The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-08-07 00:00:00

KIDDERMINSTER TOWN COUNCIL.

A quarterly meeting of the Town Council was held on
Wednesday last; the Mayor (Alderman Goodwin) in the
chair. After the minutes of the last meeting had been
read, the Mayor formally communicated to the Council
that on the Wednesday preceding the memorial to Rich-
ard Baxter bad been handed over by the committee to
the town, on whose behalf he had accepted the same.
Mr. Corbet, alluding to the state of decay of other
statues, hoped that the town would, in accepting so vain.
able a gift, see that it was properly taken care of.
Mr. H. Green said there was one gentleman who had
worked most indefatigably in furthering the object, and
he felt that the thanks of the Council should be given to
him for his labours; he meant Mr. A. H. Greaves, who
had originated the movement, and to whom it was greatly
due that it was so satisfactorily carried out.

Mr. J. tt. Wood seconded the motion.
The Mayor said that the member for the borough, Sir
.William Frazer, had presented, through him, to the
town, two letters of Baxter's which had come into his
possession, and which, with the permission of the Cor-
poration, he proposed to have suitably framed and then
to present them as additional memorials of Richard
Baxter.

The vote of thanks to Mr. Greaves was then passed.
The report of the Baths and Washhouses Committee
was read by Mr. Holloway, chairman of the committee,
and showed that the cost of working the baths during the
quarter preceding was £56 is lid, while the receipts
ivere only £37 2s 4d, leaving a loss to the ratepayers of
£lB 19a 7d

Mr. Holloway proposed the adoption of the report, re-
gretting that it was not a mare successful one.

- Mr. J. J. Harvey advocated the raising of the price for
the Turkish baths, and suggested an entire revision of
prices for the whole of the baths, arguing that they were
used by many who could and ought to pay more.
The report was adopted.
The report of the Finance Committee was read by Mr
Herring, and showed the following payments :—For prin
cipal and interest on debt for the quarter, £378 17s 7d;
for police, ±',lBl 7s; accounts due, £1,235 175 2d; total
liabilities, £2,099 is 9d. Assets, £1,301 us 8d; defi-
ciency, £794 105 lid; add to which, required fur the
Baths, £65, and for the Free Library, £5; total, £904
105 ld ; and the committee recommended that a rate of
£BOO be laid.

Mr. Herring proposed, and Mr. Manes seconded, the
adoption of the report, which was carried.
Communications were received from the Local Govern-
ment Board and Mr. Davis' analyst, the first inquiring as
to the qualifications of the latter for the appointment of
borough analyst, and the latter declining the appointment
under such vexatious audinsulting an application. Also,
from the Gas Company, declining to lower the price of
gas; and both letters were referred to their respective
sommittees.

Mr. Harvey called attention to the dirty state of the
Mtt,io Hall, and especially the paucity of gas of an even-
ing, which was also referred.
Mr. Henry Cook, pursuant to notice, asked Mr. Corbet
one or two questions. He had been requested to do so
by the Licensed Victuallers' Association. It would be
remembered that it was proposed to put Mr. Mi'nes cn
the Watch Committee, but that was negatived on a divi-
sion on account of Mr. Milnes being a licensed victualler
The licensed victuallers contended that as large rate-
payers they had a right to be represented by one of their
number, he being a Councillor, on that committee But
in opposing this Mr. Corbet had asserted that several
members of that association were against this. He
wished on the pert of the association to ask Mr. Corbet
whether he had authority to make this assertion, and
whether he was willing to name his authority.
Mr. Corbet decli ied to do so.

Mr. Cook, on behalf of the licensed victuallers, ex-
pressed his dissatisfaction at Mr. Corbet's xeply. and the
meeting was ended.

CRICKET.

STOURBRIDGE V. Pim:NJErr.—A match was played be-
tween these clubs on the ground of the former at Amble.
cote, on Saturday afternoon last. The weather was very
favourable for cricket, and there was a large number of
apctators present to witness the match. The Stour-
bridge were the first to bat, and sent in J. W. Parkes and
J. .1?. Otter. The latter gentleman's stay was very brief,
as he had the ill luck to be bowled off his leg by the third
b.ill delivered to him by Fothergeli. His son, A. J.
Otter, followed him, and after putting eight runs to-
gether he was caught, very cleverly, by Clarke. A. E.
Millward then took up the defence of the wicket, and
runs were made steadily, both batsmen playing carefully,
until Parkes was caught by MtiPea, after he had scored
nine. He was replaced by W. Green, who hit away 111
fine style, and made 15 before he was caught by Penn.
His score consisted of one 4, four 2's, and the rest singles.
Five wickets down for 56. The next man, Hughes, was
b >wltd by Fothergell— who was in excellent form—wit' -
out having added to the score. A. J. Gaston next joined
Millward, and added 11 to the score ;before his stumps
were floored by one of Derricott's "slows." Millward
was not disposed of until he had made 36 rims, by some
very nice play, his defence of the wicket having been
universally admixed. G. H. Timmis was the only other
that made anything like a stand, he having scored five
before he was caught by Mullett. The total score for
Stourbridge was 94; a very respectable one considering
the excellent bowling and fielding of their opponents.
After the usual interval the Pensnett team sent in Penn
and Dean, who were not lorg together before a ball from
Gaston found its way to Dean's stumps, and he was forced
to retire when he had placed four to the credit of his
club. Matthews, who succeeded him, was caught by
Green off Gaston's bowling when he had made 10 ; Penn,
who made a similar number, sharing the same fate at
the hands of Timmis. Clarke made 16, in fine style;
but his career was terminated by Green, who caught him
out,splendidly at point, the ball being a regular "hot
one." Derricott made the third 10 that was scored by'
the members of the Pensnett team. None of the others
reached double figures. When time was called their
scorelhad leached 72. This was 22 less than that made
by Stourbridge, and as all their men were in, and the
fall of one wicket would have finished the match, it must
be conceded that although it was drawn, it was decidedly
in favour of Stoarbridge. The latter team played exceed-
ingly well altogether. Gaston and Timmis bowled in
fine form. The first-named succeeded in bowling three
wickets, whilst two others were caugkt off his bowling.
Appended is the complete score :

STOIIIIBRIDGE
J. W. Parkes, c Mullett, b Fothergell .. 9
F. J. Otter, b Fothergell 0
A. J. Otter, c Clarke, 1) Mullett .. .. 8
W. Green, c Penn, b Fothergell .. 15
A. E. Millsvard, b Mullett .. 36
Hughes, b Fothergell 0
A. J. Gaston, b Derricott 11
G. H. Timmis, c Mullett, b Penn.. .. 5
J. Davis, b Penn .. 0
F. A. Jones, b Penn.. .. .. • . .. 2
W. Jackson, not out.. .. .. 2
Extras .. . • • • • .• 6

PENSWETT.
Penn, c Timmis, b Gaston .. .. 10
Dean, b Gaston .. .. • • • • .. 4
Mathews, Green, b Gaston .. 10
Lewis, b Gaston .. • • • • .. 4
Clarke, c Green, b Jackson . • .. 16
Derricott, b Jones ..
Fothergell, b Jackion . • .. 4
Kenzie. c Parkes, b Jackson .. 5
Cole, b Gaston .. • • .. 1
Mullett, not out .. • • .. .. 2
Greenfield, not out ..
Extras .. .. 6