The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-11-20 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

anb istrut
STOURBRIDUE AND DISTR .C 2 AL,SOCIA-
TION FOR THE PREVENIION OF CRUELTY

TO ANIMALS.

The annual meeting of the above association was
held in the Corn Exchange, on Thursday evening.
There was a large attendance and Alfred Freer,
Esq , presided. Among those present were the
Rev. W. Jones, Rev. H. Sherrard, Rev. L. B.
Penley, Rev. J. J. Welch, Rev. D. Magginnis,
Rey. Dr: McCave. Mr. W. B. Collie end Mr. G. K.
Harrison.
The Chairman said be felt very proud in pre.
siding over a meeting like that—a meeting in con-
nection with the Stourbridge and District Associa-
tion for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He
felt it indeed a privilege to attend a meeting of so '
much importance. Ho thought he must call upon
their kind indulgence for the minutes of last
annual meeting to be considered as read, and called
upon the hon. secretary to read the report of the
Committee.
Mr. IL Turney (hon. secretary) read the report
of the the Committee, which was as follows :—The
Committee in presenting their filth annual report
cot gratulated the Association on its increasing;
success and usefulness, and they gratefully ac-
knowledge the continued support extended to it.
The work of the year calls for no special comment.
The efforts of the Committee have been of an
educational character as fur as the limited means
at their disposal would allow, and they are glad to
see that the moral influences which ,uch a society
endeavours to exercise, is preventing a great deal
of cruelty in the district over which their operations
extend. The daily reports of the Inspector show
an increasing daposition on the part of persons
having the charge of animals, to take sound advice
as to the treatment of them, especially with regard
to the fitting of harness, the bad management of
which is often the cause of great pain and cruelty.
It is to be regretted, however, that there were still
a great number of 'wises, principally belonging to
well-to-do people, driven with tight bearing reins,
and althsugh this practice is constantly shown to
be exceedingly cruel, it is difficult to persuade
owners of carriage horses to do away with it. The
Committee earnestly appeal to the public to render
all the assistance in their power to abolish such
a cruel practice. The limited space or this report
would not allow for any lengthy remarks on the
subject, but it is one well deserving the attention
of all lovers, and especially owners, of hotses.
From May 13th to July Ist, 1880, the as.ociation
was without an Inspector ; but during that time,
as always, the attention of the police was directed
to the treatment of animals, in t several cases of
cruelty were brought before the magistrates. rile
Committee have now obtained the services of an
experienced Inspector, Mr. Brown, having been
for 16 years in the 2nd Life Guards, and subse-
quently in the service of the Royal Society foi- the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Since July Ist
maily cases of cruelty had been reported and
several convictions obtained. The influence of the
association had thus been felt, and there has been a
marked improvement in the treatment of animals.
The Inspector's report showed that during the
year 141 cautions had been given, and 9 convictions
obtained before the magistrates. These numbers
are not so great as last year; this, however, is
principally owing to the association being withow
an Inspector for 8 weeks. The Committee follow-
ing the example of their predecessors, have only
brought cases of gross cruelty before the Authori-
Lies, and in all their cases a fine had been imposed
and a severe rebuke administered by the presiding
magistrate The Inspector has extended his opera-
tions occasionally to Dudley and Kinvsr, and at
the latter place a drinking trough, hich was
much needed, has been erected by the influence of
Miss Margaret Lee. Attention has been given to
all kinds of animals. The Inspector has been in
regular attendance at stock sales, and he has re-
ceived instructions to attend pigeon shooting
matches. and all such like gatherings. The csnal
towing paths had received special attention and
many worn-out hors, s have beea stopped working
By the invitation of the committee, the Rev. W.
Manning conducted an examination of the Ele •
mentary Schools, on "Our duty to Animals," and
Mr. Manning's r. port showed that the children
displayed considerable intelligence in the subject.
'the marks of the committee were voted to Mr.
Manning for his kindness in conducting the ex-
amination, and a sum of money was also voted for
the purchase of suitable prizes for the en ,cessful
candidates. The committee trust that their ex-
arninatiun will be continued, as the subject is a
good one. The Rev. W J. J. Welch having kindly
offered be give a magic lantern entertainment to
the children of the Elementary Schools of the dis-
trict, illustrating the eagacity of animals, arrange.
ments were accordingly made for holding the en-
tertainment in the Corn Exchange. The lecture
was very largely attended, and great interest was
shown in the subject by the children. The thanks
of the committee were cordially voted to Mr.
Welch for his able services
During the last sessionlof Parliament the com-
mittee presented a petition to the House of Com-
mons in support of Mr Dillwyn's Bill to amend the
laws relating to the protection of wild birds, and
the Bill has since passed through the House of
Commons. without any material opposition.
In conclusion the committee solicit the continued
support of all interested in the objects of the Asso.
slat ion. They feel confident that a good work is
being done in the district, and with the assistance
of an able iuspecton<they look forward to a stiL
further decrease of the acts of cruelty which are
daily practiced toward dumb animals.
The Rev. D. Magginnis, on behalf of the
treasurer, read the statement of accounts which
allowed that the total amount received during the
year with a balance in hand of £64 9s Id was £l5l
6s Bd, and the total expenditure was 017 13s 6.1.,
leaving a balance in hand of £63 12s 9d.
Mr. Collis prop sed that the report of the
committee, together with the statement of accounts
be adopted and circulated. He slid the reports
seemed in all respects satisfactory except the small
falling of the income ; but as the society becomes
more and more known that would be sufficiently
made up.
Mr. Wm. Cooper seconded the resolution which

was carried unanimously.
The Rev. H. Sherrard proposed and the Rev. Dr,
31cCave seconded " That the best thanks of the
meeting are due and hereby are tendered tl the
committee for their valuable services during the
past year."
The resolution was carried.
On a proposition by the Rev. W. Jones seconded
by the Rev. L. B. Penley, the committee of last
year were re-appointed,
The Chairman said he begged to call their at.

tention to the fact that the association was by no
means a persecuting association. The chief object
was to prevent, by warning, not by persecution,
the cruelty to a"imals and a grest deal of good was
being"dune in the neighbourhood. It was their
bounden duty to treat dumb animals witli all due
respect, as they were su.,ceptible to t :rror and pain
as human beings were. He also remarked at some
length upon the cruelty caused by the use of the
bearing rein, and said it was a very unnecessary
thing,
The prizes gained by the children in the ele-
mentary schools, in the examination on "Our Duty
to Animils," were distributed. The report of the
examiner showed that from the Lye National
Schools 30 children were presented of whom six
distinguished themselves on the above subject and
received prizes. From the Wollaston schools 25
children presented themselves, five of whom
distinguish, d themselves. From the Oldswinford
schools three children presented themselves and
gained prizes. From 8.11 Street Board echo As
5 children were presented, of wti( m two received
prize 4. From Enville Street Board :--ehools 10
children were preeentel and four of them obtained
prizes.
The meeting was enlivend by a very good and
inteiesting entertainment, and the respective per—
formers gained the wain' and hearty applause of
the audience. Addresses wet e slso delivered by
the Rev. 11. Sherzard, Rev, Dr. &Wave, and Mr.
W. it. Colds on kindness t snimals.
A vote of lhaz,ks to the Chairman, and to the
ladies and gentlemen who had kindly entertained
them that evening, was r ast, and the meeting ter-
minated.

ZENANA. MIEMONARY SOCIETY.--A public meet-
ing of the supporters of this Society was held on
Monday last, in the Ce rn Exchange. The Rev. C.
S. Wordsworth presided, and in the course of his re-
tuarkb:said that the object of the meeting was to
promote the work of the Zenana AlLsionary Society
It was one which was especially due to the spirit
of christianity. They knew one of the great things
by which christiani y was distinguished among them
generally, and that was that it assigned to the
omen the proper place in society It placed them
in the place assigned for them as the comforter,
companion, and Friend of mankind. In India, there
was nothing of that kind in regard to religion, the
women were treated as slaves. The work already
accc mplished had been most encouraging, but still
very much remained to be done.—Colonel Urnastone
then addressed the meeting, and gave a most inter-
esting accolint of the rise and progress of the
Zenana mission. There were now many ladies in
India, he said, who had obtained entry into the
Zaranas otthe Indian ladies, but still very much
remained to be done, and many openings could be
taken advantage of if there were more mie.sionaries.
Already at Umritsa a Normal College had been
established, and numbers of native women had
been educated as school teachers and Bible readers,
Mother piano' schools bad beim opened, and at