The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-05-31 00:00:00

venament *onld atiVante the whole of iSe' pUrchaso
money at per cent., the county cess being held
responsible for* defaults in repayment. The aknount
which might be advanced by the State would be
to five millions in any one year, and would not exceed.
in the aggregate 20 millions sterling. Having explained,
the steps which it was intended to take for the purposes'
of facilitating the hearing of appeals in the Land
Court, the right hon. gentleman declared the bill em-
bodied the utmost that the Government could grant.
Leave was given to introduce the bill, which was then
brought in and read a first time.
The House adjourned at five minutes to seven
o'clock, until Thursday, the sth of June.
THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

' The sixty-fifth anniversary of the birth of her
majesty the Queen passed off in the metropolis on
Eaturday with much less outward show and demon-
stration than is customary. The recent death of
the Duke of Albany, and the more recent decease of
the Duke of Saxony, first cousin to the Queen, ren-
dared the usual celebrations of the day out of place,
and when the time-honoured custom of " trooping
the colours" was omittqd the pther demonstrations
were wanting in the usual heartiness exhibited on the
Queen's natal day, simply out of regard and respect
for the bereavement of the Royal house. The
bells of the West-end and City churches, however,
rang out merrily from an early hour, and from the
Tower, Somerset House, the Admiralty, the War Office,
and most of the public offices the royal standard floated,
as it did also from the church of St. Martin-in-the
Fields, of St. Margaret's, Westminster, and many of
the City churches. At all the piers of the Thames,
Conservancy the Union Jack was hoisted; and there
was an abundant display of bunting on the masts of
the fleet of vessels lying in the Pool, below London-
bridge. At one o'clock salutes of twenty-one guns
each were fired from the Tower and at St. James's-
park. When the Queen's guard was being mounted
and changed at St. James's-palace, the band of the
Scots Guards pla7;ed a selection of Music. The duties
of the various public offices and buildings were per-
formed by men of the 2nd Battalion Grenadier
Gikarde, and in honour of the day the drum-major
Verze his State uniform, and the "Queen's Colour"
was borne to the guard-house at St. James's-palace
instead of the usual regimental colour. All the
Government offices and the law courts were closed,
this being the unanimous wish of the judges.
The anniversary was celebrated at Windsor as usual.
At early morn and at intervals throughout the day
the bells of St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, and
the parish church of St. John's were ringing. At noon
a Royal salute was fired in the Long Walk and at
Fort Belvedere, Virginia Water. The Royal borough
was gaily decorated in honour of the event.
At Aldershot the day was celebrated by the closing
of all the Government offices and suspension of drills.
The Royal standard was also floated at the head-
quarter staff office, but no other military display took
place.

Her Majesty has now attained an age which has
been exceeded by nine only of the sovereigns of Eng-
land, dating from the Norman Conqueet, ,viz.
Henry I. and Edward 1., who both attained 67 years;
Queen Elizabeth, who lived 69 years; James 11., 68
years; George 1., 67 years; George 11., 77 years;
George 111., 82 years; George IV., 68 years; and
William IV., 72 years. On the 20th of June neither
Majesty will have reigned over the United Kingdom
for 47 years, a length of time which has been exceeded
by three of the Kings of England only, viz.: Henry
ICI, who reigned 56 years; Edward ill., whose
reign reached 50 years; and George 111.. whose
reign lasted for nearly 60 years. Her Majesty is also
the oldest reigrung European monarch with three ex-
ceptions—the Emperor of Germany, who is 87 years
of age; the King of the Netherlands, 67; and the
King of Denmark, 66.