The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-10 00:00:00

Our foubou Corrtspoubtrit.

We deem it right t. late that we do net at all times
identify ourselves with Our Correspondent* opinions l
Thillasople of EnglaldA as a generlinie, do
ni no:611
Id fortdebservinoe of New ear's Day
as far as the metropolis was concerned, the First of
January passed off much as any other day in the year.
The pc pulation seemed to have shaken off the laesitnele,
or rather the disinclination for work which seems
almost inseparable from the Christmas festivities, and
while bidding farewell to the departing friend with some
regret, there was many • word of welcome to the
stranger. Some of the stretti at midnight were alive
with pedestrians crowing out of the watchgaight see
vice; peals of bells rang merrily from the steeples;
and the sky was clear and cloudlels, the stars
bring scarcely visible amid the full light of the
moon. New Year's day itself brought more
than one piece of cheerful intelligence. The
revenue returns were highly satisfactory ; rain
has fallen in Bengal ; there was a substantial re-
duction in the price of coal ; and Sir Garnet Wolseley
was in full pursuit of the Ashanteer. This,
It will be admitted, was a highly gratifying Budget of
Items for New Year's Day. Yet it is not long since
the First of January was regularly a time of uneasiness
and anxiety throughout Europe. As often as the sea-
son came round, people waited with eagerness to hear
what the late Emperor Napoleon had to say to the
members of the Diplomatic Corps whom be received
at the Tuileries. en one memo:able occasion--at the
opening of 1859—a few words addressed:to the Austrian
ambassador bade Europe prepare for war. liappily
those times are past. New Year's Day, 1874, began
;dill bright auguries, and although we cannot expect
a twelvemonth altogether free from cloud, we may at
all events hope for a year less gloomy than some of
thew which we have witnessed.

Considerable intereat Is felt in the event which has
been fixed for the 22nd Instant, when the second son of
her Majesty hi to be married to the only daughter of
the Czar of Russia. The London daily papers have
"

despatched to St. Petersburg their moot brilliant de-
scriptive writers who will endeavour to do justice to
the ceremony in the Winter Palace. I think there is a
general wish in London to postpone any systematic
celebration of the wedding until the illustrious couple
arrive in this country. There is some talk of a great
Illumination and daylight decorations, and although
something in this way will probably be carried out,
none of us expect again to witness such a spectacle as
that of the 7th of March, 1863, when the Princess of
Wales painted through London on her way to Windsor.
The Duke of Edinburgh is not heir to the Throne, and
there have been several Royal Marriages within the
past eleven years. Still there is little doubt that some-
thing will be done to welcome the Grand Duchess;
and by way of taking the initiative, the Lord Mayor
and Corporation have made arrangements for a grand
ball at the Mansion House during the month of March,
which the Duke and his bride will attend.
There was a very brilliant gathering • few evenings
ago at the new General Post Office in St. Martinliele-
Grand. This handsome building stands immediately
opposite the old one, which is so well known to
country visitors, and underneath whose porthmee
many of them have often watched the rush which takes
place to cove the six o'clock evening post. The occa-
sion to which I refer was the opening of the Post
Office Library, and a more interesting or instructive
way of spending an evening can scarcely be imagined.
The galleries were tastefully decorated with flags, and
In one of the eections a museum of early telegraphic
Instruments and appliances was arranged. Close to
these were shown the latest Improvements in the
science of telegraphy; and messages were traiemitted
to, and received from, nineteen large towns in the
kingdom with marvellous celerity. -Perhaps the most
wonderful achievement of the science is the ease by
which inessa.reis can now be despatched simultaneously
In opposite directions through a eingle wire, and many
instances of this; were given. In the Central Gallery
were wires working in direct coirmunication with
Australia, India, Persia, the United States, St. Peters
burg, Bade, and Berlin. Then the visitors were
shown the pneumatic tubes which connect the Central
Telegraoh Station with the principal offices for the
collectiod and delivery of messages in the metropolis.
A message handed in, whether at an office in Fleet
Street, or at one in Kensington, is immediately placed
In a tube, and shot with the rapidity of the wind,
underne the streets to the Central Station, where
there are, greater facilities for despatching it than can
possibly exist elsewhere. The guests were likewise
invited to inspect a working model of the Travelling
Poet Office, which receives and delivers mode without
a stoppage of the train being neceesary. No one who
was present will soon forget the enjoyable nature of
the evening, or the courtesy and ability with which
Dr. Lyon Playfair discharged the duties of Chairman.

Wanderers in Loudon must have often been struck
with the singular monotony of the cabman's life, lie
is exposed to all weathers, and in seasons of drenching
rain his vehicle to his only place of shelter. A number
of gentlemen have lately token up the subject of pro-
viding "cabmen's rests," that is to Ray covered sheds
In which the driver may to some extent be pro.
teeter), without being compelled to shut himself up
In his cab, or to seek refuge in the nearest public.
house. They brought the matter before the Chief
Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, who finds
that the statutory powers poeseesed by him of ap
pointing stands for hackney carries, do not extend to
the proposed erections. Colonel —Henderson intimates
that he would not interfere to prevent the building of
such places by private enterprise. There would, of
of course, be some difficulty in carrying this out in the
crowded city, but there ia ample room adjacent to the
cab stands in many of the suburbs.
Looking over the recently-issued Board of Trade
returns, I find that the duty on currants during the
last financial year was nearly £320,000. The time was,
however, when the bringing of this fruit Into the
country was not quite no easy as It is in the present
day. In the year 1642 an ordinance of both Houses
was promulgated, forbidding their importation on the
ground that they were "of little or no use at all, bat a
mere superfluity, and may well be spared." The Legia,
lature of our own times, however, has more important
work upon its hands than that of prohibiting the in.
portation of superfluities.
Another step has been made in the direction of
carrying out a system of National Education. On
the let of January instructions were issued by the
Local Government Board, the effect of which
Is that about a quarter of a million of out-
door pauper children will henceforth have not
only to be fed by the Poor Law Guardians through-
out the country, but provided with elementary in-
struction as well. This is one of the results of the
Education Amendment Act of last session, and the
way in which it works will be watched with some in-
Wrest. In legislating for these poor children, Parlias
inert has been careful net to encroach upon parental
righte. Parents who are unable to make both ends
meet without assistance from the poor law are to be
free to choose the schools to which their children must
go, and unless they are actually sent to school, no
relief will be granted. The school age ranges from five
10 thirteen years. Some exception has been taken to
one provision in the Act by which the school-pence are
to be paid by the relieving officer, not to the school
master, but to the parents for traustniselon to him by
the chilies's. If is thought by many that mole than
.111. worthless f g‘rent will be tempted to turn the money
Into drink.
Although the doings upon the Stock Exchange occupy
senh a considerable epee in the London papers, com-
paratively few people know anything aboat this in
portent Institution. It stands in the centre of the
block .4 bu adhere fronting Bartholomew-lane,
Threadneedle-street, Old Broad-street, and Throg-
neorton street. The principal entrance is from
Bartholomew-lane, through Capel-court. The area
of the Exchange is about 75 square yards, and about
1,200 persons can congregate upon its floor. The num-
ber of members now upon the books is between 1,700
and 1,800 ; they pay twelve guineas a ysar each, and
are elscted It Ballot. Every applicant must be re-
commended by three persons who have been members
of the Exchange for at least two years. Each recom-
mender most engage to pay the sum of £5OO to the
candidates' creditors in case the applicant should be-
come a defaulter. A foreigner must have he n reef+ set
in the United Kingdom eve years, Cr he recom-
mended by five members of the Stock Exchange,
each of whom becomes secnrity for £5OO. Bill
and discount brokers are excluded, and no applicant's
wife can be engaged in any sort of business. The
entrance to the Stock Exchange is jealously guarded by
an experienced official who is acquainted with the
faces of all the members. 0.-casionelly, however, a
stranger happens to stray in, and to escape the vigi-
lance of the janitor; but should he be detected, he is
invariably bonneted by the members, and expelled
into the street with ignominy. The amount of
new transacted upon the Stock Exchange on some
days is enormous, and in a few hours property to the
value of ten millions sterling has been known to change
hands. The life is, however, • very trying nice; for
the violent excitemerd of the constant alternation of
hope and disappointment cannot fail to tell upon the
constitutions of most of the members.
Those who may have been to the Crystal Palace on
a treat fttc day, and have seen the enormous number
of spectators congregated in the building and grounds,
must have had the impresidon that the irustitution was
• great financial OUCC4OII. Than, have been occasions,
such as the Foresters' and Odd Fellows' Annual Fes.
the's, on which more than 130,000 meow have gone to

the Palace on a single day. Yet there are Immeoss
expenses connected with the place, and at the ordinary
general meeting of the shareholders, which Wu Issid
refer days ago, a-dividend A the rate of ona peCchet.
per annum on the ordinary: stock was deolsned.
willo doubtless, surprise many who know what a
fastinrite the CrystAlsalaclais with all classes of gle
veople ; and it is at all ;veal- satisfactory to inow
that so far as tbe number of its visitor are concerned,
it retains the popularity which it has long and des
servedly °Di lyed.

Although the stiburba of London are already well
served so far as railway accommodation is concerned,
some extension of our anburbiut lines is conataxtly
Ong on. Iwe that the Metropolitan I,fistrict Rail.
way Company (quite • separate undertaking from the
Matra.titan prdPer Is constructing- a line which shall
give the inha'Atants of Ilammersmith greater facilities
be travelling to and from the City. It will be • mile
and squirter in length, and is expected to be com-
pleted by the Ist of o,t•aber next. The directors look
for an increased Income to the extent of £5OO a week
when this little piece of line has been opened for public
traffic.

The question of providing London with a continuous
supply of water has again come up for discussion
during the sbience of more exciting topics. An Act
of 1871 empowered the Local Authorities to demand
constant service when they migh see fit. The Com-
panies are preparing to comply with this demand, and
one of these corporations has now the power of afford-
ing an effective continuous supply, Yet although this
is exceedingly desirabl4, no 'gteneral measures have yet
been taken to enforce the Act of 1871, the local autho-
rities of the metropolis believing that the terms im-
posed by the Companies, and sanctioned by the Board
of Trade are so burdensome that the ratepayers can-
not be asked to submit to them. The new fittings
would be a heavy tax on every householder, while some
of the rules to be observed are of a very arbitrary de-
scription. Unless these regulation/ are In some degree
relaxed, there is not much hope of Londoners having
a constant service of water in their houses, whatever
may be done by way of hydrants in the streets—a
no et important consideration, by the way, in dealing
with a great fire.

The Metropolitan Board of Works have decided to
oppose the applic @Son of the gas companies to Parlia-
ment for power to charge higher prices; gas con-
sumers in all directions are taking steps for supporting
the action of the Board. In various districts Gas
Consumers' Protection Associations are being formed.
The contention of their members is that so far from
there being any ground for an increase in the present
rates, these ought to be subjected to considerable dimi.
nation. Should the recent fall in the price of coal be
maintained, it will materially tend to strengthen the
case of those of the metropolitan public who believe
that they pay quite enough for their gas already.