The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-04-12 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS,

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

The Wolverhampton Grammar School has jnet had
SLOW worth of land given to It by a firm of solicitors on
behalf of their client.

It is estimated that lowa alone consumed 6,000,000
bushels of corn the past winter for fuel, because It could not
be sent to market eta profit It takes five bushels of corn
to pay the freight on one bushel from lowa to New York.
The salmon &hinge in the Tweed have continued
very poor during the pent week. Both salmon and trout are
scarce In the rivers, well an on the sea omit. A few large
salmon have been caught.
- - -

The Simla journal- records the death at Abbottabad
of Sub-Lieutenant Hothney,bth Lancers, owing to a fall from
his horse. Ile was a promising young officer, eon of Colonel
Rothney, C.S.L

During the crush in Pentonville-road, London, on
the occasion of the Queen's progress to the Esat-end, the
Infant child of • railway porter was suifocatad In its mother's
arms.

Seventeen tenders have been received by her Ma-
Jeety's Commisaionen of Works for the erection of the new
Lew Courts, the mounts ranging from £719,787 to over a
million sterling.

A Parisian-was surprised making his will, and above
all in a clause that his wile should remarry, which he ex-
plained was to ensure "that he would have one person at
least to daily deplore his death."
By some blander or oversight, linnets and chaf-
finches are not protected by the Wild Birds Protection Act,
and it is suggested that a short bill to remedy the detect
should be passed through Parliament this session.

The South Staffordehire iron trade ie still kept in
euepense by the unsettled aspect of the labour market three
meetings of the Conciliation Board having now been held,
without any sdluetment of the wages question having been
secured.

Mr. James Barlow, cotton spinner and manufac-
turer, of Bolton, who some time ago presented a valuable
estate at Edsworth, near isolton, for the establishment of a
children's home, has just given /..5,000 for the development
of the objects of the home.

A bill hue been introduced by Mr. Peaee and Mr.
Wharton which proposes to repeal the Vagrant Act Amend-
ment Act of Bet and to extend the provisions of the
Vagrant Act to all persona wagering or gaming in auy street,
roa highway or other open and public playa, at any game or
pretended game of chance.

At Bristol asizes on Saturday, Mr. Justice Grove
remarked more than once in • trial that • map would have
been of groat assistance, and, when It was suggested that
the Treseury disallowed the expellees of • map In case. of the
eort, he said it was a great pity that much valuable public
time should be wasted forth. sake of saving • few shillings.

One man be married cheap in New Hampshire. -A
clergyman of that State, having performed the interesting
ceremony, was asked his price by the brideyroom. On re-
pipits that the law gave him two dollars, the newly.marrled
man promptly handed him fifty cents, remarking, "Well,
that will make up two dollars lifty cents for you," and dis-
appeared with bin bride.

--
A few days ago the Emperor of Germany reviewed
the id Fusilier Company of Infantry Guards Just armed
with the new thother rifle. The men fired fourtee• times
per minute, • number of discharges which permits of being
nearly doubled.
"1 give you ten minutes to prepare for death," said
• ferocious French lover the other day loafed; who declined
his proffered hand, "I am going to kill you. The lady pre-
ferred • last request. 'Let me have • cup of tea !" 'ii
that all? " says Othello. All, deer; I should like to die
warm."

The coal trade of West Cumberland in not in a satis-
factory condition no fsr as iron roanufactnren are con-
cerned. The output Is so limited, prices are no high, and
there is such • difficulty experienced In getting an ample
supply that some of the masters are not able to keep their
works going.

A correspondent of The Times calls attention to the
bet that persons are in the habit of depositing letters in
fsshioned iron pumps in various parts of London, the
handles of which have been removed, leaving a vertical .lit
which look, much like the opening of a letter-box. As it is
not Impossible that letten of value or importance may be
lying in some of those hiding places, it is, he thinks, ex-
pedient that • search be at once made, and that something
be QOM to prevent such mistakes in future?

At e meeting of United Presbyterians at Kirkcaldy
on Tuesday, the Rev. M. Brown moved that the Presbytery
petition Parliament in favour of the theendowinent of the
Established (douche. of England and Scotland. As a de-
nomination, be said, they were opposed to all civil estab-
lishment of religion. The motion was unanimously agreed to.
A Kentucky editor received the following note from
C subscriber, asking that a bilge notice of him death might be
corrected notisa few errors in the obituary of my-
self which appeared in your paper of wensday, i was born in
gro,.nup co.. not caldwell, and my retirement from Minis in
1868 was not owls] to W helth, but tu • little trouble I had in
connection with &horse, and the cause of my death was not
aruall-poz. pleaae make cerrectlons for which I enclose 60
canto."

Hen Zukertort (in English sugar-tart) is the wonder
of the chess world In London at present, on account of his
brilliant play, as well as for his extraordinary feate of what
I. called ' blindfold " playing, in which Morphy was so great
an adept

Harriet Morris, the Ruthin murders'', has been re-
prieved, a communication to that effect having been received
in Ruthin. The girl has confessed to the crime, but says
it was • sudden thought that prompted her to commit the

--•
A specimen of abject want was in New York the
dim 4ay, soliciting aid. He claimed to be from Boston,
and to have lost his business by the are. He was, pod
on one of the magazines, and there are eight thousand
more of them thrown out of work by the disaster.

A New York journal mentions that "Mr. Davis is
president of an insarance company; Mr. Stephens is writing
for • newspaper : Mews. Beauregard and Brsgg superin-
tend streets railways; Hood I/ a cotton factor; Hill keeps
school; Ben-Hill practises ; so does Semmes ; Forrest
keep.. livery stable ; H. V. Johnson is • planter."
A Jersey oorreep mdent writes :—" The recent
failure of the Jersey Mercantile Bank has given rise to •
number of schemes for aiding the shareholder., with a view
of preventing the disastrous remilts that must ensue if the
liquidation of the bank be canted ont in the usual way. At
the meeting of the State. Deputy Vickery (advocate) pre-
sented a scheme, for which he naked the sanction of the
House, for oripinlaing &gigantic lottery, to consist of 300,000
shares of Li each, of which £70,000 should hrt distributed in
prizes, and the surplus go to. ards the War liquidation.
The prizes are to range from £25,000 down to £l, and it is
thought if this plan be adopted, and the Mercantile Bank
notes (of which there are £O,OOO in circulation) taken in pay-
ment for tickets, there will be little difficulty in Milos the
sum required. The scheme is favourably received by the
public."

At I'áo d'Alho, Pernambuco, Anna Maria do
Espirito Santo died on the lbth of January, at the age of 103
peen. She had is descendants, through an only daughter,
13 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, 44 great.grands,
and four great-greats; in ail 62 descendants. Another
patriarchoss, Ignacia Maria de Andrade, died at the same
place, in the same house, • week later, at the age of 103
years, having had as descendants five sons, 42 grandchildren,
and be great-grandchildrea—Anglaßrazatan Toner.
"Our able contemporary 'lron' in an article on
The probable appreciation of gold, thus perorates The
conclusion, therefore, to be drawn from these arguments is,
that for some years to come there will be a great demand for
gold, probably exceeding the supply.' The idea is not noveL
Many men, and, in fact, the community, have for the most
part long entertained these views on the supply and demand
of gold.“—Court Journal.
r' The Government of New South Wales have
generously granted £l,OOO for the purpose of observing the
transit of Venus, and Mr. Eassell is taking active measures
to provide three stations in that colony with all the requi-
sites for observing the transit, and obtaining at the same time
photographs of the planet's position.”—Na/ure.

A very rare ocenrrence has cat taken place at the
Faris Faculty of Medicine, aldme. Bra haring pawed her
first examination as • doctor. The lady is married, and the
mother of two children, and has for • long time practised
her profession. During the two sieges of Paris she exhibited
In the ambulances as much ability as devotedness.

The foundation stone of the new chapel at liable
College. Oxford, which is about to be erected at a cod, it la
stated, of about 1.30,000, will be laid on Friday, April d.
Idr. Gibbs, of bniesfield, at whose expense the sacred
edifice Is to be built, will, It la understood lay the first
stone.

- - --
A reporter finding bin office door in London cloned
and the porter asleep, while the telegraphic clerk we. at
work beyond hearing the knocker, In an upper story, pro-
cured entrance by telegraphing from another office to •
clerk at Glasgow, who In turn sent the message back to
London. The double prom. occupied but a very few
minute..

That was a good, though rather a severe pun, which
was made by an Edinburgh student (and he was pot one of
the brightest of the class, either) when he asked, "Why is
Professor - the greatest revivalist of the age rand, on
all "giving It up," said, " Because at the end of every
sermon there inn great awakening."

The opinion of the New York Daily Dullettn on the
Alabama money is not complimentary to the States The
paper says 'The money, when received from the English
Government, will be paid Into the United States Treasury,
and the American clatnanta may then And to their cost that
It Is scarcely lest difficult to collect funds from their own
than It la from foreign Governments."
- - -

"Mr. Browning's poem is in type, and consiets of
4 500 lines. It in a poetic version of a great tragedy which
came before the law courta of a department in the north of
France last year, and we hear that the poet ham In the out-
lines of the story kept closely to the facia, with the view of
presenting to the reader's mind the key to them in human
paasions."—.l thew/cum.
The official Straaburg Gazette states that, in Lor-
raine, 28,639 persons elected to remain French subject.; In
the Has Rhin 39,190, in the Rant Rhin 91,962, 5 total of
159,791. Option' in favour of French nationality were de.
Oared null In consequence of non-emigration, in Lorraine to
the number of 6,900, In the Ens Rhin 27,483, and in the Haut
Ithln 76,266. There are still 7,645 cases to examine in the
Haut Rhin. In France, 378,777 persona elected to remain
French.

-----
Mr. Rupert Kettle has pronounced fresh sward
on behalf of the North of England Aruntrution Board for the
Iron trade, the effect of which will be to determine the
wage. of the district till the 4th of October next. lie al-
lowed the paddlers on advance of lc ed. per ton, and other
ironworken one of 74 per cent., bet required them to with-
draw all their notices for extras and allowances

The strike of the compositors in Breslau hoe termi.
flitted, and the men he rammed work in all the printing
offices. Daring the strike one Journal only appeared daily,
which wu produced by the mot aid of all the newspaper
proprletora.

manna have been lamed by the Commiasioners of
Police of Scotland-yard to the inspectors and sergeants at
all the police stations throughout the metropolis that all
female prisoners apprehended shall, until further notice be
Interrogated as to the place In which they received their edu-
cation, and especially if they were ever in a workhouse
school, the particulars to be entered on the police-sheet in
the column wherein is entered the degree of education. It is
understood this system will continue six months, and that
its object Is the preparation of statistical Information.

It ts expected that shortly a Filibustering expedition
will be undertaken from within the borders of the United
States for the pure... of invading Mexico acrme the Rio
Grande, and founding there a new State with San Luis as Its
capital, the object being ultimate annexation to the United
States, This State would have Matamoros and Tampico for
seaports. The region contains a large disaffected population,
who would be glad of anything that would rid them of the
prewrot =carton rule of Mexico—a Government tumble to
maintain her power, and which, consequently, leaves the
people to the ravages of insurgent leaders, who are con-
stantly raising the banner of suocessf al revolt.

One of the prominent American "mercantile &gen.
des," 8.. G. Dan and Co., has Just issued a circular, in which
I, given • report of the number and aggregate Babbitt., of
mercantile failure. °scoring in the lotted States during
1872. The number of failures la stated at 4,089, and the
total Liabilities at 121,058,i 00 duls. This is • very large In-
crease over 1871, when there were 2 916 failure., with aggre-
gate liabilities of 86,252,009 dolt The muse of the increase is
said to have been the mercantile derangement. tollowbig the
Chicago and Itnatou fires Thus 1111nels increased her lia-
bilities in 1872 over 1871 by nearly kooomo dole,, while
Maisachuaette bummed We over 17,000,000 do/a, hot Bar
=Use tot 1072 Mai the heaviest et thy Mk.

Household Goals were reduced 28. 6d. per ton on tb
Tyne last Saturday.
The Archbishop oi Canter May preached last Sun-
day morning at the Chapel Royal, ER, James's, taking to
the text the words, "That Lie, by grace of God, would taste
death for every man."
As some lady visitors were recently gohrg tin ough
• penitentiary, under the escort of the superinten.tout. they
came to a room in which three women were mewing. "OZ
me !" one of the visitors whispered, "what vicious-id:4l.3g
Creature.! Pray, what are they here for " " Rename they
have no other home ; this is our sitting-room, and they are
my wife sad two daughters," blandly answered the superin-
tendent.
"Perhaps it would be too much to expect that or-
dinary newspaper writers should know the thirteen diAeteflt
parties who are helping to make Spain a desert ; out the
rival claims are being pushed forward most activelv, and
the novel Idea of calling in petroleum to obtain the sa-
ri/twee of the public in support of right, and to get jus-
tice for the people, has been had rand to !"- - tour
Journal.

Mn. Fawcett, wife of Professor Fawcett, M. P. • de-
livered a sensible lecture on " Luxury," at 13Irkenhea, the
other evening. Luxury, she said, wae an incentive to lin-
d.try, prudence. and forethought. Had the high w.ges
lately earned by workmen been spent in obtaining b tier
houses, the formation of a fund &seine a rainy day, and the
superior education of children, the result would have bens.
fitted the children, accustoming them to a higher stai.dard at
comfort, at which to after life they would atm.

The new King of the Sandwich lalands ig to visit
the United States General Schofield has written from
Honolulu to General Sherman that he is about to start for
San FranCIACO, and that he will be accompanied by the new
King, who prop.ee making atone in the United States for
the przpose of studying American institutions walla view
their adopt2cn in the Hawaiian kingdom
• - -

A number of gentlemen in Belfast have formed a
committee to collect a fund and offer a reward for the dis-
covery of the person or persons who have sent threytening
letters to Mr. Justice Lswson. Nearly £4,000 has been
actually subscribed. The Hat is headed with the names of
Lords llownshire, Antrim, and O'Neill, the High Sheriffs of
Antrim and Armagh, and Mx. J. F. Ferguson, D. L. offering
£lOO each. There are 62 subscribers of £5O, manna of £26,
and the smallest subscription in £O. This demonstration of
public feeling mast be gratifying to the learned .11ibge, and
1,. splendid set-off against the threatening notices Which
soma miscreants have sent him.

Mr. Howarth, wholesale fruiterer, of Blackburn,
has brought an action against the Lancashire and Yorkshire
Railway, at the Liverpool Alel.ll, to recover compensation
for injuries which his wile had sustained In • collision on
the defendant's line. In August the plaintiff and his wife
were travelling from Blackpool to Blsekburn, and while the
train was at • standstill at Poulton Junction, a train from
Fleetwood ran Into It, causing lulu-rift to • number of P‘o•
sense.. Mn Howarth had her leg broken In two places,
and although she had improved the inj tired limb *as much
shorter than the other one, In consequence of which site
would be • cripple for life. A verdict of £B5O damages was
returned.

If the German military papers are not romancing',
the problem, hitherto unsolved, of navigating tile or is at
length achieved At Briton, in Austria, a short time since,
Herr Hanlola, of Mayence, showed some remarks •le experi-
ments with a novel species of balloon invented by himself.
It was inflated with ordinary street gas, and rose Immediately,
carrying three persons, besides Instruments, provisions, and
ballast. This is nothing wonderful, but Herr Hantein's aerial
machine does not float helplessly at the mercy of the wander-
ing breezes ; it Is fitted with a sort of rudder of the screw
specie., capable of steering it in any direction. The pipers
say that the experiments; were witnessed by a large it umberuf
scientific men, who pronounced them a complete success.
A correspondent of the Pall Mall Gaulle Writes
"The loss of tne Atlantic steamship brings again before the
public the question whether all has been done that can he
done to save life at sen Here again we have the ott-toll
tale of a sudden catastrophe happening to a vessel close to
assistance. Here again the boatel fail, and even if they hut
been available they would have afforded means d sating
only • portion of the endangered crowd. The question,
therefore, once more arises, whether the Government has
done all in its power, by encouragement to inventors, to add
to or to improve the means of escape from such disasters .•
' overcame the Atlantic. That something has been done
appears from an announcement that on the 15th of April an
exhibition opens at the London Tavern to place before the
public various schemes for saving life at sea. The exhibi-
tion Is under the patronage of the Lord Mayor, and it may
be well to cal attention to it,

At the Leeds aaaizes last Saturday, Mr. Hurst, a
gentleman in the service of Messrs. Celerby and Co wool.
staplers, London, obtained • verdict for £7ao against the Lan-
cashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, by way of damages
for Injuries sustained by him In an accident which oc-urred
at Wortley Junction, near Leeds, when be was trAvelling
from Halifax to leads. The ticket with which Mr. Hurst
travelled was one those homed under the general arrange-
ment between the Great Northern and Lancashire and York-
shire companies, and the plea of the latter was that the
Great Northern was responsible, since it was on their part of
the line the accident occurred. The Lord Chief i,aties
agreed that it might be so, but left the point to be decided
between the companies. in a super! r court.

The Cambri- dgeshire Chamber of Agriculture
discimsed the Landlord and Tenant Bill on Saturday,
when the 12th clause was strongly condemned, It being urged
that landlord. and tenants were quite capable of making
contracts between themselves, and that the freedom to do so
ought not to be interfered with by legislative enactment
The chamber agreed to • resolution In favour of the principle
for providing compeneation to outgoing tenants for noes-
haunted improvements being made compulsory by legal en-
setment in the absence of contract, but declined to pledge
itself to the details of the bill, considering many of its
clauses very objectionable and incgpable of bang put into
practice.

The Japanese are determined (s, correspondent
writes) to anglicise their navy as well as their customs.
Their Embassy has drawn up for circulation among English
naval officer, and men an Invitation for a number of volun-
teer, to go out and become instructors of the Imperial Naval
College at Tokel. The classes required are commanders.
gunnery lientenanta, chief engineer,, assistant engineers,
boatswain", gunners, carpenters, and able seamen. °atilt
and travelling allowance, are provided, and the salaries vary
from £9OB lor leading seamen. The period of engagement is
three years, and the Admiralty are so far cogn,rant of and
favourable to the scheme as to consent that officers volun-
teering shall receive half-pay of their rank In tie English
navy, the service time to count for pensions. Those who go
out must not engage in other business or iatattere In Japa-
nese politics or religion.