The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-11-29 00:00:00

11011 E, FOREION, AND COLONIAL

CONGREGATIO2qALISM.-31f. Kamvel Morley, MY., tics
consented to become President of tbo English Con-
gregational Chapel Building Society in succession to
the late Mr. Robert S. Hudson, of Cheater. Mr. Moriley,
whose name appears in the last report of ther society as
baying, at various times, contribu'rad £3,557 to its funds,
has for a great maw years taken a practical interest ii
the work.

Ta Witzono.—Majcx Te Wheoro, the New Zealand
chief, is so far recovered from his dangerous illness that
he is expected to sail foo New Zealand in the lonic ow.
Dee. 3. It is not considered likely that he will receive
the final answer to the Maori memorial from the
Colonial Office before he sails. _ _ _

SOCIAL SCIENCE.—At the last meeting of the Council
of the Social Science Association, an invitation fronn
the Corporation of Portsmouth to hold the Congress for
18$5. in that borough was considered, and its acceptance
by the Committee of Conned confirmed. The Presi-
dency of the Association for the ensuing year has been
accepted by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild.
TECHNICAL BDUCATION.—A conference of members
of trades unionannd members of the Artisans' Technical
Association has been held at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-
street, London, to consider the best means of placing
-
before artisans and workmen the important work the
association had undertaken, which really was to bring
technical education to the homes of the workmen. Sir-
Philip Cunliffe Owen, C. 8., presided, and there were
present representatives from several societies. A long
discussion took place upon the question of technical
education, and eventually it was unanimously resolved:
"That this conference earnestly requests the trade
unions of the United Kingdom to assist the Artisans'
Technical Association in its endeavours to spread a
knowledge of the advantages of technical education, and
to induce artisans to attend technical classes."
SEA DEFENCES OF SHEERNESS.—The War Depart-
ment authorities at Sheerness are energetically engaged
in strengthening the sea walls as a protection from the
inroads of the sea, which has made great encroach-
ments during the past few years. On Saturday morn-
ing, in expectation of a high tide, on account of a
north-easterly gale, the approaches to the town from
the sea were barricaded, but fortunately no overflow
took place, although the waves rolled on the top of the
esplanade. Some damage caused to the wall beyond
Cheyney Rock was speedily repaired by the Govern-
ment authorities.

PRIZE ESSAYS ON THE SUNDAY QUESTION.—The corn'
mittee of the Working Men's Lord's Day Rest Associa-
tion have issued a circular which offers prizes amount-
ing to £95 for essays by working men or women on
various aspects of the Sabbath question. The subjects
are: "What does God's Word teach about the Sab-
bath ? " "The Moral, Social, and Physical Advantages
of the Sabbath Day ; " "The Sunday Closing of Public
Houses; "Objections to opening museums &c., on Sun-
days ; " "The arguments for opening the national
collections and places of amusement on the Lord's Day
carefully considered and answered ; " " Railway Traffic
and Postal Work on the Lord's Day."
IsTiem—The programme of the Nice authorities for
the winter season is just to hand. It states that the
Casino was opened on the 15th of October for theatrical
representations, concerts, &c. The Winter Garden is
in beautiful condition. The races will take place on
the 12th, 15th, and 18th of January with prizes to the
amount of 50,000 francs. The new Opera House will
open some day between the 15th of January and Ist of
February for operas and dramas, and with a first-class
corps de ballet. The Carnival begins on the Ist of
February, and will last until the 17th. The Mid-Lent
Corsos, Venetian fetes, Battle of Flowers, &c., will take
place on the 11th and 12th of March. The International
Regattas are fixed for April 7th and 9th; the prizes
amount to 90,000 francs.
THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.—An extended Christmas
holiday is likely to be given in many branches of whole-
sale and retail trade in the metropolis and in numerous
provincial towns. Christmas-day falls on a Thursday,
Friday is Bank-holiday, and Saturday is already in many
trades a half-holiday. By closing their premises on
Saturday morning employers will be able to afford their
assistants four days continuous absence from business
instead of two. Several large employers of labour have
intimated to the Early Closing Association their in-
tention to give the four days' holiday; and an organised
effort is to be made to secure as general a closing as
possible.
On Saturday, at Birmingham, the borough coroner
held an inquest respecting the death of Ann Rice, wife
of Thomas Rice, a dealer in oils in Aston-road. The
evidence showed that early on the morning of the 6th
Nov. the prisoner threw a large quantity of paraffin
over his wife, who was carrying a baby at the time. A
large portion of the liquid went over Mrs. Rice, some
over the baby, and a little over the servant, Annie
Burrows. Flames immediately shot out from the fire,
and the furniture and chimney piece, where part of the
paraffin had fallen, became ignited immediately. The
servant ran out of the house with the baby, which she
seized from her mistress, but Mrs. Rice was so seriously
burned that she died last Wednesday after suffering
intense agony. The jury returned a verdict of" Man-
slaughter against Rice," who is in custody."
AN EXCITING SCENE.—On Saturday evening, shortly
before six o'clock, an accident which might have had
serious results occurred in the Hurley-road, Lower
Kennington-lane, London. An elderly female, who
gains her livelihood by hawking paraffin oil, which
is stored in a zinc tank placed on a donkey barrow, was
in the road in question, when the woman was in the act
of serving a customer by the light of a lamp, when by
some means the oil running from the tap became
ignited. Mr. George Ware, an official at the Lambeth
Workhouse, who happened to be near the spot, imme-
diately rushed to the donkey's assistance, and with
great prompitude cut the harness, and freed the poor
creature from its dangerous position. Immediately
after the tank burst with a loud report, and the burning
liquid covered the whole of the roadway, and caused
great consternation and alarm in the neighbourhood.
The Ifxrley-road and the adjacent thoroughfares were
brillit ltly illuminated, and in consequence a large con-
course of people assembled. In the meantime the Fire
Brigade, whose station is near at hand, arrived, and
through their prompt attention what might have been
a great destruction of property was averted.
THE BRADFORD CHIMNEY DISASTER.—A number of

the relatives Of victims and sufferers through the
chimney disaster which took place nearly two years ago
at Newlands Mill, Bradford, were on Saturday called
together, to receive their proportion of compens4ion in
the shape of money collected for them by public sub-
scription and paid over by Messrs. Ripley, the owners
of the mill. The question of compensation originally
formed the ground of a civil action at the Assizes; but
the jury were unable to decide the question of liability.
With a view of saving further litigation, it was agreed
by the parties to the suit to refer the question of com-
pensation to the President of the Chamber of Commerce
(Mr. Henry Mitchell), the Mayor of Bradford (Mr. Isaac
Smith), and Mr. Robert Sutcliffe. These gentlemen,
with the assistance of the Town Clerk, have examined
each individual case, and have made an assessment of
what, in their opinion, is due to the sufferers. The total
sum arrived at for distribution amounts to £2500, which
is to be divided among nearly 100 persons. Of that
amount £l5OO was on Saturday distributed among 32
persons, who presented themselves before the Com-
mittee. The legal expenses connected w;th the pro-
ceedings amounted to about £600; but the greater
portion of that sum has been collected in subscriptions,
to which Mr. Forster, M.P., and the Clothworkers' Com-
pany have contributed among others.