The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-03-02 00:00:00

Xocal anti Pistrict gals.

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.

The usual monthly meeting of this body was
held at the Board Room, on Monday afternoon;
Mr. H. Billingham in the chair. There were
also present Messrs. Newnan, Edwards, Blun- '
corn, Emery, H. Hughes, J. Hughes, J. Allsop,
Perkins, Stringer, Captain Walker, and the Rev.
D. Maginnis.
The minutes of the last meeting were read
and confirmed.
The Clerk then read a copy of the congratu-
lator* address sent to her Majesty the Queen and
the Princess of Wales, which has already ap-
peared in our columns; and a letter was read
from the Hon. H. A. Bruce, acknowledging the
receipt of the addresses.

FINANCE.

The Chairman said there was due from the
Treasurer on the Improvement Account ,V 249
d; due to the Treasurer on the Highway ac-
count, tlB3 9s 7d.
FINANCE COMMITTEE 9 REPORT.

Your Committee received the following accounts to be
paid. Improvement Account : Mr. Ilark's for printing.
22 15s 14 ;Inc ine•tax, £3l 17. ; total, £39 12. 63.
Highway account : Weekly labourers, £3 4. 62; Mr.
Marks, 13s; Mr. W. Richardson, £3 12,52 ; Mr. J. C.
Harris, is; income tax, £22. ad; Messrs. Loftus and
Smith, £4O; total, £l9 19. 72,

----- •
Mr. Hughes said, as Chairman of that Corn.
ruittee he begged to move the adoption of the
report.
Seconded by Mr. NCWIIAW, and carried miani•
mously.

THE CORN EXCRANGE CHARGES.
The Chairman then introduced Mr. Penn,
corn dealer, to the meeting.
Mr. Penn said he attended the Board as a
deputation from ithe stall holders and fanners
that attended the Corn Exchange, with a view
of inducing the Board to adopts different sys-
tem of entrance fees to the Exchange. He
thought he was speaking within bounds N% hen he
said that three-fourths of the business eennecteit
with the market was carried on outside the walls,
and last Friday he took the trouble to ascertain
that only 11 out of the 16 stall-holders were pre•
sent at their stalls, and live were about to dis-
continue them. Ile thought they would say it
was a subject tiiat demanded attention. lie had
ascertained the opinion of Mr. Webb and Mr.
Firinstune on the subject, sad he was expressing
their views in saying that it should be made a
free market, and those who have business to
transact in the market should have free access
and no toll be demanded. Most of the fanners
and corn dealtrs aould be willing to pay a vol-
untary subscription. If the Board could not
make any other arrangement, hiinseif and
Messrs. Webb and Firinstone were prepared to
rent the room.
The Chairman asked Mr. Penn whether the
gentlemen he represented had placed him in a
position to make any offer as to what they would
give them for the stalls.
Mr. Penn said he did not think they would be
willing to give an increase of rent, but he him-
self, Mr. Firinstone, and Mr. Webb would be
willing to give an increase.
Mr. Blunsom thought Mr. Penn said he was
prepared to take the Exchange.
Mr. Penn said it the Board thought it desir-
able they would take it for an annual rental.
Mr. Hughes: Do you attend the market at
Birmingham?
Mr. Penn: I doe
Mr. Hughes: Do you pay a ice?
Mr. Penn: I do; 4d.
Mr. Hughes : Is there the same feeling against
paying the toll there as there is against paying
2d here ?
Mr. Penn : It is quite a different market.
The Chairman said they would like to have
something definite before they could go into
committee on the subject as to the best course
they should take.
Mr. Penn said the stall keepers had their stalls
at 30s per annum, and they expected to have a
full attendance, but if the present state of affairs
was to cootinne the stall keepers give up their
stalls An d find customers where they could.
Mr. Edwards said he paid 7s or 10s per year
for his auction bills being placed in the room.
Mr. Penn said he understood that the Corn
Exchange, as Its name implied, was built for the
convenience of persons attending the market so
that they might transact their business in a
comfortable way, whilst last Friday there was a
lot of lumber belonging to a diorama or some-
thing of the sort, occupying the greater part of
Hall, and a disagreeable smell of naphtha per-
vading the building. Boards were placed before
the windows, and those present had to see by
gas-light, and they all knew they could not buy
and sell corn by gae-light.
Mr. Edwards said they could not buy Of Sell
corn and barley be gas-light.
The Chairman by
Mr. Penn te give them
an idea of the number that 'Mended the room on
a Friday on an average.
Mr. Penn said speaking for the last 12 months
he should say 20 per week. There were about
40 annual tickets taken at IE4 each. About 12
months ago there were disturbances in the ball,
and in consequence many persona left the Ex-
change. Ile thought it VON as much for the
credit of the town as for the corn trade that
something should be done. Mr. Webb told him
on Friday night that be was standing at his stall
inside the Exchange, with his clerk, and received
only three orders, whilst his son who WAS stand-
ing in the street received sixteen or seventeen
orders.
Mr. Hughes asked Mr. Penn if he did not
think the stall keepers would pay 10e each extra
if the place were thrown open free.
Mr. Penn thought that out of the 16 stall.
keepers ten would pay the 10s,
Mr. Hughes said the cost of the Exchange
was about £4,000.