The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-03-20 00:00:00

ROWLEY REGIS LOCAL BOARD.

Mr. W. Bassano, J.P„ presided on Monday night
at the monthly meeting of this Board.—Tne Meth_
cal Officer (Mr. Beasley) for No. 1 district reported.
that during the past month there had been 52
deaths, the death rate being 29 per 1,000. ;3iz of
the deaths had been caused by zymotic diseases,
viz., two from scarlet fever. two from whooping
cough, and one from measles. He regretted to in-
form the Board that five cases of scarlet fever had
occurred in a house at Rowny Lane, and although
two of the cases had had a fatal termination the
medical gentlemen who attended the patients had
not taken the trouble to inform him (the medical
officer) of the outbreak of the disease. Had he
done so he would have received a fee of 10s.—The
Chairman: Perhaps the medical gentleman has
plenty of money.—The Medical Officer said he did
not think 10s was to be despised by any man—
(hear, hear).—The Medical Officer (Mr. de Denne)
tor No. 2 District reported that there had 23 deaths
the death-rate being 19.9 per thousand. The dis-
trict was free from zymotic diseases—(hear, hear).
—The Inspector of Nuisances reported that during
the past month 353 ashpits had been emptied at a
cost of £BO, or 4s 6d per a,shpit.—The Chairman re-
ported that since the last meeting negotiations had
been completed for hcuses to be drained at Tho
Brades, and that the Oldbury Local Board be paid
6d in the X on each of the houses drained,—On the
metiou of Mr. Crump the Board approved of the
negotiations entered into.—The Clerk reported that
Messrs. Penn, Parkes, Hodgetts, Round, and 'Tay-
lor were the retiring members of the Board....Tne
Ceairman stated he had received a letter from Mr.
W. C. Barker resigning his seat as a member of the
Board. A.s the election notices had been issued, he
should ask Mr. Barker to let his resignation stand
over until after the election—(hear, hear).

KIDDERMINSTER, 6100111 E
DEATH rEtOlf Buaxs.—Mr.l M. Corbet (deputy
coroner) held an inquest on Monday evening, at the
Town Hall, on the body of Harriet Potter, aged
seventy-one years. Deceased was employed by
Messrs. Tomkinson and Adam, and on Thursday
she accidentally fell in front of a fire, in a room
where she worked. Her clothing was ignited. and
before help could be rendered to her she received
injuries which resulted subsequently in her death.
A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned.

CHAMBER or COMMERCE. A meeting of this
&lumber was held on Tuesday, Mr. 3. H. Pearse,
the president, in the chair. Among other com-
munications was one relative to the desirability, in
any fresh consular appointments, of regard being
had to a knowledge ef commercial interests as a
qualification. The President and Mr. Tomkinsou
buth emphasised the importance of such appoint-
ments being given to persons conversant with trade
questions, and the President said that Germany
had a great advantage over this country in that re-
spect Germany took care to appoint men with
commercial knowledge as consuls, while in this
country the foreign consuls appeared to be ap-
pointed for the sake of the pobition it gave certain
men, and they almost thought trade beneath their
notice.—The bills before Parliament for the amend-
ment of the Employers' Liability A4ct were referred
to the Parliamentary Committee. Mr. Torukinson
said he did not think there were any employers in
Kidderminster who contracted themselves out of the
4iet,—lt was resolved to ask the borough member
to join the deputation to the Foreign Office with
the view of securing better commercial relations
with Spain.—A. conversation took place regarding
the Science School, and the President expressed
regret that nothing had been done in the naatter
lately. Mr. Tomkinson said a meeting of the com-
mittee had been held that morning, and it was pro-
posed to hold a public meeting on the subject
shortly, The President expressed a hope that some-
thing might be done to obtain a grant for the
school from one of the wealthy companies in
London, which subscribed largely to the Leeds
School of Science. It was suggested that the
Chamber should support any action taken at the
public meeting spoken of,
CHARGE OF STARVING CATTLE.—At the Police
Court, on Thursday, Henry Luke Needham, farmer,
of Hobro, Wolverley, was charged with cruelly
illtreating thirteen oxen and seven heifers on the
sth inst.,by neglecting to provide them with a
sufficient quantity of food. Mr, M. Corbet de-
fended.—Mr. T. J. Quarrels, of Cotderidge, near
Worcester, stated that he sent the cattle ntentioned
above to" tack" at defendant's farm on the 14th
February On the 191 h he went to see them, and
noticed they did not look so well as when to left
them. He went again on the sth inst. and found
three or four of them unable to stand, and all of
them in a wretchedly poor condition. Mr. White,
veterinary surgeon, of Kidderminster, stated that
he had seen the beasts in question. They were in
very poor condition, and evidently suffering from
want of food. There were three of them totally
unable to stand, and others reeled as they walked,—
The Bench fined defendant £2, and ordered him to
pay £3 is 4d costs.