The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-10-14 00:00:00

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

The Mansion House Esstern War Sufferers' Relief
Fund amounted on Tuesday to £10,400.

The Rev. Lwi Lewi., M. A rector of Denbigh,
died on luesday in an apoplectic fit whilst at dinner.
At Liverpool four persona have been fined l 204. each
and cost% for non-compliance with the Vaccination Acts.

-
"You look as fine as th hired girl" is now about the
greatest compllment that can be paid a young lady in the
rural dietricts of America.

The Japanese Government has notified its adhesion
to the International Postal Union.

Mrs. Cox, who gave evidence at the recent in-
quiry into the death of Mr. Bravo, sailed on Monday for
Jamaica.

Bishop Coxe's daughter, who was recently married
at Buffalo, received as a wedding present from her husband
one million dollars in bonds.

Considerable excitement has been caused at Ban-
galore by the discovery of poison hi one of the mess dishes Of
the 14:h Moms

The speed of the trains on the Great Western Rll.
way way has been temporarily reduced, until the extensive
repairs on the western section of the line has been com•
pletsd.

Letters from Mr. Gladatone and Mr. Lowe were read
at the annual meeting of the Sunday Closing Association, at
Dublin. Expressing regret at his Inability to attend the
meeting, Mr. Gladstone stated his belief that the association
was near the attainment of its object.

An American paper says Seven runaway bridal
parties recently arrived at a Kentucky hotel one al t.,r
another, on the same day; and seven enraged papas were
about two hours behindhand in every instance."

A party of 300 good cooks and NO house-girls, all
English servants, visitinT the Centennial, have been induced
to settle in Richmond, Va., where steady employment
.is
guaranteed.

-
"A Times' telegram from Barcelonaaaye that an Eng-
lbh or Irish gentleman, an amateur bullfighter, killed two
bulls in the presence of 16,000 people on Thursday. He
was serenaded at night, and gave his share of the proceeds
of the fight to the Hospital at Barcelona."

On Saturday there was a sale of hunters at Belhtts
Park, the meat of Sir Thomas Barrett Lennard. The lots
realised 4,850 guineas, or an average of 145 gunieas for each
of the thirty horses put up.

An International Congress, to consider the better
observanoe of the Sabbath, has been opened in the Reforma-
tion Hall, Geneva. Great Britain, rmany, Spain, Holland,
Italy, France, and Austria are represented.

011 Sunday night George Knapp, a middle-aged man,
Employed as a foreman ot the laidland nalway Company at
Eckington, was killed on that line near Tapton Junction, by
the down Scotch mall. His body was shockingly mutilated.

- - .
The value of British and Irish spirits exported in the
last three•quarters of the year was £222,2f:6, against
£201,831 in the previous year.

Although the Pope's illness is represented m slight
It is significant that Cardinal Manning has requested special
prayers to be cffsred up in all the Catholic churches in
London. Certain eminent Catholics in this oquntrr express
grave anxiety as to tne Pope's condition.—Court Journal.

A nice little aneolote is told of the Empress Eugenie,
who last week alighted on Chiselburst Common in th midst
of a pouring rain, and resigned her carriage to a poor man
who had been suddenly taken iIL The Empress walked home.
—Court Journal.

By permission of the Loris of the Conncil, a general
eompetition for the execution of the Byron Statue will be held
in the course of next month at the South Kensington
Museum. Several models have already arrived. Upwards
of 100 sculptors have intimated their intention of competing.

Captain T. H. .Anstey, Royal Engineers, who left
England more than a year ago for the Crimea on special
duty in connection with the restoration of the British grave-
yards, has returned home, having expended the sum voted by
Parliament.
Two more small planets were discovered last week
the one by Professor Watson, of the Ann Arbor Observatory,
Michigan, U S., and the other by M. Prosper Henry, at
Paris. These raise the number of known small planets to
169.—A thencsum.
As many as 1,100 acres of public recreation grounds
in various parts of the metropolis and Its suburbs, inaddition
to the greater parks in London vested in the Crown, are now
tinder the management of the Metropolitan Board of Works.
Emigration to Australia has commenced for the
season. On Saturday the large Elder Line ship Robert Lees
sailed from Plymouth for Adelaide with 411 emigrants on
board.

A Lloyd's telegram from Calcutta says the steamer
Catodor Castle from Calcutta for Colombo, has been totally
loss whilst going down the Hooghly. A pilot was in charge.
Tbree Europeans and five Chinamen were drowned.

Mr. Holmes, M.P.. presided at the distribution of
Government prizes to the successful students of the North
London School of Art, and expressed his pleasure at seeing
that there Is a growing taste for and appreciation of art
throughout the kingdom.

There has been an increaEs in the importation of
tobacco this year compared with the preceding. Daring the
last nine months, to the 30th nit, the value was £2,055,195
of uomanufactured tobacco, and manufactured and snuff,
£947,195, against the respective sums of £1,989,293 and
£522,281 in the like period of 1875.

The following are the average prices of British corn
for the week ending October?, as received from the inspectors
and officers of Excise :—Wheat, 465. 3d. ; barley, 401 2d. ;
oats, 255. 51. per imperial or. Corresponding week last
year :—Wheat, 455. 10d. ; barley, 365. 2d.; oats, 24.5. 11d.
The dearth of naval engineers is so great at the
present time, that after the Serapis had received her com-
plement on board there only remain two supernumary engi-
neers for service attached to the steam Reserve at Ports-
mouth (remarks Tht Times). Should either the Thunderer
or the Baadicea be speedily commissioned, it wouldbe neces-
sary for a reqaisition to be sent to the other yaids.

An inquiry has been held at the London Hospital,
on the body of a youth named Walker, aged 13. On Wednes-
day in last week he was sitting on a copper containing
boiling water, and whilst talking to another boy he fell into
it. He was got out as quickly as possible and undressed, his
skin adhering to his clolking. He was taken to the hospital,
and died a few hours after his adinission. The jury returned
a verdict of Accidental Death.

The Archbishop of York, the Earl of Musgrave, the
lion. and Rev. Carr D. Glyn, Dr. McCormack, and a number
of evangelists arid "miastoners," compenced an eight days'
mission in Sheffield on Sunday. Every house in the town
bas been visited, and several thousand lay helpers assist the
evangelists.

_
The Bishop ot Exeter on Saturday presented cer-
tificates and prizes to the successful candidates in the Ply
mouth High School br Girls. These schools, although
recently established, have so increased that it has become
necessary to erect another building, at a cost ot several
thousand pounds.

Reports of a serious character were presented re-
specting the increase of small-pox in London at the meeting
of the Metropolitan Asylums Board on Saturday. It was
resolved to confer with the Local Government Board as to
what steps should be taken for opening the fever kospitals
und6r the control of the managers should an emergency
arise. _ _

An offioer in the French Army has recently died
who had met wit. Abd-el-Kader on the battle-field without
attacking him, which he might have easily done. Being
blamed for this afterwards, his reply was—" At that time I
was but second lieutenant. Had I killed him tne war would
have been over, and I would not have been captain now."
On the part of the employers' repreaentativee.of the
North of England manufactured iron trade notice of a ter-
mination of the present rate of wages at the end of the year,
with a view to a reduction, has been given. The present
wages Bs. 31 per ton, is the lowest that has pervaded, for
more than ten years, except for a short period when Bs. was
paid. The men are now very dissatisfied, and will take badly
to a further reduction, even though trade generally is sin
depressed.
A demonstration in reference to the Eastern Question
took place in Hyde Park on Monday afternoon, but was at-
tended by comparatively few people, and a heavy fall of rain
somewhst curtailed the prooeedings. The usual resolutions
were passed, as well as one appealing to Mr. Gladstone to
resume the active position he formerly occupied in the House
of Commons.
Some particulars are furnished by the French Society
of Engineers of the preliminary works for the Channel
Tunnel. Greater progress is being made in France than in
England in the formation of the company, but the two
millions of francs required for the preliminary surveys have
not yet been raised. I inring the last year 81,000 francs was
spent, half of that amount being expended in surveying
operations.
Mr. Benjamin Shaw has offered to the Society of
Arts a medal of the value of £2O. to be awarded every sth
year for any discovery, invention, or newly-devised method
for obviating or materially diminishing any rink to life, limt,
or health, incidental to any industrial occupation, and not
previocusly capable of being so obviated or diminished by any
known and practically available means. The first award
will be made in May, 1877.
The grandson of the King of Italy, Prince Humbert's
son, now about six years of age, is brought up in a most
remarkablewmah which h The Ihe is alreadyeOnlyfOr tolerablyel
foreign
languagehaec acquainted,
atianutgehd t,
is Eaglish, it
and whichwg
he is
importanceto mastero
English bet o reprsopceeeeedhl nhgatvowagn y
beenothe r,dtiilli
ye
growing
appreciated by his relatives.—Exarniner.

- The latest novelty in Paris, is " perfumed hats."
The census for 1876 in Italy gives the number of
the population at 27.482,174. The births amounted to
1,035 377. of which 633,511 were boys and 501,863 girls. Of
the former 496,763 were legitmate, 22.483 illegitimate, and
14,270 foundlings; whilst among girls the respective numbers
were 466,5°6, 21,159, and 14 147. The total number of deaths
was 843,161, of whom 431,756 were males and 411,405
females ; 294,745 of the former baying been unmarried
and among the females 261,141, the excess of births over
deaths thus being 192,216.

_
Colonel Loyd•Lindasy, M.P., who returned from
the seat of war a few days ago, addressed a large meeting at
Reading on Saturday. However much the misrule of Turkey
might be condemned, he considered that up to the time of
the 3algarlan insurrection she Was strictly within her rights,
and that the rising was prepared and instigated by the agents
of R 115119, The Servim army Was. in fact, a Russian army,
the c-mmander-In-:h,ef, his staff, the colonels of regiments,
and the very soldiers themselves being Russians.
The Direction of the Bureau Veritas has just pub-
lished the following statistics of maritime disasters reported
during the mouth of August, 1578, concerning all flags :
" Sailing vessels reported Lott —Thirty English, ten German,
four American, four French,
eight Dutch, five Norwegian,
three Spanish, two Danish, one Austrian, one Italian, one
Swedish, seven of which the nationality is unknown; total,
78. In this number are included four vessels reported
missing. Steamers reported lost. —Six Eaglish, two German,
one American, one Belgian, one Portuguese; total, 11."
A very neat device for preventing burglary has just
been brought out in the Vatted States. All the doors in a
bank ere so arranged that they can only be opened when
two knobs or handles are turned simultaneously. Now these
knobs are in connection with powerful batteries. A thief
seises one knob, and no effect follows He then uses both
his hands, taking a knob in each. Immediately his howls
fellow; he is unable to let the knobs go because Of the
violent muscular contractions set up. Tee torture is fear.
ml, and the would be robber constitutes in consequenCe-11
he be a man of ',mug lungs—a most admirable alarm.

One of the wickedest and most successful hoaxes
perpetrated on the first of April this year, was the work of a
lady. in Philadelphia She sent up to the pulpit in a Metho-
dist church a notice purporting to announce a meeting in
aid of another church. A number of names of promit cut
clergymen were mentioned as to take part in the exercises.
The prescher read the manuscript to his large congregation
without hesitation until he came to a psssage that a certain
layman would sing a comic song, when he became confused,
suddenly remembered the day, and abruptly sat down.
The mortality from all causes during the past week
in London and 22 other large towns of the United Kingdom
was at the average rate of 10 deaths annually in every 1,000
persons living. The annual death-rate in London was 18, in
Eltnburgh 18, and in Dublin 16. Of the English towns the
lowest rate (13) was at Plymouth, and the highest (28) at
Norwich. There were 11 fatal ewes of small-pox in London,
against 16, 11, and 15 in the three preceding weeks. Since
the beginning of July there have been 121 deaths from small-
pox in London, whereas in the first six months of the 3 ear
only 33 deaths were referred to that disease.
An inquest has been held at Wisborough-green, near
Horsham, to inquire into the cireumstances attending the
death of James Mansfield, aged about four, from the effects
of hydrophobic A white retriever dog flew at him while he
was running along and bit him in the head and face,
quantity
of
after
which it rushed into a fowl's house and killed a
fowls. It also bit some pigs and sheep, which hal:It: firca died.
,
went
Medical attendance was procured and
the
boy
was unable to
take food, and he gradually sank and died. on well, but after Wednesday, in last week, e y
The animal that
bit thadodeased had been shoe: The jury
rdurn
ed
of " Dopa from bydropflobla.7 yerdiel

4t

Tramway oars drawn by steam are now run dairy
through the streets of Brussels, and In at least one other
Belgium town.

The Archbishop of Canterbury delivered biz charge
to the eergy of the rural deanery of Dover on Tie.day,
taklog for his auhject She Unity of the Church.

On Monday a chartermiater named Hill, fell e...m
a pit which he was engaged in working at Dudley. Eit tilt
with Puei force that he broke through the bars which coNflr
up the %Min' drain, and (lied on the spot.

The Morning Post says that two new missionary
bishoprics are to he established in indi 1, and two clergymen
who have already been nominated will be cortsecrated as soon
as the necessary arrangements can be made.

Tne Archbishop cf York en SAturday consecrated a
new church et 6htfliE,ld, which haa been built by Mr.
Frederick Bardwell in memory of his parents. It has cost
over £4,000, including the price of the site.
Referring to the recent storm in the Isle of 'Wight,
Nature observes that it was a true tornado, and suggests
that a careful collection of the facts regarding it would be a
valuable oontribation to meteorology. _ _

0 ver 10100 signatures have now been appended to
the "Clerical Memorial on Intemperance," including those
of 11 bishops, 2i. deans, 67 archdeacons, 49 canons, 173 hen.
canons, and 145 prebendaries.

A resolution waq adopted at a meeting of the County
Lic.nsing Committee at Lancaster, on Saturday, urging that
such alteration should be made in the law as would vest in
the justices the power to grant or refuse grocers' dunces and
liceLces to sell intoxicating liquors off the premises.

The ship Woodlark, which ha A just sailed from
Gravesend for Brisbane, had on board the following number
of emigrants—viz., 76 married people, 100 single men, 41
slnglewomen, 61 children between the ages of twelve and
one, and twelve Infants; making a total of 295 souls—equal
to 252} adults. _ _ _

- -
A few days since there died in Paris, at the age
of 61, M. Joseph Julien, a clockmaker, who had succeeded
In directing a small elongated balloon with a screw moved
by a spring. The experiment was tried with success in the
Hippodrome at Paris, in 184940, and attracted much notice.
It is said that Mr. Spurgeon has been offered £20,000
for a lecturing tour in the United States, the tour to com-
prise two series of forty lectures each, £lO,OOO to be paid in
advance, and £lO,OOO on the completion of the first series,
together with all expense&

-
"False hair," says a Paris authority, "will be a
drug in the market when the frost comes. Short curls and
natural hair, such as the pictures of his. liscamier and
Queen Hortense have made familiar to everybody, will be all
the fashion."

A witty Frenchman writes in a Paris paper that
"a French major lea man that has three decorations. The
third was given him because he had two, the second because
he had one, and the first because he had none !"

Two of the largest wine casks ever imported have
recently been landed at the London and St. Katharine docks.
One contained 623 gallons of sherry, the other 600 gallons of
port The latter had to be filled on board the vessel at
Oporto, as there was no gear at that port strong enough to
lift it.

The chairman of Lloyd's Register of British and
Foreign shipping, Mr. Thomes Chapman, F.R S., F.S.A., has
just been presented, by upwards of 100 survivors resident in
all parts of the world, with some valuable plate in recogni•
lion of his long services.

The Soldiers' Institute at Portsmouth having proved
Itself so great a boon to the troops located in the borough, a
second one was last week opened at Bastney, where the
Marine Artillery are quartered. Marines, aoldlerr, and
sailors of all denominations are admitted to the advantages
of the institution, but no Intoxicating drinks are allowed to
be sold.

On Monday morning Mr. Henry Grant died sud-
denly at Christ Church, Oxford, in a ilt of apoplexy while
engaged In his college duties. Mr. Grant had held the office
of butler of the College for many years, and had served that
of Sheriff of the City of Oxford. and was at the time of his
death Common Councilman. He will be remembered in con-
nexion with the great "Bread and butter case" at Chaste
church some years since.—The Time&

The Berlin Official Gazette states that according to
intelligence received by way of Constantinople renewed ex-
citement has been observed latterly among the Mnssulman
population of Salonica, creating apprehensions of the pose!.
bility of fresh excesses occurring, especially on the occasion
of the Bairam festival. The G3vernment consequently
ordered the German ironclad Friedrich Carl to return to
Salonica, whither she sailed on the sth inst.

The Lords of the Admiralty have granted a boon to
the men employed in the royal dockyard and victualling de-
partments which has created the greatest satisfaction. Their
lordships have ordered that upon the death of any man em-
ployed in the naval establishments after 20 years' service and
upwards his full pay for the whole time he may have been
ill will be paid to his widow or orphans. Should his death
have been the result of an accident in the service, and in case
he received half-pay while incapacitated, the remaining half
of his pay will be paid to those entitled to receive it. Hither-
to the widow and orphans have re c2ived nothing.
Last week the Sheffield Daily Telegraph announced
that, owing to the complete exclusion of Sheffield steel, &a,
from American markets, in consequence of heavy protective
duties, a principal local firm had deolded to transfer its
American business to America This and reports of corres-
ponding facts from other places have caused representations
to be made to Lord Carnarvon suggesting that here and in the
Colonies American products should be heavily taxed in
retaliation. Lord Carnarvon, in replying to this, says that,
as will be seen on reflection, the proposal is not one her
Majesty's Government can entertain.
The Scotsman announces the death of Mr. Thomas
Clark, AR.S A., which took place on Saturday at Dundarach,
Aberfoyle. The deceased artist was educated at Dollar, and
in the course of his school days was unfortunate enough to
sustain an injury to the shoulder, the effects of which
crippled him through life. Having early resolved to become
a painter, he prosecuted in Edinburgh the necessary studies,
and in his twentieth year began to exhibit. Ile has since
been known as an assiduous cultivator of landscape art,
whose works were never missed from the annual exhibitions
of the Royal Scottish Academy, and whose efforts were
recognized by that body in his election as an Associate in
November, 1845. He painted both in water-colour and oil.
The Registrar-General in his weekly report says :
"The returns from the Metropolitan Asylum District Small-
pox Hospitals at II omerton and Stockwell afford evidence of the
increased prevalence of small-pox in the metropolis. These
two hospitals contain 204 beds for in-patients, of which 153
were occupied on Saturday night. 48 new cases were ad-
mitted during last week, of which 37 were vaccinated and
11 unvaccinated. 11 fatal cases were registered in London
during the week, against 18, 11, and 43 in the three pre-
ceding weeks; of these, 5 were recorded in North and 6 in
South London. Since the beginning of July, 121 deaths from
this disease have been registered in London, whereas in
the first six months of the year only 33 deaths were referred
to it.