The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-02-07 00:00:00

TILE STOPTIPMFGF OPSFFITP.

Winnington, Major, The Shrubbery, Stanford,
Worcester.
Workman, 8., Esq., Hampton, Evesham.
Workman, Henry, Esq., Charlton House, Per-
shore.
Wright, William, Esq., M.D., Shipston-on-Stour.
Communications respecting the business of the
Central Committee to be made to W. H. King,
Stourbridge ; and as to the business of the District
Committees to the following:—
Balsall Heath and Moseley—W. B. Harding, Esq.,
Solicitor, 32, Waterloo Street, Birmingham ;
Woodward Hawkes, Solicitor, Birmingham.
Bredon—F, J. Brown, Esq., Tewkesbury.
Evesham and Broadway--Messrs. New, Prance,
and Garrard, Solicitors, Eveshsm.
Bromsgrove--E. Dodd, Esq., Solicitor, Booms-
grove.

Stourbringe and Clent—J. B. shepherd, Esq.,
Solicitor, Stourbridge.
Cradley and Ralesow
Solicitor, Cradley.
Dudley and Netherton—E, M. Warmington, Esq.,
Solicitor, Dudley; and Charles Russell, Esq.,
Dudley.

Homer, Esq.,

Droitwich, Feckenham, and Inkberrow—John
Slick, Esq., Solicitor, Droitwich.
King's Norton and Yardley—E. F. Mason, Esq.,
Solicitor, Town Hall Chambers, Birmingham.
Lye—George Perry, Fag., Solicitor, stourbridge.
Oldbury—Wm. Shakespeare, Esq., Solicitor, Old-
bury.

Pershore —E. H. Pace, Esq, Solicitor, Pershore.
Redditch—liarold Browning, Esq , Solicitor, lied.
ditch.

Shipston-on-Stour and Blockley—E. V. Nicoll,
Esq., Solicitor, Shipston-on-Stoor.

REPORT OF THE MECHANICS INSTITUTION,
FOR THE YEAR 1873.

SlEunitas.—The number of members for the year has
been 40 annual, and 67 quarterly, making a total of 107;
being an increase of rive an last report.
FINANCE.—The receipts for the year, including the
balance of £l7 6s lid brought forward, have been £7l
Id, and the expenditure .£6l 6s 9d, leaving • balance of
£9 Ids 6d, to be carried to next year. Details of this
account are annexed. . .

BPADIN-1.; —B,oo—;l7L—The room 118., as usual, been sup-
plied with many of the leading publications of the day :
such as follows :—The Times. Standard, Daily News,
Pall Mall Gazette, Birmingham Daily Poet, Birmingham
Daily Gazette, and Birmingham Morning News have
been taken daily; the Illustrated London News, the
Graphic, Pucch, Fun, Judy, Saturday Review, Worcester
Herald, Birmingham Journal, Aria' Birmingham Gazette,
The Worcestershire Chronicle, The Engineer, Brierley
Hill Advertiser, The Stoorbridge Observer, weekly'
And the following periodicals Art Journal, Westminster
Review. Fortnightly Review, Blackwood, Corubill, Mac'
millan's and other Gentlemen's Magazines, All The
Year Round, and Chambers' Journal, Mr. Charles
Beavington has, with his usual ,kindness supplied The
Herald of Peace. .

The Committee beg to tender their thanks to those
gentlemen who have supplied their papers gratuitously.
LIBRARY.—A sub committee was appointed on Feb-
ruary last, for the purpose of overhauling the Library.
The results of their labours were the replacing of
several books which had either Winne torn-out or lost.
the binding up of 19 volumes of periodicals from the
store room, and no addition of 41 new works. Your
committee have pleasure in thanking that subcommittee
for their services. They also beg to express their regret
that the Funds of their Institution are hardly such as to
warrant them in publishing a new catalogue. Two grants
of specifications of patents have been made to the Insti-
tute by Her Majesty's commissioners of patents these
hove been placed in the library.
The issue of books for the year has been 1769, being
an increase of nearly 100 on last report.
CLAittMS —For the study of Latin—Under the Rev.
H. Sherrard, French—Mons. de V it.—Slatliematices—
Mr. W. G. Goddard,—Chemistry —Mr. F I'. Bland,
have been in operation during the usual sessions and
have been moderately well attended. The examinations,
which are held is the mouth of May, 'hewed that the
studies hail been suceesfully prosecuted. These exami-
nations are held for the purposes of ascertaining the am•
oust of progress made and for classification.
PENNI BA:M.—Your committee are pleased to report
that the Penny Bank has been well patronised by the
poorer people of the town and neighbourhood. The Dan-
sections as reported at the last annual meeting of the
managers and- depositors were found to be: receipts,
£367. 15s 3d ; repayments, £370, 5s 31; leaving in the
Post Office Savings Bank a balakee of £135, 3s 2d.
these results your committee venture to think will be
highly satisfactory to the members of this Institntion.
Considering that the -depositors are put to no expense
whatever, the whole of the expenses being defrayed by
voluntary contributions, excepting the interest arising
from the balance at the Post Office Saving Badk.
MICHLLANEOUS.—An entertainment by the Messrs.
Gossmith on the 26th of November, and a lecture by Mr.
Geo. Dawson, on the sth December, resulted in a
profit of £330 11d.
The annual meeting of the South Staffordshire
association was held here on the 20th October, to
which •our committee sent the usual deputations.
Many members of the Institute also attended the meet-
ing which sroveil a successful one.

In concluding their report your committee venture to
state that while the record of the past year is increasing,
they feel that the Institute is deserving of a far larger
amnia of support than it now receives, being one which
is entirely non-political and taking cognisance of sec-
tarian matters.

OFFIGILIitI FOR 1874.—President. the Right Hon. Lord
Lyttelton, Vice.Presidents—W. 0. Foster, Esq., H W.
Foley, Esq., B. Brooks. Esq., G. K. Harrison, Esq., H
Hughes, Esq., Rev. J. Richards, Rev. D. Maginms, F.
Evers, Esq., J. C. A. Scott, Esq , E. B. Marten, Esq.
Committee: Messrs. John Pagett, James Barrett, John
Buckler, E. Blurton, W. Stanley, F. J. Muckley, W.
Squires, Stainer, F. H. Joscelyne, J. Sharman, and Rev.
Lloyd Harris. Treasurer : Mr. John Taylor. Secreta-
ries, Messrs. C. Evers and E. Brake.

The Secretary of the Working Men's Institu-
tion then read the following report :

WORKING MEN'S INSTITUTION, REPORt FOR
1873.

MEMBERS—The number of members on the books is
as follows: Annual, 36; quarterly, monthly, and
weekly, 123; making a total of 159, being a decrease of
46 last year.

INANCE.—The income of the year amount, to £24 Se
51, and the expenditure to £22 10e Hid, leaving a bal.
&nee in hand of £1 124 51d._

HELPING Room.—You; Committee have but little
..charge to report in reference to the Reading Room. Ab
. formerly, it has been well attended. The following
papers and periodicals have been plae,d on the table :
! Telegraph : Daily News, and Birmingham Daily
' Pont. Weekly : Illustrated Loudon News, Penny Illus-
trated Paper, Beehive, Reynolds' Newbpaper, Binning.
ham Post sad Journal, Midland Comities' Herald, Brier-
! ley Hill Advertner, County Express, Stourbridge Ober.
! ver, and the Alliance News. P.ricklica! : All the Year
! Bound, Good Words, Good Thing, for the Young,
Hour, Chambers' Journal, English Mechanic,
Cassell'. Magaine, Lonlou Journal, Family Herald,
. Punch. Fur, British Workman, Workman's Magazine,
! and the Herald of Peace.

- - -
The Committee tender their best thanks to the Pro-
prietors oi the Midland Counties' Herald, the Brierley
Hail Adv-rtiser. the County Express, and the Stourbridge
Observer, for the gratuitous preseutatiou of their pipers ;
to Mr. Heavington fir ha ifer lbo 'Peace, cud to Mr.
Thebridge for the Alliance News,
Li.„4.,-Yeur Committee are pleased to be able to
state that the library still cortiames the most attractive
deparuneut of the Institute, but want of funds prevent
them from ruskizg such replacaments, additions. and
improvements aa would make it still more useful. your
committee have much pleavire in stating that through
the liberality of Miss Evers they have been eoabled to
place ou tneir shelves some 2.5 handsome volumes of mis•
cellaneous reading, for which they tender their best
thanks. The number of books issued is as follows:_
i r d the draws. :e'ttu; Ye
95;:M'e . "mut7' 3; sciencebiography, and travels, 162;
pand philosophy. 61;
osiscellaneous works, 1_I; novels, tales, and romances,
1,405; magazines, essays, and reviews, 165-total,
2,085. Under the auspices of the South Staffordehire
Educational Institutes, classes hove been in operation
for the study of the following: Political Economy, Latin,
French, English Literature, Mathematics and Chemistry.
GENERAL REM•IiKA.-llaring the past year the Asa°.
doted lustitutee have had en. entertainment and one
lecture, werh resuPed in a profit of £3 31 The
Library is opened every Monday evening, between the
hours of revert and half-past eight. The C h a,- -acre., icy,
Mr. 0. Creilre, attends at the time to receive the inena•
bars' subscri ethane. Ladies are eligible as member. of
the library by payment of due peony per week. A cats
logue of the books in the library can be hail, by applica-
tion to Mr. IL Jukes, the librarian.

• -
OFFiCERS FOR 18,4 —Preiadent: Mr. William Dunn;
Vice-Presideut : Mr. Mark Palfrey ; Treasurer : Mr. J.
I'. Short. Secretaries: Mr. Henry Richards and Mr.
George Cooke. Librarian, Mr. R. Jdkre ; asaibtants—.
J. W. Sneyd, T. Robinson, and W. Dunn. Committee:
Messrs: J. Hicklin. U. Litchfield, T. Robins mu. T.
Sdwards, .1. Dunn. J. W. Saeyd, W. Newman, W. Bur-
ford. G. Shiner, J. Hatton, O. Holmes, Weeks. and
J. Holmes. Auditors: Mr. IV. Newman and Mr. Mark
Palfrey,

The report of the Building Committee, which
was read by Mr. J. T. Short, showed that their
receipts during the past year had been £5l 12s
6d; expenditure, £.40 18s 4d; thus leaving a
balance in hand of £l.O 4s 4d.

Mr. Pagett moved "That the reports, as now
read, be adopted."

This was seconded and carried.

Mr. Foley then said that he felt very much
flattered at having been invited to occupy the
chair there that evening. The Institution did
not appear to in:lke any rapid progress; but it
probably did that work which came within its
province. He regretted to hear froin the report
of the Working Men's Institution, that it had
experienced a diminution of its members during
the past year. He hoped that diminution would
not be permanent, but that in the future it would
have a great increase of members. He said this
because he considered institutions of that kind
very valuable in their way, because they enabled
those who worked in fustian jackets to enjoy a
sound and good literature at a little cost, and he
thought there were a great many men in Stour.
bridge who would not lose sight of the oppor-
tunity thus afforded them. If they did not do
so it would be their own fault, and their own
loss. The secretary of the Working Men's In.
stitution had thrown out a hint to the effect that
ladies might become members of that institution
if they chose. The ladies were certainly com-
ing to the front at the present day with their
"Women's Rights" and other movements for the
advancement of their sex, and he (the chairman)
certainly did not see why they should forego the
advantages for intellectual improvement offered
by an institution like that. He thought there
was no reason why women should not enjoy
some of those advantages as well as the men.
He did not wish to enforce this; be only threw
it out ass suggestion. Another subject referred
to in the report was the state of the building:
and two others were the want of a catalogue by
the Mechanics' Institution, and the deficiency in
the balance of the Working Men's. With refer-
ence to the two latter, he should be most happy
to supply a catalogue to the Mechanics, and give
.e 2 towards the deficiency in the NVorking Men's
balance—(applause). He would not detain them
with any remarks on the various advantages
afforded by such societies as those. They were
well known to all present, and the very fact of
their presence there that evening testified that
they were well aware of the good to be derived
from them. He could only express a hope that
these advantages wonld be more widely appreci-
ated in this town. His father had taken a great
interest in it some years ago. and that iuterest
was bequeathed to him (the speakeri, and ihe
could only express a hope that that institution
would not only continue to flourish in this town,
but would continue to afford harmless amuse-
ment t) its inhabitants.—(cheers).
The composition of the Building Committee
next came under discussion, and it was stated

that it at present consisted of five members of
each institute.
Mr. Scott advocated the desirability of adding
to that number, and said that the Building
Committee had the entire management of the
building in their hands, and they could allow
the various rooms to be used for classes, lectures,
!
&c. He thought, therefore, there was a con-
siderable discretionary power vested in them,
and on that account it would, perhaps, be better
if their number was increased. He had ascer-
tained that there was nothing in the law to limit
the number to 10 —five from each institute,
and he should propose that eight meutbers each
should be elected by the respective institutes.
A desultory conversation ensued, in the course
of which several of those present expressed
their dissent from the proposition of Mr. Scott,
and, finally,
Mr. Barratt proposed, as an amendment, that
the original number be retained.
The Chairman then put the amendment, and
afterwards the proposition to the meeting; and
Mr. Scott's motion wasjlost by a large majority.
The original number will therefore be retained.
Those present then proceeded to the election
of the committee, and the following gentlemen
were elected—for the Mechanics: Messrs. Scott,
Hughes, Taylor, Murton, andillev. D. :Magin-
nis ; for the Working Men: Messrs. J. T. Short,
T. Hieklin, W. Newman, 0. Litchfield, and
Richards.
The substitution of Mr. Scott for Mr. Barratt
is the only alteration in the original composi-
tion of the committee. Tile latter gentleman
was elected, but declined in favour of Mr.
Burton, the treasurer of the Building Com-
mittee, whose services, Mr. Barratt affirmed,
were almost indispensable to that committee.
At first those present would not accept Mr.
Barratt's resignation, and it was suggested that
Mr. Blurton should retain his post as treasurer,
and be e.c-cOci., a member of the committee.
In the course of the discussion, however, it was
generally conceded that this would lead to fur-
ther complications by destroying the balance of
power between .the two institutes, and the
members present at length reluctantly admitted
the necessity of accepting Mr. Barrette resig-
nation, at the sauce time expressing their admi-
ration of his generosity in tendering it.
Mr. Maginnis moved "that a vote of thanks
be given to Mr. Blade') and Mr. Short for their
services." This was seconded by Mr. Lloyd
Harris, and carried.
Mr. Maginuis remarked, with reference to the
diminution of the number of members spoken
of by the chairman, that although from the re-
port there appeared to be a large falling off in
the number, it was merely a falling off on paper,
as a great many of then. aught have been struck
off last year. They had been allowed to remain
on the books in the hope that they might pay
up. They had not done so. and their names
were erased, thus causing the large apparent
diminution. There had not been a loss of 45
good members in any one year. He had made
these few remarks to clear away any false im-
pression that might have arisen from the state-
ment in the report. On behalf of the members
of the Associated Institutes he tendered Mr.
Foley their most cordial thanks for coming there
that evening, and for his generous offer of assist-
ance to the two societies to help them over their
difficulties. It was only what they might expect
from the antecedents of Mr. Foley. He had
very great pleasure in moving that their most
cordial thanks be given to Mr. Foley.
Mr. Scott seconded the proposition, and, in
doing so, said all of thew looked upon Mr.
Foley as one of the most tried friends of the
Institution. He had very much pleasure in
seconding the resolution.
It was then put to the meeting and carried
unanimously.
Mr. Foley, in responding, said he was ex-
tremely obliged to them for the kind manner iu
which they had proposed a vote of thanks to
him. If Mr. Maginuis had been in the habit of
making jokes he should have thought he was
laughing at him for his conduct in the chair.
lie (Mr. Foley) did not think they could have
had a more inefficient chairman than himself.
He thought he ought rather to apologise to
them than receive a vote of thanks. He was,
however, very much obliged to them for the
kind way in which they had overlooked his
shortcomings, and he should be happy to do fur
them on a future oceasiou.anythiug which lay in
his power.
Tics meeting then terminated.

FORESTERS' CONCERT.—A concert was head in
the Corn Exchange, on Monday evening last, in
aid of the Foresters Widows and Orphans' Fund.
Although there was a marked absence of the local
gentry, there was otherwise a good attendance.
The entertainment provided was of a high-class
character, two of the performers being pupils of
the well-known pro essor of music, )Jr. Charles
Lunn. I' hey were the Mit,ses Allely, and their
singing of the various pieces allotted to them was
much admired. Mr. h. Lansmere, late principal
baritone of the London English Opera Company,
although suffering from a slight cold, amply de-
monstrated that he had lost none of that magnifi-
cent voice or artistic finish and skill which made
him such a favourite on the first occasion on which
he appeared in Stourbridge. It is needless toy
that Mr. H. King's flute playing was quite up to
its usual standard of excellence, and those who
have heard that gentlemau's performance need not
be told that it uffordeil a great treat to all pre-
sent. He kindly responded to the encore which
was universally demanded. In fact the whole of
the performers were loudly applauded, and the
entertainment was thoroughly appreciated by
those present.