The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-01-19 00:00:00

THE IRISH SEED POTATO FUND.

The report of the committee of the fund promoted
by the Society of Friends for Supplying Seed Pota-
toes to the Distfessed Peasantry in Donegal has been
issued, and frem this it appears that altogether about
276 tons were distributed, and the committee having
set out with toe determination of giving only one bag,
containing i 24 lbs. to each family, the number of re-
cipiens wise very considerable. The supply of fresh
seed was looked upon as a great boon, ad very thank-
fully received, so much so that instances are known of
people walking ten miles each way, several times, with
the hope of receiving a bag, and the committee have
great satisfaction in believing that a very small per-
centage indeed was used otherwise than for seed,
seeing that toe distribution was effected just in the
most favourable time for planting. There are thou.
sands of acres of waste land in the country which
might possibly be properly cultivated. The accounts
show a balance of £lO5 64. 33. in hand, which the corn
mittee will endeavour to expend Judiciously, and. in
accordance with the object for which it was cm.
tribute& In conclusion, the committee are glad to
say they have had reports from various parts of
Douegal, stating that there is an excellent and atua-
dant return from the seed supplied.

The Indian papers state some French capitalits
have offered three hundred thousand rupees per annum
for permission t) work the ruby mines of Burroah.
The Burms.,se Cr,vernment, it is added, demand five
r 500,000 rupees per annum for this valuable
privilege.
Tirs Board of Trade have received, through the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a gold watch
which has been awarded by the Government of the
United States of Americl, to Captain John Cook, of
the barque Silurian, of London, in recognition of his
humanity in rescuing the crew of the American ship
Oracle, wrecked on Herschel Island, March 7, 1883.

The coke exports from the kingdom during the year
1883 were heavier than in previous years. The total
exports were about 450.000 tons. Out of this 264,734
t sns were exported from Newcastle, 5?,429 tons from
West Hartlepool, 48,116 tons from Middlesborough,
and 26,940 tons from Sunderland.
Her Majesty the Queen has sent a donation of L'2s
to the treaaurer of tne Aberdeen Hospital for In-
enrahlee. This hoi•pital is being rebuilt on a mairni-
cent Eta le on a fine site at the west end of Aberdeen.
The stonemipone of Birmingham have given netice
for an increase of id, per hour, to take effect from the
Ist of April next; the employers, on the other hand,
have tendered a conriter-notice of a reduction of id,
per hour, to begin from the same date.
Ar, Kirkwall, 011 Saturday, a street porter named
GYP' A,d, was found dead, his body floating in the se
at a
'lisriccvall. He bad gone out early the previous
evng and nut returning, search parties were instl7
toted to look for hiin. The deceased was over 70
years of age.
Fvo hi„o,rirgietisse hEatvmeinbae,enwhwicaehhewd aehe from theasscroerekejoonthe
New Jersey cost. The men of toe Life-saving
Fifo.vic,e ,?hot some lines over the vessel, but the
wAvee broke her in pieces while the lines were being
At a sale of orchids at Messrs. Froth eroe and
Merrie'e Auction It oms, in London, the bfgheet price
ewer paid for an imported Cattleya was obtained. I
twee a vari-ty of percivaliana, and was knocked dow
to Messrs. WWI and Son, of Chelsea, for one hundred
fenieeas. This rem '0: able plant waa imported by Mr.
vider, of St. Aibans, and has not floereeed in this
country,