The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-06-01 00:00:00

SATURDAY, JUNE, 1, 1878
OUR INDIAN idiNIY:

l'he recent debates in both Houses ot Partia-,
went upon the bringing of Indian troops to
Malta without previous consultation wild to,
Legislature, have drawn attention to the cutu-
visition of a force which, oue-aud-twouty years
ago gave us a great deal of trouble. inn,
country is not soon likely to forget that within
twelve months of the close of the war with
itas-_-ia, the mutiny of the native Indian ttraiy
brougit us Lee to face vit.h a sudden, an un-
expected. and an alarming danger. Tile iutelii-
puce occupied a mouth to reach Englund,
which time the mutineers had gained grouhu
but the energy of the Government, which him
at its call such able commanders as Sir Cohn
Campbell, 13;z James Oatram, and Sir Henry
Havelock, smicessf.ully grappled with the peril,
and saved the Indian Empire, described as
" the brightest star in our commercial con-
stellation." The interest in the native army

which has lately been excited the discus--
s'ons in both Houses sufficiently justifies an
examination into the composition and strength
of the force which has been brought in-. 0
European waters ready for any emergency that
may arise.
Each of the three Presidencies of Calcutta,
Madras, and Bombay has its QWI.I army anti
regulations ; but, besides these main armies,
there are other contingents—such as the Pun-
jaub Frontier Force, the Hyderabad con-
tingent, the Central Indian Horse, the Bireel
Corps, and so forth, 'the irregular forces of
Central India are under the oruers of the
Viceroy and not under the Commanticr-iu-
Chief. The men from whom the Indian army
is recruited are principally agriculturists of the
peasant class. Some years ago a better class
was attracted to the military service, bui
irrigation has opened up new sources of em-
ployment, and the wore profitable occupation ut
farming is not unns`urally preferred. rher,
are two kinds of regimett.—those composed in
the main of men of the same race, and those
corps in which the races ft7o mixed. The
latter may and often do dislike each other
intensely, but they know that they must not
attempt to settle their ditierynces in the ranks ;
whilst, if mischief should be brewing in one
suction of the regiment, the commanding
officer would be sure to hear of it from either
or all the others. Occasionally ,there artt
differences not o 'y of race and religion but also
of language in the same regiment; and thus a
greater safeguard against combination anti
rebellion is secured. The mutiny of 1857 arose
from valious causes. Amongst these %,/..re
c.
laxity of discipline, the fac, that Lao, werecompelled to give way to the menju all matters
which could be referred to caste, and also that
all the men of the Bengal army were recruited
from the province of Oude. By the mixed
system thus the chief .danger is averted. The
regular cavalry are supplied by the Government
with horses, arms, and ammunition. But this
is not P.O with the irregulars; for the men, upon
enlisting, have to deposit two hundred rupees,
or £2O of our money, for a horse, and they are
placed under stoppages until they have paid for
arms, saddlery, and accoutrements. It will be
seen that the men who can comply with this
condition must be of a superior class, especially
as £2O represen'A a great deal more to a rative
than to an Englishman.- Yet there are far more
applications than can possibly be entertained.
In the frontier force men are 'taken with a
smaller deposit, :as they might find it difficult
amongst prying neighbours to accumulate the
larger sum, but they have to make it up after-
wards. When a troOper leaves the force his
horse is valued ,by a committee of native
officers, and he receives the amount. Native
officers, as a rule, are promoted from the ranks ,
and although some are given direct commis-
sions, it is only afttr they have served a
thorough probation in all grades. It has been
a question whether native officers can be
entrusted with independent commands, but
even if they are efficient there are reasons which
' render it necessary to retain the command in
I the hands of Englishmen. The English officers
are generally kind and considerate to the mum,
hut owing to oriental customs and prejudices, it
is difficult for them to obtain that intimat,
knowledge of the soldiers which exists in
European reaiments. Nevertheless, wilatf,ver
his race or creed, the native soldier looks up to
and likes the European, and in many instanct:s
itshedevmeeteed
itno htihe m.
l'irrileres,natthiveeurrb
ofrice.ei:s ldiviffeesr with
ti
nt
houges ; and as far as native customs will allow
they are on terms of friendship with the
ordinate
Europeans. The
jhounhiion•rh}o,sutrr ave officer is sub-
same time the latter is expectedotPFhean one
; the
o treat the
older native ()facers and opinions with
respect. Upon the whole the latter are a flue
body of men, and well up to their
. to
Sitholllll LI RolthLuglifibroen that til'9

A letter has beeli received from the Rev. D.
respating an alteration proposed to be
made in front of the School of .Uesign. The
letter has been referred to a sub-committee to
consider and report.
Plans of a house in Worcester Street proposed
to be built for Mr. Brazier were approved, subject
to the compliance of the bye-laws.
Ihe plan for a new shop in High Street pro-
posed to be built by Mr. Woolley was approved
subject to the front wall being thrown back 4*
inches and in compliance with the bye-laws.
Mr. Evers moved, and Air. Kelley seconded that
the report read be accepted.
The Clerk read letter he had received from
the Secretary of State sanctioning the opposition
by the Commissiorers to the Great Western Rail-
way Company.
Mr. Hughes said that some of the Commi3sioners
met the engineer of the company and Mr. Owen
on Friday last. They went round the works and
he believed they would meet nearly all their
wishes.
Mr. Billing-ham said they were expecting a
letter from the company.
There was no other busines.

THE HAWARDEN MEMORIAL TO THE LATE LORD
LYTTELTON. ---- A very handsome gateway has
recently been erected in the churchyard at
Hawarden, Mr. Gla,dstone's seat, as a Memorial to
the late Lord Lyttelton. It was made to the
designs of _Mr. Douglas, of tAlester, lay the ot.
Pancras irc.aiNvcfk company, of London, and is a
very beau,iful specimen of wrought iron work.
Over the main gateway is a Gothic arch carryi ig
the words, "Enter into His gates with thanks-
giving."—Frona "Martineau and Smith's Hard-
ware Trade Circular," May alst, 1878.
THE SKATING Rixs:was attended on Tuesday
night by upwards of 600 persons, it being the
occasion of the " benefit of Messrs. Medcraft and
Pear-on. The- following- programme was gone
through- in a manner that showed careful train-
ing but as we have criticised the pergrmances of
the boys on former occasions it is now needless to
repeat. it. ProgriZei;ne: —Ail% and Mrs. Brown,
Masters Fred. k.;ei,ins and Sidn,y Heine;
Swell and" Girl, of the' Period, Masters
Wakethan and irauk Perry; Figure Skating,
is Slip" with variations, cioss roll, back-
wards, and forwat-d.s, waltzine,a, SLo., by Mr. S.
Pearson and Mr. W. Perry., The quadrille party
wa.s,corupos4d of Messrs. S. Pearson, :ered. Perry,
W. Penn, H. Colhn, Geo. Collins, J. Wakeman,
E. Collins, and Frank Perry. / Mr. Pearson
appeared and gave a brilliant and graceful
specimen of roller skating, which was followed
by a comic carnival in which• the following
characters were sustained: Clown, Fred.
Perry; 2nd Clown, E. Collins; Pantaloon,
Frank Perry; Policeman, Fred. Collins;
Chinaman, Geo. Collins; Sailor, Harry Collins;.
Turk, Howkins Dutton; Cat, Sidney Hainge;
Red Riding Hood, Arthur Hainge; Nigger,
Arthur Penn; Indian, Walter Penn; Swell,
James Wakeman. At the conclusion of the
performance Mr. Hainge, who was loudly
applauded, said that was the first opportunity
he had had to publicly thank 'the com-
munity of Stourbridge and district for the
mitnner in which they had supported the rink,
and the way in which the rink was appreciated
was shown by the attendance of so large an
assembly that evening. Speaking of the boys
forming the Stourbridge Amateur Skating Club,
Mr. Hainge said they Would excel any other chil-
dren of the same age let them come from where
they may. They had never performed out of
Stourbridge but once and that was at Handsworth
but he might say he had received several letters
asking him to allow them to perform at Leicester,
Nottingh-tm, Moseley, and Burton-on-Trent, but
as ha ti'sd not consider all ;he youngsters his own
ty he did not feel r liberty' to let them go
t abovellentionee ~.aces. The idea. of forms.
iug the club was first 6 Aggested to the speaker by
Mr. Medcraft and Mr. Pearson had been inde-
' fatigable in his endeavours to bring the lads on
and his efforts had been well rewarded. He had
known Mr. Pearson many years and placed the
utmost confidence in him and that confidence had
not been misplaced, by the fact of seeing so large
a number present there that night on the occasion
of his benefit. In presenting each of the lads
with a medal he did not wish them to accept them
for ',hear intrinsic worth but for the spirit in
which they were-given. He hoped the lads would
grow up and make themselves good, useful men
as they were good linkers on the skates. Mr.
Hainge then presented each of the boys with a
, silver medal and also presented one to Mr. Pearson:
which consisted of a gold centre piece surrounded
a silver star. The centre piece bore the fol-
lowing inFICEiptiOLI 911 One ?lib ;--" i'reCinted tO