The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-10-23 00:00:00

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II)GE 013b_g__JRNTEti I.

sanction before they could proceed any further in
the matter. They knew that they could only do
whatever they did conditionally. Now with regard
to the requirements that had to be taken into con-
sideration. One of these provided that the ceme-
tery should not be within one hundred yards of a
house. They had seen many sites which would
have been eligible in every other point of view,
which they could not have on account of that
provision. Another thing was that bhe site should,
as far as possible be such as would accommodate
the ',whole district. They had to consider what
would be the most central position of the district.
It was rather a wide one, the population lying
mainly in the township of Stourbridge, and they
thought the most central position was near the
County Court. Thus they had to look for a site
which would be as near to the County Court as they
could get. Another thing they had to consider
was that it should be a site where the bottom was
sound and free from water. They had five or six
sites in their mind which in every other respect
were very desirable, but when they came to exam-
ine the lower subsoil they found the water was
such as to present difficulties which were nearly
insurmountable. Tne next point was that it should
be a nice bright place that would present a pleasant
aspect when it was laid out, so that they might
make it an ornament to the town, and a pleasure
for those who occupied themselves with'it. The
site which they now proposed to purchase was the
one they had selected as being the one which, so
far as they could judge, most nearly satisfied all
the requirements that lay upon it. The subsoil of
that land was exceedingly suitable for the purpose
they had in view. They had had two holes dug at
the bottom of the field, and one at the top, and
others in another field. The two holes at the top
field presented some slight difficulty ; but the two
holes in the particular field chosen presenfed a
subsoil of sand as dry as any sand that could be
found, and they ascertained that it wasas suitable
a piece of land in that respect as any that could
be found in the neighbourhood, and they were very
particular in seeing that they could secure
that object and purchase that Land. As regarded
the site, they nad been there three or four times,
and he had no hesitation in saying that it was one
of the prettiest spots in the neighbourhood. Any
one who could buy that land for a residence would
find that they had a beautiful piece of land which
they could lay out to the best advantage. And
they hoped that it could bee laid out in a pretty
form, so that a cengetery there would be an orna-
ment to the town. It was at as equal a distance
from their central point as they could have desired.
The dietence vs as not nearly so great as that from
the lower part of the township to the present
churchyard. But still, if they could have got a
site a little nearer than that, with other things
equal, they should have been glad to recommend
it to them. They wished to provide an easy mode
of interment of the dead for those who at such
times experienced great difficulties from the loss
of a member of the family. That was as near a
place as any they could get. Then as regarded
the price. It was not competent for either Mr.
Craufurd or themselves to decide the amount to be
paid. It was, therefore, decided that the question
of price should be settled by two competent sur-
veyors. The question had been referred to Mr.
Wooldridge, on behalf of tho Rector, and to Mr.
John Taylor, on behalf of the town, and they had
given in their award for a little over £lOO per
acre. The laud was in the occupation of Mr.
Alfred Parkes. It was part of a large farm occu-
pied by him, and they were obliged to take that
into account. He had lately grubbed up the
fences, and the Rector said if they wanted to take
part of the field they must take all. They did
not want it all, but they did not think the question
of an acre should stand in the way—(hoar, heat),
Then, they wished to know what they were to do
with Mr. Parkes, and they had to consider what
was the value of that piece of land to him having
regard to the position of the land and what he had
done in the way of seeding it down for crops. The
Board thought the best way would be to ask him
to consent to leave the question in the hands of the
same surveyors who had (-riven the first valuation,
and in accordance with that suggestion Mr. Wool-
dridge and Mr. John Taylor wero appointed to
settle the question. Those gentlemen had made
a valuation, and said that M 7. Parkes was entitled
to receive compensation for his interest in that
land, and on that basis an agreement had been
drawn up between him and the Board, and those
terms were shortly, that they give him ..U2o'tor
his interest in the eleven acres, which includ ed
the cost of putting up the two hedges, and the
crops which he had already grown on the ground.
Some of the Board thought that a large sum to
pay, and they requested Mr. John Taylor to care-
fully consider whether they could abate those
terms, and he, having that question before him
negotiated it with Mr. Wooldridge, and they had
gone into it carefully, and Mr. Taylor said that his
estimate • came within a few figures of that of Mr.
Wooldridge. It was desirable that the Board
should be in possession at an early date. Mr.
Parkes had told them they could take possession
of the land as soon as ever they wanted it. They
might only want an acre or so at ffrst, and in that
case he would rent the rest from them: They
thought that was a very honourable and upright
way of dealing with them; especially when they
thought of the fact that they were taking a very
valuable plum out of his farm. The question of
giving him notice to quit had been mooted, but it
must be borne in mind that they had no authority
for buying that land until such time as the parish
authorised them to do so. They were not in the
position to give Mr. Craufurd his money, and
Mr. Parkes notice to quit until next March, and
then they would have to give notice next March.
But they wanted the land at an earlier date than
they could have had it if they had used the ordi-
nary method of giving the man notice. And here
he should like to say—both on behalf of the
Rector and Mr. Parkes—that they had met the
Board in the most kindway. They had given them
land when they could not have obtained it else-
where. He (the Rector) gave up his own inclina-
tion, and entered into the contract in a manner
in which any gentlemen would who had a desire to
serve the parish, and he tendered him his thanks
for what he had done—(applause). They had
come before that meeting according to arrange-
ment to get their consent to enable them to carry
out those transactions with the Rector and the
tenant. The Board had it in their mind to recom-
mend the parish to borrow the money from Her
Majesty's Treasury, and to borrow it on such terms
es they could pay it back in 50 years. But if they
borrowed for that time they must have such a
cemetery as would last 50 years. That was one
reason why they did not object to an acre or so
more than they required, because no one could tell
accurately what wonld be the population of that
town in 50 years, and they thought that land would
suit their purpose. That led up to the next ques-
tion of the amount of money to beborrowed. The
amount required had been mentioned; £l,lOO for
the Rector, and £l2O for the tenant. The money
that would be required to fit it for the reception
of the dead would follow in due course. It would
consist in the erection of one house for the guar-
dia of the place, There would be two chapels, and
the requisite walls around the place, according as
the Bishop might require far consecrstion, and the
laying out of a few trees; but the most costly
items would be the wall and the;Swo chapels. Of
course, up to that moment they had no means of
saying what those costs would be. He then' asked
the meeting- to approve of the payment to the
Clerk of a salsry of £2O a year.. It was also ne-
cessary- that a treasurer should be appointed, and
two auditors to audit the accounts.
Mr Prescott asked what other sites had been in-
spected?
Shephered said they examined 18 sites, and
he read particulars as to several of them from the
minutes.

Mr. G. Perry moved that the contracts entered
into with the Rector of Oldswinford and his ten-
ant be approved.
Mr. Penny seconded the motion.
Mr. Prescott moved as amendment that they be
not approved. He considered Mr. Shepherd's
statement a veep lame one, and in certain parti-
culars untruthful. (Cries of "Order.") He should
speak his mind, and a certain clique were not
going to put him down. Mr. Shepherd said that
the Board had done the best they could in the
choice of site, but other people thought differently.
Mr. Penny: Not many of them.
Mr. Prescott referred to the distance of Boa.lluch
and Shepherd's Brook from the site and com-
plained of the price that the Board had agreed to
pay for the land. The letting value of land in
that neighbourhood was 20s. and 255. per acre.
The purchase money and the compensation to be
paid to the tenant were far too high.
Mr. Haywood seconded the amendment, which
on being put to the meeting was lost, and Mr.
Prescott thereupon demanded a poll.
The intended application to the Loan Commis-
sioners, and the appointment of Clerk were ap-
proved, amendments by Mr. Prescott not being
seconded. Mr. H. Newman and Mr. El; Bottomley
were appointed auditors. Mr. F. Evers appealed
to .Mr. Prescott to withdraw his demand for a
poll. Mr. Prescott said after the treatment he had
received he should not do so, Mr. Evers said in
the interest of the ratepayers he hoped Mr. Pres-
cott would withdrawn it. Mr. Prescott still de-
clincd.,paying he knew where the shoe pinched,
and by whom a certain .280. had to be paid. The
chairman fixed the poll for the following Thursday
from 10 till 4 o'clock.

„ THE CEMETERY QUESTION. .
The poll on the cemetery question took place at
the Corn Exchange, on Thursday. The poll opened
at 10 a.m and cloSed at 4 p.m., and during that time

342 votes were recorded, 307 in favour of the resolu-
tion, and 35 for the amendment.

The Rev. H. Sherrard, the chairman of the Vestry
meeting, announced the result, and a vote of thanks
was passed to him on the motion of Mr. Edwards,
seconded by Major Walker, and supported by the
Rev. D. Maginnis.
Reference was made to the unnecessary expense
and trouble of a poll, and a hope was expressed that
some alteration might be made in the law to prevent
a poll being demanded, except under greater restric-
tion. than exist at present.
Mr. Sherrard, in replying to the vote of thanks,
expressed his acquience in theso views, and said
perhaps some representation might be made to the
Home Secretary, or some other step taken with the
view to some amendment in the law bearing on the
question.