The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-01-02 00:00:00

ram STOI3III3EIIxn OPSEIRVEP.

terminate the agreement be given by one side or
the other in April. That such a notice will be
given at that time by the ironmasters in the
North of England, who happen just now to be
sufferers by the eomp;tct entered into by repre-
sentative master ia and representative men at
Derby, there sends every reason to expect. That
agreement we.a the best that could be made at
the time, but it was not expected to become of
permanent application.

BIRMINGHAM, Thursday.

Business was nominally resumed i.to-day after
the holidays, but owing to the slackness of trade
and the interruption caused in the supply of fuel
and material by the freezing of the canals, little
work is likely to be done in any department this
week. There was a tolerable numerous atten-
dance of the trade on 'Change to-day, but few
transactions resulted, as neither vendors nor
buyers can foresee with any confidence the course
of prices at quarter-day. Whatever action the
great body of the ironmasters may take, it is al-
ready evident that some of the leading makers,
who are exceptionally well off for orders, will
make no reduction, and that the maximum for
common marked bars will remain, therefore, at
.V.l. Other makers will probably reduce prices
111. per ton for marked bars and 10s. for unmar-
ked iron, conditional, of course, upon the expec-
ted reduction in coal and wages. The chances
of a reduction in fuel, it must be confessed, are
not quite so great now as they were a fortnight
ago, owing partly to the great stimulus given to
household consumption by the frosty weather,
and partly to the threatened paralysis of the
South Wales coal trade, which represents in the
aggregate an annual output of over 13,000,000
tons ; but unless some relief is afforded to pro-
ducers in the p-rice of coal, it is difficult to see
how the local iron trade can recover from its
present depression in face of the competition ex-
perienced not only from Belgium, but fxdm the
North of England. In the meantime transac-
tions in the local iron market are confined with-
in the narrowest limits, or restricted to the
purchase of the remainder lots at sacrificial
prices—nail rods, hoops, aud thin sheets being
especially in request. The pig market is com-
paratively strong for the better qualities made
from native ore, but cinder-pig, though still
nominally quoted £3. to £3. 55., is procurable
at a slight reduction upon those quotations.

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.
The monthly meeting of this body was held on
Monday last, in the Board Room; Mr. H. Hughes
in the chair. There were also present: Messrs.
Griffin, Billingham, Mills, Perkin, Allchurch,
Woolley, Kelly, and Penney. 1
The Clerk read the minutes of the last meeting,
which were confirmed
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Your Committee report the treasurer's balances
on the several accounts to be, as follows: Improve-
ment Account—Balance due from Treasurer, Nov.
25, 1874, £291 12s 9d; cheques ordered, Nov. 30th,
£l4 4s 8d ; paid to treasurei, £277 8s id. Im-
provement Rate, £143 Os 2d; Markets, £36 us 5d
—£l79 lb 7d. Balance due from treasurer, £456
199 Bd.
I Highway Account.—Balance due from treasurer,
Nov. 25, £146 19s 2d; cheques ordered, £36 12s
5d , due from treasurer, £llO 6s 9d.
Urban Sanitary Au thority .—Due from treasurer,
Nov. 25, £4l 19s 2d; cheques ordered, £3716s 8d;
fee for emptying privies, £9 is 7d; Highway Ac-
count, £56 8s 63; Improvemont Account, .2637 8s
7d; Urban Sanitary Authority, £49 is 3d.
The above accounts, on the motion of Mr.
Penney, seconded by Mr. Woolley, were passed.
REPORT OF THE GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE.
Your Committee report that they have consid-
ered the circular letter from the Secretary of
state on the 26th October, in reference to keeping
petroleum, as to the mode of carrying on the
same, and from the report of the Town Officer your
Committee are advised that the conditions attached
to the license issued to the dealer, have been com-
plied with. With regard to the letter from the
,Clerk to the Stourbridge Board of Guardians,
dated the 16th November, enquiring if the Com-
missioners will join the Board in obtaining the
advice and report of a -skilled engineer in drainage
operations, on the .drainage of the district, your
Committee have considered the letter, and. report
that in their judgment it will not be expedient for
your Board to join the Board of Guardians in the
matter referred to in the said letter. Your Board
is gradually extending and improving the drainage
of the town, which, at present, is all that can he
done. With regard to a gas testing apparatus,
your Committee report °progress. They also re-
port that they have held a meeting to take into
consideration the resolution of your last monthly
meeting, with reference to the appropriation of the
Market Hall, and have adjourned the business for
the month.
Medical Officer of Health's Report— The Visita-
tion Report Book was laid before your Committee.
Premises in Coventry-street, Birmingham-street,
Mount-street, Foster-street, High-street, Angel-
street, Woodman Yard, Round Court, Griffin's
Yard, have been visited and instructions given to
your Town Officer with reference to the matter or
things inspected. In nearly all the cases these
instructions have been complied with. A case of
over crowding is reported in Angel-street. The
notice given in this case has not yet expired. The
death rate is as follows: Registered in Stourbridge
from the 21st November to the 21st December, 18,
of this number 12 are children one year old and
under, one 15 years old, and 5 from 58 to 80. One
child died of measles. Births in the same period,
23, viz :-9 males and 14 -females. The general
health of the town is reported good, there being
only one case of scarlatina. Their attention was
called to a number of houses in Angel Street, not
provided with spouting. Steps were ordered to
be taken to remedy it-
On the motion of Mr. Penney, seconded by Mr.
Allchurch, the report was adopted.
Mr. Billingham suggested that an additional
2s 6d should be charged per hour for the use of
gas in the Corn Exchange.
Some discussion ensued and the matter was re-
ferred to the General Purposes Committee.
REPORT OF THE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.
Your Committee report that a letter has been
received from Mr. Grierson, General Manager of
the Great Western Railway Company, in reply to
a letter written by your Clerk, in accordance with
the resolution of your last monthly meeting.
Proposed West Staffordshire Railway .—A notice
has been received from the promoters of this line,
which refers to two roads either wholly or par-
tially under your Boards jurisdiction, viz :—Bowl-
ing xreen Lane, beyond Mr. England's forge, and
the road leading out of that road along Washing
Pool Meadow into the Beauty Bank Road. Ac-
cokding to the section, the line will pass over the
Bowling Green, near the corner of Swan Street,
at a height of 31feet 6inches. • The level of the
read is unaltered. The arch is proposed to be 25
feet span and 15 feet high. A copy of the depo-
sited plan and section, so far as the immediate
neighbourhood is concerned, will be laid before
you.
The Clerk read his letter to Mr. Grierson, with
regard to the branch line, inquiring about the ap-
parent delay in carrying out the instructions of
the directors. Mr. Grierson's reply, dated No-
vember 30, was to the effect that, with regard to
the subject of the railway accommodation at Stour-
bridge, he had seen the engineer, and he informed
him that he was getting on with the preparations
and plans and sections for constructing as rapidly
as possible. As soon as the plans were complete
they would be laid before the directors in order
. that instructions might be given for the work to
be commenced. In a postscript, Mr. Grierson
added that their engineers had been very much
loccupied of late, but they might be assured that
he would press this matter as much as possible—
(cheers).

Mr. Wall said it would be hardly so much as had
been previously stated, as the computation would
be only 3i per cent., and that would be .£l6 per
year for rent.

- At this juncture, Mr. Foster entered the room
and, in answer to the Chairman,
Mr. Foster said he wished to have an interview
with them for one or two reasons. In the first
place, to learn exactly what position the Board
held him invith reference to the surety. It had
become of late a custom not to provide a surety in
cases of taking contracts for building purposes,
In his first letter he quoted two references, which
he thought was sufficient for any one.
The Chairman said the position they held was
this. He (Mr. Foster) had answered their adver-
tisement asking for tenders upon certain condi-
tions, and he had sent in a tender under those con.
tions, which had been accepted. Upon the Clerk
asking him to name his sureties (in accordance
with the terms set forth in the adv(trtisement) he
refused to stand by the agreement. They, there-
fore, considered they were clear of each other
except in so far as they held him responsible for
any loss they might sustain through his non-fulfil-
ment of the contract. They considered that he
had refused to carry out the conditions Which were
imposed. Consequently, they considered their
communications with :him had practically ceased
with the letter the Clerk wrote to him last.
Mr. Billingham said they held Mr. Foster res-
ponsible for any difference that might occur be-
tween his tender, and what they might expend.
Mr. Foster said if that was their decision, he
must ask them to let him know what was the dif-
ference between his tender and that which they
had accepted. If they insisted on that he would
carry' out the works himself. He:was not going to
see another man carry out the works, and then put
his hand in his pocket to defray part of the ex-
penses. His reason for ;tot liking to provide a
surety, was that it wOut;against the grain to ask
another to do that for him, which he would not do
for any one himself. And, besides, he did tiot see
why they wanted a surety, because they paid a
certain atrount of money as the work progressed,
He could not draw that money until the work was
done. He was willing to meet them in a business
manner.

Major Walker: What doyou mean? Supposing;
we agree to accept your contract on your own con-
ditions, what reduction will you make.
Mr. Foster intimated that he could not make
any reduction on his first tender.
The Chairman: What do you wish us to under-
stand? That you still desire to do the work, but
do not wish to find a surety? I think you would
not find a surety.
Mr. Foster: If you hold me responsible for the
work I will do the work, and find surety, if you
compel me to do so.
Mr. Foster then retired for a short time, and
after a short discussion lit was decided to relieve
Mr. Foster of any responsibility, and to cease all
communications with him.
Mr. Foster was then called into the room, and
Major Walker, addressing him, said: We have
considered this matter, and, under the circumstan-
ces, we have elecided as you have an objection to
give a, surety, to give the contract to another
builder; and we shall not hold you responsible.
Mr. Foster: Am I to understand your business
with me is at an end?
The Chairman. Yes.
Mr. Foster, then wishing the members of the
Board, "Good night," left the room apparently
pleased at the result of the interview.
The discussion with reference to the desirability
of having a master's house, which had beeninter-
rupted by the entrance of Mr. Foster, was again
resumed.

The Chairman was of opinion that it would be
as well at present to go on with the schools with-
out the house. With a small Board like that it
would be hardly wise to pass a resolution rescind-
ing what was done at a larger meeting. •
This was assented to, and
Mr. Billingham then proposed that the tender
of Mr. Chapman, for the erection of the schools
(without ;A clock tower) be accepted, it being the
lowest.

This was carrried, aid it was resolved to ask Mr.
Smith (the architect) to furnish the Board with all
particulars as lo the furniture and other internal
fittings, which would be necessary for the schools,
and that the builder should be asked to give ten-
ders for those.

The Clerk said Mr. Smith had anticipated that
they would require something of the kind, and
had made application for leave to go on the land,
but had been refused permission to do so, It was
necessary to go on the land for the purpose of
sinking test-holes, Be., but permission was refused
until 5 per cent, interest upon the purchase money
had been paid from the date of the signing of the
draft of contract. Mr. Perry had written to Mr.
Brooks's solicitors, telling them that the land in
question was not in possession of the Board until
they had access to it, and had received from them
the following reply :
" Dormer Villa, Leamington,
"Brooks v. Board.

"Dear Sir,—We cannot agree with your view as
to the Board not having taken possession. We
are, however, anxious to avoid dispute, and if the
Board will agree to pay interest at 5 per cent.,
from the 28th inst, we will endeavour to obtain
our client's sanction for accepting this, and for the
digging of test holes. We have no opportunity
of communicating with him. If interest is given
from the 29th September, we can, on our own res-
ponsibility, accept it. We write, of course, with-
out prejudice.
"Yours faithfully,
" SANDERSON AND HASSELL."
A resolution was passed to give interest from the
25th December, on the condition of Mr. Brooks
giving permission to the architect to take posses-
sion of the land for the purposes of the Board;
but the Board agree to pay interest on the pur-
chase from the 25th December, instead of the day
mentioned in the contract.
There was no other business.