The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-01-12 00:00:00

EPITOME Ot NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

The number of faqures in Eng'and and Wa'es
gazetted daring the week ending Saturday, Jan. 5,
Wai 265. The number in the corresponding week of
la't year was 185, ehowing an increase of 80.

About 140 sheep have been worried to death by
dogs in Wirrall, Cheshire, within the last fortnight.

On Monday the body of Mr. Henry Pardy, manager
of a Limerick newspaper, was found in a field about a
mile from Limerick. There was a wound in the head
and other indications leading to the supposition of
foul play.
The babbath Observance Committee, representing
different religious denominations in Canada, are about
to present a petition to the Canadian Government
urging such amendments to the law as will secure the
proper observance of the Sabbath throughout the
Dominion.

A coal miners' convention has been held at Pitts-
burg, at which it was decided to give the employers a
week's notice before going on strike. A resolution
was passed denouncing the importation of foreign
labour, and requesting Congress to legislate against
it.

The first week of the New Year has been favourable
for r a,vigation, only 35 actual shipwrecks being re-
ported against 60 at tl.e corresponding week of the
previous year, and 13 were British-owned against 45.
Four were pteamers, three being British-owned of
3,126 tons. Two vessels were lost with all hands; the
total lives lost numbering 35.
On Monday an influential meeting was held at
Bristol in favour of the restoration of the Bristol
bishopric. Subscriptions of over £14,000 out of the
£40,000 required were announced to have been pro.
wised in the n.om.

All the ruiners employf d at the Granville and
Gasty-hill Collieries, Staffordshire, came out on strike
on Monday morning against a new code of rules which
the masters wish to introduce.

Information has been received at The Hague that
the Governor• General of the East Indies has decided
to send a military expedition to Tenom, in Acheen, as
the Rajah of that place has refused to liberate the men
who formed the crew of the English steamer Nisero,
which was wrecked near there.

A public meeting convened by the Mayor, who pre-
sided, has been held at Newcastle to promote the
abolition of the carriage tax. A resolution was proposed
condemning the duty as unfair to coachbuilders and the
kindred trades, and it was pointed out that private
vehicles had decreased in number by 14,000.

Au exciting scene is repprted to have taken place in
a circus at Dijon. During an exhibition of animals, a
lion.tamer entered the lion's cage to perform various
feats. When he placed his head in the mouth of a
lioness, the animal suddenly closed its jaws. The man
shrieked, and the spectators were panic•stricken and
fled to the doors. The lioness released the man, but
he was severely wounded.
The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens,
Regent's Park, London, during last week included a
Rhesus monkey from India, presented by Miss P.
Crabtree • a Campbell's monkey from West Africa,
presented' by Mr. Walter Van Weede ; an alligator
from the Mississippi, presented by Mr. Thick ; a ring.
tailed coati, from South America, deposited.

The commanding officers of Metropolitan Volun-
teers met on Monday and appointed a Committee to
select a site and make arrangements for a Review of
the Force on Easter Monday.
A gatekeeper named Mockler, in the employ of the
Waterford and Limerick Railway Company, while in
the act of opening a gate between Rossbrick and
Patrick's Well on Monday night, was knocked down
by the engine of the Cork train and killed.

A strike has commenced in the steel trade of the
West of Scotland, the workmen having declined to
accept the reduction of wages which the depression of
the /a-st six months has forced upon the employers.
It having been decided to furnish the Metropolitan
Police with whistles instead of the antiquated rattle,
an order for 7,000 has been given to Messrs. Hudson
and Co., of Birmingham The whistle is of an im-
proved make, and is unusually shrill.

Mr. George Stiutt, of Belper, has given £SGO
towards the sum required L.-r the completion of the
episcopal residence for the new Bishop of Southwell.
Mr. Strutt bad previously subscribed £1,500 towards
the endowment of the see.

A Yorkshire gentleman having written to the Poet.
master General inquiring if postage stamps of greater
value than one penny might be used on the savings
banks forms as deposits, has received a reply stating
that it is not necessary that the stamps should be of
the value of a penny, it being sufficient if the total is
one shilling.
Mr. Asher, Solicitor-General for Scotland, was
present on Saturday night at a meeting of the Elgin
Bnrghs Liberal Association, and spoke on the present
state of political affairs. With regard to the Corrupt
Practices Bill, he said it was necessary that such asso-
ciations as these should be organised everywhere. He
also referred to the state of Ireland, and commended
the present Government for the manner it had dealt
with Ireland.

In Paris, the other evening, a well-dressed man
committed suicide in the Bois de Boulogne in an
extraord:nary manner. He placed about his neck an
iron tube flue I with explosive matter and set Ere to it.
He was literally blown to pieces. A leg and an arm
were projected to a great distance, and shreds of his
flesh were found hanging on branches of trees in the
vicinity.
A New York telegram says that a gentleman named
Arthur Legraud Stafford, believed to be an English-
man, V 2.8 out hunting a few days ago in Maine when
a sudden snowstorm came en. As Mr. Stafford did
not return, search was made for him, it being feared
that he had missed his way in the snow. He was
found quite dead, closely hugged by a bear. The
animal was also quite dead, having been mortally
stabbed by its victim.
On Saturday night the Oldham Exhibition was
brought to a close. It has been open five months, and
was opened by Sir John Lubbock. The Mayor stated
that the exhibition had not incurred a loss, but as to
the amount of the surplus it would be premature to
say. Tbe receipts had been fourteen thousand pounds,
and the number of visitors wae two hundred and ninety
thousand. On Saturday there was the greatest attend-
ance, and during the week over twenty-two thousand
people had visited the exhibition.

Six thou.and two hundred and sixty•eight vessels
cleared cut of the Port of London with cargoes for
oversea ports (luting the past year. representing an
aggregate tonnage of ;3,932,777. Included in that
r urcher were 3,586 steamers, or about 56 per cent,
of the total, compared with 70 per cent, for the year
1882.

af 0
twOviln Sladapa
atAuritrrd.oaf
Cy
tahanefoteienor
gan:otooanf ,
Plymouth,
fewtlommaorui tl
tei shat:f. lryositmorgo
inseßaosloujb::ineg.
at the bottom of the cliffs. He had. i•ustained a
comp: uad frac•ure of the left arm and a severe
and darger, u• Q./Lund on the head. It is supposed
he was climbing the cliffs and fell. In a short
time he would have been drowned by the advancing
tide.
Tnere were 2,926 births and 1,663 deaths registerel
in London heat week. Allowing for increase of popu.
lation, the births were 88, and the deaths 236, below
the aysrsge numbers in the corresponding weeks of
the last tru years. Tbe annual death•rate from all
cane, winch had been 22.7, 21 2, and 198 per 1,003
in the tbrte preceding weeks, rose again to 21'6.
Mr, William Grant, a Monmouthshire working man,
recently wrote to the Pieime Minister wishing him, in
the name of his fellow working men, many happy
returns of his birthday. Mr. Grant has received a
reply from Mr. trlladstone thanking him for his kind
remembrance.

2. I Exeter

On Saturday, owing to their abundance, herrings at
were being sold at sixteen for a penny, and
sprats at a halfpenny per quart,
The Nottingham Town Council has voted £50,000
for the development o the Corporation Gas Works,
and £6,0 0 for street improvements.

The Vienna police have received information from
the Post Offile authorities at Pebth that an iron box
cortaining 240,0001 has been stolen from the post
office in that place.

-
Lord Lscsdowne hms contributed two hundred and
fifty dollars to the fund which is being raised for the
relief of the families of the workmen who were killed
in the recent Toronto accident.

An explosion of fire damp has occurred in a colliery
at Scranton, Pennsylvania, by which the hoisting
apparatus was destroyed. Fourteen miners were en-
tombed but afterwards rescued. All of them were more
or less injured, some seriously.
The Postal, Telegraphic, and Telephonic Gazette
stat,,s that the number of parcels forwarded by Parcels
(Inring the Christmas week amounted to upwards
of 850,000.
On the Dundee and Arbroath Railway some men
who were at work on the line near Dundee, steppe
off the rails to avoid a passenger train when a goods
train running in an opposite direction dashed amongst
them. One platelayer was killed, and another
seriously injured.
Last week's receipts of cotton at all Unlted States
ports were 134,000 bales; since let September,
3,534,000 bales. Week's exports to Great Britain,
89,000 bales • week's exports to the Continent, 44,000
bales. Total since let September, 1,927,000 bales.
Stock at all ports, 1,277,000 bales.
- -

The Italian Ministers for War and Public Instruc-
tion have resolved that henceforth in all public and
communal schools boys shall be taught, besides gym-
nastics, to use muskets.
The Government of British Columbia has submitted
to the Dominion Government a claim for a share in
the Halifax Fishery award. The preaence of American
fishermen in the waters of British Columbia has, it is
alleged, seriously interfered with the privileges of
fishermen of the province.
Intelligence from lezbek states that a conflict oc-
curred there on Saturday between a large body of
peasants and some farmers of Crown property. Two
gendarmes who hastened to the spot were threatened
with hatchets. One was felled to the ground, where-
upon the other shot two of the rioters.
On Monday the steamer Scnella, Captain Parr,
arrived in the Tees, from the African coast, and re.
ported the loss of five of the crew and one passenger
from yellow fever and sunstroke.
Several fires are reported to have broken out at
Cleveland, U.S., where the Park Theatre, together
with some adjoining buildings has been burnt down,
the loss amounting to 300,000 dole. The theatre,
which was said to be fire proof, was set on fire by the
explosion of a lamp, and totally destroyed.
At Nottingham on Tuesday ,a wine and spirit mer-
chant was fined £5 and costs fat' putting a telegraph
wire which passed over his place et: business. The
prosecution was undertaken on behali of the Po"'
master. General.

_
The Italian papers announce two fresh suicide.° .slB
having occurred at or near Monte Carlo. One of tb:
victims of that notorious gambling establishment was
a Pole. The other Was not identified, but was believed
to be a German.

The Committee of the Cul'owners' Association
meeting at Sheffield on Monday declined the offer of
the men to hold a Conference with a Deputation of the
latter on a proposed advance of wages, The masters say
that everything points rather to a reduction than an
advance.

Chatty Old Bachelor: "'Most ernark'ble likeness
between those two children, Nurse ! "—Nurse: "Yessir.
'Fins, Sir."—Old Gent : "What, both of 'em! I"
Panch.

The screw-steamer Sirsa left Plymouth on Sunday,
having on board 51 second and 480 bounty passengers,
classed as follows :-240 single men, and 36 single
women, and married couples, making a total of 618
souls, equal to 531 statute adult-
On Friday, in last week, Mrs. Critchlow, the widow
of a farmer, was knocked down by a pilot engine
while attempting to cross the lino at Staleybridge
Station. Her feet and one of her bands were cut off,
and she was otherwise injured, She was removed to
the local infirmary, where she died shortly afterwards.
The accident happened about twenty minutes before
the arrival of the train by which she intended to
travel.

A poll of ratepayers in South Shields has been taken
on the subject of the opening of the free library in that
town on Sundays, with the result that t 39 voted for
the opening, and 1,022 against. There are over 12,000
electors on the register, and the poll remsir.cd open for
a week.
A lad, named James Wood, 15 years of age, has met
with a shocking death by being accidentally precipitated
down a pit shaft where he was employed as putter, at
Walker, near Newcastle.

On Saturday the police at Edinburgh apprehended
a plumber named John Smart on a charge of murder.
lug his wife. The prisoner was addicted to drink, and
it is believed he killed his wife while under its in.
iiirry..e. The daughter of the a-crtsed found her step-
mother lyir,g dead in bed, with her had eJvered with
bruisep, while Szuert was lying bt:.h.l3 her in a dszed
state through drink.
At Sunderland Petty Seagions on Saturday there
were no cases b•-fore the C )urt, at d ti,e Chairman
(Mr. Jos, Hartley) waa preseritt-d wi,h a p,Or of white
gloves. He said he had heeu connected with the Bench
for forty-three years, and the honour bad not pre-
viously fallen to hitn.

The Acaoeiny of Sciences has jut been finished at
Athens. The new Funding has been lout of marble
in the style of the tuildiags of the Acronolis, ani
within Pieht of them. Baron von Shia, of Vienna, a
wealthy Greek, has made this munincent present to
his countrymen.
A Board of Trade Return shows that Ouring the
year ending on the 31st of December there left the
United Kingdom for places out of Europe 320,584
persons of British origin, 73,501 foreigners, and 3,842
persons whose nationality was not distinguished ; the
total thus amounting to 397,927, being 15,361 fewer
than during the year 1882.
The huge whale which baffled the ingenuity of the
Dundee whalers, assisted by a powerful tug on New
Year's Day, was picked up by three Conrclon boats,
about ten miles off Bervie Brow, on Monday after-
noon, and towed into Stoneham next morning. The
whale was floating high in water, and was sighted at
a distance of six miles. The boats had the carcase In
tow 20 hours. A line and harpoon were found attached
to its back.
A serious accident occurred on Monday morning at
Town-lane Colliery Denton' near Manchester. Eight
men were descending the shaft in the cage. Near the
bottom the rope broke, and the safety check-action
stopped the cage so suddenly that all the men were
thrown out. Seven of them were seriously injured,
and one, named Norris, who was taken to the Ashton
Infirmary, was not expected to recover.
The Rev. Dr. Morison, senior pastor of the Dundas-
street congregation, Glasgow, has, through ill-health,
intimated his resignation. He was the founder of
the denomination called "the Evangelical Union of
Scct'and," popularly known as "the Morisonians."
On Tuesday morning a frightful accident occurred
at tbe Jarrow blast furnaces, by which two men were
hurled a distance of 85 feet from the top of the lifts.
Wm. Fox. who had recently come from Leeds, was
killed on the spot, but his companion is expected to
recover,

Tuesday (Bth) being the 20th anniversary of the
birth of Prince Albert Victor, eldest son of the Prince
of WaJet., the event was celebrated at Windsor with
the customary honours. the bells of St. George's
Chapel and the parish church ringing merrily during
the day.
Sir John Brown, founder of the Atlas Works,
Sheffield, speaking in that town on Monday, deploren
the restless feeling existing amongst our artisans, and
predicted another year of depression in business. He
• believed England had reached the summit of her pro.
sperity, for he saw in all directions trade leaving the
country. Steel plates, which were once a speciality in
Sheffield, could now be got from Germany at 10s. to
20s. per ton less than they could be purchased here.
He urged the men to co-operate with the masters in
winning back our waning trade.'