The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-10-27 00:00:00

COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.

The adjourned meeting of this body was held in the
Corn Exchange on Monday evening lest, Mr. Akroyd in
the chair. There were also present Messrs. J. Wail. 'l'.
Penn, G. Perry, J. F. Haskew, B. Brooks E. Stringer,
J. Maurice, J. Webb, E. Nash, W. Adonis, T. H. Richards,
J. Alhop, W. H. King, J. W. Ito, C. Oates, L. Packwood,
end C. W. Collie. . . . . _ .

•••• —• •
Ihe Clerk having read the minutes of the last meet-

ing.
The Chairman said be thought it would be well town-
sider the bye.laws for the conduct of their business.
There weru the old bye.laws as a basis for procecding,
and it struck him it would be the best to appoint a com-
mittee for the torpose of revising thins, and making
such additions as niight be thought tit.
Mr. Wall moved that the chairman and Messrs. Hin7„
Brooks, Allsup, rnd Yid ry Inc appointed a committee to
consider and report to the comn,issitiners the best mode
of conducting the business of the commissioners, arid to
prepare and submit bye.laws and rules accordingly.
The motions was seconded by Mr. T. H. ltielisc (Is, and
carried. .

The Chairman said he thought the most important
Titration they bail to hot with wns ways and means.
Liabilities were inc, red which must be met, and a rate
would have to be levied, and that too at the earliest
moment.
Mr. Shepherd suggested that after the monthly meet-
ings had been fixed, they could at the next meeting give
notice of a late to be made at the following meeting.
This was a special meeting called.
The Chairman suggested that the meeting beadjourned
for hull an hour.
Mr. King said it was business that could be done at •
general mi cling, and mos'. d the adjoumment of the
meeting for half an hour, vs hick was carried.
The Chniiman here rend the notice ealliog the special
meeting.
Moved by Mr. King, seconded by Mr. Stringer, and
earned—. That the minute& of the last meeting, soottiso
resolution passed, are hereby COL tinned."
Mr. l'erry moved that the monthly meeting be held
on the second Monday in every month.
Mr. Brooks EK condcd the resolution, which was then
carried.

The Chairman : The business arising out of the special
notices having been done, we may now resume the meet•
Mg called for ten o'clock. We may now go on with the
rate question.
Mr. Perry : It is necessary to get an estimate of the
rate, and to say wlicthi r we are going to have an improve.
went rate or a higliw:l rate.
Mr. Shepherd : There is • highway rate now being
collected.

In answer to Mr. Brooks, the chairman said there were
about fie, uncollectcd.
_ .

-„-
Mr. Brooke: I should like to have that wiped off before
granting another.
Mr. /diehards said they could not pay all out of the
improvement rate. A portion of the roads were now
repaired by the surveyors out of the highway rate, and
the expenses borne by them. They could call on the
surveyors to give up their stewardship. Some persons
had elated to him Boit the improvement rate would run
up to Is in the pound. That was not the case as they
could only have Is in one year, end tls 61 for the highway
rate. His opinion was that als rate would be suliblient.
The Chairman thought what Vol had to do at present
was to mill upon the Highway Surveyors to produce their
accounts, and pay over the money to the commissioners.
Mr. Shepherd: The present Board were the surveyors.
The Chairman said it appeared that the cost of the new
Act was £1,970. It was proposed to borrow £3,841, to.
wards the cost of the Act, leaving £l7O to be provided
for out of the rates. There was also required :—For the
election expenses, 1:100; for accounts due, X 232 ; for
debentures at Christmas, 1:100; for road repairs, ,
1:20(); for salaries, .C 10 for cleansing contract, £7O: for
gas accounts, I.:179; for repayment to honk, LIM in
round numbers £1,5151 hail to be provided for, and the
assets were estimated at i7s7, viz. :—.E619 to he repaid
for advance made towards the cost of the Act ; Lila from
lessee of tolls; and .G 0 from two rate uncollected: A
. _.. . .

rate of Is in the pouLd would produce about alettl, which
it was thought would be h utticient to defray the expenses
up to Christmas, assuming that the Board could borrow
£l,BOO.
Some discussion took place as to the amount to borrow
—whether 1:2,0t10 or £1,:110.
It was eltimati 4 moved by Mr. Maurice, seconded by
Mr. Nash, that advertisements be issued to borrow

Moved by Mr. King and seconded by Mr. Packwood,
that the necessary notice be given tor making au
'

provement rate.
The Cleik said that Mr. Barrett, Inspector, had re.
ports d a dLatli from typhus fever which had occurred in
IVebb's Yard, and was caused by a nuisance arising from
pigsties. He had also received complaints from Mr. S.
Smith as to nui,mces exe.ting in queen-street.
. . . . . . . .

The Chairman suggested that whatever complaints
were made shout' be done in writing.
A long discussion ensued as to other nuisances.
The Chairman said it ought not to be the business of
the commissioners to niake any special orders, but if the
nuisances were not removed the °nicer belonging to the
Board should at once take such proceedings as was uteri.
airy.
The Chairman referred to the bills on tLe table for
getting the Improvement Bill, and a good deal of discus.
awn candied as to taxing them.
Mr. Shepherd said he was quite willing for his bill to
be taxed.
Mr. Richards, on behalf of Mr. Price, was also willing
to have that gentleman's bill taxed.
The Chairman and others were of opinion that the
bills should be taxed, and they were ordered to be taxed
by in taxing master.
Mr: Stanley, highway surveyor, and Mr. Bird, collector
of the highway rate having been sent for, attended the
Board. It appeared from their statements that the hut
highway rate of 3d in the pound would produce £237.
Of this £ll3 had been collected, and £3l Gs 4.1 expended.
Mr. Stanley said the balance was in the bank. Mr. Bird
wga desired to coiled the remainder of the rate as soon
as possibie, aud pay over the summit to the credit of the
commissioners, who, for the future, will discharge the
duties of highway suiveyors, in addition to their other
functions.

A number of accounts were ordered to be passed, and
the meeting then terminated.