The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-11-19 00:00:00

TR STOURBRIDGE

R. Canninghame-Graham, Member of Par-
liament for North-West Lanark. Both
these ought, as Mr. Poland said in the
Treasury prosecution, to have known better;
and of the latter, at least, one might have
expected a better example, else he is unfit
for the responsibility of being a law-maker
in the British Parliament, and to hold her
Majesty's Deputy-Lieutenancy in three
Scotch Counties, not to speak of his rtvgis-
tracy in Stirlingshire. Mr. Cunninghame-
Graham is but thirty-five years old, and will
doubtless have learned something from his
experiences of Sunday afternoon and nipht,
when by his own foolishness he submitted
. himself to the unpleasant fate of "a com-
mon street thief" when he gets into a con-
stable's custody. The excellent Chilian
lady, who is the wife of the claimant to the
dormant earldoms of Monteith and Airth,
complains loudly of the treatment of her
husband, but this she cannot in justice do.
We doubt whether Mr. Cunninghame-Gra-
ham would have been so lightly treated in
her South American home had he led a mob
against authority there as he did in London
last Sunday The whole thing turns on the
right of public meeting in the square; and
that the Govern= nt hold is non-existent,
the space being Crown property, and vested,
therefore, in her Majesty as trustees for the
people, she, her Ministers and Commissioners,
having a clear right to make such regula-
tions as will lest prevent the square from
being abused. Regulations having been
made, they must accordingly be respected
by every liege of the Sovereign; and if
improper restrictions are imposed their
rescindment should be obtained by legitimate
and lawful means, not attempted by force
ad amid dangerous disorder.

ings and of their iass -Inflection with the erection
of the Town Turney said he accepted
the souvenir as a yis,i) e sign of the appreciation by
the Commissioners of he gift of the Town Hall.—
Mr. Swindell said it h. 3 b 'en a great pleasure to
him to help on the wer!t, and he was delighted
beyond measure to see the result. He hoped the
Town Hall would be the means, in various ways, of
promoting the good of Stourbridge, and contribut-
ing to the enjoyment and pleasure of the inhabit-
ant-. , Cheers.)
The Commissioners, the Donors' C.,mraittee, and
a large nutuber of the citizens then marched in
procession to the Stourbridge Junction Railway
Station to meet Earl Beauchamp, who was due to
arrive there shortly after half-past twelve o'clock.
The station had been tastefully decorated with flags
and evergreens, and the approaches were lined with
vast numbers of sightseers. On the arrival of
Earl Beauchamp, who was accompanied by Lady
Beauchamp, they were received with loud and
hearty cheers, and immediately the procession was
reformed in the following order :
Mounted Police.
Carriage containing the Lord- Lieutenant and Lady
Beauchamp, Mr. W. J. 'Finney, and Miss 'Finney.
Escort of the btourbridge Troop of the Worcester-
_ shire Hussars,
Carriages, containing the Bishop of Worcester, Lord
Lyttelton, and other Guests of the Committee.
One Company of the First Volunteer Battalion of
th 4 Worcestershire Regiment, with:Band
The Stourbridge olunteer Fire Brigade, with
Engines, &c.
The Stourbridge Improvement Commissioners in
Carriages.
One Company of,the First Volunteer Battalion of
the South Staffordshire Regiment.
- Police.
The route taken by the procession was tiling
Station Road, down Church Street and High Street
to the Town Hall, where a guard of honour of the
Worcestershire Volunteers waa drawn up. The
whole of the streetl on the route indicated wero
thrsinged with spectators, and every window of the
abutting houses was occupied and Superintendent
Wheeler had a force of sixty police officers to as-
sist in the duties of the day in keeping order. A
guard of honour of the First Volunteer Battalion
of the Staffordshire Regiment was drawn up at the
railway At ,tion to receive Lerd Beauchamp on his
arrival there, and a similar guard of the Ist Wor-
cesterabire Volunteers, under Captain Hammond,
was drawn up near the To vvn Hall. The band of
the Grenadier Gn irds, under Lieutenant Dan
Godfrey, arrived at the hall shortly before the corn-
men,cement of the prodeelings, and they played the
mart% from from "Athena" as the principal guests
arrived, Upon LrJ and Lady Beauchamp appear-
ing on the platform, the daughter of Mr. Edward
Webb and granddaughter of Mr. Charles Swindell
presented Lady Beauchamp with a bouquet, which
her ladrhip graciou.ly accepted.
Mr. Henry Turley said, on behalf of du,. Donors'
Committee, he had the honour to ask Lord Beau-
champ' e accepta ice of a gold key of the hall he was
about to open l'h key s a piece of artistic work,
and on the bow are the Beauchamp arms, and on
the rey. rse aide the iuscription, "Presented to the
Right Hon. the Earl of Beauchamp, o i the opening
of the ne N Town Hall. Stourbridg.e November 14,
1887." A blue velvet case is provided for the key,
with a silver plate, on which is another inscription.
Messrs. Cotternill and Co, of Birmingham, were
entrusted with the execution of the key.

Earl 13Pauchamp, after accepting the key, said:
Mr Turney, my lords, ladies, and gentlernen,—l
have ye y wreat pleasure in complying with the re—
quest ut tae committee, and declaring this hall to
be for ev,r open fur public iPes in the town of
Stourbridge.—The announcement was received with
cheers, and the Guard's band gave a thurish of
trumpets —Lord Beauchamp said that Lord Lyttle-
ton would now present the hall to the Stourbridge
Commissioners.

Cook, &c. The company on the floor of the hall
included a large number of ladies, and the gallery
was also occupied by spectators, chiefly lad;es. The
celebrated band of the Grenanier Guards Was
stationed on the platform, under the direction of
Li, u-enani- Dan Godfrey, and during the luncheon
played the (olio wing programme of music :
March Athalie " Mendellsohn
' Sele ;tiors frou Mozart's Operas Mozart
(Solos for cornet, clarinet, euphonium, and peite
clarinette).
"Ca ltdta " Walzer Millocker
Part Song "Good night beloved Pinsuti
Song (nirnet solo) "Love's old sweet song" ...Molloy
Fan,asia . "Dorothy"
Organ piece..." The Pilgrim's Song of Hope,Batiste
Vile.. " Manilena " D. Godfrey, jun
Gavotte . . .." Queenie "... Musgrave
March "St. Huburtns " ........Lehnh,ardt
'f he loyal toasts having been proposed from the
chair and duly honoured,
Lord hyttelton proposed "The Bishop, Clergy,
and Ministers of all Denominations," and said there
wrre some persons, not exclusively confined to one
sex, who objected to having their age known
(lau,hter)—but probably the Bishop of Wotceater
would not object to his saying that the present
week would complete the eightieth year of his long
and honoured life (applause). His eye was not
dimmed, nor his natural force abated; at all events
thoie who were placed under his care in ths great
diocese of Worcester were not aware of the fact
(hear, near). Tuey believed that his overseership
of tnose eommitted to is charge was as wise and
unremitting as ever ; and his activity in promoting
the highe.t interests of those committed to him'
was as great now as it has ever been (hear, hear).
He hoped his lordship would take this toast as a
birthday toa.4, and regard it as conveying their
heartfelt gratitude to him for his past services, and
their e ,rnest, hope that the end of his beneficent
life was yet fcir distant—(applause)
The Bishop of Worcester, who was warmly wel-
comed, said he was afraid Lord Lyttelton had sh'id
that which was hardly correct when he said that
.his, eye was not dimmed nor his natural force I
abated. He was painfully conscious that they
were, and his only hope was that during the short
remainder of ht€ 3 life he might have power to con-
duct the affairs of the diocese as he could wish. The
'hall which they were now opening was not only a
,moat intereetipg memorial of the Jubilee which all
the people of her Majesty's dominions had joined
in celebrating; it could not fail to be of great
service to the town of Stourbridge. and on behalf of
the clergy an ministers of all denominations he
-congratulated the town on the possesion of such a
building, and desired to join their thanks with
these of the inhabitants to the donors who had pre-
served the building, free of cost, to the town
(appl tuse).
Sr Ed. L .chmere proposed "The Army, Navy,
and Volunteers." He said that, thanks to the
spiritel breign policy of Lord Salisbu:y and the
excellent relations which existed betvretea this
country and the foreign Powers, there was every
prospect of a long duration of peace, but in face of
the enormous armaments of some of those rowers
we were bound to so streothen our naval and
military forces as to be prepared for any emergency,
to protect not only the Empii e but the commerce of
the country—(applause). If the strength of our
forces was kept up the authorities must also take
mire trust they were supplied with the beet potsible
. .

- -
weapons—( applause i—and not with cheap German
weapoi4l, with bursting rifl2.B or bending bayonets—
(applause). On the territorial forces which met
the other day at Worces•er they might all look with
pride and pl a.ure—(applause)—and he especially
congratulated Lord Lyttelton on the high honour
which had been paid to the regiment of Yeomanry
whic., his lordship commanded (applause).
The e never was a time when the people were more
anxious for peace than they were now, and at the

_ .
Lord Lyttelton said he could have wished that same lime tbey were never more willing to submit
from the number of donors and suescribers to the to the taxation necessary to maintain our great 1
fund for erecting that hall, one who had taken a services in a state of efficienoy—(applause).
larger and more leading part in promoting that C donel C ichrane acknowledged the toast.
spirited enterprise had been selected for the bon- Mr. John Brinton, in proposing "The Town Corn-
ourable task of formally making over the charge of missioners," said the growth of the town of Stour-
the building to the Improvement C immissioners of bridge and its population had long demanded some
the town of Stourbridge. His assi-tance, such as it such building as that which they had now the
had been, had been rendered more as a token of p'easure of opening, and he thought it was a matter
friendly and neighbArly feeling towards the good of regret that, seeing the renown whiah the indus-
town of Stourbridge, with which his family had tries of Stourbridge enjoyed, it had not the
been 80 long and closely connected Oh-first—and as corporate existence which other towns enjoyed.
a mark of sympathy with her citizens in the effort The existence of their new Town Hall and the in-
they had been leaking, than as a a (Wan a contri- tentiou to carry out buildings of a suitable
tuition ti the work itself. Tnat Weer acre as- character adjacent to it would, he was snre, enable
sembled together in that hall was due to the initi- them in a very short time to carry out the scheme
ative of one man, and to the munificence of on or fer a municipelity which they had long had at heart
two men, above all others. (Cheers.) In this con- —(applause)
nection he might mention the names of Mr. W. J. Mr. W. Platt replied on behalf of the Commis-
Turney and Mr. Casks Swindell (cheers)—and shiners. He had heard the old Commissioners were
he very much regretted that the modesty which a can-ankerousdot of men, but the gentlemen who
always accompanied true merit had prevented eat around them were men abreast of the time
these gentlemen from taking a prominent part in business men, wise as serpents and harmless as
that interesting occasion—a part which was so doves (Laughter). Many difficulties might have
emminently due to them. He supposed there was arisen in connection with the erection of that hall,
no one present at that moment who regarded that bnt the Commiesioners would not have them, and
celebration only as marking the completion of an all had gone on most satisfactorily. They should
accomplished enterprise. He supposed that all have many kinds of meetings in future in that hall,
really regarded it as a step —and an important step and he thought he might venture to predict that
—tawards the fulfi:ment of the honourable desire one day the Mayor of Stourbridge would preside on
of the
,citizens of Stourbridge to obtain the great that platform. (Cheers.) Mr. Platt spoke of the
privilege of incorporation, and thereby to enjoy the great assistance rendered by Mr. Turney and Mr.
advantages of self-government in its most effective Charles Svrinde'l in securing the hall for the town
and dignified for.n. He knew there were still diffi- and also ackvowledged the services of other gentle-
culties b fore them. He knew th t the qualities of men.
patience and tact would have to be exercised ; con- The Chairman proposed "The Donors,"
ciliation, and forbearanee would be needed, even that though he at first hesitated to accept the in-
prejudiees must be respected For instance he did not vitation to take an important part in the day's
proceedings, when he became acquainted expect that they woul I attempt te take under their and said
with the
sheltering and comprehensive wings the contented oircumstances under which that magnificent hall
and rustic community at Hagley. (Laughter.) At had been erected ; when he understood that it was
all events, he was sure they would not attempt to a free gift to the town of Stourbridge, to be handed
do it without first ascertaining the feelings of Hag- over to the Commissioners free of all charge and
ley, and whether they perferred to be mismanaged obligation of any shape and kind, and erected in
by themselves to being well governed by Stourbridge. part as a memorial of the Jubilee of her Majesty's
(Laughter.) He felt that the valuable and honour- reign, he felt he could no longer hesitate—(applanse.)
able privilege of incorporation would undoubtedly Other towns and other counties had celebrated the
be accorded to them. It was due to the wealth and Jubilee in their own way, but no county had been
population of the town of Stourbridge, and certainly more lapel and enthusiastie in its celebrations
he might now add to the public spirit of her in- than the county of Worcester ; and in years to
habitants When accorded to them it would bring, come, wnen the celebration of the Jubilee became
he believed, to their town increased prosperity and a matter of history, there would be no county of
happiness, and it was with this heartfelt wish and which it could be said that it showed more loyalty
expectation, and with the hops that the possession or had left more enduring marks of the regard of
of that noble building would do much to evoke an the people for tae person of the Queen than the
develop all the highesnduties of citizenship, that he county of Worcester (hear, hear). He did not
now formally handed over the charge of that Town speak of the rejoicings of the Jubilee day, which
Hall to the Commissioners and the town at large. were common to every town and village and ham'
(Cheers.) let in the land, but to the permanent memorials of
The 'town Clerk (Mr Harry Mills) read the the Jubilee, which remained as witnesses to future
following reply : generations (hear, hear). In the neighbouring
"We, the Stourbridge improvement Commission town of Kidderminster the memorial took the form
with very great pleasure and heartfelt gratitude, of a park, given by Mr. Brinton—(hear, hear) ; in
accept, on behalf of the inhabitants of Stourbridge, the ei:-
y ot Worcester there would shortly be raised
the munificeet gift which the body of donors whom a beautiful woek of art, in the statue of her
your lordship here represents have to-day presented Majesty, which would serve as an enduring memorial
to us, and we tender to each and all of them our and in Stourbridge they had their Town Hall,
most hearty thanks, The generosity which has which be hoped would for many generations to
provided us with this new Town Hall we gratefully come prove the centre of active and vigorous
acknowledge, and it will, we feel sure, be °veriest- corporate life (applause). No one could doubt
ingly held in grateful remembrance. Those who that a building of that character was of the utmost
knew the unsightly and inconvenient structure imp ,rt<nco in developing the public life of a
which has been replaced by this handsome and community (hear, hear). Perhaps the most
commodious edifice will especially appreciate the distingui bed and remarkable of the Teutonic roes
benefitswhich thatelgeneroaity confe-red upon Stour. was the Anglo-Saxon, an that race had carried
bridge. But it needs no such comparison with the with it wherever it went its own peculiar institutions
past to enable even the moat superft,,,i oteerver to and carrying on public affairs in such a manner that
recognise at a glance the many merits of this all communities should march together and stand
' beautiful building. Externally the striking attrac- shoulder to seonlder, and that whatever was done
tiveness of its elevation, internally tee admirable should be done by the public at large. That was a
and the convenient arrangements of this lax le hl peculiar feature of Anglo Saxon civilization from
and of other rooms are so obviously aaapie I to the the earliest days of which we had any record, and
considerable variety of purposes which they will if the public buildings wnich remained to us from
undoubtedly be cc I,d upon in the future to sub- the past could tell the stories of what they had
serve, that we believe and coufidently predict that seen what a wonderful light would be thrown upon
in this building wll be found, not only the centre the history of the past. It was impossible to walk
of municipal life of the iown of Stourbridee, bat through Westminster Abbey without reflecting
also an important factor in the promotion of the that that iabric, ge eat parts of which had been
culture and enj ,ymeut of net inhabitants. It falls renewed from time to time, had been the centre of
but seldom to tee lot ot a public body to be in the our national life, and had seen some of the
fortunate positio. ot receiving so noble a gift, most remarkable scenes in English history
Such an occurren e would of itself suffice to render for a period of no less tan SOO years, ever since it
this year locally aieei rable ; but it is with setis- was founded in the time e: King Edward the Con.
faction that we be.. a mind sl,O its inclusion lessor, and if that bane lig could speak it could tell
within the ever-u .. ;rable jubient year of our us much of the histor of that long period, no small
Gracious Sovereign, .1 oincidence and association part of which had hien made and transacted in its
which will undoubtellf dwell in the memory of our chapter house. So. again, with the old Houses of
fellow-townsmen, and will, we venture to think, Parliament aed the ancient Guildhall of Londoo,
be handed down by them to future generations. In and they knew a great deal of the commerce of
the same and on behalf of Stourbridge, we receive London was once transacted in the nave of St.
this new Town Hall into our care and keeping. Paul's Cathedral. What these buildings were to
THE PUBLIC LUNCHEON. London, other ancient buildings were to everyone of
At the lucheon which followed the opening cere- the communities which had be n established through
mony there were present upwards of three hundred out the whole of England, and in the light of our
pereons. Earl Beauchamp presided and among Past history there ceuld be ne doubt that it was of
those present were Lady Beauchamp, the Lord the utmost importance that the life cf .1 community
Bishop of Worcester. Lord Lyttelton, Sir Ed. Lech- Should have a fining home, that it was absolutely
mere, Bart, Sir Rupert Settle, Mr. B. Hingley, necessary that there should be some symbol which
M.P., Mr. Brooke Robinson, M.P., Mr. W• ,I, should set forth and testify to the corporate life of
1 'lunacy, J.P., Chaim ,11, and the members of the the co emunity at large—(hear, hear): Where that
1 Boart of Commissiene: s ; Colonel Cochrane, °Won& had not been case, institutions had generally
I Waeson, Col mei Carmichae', Major Webb, Captain languiehed, and public spirit had not been as ade-
! Collis, Captain Smith, Captain Hammond, eget= euete as it should. It was impose ble to say, how-
,. Higgs, Captain 'Limey, trio Rein. H. Sherrard, H 1 e % or, that public spirit had been wanting in
the
f Lenny, L Penley, A. Tinabrell, NV. Wallace, F. l t wn of Stourbridge.—(hear, hear,)—and if anyone
i Boultoa, W. Timmine, J. Slade ; the Deputy-Mayor I etas inclined to say that it had been, the building
land Town C erk of Kidderminster, Dr. Eager, and ! which they were now opening would be a sufficient
Messrs. J. Brinton, T. D. Thomas, G. K. Harrison, ' reply to such an observation; but he (Lord Bean-
U. W. Collie, E. Webb, F. Evers, J. Matthews, EL champ) ventured to think that, remarkable as had
1 enatson Smith, C. Cochrane, P. Pargeter, W. B. j been the public spirit which had brought about the
I Collis, E. B. Marten, W. Corbett, I. Freer, R. er ctiou of that building, it weuld, in course of time
i Willaock, Li. Ha:emend Smith:Moue-re Robinson, be fostese 1 and extended by being enshrined in a
&ea—Leiters • f anology f r absence were received home
to which the inhabitants of Stourbridge
! foam the Countess of Dudley, Lora rend Lady might point with fitting pride • (applause). The
_
' Coyeary, Lord and Lady Windsor, bir H. Vernon ' publee sena ot the donors of that building reflected
Sir R. Temple. M.P., Sir H. Lambert. Sir Frederick the utmost credit on the town of Stourbridge,
Wynne Knight, Mr. John Corbett, M.P., Mr. A. F. ! and he hoped that it would bear the fruit which they
( odson, M,P., The Mayors of Worcester, Droitwich intended, and that far many a year to come the
pride and
; tad Kidderminster, Lieutenain-Colonel Talbot, Mr counnueity might look forward with
life
H. W. Foley, Mr. Paul Foley, e;aptain Noel, Captain satisfactiou to that day as a time when the civic e
:neer, the Town Clerk of W ercester, Messrs. P. of tee town took a. new and fresh start,
and that '
0 idiams, James Holcroft, Wi.iiam lioleroft. John the desire fur municipal
~inett . "tutionti would,

.. •
through it, gather strength and force, and in a
very short time be crowned with succegs—(aPplause)
The year which was now drawing to a close had
been one of no ordinary character. While there
had been a great outburst of loyalty and an im-
mense display of affection towards the pa-son of the
Queen, an enthusiasm and loyalty beyond what
anybody had anticipated, there were, on the other
hand, in various parts of the country grave and
serious sine which he thought must lead eve y re-
flecting man te consider that those who wished well
to their country must band themselves together and
not allow the cause of law and order to be set at
naught—(applause). It was all very well to show
their loyalty to the Queen, and to develop° the insti
tutions under which they lived, but at the same they
must take c ire that the rights of property and per-
r sons were iespected, and th it those who were ignor-
ant and disaffected should not be allowed to impose
their will .upon the peaceable and well-intentioned
parts of the community—(hear, hear). All men had
their ri.hts, but these rights must be used ei:h
justice, and moderation, and no maa was t ntitled to
make use ot his own rights to the annoyance and
injury of any other person—(applause). He con-
gratulated the town of Stourbridge on the possession
of such a handsome home for its municipal in-titu-
dons, and they must all hope that those who were
responsiiee for tne maintenance of public peac and
order wt et not shrink from vindicating the law and
repressiue disorder (hear, hear)--end also take
such measures as would secure to their children's
children titose institutions which they themselves
enjoyed— (applause).—fle ventured CO te,iiik that
thrs year, when it had pacsed away, while it had had
; itsshadows, and these in many respects, dark ones,
would leave in the minds of the people of this
country many happy recollections which would not
readily die— (4pplause). It would be said in the
years to come taut that had occurred in this year
which had never before occurred in the history
of England, that a Queen who ascended the throne
while }et a girl had so won the hearts and affectious
of her people that through storm and sunshine,
through prosperity and adversity, through happiness
and sorrow, m every condition of life, she had been
supported by their deep love and veneration, and
that when fifty years of her reign bad expired there
wt s & spontaneous expression of the loyalty of the
people, and a celebration took place all over the
country—aye, all over the Empire (applause)—
which thrilled the hearts of men and had left
enduring memorials not of small or limited
character, And when the list of these permanent
memorials was made up few would be found to
compete in public spirit and liberality with the
memorial raised by the donors of that hall (loud
applause).
The toast, which was coupled with the names of
Mr. C. Evers Swindell and Mr. W. J. Turney, was
received with great enthusiasm.
Mr. W. J, Turney responded, and after apologis-
ing for the absencs of Mr. Swindell, due to delicate
health, said the present proceedings marked the
completion of a scheme of no mean character which
had been watched with great interest by a large
number of persons, anti by some—happily only D
few—with misgivings. He could not underrtand
why there should have been any doubt as to the
result, but they were not there to argue with tho ie
who always looked on the back side of things—
(hear, hear). They had, rather, to celebrate an
event whic would live in the minds of toe rate-
payers of Seeurbridge for generations to come—
(applause) Vai ions schemes for supplying the
town with proper public buildings bad been talked
of for the last twenty years. Private individual.
had had schemes of their own, and the Com-
missioners had had the matter under consideration
for many years, and had gone so far as to have
several sets of plans prepared, but they all came to
nothing until the scheme for giving a town hall to
the town was promoted. He was not surprised that
the deliberation of the Commissioners should have
come to nothing, for the indebtedness of the town
and its rates were already so heavy, and their
opportunit'es for extension so limited, that they
could not add to those burdens by spending £7,000
of £B,OOO iu the erection of a block of publicbuild-
ing. There were therefore, only two courses °lien
either to continue the old state of things without a-1y
prasp et of improvement, or to make a bold effort
to gire to the town that which it so much r qui ed
—(a:plause). Ft 1886 he decided to try and raise
the necessary funds to build a town hall, and it
was to the spontaneous and generous support u hich
he received from Mr. Swinde/l that the success of
the scheme was greatly to be attribute i. Instead of
increasing the rates the new building would form
the nucleus f a fund for extinguishing the exist-
ing heavy debt on the old Corn Exchange, which
had borne so seriously on the town for a long time
past—(app'anse).
Sir Rupert Ket le proposed "The Local Institations'
and said he hoped to new institution which they
had now added ti the town would form the centre
of many more equally to the benefit and advantage
of the town—(applause) Tne r ast fif y years had
witnessed an enormous advance in local self-
government, and they were DOW promised a still
further ex.ension of these powers, 4111 he hop .d tii3
peoele would make up:their minis what it was in
this direction which they needed bet re the measure
got into the arena of political conflict. He hopsd
the public spirit which the inhabitants of Stourbridge
had shown in the erection of the Town Hall e ould
induce some of their neighbours to be more eager
to join them in a municipality than they had
hither to been—(applause).
The Rev, Hugh Sherrard and Mr. A. W.
Worthington acknowledged the toast.
Mr. G. K. Harrison proposed "The Architect and
Builder," replied to by Mr. T. Robinson. the
architect of the hail; Mr. T. D. I homas gave "The
Secretaries." for whom Mr. H. Watson Smith
returned thanks ; Mr. A. Freer, rroposed "Tao
Ladies," for whom Captain Collis replied ; the
toast "The Guests," proposed by Mr F. Evers, was
acknowledged by Mr. B. Hingley, M.P. ; and the
toast list was brought to a close with the health of
he chairman, proposed by Mr. W. J. Turney.
The volunteers, hussars, and firemen were
entertained to dinner in the Corn Exchange of
Monday. In the evening a grand concert was given
in the Town Hall by the band of the Grenadier
Guards under the conduotorship of Lieutelant Dan
Godfrey. The various pieces were performed in a
manner that none but the Grenadiers can perform,
and the solos were rapturously encored. Upwards
of 900 persons were present. On Tuesday evening
the workmen who had been engaged in the erection
of the buildings were entertained to dinner ira the
Corn Exchange by Mr. W. J. Turney. Speeches
were ma le and songs were sung and a most
enjoyable evening was spent. •
The Hall was th created by Mr. J. Stringer and
31r. H. Godfrey supplied the plants.

BOARD OF 6; lIARDIANS.—The weekly meeting of
this Board was heid yesterday, Mr. P. Pargeter in
the ch it. Admitted into the house during the
week 19, dischsr4ed 8, dead 2, remaining in the
h ).use 500. against 527 in the corresponding week
last year. Out door relief:—Kingswinford district
£46 76 Bd.. Stourbridge £3B 17s Bd., Haleeowen
£29 5s lid., non-resident pauper. £1 18s 3d., totel
£ll6 9s 6d., against £llO 16s llid ,last year.
THEATRICAL LICENSES. At the Police Court,
yesterday. before Celonel Fletcher, A, F. Godson
Esq., M.P., James Holcroft, Esq., and Frank
Evers, Esq, applications were made for the per.
formance of stage plays at the New Town Hall and
at tbe Aihambra Theatre. The magistrates pro-
ceeded to inspect the two buildings, and on their
return into Court Colonel Fletcher said there were
twe applications beiore the Bench for theatrical
licenses, one for the Alhambra Theatre and the
other foe the New Town Hall. They had examined
the buildings and the New Town Hall was entitled
to their unqualifie )raise. ,Every means of exit
had been made ae.: they had great pleasure in
granting the appli ation. With regard to the
Alhambra Theatre, o ging to certain structural de-
feota they could not grant the license until there
were proper means of exit, and suggested that the
proprietors provide plans for their inspection.
REFUSING TO QUIT —Frank Evans, bricklayer,
an old offen let, was charged with with being drunk
and disordeily and refusing to quit thJ Chequsrs
Inn, High e tract, on the 12th inst. P.C. Davis
proved the case, and defendant Nees fined lOs and
costs, or 14 days,
ALLEGED ROBBERY AT TIER LYE STATION.
John Cornaby, porter, Lye, and Jemima Faulkner,
brickyard girl, Delph, were charged with stealing a
black cloth jacket from the Lye Station, on the
30th October.—Mr. Harry Mills appeared to prose-
cute, and Mr. Waldron defended Cornaby.
Sergeant Chare said that on Sunday last he west to
the Lye Station about half-past two, and found the
prisoners there in the office. The female prisoner
wee wearing the jacket produced, He charged
her with stealing it and she said she had not stolen
it; it had been given to her by Cornaby Mary
Jane Eveson, married, residing at the Grange, said 1
the jacket produced was her property, and saw it
last on the 26th October. She then put into a box I
which was properly corded, and then handed it to
I the reit Nay authoesies at Stockton-on-Tees to be
forwarded to the Lye, and it was properly oirected.
She identified the jacket by an alteration of the
sleeve. She next saw the jacket at the Lye police
stat;on when the female prisoner was wearing it.—
When she got to the Lye Station she found that her I
bex had been broken open and the jacket missing.
The jacket was worth 100. Sergeant (There repeated
his evidence as to finding prisoners together at the ;
station on Sunday. Cornaby was watobm n :or
the day. Witness called the female prisoner out I
anti asked her how long she had had toe jacket she
was wearing, and she said about six months, and
that she bought it at Lewis's, at Birmingham. He
told prisoner a jacket was miseing and he took her ;
to the police station. On the way to the station
she tore a piece off the jacket and threw it down.
Mrs. Eveson identified the jacket in the presence o
prisoner. Witness charged her with entering thf