biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

wished to bring its claims prominently before the pub.
lie, and with that view asked the Prince and Princess
of Wales to pay a visit to the place. They consented
to do so, -and a day was appointed for the purpose. As
it turned out, the Prince arrived from Paris only at
seven o'clock that morning, and the hospital autho-
rities feared that after having travelled all night he
would be unable to keep his engagement. On sending
to Marlborough House to ascertain the pleasure of the
Prince, they were, however, informed that his Royal
Highness would be at the hospital at the specified time,
accompanied by the Princess, and at the institution they
accordingly were, They walked through the principal
words—a journey which occupied them a full
hour, and the publicity given to the Royal inspection
resulted in a very considerable increase to the funds of
a deserving organization, which does an immense
amount of good work in a very poor district. The
Prince and Princess have lately spent some time in
Danmark; and no one who knows anything of the way
in which they perform their duties in London will be
disposed to grudge them their well-earned holiday.

The School Board for London has re assembled
after its autumnal recess, and it has now nearly
completed the third triennial term of its exist-
ence. Formed in accordance with the provisions
of the Act of 1870, the first elections took place
on the 29th November in that year, the subse-
quent elections having been in November, 1873,
and November, 1876. In a few weeks therefore
the members of the Board will again appeal to their
constituents, the whole body being dissolved, and an
entirely new Board chosen. It will be remarked that
in arranging for this mode of renewal, the framers of
the statute did not follow the precedent of the Muni-
cipal Corporations' Reform Act, which provided that
one-third of the Town Councils should be elected once
in every year, while the School Boards are entirely re-
newed once in every three years. Probably the School
Board principle is the bettcr; municipal contests
are annual, hat it is perhaps better for many reasons
that School Board elections should be triennial.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

A SHOWMAN KILLED BY A BOA-
CONSTRICTOR.

One of the most intrepid wild-beast tamers in
Europe, Karolyi, a Magyar of colossal stature and ex-
traordinary physical strength, has recently fallen a
victim to a dread contingency of his perilous profes-
sion (says the correspondent of the Daily TeTegraph).
He was performing, before a crowded audience in
Madrid the other day, one of his most sensational
feats, which consisted in allowing a hugeb oa-constrictor,
over twenty feet in length, to enfold his body in its
tremendous coils, when suddenly a piercing cry
escaped him, which was greeted by the public with a
round of applause, under the supposition that its utter- .
ance constituted a part of the performance. It proved,
however, to be the outcome of a strong man's death-
agony. The gigantic snake had tightened its coils, and
crushed poor Sarolyi's life out of him with one terrific
squeeze. As his head fell back, and his eyes became '4
fixed in a glassy stare, the plaudits died away, and
were succeeded by the stillness of utter consternation.
The snake and its lifeless victim swayed for a second
or two of inexpressible horror, and then toppled over
on the boards of the stage; but the boa did not in the
least relax his grip upon the corpse, which remained
for more than an hour imprisoned in its hideous
thraldom, nobody daring to approach the lithe mon-
ster, of whose powers such appalling proof had been
given. At length it occurred to one of Karolyi's
attendants to place a bowl of milk in a cage within
sight of the mighty serpent, which slowly unwound
itself from the dead body and glided into its den,
Irresistibly tempted thereto by its favourite dainty. A
postmortem examination of the unfortunate athlete's
remains discovered no fewer than eighty-seven frac-
tures of his bones, affected by the constriction of the
serpent's coils. His death must have been almost in-
stantaneous, as the spine was disarticulated in several
places,
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

CONCERTS FOR THE PEOPLE;

Allinms.eettoincgoncsidr he p
on
db r the Mayor, Alderman
Co priety of providing cheap
concerts for the people was held at Birmingham on
eve convened
Friday in last week. There was a large attendance,
including many ladies.
The Mayor, who presided, explained the scope and
objects of the movement. Experience had shown
high-class music would attract and interest popular
audiences, and there was reason to believe that if the
prices of admission could be arranged on a scale to
bring them within the reach of the artisan classes large
number of persons who were now debarred from at-
tending really good concerts would be glad to avail
themselves of the opportunity afforded them_ The
existing musical agencies catered for a constituency not
exceeding at the most 50,000 or 60,000 people out of a
total of 500,000. The main idea of the scheme was
cheap concerts in the Town-hall to begin with, the
prices being as low as possible. He had heard from
men of sound judgment that good concerts could be
made to pay if the charges were no higher than 3d,,
2d., and I.d. The concerts, however, must be period-
ical, every week or every night if possible, so as to
create a hsbit with the people; and therefore, starting
with the Town hall, the movement might extend to
other public buildings, including the Board schools.
He contended that the movement would greatly further
the teaching of music, and would not be without effect
in diminishing crime and drunkenness. Reformation
of the people's habits could be better effected by sub-
stituting better opportunities than by stern oppression.
A resolution approving the Mayor's suggestions was
adopted, and a committee formed for carrying out the
scheme.

OLD STYLE OF PRINTING WOOD CUTS.—AII the
earliest woodcuts, probably until the invention of
printing, were "taken off" by laying paper on the
inked woodblock, and rubbing the back of it gently,
as wood-engravers do to this day in "taking off" their
trial proofs.• Each leaf was printed on one side only,
and, to make a number of them into a block-book, the
backs of the leaves were often pasted together.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

THE DEPARTURE OF MR. GOUGH.

In London, on Monday night, a great many of the
English leaders in the temperance movement assem-
bled at the residence of Dr. Richardson, the president
of the British Medical Temperance Association, to
share in the parting greetings bestowed upon Mr.
Gough, who leaves England on Saturday for his
home in the United States. Letters, termed by
Dr. Richardson as "historical," had been received
from Cardinal Manning, Lord and Lady Cairns,
the Earl and Countess of Aberdeen, the Dowager
Duchess of Manchester, Sir Wilfrid Lawson,
M. P., Mr. Morley, M. P., Canon Farrar, Principal and
Mrs. Mac Call, the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Clifford,
Admiral Sir Henry Hall, and others. Among the
large party present were Dr. Norman Kerr, the Rev.
Dr. Maguire, the Rev. J. H. Potter, clerical secretary
of the Church of England Temperance Association,
Mr. R. Rae, secretary of the National Temperance
League, Mr. N. Barnaby, C.B. (Director of Naval Con-
struction), Mr. W. Noble, Captain Sheffield, Dr.
Sealiff, Mrs. George Cruikshank, and Mr. and Mrs. S.
C. Hall.
Shortly before ten o'clock Dr. Richardson, addressing
the guest of the evening, said he had during the last
quarter of century received many guests in that
house; but no one with more pleasure than Mr.
Gough. A mayor of a leading town, after hearing
Mr. Gough, said that if the temperance orator had
become an actor, he would have beaten all actors;
an eminent divine had said that Mr. Gough's place
was in the pulpit ; while a third critic had said that
if he had need 01 an advocate he could place his
reliance upon "3. B. Gough to influence a jury."
Mr. Gough possessed, unquestionably, in a superlative
degree, the gift of the power of speech; but they were
not there to thank him for that natural gift, but for
th-! admirable use to which he had put it. Mr. Gough
was now going home, and he carried with him the
good wishes of all his English friends. In saying
farewell to him there was no sorrow, for they knew he
was going to a sphere of usefulness elsewhere, and
they hoped to see him again.
Mr. Gough, in replying, said that he and his wife
should always remember with the deepest gratitude
the pleasure they had received that night in meeting so
many friends of themselves and of the cause they ad-
vocated. There was no praise due to him for the work
he did, for he felt compelled to do it. He thanked
them on behalf of himself and his wife for the kindness
they had received during the last fifteen months. He
meant, if it could possibly be accomplished, to come
back in a short time, for he felt that there was plenty
for him to do in Great Britain.

Dr. Richardson then handed Mrs. Gough the letters
which had been received, and presented Mr. Gough
with a picture of his birthplace at Sandgate, Kent.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND.

In London, on Monday night, a crowded meeting
was held in the Gospel Hall, Walworth•road, to in-
augurate the first of a number of clubs that are being
formed by Captain Jackson Barry, now on a visit to
his motber country after an absence and experience in
the colonies of fifty years. Captain Barry presided
at the meeting, and delive:ed an address, in which
he exhibited in strong contrast the circumstances of
working men at home and in New Zealand in
favour of the latter. His address included graphic
descriptions of his personal adventures, and a
glowing account of the rich resources of the
colonies, He stated that he intended to proceed
on a lecturing tour throughout the country, and had
reason to believe that he would be able to form success-
ful clul s in all the principle centres of population in
the United Kingdom, and thereby render valuable
service alike to tho mother country and the colonies.
Members of the clubs will have their passage paid as
the subscriptions from time to time admit of, selection
being by ballot.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

THE CHAIN TRADE.

•
A new difficulty has arisen in connection-
with the strike in the chain trade. Whilst
the out-door hands have been on strike the
.men working at large factories have been
making some chain of a size usually confined
to the " out-door " men. In consequence
the factory men have now joined the " out-
door " men in the strike pending in the Old
Hill district, and on Wednesday a mass
meeting of the two classes of workmen was
held at Cradley Heath to consider the advis-
ability of amalgamation by means of forming
a union embracing both the factory men and
the " out-door " hands, it being considered
that by this means difficulties in the trade
might he to a great extent obviated..
Mr. W. Breakwell presided, and urged the
advisability of the formation of committees
of each class of operatives, to confer as to '
the basis of the proposed union. lie con-
sidered that amalgamation was the best
thing for the operatives.
It was urged by Mr. Forrest that there
should be an understanding that the factory
men did not interfere with the interests of
the out-door men by making the same-sized
chain as was made by the latter.
It was decided to take steps to form the
union, and upon the vote being taken, all
present expressed determination not to work
excepting at the 4s list.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

INTERESTING JOTTINGS ABOUT
COEHIN CHINA.

Consul Tremlett, reporting to our Foreign Office on
the trade of Saigon and Cochin China in 1878, gives
an account of the government of this French colony,
prefacing his statement with a list of the 14 governors
who have ruled the colony in the 20 years which
have elapsed since the conquest. The Governor is
assisted by a Privy Council and a central bureau of
administration for internal affairs, and there are also
50 Annamite preets and sous•pr6lets distributed
throughout the country. Cultivated State land, or
land bearing trees in full growth, can only be had by
public sale, and the auction is by candle, the dying
out of three lights before a higher bid is made settling
.the matter; uncultivated land is valued at 10f. per
hectare (2i acres), and all except free grants pay a
registration fee of 2 per cent.
The military force is some 3,000, and the native
troops number about 4,000, and the police about 250,
this last force consisting mainly of Asiatics of all
nationalities, Chinese excepted. The city of Saigon is
said tc contain 5,000 inhabitants. In the interior
there are, according to the last statisice, 1,571,289 per-
sons, of whom very few indeed are Earopeans,
1.400,683 are Annamese ; there are some Cambodians,
Malays, and Hindostanees. and 46,339 Chinese, but it
is stated that there are larger numbers of Chinese who
are not included.

Distributed throughout the colony, under the au-
thority of a Bishop, are some 60 European and 25
native priests, besides 75 Sisters of St. Paul de
Chartres+, who render invaluable service in various
capacities.
The revenue of the colony has been recently in-
creased by an export duty on rica, onasion being
taken on the other hand, to reduce the land•tax very
considerably. A heavy annual payment is made to
the Home Government.

The Consul gives some account of the island of Phu-
guoc, having been several times called upon for infor-
mation concerning it. As there is the possibility of its
turning out to be very valuable, the Government take
precautions that it shall not be uselessly parcelled out.
Land is granted only to those who intend to cultivate
it. The price fixed is 10f. per hectare. No taxes are
levied for the first six years. The Government reserve
the right to all minerals. The sea shore, to 275 ft.
above high-water mark, is also reserved, and no ob.
jection can be made to the erection of fortifications or
to the making of roads upon or through any concession.
In 1874 a mining company was granted gratuitously a
right to make researches in the island for three years,
and in case of success to have the sole right of mining
for a term of nine years; but the coal found proved
of little value, and the company did not succeed in
finding anything else. Some pepper and coffee planta-
tions were started, but suffered from want of labour
and general mismanagement.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

ROWLEY REGIS ASSOCIATION FOR THE
PROSECUTION OF FELONS.

The annual dinner in connection with the above
association. was held at the Crown Inn, Old Hill, on
Tuesday last. Upwards of 40 members sat down to
an excellent dinner provided by Host Andrews
The chair was occupied by Mr. Edward Lowe and
the viee-ehair by Mr, J. Perry. The chairman said
no doubt they weuld like to hear something of the
financial position of the society. Last year they had
a balance in hand of £25 25 4d, and this year the
bslance was £26 A4B Bd. After all the accounts
were p,:id they should have £l5 15 sd, and that did
not include the subscriptions of the day, so that if
CI, sixty-eight members had all paid, as they should
have dune, they should have a very handsome
balance. This year thq had 600 large bills printed
and 550 had been posted. During the year they.
had six prosecutions and had paid £6 12s Od for re-
wards and expenses. Should any member present .
have any claim against them or anything to say for
the benefit of the association he should be p'eased to
hear them, The following were) elected as a com-
mittee for the ensuing year !—Mes rs. Edward Lowe,
.I)Ln. Hill, Jelin Boilstoue, William Whitehouse,
WrigA, Joseph Woodall, kiehard Green,
Sian Hodgetts, Joseph Guest, Richard Townley,
and Jeseeh Perry. The ordinary business bein4
concluded, the Chairman proposed the health of the
Queen. It was usual at meetings like that to propose
the toast, and as they were all loyal subjects they
would heartily drink the health of the Queen. The
next toast was "The Prince and Princess of Wales,
and the rest of the Royal Famdy," which was fpl-
lowed by " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," which
Mr. Wright respaded to The Vice-chairman pro-
posed "The Bishops and Clergy." The healths of
he I.:c.d. the e,t airman, and the vice-
ca I,ahel p opa•-•.-d cud duly responded to,
aaa ..e g W.:5 32 az

- -HALEsOWkN;---
DRox AND DuloaDalizi-At thy I' Qlice CQuii
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

"THE ALCOHOL QUESTION.

The Daily Telegraph ebserves, in a leader :—" No
Social Science Congrese would be complete without
a discussion on alcohol and alcoholism; and it is
satisfactory to find that the vexed question has been
once more vigorously grappled with in a paper pre-
pared by Mr. James Whyte, of Manchester, but
read by Dr. Hardwicke, the Middlesex Coroner.
Oar old familiar friend, the ounce of alcohol per
diem, again made its appearance. Mr. Whyte held
that an ounce and a half of spirit was the outside
quantity which could be taken in the course of
twenty-four hours by a healthy man without produc-
ing poisonous effects ; while the maximum which a
woman could imbibe with safety was three-quarters of
an ounce; but feebler people must take less, so that the
average dose all round might be calculated at one ounce.
Now, an ounce of alcohol per diens is the maximum
quantity which a tolerant doctor can be persuaded to
allow a patient who has been in the habit of hard
drinking, and whose relatives are afraid that, if he be
' brought down to the pump all at once,' he will
collapse. According to Mr. Whyte's calculations the
yearly consumption of alcohol per head of the popula-
tion is three and a quarter gallons—a most alarming
item of etatistics ; yet it is gratifying to learn that, out
of twenty-four millions of people in England, ten mil-
lions, reekoning abstainers and children, might be
classed as non-consumers of the fiery draught. The
average consumer, it is less pleasant to be informed, im-
bibed two ounces and a half a day—being an excess of
one ounce and a half over the maximum of toleration;
and there were inveterate topers, whose daily con-
sumption of brain and stomach destroying spirits rose
to seven, eight, and ten ounce?. But why not to
sixteen ounces as well? A pint is a pound all the
year round,' the proverb tells us, and a confirmed sot
would think nothing of swallowing a pint of alcohol in
the course of twenty-four hours."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

THE WESTERN PROVINCES OF
CANADA.

We (The Times) have received a letter from Mr, H.
H. Young, secretary to the Minnesota Board of
Immigration, with reference to some observations
recently made by Lord Beaconsfield at Aylesbury
concerning emigration from the United States to the
Western Provinces of Canada. The writer (who dates
from St. Paul, Minnesota, September 19) acknow-
ledges that there is an immense fertile region
embraced in Central British America; that it
has an eminently healthful climate, but little colder
than that of some of the Northern States, with
summers sufficiently lengthy for wheat, oats,
rye, barley, potatoes, cabbages, parsnips, carrots, and
all the ordinary garden vegetables to grow to enor-
mous size and full maturity; he is confident that
maize and several varieties of fruit may be grown there
successfully, and he believes that in the early future
that region will become the home of populous and
prosperous communities. But he denies that people from
the Western States are rushing thither; that the country
is, in any respect, more desirable than the unoccupied
territory of the States, or that the taxation is lighter.
He says that the people of the North. western States of
the 'Union are by no means jealous of the Western
Canadian Provinces. On the contrary, they desire
to see them settled, believing that such settlement
will contribute largely to their own prosperity. They
welcome any future rivalry, however formidabh, of
their neighbours in supplying the world with bread,
because they know that whatever may be lost in that
way will be more than compensated in other respects.
And al to any intention of sending the produce te
market vid Hudson Bay, or Thunder Bay and Lake
Superior, they feel no apprehension, because they are
satisfied that not a tenth of the increased carrying
trade which the settlement of the Western C seadian
Provinces will bring with it can be diverted from them.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

TH E GR A.ND

LONDON STAR COUPANY

POSITIVELY THE LIST WEEK,

COMMENCING MONDAY Next, OCTOBER 18th,

With additiouitl artiets.

THE WONDROUS YOUNG VALOUR
The Infant Flying Trapeze Wonler, only Sevon
Years of Age.
JOE PERRY

MB.

Negro Comedian, and Champion Pedebtal t). n:!cr t,l 4.1;e
World.

MISS NELLIE PHILLIPS,
Voca;:st, and t, kipping-rope D4ccer.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

LEWIS SIMMONS, Proprieter,
27. South John-itseet, Liverpool.

FARMERS not wishing to dispose of their
crops at the present low rate of prices can obtaiiit
cash advances from £lO to 4100 by ,qplytng to
FIRST FLOOR, 48, UNION PASBAtic..
lIAM. Money also advanced to respectable Losff•
holders, Cab Proprietors, Cow Keepers, Prof,a.,.•ti
Gentlemen and others, without any loan oflice roatine
apply as above.

,tiONEY ready for inn:CM:hate WllCiStment isivrAc
▪ V small BUMS not under £6O, on any descripttrai ot
eal or personal oecnrity no less than one year, lit a low
viz., 4 per neut. on perbonal, and per cant oa hew
rhaotledi or leasehold secarity. interert in ail eta ill payarlii
nalf-yearly,.and not in advance. Distance ne objeet.
• applic6tlons will be treated with strictest secrecy anti
.iespatch. Money obtsiusble on tile snorts.; notice. .N!;
cenamission.—Apply with luil pertiL,llars ma to nature r
ieeurity, amount required, and ;or vrliet pericd, to Wm-
taAst Financier, 9, Great ilusseU-street.
bondou. W.C.

yr R. GEORGE JOHNSON. 80, Colinore Bow, Bir
mingha i
ra, is prepared to make mmediate CASH
LDVANCES upon every description of B'r" T. T.

• 14:14 • CO.RNF ORD ,
(Late R. THOMSO.N,)
A I.J 0
LINEN AND WOOLLEN DRAPEL
GENTLEMEN'S CLOTHING
Made to Order, on the Shortest Notice.
STYLE AND FIT GUARANTEED.
LADIES' SHAWLS, DRESSES, kg.

itiAnd IiAOLSY 821iNST, 6.10141)31‘1464
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

A BISCUIT RACE.

Among the countless forms of walking and running
matches now in vogue, says the New York Times,
there is one which was a great favourite at sea in the
days of long voyages, and is still frequently t..) be met
with. Thirty pieces of ship-biscuits are laid along the
deck a yard apart, and the man who can pick them up
and bring them back to the starting point, one by one,
in the shortest time, wins the day. A very well-con-
tested " biscuit-lace " of this kind lately took place on
board a South Atlantic steamer, between two of the
second-class stewards. The first who started, a slim,
active young fellow of 23, was the favourite with the
majority, but some of the "knowing ones" shook
their heads at his commencing with the nearest pieces,
and thus leaving the hardest work to the last. He
made good time, however, though showing visible
signs of exhaustion towards the end; but his wary
opponent, knowing himself to be the weaker man,
flew at once to the far end of the line, thus making
each successive journey shorter than the last As the
race neared its close, the excitement became intense.
Many of the passengers shouted and gesticulated as
eagerly as the Ballots themselves; and the motley crowd
swaying to and fro in the lantern light (night having
already fallen), the shouts of encouragement from one
side and of outspoken ridicule from the other, the loud
and frequent appeals to the timekeeper and the flying
figure of the runner in his striped shirt and jaunty
white pantaloons, leaping, turning, and darting back-
ward and forward like a snake, made a very plan-
reßque scene, The second man proved the conqueror,
but only after a hard struggle, his time being 9 min.
15 sec. to his antagonist's 9 min. 25 see,
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

TRADESMENS ADDRESSES

WILLIAM GREEN,
54, HIGH STREET,
STOURBRIDGE.

DEER IN PAPER HANGINGS,

EXPERIENCED PATE R-HLNGERS EMPLOYED.

PAINTS CAREFULLY MIXED FOR USE.

VARNISHES FOR ALL PURPOSES,

WHITING, SIZE, AND DRY COLOURS.

OILS, TURPENTINE, AND

TEREBINE.

WHITE LEAD, and DRYERS.
SHEET LEAD, BRASS TAPS PIPES.

PUMPS, CLOSETS, BASINS,
AND TRAPS.

SHEET GLASS, GAS MOONS, AND
SHADES.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

AUTUMN SALMON FISHING.

The autnuan salmon anglers are experiencing im-
proved sport, and on many of the northern rivers
heavy captures, both as regards numbers and weight
of ish, have been made. The Stobhalli section of the
Tay has been very prolific. What. may be called the
capture of the season was made by Mr. R. B. Mars
-
ham, who one day landed a magnificent salmon of
461 b„ besides two others weighing respectively 22113.
and 201 b. Of the other captures made on this water
lately, the following may be mentioned :
Mrs. Troughton, took a salmon of 301 b. and a grilse
of 81b. ; Mr. C. Marsham, on the same day, two
salmon of 321 b. and 221 b., and two grilse.; Mr_
two o
Pauley, one salmon 271 b. and two grilse,
bib.; Mr. R. Glanville, four grilse, one 11011 r.;
71b. each,
on dand h
three
e grilse,
Lord
weighing
respectively
91b.
salmon,
81b., and 61b.; Mx. G. Field, five grilse, weighing

'

Cod, £4 12s. 6d. to £7 152. 6d. per score; crimped ditto,
Bs. 9d. to 17s. 6d. each ; trawl haddock, 10s. 61. to 12s. CI
per basket; bloaters, 3s. to 65. 6d. per lox; mackerel, 21. 6d
to ss. Od. per score ; lobsters, 95. to 335. per dozen ; crabs,
255. to 385. 6d. per kit ; fresh eels, Bd. to 9d. per lb.; turbot,
6s. 9d. to Bs. 9d. each ; blank soles, 2s. to 4s. .6d. per pair;
whiting, 81. 6d. to 125. per basket ; indllet, ss. to 85. CI per
score; smoked haddock, 204:_t0 40s. gel barrel; oysters, 64
to at. per dozeni
-
cpso"'
Wr's
Ik* • \
Als\

„
4c 1-!-'• 4%:”.
0111., OS, ..,20.11 •
0,10 40%
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itt
etev- ex%
.o‘l3 Nit
-03•1°41,1";.*
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

SIR ROWLAND HILL.

The Lord Mayor of London (Sir Charles Whetham) has
sent the following letter to The limes for publication :

Sir,—A. few weeks ago you did me the honour to
insert a letter in which, in compliance with many sug-
gestions which had been made to me, I intimated
my willingness to receive at the Mansion•house
subscriptions towards a fund for the provision
of some public and national memorial to the
late Sir Rowland Hill. I stated expressly
that I took this step to test the feeling on the
matter which, it was represented to me, existed.
I now regret to have to say that the response to
my appeal has been most unfavourable, the sub-
scriptions not having yet reached the sum of £lOO
in all, and that it is, consequently, my intention
to return the donations to the subscribers. It is
but right that I should state that, of the few
donors, one of the very first was Lord John
Manners, the Postmaster-General, who expressed
great interest in the movement. It is not for me
to suggest, even if I could, the reasons for this
failure, or to criticize the inaction of the public in
the roatter. I conceived it my duty, as Lord Mayor,
to give the public an opportunity to subscribe, if
they so desired, to a memorial of one to whom
many millions of people, and many nations indeed,
are indebted, and to whose remains the honour of
burial within the historic walls of Westminster Abbey
had just been accorded. In spite of the absence of a
formal memorial, Sir Rowland Hill's name will long
be affectionately cherished in the memories of Eng-
lishmen and will find a prominent place in the history
of English success.

91b., two of 81b. each, one nb., and one sth.;
Eastwood, a salmon of 19A1b., and a grilse of 71b.
The above captures were made in a single day's fish-
ing by the various rods. Several other iish have also
been landed, including a fine fish of 381 b. At some of
the other stations anglers have also done well. At
Benshill, Sir William Elliot took a salmon Of 301 b. On
the Earn the largest salmon landed there by an angler
since 1873 was taken the other day by Lord Camper-
' down's keeper. It was a fine fish of 421 b. On the
Aberdeenshire Dee a flue salmon of 441 b. has been
taken on the Kingussie water by Mr. Forteseue. On
the Dee and Don fishing has improved. From the
Tweed the accounts are not very satisfactory; fish
have been landed here and there, but on the whole
angling has been very poor.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

THE TELEPHONE IN GERMANY.

The Cologne Gazette states that by the help of the
telephone, 685 localities have recently been brought
into connexion with the telegraphic sritem of Germany.
The Siemens telephone is tbe particular form adopted,
and it is found that the distance to which despatches
can safely be sent by its help is 75 kilometres. The
Imperial Telegraph Office is, it is added, encouraging
experiments with a view to perfect the telephonic
apparatus, and hopes by its means, sooner or later, to
be able to send messages to a distance of from 200 to
500 miles. The Imperial telegraphs are allowed to be
made use of by properlpaccredited experimenters, and
the Imperial Department has promised pecuniary
rewards to such persons as shall succeed in extending
the efficiency of the telephone.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

THE VICTORIA CROSS.

The London Gazette of Tuesday contains a formal
announcement that the Queen has been graciously
pleased to signify her intention to confer the decora-
tion of the Victoria Cr( es upon Lieutenant Walter
Richard Pollock Hamilton, Bengal Staff Corps, whose
claim has been submitted for Her Majesty's approval,
for "conspicuous gallantry during the action
at Futtthabad on the 2nd of April, 1879, in
leading on the Guide Cavalry in a charge
against very superior numbers of the enemy, and
particularly at a critical moment when his
commanding officer (Major Wigram Battye), fell.
Lieutenant Hamilton, then the only officer left with
the regiment, assumed command and cheered on his
men to avenge Major Battye's death. In this charge
Lieutenant Hamilton, seeing Sower Dowlut Ram
down and attacked by three of the men while
entangled with his horse (which had been killed)
rushed to the rescue, and, followed by a few of his
men, cut down all three and saved the life of Sowar
Dowlut Ram," Lieutenant Hamilton, it will be
remembered, was killed while resisting the attack upon
the British Embassy at Cabul.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-11

A PLEA FOR THE BUSY BEE.

Writing to The Times from Wargrave on September 30,
Apiarian "ay :

Sir,—After the disastrous summer of 1879, when our
bees have scarcely been able to gather any honey
harvest at all against the coming winter, judging from
accounts which have been received from all parts of
the country, it is absolutely certain, unless apiarians
can be induced to feed their bees at once, that whole
counties by next spring will be left beeless, and the
busy hum of our industrious honey-maker will have
ceased in a great measure in our land. To prevent
such a catastrophe as this, allow me to suggest a
simple and inexpensive way by which bees may be
kept alive through the winter. They may be
fed in two ways—either with barley•sugar in-
serted into the hive, or with sugar syrup, which
may be given to the bees in the following way :
At the top of the hive let a small hole be made
liin. square, upon this place a perfectly fiat piece of
tin or zinc which has been previously perforated with
four or five small pin-holes: take an ordinary pickle
bottle, or any bottle that will stand on its head, and
having filled it with sugar syrup, invert it quickly
upon a thin piece of glass or tin, place the neck of the
bottle over the small holes, and then gently draw away
the piece of glass; it will be found that the syrup will
not drip through into the hive, while the bees can
draw it through at the rate of about half a pint a day
and store it away in their cells. Twelve pounds of
white sugar can be bought for about 3s. This, added
to five pints of water and gently boiled, will make 181 b.
of syrup, which will be found sufficient to keep a hive
of bees alive till the spring, provided they have
gathered a little honey for themselves.
Who, in the face of such facts, will allow their bees
to starve, and not do all in their power to preserve alive
such a perfect example of industry and providence?

With reference to the above, "U. S." svrtbes from Ludgo,
shall :

Sir,— Your correspondent " Apiarian " gives us two
excellent methods of feeding bees with sugar, but I
believe that bees and other living creatures require
something besides saccharine matter to sustain life.
Besides honey, the bee lays uja store of bee-bread—
the collected farina of flowers—indicating that a
modicum of farinaceous foods should be Included in its
artificial supplies. From ignorance of this fact I lost
all my bees after the wet summer of 1860, although
they were abundantly supplied with syrup and barley-
sugar, while some of my neighbours saved their entire
stock by feeding with oatmeal and treacle.