The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-06-30 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Advioes from Chicago state that a new law, fixing
the 'maximum passenger fares on railroads at three
gents. (lid.) per mile has been carried into effect in
Kansas, U.S.
It is expected that the prorogation of Parliament
will take place about the 21st of August; but many
members regard this as a somewhat sanguine anticipa•
Um.

The Planters' Ootton•Seed and Oil Works at Algiers,
Louisiana, the largest in the world, have been struck
by lightning and burned to the ground. The loss is
estimated at 1,000,000 dole.

The French Government have decided on organising
a email Colonial Army. The Marine Infantiy, twenty
,111 b ousand strong, is to be reorganised and considerably
ptrengthened. Voluntary enlistment, with bounties
fand extra pay, is to be adopted instead of the conscrip.
tion.

A Bombay telegram says that the announcement
made in London that the Duke of Connaught would
next spring succeed Lieutenant-General the Hon.
Arthur Hardinge as Commander-in-Chief at Bombay
is officially denied.
The latest acquisition at the British Museum is a
colossal marble female head, discovered in a temple at
Sarotis by Mr. Dennis. The head measures over four
feet in height, and is supposed to be that of the
Empress Faustina. The entire figure must have
measured about 24 feet, and was probably seated.

The Bank of Ireland in Dublin was decorated on
Monday with flags in honour of its centenary, and the
event w+B publicly commemorated by the distribu-
tion to all the employes of a bonus of 10 per cent. on
eaeh man's salary, which will amount to about
AlO,OOO.
The Lord Mayor of London has received from the
Custoe of Kingston, Jamaica, a letter containing a
copy of Resolutions passed at a public meeting held
at the Town Hall in that city, on May 22, expressive
of grateful appreciation of the efforts made by the Lord
Mayor and his Committee to secure aid for the sufferers
by the fire of Deceliber 11 last.
The new Vienna Observatory has reoently been
completed. The new building took nine years to con-
struct, and during that time the present director went
all over Europe and America in order to study the
fitting up of the beat observatories. The result is that
the Tienna Observatory is probably one of the most
complete in existence.
On Tuesday while Mrs. Wallace, the wife of a
Stirlingshire landed proprietoE, was driving from
Ardrishaig, with her daughter and two grandchildren,
the horses became restive and bolted, and the occu-
pants of the carriage were thrown into the road. Mrs.
Wallace sustained concussion of the brain, and died
shortly afterwards.
At the meeting of the Grand Committee on Law on
Tuesday, it was resolved not to proceed further with
the Criminal Code Bill, and a special report setting
forth the reasons for this course was ordered to be
presented to the House of Commons.
There were 2,513 births and 1,333 deaths registered
in London last week. Allowing for increase of popu-
lation, the births were 74, and the deaths 103, below
the average numbers in the corresponding weeks of
the last ten years. The annual rate of mortality
from all causes, which had been equal to 185 and
16'9 per 1,000 in the two preceding weeks, rose again
to 171.

The Edinburflll Daily Review states that the inven-
tory of the personal estate of the late Dr. William
Chambers has just been recorded in that city at a
total of £91,316 14s. 9d., on which £2,742 of duty has
been paid. The principal item in the inventory is
£58,000, the total value of twenty shares in the basi-
ness of the publishing firm at £2,900 per share.
Last week's receipts of cotton at all United States
ports were 12,000 bales ; since let September, 5,844,000
bales. Week's exportsto Great Britain, 32,000 bales;
to the Continent, 3,000 bales ; total since Ist Sep-
tember, 4,488,000 bales. Stock at all ports, 411,000
bales.

The Agent-General for New Zealand has received a
letter, dated May 16, from Dr. Wasse, the Eurgeon-
superirfendent of the ship Oxford; reporting that
every:.wg wai going on well on board. It will be
remembered that the Orford was detained some time
at Plymouth, the ship having had to put back in Feb.
last, owing to stress of weather,

During last week four steamers arrived at Liverpool
with live stock and fresh meat from the United States
and Oanada—the total consignments baing 1,202
cattle, 898 sheep, and 1,920 quarters of beef. These
figures as compared with the previous week, show a
falling off in live cattle, and a considerable increase in
sheep. The quantity of dead meat landed was about
the same.

Twenty four PrUirth And foro;Efn not ti ; proro
were reported during last week against 29 for the same
week last year, making the total up to date 976 against
762, or an increase of 214. Seventeen British•owned
vessels have gone down, four being steamers. The
lives lost number 65, against 112 last year.

The largest Bill ever introduced into the House of
Commons, that is, so far as the memory of the oldest
legislator extends, has been issued. This 14 the
Electric Lighting Bill, which has been brought in by
Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Holm% It consists of 400
pages.

Sharks are very numerous off the Orkney Coast.
The men in one fishing boat caught three in the
Atlantic last week; and a man on board another boat
had a narrow escape, a shark having darted under his
boat and made a snap at his hand whilst he was en.
gaged unravelling his lines just over the edge of the
craft.

In London, on Saturday, the Duke of Connaught
distributed the prizes gained by the medical students
connected with St. Thomas's Hospital, His Royal
Highness, who was accompanied by the Duchess, ad-
dressed a few words of encouragement to the student.,
who accorded the Duke and Duchess an enthusiastic
reception.
In addition to a coinage of its own, Borneo has now
a postal system. A two cent, postage stamp, just
issued by the authorities, is described as a departure
from the usual style of postage stamp design. It has
a lion at the head, beneath which is a Malay psalm
under full sail.

A New York telegram says that the visible supply
of wheat on June 22 was 20,600,000 bushels, as against
20,600,000 bushels the previous week. Visible supply
of Indian corn, 14,900,000 bushels, as spinet 14,600,000
bushels the previous week. The export clearances of
wheat for Europe during last week amounted to
700,000 bushels; the export clearances of Indian
corn for Europe during last week amounted to
1,400,000 bushels.

According to a telegram from the Governor-General
of the Dutch Indies, received at the Colonial Depart-
ment in Holland, a serious disease has broken out in
the paddy fields of the Provinces of Sourabaya and
Rembang (Java), which has already destroyed eighty
thousand bouwa (one bouw equals 2i acres), and
measures are being taken to prevent famine amongst
the, native population.
The tonnage of coal from Yorkshire carried by the
various lines to London during last month was as
follows ;—Midland, 169,739 • London and North.
Western, 129,310; Great Western, 100,233 • Great
Northern, 95,492; Great Eastern, 55376 ; other lines,
5,753; total, 556,909 tons. In March the total was
685,726 tons, and in April 581,533 tons.

The Ohio Democratic Convention has adopted a
resolution which has a decided free trade tendency.
It favours a tariff of revenue only, limited to the
necessities of Government, and so adjusted as to pre-
vent unequal burdens, to encourage productive inte-
rests at home, and to afford just compensation to
labour, but not to create or foster any monopoly.

The death is announced at Berlin of Nicolas Lie.
bench, the Russian sculptor. The deceased began life
as a soldier, but left the army with the rank of a
colonel of cavalry, and devoted himself exclusively to
his favourite art. His last production was the model
of the massive gold group presented by the Prince of
Bulgaria to the Czar on the occasion of his coronation.
The steamship Stirling Castle, with about 6,000 tons
of the first of the new season's teas has been docked,
having made the run from Hankow to London in 31
days 1.0 hours, ipcluding detentions of 2 days 8 hours
at Singapore and the Canal. Her actual steaming
time from Honkow to London was 29 days 2 hours,
the distance run being over 11,000 miles.
The report of the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain
and Cattle Trough Association, read at the twenty.
fourth annual meeting, held in London on Saturday,
stated that the association provided and maintained
520 fountains for human beings, and 527 troughs for
animals, the value of which might be estimated at not
leas than £60,000.

A serious fire occurred in a house in George's•street,
Dublin, the other night. The escape of a woman
and her three children was cut off by the flames, and
after being severely burned they leaped from a room
en the third floor to the pavement, and were terribly
injured. They were conveyed to the hospital in a
dangerous state. A man who attempted to catch one
of the children was severely hurt.
A carter named John Fiddler was killed on Saturday
morning at,Stockport. He was returning from Man.
cheater with a load of vegitables and fruit when he
fell off the cart, one of the wheels of which went over
him, causing almost instant death.

The cricket match between teams representing the
North and South of England,. which commenced at
Kennington-oval on Thursday in last week, terminated
on Saturday in a victory for the North by. 22 runs,
they havkg scored in the two innings 345, while the
South only scored 323.
Eoypti..ii newspaper announces that among the
recent avivals from Lhe Soudan there was a man very
littl•-+ over three feet in height. It aprpars that there
a tribe, in tbe Soudan named the Tikitiki, the men
and wme 2f which are seldom taller than three feet,
U p t, sKftudity the amount of aubv.riptiolis pro
jee .
to nie,t the Government grant of £4,000 in at
of the I), n0.c.1 for Nor, h atti.:thitcd to
lv £35,C00, the lar.ee•L t.noi e.ohk.4 fr,on the
coaLrict., witete upward. of #:4 isiO is lye
j,,ra P,i •ho AITIO Wthard bevies M p 6• n'
. en d tug
tii, 1 w-h i!1,000 eaQh,

The Emperor of Germany haa conferred the medal
for saving life on Mr. Jenkins, pilot of a lifeboat at
Swansea.

A Fish Exchange.—From the sea to the smack.—
Moonshine.

A collision has occurred on the Nor:hern Pacific
Railway near Montana, in which 18 Chinamen were
killed and 25 injured.
A Geneva telegram says that the bodies of two
students were found the other day on the bank of the
Aar, at Aarau. They had committ:•l suicide by
means of firearms, from what motive is not known.
The Home Secretary has ordered that the prison at
Bristol hall be discontinued on and after the Ist day
of July, 1883.

The Archbishop of Canterbury ani Mrs. Ben.on
gave their first garden party at Lambeth Palace on
Saturday afternoon, when a very numerous.company
responded to theL invitations.
The English team of riflemen, taken over to Dublin
by Sir H. Halford to compete with an Irish team,
were, on Saturday, defeated by one hundred and thirty
points.
A committee of the Edinburgh Town Council un-
animously recommended the conferment of the
freedom of the city on Lord Rosebery, in recognition
of his Lordship's distinguished services in Scotland.
The number of visitors to the International
Fisheries Exhibition last Saturday was 19,560, making
a total for last week of 81,168. The total number
from the opening of the Exhibition has been 527,264.

-
Statistics from most of the great watering places in
Germany show that they are all well attended.
Baden. Baden heads the list with nearly 14,000 visitors,
and then follow Carlsbad, with over 10,000, and
Ems, Teplitz, and Marienbad, with about 3,000 each,

Circulars have been issued by the Prefect of
Nenclettal warning people at their peril neither to
hold Salvationist prayer meetings in their Own
houses, nor to attend any that may be held else-
where.

In Swindon market on Monday a pen of 80 two-
tooth wether sheep, out of the wool, realized a total of
£ll5 2s. 6d., or an average of over £3 15s. per head.

On MOnday evening as Sergeant Major Freestone,
drill inspecto r of the Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry, was
proceeding to his home at Maiden Newton along the
Great Western line he was rue over and killed by the
7.50 train.

According to aivices received at New York from
Vera Cruz, the yellow fever Is making fearful ravages
among the Europeans and Anierioans in that city. A
thousand deaths have occurred within the past two
months.

The Tell Chapel, on the Lake of Lucerne, which has
been restored by the Society of Swiss Artists and
decorated with some fine frescoes by M. Stnckelberg,
has been formally handed over to the Government of
Uri in the presence of delegates of the Confederation
and representatives of twenty Canton; who were
attended by officials wearing the national costume.

The New York Financial Chronicle reports that the
general condition of the cotton crop is good, but back-
ward. The extent of the acreage planted is estimated
at 17,149,000 acres, equal to an increase of over 5 per
cent.

At a German ultramarine manufactory the director
has observed that for 44 years none of his workmen have
ever suffered from consumption. He attributes their
Immunity to the fact that the process of manufacture
involves the constant production of sulphurous acid,
by the burning of sulphur.
The Emperor of Germany will unveil the great
national monument in memory of the war of 1870, on
the edge of the Niederwald, near Bingerbritck, on
the 27th of September, after the manoeuvres at Cassel
and Homburg.

About £29,300 has been received at the Mansion
House in London on account of the Metropolitan
Hospital Sunday Fund.
According to a Madrid telegram a great sre has
occurred at Gergal, a town in the province of Leon, by
which thirty•four houses were destroyed. Only one
life was lost, but a large number of persons were ren-
dered homeless.

The Times says that two members of the Grand
Committee on Trade made between them over 900
speeches en the Bankruptcy Bill.
A Free Trade meeting has been held at Madrid, at
which several speakers severely blamed the Spanish
Government for not having concluded a treaty of
commerce with England,
General Booth, addressing a meeting of the Salva-
tion Army at Bristol, on Sunday, stated that in six
years the corps of the " Army " had incremed from
twenty-six to 500, the officers from thirty-six to 1,300,
and the colours of the army were flying in twelve
countries.

A Berlin telegram says that Queen Victoria has in-
sited the celebrated painter, Professor von Avgeli, of
Vienna, to visit England, and make a life•sise pnrtrait
of Her Majesty, to be presented to the German
Emperor in October next, on the occasion of the 25th
anniversary of his assumption of the Regency of
Prussia.

On Monday the Rev. Randall Thomaa Davidson,
the reeentlrappointed Dean of Windbor, in enccese_ion
to the late Dean Connor, was installed with the usEil
ceremonial at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

The Challenge Shield Champion Prize for Scottish
Volunteers has just been shot for in Edinburgh, and
was gained by Private A. Montgomery, 9th, Lanark,
who made a score of 92. The conditions vli.re Snider
rifles, and distances 200, 500, and 600 yards.

In Fouls, one of the outlying Shotlar group, there
has been discos-pr./I hm.;OA hana.th fift. of soil moss
the skeleton of a female almost entire, and even the
skin nearly whole, presenting something like the ap-
pearance of a mummy. It is believed that the body
bee lain there for hundreds of years, the preservative
character of the peat moss keeping it in such a perfect
condition.

In Germany fatal accidents to gentlemea riders on
racecourses appear to be increasing. At Hanover on
Sunday Baron Kapherr, lieutenant of Hussars, fell in
a steeplechase and was killed on the spot. On MOn-
day a lieutenant of the Cuirassiers of the Guard nearly
met the same fata at Coeslin.
At a recent tale of violins the following instruments
were sold at the sums named: A violin by Antonius
Stradivarius, 1687 (known as the "Spanish Stradiu-
arius," and brought to England by Ole Bull), £500; a
violin by Joseph Guarnerius, 1738, £290; a violin by
Joseph Guarnerius, 1739, £245 ; and a violoncello
by Francesco Rugerius (formerly the property. of
George IV.), £330.
- - - -

In the House of Commons, on Monday, Mr.
Stevenson, who is in charge of the Sunday Closing
Bill, prtsented petitions in its favour from the Primi.
tive Methodist Conference, representing 196,000
members, and from the Lancashire and Cheshire
Association of Baptist Churches, representing 107
churches and 16,600 members,

The Times' correspondent at Rome states that a
small Egyptian obelisk has been discovered in an
excavati, n which the municipality are making in the
vicinity of the site of the Temple of Isis and Seraphs.
It lies at a depth of about 15! t. below the surface, and
is apparently in a good state of preservation.
The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens,
Regent's•park, Lonthin, during last week included two
malbrouck monkeys from West Africa, presented
respectively by Mr. L. Morris and Mr. A. M. Moore;
a macaque monkey from India, presented by Mrs.
E. J. H. Sprague; a rhesus monkey from India, pre-
sented by Mr. C. T. Pollock; a bonnet monkey from
India, presented by Mr. F. Nelson ; two mange's
dasynres from Australia, presented by Sir Louis S.
Jackson, F.Z.S. • two earl's weka. rails from North
Island, New Zealand, a black•backed porpyrio firm
Australia, presented by Captain R. Todd • three
common kingfishers (British), prssented by the Hon.
and Rev. F, G. Diktton ; a common night heron
(European), presented by Mr. H. H. Blacklock ; a
king Penguin, two upland geese, two ruddy.headed
geese from the Falkland Islands, presented by Mr.
R. C. Packe ; three common pheasants (British) pre-
sented by Mr. H. T. Bowes; an Indian python from
India presented by Mr, G. E. Shuts; a Sykett
monkey, a philantomba antelope, an elate hornbill, a
Jardine's parrot from West Africa, an Indian civet,
two wandering tree pies from India, a red-aidei
eclectus from New Guinea, five red•bellied conures, a
giant.tcal, from Brazil, a horned lizard from Texas,
four Cornish choughs (British), purchFised • a cominon
rhea from South America, received in exchange ; two
Indian pythons from India, received on approval; a
Japanese deer, born in the Gardena,