The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-09-19 00:00:00

KIDDERMINSTER.

JEBILRE or ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH. On Sunday,
harvest thanksgiving service was held in thin church, the
preacher in the morning bring the Rev. A. 1). Rl:oilfield,
vf.A., vicar of Barking, Essex; and in the evening the
Rev. Walsham How, of Salop. Collections were made
on
.behalf of St. George'. Additional Curate's Fund.
The jubilee of the church was celebrated on Monday
evening, by a tea meeting in the Music Hall, which wee
crowded After too the meeting was addressed by the
Rev. F. R. Evans, vicar of St. George's, who read letters
expressing regret at not being able to be present from the
Revs. Startin, Lambert, Gibbons, Warner, and Waller,
and the Bishop of Rochester. The Rev, G. D. Rorie,
vicar if Rilderminster, also addressed the meeting.—
Mr. C. Hsi vey proposed a vote of thanks, on behalf if St.
Georgeh Jubilee Festival Committee, to those who had
taken part or contributed to it, soceeriv—Mr. T. Radford
seconded, anal the Roy. F. R. Evans briefly responded.—
A concert followed.

• 40ARD OP tluaanisms.—The fortnightly meeting of
the Kidderminster tduardiane was held on Tueaday last ;
Mr. J. Kiteley in the chain—Wm. Piper, of Bewiley,
woe elected shoetnaker at the workhouse and industrial
trainer, in the place of Thomas Gibbina.—The chair-
mun read a long letter from Mr. Stretton, medics' oiliest,
on the state of the workhoese. In this report Mr. Strict-
tin gave details as to the cubical space in the various
wants arid rooms in the house, and their sanitary condi
lion. The ventilation, in very many instances, was des-
cribed as had or defective; and one markt:el feature in
the report was the mention of waterclosets opening dir-
ectly into living and sleeping rowels. The girls' sleeping
room and the w. c. were described as literally one, owing
to a eononnnicating aperture twenty-four inches by six.
All the windows in the house should be modernised arid
made to net as ventilators as well as give light. The
closets were so unsatisfactory that it was impossible to
feel that security with them against recoil gases that one
ought to have. The rooms used for sick people were con-
demned by Mr. Stretton as unfit for their purpose; and
ahon convalescents needed out-door air, the fatigue in
obtaining it was too greet if they had to toil rip the forty
stairs again ; and carrying them up the awkward stair-
case was difficult end dangerous. The descent of a
corpse had to be condneted is • sheet, and patients had
frequently been battled at the bottom of the stairs owi g
to insufficient strength to carry' up hot Water Me M.lor •
teary was deprived of light, so that when post most •ms
were made the door was required open, or candles were
used. In omitting to report on defects noted on previ-
occasions, he had studied to create as little expenditure
as possible on that old, and for the sick, unsuitable build-
ing, feeling sure that Goveeninent inspection wouli in-
volve no much necessary alteration that it would involve
an entire new structure, ae the least costly proceeding
The few severe outbreaks of fever, and the general toler-
able health of the inmates could only Le attributed to
the free use of disinfectants and rigid cleanliaess. He
had tested the water from various wells on the premises,
and found it free item noxious elements, in which rex-
pert it compared well with that in other parts of the dis-
trict. He had frequently examined the meat, batter,
milk, and cheese, mad the latter was the only article
which failed to reach • right nutri -ions standard. The
convenience for keeping meat, milk, and other food was
far from satisfactory, the steam from brewiug having free
access to the larder. The Chairman, having read the re-
port id cxtenso, said the tu Atera it dealt with were too
numerous and divereitied to be taken up at that meeting,
and he thought it would be well to defer • discussion till
the report Lai been considered, either Ly a special com-
mittee or by the Visiting Committee, Mr. Mikes pro-
posed that the repert be referred to the Visiting Com-
mittee, which was seconded by Mr. Bengt], and carried.
—The number of persons admitted to the 110LIA0 in the
last fortnight sow 2-1; born. 1 ; discharged, 13; dead, 3;
remainieg in the house, ISO; corresponding week hist
year, 190. The out-door relief amounted to £79 its 11}4
in Kidderminster district, and to £66 17s lid in the rural
district.

I

DO M.Y.

THE LACAL Fi.ILNDLY SOCIETIES AND THE HOSPITAL
AND DIrPENIAILY.-II will probsbly be in the recollections
of our readers, that weannouneed last "'ea that the lee&
mg members of the different friendly societies were deal-
rous of holding an open-air service, in aid of the rued'
of the Guest Hospital. the managers of which noble MeV-
tution, were almost driven to the extremity of " Bandies
the hat round," to enable them to carry on the human*
work in which they were engaged. Mr. Dolman and one
or two other leading members of the United Order of 041
Fellows, M.P., conveued a meeting. and it war unreal.
mously resolved that semethieg should be inimediste*
done to augment the funos of the Guest Hospital, ..4
thus alleviate the sufferings of their poorer brethren.
The vicar of Dudley (Dr. Ceeens) wee appeale I to, ane
the rev, gentleman at once hailed with much satisfactios
the proposal, and promised to do all in his power to maks
tile movenonet a grand success. The Odd Fellows hay-
ing secured the c eoperation of Dr. Cosens, invited kind-
red societies to join in the service. There was no hositee
tion, and Free Gardeners, Foresters, and other frieadly
societies gave a generous response to the appeal made to
them. In the meantime Dr. Cosens obtained special per-
mission front the noble Earl of Dudley to leild the ser-
vice in the Courtyard of the Castle grounds. Our read-
ers are aware that a handsome sum was collected on thee
occasion. The success that attended last year's gathers
lag encouraged the Managing Committee to have as ma-
nual service in aid of the medical charities. This yeses
preliminaries were Commenced about a month ago, and
plenty of willing workers soon proffered their services.
and Sunday last, was fixed for the meeting. We ate
glad to state that it was a great success. The Vicar under.
took to conduct the service, and he also secured the pre.
sence of the Mayor and Corporation. A procession was
formed at the Pariah Church at about half-past two, La
the following order: The Vicar and two clergymen. Mayor
and Corporation, • pAse of the borough police, Field's
military band, members of the United Order ef free Gard-
eners. Odilfellewi, Druids, Ancient Order of Foreeters,
and other kindred societies. The Free Gardeners at-
tended is full force. Perhaps it ought to be stated en
po.94ant that •• ministers of all denominations " were is
cited to take part in the proceeding., but no Nonconfor-
mist minister appeared on the platform. On the way to
the Castle, the principal streets through which the
procession passed were thronged by admiring iniscellase
eons Cr 'tell'. There was a slight hitch at starting, owing
to the late arrival of friends from a distanse, and along
the route the police (under the personal ouperintendanes
of its Chief Superintendent) woutd have been musk
' better employed iu keeping the public apart from the
processionista than following the rear of the Mayor sad
Corporation. It was estimated that over 799 members of
the different friendly societies attended the service. •
short service having been perform ?d, the Vicar delivered
a very appropriats address, and made an eloquent appeal
in behalf of the Guest Hospital anti the Dudley Dispen-
sary. The collection amounted to £79 tis. 10d. The
Vicar was accompanied on the platform by Alderman I.
Rudge (ex-Mayor), Alderman G. Bagott, Rev. H. J.
Phillips. Rev. J. J. Grosvenor. and the Town Clerk.
The whole of the general arrangonnenta were carried oOes
under the management of an excellent committee, of
which Mr. W. Field was the energetic hon. secretary
We cannot close this notice without mentioning the in-
valuable services rendered to the;incivennent by Alderman
Hodge, J.P., who kindly undertook the onerous duty of
treasurer.