The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-12-07 00:00:00

THE LONDON, CHATHAM, AND I DOVER
RAILWAY COMPANY: A TESTIMONIAL

It has been imputed as a reproach to Corporation
and associated bodies generally that they are not
influenced by those genial feelings which go far to
rule or modify the actions of individuals. In this
sense the reproach occasionally is that Corporations
have no feeling of gratitude in their composition,
and give but scant return for services rendered to
them. In this way the man who serves a public
Company well may resemble him who serves a State
or a Government well, inasmuch as he gets only
ingratitude or indifference for his pains, there being,
as the genius of red tape might have it, no fund
out of which even signal services may be rewarded
After all, however, Corporations are but associations
of individuals, and, though corporately impassible
and devoid of feeling, the member individually may
have a keen appreciation of benefits conferred up m
him. It cannot be said that Shareholders individu-
ally are ungrateful. accepting as a right every exer-
tion that may be made on their behalf, and giving
not so much as a "thank-ye" in return; and, as the
latest evidence of tnis, we learn that a beautiful and
valuable service of silver plate, manufactured by
Messrs. Elkington and Co. In their best style, has
fuot been piebulitca toMi. William Abbott, ox Token-
aouse-yard, by a unnaber of Proprietors of the
London, Chatham, and—Dayer Railway Company,
in recognition of his untiring and successful exer-
tions to prevent their property from being fused
into and swallowed up by the South-Eastern Rail-
way Company on terms now universally admitted to
have been utterly inadequate. It is not often that
any one can be found both willing and qualified to
fight single-handed the battle of Shareholders, and
we may fairly, therefore, hope that the gratitude of
the Chatham and Dover Proprietors, expressed to
Mr. Abbott in this and other forms, will have the
effect of raising up future champions for the Share-
holding body upon all fitting occasions.

From "The Money Market Review."

MINERS' MEETING AT OLD HILL

On Wednesday night a crowded and enthusiastic
meeting of miners was held at the Duke William
Old Hill; Mr. W. Breakwell presiding.
The Chairman remarked that there was an in-
clination in all parts to take advantage of the
miners. A gentleman had been writing in the Post
to show that the North of England miners were
working eleven hours per day ; whereas, as a fact,
they were only working seven and a-half hours
per day at the face of the coal. The masters in this
district were using that as an argument why they
should also work longer hours; but they were
already working eight hours per day, which was
half-an-hour per day more than the Northumber-
land men, who were also receiving better wages
than the men in Staffordshire. Referring to the
notice which had been-issuedto the miners employ-
ed by the New British Iron Company, he said he
was informed that the notice to some extent had
beenawithdrawn. He wished to know whether that
was ? (Cries of" Yee.")
Mr. H. Southall, a miner, said they, as a body of
men, were rapidly coming to the verge of anothet
great conflict, which promised to be the bitteresr
they had ever experienced. In the Cannock Chase
district about 9,000 colliers had been attacked in
order to induce them to work more hours. the men
in Staffordshire would be affected by the result of
that struggle, and he urged them to support them
in the conflict to the utmost of their ability.
Other miners having addressed the meeting, the
following resolution was unanimously adopted:
"That, in the opinion of this meeting, the Cannock
Chase men deserve to be supported in their present
struggle, and we pledge ourselves to do all within
our power to assist them. It was decided to form
a committee to carry the resolution into effect.
A vote of confidence was passed to Mr. W. Break -
well, agent for the district, after which the meeting
terminated.