The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-02-27 00:00:00

THE ASSOCIATED INSTITUTE.

The annual meeting of this Institute was held in
the Lecture Room, on Monday night; Mr. H. W.
Foley in the chair.—The report of the Mechanics'
Institute, real by Mr. Buckler, showed there were
0$ members, and the finance account showed £l5
14s lld in hand at the end of the year. A present
of several handsome photographs received from
Rome !rem Mrs. W. Akroyd was acknowledged by
the committee. There had been 2,250 books issued
from the library in the year, and there had been
el ales iu operation in several subjects.. The In—
stitute had now completed the fiftieth year of its
existence, and it was hoped that arrangements
might be made to celebrate its practical illustration
of Darwin's celebrated phrase of the survival ef the
fittest. There were some members with them who
had personal remembrance of a long past, and it
might be said that that past might be looked back
to with some pride, and the future with 1101119
hope. _

:Nlr. Palfrey read the ;port of the Working Men's
Institution, which had now 18(1 members. There
was a balance of £2l 10a 5.1 in hand at the close of
the year. Reference was made to the classes carried
on conjointly with the Mechanics' Institute. Lord
Lyttelton had boon re-elected president of the
Mechanics' Institute, and Mr. Lycett was elected
president of the Working Men's Institutior, and
there wore the other usual appointments.
Mr. E. 131urton read the accotme of the-Building
Committee, and mentioned that there had been
a special outlay require] since the beginning of :he
year, from the roof being found in a dangerous
state.

j.O Rev. W. Wallace, in moving the ad °Cot of
the reports (which were adopted) called attention to
the number of librarief, in the town, and su,zis•-sted
the desirability of their:amalgautation, so th 4 they
might have one really good librsry worthy of the
name. He did not think there was a thoroughly
good reference book in any of the libraries, Mr
U. Evers seconded the motion, and said he did not
see why they should not possess a good library in
the town, and he hoped ssmethinz might come of
Mr. Wallace's suggestion. In the course of the
di:cussion which followed, Mr. E. Marton said some
of the libraries Mr. Wallace had referred to were
notaries which the booksellers carried on as a part
of their business, and the Church of England ..ksso-
alatifni had a special ground for a library of its own.
nit the ratepayers were willing to support the es—
pease of a free library, he did not see any chance
of tri almalgaination. Mr. Barratt said he believed
for the Free Libraries Act to be adopted there must
be a population of at least 10,000, and the township
itself had not that population at ths last census.
, Fite Chair.nan agreed with Mr. Wallace that five
Ii• ths libraries were not so useful as one good one,
b,:t he could see difficulties in the way of An amal-
gamation and the establishment of a free library.
Gentlemen outside the town, it had been said,
112.)u1,i come into the town and assist in local mat-
ter.; but when they came into the town they d;d
not w.iat to be drag,4ecl in held and shoulders. He
was abused, or laughed at, for tasking some remarks
at tie School of Art some time ago, but no one
to be dragged into a thing whether or no.
If they wanted them to come in they should stroke
them gently. He thought those outside the town
wouli not be backward in assisting the project if
tlyy thought of establishing a good library there.
(applause.) Mr. Foley expressed his conLinned
ititc.rast in the Institute, and his hope that it would
continue a benefit to the town, as it had been in the
last liay years. (Cheers.) .

Voeuerarta Fines BR [4.%.llrl.—The annual meet-
in of the brigade was hold on Welmeelay night, A
the Ceerain3ieners' 'doom, Corn Exchauge ; air. A.
Fie-er in the cheir. Th.-3 report of the committee
for the yea 1885 showed falling-off in the ordin-
ary iueome of 1i 7s 61, and the present income
ts not sufEient to meet the expenditure.
D ituatic performances had been given on behalf
of he brigade, and were very successful, enabling
the colamittee to obtain new uniforms. The pur-
e ase of some additional appliances was also re-
f rred to. Captain H. iTurney reported that the
lnipda had been called out six times during the
ye r. The total estimated ioss amounted to ..eletee
and the property at risk was valued at
The hearty and efficient manner in wlich the
brie& Ic c irried out their duties was acknowledged
by C einain Turney. Morris.'s instantaneous coup.
Hee had been adopted during the year, and had
the brigade to work with more confidence
and greater security,—Officers were elected for the
year, and the usual annual business transacted.
Much satisfaction was expressed at the efficiency of
the brigade, and at the important services they had
rendered to the community. oreter4S
.kIatAMBRA Tnireece.—Mr. Brinsley Sheridan
so 1 a capitally selected company have this week
been eiving the people of the town and district a
te.eit in the performance of a play entitled "Greeley'
Money.' rhe play is mostly comely, although a
tr elegy is enacted. If the ofd saying, "Laugh and
grew fat," had the least hit of truth in it, all who
heee visited this theatre ought to be of most pro-
di;ious proportions; for the piece is so mirth-pro-
v.,:zirie that persons of a morose character are
forced to join in the boisterous laughter which is
c.!•asionsel by the funniosi,ies of Soft Tommy
Shattleworth. The scene in the police court, in
which Tommy is a witness, fairly convulses the
aedience, both old and young joining heartily in
the mirth. Mr. Sheridan sustains this character,
st-el a more fitting exponent of the part we should
Clink:there could not be. His droll looks and "make
ue" are sufficient to set the audience on the titter,
ael on beginning his witticisms and repartee they
cannot contain themselves. Miss Quossie Evehard,
as Maggie, a Lancashire lase, causes some amuse.
merit. She appears quite at home in the imper.
senation, and has a good knowledge of the Lan.
cashire dialect. The remainder of the performers
a 'quit themselves in a very creditable manner, and
the:ir efforts are appreciated by f,equent outbursts
0! applause. To-night (Saturday) is the last of this
company, and we advise all who wish to spend a
pleasant evening to go and wittier' the performance
of "Greeley's Money."
Sr. .Toivre's SCHOOLS, STOURBRII)O2S. —The Edu- '
cAtion Department has just imesal its report on the
Training College examinatioee of Christmas last,
ani among the
.first year's students who have
geined the Ist class certificate at Oxford is the
mime of Ada L. M. Cartwright, late pupil teacher at
these schools.

Owing to the improvements made in the method
mAking gas and the enortnously inert-aged value
o! the by products, such as tar, the manufacture of
gad is now the most profitable huginess known; In
fact gas shares Are always *ought after by invest Ors
as being the soundest and most profitable Ource of
inveittneut. Thu prospectus has just been issued
of the Gas Light Company ;of Portngal, Limited.
It is Anticipated that wi:hiti pix months of comple-
tion of the work a dividend at the rate of 1 pe r
cent. will ho paid te those who are fortunate
..nough to secure tharce, Full details will shortly
be announced.

A DESEUTER.—At thn Police Court, yesterday,
bdfora Colonal Fletcher, Nfessre, C. Cochrane. T. D.
Thomas, and A. Freir, Robert Jones, a native of this
wn, was charged with thnerting the 4tll Battalion
South ..Staffordshire Regiment, on the 20th mat.—
[)5• Oakey said he arrested the defendant in a
public home, and Enliiting-sergeant Davies said
the defendiint enlisted some time ago into the
‘Vorcestershire Rogiment, but he deiaerted that and
fr Ludulently enlisted in the South Staffordshire
Rowiment. Defendant was remanded to await an
escort. _ _ _

DRLINICHNNISS.—John Smith was charged with
being drunk on the 18th it at Oldswinford. Fined
54 mid costs.—George Staples was fined 2s 6d and
costs for being (drunk on the 20th inst in High
Street.—George -Wilkinson, for being drunk on the
19th inst, Wag fined 6s and costs,—William Stewart
was charged, and fined 103 and costs for being
drunk an the 23rd inst.—A fine of 5s and costs was
imposed on Henry Chapman, for being drunk ict
the Cross Walka Inn, Lye, on the 20th init.—
David Bros ehar,etl with being drunk at the
Vine Inn, Lye, on the 20th inst.—Fined 213 6d and
cost..—Jesse Cartwright was charged with being
drunk and disorderly on the 21st inst. Fined 5s
and cots.—Edward Lloyd w fined bs and costs
for being drunk and db,orderly on the 20th inst, at
the Lye.
OnZNIC LANGUAOIL—E,iLIib9tII Wall, Court-st.,
WM charged with using obecetk language on the
20. h inst. P.S. Oakey proved the case. Fined 5s
and costa.

ALLeGI ED FOWL STLLtO.JoIin Mogg ani
George lrihwere charged with etealing a cock
fowl, value 24 6d, the property of Walter Hill, at
Wildtr.ore, Bell,roughton. Levi Waldron WO •
charged with receiseiug Ow saute well-knowing k
to be stuhru.—Mr. Dyson, instructed by Mr. G.
Stokes, Birmingham, defended.— Dinah MB, wif•
of pruso,.utor, said she a the fowl eate on the
morning of the 13th in-t. She went out at lOo'clook,
and ou her return, about 4 o'oltx:k, uhe missed the
fowl. 'the cock produced wad the one she had
Inissad.—Jsmva Jacob DoveuportOiehoro•uptuate
aid Waldron isms to kis iivan Vico tuo 4,00

(produced.) Waldron gave him the cock and a
siiill;ng for a hen.—P.(. Virs, lace said that when
he charged Irish, he said, "We did not st-al it;
we gave a man ls 6d for it. ' Mtimately the Bench
dismissed the case. _ _

ioun CHAII9EP.—John Millward was charged
with st.terriptinft- to account for part of his property
fic.ieioushssas e3pent.s, and with obtaining
by fdso preteneen under carrying,- on business and
desling in the ordinary way of trade certain pro- I
perty to wit :—divers handles, vices and other ar-
ticles on credit, and with removing certain of his
property value £lO and upwards within 4 months
previous to his bankruptcy, Defendant was re-
manded for a week, bail being allowed,
BOARD 01' Gtranntaxs.....Mr. Billingham presidul
at the meeting yesterday,—Artmitted 19, discharged
9, b(Nrn 2, dead 8, remaining 575 against 578 —Re-
lief, liingswinford £l5 18s Bd, Stonrbridge £33 03
10d, lialesowen £27 13s 2d, non-residents £2 7s 21,
total £lOB 19s 101 against £lO3 Si 6frd.