The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-03-20 00:00:00

Misallantotts at eltigeltte,

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

AN EXOITING Cik.SE.—His Excellency Sir
George Bowen' who has obtained leave of absence in
order to enable him to visit England on private affairs,
left by the mail steamer Ceylon on the 31st December.
At Glenelg, the voyage of his excellency was enlivened
by a rather exciting incident. Taking advantage of
the few hours on shore allowed to passengers by the
mail steamers, his excellency spent a portion of the
time in driving about Adelaide and its vicinity. The
time passed quickly, and it happened that Sir George
did not get back to Glenelg until the Ceylon had
resumed her voyage. Fortunately, a steam yacht was
available and after an exciting chase of three miles
the mad steamer was stopped, and Sir George Bowen
put on board. That for the opportune steam yacht a
month of his exoeflency's leave of absence might have
been wasted.—Melbourne Argus, Jan. 27th.
RUDIMENTS or ECONOMY.—" May I leave this
piece of bread, nurse ?" "Certainly not, Miss May.
It's dreadful wastefull and the day may come when
you'll want a piece of bread ; " "Then I'd better keep
this piece of bread till Ido want it, nurse. Hadn't I?'
—Punch.

-
THE O'CONIOLL CENTENARY.—CardinaI Cul-
len has issued a Circular to the priests of Dublin in
reference to the O'Connell Centenary, in the course of
which be says :—" To O'Connell's peaceable and noble
exertions, to his love of justice, accompanied with
hatred of violence and revolution we owe Catholic
emancipation, the downfall of a revolution,
and degrading
ascendancy, and the abolition to a great extent of a
penal code. We cannot, therefore, but rejoice that the
memory of so great a benefactor should be honoured
and respected. Hence I have promised to do every-
thing in my power to have his birth celebrated on the
hundredth anniversary in the most impressive manner
in our churches.
CONUNDRUM BY A COUNTESS.—When is a lady
going to Court in a crush, like one too late for the
railway ? , When she loses her train. Punch.
SEEKING EXPERIENCE.—The other day a.
woman was summoned before the Court at Klausen-
burg, in Transylvania, and asked by the judge why
she had stolen the clothes of some other person.
Whereupon she replied :—" Well, your Honour, I am
now 76 years of age, and in the time of my life I have
gone through a great many things, but such a thing I
have never yet tried to do. I tried it because I wanted
to add this new experience to those already gained."
To offer her an opportunity to make another experi-
ence, she was sentenced to two months' imprison-
ment.

N.B.—ln consequence of the great success of
The Transit of Venus in 1874, when thousands were
unable to witness the performance, arrangements have
been made for its reproduction in 1882. Seats can be
booked seven years in advance. No fees. Spectators
are politely requested to make it convenient to be in
their seats as early as possible before the commence-
ment of The Transit.—PuNcil.

A HINT ABOUT CAMELLIXS.— The blotching
of the leaves of camellias is quite a common occur-
rence, and undoubtedly the result of starvation or a
bad state of the roots (says the Gardener's 14ra(Jazine).
It is a case of defective nutrition. Wherever a plant
is-thus affected the roots should be examined, and if
drainage is imperfect, the plants should be repotted,
or% portion of the old soil should be removed, and a
careful freshening up of the roots be accompbshed. In
cases where it is net convenient to examine the roots,
a dose of clear lime-water should be given. This will
probably fetch out any worms that have obtained
lodgment, for these often cause debility by tnterrupt-
ing the drainage. If the plants that have: blotched
leaves are obviously in good condition at the root, but
perhaps have exhausted the soil of its nutritive pro-
perties, a few doses of liquid manure may restore
them to perfect health and a fine vreen colour.
A WELL-MERITOD DIECORATION.—The Queen
has been graciously pleased to confer the Albert
Medal of the Second Class on Lieutenant the Hon.
Francis Robert gandilands, R.N., of her Majesty's
ship Audacious. The following is an account of the
services in respect of which the decorations has been
conferred :—ln lat. 13 deg. 44 min. N., long. 58 deg.
29 min. R, at one o'clock a.m. of the let of January,
1875, the ship being under steam, it being at the time
dark, and the weather fine and clear, Frederick
Cowd, ship's corporal of the first class, fell over-
board from topgallant forecastle, and passed
aft, apparently unable toy.help himself. Lieu-
tenant the Hon. Francis Robert Sndilands,
who had had the first watch, and , was at
the time on the bridge in conversation with tie officer
of the middle watch, immediately sprang' after the
drowning man, from a height of 24 feet, swain to him,
and kept him aboye water. Owing to part of the
Flipping apparatus having been carried away, some
delay was occasioned in getting the lifeboat clear of
the slings, but Lieutenant Sandilands never ceased
his efforts to keep the man above water. Both were
eventually picked up, the ship's corporal being in-
sensible, and dying soon after being got on board the
ship. Lieutenant Sandilands was unable to reach the
life buoys which had been let go, and he supported the
man in the war 4 from twelve to eighteen minutes,
never quitting hikAintil he was taken into the boat.
Lonifon Gezdte.