The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-03-08 00:00:00

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HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

THE FISHERIES OF CANADA.—The total value of tne
Canadian fisheries for the year 1883 is estimated at
$17,251,675, nearly $500,000 in excess of the returns of
the previous year. The increase is confined almost en-
tirely to the item of cod fish, and is to be largely attri-
buted to the remunerative price realized for these fish
and to the fishing bounty. These had the effect of in-
creasing the fishing fleet by 140 vessels last year. On
account of the ice remaining for so long on the coast of
Labrador the codfishery at that place was a partial
failure.
MEMOILIAL TO DEAN STANLEY AT RUGBY.-A full-
length recumbent effigy of the late Dean Stanley,
beautifully executed in white marble by Mr. J. E.
Boehm, BA., has been recently placed in a canopied
recess in the north wall of the chapel of Rugby School,
immediately below the recumbent figure of Dr. Arnold.
The likeness to the late Dean is extremely good. The
arms are crossed on the breast, and the head slightly
turned towards the right, the subject being treated
differently from that of the monument by the same
artist about to be erected to the Dean in Westminster
Abbey. The cost was defrayed by subscription among
old Rugbeians and a few others intimately associated
with Rugby.

TRADE 0011 PETITION.—In London, the other day, at
the Thames Police-court, George Hutchings, a butcher,
of Poplar, was summoned before Mr. Lushington for
creating an obstruction by beating a drum and ringing
a bell to draw custom to his shop. A police-sergeant
saw the defendant in butcher's clothing outside his
shop, beating a drum and ringing a large bell similar to
what they used at railway stations. There was a large
crowd of disorderly boys assembled. The sergeant
asked him to desist, but he persisted in beating the
drum and ringing the bell most violently. The road-
way and footpath were blocked with people. The de-
fendant kept calling out, "Hi, hi! rotten chops," and
other objectionable remarks. The defendant said that
one opposition shop had a band of music, another a
drum and a mouth organ, and a third had a large rattle
and he thou,ght it unfair that he should be singled out.
He was fined 40s. and 2s. costs.

i)ISCOvEitY OF HUMAN REMAINS.—In London, on
Saturday, shortly after noon, a startling discovery was
made at the premises, 15, York-street, Westminster, in
the occupation of Mr. McNalty, licensed victualler, and
known as the Prince of Wales Tavern. The house in
question is undergoing repair, and it was whilst a work-
man was engaged in excavating a basement at the rear
of the house that he discovered the skeleton of a
woman, which was perfect with the exception of the
upper and lower extremities. Upon further search
being made several human bones were found in the
place, which is aa old disused wine-cellar.

DEATia BY sad accident, resulting in loss of
life, oocurred on Saturday night at the residence of Mr.
George Digby, No. 139, Heath-road, Clapham. At about
i eight o'clock Mrs. Jane Digby was n the kitchen when
her daughter, aged four, climbed on to the table and
upset a lighted paraffin lamp, which fell into the
mother's lap, setting fire to her clothes and other
articles in the room. The shrieks of the children soon
brought assistance, when Mrs. Digby was discovered in
one mass of fire. Notwithstanding that every effort
was made to extinguish the flames, the fire was not got
under until all her garments had been consumed. She
was removed to St. Thomas's Hospital, and placed in
the Elizabeth Ward, where she expired on Sunday
morning. The four children were saved.
017TIIAGII IN Comm' CAVAN.—About half-past eight
o'clock on Saturday night some young men were going
home from the village of Ballinagh. On the way
homewards they attacked the house of a man named
Robinson. They called Robinson by his name, and
told him to come out. He opened the door, and was
met by a shower of stones and iron bars, one bar inflict-
ing a very deep cut in his temple. In a fit of despera-
tion Robinson ran back into the house, got a gun, and
fired amongst the crowd, wounding one young man
named Brady. The charge lodged in Brady's thigh and
hand, seriously wounding him. Robinson and Brady
are in the Cavan Infirmary. Two of Robinson's assail-
ants are in custody.
FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT.—Four men named Kattley,.
Crowe, Johnson, and Taylor had a small rowing boat at-
Barrow on Sunday afternoon, and proceeded for a sail
to Piel Island, a distance of about four miles. They
reached the island all right, and after partaking of re-
freshment they left for Barrow. About eight o'clock,.
when opposite the Pale Light, they attempted to ex- -
change oars, when owing to Johnson stumbling the •
boat upset. Kattley and Crowe managed to gain the
shore, but Johnson and Taylor were drowned. Both
were married, and had families. _ _ _

ICH LI THA An.ANTic.—The master of the lowa.
(steamer), which has arrived at Liverpool from Boston,.
reports that on the 24th of February, at 1.30 a.m., when.
bound oast, they fell in with an immense ieefield, and
after steering to the southward and westward until
6 a.m., pt to the south edge of it, where they found
numerous large bergs. The latitude of south edge was -
about 42.40, and longitude of middle south edge, 49.30'
west

A TRANIVATS ASSOCIATION FOR. GREAT BRITAIN AND.
LBELAND.—In. London on Monday, a meeting of tram--
way managers from various parks of the United
Kingdom, including Scotland, Birmingham, Hull, Dews-
bury, London, tze., was held at the Westminster Palace-
Hotel to form an association to promote, develop, and
protect tramway interests, especially with reference to -
the individual interests of managers and other officers
of tramway companies. Mr. R. Hutchinson, chairman =
of the Edinburgh Street Tramways, was elected the first
president of the new association.
TRH Perml Tn./Dn.—ln connection with the "Paper -
Trade Review," Mr. W. J. Stonhill has just published a
useful little handbook, entitled "The A B 0 Paper •
Mill Guide." Oontainmg, as it does, a complete and.
well-arranged list of all the paper-makers and paper- -
mills in Great Britain and on the continent of Europe,
it cannot fail to be of paramount value to all concerned
with this interesting branch of manufacture. It should
be added that the specialty of each mill is given.

THE DUKE OP ALBANY AND THE MANUFACTURE OF
TAPASTRY.—At a meeting of the Aberdeen Town
Council held on Monday a letter was read from the
Duke of Albany, in which his Royal Highness referred
to the movement for the revival of the art of tapestry
as making a connecting link between painting and
manufactures. His Royal Highness made an appeal to
all public bodies who have so warmly supported tech- -
nical education to extend the sphere of action of the •
Windsor looms, and reminds them that at these looms.
not only are works of product undertaken, but at this
institution the beautiful specimens of ancient tapestry
which decorate so many of the great English houses,,
and which time and moth are ruining, may be perfectly •
repaired.. His Royal Highness adds: "Tapestries have•
at all times commanded the interest of the art-loving •
world, and are particularly suited for the decoration of
the large halls which belong to the various corporations
to whom I am appealing for support. I • should be
pleased to have your view on this matter, and to call a
meeting to discuss the subject, and talk over the means
by which a permanent national institution could be es-
tablished." The letter was remitted to the Town and
County Hall Committee.

CTRROII or SMITTIIIMNO, --In London, on Saturday,
at the Mansion House Police-court, John Schesselman,
a ship's steward, was charged before Alderman Sir
Robert Carden, M.P., with smuggling. A Custom
House officer named Bennett stated that on Fiiday he
went on board the steamship Vega, which had just
arrived off the Tower from Hamburg. The defendast
was the fore-cabin steward, and the officer found con-
cealed in his pantry in an ingenious manner Mb. of
foreign manufactured tobacco, the value and duty of
which were £1 his. Bd. Sir Robert Carden said it
was evident the prisoner knew that he was doing
wrong by the way in which he concealed the tobacco.
He fined him treble the value and duty, £4 155., with
the alternative of a month's hnprisonment• The fine •
s naid. _

_
Arr IMPUDENT TITIEF.—At the Hammersmith Police.
court on Monday, Francis Thompson, a general dealer,
was charged with stealing four blankets and two coun-
terpanes, the property of Mr. Frank Daniels, a gentle-
man residing in Sheffield-gardens, Kensington. : Ellen
Dowsett, the housemaid, said on Saturday afternoon
she was going into the breakfast-room, which was used
as a bedroom, when she met the prisoner coming out,
carrying a bundle on his back. She caught hold of
him, and asked what he wanted. He returned an im-
pudent answer, but she struggled with him and called
for assistance, The cook came out of the kitchen, and
both struggled with him. He attempted to strike them,
and kicked witness on the leg. In the struggle the •
cook tore the sleeve out of his coat. He got away, but
he was taken into custody soon afterwards. The bundle
contained the blankets and counterpanes, also a pair of
boote. The prisoner said the boots were his •own pro•
-
perty. The witness was questioned as to the way the
prisoner entered the house, but she said she did not
know. Sarah Coleraan, the cook, said she believed the
prisoner entered by the area door, which was left un-
fastened. The prisoner was remanded, the magistrate
being informed that there were several convictions
against him.

BALSAMS.—These are plants almost indispensable in -
summer, when, if well grown' they make a grand dis-
play and fill up a void that few other plants can do •
(says the "Field.") To have.them in bloom early, and
keep up a long-continued succession, it is necessary to
make two or three sowings. The first should be made
at or soon after this time, but as the plants are liable
to draw when raised while the days are short, it is im-
portant that they be placed, immediately after the seeds
germinate, on a shelf well up to the light, and in a house
where the temperature ranges between 60 deg. and ,
80 deg. a degree of heat which balsams enjoy. As soon
as they begin to show the rough leaf the plants should
be potted singly in 60-sized pots, and in doing this it is
a good plan to sink the stem an inch or so in the soil,
and keep on droppiug it at each potting, till at the final •
shift the lower braazhes are brought on a level with
rim of the pot. This makes the plants dwarf and bushy,
and benefits them in other ways, as they root out
around the buried stems, and the great quantity of-
feeders there formed adds to their strength. As balsams
are very gross habited, they require rich soil to grow in,..
and if the manure used be mild and rotten, the pro-
portions used for potting may be equal to that of the
loam • but, instead of adding so much for the first
batch, it is better to have some leaf mould to lighten
the bulk and keep the whole open. Although the posi-
tion mentioned above is most suitable for the plants
now, by-and-by, as the season becomes more advanced,
they may be grown to a great state of perfection in a
pit or frame, plunged in fermenting material, the moist
heat from which is highly congenial to them, and just
meets their requirements.