The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-06-20 00:00:00

i.);ocal an) P,istvict iletus

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF

COMMISSIONERS.

The annual meeting of Commissioners, for the
purpose of electing a Chairman for the ensuing
year, and appointing two persons to sait th
accounts for the past year, was hell in the Com-
missioners Room in the Corn Exchange, on
Wednesday afternoon last. Mr. McEwen pre-
sided ; the other Commissioners present being
Messrs. Hughes, Kelly, Stanley, Edwards,
Turney, Woolley, Perkin, A!iciiurch, Griffin,
Young, and Allsop. There was also, as is usual
on these occasions, a large attendance of rate-
. .

Tile Chairman said the first duty of the meet-
ing was to elect a chairman for the ensuing year.
hitherto the election of a chairman had always
been characterised by the greatest unanimity on
the part of all concerned, and lie hoped the same
feeling would predominate that day.
Mr. Hughes then rose and said it had fallen to
his lot on several occasions to nominate gen:le.
nom for the post of Caairman of that
On the present occasion he would name :1 gel!.
tleman who would nil the post with credit to
himself and credit to the Board ; and he felt
sore his nomination would miii t silt iii,. ap.
provul of all present. He was a large empioycr
et labour, hail a brigh, future before hint, fat-
sessed good business abilities, and had a ready
proved himself a straightforward, honottralOr
r.ant, of the town. He moved that Mr. J. W.
Turney be elected chairman for the misting
ye (bear, hear, ai.d cheer.).
Mr. Stanley seconded the proposition.
There was no other nomioation, and on Mr.
MeEwen putting the .notion to the meeting, it
was carried unanimously.

The Chairman (Mr. Mcl:wee) said he Inn:
mach plosion,: in vacating the ehuir in M..
'Forney 's favour. If he wet with as lime)] sm. -
pithy and ass.istance from the metubers of
Board during his term of office, as he (th.
speaker) bad experienced during the past 12
mouths big task would be a light one. lie liii
great pleasure in vacating the chair in Mr.
Forne) 's favour, and he had 11.) doubt he wealu
perforiu the duties of the office very efficiently
31r. McEweti thou retired hoot the clmir, s:.d
Mr._Turiity took the seat.

Mr. Edwards sA(I he roc o with great pleasure
to propose a cordial vote of thanks to ther chair-
of the past year (Mr. Mt:Ewen) for the all ol
c mrteous way in %Inch he 11;1(1 performed the
duties of his other. He felt suti-died that every
ratepayer in the two and every member of the
Board were pleased with the way in which M-
inot carried out the business., the Board doting
the past year. Ile was thoroughly convinced
Witt the ratepayers generally were vi ry much
pleased with the way in which the Mishit,
th, Board had been conducted. He, therefore.
bee'; to move that a cordial vote of thank, be
g yen to Mr. McEurouH on lebeer9.
Mr. Keay then seconded the motion.
Mr. Tnrney in put i. the moi in to ill- ni cot-
jug, said he did not know that ,(e collided(' or
to Mr. Ellwards renal Is.. Ho tilt tit the
Board had sustained a loss in the dip :nitre from
office of Mr. MeEwen.

The motion was then put, and carried amidst
great applause.

„
Mr. 31cEwen, in responding, said be be irtila
thanked them for the very cordial vote of tantik,
w :hey had awarded him that day. He cer
.iniy nia not think he was worthy of the as—
hign euloginns that had been passed upon him.
He had devoted Ii great portion of his time to
the service of the town at considerable persooa
sacrifiJe. At the ssme time if he had given BO
much satisfaction to th • ratepayers and th
lhaird as spoken of by Mr. 1-.:•lwards, he fu ,t
ampiy repaid. He cou:d not sit down wl hoot
returning thanks for Pie kindness and assistauee
ih'lt had been awarded him whilst he bad been
.11 the ',dice of chairman. If the ratepay, re of
the town were satiAT d with the business of th,
Ito ir.l had been conducted during the past 12
months, he was content. 'fnere were one or
Iwo very impertant qnesti ,us that would have to
take the attemiun of the Board possibly during
this year, or the ensuing one. They should have
to pay particular attention to sewerage. The
policy of that Board in the ;natter had been ap-
proved of by the town—file:if, heard They had
not taken any move in this direction, because
they wanted t ) know first which was the beat
way of dealing with the sewerage. The policy
of that Board had been a waiting ” policy, and
they were waiting to see what the more import-
ant towns were deid.g in the matter. the Go-
vernment had passen a measure compelling
towns to take up that important question, and if
it was done properly it amini save a great deal
of money to tile ratepay,rs alit it tiiiht be-
come a source of revetme instead of a source of
loss. He considered ;de si.ite If the health of
the tawn would compare favourahiy with that of
my olhir 101.11 iii iiie ki •02,1011 i Stut SO loog as
:Lilt was hc eeley coold off ,r.l to wait until
,uch time as I hey coull profit tiy the expert, nce
of large towos, wii4e engineers and men of