The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-06-19 00:00:00

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COMMIS-
SIONERS.

The annual meeting of this Board wal held in
the Commissioner's Roe a, on Wednesday last, for
the purpose of electing a chairman for the ensuing
year, passing tbe acconn• s, and appointiag auditor
Mr. Hughes occupied th 7 chair. There wen 515')
present Messrs. Bilingla,m, Kelly, Stringer. Xorth,
Ick, Perkins, Woolley, Allsopp, Haskew, Hicklin,
Moore, Edwards, Griffin. Turney, Evers and Green.
The Clerk read the minutes of the he-, annual
mea!ing, which were confirmed, and also the notice
calling the meeting.
Mr. Hughes on rising said he had great pleasure
in proposing a chairman for the ensuing year. He
was Ft business man and a, large employer of labour,
and he no doubt would be of great service to the
town; and without dilating further, he begged to
propose Mr. William Jouadab Turney, as the chair-
man for the ensui.ig year. (Cheers).
Mr. Billingham said he had much pleasure in
seconding the proposition. He thoug-lt it was
well to have some new blood on the Board.
Mr. Edwards endorsed the remarks of the two
last speakers, and said that Mr. Turney had taken
great interest in the SALool Board and other things.
Mr. Turney, in taking the chair, said he wds
much obliged to them for the honour they had done
him in electing him as their chairman, He would
endeavour to carry on the business of the Town to
their satisfaction and the ratepayers generally.
He su.l.7gested that a Vice-chairman should be
appointed, to take tho chair, in case the Chair:n an
it was absent, like the Board of Guardians and other
I B, ards,

Mr. Hughes said there was a clause in the Act
which prevented them doing so.
Mr. Taylor said it was provided in the Art, that.
when the chairman -was absent, the members
present could elect a chairman.
Mr. Woolley proposed a vote of thanks to Mr.
Hughes, for the valuable services he had rendered
to the Board which was seconded by Mr. Kelly,
who said that Mr. Hughes had spent a good deal of
time and I,:bour amongst them.
Mr. Hughes in replying said he thanked there
for the compliment, and he retired from t!e position
he had held so long, with great thankfulness, and
was pleased to hear that his conduct had met with
their approbation. He cevainlv had given a -good
deal of time and attention to till Board, in fact,
much more than a man could in business.
The Clerk said the next business was the passing
of the accounts, and signing by the chairman.
Mr. Edwards called the attention of the Board
to the amount paid for bank charges. He considered
that £3O was a large stun to pay. when there was
so much money uncollected, and proposed that the
accounts be passed and signed by the clutinnan.
Mr. Kelly remarked that the reason of interest
beilt2t so large, was that they had a law suit on,
and the rates were not collected.
Mr. Hughes thought it bad taste on the part of
Mr. Ed.waris,.to brio z the matter before the Bo trd.
d'lte question had been brought before the co:n-
mittce and Mr. Edwards could then have objected
to the accounts.
Mr. Edwards: The accounts have been proposed
and seconded, and if you hid not ma le any remarks
no 3ne else would.

A printed statement of the annual accounts was
laid before the Board. From this it appeared that
the expenditure from March 26th, 1879, to March
25th, 1880, had been on the improvement account,
U,404 14s. id. ; en the Market Hall account, £920
33. ; and on the highway ace ,unit, £1,579 7s. sd.
Proposed by Mr. S. Field, se oaded by Mr.
Saund re, that Henry Yat.s be one of the auditors,
to au,lit the commis,doners accounts. Proposed by
Mr. Blunsom, seconded by Mr. Jordan that James
Underwood bc the other auditor. ,There being no
other person nomina el, the two wer duly elected.

THE REGULATION OF CLENT HILL COMMON. —This
tna,t•er came before a Committee ( f the Hone of
Commons la.t week, Mr. Spencer Walpole, M.P..
clog chairman. Mr. J. Amphlett, Mr. John Taylor,
and Mr. R. Hemtningway were in atendanee to give
evidence, but the committee contented themselves
with the evidence ot Lieutenant Colonel Leeeh, one
t he Enclosure Commissioners, and Mr. Pemberton
Leech, the Assistant Commissioner Alio held the
local enquiry relative to the apelieation for the pro-
visional order. The Committee passed the order
withour, any alteration, and on Monday evening a
short Lill was introduced into the House of Com-
mons, and reaia first time, to confirm it. The sanc-
tion of theLerds will afterwards have to be obtained.
VICTORIA HALL AND RlNS.—This popul ir place
of amusement continues to be well supported. On
"fuesday and Wednesday evening, the rink was
well patronized to witness the races. On Tuesday
evening the first event was a mile handicap. Five
entered, Mence and Parker, scratch, Glover 2 yards,
Wharton 15 yards, and James 20. Parker fell, and
a most exciting race ensued between James and
Wharton, the former winning by 2 yards. The
h11:*-mile hurdle race brought oue, five clinpetitors,
Menee, Glilliatn, and Parker were on scratch, and
Orford and Thompson 5 yards each. Gilliam won
easily.—On Wednesday evening there entered for
the half mile backward race. Gilliam, Malpass, and
Edmonds. All three fell and the race was event-
ually won by Edmonds. In the ladies race, one
mile, there were three competitors, Miss Bates, of
Dudley, accompanied by Mr. J. Gillain succeeded
in beating her opponents after a severe struggle,
Miss Wharton accompained by Mr. Wakeman be-
ing second.
DRUNKENNESS—At the Police Cour, yesterday,
before Messrs. It. L. Freer and J. B. Cochrtne, John
Ebury: of Brettell Lane, was charged with being
drunk at the Lye. Police-sergeant Payne said the
defendant went to the station drunk, and wanted to
be locked up. Witness told him to to home or ha
should lock him up. Defendant vent away and
came back in about an hour. HO I again asked to
be locked up and witness licked him up for four
hours until he became sober, and then let hill out.
Defendant pleaded guilty aid was line.l 2s 6d ad
costs ; in default 7 days.—John S evens, an old
offender, was chat gel with being dratiklon the 10th
inst. Police-constable Moore proved the case.
Defendant was fined 10s and costs.
CAUTION TO Boys.—Ernest Mitchell, a youth,
was cherged with playing at ball in Park Street, on
the 14th inst. Police-const able Williams said tie t
on the above date he saw the defendant, with others,
playing at ball. Defendant gave his wreng name.
He had received many complain's from pera..fis
Fined 5s to ineluie co-ts.
PITCH AND Toss—Job Bache was charged with
playing pitch and toss at Wollaston, on tho 14th
inst. Travis Richards proved the case, and said he
had cautioned the defendant for playing at tip cat.
L Fined 28.6 d to include costs.

SCHOOL BOARD CASES.— Richard North, Richard
Scott, Eli Parkes, and Thomas HoAnis were sum-
moned for neglecting to send their &,iidrea to Cle
Lye School. All (-RS :s Were proved by Mr.
Sn.-lus, and all tile defendants line 1.