The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-05-01 00:00:00

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

The Municipal Elections Bill was considered as amended
and agreed to.
The other orders were disposed of, and the 'House adjourned.

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE
METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.
In London, on Saturday evening, Sir James M.
Hogg, M.P., Chairman of the Board of Works,
entertained his colleagues and a number of distin-
guished guests, among whom were the Prince of Wales
and the Duke of Cambridge, at dinner at Willis's
Rooms. Among those pi esent were, besides the mem-
bers of the Board of Works, General Sir W. Knollys,
Colonel Taylor, M.P., Mr. G. W. Hunt, M.P.. the
Speaker, Earl Granville, Sir S. 11. Northcote, M.P.,
Alderman M'Arthur, M.P., Mr. W. Gordon, M.P.,
Mr. T. W. Boord, M.P., Mr. J.D'A. Samuda, M.P.,
Mr. H. Fawcett, M.P., &c.

The Chairman gave "The Health of the Queen,"
which was very warmly received. He next proposed
"The Health of the Prince and Princess of Wales
and the rest of the Royal Family," expressing a hope
that the projected journey of the Prince would not only
promote his health and happiness, but, what was of
even more importance, would give him experience of
an ancient and interesting race and of the wants of an
ancient Empire with which the interests of England
were so intimately bound up.
The toast was drunk amid loud cheers.
The Prince of Wales, who was enthusiastically
cheered as he rose, replied as follows : —I beg to tender
you my. warmest !thanks for the kind and cordial
manner m which this toast has been proposed and re-
ceived. I can usisure you, Sir, and the gentlemen of
the Metropolitan Board of Works that it affords me
very great satisfaction to be here this evening. The
works of that important body are well known to every
one in this great Metropolis. We all know how ex-
tremely valuable they are, and we may form some
idea of their magnitude when we consider that they
extend over an area of 122 square miles. (" Hear,'
and cheers.) 'ln, returiaint; thanks so often for the
toast of my health I sometimes firrd a great difficulty
in varying my expressions; but I can assure you
that it always gives me the greatest pleasure to be
present at these gatherings of Englishmen, and to
thank you for the cordial reception you give me and,
for the kind way in which you receive the name of
the Princess of Wales. (Cheers.) Sir James Hogg '
has made a brief allusion to my visit to India. I can
only assure you that I look forward to that visit with the
greatest possible interest and with the greatest pos-
sible pleasure. It is a visit I have long wished to
make—l may ssY it has been the dream of life.
(Cheers.) I sincerely hope it will be accomplished, and
that I shall return to the shores of my native land,
having gathered much valuable information about that
interesting country, which is, I may say, the pride of
England, and which has filled so prominent a place in
history. (Cheers.) I trust I shall return in good
health, and have again the pleasure on many occasions
of meeting my countrymen. (Loud cheere.)
"God bless the Prince of Wales " was here sung
with fine effect.
The Chairman then proposed "The Army, Navy,
and Auxiliary Forces, coupling with the toast the
names of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
and the First Lord of the Admiralty.
The Duke of Cambridgo, on rising to respond, was
very heartily cheered. He said,—l am much flat-
tered by the kind manner in which this toast has
been given from the chair and by the cordial recep-
tion it has met with. lam happy to think that, while