The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-01-24 00:00:00

in a court of law. Since the adjournment on
Monday he had made inquiries among the inhabit-
ants of Clent as to the matters which formed the
ground of the application, the disorderly conduct
of certain persons, and of the strangers attracted
by the large crowds who visited the hills on public
holidays and at other times. He had fully satisfied
himself that the stat.ments made by the applicants
as to the necessity of putting the common under
some regulation was not exaggerated in the smallest
degree, but it would be a real benefit to the neigh-
bourhood if some sort of control was put over the
people who came from a distance to the common to
use it as a place of enjoyment, as a place of recre-
ation. No restriction was intended to be placed on ,
innocent enjoyment, but it was only desired to put
such restrictions in force that it would be a place
xhere respee!able people could go and enjoy them-
selves in peace No doubt where large crowds
assembled it was di Ilicult to prevent some, sort of
annoyance only arising, but a good deal could be
done by a little restriction, and the mere knowledge
that restricticn existed was sufficient to prevent any
outbreak or annoyance. He sheuld report iri favour
of a provisional order, and he had no doubt the
Commissioners would recommend it to :the con-
sideration of Parliament. If there were still any
objections to the regulation, he should be very
glad to hear them, or any suggestions regarding
the carrying out of the regulations.
Mr. Thompkins (Hagley) said that although
these restrictions were supposed to be for people
coming from a di;?,ta,nce, he thought it was Clent
people who cause the greatest annoyance.
, The Commis-inner : They will be subject to the
reg,uletion as well as others. There is generally a
black sheep in every flock. As to the memorials
against the reguktion handed in to him on Monday,
I he wished to k,eow whether it was now wished that
they should be sent to the Commissioners. He
thought he arrangement on Monday would modify
the views of the memorialists.

Mr. Wall (clerk to the Stourbridge Uni,m) said
he would not now trouble the Commissioner to send
his memorial.

M. Holherton s sid he would leave the Com-
inission.?r t 9 do v.,she thought best with the Hales-
owen memorial, as there was no one there from
Halesowen then.

The Commissioner said one point he left for eon-
sideraion on Mynday was as to the cotta,gers at
Cleat. The Commissioners were always anxious
that ample provision should he made for cottage
gardens in case of a provisional ord:fr only issued
regulaing a common. Thera was, however, a
very strong feeling against any enclosure, and
having since inquired as to the number of cottages
at Clen, and their garden accommodatioz, he
found as a rule there was a fair allowance of garden
ground already, and if more was required it could.
be provided without interfering with the common-
Therefore, under the circumstaeces of the case, he
did not think it would be necessary to set out any
allotmens for gardens.

Mr. B AVoold-ridg (surveyor) said i a ranger
was liepoin-ed it would be well if he had ahouse on
the hill, afid if he thought the approach to the hill
should be improved. Money -tv)uld be required for
this, and there were some waste parts of the com-
mon adjoining the bogs which might be disos.d af
He wished to know if the conservators would have
power hereafter to deal with this laud if they
thought it desirable.
Mr. Philips (Clent) : I obj,et to that being sold.
Mr. Wooldridge said. owinc, to the discussion
regarding the hill larger numbers than ever would
visit it, and there would be all the more necessity
for a ringer being app )intr3d. Something had
been said to him about a branch railway from the
present line to Clent, to a point in a lane known as
Fieldhouse-lane, leading fro ii Cient down towards
Broom. He believed Mr. Amphlett had expressed
himself in favour of such a line beiag made, and
would che. dull - give up land for making the line
if agreed upon. If it was made, instead of people
having to walk two miles from dagley Station to
Clent, they would be taken to a point much nearer
the hills.
Mr. Holberton said it was part of the agreement
on Monday that no land should be sold. Some
discussion followed as to the p3wer of the con-
servators to improve the approach to the hill, and
it appeared this could only be don 3 so far as the
approach formed part of Jae common
In reply to Mr. Holberton, the Commissioner
said the consents of the Local Boards to contribute
to the annual expe.n-e should be sent in as early as
possible.
_ _

- Mr. H. Hughes (Stourbridge) expressed his
satisfaction that a settlement of the matter had
been arrived at, and that the common would now
be secured for ever for the use of the public.
The Commissioner siid the applicants had only
followed the-course prescribed by Act of Parliament
in the steps hey had taktm.
A v•tte of thanks was passed to the Commissioner
for the courteous and impartial manner in which
11 had conducted the inquiry.
lie acknowledged the compliment, and Vie
proceedings terminated.