biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

FATAL GAS EXPLOSION.

A terrific gas explosion took place on Saturday
morning at the wood works of Mr. John Hill,Cambridge,
Glasgow, by which one man was killed and another
seriously injured, and the offices and two dwelling-
houses completely wrecked. Hugh Morrison, a black-
smith, was aroused by a strong smell of gas in his
house, which is immediately above the office, and
he went out and called the watchman. Both
men then entered the office, and very foolishly
took a light with them. A terrific explosion
ensued. Both men were blown against the
walls with great force, and were buried in the falling
ruins. The outer door of the office was blown into
Monklancl Canal, which is between thirty and forty
yards distant; the whole of the windows were blown
out ; the flooring was torn up, the main staircase to
the top flat thrown down; indeed, the whole tene-
ment was completely wrecked. When assistance
arrived, Waddell was rescued from the ruins, but he
died in great agony about two hours later. Morrisonwas
injured so seriously that he was immediately removed
to the Royal Infirmary.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

LYE.

WAKE.—This wake took place on Monday last,
but was very badly attended, there being scarcely
anyone in the atretti. The principal p aces of resort
were Mr. Wood's, the Mitre Concert Hall, and Mr.
J. Taylor's, Three Crowns' Concert Hall, who had
made arrangements with several artistes. And we
must say that those of the latter place were well
appreciated as they performed some highly amusing
negro burlesques, and stump orations, causing roarE
of laughter. The comic) songs of Messrs. C. and
J. White were very good. The Hall was crowded
the weole of the wake.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

LESOWEN, ANI DISTRICT CII

S- _ • i. -. ,- , -
::: - ALAR K _

GLENFIELD
STARCH.
Has for many Years been Exclusively
used in the Royal Laundry.

"The best Starch I }The Queen's Laundress.
ever used."
"Cleanly in use, Cl (
" Milliner and
cq, and gives aperfect
I
stiff-
ness and gloss difficult tol Dressmaker."
excell."
Particularly ad-"En olishwoman s
apted for clear starch-
ing muslins. ' Domestic Macrame.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

ROWLEY.

LOCAL BOARD 01? HEALTIL—The or linary monthly
meeting of this Board was held on Monday last; Mr. J.
Connop presiding. Mr. Ker officer) reported
unfavourably as tJ the health of the district. The num-
ber of deatus during the past month had been 59, being
very much above the corresponding periods of 1876 and
1877. The death-rte was 29 5 per thousand of the
population. During the month 19. deaths had occurred
froci, scarlatina. Whilst the epidemic of scarlatina ap-
peared to be decreasing n otheri parts of the district,
it had increased considerably n the neighbourhoods of
Gorsty Hill and Coombes Wood. A memorial signed by
a number of ratepayers residing iu Foxoake Street,
Cradley Heath, was presented, complaining of a nuisance
arising from a coke oven belonging to Mr. Parkes, sang.
ted in that locality. Alter some discussion, the inspector
To. throw soo Wm • Wine for tho obstontout Of She

a
-

4
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

DENSITY OF POPULATION.

A very interesting paper on " Density or Proximity
of Population "was read by Dr. Farr, F.R.S., at the
Social Science Congress, under the head of " Health,"
and his carefully-compiled statistics well deserve con-
sideration—albeit, happily, an increase of sanitary
knowledge will favourably influence the averages of
mortality at present given. The density of population
in England from the years 1860 to 1870 was 366 per-
sons to a square mile, but of course the actual proximity
of human beiiigs to each other differs widely in
different places; and it is found that health
is preserved and life prolonged in inverse ratio to the
density of population. The advantages of residence in
towns are distinctly marked by the increase in the
value of land as it approaches the centre of populous
places, and thus it may be said that people purchase
the worst health at the largest prices. In ten years
from 1861 to 1870, Dr. Farr has calculated at one end
of the scale the deaths per thousand of population arc
15, 16, and 17; and at the other end of the scale 31,
33, and 39; the acres to the persons in correspond-
ing districts being 12, 4,3, and .01, 'O5. 1.01.
Liverpool is the most densely populated place in Eng-
land, and it is likewise—it may perhaps be said,
according to existing sanitary arrangements conse-
quently—the unhealthiest. Here there are 63,828
people to an acre, of whom 39 per 1,000 die annually;
and this example, with many similar ones, tends to
show that, as Dr. Farr put its, "the nearer people
live to one another the shorter their lives are." More
air, the preservation of open spaces, and the thinning
of rookeries are among the simplest remedies for ex-
cessive mortality in the unhealthy districts.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

VISITORS TO PARIS.

An official return shows that during the Paris Ex-
hibition 203,157 foreigners have been admitted into
Parisian hotels and lodging:houses. Of these, England
furnished 58,916 • Belgium. 28,830 ; Germany

21,778; Italy, 14:968; the nited States, 13,57 ;
Switzerland, 11,980 ; Spain, 10,004 ' • Austria,
'
8,501 • Holland, 6,682 ; Russia, 5,725 ; Sweden
and Norway, 2,705 ; Luxembourg, 2.238 ;
Poland, 1,952; Denmark, 1,767; Portugal, 1,687;
Roumania, 1442; Mexico, 1,409; Algeria, 1,382;
Brazil, 1,14; Turkey, ; Greece, 854; French
colonies, 795; Canadi, 719; Egypt, 659;
386; Peru, 186; Japan, 166 ; Columbia, 156;
Venezuela, 148; Tunis, 96; Persia, 83; Chili, 81;
China, 81 ; Oceania, 69; Morocco, 68; Bolivia, 54;
EJuador, 53; San Salvador, 45; Guatemala, 42;
Costa Rica, 39 : La Plata, 18; Uruguay, 16;
Honduras, 13; Nicaragua, 11; and Paraguay, ii;
1,674 were of unknown nationality. Between Calais
and Dover from the Ist of May to the 31st of October
there were 186,747 passengers, which, allowing for the
double journey, would show 93,000 persons, and the
above return of 58,916 English must evidently be
largely supplemented by visitors who stayed with
friends.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

A FLIGHT OF LOCUSTS.

The Times of India of October 14 says :—" The
Bombay Presidency seems to be threatened with a
plague of locusts. On Friday they passed in clouds
some miles long over Tanna, but eventually cleared
the Konkan altogether, and alighted at Dhond,
near which place we hear they have done great
damage. From Baroda, again, so a telegram to-
day informs us, a tremendous flight of locusts '
was seen passing for three hours continuously on
Saturday. They have, however, gone on towards
the north. For the last month locusts have been
tolerably common in Bombay, and it looks as if
these were only the pioneers of a future army. A cor-
respondent writing fo us from Dhond on the 6th says:
—"A large
wiles
of locusts passed here this morning
about six wil!its to the north of the Bheema river. The
aming of this myriad of insects was slow, its progress
delayed by every cultivated piece of land in its
t The fliel,t was so immense, however, that the
scattered crops were not sufficient. to satisfy its wants,
and the grassland around a bajri or jowari field was
made the feeding-ground of the later arrived or out-
side squadrons of this great host. One field of bajri I
specially noticed, was denuded of almost every grain on
o
the half-ripe ears, and this field was probably a Nuare
mile in area. The work of these locusts was finished
here in a couple of hours, The poor people, t whom
the fields belonged, seemed to b 3 somewhat stupefied
' by the visitation, and no preventive course appears to
be taken, with the exception Of gathering a few of the
riper ears for immediate sec The flight was wending
in a sou'-westerly direction, which would bring it

somewhere close to Deksal, and we shall probably
hear that that place, as well as many other villages,
has been visited, to great cost, by this fearful scourge.
The flight must have covered an area of ten to fifteen
square miles, though perhaps only a third or fourth
part of it alighted."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

A MUMMY FROM PERU.

Mr. Jamrach, the animal dealer, of St. George's-
street East, London writes Mr. Frank Buckland (in
Land and 'Water), that he had just received a valuable
and interesting mummy from Peru. The box Con-
taining the Peruvian was in an attic; when the lid
was suddenly taken off the box I confess for a moment
that the sight gave, as they say, a bit of a turn (says
Mr. Bucldand). The body was covered with crystals
that shone like mica scales, and gave it a peculiar
ghastly appearance. The history of this specimen is
as follows. It was discovered in a nitre mine at
Iquique, in Peru, and is supposed to be of very great
antiquity. It is the body of a female; the lady must
have had very long and beautiful hair, she wore it in
plaits banging over her shoulders and down the
back, One of the plaits still bears traces of a rude
ornament. The skin of the face is dried up, and bears
marks upon it as though it had once been enve-
loped in a cloth. The arms are laid by the side, one
knee is crossed over the other. On making a more
careful inspection I a-certained from the appearance
of the ends of the bones that this was a mummy of a
female about fourteen years old. The eyes are staring
wide open, the ,tongue adherent to the roof of the
mouth. I do not know whether this Peruvian girl
had been buried, or whether she had by accident
fallen down into the nitre mine, or if the nitre had
fallen down upon her from above, and so caused her
death. It is, of course, impossible to state the date of
this mummy. I see that in the country adjacent the
Pacific, Peru, saltpetre is abundant, and that great
quantities are exported by English vessels. This
mineral is not a nitrate of potash, but a nitrate of
soda. Nitrate of soda was one of the substances used
by the ancient Egyptian priests in making these
mummies."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

SEED.

LONDON, Monday, Nov. 4.--There were morq guppies of
English Cloverseed offering, and buyers requ!red a consider-
able abatement in price, which was accepteu in some cases
for secondary sorts. Not much passing in either French or
American qualities, and prices of these tended downwards.
Trefeii could be bought on lower terms, but sales were not
numerous. Winter Tares were abundant and offered at
very low rates, with a very limited demand_ Canaryseed
was in limited request at ratherless money. Eiempseed sold
on former terms. White Mustardreed was taken off to a
small extent at prices in favour of the buyers, the condition
not being good. Grass seeds were purchased to a limited
amount at no quotable change in their value.

POTATOES.
The supplies of potatoes on sale here to-day were again
rather limited, and very few sound parcels were offering.
The trade was firm, and the better qualities of produce ad-
vanced in price 10s. per ton. Kent regents, 100 s. to MOIL :
Essex ditto, 90s. to 130 s. ; rocks, 70s. to 90s. ; champions,
80s. to 90c ; flukes, 1303. to Ms. ; Scotch regents, 100 s. to
120 s. per ton.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

REFORMS IN TURKEY.

- The Times' Correspondent at Constantinople, who in
a previous letter had described one of the chief pre-
liminary obstacles to reform in Turkey—namely, the
habit of procrastination and the apathetic immobility
of the official classes—sends a second letter on Monday,
in which be discusses the only possible solution of the
reform problem in Turkey. If Turkey is to be re-
formed, he says, the official class, in all its grades, must
be put to school for a good many years under foreign
teachers, so that they may learn not only the prin-
ciples, but also the habits of good administration.
After a time, of course, these teachers might be
dismissed, and all higher and lower posts be again
entrusted to genuine Ottomans, controlled by the
healthy public opinion which would, in the meantime,
have come into existence. The Ottoman objections
to the foreign element, however, is still as great as
ever, and though a certain number of foreigners may
be admitted to the service as inspectors, &c., he ques-
tions whether they will have anything but the most
nominal power. With regard to the financial ques-
tion the correspondent is convinced that nothing short
of a series of radical financial reforms can restore to
the paper currency its lost value, and that the only
way to secure a radical financial reform is to intrust
the finances to an international commission.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

CR A DI

,R;IeiISTLRE.D FOR
TRANSUISSJON ABRO.t.

11{, ONEY TO LEND, WITHOUT SURE-
TIES, BY THE IMPERIAL ADVANCED
BA_NK.—DISTANCE NO OBJECT.—AII respectable
Householders, whether they are private Gentlemen or
Ladies, Shopkeepers, Farmers, Car Poprietors, Cow
Keepers, Tradesmen, or Clerks, that they can be ac-
commodated by this Bank with Sums of Money from
£lO to £lOOO, repayable by easy instalments, extending
over one year and upwards, to enable them to increase
their stocks and afford them every kind of temporary
accommodation, without friends as sureties and with
the strictest privacy. Applicants would do well before
applying to any office to consider its respectability. This
office was established in 1873, and since that time its
business in advances has been rapidly increasing, and it
now makes more advances than any other single private
advance office in the provinces. Every information
willingly afforded. Apply, either personally, or if by
letter state amount required, to

LEWIS SIMMONS, Proprietor,
,[ 27, South John-street, Liverpool
cut 6
,)

T. J. 'TICKS,

BUILDER, CARPENTER AND COFFD
MAKER,
DEALER IN CEMENTS, PLASTER. COW-H
LATHS, NAILS, AND ALL KINDS OF
BUILDING MATERIALS.

:MBA

PAINTING, PAPER HANGING, WHITEWASHING,
COLOURING, AND GLAZING DONE ON
THE SHORTEST NOTICE.
ADDRESs-

PARK STREET, STOURBRIDGE._

G. F. GREEN,
PIANOFORTE

T 1J NER

260, Castle Street, Dudley,
And 67, Park Street, Walsall.

HAS GREAT PLEASURE IN PUBLISHING THE---;OLLOWING
TESTIMONIALS.
From Mr. C. Potter, Professor of Music, from the
nstitution for the Blind, St. John's Wood, London:—
'I can confidently recommend Mr. Green as a Piano,
orte Tuner. Ho tunes by equal temperament, and ch-
ains an exact scale. (Signed) C. POTTRR."
From Mr. J. F. Patterson, Organist, St. Patrick's
Church, Huddersfield :—" I have much pleasure in tes-
tifying to the abilities of Mr: Green as a Pianoforte
Tuner. He lays the bearings with exactness and pedee-
tion. (Signed) JAMES F. Parrzilsow."
From Mrs. Sanderson, Solo Pianiste, of the London
and Liverpool Concerts Mr. Green is one of the few
who can Tune my Piano to the nTzity I require previous
to giving my Public Recitals. (Signed) E. K. SANDER.
SON,

From Mr. Butterworth, ' Organist, Doberons, ne
Manchester:—" Mr. Green's equal as a Pianoforte Tun
can rarely be met with. (Signed) DAVID BUTTERWORTH

X s. d
Terms for Yearly Tuning, including minor re-

pairs—
Cottages, per annum . ....... •• • ..... .... 1 1 0
Grands do ....... ..• ... ......... .. 1 5 0
Single Tunings (in Town).
s. d. s. d. s d s.
Cottages.... 3 6& 5 0 Full Grande 6 6&7
Semi-Grands 5 0& 6 0 Concert Iron
Trichord. _ Grande.. .. 7 6
_

Oblign-e—.... 4 6& 5 6 I
Pianofori.es Tuned o the French Pitch (now nniver
sally adopted throughout England,ii required.
*** A large stock of Classical and Modem Music, a-
Half-price.
Please observe the AddresB-260, CastleStreet,Dudlo
and 67, Lark &rest, Walsall.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

THE BELLS OF ST. PAUL'S.

The Times of Monday publishes the following :
Sir,—The service at which I was present in the
belfry of St. Paul's on Friday, and to which you have
alluded in ' a tone half of banter, half of blame, has
been called, and I suppose will be called, "the blessing
of the bells."

The bells, however, themselves were not blessed.
The prayers used, which appeared to me, and I think
were felt by all who heard them, appropriate and
touching, asked that these bells might in their use be
blessed to the spiritual well-being of God's servants,
reminding them of His piesence in life and death,
suggesting solemn and holy thoughts, calling effectually
to the services of the Church, and bearing to those de.
tamed at home by Fickness or necessity reminiscences of
the peace and comfort of the sanctuary. Who shall say
that such hints as these, as from above, may not be help-
ful from time to time to many of the busy and anxious
crowd which is perpetually hurrying round the
Cathedral of our great city? The service itself was of
the same charact, r with those in common use at the
laying the first stone of churches, schools, and mission-
rooms, and, indeed, at the consecration of churches
and churchyards; and with that familiar "grace be-
fore meals" which most of us have heard repeatedly
from our youth, and which I trust to hear at times as
long as I live—" Bless, 0 Lord, these Thy gifts to our
use, and us to Thy service." In all these cases the
blessing asked is not on the material objects, but on
the persons for whose use or advantage they are pro-
vided. If such prayers are superstitious, I aidly
plead guilty to superstition,—l am, your faithful
servant, J. LONDON.
Fulham Palace, S.W., Nov. 2.

BURNING QUEBTlONEl.—Mistress.—" Anything the
matter, Cook?" Cook (hysterically).—' I've been
upset, mum I That Bill—(the gardener)—has been
a-goin' on about the Heastern Crisis, mum, that I
don't hardly feel as I can retain my sitiwatian. He's
that wiolant 'Jingo,' mum, and we was always hultra.
liberal in my fanely I "—Punch.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

HORSE SHOES.

" " writes to The Times :
Sir,—Some months ago, I forget the exact date,
there appeared in The Times a series of letters for and
against horse-shoes. The argument against them
seemed to me so strong, and the convenience of doing
without them so great, that I resolved to try the
experiment. Accordingly, when my pony's shoes
were worn out, I had them removed and gave
him a month's rest at grass, with an occasional
drive of a mile or two on the highroad while his hoofs
wore hardening. The result at first seemed doubtful.
The hoof was a thin shell, and kept chipping away until
it had worked down beyond the holes of the nails by
which the shoes had been fastened. After this the
hoof grew thick and hard, quite unlike what it had
been before. I now put the pony to full work, and he
stands it well. He is more sure-footed; his tread is
almost noiseless; his hoofs are in no danger from the
rough hand of the farrier ;.9,0. tho.changt, altogether
has been a clear gain without anything to set off
against it. My Pony, I may add, was between four

and five years old—rising four, I fancy, is the correct
phrase; he had been regularly shod up to the present
year. He now goes better without shoes than he ever
did with them, and without shoes he will continue to go
as long as he remains in my possession.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

THE DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS.

There are few subjects on which people are slower to
learn from the teachings of experience than in the
matter of the destruction of forests. France, Spain,
and Italy have suffered seriously from this interference
with the natural storage of rainfall; whole districts
have been rendered barren which were formerly
fertile, owing to the wholesale destruction of trees.
In India, as we are daily discovering to our cost, the
wasteful cutting down of timber without proper re-
placement has largely contributed to those dangerous
alternations of flood and drought, drought and flood,
which have so much to do with the occurrences of
famines. In some districts the rainfall has decreased
not less than 30 per cent, during the last twenty-five
years, owing, it is believed, to this cause. In
Australia the same effects are being observed, and
the result of the denudation of the hill-sides without
any attempt whatever at replantation wil be felt
more and more as time goes on. Now, too, we hear
that in California and Nevada the same process is
bringing about similar climatic changes. The streams
which formerly flowed with tolerable equality in
winter and summer now have ups and downs which
are most injurious, and droughts and floods have
commenced in the plains. The snow, instead of melt-
ing gradually under the trees, is exposed to the full
heat of the sun, and rushes down in torrents. In
short, all over the world the condition of forests and
the necessity of tree protection has become a serious
question, and it is clearly one of those matters which
can only be effectually dealt with on a large scale and
at the expense of further interference with the rights
of private proprietors to injure the community.—Pall
Mali Gazette.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

DUDLEY.

FAILURE i TIIDI C.,AL AND 13strcn TRA017.1.--On Mon-
day, at the Dudley County Court. Mr. Thom us Paii;iN
trading as Martin and. coal inerchauts and brick
manufacturers, Queen's Cross and iIMly llall, filed his
petition in liquidation. The liabilities are set down at
£6,000 or thereabouts, but the probable assets are not
stated. Mr. Stokes is the solicitor for the debtor, nut!
Mr. Buukle (Birmingham), accountant, has been ap-
pointed receiver, The failure is said to be due to bad
trade and pressure.
IN LiQuinATtorr.—On Tuesday last, at the County
Court, Mr. Aifred Taylor, licensed victualler, late of
Wo:verharripton Street. and now of Victoria Terrace,
tiled a petition in liquidation. 'The liabilities are about
£BOO. with assets not yet ascertained. Mr. W. 11,
Tinsley is the solicitor in the matter.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

THE COAL TRADE.

A meeting of delegates from the mines of the various
collieries in Northumberland was held on Saturday, in
Newcastle-on-Tyne, to consider the proposed reduction
of wages, and the extension of the working hours.
There was a large attendance. The three propositions
contained in the circular sent out by the Miners'
Association with respect to the offering of arbitration
and the acceptance or rejection of the proposals of the
employers were discussed, and other propositions not
on the circular were brought forward by delegates. A
long discussion ensued, but no final resolution was
come to and it was agreed to take a general vote of
the comity on the proposals contained in the employers'
circular.

A meeting was held at Birmingham on Saturday
between the Associated Coalowners of the Cannock
Chase District and the Miners' representatives to con-
sider the question of wages and hours. The present
wages agreement terminates on the 9th inst., and the
masters intimated on Saturday that they could not
continue to pay the actual rate unless the men would
consent to draw" an extra hour, making nine per
day. The delegates promised to communicate with
their con,tituents on the subject, and to give a reply
on the 16th inst., until which time the pits will remain
open on such terms as may be then agreed to.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

[From Ptinch.i
THE JINGO-ENGLISHMAN.

:New Version of an old Song, adapted to the tastes of the
Patriot of the Period.)
There 'a a Land that 's Cock of Creation's walk,
Though it is but a tiny isle,
And to hear its brag, and its tall tall talk,
Might make e'en Bombastes smile.
It holds itself holiest, first in fight,
Most brave, most wise, most strong,
And will ne'er admit what it fancies right
Can by any chance be wrong.
'Tie the pink of perfection, deny it who can,
The Home of the Jingo Englishman!
There's a Flag that floats o'er every sea,
And claims to control the brine;
And if any dare hint that it makes too free,
The result is a deuce of a shine.
For the bouncing boys who walk the deck
Deem the Ocean their own little lot,
And if foreign fools at their pride should check,
They will catch it exceedingly hot.
Right-divine's in its bunting, deny it who can,
Is the Flag of the Jingo-Englishman I
There's a Heart that leaps with a generous glow
A paying cause to defend,
Lets interest rule it in fixing a foe,
And profit in choosing a friend.
It nurtures a deep and abiding love
For possession of power and pelf,
And deems that the duty all others above
Is enshrined in that sweet word "self."
'Tis a rare tough organ, deny it who can,
The Heart of your Jingo-Englishman!
The Briton may traverse the Tole or the gone,
And annex on sea or shore;
He calls an immense domain his own,
But be means going in for more.
Let the wandering stranger seek to know
To what charter such "rights" are owed,
And a flush will rise to the Briton's brow
As he answers—' You be blowed !"
There 's no end of a pull, deny it who can,
In the words, "I 'in a Jingo-Englishman I"
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

MR. BRIGHT ON POVERTY IN
SCOTLAND.

At a meeting of the Haddington Established Presbytery,
Dr. Whitelaw, in calling the attention of his colleagues to
the condition of the virtuous poor of Scotland, but more par-
ticularly of those who were in communion with the Church
of Scotland, read the following letter he had received from
Mr. Bright on the subject :
"I do not see what law can do for what you term
virtuous poor,' unless it is to assist them under the
action of the poor law. The question which should be
asked is, Why are there so many virtuous poor?'
It would take, not a letter, but a volume to answer
this question —but in a letter' one or two points may be
indicated. If the law or laws make land a virtual
monopoly, as it is in the United Kingdom, and espe-
cially in Scotland, then we may expect that the popu-
lation, divorced from the soil, will be in possession
only of a precarious income or living, and that they
will be subject to fluctuations and reverses which will
inflict upon many of them the sufferings of poverty,
even when their lives have been fairly prudent and
virtuous. I cannot go fully into the question,
but I am persuaded that enormous evil to
the people comes from this cause. The public

exactions and expenditure have much to do with
poverty. To raise not less than eighty millions
sterling per annum for purposes of Government, to
expend thirty millions of it in military preparations
and means of offence and defence, the bulk of which is
only rendered apparently necessary by a mistaken
foreign policy, must act as a burden on the people, and
especially on the humbler class of the people, and must
press multitudes of prudent and virtuous families
to poverty. These are two of the great causes
and sogroes of the suff,rings of the peooe. They are
both capable of remedy, and the ignorance of
the people—not of the working classes, but
of the clas,es above them—is the only difficulty in the
way. If you could persuade your general assembly to
look at these matters, and to thoroughly examine
them, perhaps its members might make a discovery
that would startle them and benefit the people to
whom they minister. Ido not touch upon other
questions. Some of them will suggest themselves to
you. The great whisky question is one which your
friends may consider with some advantage. If all the
ministers of the Scotch churches were to banish
whisky from their houses, and the consumption of it
from their customs or social habits, they would do
much to discredit and to withdraw one fertile source
of poverty and suffering in Scotland. Many of what
you term 'virtuous poor' suffer much from the evil of
whisky in connection with members of their families.
I am burdened with correspondence, and so write
hastily and briefly. I do not suppose what I write
will be of service; if you think otherwise, you are at
liberty to add this letter to the other contributions of
your friends."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

WEATHER PREDICTION.

The following cable message was received on Monday
at the London office of the New York Herald from
New York :

_
" Depression, with rains, and probably 6110W1 Will
reach British and Norwegian coasts about 6th, attended
by strong winds and gales from south to north-east,
and followed by low temperatures.'

Dr. Pussy was announced to preach the University
sermon at Oxford on Bunday, and St. Mary's was crowded
with members of the University Twig before the service
began. Dr. rusey was, however, too unwell to be present,
and his strmon was read by Canon Om. The discourse
was a deleuce of the'ology from 003 attacks mad'e Upon it in
the name of natural itetence.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS'
DISPUTE.

The notice of a redaction of wages given by the
farmers of Kent and Sussex to their men expired on
Saturday, and was followed by a strike. The Agri-
cultural Labourers' Union of Kent and Sussex, the
branches of which extend throughout the two
counties, had advised the men to meet and take counsel
as to the course to be adopted. This has been done,
and the men decided that support should be given to
the members of the union—some 2,000 or 3,000 out of
a body of 15,000—who may have to leave work in
resistance to the reduction. All the masters have not
combined together, but some, it is stated, hold with the
men, and urge that the proper course for the farmers
to adopt in endeavouring to deal with the lessened
profits of farming would be to obtain lessened rents.
The labourers' Union give as a reason why there should
be no reduction of wages that now the voluntary schools
in the villages in most cases charge 3d. or 4d. weekly,
as much as town children have to pay, while they are
practically without any choice in the matter, there
being no other schools. They are also now compelled to
be insured agairst sickness, and to make prevision for
medical attendance, which they do by means of their
union, all points, in their opinion, to the advantage of
the farmer, who, as a ratepayer, is relieved from the
expense of proving the union labourer, when sick,
with medical attendance and shelter, and from the
charge of giving an asylum to the labourer's family.
Meetings of the branches of the union were held on
Saturday night at Ash, lloaden, and Northfleet, while
on Sunday there were church parades of the branches
at Mile Bush (Staplehurst), Wainscoat, Northbourne,
Lamberhurst, and Teynham.
The union has ordered returns to be made of the
proposed reductions, and the return has shown that
very nearly 3,000 men are expected to leave their em-
ployment rather than submit to the reduction of pay
of 6d. a day in the cases where the day's wage amounts
to 2s. Bd. or 2s. 9d., and 4d. a day where the wage is
2s. 6d. and 2s. 4d.

A meeting of the leaders of the Union was held at
Maidstone on Saturday, when Mr. Simmons, the
general secretary, suggested that a meeting should be
held in London for the purpose of advocating the
cause of the locked-out labourers, which was unani-
mously agreed to.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

STOUIII3RIDGE.

The Hall %ill be OPEN FOR SKA:IICi This Dry.
811'1:RDA tv•d (m ItICNDA 17, TIUlf.t,D.l Y. act'
WEDN ED.Y N!SX r, 11th. 12th, Hind

Admission Each 15.. y. 61. Elates, Cl.

•
---
THE ONLY AND ORIGINAL GUS MONTAGUE'S
AUSTRALIAN LITTLE MEN
In their succossful and popular Negro Entertainment,
the Little Men forming a Troupe of Boy Negro Minstrels,
(sixteen in number,) from 7 to 15 years of age.
During the Evening one of the following Screaming and
Laughable Sketches will be pioluced :—Colleen Dawn.
The Coming Man, The Irish Boy, The Troublesome
Servant, and the Black Operatic Extravaganza.
A Sparkling New and Original Australian Minstrel
Carnival.

Doors open at 7.30, to commence at 8,0.
Front Seats, 2s ; Second Seats, is; Back Boats, 6cl.
Carriages may be ordered for 10 o'clock.

VICTORIA HALL AND 110 INK.
k.

STOURBRIDGE,

A Grand SKATING CONTEST will shortly take place.
Fall particulars of which will be announced in a few
days.
H. J. HAINGE.
Proprietor.

STOURBRIDGE
VIC ronrA HALL AND
The RINK is now open on
WEENESDAY EVENINGS FOR SKATING
At the same prices as on other days, viz :
Admission, and Gd. for use of Plimpton's Skate

POPULAR ILLUSTRATIVE
LITERARY ENTERTAINMENT

HALL BARN, HAGLEY.

Under the distinguished patronage and presence of the
RIGHT HON. LORD AND LADY I,YrTELTON.

ON TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 12th, 1178:
MISS FALKLAND,
Of Editibargh, (Mrs. CHADWICK), the Popular Reader
ant Eloeutioni,t, wit h,ve the honor of giving
.frona Mt :try her
POPULAR LITER kItY

I\T TTA.IIZfItEINT,
From tLe most hautunut Poets std liumourista.

Admi sion—Reterved Chairs, 25.; Front Sesta, la. ;
Back tieat, 61.

Doors opeu at Seven. to commence et Half-paat.
N.B.—The lia,l will ha thoroughly heated by Steam,
and •made very cornfortab:e for thz ucca.ioo. For pai-
tsenlars see Programmes.

STOURBRIDGE GAS COMPANY.
XT, OTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that au
IN Ex IEAORDINAEY U 11AL kfEIe.TIMI
of the :hareioldere of the above :20mpany will be held
at the Company.' Office, at the Gas Works, Arablecote,
on Wednesday, the 13th day of November next, at 11 wan .
for the purpose of auth,,rizing the Directors to make ass
Applica ion to Parliament in the tni.ulog session for
powers to raise additional capital, acquire lands, make
additional works, cnd extend the limits of supply, and on
other 11113111e68.

NV. 11. JONES,
Secretary.

Stourbr:dge, October 29th, 1878.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES.

According to the quarterly report of the Registrar-
General, in the United Kingdom the births of 285,506
children, and the deaths of 167,084 persons of both
sexes, were registered in the three months ending 30th
September. The recorded natural increase of popula-
tion was thus 118,422. The registered number of persons
married in the quarter ending 30th June was 118,484.
The resident population of the United Kingdom in the
middle of 1878 is estimated at 33,881.966; that of Eng-
land and Wales at 24.854,397, of Scotland 3 593,929, and
of Ireland 5.43'3,640. The birth-rate in the United King-
dom in the third quarter of 1878 was 334 per 1,( 00,
and the death•rate 19 6. The marriage rate in the
second quarter of this year was 14'0 per 1,000.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

EXPLOSION OF FIREWORKS.

Intelligence from Ekaterinburg states that a terrible
accident occurred there on the 18th ult., resulting in
the loss of twelve lives. A Siberian merchant had
offered 20,000 roubles to be expended in fireworks to
celebrate the opening of the railroad between Ekaterin-
burg and Perm across the Oorals ; and there being no
professional pyrotechnist in the place the work of pre-
paring these had been entrusted to a local chemist.
On the afternoon of the 18th ult., while the twenty
workmen engaged by this person were busy finishing
the last instalment of the fireworks, some powder acci-
dentally ignited and exploded the entire stock in the
building. Twelve of the men were killed on the spot,
and the remainder more or less seriously injured.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

GRAND SERJEANTRY.

Last week, on All-hallows Eve, an ancient custom
was observed in the City of London at the office of the
Queen's Remembrancer (Sir Frederick Pollock) in
Chancery-lane. It referred to the appearance of the
late Sheriffs of London and Middlesex to account for
the rent services due to the Crown from and to be ren-
dered on behalf of the Corporation of London. The
Secondary (Mr. De Jersey), the City Solicitor (Mr.
T. J. Nelson), and Mr. Homewood Crawford, the late
Under-Sheriff, attended on the part of the City.
The usual warrants having been filed and recorded,
proclamation was made :
- -

"Tenants and occupiers of a piece of waste ground called
the Moors, in the county of Salop, come forth and do your
service."

The City Solicitor then went forward, and cut one
wooden faggot with a hatchet and another with a
bill-hook. Then followed the further proclamation :

"Tenants and occupiers of a certain tenement called The
Forge, In the parish of St. Clement Danes, in the County of
Middlesex, come forth and do your service."

Then the City Solicitor advanced and counted six
horseshoes and 61 nails, the Queen's Remembrancer
saying "Good number." With that the quaint
ceremony ended. This is said to be one of the three
remaining tenures of Grand Serjeantry, the other two
being a flag to the Queen from the Duke of Marl-
borough in respect of Blenheim Palace, on the anni-
versary of the Battle of Blenheim, and another flag
from the Duke of Wellington for Strathfieldsaye, on
the anniversary of Waterloo.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

THE DEPRESSION IN AGRICULTURE.

On Saturday a large and influential meeting of the
Nottingham Chamber of Agriculture was held at Not-
tingham to discuss the causes affecting the present de-
pression of agriculture and their probable remedy. Lord
Galway presided, and the question was introduced by
Mr. Storer, M.P., who attributed much of the depres-
sion in agriculture to foreign competition. ID answer
to the question, "Can we hope by agricultural im-
provement and by reduced expendituse, to grow corn
at a price which will vie with the foreigner?" he re-
commended a greater outlay on manures, steam culti-
vation, abolishing those restrictions which hindered
the successive growth of corn crops, a reduction of the
sates where now too high, and legislation tending
to remove the burdens which oppressed the farming
interests.

The Duke of St. Albans said that, though it might
be useful to inquire into the causes affecting the de-
pression of agriculture, he believed that manufac-
turers, coal proprietors, and retail tradesmen would
all complain that there was a depression in their re-
spective industries, and would be glad if any one
could point out a probable remedy. It seemed to him
that the farmer, in the cultivation of his crops, paid
too little attention to the seed which he put into the
ground. Farmers were suffering from that from which
all trades were suffering, the labour question. Labour
was much dearer than it was ten years ago. Railways
and other industries were drawing away a great deal
of the beet manual labour from the agricultural dis-
tricts. Farmers, too, suffered from the operation of
the Poor Law Act. What farmers must do is to con-
sider how best to employ their capital, and they must
not grumble because free trade existed. Free trade
had been planted in this country, and whether for
good or evil, it would remain in force. v 11.4
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

nuisance, and, if that was not compliediwith,,,Jo;ta."
the • necessary proceedings against the owner of .t..e
oven: The Xurveyor reported as to the water supplY
that he Lund 49 streets, containing: 1,163 houses and
8 807 inhabitants, totally wi;houL any supply of water.
The consideration of the rep :rt was adjourned far a
month. On the application of the Medical Oilicers fvr
an increase of salary coaling 9n, a memorial was read
from the ratepayers of Uradley Heath urging that it
should not he granted. On the motion of Mr. Green,
seconded by Mr. Dixon, the 1.130.1 declined tc entertain
the application, and adjournel its cJasideration for lAA
months, .
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

THE RELATIONS BETWEEN FRANCE

AND ENGLAND.

Additional official despatches exchanged between our
Government and that of France with reference to the occu-
pation of Cyprus has been issued as a Parliamentary paper.

Lord Salisbury, in a despatch to M. Waddington
dated July 7, says that the Government had been
repeatedly advised to occupy Egypt, or at least the
borders of the Suez Canal, or some port on the coast
of Syria, such as Alexandretta ; but had turned a deaf
ear to these suggestions, having received an intima-
tion from the French Government that any such pro-
ceedings would be unwelcome to the French people.
They had preferred to accept from the Sultan
the provincial occupation of a position less advan-
tageous, but still sufficient for the purpose of protect-
ing British interests in the East.
M. Waddington, in reply, says that while France
respects the position of England as a great Asiatic
Power, it claims similar respect for its own position as
a Mediterranean Power. It wishes to be assured,
therefore, that its interests in Syria and Egypt will
will not be prejudiced by any act of the British
Government. _

• --------
In a final despatch, Lord Salisbury says that the
interests of France in the Lebanon and in the Holy
Places have always been scrupulously respected by
this country, and will continue to be; and that, in
Egypt the objects of the two countries being identical,
the British Government earnestly desires to work
heartily in co-operation with that of France.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09

HUNTING PACKS.

No less than 168 separate packs of foxhounds are
maintained in the United Kingdom—viz.' 141 in Eng- I
land and Wales, eight in Scotland, and 19 in Ireland,
numbering between them an aggregate of 6,600 couples
of hounds. The largest pack is the Duke of Beaufort's,
with their headquarters at Badminton, Wiltshire,
where 78 couples are maintained every season, hunting
five days a week. The next largest pack is the Cottes-
more, whose kennels at Barleythorpe, near Oakham,
accommodate no less than 67 couples of hounds; and
next in order of size comes the Berkeley (Glocester-
shire), or Lord Fitzhardinge's, with 66i couples, and
the Belvoir, with the Duke of Rutland as master, with
b 2 couples. The South Berkshire, the Bicester, the
Fitzwilliam, the Hambledon, the EleTthrop, the West
Kent, the North Staffordshire, the Warwickshire, Sir
Watkin Wynn's, and the Earl of Zetland's, packs con-
tain 120 hounds each; and 39 other packs number from
50 couples upwards apiece. The smallest pack is the
Stainton Dale, hunting the country round Scar-
borough, with 14 couples.
In Scotland the Duke of Buccleuch maintains the
largest number of hounds, his pack containing 54
couples, the Earl of Eglinton's coming next with 50
couples; while in Ireland the Meath pack, with Frank
Goodall as huntsman, and hunting five days a week,
boasts as many as 72 couples, and there are four other
two of which belong to Ireland and 43 to Scotland.
paßckessiwdeisthfonixhooreunthdsa,nthloeo hrearouls each.
em4o
pach.
cks
of
"harriers,"
These between them number 2,400 couples, the largest
pack being the Dufferin, with 30 couples of 24 in. fox-
, hounds, hunting round Comber, county Down. Eleven
I other packs contain 25 couples each and over, —viz..
the Angelsea, Sir R. Bateeon Harvey s, the Holcombe,
the Lowther (Earl of Lonsdale's), the Earl of Pem-
broke's and Mr. Mills's in England and Wales; and
the Bellinter, the Locale, Mr. O'Hara's, Lord Ross-
more's and Sir J. Stronge's in Ireland.

The staghound packs number 14 in England, with a
total of 337 couples of hounds, and four in Ireland,
with an aggregate of 115 couples. The largest pack is
Her Majesty's, with 80 bounds.
The celebrated pack of black St. Huberts, belonging
to the late Mr. Thomas Nevill, which used to bunt in
Hampshire, has been sold and most of the hounds
have gone abroad. Lord Wolverton has a pack of 35
bloodhounds at Shaftesbury, Dorsetsh ire.
Of beagles there are 18 packs, aggregating 233
couples, the most important pack being Mr. Addie's,
of Airdrie, N. 8., which numbers 25 couples. It will
thushun
hounds
se
sugo a few small private packs
f various breeds are main-
o, ssebeonutth2aot:o
000 omitting
tamed in different parts of the country, either through
private enterprise or by local subscription, solely for
the purposes of this kind of sport.---The Times.

THE PLAN WITH BEET-ROOT SUGAR (IF YOU DON'T
LIKE IT).-Lump ie.—Punch.