The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-03-05 00:00:00

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Xocat aftb ITeirrs,

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was

held in the Commissioners Rom, Corn Exchange

Stourbridge, on Monday last. Mr. W. J. Turney
in the chair. There were also present Messrs. Bland,

Hughes, Stringer, Allsop, -Perkin, Ick, North',
Griffin, Billinemm, Hicklin, and Woolly.
The clerk read the minutes of the last meeting,
which were confirmed and. signed.

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
The treasurer s balances on the several accounts, I
are as follows :—Highway account, balance due
from Treasurer to this date £2B 7s. 6d ; Impr.ve-
ment Account balance due from Treasurer, £2lO
Os 9d ; Urban,Sanitary Authority Account, balance
due from Treasurer, £37 14s 10d. Your committee
having examinod the accounts recommend them to
be paid, viz :—On the Highway Account £9O 90s
sd; Improvement Account £23 16s 10d ; Urban
Sanitny Authority £37 12s 4d.
Your committee recommend that the surveyor be
instructed to obtain and keep a small stock of drain
pipes assorted.
It was proposed by the Chairman and seconded
by Mr. Perkin, that the tenders of Messrs.Bati:n-ian
and Travers to lend the Commissioners £2,000 at 4

per cent. for the purchase of some property in •
Foster Street, with the object of making some
improvements in the said street be accepted.
The Chairman said he was pleased to say that
there was in the bank £332 3s 6d to the credit of
the Commissioners.
Mr. Perkin said heshould move that the names of
all defaulters be submitted to the Board. He had
been informed that between five and six hundred
still remained un-collccted. The Chairman called the
Clerks attention to this, and requested him to speak
to the collector about it.
Mr. Hughes moved that the clerk do send a letter
of condolence to Mrs. Kelley and family, on the
death of her late husband, who was fr many years
an active member of this Board. This was seconded
by the Chairman and carried.
An estimate for a General District Rate was laid
on the tables, and passed.
GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE REPORT.

MEDICAL OFFICER'S OF HEALTH REPORT.—The
number of deaths registered from January 24th, to
February 21st, is 18, viz : 11 males and 7 females
Death-z ate 23. The number of births in the
same period is 17, viz :-9 males, and 8 females,
Birth-rate 21-6,
THE OFFICER'S REPORT.—The death-rate is
exactly the same as last month, being 23 per
thous ;lad living The corresponding month last year
was 12-7. The weather causing the high death-r3te is
shown by the fact t 1 at out of the 18 deaths, 10
were caused by long diseases; 9 of the deaths were
over 60 years of age. Inspection of hous,s on
Beauty Bank and Cecil Street, have been made.
The Medical Officer's Journal shews that premises
have been inspected in Beauty Bank an! Cecil
Street. Notices have been served,
.TOWN OFFICER'S REPORT.—The nuisances remain-
: ,
ing from last month 15; reported during the month
38, total 53. Removed old 12, new 21, total 36, re-
maining 17,
NIGHT Sou. REMOVAL.—One hundred and seven
privies, 75 ashpits, one cess pool, belonging to 214
houses have been emptied and cleansed, and their
contents removed. Number of loads 217.
The slaughter-houses and lodging-houses were in
good sanitary condition.
REPORT OF THE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE..

PLANS or NEW BUILDING.—Your committee
report that plans for some buildingin High Street, at
Prospect House, and two houses at the Hea'h have
been laid before your committee and recommend the
Board to pass this subject to the Bye Laws.
A letter was read from Mr. Wainwright, of Dudley
with reference to the bill for the proposed tramway
between Dudley and Stourbridge. This stated that
the "froutagers " had been too strong for the
promoters of the tramway scheme, and the latter
would terminate at the river Stour, outside of Stour-
bridge, instead of going through the town, as was
originally intended.
'the Chairman regretted that the Board of Trade
had come to the decision. They appeared to have
taken notice of what he regarded as very slight
opposition. If the promoters had presented a
counter petition he believed there would have beer
a different result. They had shown a great deal of
apathy. He believed that even now it was not too
late, and that if the promoters were asked to bestir
themselves they could even now get permission to
extend the line to its proposed limits before they
had finished making it.
Mr. Stringer expressed himself to the same effect,
and the Clerk was instructed to write to the pro-
moters of the tramway to see if something could
not be done'
Mr. Alisop called the attention of the Board to
the bad state of the roads in Foster Street. He
considered it a very important road, and the foot-
path was in a wretched state, and concluded by
moving that the path be laid with blue bricks,
which was seconded by the Chairman and carried.

mentioned in the indentures produced. On the 22nd

January last Mr. Chapman gave him his proper
wages of Bs. The following week he went to work
every morning and on the 29th January he asked
him for his wages. Defendant did not give him any
wages and told him he had none for hint. On the
31st January he went to w,,rk and Mr. Chapman
t-ld him he had no work for him. On the following
Sunday a letter came to his house from Mr. Chap •
mall. He went every morning in the foliowing
week and on the 2nd February another letter came.
He went the next Satut day and defendant gave him

ss. and said he should not give him any. nio_e. On

the 10th he complained of some work and use-1
some threats towards him and he (witness) went off
to Birmingham. On the following Friday morning
his father took him to Mr. Chapman but he would
not be seen. They went on the following morning
to Mr. Chapman and defendant said tat he should
not have anything to do with him. Since last Sep.

tem 'oer there h4tl been no men at work there.

had not had a proper amount of work to do. Mr.
Chapman asked him if he should like to work for
Mr. Ledbury, and his father was not willing. By
the Bench: The buiiding trade discontinued about a
year. The work he had been doing lately ss as
panne' doors and window frames. He had not had
any building contracts lately. Cross-examined :
His master had complained to him many a time
about his work.—Mr. Wilcock addressing the
Bench for the defence said that for a considerable
period Mr. Chapruen had to complain about the
conduct of c .mplaivant. He had been in the habit
of getting there late in the morning, neglecting his
work dining the day, and of his leaving his work
' just when he felt disposed and refusing to obey the
orders of his master.—Mr. Chapman was called
and said that he had had to complain of the com-
plainant's conduct almost da'ly since he had been
apprenticed. It was untrue that there was no
work for him to do, for be always kept his men at
work, for stock when there were no orders.—The
Bench said that in this case the boy had proved to
their satisfaction that he was entitled to a certain
amount of wages and the master had also proved
his set-off to an equal amount. The case was there-
fore dismissed, each one paying theirown Costs.
ASSAULT CASE. William Chance was charged
with assaulting Walter Packwood, on the 2nd inet.
Mr. Roskell appeared for complainant. From the
evidence it appears that a dispute arose about some
books when defendant struck complainant on the
eye and blackened it, and also threatened to kill
him. Charles Shilvock and Emma Morris corrobo-
rated complainant. . Defendant denied the assault,.
The Bench considered the case proved and fined
defendant 10s and costs.
RIDING WITHOUT REINS. Francis Mears was
charged with riding on his cart without reins at
Olds a inford, on the 28th ult. Police-constable
Hayes proved the case which was withdra.Wn on
payment of costs.
COAL SrEarana.—Esther Bradley and Harriet
Hughes were charged with stealing a quantity of
coal on the 24th ult, the property of Messrs. King
and Co. Police-constable Oakey proved the case.
Fined 5s each.
TRANSFERS. The following tra.nsfets were
atowed :—Britannia Inn, Wollaston, from Henry
Worrad to Richard Haden; Why Not Inn, from
Edward Gray to Reuben Taylor; Rose and Crown,
Hay Green, from William Bunn to James Green ;
and the Pump Inn, from T. H. Redford to J 'roes
Cole. The transfer of the license of the Holly
Bush Inn, Coveniry Street, to John William
Hutchings. was refused, Mr. Wheeler objecting to
it because on the 18th ult the applicant was con •
victed of keeping open during prohibited hours.
CHARGE AGAINST AN INNKEEPER. John
Phillips, landlord of the Foley Arms Inn, Stour-
bridge, was charged with keeping open during pro-
hibited hours—Police-constable Cartwright said
that on the 24th ult, he visited the delencleut's
house about taalve minutes past eleven o'clock and
fo Ind six men in the tap room.' The landlady said
that she was not aware that it was so late. Mr.
Perry said that it was an inadvertence. The Bench
said that as the Superintendent was willing to with-
draw the summons on payment of costs they would
allow it :to be withdrawn. Joseph Mien,
Thomas Wright, William Pountney, Richard Foxall,
Samuel Haden, and John Jones were then charged
with being on the premises during prohibited hours.
These summonses were also withdrawn on payment
of costs.
BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The weekly meeting
of this Board was held yesterday, Mr. Ray bould
in the chair. There were also present Messrs.
Mills, Lavender, Taylor, Pargeter, H. Billing-
ham, Wood, and Hale. Admitted into the house
during the week 13 ; discharged 7; dead 1 ;
remaining in the house 598 ; corresponding
period last year 501. Out-door relief, King-
swinford district, £79 17s 1d ; Stourbridge
district £34 us 9d ; Halesowen district £23
5s 6d; non-resident 68 4d.

KIDDERMINSTER AIIINIOIPAL ELECTION

THE FAILURE OF A DUDLEY
IItONMASTER.
A meeting of the en ditors of James McEwen,
trading as Messrs. Phillips and Mclswun, of Park
Head Furnaces, Woodaide, Dudley, and of Wolver-
hampton street Dudley, was held on Wednesday at
the Queen's Hotel, Birmingham. Mr. Garrett
pr sidsd, and among the creditors present were
Messrs. 4. J. Eveson, G. H. Hickman, W. H,
Barlow, and Stanton; other creditors being repre-
sented by Messrs. T. S. Hatton, I'. 0 Williams
(from the office of Messrs. Laundy and Co.), J.
Percival, &c.—The statement of the debtor's affairs
showed total debts, £17,628 13s. 4c1., and assets,
£3,404 lls. The liabilities included unsecured
cre:l i toi s, £9.984 14s, 10d. ; cre,litors fully secured,
£5,500; creditors partly secured, £7,600 ; less
estimated value of securities, £2,750—.£1,850 ;
creditors for rent, taxes, and wages, £2,793 18s. 6d.
and among the assets were :—Stock-in-trade and
tenants' rights at Park Head Furn •res and Colliery
(less £2,500, amount of Mr. J. E. Swindsll's
mortgage), £3,135; cash in hand, .21 19s. ; i urniture,
fittings, and fixtures at Wolverhampton Street,
estimatsd to produce £267 12s.—The report of the
receiver (Mr. B. Bellingham) stated that the debtor
entered into the business of an iroamaster at the
Park Iliad Furnaces, Dudley, on the 20th March,
1876, with a capital of £5,000. At this time he
I made cold blast iron, tne price then being £5 15s.
per ton. Since then the selling prices of pig iron
, had gradually declined, In April of the same year
the price fell to £5 Ss. In July, 1877, another
reduction took place, and the price fell to £5. A
succession of reductions followed :—ln September,
1877, to £4 15s. ;in October, 1878, to 4 10s. ; and
is July, 1879, to £4 ss. The debtor also made
, c anmon pig iron. The price at which he sold this
quality in March, 1876. wa3 £3 43. per ton, but in
1879 the price had gone down to £1 16s. 6d.
During the five years no bad debts were incurred.
The debtor attributed his loss entirely to the
unvary-ng and unavoidable depression of the iron
, trade during the period referred to. The total
liabilities unsecured amounted to £17,628 13s 4d.
After a minute inspection of the assets the receiver
had valued them at £5,902 12s. The stock-in-tsade
and machinery wore the same as when taken over
by the debtor from Messrs. Evers and Martin in
1876, at which time the stock in-trade, machinery,
and erections were valued at £10,872 10s., so that
they would be said to have depreciated in value,
principally owing to the altered condition of trale,
to the extent of £1,970. This amount, with £1,500
spent in colliery plant, hot -air stoves, new wrought
rails, new line to furnaces and other erections, added
to the amount of the Fesent assets, formed a total
of £9,874 us., and this deducted from the liabilities
e--£l7, 628 13s. 4d.—showed a loss of £8,756 2s.
4d , which with £5.000 of capital made a total loss
in •riding £13,756 is. ad. The quantity of pig
iron made during the five years was 47,000 tons, so
that there appeared to be an average loss per ton of
ss. on the iron produced. During the last six months
the debtor succeeded in obtaining £5 ss. for his
iron, bring £1 is. per ton to excess of the price of
cold blast pigs, and two contracts still remained
us completed at this price. The in mediate cause of
the failure was the institution of legal proceedings,
which the debtor could not meet.—Mr. Stokes said
he was unable to make any offer on the part of the
idebtor, but there were persons willing to ent,r into
negotiations for the purchase of the works as a go-
inA concern. Mr. Swindell, the holler of the bill
of sale, and Lord Dudley would also assist the
cre ,itors, and there was a possibility of the pay-
ment. of a fair dividened.—lt was agreed to wind up
the estate in liquidatien and not in bankruptcy, and
Mr. BAlingham was appointed trustee, with a com-
mittee of inspection.