The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-11-27 00:00:00

COMMUNICATION WITH AUSTRALIA:

At the Royal Aquarium Mr. .R. S. Gowdie, of Val-
paraiso, read a paper before the Balloon Society on
"The Republic of Chili; Past, Present, and Future."
The Earl of Dundonald presided. The lecturer, after
sketching the main geographical features of the
country and giving some interesting particulars con-
cerning its government, finances, and industries, said
that the first person to suggest intee-oceanic commu-
nication between the Atlantic and Pacific, with the
view of shortening the distance between the United
kingdom and Australia, was the well-known Admiral
Fitzroy. Besides the Transandine line connecting
the two oceans, other railways were either being con-
structed, or were already surveyed, in Brazil, which,
when finished, would still further shorten the dis-
tance between Europe and Australasia. The Argen-
tine Government had recently granted permission for
the construction of a branch line from Monte Caseros
to Posudos, which would bring the Argentine Rail-
way close to the boundary with Brazil, and it
was hoped that about the same date the
Buenos Ayres and Pacific Railway would
be opened for traffic—a line to connect the
Argentine system with Rio de Janeiro, which
would be prolonged to Bahia and afterwards to Per-
nambuco. Although this distance, measured by mile-
age, might not be less than via the Suez Canal, or
even via, San Francisco or Panama, the saving of time
to passengers and mags conveyed via the Transandine
route was very considerable, and should the steamPr
service be properly arranged he calcristed that 1,1
days might be deducted from even the shortest present
route. The way suggested was from London to Lisbon
or Cadiz, thence to Rio de Janeiro, thence by rail
to Valparaiso, and then by steamer to New Zealand,
all of which, he believed, might be accomplished by
the use of fast steamers in about 38 days. The Earl
of Dundonald, in moving a resolution expressing
satisfaction at the cordial relations between the
f 'hilian Republic and this country, said that he en-
dorsed the favourable impression formed by Mr.
Gowdie of the Chilian Republic. Chili was certainly
an exception to other South American Republics,
being free from all internal troubles, and the rights of
property were perhaps more secure than in Ireland.
The reJolntion was passed, and a vote of thanks to
Mr. 0 nwdie closed the proceedings.

WinY HE CRlED.—Harry and Charlie, aged five
and three respectively, had just been seated at the
nursery table for dinner. Harry saw that there was
but one orange on the table, and immediately set up
a wailing that brought his mother on the scene. Why,
Harry, what are you crying for? she asked. Be-
because there ain't any orange for Charlie
SOMETHING SIIE WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE SAID.—
It an evening party a lady said to her partner: Can
you tell me who that exceedingly plain man is sitting
opposite to us? That is my brother. Oh, I beg your
pardon' she replied, much confused. I had not
noticed the resemblance!

A YOUNG man wishing to give his betrothed a pre-
sent, she said: No, Charlie ; I cannot receive presents
from young gentlemen—bat is, anything else but
books. But books, Nellie? What books can I give
you? he asked. Well, your pocketbook, for instance,
she sweetly replied.
A vus lecturer on health wrote a puff of his elo-
a uence, in which he referred to himself as "the star
of the rostrum." When it came out in the news-
papers as " the star of the nostrums," he felt sick
enough to take a dose of his own medicine.

4 ' •
-4,4046114.4 at,
30
Igirt lowsplN tioriwoOr IVOWS/44 WM*