The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-10-23 00:00:00

Xocal nub pistrict Vebas.

THE PROPOSED CEMETERY FOR

STOURBRIDGE.

A vestry meeting was held at the Corn Exchange
on Saturday morning. The object of the meeting
was to approve of agreements entered into by the
Burial Board with the Rev. C. H. Craufurd, rector
of Oldswinnford, and his tenant, Mr. Alfred Parkes,
for the purchase of 11 acre s 37 perches of land at
'the Cross Roads, as a site for the cemetery; to
sanction a loan from the Public Works Loan Com-
missioners; to approve of the payment of .220 per
annum, as salary, to the cleviz; and tt., ippciut two
auditors.

There was ft good number of ratepayers present,
amongst whom were the Rev. H. Sherrard, Major
Walker, Messrs. J. B. Shepherd, F. Evers, Charles
Evers, E. Stringer, W. Plant, Smalman Smith, C.
King, W. H. Penney, G. Perkin, J. Woolley, G.
W. Prescott, G. Perry, &c., &c.
On the motion of Mr, Penney. seconded by Mr.
Stringer, the Rev. 11. Sherrard was unanimously
elected to the chair.

The Chairman read the notice calling the meet-
ing. He explained that one of the objects of the
meeting wasto approve of two separate agreements
--one with the Rector of Oldswinford, and the
other with Mr, Alfred Parkes, for the purchase of
a site for the proposed new burial ground for
Upper Swinford and Stourbridge. They had had
a Burial Board appointed, and now they had come
to what might be called the practical work of
seeking a site for the cemetery. He considered
the position chosen was i-ery eligible in every res-
pect. It stood high, and might be converted in
time to a nice cemetery, worthy of the town and
neighbourhood. It was now for them to approve
of the agreements entered into for the purchase.
Mr. Prescott said, perhaps he might be allowed
to ask two or three questions before they pro-
ceeded any further in the matter' He should like
to have read to that meeting the letter written by
the Rev, C. H. Craufurd offering that land for sale,
in order that the ratepayers might clearly under-
stand upon what conditions that land was or .red
to the Board, and the reply from the Board stating
how far they would comply with those conditions,
because they were now asked to agree to the pur- '
chase of 11 acres of land, and they ought to be in
possession of all the facts. From the report of
what the present Chairman had said when they
spoke of a site for the cemetery, he hoped that
the Board would be able to secure a bright pleasant
spot, so that the people could walk there. He
would refer to what their instructions as a Board
were,.to ascertain how far they had carried out
those instructions. The burial ground ought to
be accessible at all seasons of the year, and good
hard roads should lead up to it so that it would be
accessible. Now, was thers anyone there who
would say that road was a good one. If the pro-
posed site was purchased they would soon have to
put that road in repair, and it would cost two or
three thousand poutds to do that. He challenged
either Mr. Evers or Mr. King to say that that was
a good road. He knew why they were so anxious
to purchase that land; it touches]. Mr. King and
Mr. Collis personally. Not many yards from the
Gigmill there was a piece of land which was just
suited for a cemetery—(A voice : "Nonsense," and
cries of "Keep to the subject, or you will have to
sit down"). Mr. Prescott: "Don't threaten me
Mr. Evers, I know where the shoe pinches "
(laughter). They oould have had some good land
without going any further, near to the Crab Mill,
or opposite to Mrs. Coles', which was not so far.
Now, there were two good sites on good roads,
which would not cost the parish a penny. He
asked if any of those
.who let out such vehicles
would allow a one-horse hearse to take 12 or 14
people up to that cemetery ?—(Cries of "Keep to
the subject "). There were one or two observa-
tions which he was about to make, which it must
be clearly understood were made wit )ut prejudice
to any proceedings that might be taken hereafter.
He wished to know whether that was a legal or an
illegal meeting? It was within his recollection,
that the owner gave only £3O an acre for that land.
He asked them if they were going to give £lOO an
acre for it ? Turning to Mr. Bernard, Mr. Pres
cott said he wanted the letter which had been re-
ceived from Mr. Craufurd, offering that land for
sale, by the Board, and -then he wished to sea the
agreement which had been prepared upon the
basis of that letter.

Mr. Prescott was asked which letter he meant,
as several had passed between the Hector and the
Board.

Mr. Prescott: The letter from Mr. Craufurd to
the Board, offering this land for sale, and the con-
ditions on which it is offered. I never ask a thing
that kind without some reason for it. Mr. Craa-
f ard had made it a condition that the money for
the land should be paid to himself. He would un-
dertake to say that Mr. Craufurd's interest in that
land, assuming it to be £lO or £l2 a year—con-
sidering his age, without any serious infirmity—
would not be worth more than £5O or .460—(cries
of "Order "). He was now going to receive .230
a year, when he had been only receiving .210 or
XII from the present tenant. He (Mr. Prescott)
only wanted the inhabitants to know the facts.
_ _ _ _

Sir. Shepherd read letters from Mr. Craufurd,
dated December, 1874. The price fixed for 11
acres 37 perches was £1,123 28 6d, and the compen-
sation money to the tenant, £127.
Mr. Penney said he would willingly take the
land off the Board at the price stated.
Mr. Prescott: I don't want any conversation.
Mr. Shepherd said the Hector did not want the
money himself. He had stated at the outset that
he hoped the Board would not attempt to purchase
any of his laud, as they would "have to pay as
much as a railway company would; a payment that
would give him a handsome profit." There, was
also a letter read, dated April 3rd, 1875.

Mr. Prescott: Are those all the letters?

Mr. Shepherd: Yes.

This last letter stated that the Rector would
rather not sell any burial land at all to the Board
unless he found it was impossitle for them to get
any other suitable land, and he must hvve an in-
come of .24 for every .23 by which his rent was
readuced. He must be at no expense whatever in
the matter. And any loss that might accrue to
Mr. Parkes from the sale of the land must be
made up to him by a cash payment. Another let-
ter stated that if they had any of Mr. -Parkes's
lend, they must take a field of 10 acres at the least.
_Yor ir he (the Rector) must have a thousand
wl they must recompense Mr. Parkes for
Ar,):ld sustain. On re-consideration he
. perfectly wffling to la the Board have the
10-acre held at a valuation, providing he had power
to alienate the land without the consent of the
Bishop, The Board must pay for the valuation.
Mr. Prescott: Will you allow me to see the con-
tract with Mr. Crauf.urd. It is open to any rate-
Payer.

The oontract having been handed to him,

Mr. Collis said: Pei:haps while you have it in
your hand you will read it in exten3o to save time.

Mr. Prescott: I will. He then read the contract,
the particulars of which have 'before appeared in
our columns.

Mr. Shepherd said under the terms of the agree-
ment they were not entitled to fix the price. As
they were dealing with public property it was ne-
cessary that the price should be fixed by two cotn-
petent persons, and there were two gentlemen
appointed—Mr. Taylor on behalf of the Board, end
Mr. Wooldridge on behalf of Mr. Cranfurcl. The
price bad been fixed. It was £1,113 2s 6d, a little
over £lOO an acre, the quantity being 11 acres 37
perches.
Mr. Prescott: Now, sir, what is the tenant to
have?

Mr. Shepherd said the person concerned not
being competent to deal in the matter for himself,
they had to go to public valuers, and the same two
gentlemen were employed to act for both parties
who had before given the valuation of the land.
They decided that the consideration money should
be .2120. That would include compensation for
the growing crops and for other matters which
were in conlection with the land, and the purchase
was to be completed on the 25th of December.
Mr. Prescott said he wished to kno's how it was
that as Mr. Parkes was the tenant of Mr. Craufurd
the Board had not given him six months notice to
leave. If they give Mr. Parkes six months' no-
tin to quit that ground it would suit all purposes
as the agreement provided that they could take to
it on the 26th of March. They might have saved
the money for compensation by giving him six
mouths' to leave, Did the Feoffees of the Oldswin-
ford Hospital give compensation ?
The Chairman here interposed, said the Burial
Board had been elected by the ratepayers. They
had had all these matters before them, and they
had done the best they could under the circum-
stances. They had not yet made their statement
as to what they had done. He thoughtlthey ought
first to hear from the Burial Board what had been
done, and then it would be for people to object if
thy wi:.'r.,4l to do so.
Prescott said he would wait till then.
Mr. Shepherd, chairman of the Burial Board,
then said that about eip,th'een months ago the
Burial Board was appointed for the two townships t;
tf Upper Swinford and Stourbridge. The two
townships had agreed to provide a burial ground, I
for their joint use, and it was the duty of the
'Board to look out for a site such as would present
the two townships with as convenient and nice a
cemetery as they could secure. They had exam- ,
ined eighteen or twenty sites in .the district, and
they endeavoured to make the best selection they ,
could. And this selection it would be necessary,
for hem to come to the parish and ask for their