The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-01-08 00:00:00

Nr ,

SATURDAY, JAN. IS, 1876.

FROM THE SEAT OF WAR (BY TELEGRAPH, OF
couusx).—Just at the time of what ‘re popularly
known as the Christmas rejoicings, the news arrived at
the Colonial Office of an important British success in
our war with the Malays. But as good news is
always welcome, rejoicim,s orAno rejoicinp, this piece
of intelligence cannot be said to have come Malay-
propos.—Judy.
THE TITLE OF "Ravicaarni."—The Judicial
Committeahave appointed the 20th instant to hear the
appeal " Keet v. Smith," in which the question is raised
whether a Dissenting minister is entitled to have affixed,
on a tombstone the prefix of "Reverend." Dr. Philli-
more, the Chancellor of Lincoln, refused a faculty for
the purpose, and on appeal to the Dean of Arches (Sir
R. Phillimore) the decision was upheld, and the present
appeal is for a final judgment on the point. Mr. A.
J. Stephens, Q.C., Mr. Bay ford, and Mr. Jenne are
retained in support of the appeal. The Rem. E. Smith,
the incumbent of Cowston Ferry, has not entered an
appearance, and will not be represented before their
lordships. •
A AU*ADOX FOR THE:NZW.,YEAR.—It seems a
little contradictory that unwise persons who go out
"oaths Jose" should be brought home "tight."—
Judy.

TBT iHutnoo.—The Hindoo is on nliany occa-
sions apathetrUand indolent, but it would be errop9ous
to imaginehini ou'all occasions the inactive effete -,ate
being he is not infrequently described, as an indolent
man could never take the long, weary pilgrimages he
does in honour Of the gods, enduring.htinger, thirst,
and all manner of misery with patience to the end.
The people have shown themselves a daring, energetic
set of persevering military adventures, a nation of
grasping, enterprising merchants, a people who have
produced bold hunters and ferocious, ingenious, and
adventurous banditti. Inthelonusements with which
he fills up his leisure hours the Hindoo shows these
characteristics not inaptly. The very boys in their
play imitate the deeds which in their manhood they
will perform on a less tiny stage.—" The Races of
Mankind," by Dr. Robert Brawn.

LESSON FOR THE NEW YEAR.—One of the
things every young man should know how to make
Love.—Tudy.
THE BOOKS OE' 1875.—The Publishers' Cir-
cular contains an analytical table of works published
in 1875 from which it appears that 3,577 new books,
1,330 new editions, and 311 American importations,
have appeared during the year. The total number
for each month was as follows :—January, 327; Feb-
ruary, 338; March, 348; April, 407; May, 431; June,
344; July, 487; August, 274; September, 286;
October, 368; November, 506; December, 1,102. In
August not a single American book was reproduced
here. Curiously, the largest number of American
books come under the heading, arts, science, and illus-
trated works, 64; history and biographical count 45;
voyages and travels are third, with 33; theology runs
a neck-and-neck race with political and social economy,
for fourth place, with 25; and poetry and the drama is
sixth, with 23.

MOBILISATION.—Advocates for Conscription
for the Infantry plead that "the Line must be drawn
somewhere."— Punch.

AMERICAN MEAT IN LONDON. —The Farmer
says :—" At the beginning of last week the frequenters
of the Smithfield Dead Meat Market had opportunities
of seeing about 40 tons of meat which had been sent
direct fromtlicew York to Liverpool, and then by rail
to London. As our readers will remember; on Satur-
day (Christmas Day) and the Monday following
(Boxing Day) the market was closed, and this meat
had to be kept three days more than was necessary
yet it was said to be on Tuesday last in excellent con-
dition, and met with a ready sale at prices averaging
about 4s. per stone of 81b. The sale was very quick,
and was helped by the known fact that a fortnight
before meat sent over on the same plan had turned
out well. The method of preserving is at present a
trade secret. All we are told is that the vessels are
specially prepared for the sex vice; that each quarter
of meat is first wrapped in rough cloth and then
placed in huge tank-like boxes, each box having within
it a fan which is moved by steam power; and that
outside each box there is a thick covering of ice. A.
larger consignment is expected in about ten days, and
we know that plenty of capital and much skill are
employed in this effort to bring dead meat fresh over
the more than 2,000 miles which separate New York
from Liverpool."

NOTES FROM QUEENSLAND. Queensland
papers state that gold is coming down from the
northern diggings by every steamer. "Shiploads" of
Chinamen continue to arrive, but many, after a short
career of success, return to their own land. It is stated
that the blacks are behaving very badly on the road to
the Palmer, and great complaints are made that.there
are not enough native police employed. Several
murders have been committed. The aberigines in the
neighbourhood of Cape River four years ago abducted
a little boy named Shurrey, and carried him into the
fastnesses of a remarkable place called "tee Wall."
No proper search was ever made for him by tl•e native
police, who alone could do it, and the boy's father at
length petitioned Parlament for aid. There is small
ground for hope that the boy is alive. An expedition
is to be despatched to investigate the character of
"the Wall," and the nature of the country almost en-
closed by its precipices and accessible only by laby-
rinthine ravines.

TOO GOOD SERVICE. —A recent return of rail-
Way accidents states that in- August, as a passenger
train was starting from Broad street, on the North
London line' the crank axle of the engine broke.
The axle had run no less than 459,288 miles before it
failed.. It was made of cast steel by Messrs. Krunp,
of Essen, Prussia.
SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT GOLD. —Dr. Robert
Brown says, "-Near Lhasa are rich silver mines, which
are not, however, wrought by the Government, for
fear of the country being impoverished and the popu-
lation degenerating. A Chinaman who had ventured
to mine out a quantity of the precious metal was sent
to Pekin, and had his hands cut off as a punishment
for his presumption. Gold is worked by the priests to
a slight extent near some of the monasteries. If in
their search, however, they come upon a nugget of large
size it is immediately replaced in the earth, under the
impression that the larger nuggets have life, snd in
time generate the smaller ones they are searching for."
A IarTLE MISTAKE !—A rich American bride-
groom put a 100 dol. note in his pocket to give to the
clergyman who tied the nuptial knot at his marriage,
and paid it to him as he supposed. When half way
across the ocean he discovered the note still in his
pocket, and puzzled his brains for menthe to discover
what he had given the clergyman. On his return to
America he went to the clergyman and questioned
him, and the latter, after much demur, said—'' I re-
ceived a very small quantity of fine cut tobacco, folded
in a very small piece of paper." "Make it ' returns,' "
wrote the bridegroom, and here is the quid pro quo,"
sending back the 100 dol. note.

LOCAL LOAI4B.—An Act came into operation
on the Ist inst. to amend the laws relating to secu-
rities for loans contracted by lccal authorities, by
which it is dectared that a local authority is to be
deemed to borrow subject to the provisions of the new
Act whenever it raises a loan by the issue of debentures
or debenture stock or annuity certificates, subject to a
provision that where a loan is directed to be raised by
debentures or debenture stock or annuity certificates,
the prescribed mode only is to be adopted as now
provided. Further, any local authority about to raise
a loan by any securities set forth may apply to the
Local Government Board to authorise the same under
official sanction. The Local Government Board, be-
fore granting their official sanction, shall require the
local authority to furnish certain particulars. The issue
of any securities under official sanction is to be authen-
ticated by an official stamp or otherwise as the Board
may direct.
NAVY OAK.—The Secretary of the United
States' Navy, in his recent report, calls attention to
the importance of securing, before it passes entirely
away, as great a quantity as possible of the sea-shore
live oak of the country, which he describes as the best
timber of the world. He says :
" The rapid deterioration of all of our vessels built of other
wood constantly warns us how invaluable is this timber, now
so rapidly passing away. Tt is the growth of centuries, and
when once gone will never be replaced. The supply, which
was never large. is being rapidly exhausted, and it becomes
yearly more difficult to procure, as what is left is being
largely bought up for shipment abroad. All of it that was
laid up by old Navy Commissioners was consumed during the
war, and the Department has been endeavouring for the past
few years, whenever it had the opportunity and, the means,
to secure what could be had for the present use, or to be laid
up to season for the future use, of the Navy. In the opinion
of the Department measures should be taken, if possible, to
prevent the exportation of such of this timber as is left on
our southern coast, and to secure it for the use of the Go-
vernment."
FASHIONABLE EXTREMES.—High Heels and
Low Foreheads,—Punch.

LIFBBOA T SERVICES IN 1875.—During th
year which has just closed the lifeboats of the N-ational
Lifeboat Institution saved 725 lives and 29 vessels. In
the same period the Lifeboat Institution granted re-
wards for saving 195 lives by fishing and other boats,
making a grand total of 920 lives saved last year
mainly through its instrumentality. Altogether since
its formation the Society has contributed to the saving
of 23,786 shipwrecked persons, for which services it
has granted 969 gold and silver medals besides pecu-
niary rewards to the amount of £47,170. Nearly all
the setvices of the lifeboats have been rendered during
stormy weather, which would have prevented any
ordinary open boat from accomplishing the , rescue.
Indeed, so numerous have the lifeboats of the institu-
ition become now, that haidly any open boats put off
to the rescue of shipwrecked sailors. In this way,
indirectly, the Institution saves every year -many
lives; for it often happened formerly that the crews of
theme open boats perished themselves in their °noble
enterprise. Notwithstanding the peril incurieff by
the crews last year, only one life was lost froin the
252 lifeboats of the Society, although about 11,000 men
were out in them on all occasions during the twelve
months.
JAPANESE STATE CA RRIAG E. - For many
months past there has been in progress of construction
by Messrs. Morgan and Co., of Long-acre, London,
her Majesty's coachbuilders, a magnificent -state
carriage for the Mikado of Japan. Every modern
improvement and luxury has been introduced, and a
most imposing vehicle is the result. The body is
built of the finest Spanish mahogany, special care
being taken that the grain of the wood should har-
monize throughout. The upper part of the ctiach is
painted a rich canary colour, the lower panels being a
deep green and gold. The imperial arms, which
adorn the doors and back panels,' have been most
elaborately painted in relief by the deaf and
'-dumb heraldic attii3t, Mr. T. D. Baker: The under
carriage throughout is painted green and gold, •tho
latter being the prevailing colour. The wheels have
have been made in the solid, and are the only part of
the carriage which is not consonant with European
ideas—probably on the account of the difference in
the roads. The mountings and lamps are of solid
silver, chased and gilt, and are very massive. The
interior is lined with a rich yellow satin, deeply bro-
caded, and curtained with rich Brussels lace. By an
ingenious arrangement the back part of the head can
be thrown back so as to form an open chariot, the
Imperial arms in silver gilt forming a very pretty
canopy, upheld by silver-gilt poles in the centre. The
carriage is intended for state and ceremonial occasions,
and is the third state carriage turned out by this firm
for the Imperial family.