The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-04-22 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

The Russian fleet of evolution in the Black Sea will
this summer be composed of 31 YeAels, manned by 357
officers and 8,002 sailors.
A sum of £5,000 appears in a Parliamentary paper
jut issued as gratuities and prize money in the Ashantee
Expedition in the year ended the 31st of March 1875.
Stanton, the British champion, won the Interns-
Eicvclinx Match, which came cff at New York on
Monday, Maclellan, his opponent, having broken down.

- -
The etearner Dictator, on the Mi-kis4ppi, ran into a
railway bildze at Hannibal on Monday and saLk. Nine per-
sons were drowned.

A Biil to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors
within four miles of the California University is called by a
Ban Francisco paper "An Act to promote pedestrianism
among students."

A poet in Pittsburgh hag sent to a local paper a
poem in which he allndea to the dew as 'the perspiration of
the moon."
The arrival in Paris is announced of Bertaccini, the
marvellous runner who is std toover fifty miles in better
time thin an ordinary horse started at his side. Bertaccini
La a native of Florence.

The declared value of coffee imported in the last
three months was 41,956,(36 ; in the like period of 1875
£1,632 3.5.

The annotinc4,ment ma,'Es in an Engli4h newspaper
that the German Empress will visit her lisf -sty the Queen at
Windsor next month is confirmed by the Berlin papers.
It is reported from Canada that the greatest want
prevails at Gasp 6, in the Gulf of Bt. Lawrence, and that
people are even dying of starvation.

The Kent justices have addressed to the Home
Secretary an order of the court, recommending that in future
tke constabulary shall be empowered to apprehend, without
a warrant, persons under police supergision whs fail to
report themselves.

Advices from Rio de Janeiro to the 24th ult., report
the number of dea:hs from yellow fever to be from fifty to
sixty daily. The immigrants arriving are conveyed to the
mountains, and fever hospitals have been established for the
poor in healthy districts.

In the last three months 3,165,404 tons of coal, coke,
&o, were exported (exclusive of 1101,670 tons for the ure of
steamers engaged in the foreign trade), against 2,446,442
tons in the corresponding period of 1875. The value this
year MU £1,840,831, and last year £1,791,t24.
Mr. Alexander Warde, a son of General Sir
Edward Warde, Royal Artillery, has met with a severe aczi-
dent in Paris. Be was riding in the Bois de Boulogne, when
his hot se shied and ran with great violence again 4 a tree
Both Mr. Warde's thighs were broken, and it was at first
feared that he had au,tained other and more vital injuries,
but there are now hopes of his ultimate recovery.

It appears from A return obtained by Lord Shaftes-
bury that in 1874 the number of commitals to reformatories
was—males, 1,099 : females, 265; and In 1875 1,069 males, and
213 females. Of the 1,364 in 1874, as many as 73 males and
ten females were ten years of age and under; and in 1875,
out of 1,282, 60 males and eight females were ten years of
age and under.

About thr.e weeka ago a ehoemaker, named
Strachan, was missed at briar, and about that time his cap
was found in a draw-well near the town, abont sixty feet
deep. No attention was paid to the circumstance until
Monday, when the well was searched, and the body of
Strachan, advanced in decomposition, was brought to the
surface.

The National Union of Elementary Teachers have
been sitting in congress at Liverpool Among the subjects
tinder consideration was the recent report of the factory
commission, which was cordially approved of. Resolutirms
were adopte.i in favour of a ILoyal Commission, with a view
to a reform in English speain:and of a system of direct eons-
puliory education, aided by indirect compulsion.

The receipts on account of revenue from the lit
April, 1878, when there was a balance of £5,119 587, to the
15th inst. were £3,854 179, against £4,187,773 in the corre-
sponding period of the preceding Ilene at year, which
began with a balance of £6.2C5 322. The net expenditure
was £0 280,770, awanst A 7,270,776 to the same date in the
previous }ear. The Treasury balances on the 15th inst.
amounted to £2,833,137, and at the same date in 1875 to
£3,088,981

"Mr. Spurgeon is, we are informed, suffering from
his old camplaint, and is incapacitated from performing his
pastoral duties. Oa Sunday his place at the Metropolitan
Tabernacle was filled by the Bey. Archibald Brown, of the
Bast-end Tabernacle. The congregations were large, and
conciderabie luitereet was evinced in a letter sent to tke
church by Mr. Spurgeon, which was read from the pulpit"—
Daily News

A shocking aclident occurred on Monday night at
Barn,ley, by which George Richard Keep, the chief clerk of
the Postal telegraph Department, was shol by Gregham
Noble, a member of the Barnsley Rifle Corps. The parties,
together with another young man, lodged at the same
house. Noble appears to have been showing his companions
how the rife was loaded, when it went(if, blowing away
the greater part of Keep's skull and killing him inataa-
taneously.

A Times' telegram says that the carriage of the
Emperor of Brazil, whilst driving rapidly along sixth
Avenue, New York, on Monday, came into collision with a
heavy waggon. The Emperor a carriage was wrecked. The
-
Emperor was unhurt —The Emperor attended -mass in St.
-Patrick's Cathedral in the morning, and in the evening was
present at a Moody and Sankey revival meeting.
While two boys named William Gall and Alexander
Simpson, aged twelve and eleven years respectively, were
aransiag themselves with a loaded gun on Saturday af Ger-
noon in a bedroom at the Mull el rechel, Tarves, Aberdeen-
shire, ocenpied by Simpson's father, the gun anidentally
went off, completely earrying away the lower part of the
hoe of the boy Simpson, and also knocking eff the two
middle fingers of his left hand The poer lad died while
being Won to Aberdeen, and his body was carried back to
hisfather's ho as e. —Seetemen.

Windsor was visited by thousands of excursionists
from all parts on Easter Monday. The Great-Western and
South-Western Railways ran kpecial trains throughout the
day. Her Majesty being absent from Windsor, the State
Apartments and the Royal Mews were open to the inspection
of the 'Albite. The sound Tower, the Castle Terraces, St.
George's Chapel, the Long Walk, the Park, and Eton CJllege
were objects.of great attraction.

The Ere Nouvelle of Tarbes stages that lately, in a
locality near Girgenti (Sicily), six armed brigands captured a
rich man. and sent to his family an order to pay 13 COO Cr. in
gold as a ransom. The police were informed, and were able
to surprise the robbers and deliver the prisoner, whom they
had concealed tinder a heap of straw. From the bandits
were taken their arms and a telescope which they wed to
watch the movements of the public force from a distance.

The Doke of Edinburgh, speaking at an Easter
banquet given in leindon on 11nday, in reep,nee to the toast
of the Prince and Princess of Wales and thereat of the Royal
▪ 'tiy, all:—" We hope shortly to welcome my brother
hme to this ,Ngintry, and I am sure I do not say too much
when I remark that his journe) has proved a great success.
The reception I feel sure he will meet with in this city on his
return will gratify the people and be excessively aptneciated
by him. lam certain that every oi,e present will Jim with
me in congratulating the Princess a Wales on shortly reoeiv-
ing back again her husband and the father of her chtliree."

A. Reuter's telegram from Gibraltar says that on
Tuesday the Prince of Wales rode to the Cork Wood;
where a plc-nic was given by the Duke of Connaught.
Afterwards his Royal Highness returned through San
Roque. where he was most enthusiastically greeted by the
Spanish population. The guards all turned out and pre-
sented arms. In the evening his Royal Highness dined at
the mess of the Rile Brieade, and subsequently went to the
theatre of the Spanish Zarznela Company. Every seat in
the house was filled. Heavy rain fell during the night.
Mr. Simmons, the well-known aeronaut, lies in
Linenhall Hotel, Belfast, suffering from injuries sustained
by falling out of his balloon. Accompanied by Lieut. Bailey,
Mr. Simmons made an ascent from the Botanic Gardens on
Monday evening. The balloon proceeded in the direction of
Crumlin, where it struck a large mill. Lieutenant Bailey
jumped out, falling ld feet. The balloon again ascended, but
shortly afterwards struck a wall, knocking It down, and Mr.
Simmons was thrown to the ground insensible. The balloon
has disappeared.

A sad incident is related by the New York papers
In connection with the heavy snowstorm of the 27th ult.
Mrs. George Holton and tiro little children, living near
Wamega, Kansas, started to go to a neighbour's house, only
a quarter of a mile distant. Darkness coming on, and the
storm beating them so forlornly, tbey became bewildered,
and wandered about the prairie until exhausted. They were
found two days afterwards frozen to death, not twenty rods
from the house they were in search of. The mother had Olken
off nearly all her clothes to protect her children
Mr, A. T. Stewart, according to a New York tel.-
grain to the Daily New, has left by will everything to his
wife, erupt one million of dollars to his business and legal
adviser, Mr. Hilton, the ex-Jo ige, and small bequests to
various friends and ensployds. He has left a letter to his
wife, saying that he intended to provide for various public
charities, but if he should die before doing so, he requests
her to oonsult with Mr. Hilton to carry out his plans.

Count Herbert on Bismarck, the Chancellor's eldest
son, after passing his ezansination as Secretary in the Diplo-
matic Service *um lauele, has been appointed to the legation
at Berne. He retires from active service as a second lieu-
tenant in the let Dragoon Guards, but is posted 4 la suite of
the Army with the privilege of wearing the uniform of his
former regiment. The Khedive's son, Prince Hassan, who
belongs to the same corps of the Prussian Army as a first
lieutenant, is expected hack at Berlin from his Abyssinian
expeditionhy the month of Jane. —Army an Navy Gazette,

By desire of the Prince of Wales, the whole of the
wild animals presented to his Royal Fligitness in India will be
exhibited in one. collection at the Zoological G
Regent's Park. A large tent has been erected for the purpose
on a plot of ground behind the Pheasantry. The four ele-
phants the Prince brings with Lim can only be accommodated
in the elephant house, but the bears, panthers, chettahs,
leopards, nylghaus, snakes, ostriches and pheasants will all
be exhibited in the tent. It is expected that the collecion
will be opcu to the public about the 12th of May.

A. return to the House of Commons (procured 113
Mr. Watnky) has just been printed, showing that in the
year ended the 30th of J 11136 last, in k'ugland and Wales, the
numbur of licences issued to split dealers not being
retathin, a'; £lO lie, per annum, was 7,104, of whish 6.175
were for tiie whole year, and 629 for fractional parts. The
number of additional licences granted to spirit dealers to
rrt..ll spirits Lot to be consumed on the premises, at £3 Is. a
year, was 4,797, of which 4,386 were for the whole year, and
409 were for fractional parts

Mr. Rawlinson, C.E.. Chief CommiPsioner of Works
of the Local Government Board, presided at the distribution
of the certificates of merit awarded by the examiners at the
Crystal ealace School of Practical Engineering The chair
man spoke in high terms of the value of the school, assuring
hie hearers that he would rather take as a pupil, without a
premium, a young man from that establistiment who had
shown that he had ability, and was devoting himself ener-
getically to learning his pretension, than take a young man
who knew nothing of it, however large the premium that
might be given.
An extraordinary scene we witreseed on Monday
in the arretts of Limerick. A. 11,me [tale demonstration
had been organized, and Mr. But and Mr. O'Shanghnessey,
the members; for the city, were announced to address the
gathering. Theme gentlemsn were met at the railway station
by an enormous crowd, and having triumphantly paraded
some of the nrincipalthoroughfarem, were met by a small but
compact body of Eationaiists, armed with sticks, loaded
whips, and other fiirmicale wespous. A determiued• fight
took place, which lasted a quartt r of an hour, and ended in
the discomfiture of the Netionalists. Stones, brick oats.. and
bintheons were freely u.ed, al the surgeries in the place
, were :emu in active mmployeita, ' and -he ep.-et.ttore fled
' terror•stricken from tie se -lie of the Coital t. Mr. Butt and
Mr. O'aherighnessey brit Laderessed the Rome Rmle„ wi.,
hard. rd.
the city waitia such a state of turnaoll thytt 1i1,t.0 conlit beAcc ording to ancient custom: ownEtasitneraTbuot.di‘dyatoy, ttishee
ca
Eine Coat Boys., 614 in number, en
Alansipu Rouse, Issisondon; awd were praseuted to the Lord
Alter they had marched
pre,il.ni,eti tach ,if the Groc.lai.s fifteenyi'
M.a3 or ariti the Lady 11.4yoress.
according to
riion.l the •Egypriao hall ' the "Lord
semi ttooar Oreia
ly Crs, i'
et.4%st number,
ln ali:
a guinea ; the probe
caatom,
with half a guinea each; forty- onr nuquiteire with half-e-
-and 577 ,tther boys, with a shilling each. The
tributed allillutitect to £54 es. in all d
sc r)
me vi
tuheuascdh ,
e;
s it was ireah from the Mint. Each of
single coin CO•11 Wen".
address
U(lll,arinvde
Taegdla , and every
'8 88 theY PAttaed tint was also, according to custom,
the pupl
preissieinatnedadwidtiir e.
on Tuesday, at BarizoOd,
Glamargatislure, on the Occasion of the laylug of the f-iund 4-
tiers 'stone Of A new
of the church, the Lord Bishop tit Lland,ff spoke
connection of the Church with.the State. The Il..shop,
alter abkink where all the money came from to built and
endow churches, replied that the State had not given a
single farthing. Originally churches were built and endowed
by private benefactors, arid his 1.n41-hip asserted, with some
warmth, that Church property had never belonged to tke
State, and told his hearers that when people said to them
that the State had a right to take away what it had given, '
they either spoke in ignorance or with a desire to discredit
the Church.

The Alabama Claims Commission, a Washington.
telegram states, has decided that persons who insured
against war risks ean only recover their net losses.
The fees to witnesses who attended to give evidence
at the investigstinns int* the official frauds in America
amount to 6,000 dollars weekly.
• -

An official return of collieries where the strike is
existing in South Yorkshire shows that at twenty Pits 7,€sS
men were on strike,

In the la 4 month the value ef eggs imported was
£330,E01, which was an increase on the same period last
par. In the three months ended the 31st tilt, the value w
£685,602, against £622,883 in 1875.

It is stated that of the Memoir of Dr. Norman
Macleod, no less than a thousand copies of the book are in
circulation aniong the subscribers to atudie's Library.
The Commissioneri of Inland Revenue have directed
that lists of persons licensed to keep doge for the current
year shall be posted at the various stations, and in the
country places on the church doors.
The census of Philad.-lphia, taken on April 3, nhowe
that the population is 817,448, being an increase of 143,426
since 1870.

The volcanoes of Kilauea and Mokuaweocieo, an
Island of Hawaii. are reported to be in a state of eruption.
Difficulties in the London building trade are antici-
vited by th. Builder, owing to the scarcity and the rise in
the price of bricks.
Jersey is about to perpetuate the memory of Richarcl
Wace, a native poet, canon of Bayeux in the twelfth cell-
tury. His poems are in the old Norman language.
4114 The importation of cured and salted fish has largely; '
increased n the last three months compared with the con.; '
respobding period last year. In 1875 the quantity waii .
119,781 cwt., and the value £179,566; this year 181,9744w1.,
anti the declared value 007,149. ,

There was a decres.se in the number and value of
horses exported in the last three months compared with the
corresponding period in 1875 'the number in the last. oeslit
quarter was 481 and the value £87,647; in 11b the number-, !seal
was On and the value £48,228. -
England will seni forty-five carriages to the Cen- ell
tennial, France thirty-six, Germany and Italy one carriage
each, America will be represented by seventy-five firms. isd
Strawberries, grown in the gardens of Versailles, opisisvilb
are now on sale in the markets of Paris. They are disposed 's
of at prices from 10d. to Is.- 4d. each strawberry, according
to their quality.

The teaching of the English language is in future to
be made obligatory in all the marine schools of Russia, In
consequence of the deliberations of a conference held at
Archangel by all the teachers of Government sailors'
schools
The Queen was welcomed to Coburg on Wednesday.
evening, In last week, by a torchlight procession of the •—•
inhabitants of the towr, mid an address was made by the as!
Burgomaster, to whom the Duke of Coburg expressed her
Majesty's gratification at such a reception.
The iron ship Loch Logan. which has been posted
mis•ing at Ll ,yd's, had a crew r f thirty-two hands all told. ss.it
She left Vverpiol for Melbourne on the lit of October last, waist
with a general cargo and no passengers, and has not *lnas
been heard of.
4stii
issat

The Wolverhampton ratepayers have elected Miss '
Lloyd, of that town, as a member of the bard of guardians.
There were forty candidates—thirty-nine gentlemen and one
lady—for the twelve vacant teat., and Miss Lloyd was re-
turned at the head of the poll with 3,031 votes

ISt.
VA

The Bristol Master Biiiiderai Association have de-
clined to accede to the request of the operative honse
painters and labourers for an advance of wages, the former
of Id. and the latter of td. per hour. The latter body are
stated to be determined to cease work U their demands are
net conceded or arbitration resorted to.
It is proposed to hold a large "Dairy Convention at
Philadelphia in October next, in connection with the exhibi-
tion of dairy products, which will open about the 17th of that
month The American Dairyman's Association proposes to .
make it an international convention by inviting foreign .
nations interested in dairying to share in Its deliberations.
On Tuesday the business session of the Grand Lodge
of Gaod Templar, was opened in the Town Hall, Newcastle-
upon-Tyne. There were about 1,600 members present. The
revrt of the Chief Templar strongly advocated political
action on the part of the organization. There was a balance
of assets ever liabilities amounting to £2,600. The present
number of lodges belonging to the order is 11,100, and of
members 126,317.
The Prussian Chamber of Lords consists of 336
members, of whom 93 are hereditary and 161 life members,
while 82 are great officers of State or members specially
nominated by the Crown. At the present time, however, 47
seats are vacant, and 10 of the members have never taken
their seats, so that for deliberative purposes the House does
not number more than 279.
The usual annual return to Parliament has just been
printed of the increase and diminution last year in the ~.„141,
number of persons employed or in the salaries of all public "7"---
departments The increase in number was 1,395, and the
amount £223,504 6s 4d. The diminution was in number 60,
and in amount £28,728 is, 7d. The great increase was in the
Post Office, to £1 125.
Herr Krupp, of Essen, presented to the Emperor
William on his last birthday two inlllll of his own make and
his newest design—a 4-pounder and 6-pounder—both highly
finishld. The Emperor has graciously accepted the gift, and . ,
has ordered the guns to be removed to his palace at Potadain„
and to be permanently placed there.

At Dover, on Easter Monday, there was a sham .‘
ight, carried out by the garrison troops, in connection with
the Kentish Volunteers. Of the latter somewhat over one
thousand assembled, including nearly five hundred of the
artillery corps; the regular troops numbered about three
thousand. The idea carried out was that an army had landed
at Deal, and laid siege to the north-eastern works of the
garrison. The attackwg force was represented by the Bth
tiighlanders.
The meeting of the Conference of the German Cre-
mation Societies, originally fixed for the middle of April tt
Dresden, has had to be delayed, owing to the unexpectedly •
large numbers of delegates that announced their arrival,
which necessitated a change of programme. The conference
is now fixed for June. At Zurich and Milan cremation
societies are also established. A German man of the
movement is the Gazette for the Promotion of Fire Burials,
published at Walburg. It is now in the second year of ita
publieation.

The Maharajah of PAU&Ia died suddenly on Friday
(the 14th) of epilepsy. The Maharajah was amongst the
most important fish Chiefs, was a G.C.S.I , and was the
chief whose splendid jewels attracted much attention during
ens Prince of Wales's visit. His eldest son, aced five, suc-
ceeds him. During his minority the administration will
probably be a Council of Recency, with the present Prime
Minister as President. The Times correspondent at Gibr ltar
says that the Prince of Wales has heard with much regret of
the sudden death of the Maharajah.

Two soldiers belonging to the depot of the 85th
Regiment, stationed at Portsmouth, on Saturday evening
hired a small pleasure wherry from Sonthsea Beach, and
pulled out towards Spithead. After being out some time,
one of the men was observed to stand up and almost imme-
diately fall overboard. His comrade appeared to lean over
to all him, when the boat capsize I, and both men sank.
Boats put off to the spot, but could find no trace of the men.
The Prinee Royal of Portugal, a young lad, has
been taking a tour in the south of hie father's kingdom,
where his youth has not prevented him from being bored
with receptions and addresses. The other day he was walk-
ing with his preceptor tite-Ogite in a shady grove. "I hope
your highness likes your walk," said the preceptor. "Aye,
surely; " replied the Prince, "the trees at least don't bore
me with addresses and diseourses."—Court Journal
The Royal Zoological Society have forwarded to ),
Lieutenant Cameron a letter of thanks for the animals
which he brought home from Africa. The most formidable
animal is an ape of great height and size, known as a sib.'
nosed mandrill. There are two yellow baboons, one soot) •
mangabey, an African oat, a curicusly-spotted Servaline cat,
an Angela vulture, a Bandea ichneumon, and a Monterio
galago. .4
The Volunteer Review at Tring on Monday was 4
witnessed by many thousands of persons from the neighbour- '
ing towns and from London. About 7,000 Volunteers of aU • -
ranks were present, including the local sone and a strong
battalion from Manchester. Prince dward of Saxe Weimar
was in supreme command, and the divisional leaders were
Oolonels Percy Fielding and Lord Abinger. The sham-fight •.1
consisted only of simple mancenvres. The Volunteers were I
conveyed to their various destinations in good time and
without casualties of any kind.
Mr. Henry Taylor, the general secretary, spoke at
Leamington on Monday, and said that notwithstanding the
great split in the ranks of the National Agricultural La- -
bourers !futon, and the formation of a rival union, there
were now more paying members of the old association than -
ever. The receipts for the year would not exhibit a decrease
of more than £l,OOO. Mr. Taylor said the combination was
so strong that their political rights as a class would not be
long delayed.
The monthly returns of the Poor Law Department
begin the year well. It the end of Januti, 1876, the
number of panpers in receipt of relief from the rates in Eng-
land and Wales (minim the usual 8 per cent for souse small .
classee omitted) was 706,671, which is 7.7 per cent, fewer than
at the corresponding date in the preceding year. In the
south-eastern division the decrease amounted to 9 per cent., 41r,
and it erceirded 10 per cent, in the Metropolis and In the it
south•midland division ; in the eastern division it was no less
than 12 6 per cent. in the north-western division It was 79 -
Per cent. In Wales it had recovered to 41 per cent. In
Yorkshire it had dwindled to 0•2 per sent. t.. 4
In an article on "Crime in Spain" the Correspond-. It
ent of 7/se Tinus remarks that, "Some of the crimes com-
mitted are crimes which betoken a very low order and type
of humanity indeed. Thus in a waste about two miles from '4l
Alicante last autumn a dead body was picked up—that of a
full-grown man—nearly covered with stones and bits of rock,
by which he had been beaten into a jelly. Every now and
then a man will be brought into some provincial hospital on r
a stretcher, his faee literally beaten to a pulp by blows with
some jagged stones, or fragment of fi nt or granite rock.
etirtrthibeusnuge wlri.thNa
Nor
rilevaner
Yet, such a man, blasted for life, will constantly, with a
keen but mistaken sense of honour, refuse to disclose the
name of his assailant, fie wiil rather say, 'I will take my
Own revenge.'"
It has ben said that a French statesman can survive
any crisis, so long as he receives an ample supply of sugar and
water. This traditiolial drink mast, according to ttie rules
of the Atsemhly, he provided for each spealear, and a stately
usher is entrusted with this care. At every change of speaker
ttlihreaisyl7flunae mcgut7 ill!: 'a
:we; tneeol:, satindhdllerassdt:::°3 snotifeottic us re ; for when during a
moment of crisis there is a rush of speakers, the usher finds
Ii difficuit to renew the sugar and wattr with sufficient
promptitude.

e 1.4

$l4,
TI-ukta
a wit.

A