The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-01-30 00:00:00

THE SCIIOOL BOARD MEETING.

The usual meeting of this Board was held in
the Commissioners' Room in the Corn Exchange,
on Monday evening I.4st. The only members pre-
sent were Messrs. Billiugham, Stringer, and Pres-
cott. On the motion of Mr. Stringer, seconded
by Mr. Prescott, Mr. BiHingham was elected

The Clerk read the minutes of the last meeting.
Prior to the continuation of the minutes,
. . . _ _

_
Prescott said he had given notice to rescind
some of the resolutions embodied in the minutes,
because notice had not been given of their inten-
tion to rescind the resolution accepting Mr.
Foster's tender.

Mr. Billing-ham said the minutes were the first
to require their attention.
Mr. Prescott said the question was whether
those minutes should be confirmed or not. The
figures for the " extras' seemed to him extraordi-
nary, now he came to see them for the first time.
Mr. Stringer supplsed that the fact of thAr
having accepted a tender for a school only, would
not prevent them from getting a tender for a mas-
ter's house also. By excluding such a thing they
would make a great mistake.
The Clerk reminded them there was no motion
before the Board.

The Chairman: Mr. Stringer will you voto for
the minutes ?

Mr. Pres(!ott: He can't blow hot and cold in one
breath. He will bind himself by doing this. He
(Mr. Prescott) thought the last meeting would be
a _pro forout eeting ; that the contracts would be
simply looked at until the Board met again. In-
stead of that there was a, contract rescinded and
another one entered into. As, he perceived, Mr.
Stringer was not there. The latter gentleman had
always advocated for a house. It seemed to him
a most extraordinary thing for two builders to
have sent in two estimates so very close together.
It looked like collusion. There was Guest and
Chapman who had sent in estimates within lOs of
each other. It looked as if those builders had
had a "confab," and as soon as they found out
what Horton had done they made up their minds

to send in one a little bit cheaper. He wished
those gentlemen who had been present at the meet-
ing had said, "We will keep Foster in abeyance
for a month longer." If he understood the thing
rightly, the builder could receive no money until
he had a certificate to show that he had done his
work according to the contract. Yet they had
decided to give Chapman £2,348 for the erection
of schools, which was nearly £2OO more than Fos-
ter offered to build them for, merely for having
Mills, the plasterer's, signature. He wished to
know whether the large ratepayers would not be
satisfied without having a formal surety, rather
than give ..t2OO for it, when the builder could not
got the money without the certificate of the
Board. He thought the contract should be res-
cinded xntil proper notice had been given. He
had had no notice.

The Clerk again brought the question of the
confirmation of tho minutes before the Board. He
took it that the confirmation of minutes, had re-
ference simply to the accuracy of those minutes.
Mr. Prescott: I can't pledge myself to those
minutes. lam very sorry. I don't want to throw
any obstacles in the way..
A short discussion ensued as to the notice that
had been given for rescinding the resolution ac-
cepting*Foster's tender; and
The Clerk explained that he had sent Mr. Pres-
cott a circular inviting his attendance at the meet-
ing which was for the adjourned consideration of
Mr. Fosters tender, Then there was an extraor-
dinary meeting for the Board to have an interview
with Mr. Foster, and to learn what security he in-
tended to provide.
Mr. Prescott said he was out, and the circular
nyth t have heen mislaid, for he had not seen it.
He respectfully said it as a lawyer, there had been
no legal notice given that that contract was to be
rescinded, and when these things came before the
auditor these expenses would be disallowed. Fos-
ter ought to have been made to pay the cost of
the advertisements. The security of Mr. Charles
Mills I don't complain about, but I don't like to
pay .t2OO merely for having Charles Mills' signa-
ture to the contract.

Mr. Billingbauu Foster's contract was never
concluded.

Mr. Prescott: Oh, it was.
Mx. Billingham : I have not done. It was not
complete because Foster had not fulfilled it him-
self.

Mr. Prescott: It was, because the Board had ac-
cepted his tender,:and he could be made to pay
expenses. The responsibility must rest upon you
three or four gentlemen who have taken upon
yourselves, to satisfy the minds of those rate-
payers who will have to pay the difference.
The Clerk again referred to the confirmation of
the minutes. His idea of that was simgly accept-
ing them as truthful extracts of what had taken
p lace.

- Mr. Prescott still thought that by signing them
they would pledge themselves to what had been
done. If they confirmed the minutes they should
have the responsibility thrown upon them.
Mr. Billing,ham said in the matter of those
schools, he would not be a party to accepting any
one without a surety.
Mr. Prescott: What a farce. Here's a builder
and a pla.stewer. People can't shut their eyes.
After some further conversation,
Mr. Stringer said that under the circumstances
he should move that this meeting be adjourned
until a stronger meeting was present.
The Clerk then reminded him that the minutes
of the last meeting had not been confirmed, and
Mr. Stringer then moved that the minutes be
adopted; which was seconded by the Chairman,
Mr. Prescott being against.
The Chairman then expressed himself to the
effect that he would rather get on with the busi-
ness than adjourn the meeting.
This course being assented to,
Mr: Prescott re-opened the question of the con-
tract, and sail if one person offered to do a certain
amount of work for a certain amount of money
and they accepted it, that was an accepted con-
tract. They accepted Mr. Foster's offer to erect
the schools, and within 12 days of that time they
(the Board) said they would (rive £2348 10s.
What was the reason for this change?b Mr. Fos-
ter refused to find surety, and that was the ground
upon which they formed their basis of action. He
maintained that was not sufficient ground for res-
cinding their first resolution. If Mr. Foster
could see his way clear to building the schools for
that money, he should have been allowed to do so.
But a suggestion was made that the other builders
should be written to, to see if they would alter
their tenders, and they did so. And he thonght
in fairness to himself and Mr. Stainger, they
should have had an opportunity of giving an
an opinion upon it. Were they justified in spend-
ing the ratepayers' money in that way. He con-
tended they were not. He should also like to en-
quire what would be the expense of filling up this
ground. He had been asked if they were going
to pay 26 6d a yard for filling up this ground for
building purposes. He asked Mr. Perry if this
was true.

The Clerk: No, no.
Mr. Prescott said he had had some experience
and on an average the depth would be five feet,
and it would take a precious lot of ashes, rubb]sh,
&c., to fill it up. He could fancy the builder say-
ing to himself, "I have cut the contract very fine
indeed, but 1 shall make it out in filling up, and
the extras." If there were any specifications for
that part of the work he should like to see them-
He took it that it was the architect's duty to tell
them what_ the wall would cost.

The Chairman recalled Mr. attention
to the motion.

Mr. Presott then moved that the resolution ac-
cepting Mr. Chapman's tender be rescinded, on
the ground that no notice had been given to res-
cind the contract with Mr. Foster.
The Clerk said sufficient notice had been given
to justify the action of the Board, because the
circular sent out, notified that the meeting was
convened for the purpose of taking into conside-
ration Ms. Foster's tender.

There was no seconder to Mr. Prescott's resolu-
tion, and it fell to the ground.
Mr. Prescott next moved that the resolution for
the payment of interest, passed by the Board, be
rescinded, because that meant interest on £BOO.
It was paying interest to Brooks for being allowed
to sink holes in the ground.
The Clerk said the money was paid on Mr.
Brooks giving permission to the architect io take
possession of the land in the name of the Board.
Mr. Prescott: I have asked the architect, and
he says he only permitted to sink two holes, and
he found it satisfactory.
Mr. Billingliam : Oh, he only thought it neces-
sary to sink two.

kr. Prescott said he did not wish to say any-
thing against the man, but that was what he said.
He would not push the resolution if he knew for
certain that the land was in possessioi of the
Board. He asked the builder that day if they
had taken possession of the land yet, and he said,
"Certainly not, sir."

This re-solution also was not seconded, and it
fell to the ground.

The Clerk read a letter from Mr. Chapman, in
which he said Mr. Charles Mills would be his
surety in the matter of the building contract.
The Chairman intimated that Mr. Mills was the
surety, and aasked the Board if they would accept
him.
Mr. Prescott said he could not vote for the man.
Mr. Stringer begged to propose that that surety
be accepted. Mr. Mills was a very respectable
man, well known :to all of them, and he moved
that it be accepted._ -

This WaS seconded by Mr. Billingha,m and car-
ried; Mr. Prescott being against. The latter said
it was not the man, it was the principle he looked
at. There were £2OO given for a name.
The Clerk said with regard to the specifications
ati to the brick work, a great deal of that had been
provided for in the original specifications. It only
required to be worked out.

A discussion next ensued, as to the cost of filling
op the ground, building a wall, and providing the
internal fittings. It hail been stated that the cost
of these would raise tho builder's estimate (e 2,348
to 14799.

Some dissatisfaction was expressed with the
ground plan, as it was stated that according to
that it was intended to place the privies near Hill-
street.

Mr. Billingham suggested that the discussion of
this and other matters should be left until there
was a larger meeting.
Mr. Prescott said there were only two members
away that were likely to come. He could not see
how Mr. McEwen could come, as he was no longer
a ratepayer in the township.
It was eventually Moved by Mr. Stringer, and
seconded by Mr. Prescott, that no meeting be ad-
journed until Tuesday next.