biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

HARVEST PROSPECTS.

The Magnet says the weather during the week has
been less favourable to the growing crops. The hay
harvest has been greatly interfered with, and no small
proportion of the crop has been carried in indifferent
condition. As regards the appearance of the wheat, the
general aspect of affairs is satisfactory, but a dry warm
atmosphere, with an absence of wind, is now required in
order that that critical period, the blooming season,
shall be passed through without damaging the ultimate
prospects of the crop. Continental advices are much
to the same effect. In France the rainfall has been too
heavy, and there has in consequence been a deprecia-
tion in the aspect of the growing grain. The disas-
trous floods have also been productive of some loss,
but the area of corn land submerged has been quite
trifling compared with that under cultivation. In
Hungary and South Russia, on the other hand, the
crops are suffering from a want of moisture, and in
these places some genial showers would be regarded as
a welcome boon.

The American papers contain reports of the harvest
prospects from several points in Southern and Western
States. From Arkansas the reports are that about as
much cotton was planted as last year, but about one•
third more grain. In all cases the promise is that the
crops of breadstuffs will be large and of excellent
quality. In Mississippi the fruit crops will be a failure,
but the condition and prospects of corn and cotton
are very good. In Texas the corn and cotton will
be good but late. The Louisiana reports indicate
an increase in the area of cane, corn, and rice cultiva-
tion, and the condition of crops there in general is
above the average. The most disheartening reports
are those from Nebraska and Colorado, which are yet
infected by the grasshoppers. In Colorado a half crop
may be raised, but not enough for food of the inhabi-
tants. In Nebraska, except a strip of country south
of the Platte River and along the Missouri River about
ten miles in extent, in which there will be no small
grain of any account, the reports are generally other-
wise favourable.

The New York Times on June 22 says :—" There is
every prospect that we are about to emerge from the
depression and uncertainty which have characterised
matters in financial circles for some time past. There
are solid reasons for improvement in the general situa-
tion, as it is now pretty clearly demonstrated that the
accounts of ravages by grasshoppers and other insects
have been exaggerated for speculative purposes. The
reports as to the condition of the crops are generally
very favourable, and there is every promise of a large
harvest. A generous yield of farm produce this year
will do much toward stimulating a large Fall trade,
which means a season of prosperity for the country.
We have now experienced about all the depressing in.
fluences that can be brought to bear on values, and,
with their gradual removal, there is no visible barrier
to general improvement."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

Mr. W. Corbett.

CRICKET.

SMETHWICK V. ENTILLS.—A match was played on
Monday between these clubs, on the ground of the latter
and was won by the Smethwiek, with ten wickets in
hand. The following is the score : Enville. W. H.
Yardley, b Smith, o—b Astbury, 3; B. M. Green, c Cox,
b Astbury, 7—b Smith, 8; B. Deacon, Astbury, 9—b
Astbory, 22; B. M. Wakeman, not out, 6—b Smith, 4 ; J.
W. Parkes, b Astbury, o—b Harley, 9; W. Miles, b
Astbury, o—b Astbury, 0; G. B. Hingley, b Smith. 1—
c Higginbottom, b Harley, 2; A. H. Moore, b Smith. 0
--not out, 0; H. Hingley, c and b Smith, 2—b Harley,
1; 11. Williams, b Smith, 3—st Higginbotham, b Cox, 9;
H. E. Bennett, a Cox. b Astbury, I—c Page. b Cox, 0;
extras, 1-5; totals, 30 —63,—Stnethreick : W. Harley, b
Miles, 2; J. T. Smith, b Moore, 2; F. T. Cox, b Miles. 0
—n9t out, 6; L. Higg'nbotbam, s Deacon, b Miles. 30;
W. kstburT, run out, 1; R. Docker, b Miles, 4; L. Zeller
b Deacon, 33; W. H. Slight, c Bennett, b Deacon, 0; S.
W Page, not out, 6—not out, 4; R. Harris, c G. B.
Hingley, b Wakeman, 0; extras, 4; totals, 84-10.

THE THROAT AND WINDPIPE are especially liable to
inflammation, causing soreness and dryness, tickling
and irritation' inducing cough and affecting the voice.
For these symptoms use glycerine in the form of jujubes.
Glycerine in these agreeable confections, being in proxi•
mity to the glands at the moment they are excited by
theact of sucking, becomes actively healing. 6d and is
packets (by post 8 or 15 stamps), labelled " J.trans EPPS
dr Co., Homceopathic Chemists, 48, Threadneedle St.
and 170, Piccadilly, London. —Sold in Btourbridge by
A. P. Morris, Chemist, and J. H. Bland. Chemist.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

CLENT.

ASSAULT OASI3.—At the Police Court, yesterday, at
Stourbridge, Sarah Higley was charged with assaulting
and Elizebeth Morris, on the 6th inst. Mr. Addison
appeared for complainant, and Mr. Perry defended. i
From the evidence given, t appears that some time ago
defendant was convicted for robbing complainants hus-
band, and since that time complainant has not had any
peace. On the day in question the !defendant struck her
twice with a stick on the head. Witness did not strike
again. Two witnesses gave corroborative evidence.
The defer ce was that there was a little rivalry between
the parties who kept donkeys, when complainant struck
the defendant first, and the summons was dismissed.

THE CONSERVATIVE PROCESSES AT
KIDDERMINSTER.

Notices have been served on the twenty-one defendants
who are being sued for acts of bribery at the Kiddermin-
ster municipal elections, to appear at Worcester Assizes
next week, where the cases are down for trial. It will be
remembered that a decision was given in one of the
superior courts lately, by virtue of which the plaintiff(Dir.
fdilnes, jut.) was held to be able t sue for cumulative
penalties, and in some instances £4500 is the amount
claimed, the sums varying from .£lOO to the higher
figure. The cases will be fought out to the utmost, and
each one will have to be dealt with separately on its own
merits, so that there appears no probability of the whole
of them being tried at the ensuing Assizes. So far as
the present defendants are concerned. they had no op-
portunity of replying to the ex parte statements effecting
.them made at the muoicipsl enquiry, and we believe the
alleged ants on which the claim for penalties is made
will have to be fully investigated anew.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

-4

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS DURING 1874.

The general report of Captain Tyler to the Board of
Trade upon the railway accidents during the past year
has been issued, and from it we learn that the total
number of persons recorded at the Board of Trade as
having been killed on all the railways during the year
was 1,424, and the number of injured 5,041. Of these,
211 persons killed, and 1,981 persons injured were pas-
sengers and of the remainder, 788 killed, and 2,815 in-
jured, were officers or servants of the railway companies
or of contractors; and 425 killed, and 215 injured,
were trespassers, or suicide, or others who met with
accidents at level-crossings, or from miscellaneous
causes. Of the passengers, 86 were killed, and 1,613
were injured, from causes beyond their own control.
The total number of passenger-journeys have not
yet been accurately ascertained, but may be estimated
at 480,000,000. Calculating on this estimate, the pro-
portion of passengers killed was, in round numbers, 1
to 2,274,881, and of passengers injured 1 to 242,302'
and the proportions of passengers killed and injured
from causes beyond their own control were, respec-
tively, lin 5,581,400, and lin 297,582. This was an
increase on the average number killed as well as of the
number injured from causes beyond their own control
in the previous four years, in which the proportions
were 1 in 11,196,570 killed, and 1 in 338,423 injured.
The officers and servants of railway companies
amounted, according to Lord Aberdeen's return,
already presented to Parliament, at the end of 1873,
to 274,535; and of these there have, during the past
year, in proportion to the total numbers employed,
been killed from all causes about 1 out of 350, and in-
jured 1 out of 100.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

THE REVENUE.

Since we called attention to the great progress of
the revenue a month ago, there has been a retrogres-
sion in one important item—the Excise—but in all
other particulars the account is most satisfactory (re-
marks the Economist). When we wrote a month ago
the Excise showed an increase for the two months
greater than the increase estimated in the Budget for
the whole year. There is still an increase, but it is
now only £97,000, or about one-fourth only of the
increase in the year estimated in the Budget.
There has plainly been a great irregularity in the
Exeie in the different peliods of the quarter, and
it hits 7et t^ bo reeu whether in the end this
irregular branch of the revenue will roz.ko good the
promise of the first two month-'. But the two great
branches of revenue which come in more regularly
are even more premising than they were a month ago.
There is an increase of £124,000 for the Customs,
which is espe.cially satisfactory. As the sugar duty
was levied during the first five or six weeks of the
corresponding quarter a year ago, and has now been
completely abolished, the real augmentation, instead
of being £124,000 only, is probably about 300,000; and
making all allowance for the extra business days in
last quarter, on account of its having no Easter in it,
there must still be a greater improvement. There
could be no better evidence that the general consump-
tion of the country goes on unchecked, and that there
is a steady growth in prosperity and comfort among
the great mass of the community. In stamps again
the increase for the quarter amounts to £86,000,
while the increase estimated for the year was only
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

OSIER FOR ELM.

THAT Earth may to Earth
Turn completely the quicker,
For elm of much worth,
Lay your Earth in cheap wicker.
Thus the living will reap
The amount which they save;
Whilst the dead soundly sleep
In both cradle and grave.—Punch.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

HALESOWEN.

WILFUL DAMAGE.—At the Police Court, on Tuesday,
before Major Smith and Mr. J. Watson, George Cramp.
ton was charged with wilfully damaging a fence belonging
to Messrs. Homes and Ilickton ; and also charged with
damaging a fence belonging to John Jaskena. Defend-
ant was fined is 61 damage and costs, in each case.
A94Arza CASE —Samuel Smith was charged with as-
saulting Frederick Lee, on the '29th ult. Complainant
said he was passing by defendant. who was beating his
mother and sister, when defendant went up to him and
struck him in the eye, without any provocation. Defend-
ant pleaded guilty, and was fined 53 and costs; in default
14 days.
A Hick BURNT.—About half-past eleven o'clock on
Tuesday night, a rick belonging to Mr. Fred White, on
the " Ten Acre Field,' was discovered to be on fire.
They had only finished carrying the hay at nine o'clock
The whole of the rick WAN destroyed, and the damage
done is estimated at nearly £5O, and is supposed to be the
work of an incendiary.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.

In a report to the Foreign Office, from Washington, by Mr.
It. G. Watson, it is stated that:—

"As nearly as may be calculated 44,000 immigrants
returned from the United States to Europe in the year
1874. Mr. Archibald mentioned to me some months ago
that at that time, on an average, a dozen applications
were received at his office in New York daily from dis-
tressed British subjects, asking for free passages to
England. The experience at this Legation and at the
Consulates at Philadelphia and at Baltimore, in propor-
tion to the population of Washington and of other
cities, has been similar. It cannot be too widely known
in England that no British subjects who may have come
to the United States to better themselves are furnished
with free return passages at the public expense. It
cannot likewise be too much impressed on persons
intending to emigrate to this country that they have
little chance of finding employment at the places where
they may land on the coast, and that they should con-
sequently in every case be furnished with the means
of proceeding far into the interior; in other words,
with at least a sum equal to double the cost of their
passage money from Europe to New York, exclusive
of any sum meant to be expended during their stay at
New York."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

A POLICEMAN CHARGED WITH

PERJURY.

John Giles, a Police-constable in the Staffordshire
constabulary stationed at Blackheath, was charged by
Samuel Bate with committing wilful and corrupt perjury,
on the 23rd ult.

Mr. Stokes appeared for complainant, and Mr. A ddiaon
defended.

Mr. W. Hayes, jun., said he took notes of the evidence
given by defendant in a case against the complainant, on
the 23rd nit. Witness read a portion of the evidence, in
which defendant said complainant pushed him down
three steps, and went into the house and fetched a cleaver
which he struck at him with, but defendant caught it on
his btaff.

Samuel Bate, the complainant, said he resided at Old
Hill. Ou the 19th of June he heard a rap at his door, as
he was going to bed. He came down and opened the
door, and found defendant and another man there. The
defendant asked witness if he knew the man, and witness
said he did not. Defendant said he found the man on
witness's premisee. Witness said, " What if you have?
he is not going to do any harm." I told the man to come
into the house and have a glass of ale, and told defendant
to go on about his basiness. Defendant said he should
not. The man w‘nt and sat down in the house. The
defendant said he should come in, and witness said if he
did he should pat him out, or defendant should put him
out. Defendant said, "1 shall use this," putting his
hand to his staff. Witness said he should fetch 8012;fr-
thing to use, and went into the shop. Whilst he was gone
defendant went away. Witness did not see him again
until the 23rd ult. Witness did not push him from the
door, nor put his hands on him. He did not strike at the
defendant with a chopper, or cleaver, or instrument of
any kind. Mrs. Fletcher and his seivant were down
stairs in the passage, when he went into the shop.
Cross-examined; Mrs. Fletcher shut the door. He
(complainant) left his house on the 19th, abcut half-past
thiee in the afternoon. He went to several public-houses
He had been fined 10.4 for assaulting William Darby. A
short time ago he broke his father s windows. lie was
unk at the time. He knew Thomas Darby, the brother-
in-law to the man that was in the house. He had tried
to get the man, whose name was Tromans, to give evi-
dence for him. He did not send a message to the man
telling him that he should have plenty to eat and drink,
and good pay, if he would give evidence for him. Ho did
say he would give the man plenty to eat and drink and
pay him his day's work, if h. wou:d come and tell the
truth. He did not know how the cut came on the staff.
It was a chopper he went to fetch, and he brought it to
the door, but defendant was gone. He struck the man
Tromans, and bundled him out of the hous:!,
At this stage,

- .
Mr. Stokes asked for an adjournment for a week, which
was granted.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

260,000.

A regular Knock-down of Talent—A haannuer-ture
performaiace. —Judy.
The Swim. Confederation bas been presented with a
gold medal by the inhabitants of Savoy, in l'ecoguition of the
, hospitality offered by the Swizz to Boorbakils Emmy during
! the late war.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

instances of collision, in which one ship cuts the other
down to the water's edge' would be an impossibility.
In this newly•designed Russian craft there are no
bows, and two vessels striking each other would
merely bump severely and go off again. This ship is
of light draught, and spreads a great quantity of
canvas, her peculiar form giving her very great
stability. She is very handy under sail, and with a
light breeze the motion as she glides through the water
is scarcely perceptible, but as the wind freshens a bow
wave is thrown up, and a seething track of foaming
water is left astern.

Although the Eton and Harrow cricket match is the
greatest event of that kind which is played within the
limits of the London season, the contest between the
Universities of Oxford and Cambridge is witnessed by
tens of thousands of spectators. This year it lasted
three days, and although at times the downpour of
rain sadly interfered both with the play itself and with
the onlookers, the vast array of umbrellas was in itself
a sight to behold. The interest was all the greater
because in past years the representatives of each seat of
learning had won 19 games, and this was looked upon as
to some extent a test struggle. When it was seen
that Oxford with 337 in two innings had won, and that
Cambridge, with only six runs short of that number
was beaten, the cheers were loud and long for the
Dark Blues, although a team never had a tighter work
to secure d victory. We cannot wonder that cricket
is so popular a recreation. Everything connected
with it is honest and open. It developes the chest,
hardens the muscles, and renders necessary an extra-
ordinary quickness of eye. No one ever ventures to
suggest a doubt whether a famous cricketer was being
"got at" in order to make him lose the game, nor
is your professional bowler in the habit of bolting
from the course. He does his best, and bowls to win.
If he secures the victory, well and good, but if not,
there is not the slightest suspicion upon his good faith.
I may add that Lord's Cricket Ground, where the
principal matches are played, is conveniently situated
' in north-western London, within easy access of St.
John's Wood and Bayswater, and not far from Prim-
rose Hill, from the top of which, on a clear day, you
may have a splendid view of the big city, with its un-
resting energy and its ever active population.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

Birmingham, Thursday

The announcement made at Wolverhampton, on
Wednesday, that the several list house, including
the New British Iron Company, had resolved to
reduce the standard for bars £l. per ton, seems to
have been premature, and, as regards the firm
mentioned, incorrect. Although no formal resolu-
tion, however, was passed on the subject at Wol-
verhampton, there can be no doubt that a private
und‘rstanding was come to by a majority of the
list houses to make the reduction in question at
the meeting to day, when the resolution was for-
mally carried, with on dissentient—the New
British Iron Company, whose quotations remain
unchanged. Up to this morning, we believe,
Messrs. Barrows had not made up their minds as
to the course they should pursue; but at the meet-
ing of the trade held at the Queen's Hotel, they
decided to join the majority, whose quotations are
now upon the basis of .210. for bare, with the
usual 12s. 6d. extra for those of the Earl of Dud-
ley. The New British Iron Company, represented
by Mr. Hunt, continue to quote £ll. for bars. So
far as the list honses are concerned, the reduction
extends, in the usual proportion, to other descrip-
tions of iron, but the sheet manufacturers proper,
who represent to some extent a separate interest,
adhere, with few exceptions, to the resolution
adopted at Wolverhampton on Wednesday, to
make no reduction for the present. Messrs, E.P.
and W. Baldwin, of Wilden, have taken separate
action in announcing a reduction of .21. per ton,
making the price for their singles £17., and we
believe Messrs. Hatton have adopted a similar
step. Makers of unmarked or common iron, as a
rule decline to follow the lead of the list houses,
alleging that they have already "discounted" the
recent reduction in coal, and that they cannot
make iron for less money than they are asking;
but though quotations for medium and inferior
qualities are nominally unchanged, prices are prac-
tically weaker. Common sheets, singles, are
quoted .211. 6s. to .212. The sheet trade is still
m ly brisk,which will account for the
exceptional firmness
s of quotations in this branch,
but in other departments of the finished-iron trade
there is great slackness, and but few of the mills
and rorges are making full time. The pig-iron
trade is in a yet more depressed state, owing to
tho large importations of cheap pig-iron from
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

I;OARD OF GUARDIANS.

The usual meeting of this Board was held al
the Board Room, yesterday, Mr. Granger in
the chair. There were also present :—Messrs.
ollinson, Homes, Parkes, Thompson, Higgs,
Wood, J. Billingharn, H. Billingharn, Giles,
Penzer, Plant, Hall, Fiddian, J. Foley,
Haskew, Forrest, Guest, and J. Brooks.
Admitted into the house 8; discharged 5; died
1; born 1; remaining 294; against 314 last year.
Out-door relief, Kingswinford district, £.22 168
Od Stourbridge district £l5 169 10d; Hales-
owen district, £l5 12s. 8d ; non-resident pau-
pers, lls. 8d; total £54 17s 2d, against £6O
9s. 2d. last year.
County rates :—Precepts were received for
County Rates; Staffordshire, £796. ss. 9d.
Worcester, £563. Os. 7d.
The report of the Medical Officer for King-
swinford showed that the death rate was 19 per
1000 and from Halesowen district 18 per 1000.
There were 13 applicants for the office of in-
spector of Nuisances for No. 1. Kingswiuford
district and Mr. Giles was appointed.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

BROMSGROVE.

OUT-DOOR RELIEW.—At the fortnightly meeting of the
Board of Guardians held on Tuesday, Mr. Joseph Rus-
son, who occupied the chair, brought forward the sub-
ject of out-door relief, its costs and consequences. After
refering to the matter having been discussed in the
Houses of Lords and Commons, and to the opinions ex-
pressed upon, it at the last meeting of the Central Cham-
ber of Agriculture, Mr. Russon said he admitted there
was a necessity for curtailment of the expenditure in out-
door relief, and for the more severe application of tte
Workhouse test, yet he should be sorry to see the time
when feelings of humanity were set aside in considering
applications for out-door relief, and he thought he should
be unworthy of the name of Guardian of the Poor if he
consented to withdrawing relief from the aged and those
who were unable to work, and from poor widows left with
childreu to support, to compel whom to come into the
house would be inhuman in the extreme. At the same
time he thought the improved position of the working
classes well enabled them to make some provision for the
future, and care should be taken in all cases of appli-
cation for permanent out-relief to see that the applicant
had done his best to provide for the future, or otherwise
the only relief given should be the house. He left it to
the Guardians to consider to what extent the out-door
relief should be curtailed.—Mr. Whitehair expressed a
strong opinion that the present system for giving out-
relief was demoralising and degrading, and especially the
giving of medical relief, which opened the door to
pauperism, and he moved a resolution as follows :
lust this Board, considering the present application
of oat-door relief inconsistent with the intentions of the
Act of 1874, resolves that, as far as possible, all out-door
relief shall be abolished, and a greater confarmity with
the provisions of the Act observed."—Mr. Mogg com-
batted the views of Mr. Whitehair, as did M. Wright
and Mr. Allcock.—Mr. Potter seconded Mr. Whitehair's
proposition.—Mr. Partridge proposed, and Mr. Mogg
seconded, an amendment, the effect that temporary
relief out-door should in future be given by way of loan,
and that in other cases a more stringent application of
the Workhouse test should be exercised.—The amend-
ment was carried.—.-A letter from the Local Government
Board, approving of the appointment of Mr. S. A. Smith
as poor-rate collector, was read, and some other business
was transacted.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE REV. J. S. BOLDERO AND THE PEOPLES

WARDEN.

To the Editor of the " Observer."

SIR,—In your report of the trial "Payne v. Davis
and Corbett," I find that Mr. Corbett made this
statement concerning the offertoiy collected since
Easter, 1875, "The vicar appropriated it to him-
self." Mr. Corbett knows that this is not the ease,
but that as before Easter, so now, one offertory
every Sunday is appropriated for church expenses
—the only difference since Easter is that the col-
lection on the evening of the first Sunday in the
month is solely for organist and choir expenses,
which before Easter were payable out of the gene-
ral fund, and those on other Suntlay mornings and
evenings are alternately for the Incumbent and
church expenses.
Some weeks ago, Mr. Corbett addressed a me-
moria! to the Bishop of Worcester, in which he
asked his Lordship:to adjudicate "That a// the sums
collected at the offertory (except those collected
for the poor) should be applied first, in
providing for the past and current expenses of the
church, and that the balance should be applied in
augmentation of;the stipend of the vicar. To this
his Lordship sent the accompanying reply, which
he has given me permission to publish. I may
add that during Mr. Corbett's tenure of office there
has never been but one offertory a Sunday for
church expenses, and that the;additional offertory
is collected for me in lieu of pew rents.
Your obedient servant,
J. S. BOLDERO.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

MR. RICHARD LANSMERB,
ORGANIST AND CHOIRMASTER OF ST.
JOHN'S CHURCH, DUDLEY,

Late of the Exeter, St. James, and St. George's Hal
Concerts, London, ezc., &c., and
Late Organist at Rochester Cathedral; also

pRINCIPAL BARITONE OF THE ENGLISH
LONDON OPERA COMPANY.

HAS the honour to announce to the Nobility,
Clergy, and Gentry of Dudley and its Visinity
that he is open to receive PUPILS for
SINGING, !PIANOFORTE, ORGAN, HARMONIUM
HARMONY, THOROUGH BASS. dec.. dm.

Mr. Lansmere is also open to receive engagements toa
Concerts, Oratorios, Sco.,
Mr. Lansmere has had the high honour of appearing
at Concerts in conjunction with Mr. Sims Reaves, Mr.
Santley, Mesdames Sherrington and Samten-Dolby, Miss
Edith Wynne, &c., and has everywhere received most
dattt ring encomiums from the Press and tile Public.
Terms on application.
Address,-
13e, UPPER HIGH-8110EL
- DUDLYAT.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

TfiE STOURBAIDGE 013SE1VEB.

_
other districts, and especially the North of Eng-
land. Following the lead of the Lilleshall Com-
pany, represented by Mr. Lloyd, the makers of
Staffordshire pig to-day decided to reduce the price
both of cold and hot blast 10s. per ton, bringing
dwn Ihe former to £6. as a maximum, and the
latter to £4. 10s. to £4. 15s. Hematite is offered at
£t., and cinder-pig at £3. The quarterly meeting,
in the Town Hall, was largely attended by iton-
masters, merchants, and consumers from all parts
of the country, any several foreigners, among whom
the cap of a Parsee merchant was conspicuous.
Business, however, was restricted, owing in some
measure no doubt to the want of harmony among
the list houses, and the unexpected firmness of
the makers of unmarked iron. The belief appeared
to be general among buyers that the sheotmakers,
and other firms who declined to conform to the
standard of the leadinghouses, would be compelled
to abandon their exceptional position before long,
and that by withdrawing orders for a short time
some brands of marked iron would be procurable
for less than £lO.

At the Police Court, on Tuesday, before Messrs.
Swindell and R. L. Freer, Charles Twining was
fined 2s 6d and costs, or in default seven days for
having been drunk and disorderly at Cradley, on
the sth inst. Police-constable Tarrant proved the
case.—At the Police Court, on Wednese -.y, before
Col. Fletcher, Elizabeth Sutton was fined 2s 6d
and costs for being drunk and disorderly. Police-
constable Philpot proved the case.

HUNNINGTON A INIIAL SCHOOL TREAT.—The above
was held in a field opposite the schools, on Tuesday last,
which was kindly given by Mr. Robert Smart, of Hales-
owen. The following ladies and gentlemen were present:
F. D. Lea Smith, Esq., Mrs. Lea Smith, Mrs. Moreton,
Mr. R. Hingley, Mrs. H. Hingley, Rev. E. J. Bower,
Mrs. Bower,i Mr. R. Smart, Mrs. Smart, Miss F. Smart,
Miss Parkes, :Mrs. E. Jones, Mrs. T. Green, Mrs. R.
Green, Misses Green, Miss Hayes, Mr. Moseley, Mrs.
Moseley, Misses Smart, Misses Darby, &c. The tea was
served out at five: o'clock to the children, who were
waited upon by the ladies and gentlemen present. A
number of prizes were awarded to the children by Major
Smith and Mrs. Smtth. The children were dispersed to
various amusements, and the ladies and gentlemen ad-
journed to the school-room, which was tastefully dect,ra-
ted by Mr. Moore, the schoolmaster, where tea was pro-
vided. After tea, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded
to Mr. and Mrs. Smart, for their kindness ;in providing
the day's entertainment, and a most enjoyable afternoon
was spent.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

PIGEON-RACING IN BELGIUM.

Pigeen-flying is well known to be. a favourite sport among
the Belgians, but perhaps few pergons out of Belgium have
any idea of the immense number of homing pigeons bred and
trained in that country f.Jr racing purposes. A Brussels
correspondent of the Fiad supplies the following particulars
on th.e subject :

"During the height of the season special trains
are started for the conveyance of the birds exclu-
sively, and on the 30th of May last, the large
number of 70,6C0 birds were forwarded from the
province of Liege alone, to be tossed at various
stations in France such as St. Quentin, Fresnoy,
Paris, &e. Out of this number 12,000 birds came from
the neighbourhood of Xerviers, 22,000 from the vici-
nity of Seraing and Huy, and about half the number
from the town of Liege. Consequently we may pre-
sume that 200,000 birds must have travelled on that
day by the different lines of railway which conveyed
them across the frontier. On the 13th of June the
Abdona Club flew their birds at Orleans, and upwards
of 12,000 birds were liberated there. You will readily
imagine what anxiety and trouble such an enormous
influx of birds must produce in a station like Orleans.
Upwards of 400 baskets had to be sorted out
and opened at a very early hour. The station-
master himself was up at half-past three in the
morning to superintend the work, and was unremit-
ting in his kindness and attention to our interest-
ing little travellers. A writer in one of the local
papeLs, La Gazette, estimates that in the province of
Liege alone upwards of 200,000 birds are ul training,
ranging in value from ten to five hundred francs,

calculating the whole at an average value of 30 francs
each (which I consider, however, as exaggerated), he
arrives at the astounding figure of six milhons of francs
as being the intrinsic value of the birds belonging to
to the province of Lfte. Starting from this basis,
we may arrive at the conclusion that Belgium possesses
at least one million and a quarter of birds, of an
aggregate value of thirty-seven and a half millions of
francs, or one million and a half sterling."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-10

BRUTAL ASSAULT ON A WOMAN AND THREE

CHILDREN.

The Kidderminster magistrates,on Wednesday, sen-
tenced a man named Thomas Davies, cabinet-maker, of
Stourbridge, to six month's hard labour, IN'thout • the
option of a fine, for committing a btatal assault upon a
poor woman and three children on the Stonrbridge
Road, on the previous evening. It appeared that the
woman, Jame Bryan, formerly living at Handsworth,
had gone on the road in search of her husband, who had
left her, and walking from Stourbridge to Kidderminster
she was overtaken by the prisoner, who had only just
completed a heavy term of imprisonment for a murder-
ous assault upon his wife. She was carrying a baby in
her arms, and her other twe children were wsdking by
her side. Prisoner addressed some insultingremarks to
the woman, and at once rushed at her, struck her a
violent blow in the face, knocking out her front teeth,
and causing her to knock down the children. Police-
constable Payne, hearing of the assault, pursued the man
and apprended him at the Park Gate Inn shortly after-
wards. The woman's face was very much cut and swol-
len when she appeared in Court.