The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-27 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

As the two Brighton volunteer corps were drilling on
Saturday at Preston Park, the limber of a gun ran over the
leg of Corporal Payne, of the Artillery, severely injuring
"Canton Schwyz has decided that railway-making
conies within the operation of the Federal Factory Law, and
the local authorities have forbidden the continuance of work
on the St. Gothard line by the Axenstrasse on Sundays and
Church festivals without their special permission."—Geneva
Correspondent of The Times.
The Duke of Monteleone, a millionaire, died at
Naples, and was buried on the 12th with all the honours due
to him as a senator of the kingdom. His property, some of
which descended to his family from Fernando Cortez, ex-
ceeded in value thirteen millions. The duke left no issue,
and his wealth passes to the children of Isis brother, Prince
Antonio Pignatelli.

Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to allow
the statue of Lord Byron, for which upwards of £.3,000 was
raised by public subscriptions, to stand within the railed
enclosure known as Hamilton-gardens, opposite to the statue
of Achilles.

The Leicestershire Chamber of Agriculture have
discussed the question of the Malt Tax, and passed a resolu-
tion declaring that it was most unjust and ought to be
repealed.

The Paris Correspondent of The Times says that M.
Tirard, Minister of Agriculture, has directed the Prefects to re-
port what kinds of fruit trees, pines, vines, and cereals suffered
most and least from the December frost, in order that flints
may be obtained for agriculturists, itc. The damage sus-
tained by the Paris parks may be judged from the fact in the
Bois de Boulogne 54,000 evergreenf, 20,000 firs, and 30,000
deciduous trees are required to fill up gaps, while in the
Champs Elysees 3,200 trees were killed and 6,000 require cut-
ting down to the roots. The total loss to the Municipality
in the parks, avenues, and nurseries is calculated at a million
francs. Paulownias, cedars, magnolias, rhododendrons, and
other exotics have especially suffered.
The total cost of the Brooklyn (New York) Bridge
up to the present time, including the land damages and the
purchasers of real estate, has been over eleven and a quarter
millions of dollars. Deducting everything except the cost of
the actual structure, the outlay on the bridge has been about
eight millions of dollars. The original estimate of the ex-
pense made in 1567 was seven million dollars. The central
span across the East River, from tower to tower, is 1,595 feet
long. It is nearly 600 feet greater than the now widest span
—that of the bridge at Cincinnati acros sthe Ohio.
A monument has been placed over the graves of
Lieutenants Melville and Coghill, near Rorke's Drift, where
they sold their lives so dearly in the gallant and successful
endeavour to save the colours of their regiment. Another
memorial has been erected at Utrecht in honour of Piet trys,
and designs have lately been sent from England for a monu-
ment, to be erected by the Colony, to the memory of the late
Prince Imperial of France.

Sir Richard Temple' departure from Bombay called
forth an ovation in his favour such as seldom falls to the lot
of Indian officials (says the Correspondent of The Times.) i
Addresses poured n from all races and classes. The whole
city turned out to bid him farewell, and a public meeting
voted him a statue, for which £5OO was at once subscribed.
The finances of the -United States appear to be in
an exceedingly healthy condition. The rerenue so largely
exceeds the expenditure that the Treasury cancels 2,000,000
dols. of the Government debt weekly.

A Philadelphia correspondent says that last week
orders were sent to the Winchester Arms Company to make
20,000,000 cartridges for the Chinese Government.
In America railway tickets are sold at other places
than at the railway offices. The following story is told as a
warning to those who purchase tickets half-price outside the
stations.—ln this case the traveller was in a hurry, and of
course arrived late. Finding the ticket-office closed, he
readily accepted the offer of a "gentleman," who could not
use the billet he had purchased, and seated himself in the
train just in time. Arrived at the collecting-station he.pre-
sented his ticket, and was asked for " his own." His feply
brought the question, " Did yon think to travel by this
ticket ? " " Yes ; why not?" " Well, it is a ticket for a
dog !"
"A general election is in many ways like a great
discharge of atmospheric electricity. It is disquieting and
noisy; it produces the keenest discomfort among nervous
people while it lasts ; but it clears the air, and with its blasts
of wind and torrents of rain it gives a fresh impulse to healthy
life and growth."—Leader in The Times.

Mr. Chamberlain, M.P., addressing his constituents
at Birmingham on Saturday, said the present Government
had embarrassed trade, lowered wages, and increased taxa-
tion. Powerful as our Empire was, it could not any longer
bear the strain of such administration as that which we had
lately witnessed, lie denied the statement in Lord
Beaconsfield's manifesto that the Liberal party had enfeebled
the colonies or were seeking to disintegrate the Empire.
The Tories had lost one colony for us, and had risked the loss
of another. The Liberals wanted to bind India closer to us
by just laws and wise administration.

At the San Donato Sale in Paris, a carved silver
1 pan, bearing the arms of Don Phillippe, Duke of Parma,
fetched 40,000 francs, and a silver tureen 11,700. A silver
repou ssei dn
cacarved(e,
setwi
cekr.
,ma•eirew
othersoldfoorb
jajc,tooo
roff raati.ti s and
gold
host of vases,
and silver, realised prices ranging* from a few hundred to
10,000 francs.
The Madras papers announce the tleath, on February
5, of Cliintarnanay Ravhunatlia Cliatry, head assistant in the
Madras Observatory tor the last seventeen years. lie is
stated to have been the first and only native of India who
can claim the rank of a discoverer, having detected two new
variable stars—R. Reticuli and V. Cephei. He wrote his
first paper for the Royal Astronomical Society in 1859, and
was elected a fellow of that body in 1872.

A balloon trip across to England is about to be
undertaken (the Moniteur says,) by M. Joirs, of the Aeros-
tatic Experiment Society, who last year made some flue
ascents in the North of France.

The Paris correspondent of the The Times, says :
"Edison telephones have been installed at the Pic du Midi
Observatory, and afford easy communication with Bagneres,
a distance oi 15 miles. The first experiment failed, owing to
the cloudy and stormy intervening stratum of air, but with
improved instruments every sound pronounced in the
ordinary conversational pitch is distinctly audible."

At a- meeting of the Essex Chamber of Agriculture,
held at Chelmsford, it was resolved, on the motion of Captain
Delf, "That the use of sugar in breweries is a great hard-
ship upon the growers of barley, who are already burdened
with an enormous tax (the malt tax) at variance with the
accepted principles of Free Trade ; that if the use of sugar
be permitted it should have no preference whatever over
malt ; and further, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer be
asked to receive a deputation from this Chamber in order to
urge the necessity of prompt attention to the redress of a
manifest grievance.
'" '

-
The Berlin Correspondent of The Times says that
Colonel the Hon. fieorge Villiers, of the Guards, brother-in-
law of Lord Odo Russell, has passed through Berlin to St.
Petersburg, where he has been appointed British Military
Attache in succession to Captain Smaine, who goes in the
same capacity to Constantinople. Colonel Villiers, it will be
remembered, served with distinction in the late Zulu cam-
paign, and was fortunate enough to find and restore the
Prince Imperial's clothes. During his short stay at Berlin
Colonel Villiers had the honour of an interview
jems'tiythwtiltihe
German Empress, and was able to gratify her a
various vivid details as to the last hours of the young Prince,
Whose fate was always carefully followed at Berlin by the
ruling family with .eager interest.

A Renter's telegram from Rome says that "the
statement is correct that the Pope has expressed his entire
approbation of the attitude assumed by the Bishops and
clergy of Ireland in the trial through which the country has
passed, but there is no foundation for the report that his
holiness has sent instructions to the Irish clergy regarding
their conduct during the coming elections." •
The Central Sunday Closing Association has issued
from Manchester a manifesto address to the electors through-
out the country, urging them to bring the question of Sunday
closing of public-houses before all candidates at the general
election, and to inform them that, if successful, they will be
expected to vote for the stoppage of the sale of intoxicating
liquors during the whole of Sunday, due provision being
made for the bona fide traveller.
In speaking of Prince Orloff, the Russian Ambas-
sador at Paris, the Paris Correspondent of The Times says :
"Prince Orloff has not only the hastiness of a Cossack, he
has the courage, intrepidity, and even rashness of a Cossack.
The great black band he wears over the left side of his head
conceals the absence of an eye lost in that wild expedition of
twenty Russian soldiers and officers attempting to capture by
a stroke of audacity during the Turco-Russian war of 1853
the position of Arab-Tabia, The young Count Orloff was then
a colonel. He was picked up the next day mangled and very
nearly dead on the field, and only the most assiduous care
saved him. He had only one eye left, and his left arm was
fractured, and is still carried in a sling Of late years
the Prince has led a retired life. An irreparable loss he had
suffered had closed his drawing-rooms, and thenceforth he
ardently devoted himself to works of charity. Ile visited the
garrets of the poor, took a special interest in sick workmen,
and the infirm and poor of the labouring quarters will sorely
miss him. The loss of his eye, too, made reading and writing
very arduous, and he sought in active life and in the open
air a compensation for this privation,"

Lord Salisbury, accompanied by his family, left
London on Monday for Biarritz.
No fewer than fifty-three members of the Farmers'
Alliance are candidates for either county of borough seats.
Two Austrian travellers have arrived at Rangoon
from China by the overland Toute through Yunnan and
Bhaino. They attempted to enter Thibet, but were pre-
vented by Chinese officials.
- -

We hear that the archbishops have declined to grant
any mere lioenses for evening marriages.—Court Journa/.
A Paris paper states that•M. Gambetta, by medical
advice, has given up sulokinz. '
Her Majesty has been pleased to direct that Mr.
Theodore Martin, a Companion of the Civil Division of the _
Most Honourable Order of the Bath shall be promoted to be
a Knight Commander of that Order.

The censorship" on French newßpaperA sent to
Alsace-Lorraine has Just been discontinued after nine years'
operation.

Lady Roberts, the wife of General Sir Frederick
Roberts, arrived at Portsmouth on Sunday from Bombay.

Those interested in the artificial propagation of fish
have an opportunity just now of seeing operations in full
working order at Mr. Frank Buckland's Museum at South
Kensington. Perhaps in no former year have the hatching
boxes contained so promising a "crop" of eggs as at pre-
sent. These are all now in various stages of development
and present highly interesting illustrations of the birth of
young fish and their growth in their earlier or " babyhood "
life.

It is stated that in view of an attack apprehended
from China, the Russian authorities are busy organising a.
defence of Kuldja by the native tribes. They are endeavour-
ing to gain over the Dungans and Tarantshe to their side..
Under date Constantinople, March 22, a Times
telegram says that Colonel Syrige has been released by the
Sznl,oooith,tntwhearFdsirsthteLfourndd of n tchoenAnelmnitfawlpityh,
brigands, and has arrived in good health at Katerina.
has Icro.nt\rVib.ulite'd
the new public gardens now being made on the land on the
south-east side of the House of Lords on the Thames Em-
bankment and overlooking the river. The works are being
pushed forward, and the grounds may be expected to be open
to the public at the end of May or beginning of June. •
A fortune-teller at the Bal de l'Opera, Paris, to
Rusticus :—" I read in your palm that you are noble and
brave, with soul proud and firm; that your sentiments are
generous, and that you are longing to give me a delicious
supper this evening."
Not long ago, in a provincial theatre, a baritone
made a frightful croak. Hisses and laughter in the audience.
Then the artiste came gravely forward and saluted the audi-
ence. "Messieurs, I discover that I have issued a false note.
I withdraw it from circulation !"—Court Journal.

A new competitor has recently appeared in the Ger-
man corn market, in the shape of Siberian wheat.
Lord Derby, speaking at the annual banquet of
the Institution of Civil Engineers, referred to the extinction
of the agitation for the creation of life peerages, observing
that non-hereditary life peerages in connection with the
judicial system of the house of Lords had worked well, and -
he thought they might hereafter be carried further usefully
and beneficially.
A circular has been addressed to the members of the
Aborigines' Protection Society, pointing out to them that the
occurrence of a general election again gives them an oppor-
tunity ofanaking their influence felt in the constituencies on
behalf of the native races inhabiting the various depen-
dencies of the British Empire, and pointing out that there
never was a time when it was more desirable that they
should remember the claims of these unrepresented popula-
tions, and endeavour to obtain from oandidates a pledge that
they will support a just and humane administration of
native affairs. _ _

Mr. Herbert Gladstone, the Liberal candidate for
Middlesex, addressed a meeting of electors at the Lecture
Hall, Acton, on Saturday night. Mr. Bohn presided and
there was a large audience, by whom Mr. Gladstone and his
friends were received with much enthusiasm.

The extraordinary cold of the winter has severely
injured the vines in France ,so much so, indeed, that it is
feared that this year's cilop will again be a very poor one.
The vines in Burgundy, and more especially in Champagne,
have suffered to an unusual extent.

From a return just issued it appears that during the
year 1878 58,752,934 bushels of malt were charged with duty
in England, Scotland, and Ireland, the amount of duty being
£7,967,512 lls. Oid. In 1879 the number of bushels charged
was 51,576,890, and the amount of duty £6,994,259 16s. 31c1.—
During the year en ing September 30, 1878, 125,441,9911 b. of
sugar were consumed in the breweries of England, Scotland,
and Ireland. In the following year the quantity was
116,927,0191 b.

A Berlin telegram in the Daily Telegraph says that
Queen Victoria, during her visit to Germany, will go to
Darmstadt, and be present at the confirmation of her two
granddaughters, the children of the late Princess Alice. The
Queen will afterwards return to Baden-Baden and spend
some weeks there. The German Emperor, who generally
goes at this time of the year to Wiesbaden to avoid the in-
clement temperature of Berlin, will probably meet the
Queen at some period of Her Majesty's stay at Baden-Baden.
The Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught,
Princess Beatrice, and Prince Leopold attended divine
service in the private chapel at 'Windsor on Sunday.
The Rev. Canon Barry preached.—On Sunday the Prince and
Princess of Wales and the young princesses attended
divine service at the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The
sermon was preached by the Archbishop of York.
Oh
his
Monday
candidature
for addressedh (1
Mid-Lothian on Saturday. On each occasion he had an en-
th
Mr. Gladstone addressed three public meetings in
thusiastic reception, anti votes in favour of his candidature
cooultinoepc
pt
t iNovni
four
were
passed meetings
county.

"On the 16th inq., Richard Donoughmore Lovett,
Esq. 30th representative of the Lovett family in an un-
broken line, authentically deduced through Sir Robert
Lovett, of Liscombe, High Sheriff of Bucks, 1608, from
Gulielmus de Louvet, Master of the Wolf Hounds, 1067.
'Rex eurnqi constituit magistrurn luperum canum per totem
Angliam."—Obituary of The Times, March 23.

The Postrnaster-General announces that on and
after April 1 the rates of charges to the principal counties in
Europe will be as follows per word: Austria, 41e1; Belgium,
2d. ; Denmark, 4d ; France, 2icl. Germany, 4d. ; Greece,
74d.; Holland, 3d.; Hungary, sd. ; Italy, sd. ; Norway, 4d.;
Portugal, 6frd. ; Russia in Europe, Od. ; Spain, 6d.; Sweden,
5d.; Switzerland; 4d.; Turkey in Europe, Bd.

Last year, says the Farmer, was one of the most dis-
astrous for hop-growers ever known; it has been estimated
that the 69,000 acres under cultivation only produced hops
equivalent to £65,000 old duty. Durimx the last 60 years
there have been only six occasions of similarly had crops. It
is a curious fact that every failure of the hop crop has been
followed in the ensuing, year with an increase of acreage,
whilst on several occasions when the crop has been abnor-
mally large, the following year has been marked by a decrease
of acreage.

The death of the oldest beneficed clergyman in the
United Kingdom, the Rev. Thomas Bellas, took 'place on
Monday (15) last at the age of 90. He was born in 1789, and
was educated at Queen's College, Orford, where he graduated
B.A. as far back as the year 1813, two years before the battle
of Waterloo. He was ordained by. Dr. Goodenough, Bishop
of Carlisle, and had held the vicarage of Bondgate, near
Appleby, for the long term of 58 years. Mr. Bellas was a
man of considerable property; and was a magistrate and
deputy-lieutenant for Westmoreland.
In a leader on the subject of Cremation, the Daily
News remarks :—"A good deal, however, has yet to be done
before cremation is anything but a crotchet and an excep-
tion. Generally speaking, we believe public opinion in Eng-
land is somewhat against it. The legal difficulties are ob-
vious and considerable; the sentimental objections, where
they exist at all, are strong' and the same may be said of the
religious objections, though these are by no means universal,'

Lord Granville, in opening a new Liberal Club at
Hanley on Saturday, delivered an address in which he con-
demned the foreign policy of the Government, and denied
the allegations that the Liberals had attempted the disco-
tegration of the Empire. In the course of his speech he
said :—" I believe the Government are honourable men,
endeavouring according to their abilities to do what they
consider best for the country (laughter); but one very un-
fortunate position of theirs is this—that with the best inten-
tions, and entirely for our good—exactly as some of you whr,
are parents in speaking to your children use a little deteit
for their own good—they tell us we are not equal to the
high policy of Lord Beaconsfield, and cannot be allowed to
take too great a share in the administration of our own
affairs (laughter) or have teo ample means of judging as to
what ought to be done." (Renewed laughter.)

Her Grace the Duchess of Marlborough was pleased
to wear on St. Patrick's Day a shamrock which was pre-
sented with an address from the Sub-Relief Committee,
Rathkeale, county of Limerick, the second paragraph of
which was thus worded :—" We beg leave to present to the
Duchess of Marlborough an Irish shamrock, with a respect-
ful request that she would be graciously pleased to wear it
on her bosom onSt. Patrick's Day, and to assure her that she
shall be ever remembered with feelings of grateful affection
by the Irish people."
Lord John Manners, M.P., and Colonel Burnaby
on NSoart Saturday. d
lie urges
;POI: esihti
athdedreCssoendsearNl-aarathe-emeceatningdidaatteAsshbfoyr
master-General warmly defended the foreign policy of the
Government, and charged Mr. Gloalidvlipaltooostielygolu‘iiittah promising to
eciaorcrtme.sutttollevoßteerifionrTcreaantd3idaaitteers
Empire and cement the good feeling existing between the
colonies and the mother country. Speaking of the malt tax,
he pointed out that the Tories tried to reduce it one-half in
1552., but were prevented by Mr. Gladstone. Government
had reduced local taxation to the extent of two millions a
year, and the whole question of local taxation and malt tax
would be dealt with in the report of the Royal Commission
on agriculture.