The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-16 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS,

The Austrian and Hungarian Delegations were
opened at Pesth on Saturday. On Sunday the mem-
bers were formally received by the Emperor. His
Majesty, in addressing them, said that the relations of
the Monarchy with foreign Powers continued to be of
an amicable character, and that the blessings of peace
had been preserved intact in Europe. Notwithstand-
ing this the Government had been compelled to ask
for considerable credits to provide for the security of
the frontier, owing to the uncertainty of the political
situation and to the military preparations of other
States.

_
Bologna has been full of visitors for*the University
Celebration.

A preliminary trial has taken place at Fort Hamilton
of a pneumatic gun made for the Italian Government.
The mechanism is worked by hydraulic power. With-
out changing the elevation the range may be varied ac-
cording to the air pressure. When full pressure is
brought to bear, shells with 6001bs. of explosives may
be sent two miles. One man can move the gun at will
and fire it. The experiments seemed conclusive as to
the ease with which the weapon could be managed and
its accuracy.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, with their three
daughters, visited Cambridge on Saturday, the occa-
sion being the conferment of honorary degrees on
Prince Albert Victor, Lord. Salisbury, Lord Rosebery,
Lor4 R. Churchill, Mr. Goschen, and other noblemen
and gentlemen. The Royal party and many distin-
guished personages were subsequently entertained at
luncheon at the Fitzwilliam Museum by the Vice-
Chancellor. During the day the President and
Council of Newnham College gave a garden pa-ty in
celebration of the opening of the third hall of that col-
lege, to be called Clough Hall.
An international Missionary Conference, in celebra-
tion of the centenary of Protestant Missions, was
opened in London on Saturday, and continued this
week.

The annual dinner of the Newspaper Press Fund
took placo in London on Saturday evening. The
Solicitor-General, who presided, spoke of the necessity
for relieving newspapers from grievous and unjust
responsibilities imposed on them by the law of libel.
Allusion to the military scare was made by Lord
Napier of Magdala, who held that an addition of 20,000
men to the army was needed.
A tiny picture by John Van Eyck—the Virgin—was •
sold in London on Saturday for 2500 guinfa:, this
being one of the forty pictures from the Burghley
House collection.

The Cambridge Mathematical Tripos list was pub-
lished on Saturday. Mr. W. , McFadden Orr, of St.
John's, is Senior Wrangler, and Mr. W. E. Brungate,
of Trinity, is the second.

The Knights of Labour in the States are raid to
number two millions.

Some time must elapse before Mr. Bright will be
strong enough to leave his room.
It is now said that the March blizzard killed tons of
English sparrows in New York.
The triennial valuation of all premises for tax and
licence purposes takes place this year.
His Highness the Maharajah Holkar has contributed
200 rupees to the Fawcett Memorial Fund.
" The Indian Government will, it is thought, -raise a
eimisl loan to meet the_cost of the froatier defezcea.