The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-06-21 00:00:00

111

I

concurrently which each other. Each in
its respective way is an expression of the
solidarity now recognised as existing between
the States of the civilized world relative to
the diffusion of ideas and the spread of infor-
mation, whether through the medium of the
printing press or the telegraph wire. There
can be no doubt that civilization is equally
interested in the successful labours of both
agencies. The direct influence of the older
instrument for the dissemination of the pro-
ducts of intelligence is unquestionably the
more widely felt of the two ; at the same
time it is fairly open to remark that the
indirect effects of the more modern factor in
the work of civilization are not unlikely to
surpass any which can be immediately
attributed to its predecessor. The Printing
Press has done a stupendous work in the
world during the four centuries, of its use,
and it is one of our most powerful engines
for the diffusion of Christianity and civiliza-
tion. But the advocates of the Electric
Telegraph, quoting its more modern dis-
covery and application, declare that it has
done even more than the printing press to
unite nations with each other. Doubtless
the Telegraphic Conference does in a certain
limited sense represent that "federation of
the world " of which the English poet
dreamed. Its delegates were officially ap-
pointed by the -different Governments and
private telegraph companies of Europe, so
that their representative character was fully
established. The group of nations which
hold, each of them in their hands, a link of
the mighty electric chain that girdlea the
world, may be said without much strain of
metaphor to form a single commonwealth,
possessing an essential unity in view of
which national distinctions disappear. Still
it would not be wise to press the parallel too
far. The deep-lying antagonisms and rival-
ries of nations yet remain, and are not to be
removed by merely drawing closer the
material bonds of union between one people
and another. So long as these antagonisms
exist and operate, agencies, which, as a rule
promote the unity of peoples, are liable to be
turned to an opposite purpose. The electric
telegraph is itself a "Lost potent and deadly
instrument of war as well as a minister of
peace and progress. Ever since the begin-
ning of the unfortunate war in South Africa
we have been deploring the absence of tele-
graphic communication with that distant
dependency as one main cause of the little
advance which has been made in the more
effectual carrying on of hostilities.
Taking, however, so much for granted, it
is nevertheless true that anything which
impresses the various nations of the earth
with a sense of mutual dependence, which
brings home to them day by day she percep-
tion that they are stronger and more pros.
perous in union than in separation, must
ultimately tend to convert a material bond
of union into a moral one, and the sense of a
community of interest into a con.cordancy of
sentiment and feeling. The discussion of
the means whereby, under an international
system of c)pyright, the printed products of
each nation's thought may be more fretly
diffused throughout the whole common-
wealth of peoples, and the deliberations of
the Telegraph Conference, bring the essen-
tial unity of civilization strikingly before the
mind. The white sails of our commerce are
found in every sea, and the telegraphic wire
and the.krodncts of the printing-press are in
every cildised land. The struggle of these
humanising agencies with influences like
those of war, which tend only to the de-
struction of mankind, is never-resting; but
if we have any faith either in Divine
promises, or in the progress of human nature
itself, there can be but one end to the con-
flict. The time will come when nations
shall not lift up the sword one against
another, neither shall they learn war any
more.

THE IRON TRADE.
THE MINES DRAINAGE.
WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.

The meeting this afternoon did not result
in the transaction of much business. Buyers
are reluctant to purchase at this period of
the quarter, for they desire to have as small
a quantity of unnecessary material as pos-
sible when they are about to take stock.•
Stecktaking will in the next few days be
general. Pigs are abundant, but deliveries
are being fairly kept up under previous con-
tracts. Price e leave little or no profit in
any case; of which the temporary closing of
operations at the Willenhall Furnaces is
cited as evidence. Spring Vale pigs are
quoted this afternoon at-for hydrates, Le,
ss. ; all-mine, £2. 12s. 6d. ; and part-mine,
X 2. 2s 6tl ; but the quotations are open to
erf
r otiation. Few descriptions of finished-
,'
improved request. Here and
icon are in
there, but not generally, sheets for gal-
-11 a little better: The products
of the South Staffordshire finished iron-
work-s l be represented in a splen,lid
manner at the Australian Exhibitions ; and
at this eratification is expressed by traders
interested in the district The chief col-
lection has just been sent away from the.
famous Round Oak Ironworks of the Earl of
Dudley. It is very extensive, and contains
specie:eel:3 representing, the various qualities
of iron produced, commencing with the Te
W. ft U. quality as a basis, and showiet.
progressing- froin that -apt
th 2 7ti;t

MAIDEN V. Allen.—At the County Court, held on
Thursday, before R. Kettle Esq., Judge. This was
an action brought by plaintiff to recover the sum of
£lO for hay sold to the defendant. Mr. Roskell
appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Waldron de-
fended. Plaintiff proved selling the hay to the
defendant and that he had not paid for it. De-
fendant admitted purchasing the hay, and said that
he only had a portion of it, as it was not good.
Verdict for plaintiff, for the full amount and costs.
WESTWOOD V. TUE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY
COMPANY.—This was an action brought by Solomon
Westwood, of the Lye, to recover thc sum of £5O,
for injuries received through the negligence of the
defendant's servants on the 13th November, 1878,
at the Lye Station. Mr. Waldron appeared for
plaintiff, and Mr. Bentley, of Worcester, defended.
Mr. J. W. Beckley proved that he made the plan
produced. 'Sol ,man Wes*) d, nailtnaker, resix i :g
at the Lye, said he was 66 years old. He was a
patient at the Birmingham Hospital. On the 13th
November he took a ticket at Snow Hill Station,
for the Lye, and got into a compartment next the
engine. When at the Lye he heard someone shout
out, "The Lye," and knew it was the Lye. The
train came to a stand. He put down the window
slide, and looked through the wiadow along the
platform and saw passengers getting out of the
train. He opened the carriage door and put his
right foot on the footboard, and his left thinkingly
on the platform, but he fell down into a de, p hole.
The place where he fell was beyond the platform,
and he fell against a wall injuring ana le. The
first voice he knew when he came to himself was
William Fletcher, a servant of the company. The
train was gone. Fletcher asked what was the
matter with him, and he said, "William, why ail
you take me beyond the platform." He was taken
into a saiting room, a cab was sent for, and they
took him home, and sent for Doctor Bayley who
has atiended him ever since. He could earn 20s
per weak when at work, and was still unable to
work. Mr. Waldron here put in a letter, informing
him of the injuries his client had sustained.
Plaintiff underwent a long cross-examination.
Thomas Hill, lateketmaker, said he came by the
same train and saw a man fall down. The tea.in
had stopped, and :the carriage the plaintiff was
in had overshot the platform. He saw a man
named Morgan go to assist Westwood. Mr. R. L.
B tyley, surgeon, said he wos called in to fiend to
the plaintiff about a quarter past five o'clock, and
found he was suffering from a sprained ankle. No
boues were broken. Plaintiff was under his care
for sixteen weeks, and his charge was £6. This
being the eaFe, Mr. Bentley addressed his Honour
for the defence, and said that he should prove
beyond all doubt by witnesses that the plaintiff
got out of the train before it stopped. If he satisfied
his Honour that this was so, he should ask that the
case be dismissed. He should also prove that the
plaintiff did not use ordinary care, and could not
recover damages. He should call witnesses to
prove that plaintiff was shouted at, and told not to
be in a hurry, and contended that he had brought
the injuries on himself by getting out of the train
before it stopped. He read a number of cases from
the Law Journal bearing upon the present case, and
called Robert Wright, engine driver, who said on
the 13th November he was driver of the train 3.30
from Birmingham. William Aston was fireman.
It was a tank engine. A third class carriage was
next. On arriving at the Lye, the train overshot
five or six yards. The fireman called his attention
to something. When he looked over he saw the
plaintiff lying on the slope of the platform. It was
day light at the time. William Aston, fireman,
said when at the Lye Station, he was putting on the
brake and he saw an arm put out of the window.
Some one was trying to open the door. At that
time the train was in motion, and he put the brake
on hard. The train had not come to a stand when
he saw a man lying down. He jumped off and
aa,.isted to get him up, and said to. him, "You
should not have been in such a hurry." The man
said he could not see very well, and complained
about his foot being hurt. —William Morgan,
station master, of the Lye, said as the train in
question came in, he called out "Lye, Lye." He
saw the doorgopen of a third class carri.:ge. At
that time the train was in motion. He did not see
anyone fall out but saw Aston holding a man
aoa nst bridge. He f aid to Westwootd, "Why
did you get out of the train before it stopped."
He said he did not. Witness told him he must
have done, as the train had gone on several yards
and asked him why he did not keep his seat. He
sail he theught it was all right, and that his eye
sight was very bad. George laaker, guard, also
gave evidence. Mr. Waldron replied on the evi-
dence given, and said that the company were liable
for their servants' acts, and that the train had
overshot the platform. His Honor said it was
important for both parties that he should take
time to consider his judgment, and would give it
tfter reading the various cases quoted.—Judgment
eeEerved.