The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-22 00:00:00

PRE SIVUMVIDGE OI3SERVEII.

also rated to the rates levied under the Stour- '
bridge Improvement Act, 1868, hereby request
you to summon a Meeting of the Owners and
Ratepayers of the said Township,for the purpose
of considering, and, if thought desirable, of con-
senting to the following Resolution, passed at a
Special Meeting of the Stourbridge
Colinniasioners held on Saturday, the Stdi
ility of February last, which."—Here followed
the names of a number of ratepayere.
The Chairman said, first he wished to impress
upon the minds of those present that the com-
mittee had no wish or desire to oppose the
Great Western Railway Company in the bill
I before Parliament, but it was necessary that
I certain forms and notices should be given, not
for the purpose of opposition, but to give the
Commissioners a /tiers standi, and by passing
I the resolution which would be laid before them.
It would give the Commissioners power to apt ear
in court, to watch the interests of the town—
(hear, hear). There was one point he wished to
refer to, that- was, a footbridge near St. John's
Church Road. At present it wits contemplated
that the new line of railway would pass through,
iind as it was a road much frequented the Com-
missionera thought it desirable that a foot-
bridge should be erected there; and if the resolu-
tion was passed it would give them power to
appear in court, if necessary.
The Clerk then read the following resolution:
" That in the judgment of this Board it is
expedient to oppose a certain Bill promoted in
the present Session of Parliament by the Great
Western Railway Company, and entitled a
'Bill for conferring further powers en the Great
Western Railway Company in relation to theie
own undertaking, and the undertakings of other
Companies, and for other purposes.' And in
order to provide far the costs and expenses in-
curred iu relation to such opposition, '.A.)
the Improvement Rates and Highway Rates, or
a pro rata proportion of such Rates levied wider
the powers of the Stourbridge Improvement Act,
1866, for such purposes.
" And that the Improvements Committee be
authorized to take such proceedings as they may
think necessity to give effect to the above re-
solution, and pat-Centel-1y that that Committee
be authorized to to affix the Common heal of
the Commissioners to a petition for the above
purposes, or any of them.
" And that it be an instruction to the said
Committee to abandon all opposition to the said
Bill, if the Groat Western Railway Company
will, to their satisfaction, undertake to comply
with the views of the Commiadoners, as em-
bodied in the Improvements Committee's Report
adopted at the last Monthly Meeting, held
January 27111, either wholly or partially, as to
the said Committee may appear desirable."
The Chairm in said he begg.tl to move the
adoption of the resolution, as read. He did not
think it wanted any further explanation from
him, and thought that the Reilway Company
would be willing to make the alterations asked
for, hut it was necessary that they should pre-
sent a pidition in Parliament, and take the pre-
sent stf.;.. so as to give them an opportunity to
oppme if the company did not comply with
their wishes.
Mr. W. hdwards seconded the resolution. In
doing so he said that the Improvement Corn.
iiii,aioners would not spend one fatthing more
than was neceastßy, but it was requisite that the
Commissioners should take the present proceed.
hugs. He believed all the Commissioners were
property owners and ratepayers, and had an
interest in keeping down any expense that may
arise. He felt quite satisfied that those present
might put their confidence in the present Com-
missioners, who would not spend any morr,
money than was necessary.
Mr. Chance said he wished to say a word or
two before the resolution was put He had been
reading the resolution, which said something
about a resolution embodied in the Committee's
report, which referred to a footbridge. tie, for
one, as a ratepayer, should not like to be pat to
a considerable expense. It had been hinted to
him that £2O would be about the cost, hut he
thought it would cost .£5O at least. There would
have to be a solicitor employed who would have
to instruct counsel, and then there would have
to be journeys to London.
The Clerk then read the following repert of
the Committee:—
. . .

Your Committee report that they have gone
over the proposed line of Railway, from Stony.
bridge, to where it crosses the river Stour into
the Hamlet at Amblecote, and canosee no ob-
jections to the alterations and deviations in the
highway in the township of Stourbridge, refei red
to in the notices served by the Great Western
Railway Company, provided a communication
by means of a footbridge be made between the
road near St. John's Church, and the road lead
ing to and from Vauxhall, Mount-street, Bit
ininghain Road, and Bouchall. Your committee
report that it was desirable that the lowering of
Birmingham-Street be exteeded,further than the
Company's plan show, in the direction of the
Lye, snag to in ikc a less gradient at that point.
The Railway Company having kindly furnished
the Commissioners' with a copy of this bill
(which is laid before you). Your Committee
report, that by the 44th Section thereof, the
time for the purchase of lands for the construc-
tion of an embankment in lieu of the viaduct at
Stonrbridge into the Hamlet at Aniblecote, is
proposed to be extended for the period of five
years from the passing of the Acv.. Your Corn.
mittee are of opinion that the pei iod should be
three years. By the 45th Section of the present
Bill, it is proposed to revive the powers conferred
on the Company by the Act of 1868, for the
compulsory purchase of land for the purpose of
a railway in the parish of Oldswinford by the
Act authorised, and which powers may be exer-
cised until the 18th day of July 1876. Your
Committee consider the time should be limited
to one and a half years. The new line from
Stourbridge to Kidderminster and Bewd ley, it is
proposed shall be completed within five years
from the passing of the Act. Your committee
consider the time should be three years."
Mr. R. L. Freer said he had come to the
meeting hat was rather ignorant of what was
going on, hut there vas an old saying, "Throw
tarf, before son throw stones." He hoped all
the stones had been thrown. He thought if
they went to law with a powerful Company like
the Great Western Railway, they would Sod it
rather expensive, and should recommend them
to pause before they did so. From what he
understood the Commissioners wanted the Com-
pany to do certain alteration in the proposed
line, but if they refused to comply he should
advise them to be careful before going to law.
It was often the case that although they
succeeded in the opposition they had a lasge bill
to pay.
The Chailman called the attention of Mr.
Freer to the fact, that they were not going to
law, and said if he had been at the meeting in
time he would have known that from his opening
statement.

Mr. Stanley asked if the Commissioners had
had any communication with the Company?
The Chairman: Yea; and he believed the Com•
pany would carry out what they wanted them to
do.
Mr. Freer said he came to the meeting on
behalf of himself and follow ratepayers, to hear
what a AS going on.

The Chairman said what they were doing, was
merely a preliminary step, so as to give them a
torus stamlz. He thought those present might
put their faith in the present Board, as he could
assure them they would not spend one farthing
more than was necessary.
Mr. Miginnis said he believed the Com•
missioners would not be doing their duty to the
town unless they took these proceedings. The
object of the meeting was to give them pro rata
power. The Commissioners wanted a locum
stondt, so that in the event of the Great Western
Railway Company attempting to over.ride the
interests of the town, they would be able to put
in a plea on their behalf. He had had the
pleasure of being on the Improvement Com-
mittee, and from what he knew of them he was
quite sure the interests of the ratepayers were
quite safe in their hands.
Mr. Stanley remarked that it had been said
the cost would be .220 for the Commissioners to
opp.oo.
Mr. Stringer thought they might rest them.
selves content as to the costs. He had seen Mr.
Green, engineer to the Company, and spoken to
him about the foMbridge required, and he in.
formed him that he had no doubt the application
of the Commissioners would be granted, he
would suguest that they do not oppose but help
thorn all they could, by strengthening their
hands, and get the Bill through Parliament—
(hear, hear).
Mr. J. B. Shepherd said that he had been
asked to attend the special meeting of the Com-
missioners, and did so; and then stated that the
probable oats of presenting a petition would be
obi* £llO. Old dna mold psdlime

which was very abort, and the cost world not be :
£2O. The next stage was to file the petition.
It would not be necessary to make j,ourneys to
London or to employ counsel, but merely to put
the petition into the hands of parllainentary
agents, and the real effect of presenting the
petition would be that id any negociations with
the Groat Western Company they would be on
equal terms, whereas if the petition was not pre-
sented they would not be able to negotiate with
the Company on equal terms, and would have to
petition the House of Lor(Li under less favour-
able circumstances. llomitght state that the
engineer to the Company had cot responded with
him and stated that he should advise the Com-
pany to consent to the requirements of the Com-
missioners iu regard to the footbridge ;n Foster-
strect, but us to tho lowering of the road the
Company would not consent to do that unless
they had a guarantee that the owners of property
in that dhdrict would not make eny claim
against them.
After hearing this explanation, the Chairman
put the resolution to the meeting, which was
carried unanimously.
On the motion of Mr. Edwards. seconded by
Mr. Allsop, IL. vote of thanks to the chairman
dosed the proceedings.