The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-02-26 00:00:00

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THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

QUEEN'S JUBILUE.—A meeting was held in the
Corn Exchange, Stourbridge. on Wednesday after-
noon in reference to the proposed Women's Jubilee
Offering to the Queen, k.. number of ladies were
present. The Rev. H. Sherra.rd (Vicar of Bt.
Too.ras's) pr. sided, and explained the objects of
the meeting, which he said was confined to the
town itself, as those who had moved in the matter
di I not feel they were entitled to invite ladies from
another district to atten I, although it th-y liked to '
pia toes ).engaged in the town would be glad to
have their co-operation, Mrs. G iinsboroug,rh 'Tar-
war.l moved the following resolution :—"rhat it ii
desirable Stourbridge should be invited to j .ia in a
national offering by the women of England to the
Qaeen on the occasion of her Jubilee, and that for
this purpose the town be canvassed for subscriptions
of any amount, from a penny to a pound, that bain 4
the limit proposed by th- Loadon committee.''
Mrs. W J. Turney seconded he resolution. whi h
was carried —The following were appoint_d a corn.
mittee: Mrs. A. Freer, Mrs. P. Walker, MiFs Colli,,
Al, s Selleck. Miss Hamblin, Mrs. H Perry, MI s. Stan-
ley, Mrs. H. D. Williams, Mrs. Gething, Miss Pear-
son, Miss Mobberl,y, Mrs Perkins, Mrs. Sherrard,
Mr.. Patch, and Mrs Harward, Mrs. Harward
was appointed hon. sec., and Mrs. A. Fre, r tremorer
A sub-committee was also appointed out of the
above nu'rib-r.

MIND MAGIC is the title of a paper;ileit will ap-
pear in Cassell's Magazine for March, on some of
iilo.3e curl us psychologkal phenomena ,hat have
been vexing scieuti!ts and amateurs so much
BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—Mr. F. J. Haskew pre-
sided at the usual weekly meeting of this Board
yesttaday, the ether members present being Messrs.
Parget, r, Hingley, Griffin, Burr, Parkes, McMillan,
Rollinson, Bryce, J. Billingham, Guy, Wright,
Brooks, Rholes, Stringer, Yardley, and Hill.—The
Master's returns were : Admitted 10, discharged 10,
born 0, dead 3, remaiaiag in the house 568, corre-
sponding week last year 575.-e Tee outdoor relief
was asafollows :,Kingswinford, £47 94 sd; Stour-
bridge, £34 155 43/4 ; Halesowen, £3O 0403/4(1; non.
resident, £2 is sd; total, f.:114 6f 3d; against £lOB
19s 101 last year.—Tne man Powell attended betore
the Board and asked if they would let his children
stay in the house for another fo-tuight, when
he would be able to take them ()Mani pay for their
mairrenance for that period. The Board areed to
grant the application alei hoped he wolli do so this
tine, and also if he could at any time repay the
expense to which he had put the ratepayers pre-
viously he would try and do so. Powell promised
to do so, and thanked the Board.—& letter was
read from the Local Government Board confirming
the appointment of Mr: Round as ratecollector for
the No. 1 Kingswinford district, at an annual salary
of 105.—A report was read from Mr. Longe, Local
Government Inspector, stating that on Thursday he
inspected the Workhouse and found that the
danger us overcrewding sti:l continued, and could
only be slightly relieved by the temporary buildings
now being erected. The house and wards were in
as good order as could be expected under the
crowded condnion —Mr. Rollinson called attention
to the fact of ihere being seven lees in the house,
and said they could not do anything till they knew
how the Local Government Bill would place them.
—Mr. Haskew said they were as anxioua as the
Local Government Board to provide more accomo-
dation for the inmates.
FALSE PRETENCES.—At the Police Court, yester-
day, before F. Evers, T. D. Thomas, and A. Freer,
lisqrs., Frank Halliday, felt worker, residing at
Park Street, Stourb.Pge, was charged with obtain-
ing by false pretences between the 25 11 September,
1885, and the 17th December, 1886, the sum of £l7
from Court Foley, No. 2403. Stourbridge Dist7ict,
A 0 F —Mr. C Herbert Collis appeared to pr se-
cure, and Mr Perry defen !ed.—The summons was
afteraards amen led fe an August 18tn, 1886,
making the total whoint XI ss. George Sewell,
secretary to the lodge, s iid defendant had been a
meinbar of the lo lge sea:o 1863, and had beee re-
ceiving sick pay since Ap il, 1877. He had been at
work during the time he was receiving tee sick pay.
amuel B oughton. trea-ur rta the lodge, also
gave evidence.— Defendaut was or ered to pay £4
54 an i costs, and Mr. Evers said if he had not beea
expt lied from the club ha would have been dealt
with more severely.
A LIVELY URA RACTER. William Dowler, a
laLour, r, of the Cliff, was charg.-d with being drunk
and refusing to quit the Hatvest }Lure Inn,
Coventry S roe:, and was further charged with
assaulting James Taylor, the
.landlord, on the Sad
inst. Defendant went into the he use drunk and
smashed a cup. He w.e, ordered out by the land-
lord, anl as i.e r. fused to go he ~was ejected. He
caught h0!..1 of the lan ilora and tried to throttle
him. Defeedant al.o upset the tablee—fue.Bench
inflicte.i a penalty of lOs and cogs in eec;, case, in
defauit out moot .'s hard labour in each case.

- -
COMMENTS ON CURRENT NEWS.

. So, after all, many of the bad .cutlasa-
bayonets supplied to our bluejackets are not
of Engli-b manufacture. Lord Harris made
a statement to that effect on Tuesday in the
House of Lords, detailinc, how the defective
weapons bad been found to be part of those
made in Germany. There is some comfort
in this admission to "John Bull," who may
now indignantly demand that when Govern-
ment has another order for arms to place,
"British workmanship only "shall be "writ
large "in the contract. Surely Sheffield or
Birmingham can do quite as well as any
German town in this matter, both as to price
and quality. Seeing that the worthless
cutlasses have cost from 12s 6d to a shilling
more each, there should be no margin for
complaint thatthe authorities have "screwed"
down the manufacturer too tightly as to
price. We do not doubt that within these
isles there are not a few firms of workers in
steel who would gladly guarantee to make
any number of genuine cutlass bayonets at
quite as low a figure. A general inquiry is
taking place into this disreputable matter,
and ‘ve trust that the officials who passed
these socalled weapons will receive such a
gibbeting as the result that no more useless
arms will be served out. Taxpayers may
well be indignant at the disclosures of laxity
in officialdom which have of late been made.

FOOT-WARMERS are such rarities in the
third-class carriages comprised in the rail-
way trains running on some of the southern
lines that the person who saw one under the
seat the other day, and mistook it for an in-
fernal machine, may well be excused for his
seemingly amusing ignorance. Alarmed at
the appearance of the mysterious article the
passenger promptly pitched it out of the
window. Happily no one was injured by
this indiscreet method of disposing of a
fancied fearful menaoe. If these comfort-
exhaling contrivances were common objects
of the most remunerative portions of railway
t ains running southward from Loi3don in
winter time travellers would scarcely be
likely to mistake them for engines of de-
struction.

MISERS, of all men whose daily labour is
a ministry to the community's necessities,
are deserving of the very highest considera-
tion. „ Their disagreeable avocation deep
down under ground certainly entitles them
to expect that Parliament should leave no-
thing possible undone in legislation designed
to protect and safeguard their rights and
their privilege .z. The new bill issued for
Amending the Laws relating to the Pay-
ment of Wages in Mines has some g YAI
points. Wages should certainly be paid .1t
intervals of not longer than a fortnight, and
never more than one week's moiety of the
men's money ought to be held "in hand" by
their employers. A clause requiring that a
fortnight's notice of dismissal be given when
circumstances render a reduction of hands
necessary, is also commendable; but this
might with advantage and fairness be made
subject to the proviso that any collier guilty
of breach of the proper regulations of the
mine should be liable to instant dismissal.

It is not d ffimit to s, el:d two cnil ix, enee
That amount is gone an on can hariy ell
so frequently, as to by no means cut a big fi,ure in
lingle instances, 0, ntlemen, like Dr. R. I;utler,
Master ot Arts of entnbiidge University, sulferit,g
for years with rheumatism, expended urns
surprising in the a,gte ate and got 1 0 rtlief. Tbi
doet,,r states in so many vv,•rds that until lie, lor
the two and sixpt.nee. secure I bottle of St. Jacobs
Oil, he lb vs io,ced to subwir, to a eoz.tinual and
so,. re pail, Tue oii rot only at once 'Ali ‘t id f
tut so ctleotuady cured him that ho has had mai g•
QL tile 914 WIDPIAgiat

MIDLAND COUNTIES CROSS.COUNTRY
CHAMPIONSHIP.
The ninth annual contest for the cross-country
championship of the Midlands took place at - tour-
bridge on Saturday last. Owing to the difficulty
experienced in obtaining a suitable ground on
which to run the championship, its abandonment
was at one time seriously contempleted, bat this
much to be regretted contingency was happily
avoided by the selection of the Stourbridge Cricket
Club Ground. Better courses for the champion•
ship might easily have been chosen—Four Oaks
Park or Oadley Racecourse at Leicester for instanee
—but the Midland Cross-Country Association had
wiih the three consecutive years' losses, judged it
to consider the very important item of finance, and,
advisable to select a spot where they might recoup
themselves with gate money. It cannot be said
that their expectations were fulfilled, there at no
p.riod on Saturday being more than 1.500 persons
on the ground, Still, very great interest was mani
fested in the contest, and had it not been for the
unconscionable mismanagement with regard to the
laps at the finish the affaildwould have gone off most
satisfactorily. The championship was considered
to be a more open affair than it has been for years.
Since its establishment in 1879 it Lae resolved itself
merely into a trial of strength between the Moseley
and the Birchfi3ld Harriers, being woa twice by
the fo neer and six times by the latter. On two oc
casions, however, in 1882 and 1883, the Birch-
fieluers triumphed over the Moseleyites by One
point unly, thus showing how evenly balanced was
the struggle of the two clubs. The Moseley
Harriers now exist only in name, their men of
might, W. G. George, E. C. Carter, W. J. Lawrence,
and others, having dispersed to the four winds of
heeven. The Birchfield Harriers, weakened by
drooping finances, and the absence of W. Snook,
W. J. Etkins, G. Savage, and many more of note,
looeed but a semblance of their former selves. In
the meantime new clubs have been springing up,
notably tha Godiva Haraiers and the Walsall Har-
riers, both of which possess good men in J. E.
Hickman and T. Birch. Hickman especially is a
doughty opponent, having run second to Snook in
the midland Championship, and having beaten him
in the National at Croydon. This openness com-
bined to throw cousideraolo interest into the pro-
oeedings. A. special train cenveying the Bi chfield
Harriers and the Edgbaston Harriers, accompanied
by thi ir supporters, was run from Snow Hill Station
and arrived at Stourbridge Junction about three
o'clock. A. walk of a mile and the Stourbridge
Cricket Ground was reached, but it was not until
twenty minutes past four o'clock that the men
faced the starter. Hickman was immediately in-
stalled favourite at 2 to 1 against, 3 to 1 being
offered against Mabbett, 4 to 1 against Morton, 6
to 1 lhornton, 8 to 1 Birch, and 20 to 1 against the
field. After racing a couple of laps Mabbett de-
clined to 8 to 1, and 6 to 4 on Hickman wataoffered.
Everything being ready; Mr. Charles Wheelwright,
toe hon. sec, of the .M.C.A.A.,A., started the men in
sp:endid order, the following clubs being repre-
sented :
BIItetIFIELD HARRIERS (Holders) A. Mabbett
(captain), J. C. Cope, W. H. Morton, T. Thornton,
11. Humphries, S. Wright, T. Rudge, J. Walsh, H,
G. Cooke. W. W. Alexander.
BURTON HARRIESS,—G. W. Fellows, A. Hould-
ing, F. Robinson, H. Roe, G. Deane, R. Emery, G.
Grewcock, J. R. Haywood, A. Toon, G. Gleadell,
W. Borosher, J. Kirby.
EDQBASTON HARRIERS.—H. Miller, E. G. Hum
phi eys, A. C. Crumpeon, T. France, F. Drover, S
A istey, W. Bruckshaw, 1). Everon, J. H. Harrieon,
F. Horto:a C. Tovey, J. Leek.
GODIW A HARRIERS.—A. G-upwell, C. Tines, S.
Jones, E. Jones, J. E. Hickman, W. J. Mills, A.
sry 0, W. Lewin, lie Deviate, C. Smith, G. Beasley,
J. Clewes.
lancesina Sr. GEORGE'S. F. W. Southall, P'
Keight, W. Billson, W. J. Thornelos, H. J. Pickard,
J. Barnes, H. faylor.
WALSALL HARRIERS .—T. Birch, R. L twton, W.
Kingdom, 'l'. Wood, D. Wit dams, J. Meeson, J.
Betteiidge, H, Preece, W. H Ingrain, F, Humphries,
A. Edwards, S. Middlebrook.
Woeceseeit kl AR RIERS.— W. Greaves, W. Souch'
H Fisher, F. Wilkins, A J. Tombs, W. Stockall'
J. Gambling, J. Judge, W. H.Leeke, R. Jeff, J. Pitt'
sad li. Souch,
Total seven clubs, seventy-seven runners, as
compared wi h ten clubs last year, and 120 runners.
The course commenced with a two-lap run round
the small track in the cricket field, and than passed
for ten laps over heavy goirhee paseire fields, about
a mile in extent, finishing by traversing a lap and
a-half on the cricket field, It was in respect to this
concluding lap that the confusion arose at the finish
The pack comm need at almost sprinting pace, but
became extended on passing off the ground across
c eintry. At the end of the first small lap J.
Meesun, of Walsall Hartiers, led the way, followed
by Wood and Kiegdom, of the same club. Coming
round the second time Thornton came to the front,
again followed by two Walsall men, Williams and
Birch. Thus they went into the open, On coming
reuud for the first of the ten laps it was noticeable
that some of the competitors were already beginning
to feel the strain, and the tail was very lengthy.
Hickman now took up the running, and led the field,
a pcoitiou which he maintained to the close. He
was closely attended by Birch (Walsall), Houlding
(Burton), Moron, Thornton, and Mabbett (Birch-
field). Mabbett now experienced a severe attack of
5l Otto and fell in the rear. When the men again
passed the judge's post Hickman was still leading,
attended by Houlding, Thornton, and Morton, with
Mabbett further away. The next lap showed a
dead heat between Houlding and Hickman, b .th
of who were going in magnificent form' the ruiners
up being Morton and Thornton, witia Birch, Mab-
bett, and Cope behind, Cope lost considerable
time also from an attack of styche, and was not able
to make up for the lost ground. The same order
continued fur the next three laps with one or two
mint r alterations, Houlding once or twice showed
in advance of Hickman, but fell again behind hire.
Morton took up he third place, closely attended
by Birch, whilst Mebbett and Thorne,n, having
impreeved, ran together, So running they came to
the seventh lap, when the first five men, Hickman,
Rending, Morton, Birch and Mabbett, overlapped
the eact man. Commencing the ninth lap Hickman
still ehowsd the e-ay, being attended by Clewes, of
the G-odiva, who came up with a rush but after-
wards fell behind Houlding, Morton, Birch, and
p!smallerneeci
dcooluv
ars
tenaegcaeinn
trteheef
tenoen ftfiisiiatie
b eotfiv e
Miller. of the Edgbaston, On coming on to tbe
spolte arose. Te-o row of wooden uprights were
wenhicwh
hiwehe
the finish was to take place. Hickman, who, fol-
lowed by Houlding, forty yards behind, and Morton
a similar diAance away, with Birch thirty yards in
the rear, came CM to the course, and instead of run-
ning once round and then down the centre, ran
doen Vie centre immediately, On arriving at the
winning post they were sent on, end, again went
round the half circuit. They Came in in the follow-
ing order :—J. E. Hickman, Gediva Harriers, 1; A.
Houlding, Burton Harriers. •2; NV. H. Morton,
liirchfield Harriers, 3 ; T. Birch, Walsall Harriers,
4; A. Mubbett, Birchfield Harriers, 5 ; and T.
Thornton, Birchfield Harriers, 6. Of the re-
mainder it is iinposible to speak with any kind of
aczuracy. All that tan le said with any certainty
is that the Birebueld Harriers NOR. A meeting of
Vie judges was he'd on the ground, and on the mo-
tion of Mr. H. G. Greatrex, seconded by S. Rich-
ar son, it was unaaimously resolred, "Bat owing
to defective arran :ements the judges are unable to
crime to any con aion as to which club won, and
the race is the, ore declared void," The whole
affair created ni 2h dissatisfaction.
OFFlcraes. .) 'edges S. Richardson, R Barton, T.
Clulee, H. G Greatrex, Dr. Gray and W. Radford.
Timekeeper and starter: C. Wheelwright (Sport
and Play )—Birtningham Daily Gazette.