The Express.
London, England, 1849-08-21 00:00:00

PLEASURE GROUNDS FOR THE PEOPLE.

A numerously attended meeting was held in the
Town Hall, Stoke, on Wednesday, called by J. Ayshford
Wise, Esq , the Chief Bailiff, in puriliance of a requisition,
for the purpose of promoting the procuring of a piece of
land upon which provision may be made for the healthful
recreation of the inhabitants of the town, particularly the
working chases.
Tire CHIEF BAILIFF (who presided) said that he
received and acted upon the requisition with very great
pleasure, for he thought it furorshed one among many
other proofs, that the time was CAM when the va
rious classes of society de ired cordial co-operation for
the common benefit, and were willing to meet together,
free from the intrusion of political discord or social differences,
fur an object which he believed would be found to have
more to do with the general happiness than might at
first be imagined. And he judced it proper to state at the
outset, that the originators of this movement proposed to
carry their project forward by means of voluntary subscrip•
tions and donations, so that there was no danger of its be-
coming a question of rates and taxes, of which the people
thought—and he thought with them—there were too many

already.
Mr. 'THOMAS GRIFFIN, junior, moved the first resolu-
tion, which was declaratory of the desirableness of obtaining
a piece of land for the public use, and of encouraging ra-
tional games and pastimes thereon. lie said he felt proud
that Stoke was taking the lead in this matter ; and trusted
the example would be followed with to much spirit that, ere
long, there would be • spacious park provided, where all the
people of the Potteries might meet to enjoy themselves.
Mr. KERRY seeoaded the resolution.
Mr. R. GARNER moved the appointment of a committee
for the purpose of receiving subscriptions, and selecting a
suitable piece of land (12 or 15 acres in extent), with power
to enter into negotiations for a lease or the purchase. Mr.
Garner said that although he was not one of the originators
of the business before the meeting, he was one of the regal-
pitioniste, and highly approved of the undertaking.
It was an excellent nievemen,, and mast lead to some-
thing good and noble. He hoped no one would feel die-
couraged by apparently feeble beginnings. When the Stoke
Athenteum was commenced about three years ago, 701. was
required to give the thing a Van, and some thought that
sum too much to be raised. There had since passed through
the hands of the treasurer about 5001., and the Athenaeum
had a library of 1,000 volumes, • laboratory, a museum,
philosophical apparatus, &c.
Mr. M. D. HOLLINS seconded the resolution in a short
address, in which he expressed the most unqualified ap-
proval of the design of establishing a place for public recrea-
tion, and also thought the allotment scheme desirable if
practicable, but he could not concur in the idea of making a
profit out of letting of small portions of land to working men
—be would rather say that they should pay a reduced rent.
[lt was explained that Mr. Garner wished the profits upon
the allotments to go in aid of the pleasure grounds, in
which the enigmas would have the same interest as others,
and that to make the profit, it would not be needful to
shame more than the ordinary rent of garden ground ]
Mr. 1. A. STEVENSON moved the appointment of a
seemetary and treasurer, and said he differed from both the
mom and seconder of the last resolution on the subject of

allotments.
The resolution was wended by Mr. Write, and in putting
it to the meeting, the Cuter BAILIFF paid a compliment to
Mr. &resting, the chief superintendent of the county con-
stabulary in the Pottery district, for the part he had taken
in promoting the object in view.
before the business concluded a resolution of thanks was
passed to the Duke of Sutherland, for hie kindness in allow-
ing free access to Trentham Park during holiday occasions
in the Potteries. It was proposed by Mr. %BART, seconded
by Mr. T. GRIFFIN, jun., and in putting it to the meeting,
the CHLIZYMI spoke of the noble duke as the model of
nobleman and gentleman.
The various addresses delivered in the coarse of the pro-
ceedings were heartily applauded, and the resolutions were
passed with acclamation.

REPRESENTATION OF WEST SURBET.—Tha protec-
tionists have prevailed upon W. J. Evelyn, Esq., of Wotton,
to contest the reproseatation of this division. Mr. J. Ivan
Briseoe'a friends are working hard, and a sharp contest may
be anticipated.
METAL STEALING IN BIRMINGHAM. Perhaps
there are few persona engaged in ands in the country who
suffer so extremely from robbery as those of the =inutile-
turas of Birmingham, who have necessarily large quantities
of metal on their premises. The facilities for stealing are so
considerable, and so great is the difficulty of detection, that
rebindes to an enormous extent take piece in almost every
'manufactory. A sees of this deseription has come to light
in one of the oldest and most respectable braes-foundry seta
Alabaman. The facts are than narrated in the Journal of
Saturday :—" It is a trite maxim that the receiver makes the
thief. We have strong reason to believe that these readying
shop', or fences,' are more numerous in Birmingham them
the public have any idea of. Valuable metals are wry port-
able, and the thief has always a market for the dispciad of
his spoil. Many thousand pounds, in motels alone, are that
disposed of annually in Birmingham. We regret that the
chances of capturing receivers are so small, inasmuch as
were they discovered and punished, a main incentive to
theft, that of facility for the disposal of the
stolen articles, would be taken away. Them men,
like smuggles, en no immorality in it. It would
be quits right if the law did not say it was wrong.
Where, then, a sense of right would not dictate an honest
mune, it is always desirable that the severest penalty
should be inflicted en detected criminals of this character.
We are induced to make these remarks from a circumstance
which occurred on Saturday last. It appears that for some
time past the attention of the police has been directed
to the shop of a man named Charles Knowles, a marine
store dealer, residing in Pak-street. There were strong
grounds for believing that he kept a 'knee,' and ac-
eordingly in the evening, before a light was brought into
the shop, detective-officer Morrow, who had been on the
watch, entered. A female was in the shop at the time, and
Morrow asked if Mr. Knowles was ia. She mid he was •
upon which Morrow went to the kitchen door, which led
from the shop, whispering cautiously all the while, and
apparently anxious that he should not be observed. The
bast took. Ia the dark Knowles conceived that it was some
"knowing one" seeking his mamma in the disposal of
plunder. "What have you got ? " was his interrogatory.
The officer made no answer. " Have you got any white—
[indiscriminately applied to silver and men]—what are you
going to drop ?" Convinced that hie suspicions were cor-
rect. Morrow said he merely wished to drop some words
about some metal he had purchased. Knowles, evidently
prov ited at his mistake, but yet ignorant of his customer,
denied that he had bought any metal, and turned away to
enter the kitchen. Morrow instantly informed him who he
was, and he was determined to search the house. Knowles
would not allow this at first, but on being informed that
there was a force in reserve, he submitted ; and under a
heap of rage was found a considerable quantity of brass cast-
ings, in an unfinished state, and other metal. Knowles
quietly delivered himself into cu'tody, remarking that it
was seven yeas for him. Inquiry subsequently showed that
the castings had been stolen from the premises of Messrs. W.
and J. Harcourt, Bristol-street. Knowles was brought up
at the Publk-oface on Wednesday, and committed for trial.