The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-12-19 00:00:00

an gistrict getris.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The mual meeting of this Board was held
yesterday; Mr. Granger, in the chair. There
were also present :—Messrs. I. Rollinson, H.
Billingham, Baker, Guest, Rhodes, Thompson,
Wood, Hall, Parkes, Haskew, W. Rollingson,
Homer, and B. Homes. Admitted 9 ; discharged
4 ; died 1; remaining, 325 ; corresponding
week last sear, 359. Out door relief: King-
swinford district, £22 15s 64 ; Stourbridge
district, .£l7 8s did ; Halesowen district, £l5
19s 3d; non-resident us 8; total £56 143 94d
against £6O 8s 24; last year. The usual quar-
terly contracts were entered into.
The inrustes of the house were orderedto be
regailed with roast beef and plum pudding on
Christmas day, and the Guardians will inset
on Thursday next.

ACCIDENT AT THE GAS WORKS.—The heavy
fall of snow during Tuesday night caused a singular
accident at the gas works, Stourbridge. One of
the gas holders, in which the early morning supply
of the gas was stored, was freighted heavily with
snow, and thlts, coupled with the effect of the wind,
caused the holder to swerve on one side. It was
a little before seven on Wednesday morning when it
occurred, and the first knowledge of the affair
was obtained from failure of gas in the places
where it is used in the early morning. y the
wrench given to the gas holders, a rent three or four
feet in length was caused at the top, and the 5,5000
feet of gas stored up was soon "free as the winds."
The gas holder settled down in its bed without
much damage, but some of the iron guide-rods
were twisted by the holder being out of place. No.
tiee was given in the town in the afternoon that
the directors would only be able to give a partial
supply of gas last night, and we understane that
the supply will be limited for several days.
THE REV. J. S. BOLDER() AND HIS CHURCHWERD-
aws.—A short time ago the Rev. J. S. Bolder°,
vicar of Amblecote, anounced his intention of
abolishing pew rents at his church, and at a pub.
lie meeting subsequently held in Stourbridge, in
connection with the free church movement, be
strongly expressed his dislike of the pew rent
system, and said he would never touch a penny of
pew rents again. The churchwardens have not
gone with the vicar in the matter, and it is stated
that they have obtained legal opinion that the
vicar of a district church cannot abolish pew rents
and the allotment of pews without the consent of
the churchwardens. They have written to Mr.
Bolder° on the subject, protesting against the step
he has taken, and also formally objecting to cer-
tain practices introduced into the service.
_ .

.„.
THE ADDITIONAL CURATES' AID SOCULTY.—The Rev. J.
B. Coles, M.A., Organising Secretary to the above So-
ciety. gave • lecture in aid of it in the Corn Exchange,
on Thursday evening last. Shortly after eight o'clock
(that being the time announced for the commencement
of the lecture)The Rev, gentleman entered the room, ac-
companied by the Revs. Id. Sberrard, and J. S. Bo!dem.
There were then only about • dozen persons present.
The Rev 11. tihorrard, who presided, said that as there
were so f. w pr.sent they would dispense with the plat-
form and the usual formalities, and he accordingly com•
menced to address the small audience who were stated
round one of she fires. He said he bad no donbt the
inclemency of the weather had a great dealjto do with the
apparent coldness of the reception of the rev. lecturer.
The subject was a very important one, and lie felt satis-
fied that when the inhabitants knew more abut it they
would evince more interest in the subject. The lecturer
then offered up prayer, and afterwards addressed the aud-
ience at considerable length en the usefulness of the wi-
sed ition, and the us cessity there was for supporting it.
EN TERTAINMEN r.—An enterinimnent of a musical
and literary character was given in the Lecture Room
of the Associated Institute, on Monday evening last.
The chair was taken by Mr. It. 0. Firmstone, J.P.,
and there was a good attendance. The programme
WES as follows :—Plasm solo, Mr T. 11. Rhodes, "La
Jet d'Ean, glee, Misses Harris and Millward, Messrs.
J. P. Maginuis and Chas. Perks, "Gipsy Chorus,"
song, Mr. Pugh, "The Minstrel Boy," r,ading, Mr.
A. J. Nash," Trying a Dye," duet, Misses Harris
and Millward, " List to the convent Bells," song, Mr.
W. J. Turney, "Tire Maid of the Mill," reading, Mr.
T. Butler, "Au Irish Story," song, Miss Millward,
" Ju.anita," song, Mr. J. I'. Maginnis, "Ails for the
Best," song, Mr. Chas. Leeson, "Madeline," recita-
tion, Mr. A. .T. Nash, " Young Lochinvar,' song,
Miss Harris, "Come where the Moonbeams linger,"
song, Mr. I has. Perks, "The Mariner," glee. Misses
Ilarris and Millward, Messrs. J. P. Maginnis and
Chas. Perks. The whole of the pieces were rendered
in a very effective manner. Amongst the vocalists
Mr. Perks, the Misses Millward and Harris were
respectively accorded the honour of an encore; whilst
the humorous readings by Messrs. Nash and Butler
fforded considerable merriment.

DRUNKENNESS.—At the Police Cot; s‘ on Mon-
day, before Mr. R. L. Freer, John Parker was
charged with being drunk in Kidderminster-street,
on the night of the 12th inst. Police-constable
Wallace proved the case. Fined is and costs.—
Henry Raybould was charged with being drunk
and disorderley in Birmingham-street on Sunda,
night last. Fined 5s and costs. Police-constable
Wallace proved the ease.—W. Pagett, of Beauty
Bank, for being drunk and disorderly on the night
of the 12th inst, was fined 2s 6d and costs. Police.
constable Smith proved the case.—At the same
Court, before Mr. Holcroft, W. •faylor,publican, of
the Eagle Tavern, King-street, Wollaston, was
fined 53 and costs for being drunk and disorderly.
Good ra'urfig• money is desired by all, with articles
that cannot he judged of by appearance, careful pur-
chasers rely on the high standing of those with whom
they deal. For 30 years, Horniman's Pore Teas in
packets have given general satisfaction, being exceedingly
strong, of unVorrn good quality, and Indy cheap Agente
Stourbridge—Clarke, 151, High-street ; Baker, 121, High-
street; Htwit, Market Place; Morris, 136, High-atreet.
Brierley Ifill—Rawlings chemist ; Kidderminster, Bull
Ring; Halesowen, Adam. chemist; Lye, Jones, chemist;
Wordsley, Turner. chemist; Kingswinford, Pearson,
Brettel Lane, Collings, chemist; Birmingham, Banks,
Bull Ring.

THE CHRISTMAS STOCK SALE.— Mr. H. King's
Clalistte...s Sale took place last Tuesday, and was nu-
meronely attended by buyers. The stock included
some 60 first-cla4 fat cattle, o Lich were admitted cm