The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-06-20 00:00:00

TIIE STOTTRIMIDGE 011,fiErtV1it.

but they were unable to report any very specific
indications of actual improvement it was re-
ported that the strike is at an end all through
the district. as many men being ready to resume
as can he found work, and as can work. The
excessive heat of the weather prevents many
from beginning, and the fatigue to those who
have gone in is something terrible, after the re-
cent inaction of seven or eight weeks. All the
stocks of piddled bars are cleared out,

The weekly meetings of the iron trade have
been destitute of interest for the last month.
Very little business of any kind has been tram
sacted. and the reports as to the state of the
trade have been, Ettui continue to he, of an un•
satisfactory character. Some few firms are
keeping their works on as much as four days
the week; but, in the majority of instances, they
are far less favourably circumstanced; and such
of the works as have been standing all through
the quarter are likely to remain so. There was
a fair attendance at the Birmingham Exchange,
on Thursday: lint the trausactious were alto-
gether unimportant.
The preliminary meeting will he held next
Thursday. There is no alternative as to prices
but to do nothing.

REDUCTION IN COLLIERS'WAGES.
At the Itoond Oak, notices were posted at the
Office doors yecterday afternoon, for a reduction
of colliers wages 10 per cent.

limit, the property of Ann Oekse. Mary Biggs said she
was assistant to proseeatrix. On the above date she aO.ll
the prisoner come into the shop. The hoots produced
were the some that she eleansd, and they were the pro-
perty of Mrs. Oakes, Witness missed them in theater
noon. Acting-sergeant Jones said from information he
received he followed the prisoner down Enyillemtreet,
and found the boots upon him, and afterwards timer-
Mined that they belonged to Mrs. Oakee. Senteneed to
21 days' imprisonment, and, at its expiration, to a Refor-
:oaten for five years.
0 A)4I.TVO IN A larntm-BoWse. Fdlesheth jerdeit
was charged by Superintendent Freeman with allowing
card playing in her house, on the lth inst. Mr. Penton
anpeared to prosecute, and Mr. Maltby defended. John
Knott said that on the shove date he went into the de-
fendant's house, and called fore pint of she. He saw
four men playing at " All-fours. • He saw them plat, ,
one game, iabieb was for a quart of ale, and twopence. I
Defendant was in the house at the time, and saw the
card playing. John Jordan said he lived at the Peacock
Inn. He played several games at card, railed All
fours," at the Peacock, on the above date. They played
for a (inert of ale. and twopenee. Defendentwee in she
house at the time, and brought the elude. Mr. Maltby ,
said he must plead guilty to the charge. The house had I
been kept as a public home for the last twenty year., 1
and no charge had ever been brought against it. but an'
fortunately there is a dispute is the family. and the last
witness, who is son-in-law to defendant, thieatened her
that if she did not bring the cards he would burn the
house down, and she let him have the cards. Defendant
had offended against the law, but bethought a very small
fine would answer the ends of justice. Defendant was
then fined Is and costs, lie
KEEPING A POaLTC•IIOINE OPEN IN TELE° T. HOURS.
, —Thomas Compson. landlord of the Pack Horse, w
charged by Superintendent Freeman with having his
house open for the sale of beer on Sanday_the 11th inst.
Mr. Maltby &fended. Aetinceerweant Jones said he
was on duty, and went to the defendant's house. In
doing so witness saw a woman with a jug containing a
quart of beer, and the woman said she had been and
Riven a penny for the beer. Mr. Maltby addressed the
Bench for the defence, end oh! wenld ivlinit the girl
had the beer, but defendant was in the habit of giving
beer away to his customere. and on the above date he
gave the beer to the girl. Mary Boyle mid she fetched
the beer, and that defendant gave it to her. On being
crovs.eramined he Jonas, she mid the might have to
psy font. The Benet, considered it a bad ease. He
was trying to appear virtuous by pretending that he hod
been giving away beer, who he expected to be paid for
it. Fined 20.1 and costs, fl 10s :in default one month's
Imprisonment,

CHARGE or Asssrr.v.—Elijah Kendrick won charged
by Sarah Gordon with assaulting her on the lath instant.
Mr. Ponton defended. Complainant said that on the
above date the defendant was drunk, and pushed bar
several times, and afterwards struck her. Matilda Perry
said the defendant called her bad names, and she struck
him and lie struck her liii not set defendant strike
Mrs. Gordon. Several witnesses were called for the de-
fence, and from their evidence it appeared that several
women were beating the defendant, and that there was
a general row. The Bench dismissed the case—Elijah
Kendrick was then charged by Superintendent Freeman
with being drunk at the same time. An the evidence
was very contradictory, the case was adjourned for a
week.

Ssators ASSAULT elm—Ryland Barnsley tad James
Beddard were charge I is ith smoothing John rfulston. on
the 14th instant, with intent to do him grievous bodily
harm. Complainant said be lived at Bagley, netir holes.
Owen, and WWI a farmer, On Banday last, about six
&clock, he WAS awoke by hearing a noise of men teasing
a dog. Shortly toter his erliview etas krokee hs e5',!7P.
'Witness then went upstairs to his son's bedr(tom, and
found his son looking through the window. Witness
rwerd' wet d we ,clit.N tqcl folluse'd the defendants.
There Were Ante men, Anl he Avenel them with break-
ing his Oindotee. Poddard dented it, epa witneescimght
hold of Barnsley to detain him until some one came hp
to recognise him. Beddard came up, and they had a
tussle, and fell down in the gutter together. Barnsley
began to (del( witness, and the others brought some
grows, and li,eto theth at tie,. the, cut his ftree,and
bead, and he was kicked about the body. They held
over him while lie was bleeding, and threatened to mur-
der him. They then threw a large stone at him, but it
did not hit him on (behead, bat on the shoulder. They
both you away, and Witness followed them, and they
again to beet and kiek Find throe+ stonet!at hilts. and
no was very much injered. Joseph Henry II olaton and
James If nlaton, sons of the last witness, gave carrots ire-
tine evidence. Oeorge Outriding proved that lie saw.the
defendanti. besting cdruplainatit. itlliga Jane Webb. a
lodger at liulston's, proved that she beard the MI:. of a
stone coming through a window over tier's. She went
to the window, and saw the two defendants. The Bench
considered it a very serious assault case, and sentenced
the defendants to two mouths hard labour, without the
option of a untt.

find that hard words Mere laid about me. 13na I err
used to that. I afterward, saw Ur. Barra and Mr. Baa-
nano, who said they would give their support. Mr
Horn! ray then went on to sat. that a meeting was M
pointed to be held on Friday Morning by Messrs. Barra
to arrange platters, but he was perfectly astonished t,
tn-ceive two lette,a from Meows, Tierra stating they coal
not attend, and that as the withdrawal of the demand
for spoil would by the proviaions of see. 13 of the Local
°averment immediately confirm it, adoption in the
separate district of Reddall Hill only. they could not
nosaibly consent to ouch a roarer. A committee had
been formed, and the following resothtion carried—" Wc
pledge oorselves after the determination of the 'aid poll.
and in the event of the Act not being adopted for the
separate district of Reddall Hill, that we will one our
Influence to assist in obtaining the adoption of the said
Act for the whole of
,the parish of Rowley Regis." This
I looked to him (Mr. Homfray) as if they wanted to trir
up their beels—(applanse). Was this sfraightforward
—(Cries of "No.")) The matter might bane been ar-
Mtgel comfortably without R poll, had they been men
of business. But they ray we cannot tract you and we
say we cannot trust them—great cheering). I looked
anon its. a matter of business and as a lawyer, and if
I the matter hod been arranged and placed in my hands. I
I would have pledged ra.; honour in carrying it oat. Bat
after these two letters I cannot say nalythinw hot force
the poll far Reddall Hill. You are asked now to keep
mint of the poll and let it go against you, and no far get
into disgrare—" No, no, we will go on"). I wolld ad-
vise you to go on and carry it out. Put your shoulders
to the wined, and so win by a large majority. It is all
right up to now, and you can have it. If Mr. Baths feels
aggrieved, he can get the act by get,Sing tine twentieth
part of the ratepayers to apply for it. There has been
a good deal ot expanse Maimed already. Would Mr.
Burrs pay for it?—(A voice " No, no T. on were told
it. would be an awful expense to get the act for Reddall
Hill. He now says you may have it for the whole par.
lob, end admits that it is not expensive at all—(cheers
and laughter). At the request of the chairman, Mr.
Homfray here read a letter from Mr. Plans to N. fling'
Icy, Esq.:—

"Dear sir,—Cireumstances will prevent me from at-
tending, hitt as you have published, both by advertise-
ments and handbills, a very slanderous ttioilith, I hope,
unintentionally so on your part) misrepresentations of a
letter written by me to Mr. ifornfray on Friday last, and
therefore have called a public meeting, the least you can
do by way of amends will be to read this explanation to
the assembled ratepayers, and I feel sure you will gladly
do so. You state that in that letter I declined to news-
elate or compromise, but instead of declining I simply
Stated that I fully understood the party on the opposite
side had declined, and I added these words, 'Till the
result of the poll is declared I have no power nosy to ne-
gociate farther.' Thus endeavouring to convey an intl.
motion that when the legal difficulty of the poll should
be removed, I hope to have the privilege of again nego.
eluting for the amicable adoption of the act over the
whole parish; a hope which, notwithstanding your mis-
representation of my letter and hasty action thereupon,
I still vesture to citensii, and trust to realise with gene-
ral satisfaction to all parties,
" I am, dear sir, yours fAithfollo,
"A. Banns."
•

The Chairman said according to the letter read. the
Messrs. Barra had no hits:nth-is of pledgitg themselves,
but that they were willing to amalgamate', nod no carry
It out for the whole parish. He had known the Messrs
Barra for a long time, and regretted that they did not
attend the meeting, as arranged, and settle the matter
amicably,
Mr. Bataan° was the next to speak. and of ter apologia-
leg for not being a good ape:Over, said that Mr. Homfray
hast got rdnflrie,l hltnaelf to the truth, and had made
some misrepresentations:.
Mr. Hoinfray rose and said he would eligliefige Mr.
Haagen° to point out anything wrong he hal said.
Mr. Hassan° went on to complain that Messrs. Barra
bed not, been treated fairly, and spoke at twine length
I upon wiled the'y bed been done for the district. He also
I mid that persons had beet ftiatei, tig the Corngreaves
Worku to try to get mem to alga in favotir of the Reddall
Hill district, and threatening Ahem that if they did not
Man they won!' be discharged from the works—(n voice:
t• I deny it," gad driesof "Name them "). Mr. B mono
said that he had been informed so. rlglitto or wrongly.
He then went on to express his regret that the matter
had not been settled. They hail trial to do an, bat
failed' and there was no alternative but to go to the
I ndll.
The Chairmen Hut tielled upon Mr. G. Green to ad-
dress the meeting. who rose algid Mrrat cheering, and
I said that he would give them the sholc balls of what
Ihal been done from the commencement. The speaker
titan Its a chief and straightforward way detailed the pro-
' ceedings—how he had ebSsu/ted Mr. C. Swindell upon
the subject, and afterwards to Mr. :I. Hinglev and others,
who considered it would be advantageous "lot them to
adopt the Local Government Act for Credit), Heath, an]
so stand on their oars bottom. Mr. Homfray was con-
sulted on the subject. and Meagre. Barra were also seen
end they slid not want to hare the ad, saying that it
I would be an is',,,.digreased about
held in the Vestry I
i 1... am, where it was ..
~eltrense.. A meeting was afterwards
the number of wards. Ite found they ricadd want
commissioners, and Cradlev Heath Would have four nun
to return., Ile afterwards saw the Mesas's. Mfrs, who
Odd they had been to Mr. Homfray to advise the atop.
Gen of the tbe2l Act foi- the Whole parish. A meeting
was afterwards held to talk the wallt'r over, sod another
meeting was held at Mrs. Letts', on Wednesday night to
See if they, could accept Messts. Barra offer, as Mr.
Hunt hail lifseat eectt siren the :subject, and suggested
that they should try and settle the queetion. The
speakers then referred to the meeting which was c died
to settle the question, and instead of the Messrs. Barra
attending, after promising to do so, they sent two letters.
Had they have come in a besiweas way, the, difference
would no doubt have been settled ; but they did get, but
tried to trick 119—(che.re). He would advise them now
to go in and win. and get the act for themselves for the
lower part of the parish, and Messrs. Barra could get it
fur the upper part. Mr. Green also complaiked of the
way Ur. Whitehouse had ected, he being a public officer,
and concluded by advising them to fight the question
out. If they were defeated, it would be an honourable
defeat—(great cheering).
Mr. Bargeeo said he wished to say a few words on the
subject, but Ur. Green had made him rather nervous—
(a voice: ti A little thing makes you nervous "). lie be-
gan by condemning the act, and said the very first set the
Cradley Heath people did was a blunder. What a blun-
der it would be to earn, the see erage pipes into the lower
part at a cost of £2.006 to by them down, and £3,000 to
keep them clean?—(laugliter). What a blunder it would
knit some one in Cradley Heath w.a to give as fountain
and charge 1'.70 for water, and cost £3OO for a dinner ?
(laughter and hisses). The speaker went on to condemn
1 the act as a very bad one for the working men, us it
would run up the rates and s xpenses—(a voice: " What
about a aixpenny rate for Bricriey Hill"). He did not
consider that any gentlemen lived at Cradley Heath—
, (hiseen and groans, sniveled with cries of "Sit down ").
The gentlemen lived at the upper end. Some of the op-
posite side had called Mr. Burrs a villian. (The Chair-
man Isere called the speaker to order amid loud cheers,
groans, and hisses. A voice : " Why did you not bring
yonr mother ?") At thin point there was a great uproar,
and the apeeker sat down.
Mr. Best then rose, amid loud cheering from the bark
part of the room, and read a letter from Mr. Hotnfray,
and complained that a number of papers had been sent
out by the opposition party.
Mr. Green Will you say you did net sign any paper?
Mr. Beet: I was talking to some working men, who
said if they did not vote for the Reddall Hill district
their masters would discharge them. I think that very
hard—(eries of "Same them," and uproar).
Mr. Green said there were two or three of the parish
officers who were compelled to du the dirty work instead
of othere—(cheera end groans). Mr. IVlsitehoune was
one. If any twin could prove that he had distributed
billa about polling in the parish, he would give grt to any
charity—(great cheering).
Mr. Whitehouse complained that Mr. Green had very
mach misrepresented them. lie (the speaker) was a
voter—(a voice: "1 deny it"), Mr. Whitehouse: I
have a cottage in the parish, and am therefore a voter—
(cries of" (location, question ")—and I stand here by the
tight of a voter. The speaker went on to condemn the
act as a very bad one, but it was the lesser of two evils.
The upper part of the parish was much the largest, and
paid a greater amount of rates, and there was less money
spent on their roads than on the Redden Hill district ,
roads. He concluded by denying that he had been can-
vasaing for the Rowley district, although he conaidered
he was entitled to do so if he thought proper.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the pro-
ceedings to a close.