The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-08-01 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS:

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

A son of Mr. W. G. S. Harrison, Town Clerk of
Folkestone, was drowned on Saturday whilst bathing
between Sandgate and Folkestone. The body was
recovered shortly afterward s.
A stonemason named Hillier, of Bath, who has been
working at Strawberry-hill, whilst bathing in the
Thames early on Sunday morning at Twickenham, was
seized with cramp and drowned.
A boy named Jones. one of three lads who were
bathing at Ruabon on Saturday, was drowned.
An inquiry was held on Saturday into the circum-
stances attending the death of George Wightmau, a
gentleman's servant, of Edinburgh-mansions, Victoria-
street, who, it was suppesed, first attempted the murder
of his wife and afterwards committed suicide. A ver-
dict of "Suicide while in a state of unsound mind" was
returned.
The Duke of Edinburgh was present on Saturday at
the annual inspection of the Greenwich Royal Hospital
School, and distributed the prizes. His Royal High-
ness congratulated the boys on their smart and healthy
appearance. Mr. Ashmead Bartlett, M.P., Civil Lord
of the Admiralty, Admiral Sir A. Milne, and Admiral
Luard also addressed the lads.
The death is announced of General Trentinian, a
French officer who had seen 62 years' service. The
deceased will be remembered by many for his active
participation in the suppression of the Commune.
The Egyptian General Assembly was opened on
Tuesday by the Khedive, who submitted to it the new
Loan. Subsequently the Finance Minister brought
forward the Budget.
The first step towards the ernancipat'on of the Jews
in Russia has been taken by the special commission
now sitting in St. Petersburg under the presidency of
Count Pahlen.
It has been decided to inter the remains of General
Grant in Riverside Park, on the bank of the Hudson,
instead of in Central Park.
Intimation has been made by the directors of the
Bank of Ireland to the committee of shareholders of the
Munster Bank that they regret being unable to make
an advance of half-a-million on the terms prcposed, and
they suggest the creation of additional capital and the
issue of debentures, after which they express their
readiness to consider any reasonable proposal.
Dr. Saunders, the Medical Officer of Health for the
City, stated at a meeting of the Court of Sewers on
Tuesday that the sanitary condition and the public
health of London was unusually good, and he thought
the chances of the introduction of cholera from Spain
diminished day by day.
aentenee of six weeks' hard labour was on Tuesday
passed at the Marylebone Police-court on a drunken
ruffian who had assaulted and forcibly kissed a married
woman in Chapel-street.
A private of the Leicestershire Regiment at Alder-
shot, while walking in his sleep on Monday night,
stepped out of the barrack window, which was opened
in consequence of the heat, and fell from the third
floor to the ground. He received shocking injuries, and
aied in consequence.
A severe encounter with poachers is reported to have
taken place on the Bawtry Hall Estate of Mr. Baines
in Yorkshire. A gamekeeper, named John Marshall,
in his rounds came upon a gang of poachers, who were
pursuing their occupation with nets and dogs. Seeing
the keeper was single-handed, the gang attacked him
violently, and beat him so seriously that he had
scarcely strength left to get home on his hands and
knees.
On Wednesday afternoon a whitesmith named
Davies, of Eyeball, Dudley, who was accused by some
of his neighbours of being the father of his daughter's
child, was buffeted about, placed on a handcart, and
dragged along the streets amid groans, jeers, and
threats. The man was half dead with fear when
released. _ _ _ _

The Committee of the House of Lords, presided over
by Earl Beauchamp, have unanimously passed the Cor-
poration Tower Bridge Bill, with the scheme of which,
including architectural, engineering, and working
details, they expressed themselves satisfied.
From April 18t to the 25th inst. the Exchequer re-
ceipts amounted to i 25,411,691, as compared with
£25,406,532 in the corresponding period of last year.
The expenditure has been £31,451,231. On Saturday
last the balance in the Bank of England was £1,233,364,
and in the Bank of Ireland £1,060,970.
At Tuesday's sitting of the Central Criminal Court,
John Parker and Alfred Bailey surrendered ta their bail
on the charge of having engaged in a prize fight—
Parkes as principal, and Bailey 88 aiding him. For the
defence it was pleaded that the affair was merely the
result of a public-house brawl. The jury returned a
verdict of acquittal.
In London last week 2423 births and 1626 deaths
were registered. The annual death-rate per 1000 from
all causes, which had steadily increased during the four
preceding weeks, further rose to 20.9. There were 6
deaths from small-pox, 65 from measles, 11 from scarlet
fever, 19 from diphtheria, 51 from whooping cough, 284
from dysentery, and 5 from cholera.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
reading of the barometer last week was 30-03 in. The
mean temperature of the air was 64.5 deg., and 15 deg.
above the average. The mean was below the average
on Thursday, but showed an excess on each of the other
days, the hottest day being Saturday. The duration of
registered bright sunshine was 559 hours, against 539
hours at Glynde Place, Lewes.
A meeting of the National League was held at
Dublin on Tuesday. There was a numerous attendance.
Mr. J. E. Redmond, M.P., who presided, observed that
the prospects of the cause which they represented
never looked so favourable as at present. He believed
It would be impossible to exaggerate the enormous
advantage which the Irish National party occupied at
the present moment in the political world. At the pre-
sent moment there was a measure of land reform before
Parliament and before the country. Speaking only, of
course, for himself, he objected entirely to any system
of a land purchase scheme which was to be worked out
by the Irish Land Commission.
A lecture, entitled" Twenty Years of Irish History
—1865 to 1885," was delivered in Dublin on Tuesday
by Mr. Michael Davitt in the round room of the
Rotunda. Mr. John Dillon presided. The proceeds
were to be devoted to the fund for behoof of James
Stephens to enable him "to spend the remainder of
his days in comfort and prosperity." Both the chair-
man and the lecturer spoke in the warmest terms of
the labours of Stephens in his country's cause.
A meeting of the General Committee of the Scottish
Farmers' Alliance was held at Aberdeen on Tuesday.
Mr. John Rae, Haddo, Laurencekirk, presided. A long
discussion took place on the Agricultural Holdings
Act, a motion being passed condemning the Act as in-
sufficient to meet the grievances complained of, pledging
the members of the Alliance to do everything possible
to forward the interests of agriculture. Dr. Hunter,
the Liberal candidate for Northern Aberdeen, explained
the bill of Mr. Barclay, M.P., which was favourably
received.
Two men, named Bt.y and Morley, both married,
with families' were, at an early hour on Tuesday morn-
ing, accidentally drowned in the German Ocean off
Amble, Northumberland. A billyboy laden with coals
for the use of the lighthouse people on Coquet Island,
situated about two miles from the coast, left Amble
harbour in tow of a steamboat, and when half way there
the boat, in which were six men, suddenly went down,
throwing all the men into the sea. The steamer put
about and cast out lines, four of the men being by this
means saved.

Mr. Henry A. Jones is engaged upon a new piece for
the Vaudeville Theatre. The forthcoming Princess's
play, by Henry A. Jones and Wilson Barrett, is
finished, and will be put in immediate rehearsal. It is
in four acts, and will contain some striking scenes of
modern English village life. The leading parts will be
played by Mr. Wilson Barrett and Miss Eastlake. Im-
mediately after its production Mr. Jones will leave
England for America to superintend the rehearsals of
"Saints and Sinners," in New York. Mr. Jones will
also take with him to America the comedy upon which
he is now engaged.
The supposed Fenian in custody on a charge of
murcleting the Irishman Gateley, at Solihull, five years
ago, was privately brought before the Warwick magis-
trate on Tuesday, and further rematded for eight
days. The accused made no reply in answer to the
charge. The police are said to be in possession of in-
formation showing the outrage arose out of a Fenian
conspiracy.

At Windsor Castle a suite of apartments is being
prepared for the use of Prince and Princess Henry of
Battenberg, when residing at the Palace with the
Queen. Apartments w;11 likewise be prepared for the
Prince and Princess at Balmoral when the Cloud is in
Scotland.

An up -mixed goods train, proceeding about noon on
Saturday from Willesden Junction towards Chalk Farm,
was discovered to be on fire while passing through the
Queen's-park Station of the London and North-Western
Railway. The fire was burning in the centre of the
train, where some heavily-loaded trucks of hay were
coupled. It is supposed that the fire wqs caused by a
spark from the engine. That a serious calamity did
not occur is attributed to the prompt action of the
signalman and stationmaster.
The "City Press "states that a deputation from the
Law and City Courts Committee is about to visit the
County Courts in some of the principal towns, with a
view to getting information which may assist them
in drawing up plans for the new City of London
Court.

The War Department are engaged in taking steps
for the prevention of accidents at the national work—
shops at Woolwich, where there are more artisans em-
ployed now than have ever heed in the previous history
of the Royal Arsenal. The number of men in the
Arsenal is 16,000, and henc3 the necessity for every
precaution being taken for the safety of so large a
number. Since the recent explosion of the shell at
Shoehuryness, a rigid code of rules has been drawn up
for the guidance of the employes, laying down pre- ,
cautions to be observed in the manufacture of and ex- 1
periments with fuses and other explosives. A new
building, to be used as a fuse store, is to be erected near
the Marsh gates, the existing one being considered too
close to the workshops for the safety of the men em•
-
ployed inside.
The committee appointed at a towns meeting at
Manchester on the day following the disastrous explo-
sion at the Clif ton Hall Colliery, Pendlebury, have
closed their accounts. The total sum contributed
reached a total of £23,816 17s. The manner in which
the appeal made has been responded to in all parts of the
country is regarded by the committee as exceedingly
satisfactory, and the amount subscribed will enable
more to be done for the widows and fatherless children
than it was at one time anticipated.
Lord Sheffield, the president of the Sussex County
Club, has engaged Alfred Shaw for another three years,
with the object of assisting him in the development of
Sussex cricket. The first three years' engagement of
the Notts bowler terminated this season, and the efforts
of his lordship prove conclusively that he and the com-
mittee are not disheartened by the recent ill-luck which
has befallen the county, owing to deaths and unfore-
seen accidents arising to members of the county teams.
A serious fire occurred at Hanley:on Saturday morn-
ing atlfr. H. Palmer's saw mills and timber-yard, one
of the largest establishments of the kind in North
Staffordshire. The greater portion of the building was
gutted, the engine and nearly all the extensive
machinery were destroyed, and the large stock of
timber was consumed. Neither the building nor the
stock was insured.

rem..., rlay as
Globe Theitre, London, "The -Private Secretary,"
reached its 500 representation, a fact which is worthy
of notice, since the success of this piece has been
phenominal. It is now in the very height of its popu.
larity, and there is every reason to believe that another
500 representations will be given before Mr. Ilawtney
finds it necessary to produce the new farcial comedy
which he has in readiness. The performance offered
one feature for special remark, and, that of an
important nature, artistically speaking. After 500 per.
formances the general representation is as good now as
it was at first, no exaggeration in any one part having
been allowed to mar the evenness of the whole, while
no tendency to what may be called "larking " spoils
the original purpose of the piece. This in a farcial play
which involves so much brisk " business " reflects great
credit not only on Mr. Hawtrey himself, as manager,
but on the whole of his company. Messrs. W. J. Hill
and Penley are as funny as ever, while the various
impersonations of Messrs. Hawtrey, Andrews, Beau.
mont, Julian Cross, Mrs. Stephens, Mrs. Leigh Murray,
Miss Vane Featherstone. and Miss Maud Millett are
excellent in their respective ways.
Cardinal Nina, late Secretary of State of Leo XIII.,
died on Saturday nigha. He was born in 1812, and re-
ceived the cardinal's hat in 1877.
In order to introduce a proper system of working
plantations in the Carneroons, and especially in the
neighbourhood of Birnbia, the firms of Woermann,
Jantzer, and Thomaehlen, of this city,-have formed a
joint stock company, in which capitalists in all parts of
Germany have taken shafesrof the value of 10,000 marks
each. . . .
The 25th anniversary of the -birthday of her Reyall
Highness the Duchess of Connqught was celebrated in
London in the customary manner on Saturday.
A terrible fire broke out on Saturday in the Batig.
nolles quarter of Paris amongst the carpenters' work.
shops and vast warehouses in the neighbourhood where
carpets are stored during the summer months. Five
blocks of buildings containing workmen's lodgings
were burnt out. The damage is enormous. It is esti.
mated that several million francs' worth of carpets
were destroyed. Several firemen were injured, and it
is feared that there are other victims amongst the
ruins.
Three buglers of the Royal Engineers attempted to
row from Ramsgate to Calais on Saturday. After
being out 15 hours they were picked up in a somewhat
exhausted state by a French pilot boat, and landed at
Boulogne.
Passenger traffic on the Hull and Barnsley Railway
was opened on Monday morning. The first train from
Oudvrorth to Hull left at 20 minutes past eight. It in
intended to run six trains each way daily. The
Barnaley tradespeople have invited the directors of
the new company to a banquet, to be held on
August 10.
An explosion has occurred at a colliery near Saint
Etienne, and a number of lives have been lost.
A renewal of the eiligy on the tomb of Grace Darling
was unveiled at Bamburgh on Monday. A three-light
stained-glass window also has been placed in the church
in memory of the heroine of the Fame Islands, who,
with her father, the lighthouse keeper, saved a number
of lives from the vessel Forfarshire, which was
wrecked there in 1838.
The death is announced in Paris of M. Ferdinand
Boyer, one of the champions of the Extreme Right in
the French Chamber of Deputies. M. Floquet paid a
graceful tribute to the memory of the deceased deputy
in the Chamber. Mgr. Caraguel, Bishop of Perpignan,
has also died.

All the details connected with the Guaranteed
Egyptian Loan are now settled, and Messrs. N. M.
Rothschild and Sons have been entrusted with the issue
of the same. The subscription opened at the end of
week, andthe price has been fixed at 95i.
The Admiralty have ordered that, except for such
ships as are permanently unfit for further sea service,
anchors and chain cables are henceforth to be kept
complete for all ships belonging to the Steam Reserve,
and on a ship being paid off the anchors and cables are
not to be returned to the storekeeper's charge, but are
to be retained on harbour charge for the ship.
It is intended to make the inquiry of the Royal Com-
mission upon Trade Depression of a most exhaustive
character. The Earl of Iddesleigh is now busy select-
ing the gentlemen who will form the commission, Which
will be representative of every class. It is probable
that the Commission will not hold its first sitting before
October next, when, after the preliminary meetings,
evidence will be taken from every trade centre.
A curious incident occurred in the Parade Church,
Shorncliffe, on Sunday. It was found that the church
was besieged by various kinds of birds, principally.
swallows. Every effort • was made to dislodge them,
but without effect, and at rast 'some Soldieri were
obliged to fire a volley of blank cartridges, which com-
pletely routed them, and the church being soon vacated,
the service was held.
In accordance with an agreement between the
Ashton-under-Lyne Master Cotton Spinners' Associa-
tion and the Oldha.,l Masters' Association, three-fourths
of the spindles in the Ashton district on Monday com-
menced working shcrt time, three days per week..
This is to continue so long as the strike of operative
spinners in Oldhata against the 10 per cent. reduction
exists.

The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on Monday received
addresses of welcome from the Synod of the Church of
Ireland and from the Royal Dublin Society. Replying
to the former, his Excellency said he recognised the
magnitude of the responsibility placed upon him, and
trusted there was a better future before Ireland, and
that she would concern herself in industrial progress.
He hoped there would be an improved feeling amongst
all classes, and greater sympathy towards each other.
A Durban telegram announces that the Transvaal
Government, being unable to meet its liabilities, has
suspended payments to its creditors.
At the Consistory held at the Vatican the Pope nomi-
nated the first Australian Cardinal, the Bishops of
Southwark, Oregon City, and Three Rivers, Canada,
and the Archbishop of Dublin. '
. _

Reports are again current in Vienna that there will
during the summer be a meeting between the Czar and
the Emperor Francis Joseph on Austrian territory,
although all such statements are denied at Berlin. A
Owing to the intense heat ironworkers were on Mon-
day compelled to cease work at many of the forges and
furnaces in South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire
districts, whilst at some works the ironworkers refused
to commence work.

The heat in Scotland during the past week was
greater than has been experienced for some years. The
thermometer has reached nearly 90 deg. in the shade in
many places, and several cases of sunstroke are re-
ported. A gentleman in Loch Lomond district reports
a singular phenomenon. He states that about nine
o'clock one night he saw a large ball of fire descend
from the clouds, followed by what appeared to be an
earthquake shock.
The heat at Princetown, Dartmoor, was so great on
Monday that two convicts were overpowered while
mowing, and were unable to continue work. Under
medical treatment they are expected to recover. A.
little girl in the neighbourhood also had a slight sun-
stroke. The registered temperature was 112 in the sun
and 94 in the shade. Frincetown is WO feet above the
sea level.
At a public meeting held on Monday night at Lad.
broke Hall, in support of the candidature of Mr. 3. F.
B. Firth, M.P., for the new borough of North Reusing.
ton, it was stated that Sir Charles Dilke, M.P., who was
to have been present, had been compelled under medical -
advice to abandon his intention of speaking at various
meetings, the right hon. baronet suffering from the
effects of overwork. -

Lord Charles Beresford on Monday night addressed
a meeting in St. George's Hall, Langham-place, in sup-
port of his candidature in the Conservative interest for
one of the divisions of the borough of Marylebone. A.
resolution in support of the object of the meet* was
carried.
The Marchioness of Salisbury was present on Mon..
day at the annual gathering at the Mary Batchelor
School for Girls, The Grove, Camberwell, and distri-
buted the prizes to the successful schelars. Alderman
Cotton, M.P., presided. The Marchioness was accom.
panied by Lord Cranborne and Lady G. Cecil.
An alarming fire broke out on Monday afternoon on
the premises of Messrs. F. Lewis and Co., cabinet
makers, Scrut t an-street, Finsbury. Considerable damage
was done.