The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-12-27 00:00:00

KIDDERMINSTER.

STRIKE AMONG VAGRALNTS.-At the Borough
Police Court, on Monday, before the Mayor and a
full Bench, five men, named George Walker, R.
McGarth, J. Rushbrook, Henry Wilson, and R.
Audley, vagrants, were charged with refusing to
work at the Union on the previous morning. The
men were admitted into the vagrant ward at the
Workhouse on Saturday evening, received a good
supper and warm bath, and were informed that on
the following morning they would be required to
pump some water into the boiler—a work of neces-
sity. On Sunday morning, to a man, they declined
to work, and the Master gave them into custody.
The prisoner Walker said it was against the laws
of England for any man to work on Sundays; but
the Mayor reminded them that the work required
to be done was absolutely necesiary, and commit-
ted each to 14 days' hard labour at Worcester.

GWIEMAR SCHOOL.—A special meeting of the
Grammar School Governors was held in the Chess
Room of the Music Hall, on Saturday last, Mr. J.
Kiteley in the chilli. A notice was given by the
Rev. G. D. Boyle at the last meeting that he
would submit a scheme of religions instruction for
the school to the approval of the Board at this
meeting, but it was announced by the Chairman
that Mr. Boyle was too unwell to be present. A
letter was read from Mr. Hookham, the head-mss.
ter, stating that he did not think the Governors
could do better than adopt the system carried out
at King Edward's School, Birmingham, and which
was as follows :—Morning prayers : The general
confession, Lord's prayer, collect for the week, third
oollect for grace, general thanksgiving, a special
thanksgiving for the founder and benefactors of
the school, the prayer of St. Chrysostom, and the
benediction from 2 Coy., 13 c., 14 v. Evening
prayers: General confession, Lord's Prayer, thud
collect for aid, general thanksgiving, prayer of St.
Chrysostom, and benediction. A letter of similar
purport was read from Mr. Vardy, headmaster of
Birmingham School. The Chairman was of an
opinion that such an arrangement would give
general satisfaction, as no children, except those
of Jews, were excluded from the religious teaching
found in the Old and New Testament. He believed
he was correct in saying that the Rev. R. W. Dale
attended the Birmingham school, and that thear-
rangements alluded to in no way raised any con-
scientious scruples in that gentleman's opinion.
He thought they could not do better than adopt
this arragementiu their own school.—Mr. Stooke,
although believing there was nothing in this
scheme to which anyone could abject, thought it
would be better toadjourn the consideration of the
question.—Mr. Naylor oolcurred with these re-
marks.—After a short conversation, it was proposed
by Mr.,E. Norton, and seconded by Mr. Boycott,
that OM Birmingham scheme of religious instruc-
tion should be adopted, subject to confirmation at
the next meeting.—This was carried.

BOARD OF GIrARDIANS.—The usual fortnightly
meeting was held on Tuesday, the Rev. R. P.
Turner presiding.—The Clerk reported that the
amount paid to Mr. Scales for his expenses had
been returned. Scales accepted the appointment
as porter, but afterwards refused to come. The
money was paid to him as his expenses. The
Clerk. said the advertisement for a porter had been
re-inserted in the local papers, but there had been
no application. It was decided to advertise again.
—A letter was read from the Local Government
Board, stating that they had received a report
from Dr. Ballard, who had recently inspected the
state of the public vaccination in the borough, to
the effect that the report book required to be kept
by the vaccination officer was not to be found; that
the vaccination register was in a most slovenly
condition, with several entries uninteligible, and
that the vaccination officer had sent notices to
parents in some cases where they were not yet in
default, and in other Cases after the certificates
had been sent in. The Government Board re-
quired an explanation.—The Clerk stated that he
had written to Mr. Edge with regard to the matter,
but received no reply.—After some conversation
it war decided to instruct the Clerk to write again
to Mr. Edge, to inform him that if thee:planation
rellluired was not given immediately, the matter
would be referred to the Local Government Board.
—The amount expended in relief during the fort-
night was £lB2 19s 44.; number in the house,
211; corresponding period last year, 224; number
of vagrants relieved during the fortnight, 51-
PRESENTATION.—On Monday evening a presen-
tation Was made to Mr. Henry Lea, who for the
last five years has acted as President of the In-
dustrial Co-operative Society. The testimonial
consisted of a beautifnl drawing-room timepiece,
a gold peneil-case, and a signet ring, and was pre-
sented on the occasion of his leaving the town to
undertake a responsible situation in Dewsbury.