The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-17 00:00:00

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WORCESTERSHIRE AGRICULTURAL S °cum' s Snow.
—A meeting of the local committee, to wind up
the accounts connected with the last show of the
above society, was held on Tuesday afternoon, at
the Talbot Hotel. Mr. W. J, Turney presided.—
Mr, F. Blakeway stated that the show resulted in
a loss of £lOO. to the society, this result being
attributed to the bad weather on the second day.—
The local balance-sheet showed that the total sift-
scriptions had been £725. 14s In some cases sub- '
scrintions which had been promised had not been
paid, though some of those viho promised had
nevertheless accepted an,l used subscribtrs' tickets.
The local committee forwarded £3OO. to tne cen`ral
committee, as guaranteed, and they paid £214. 9s.
Bd. for local prizes, £3l. 15s. for bands, 1.53. for
the ground, and sundiy smaller payments broarht
up to the total expenditure to £653. us 101..
laving a balance of £67. 2s. 2d. in hand. Thh
balance, it was agreed, should remain in the bank
till the time came round for another show at S tour-
bridge. Mr. J. Arkle and Mr. T. F. Bland were ap-
pointed to audit the accounts, and this was done
in the room, and the balance-sheet signed.—ne
Onairtnan expressed his satisfaction at the outc)me
of the affair, and said it wos better than they could
have expected. He proposed a vote of thanks to
the hon. secretaries, Mr. F. Blakeway and Mr. J.
Taylor, end this was seconded by Mr. Wilkes Webb
and carried. Thanks were also voted to the chair-
man, the treasurer (Mr. Wilkes Webb), the press,
and to the directors of the Talbot Hotel for granting
the free use o a room for the committee meetings

A recent writer in our local papers has wisely
observed that "one of the follies of the age is to
buy dear Wines and Spirits." Another folly is to
suppose that buying from those who make the
largest return of duty is buying them in the
cheapest market. The Merchant who pays duty
upon tnousands of gallons, pays in exact propor-
ikn to the retailer clearing a single cal-k. A great
profit must be gained to cover enormous expenses
of large business premises, cost of advertising, and
an allowance of profit to the Agent, greater in
many instonces than taken by the respectable
Merchant. To buy cheap is to buy where but one
profit is made, and we cannot bctter illustrate our
argument than by pAntiug out the way in which
~ur townsmen, Messrs J. Rutland and Son, of 63
High Street, have opened up the trade. We have
no hesitation in saying that 25 per cent. is now
saved by their bringing the producer and the con-
sumer together, over the prices paid a few years
ago. and a trial will fulfy bear out our assertion.
Oudley Herald, December 24th 1880...

IMPORTANT CHANGE IN THE LOCAL COAL TRADE.
—On Wednesday, at the Priory Offices, Dudley,
there was a private meeting of the colliery masters,
and at its conclusion the representatives of the
men received the following as the decision of the
masters :—" That the scale in the exist;ng agree-
ment be mcdified on the Ist January, 1862, as
follows: When furnace cr thick-coal is 95.. wages
to he 3s. for thick-coal men and 2s 6d. for thin ;
and when 10s. wages 35 4d. and 2s. Bd. respec:ively.
This gives an advknce of 4d. and 2d. per day,
instead of 3d. and lid. respectively, for every is.
above 9s. per ton, and the reduction below 9s. per
ton is to be 3d. and lid. respectively for each is.
drop. It is understood that these terms will be at
once laid before the men.

ORGAN RECITAL.—The organ recital at St.
Thomas's church, on Monday evening last, was
well attended, there being over 400 persons preeent,
and the greatest decorum prevailed. '[he vocalists
were Mrs. Britton, Mr. Riley, and Mr. Bates, who
eaca rendered their pieces in a musicianly manner.
The choir, under the conductorship of Mr. • Bates,
admirably sung two choruses from the "Messiah,"
The noble old organ, under the splendid mastership
of Dr. Belcher, sent forth its beautiful tones to the
delight and appreciation of those present, and in
every way jus:ifies the expense incurred in its
renovation.
CONCERT.—A concert was given in the Corn
Exchange. on Thursday night, in aid of the funds
of the Fire Brigade. A short time ago a new
steam fire-engine was purchased at a considerable
cost, and there is still a sum of nearly £2OO wanted
to detray the costs. Captain Turuey and the
Brigade decided to get up a concert with the idea
of reducing the debt, which came off with great
success in the Corn Exchange, on Thursday even-
ing, the room being well filled with a fashionable
audience, some 150 reserved seats being taken.
The concert was under the patronage of Lord
Stamford, Lord Lyttelton, and the gentry of the
neighbourhood. The performers were Mrs. A. J.
Nash (contralto), Mrs. Parker (soprano). Mr. H.
Mobberley (tenor), and Mr. F. Walker (bass) ; Mr.
J. Mathews, solo flute; Mr. J. A. Swindell, solo
pianoforte; accompanists, Miss Turney and Mr.
Bottomley. Mr. Swindell opened the concert with
a solo, which was played with great brilliancy and
deservedly applauded. In the second solo the
performer was loudly encored, and played •'Simon
the Cellarer." Mr. J. Mathews she received an
ovation in the solo "Rule Britannia," which wee
played in his usual brilliant style, with variations,
and brought the house down. Mrs. Nash recei sed
an encore in her song "1 Cannot Forget." Mrs.
Parker's song "Serenade." with flute obbligato, was
beautifully rendered. Miss Turney's performance
as pianist was very effective, and displayed a great
amount ref ability. Messrs. Mobberley and
Walker also came in for a fair share of applause.
At the close of the performance the whole of the
Fire Brigade walked on to the platform, and wati
the performers, sang God Save the Queen, the.
whole affair being a decided success. We may ine7 -
tion that the room was beautifully decorated with
evergreens, the platform with ferns and flowers,
and on the front of the stage 14 helmets, belonging
to the brigade, were placed in a row, which showed
to great advantage. Captain Turney, the offica.s
and the brigade were in attendance, and assisted
in carrying out the arrangements.
DECNKSNNESS.—At the Police Court yesterday.
before Col. Fletcher and Mr. C. Cochrane, Joseph
Burford was fined 55., including costs, for being
drunk at the Lye, on the 12th inst. Police-sergeant
Payne proved the case.—Uriah Baker, of the Lye,
was charged with being drunk at Hagley, on the
10th inst. Police-constable Wallace proved die
case and defendant was fined ss, including
Uriah Hill was also fined ss, including costs, fur
being drunk ott the same date, at the Lye.
„,litarcrasta TO Qurr.—Samuel Shepherd NV as sum-
moned for being drunk and refusing to quit the
Old Star Inn, Coventry Street, Stourbridge, on the
26th ult. Police-sergeant Berman, and the land-
lady kAun I.allcy) proved the case, .A. fine of 58
and costs was inflicted.
DRUNX AND INCI.PABLE.—WiIIiam Turner was.
on the evidence of Police-constable Moore, fined 5s
including costs, f- r being drunk and incapable on
the 15th inst.
• OBSCENE LANGUAGE.—Thomas Haslock Richards
residing at Wollaston, was cLarged with u,ing
obscene language in Bell Lane, on the 7th inst
Elizabeth Bagott and Ellen Day proved the case.
Superintendent Wheeler proved two previous con-
victions against the defendant, who was now fined
10s and costs : in default 14 day*
A CAUTION.—James Pargeter and Joseph Howell
were summoned fcr creating a disturbance in the
Swan Street Mission Hall.—On the night of the
11th inst, the defendants went to the Hall and
created a disturbance by laughing and gaming,
whilst the service was going on.—The Bench inti-
mated that they were determined not to allow a lot
ef roughs to disturb religious services, and imposA
on each of the defendants a fine of lOs and c
HIGHWAY OFFKNCE.-- George Bodgkiss, for al-
lowing his horse to stray, was fined 7s Gd.
FRIENDLY SOCIRTY CASE.—Ezra Bloomer was
summoned to show cause why he should not de-
liver up the sum of 155., money received byhi
as secretary ton Friendly Society, held at the
Black Swan Inn, Cradley. Mr. Stokes prosecuted
and Mr. Caldicott defended. Mr. Stokes said the
defendant had been secretary to the ab ,re society
for some years. Sums of money had been paid to
him on behalf of the club, and he had received in
all £26 15s. Complainants had taken a very mild
course as they had not had him up f:.,r bezLit-
ment. Mr. Caldicott, for the defendant, pieaded
guilty, and asked for time to pay the money. Mr.
Stokes had no objections if defendant couid find
security. The magistrates clerk eugge *ed that the
case ihould be shortly taken. Mathew Beasley, of
Birmingham proved that he paid the defendant £3
10s. David Haiper, president of the society, proved
that the defendant had received money amounting
to £26 15s, belonging to the soci..ty, Col. Fletcher
said it was a serious ease, anu had deleadaut been
charged with embezzling the money he - would
have been liable to six months' imprisonment. He
ordered the defendant to pay the money ; in default
three months' imprisonment.
BOARD OF Glianniarts.—Mr. Raybould presided
at the weekly meeting of the Board yesterday.
There were present Messrs. Billinghain, Ii askew,
Parget er, Robertson, Williams, Burr, Guest, Brown-
ing, Wood, Homer, Giles, Mills, Plant, Grump,
Lavender, Rhodes. Stringer, Forrest and 13roolka.
Admitted into the house Luring the week 21 ; bern
1 ; discharged 5 ; remaining in the le use 539, last
,
year 55 Out• door relief, iiingswinford disr rt
£4O 7s 31 ; Stourbridge district, £ 1.
' es ad ; Hales-
ov 5.
nn-resident Gs 4d; total
lc,ca
,lid2isstirdic, atga2ilnsBe 8(1 o
; t £B6os
7id.