Words-
ley, rent .t6O per year. £620 was bid. It was
not sold, the reserve being £BOO.
Lob; 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, and 21 were
j not sold.
' Lot 19, a residence, `. Brierley Howie," for
many yeara occupied by the late Mr. R. W
was knocked down to IV. 0. Foster, Esq., for
R2,f110,
I The attendance was very large.