biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-03-25

THE KING OF SPAIN.

The Times (in a leader) says that the triumphal
entry of Alphonso XII. into Madrid is an event to be
remembered by Spain anal by the young Sovereign
who was the object of all regards.. If a shade of regret
pass over the mind of the conquerers on reflecting that
tile4,conquered are countrymen, there is the substantial
satisfaction that the aurae which has hung over Spain
during two generations is now at last removed, and
that Carliem is dead, to revive, we may hope, no more.
Without pretending to any great admiration for
Bourbon Sovereignty in either line, we may hope that
now the S,[ apish people have achieved peace and national
harmony under Dun Alphonso XII., it will not be the
accomplice or victim of any further revolution. There
is no reason to suppose that the progress and civilisa-
tion which the age demands will be impraccicable
under the youth who now reigns. The country will
not tolerate anything but a monarchy, and if there
must be a monarch Alphonso is likely to be as good a
one as can be obtained. He is a mere youth, and the
chief men of the country ought to be able to fashion
his political opinions according to present needs. They
have the best opportunities for governing prudently,
for the King starts with a popularity which seems tb
be unbounded.

The Daily NC2O3 observes that the young King must
be congratulated on his good fortune. For the time,
at least, he is master of the situation, and has before
him a great opportunity if he is wise and able enough
to make the beet of it. What Spain needs is that the
era of revolutions should be closed, and one of freedom
and conamerce should begin. King Alfonso has now
an opportunity, together with the statesmen round
him, of consolidating his power by conferring this boon
upon his country. He cannot do this, bnwever' by
trp../ing In Elie old reactionary lines; 11,V only by a
boldly Liberal policy as a Constitutional inv.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-03-25

THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS.

Hil shawl:wee

An Occasional Correspondent of the Evening Standard,
writing from Naples, on March 18, says

_
The long-promised eruption of the Vesuvius has at
last occurred. Last night, at about -twelve o'cl,:ck,
the began to overflow, and a long smke like
riyukt look the direction of Pompeii. The eruption
was hare), expected, for the smoke and vapour
emitted by the crater for some months past in great
-abrarviatree. had - sOmewhat abated yesterday. 'Pro—
fessor Palmieri's instruments proved true to him, how-
ever, for they ha-I been for the last fortnight indicat-
ing a tendency to increase on the part of the fiery liquid
contlined in the immense crater of the volcano. Tfiis
morning the sight presented by Mount Vesuviui was
re ally lovely 04. 5-jrein; kit .columti.âLbeauiullY
white and cotton-like. vapour towered over the yawn-
ing abyss, and tbe reflection of the burning furnace
from. -undeineatii "on the feathery-cloud ' we: it a
splendil crimson tint, dying out into the most delicate
pink as it reached the curves of the capricious.papache.
Lai ge quantities of cinders and lapillte have .been
thrown up during.the night, and the. neighbouxhood oi
i the opening of the, crater s . covered with beautiful
Inuit ice' ,ured mineral formatiims-rL

There is reason-6 believe that the eruption will be
a long one, and we can but hope that we are nut
doomed to witness any scenes of destruction sival.r to
thoai of 1872. •
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-03-25

A DISCUSSION ON PIECE WORK.

At a meeting convened by the Social Science
Association on Monday evening there was a discussion
on piece work as compared with time work. Mr. Leon&rd
H. Courtney occupied the chair, and Mr. Frederick
Hill, late of the Post Office, read his paper on the
subject above mentioned. From his statement it
appeared that Mr. Hill was in favour of piece work,
and stated that the opponents of payment by piece
instead of by time seemed to found their opposition
in a great measure on a belief that this system tended
to reduce the number of persons employed, and as
regarded a large portion even of those who did find
employment to keep down their wages. He held this
belief to be without foundation, and the fallacy ap-
peared to be based on the assumption that the quan-
tity of work to be executed in every kind of manu-
facture was fixed, as also the sum of money to be
divided among the workpeople. But, experience
showed that this was so far from being the case that
both the quantity of work and the payment for it were
capable of vast and indefinite extension.
Mr. Mundell& said the question was whether piece
work was desirable or not. It had been assumed that
it was desirable and good for the operative consumer,
but that the trades' unions and working classes gei.ie-
rally were opposed to it. This assumption was as wide
of the mark as could be any misrepresentation made as
to the working classes, who were being constantly mis-
represented. He was an advocate of piece work. Of the
240,000,000 of exports from this country fully 20 per
cent was the result of piece work. Our textile fabrics,
iron and steel manufactures, haberdashery, and cutlery
were all produced by piece work. More piece work was
done in England than in any other country, and this
bad been the main cause of her market prosperity.
The further it was carried the better it would be for
every one concerned. All that was needed was an
amicable arrangement between employers and working
men. Piece work could not be always resorted to, and
time work should in such cases be adopted. In con-
clusion, he must protest against the injustice done to
working men by the statement so often made that they
protested against piece work.—The Ti 17248.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-03-25

THE BUDGET OF CANADA.

thf
o February, Minister,
and,
made his
financiallr .
statementgbt on
oh Finance
the
2 5
con-
trary to general expectation, proposed no increase in
the tariff duties. He stated that in the year ending
June 30, 1875, the receipts were 24,648,715 dols , and
the expenditures 23,713,071 do's., leaving a surplus of
935,644 dole. But in 1874 the imports entered for con-
pu ption, the chief source of revenue, were 127,404,169
do's., and in 1875 they were only 119,618,657 dole.,
showing a decrease 0f,7,785 512 dole. The exports in
1874 amounted to 89,351,928 dole., and in 1875 to only
77,886,979 dole., or a decrease of 11,464 949 dole. In
the returns for 1875-6 the revenue up to February
10 shows a falling off, as against the revenue of 1874-5
for the same period, of about two million dollars.
In the first six months of the present financial year the
imports were only 51,923.136 dole., as againstimpor-
tations of the value of 0,693.978 dole. in the correspond-
ing period of 1874-5, or a falling off of no less than
18,0'30,000 dole. In the corresponding periods the ex-
ports of the Dominion were respectively 50,624,845
dols. in 1875-6, and 53,740,729 dole. in 1874-5. The de-
crease was wholly confine to the article of sawn
lumber. The reduction in importi is not, however,
the result &together of a diminished volume; the
shrinkage in value has played a most important
part in effecting this result, amounting, as in-
quiries have ehown, to 10, 15, 20, 25; 30, or even in
some cases to 35 per cent. A veLy large proportim
of the reduction, too, has fallen o/ the goods paying
an ad valorem duty of 17i per cent. Although the
shrinkage in values is bad for the revenue, it has of
course been favourable to the country as a whole. The
people have bought what they needed more cheaply,
and if a few have suffered the manyhave gained. Mr,
Cartwright proceeded to state that the inflation Canada
is now suffering under has arisen to some extent from
causes beyond control. The proximity to the United
States always exposes Canada to the operation of cir-
cumstances for which they, and not Canada, may be
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-03-25

T.tJTOQ
TER4I,BLE ,SUFFERINGS AT SEA.

Nine snrvivors of the crew of the Liverpool ship Eumenides,
which beesme a total wreck about 250 miles west of Cape
Clear on the 9tk met, have strived at the Liverpool Sailors'
lone from Queenstown.
The Eumenides, which was commanded by Captain
,Beard, loft Beaufort, South Carolina, on the 17th
Yebruary, with a cargo of pitch pine for Greeftook.
;fillzhe had 22 hands all told. She experienced very
heavy weather during the whole of the passage'
-Aild when within 250 miles west of Cape Clear she
shipped some very heavy Peas. Her cabin and fore-
castle were stove in, the water tanks were 3..s.rried away,
aAek the cupboard of the chain locker was unshipped,
„thus partly filling the vessel with water. The crew were,
kept constantly at the punins, and the captain thought,
it desirable to heave to. Fieding, however, that the&
tearful state of the weather made this impracticable,.,
he endealloured to run her before the wind. While
attempting to "sheet home" the foretopead she was
struck by a heavy sea and squall at the same time,
and she was thrown over on her beana-ends. Th.
captain and eleven of the crew were washed away.
The remaining ten climbed to the side of the ship, awl ,
succeeded in lashing themselves to her. About half an
hour afterwards the foremast and mizeninast were car-
ried away, and the ship righted. Nine of the crew then
got on the forecastle head. The first mate, whose name
was Forgie, climbed on to the maintop, but about twelve
o'clock the mule night the mainmast MIS carried away,
and the unfortunate mate was drowned. The remaining
pine were for 72 hours exposed to the terrible violence
of a gale from the noeth-weet, and were,.rof cortege,
without food or water, Their sufferings, as may well
be imagined, were hater se, and all hope had been nearly
abahrioned when the NorivegiatCbtig Albatross, Cap-
tain Juel, hove in sight. Seeing the perilous pusi ion
of the poor seamen, he launched a boat,'*hich was dt
once manned by Spin'e'of the crew, and;"lllatwithstanirl-
ing the valef, the ertedeeded hi 'rettairig' the whbfe
nine. They were in an rxhansteAl
bad been fearfully fropt-bitten. When placed on board
the Albatross the greatest iciniine.-8 w.. 8 extended to
them b 5 Captain Jun. Insutlic,rs, and crew, and the
poor fellow. speak in the moot grateful terms of the
manner in which they were treated. The boat of the
Albatross w 54 considerably damaged wort, the ship-
wi velreo men were bing got off. The Albatross
reaceed Queenstown on toe 16th inst., and re, soon as
the rescued men were sufficiently recover,al they were
sent on to Liverpool.

The cost of the new Domesday Book is five thousand
ponads.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-03-25

DUDLEY AND WA.r.sALL.

pIA NOFORTES and ilNti.,lo::l—(3 ,„.
be had on tbc Nii.AV Si Wl' I.:Ai of 1!Lit.N.,,,,
Three Years; aftr.r which, and withwa Any (uitlo-r
moit, to become the propert)
o. the i . All in:;tr:i.
Wents had on this syatew, ar otherwise, witi
Exchanged any time within eta menthe for any ofltr • I
not approved of , and returned carriage free. Afid fo..
har,after a trial of three years any Piujoloitcor hr.
monium would be taken bark, at its original cost, and
the money returned, deductlbo: the ftiOti 0:14111te to!
titre ; thool otrrring greater alvateAgr,, tbab he
or tii,rniughani tiou.o t.} r:l`.
Ain.ic ith n-e. ChAt:4--ittiert, and 259,
itafford•strert,

Arm= to Moinefis I—Are you broken in your
rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting
teeth ? Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of
Miss. V7INSLOW'S SOOTUING SYRUP. It will relieve
the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harm
less and pleasant to taste, it produces natural,
quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the
little cherub awakes "se bright as a button." It
ioothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all
pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the
be,t known remedy for dysentery and dia.rrlices,
,vhether arising from teething or other causes. Mr,
Winslow's Soothing Syrup is sold by Medicine dealers
everywhere at Is 13d per bottle.—Manufactured in
'l.w 'York, and at 493 Oxford-street. Loudon.
VALUABLE DIFICt,VELY FOR TIM, rant.— If yous
hair is turning grey or white, or falling off, use" The
in
Hair Renewer," for it will positively restore
,wlßthesotiiot leavings" Res
nmak th
n crery case Grey or While hair to its original colour,
makes ttesaraie
recahblaermeirangoilly
boefaumtifouislt
,
as well as promoting the growth of the hair on bald
spots, where the glands are not decayed. Ask your
1
Chemist for "THE MEXICAN Ham nENEWEE," pre-
eared by HENRY C. GALLUP, 493 Oxford Street
London, and sold by Chemist unien;
eTorywhero at Us 6d pox Bottle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

UPPBB GoanL.

Davie. ... 0
J. Foster, run out • .. 0
J. Naylor, run out ••••••• ... ....... 7
CJ.. Bareuttessilt: a
bßraccil.eyE, b. F. A. "P , ones II
8. Brittain. b F. A. Jones— 0
J. Dews, c Jackson, bF. A. Jones 0
J. Jeavona, c Danko, bC. E. Davies 0
0. Hebbert, c and b F. A. Jones 3
W. Watertield, c Fereday, b Davies 2
W. Jeavons, not out
J. Knight, b F. A. Jones ...... 0
Extras .., ...... . • 1

STOUBEIDOE v. LYE.—The return match between the
above clubs was played on the Stourbridge ground on
Saturday last. The Lye had the servicess of the Rev.
J. Byrne, who bowled in first-clase style and no doubt
won the match for the Lye. The following is the
score ;
LYE.

lit Inning.. 2na Inning..
Rev. J. Baines, c and b Oatee 11 b Oates
T. Parish, b Parkes 3 not out 4
Rev. J. Byrne, c and b Parkes 3 c Dean, b Oates 99
T. Dain, b Parkes ...... 4 c substitute, b
Parkes

W. Maybury, c and b Davis 8
Carpmail, b Parkes ...... 0 b Oates .. 9
E. Brooks, c Dean, b Davis 14
W. Perry, b Parkes .• .. 4 th 4
Hugo; 0 ems, b Davis
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

A MYSTERY.

The following article appeared in Vanity Fair of Satur-
day _ _ _ _ _

"An incident of considerable gmvity has recently
occurred in London, vhich has hitherto been carefully
kept concealed, but which in the interest not less of
the victim than of the public, who have a right to look
for a certain amount of security in the streets, should
no longer be kent from publicity.
"Mr. John Bateson, the younger brother of Sir
Thomas Bateson—himself a man popular with all who
know him and one who would not be likely to have
made an enemy In his life—was walking through
jermyn-street about ten o'clock on the evening of
Friday, the 30th of June. Suddenly, and without
his having had the slightest warning some person
came behind him and dealt him with some in-
strument a fearful blow, which felled him sense-
less to the ground. He was takezi into Cot's Hotel;
it was discovered that the upper part of his
jaw or cheekbone was absolutely shattered, and the
unfortunate gentleman still lies in a dangerous state.
The remarkable point of the case is that no reason
whatever can be discovered for this outrage. "Mr.
Bateson himself remembers nothing more than the
blow, and on coming to himself be found all his money
safe so far as he remembers to have had it upon him:

The pohce,. having been informed of the affair,
have up to this time abaolutely failed to obtain any
information with regard to It; and this being so, It
only remains to see whether the publication of
.this
account may not lead to the discovery of the assailant
guilty of this most cowardly outrage."

The total amount of income tax charged during the
years 1E437, as appears from a parliamentary return just
Witted, was £263,708,70.
A. little incident is reported from Troyes, which re•
minas one of the good old days of Dick Turptn (says the
Paris Correspondent of the Standard). The mail cart was
attacked at noon, in one of the most frequented streets, by
half a dozen men in weeks, who nearirkilLeji the driver,
and would have carried off the mail sacks but for the timely
arrival of the police. The brigands escaped.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

THE ADMIRALTY AND MISSING
VESSELS.

Rear-Admiral Robert Hall, in a letter from the Admiralty
to the Secretary of Lloyd's, says :

"With reference to your letter of the 3rd instant,
drawing attention to the fact that three firstolass
ships, trading between Great Britain and Australia
within the last nine months, are unaccounted for, and
requesting that one of her Majesty's ships should visit
from time to time the islands lying in the ordinary
track of vessels making the Australian voyage,
or that one of the Australian squadron should
be despatched on that service, I am comrn
rnanded by my Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of
the committee for managing the affairs at Lloyd's
that with every wish to meet their request, my lords
are unable to give directions for one of her Majesty's
ships on the Australian station to search the outlying
Islands, as they are quite beyond the lin,s of the
Australian command. Orders, however, will be given
for any vessel proceeding from the Cape of Good Hope
to Australia, when possible, to sight the Crozet
Islands sufficiently near to examine them. In making
the communication, my lords desire me to obsetve that
it has come to their knowledge that ships in making
the passage from this country to Australia appear to
incur very great risk by going too far south, and making
the run amongst icebergs and floating ice, and that if
this is the general practice their lordships cannot feel
surprised at several vessels being now missing."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

WOLLASTON.

G. Sewell, b H. Parrock
G. Yates, at Newton
A. E. Reiner, b H. Parrock 0
J. Edge, b H. Parrock
W. Ogle, c Williams, b Matthews 1
T. Hodgkinson, b H. Parrock
M. Hedges, b Matthews. 4
F. Hill, c Draper, b Matthews 3
D. Skidmore. c and b Matthews
C. Davis, b H. Parrock
H. Allin, not out . ...
Extras... ...

KIDDERMINSTER 1.). KEDDITCII.—This match was
played at Kidderminster on Monday. In their second
innings Redditch scored 20. Kidderminster thus winning
by one innings and eight runs to spare. The following
is the score :

REDDITCH.
F. Dobbins, run out ... 0
F. Duggins, b Blunt ... 2
W. Stratton, b Hughes ..... 10
J. Byron, b Blunt
W. H. Smith, b Hughes
H. Aston, not out
J. Swann, c Butcher, b Blunt 9
J. Masters, b Blunt . V
E. Warren, c Chamberlain b Hughes 1
B. Booker, run out
W. Astbury, absent
Extras

KIDDEFININITIIII.

W. IL Moore, 9 Booker, 16 Bryant 11

. _
A. Butcher, b Bryant .. 0
T. Blunt, b Smith
W. Hughes. b Bryant
W. C. Taylor, c Stratton, b Smith, 9
R. Palmer, b Warren
E. A. Chamberlain, b Warren 5
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

INTEMPERANCE.

In the House of Commons, the other evening. Mr.
Onslow asked the SerTetary of State for the Home
Department, considering the great national importance
of the Resolution of his Grace th. tchbiphop of Can-
terbury, and agreed to by the House of Lords—viz.,
"That a Select Committee be appointed for the pur-
pose of inquiring into the prevalence of habits of intem-
perance, and into the manner in which those habits
have been affected by recent legislation and other
causes," and to which Resolution her Majesty's
Government had given their ascent, whether it would
not be advisable that any Committee appointed for
that purpose should consist of members of both Houses
of the Legislature.

Mr. Cross said the Government were fully alive to
the importance of the inquiry which had been under-
taken by the House of Lords, but that House had not
invited the House of Commons to join them in the in-
quiry. He had, he might add, sought to obtain in-
formation as to the practice on those occasions, and he
found the subject in question was not one of a class
which was ordinarily referred to joint Committees of
the two Houses. Hitherto such Committees had been
appointed in cases in which the united action of both
Houses was required, as, for example, in the case of
the Metropolitan Railway Bills; but on questions of
general policy it was the custom of the House of Com-
mons to appoint a Committee of its own.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

A WILL CASE.

lathe High Court of Justice (Probate, Divorce, and Ad-
miralty Division), before the Right Hon. the President, the
cause of "Fergusson and Others V. Mason and Another (in-
vening "has beenTheard. Mr. Serjeant Parry, Mr. Baylis,
Q.C., and Dr. Tristram appeared for Use plaintiffs; Mr.
Inderwick, Q C , and Mr. Searle for the defendant Intervener;
Mr. Gibbons for a legatee.—The case is thus reported in The
Tones : •
This was a suit to estaVish the validity of the will,
dated the 15th of May, 1869, with two codicils dated
roapt-ctively the 17th ot February, 1873, and the 4th of
May, 1875, of Mrs. Marian Nasmyth, late of West-
bourne-park.terrace, who died in February last at the
age of 83. The papers were propounded by the plain-
tiffs, the executors, and their validity was contested
by Mr. Francis Mason, the intervener, a nephew of
the deceased, on the ground that she was not of sound
mind when she executrd them, and that she did not
know and approve of their contents.
The testatrix was the widow of Mr. Alexander
Nasmyth, who practised with success as a surgeon-
dweanst
ne tr
sa tl Gn
long
opregrei -od streeto f
h,
is I
pa r
on ofve es rs isoqnua al r el
life
eatnhde
iwn ht
io.
mate friend of Sir William Fergusson, the eminent
surgeon. Mrs. Nasmyth shared in her husband's regard
for Sir William, who continued to attend her profes-
sionally as a friend down to her death, and in her
testamentary dispositions she made him one of the
objects of her bounty. She WM possessed of property
to the amount of £30,000, and by her will she distri-
buted it as follows, to the exclusion of her relations,
several of whom, it was stated, were in needy circum-
stancel :-25,000 to St. George's Hospital, £5.000 to
University College Hospital, £l,OOO to Sir William
Ferguson, £5OO to his eldest daughter, Miss Fer-
guson, £5OO to Mrs. Sharpe (her niece), £lOO to Mts.
Young (also a niece), £2,600 to the Association for the
Relief of Gentlewomen when ill, £2,000 to the As.o-
elation for the Welfare of the Blind, £l,OOO to the
Rigged School Society, £5OO to Mr. Ingpen, now
manager of the Chancery-lane Branch of the Union
Bank, and the residue of her estate to the rector and
churchwarden of St, George, Hanover•square, in
;Um, the deserving. poor.of • the pariah who had
never received pariah relief; and she appointed Sir
Fergusson and Mr. Ingpen her executors and

trus
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

BURIAL BOARD.

A meeting- of this Board was held on Wednes-
day morning.
Mr. F. Evers presiding.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Clerk produced a letter from John Taylor,
enclosing a cheque for .260 for the crop of clover
and grass on the site of the cemetery, with after-
math to September 29, the same having been
sold to Mr. William Pearson.

The plans of Mr. Thomas Smith, for the
cemetery, were reconsidered, and on the motion of
Mr. King, seconded by Mr. Stringer, were finally
approved, and ordered to be submitted by the
architect to the Bishop of the Diocese, agreeably
with section 30 of the 15th and 16th Vic., cap.
85.

We regret to hear that Mr. Smith died within
a few hours after the meeting from the effects of
a paxlytic attack.
It was moved by Mr. Platt that the boundary
fences be constructed of iron and stone alternately,
in the proportion of three-fourths of the former
to one-fourth of the latter.

Mr. Billingham seconded the motion, which was
carried.

Mr. Stringer moved that a portion of the
cemetery, comprising about one acre, as indicated
on the ground plan, be set apart for Roman
Catholics.

This was seconded by Mr. Billingham, and
agreed to.
The questions of the enclosure of the ground
and the position of the lodge were brought on,
adjourned till the next meeting.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

STOURBRIDGE OR HAGLEY.

WANTED to RENT within TWO MILES
of Either Station, Detached HOUSE, with Two
or Three Reception and not loss than Five Bodrooms,
Garden, Stable, and Coachhouse, and a few Acres of
Pasture Land.—Apply 8.Y., Post Office, Dudley.

EXTENSIVE PREMISES TO LET in the
immediate neighbourhood of Stourbridge, suitable
either for Malthouses, Warehouses, or Cora Stores, and
near the ItAilway Station.—A.ddress F. F., Observer
Office.

WANTED A ISTRONG ACTIVE GIRL,
one with s knowlelge of Cooking preferrer4l—
at Swan Inn, Hagley Street, Stourbridge.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

BROMSGROVE.

CATTLE FAIR.—The fortnightly fair was held on
Tuesday. There was a fair supply of fat cows and
sheep, but the supply of pigs was very limited. Buyers
were scarce, owing, no doubt, to the fact they were
busy with their hay crops. Some good lambs made
excellent prices, and calves sold well. Most of the stock
was sold under the hammer. Mr. Cotton's sale com-
prised 350 sheep and lambs, 25 fat heifers, and 8
calves. Fat sheep made from 48s to 765. Lambs, 87g
to 42s 6d. One fat bull realised £25 15s, and fat cows
made from £lB to £26 78 6d. Mr. Steedman also sold
a large quantity of sheep and lamb., and some good
beef. Beef aide from Sid to 944 ; matton, 844 to
104; and lamb lid per lb. Store pigs sold very
readily.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

HALESOWEN.

nALE4OWEN AND HAOLEI FLOWICR Snow.—We have
pleasure in calling attention to the advertisement of the
above annual show, which is fixed to take placs at
"The Leasowee," so well known as Shenetone's Walks,
Etalesowen ; and we understand that Mr. J. fa gibbons,
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

THE KING OF DAHOMEY.

Wrlttng from Lagos on the 9th of June, the correspondent
of the Manchester Guardian says :

"One of the victims of the last raid upon Abbeokuta
by Dahomey has made his escape and come to Lagos.
He says the King has made a clumsy imitation of a
ship in wood, with chains and anchor, which is placed
on a mound, and is the great fetish by which it is hoped
the Commodore's ships will go aground and be
dragged on shore by the victorious Dahomians. The
other chief object of his prayers is that he may
not be taken unawares. Many are the human
sacrifices that are taking place to make the fetish good.
This poor fellow who escaped says there were some
800 captured from the country districts, and they were
all paraded before the King. The head fetish man
administered to each a drink, and it was according to
the attitude assumed by each after his drink that his
fate was decided—whether to be sold as a slave, or be
put to death. His fate was slavery, but be has
managed to escape. According to the latest news the
Spiteful, Captain Paulet, and two other gunboats were
at Whydah, with the French frigate Diament, and it
was said that they were all going to Jellah Koffee to
await further instructions. Commodore Hewitt is at
he Cape."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

• ONSULT A LONDON PHYSICIAN BY LETTBR

WITHOUT FEE.
PR. H. SMITH, the Eminent Specialist fo
the cnre of all debilitating and contagions diseases
vii for the benefit of country patients who cannot consult
him personally, on receiving description of there case,send
li is opinion, with advice and directions for the most specess
restoration to health and vigour.
Address, Dr. H. SMITH A Barton Crescent, London, W.O

PICTURES FRAMED
From the Cheapest and Best Mouldings.

A NEW SELECTION OF PATTERNS,
Best English Gold Work.
OXFORD FRAMES, IN OAK
Plain, Stained, or Polished, from 4d. each.
OLEOGRAPHS, CHROMOS,
Colored and Plain Pictures.
SCRAPS AND CUT-OUT RELIEFS.

ARCHER C LARKE,

TEE OXFORD FRAMING DEPOT,

71, HIGH STREET, STOURBRIDGE.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The weeklj meeting of this board was held
yeeterday. Mr. Granger in the chair. There
were present ;—Messrs. H. Billingham Rhodes,
Guest, Kelly, Fiddian, Brooks, Plant, Wood,
Wright, Cole, Weston, and Forrest. Admitted
into the house 8; discharged 5 ; born 1 ; dead
1; remaining 311; corresponding week last year
290. Out-door relief, Kingswinford district
£22 8s 0; Stourbridge district £l4 lOs 61;
Halesowen district, Xl6 18 2d; non-resident
£1 Os 2d; total £54 6s lOid ; against £55 4s
9cl..last year.
_ _

The death rate for Worcestershire 16 per
1,000; and Staffordshire 13 per 1,000.
The attention of the authorities was called to
the scarcity of water at Halesowen, and 111 r. E.
B. Martin was instructed to examine and report
thereon

ALLEGED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.—At the
Staffordshire Summer Assizes, on Wednesday, be-
fore Mr. Justice Grove, Thomas Hall (16),
moulder, John Street, Wordsley, was indicted for
assaulting Henry Davis, an engineer employed at
Stourbridge, and stealing from his person a watch
and chain. Mr. C. Smith appeared for the prose-
cution, and Mr. Darling for the defence.—lt was
alleged that on the night of the 2nd July the
prosecutor and a friend were taking home a
drunken man, that after they had proceeded some
distance they were joined by the prisoner and
some of his friends, that directly afterwards the
prisoner snatched the prosecutor's watch from his
pocket and decamped, followed by the prosecutor,
but the prisoner got away.—The defence was that,
so far as the prisoner was concerned, it was a case
of mistaken identity.—The jury found the prisoner
not guilty, and he was discharged.
DRUNKENNESS.—..At the Police Court, yesterday,
before Colonel Fletcher and Mr. F. Evers, William
Bell was charged with being drunk and disorderly
at the Railway Station on the night of the, 12th
inst, and further charged with getting out of a
train while in motion on the same date.—Samuel
Carr, foreman, said he saw defendant at the sta-
tion on the night in question. He was drunk and
disorderly, and got out of the train while in motion
and knocked witness down. Defendant pleaded
guilty.—Fined 5s and costs fos each offence.—Jas.
Farmer was charged with being drunk and disor-
derly at the Lye,;on the:Bth inst.—Police-constable
Paynter proved the case.—Fined 5s wnd costs.
DAMAGING MOWING GEASS.—Richard Hill was
charged with wilfully damaging a quantity of
mowing grass, the property of Mr. Matthews.—
Defendant pleaded guilty and the case was with-
drawu on payment of costs.
ASSAULT CASE.—John Richards, a man residing
at Wollaston, was charged with assaulting Samuel
We stley Davies a boy on the 3Ath ult.—Mr. Collis ap-
peared for complainant, and Mr. Perry defended.
—Defendant pleaded guilty. Mr. Collis said it
would be necessary to prove the nature of the as-
sault. Emily Johnson, servant to Mr. Weston,
said she saw defendant run after complainant and
strike him six or seven times with a strap. The
defence was that complainant first struck his
daughter.—The Beach ordered defendant to pay
costs, 15s.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.

In the Sheriffs' Court (befote- Mr. Under-Sheriff Burchell,
and a Special Jury), the cause of "Thomas v. The Rev. John
Rowlands, has been heard.

This was an action in the Exchequer Division by
Amelia Thomas for breach of promise of marriage
against the Rev. John Rowlands, rector of Hope,
Flintshire, in Wales. The breach was admitted, and
the only question was the amount to be awarded. The
damages were laid at £l,OOO.

were
oMr
7hnet ypr i
nQti.ffC;. ,
Mr.l‘ifor. od
yE n gelpi srht s
taerdr i6t ohne
The plaintiff was the principal .witne
eoret
thaelsodefceanlldeadn,
ta. ndsne
defendant, who was not in attendance. r
evidence
lcler-
w hs mothergiven
n do
nb brother er
partw
written letters on both sides were read, couched in
affectionale terms and religions sentiments. The
plaintiff, who is now 23, and the defendant 38, had been
long acluainted. He was vicar of a place in Wales
called Idwleh-y-Ciban, Montgomeryshire, where the
plaintiff was Sunday school teacher, her father being
the clerk and sexton of the parish. She afterwards be-
came defendant's housekeeper, and by his assistance
qualified and became the schoolmistreess of the
National School, and the Government grant made
it worth between £7O and £BO. The defendant's
family knew nothing of the engagement for some time,
and it was postponed until another living wal obtained.
Subsequently be was presented to the Rectory of
Hope, in Flintshire, which he told her was worth from
£4OO to £5OO a year, and would reach £6OO. Pre-
parations were made for the wedding, but the
defendant's father, who was also a clergyman in
Wales, strongly opposed it, and it was broken off,
after the defendant had declared that nothing onearth
should prevent the Union. Letters afterwards passed
on b#h sides, 4nd the patties seemed still to be de-
yotedly
.attached to each other. It was stated that
the &feudal:o'e father, who was in court, had made an
offer Of £3OO, aid,that, his wife was a lady of property.
OA the part of the plaintiff, it was urged that she bad
lost a good position in society,,for which she was well
qualified, in not becoming a clergyman's wife, and, on
the other side; in mitigation of damages, it was stated
that, although she would have graced the position, it
as to be borne in mind thot she aatleMtreee qta
.ational School while he was rector of a parish where
the expenses were considerable, and it was begged that

ilrel
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

THE DEPRECIATION OF SILVER.

The rrport of the Select Committee on the Deprecia-
tion of Silver, prepared by Mr. Goechen, the chairman,
has just been issued. It occupies fifty-one pages. The
Committee do not make any recommendations with
regard to legislation, and they consider that "in view
of the many uncertain elements to which they have
pointed, and which necessarily enter into every calcu-
lation as to the future, they are not authorized to offer
any further opinion a 9 to the probable course of the
silver market, beyond indicating, as they have endea-
voured to do, the various circumstances which have to
be taken into account." The Committee are of opinion
that the evidence taken conclusively shows that the
fall in the price of silver is due to the following
causes :

(1.) To the discovery of new silver mines of great Nichness
in the State of Nevada.

(2) To the introduction of a gold currency into German.),
in place of the previous silver currency. This operation
commenced at the end of 1871.
(3.) To the decreased demand for silver for export to
India.
It should be added—
(4.) That the Scanalnavian Governments have also substi-
tuted gold for silver in their currencies.
(6) That the Latin Union, comprising France, Belgium,
Switzerland, Italy, and Greece, have since 1874 limited the
amount of silver to be coined yearly in the Mints of each
member of the union, suspending the privilege formerly ac•
corded to all holders of silver bullion, of claiming to have
that bullion turned into coin without restriction.

(6.) That liolland has also passed a temporary At pro-
hibiting, except on account of the Government, the coining
of silver, and authorizing the coining of gold.
With regard to India and the East, the Committee
say :-
- - -

So much must depend upon the prosperity of the popula
tious, on the abundance of the crops, in fact, on their powers
of production, that it is impossible to make any forecast
and, as regards actual facts, no more can be stated than that,
on the one hand, they have always possessed a very large
power ot absorbing bullion; while, on the other, that power
has been diminished by the growth of the sums annually
payable by India to the Home Government. The only facts
in any calculation as to the future whtzh are certain, and
appear to be permanent, are the increased total production
of silver, and the tffect caused by the necessity of the II:Alan
Government to draw annually for a heavy amount. Both are
adverse to the future value of silver, as far as they go; but
they may be partially counterbalanced by changes in the
trade with the East.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

POTATOES.

The supplies of potatoes on sale have been very limited. •
Trade was steady, and the following were the quotations
rellised :—Essex Shaws, 200 s. to 2405. ; kidneys, 2205. to 2605,
Regents, 2405. to 2505. per ton.
TALLOW,
Town Tallow, per cwt. 49 6 I Rough Stuff, per CW4. 14 9
Rough Fat, per Kb!. 1 Si I Greaves 16 0
PO
Melted Stuff, per cwt. 29 0 I Good Dregs „ 6 0
Yellow Russian, new .... 46s Od. per cwt.
Ditto atto old .... Os. Oil.
Australian Mutton Tallow 41s. Oil.
Ditto Beef Ditto 40s. Oil. „
PROVISION.
LONDON, Monday, July 10.—Toe arrivals last week from
Ireland were 237 firkins Butter and 3,348 bales Bacon, and
from foreign ports 29,812 packages Butter and 1,900 bales and,
252 boxes Bacon With good supplies of foreign Butter there '
was little alteration to notice in the price of Normandvs and, .
Brittanys during the week. A good business transacted in
favourite brands. Best Dutch advanced to 1085 to 112 a. The •
Bacon market ruled steady for finest Irish without change in
value. At the close cf the week finest fresh Hambro' advanced
about 4s per cwt., but stale parcels were sold at very
Irregular rates.
Butter, per cwt. : s. a. Cheese, per cwt. : E.
Dorset
Friesland lO6 116 Dble. Gloucester 84 74
Jer say ...... 96 104 Cheddar 74 80 .
Fresh, per doz. 14 16 American... ..... 46 54
Bacon, per cwt. : Hams: York
Wiltshire ..... . 82 0 Cumberland
Irish, green, f.o.b. 78 82 Irish

4
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

STOURBRIDGE.

lit Innings. 2nd Innings.
E. Oakes, e Rodgers,•b Hawley 0 c Hawke, b
Harris .... 20
Fothergell, b Harris •...
J. Penn, c Holland, b Hawley 11 lb w, b Harris 17
W. Green, c and b Hawley 0 not out .. 0
P. Foley, c and b Hawley 6 b Platte .. 1
A. J. Otter, c Hawley, b Harris 8 b Platte .. 0
J. W. Parkes, b Harris

Hawke .... 8
W. 8. Davis, c Hawke, b Hawley 7 c Hughes, b
Rawlin .... 0
E. Clifton, c Oates, b Harris 4 c Corbett, b
__

Harris .... 3
IL Dean, b Harris
C. Leeson, e Hughes, b Harris 1
_absent
_

K. Clifton, not out
T. Lowe, b Rawlin ..

Rawlin .... 0
W. J. Ingold, c Harris, b Rawlin 2 b Platte .. 1
Extras ...... 8 Extras .... 2

GREASBORO' FITZWILLIA3I.
Ist Innings. 2nd Innings.
Corbitt, run out ..... ....... 6 not out .. 5
Harris, b E. Clifton
Hawke, b Penn ..
Holland, b E. Oakes ...... 12
Tamar, b Penn
Oates, 1 b w, b E. Oakes
Rawlin, b Penn
Hawley, o Oakes, b E. Clifton 10
Plaits, o Oakes. b E. Clifton 3
Rodgers, c E. Clifton b Ingold 3
Hughes, not out
Extras

WOLLASTON V. BALL'S UNITID.—This match was
played at Wollaston on Saturday last, and after a most
exciting game resulted in favour of the home team.
The bowling and fielding of each side were excellent,
which accounts for the low scores. The following Is the
score :

HALL'S 'UNITED.

G. Gilbert, c and b Edge .... 0
G. Williams, b Hodgkinson
J. Matthews, c Sewell, b Hodgkinson 6
G. Greenwav, b Edge
T. Parrock, c Sewell, b Edge
T. Greenw ay, c Edge, b Hodgkinson 2
H. F arrock, b Edge .. 0
j. Jenkins, b Edge
C. Newton, c Hodgkinsoni b Edge 5
J. Willcox, c Hodgkinson, b Edge 0
W. Draper, not out ... .
Extras
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

BELBSOUGHTOIT.

lit Innings. 9ud Innings.
A. W. Beat, c and b Parkins 8
H. F. Williams, b Perkins 3 b Perkins .. 0
T. Hobbes, c Palmer. le Blunt 3 b Perkins .. le
J. L. Hobbes, b Blunt l6 not out .... 15
C. Lilley, c Palmer, b Blunt 1 b Broomfield.. 0
H. Smith. b Blunt 0 run out .... 2
W. H. Brown, b Perkins 1
H. G. Goodyear,. J. Hughes
b Blant
C. Crowe, run out
H. Millward, b Perkins
J. Boset, not out .. 1
Extras

KIDDERMINSTER TOWN MILLS.
A. J. Shiliitoe, c Crowe, bJ. Hobbes 9
J. Coates, b Williams ...... 0
H. Rolling., a Hobbes, b Williams 9
T. Blunt, not out
J. Darkek, b Williams
J. Hughes, c Goodyear, b Williams 1
W. Hughes, c Hobbes. b Williams 19
H. Hill, b J. Hobbes ' 0
B. Palmer. c Williams, b Crowe 0
W. Broomfield, b Williams
H. Perkins, aJ. Hobbes, b Williams 5
Extras

TIVIDALE v. UPPER GORNAL.—This match WAS played
on Saturday last, and resulted in a very easy victory for
the home team. For Tividale W. Jackson played an
excellent innings. The following is the score :

TIVIDALE.
C. E. Davies, c Brettell, bJ. Foster 6
W. Kensey, b J. Brettell 4
A. Fereday, c Nayler, b J. Brettell 0
J. Danko, c Jeavons, b J. Foster 27
F. A. Jones, c Brettell, bJ. Foster 4
W. Jackson, c Nayler, b J. Foster 101
S. Dando, b J. Foster 24
J. Franks, b J. Brettell ll
G. Butler, b J. Bratsll 3
B. Piddoa, e Jeavons, b 3. Foster 11
C. E. Bradley, net out 6
Extras
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

DUDLEY.

IMPORTANT EXCISE PROSECUTION.-At the Police
Court on Nfonday, before the Mayor (Mr. Stokes), Alder-
man Wilkinson, Messrs. Fisher and Aston, Richard
Idainlv aring, landlord of the Junction Inn, Netherton
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

AMERICAN HUMOUR.

"A true American," says a down-east paper, "is
too proud to beg, and too honest to steal; he gets trusted."
A Western genius has invented a machine for
making artificial foliage. He might liava called it "a patent
leav-er."
A little boy in New York played hanging "to the
very life," and cc nld not be resuscitattd.
A Tennevee candid Ate Avar.t4 the support of thom
"who fought on both sides during the war."
A Baltimore workman lighted a match to discover a
leak in a go-meter. He discovered it, but will never com-
municate the intelligence."
A man has storted a paper in the State of Maine, to
be issued "-occasionally," which is a great deal oftener, the
editor says, than he shall be able to get his pay for it.
Before hanging a man in Louhiana they let the
interviewing reporters have a run on him for two or three
weEks, and then he is not only willing, but anxious to be
hung.
A Wisconsin editor illustrates the prevailing extra-
vagance of "peopl- now-a-days by calling attention to the
costly baby carrit.,....ts now in use, while, when he was a baby,
they hauled him y she hair of his head.
At the marriAge of an Albany widower one of the
servants was asked if his master would take a bridal tour.
" Dunno, sah," replied the servant, "when old missus was
alive he took a poker to her—dunno ii he'll take a bridal to
the new one or not."
His loving wife had importuned him to take her to
the Centennial, "It will be so crowded that you will have no
pleasur tin the trip.'' "But, George," she replied, half re-
gretfully, "I should so like to go and see a Centennial, just
to say I had seen one, you know." "Well, never mind, my
darling," he replied, "don't fret, and when the next one
comes round I'll take you there, and we'll spend a week.
And we'll take your mother, too." "Oh, George," she cried,
In a rain of happy tears, "you are so kind. We won't go
this year."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

_ _YHA STOURBBIDGE OBSERVER.
ocat an Pistrict Pius.

SCHOOL BOARD.

An adjourned meeting of this Board was held
on Tuesday.

Major "Ikralker in the chair.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Education Department forwarded the draft
memorandum of arrangement as to transfer of St.
Thomas's Schools, with some slight alterations in
form.
The drafts had also been forwarded to the
National Society, and the secretary wrote on July
7 that, in returning tho drafts of agreement, he
was obliged to inform the Board that the society
saw no reason for altering the judgmont expressed
in the secretary's previous letter. The proposed
agreement would, in the opinion of the society,
be an improper and unnecessary violation of the
trusts on which the school was held. The letter
went on to repeat various objections contained in
the previous letter.
The draft as altered by the Department, was
approved, and the Clerk was instructed to repeat
to the Department, with respect to the letter of
the National Society, the views expressed by the
Board with respect to the previous letter of the
society.
The Clerk remarked that the consent of the
society was not necesary to the transfer, though
. . .

it was necessnry to sibmit to them the prop—er
terms of the transfer, and to lay their observations
before the Department.
The bye-laws afterwards came before the Board
and several alterations, suggested by the Depart-
ment in the bye-laws, were accepted with some
slight change.
There was no other business.

was charged with having sugar "not being for the
necessary use of his family, upon nnentered premises."
Mr. Tilsley (London) appeared for the Crown, and Mr.
E. M. Warmington defended.—Mr. Brain, Supervisor of
Excise, said that a lcwt. bag of sugar was found in a
shed upon defendant's premises. The initials "R. M."
were upon the bag, which was placed in a hamper
addressed to defendant.—For the defence it was stated
that Mr. Mainwaring was an agent for the Patent Grape
Sugar Company, and that the bag had been placed
upon his licensed premises without his knowledge or con-
sent by a traveller named Duffy.—After a long consulta-
tion, the Mayor said the Bench had decided by a
majority to cpnvict, and to fine defendant in the
mitigated penalty of £5O, with a recommendation that
it be further reduced to £25.

the present owner, intends to throw open the whole of
these beautiful grounds on the occasion. Hitherto
only a portion of them have been available to the
public. Should the weather prove favourable, no doubt
a great number will take advantage of this kind liberality.
The Leasowes can be easily reached from Birmingham
from Rowley Station on the Stourbridge Extension
Railway, and omnibusses will no doubt also run as
usual.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

HAY.

WIIIIIECHAPEL, Saturday, July B.—A rather short supply - -
f hay and straw on sale. Trade was net over brisk, yet
prices are steady, and best clovers were rather dearer. Prime •
Clover, 1005. to 1524, ; interior, 855, to 955. Prime Meadow
bsy, Os. to 5351.; inferior, 15151. to Ms. Straw, 86s. to 451.
per load.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-15

A DELIBERATE SUICIDE.

Dr. Hardwicke, coroner for Central Middlesex, held
an inquest, on Friday in last week, at the "Railway"
Hotel, Finchley, on the body of a well-dreszed man of
60, at present unknown, who was seen deliberately to
place himself in front of a train on the Edgware line of
the Great Northern Railway, on the previous Tuesday.
Mr. Wontner attended to watch the proceedings en
the part of the Great Northern Railway Company.
MUM Ellen Wilson deposed that on Tuesday afternoon,
about half-past four, she was in the lane adjoining the
Finchley Station, when she saw an elderly gentleman
reading a book and occasionally looking over on to the
railway. On reaching the wicket gate that leads
to the railway he entered, and she then saw him
kneel down close to the down line as if in
the act of prayer. While doing this a North Hendon
train came up and passed by. Shortly after the Edge-
ware down train appeared approaching, on which
deceased got up from his. knees, and, having looked in
the direction of the coming train, deliberately entered
the "four foot:' on which it was running, and walked
forward with his back to the train, which although the
driver of the engine sounded his whistle and put on his
brakes, was upon him. She saw the body dashed for-
tiard by the engine, and after saw it lying upon the
ground.i. She called to a man, who ran to the station
and got assistance, and the body was removed there.
She had not the slightest doubt—indeed, she was con-
vinced, it was the deceased's own act.
Daniel Larter, a police-sergeant, said he was called
and helped to remove the body to the railway station.
The head was much shattered and the brains pro-
truded, and deceased was quite dead. He was most
respectably attired in black and several religious books
were found on his person, one being a Spanish Teata-
ment and a hymn-book belonging to Tolmers- square
Congregational Church, Hampstead-road. There was
no money in his pockets or any papers, but there was a
photograph of himself, evidently taken some four or
five years ago. Witness had been to London and seen
the Rev. Arthur Hall, the min'ster of Tolmere square
Church, Mr. Dash, the hatter of Tottenham-court-road,
Mr. Ross, of Hampstead. road, and others, but they
did not recognize deceased.

The jury returned a verdict, "That the deceased
destroyed himself while in an unsound state of mind."

EPITOME OF NEWS.