The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-22 00:00:00

RENOUNCING THE SUCCESSION TO
THE THRONE OF AUSTRIA.

Writing from Vienna on November 16, the Correspondent
of The Times says :

Yesterday came off the official renunciation to
the right of succession by the future Queen of
Spain. The Emperor, the Archdukes, the Common
Ministers, the Austrian and Hungarian Ministers,
the Presidents of the two Houses of Parligment
in Austria and Hungary, the Cardinal-Archbishop
of Vienna, and the Spanish Ministers, as represent-
ing the King of Spain, assembled in the Privy
Council room in the Burg. Then appeared the Arch-
duchess, who stepped up to the raised platform, where
His Majesty, standing, addressed her. In conformity
with the family regulation every Princess of the Im-
perial Family who contracted a foreign marriage was
bound, His Majesty said, to renounce both for herself
and her heirs the right of succession to the Throne,
as also of inheritance in case of
any members of
the family dying intestate. He then asked
the Archduchess whether she Wail
prepared to
sign this pledge and to confirm it by her oath.
The Princess replied that she was ready to do so.
Thereupon Baron Haymerle, as Minister of the Im-
perial House, read tha document containing the formal
renunciation. The Archduchess next proceeded to a
side table, where stood a crucifix between two burning
candles, and there took the oath, the Cardinal-Arch-
bishop holding the Gospel. At another table the
document was signed, first by the Archduchess and
then by the Spanish Minister, in the name of King
Alfonso. This concluded the ceremony, which scarcely
lasted a quarter of an hour.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ON SHIPBOARD.

The Times of Tuesday says :—" The Pacific Steam
Navigation Company have begun to use the electric
light in the illumination of the saloons on board their
steamers. The light was tried in the saloon of the
new steamship Mendoza, belonging to that company,
as she came round to Liverpool from Glasgow, a
simple grammc machine and service lamp, employed
for the illumination of Messrs. Napier Brothers'
boiler•shop being used for the occasion. The Batis.
factory result of this trial is now manifest by the
fact that the Pacific Company have intrusted the
British Electric Light Company with the work of
fitting two eltntric lights, produced by means of
Blandy's patent, from one small gramme machine, in
the saloon of the Mendoza. This ship is intended for
service on the West Coast for South America. The
particular method of applying the light, which has
been selected by Mr. Radcliffe Ward, the electrical
engineer to the British Electric Light Company, is by
reflection from special reflectors in the ceiling of the
saloon. The result is a beautifully diffused soft light
that effectively exhibits the tasteful painting of
the saloon panels. On Saturday several of the
directors of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company,
with some friends, had lunch on board. The shutters
of the saloon were closed, and the electric light was
used to illuminate the apartment throughout lunch,
with the exception ef a few minutes when it was turned
out to show the marvellous difference between it and
the usual candle /ight, which involves about double
the expense of the electric light. The success of the
light on board the Mendoza will probably lead to the
adoption of similar lighting on board all the principal
ocean steamships. The illumination of the state
rooms by the incandescent system, in one form or
other, is likely to be accomplished before long. The
boon to passengers of being able to tutu on a bright
settled light at desire will be very great. In this
case the light will be placed in globes hermetically
sealed.