The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-10-17 00:00:00

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CONCERT AT THE LYE BRITISH SCHOOL.
The Annual Concert in aid of the above school
was held in the school-room on Monday evening last.
The room was crowded in every part.
Mr. Thomas Rhodes occupied the chair, and he
called upon the Rev. Parker, Pastor of the place,
to read the report of the past year. This statedthat
the school had made very considerable progress dur-
ing that time, and was in a thorough state of effi-
ciency. They had had considerable difficulty during
the past year in their endeavours to secure the ser-
vices of a pupil teacher, in accordance with the re-
quirements of Government. This was quite unavoid.
aide on their part, as they had advertised and used
every means in their power to obtain one; and it
would appear that there were no pupil teachers to be
had. He (the speaker) requested any of those pre-
sent who knew of a lad qualified and willing to ac-
cept the post, to give information to himself or Mr.
Price (the schoolmaster) as soon as possible. By
I doing so, they would remove what was a source of
, inconvenience to them, as well as of considerable
pecuniary loss, as Government imposed a fine upou
them every year, for their deficiency in this respect.
The financial statement showed that the total amount
of subscriptions and donations received during the
year was ..e.th lOs. The total receipts were .ClB9 Ss
21d. At the end of the year there was a balance
due to the treasurer of „ES 19s Id. The total expen-
diture was .f. 191 9s 211. The total income of the
year was less than it was a couple of years ago, the
, deficiency arising from the amount of fines that had
been inflicted IT Government during this and last
year. Nearly the whole of the balance due to the
treasurer was due to fine,.. They wanted to make
the school a great success, and to make it an institute
of the neighbourhood; and it bade fair to do this. It
I was prospering this year, and the attendance was
Letter than before. But their prosperity involved
them in difficulties. Those difficulties would soon
disappear if their friends would give them their
cordial sympathy and support.
Mr. I'. Rhodes said, in view of the lengthy pro-
gramme that had to be gone through, he would
make but a shoat speech. He was very
much pleased to meet with those present under such
favourable eircum:tances. lie was glad to see so
many pleasant and smiling faces, and ho did not think
th,re was an aching heart there that night.
. . .

Mr. Price (the schoolmaster), said he would not
occupy much of their time, as he would confine him-
self to making a few remarks on the theory of school
keeping. There were two points which required
special attention from the parents. These were regu-
lar attendance and punctuality. If every child that
went to the school would attend every time that the
school was opened, that would he regular attendance.
it was impossible to tell what were the difficulties
which resulted from irregular attendance. Scholars
who did not attend regularly were outstripped by
those who were snore punctual, and who had acquired
knowledge during their long absence. The Govern-
ment required 250 attendances from every child dur-
ing the year; and if that number were not made a
portion of the Government grant was withheld,
thereby entailing considerable loss to the funds of the
school. With reference to nnpnntuality, he need not
dwell upon that, as every one was aware how times-
it was to he punctual in everything that ielated to
business, and if any one wished to go on well they
would have to form those habits when they were
young by which their after career would be destin-
gnished. .

The following programme was then gone through
in a very creditable manner :—Overture,—Mr. T.
Rhodes, Jun.; song by the children—" Are there not
voices;" song—Miss L. Southall, " Ceme back to
Erin," song—Master IL Mobberley, " Father says
may." piano solo—Mr. G. Price, 'Home sweet home,"
song by children—" Up and away; song Miss S. A.
Jones—" Far away; " song—Mr. J. S. Southall;
"There's nothing like a fresh'ning breeze,' Recita-
tive and air—Mr. Pagett. "In native worth," song—
Miss Parker, "Angels ever bright and fair, " piano
duett —Messrs. I till and Price. "Hallelujah Chorus,"
song by the children—" Spring flowers,' Song—Miss
L. Southall, " Thady O'Flinn," Song—Master IL
Mobberly, " Pull yourselvs together boys," duet—
Mr. J. S. and Miss L. Southall, "Tell me gentle
stranger." song—Miss Parker, " Guardian angels
hover near thee,' piano solo—Mr. T. Rhodes, jun.—
fantasia, "Lilly Dale." song by children—" Beautiful
home," song—Miss S. A. Jones, "Eve's laments
tion," recitative and air—Mr. Pagett," Total eclipse,"
song—Mr. J. S. Southall, "The Blacksmith's son,"
song by the children-- We're homeward lbound."
The vocalists were accompanied on the piano forte by
Mr. Thos. Rhodes, Jun., ana :ilaster H. Taylor.