The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-12-17 00:00:00

. .
GA ad gzstrut 41eb,.

F;TOURBRIDGE CRICKET CLUB.

The annu.d meeting of this club was hold at th e
Talbot Hotel, oa Saturday night under the pr3sid-
ency of Mr. W. J. rurney.
Dr. Daly read the report for the pear ended 31st
Octob,r, which had been marked by 9 tlvral ev,?nts
of importance, as well as by sever& new departures
foremost arnont, them being the layinz down of a
new cinder treci on the ground at Amblecote, A
ba ance of £BO, in the hank had heel ntili.ed in the
matter, but the total cost was .2223 9s 4d, and a
permanent fencing cost £4O more, The trnek may
be fairly considered second to none, and when
properly weathered and settled would he one of the
fastest in the country. As part of the garden of
Arnblecote Villa was required in constructing the
track, the property was purchased for £7OO, part of
the money being raised by mortgage and part ad-
vanoed by the bank and kindly guaranteed by
Messrs. W, J. Turney, H. Turney, and H, Coch-
rane. The advantages of the track were pointed
out in the report, which went on to state that two
new tennis corals had been completed in the year
The membership of the club had increased satis-
factorily in the year, ani the present number was
216. In the first eleven Mr. A J. Otter was
entitled to the prize bat for the best batting aver•
age, and Mr. S. W. Edges for the boat bowling
average, Prize-bats had also been awarded to
the second eleven this year. Lawn tennis had been
well patronised during the season, and might now
be regarded as almost of as much importance as
cricket. A lawn tennis tournament was held in
August. The report referred to the championship
athletic meetings on the Stourbridge ground, and
the locll sports, which passed off in the usual sat-
isfactory manner. Football having been found to
damage the turf to a large extent, and being gen-
erally carried on at u loss, the committee had de-
cided not to allow the ground to be used for regular
play this winter, They advised the formation of a
f-lotballclab (Association rules) for next season.
The moveable property of the club was estimate'.
at £3OO, and t e permanent improge_nents repre-
sented about £393, Ss scl. The batting and
bowling average were appended, and also an ab-
stract of the accounts.
_ _

The Chairman moved the adoption of the report,
ani Mr. T. Parkes at once rose and moved that the
report be rejected.
Mr. H. Laney said it was out of order to move
an amendment before the report was seconded,
which he then did.

Mr. Parka th-e—n- moved that the report be re-
jected, and thit two or three persons be appointed
to overhaul the accounts.

Tr.is was sec n—ded-ii-sz.rneone in the room.
Mr. T. Clulee asked if the report was the repor
of the committee.
Tile Chairman said he took it that it was. He
thought he was correct in saying that the com-
mittee were unanimous in what had been done in
the past year, and therefore he took it that they
were unanimoua in presenting the report.
• Mr, Boulton said as a member of the committee
he could say the report hal been before the com-
mittee, and had been passe I by them.
Mr. Parkes said the balance stint had not had
the approval of the committee.
The Chairman said he would put the amendment
and motion, and if the former was carried they
could discuss the matter as long as they liked. H
took it they were all there with the interests of th
club at heart, and had not come to fall out with
each other.

On putting the amendment the Chairman said
there only five for it. and ths report was t.ten
carried by a large m Ajority,
A discussion followed on matters bronglit for-
ward by Mr. Parkes, who complained of the dis-
continuance of football this winter, and also took
exception to some points in the accounts. So:ne
excited remarks were made, and the Chairman
remarked that it was monstrous to suppose that the
committee were against football, or tennis, or any-
thing else. They wanted every branch of English
sport on the ground at Stonrbridge, and it was alto-
gether a mistake to raise these heated discussions
because the committee had taken certain action re.
gardiag football for this one season. He took it
the committee had done their very best for the
club in the past year.
The election of officers afterwards took place.
Mesas, H. Turney and and VV. Walker were elected
secretaries; M -ssrs. G. Timmis and J. Penn,
match secretaries ; Mr. G. Scriven, treasurer;
Messrs, T. Littlewood and J. Keane, auditors ; and
as tie committee, Messrs. W. Boulton, C. Walker,
I. Nash, F. zituart, T. Penn, A. Otter and Dr. Daly

SCSOOL BOARD The monthly mes:ing of the
Board was held on Monday evening- the Thv.Ef
Sherrard presidiag.-The number of children on the
roll of the elementary schools was reported as 1913
deereala of 3 on tae month, and the attendan e
per cnit. was 84 6.-A report was presented from
the examiners in religious knowledge upon their
examination at the Board schools,and it detailed
the general results.-A. balance of ..V220 at the bank
was reportd, which it was stated would be suffi-
cient to carry the Board over thP present year. A
call of £4OO. became due on the 24 th inst.

CONCERT,OII ,ionday night a concert was given
in the Town Hall, in aid of the Linda of the Church
of England Asrociation. The programme was
sustained by Miss Eld, Miss Roberts, Miss Bourne,
and Miss M. A. James, and by Messrs. T. J. Young,
J. Reidy. and T. and H. V. Bowen, and it was wail
received by the audience. Mr. Alfred Freer, the
president, expressed the thanks of the association to
those who had contributed to the evening's enter.
tainment. The attendance was not very large.
WESLEYAN SCHOOLS... A sale of work was held in
these schools on Monday in aid of the building fund.
The schools were erected recently, at a cost of
.21,600., of which £7OO, was raised at the time,
leaving £9oo,still to be provided. There was a
Christmas tree as well as stalls for the sale of work
and a number of curiosities, &c,, were provided for
the entertainment of visitors.

OLD ENGLISR CUSTOMS—Few households will
probably, during the next few days, be witho it
what only a few years ago were articles of luxury
With genuine Wines from France, Spain, &c. to be
had—as we are assured in a pamphlet recently
published by the ex—president of the Royal Colle 4'e
of Surgeons they can be—at is. per bottle, there
should be no difficulty in keeping up the" old
English c.istom " referred to by a contemporary as
follows: In these modern days we appear to be in 1
fair way o see mauy of the olden customs come
an end. aristmas alone, perhaps still keeps its old
hold in ;Lir national habits. How saasonable a : I
welcoui to the poor are many of the gifts th•Aa
dispensed. The coal end blanket trades could no
doubt show BOXIO curious staisties at this time
while agencies like those of WSz A Gilbey and other
hones serve as Christmas barometers to register
friendly thoughts not only for the poor but in the
shape of the seasonable hamper of Wines and
Spiritsipassihg from friend to friend.
ON CONSUMPTION OF THE LUNGS, OR DECLINE) AND
ITS SUCCESSFUL TRFATNIZNT. BY Gicor;e Thomas
Congreve. London: Ei dot Stock, 62, Pate.: er Row
w, APPENDIX TO THE ABOVE, Same a _thor and
publisher.