The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-02-27 00:00:00

LOOAL GOVE,tNNIENT BOARD INQUIRY AT
OLD
,HILL.

LIVELY PROCEEDINGS.

Major Heck'. Tullook, one of the Local Govern.
.at 30ard Inspectors, attended on Tuesday at the
13,1',Pe Offices. Old Hill, Rowley Regis, for the pur.

p-se of holding an inquiry with r'e.spect to an-ap-
pl'eation made by the Rowley Regis Local Board
to obtain a loan of £1,286 for the construction of
se rage works at Blackheath and Gridley Heath.
Among those present were Messrs. Walter Bassano,
J.P., A. Wright, C. Beale, I3easley, H. k. Bassano,
S. Cave, E. Pewtress, B. Hadley, W. Whitehonse,
G. Green. Raybould, and Farmr.
Major Tuilock having opened the inquiry, Mr. S.
Cave sail he objected to Mr. H. A. Bassano being
presint, as he was not a ratepayer.
W. Bsssano : He has as much right to be
prdsent as you. as he is a ratepayer.
Mr. Cave: I am not aware that he pays rates.
Mr. Whitworth (rate collector) said if it was
ne.ssary he would produce the rate Look which
ss wild show that Mr. Bassauo was a ratepayer.
The Inspector said he did not think it was at all
necessary for the book to be produced or to take a
vote upon the question—(hear, hear).
Mr. Wright, the Clerk to the Local Board, ex-
plained that his Board was desirous of obtaining
tha sanction of the Local Government Board to a
loan of £1,286 ; pBB6 was for the payment of work
done in the construction of a main sewer at Black-
heatl

---- -
Mr. Beale prodst3ed plals of the works constructed
rend gave esidence showing that it was a public
improvement, bat was carried out before he Wail
appointed eurvey or to the Board.
!dr. Cave- oati as a ratepayer he had attended
that inquiry to oppose the application in every
re pct.
inspectnr said he regarded the application as
I),ing• a very reasonable one, and he certainly
colld not take into consideration the opposition of
Mr. Cave.

_
Mr. Cave said he had heard on reliable authority
.at immediately after thP aewer was completed
en year, ago, the Local Board made a private im-
provement rate, and called upon persons to pay it.
His instructions were that at least one person paid
the rate. _ _

In reply to the Intpeetor, Mr. Beale ‘tated that
the power had been made in a public street. and
would be for the benefit of the ratepayers, and not

any particular property owner,
3lr. Cave: It is simply a dodge on the part of the
Local Board to put money into the hands of the
treasurer.
The Inspector r3marlud that as the work 11:-1
been done for the benefit of the ratepayers, i! was
only fair that the future generstions should have
the privilege of helping to pay for it—(hear,
hear).
Mr. Cave : Bat its is not for the general benefit

of the ratepayers.
In reply to the Inspector, Mr. W. Bassano stated
that the sewcr was made for the purpose of draining
the cellars. Ho might state that the contractor
was paid at the time for the work that be did, and
the treasurer advanced the money, and the Board
now considered it time that the money
.was re-
funded.
Mr. Cave remarked that the .treasurer had fre-
quontly had balances in his hands and might have
paid himself.
Mr. W. Batman° : We dont transact business in
that way.
Mr. Cave submitted that the. Local Government

B:urd had not the power to sanction the applica-
tion seeing that the work was constructed ten years
ago.
The Impactor held that the Local Government
Board had the power, and added that the Oov rn-
merit auditor hed ruled that it would be competent
for the Local Board to obtain a loan to pay the
debt. The amount must either be paid out of the
current rate or by a loan, and he thought the rate-
payer would prefer a loan, the repayment of whiok
would extend over a period of years.
Mr, Hadley said he was bound to confers that he
thought there had been some irregularity on to
part of the Local Board, He had always under-
stood it to be a private improvement, and those
who benefited by it should pay for it.
The Inspector It has been proved that it is a
publin improvement; consequently it is only right
that the general body of ratepayers should contri-
bute to its cost. It certainly would have been
better if the Local Board had obtained a loan at the
time the work was dene.
After further discussion. Mr. Beale submitted
plans of the proposed sewerage works at Cradley
Heath, which were estimated to cos' £4OO.
Mr. Ca,ra said according to the estimate' the
work was only to cost £l5O.
Mr. BILibaLIO You know that is wrong.
Mr. Cave : It states "Cradle), Heath sewer
£160"

lixgafU.V.P . There are none so blind as those
srbo wt.n.t gee.

Mr. Cave : Yon can't as very well when you
erA.n't account for £999.

The Inspector :Have you any objection to offer t
Mr. Cave. Oh, no. Et wid be au improvement.
Mr. Hadley : here is nothina like leather—
(laugkter). Mr. Cave lives at Cradley Heath, and
he has got what he wants—(renewed langhttr).
Irk) Inspector stated that he should like to
if anything WAS being done with the general sewer-
ag of the district? The Local Government Bard
had received complaints with respect to the pollu-
tions of various streams in the district, and it had
bean his duty to hold several inquiries, and hie ez
pe.t.nce was that the Tipton Sanitary Authorities
greatiogt ainnoro,
BOODMIO siabed thid sa assailitaties e tie

streams had been made throughout the parish, and
he was glad to say the Rowley people contributes
very little to the pollution. From an inspection
which had been made oa one side of the parish, it
had been ascertained that the Halesowen Authority
iiad polluted the stream. He hoped, however, in
t,i.e colase of a short time arrangements would be
co'ople'ed with neighbouring Aut)zorities to entirely
remove the evil complained of.
The Inspector said he was glad to hear the re-
marks just made.
The proceedings terminated with the customary
votes of thanks.