The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-10-04 00:00:00

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.

The monthly meeting of Coinrnissioners was
held in the Board-room at the Corn Exchange, on
Monday afternoon last. Mr. J. McEwen (chair-
man presideu ; and there were also present :
Messrs. BiHingham, Kelly, Young, Stanley, and
Allsop.
Mr. Taylor read a paper giving the result of
the late election of Commissioners.

.....
In answer to a question from Mr. Stanley, the
chairman said it was not absolutely necessary for
those elected to " qualify " at the first meeting of
the Board. It would be legal for them to do so
at any future meeting within six months after the
date of election.
The Clerk reported that the expenses of the
election were 215 12s.
The report of the Returning Officers was then
received and adopted.
Messrs. Allchurch, Mills, Scott, Edwards, and
Newnan (some of the newly elected candidates)
then made the usual declaration and took their
seats at the Board. . .

Mr. Taylor then announced that he had received
a letter from Mr. Shepherd, respecting the allega-
tion that the election was null and voidon account
of the returning officers having absented them-
selves for a short time from their respective poll-
ing places. The letter was to the effect that that
was not so; and several authorities were quoted
by Messrs. llarward Shepherd and llarward,
supporting their opinion.
Mr. Newnan' said they had better read the
letter.

The Chairman said he thought it unnecessary
to do so. He himself had received one similar to
that held by the Clerk; but he had not shown it
to any one as he regarded it in the light of a
private communication.
Some other members of the Board, however,
were of opinion that it should be mid, and even-
tually Mr. Taylor read it.
It was as follows :
John Taylor, Em.,
Clerk to the Commissioners',
Stourbridge.

Dear Sir,— It has been suggested to you that the
election held this month for the South Ward of this
town was void, on the ground that the returning officer
absented himself from the polling place for a short
time some iwhere about a quarter of an hour, and that
during that time no votes could be delivered to the re.
turning officer himself.
The following authorittes have been relied on in sup.
port of the contention •—Res v. Buller sud S East 8:49,
Pickering v. James L. J. c. 42 p. 217.

We have considered the question in connection with
the above cases, and are of opinion that the above objec-
tion to the election cannot be sustained.

It has been suggested that two Commissioner., who
acted as returning officers for the above election. are
now disqualified :roux acting as Commissioners. We are
of opinion that they are not so disqualified. We are,
however, of opinion that a returning officer cannot pro.
perly vote at his own polling place. Section 2s and 30
impose certain jildicial duties upon him iu respect of
the voters, aud the votes which we think he cannot
properly discharge in reference to his own vote.

We are dear air,
Yours faithfully,
HARWARD SREPHEED & HAIiWARD
Stoarbridge, Sept. 29th, 1873.

Mr. Taylor said that the votes spoken.of in the
letter had been withdrawn, and the 'natter
dropped.
The Clerk then rend the report of the

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

Your committee report that the trealiurer's
accounts at this date are as follows :—Highway
account, £366 14s lid, due from the treasurer on
Highway Account ; and £215 Ss ld on the Im-
provement account.
Some small accounts to the amount of £lO 12s
were ordered to be paid _

Mr. Bißingham Proposed that the report be
adopted; and the motion having been put to the
meeting, was carried unanimously.

REPORT 01 THE GENERAL PURPOSES CONINITTEE.
Your committee report that the Medical Officer
reports that during the past month he has visited
or inspected 18 places and premises. His instruc-
tions given respecting these places have either
been complied with, or are still under considera-
tion, with two exceptions, viz :—A case of over-
crowding in Bound Court, and a confined ashpit
near the Hole-in-Wall. Your committee advise
that proceedings be taken in both cases. The
number of deaths registered in the township from
August 21st is ten. The general health of the
township continues good. Your officer, however,
suggests the desirability of obtaining from the
medical practitioners of the town a short summary
monthly of the epidemic, endemic, and zymotic
cases of disease that have come under treatment,
as is done in other places.
Some property in Round Court is reported tobe
without water supply. As fever exists in that
locality your committee recommend that action
should be taken in the matter.
_ _

The Inspector of Nuisances report is as follows:
Nuisances brought forward, 18; inspected during
the month 33; total 51. Forty-two of these have
been removed. The slaughter-houses are in good
condition. Your committee have decided to post-
pone the consideration of Dr. Ballard's report.
After a shoe conversation,

Mr. Billingam proposed that the report of the
General Purposes' Committee be received and not
adopted.
The recommendations in the report were then
discussed seriatim. The case of overcrowding in
Round Court was the first taken, and in the course
of the discussion, it came out that there Wero only
768 cubic feet in two bedrooms occupied by ten
persons.
. .

On the motion of Mr. BiHingham a resolution
was passed to the effect that proceedings be taken
to remove some of the persons from the dwelling
in Round Court, spoken of in the report.
The next in order was thst requesting the
medical practitioners of the town to furnish the
Board with a "short summary monthly of the
epidemic, endemic, and zymotic cases of disease
that had come under treatment, as is done in other
places."

A long discussion ensued as to the practibility
of carrying out this suggestion, and it was gener-
ally admitted that it was out of the power of the
Board to compel medical practitioners to furnish
them with information respecting the cases of in-
fectious disease which they might have under
treatment ; and it was ultimately decided to ask
the medical gentlemen in the town, as a favour,
to furnish the Board with such cases as come
within their respective practices.
With reference to the alleged absence of water
supply in Bound Court, a resolution was carried
that if the deficiency was not met by the owners
of the property proceedings should be taken by
the Board.
The Board expressed themselves as pleased
with the vigilance shown by their Medical Officer
and Nuisance Inspector.
A license for selling petroleum was granted to
Mr. Nicholls.

The Chairman then rose and said, for the sake
of facilitating the business of the Board, it had
hitherto been the practice to form committees to
take matters of importance into consideration.
By this means they had found the business was
very much simplified, and carried out with greater
efficiency than if everything was left to their
ordinary Board meetings. The time of the Board
had also been very much economised by this mode
of procedure. It, however, rested with the Board
as to whether they would form Committees of the
usual character or otherwise. The manner of
forming them hitherto had been for two of the
members of the Board, who had been selected for
that purpose, to go outside the room for a short
time and draw up a list of names of members to
form the rasp. 2tive committees. Of course, it
would be for t em to say whether that should be
done then or not.

Mr. Kelly said this was the first time he knew
how the committees were formed; and he and Mr.
Mills suggested that the committees should be
selected by the votes of the whole Board.
It was ultimately decided to select five members
of the Board to choose the names ; and the follow.
ing committees were thenformed :—Geneml Pur-
poses, Finance, and Improvement Committees.
There was no other business of importance.