The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-18 00:00:00

TEE STOURBEIDGE OBBERVEBb

current rates. In the Cannock Chase district ,
the increase is from 2s. 6d. on slack to Bs. on
deep coal, the crest rise in this instance being
mainly due, as we understand, to heavy con-
tracts for coal for South Wales, where the native
coal supply is temporarily paralysed by the
strike. In the Worcestershire district the ad-
vance declared by the Earl of Dudley is equiva-
lent to Is. per ton upon best thick coal ; and
though the rest of the coal tiade of East
Worcestershire and South Stafforshire resolved
on Monday to make no change at present, it is
currently believed that they will shortly be
forced to follow Earl Dudley's lead. In that
case, the demand of the colliers for an advance
of Is. per day, which is now limited to the
collieries west of Dudley, would no doubt become
general. A more serious consequence would be
a fresh rise in pig-iron, which is already quoted
.£6 15s. to .27. for hot-blast native all-mine, and
as a result of that step, a farther advance in
finished iron. Such a movement, we fear, would
inflict a fatal check upon the trade, and ought to
be resisted, therefore, till the last extremity.

E iITUSTAIIIMINT.--An

was given in.the

_
lecture-romn of the Institution, on Monday evening last.
The Chairman was Mr. S. ft. Brooks, of Use firm of
Perry. Brooks, and Perry, nailmasters. and there was a
good attendance. The chairman briefly opened the pro.
ceedings, and introduced Messrs. Knowles, Taylor, and
Stevens to the audience. These gentlemen—Mr. Taylor,
(first violin), Mr. Know:es (second violin), and Mr.
Stevens (violineello), accompanied by Miss Parkes on
the pianoforte, played a br.iliant concei.ed piece in •
Tiny effective manner, and were due. iedly applauded at
its termination. Miss Wooldridge then sang, "I slsh
he would decide, Mamma," in a very pleasing manner;
and was followed by Messrs. Rhodes and Webb, who
performed • pianoforte duet with great precision and
accuracy, and at its conclusion the audience testified
their approbation in the most unmistrkeable manner.
Mr. E. Evans then gave one of Medi Twain's humourous
readings entitled " My Watch," which was mach appre.
&Wed. Mr. P. Chance next sang a song entitled
" • Soldier's Grave," which to our surprise, turned oat
to be nothing more or le= than the pathetic lines on the
death of Sir John Moore in which Nathaniel Wolfe Tose
immortalised the memory of that hero. We cannot but
question the taste of the composer, who, in the first
Instance could pat each beautiful language to such
wretched music as that to which the above words were
swag; and this, coupled with the indifferent manner in
which it was given made the performance anything but
• satisfactory one. A selection from "Norma," to be
performed by the violinists whom we have before men-
tioned was announced to follow and we were quite pre-
pared for a rich treat from the excellent manner in
which they had rendered the opening piece, but, un-
fortunately, an accident happening to the violin of Mr.
. Knowles, just as they were about to commence, placed
him burs de combat as tars. his share of the perform.
once was concerned, and be was eompeued to sit down
and allow the others to play it without his assistance. In
justice to Messrs. Taylor and Stevens, we must say tie=
they acemnpanied, as before, by Miss Parkes, gave the
greatest =Wootton by the very able and brilliant meaner
I. which they played their respective parts and they we=
loudly applauded at the eonelusion. Miss Wooldridge
then gave "I'm Ninety-five," • song in which Miss Kate
Harley made herself famous some years ago. Her
spirited rendering of the song highly delighted the
audience and she was vociferously encored at its termini'-
. tion. audience,
the °neon, hod been responded to Mr.
Evans sang the "British Lion," a patriotic song of the
good old fashioned sort, which greatly pleased all present,
Wed he reeeived well-merited enplane for the able manner
ill whisk he had rendered it. Mr. Skeldiag me= tong
yelp wisely, that pretty ballad, "Good by., Sweetheart,
ellk....bra" whisk was followed by. readlnientitled "the
and Jowls Gardner," given by Mr. W. Viridian,
jiTfilke piece whisk is seed to have been write= by
• putleutan of atom:bridge, was of a very hunsowrous
eltaracter, and most of the incidents spoken of being of
a local character, coupled with the fart that it was read
with great ability, sensed it to be highly amusing to the
audience, and alit, conclusion Mr. Fiddian was greeted
with the hearty plaudita of all present. The "Soldier'.
Chorus," from Foust was very ably executed by Mr.
likelding "and othen," and the singing of the "Lass that
Loves • Sailor," by Mr. B. Pearson, was • very credit-
able performance. An instrumental trio in which Mr.
Knowles, having procured another violin, was able to
take part, was next given with great.abilty. "Lila'. •
Bumper," • glee, was also very creditably performed by
Mr. Skelding and three others; and the song "John
Brown," by Mr. I'. Chance, brought an excellent even-
ing's entertainment to • close.
CO-OPSILSTIVS SOCIZTY.—The forty-third report of the
above society, for the half-year ending December 24th,
that shows :—During that period the cash taken for
goode sold, is £8,456 as compared against £6,815 taken
• during the first half of the year, which shows an Increase
of £1,640 for the six moutha, or an aggregate, taking for
the year,—of £16,271. Ninety-four new members have
been added to the Society during the six months, and
ten have withdrawn, this shews • numerical increase of
84, and leaves the number at present upon the books, at
761. The Committee also think, that this Balance
Sheet will afford • favourable comparison with any pre.
violet issue, either as regards the Capital,—Memberehip,
—or Profits; as it records 84 additional members,—
saw more capital,—and £B7 more profits than at any
previous balance during the Society's history,—and the
£650 which the Committee have now for disposal, after
paying £75 as interest on capital,—£B 7s. 64. as bonus to
the clothing club,—and allowing £62 13s, to the fixed
stock and reserve funds, will actable them to declare a
dividend at the rate of 2s. in the pound on all members'
purchase checks returned,—and leave a balance of £6O
Is. 24. to be carried to the next half-yearly account.
These feats, the committee think, will speak loudly for
themselves, not only to the members, but to the working
classes generally throughout the whole district ; for,
although the £1,147 which has been made in profit,
and divided amongst the members daring the year, is by
Do means an insignificant acquisition and addition to
their incomes; yet, it is but a very small moiety of what
may be legitimately acquired by them, by • more general
application of Co-operative principles, to their social
relationship and secular concerns. The report says :
" There is no influence more dangerous and more ener-
vating than the spirit 01 diecontent, which teaches us to
• see and to feel, and leave. us aimlessly looking for help
to come to us from one of the four quarters of Heaven,
—without will or energy to rise to our feet and attempt
to writ. There is, on the other hand, no force more
bracing and more lifegiving, than that wholesome die-
eentent, which teaches us that we may be better of—
which brings us together in union—sad rouses us to
attack in our own persons, the evils encler whisk we
mew llis with this teashiag iollassee that Croopere.
Eon is stirring our souls to their depths. It is
I aloud In the land, don't wait for revolutious—don7l2l
• 60 Porliamente—den't oak any body alas to do the work
of life for you, bat do it train.reelves I Man, in the
post, has had ell his lower stimulated by Wiliam
selfishness and eompetitition, kw of his higher and
nobler faculties sarialled. History, in every page, is a
record of passion, prejudice, pride rivalry, sushi*"
cruelty, and cruel wrong. The se111:11, the *Wirier, and
the strong have ruled the weak, and made them till the
soil, grind the core, and fill the granaries for themselves;
except no much as would keep th, working bees upon the
wing, to gather honey for the drones of the hive; but
the working bees begin to see how they can lay by their
own honey till a day of rest arrives, and then enjoy them'
selves in the present. Co-operation is pre-eminently
fraught with the noblest mission of bringing the glad
tidings of peace on earth and ;cod will towards and
amongst men. Let us, therefore, have free union for
self.help. Everywhere let the men of pure motives, and
vigorous well ordered lives come together—act together,
and know their own streugth. Let old despair and in-
tuition pass out with the old year ; and let us make Co-
operation ring through the land, as with the sound of a
trumpet ; so that as the gate of time swipes once more
upon its hinge, and tykes the old and brings the new,
every soldier of the Co-operating army may slightly =-
cord the resolution, that 1873 shall not sup from hi=
without his having chosen some taek of work for himself
—some small piece of work in the new building up of
society--some effort, greater small, to which he can give
the labor of his own hands, and in which he can joie
others to himself."