The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-05-15 00:00:00

TEE STOIMBRIDGE OBSERVER.

POLLUTION OF RIVERS.

;alisbui7 -to 1
has

The Bill introduced by the Marquis of Si.- _.
amend the law relating to the pollution of rivers
been issued. It contains sixteen clauses. Clause 2 pro-
hibits the putting into any stream, in such quantities
as to interfere with its due flow or to pollute its waters,
the solid refuse of any manufactory, manufacturing pro-
cess, quarry or mine, or any rubbish or cinders, or any
other waste orally putrid solid matter. Clause 3 prohibits
the drainage of sewage into streams.. Olause 4 prohibits
the drainage of any filthy, noxious, -or polluting liquid
proceeding from any factory, or manufacturing pro-
cess, subject to provisos that where a person has prac-
tised or permitted such drainage for a period of Jess
than 12 years previous to the passing' of the Act ,he
shall not for two years, or such further perigd as
ta
Local Government Board may allow, be deenieci3p.
commit an offence against the Act if he proves that N
has used and continues to use the best available means
to detain or render harmless the polluting liquid
so draining into the stream. In sage the period
shall have been over 12 years he shall not at
any time be deemed to commit an offence
against the Act. Clause 6 prohibits drainage
into streams from mines, subject to similar provisos to
those mentioned. With regard to the administration
of the law, power is given to the sanitary authority to
enforce the Act, and also to afford facilities for manu-
factories draining into sewers. In cases of default the
Local Government Board will have power to enforce
the Act; and provision is also made for the constitu-
tion of conservancy authorities. Offences against the
Act may be restrained by a summary order of the
county court. The Act is intended to apply to Scot-
land, but not to Ireland.

Ordnance Cad astral S urvey is now prooeeding in all those
parts of the country which were under the Saxons;
and in investigating the names of places and the
6dnilaries of propertieCthere can be no doubt that
,ch information as to their ancient boundaries will
be obtained. The charter of which a copy is given.
contains a grant of land in three plots of ground, else-
where described as three hides, at Nymed, in Devon-
shire, by King Edgar, to his Thane or Duke lElf here.
This place is at Copplestone, about twelve miles N. W.
of Exeter, and about five miles west of Crediton.
There are three villages—now called Nymet Roland,
Nymet Tracey, and Broad Nymet—at this place,
which-are . probably the three manses referred to in
the original grant made 900 years ago. The body
of the charter is in Latin, and the descrip-
tion of the boundaries of the property is in Anglo-
Saxon, the most familiar language of the time.
We trace the possessors of this property from the date
of this grant by King Edgar in 974, and by the aid of
Domesday Book to the time of Edward the Confessor
in 1042, and to the time of William the Conqueror in
1083. Nymet Tracey belonged to the family of the
Traceys, and passed through those of Martin, Audley,
Fitz-Warren, Hawkford, to the Bouchiers, Earls of
Bath. At the present time it is in the possession of
several proprietors. The witnesses to this charter are
persons of great historical interest and of the highest
rank. We have King Edgar himself, and Elf rida the
Queen, with Dunstan, of whom we are taught in our
nurseries that he was famous for having taken the
devil by the nose with a red-hot tongs, and of his
being a saint; and Duke .ZElfhere, to whom the grant
was made.—Globe.

s6dullhries
much ink,