The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-03-12 00:00:00

DUDLEY.

SCHOOL BOARD.—A special meeting of this body
was held on Alonday afternoon for the purpose of
electing a member to the Board to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of the Rev. Dr. Cesens.
The Rev. M. Gibson (chairman) presided, and there
‘vere al,o present the Rev. S. J. Marriott, Messrs E
T. Terry, J. Garrott, J. Finch, W. Cooper, D. Howat
and D. 'Canfield. Mr, Terry, moved that Mr.
George Jones, iromnaster, aikham (who until the
last election was a member of the Boird) be
ele_ted to fill tbe vacancy, referring to Mr. Jones's
previous experience, and to the respect in which he
was held by the members (hear, hear). The pro-
position was seconded by Mr. Garrett, supported
by Mr. Cooper and Mr Howatl and unanimously
cArried. The ordinary fortnightly meeting was
then held. The que,tion was raised as to whether
the Guardians or the School Board should remit
the fees of a family of nonpauper ch I:ren, some of
whom were attending the Board schools and some
denominational schools ? The Clerk sail the 10th
section of the Act put the whole of the work on to
he Guardians, but he had hem instructed by the
latter body to write to the Education Department
for informaton on the subject. The o.her business
was not of public interest.
TOWN COUNCIL.—A special meeting of the Dud-
ley Town Council wai held on Tuesday, the Mayor
(Alderman Wainwriy,ht) presiding.—A letter -was
read from Canon Melville, complaining of the per-
sonal attacks made upon him and the Bishop of St.
Alban's by the Mayor. As trustees they had their
duty to perform, viz., to guard the interests of the
property wi.la which they were put in trust. They
should, however, never think of sanctioning an
exaction obviously exho:bitant, nor could they
conceive and motive their confidential advisers
could have had, or would be likely to entertain,
fqr so trixing a community with which they were so
intimately connected.—The reply of the Town
Clerk was then read. It stated that the Council
failed to see that the Mayor in his speech attacked
either :Canon Melville or the Bishop: of St.
Alban's in their professional position in the
Church of England, but considered his remarks had
reference solely to their status as trustees. At the
same time the Council was more astonished and
grieved that in holding such a position they
should act towards them in what they thought an
arbitrary and offensive manner. The Council
claimed, with the Mayor, the right to remark upon

their conduct as trustees as though they were -or-
dinary laymen, The Council to the fullest extent
endorsed and approved of the remarks of tte
Mayor as to the exorbitancy of the claim made
against them in the recent arbitration. The claim
came upon the town like a thunderbolt, and until
the award was given, the greatest apprehension was
felt by all the property owners and ratepayers in
the town, the extent of which it was impossible to
exiggerate. The Council could not but feel that
some grievous mistake had been made in the calcu-
lations of those upon whom the trustees relied.
They, were, however, gratified to hear that the
trustees would not think.of "sanctioning any ex-
actions obviously exorbitant." From the letters
received since the award it would appear that the
Town Council might still be harassed in the names
of the trustees with litigation upon this matter,
and should they be desirous of relieving the Cor-
poration of anxiety in carrying out a work for
promoting the health and sanitary condition of the
people, the Council felt that they would stay any
further proceedings except such as might be
necessary to determine the pcints of law left open
by the recent award.—The letter of the Town
Clert was approved and adopted, and the c:irre,s-
pondence ordered to be published.