The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-06-27 00:00:00

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DESTRUCTION OF SHEEP AND LAMBS BY LIGHT-
NING.— On Monday evening, a very heavy storm of
thunder and lightning, accompanied by a good deal of
rain, passed over liarnsley, doing considerable damage
in the neighbourhood. At Worsborouffi Dale, about
two miles from the town, the electric fluid struck a
number of sheep and lambs belonging to Mr. Saville,
farmer, of Swathehouse, winch were sheltered under a
tree. Six ewes and six lambs were killed on the spot. '
The lightning in its course also struck the telegraph
poles and wires not far from where the slier' wi re
killed, anti for a considerable distance split the f.wilwr,
'so destroying all communication by the wires. At
other places in the same neighbourhood a good deal of
damage was done.
MEL A NCIIOLY DEATH OF A BANK MANAGER.—
On Tuesday morning, Mr. Ball, manager of the Lan-
caster branch of the Manchester and Salford Banking
Company, left Lancaster to go for a short ride into
the country, according to his usual custom. He was
mounted on a limy, and hail scarcely got outside the
town when the animal stumbled as it wan about to
turn a corner. The result was that Mr. Ball was
thrown over the pony's head, and he alightel with
great violence upon a curb-stone. When picked up,
it AVM found that lie was shockingly injured about the
head. He never spoke afterwards, and died in less
than five minutes. The pony was found standing
quietly by the side of its master. Mr. Ball had
resided iv:Lane:utter for several years, anil was very
highly respected. Prior to his undertaking the office
which he was holding up.to the time of his death, he
was for a considerable period manager of the then
Lancaster branch of the Preston Banking Company.
The news of his melancholy death created quite a
sensation in Lancaster. lie was about 45 years if
age, and unmarried.
A PAINTER WIIO SHOULD ALWAYS BE HUNG
"ON THE Imsr.."— llook.—Punch.

THE Motif,: AND THE WEATHER.—If any
marked connection existed between the state of the
air and the aspect of the moon, it' must inevitably
have forced itself unsought upon the attention of
meteorologists. In the weekly returns of births,
deaths, and marriages, issued by the Registrar-General,
a table is given, showing all the meteorological ele-
ments for every day of the year, and a column is set
apart for noting the changes and positions of the
moon. These reports extend backwards nearly a
quarter of a century. Here, then, is a repertory of
data that ought to reveal a a glance any such con-
nection, and would certainly have done so had it
existed. But no constant rela ion between the moon
columns and those con aining the instrument readings
has ever been traced. Our meteorological observatories
furnish continuous and unbroken records of atmospheric
variations, extending over long series of years ; these
afford still more abundant means for testing the
validity of the lunar hypothesis. The collation
has frequently been made for special points in the
inquiry, and certainly some connection has been found
to obtain between certain positions of the moon in her
orbit and certain instrumental averages; Inn si small
are the effects traceable to lunar influence, that the
re almo t inapp ec a le am ng the g oaser rregu-
larit es that aris from other and as yet un.xpla
causes.
THE BEST LAWN-MOWER.—Mr. Gladstone, with
his Suspensory Bill.—Punch.
THE RELEASED ABYSSINIAN CAPTIVES. —The
captives (says a letter from near Magdala) cannot be
said to bear many traces of their long confinement.
Captain Cameron is sadly broken down, lint has
mended considerably since his arrival in camp. The
Germans are taking back to Fatherland souvenirs of
another kind—beautiful Abyssinian wives and quivers
full of children, the latter as robust and noisy as any
over whom the brawling Rhine throws its spray. The
fact is, they had been living in luxury up there, and so
far as the cuisine and liqueurs are cone, rned, have
reason to regret their being transferred to the British
camp. Tej, arrack, and choice wines are unknown
hero; the captives could not be treated with cigars
and cognac as they had expected. and "What, ni t even
slim" showed the surprise they felt on being told that
the army had been deprived of that beverage too.
THE Pirnc ANNIvERSARY.—It appears that
his 11. dim.,s entered on the twenf y-third year of his
reign on Thursday, the 18th of June, and that there
have been fiat five Popes who have occupied the Pon-
tifical throne for that space of time. Alloman adage
is quoted, by which it would appear that no right
minded Pope would think of living longer than St.
Peter, who it has been satisfactorily ascertained reigned
in the Vatican twenty-five years two months and
seven days. The Gazette It .10,ance observes on the
Pope's entering the 23rd year of his Pontificate
It is certain that few Popes have hail to endure so many
Storms as Pins IX. Since his election he has seen three
Governments follow eavli other in France—the Government
of Louis Philippe, the Republic, and the Empire Under
the Mist he kept his States and attempted to improve the
material and moral situation of the Italians. Under the
second lie had to take to flight, but was again put in full
possession of the temporal power, the guarantee of his
spiritual Independence. Under the third he has seen Ids
States invaded, without a declaration of war, by his
neighbonrs, ine allies, and has lost three-fourths of abet he
had under Louis Philit lie and the Republic.
REMEMBI BIN THE P, on.— Probate of the will
and codicil of Richard Glaister. of Coleman-street,
London, :dal of Lyndhurst-road, Peckham, who died
on the 7th ult., was granted on the llth inst., to Sarah