The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-01-16 00:00:00

STOURBRIDOE BURIAL BOARD.

A meeting of the members of this body was
held in the Commissionees' Room in the Corn Ex-
change, on Monday evening last. Present: Mr.
Shepherd (chairman), Messts, Evers, Haskew,
Platt, Billingha,m, and Stringer.
Mr. Waterman (from the office of Messrs. Ber-
nard and King) officiated as clerk, and read the
minutes of the former meeting, which were con-
firmed.

At thfikprevions meeting it was decided that the
Board should meet as a committee to view the dif-
ferent pieces of land which were thought likely to
be suitable for a cemetery. Tho inclemency of
the weather, however, rendered this course im-
practicable, and the matter had to be adjourned.
In opening the business of the present meeting,
the Chairman said he should like to make a state-
ment with regard to Mr. Shutt. It occurred to
him that abandoning the negotiations having re-
ference to Mr. Shutt's land was more than they
bargained for. He, therefore, asked the Clerk to
put it in a milder form. It would be remembered
that they were negotiating with Major Walker, and
they had agreed to leave them open. The objec-
tions to Mr. Shutt's and to Major Walker's land
were nearly identical, and he thought they ought
to be both placed on an equal footing. Conse-
quently, instead of writing to Mr. Shutt, definitely
abandoning all further proceedings, they had writ-
ten to him stating they understood he had two
fields about 83/4- acres; but they were informed that
there were houses within a hundred yards. The
Board could not purchase land which had houses
within that distance of it, and they wished to knot
if that was so. Mr. Shutt had replied to them
that there were houses within that distance, which
did not belong to him, and he must leave the
Board to ascertain whether the owners and occu-
piers objected to a cemetery or not. He also asked
whether the graves could not be placed in such a
manner as to put them outside the prescribed dis-
tance. He (the chairman) now asked if they ap-
proved of what he had done.
The approval of the membeis was embodied in
a resolution proposed by Mr. Stringer, and
seconded by Mr. Billingham, and carried unani-
mously. . _

They then went on to discuss the question of a
site.

The Chairman said Mr. Shutt suggested it was
them business to make enquiries of the owners
and occupiers of houses near his land whether
they objected to a cemetery. He (the chairman)
thought as Mr. Shutt would be the person who
would derive benefit from the sale of the land, that
he should be the party to make the enquiries. He
thought it was a question as to whether it was
worth while pursuing the subject of Mr. Shutt's
fields any further. Some were of opinion that the
water at the bottom of the fields would make them
unsuitable.
Mr. Haskew suggested that they should view
some fields near Mrs. Cole's house; one or two
other probable sites being also mentioned. It was
eventually decided to meet this day (Saturday) at
eleven o'clock, for the purpose of inspecting the
various pieces of land which had been suggested
as being likely to be eligible for a cemetery.
It was decided to visit the land at the back of
Parkfield House, immediately on the breaking up
of the meeting.
Mr. Haskew said there was sufficient land at
Oldswinford to last for three years more, so that
they had plenty of time to look about them.
Mr. Billingham remarked that he should not like
the ground at Oldswinford to be filled up before
, they had a cemetery, because there were many
who would like to btayaried there if possible, who
had had friends buried there previously.
With reference to this, it was thought by some
that Oldswinford, being a churchyard situated in
an open place, in might be left open for a long
time for occasional funerals.

Mr. Platt asked if the bye-laws were being pre-
pared.
The Chairman said they had done nothing as
yet in the matter of bye-laws. They would be
simply for the direction of the conduct of their
business at that Board, and he thought they were
not necessary.
Mr. Platt said he simply thought they might be
discussed at some of their quiet meetings, and not
left until their business came altogether.
Mr. Billingham thought that if they were to
draw np bye-laws now they would require consider-
able alteration bye-and-bye.
Mr. Stringer: We'll be content with bye-lanes at
present, Mr. Chairman, and talk about bye-laws
bye-and-bye.
The subject then dropped, and the meeting ler-
minated.