The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-08-13 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL LOCAL BOARD.

A monthly meeting of the above Board was held
on Monday afternoon, at the Town Hall.
Mr. J. Skidmore (chairman) presided, the other
members present were Messrs. I.'. Fereday, E. Grove,
M. Rollinsoe, S. Bennett, B. Freeth, W. McMillan,
R. T.,ompsou, and R. B. Guest.
The Ceairmen remarked, with reference to the
Dudley and Stourbridge Tranway scheme, that he
attended before the committee in the House of
Lords and gave evideece in support of the pro-
moters of the Bill, which had now become a positive
fact.
Mr. Grove: I hope we shall have the tramway at
:-3teurbridge.
The Chairmau I hope they will carry it on to
Cleo- --(ta.ughter).
Tlae Sanitary and General Purposes Committee
reportea teat the Loeet tiovernmeat Board had
wrtiten stating that their sanction to ti-e loan of
.22,090 for paving purposes would shortly be given
and toe committee rownimaided that the clerk and
surveyor proceed to carry out the business con-
nected with the paving, and give the necessary
oidere. Messrs. Bennett, Fereday, Thompson,
Mac Lilian, and the Chairman had been appointed a
sub-committee for paving purposes. It was recom.
inended that the clerk write to the Postmaster-
Gene, al, asking bin to send a surveyor down to
meet the Board as to the postal arrangements, pillar
boxes, &c. in the di,trict. Also that the telegraph
authorities be aaked to remove the posts from the
footpath in Fenton-street.
Tee Medical Officer of Health's (I)r. Ashinea,l)
roper, which aceompanied that of the General
Purposes Commi,tee, showed th A the number of
deaths register d durilic the month was 7 only,
ueing the ver- low death-rate ot 2.16 per 1,000 per
annum. Only one of the deaths occured from
zymotic disease of the second class.
izic..)l,.;,k (Nlr. Elo:berton) remarked that the
death-rate w.,s the lowest which had yet been
reported in the dietrivt.
The Chairman thought this was a matter for much
Congratulation.
Mr. Gr.ve said he should like to know wie ther
the Paving Committee were tally persuaded that
ferrumite was the best material to use for paving
the streets. At the last meetine mOlue of the mem-
bers thought teat ferrumito was rather new to the
district, and as they were more converSant with the
character of paving bricks, it was a question whether
it would not be better, under the circumstauces, to
do tiie work with tine bricks, an I dispense with
ferrumite.
51'he chairrran said it laud alrea iy been decided
by the whole Board that ferrurnite should be used,
and that question could not now be re-opened for
discussion.
Mr. Fereday addel that orders had been given
for ferrutaite.
T,lO Surveyor then read a report adopted by a
,committee of the Portsmouth Town Council, and
which went to show that in their opinion the ferru-
mite was superior to either asphalte or blue bricks
for paving purposes. The Surveyor further re-
marked that Meier Tulloeh when down holding the
iLtqUiry respecting the loan, told him his experience
was that mod manufactured stone had s, tendency
to crack. With regard to this the Ferrumite Com-
pany had offered to make good any defect which
occurred in their paving from ordinary causes dur-
ing the first five years after being laid down.
The committee's report was then adopted
14.1:seis Merryweatto r of London, fire engine
inaeutaciurers, wrote off eing to supply the Board
with one of their manual fire engines of the best
make and London Brigade pattern, for £l2O, gdie
included, and everything necessary for working it
with the exception of delivery hose.
After some remarks, during which the chairman
called ettention to the injury which was being done
to the fire escape in consequence of it being kept
exposed to the weather, it was resolved, upon the
motion of Mr. Guest, seconded by Mr. Fereday—
that the cletk write to Messrs. Merryweather offer-
ing them £lOO for the engine in question.
I The Surveyor said the fire brigade which had
been formed had offered to give their 8, rvices
gratuitously, provided the Board found an engine
and appliances.
The Fl once Committe ;is report shoved that the
sul Toy .r's expenlitute during the month bed be( n
£39 Its 6d. Accounts were reconamenclet for pay-
eueee am eluting in aggreeate to £233 8s tki, The
collector had within the month received ant I aid
ever to the treasurer .£298 15s 3d on te gent's'
diatriot rate. The report was adopted.