BROMSGROVE'S MP Austen Chamberlain, who had recently been elevated to the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer, was about to move into his official residence at 11 Downing Street, which had been completely redecorated. His sister was to keep home for him.

THE Messenger took its annual look at the festive fare on offer in the town's shops, which this year were reporting a dip in trade. The many grocers' establishments had a mouth-watering array of delights on offer, especially boxes of fruits, biscuits, crackers and chocolates. Last week's fatstock show in the town meant huge carcasses of beef and mutton, each bearing a certificate or rosette, could be seen adorning the fronts of the many butchers' shops.

THE sale took place of daily and weekly newspapers, periodicals and magazines that had been saved for a year at the Institute in Bromsgrove. The most popular was the one penny Daily Telegraph. These sold at the rate of three pence halfpenny per week.

DROITWICH Board of Guardians spent time at their meeting to discuss the question of the various methods of sterilising the clothing of tramps passing through the institution to stop the spread of infectious diseases. A specialist piece of apparatus was too costly, they said, and steam damaged the leather boots, while chlorine gas was another option. At present sulphur candles were used.

FREDERICK Stride, aged 26, a baker's assistant from Hanover Street, appeared before Bromsgrove magistrates charged with deserting his wife and young child so making it necessary for them to be kept at the public's expense. To date this amounted to 18/- (90p). Magistrates ordered him to pay 5/- (25p) per week maintenance out of his 16/- wage. It was said he had just walked out on his family, although he had previously been receiving letters from a girl in Bromsgrove.