The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-08-01 00:00:00

STOURBRIMiE CONSTITUTIONAL
ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the members of this
flourishing association was held on Monday in the
rooms, High Street, under the presidency of Mr.
14. Wooldridge. There were also amongst those
present Major Walker, Mr. Jones (of Parkfield),
Mr. Joseclyne, Mr. J. Hughes Mr. J. Edwards, Mr.
A. P. Price Mr. 'l'. Green de., etc.

Mr. A. P. Price (one of the. hon. secretaries to
the association) read the report of the committee I
for the past year. The committee., in presenting
their fifth annual report, expressed a hope that
they had not been unmindful of the association or
of the cause they professed to serve. In the last
annual report the committee ventured to point out
the blunders and shoitcomings of the Gladstone
Government, and expressed an opinion that they
were fast hastening their own destruction. That
opinion has been fully borne out, and the sudden
dissolution of Parliament in the present spring was
followed by the return of a powerful Conservative
majority with Mr. Disraeli at its head. That
change in public opinion has been in a great measure
brought about by the large number of Con-
servative Associations that have sprung tip
throughout the kingdom during the last few years,
and thereby giving to the working classes an
opportunity of making themselves fully acqu tinted
with the real principle of Conservatism, and
stripping it of the bogus terrorism which the
Radicals love to clothe it in. The committee had
been assured front many quarters that the services
! rendered by that association in the recent contest
, for East Worcestershire were fully appreciated by
all parties. Although the session now drawing to
a close has not been a sensational one, still many
questions have been ventilated. The Licensing
Bill has been stripped of its obnoxious clauses, the
vexed question of Ritualism is likely to be decided
by the Public Worship Regulation Bill, and the
Endowed Schools Bill would no doubt stop the
perversion and confiscation of charitable bequests
as contemplated by the late Commissioners. There
indications of a steady anti beneficial legislation
which might beexpectedto follow. The commit tee
refers with pleasure to banquet held at the
Talbot Hotel in April last tg, celebrate the return
of Messrs. Allsopp and Walker for this division.
On account of the increase of members, and limited
accommodation the committee were taking active
steps towards providing and furnishing wore
extensive premises, which would necessitate an
outlay of more than £lOO. That sum they were
happy to say was already covered by promises.
The committee had opened is banking account
with the Stourbridge and Kidderminster Bank, to
whom donations might be forwarded. During the
year the committee had had the pleasure of adding
the following to the list of vice-presidents :
Messrs. H. Allsopp, M P., T. E. Walker, H. P., W.
Perry, H. Sparrow, J. S. Chambers, W. Corbett,
W. 'Prow, Major Smith, Major Walker. and 22
other members, which afforded a striking proof the
association was making great propress. In conse-
quence of election of Mr.—now Baron—Amphlett,
by the judicial bench, it would devolve upon the
members of the association to elect another
president. In tending his resignation as president
Baron Amphlett enclosed a cheque for £5, as a
"parting gift," and expressed his high sense of the
valuable services rendered by the assoc iat ion. The
Committee tendered thanks to a number of gentle-
men and others for the gratuitous supply of papers
and periodicals for the use of the Association. The
report concludes as follows :—"We have now a
Conservative Ministry, 10. ked by a united party,
strong in numbers, postrion, and abilities. The
stronghold of Radicalism has been stormed, and
we are in possession of the citadel. Let us not
sleep in fancied security; the prize that has taken
us years of patience and labour to attain is worth
a little t rouble to keep. Vigilance and perseverance
must be our motto; and then, while other nations
are torn by contending factions, or suffering from
the horrors of civil war, let its: hold fast to those
venerable institutions which time and experience
have amply proved are the greatest safeguards to a
nation's honour and prosperity:' The financial
report showed the receipts for the year to amount
to £ll4 19s. i(d., and the disbursinente for the
same period left a balance in the bands of the
treasurer of £.34 15s. 31d.
On the motion of Mr. Broughton, seconded by
Mr. S. Field, the report and statement of account
were unanimously adopted.
The Chairman read a letter from Mr. T. E.
Walker, 31. P. for East Worcestershire, in which
lt .. says that having discusseethe subject of the
letter forwarded to him with his colleague, Mr. H.
Allsopp, H. P., he had pleasure in informing Mr.
Bathain, one of the hon. secs, of the assoeititim,
that they had decided to subscribe one guinea each
annually to the association, and to give a donation
of £ll each towards finishing the new rooms if
.4;100 could be raised. He also expressed his
willingness to become president of Die association
if the members considered it desirable—(hear,
hear).
Mr. Joscelyne proposed, and Mr. Broughton
seconded the election of Mr. T. E. Walker, 31. P.,
as president of the association for the ensuing year,
which was carried with acclamation.
The list of vice-presidents, numbering 3ti (being
nine additional to those last year) was adopted, on
the motion of Mr. S. Hatabrey, seconded by Mr.
S. Broughton. The following were then appointed
as the committee :—Messrs. T. Green, J. Piper, S.
Broughton, T. Hunt, J. Horsley, G. Horsley, S.
Hambrey, J. Chappell, and S. Tonks.
Mr. John Hughes was re-appointed treasurer; as
also were the following :—collector, Mr. A. Hart;
auditor, Mr.:John Elcock; librarian, Mr. T. Perkin;
secretaries 'Messrs. Batham and Price.
The thanks of the association were ordered to be
conveyed to Baron Amphlett for his donation, and
for services rendered by him on behalf of the
association while he occupied the presidency.
Votes of thanks to the officers for their services
during the past year, and to Mr. Wooldridge, for
presiding, terminated the proceedings.

CHARGE AGAINST A SOLICITOR'S CLERK.—At
the Dudley Police Court, on Monday, Thomas
Bethel!, a solicitor's clerk of this town, was again
charged with neglecting to maintain his family.
Mr. G. B. Bradley, relieving-officef, said the
defendant's six children had been kept at the
Workhouse at the expense of the ratepayers.
He had ascertained that Bethell was earning, .t 2
a week at the office of Mr. Collis, solicitor, of
this town. Defendant said he was willing to
allow his wife .11 per week if
,she would take the
children. Mr. Bradley said no such offer Lad
been made, and the Guardians wanted £27 down
and the children out of the house. Defendant
asked the Bench to adjourn the case for a week,
as Mr. Collis, his employer, would attend and
speak for him. The Bench consented.

------
DRUNK AND DISORDIRLT.—At the Petty Ses-
sions held yesterday, before Colonel Pletcher and
Colonel Barrows, William Hart was charged with
being drunk and disorderly on the 2rith ult. Pined
19 and costs.

CRUELTY TO a Dot—John Robert, MO SUM.
monad at the instance of the Birmingham Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, on the
charge of cruelly illtreatiug a dog on the 16th tilt,
by throwing it down a coal pit. John Glover proved
the case. William Wilds proved finding the dog
at the bottom of the pit, which was 34 yards deep.
Defendant pleaded guilty, and said the dog had
whelps, and became very savage, and he thought
the best thing to do was to throw the dog down and
kill it. Fined 55 and costs,
HOUSEBRICAKINO.—Herbert Partridge, a youth,
was charged with breaking into the dwelling-house
of Eliza Staurengtie, on the 26th tilt, with intent
to commit a felony. Mr. Perry defended. Prose-
entrix proved leaving the house at half-past four
o'clock on Sunday afternoon locked up safe, and
she gave the key to Isaac Wainwright. The rea-
son she did so was that she had been robbed before.
Isaac Wainwright proved being in the house,
watching. He saw the prisoner in the house. He
came up stairs into the same room as witness was
in. As soon as prisoner saw him, he ran down
stairs and jumped through the window. Emily
Hall proved seeing the prisoner jump through the
window. Police-sergeant Jones proved apprehend-
ing prisoner, who denied the charge. Mr. Perry
addressed the Bench for the prisoner, and stated
that it had not been proved there was any felonious
intent, and the boy had been locked up for five
days. Colonel Pletcher said that the prisoser was
a convicted thief.—Mr. Perry : Yes; there is that
recorded
_against hint. His parents are Very res-
pectable. Col. Fletcher said they had no alterna.