The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-04-02 00:00:00

ANOTHER POSTAL REFORM.

Mr. Fawcett, replying to a question put by Mr.
Bryce in the House of Commons, intimated that he
will shortly introduce another desirable postal retorm
(says the Evening Standard). "With the least pos-
sible delay " clearance indicators are to be fixed to
street pillar-boxes, which will show any one coming to
post a letter when each box has been last emptied of its
contents. There can be no doubt that this will be a
useful innovation, and it is gratifying to know that a
vote has been included in the Estimates for pro-
viding the promised indicators. It may be urged
that already we are afforded minute information
as to the hours of clearing pillar-boxes. We may be
reminded that in front of each one is a tablet on
which the hours of clearance are printed. But, as a
matter of fact, it very often happens that this in-
structive printed matter is so obliterated by stress of
atmospheric corrosion that it is well-nigh illegible.
Then, again, the tablet, now only as a rule partially
readable, in most letter-boxes merely tells us when
they ought to be cleared. It does not tell
us when each one was at any given time last
cleared. But this information is obviously a
matter of primary importance to the letter.
writer who has waited to the last moment to
catch the post. The boxes are not cleared, and
cannot be cleared, exactly at the times indicated
in the existing tablets. It may be that whilst on one
day a letter posted a few seconds after the advertised
hour of clearance was too late, yet on another day it
might be posted a quarter of an hour after the nominal
time of clearance, an still be too early The practical
inconvenience to the public is the uncertainty that,
about the hour of clearance, prevails as to whether or
not the letters have actually been collected. If this
uncertainty were corverta.ble into certainty, as it
would be by the new indicators, it would enable the
anxious correspondent in many cases to decide as to
whether he ought or not to substitute a telegram for
his letter.

THE QUEEN'S DRAWING ROOM.

Her Majesty the Queen held a Drawing Room at
Buckingham Palace on Tuesday afternoon. The
Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice and the
other members of the Royal Family, entered the
Throne Room shortly after three o'clock. The Queen
wore a dress and train of black silk, trimmed with
crape and feathers, and a long black tulle veil, sur-
mounted by a diadem of jet. Her Majesty also wore
jet ornaments, the Riband and Star of the Order of
the Garter, the Orders of Victoria and Albert, the
Crown of India, Louise of Prussia, St. Catharine of
Russia, the Spanish and Portuguese Orders, and the
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Family Order.
Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice wore a dress
and train of black satin, trimmed with jet embroidery
and lace. Head dress—black feathers, veil, and
coronet of jet, Her Royal Highness also wore a neck-
lace, brooch, and earrings of jet, with the Orders of
Victoria and Albert, the Crown of India, and the
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Family Order.
. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Connaught
wore a black satin petticoat trimmed with jet, and
a train of brocaded velvet with trimmings to match.
Head-dress—a tiara of jet, black plume, end black
veil. Ornaments jet. Orders. Victoria and
Albert, the Imperial Order of India, the Order of
Louise of Prussia, the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Family Order, and the Medal commemorative of
the Emperor and Empress of Germany's Golden
Wedding.
The Russian Ambassador, owing to the mourning
of the Russian Court, was unable to attend the
Drawing Room,

A number of presentations to the Queen were made,
the names having been previously left at the Lord
Chamberlain's office, and submitted for her Majesty's
approval.