The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-05-03 00:00:00

'ffiistrillneous Inittligeutt,

410 ME fOREIGN, EiND COLONIAL.

Ns, SLANG FOR C HAM PAOI9 N. —Caller'.
Pop.—Punch.

THE EDUCATION ACT.—The Birmistghssen Post
has published the following special telegram :—" That
Government have decided not to reptal the 2.5 th llama
of the Education Act. The tenni, of Mr. Forster'e
bill have at length been settled, and I am able to ensure
you of the above. What he intends to propoee wilt be
a small compromis' o which I have reason to belisve
will not be acceptrd by the Nonconformists. The
Ministerial proposal is likely to receive the support of
the Conservatives." 'rue Leeds Mercury has alio pub-
lished a telegram of similar purport. .
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Tun JAPANtert MINT.--in elaborate report,
in the English language, by the Master of the Mint in
Japan to the Japanese Minister of Finance, has just
rea/hed us (says the Economirt). Many pe3ple will
be surprised to learn that the Japanese are introiudsg
a new gold coinage., with the latest improvements as,
ender European (or Americane.') superintendence, boi
the fact is so, and the amount of the coinage in the
first year, ending July 31, 1672, in by no means a small
one. During that year the Imperial Mint of Japan
impnrted no lees than 858,2260 z. of wild for coinage, or
about k.'3,0`10,000, besides 4,767,175. z, of silver, or
about £3,192,000. The total number of gold pieces
struck was 2,190,256, valued at 14,483,951 dole. ; and
silver pieces 13,313,722, valued at 5,689,685 dole,—
total, 15,503,978 pieces, valued at 20,178,666 dolt
After such an account, one of,tlae objects of the recent
Japanese loan, with the consequent export of gold from
England to Japan, becomes apparent. Japan, in fact,
is one of the venoms competitors with Germany for a
new gold coinage, and helps to swell a demand which
is probably already in excess of the annual supply of
gold throughout the world.

NATURE AND ART.—What are the "pic-
torial trees" which we Bee announced as about to bee:.
Minted in the Horticultural Gardens at Kensington?
What branch of Art do they represent? Are they
trees hung sound with beautiful woodcuts?—Punch.

Foe -gem Among the other residences
which will be brought into the market this season it
Is an estate which, thouA inferior in historic interest
to that of Pope's villa, has about it associations whisk
invest it with smiething of romance—we mean PSI
Newydd, near Llangollen, in North \Vales. Some 40
or 50 years ago it was well known to Welsh tourists MI
the home of the eccentric " Ladies of Llangollen,"
Miss Ponsonby aud Lady Eleanor Butler. who, having
eloped together fpom their homes in Ireland in 1770,
lived there till their deaths at very advanced ages
about the year 1830. It is praised in verse by Min
Seward, who also dealt out plentiful tulogiums on its
eccentric occupants. The eitate comprises about 12
acres in all, and is well wooded, the trees still forming
a rookery, as they did when " the ladies" were alive.
The house is "embellished with tasteful carved work
both inside and outside."

WOOLWICH NURSERY Naws.—More Wool-
wich Infanta, yet unborn, are thought of. It is pro.
posed to construct, within the next year, no less than
twenty of these little strangers. They are to weigh
thirty five tons each, and carry a seven hundred pound
bolt propelled by a charge of one hundred and thirty
pounds of pebble powder, necessitating a cartridge ol
two feet six inches long. There are reasons which have
determined the choice of that sort of gunpowder foe
the Woolwich Infants; and it is certainly more suitable
than violet powder would be to those iron babies.—
Punch.

REhPITE OF THE DUNDEE MURDERER.-011
Saturday aJetter was received by the Provost of
doe from the Home Secretary, intimating that the exe-
cution of the sentence of death passed on Thomas
Scobbie, who bad been cuivicted of the murder of
gamekeeper near Dundee, was respited until the farther
signification of Her Majesty's pleasure. The Provost
and magistrates immediately on the receipt of the
letter, proceeded to the condemned cell, and made the
culprit aware of the communication. He received the
intelligence with great gratification, and thanked the
magistrates and all who had exerted themselves to
secure the Royal clemency. The prisoner was sentenced
to be executed on Tuesday, and Calcraft arrived on
Saturday. The petition on behalf of Scobbie bat been
so long unanswered that it was feared an unfavourable
reply would be received. On Saturday evening Cat-
craft returned again to London.

PROPER PROMOTION. —The Lord Mayor, after
his brilliant celebration of Shakspeare's birthday,
now ranks as a Citizen—and euccesaful—" Spectacle-
maker."—Ponch.

MitLitsclioLY DRATII OF A NOBLE/A.o'B
DAUGHTER .—An inquest was held at Chudleigh, on
Monday, by Mr. Mitchelmore, coroner, as to the
melancholy death of the Hon. Miss Beatrice Mary
Catherine Clifford, when the foLowing evidence Was
adduced. Mims Elizabeth Quinn said—l am the gover
neon, at Ugbrooke, the seat of Lord Clifford. The
deceased slept in a room by herself next to mine.
About 20 minutes after ten on Saturday last I heard
deceased enter her room. In about ten minutes I heard
her scream and call me by name, and immediately
afterwards ehe rushed into my room in flames. I got
some water and told her to roll on the fisor. She
rolled herself, and I poured the water over her. As-
sistance came, and within an hour Mr. Lillie, enrgeon,
of Chudleigh, came. The deceased told me she did
not know it happened. Mr. Lilliee said—l am a
surgeon, practieing at Chulleigh. On Saturday last I
was e-nt for to come to Ugbrooke. I came, and found
deceased lying, but very much burnt, I remained with
her until she died. I used the usual means in such
cases. She died about eight o'clock on Sunday mom.
log. The cause of death was the burns she received,
coupled with the shock to the system. Verdict—
Accidental Death.

CITY MaGNATES.—Were Gog and Magog at
the Lord Mayor's fancy drew half? They oneht to
have been among the most honoured gusts. Was Sir
Richard Whittington present with has immortal cut?
Did Ring Luci gaae with astonialtment on the dazzliog
spectacle —fancy dress b‘lls not having come into
fashion in his time? Did Vat Tyler and Sir Wiliam
Walworth meet again in happier circumstances? If
any of these emiuent civic characters were abseatess
from the Mansion House, we hope they sent valid
excuses —Punch.

MIXED MsuntAnns.--- Last week the
Arthur Strutt, secend eon of Lord Belper, was mar-
ried to a daughter of Mr. Ambrose L Philliipg De
Virile. ef Garendon and Grace Dieu, Leicesterghiee,
and Mater of Lady Howard of Glossop, whose family
are all Roman Catholics. It is well known that the
Roman Catholic Church is very much oppoged to
"mixed marriages," and that of late yearn that Com-
munion has been more rigorous than ever in exacting
its own term., on whlelii alone it will permit them
and this marriage has been the subject ot considerable
comment in the country papers, AA having been per-
formed only by a Catholic and not ale° by a Prutegtant
minister.

IRELAND LTNANtmous !—ln the House of Com.
mono, on Monday night, Ltrd Claud Hamilton ad-
vanced two arguments in P npp"rt of his Resolution for
the purchase of the Irish Ilailways by toe State—the
first, that the people of Ireland are unanimont in de-
siring it ; the second, that if any hiss accrues from the
experiment it shall he borne by the Irish revenue, upon
which Tat Times remarks

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We are desirous to avoid, as far as possible that tone of
levity which is said to wound no acuteiy the feelings of tie
Irish nation, but it is really dill :lilt to contemplate these two
arguments in a serious spirit. Irishmen are lIIIIIDIMOUII In
favour of this pro jsct, and Lord viand tells as it would
be Impossible to find another subject upoo which they
would be found in such sineular seem!. Without possessing
any peculiar sources of informed on, we could name ad rin
upon which they would all be In similar unison. A project
to encourage. by • ju &lona system of bounties, the deep-
sea fishing off the coast ; • plan for a grand national loan
for the drainage of the Bog of Allan ; another for the reati•
lation of the Shannon; the grant of a subsloy, for • strictly
limited number of years, in aid of • line of Transatlantic
steamers to start from Galway ; the organic dims of ma-
chinery for the cultivation of beet-root and the mannfictare
of beet-root sugar; the multiplication of prizes, other than
aud besides the Queen's Plates, for improving the breed of
horses; the purchase of an estate and the erection of a
Palace, or, rather, of four estates and four Palaces, fir hi
Iserlodic residence of some member or members of the Hopi
Family; these projects, and more like them, could be
named, In favour of mulch every Irishman would lilt up his
hand.

r. 1, IL!) BIRDS' PaOTECTION Act—The
Justicea of the Hampton Petty Seesional Div9n
have had before them the first summons in their da•
trict under the recent Act for the protection of birds.
Two men were summoned for expoeing for sale a num-
ber of wild ducks, widgeon, and curlews, apparently
recently kiiled. Neither of the defendante appexre
but the offence having been proved by a Pobee-
constable, a fine was inflicted of 3s. 93. each, being. the,
coats of the eummoners, the utmost penalty provides'
by the Act. The magistrates' clerk observed tly"
what might have been a very beneficial Act of Par
ment was entirely useless, inasmuch as it did not ra'o•
vide for the Wine of warrants to enforce payment of
the penalties it imposes.