The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-18 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.
A telegram from Yokohama says that Okubo, the
Minister of the Interior, has been assassinated. The
murderer was arrested.
The Weekly Ironmonger learns from Berlin that the
German Government has given a secret but general order
that all articles used in the Government establishments must
in future be of home manufacture. This command applies,
among other items, to steel, files, iron, and even coals.
" The men of the British fleet had very hard work
when they were waiting to go up to the Sea of Marmora. They
were not allowed to turn in,' and slept round their guns
ready to begin work in a second. It has naturally made
thesis very full of fight."—The World.
German railway management might well serve as a
pattern to our English companies, for only two passengers,
according to Engineering, were killed last year in Germany
through faults in the management of the various lines.
There is every prospect of an abundant harvest in
America. It is said in the Western States that at this time
of the year the outlook was never so good, and that the
season has been the most favourable ever known In the
West.
A Correspondent writes to The Times to say it is a
mistake to say that the cormorant is unfit for food, and that
It makes most excellent soup, very similar to hare soup. The
method of preparing it is to skin the bird and then bury it
In the earth wrapped in a cloth for at least 24 hours (says the
correspondent).
It is announced that the "women's memorial" to
the Queen in favour of a Congress and peace has been
delivered to Mr. Cross, who has promised that it shall be
laid before Her Majesty. it contains 11,955 names, all
collected in nine days.
A special religious gathering, to pray for the pre-
servation of peace, promoted by Baptist and Independent
ministers, was fixed to be held on Monday evening in the
Albert Hall, Manchester. At the time appointed nobody
came, not even a promoter of the movement, and no meeting
took place.
In Paris, on Tuesday night, a ball was given by Lord
Lyons in honour of the Priuce of Wales, the company num-
bering 1,600.
A private telegram from Shanghai states that large
quantities of grain are being conveyed by the natives into
the famine districts. There is no immediate prospect of a
cessation of the distress. The entire receipts of the Famine
Relief Fund in Shanghai amount to 100,000 taels.
An improved telephone has been constructed by a
German postal official, which is declared by the Berliner
7'ageblatt to be a great advance on that of Dr. Bell Galvanic
electricity is employed in the new apparatus instead of in-
duced currents, and the loudness of the sound can be so re-
gulated as to make it audible, not only to the ear placed
close to the reproducing disc, but throughout a large room.
In the House of Commons, on Monday night, in
answer to Br. E. Jenkins, Sir H. Selwin-Ibbetson said the
question whether arrangements could be made to afford
workmen in the various Government departments who de-
sired to visit the Exhibition at Paris a short leave of absence
for that purpose, rested not with the Treasury, but with the
departments. If such arrangements could be made, the
Treasury would not offer any objection
"There has been great grief and wailing at Malta
and on board her Majesty's ship Shannon. The Shannon
was ordered at four hours' notice to leave for China, and
while she was steaming out of the harbour she was passed
by a P. and 0 coming in, having on board three of the
officers' wives, who had come out from England to join their
husbands."—The World.
The ex-Armenian Patriarch, who has come to Eng-
land to advocate the cause of the Armenian nation, visited
the Houses of Parliament on Monday evening. He was
accompanied by several Armenian gentlemen, residents of
London. He had an interview with the Archbishop cf Can-
terbury on Monday.
There is an umbrella 107 years old. It was made in
the reign of George 111., and has passed through many rains
since. It has been stolen 147,596 times.
At the opening of a café at Sheffield, the Mayor,
Alderman Mappin, who is one of the dirpetors of the
Midland Railway Company, stated that on the previous day
the directors had before them the question of the refresh-
ments provided at the stations on their line. They con-
sidered that the high prices charged for the non-intoxicating
drinks as compared with those which were intoxicating
were productive of intemperance, and it was probable, he
said, that before long some very sweeping changes would
be made over the whole of the Midland system.
A subscription has been started at Orleans for the
re-erection of the expiatory memorial of Joan of Arc as it
existed up to 1793 on the site of her victory. This movement
is a rejoinder to the Voltaire Centenary; Voltaire and the
heroine whom he vilified both expiring, according to the
promoters, on the 30th of May. Some authorities at least,
however, give the list as the date when Joan of Arc was
burnt.
"The issue of the order that all troops serving in the
United Eiugdom shall have bisenits and preserved meats
served out to them one day in each week, 'with the view of
accustoming them to ,the diet,' has led many people who
are more sanguine than sanguinary to believe that the
reason given for this course is not the right one. in this
arrangement they think they detect a sign that the authori-
ties believe they will not have occasion to make use In the
field of the large supplies which have been purchased, and
they are therefore endeavouring to utilise it while there is
a good excuse for so doing. This, unfortunately, is not
altogether correct, for only last week a further very large
purchase of biscuit and tinned meats was made by the War
Office."— Whitehall Review.
While dredging for oysters off Portland a day or two
since the smack William and Henry, of Emsworth, picked
up a small waterproof bag, containing two £lO notes and
cheques drawn on San Francisco to the amount of £l5O.
The bag is supposed to be a relic of the Avalanche, which
was wrecked off the coast last year. The treasure will be
conveyed to London and salvage claimed.
The Australian cricketers arrived in Nottinghadi
on Tuesday from Liverpool, where they landed on the
Previous day. A large crowd assembled at the Midland
Station to await the arrival of the train, and as it approached
a brass band, which was stationed on the platform, struck
up the tune of "Auld Lang Syne." As the cricketers
alighted they were greeted with ringing cheers from the '
crowd. They were met by several members of the commit-
tee of the Nottingham County Cricket Club. They will play
their first match in England on Monday next and two fol-
lowing days, on the Trent Bridge Ground, against the Notts
Eleven. The intervening days will be devoted to practice.
Serjeant Gaselee, who formerly represented
Portsmouth; has announoed his intention ol giving £l,OOO
for the fonuding of a scholarship in connexion with the
local Grammar School.
Sixty thousand dollars have been given to the
Swedish Government by France for the island of St. Bar-
tholomew's, and all the present officials in the island will be
pensioned by the French Oovernment on their being re-
lieved of their duties.
A despatch from Havana announces that a terrific
earthquake has occurred in Cua, in Venezuela, sisc hundred
persons having been killed. A heavy shock was also felt at
Caracas.
There were 2,443 births and 1,083 deaths registered
In London last week. Allowing for increase of population,
the births exceeded by 61, whereas the deatha were 91 below,
the average numbers in the corresponding weak of the last
ten years. The annual death-rate from ell causes, whiela in
the four preceding weeks bad steadily declined from 27.6 to
22.6 per 1,00, further fell to 20.2, a lower rate than has pre-
veiled in any week since the beginning of October last. The
deaths included 48 from ' small-pox 33 from measles, 24 from
scarlet fever, 9 from diphtheria, 110 from whooping-zout-04
14 from different forms of fever, and 'f from diarrhma.
The London Gazette of Tuesday night announces
that the queen has been pleased to grant unto the Right
Hon. Gattiorne Hardy (now Yiscount Cranbroo4, of Hem-
, sted), one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries ot State,
and a Privy Councilior, her Royal licence and authority
that ha and his issue may take and use the surname of
Gathorne, in addition to and before that of Hardy, and that
he and they may bear the arms of Glathorne quarterly with
his own fandly arms, provided that the same be first duly
exemplified according to the laws of arms, and recorded in
her lialesty's College of Arms, otherwise the said Royal
licence and concession to be void and of none effect.
A crowded meeting was held on Tues !ay night in
the Town Hall, ()Wham, to consider the question of peace or
war with Rnssia. The following reeolution wa; passed: " That
this meeting views With alarm the resignation of Lord
earnarvon and Lord Derby, the calling out of the reserve
forces, the contemplated employment of Indian troops for
European warfare, and ether vast warlike preparations
which may involve us in a contest destructive of the in-
dustrial interests of this town and country without any
adequate rpason oe Just:lineation."
Urgent orders have been received at Devonport
Dockyard from the Admiralty`, directing the immediate entry
of 40 joiners and 60 shipwrights and some other 'Workmen,
over and above the previous maximum strength, with a view
to prepare as quickly as possible the Howe, a tine wqe"
dee
three-decked ship, for hospital servi.4Q ati-A544. '
On Tuesday,* Midlat Puha,' who during the past
few days has been the guest of Mr Crawshay, at Houghton
Castle, Northumberland, yiiited the principal 'rnantl
tortes of Newcastle and Gateshead. A ns;;se,sei. as
had collected ip t'ne station to Meet the Turkish Minister,
and on Stepping on to the platform he was greeted with
cheers'andlotid clapping of hands. The unit place visited
wes Messrs. Hawks, Grawshay, and Sons' 'Works, 9.4eshead.
on the road to this factory 'several fiags were displayed, con,
spicuoua amongst them being that a the Turks, and several
small guns were tired in honour of the visit of his Highness.
The chain-shops, plate-mills, engineering works, and all the
various places of Interest in this large industry were in-
spected. The North. Eastern Railway Company's shops at
Gateshead and Sir Wm. Armstrong and Cornpany's works at
Niswick were also visited during the day,

he peasants in Roumanian Besarabia have ceased
to pay taxes to Roumanian officials, and the country is
practically taken over by the Russians.

Mr. Bright, the other day, said to one 0 i his rural
favourites (I don't mean village beauties), an honest work-
man, "Ah 1 John, everything will go right if we once come
to peace." "Yes, sir," was the answer, "we may come to
pieces."—The "Tatler "in Pictorial World.

No turnstiles will be found at the Paris Exhibition,
arid money 5 riot received at the doors. Admission is by
tickets, which may be purchased at the post and telegraph
offices, at the tobacco shops, and other establishments.

Now that the telephone makes it possible for sounds
to be canned the same as beef, milk, lobsters, fruit, &c.
missionary sermons can be bottled and sent to the South Sea
Islands ready for the table instead of the missionary
himself.

Orders have been received at the head-quarters of
the Medway Reserve for the whole of the naval pensioners
belonging to that district to at ()ace report themselves to
undergo a medical examination to ascertain their fitness for
active service.

Ten thousand young bull trout, presented by Mr.
Frank Bucklaud, has just been placed in the waters
watched by the Windsor and Eton Angling Preservation
Society.

Clerical smokers are strictly condemned in New
England,U.S., and ministers who use tobacco will in futute
not be admitted to office,

A new remedy for diarrhcea in men and animals is
said to have been discovered in New Zealand, where it has
long been in use among the Maories. It consists in a
decoction made by pouring boiling water on the green
leaves of a shrub called roromiko by the natives. The
liquid, though slightly bitter, is said to be not unpleasant to
the taste. It is asserted that two doses of this decoction
will always effect a cure even in bad cases.
The Duchess of Edinburgh left Venice on Satur-
day for Munich, while the Duke left the following day for
Constantinople.

"A raised seat or dais has been placed on the west
side of Marlborough House garden, so as to permit its
occupants to look over the wall; and it is a pretty and
pleasant sight on a bright May morning to see the Princess of
Wales surrounded by the Royal children watching the
ceremony of Guard-mounting in the Court of St. James's
Palace opposite andlistening to the strains of the band."—
The World.

Early on Monday morning a lad named John
Peters, while descending to a small boat from the Akbar
reformatory ship in the Mersey, fell against the gunwale and
then into the water and was drowned. Three other Akbar
boys promptly plunged into the river and made gallant
efforts to rescue their comrade, but he was carried away by
the tide.

A correspondent writes from Hamburg, under date
May 7 :—"Last night, Tuesday, at 11 o'clock, a large powder
mill at Schulau, near Blankenese, a village on the Elbe,
about ten miles from Hamburg, blew up. About twenty
people living near the place were killed, and several at a
distance were wounded. The detonation was heard twenty
miles off. Houses fifteen miles distant from the mills were
shaken as if by an earthquake. Indeed, many people at
first believed that an earthquake was the cause, the shaking
being felt in many cases where no sound was heard."

At a grand dinner in the Palace at Berlin, on Mon-
day night, his Majesty the Emperor announced the engage-
ment of the Princess Louisa Margaretha, third daughter of
Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia, to the Duke of Con-
naught. The wedding, at Queen Victoria's request, will be
celebrated early next year in London.

"Hobart Pasha is remaining in England to see if
there will be war, in which case he returns to Turkey. If
war does not take place, he will have a long leave to recruit
his strength."—The World.

We hear from St. Petersburg that Lord Beacons-
field is supposed to have addressed the following words to
two foreign Ambassidors :—" With a miserable two hundred
millions sterling .r.ngland can drive Russia out of all her
conquests, and throw her back for two generations at least.
Then we can obtain peace and quietness."— Vanity Fair.
A very extensively signed memorial has been for-
warded from Runcorn to Mr. Jacob Bright for presentation
to Parliament, protesting against war. The memorial was
signed by Liberals and Conservatives alike.
"Confidence in the maintenance of peace is very
strong. A large shipowner tells me that a year ago he
effected wax insurance on all his ships, at a very considerable
cost. He has now decided that there is no necessity for the
continuance of the precaution, and at the present moment
he has ships in nearly every sea, not one of which is covered
from war risks."—Mayjair.

The other evening some little excitement was
occasioned at Eton College by a rather serious accident to a
student residing with the Rev. Mr. Cameron. While
climbing a tree in the Playing Field's, near Pocock's-lane
the youth suddenly fell to the ground, fracturing his right
leg in two places, and slightly. injuring another boy on the
head in his fall. lie was promptly attended to by Mr.
Gooch, of Eton.

"The telephone harp, the very last American in-
vention, will form a novel attraction at the Shakespeare
Memorial performance on Wednesday afternoon, May 22nd.
Those who go to the Gaiety Theatre on that interesting
occasion will hear Shakespearian and other airs played
several miles away."—The World.

Sunday (12th), was what is known among the work-
ing classes of London as "Chestnut Sunday," so called as
being the first in the season on which the chestnut trees
which form the noble avenue of Blakey-park Royal demesne
are in their best bloom, when the pale pink flowers and the
fine spikes are splendidly developed. Accordingly, the
earlier trains leaving Waterloo for the different stations by
which Bushey-pariccan be reached were crowded by work-
ing men, accompanied in many instances by their wives and
families.

Eighty summonses against persons who have
neglected to pay the dog-tax were heard at the Lambeth
Police-court last Saturday, the minimum fine of 255. being
Imposed in moat of the cases.

Captain Burnaby was entertained at dinner last
Saturday night by the Birmingham Conservative Club, and
spoke at considerable length in support of the Government
in regard to the Eastern Question, and in condemnation of
the action of the Liberal party,
"The last words of Count Schouvaloff to Lord
Salisbury, as the former was bidding adieu to the latter
previous to his departure for Russia, were, 'Now, remember,
if any good is to come out of my journey, not another soldier
from India till I return! "—The World.
•
A French brig went down off the Isle of Wight on
Monday night, and four of the crew perished. According to
Lloyd's telegram, she was the brig Leopold, belonging to
Fecamp, but the correct name of the vessel is supposed to
be the Leopold Auguste. It appears that she sprung a leak
In the Channel which could not be kept under by the crew's
exertion, and when off the Isle of Wight the vessel sank.
The captain, mate, and remaining three men belonging to
the crew landed at Portsmouth in their own boat.

The "Exhibition Bouquet" is the latest article de
Pori& It is a tiny artificial rose to be worn in the button-
hole, with s. cryst2,l dewdrop on one of the petals, and on
looking into the dew-drop agilniature view of the Exhibition
is discovered.

"When Count Schouvaloff parted from Lord 13eacong-
field last week he gently pressed the hand of that illustrious
stateaizan, revoir, mon cher, he said, I shall be back
In three weeks. In the meanwhile no surprises, you know.'
The Illustrious Statesman only smiled."—.3fayfair.

• "If the Czar were allowed to equip and slip his cruisers
at our commerce he would Ilnd that we could play better at
the game than he could. His 1014 buccaneera might snap
lip a few pries, but as sure as the sun We should quickly get
into the way of running them down, or blocking them in
their shelter, or hauling them out of it. But there is no
reason why we should be put to this bother. The neutrality
laws of the United States 'gild the Government tp prohibit
any Imperial filibustering like tb.P.t 17,?, haar of, and We can-
not suppose thM; th3r,) is at 'Washington so altered and
inimiegra feeling to this country that Russia counts upon a
repudiation or a misinterpretation of the law in her layout"
Court Journal.

Sir Wilfrid Ilawzon, ALP., has almost recovered
from his severe attack of congestion of the lungs, and it is
hoped that in a few days he will be able to attend 0 his
Parliamentary duties.

The simply of stook at the Maidstone May fair
(held OD labuday), was not so large as on previous years, but
there was a large attendance of buyers, and prices, as a con-
sequence, ruled high, Down and Kent store eheep realising
5Ck. to 655. ; yearlings, £9 to £10; 4eni ewes with lambsl7ls.
to 745. fid. The supply of horses was unusually large, and
the following prices were obtained :—First class horses,
brewing purposes, 100 to 120 guineas; for farming purposes,
80 to 90 guineas; inferior qualities, 15 to 20 guineas; ponies
and cobs, 15 to 28 guineas.

At Liverpool, on Monday, at the Sailors' Home, a
gold watch and chain was, on behalf of the President of the
United States' presented to Captain Gleadell, of the White
Star steamer Celtic, as an acknowledgment of his services
ir January, 1877, to the crew of the dittreased American
schooner Island Belle. The chief officer of the Celtic, Mr.
Mason, was also prosented with a binocular glass.

This French Exhibition is bringing about some
strange meetings. At the Affaires Etrangeres on the 6th,
whilst the Princes of Wales and Denmark and the male
portion of the guests who had been invited to meet them
were smoking after dinner in the Minister's Cabinet, be-
fore presenting themselves to the crowd coming to attend
the reception, Gambetta was ushered in. M. Waddington
seemed astonished, and his manner was rather cold; but
Gambetta asked to be presented to the Princes, and re-
mained talking politics with them for half an hour, and
airing his favourite theory of an alliance of France,
Austria, Italy, and England.—The World.

An inquiry has been held at Sheerness as to the
death of Thomas Jones, aged 28, a gunner of the Royal
Artillery, who committed suicide at Garrison Point Fort.
One of his comrades got up early on Friday morning, and
found that he had killed himself by lying at full length on
the ground with his NO suspended by a rope attached to
the handle of the door, the handle being only 3ft. from the
ground. He was of a morose and eccentric disposition and
had been drinking the previous night. A verdict of "Tem-
porary insanity" was returned,

A new cattle plagne, according to the New York
Tribune, is raa4ing ravages in Cleveland and the vicinity.
he disease is said to have started in Texas. There is the
usual alarm as to the poisonous infection being propngated
to human beings by eating diseased beef or drinking the
milk ; but until some cases of the kind are vertifled, it is as
well to doubt thee rumours. If the new plague should
prove as rapid in spread as the rinderpast, we may soon
expect to hear of it as having crossed the Atlantic. As a
curious instance of the distances to which such diseases
travel, it may be mentioned that the rinderpest has pene-
trated to northern Siberia, and destroyed large numbers of
reindeer."--Land and Water.
From Paris I hear that the Prince of Wales has
been the one only success in the whole of the Exhibition ar-
rangements; but he has worked very hard, as indeed he has
been working for months past, to give éclat to all the pro-
ceedings; and that the Parisians now claim him as one of
thi.mseives—a vrai Parisien,' who has by mere accident
been temporarily forced to inhabit the foggy islands of
Britain, but who always looks to Paris as the centre of ail
things. The interest the Prince has taken in Cuis matter
will assuredly bear good fruit in rAauy ways; for it is
precisely this kind cif manifestation of friendly sympathy
which the French most value and moat tenaciously remem-
be r.”— Vanity Fair.

The Rev. H. Haweis preached to the coth Middlesex
Rifles in St. James's Hall, London, on Sunday morning, and
in the course of his sermon remarked that the people of this
country desired to settle the existing difficulty quietly, but
they did not mean any longer to be beguiled and cheated.
In whatever event the voluntel•rs of gligland would always
remain true to their motto, " Pro arts et
"We learn on the best authority that there are enough
mpdier,lionicers available on the home establishment to sup-
ply the requirements of the First Field Army Corps, and
also the nucleus of a medical staff for the second, but mor;7
than this could not IT done without leaving the 111.;e-4, 4arri-
sons entirely denuded Recourse would tileze:ore be had to
civil aid. We have progressed tp, tins extent, and no fur-
ther, since the crir,ner,nyar I ".-=-Intitehali Review.
Tne iirerman Firscherei-Verein is engaged new in in-
troducing the Californian salmon extensinly into German
Waters. Of 300,000 eggs Bent acre:4ola ocean, 25,000 arrived
in good condition, and t'As resultant fish have been divided
between th? rivers 'al the Danube valley and those of the
vhiLe. Three hundred thousand young eels frora Nor-
Mandy are being introduced into the Prroeian streams.
"The fact that ..q.obart Pasha, an admiral in the
Turkish sprviee, was specially invited to dinner by the Queeri,
Is held in many quarters to indicate that war is c3-4sidered
certain, since, it is argued, Her Maje4ty would not have
taken this step, which must necessarily be distasteful to his
Imperial Majesty the Czar, without being assured that, there
was no longgr ai Zleeil to regard the Imperial humours.
This, however, seems to be putting a very strained construc-
tion on a very natural act. tier Majesty takes, as becomes
her high position, the greatest interest in the affairs of the
East, and is always desirous to obtain information regarding
them at first hand. It was therefore quite to be expected
that, on learning that Hobart Pasha was in England, toj9
Queen should desire to see him. I hear that the 'interview
and the information it elicited were equallY satisfactory to
the Sovereign and to the Vanity Fart