The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-02-27 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

There is no improvement to report in the ,
condition of the local iron trade. On the
contrary, the depression is, if anything, increas-
ing and extending. Hitherto, the loadings
firms, whatever the real state of their order ,
books, have manifested little or no sign of suf-
fering ; hut the announcement. made within the .
last few days, that Messrs. Thorneycroft, of ,
Wolverhampton, have decided to close two of
their forges for an indefinite period, coupled
with the action of Messrs. Oroucutt, of Bilston,
in discharged a portion of their workpeople, af-
t,rds conclusive t: \ Memo that the depression is
not confined to second-class makers. Many of
the latter have been working very irregulary for
some time past, and few can now boast on the
average more than three days' employment per
week. Prices, however, are comparatively
5,,-a,iy, owing to the firnuess of coal, which is
suppot ted by the lock-out in South Wales. In
branded iron there is no alteration from the
raies quoted oa quarter-day, ranging for bars
from £lO. 10s. to £ll. 12s. 6d.; bat unmarked
iron is e eak and irregular, commons bars being
it plentiful supply at £B, 17s, fid., and sheets at
£l2. The orders in hand at present are chiefly
for sheets, plain and galvanised, boiler plates,
hers for roil way work. hoops for ca‘kr and cot-
ton tie, "ire iron and Dail rods. Tor tuhe, strip,
and angles, the demand is very dull, and stocks
of piddled bars are accumulating. The heavy
, snowfalls and inclement weather this week have
somewhat interfered with trade by obstructing
out door operations and locomotion. The pig-
iron market is dull, more especially for the better
: .I,lOlAt a of native pig, Nvhich are adversely
I air c.td by tne eompflition from Cleveland,
iD . byshire, and Northamptonsitire. Cinder
' pig, Luwever, is relatively steady, at £3. to £3.
Iss. per ton. Fuel, on the other hand, is easy as
regards the commoner qualities, and firm in
regard to beet mil.

A VIOLENT CILIBACTER. At the Police Court,
on Wednesday, before Messrs. J. E. Swindell and
R. L. Freer, George Farrell was brought up on re-
mand, charged with assaulting Police-sergeant Jones,
on the 20th inst. Sergeant Jones said he was going
to the police-station and in passing by defendant's
house he saw a crowd of people who informed him
that defendant had been beating his wife and had
turned her out of doors. It was a bitter cold night,
and he remonstrated with defendant, and then went
on towards the station. Defendant called him back
and began to abuse him. Witness pushed him into
the house, when defendant picked up a large square
piece of wood and struck him a violent blow on the
helmet, cutting it in two. Assistance came, and de-
fendant was taken into custody. Defendant said he
had workad nine turns that week :and had taken a
glass or two of whiskey, but he did not recollect
striking the officer. The Magistrates remarked that
it Was a gross and savage assault upon the policeman
who was engaged to protect the lioes,of the public,
and the blow might have killed the officer. Defend-
ant was sentenced to one month's hard labour.