The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-12-03 00:00:00

a[ an ,!;iistrict xlekn.
COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was
held at the Talbot Hotel, on aloe:lay last, Mr. W.
Platt in the chair. There were also present Messrs.
Woolley, Stringer, Cadwallader, Walker, Blunsom,
Haskew, Evers, Purkis, Baker, Skelding, and New..
The clerk read the minutes of the last monthly
and special meetings which were confirmed.
Mr. Woolley read the report of the General
Purposes Committee. The committee reported that
there had been 29 nuisances removed during the
month. The re;istered lodging-houses in the town
had been occupied during the month by 2093 per-
son', 75 daily and 525 weekly. The lodging”h ,u3es,
bakehouses, and slaughterhouees had been kept in
good condition, and there had been no complaints.
Aletter was read from Messrs. Cooper. of High
Street, with regard to the insufficient lighting of
the passage leading from High Street to Queen
Street, and the committee appointed Messre. 'W. J.
Ittrney,l4.Newnaiat and A. Walker to view the
passage and report to the next meeting. The com-
mittee recommended that the following charges be
made for the use of the Corn Exchange during the
market hours: Stalls per annum, not exceedisg ..t2;
half-year, Ll Si; quarter-year, 15s; days, 2s 6ti.
Those charges to include firing, cleaning, the use of
the benches aad tables belonging to the Corn
Exchange, and the service of the porter. The coal-
mittee had instructed the surveyor to have a water
main from Market Street through the Smithfield to
the side of the stage in the New Town Hall, and
also to have the necessary hydrants placed there
and the appropriate fittings attached. The coin-
mittee recommended with regard to the land be
longing to the Commissioners nt the corner of
Foster Street that the offer made for the land by
Mr. Orford be not accepted, and that none of the
land be sold in parcels for under 30s a yard..
Mr. Woolley proposed that Mr. Williants be
instructed to take legal proeeedings against Mr. J.
D. Penny to abate a nuisance on his land in
Coventry Street. This was seconded and carried.
It was moved that the offer of Mr. Charles Orford
for tee purchase of 360 yards Of land in Foster
Street, at lOs per yard, be not accepted.
Mr. Purkis eairt he should give a direct negative
to that resolution. Mr. Orfo:d made them an
offer, and the Board mude him an offer that they
would take 15s a yard for some part and 103 a yard
for the other, and now refuge,d to let him have it.
lie eons dared it a very soarneful thing that in a
publ body like theirs that such should be the
cane.
Sir. Woolley saiil if they had sold the land at
the price of Mr. Orford's offer in the first place,
they would have lost a lot of money.
Mr Newnam said he considered that as honour-
able men representing tile town they ought not to
back out of tnis engagemnt for making an agree-
ment with Mr. Orford.
Mr. Walker said Mr. Newnain must have been
aware that a letter was received from Mr. Perry
stating that Mr. Orford could not entertain the
idea of an increased price.
Mr. Woolley moved that the land in Foster
Street should not be sold at less than 30s
~per
square yard,
Mr. Everts moved that the resolution be not
passed and that the question be not enteitained.
Mr. Ilaikew thought it would be unwise to inter-
fere in the matter, which should be kept open.
The reselution was declared lost by 9 to 3.
Mr. \Volley moved a resolution with reference to
the appointment of a caretaker for the new town
buildings.
Mr. rurkis objected to such proceedings taking
place. It was very undignified. It was not a case
of the Board; it was a case of is section of the
Board. Re asked whether the present caretaker
uad been given notice?
Mr. Platt slid any man who had two eyes in his
head °mild see that they wanted a fresh caretaker.
They thought that they should hive a caretaker
who was under 40 years of age.
Mr. Purkis said he did nor see any reason why
tl,ey should adeertiee for a fresh careteker witho it
giving the present one notice
Mr. H :skew said that if the resolution was not
passel it would end the case altogether. He Was
Tory much surprised to see tee advertisement in
the paper. It was only the work of ;he committee
iind should nave been breu;lit before the whole
Board. lie could endorse what Mr. Purkis had
said with reference to the caretaker. Lie had been
a servant to the Board for inlay yearee and had
given every satisfaction.
After some further discussion on the subject,
Mr. Woolley moved a resolution to the effect that
the clerk be instracied to give the prese care-
taker noice to leave.
No one would second this and the matter fei
through.