The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-11-14 00:00:00

BATUMI', NOV. 14, 1874.

BROM SG ROVE.

MSETING 0, N•notits.—A meeting of 'Yellers was held
in the Cattle Market on Monday afternoon, to the into
consideration the present state of the trade, and the
advisability of asking for soother advance in wages. Tke
'meeting, which was a large oue, was composed principally
of men, there being very few women or children present.
—Mr. T. Crawford opened the proceedings with an ad.
dresa,in which he argiud that the nail trade was never
in • more prosperous state than at present, and the late
advance seemed to have done it good rather than the
injury which it was predicted it would do. The demand
for nails was never better; the up-country masters were
opening warehouses in all parts of the parish to buy the
thousands nails; and the present was a favourable time
to seek to better their condition.—Mr. H. Ince thin
arrived, and it was unanimously decided that be should
take the lurid of affairs; and, after addresses by him sod
Mr. Nokes, it was resolved to give the masters fourteen
days' notice for this slay (Saturday). for an advauce of 10
per cent, on the present list of juiced; and another
meeting is to be held in three weeks to consider what
further steps shall be taken if the advance is not glees.
—The meeting, which Was orderly throughout, then Imo' is
up.

KIDDERMINSTER.
The annual meeting of the Council was held on Mon-
day ; the retiring Mayor (Ile H. Dixon) in the chair.—
Mr. Holloway proposed Alderman Goodwin as Mayor for
the ensuing year. He was • gentleman who, he believeds
would have the confidence not only of the Council, but
of the burgesses at large. The capacity he had shown
in the conduct of his private business was • token of his
qudifications for public duties. and during the time its
had been in the Council he had shown bow deep an in-
terest he took in the affairs of the borough. He believed
they had no reuse to regret the choice they were making
of Alderman Goodwin as chief magistrate of the borough.
Mr. Green seconded the motion, end testified to his high
opinion of Alderman Goodwin, and his belief that he
would make as good a Mayor as they had had for many
years. There was no other propel', and Alderman
Goodwin was elected. Several of the Conservative
members did not vote when the motion was put to the
meeting.—The Mayor elect, in thanking the Council, said
it would be his endeavour faithfully to discharge his duty,
and he should do everything he possibly could to serve
the interests of the town. 'the Mayor expreased hia
satisfaction that the heavy cloud which threatened the
industry of the borough had passed away, and he testified
to the efforts of his predeceesor to secure a settlement of
the dispute, and the restoration of peace and happiness
in the town.—The three retiring aldermen, Messrs. C.
l. Jefferies, S. Tovee, and J. Findon, vacated their seat,
in view of the election of their successors.—Alderman
Willis proposed a vote of thanks of Mr H. Dixon, the
ea-Mayor, for the manner in which he had discharged
his duties, and be referred to the exceptional year of
office through which he bad passed. Mr. Wood seconded
the motion, which was put and carried with applause.—
The ex-mayor thanked them for the way in which they
had received the motion, and he acknowledged the
a-isistauce he had received during his tenure of office.
They would agree with him that it had been an
•
exceptional year of office, and perhaps no mayor of the
borough had had to funi the some amount of duties he
had. His endeavour had been to carry out those duties
with strict justice to all parties, and although lie could
not expect to escape critivi,m in regard to the way in
which he had discharged them. he had, at all events,
sought to fulfil them honestly and faithfully.—Couneillor
Holloway and Messrs. If. J. Dixon, J.P., •nd J. Naylor,
J.p., were elected alderman by 13 votes to 8 foe the re-
tiring aldermen, Messrs. 11. E. Jefferies, Findon, and
Tovey.—Mr. H. Saunders then banded the Mayer •
cheque for £140., from the trustees of Whitnell's Charity,
for divribution among the poor at Christmas, and the
Mayor transferred it to the churchwardens.—Commltisim
were then elected, and other business transacted.—This
Mayor entertained the Council and other gentlemen to •
chitupagne luncheon afterward, at the Slack Horse
Hotel. Councillor Cowen proposed the health of ths
Mayor, and Councillor Harvey that of the ex-Mayor.—
Sir William Fraser. Bart, M P., telegraphed expressing
his regret that he could not accept the Mayor's invitation
to be present.
DEATH Or Ma. E. MonToN.—Much regret has been
experienced throughout the town among all class. by the
comparatively sudden decease of Mr. E. Morton, principal
of the firm of Morton and Son, carpet manufacturers,
one of the chief houses of business in Kidderminster.
Mr. Morton was in his usual health last week, and was
seriously ill only two or three days. He was seized With
a painful malady, and an eminent phjsician was tele•
graphed for from London; but, we uuderstand, death
ensued before effect could be given to the memage. As
a justice of the peace for the county of Worcester, Mr.
Morton took great interest in the duties devolving upon
that position ; and, but for his retiring dispoeition, he
might have occupied much more prominent positions in
connection with the borough than he cared to &rune.
Quietly and unostentatiously, however, he accomplished
much good, and the general expression of feeling is to the
effect that the town has lost a friend and a helper whose
absence will be long felt and deplored. In the private
relations of life, and in his relations with the employes
of his firm he commanded by his fidelity to the obligetions
which wealth impose., and by his iuterest in all measures
for the public weal, the uoiversal esteem of the coin.
munity. Both at the annual meeting of the Town Conniff
and at the Mayor's banquet the ex• Mayor And other
gentlemen drew prominent attention to the loss the town
had sustained in the removal from them by death of Kr.
E. Morton.