The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-10-29 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN,

King Humbert has presented the Republic of San
Marino with 60 Wetherly rifles.

The Agent-General for Queensland has received
advice of the sate arrival of the Scottish Chief at Brisbane
about the 19th inst. ; all well.

According to advices received at San Francisco
from Hawaii a severe shock of earthquake occurred on the
30th ult. on the island of Maru.

The Empress Eug&lie has been on a pilgrimage to
Loretto.

A meeting at which seventy miners' delegates repre-
senting colliers throughout Lancashire, were present, was
held in the Miner's Hall, Wigan, on Monday, tor consider-
ing the wages question. After a discussion extending over
five hours, it was resolved to work four days a week, nine
hours a day, until the masters grant an advance. A depu-
tation was appointed to wait on the masters.

The steam•ship Garonne, belonging to the Orient
Line, arrived in Plymouth Sound late on Sunday night,
bringing 4,738 carcases of sheep from Sydney, where it was
shipped on the 30th August by The Orient Slaughtering Com-
pany.
- - - - -

- -
Mr. Gladstone, attended by his son, the Rev.
Stephen Gladstone, felled some timber in Hawardeu Park on
Monday.
In Paris on Monday, the United States Minister
laid the first rivet which is to fasten to its pedestal the
grand statue of Liberty which the Franco-American Society
has presented to the city of Sew York as a testimonial of
the friendship between the two countries. A number of
American cititens were present, and speeches were deli-
vered by M. Laboulaye and the representative of the United
States.
As an example of the vitality of private enterprise
and the amount of individual capital at disposal now in
Spain, the result of the subscription for the new line of rail-
way from Barcelona to Madrid direct is remarkable. The
first issue of sharci was for £800,000; the applications ex-
ceeded £18,000,000 sterling.
The United States Army and Ifa,,y Journal thinks
that the Big Horn range of mountains in 7fyoming will
become as well known in England in the course t: a few
years as the jungles of India. Every summer increases the
number of the English gentry visiting this famous hunting-
ground.

Henry Mitchell, son of an innkeeper at Blackburn,
died last Saturday, after three days' great agony, from hydro-
phobia. Six weeks ago he was bitten by a dog, and the
wound was at once cauterised. Nothing more was thought
of the matter until Thursday, when symptoms of hydro-
phobia set in, and after excruciating pain death ensued. He
was attended by two medical gentlemen.

It is reported that the Sultan has given orders for
the remains of Solomon's Temple to be restored, and the
surrounding place to be cleared of all rubbish. Onth it
place stands the Mosque of Omar, the revenue of which is
said to amount to £150,000 a year. Hitherto this sum has
always been forwarded to Constantinople, but for the future
it is to be appropriated for the above-mentioned purpose.
This act of the Sultan is believed to be the result of the
visit of the Crown Prince of Austria to jerusalem.

Foot lights.—Bicycle lamps.—A war of words.—A
wind-min.—Moonshine.

The relics of the Franklin expedition which were
recovered by Lieutenant Schwatka last year have been placed
with those brought home by Dr. Rae in the museum at
Greenwich Hospital.

The stecl despatch vessel Cordclia was succeesfully
hunched at Portsmouth on Tuesckty in the presence of a
large concourse of spectators. The ceremony of christening
the ivessel was performed by Mrs. Foley, wife of Admiral
Superintendent Foley, and the ship took the waters amidst
ringing cheers and the playing of "Rule Britannia" by a
military band. The Cor4slta, is a sister ship to the Canada.
She measures 224 feet between perpendiculars, and has an
extreme breadth of 44 feet 6 inches, her tOlinage being 2,383,
while she is engined up to 2,300 horse-power, and will be
equipped with breech-loading guns.
The people of Leipsic have just celebrated the four
hundredth anniversary of the introduction of printing into
that city, long so famous as the centre of the publishing
activity of Germany. The first leipsic printer, was, it
appears, Andreas Priesner, professor of theology, who esta-
blished himself there in 1481. Priesner, it is said, possessed
only one printing press, which he bequeathed to a monas-
tery on the condition that the monks should pray for the
repose of his soul

At a meeting of the Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths'
Free Trade Association, held at 12, Pall-mall East, London,
a committee was appointed to draw up a memorial to the
Prime Minister in favour of the total repeal of the duties
upon gold and silver plate, in conformity with the recom-
mendation of the Select Committee of the House of
Commons in 1879. It was also agreed to memorialise the
Board of Trade with reference to a reform of the hail.
marking laws, with a view to the necessary Parliamentary
notices being given in November.
A New York telegram says that the visible supply
of wheat on October 21 was 20,600,000 bushels; ditto, In-
(Ban corn, 28,700,000 bushels. Export clearances of wheat
for Europe during the past week, 820,000 bushels; export
clearances of Indian corn for Europe during the past week,
1,220,000 bushels.

The venerable Sir Moses Montefiore, Bart., who
was born on Oct. 24., 1784, attained on Monday the patriarchal
age of 97 years. Sir Moses, who served as sheriff of London
and Middlesex in 1837, was knighted at the Guildhall on
Nov. 9 of that year, on the Queen's first visit to the City
after her accession to the throne, and obtained his patent of
baronetcy in 1848.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Paris
on Saturday, on a short visit. Their Royal Highnesses at-
tended the service at the English church in the Rue
d'Agnesseau on Sunday.
The London Gazette states that the Queen has been
pleased to confer the decoration of the Imperial Order of
the Crown of India on Olive, Lady Ferguason, wife of the
Right lion. Sir James Fergusson, hart, H.C.M.G. Governor
of the Presidency of Bombay, and on Mrs. Emily Adam,
widow of the Right Hon. William Patrick Adam, C.1.E.,
ately Governor of the Presidency of Madras.

"The Queen never forgets her old servants. Dur-
ing one of her drives over the hills from Deeside to Donside
recently, Her Majesty called on the parents of the man
Philp, who died at Windsor in June, and placed a bouquet
of flowers on his grave in the old kirkyard at Strathdon.—
The World. _ _ _

Last year's returns show that the number of persons
killed throughout India by wild beasts or snakes has gra-
-Wally increased from 19,273 in 1876 to 21,990 in 1880. The
largest number of deaths occurred in Bengal, where 10,064
persons died from snake bites and 355 were killed by tigers.
The Sydney Mail of 3rd September says that a pearl,
valued at £2,000, has been found in the Kimberley district,
Western Australia. It has been sent to England.

A Correspondent writes to the Daily News :
"Between the English and German navies there exists a
most cordial feeling both as regards officers and men. On
whatever stations the ships of these gations meet there are
always most cordial exchanges of hospitality and expressions
of kindly feeling. In all naval matters England gives the
pattern to the young but aspiring German fleet; and the
German sailors, in spite of all difficulties of language, delight
to fraternise with the English."
A fire, which at the outset bade fair to be of a most
disastrous character, broke out on Monday morning on
premises in the Rue liogador, part of which are occupied as
a printing office by the proprietors of the Petite Republique
Francais& The fire, which originatain a cellar adjoining
the engine-room, in which petroleum and oil are stored,
spread with great rapidity, and it was not until after two
hours' hard work that a strong detachment of the Fire
Brigade succeeded in subduing the flames. Two of the
workmen employed on the premises were grievously burnt,
and property to a considerable amount was destroyed.
The total number of persons in receipt of public
relief In Paris last year was 385,148, of whom 137,518 w(re
received in the hospitals, alms-houses, and orphanages,
while 219,500 were received at their own homes and 28,000
children put out to nurse in the country.
The Commission of scientific experts appointed in
1879 to inquire into the sanitary condition of the cemeteries
in and around Paris have just made their report, detailing
numerous experiments and examinations made by them
regarding the condition of the soil, the quality of water in
the wells, and the state of the atmosphere in the cemeteries.
Speaking generally, the report negatives the popular belief
in the noxious influences of great burial places. The com-
position of the air in the cemeteries, according to 31.
Schutzemberger, of the College de France, is not distin-
guishable tram that of arable lands.
The President of the French Republic has decided
that all soldiers despatched from France to Algiers to take
part in repressing the insurrectionary movements in that
country shall be allowed to count the time of their service
as a "double campaign."

According to information received from New York,
Meissonnier's celebrated canvas "La Charge des CairassiPrs"
was completely destroyed by a recent fire. This master-
piece was the largest canvas painted by Meissennier; it re-
presented Napoleon L on horseback saluting a regiment of
cuirrassiers on the point of charging. lb was the property
of Mr. Vanderbilt, who paid 400,000 francs for it. The de-
struction of this painting is a great loss for the French
School.

The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens,
Regent's Park, London, during last week include a Macaque
monkey, a bonnet monkey, from India, presented by Mr.
G. E. Janis; a Vervet monkey from South Africa, presented
by Mrs. Brassey ; two leopards from Ceylon, presented by
Lieut.-Calonel J. S. Armitage, F.Z S.; a Mesopotamian fallow
deer, two Beatriz antelopes, two Arabian gazelles from
Muscat, presented by the Lord Lilford, F. Z.B. ; a naked-footed
owlet, European, presented by Mr. R. J. Marlton; a common
kestrel, a common hare, European, presented by Mr. W. K.
Stanley; a Paradise whydah bird from West Africa, pre-
sented by Mr. Bowyer Bower; two bonnet monkeys from
India, a Bell's cinixys from East Arica, deposited an
osprey, European, purchased: a Hardwicke's hemigale from
Borneo, received on approval.
Feminine Suffrage has triumphed in Croatia,
where, for the first time, women have been allowed to vote
at a municipal election at Agram. Eight hundred and five
ladies came to the poll.

Waiter. "What can I get you, sir ? "—Hungry
customer (carefully studying the card). "I think I'll begin
at the beginning, waiter. Bring rue a little ' menu.'"—
Moonshine.

The through train from Spezzia to Pisa ran off the
rails between Arzana and Aveuza on Saturday. One person
was killed and twenty were injured. Signor Depretis,
President of the Council, and Signor Bern, Minister of
Agriculture, were in the train, but escaped uninjured, and
afterwards continued their journey.

A remarkable millinery triumph is called the
"winning October hat," and is really artistic, if a trifle pro-
nounced. It is a large poke shape, trimmed with black
Spanish lace and peacock feathors laid flat on the brim, and
on the left side is a modest bunch of sunflowers.—Court
Journal.

Mr. Caine, M.P., in presiding at a large gathering
of the Wesleyan body at Scarborough, and in addressing the
meeting referred to the Church census which has recently
been taken at Liverpool and Newcastle. In both these towns
a census of the congregations at the various places of
worship had been taken twenty years ago, and the present
one as compared with that, showed a very considerable
falling off in the attendances at those churches. How was it,
he asked, that places of worship were emptying instead of
filling? He believed it was owing in the first place to the
seats in most places not being free and unappropriated;
another reason was that the lay agency had been neglected,
especially by the Church of England.

A public subscription is being raised in Kingston
towards a memorial to the late Police-constable Atkins, "to
mark the sympathy and respect of the inhabitants of the
district as Englishmen for one who fell a victim to duty, and
to record their detestation of the barbarous deed which for
a long time filled the country with horror and indignation.'
Any balance remaining after the erection of a snitable grave-
stone is to be handed to the young woman whose marriage
with the unfortunate policeman had been fully arranged to
lake p lace within three weeks from the date of the murder.
An official summons has been sent by the Mayor of
Marseilles to the Empress Eugenie, who is described as
'Madame Eugenie de Gusman, widow of Charles Louis
Napoleon Bonaparte," to give up the Imperial chateau in
that town, about which repeated applications have been
made to the Bonaparte family without effect. The ex-
Empress is now summoned to appear before the civil tri-
bunal of Marseilles and give the property up to the town.
In default notice is given that possession will forthwith be
taken.

The ship Forfarshire, 1,238 tons, Captain D. D.
Brown, chartered by Mr. Saul Samuel. C. %LG., Agent-General
for New South Wah s, sailed from Plymouth for Sydney on
the 22nd inst. with 407 emigrants.

Mr. Joshua Williams, Q.C., dle4 at an early hour on
Tuesday morning, at his residence, 49, Queensberry-terrace,
Bayswater, at the age of 63. The cause of his death was a
carbuncle, which did not assume threatening proportions
till a few days ago. He had been occasionally ill within the
last few months, but his Long Vacation holiday, during
which he had a trip on the Continent, somewhat restored
him, and he returned to town for his professional duties
about a month since. On Sunday, however, his illness,
which had reasserted itself confined him to his bed, and he ex-
pired half an hour after midnight of Monday.
A Madrid telegram says that the newspapers of
that city mention a scheme which has been set on foot for a
national subscription for the purpose of buying Gibraltar
from England. Some Madrid bankers are said to have
offered to give 5,000,000 francs towards this object. If Eng-
land refuse to entertain the proposition, the proceeds of the
subscription are to be employed in fortifying points on the
Straits both in Africa and Spain.
On Sunday aftermoon the steamship Gipsy Queen,
belonging to the Steam Navigation Company, arrived at
Hartlepool from Hamburg, after a very heavy passage. On
the morning of that lay, when about 30 miles off Hartle-
pool, she fell in with a waterlogged Swedish brig called the
Josephine, bound frotu Yetadt, deal laden, for Middle.-
borough, which was flying signals of distress. he Gipsy
Queen at once bore down to her, and lay to in a convenient
pcities‘,iti,o)nf teinigthiltthaellbisiaigeclyougldoLowanerd haoerobonaatt,
t Intotheir
al c
taken,
eksteshneel
uninjured, on board the GiPti Queen, but in a very ex.
hansted condition, they having been pumping
almost incessantly_ aiace the, previons Friday. On being
landed at..Vartlepool the poor fellows were duly cared for
by the Hartlepool Agent of the Shipwrecked Mariners'
Association acting on behalf of the Swedish Consul.

The Marquis of Lorne, who is now fully restored to
health, will leave Canada for Europe a 'wet* after General,
Sir P. L. M'Dougall's return to Canada.
The twenty-second year of the Volunteer va closes
with the last day of the present month, and with the -view
of making the returns as good as possible and claiurbyg as
large a capitation grant as possible from the Governmemt,
commanding officers and adjutants are now pressing on the
drills.
Last year the duty on railway passengers amounted
to £.745, 682 6s. bid.
- -

A serious accident occurred on Monday in Overtown
Station Colliery, Wishaw, near Ellaggow, by which a father
and son named Miller lost their lived. They were fixing a
support when a quzntity of rock fell, burying them in the
debris.

A Bombay telegram to the Standard says that a
Sepoy belonging to the First ficinde Horse, at Tbtil Chotiali,
ran amuck and killed three men. He also wounded a fourth,
and shot himself dead. It is supposed that he was tinder
the influence of bhang.

Last week's receipts of cotton at all United States
ports have been 132,00 bales, and since Ist September, 1881,
960,000 bales. Exports to }reat Britain, 63,000 bales, and to
the Continent and Channel, 17,000 tales; total since Ist
September. 1881, 450,000 bales. Stock at all ports, 575,000
ba.tea.
The dole,' leaf, fern leaf, dasies and butterflies are
pretty fancies in jewellery, and are the favourite designs in
silver filagree for &lilt and scarf pins.—Court ,ournal.

The infant son of Genera' Lord Napier of Magdala
was baptized on Saturday, at the Chapel Royal, S. James s,
when the Prince and Princess of Wales stood sponsorg.
"A correspondent reminds me that Landseer di
certainly paint one full-grown cat. It is Voltigeur's cat,
Introduced in the portrait of that horse."—The World.
Lieutenant llovgaard, of the Danish navy, one of
the companions of Professor Nordenskjeld, is corresponding
with Mr. Bennett with a view to starting an expedition to
search after the Jeanette.
- - - -

In London on Monday, a meeting was held at the
Mansion House in support of the projected Electrical Exhibi-
tion at the Crystal Palace. It was stated that the chief
exhibitors at the Paris Exhibition would take part in the
present undertaking, and it was expected that the Govern-
ment and the City companies would lend assistance. Decem-
ber was named as the date of the opening.
Josiah Henson, the original of the hero of Aire.
Beecher Stowe's " Uncle Tom's Cabin," has died recently in
Canada, at the age of eighty-seven. He was a slave for
forty years, and afterwards became st religious minister.
He leaves eleven children, forty•four grandchildren, and six
great-grandchildrea.
- -

A return issued on Monday from the ogee of the
Clerk of the Peace for Lancashire shows that foot-an.cl-mouth
disease and pleuro-pneumonia exist on 206 farms J 5 the
county. Last week the number of farms was 213. This 0.055
not include the outbreak of Wuro-pneumonia at Preston.

The trial of the prisoner Lefroy, for the murder of
Mr. Gold, on the Brighton Railway, will take place beforo
Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, at the ensuing Maidstone
Assizes, which begin on Monday next, the 31st inst. The
prosecution will be conducted by the Attorney-General (Sir
Henry James, Q.C., M.P.), Mr. Poland, mid Mr. A. L. Smith;
and the prisoner will be defended by Mr. Montagu Williams.
Mr. Forrest Fulton, and Mr. 11. Nisch. The trial will pro-
bably begin on Nov. 2 or 3.

Speaking at Wolverhampton at the opening of an
industrial school by the School Board, Mr. H. H. jr,igivrler,
M.P., observed that he was in a position to state tflUt the
actual number of children sent to prison had, through the
efforts of the Home Secretary, been reduced almost to a
minimum. Sir W. Harcourt had ordered that whenever any
child under fourteen was committed to prison, for however
short a term, full particulars were to be forwarded to the
Home Office, and they were then investigated by the Secretary
of State in person.

Under the head of "Conscience Money t" the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer acknowledges in Th,e Times the
receipt of £lOO from Mistake, in first halves of notes.

Political excitement in Berlin is becoming intense
as the day of the general elections approaches. A Standard
telegram says that "nothing is talked of now but the elec-
toral struggle, and, what is a strange innovation according
to German ideas, even ladies are taking an active part in
electioneering."

In London, on Tuesday evening, Professor Huxley
presided at a meeting of a newly-formed Society, ()ailed the
Sanitary Protection Association, the object of which is to
secure, by co-operation, the healthiness of the houses of its
members by periodical inspection and sanitary improve-
ment. The Professor said that Associations of this kind
were working successfully in Edinburgh, and if they in
London succeeded in operating upon a section of London as
large as the Scottish capital they would be perfectly
satisfied.

Mr. Rob. S. Baker, Hargrave, Northamptonshire,
writes to The Times:—" A few years back a great elm was
blown down, with a large bail of earth at its roots, on the
property of Mr. Smyth, the Squire and Rector of Little
Ifoughton in this county. Men were set to work to remove
it, but when they had sawn off the great limbs, to their
astonishment, and almost terror, the trunk rose up of its own
accord, and went back to its original place, and there it
stands to this day. It is throwing out a fresh head, and is
pointed out as a curious case of resurrection."

In London, the other evening, Mr. Edward Payson
Weston, the American pedestrian, delivered a lecture on
" The advantages of the practice of temperance," before the
members of the Young Men's Christian Association, Saville'
row, Regent-street. He said that having during the last 14
years walked some 56,000 miles, or a distance equal to twice
the circumference of the globe, he could bear testimony
that, instead of being in any way injured, his constitution
and physical condition had been wonderfully improved by
the training incidental to the branch of athletic exercises
which he pursued.

There is some probability that at no distant date
the Sheffield firms engaged in the heavy trades will substi-
tute the electric light for gas in their works, as It is found
upon trial that the softer light is a great advantage to the
workmen. Already three large local firms have adopted
this system of lighting.

Mr. Jesse Collings, M.P., presided at the annual
meeting of the National Liberal Federation at Liverpool, on
Tuesday, and in the course of his observations said that if
the Government bad dose nothing else than pass the Irish
Land Act, the session would be a memorable one He
believed that the measure would be effective. A resolution
declaring that the condition of the agricultural population
and the welfare of the country required immediate reforms
of the land laws of Great Britain was passed, as well as one
urging members to promote universal household suffrage.
Mr. Pease, of Darlington, was elected president for the
ensuing year.

On Tuesday the Queen completed a reign of 44 years
and 128 days, which is just the length of time that Queen
Elizabeth sat on the throne, that Qtfeen reigning from the
17th November, 1558, to 24th March, 1603. Consequently
her Majesty will have reigned longer than any other English
Queen Regnant, and longer than any English King, with the
exception of George 111., who reigned 60 years (1760-1820) ;
Henry 111., who reigned 56 years (12M-1272) ; and Edward
111., who reigned 50 years (1227-1377).

Several bodies have been washed ashore near Berwick
and Eyemouth, and the oars of two of the missing boats
Florincla and Sunshine have been pic.ked up. At floly
Island the boat Alice, of Burnmouth, has been found
bottom up, also the papers of the steamer Bertha, of New-
castle, which is believed to have foundered off the Farm
Islands.

The tax on houses and lodgings in France, payable
at the commencement of the new year, will, according to the
Government regulations just issued, amount to the heavy
proportion of nearly 10i per cent, on the net rental, which
Is taken to be only 5 per cent. less than the gross rent. This
applies, however, only to rents of a thousand francs a year
and upwards. Below that sum the rate of assessment
gradually diminishes, till those whose rent does not exceed
599 franca will pay only 6 per cent.
"Lieutenant-General Colin Mackenzie, C. 8., died
on Sunday at Edinburgh, at the age of 75. He entered the
Army in 1826, and in 1834 served with General Lindsay's
cold= in Coorg in all the actions which led to the conquest
of 3tercara. In 1841 he led the advanced guard at the forcing
of the Khoord Cabal Pass. Subsequently he defended the
fort of Nishan Khan, in the city of Cabul, and after-
wards forced his way through the enemy's lines, bringing
off the wounded, with the women and children. In
January, 1842, he was given up as a hostage at the special
demand of Akbar Khan. He was twice sent disguised as
an Afghan to negotiate with General Pollock, and was
employed as Political Chargé of Prince Shahpur during the
expedition to Istalif, and took a conspicuous part in the
storming of that place in September, 1842. General
Mackenzie raised and commanded the 4th Sikh Light In-
fantry on the frontier during the Punjab campaign in
1848-0; and in 1853 took possession of the ceded districts
of Berar. He was repeatedly thanked by Government for
his services in India, and was nominated a Companion of
the Order of the Bath. General Mackenzie married Miss
Helen Douglas, daughter of Admiral J. E. Douglas.—Obitu-
ary of The Times, Oct. 26.

The Registrar-General's returns for the past week
show that in London there were 2,681 births and 1,586 deaths
registered. Allowing for increase of population, the births
exceeded by 41, and the deaths by 80, the average numbers
in the corresponding week of the last ten years. The annual
death-rate from all causes, which had been equal to 166,
18-6, and 19 9 in the three preceding weeks, further rose to
216 last week. The 1,586 deaths included 14 from small-
pox, 30 from measles, 43 from scarlet fever, 21 from diph-
theria, 39 from whooping-couph, 6 from typhus fever, 53
from enteric fever, 9 from ill-defined forms of continued
fever, 18 from diarrhcea, and not one either from dysentery
or simple cholera. The fatal cases of small-pox, which had
been 13 and 22 hi the two preceding weeks, declined again
last week to 14; which, however, exceeded the corrected
average weekly number by 2; 6 were recorded in the Metro-
politan Asylum Hospitals, 1 in theollighgate Small-pox
Hiospital, 1 in the London Hospital, and 6 in private dwell-
ing-houses.