The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-04-07 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.
A slight earthquake has been felt at San Francisco.
The shock was more severe in some sections of Southern
California.
Six persons have been killed by an explosion on
board a tow boat on the Mississippi River, near Bel-
mont (Missouri).
A meeting of the Salvation Army has been held at
Valence, in France, where the hall in which the
Salvationista were assembled was attacked by a crowd
of men and women, who forced their way into it and
dispersed the meeting.
Advicee from Iceland by mail just arrived are to the
effect that the winter there has been remarkably mild
and very favourable to stock-farmers.
It is stated that the decrease of the United States
public debt during March will have been nine million
five hundred thousand dole.
A Bill has been brought into the House of Commons
by Mr, MlLagan to enable owners and occupiers of
property in burghs, parishes, and districts in Scotland
to prevent the common sale of intoxicating linnore
within such areas.
The loss by worn silver withdrawn from circulation
last year amounted to not less than £35,u00. This
sum represents the deficiency in weight by wear in
circulation, the coins being received at the Mint at
their nominal value.
The Queen, who is gradually recovering from the
sprain caused by her recent accident, has resumed her
carriage excursions.
There is believed to be little or no probability of the
Committee stage on Mr. G. Anderson's Cruelty to
Animals Bill being reached until after the Whitsun-
tide recess. Mr. Virarton has given notice of a long
amendment, declining to prohibit the practice of pigeon.
shooting so long as game-shooting and rod-fishing are
permitted.
A. number of American insurance companies have
filed claims in the United States Court of Claims for
money alleged to be due to them under the Geneva
Award The reaton for this action on the part of the
compaLies i that after Saturday last the Statute of
Limitations would militate against them.
A contest took place at Newbury on Monday for
the election of a girl to the school connected with the
Girls' Branch of Christ's Hospital, London the Blue.
coat School, at Hertford. Newbury has the privilege
of returning a number of boys and girls to the school
under the will of Mr. and Mrs. West, the voters being
VatiterwaValebsees...,ThisAlestirea sesea.sennaeaseasss-ass.
Hall. The pcll resulted in the election of a girl named
Dove, whose parents claim kinship to Mr. West.
The United Stator, Debt now atand. At 1,891,966,271
dole., the March decrease having been 9,344,826 dole.
On Monday the Jockey Club of Vienna celebrated
the victory of Zoeclone in the Liverpool Grand Na-
tional Steeplechase, by a dinner at the Imperial Hotel,
Vienna, in honour of Count Karl Kinsky, the owner
and rider of the winner.
The kill of buffalo last winter in the United States
was estimated at 80,000 which, from the report of
hides shipped, is probably very close to the mark. The
kill of this winter promises to fall a ling way short of
last. The buffaloes are rapidly becoming extinct, and
the herds, or what there are of them, are mostly
between the Black Hills and Glendive, on the Yellow-
stone, their last winter's feeding ground.
A serious fire occurred on Wednesday morning in
the large spice-mills of Messrs. Wright, Crossley, and
Co., Liverpool. It broke out on the top floor of the
warehouse, which was five stories high, and being used
for drying coffee and spices was very inflammable.
The fames were not subdued until the top stories had
been gutted and the roof had fallen in. The damage
done was very great.
The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens,
Regent's Park, London, during last week included a
eommon wigeon, (British) presented by Lieut. Col. C.
Birch Reynersisen ; three sirens, from South Carolina,
presented by Mr. G. E. Maingault ; six common
squirrels (British) a lemur fives Madagascar two
Robben Island snakes, from Robben Island, 'South
Africa, purchased; a gayal born in the Gardens.
In consequence of the alarming rumours which pre-
vail at Chetham, the civil guard doing duty at the
powder magesinee, Upnor Castle, has been
strengthened. Formerly the castle was guarded by
soldiers, but, in consequence of the limited number of
men at present forming the garrison at Chatham and
the increased duties which have recently been put
upon them, no troops can now be awed from that
quarter. •
On Monday night Earl Cairns presided at a lecture
by Major Eyered Pool, on the work of tbe Army
Scripture Readers Society during the late war in
Egypt. He said be had from time to time read notices
in the papers describing the work of the society in
lizypt. In time of war the Scripture reader had
special opportunities for doing good amongst our
soldiers; for whatever might. be the conduct of men at
other times, when brought face to face with death,
then, IF ever, they would listen to the message of
pardon and salvation.
In an interesting report on the industrial classes of
South Russia Mr. G. E. Stanley, British Consul-
General in Russia, states that these classes as a rule
are not disaffected, and few of them are to be found in
the ranks of the Nihiliets. One explanation is that
work is not dilleult to obtain and that the necessaries
of life are cheap. Another is that most of them are
not absolutely dependent for their existence on their
industries alone, the greater portion of them owning a
small plot of land and house in the country, where in
many instances their wives and families remain, thus
constituting, as it were, hostages for their good
behaviour.
The foot-and-mouth disease is rapidly disappearing
from the county of Kent. The returns have for eeveral
weeks continued to show a diminution in the number
of animals affected; and those for the past week ex-
hibit a total of 34 only.
A painful scene occurred at the Unitarian Chapel
at Dover on Sunday night, the pastor (the Rev.
T. B. W. Brigs) dying suddenly after preaching his
sermon. Mr. Briggs, who was formerly editor and
proprietor of a local journal, bad just finished his dis-
course when he fell down exhausted. A scene of a
very distressing character ensued. The rev, gentleman
was removed to the vestry and medical aid procured,
but he expired shortly afterwards.
On the artival of the steamship Castle Eden at Bit.-
kenbead from Glasgow on Monday morning it was
reported that while passing Allan Craig at midnight
on Saturday, the captain, James Forbes, disappeared.
It is suppesed that he fell overboard and was drowned.
He had been seen a short time before leaving the
cabin. The deceased was a native of Aberdeen, 46
years of age, and had commanded the Castle Eder
for some time.
Telegrams were received in Dundee on Monday, re-
porting that, notwithstanding the very severe season,
seal fishing at Newfoundland had been a success.
Two Greenock fishing vessels, which has arrived at
St. John's report most of the Dundee vessels with
large catches. A large steamer named Resolute is full.
The ship Narwhal has 17,000, and the Thetis 18,000 ;
while the Aurora. Esarimatue, and Arctic have each
large cargoes. it is believed that most of the steamers,
encouraged by the plentifulness of the catches, will
make a second trip to the sealing grounds.
Since the new Vagrancy Act has been in operation
at the Reading Workhouse, the number of paupers
who have entered the tramp ward has shown a re-
markable decrease, and the returns decline every
month. During the past three months the figures
were: Men, 607 ; women, 67; children, 23; total,
697. For the corresponding period last year the re-
turns were: Men, 1,259; women, 157; children, 86 ;
total, 1,502. A comparison of figures shows a total
decrease for one quarter of 805.
The Duke of Cambridge was a guest at the Lord
Mayor's Easter banquet held in London at the
Mansion House on Monday evening, and in respond-
ing for the army, said that though he had seen many
changes in the service, the army and the country bad
always been animated by the same spirit, which he
felt no doubt would continue to animate them. As
long as that existed we *need have no fear. Our
reserve volunteer forces had displayed an energy and
efficiency which he for one would scarcely have
thought possible.