The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-10-05 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.
BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

It is now estimated by Delaware peach growers that
the season's crop will aggregate 1,000,000 baskets, at an
average of one dollar per basket clear.

At the adjourned Licensing Sessions at Nottingham
on Monday, the magistrates granted a licence for the sale of
drink at the Castle Art Museum. Some of the inhabitants
were opposed to the sale of alcoholic liquor at the museum,
and of late the question has excited a good deal of feeling in
the town.

The Development Theory appears to have been
current ia Japan long bef ore Dr. Darwin wrote his "Origin
of Species," as an ancient temple has been discovered in the
land of the Mikado, whereon are sculptured a progressive
series of figures, beginning with a monkey, and ending with a
man.
It has been declared by the Supreme Court of Vic-
toria that the Bill recently passed by the Legislative
Assembly imposing a tax of 40 dollars upon every Chinaman
in the province is unconstitutional and void.

Lord Dufferin, in the course of a speech made by
him, said that he had recently proposed that Ontario and
New York should combine to make a public international
park at the Niagara Falls, and that the Governor of New
York had received the proposition very favourably.
Mr. E. Waterhouse, in his quarterly report to the
Board of Arbitration for the Iron Trade of the North of Eng-
land, states that the average net selling price per ten for the
last three inorths has been £6 Os. 5d., against £6 16s. in the
corresponding quarter of last year.

On Saturday last, for the first time in Holland, a
steam engine worked in the streets of Haarlem. The engine
is similar to those in use on the Paris tramways. Curves of
3511. radius were easily taken, and the trials were watched
with great interest by the inhabitants.
-

- -
A telegram to the Detroit Free Press from East
Saginaw says that Sherman City, a small village in Isabella
oounty, Michigan, was utterly destroyed on the 19th of
September by a terrific tornado. Every building in the
village, except one fr.ime dwelling, was swept away, and
that was partly destroyed. The inhabitants took refuge in
cellars. Considerable damage was also done at Coleman,
Michigan.

- -
At Oxford on Tuesday the representatives of one
hundred and twenty three libraries of the United Kingdom
assembled in conference, when several interesting papers
were read and discussed. Baron de Watteville, who repre
Eented the French Government on the Occasion, in the name
of the Minister of Public Instruction, expressed great in
terest in the progress which the State establishment wa
making, and said that the French would be happy to in-
troduce any reforms which might be indicated in the spirit
of high impartiality which characterised this nation.
" Our hard brain.workers now-a-days are fond of
taking something else as well as opium to get rid of any
sleepuessness from over-excitement. Bromide of potassium
is taken in considerable quantities, and it is well that it is a
tolerably safe thing to have anything to do with though it
would he still safer if it was left alone altogether."—" The
Tatler " in Pictorial World.

A boat belonging to her Majesty's tender Stag was
capsized on Friday night in last week, while returning to the
ship in Tarbert Roads, at the mouth of the Shannon. The
boat contained four men and a petty officer, and of these only
one man was saved.

The annual national lodge of the United Temperance
Association was held on Tuesday at York, when there were
delegates present from Inverness, Dumfermline, Edinburgh,
Leeds, Birmingham, York, Southport, Liverpool, and Belfast
and districts in England and Wales. The Association was
established in Manchester in 1873 to bring the lodge mode
of working 'into harmonious cooperation with other tem-
perance organisations. The officers for the year were ap-
pointed, and the next meeting fixed for Edinburgh.
An insect called carpet-beetle, or buffalb-beetle, is
reported to have caused considerable damage and some con-
sternation in the United States of America, particularly in
New England, New Jersey, and New York. This is con-
sidered to be the newest—if not the sweetest—thing in bugs
yet discovered in the land of creeping things, America being
famous for the variety of its beetles and the indiscriminate
voracity of their appetites. This latest on the scene is said
to devour both linen and woollen fabrics with marvellous
rapidity, and to be exceedingly partial to preserved meats.
Camphor and other drugs have been tried on him without
ayaiL I shall look ont tor what Professor Riley bits to ;ay
about bhp,- and untanwhile wonder IL it Is all Ulla"— Afarit
Lana Npeen. •

The amount of money paid to the press for adver-
tising in America, annually exceeds £60.000,000.
- - - - -

•
The Emperor of Japan has adopted his boy cousin
as heir to the throne.

The Scotch herring fishery has been exceedingly
productive this year, the take being considerably above the
average.

When you want to hail a public conveyance in roma
of the South American cities, you lasso the driver in order
to secure his attention—at least, so says an American con-
temporary.

- -
In the financial year a net Burn of £144,835 10& was
paid as composition for the duties on the bills and notes of
the Banks of England and Ireland, and of country banks.

Walking on water has been successfully accomplished
by a French Canadian, who, by the aid of a pair of tin shoes,
3 feet long by 1 foot wide, in which air was confined, walked
or rather skated a quarter of a mile in six minutes.

A large portion of the ancient city of Ithaca has
Just been unearthed by Dr. Salternann, who has discovered
190 enormous houses on the south-eastern shores of the
Island at a considereble distance beneath the surface. The
result of the excavations, however, will in no way rival the
finds at Troy and Alyce Ere, for Dr. Schlieniann writes that all
the treasures of the city have been washed into the sea by
the winter rains.

The late Juggernaut Festival at Puri proved a de-
cided failure. The devotees refaced their usual large con-
tributions, and there was even great difficulty in obtaining
wood to construct the great car on which the idol takes his
annual airing.

Mr. Brock, of 30, Osnaburgh•street, Regent's-park,
London, has been commissioned to execute a statue of Mr.
Robert Raikes, the founder of Sunday-schools. The statue
will, it is believed, when completed, be erected on the
Thames Embankment.

Jefferson was a tender-hearted man. He would
always turn aside rather than step upon a wasp when he was
barefooted.
The value of small fire-arms exported in the last
eight months increased from £187,250 last year to £193,732
la the present year.
A conference of representatives of various " Tich-
borne Release Asseciations" was held at Bristol on Monday,
at which it was resolved to organise the party in anticipa-
tion of a general election.

A telegram from Lloyd's agent at Madeira, reports
that the Stranger, (British barque), Captain Burden, from
London to Port Nolloth, laden with coal and a general
cargo, has been burnt at sea. The crew took to the boats
and landed at Port Nolloth on the 27th of August. The
tire was caused by spontaneous combustion.

Orders have just been issued from the Prefecture of
Police expressly prohibiting the hawkers of journals in the
streets of Paris to cry out the contents of the publications
which they offer for sale.

As a goods train was being shunted on Tuesday
night at Bayhorse Station, near Lancaster, Richard Mandsley,
goods guard, of Preston, was standing on the buffer of a
waggon, when be was knocked off, and the train passed over
his chest, killing him on the spot.

A Nevada politician was elected 'on the merits of a
single speech. All he said was, "Fellow-countrymen, follow
me to yonder refreshment saloon I"

There was again a very dull trade in the London
Corn Market on Monday. Wheat was slow at the rates
quoted a week ago, and secondary qualities were cheaper to
sell. Barley was from 6d. to Is. lower, and with the excep-
tion of the finest sorbs oats of all kinds were from 3d. to 6d.
cheaper. Maize declined 6d.

French sportsmen are complaining bitterly that
game is more scarce than ever. Partridges still cost from
seven to eight shillings a brace, and hares are wotth ten
shillings apiece.

The Journal du Loirct announces the coming publi-
cation of documents showing that Napoleon 111. offered
Egypt to England in consideration of the occupation of
Morocco by France, and that, notwithstanding the refusal
of Lord Paimersteu, he peraisted in this proposal for two
years_
Some weeks ago Mr. Plimsoll. M.P., announced his
intention of retiring from Parliament at the next general
election. A section of his constituents asked him to recon-
sider his determination, and he has now written to say that
"If, at the occurrence of the next general election, it is still
the wish of my Derby friends that I should continue to repre-
sent the borough in Parliament, my services shall be at their
disposal."
Mr. Buck, of Meriden, Connecticut, has made of
fifteen grains of gold and silver a perfect steam engine,
which will run for twenty minutes with the steam generated
from three drops of water.

A project is on foot at St. Petersburg for establish-
ing an " Invalidni Dom" for disabled soldiers, which the
promoters aspire to render the largest ot similar institu-
tions yet existing. The Czarevitch and the Princess Dagmar
have given 5,000 roubles, but the leading donation is the
munificent sum of 50,000 roubles (£8,000), which has been
given by Mr. Goobkin, a wealthy Siberian merchant.
The migratory birds are leaving England this year
much sooner than usual, according to the Daily News. The
soft, dead-ripe fruit and the insects on which these birds
fatten before starting south have bum destroyed so early in
the season by the late gales and cold nights that the de-
parture ot many birds has been materially hastened. Indeed,
insect life altogether has been specially scarce daring the
past summer.

In most of the Sheffield churches on Sunday
sermons were preached in anticipation of the Church Con-
gress this week. Father Ignatius held three services.

Down to Monday night the Mansion-house Fund
for the Abercarne Colliery explosion amounted to over
£20,000.

Harvest thanksgiving, services were held at St.
Gilea's Church, Reading, on Sunday. The decorations were
very elegant, flowers, fruit, and emblems of the harvest being
very tastefully arranged. The collections were in aid of the
sufferers by the Abercarne and the Princess Alice disasters.
The Mayor has invited public subscriptions for the same
benevolent objects.

In the year ended the 31st of March the fees
received by the Foreign Office on passports amounted to
£652 4s.

A scheme for a Vesuvius railway, similar to that
constructed for the ascent ot the Right, has been approved
by the Superior Council of Public Works at Naples.

The Cambridge Free Library report shows that
during the past twelve months the total issue of books to
borrowers and readers was 66,732, which was an increase of
2,845 volumes over that of the preceding year. From a
classification ot the books issued it is observed that no fewer
than 33,500 were works of fiction. The central library con-
tains an aggregate of 20,015 volumes, and the Barnewell
branch 2,671. The public reading room continues to be
largely attended, and there is often a crowded room. The
expenses of the whole institution is covered by a penny rate.
The weather during the week has, says the Magnet,
been very favourable for field work. Rapid progress has
been made in securing the wheat crop in Scotland, and it has
generally been gathered in good condition. Preparations
for autumn sowing are making steady progress, and in
France these operations are being carried on under decidedly
encouraging auspices.

Lord John H- allyburton, who was related to many
distinguished families, died at Hallyburton House, Coupar-
Angus, on Sunday night. His lordship, who was the owner
of the extensive estates of Hallyburton and Pictur, in Perth-
shire, was in his 81st year. Ile was a Liberal in politics, and
represented the county of Forfar in Parliament for f ome time.
From the 16th to the 25th of September 17,817
foreigners arrived in Paris. Of these 6,419 were from Eng-
land, 2,939 from Belgium, 2,102 from Germany, 1,251 from
Italy, 1,016 from the United /RAU s, 1,005 from Spain, 863
from Switzerland, 606 from Holland, 588 from Austria, and
525 from Russia.

The Figaro gives its readers the following piece of
information :—" The London Gazette announces that Lord
Beaconsfield, the hero of Cyprus, the refined and dexterous
diplomatist, has just been raised to the dignity of Earl. Tie
will henceforth be known under the titles of Viscount
Garmoyle and Bari Tairns."—Paris Correspondent of The
Times.

_
The latest Yankee " notion " is an electrical machine
called a " telemachon," invented by Mr. Wallace, of Ansonia,
Connecticut. Ills a machine for the transmission of power;
and the inventor declares that by means of it the force of
Niagara Falls will be made available all over the United
States.

The Australian cricketers have arrived at New York,
and have arranged to play a match with an Eighteen ot
New York.

_
A woven book has been manufactured at Lyons, the
whole of the letterpress being executed in silken thread.
Portraits, verses, and brief addresses have often been repro-
(weed by the loom, but an eutire volume from the weaver's
hand is a novelty.

The Eighteenth Church Congress was opened on
Tuesday at Sheffield, this being the third time the assembly
has been held in Yorkshire. The introductory address was
delivered by the Archbishop, who entered upon a defence of
Church Congremes, some influential persons having sought
to induce all the clergy of the Evangelical school to withhold
their presence from this meeting. His Grace also spoke at
some length on the Tan-Anglican Synod. After the opening
address the Congress engaged in an interesting debate on
missionary work.
Professor Peters, of Clinton, New York, announces
the discovery of a minor planet of the eleventh magnitude
on the 29th September, in R.A. hour 9 minutes. Dec, 4 de-
grees IS minutes north. Daily motion, 5 minutes south.
Lord Carnarvon, in delivering an address the other
evening as president of the Salt Schools, Saltaire, said educa-
tion in this country had marvellously developed, and th 3
schools which he had been through that day bore eloquent
testimony to how great that development had been. It was
now altogether a different state of things, but he would re-
mind them that the old foundation remained the same, and
that in education there were two sides, neither of which
could they spare—the intellectual and moral; and no one,
he thought, would accuse him of being inclined to under-
value the intellectual side.

A conference of colliers was opened on Monday at
Tipton. It was noanimously agreed that over-production
was the cause of low wages and bad trade, and resolutions
strongly urging anion were passed.
A natural theatre exists in the Blue Mountains, not
far from Canon City, in Oregon, U.S. Passing through some
rifts of rock, similar to a grand staircase, a regular stage is
reached, raised some 40 feet from the floor, and having an
overhanging arch with "fiats" and "flies," and spaces for
dressing-rooms on each side, while the back is regularly
shaped for the reception of scenery. In front rise ledges
suggestive of the different tiers of seats in the auditorium.
There is not a solitary sign of vegetation about the
"Temple," as it is called ; all is bleak, bare, and towering.

- - A shocking accident happened on Monday afternoon
on the Great Western Railway to the third guard of the
express leaving Wolverhampton at four o'clock and arriving
at Paddington at ten minutes past seven. The deceased was
observed to be hanging out of the window, and, the train
being stopped at Kirtlington, near Oxford, it was found that
he was seriously injured about the head, it is supposed
throngh his having come in contact with a bridge when
leaning out. The deceased, on arriving at Oxford, was re-
moved to the Radcliffe Infirmary, where he died soon after
admission.

Mr. Blennerhaeset, in an addreas delivered at Tralee
the other day, said that less than 1-250th part of Ireland is
in the possession of persons possessing under 50 acres of
agricultund land. This will surprise many readers. Mr.
Bleunerho.sset, however, threw light on the subject when he
added :—" The agricultural statistics show that of 692,590
farm holdings in the country 493000 are between 1 and 50
acres. The cases, therefore, of occupiers farming their own
lands are so extensively rare that the class of small pro-
prietors can scarcely be said to have any existence. The
"Bright Clauses" of the Irish Land Act have obviously
failed to work satisfactorily.—Mark Lane Express.

Mr. B. Samuelson, M.P., entertained the Banbury
Rifle Corps and a large number cf inhabitants at luncheon
at Bodicote Grange on Tuesday. In propesing the toast of
"The Army and /sTAvy," the hon. gentleman said he feared
before long the Army would be put upon its trial. Re had
no fear of the result, but the trial for our officers would be
one of great seVerity, for they would have to command not
only Englishmen, with whose habits aud principles of action
they were familiar, but they would also have to command
native troops, over whom their control would not be so com-
plete as it was over their own countrymen, but he believed
our officers would not be found wanting, and they would take
care that the war now hanging over our heads was conducted
not only with energy but with humanity, and not like wars
of which they had heard of late. Ile was sure the sad events
in the East would not be repeated by our brave army, no
matter whether it was composed of English or native troops.
At Lancaster, on Tuesday evening, a girl seven
years old was worried by a dog—a bull terrier—which
entered the house in which she and other children were
playing. A. policeman heat the brute off the child, but she
had been so dreadfully mutilated that she lay in a"
precarious state.

Lx44l4t,

Mr. W. H. James, M.P., at a meeting of the
Gateshead Liberal Association on Tuesday night, said there
was at present riot a great deal that WAS particularly pro-
fitable or encouraging in general politics there seemed to
he so many social forces that were distri ouiing every element
in the world. The Government had patched up an Euro-
pean peace, but we were brought to the verge of an Asian
war, which he hoped however, would be averted. He was
no sceptic to Russian intrigue, but to render th iat neffective
the Gov'ernineat should make the people contented, rather
than depend on a teat of arms.

A telegram from Madrid states that the papers re-
port three eases of yellow fever in the Madrid hospital.
The house carpenters and joiners of Aberdeen, to
the number of COO, struck work on Tuesday against a rein°.
tion of wages from 71d. to 7d. per hour.
The large number of travellers who have lately
crossed the Channel has, says Galignani, given a fresh im-
pulse to the studies of the project for forming a communica-
tion by railway between England and France. The pre-
paratory works of the engineers will sbortlybe terminated.
Profe?sfir Macfarren, the Principal of the Royal
Academy of Music, delivered the opening address to the
students on Saturday. Professor Macfarren stated that one
of the students in the Academy had perished in the Princess
Alice collision.

The allowances and repayments -on account of the
Land-tax and House Duty in the last financial year
amounted to £26,002 12s. 101, leaving the net produce
£2,702,320.

Pitcherine, a new stimulant, has been discovered
by the Australian aborigines. Smoked and chewed, or
applied as a plaster behind the ears, pitcherine produces
pleasant exhilaration, while it keeps up the strength (luring
exertion, and is also declared to supply Dutch courage in
battle.

The formal laying of the foundation-stone of the
railway bridge across the Firth of Forth, near Queensferry,
took place on Monday in the presence of a number of the
North British Railway Company'S officials and others.

- -
A Paris Correspondent says that the total effective
strength of the French army for the next. year is fixed at
nearly half a million of men. The expense of maintainfEg
these, together with the large number of horses required for
the service, is fixed at over twenty-two millions sterling.
- - - -

At Preston, on Monday evening, as the landlord of
the "Duke of Sussex " Inn, Kent-street, Preston, was going
down the cellar steps with a gallon jug, he fell to the bottom.
He crawled up again and sat down, foaming at the mouth,
and died in a few minutes. The deceased was but twenty-
four years of age.
- -

- :
A mutiny is reported from Japan, where three hun-
dred men belonging to the artillery and the Imperial Guard
mutinied on the 23rd of August and killed three of their
officers. The mutiny was immediately quelled, and is said
to be wholly due to the discontent occasioned by the reduc-
tion of pay in the army and the partiality with which rewards
and decorations have been distributed.

Great interest is stated to have been excited at
Belgrade by the news of the complications which have
arisen in regard to Afghanistan, and Russian influence in
Servia is said to have been decidedly strengthened.

The predicted high tide last Saturday was felt along
the south coasts of England and Ireland, where considerable
damage was done in the low•lying districts. On the eastern
coasts, however, the tide was unusually low. The water
rose very high on the western coasts, but no inundations
took place. In London the tide rose in the Thames to a
considerable height, but was a yard below the inundating
point, and little or no damage was done.

-
The Bishop of Manchester, preaching at Walsall, in
connection with the closing of a festival in commemoration
with the dedication of the parish church, pleaded earnestly
for simplicity of creed and life, and for promoting God's
cause rather by dealing with the mass of suffering, sin,
crime, ignorance, and vice, than by building churches,
erecting stained-glass windows, or conducting elaborate
harvest festivals. All these might properly find a place in
every sufficient attempt to set forth God's glory.
Talking of poems on pictures, I heard a student at
the South Kensington Art Schools say :—" No picture is
worth painting that is not worth having a poem written to
It I" "On the other hand," remarked Mr. Smee, "the
ptinter should leave nothing for the poet to say."—Whitehall
Review.

Four valuable Belgian Carrier Pigeons have been
picked up near the Island of Majorca by an American vessel,
according to a correspondent of the Live Stock Journal, and
are now at Philadelphia, waiting to be claimed by their
owners. The birds' wings are covered with stamps, medals,
and numbers, and bear the mark of the Brussels Society.
A telegram from New York, dated 10 a.m. Tues-
day, states that both the men—O'Leary and Hughes—en-
gaged in the six days' walking match, suffered considerably
from sickness during yesterday and last night. Hughes had
also had cramp in his legs. At the beginning of the race
Hughes ran a great deal, nut 0 Leary is, nevertheless, ahead,
the distance up to yesterday morning being—O'Leary, 129
miles; Hughes, 110.

Mr. Gladstone, accompanied by his son, the Rev.
S. E. Gladstone, rector of Hawarden, is on a visit to the Isle
of Man. He arrived at Douglas on Tuesday night, and on
landing was loudly cheered by the crowd, who followed him
to his hotel. On the steps he acknowledged the cordiality of
his reception, and expressed the pleasure it gave him, though
late in life, to become personally acquainted with the Isle of
Man. Ile also said he was pleased to see the beautiful Bay
of Douglas, and to observe the spirit of progress which
animated the Manx people, as displayed In the construction
of the breakwater and other works At the conclusion of his
speech Mr. Gladstone was again cheered.
"The Australian Cricketers will have no reason to
regret their visit to England. They take back with them a
sum of over £lO,OOO, the net residue of their recsipts from
the matches in this country, after paying all expenses. For
one match alone they received a cheque for £7BO 18s. 6d."—
Vanity Fair.

There were 2,491 births and 1,355 deaths registered
In London last week. Allowing for increase oi population,
the births exceeded by 151, whereas the deaths were 23 below
the average numbers in the corresponding week of the last
ten years. The annual death-rate from all causes, which in
the eight preceding weeks had steadily declined from 27 t to
18 2 per 1,000, was equal to 198. The deaths included 2 from
small-pox, 6 from measles, 30 from scarlet lever, 13 from
diphtheria, 53 from whooping-cough, 27 from different forms
of fever, and 61 from diarrLcca.

Wild elephants in British Burmah are likely to be-
come totally extinct if some measures are not speedily taken
for theirprotection. The male elephants are shot down as soon
as the tusks grow to a remarkable size, and the Karens kill
male and female elephants indiscriminately. A bill restrict-
ing this wholesale slaughter will probably be brought before
the Legislative Council, as the extinction of the breed in
Burmah would be a serious misfortune alike to the public
service and to the timber trade.

At the prelimiunry examination in arts at the Society
of Apothecaries, which has just been brought to a close, 109
candidates presented themselves, when 72 passed and received
certificates of proficiency in general education. Among
them were the following ladies, placed in the first class and
in the order of merit :—Annie Jacob, Mary Susan Mungearn,
Clarinda Roddy, Elizabeth Lougheed, and Catherine Mitchell.
The following were placed in the second division :—Julia
Cock, Elizabeth Grace Evans and Janet Michie.—At the
half-yearly preliminary examination in arts, ctc., for the
diplomas of fellowship and membership of the Royal College
of Surgeons, to which young ladies are not admitted, the
large number of 410 candidates presented themselves—viz.,
128 for the fellowship and 282 for the membership ; of this
number 71 passed for the first-named distinction and 180 for
the latter.

The Cambridge Free Library report shows that
during the past twelve months the total issue of books to
borrowers and readers was 55,732, which was an increase of
2,845 volumes over that of the preceding year. From a
classification of the books issued it is observed that no fewer
than 33,500 were works of fiction. The expense of the whole
institution is covered by a penny rate.

Mr. Frank Buckland and Mr. Spencer Walpole,
the Sea Fisheries Commissioners for England and Wales,
have visited Liverpool for the purpose of bearing evidence
as to the use of the trawl net and seine net, and the alleged
destruction of the fry and spawn of sea fish by these modes
of fishing. A number of witnesses, chiefly fish salesmen and
fishermen, were examined, and, with one exception, all were
of opinion that the supply of flat fish had fallen off very con-
siderably, and of other fish to some extent. The reason
given was the use of nets having small meshes, which pre-
vented small fish from escaping. Enormous quantities of
young fish were destroyed in this way. One of the witnesses
said the pollution of the River Mersey by the sewage and
refuse from chemical works was a serious evil, and killed a
number of fish. As a remedy the enforcement of large-
meshed nets and the observance of a close time were sug-
gested.