The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-07-26 00:00:00

Rlisallancous flttl!titte,

ROME, FOREIGN, AND :CLONAL

THE MUNICIPAL EXPANSES OF NEw YORE.—
The .xpenves of New York city f ir 1873, a letter from
Philadelphia states, will be About 30,000 000 dolt, ot
which 27,000,000 dole, will be raised by taxation. Of
these expel:ewe, • little over six millions are the city'd
share of the expemies of New York State, 6i millions
are for deb % merest, and one million is for the redemp-
tion if debt falling clue this year. The balance,
16h millions, is for municipal expeni•es. the chief iiems
being for the police department, 4,181,000 dole. ; pub ic
schools, 3,390,000 dolt. ; public works, 1,449,000 ibis. •
department of charities and correctioia, 1,460,000
dole. ; and the fire department, 1,265,000 dole. The
total expenses are six m•llions less than those of 1871,
while, compared with 1872, about five millions less will
b 4 required to be raised by taxation.

THE VENDOME COLD/IN.—The masonry work
(says the Builder) is only just cou.menced. There axe
more dffiffilties in the way of this part of the under-
taking than most uninitiated outsiders imagine. It is
imagined that the foundation and pedestal hose can be
built like All ordinary wall. This in iMpodllble. From
motives of Economy it in intended to utiliza the stone•
work of the old column—at least all those prrtions of it
which have not been ex ces i yely attenuated or deformed
by the demolition. Two thirds of the materials can be
so used; the remaining portion of the work will have to
be executed as at the first erection of the column. But
even among the two-thirds judged serviceable there are
oily two steps absolutely intact. The others mon re to
be repaired, and will be replaced orrejointed by meansof
cement in the ?list* Venchline itself. But this repara-
tion is not the most difficult operation. The interior
of Vie column is formed by huge square blocks of stone
pierced at intervals with large holes, into which are
soldered cramp-irons that hook the outer bronze plates
by a species A.f horseshoe eyelet attached to the inmost
surface of the platen in the foundry. The problem to
be solved now is one that requires, the nicest peed-non.
• . . The c .mpleted column will be surmounted not
by the little bare-legged Clew placed there in 1864.65,
bat the old statue, relegated to Conrbevoie, of the
Emperor in gray redingote and jack boots, with the
arms crossed in the legendary attitude. The statue is
onsiderably injured, but not irreparably. The new
column is not likely to be inaugurated before the end
of the year.

What is the comparative of "sweet night ?"
—Evidently sweet nitre !--P tench.

SPIKITIJAL TOLERANCE.— When Cumberland,
the dramatist, was on a diplomatic mitsion at Madrid,
he was taken very ill, and was not expected torecuver.
In this etate he was visited by Padre D in Patricio
Curtis, an Irishman by birth, but who had been above
had a century settled in Spain, and precepter to three
successive Duke. of ()sauna, ['hi, excellent old man,
then above eighty years of age, who was universally
respected for his virtues and generous benignity of
soul lamented that Cumberland had no apiritual as.
aistant of hi. own Church to resort to. He then offend,
if the dolra of the room were secured, and he was pro.
vided with a prayer book, to administer the sacrament
exactly as it is ordained by the Proteamot liturgy. To
this Cumberland consented, when the venerable man
read the whole of the prayers, and officiated in tilt:moat
devout and impressive manner.
BANK NOTES AND STAMPS BY POST. —The
following notice, to come into operation on the let of
August next, has just been issued by command of the
Poetmaster-General :
'' With the view of diminishing the temptations to which
servants of the Post-office are exposed hy the practice of
sending articles of value in unregistered letters, and in order
to give greater security to correspondence of that clime the
regulation respecting letters contending coin will be extended
to ad hinted letters and psckets not duly tendered for rests.
trarlon which unquestionably contain any of the tilownig
articles—vs, bank-notes, postage stamps, jewelry, and
watches Any such letters or packets will, therefore, he
subject to • double registration fee of tid."

THE PRICE or Cost..—lt seems to be ad-
mitted on all hands, says the Newcastle Chronicle, that
a few weeks more will see a sub tantisl reduction in
the price of coal and coke. Although somewhat slow,
the downward tend-any of piices ie wire and steady.
One large firm in this district closed a contract a few
days two for 5,000 tons of coal at 14.. 61., while
20. 61. was being paid for the same quality of coal six
months ago.

THE HIGH PRICE OF MEAT. —A petition has
been prepared and tranami,tecl to the house of Com-
mons by about 56 butchers in Edinburgh, calling
the attention of the Douse to the que.tion of the
present high price of bu•cher-meat, and pointing out
their belief that the sc ircity of stock and consequent
deanues in the priest of meat arises from the defi ,iency
in the supply of home stock, while the severe re-
strictions imposed on the importation of foreign
cattle exclude large supplies of excellent stock, which
might with safety and profit be intr ,duced into the
home market. The petitioners aubmit that in their
opinion all foreign cattle not coming from a State
at the time infected by a malignant cattle diaease
should be allowed to pass over, and he perrnittod to
pass inland without further restriction, on being
certified free born dimwit by duly authorise I in-
spectors at tho port of embarkation and at the port
of debarkation. The petitioners finally allege that
a large prop, rtion of the meat supple of the country
is damaged and destroyed tsrougl irjunso austainel
by the stock in their transit, and that this is specially
the Case with reference to Ireland.
PRoBLEM FOR FiIVA,CIERS. —To convert a
Floating Debt into a Sinking Fond—Punch.
GETTING OUT OP A DIFFICULTY CHEAPLY.—
Some time ago the cashier of a baok i's the interior of
Pennsylvania, becoming insane, threw A large MAAS
of hood., notes. and other aecurities belonging to the
bank into the fire. They were partially consumed, but
the crags, act being discovered, the whole was of ashes
and charred remnants of papers were raked mt, boxed
up, and sent to the Treaeury at Waehiogton, that be-
ing shout the only resotir .e in such desperate Gives.
The experts occupied thirty clear days in sesorting and
recognising the securities, the work being so delicate
that it coma Oct be pursued in cloudy weather. Their
labours were rewarded by the recognition of 140,000
dol.. Government bond., 60,000 dole. railway and other
bonds, and 150,000 dole, greenbacks, bank-notes, and
bills receivabl•., all these securities being identified and
made good, so that the only loss suffered by the bank
was about three dollars in currency.

A HAPPY COINCIDENCB.—The Unitul Serrice
Gazette 4 July 19 ..aye :—" Liemenant Leiria F,r-
tee Lae Wella Senior Lieutenant of Her Majesty's chip
Barraeouta, whoa., name occupied en prominent a place
ii.he London Gazette of Tueiclay lee, for gallantry
dieplayed in =memento againet the Ashantee, on
the West cow ot Africa, WWI on the (lay of the publi-
cation of the Gazette awarded the bronze me(lal of the
Royal Humane Society, for gallantry in jrtinpitht
overboard at era fr.,m the Barrarouta, when hi wing
har,l, on the 12th of April lest, and aiming Vai life of
a ...amen named Smith. The Adm;ralty will douht,
lesely on their part not fall to oubstantially mark their
approbation of tille officer'. gallant conduct in Africa."
It may be added that Li-utenant Well had pre-
vioncly Carved in the attacks on Kaitusima and
Slmouomaki, In Japan.

A Faartruh Sseiso.— Education produces
great meta,' in the United State.. It is Nilo o mike
good children out of the Slnsinnati boys.—rusrA.

MINIM

THE Q ZIA PEIZEMAN. On MOlldll7 night
Sergeant Measles, the whtnrr of tin ()moo,
Wimbledon, was rec.. teed at the Edinburgo Wase,ley
Station by about 200 .4 the Edinburgh Highland
Volunteers. Mr MrLIZ,.• wan carried ahoulder.hieh
from the station to toe Volunt-er Drill hall at F-ITeste
cad, a diatance of about half a mile, ad he was
loudly cheered along the route. On arriving at the
hall, addresses of congratuirtion were delivered he
Lientenant.Colonels Davidaon and M.cdneakk and
S,g. ant Me. zee replied. Private Clark, of the
Quem's Ronburgh &fie Brigad-, winner of the In*
lut.ernational trophy, was present at the reception,
and was loudly cheered.
PAW") BROICUIS' DUPLICATE/J. " Their
Twins.—Punch.

A Nannow Esc APE. Hy the fast express,which
runs from London to Colchester without stopping
on Friday morning last a family was travellini
to Walton- on•the•Naze, occupying a whole coin.
pertinent. Borne three miles after passing Chelsea
ford Station, where the train slips a carriage. • fine
little boy between seven and eight year* of age woe
leaning out of window. As was afterseards secertsined;
he was playing with the handle of the door, when Us
latter burst open, and the boy was shot from the train,
whil at thin point was at ita highest speed—via,
between 50 and 60 miles an hour. His friends as
quickly as possible communicated through the alarm
with the driver, but it was almost two miles down
the line before the Undo could be brought to a
standstilL The officials and the child's friends cs
returning found the boy bad been picked up and
taken int) the crossing-keeper's house sear the Nes
Hall Convent. Medical aid from Chelmsford having
In the meantime been sent for, Doctor Nicholls and the
Chelmsford station•master quickly arrived, and the
doctor, finding the little fellow had not received any
severe ii.juries, had him removed to his own house as
Chelmsford, whence later in the day he proceeded to
Walton by an afternoon train. The comparatively
Might injuries received were accounted for that in IA
fall be had first come in cAitact with one of the wire
stays of a telegraph post, which was much bent and
almost drawn out of the ground by the force, he thee
father into the cutting drain, partly filled with weeds,
water, and soft mud. Ac may be expected, the pore
child was a mass of bruises and contusions; but that
he escaped with his life or without being hopelessly
maimed is indeed little short of a miracle.

ANOTHIR GRZAT " Lios."—The Shah of Per-
sia hoe departed (except from the Opera Continue,
whem he is likely to remain for some time to come).
and the Sultan of Zanzibar has not yet arrived. Mean-
while sighteeers are not left without proper provision
for their wants. In a notice of the opening of the
roagniocent new Architectural Courts at the South
K•merington Museum, this announcement above all
delighted us—" l'he famous Buddhist, Bauchi Tope, is
here in white pl•mter and full size." The "white
plaeter ' is rather puzzling. Perhaps it is some
humane contrivance for protecting "the famous Budd.
hist" from the caprices of our changeable climate?
—Punch-

A FATAL Acalaniiir.—A shocking accident
occurred on the gigantic works in connexion with
the extension of the Portsmouth dockyard on Bator.
day morning. The earth excavated from the bsaind
and docks in course of construction is conveyed to
other parts of the works by means of railways, sod We-
teen po werfullocomotivni are continually engaged Intl&
work. A line, or, as it is technically called, • "gas.
try," was constructed across that part of the works
known as the D entrance at • height of about 35 feet
irom the floor of the works, and the line was snout 100
yards in length. It was sup.or ted by huge balks of
rimber. For a distance of 30 feet at the end of the
line there was no support whatever, and, in fact, the
line appearci to be in an untiniehed state. It wail
mied f r the first time at a qu,rter poet ten o'cl ok as
Saturday morning One of the locomotives was pushing
tire trucks hardy laden with Stamartaw clay, and tks
train posed in safety over the gantry until it came to
the end which was unsupported, when the timber as
which one of the rails rested snapped like a piece st
mat bwood, and the trucks toppled over into the
works below, dragging the engine with thrill. Willista
Burden, the engine-driver, and George Dudley, • rope
'tanner, who were in the driving box on the engine.
jumped, but the engine fell where they alighted and
they were killed on the spot. John Boulton, the firs
tnan, and William Houghton, a stoker, who were ales
on the engine. were very seriously injured. It is stated
that the line in question had not been paroled by the
authotities, and that the unfortunate engino-driven
had been cautioned not to 111111 it, but to convey the
material by means of a lower gantry.
A STRIKE WITH SOME GOOD. —The threat.
coed strike in the Building Trade did not displease a
hater of the spread of bricks-and-mortar about Lon-
don. He says to the Builders, 'A plague of all
sour houses ! "—Punch.

Attrumste.—With a bound I cleared the
paling of the old park, with rapid strides I threaded
the path through the venerable trent, with a spring I
mounted the steps, and stood once more in the ancient
hall id my fathers. Time, the remorselest, had
crumbled its wale, but the loving earth bad gent npthe
green and tender ivy to conceal the ravages she mid
not repair. The outlined of the old mansion remained,
each familiar room was there, but the it,.nl that once
animated this lifelees body had g me—the family which
once tenanted these walls was scattered ai.d cone for
ever ! In an agony of grief I cried, "Where are ye,
the loved and the loot? Where ars the friends of my
boyhood—where?" And Echo answered, ' Oh, you
get out I don't know no such persons; and l'll send
you off to the lock-up by the gamekeeper pretty
oon !"