The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-01-09 00:00:00

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The usual meeting of this Board was held
yesterday; Mr. Granger in the chair. There
were also present :—Messrs. I. Rollinson, H.
Billingham, Guest, Thompson, Phillips, Hall,
Parker, J. Billingham, Homer, Rhodes, Wood,
Fiddian, Baker, and Wright. Admitted 19;
discharged 12 ; died 3; remaining, 340 ; cor-
responding week last year, 357. Out door re-
lief: Kingswmford district. £24 133 811: Stour-
bridge district, £l7 17s 21-2 d ; Halesowen
district, £l6 12s Od ; non-resident paupers lie
8d ; total £59 14s 7d against £59 16s 101 d last
year.
On the application of the hair dresser his
salary was increased from £l3 to £l5.

ANNUAL DINNER or RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.
The employees of the Great Western Railway
Company, in this town, had their annual dinner at
the house of Mr. Rowcliffe, the Chequers Inn,
High-street, Monday evening last. Upwards
of 40 sat down to an excellent dinner, served up
in a really first-class manner by the worthy host
and hostess.
After the cloth was removed, the chair was taken
by Mr. Bisgood, and the vice-chair by Mr. Field.
The Chairman said it was with extreme pleasure
he rose that evening to propose a toast which he
supposed they would all drink heartily. As it was
the first time he had ever taken the chair, he felt
somewhat diffident in the position; at the same
time that he was thoroughly conscious of the
honour they had done him in placing him there.
The first toast he should propose for their acknow-
ledgment was that of the "Queen and the Royal
Family." He need not detain them by any
lengthy remarks on the subject of the toast.
Through the medium of the press they were all
acquainted with the charitable acts and loving
sympathy for those around her in misfortune, by
which the Queen had endeared herself to the
hearts of her subjects. With reference to the
Prince of Wales and the other members of the
Royal Family, they had all of them performed the
duties which devolved upon them in such a way
as redounded to their oOn credit, and gave the
greatest satisfaction to all concerned. He hoped
the Queen would be spared to rule over the desti-
nies of our country for many years to come, and
that her subjects would continue to enjoy the same
happiness, peace, and prosperity which had
hitherto distinguished her beneficent reign—(loud
applause).
The toast having been duly acknowledged, and
a song sung by Mr. Waldron,
The Vice-Chairman proposed the "Army and
Navy." In doing so, he said our soldiers had on
many a well-fought field maintained the supre-
macy of their country over that of all others;
whilst it was owing to the heroism, pluck, and
endurance of our sailors that we were enabled to
boast the possession of an empire upon which the
sun never sets. The army and navy combined
had placed England foremost among the nations ;
the protector of the weak, and the pioneer of civi-
lisation. They had not, happily, been required to
give much proof of their prowess of late years,
but there was no doubt that if their services were
required they would prove themselves to be made
of the same stuff as their forefathers. He, there-
fore, had great pleasure in proposing the "Army
and Navy "_(applause).
The Chairman then read a list of the names of
those who had subscribed to the "dinner fund"
and thanked the donors, in the names of those
present, for having enabled them to hold that
annual convivial gathering. Whilst thanking the
donors, however, they must not forget the collec-
tors—Messrs. Price and Morris—who had been at
considerable difficulty in getting together those
subscriptions—(cheers).
The Chairman next proposed the "Trade and
the Press of Stourbridge," coupling with the for-
mer the name of Mr. liand,:and with the latter
that of Mr. Mears. :I
In responding to thA "Trade of Stourbridge,"
Mr. Hand thanked them for the very kindly way
in which they had spolen of the donors and sub-
scribers. He had risen in person to thank them,
and whilst doing so co ild not refrain from expres-
sing the pleasure it gave him to contribute to the
funds which enabled them to hold that convivial
gathering there that evening. Railway officials
needed recreation, for the duties they had to per-
form were very onerous and exacting, and they
had but little time to themselves. He had also
to thank the committee for acting upon a sugges-
tion he had thrown out with reference to holding
their annual meeting in the town of Stourbridge;
and for having their first at the house of his friend
Mr. Rowcliffe, and he felt sure he was expressing
the feelings of all present, when he said they were
highly pleased with the excellent way in which
dinner had been placed upon the table—(" Hear,
hear," and applause). With reference to the
trade of the town, those startling changes had not
taken placs here which occurred in some towns;
but, nevertheless, they enjoyed a fair share of
prosperity, one characteristic of the Stourbridge
tradesman being that he paid twenty shillings in
the pound, which was not always the case in towns
of more mushroom-like growth. He concluded
by again thanking them for the way in:which they
had responded to the toast.
Mr. Mears responded on behalf of the Press.
Mr. Lund next sang "Down amongst the Coals,"
and "The Marble Arch."
The Vice-Chairman then proposed "The Rail-
way Officials," which was responded to by Mr. Carr
in a neat speech.
The "Health of the Chairman," the "Host and
Hostess," and other toasts were also given, and
duly acknqwledged, and the intervals between the
toabts being occupied by the singing of some ex-
cellent songs, a pleasant evening was spent.