The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-03-29 00:00:00

TrIE STOTTRIVIDGE 013SEPTEF.

coat, body coat, hat, pair of boots, legging, and
other articles the property of William Pearson.
Mr. Perry prosecuted, and Mr. Addison de-
fended. After hearing the evidence, the Bench
did not think there was any fenlonious intent,
and discharged the defendant.
CHARGE OF STABBING AT THE LYE.—Zacha-
riali Hill was charged with wilf .and malici-
ously wounding Charles Richard Pardoe, on the
28th glt. Mr. Addison prosecuted, and Mr.
Perry, defended. Prosecutor deposed : I am
a butcher, at thy Ly, and on the 28th ul, went
to the prisoner's shop for two faggots for supper.
That would be about 11 o'clock. When in the
shop I saw prisoner, who replied to me, " get
out of my house you scamp." l'risoner without
saying any thing more,picked ups large butcher's
knife off the block, and stabbed me in the thigh.
I turned round and said you have done it Jack.
On going home saw John Skelding, and told him
I was bleediyg. Samuel Taylor and Susan
Priest, also gave evidence, and the prisoner was
con: witted to take his trial.

'I HE ANNUAL SOIREE AT THE LYE
INSTITUTION.

rho annual soiree was held at the above In-
s•l:ation, on Tuesday evening last. About 60
But down tu tea; after which the chair was taken
by Mr. F. Evers.
The Chairman briefly opened the meeting,
and called upon the secretary, Mr. W. Fiddian,
to read the report, which was as follows :

. LYE INSTITU HON.
REPORT PER THE YEAR 1872.

"Ta revie,iag the work and position of the Institute
for the past yiar the comm,ttee have much pleasure in
congratulatiog the members on the fact that notwith•
standing the high price of fuel (which is a large item in
the expenditure) they have still a balance in hand (al-
though a amid one. This condition of the finances will
he more appi•wiated when it is stated that until the last
two years a cum of about £l5 has been annually added
to the funds from a PiC•llie, a source of income which
the committee have been compelled to abandon, at least
during that period. That this has to some extent
crippled thvir efforts cannot be denied, but they trust
that this loss to revenue will aeon be filled up not only
from the increasing support of gentlemen and manu-
facturers of the district, but by the working men of the
neighbourhood (for whose benefit the Institution was
mainly bud.) becoming members to a much larger
extent thau at present.

"The income during the past yeiir (including a balance
of Els 10d from the previous year), amounted to £35 198
71. and the expenditure to £45 18s 7d, lea; tug a balance
of Is to be carried forward.
'' • "

•"The nunib•ir of members on the books is 98, being
an increase of 13 on the previous year.

tt The annual soiree was a great success, a result
which the committee feel was largely due to the ex-
cellent entertainment kindly given by Masers. and Miss
Fisher. The proceeds were about £5, being a eonsaler-
able insrease on the amount realized at any previous
meeting. There have been live popular entertainments
given daring the winter months, resulting in a profit of
£3 3s 84. The thanks of the members are due to those
who so willingly gave their services in these entertain-
ments.

The small size of the lecture room interferes greatly
with the pecurittry success of both soiree and entertain-
ments, the profits from which would doubtless he more
than doubled were the room sufficiently large.
'• Since the last report the committee have selected
books to the value of £5 (being is duration from J. W.
Aston, Esq.,) and they will be at orce added to the
library. Most of these are purchased at half-price,
through the aid of the Pure Literature Society and
kb:beer:a liussry's•Charity. The number of books inthe
library is 60. There has been a email increase in the
number of books issued this year as compaled with last,
and there is mr doubt this would have been much larger
were it not for the comparitively small number of books
of the class most called for by general readers. The
cause of this eau be easily understood when it is stated
that the origroal library was formed by donations of
surplus books from private librsrys. Ike greater portion
of those standard or modern works which it contains are
chiefly the purchase of late years. At the present time
the funds of the Institute are not sufficient to allow a
portion to be spent manually on this most useful branch
of its work.
. .

The Readiug-room has been very well attended
especially during the last few ninth,, an improvement
which the committee hope will but be limited by the
blze of the room, but will ere long compel Went to make
use of the lecture-room for readers.• The following
papers and periodicals are supplied :—liines,Daily News,
Daily Poet, liazette, Worcester Journal, The
Advertiser, County Express, Stourbridge Observer,
Illustrated London News, Alliance News, Harper's
Weekly (American), The Engineer, Public Opioidn,
Ponca, Judy, Leisure Hour, and Family Herald. Several
of these are 'molly presented to the Institution by pro-
prietors and others, the President, J. W. Aston, Esq.,
generously giving the Engineer, Harper's Weekly, and
Public Opinion.
It in with regret that the Committee have to report
but little done in the way of lectures or classes. this
was partly caused by the present secretary having only
resumed °thee just at the time classes ought to have been
commenced apt the great difficulty in getting competent
teachers at so little notice.. .. . . .

Ike Chess-room has been fairly attended though
not quite to tee extent of the previous year.
"on lookiag heck, the committee while fully realizing
the lira that the institute under their management has
not attained to the position nor dune the amount of
work of which it is capable, and that its progress is not
no marked as they couid have wished still hold that the
psst years results will compare most favourably with
those of any former year. they trust that the increas-
ing interest now taken in the institution will are long
raise it to the position assigned by its original pro-
moters a position of which we should he justly proud."
The Chairman congratulated the members
upon the general satisfactory character of the
report. He was glad to hear that there had
been an increase of 12niembers dosing the year.
‘Vhen the c,,lliers were agitating for shorter
hours some time buck one of the reasons they
urged for wonting them Vila that they required
more time for mental iintirovoinent ; and he
hoped that some of those 12 additional members
were colliers. The secretary had stated that
" "

lectbres did not pay. He was sorry to hear -that
this was the case, as he thought that they would
be of great benefit to the members. He re-
gretted to hear that there had been no classes; :
but he believed that was owing to the post of
secretary beiug in a state of transition about the I
time for arranging those matters, and no doubt
it would be remedied in the future. He should
like to see some drawing classes established in
connection with the Science and Art Depart- :
ment, as he believed they would be productive
of good results, lie thought a drawing class :
alight be cuuducted in such a !banner. (by the
members paying a small tuition•feei us to clear
its own expenses. He thought the interest in
the library ought to be kept up by adding new
and good books of modern date. To enable
thew to do this to some extent he would make
them a present of three guineas --(applause). As
there was an excellent programme to be gone
through ho would not detain them any longer,
but would call upon Mr. Robertson to move the
adoption of the report.
The Rev. D. Robertson said he had very great
pleasure in moving the adoption of the report;
and thanked the chairman, on behalf of the
members, for his liberality to the institution.
Mr. O. it. Harrison seconded the adoption of
the report. He said that the chairman in speak-
ing of the advantages of a drawing class had
taken the words out of his (the speaker's)
mouth. He considered that there was no one,
whatever his trade might be, but would find a
knowledge
.of drawing of very great service.
He was one of the very first members of the
School of Art at Stourbridge, and though he had
not made very great progress, still he found
what he had acquired very useful on iliany oc-
casions. Ile was quite sure that they might get
some readings there, and he himself would be
happy to read for them at any time. With
respect to the funds, it seemed marvellous to
hint how well the expenditure was made to fit in
with the income, even to the very last shilling,
and he thought great credit was due to the
secretary for his careful management of the
finances. He hoped that more of the working
men of the Lye would join that inqitute, and
that there would soon be a visible improvement
on the drinking customs of the neighbourhood ;
for, according to his own observations and the
observations of others, drunkenness was never
more prevalent there than at the time.
He conel :tried by saying that 1,, would I'mlow the
excellent example of the ellairman, who had
given three guineas to the institute, and he
would not to behind him; but would make them
a present of a similar amount.
Mr. F. Evers then put the motion to the meet-
ing. and it was carried unanimously.
Mr. Anson rose to propose a vote of thanks
to the Honorary members for their liberal sup-
port ; and also to Mr. G. K. Harrison for supply-
ing the institute with water. He thought that
institute had done a great work in past times in
educating the people of the Lye, and he thought
tht there vie sti'l a great future before it; and
he had no dotiA that under the management of
the present secretary, who was very energetic,
it would be sure to prosper.
Mr. T. Hill seconded the proposition ;
said it had been stated that there were no classes
in connection with the institute. He informed
them that there was one, which was a singing
class • and that they also had readings there,but
that they went by the designation of popular
entertainments. He thanked Mr. Harrison for
his otter to id for thorn, and said that the
, committee be only too happy to avail
themselves of his services in that capacity.

The proposition was then put to the meeting
and carried.

Mr. Harrison responded to the vote of thanks
to the honorary members.
The programme which was an :excellent one
was then gone through in a very creditable
manner. The singing of Miss Bourne and Mr. J.
P. Nunn proved especially attractive ; both the
lady and the gentleman having to respond to
vociferous encores.