The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-02-13 00:00:00

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WOLVERELLMPTON, Wednesday.
IMPORTANT DROP IN COAL.

Towards the close of 'Change this afternoon,
the important fact oozed out that the PeNall
colliery-owners have to-day notified a reductiou
in their coal of 2s. per ton. Pelsall coal is that
which is largPlv sold for household purposes,
and competes in the same markets with the Can-
nock Chase and some of the Dudley household
Hitherto, the Pelsall firms have
stoutly resented all expressed anticipations that
they were about to reduce the price of their
commodity. That a drop should be declared at
a time when the demand might be fairly sup-
posed to have improved by reason of the South
Wales lock-out, and when excellent orders have
certainly been placed in the Cannock Chase die-
trict to supply some of the railway deficiencies,
resulting from what is now occurring in the
Southern Principality—is very significant.
Cannock Chase coal must follow the lead here
taken, and those who have been anticipating an
early drop in the thick coal of Dudley have been
confirmed in their expectations. Such expecta-
tions remain, however, to be realised. It may
'be that the Pelsall men knowing what was in-
evitable, have resolved to be the first in the mar-
ket to offer at the drop. Anyhow, the effect was
to check transactions in iron in all instances in
which the fact became known. Pigs did not sell
Mr. Firmstone has given notice to blow out his
two furnaces at Crookhay, he has so large a
stock of pigs; but the Ceillington Company
have blown in one of their furnaces at Bentley.
Finished iron was offered freely at last week's
rates. A reliable merchant bar was obtainable
17s. 6d., and there were plates and sheets
I,ch might have been bought at, as a minimum
ttlip over £12.; but makers of repute would
accept orders for either sheets or plates at
under £l2. 10s. On the whole, there was less
reported to be doing at the works than was the
case a week ago.
Incorrect information has got abroad about
the successor to Colonel Roden in the manage-
ment of the Shelton Bar Works in North Staf-
fordshire. Colonel Roden is retiring from bus-
iness life: but so also is Mr. T. Horton, who has
been named as his successor. The probabilities
are that the Shelton Bar Works will be carried
on without any additions being made to the ap-
pointments which now exist. Mr. T. Horton
has long and ably managed the extensive and
important concern at Lilleshall of the Lillesh al
Iron, Coal, and Engineering Company. He has
now, however, purchased the Buckley Grange
Estate in that district, and will by-and-by adopt
it as his Shropshire home, retaining, it is as-
sumed, his maring residence at Penmaen-wawr.
Mr. Horton's active business life has merited
the competent ease which every trader in this
district will fervently hope is before him for
many years to come; and the people of Shrop-
shire will greatly rejoice to know that a man who
has mane himself so much beloved is not likely
to remove from their midst. What may be the
arrangements as to the management of the Lil-
eshall Company when Mr. Horton is displaying
his well-known taste for the beautiful in re-
adornihg Buckley Grange, has yet to transpire.
Colliery proprietors and mining engineers of
this district have been anticipating with some
interest the first examination for mine managers'
certificates by the new Board of Examiners.
They will learn with satisfaction that it has pas-
sed off, not only smoothly, but likewise credit-
ably to all concerned. The examination took
place on Monday, at the Swan Hotel, Wolver-
hampton, and the examiners were Dr. Hill, of
Birmingham; Mr. Jonah Davis, civil engineer,
of Wolverhampton; and Mr. David Peacock,
mining engineer, of Tipton; whilst Mr. W.
Blakemore, F.G.S , was the secretary in attend-
ance. The examiners had before them seven-
teen candidates—fifteen from this district, one
from Sheffield, and one from Nottingham. All
these had to fill up four papers in which they
had to satisfy the examiners as to their know-
ledge about chemistry and ventilation; pump-
ing and winding machinery; surveying and lay-
ing out collieries; and practical mining and un-
der-ground management. On all these sub-
jects there was likewise a viva voce examination.
The work was got through in one day, but the
day was twelve hours, extending from ten in the
morning till ten at night. There is much rea-
son to conclude that the gratification of the can-
didates will not only have relation to the way in
which the examination was conducted, but will
likewise apply to the result of it as demonstrated
In the communications which may be looked for
from the Home Office.

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FATAL ACCIDENT AT CRADLEY HEATH.
A youth about 15 years of age, named Benjamin
Homettnet with a shocking death on Monday morn-
ing, at the New British Ironworks, Corngreaves,
CracUey Heath. It appears that the lad had been
at work all night, and went into an ash-hole to warm
himself. It is not known whether he fell asleep and
got up suddenly, or whether he was startled by the
sound of a number of trucks pushed by an engine
coming towards him, and jumped up, but he was
knocked down by the trucks, and his head was split
open, death being instantaneous. The body was re-
moved to the residence of deceased at Birch Coppice,
Saltwells, there to await an inquest.

COLLIERY FATALITY NEAR DUDLEY.
On Wednesdoy mortal* a fall of coal occurred at
Mr. Hinton's Grace Mary Colliery, Rowley, near
Dudley, killing a collier named Joseph lustone, and
seriously injuring Joseph Darby, another collier.
The men were at work at their usual employment
when the fall occurred, and 119 there was no "bump'
it is presumed that the coal slipped off a small fault.
Instone, who is a married man, with four children,
was killed on the spot, but Darby (who is nearly 70
years of age), although badly crushed, declined as-
sistance. It was, however, the opinion of his follow.
workmen that he was far worse than he believed. In,
stone resided at Dudley Port, and Darby resides at
Oldbury.