The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-10-23 00:00:00

THE SCHOOL BOARD.

An adjourned meeting of this Board was held
in the Corn Exchange, on Monday afternoon last.
There were present: Major Walker, Messrs. Bil-
lingham, Wall, and Stringer.
The Clerk read the minutes of the last meeting,
which were confirmed, on the motion of Mr.
Stringer, seconded by Mr. Billingham.
A letter was read from Mr. Horton, of Brierley
Hill, one of the builders who was asked to renew
his tender for the erection of the schools. It
stated that he would do the work for £2,638, his
former estimate, with an additional 10 per cent.
for the rise in wages and materials which had
taken place since that time.
iL The Chairman explained to Mr. Horton, who
was in attendance, that he had sent in a subse-
quent tender to the above, in which he offered to
do the work for £2,350, and in consequence of him
having done this they had written to the other
builders, asking them if they wished to alter their
figures. They wished now to know it he would
abide by his tender.
This was produced by the Clerk, and Mr Hor-
ton said " Very well, gentlemen, I will take it at
that, with the addition of 10 per cent.
The Chairman next referred to a portion of Mr.
Horton's letter, which stated that he would under-
take to do the work in 12 months, "weather per-
mitting." He reminded him that in his former
tender he had offered to undertake to do the work
in nine months.

Mr. Horton said he could not do that at the
present time. If he offered to engage to com -
plete the work in nine months he should have to
give more wages. Let them consider what a
winter it was last year, when there was nearly six
months winter..

Mr. Billing-ham asked Mr. S. Smith, the archi-
tect, how they were to judge of the weather for
building purposes.
Mr. Smith admitted that there was no rule to
guide them in such a case.
The Chairman was of opinion that if they gave
Mr. Horton 12 months in which to erectthe schools
there ought not to be any stipulation for extra
time on account of bad weather. He was of
opinin that in doing this the Board were acting
very liberally with him, as they were giving him
more than a third longer time than he had origin-
ally tendered for.
At this 'point, Mr. Horton adjourned with the
architect to another room to go over the supple-
mentary specifications, so as to enable him to give
a tender tor them.

The Clerk stated that he had received a letter
from Mr. Harward saying that they might have the
use of the Ilagg,ed School at night, but it was re-
quired for its present purposes in the day time.
The trustees of the Wesleyan Schools declined to
allow them to be used by the Board; and the
authorities in connection with the Hanbury Hill
Schools had also refused to let their schools for
the purpose of temporay accommodation. With
regard to the Independent Schools the answer
was also unfavourable.

„___
A short discussion ensued, and it was generally
thought that the refusal of the trustees of the
Wesleyan Schools to allow their premises to be
used by the Board arose from the supposition that
they would not do as they had been objected to
by Government. It was, however; thought, that
there would be no objection to the Board having
the use of them for a short time. _

_
The Chairman suggested that they apply to the
trustees of the Wesleyan Schools again, and also
the authorities in connection with the Hanbury
Hill Schools, to ascertain if it was possible to come
to some arrangement with them by which their
schools might be placed temporarily at the dispo-
sal of the Board. . _ _ _ _

A proposition to this effect was made by Mr.
Stringer, and seconded by Mr. Wall, and carried.
The Clerk said there was a letter from the
Leeds School Board, with reference to the neces-
sity of having offices for the use of the Board, and
asking the Stourbridge Board if they were willing
to join them in a deputation to the Education De-
partment, aaing for leave to build knitable pre-
mises.

The Chairman said this did not affect this (the
Stourbridge) Board,And there was no action taken
in the matter. _ _ _

At this junzture Mr. Horton and Mr. Smith re-
turned into the room, and Mr. Horton stated that
that he would do the work sot forth in the supple-
mentary specifications for £1,075 23 id.
The entire cost of erecting the schools will be
as follows :

s. d.
Original tender ~. ... 2,330 0 0
Ten per cent. on above ... 235 0 0
Supplementary tender 1,073 2 1

3,060 2 1

The question of the time allowed for building
the schools was discussed, and Mr. Horton said he
would undertake to build them in thirteen months.
He added, however, that he could not submit to a
fine of £lO per week, in case he did not get them
completed within that time. A. fine of that am-
ount would ruin a man.
The Chairman asked him why he tendered when
it was stated that it would have to be completed
in nine months.
Mr. Horton said it was usual to have those mat-
ters settled after the tender was acsepted; and
circumstances had altered considerably since then.
With reference to the fine, Mr. Horton said it
was the heaviest tint( ever came within his exper-
ience. The fine at Brierley Hill was only £3 per
week. The fin was much too large, particularly
when the present condition of the labour market
was considered. He did not think they would get
any builder to submit to such utile as that spoken
of.
The Chairman said they had advertised for
tenders on certain conditions, which conditions
they set forth in the specifications. Mr. Horton
had sent in his tender without any comment as to
what he did.,not like, leaving the Board to imagine
that he was willing to;comply with all the required
conditions.

Mr. Horton said that if 'his workmen were to
know that he wasaiable to such a fine as that, they
would probably throw obstacles in his way, and it
would entail considerable loss on him. He be(Ted
the -.Board to reduce the fine to half the :Fated
amount, as that would be ..t2 more than was asked
for at Brierley Hill..
_A short discussion ensued, and eventually

IVIr. Billing,ham proposed That we accept the
offer of £5."

This was adopted, and Mr. Hortou's tender ac-
cepted.
There was no other business.