The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-02-06 00:00:00

et tottrbritrge o'6server.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1875.

PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

There is no one who will not regret the cause
which has kept her Majesty away from the open-
ing of Parliament this year. While the people
of England have witnessed with sorrow the
comparative seclusion which has surrounded the
Sovereign of late years, they recognise the fact
that it was the result of a bitter domestic trial,
Slid whenever the Queen has appeared in public
she has been heartily welcomed. In the earlier
years of her reign it was her Majesty's invari-
able practice not only to open Parliament, but
also to prorogue it in person; but of late we
have had to be content with the less imposing
ceremony of a Royal Commission on such occa-
sions. The Prince Consort has now been dead
more than thirteen years, and dnring that period
the Queen has found herself able to open the
Legislature in person three times only—in 1866,
agaia in 1867, and in 1871. However, Parliatnenl,
must meet, under any circumstances; and when
once the necessary formalities have been got
through, it does not take our own representative
assembly long to get to business. The House
of Commons re-assembles under strange and al-
tered conditions which few could have anticipa-
tad when it separated last August. The Liberal
chief has withdrawn from the political arena, in
which, in conipr.ny with his illustrious antagon-
ist, thu present Prime Minister, he has stood
out for years as an intellectual gladiator. We
have seen cases in recent times in which the
leader of a great party has sank into the grave
hill of years and honours, like Lord Palmerston;
has been removed to calmer atmosphere of the
House of Lords, like Earl Russell; or has been
compelled to retire from bodily infirmity, like
the late earl of Derby. But it is very rare in-
deed to find a man in the prime of his mental
powers, and showing no signs of physical decay
voluntarily abandoning one of the most promin-
ent and responsible positions to which a politi-
cian in this country can aspire. Still, Mr. Glad-
stone having made his choice, it becomes the
duty of no one, whether friend or foe, to dictate
to him the way in which he shall spend the re-
maining years of his life. He has made his
choice how he will pass the evening of his life ;
he has determined to enjoy the rest which is
typioal of that long Sabbath of repose in store
for all of us whetner we will or not, and after
the whirlwinds and the storm inseparable from a
long political career, he has resolved to leave
the maddening crowd, and to "walk in the gar-
den in the cool of the day."
With Mr. Gladstone gone from the front Bench
of Opposition, Mr. Disraeli stands out beyond
comparison the most considerable intellectual
igure in the House of Commons. His career
shows what ability and perseverance in a man
min accomplish. When he entered the House
of Commons in 1837 as member for Maidstone,
and essayed to make his first speach, his singu-
lar gestures and high-flown rhetoric caused
shouts of laughter which completely drowned
his voice. Lord John Russell and the late
Charles Buller were then members of the Mel-
bourne Administration, and the youthful orator
spoke of them as " the noble 10-,cl the Tityrus of
the Treasury Bench and the learned Daphne of
Liskeard." Such a style of address so att.- rly
unaccustomed to the House of Commons, rased
screams of merriment, in the midst of which
might have been heard Mr. Disraeli exclaiming
"1 will sit down now, but the time will come
when you inust hear me," How that prediction
has been verified we all know. Seven or eight
years afterwards he was a recognised power in
tire House of Commons. His flegeilations of Sir
Robert Peel are amongst the most scathing speci
nsens of Parliamentary oratory ever uttered.
scud when tee Conservative leader retired from
she head of his party, the man selected to wie-
eeed him was no scion of an aristocratic house,
no one who represeeted along lin., of ancestors
or an ancient 1 ineage—it was rather he who had
made for himself a name by sheer strength of
brain, and had risen to fame neither through
noble birth nor the possession of a vast fortune.
K. has won his way simply through the force
of the great intellectual ability; and so to-day
we dad him, in the seventieth year of his age,
the virtual ruler of a ufiglity empire, and the
head of a party with a commanding majority in
both tientes of Parliament.
The session Li) eas differerently from some of
it immediate predecessors. It is not, for in-
stance, like that of 1869, when a church was to
be disestablished; or like that of 1870, when or-
ganic changes were to be made in the Land
Laws of the Sister island, and a great scheme of
National Education was to be passed; or like
that of 1871, when Purchase in the Army was to
be abolished ; or like that of 1872, when the
ballot was to become law, and to supersede a
i
system of voting which had been n existence
for centuries ; or like that of 1878, when a strong
Goverment was to be rent in twain by differences
ever a Roman Catholic University Bill. By
uommon consent, the intense activity which
characterised the legislation of the last Parlia-
ment is not to be known in this. The verdict at
fibs polls twelve months ago is interpreted as
signifying the desire of the constituencies for a
period of rest. We all know the effect of a sea-
son of excitement upon the human frame—how
Purely &reaction follows—and how grateful is a
time of repose. So it appears to be with a State
11 its wheels are driven at an unwonted speed
during one Parliament, there is a corresponding
reluctance to movelrapidly in the next. We saw
it forty years ago. Earl Grey's ministry, after
the passing of the Reform Act of 1832 made
some sweeping changes, and was followed by
the Conservative Administration of Sir Robert
Peel. Mr. Gladstone's Government, called into
existence after the granting of Household Stiff
rage, made some equally sweeping changes, and
is succeeded by Mr. Disraeli. But, though
there are no such exciting topics as those which
engrossed attention five or six years ago, there
ic CUS abundance of useful and necessary work to
be done. There is, for instance, -.U.) question of
aanitary reform and the improvement of the
lisisies of the working classes for one, and to
this te Home Secretary has been devoting his
thine during tile recess. .".rhe pottage homes
of England has often been a subject on which
poets have written pleasant stanz.is, but many of
them are in 24 deplorable condition for all that
Then there is the protection of the honest and
peaceful citizen from the attacks of freebooters,
a matter which has forced itself into very pro-
minent notice during the past few months. The
granting of additional facilities 1.. r the transfer
of land, the regulation of the laws of contract
between master and eery it, the r- moral of
grievances inflicted under the slditutes which de-
fine the law of conspirsey, she purification of
ear rivers, the extinction ef ll obstacles to the
working of the Educationol AC4, the condition
of the Civil S rvic —such ar odly a fey of the
topics demanding the consi :ei•ation of the high
Court of Parliament, and inig:.t well, if dealt
with, make up not indeed e showy, but a sub
stantaal and useful session's work.

good va!ue for rt,noi is desired by all, with articles
ib St • mnot be judged of by appearanco, cat&til pur-
chasers rely on the high standing at those with whom
thoy dpil. Fr 30 year, Horiuman's Pure leas in
parelota have siren general satisfaction, being exceedingy
itronor. of ui.sArat good quality, aiul tray cheap A gen ts
Stoarbridg..— Clarke, 151, High-street; Baker, 124, High
eireit ; Hwit, M-rket Pace; Morris, 136, Higu-s!reet
Drierlry wlings chemist ; Kidderniu,st,r,
Nue ; Halesowen, Adam. chemist; Lye„Tom.s. chemist
iliordsley. Turner, cherni-t; Rh' r
7 , AA, r CM,
Lane, Collingls, cheiviat; Birmingham, Bdokb,
Neil Ring.

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVERHIMPTON, We dnoaday.

The market to-dav was strengthened by what
is happenincr j South Wai-- a, though it cannot
be said thatihere waa any striking dltference in
quotations as compared with a week ago. Tt
truth, there were claasos of finiahod iron of a
good, though not perhap3 of the first quality,
which might have been obtained at less money
than was demanded last Wednesday. The
c inviction appear (general that the lock-out in
isenth Wales is not likely to be protracted. No
ordei's of moment have as yet been placed at
the mills and forges here as the result of the
wide suspension ol industry in the southern
principality. There has, however, been a better
trade done in best coal, consequent on the
stopping of the pits there. The mineral will be
sent away by train to distant markets. Mer-
chant and consumers, who are believed to be
holding back orders must quickly come down by
the extensive action in the North of England,
as well as in South Wales, with the view of
cheapening the cost of production of gig metal.
Hence specification were held with considerable
tenacity. "Many of them, however, must soon
come out," and certain of the mill and forge
proprietors who present this afternoon," because
if tha spring export orders are not distributed
at once, they will not be executed within the
reqaired time." But of such a result merchants
and consumers did not express much fear; and
the market closed without much business hav-
ing been transacted. Bars were in abundant
offer, at from £9. to .D.l. 12s. 6d. •' and less
money than the minimum figure would huve been
take by several firms known to be amongst those
who are not greatly influenced in their quota-
tions by the action of the first-class houses. For
boiler plates of a good quality well over .D. 2. was
required by South Staffordshire makers; never-
theless, agents of Cleveland ironmasters were
offering to deliver plates for shipbuilding at £9.
19s. Sheets of all descriptions were stiff in the
open market, though it was whispered that there
are firms in South Staffordshire who during the
week, have met buyers' views to a large extent
than they were before 'willing to do. Strips
were in plentiful supply, at low figures, and
scarcely so much was transacted in hoops as be-
fore. Pig-iron was without considerabie move-
ment, and the ruling prices were as near those
as may be of last week. Cinder qualities were
offered at from .t 3. to £3. 10s. ; part-mine, up to
£4. 12s. Gd.; and all-mine, from £5. to £5 10s.
The weakness of the prospect, and the increasing
stocks in the Clc% eland district, made iron pro-
duced thereabouts comparatively unsaleable at
the earlier quotations.
No addition is being made to the furnaces in
blast, though preparations to blow in are here
and there observed. There are no fewer than
seventy-three furnaces now out in South Staf-
fordshire and East Worcestershire.

Mach speculation was indulged in as to the
issue of the trial for which a rule nisi was obtained
in the Court of Exchequer on Monday upon the
appeal of Mr. A. C. Dick, a shareholder in the
concern of John Bagnall and Co. (Limited). On
the plaintiff's behalf it was contended before the
Court that the law required the transactions
with Mr. Carlton to have been mentioned in the
prospectus. :It was pointed oat that if Mr. Dick
should succeed in his suit, and thereby get his
name removed from the registered list of share-
holders, then that action would prove of very
serious import to some one, notwithstanding
that the valuation of the concern showed the
property to be worth more than £40,000. in
excess of the sum which the shareholders gave
for it.

The sudden and serious illness of Mr. E. B.
Dimmack, who has long been extensiiely
associated with the iron and mineral :n lustries of
this district and of South Wales, gave rise to a
wide express of regret.
The announcement made by Mr. Fisher Snith,
on behalf of the Earl of Dudley, that the prices
of thick and and heathen coal slack would be
reduced from the Ist is. 6d. per ton was gene-
rally regarded as indicating that a drop in large
coal must be near at hand. It should not, how-
ever, be forgotten than in slack the competition is
everywhere much greater than in large. The new
prices bring bright engine slack down to 4s. 6d. a
ton, and steam slack to 3s. 6d. The belief that
the prices of fuel cannot long remain where they
are, is strengthened by the declaration of reduc-
tion now so frequent in other leading districts.
During 'Change the sentiments expressed by
Mr. Thomas Shaw, one of the leading factors of
Wolverhampton, on Monday, in his capacity of
chairman of the Wol trerhampton and Staffordshire
Banking Company, were discussed, and by buyers
were warmly appeeved. In those rtnnarks Mr.
Shaw observed that "on overforced expansion of
trade hand resulted 'n .a. constantly declining state
of the iron and coal 'ra lee; in the baneful effect
which their condition bad czercised upon every
brrnch of business, in the repeated—and he feared
of necessity, the yet to be repeated—reductions
in wages, frequently terminating hi those unhappy
strikes which proved alike injurious to masters and
men ; and in the worst feature of all, the utter
demoralisation of untold nur,.bers of workmen,
whose social and moral condition, instead of being
ameliorated, had been made incalculably worse, by
the inordinate rate of wages they had been re-
ceiving. He trusted past experience would be a
lesson for the future, and that when a revived
state of trade again tempted to unreasonable in-
flation, the recollection of a vast amount of evil
which had flown from the recent condition of
things, would prove the best and surest cheek and
safeguard against giving way to the hurtful de-
lusions of the past."

Notwithstanding the reduction of is 6d per
ton in coal slack, announced in the earlr part of
the week, the local iron market continues firm,
partly as a consequence of the firmness in best
coal, and partly owing to the paralyisis of in-
dustry in Ssuth Wales. Little or no additional
business has resulted to this district from the
latter cause, and merchants are still holding
back specification in the hope of a drop ; but
the leading South Staffordshire makers • have a
fair quantity of orders in hand at present, and
are not disposed to give way. Thin sheets,
nail and wire rods, hoop, and boiler plates are
in especial request, and the demand for all de-
scriptions of galvsnised iron, both for home and
export is on the increase. Quotations for brand
ed iron range from £lO 10s, to £ll 12s 6d for
bars. The local tinplate manufacture is well
supported by United States orders, and prices
are firm, ranging from 27s 6d, per box for R.
K.P. coke, to 38s. for oiser bed best charcoal
f.o.b. Common iron is rather weaker. £9 is
still the nominal maximum for bars, but tran-
sactions are reported below that figure and tube
strip and nail sheets are offered in several in-
stances on very tempting terms. Pig-iron is
steady at --C3 to £3 53 for cinder, £4 to £4 5s
for medium mixed, and £5, to £5 ss, for hot-
blast native allmine. Competition in the pig
market is increasing as regards the proince of
other districts, but of South Staffordshire pip;
the supply is still in adequate to the demand.
The coal market hns heen strengthened
gards best coal hy the SThuth Wales leck-ont,
which has diverted a certain numbers to this
district, but common coal and slack are easier.

KIDDERMINSTER TOWN COUNCIL, AND
THE EXPENSES OF THE PETITIONS.
The quarterly meeting of the Town Council was
held on Wednesday; the Mayor (Alderman Good-
win) in the chair. The Finance Committee re-
ported that amongst other requirements £5OO.
would be required for expenses connected withthe
municipal election enquiry.
Alderman Holloway said there was an enormous
difference between the expenses of this enquiry
and of the Parliamentary petition trial.
Alderman Dixon said the expenses of the
Parliamentary petition were paid by the Treasury.
The Mayor said the expenses of municipal petitions
were paid out of borough funds, and of Parliamentary
petitions out of general taxation of the country.
After a remark from Mr. Greaves, the Mayor sail
no payment would be made till the items were fur-
nished.

Alderman Wills said he believed ..500. would not
be nearly sufficient. They only guessed that stun on
Monday from what the Commissioner told them.
'They should have to pay the expenses of the official
shorthand writers, the Commissioner, and the registrer,
as well as other matters, and, in plain English, it
would add 3d. in the pound to the rate, so far as lie
could learn.

Mr. Harvey said he hoped it would be a lesson to
men who sold their vote for ss. that they would have
to pay their_ share.

kr: Wood said unfortunately they web e not the
persons who suffered; it was the large ratepayers.
The subject dropped, and the report was adopted.

Bryant and May beg to direct special attention to their
New Oval Pocket Vesta Boxes, with Patent Spring Coy-
erB, which are entirely free from all Rough 1,;(1gF!s and
Shp Corners, and admitted by every onet b • the Bost
dud clieape.t Packet Box ever proi:uced. R t eve 7.
here at One Penny. Patentees and sole naaLuacturers,
Bryant and May, London, E.