The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-24 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

The volume of water in the Colorado River equals
that of Niagara, and the current in the great canyon attains
a speed of forty to fifty miles per hour.

The Russian Government, it is stated, has abandoned
Is intention to propose a continuation of the Brussels Con
terenee on the usages of war.

A conference Of the Association for the Reform and
Codification of the Law of Nations will be held at the Hague
on the let of September.

It is stated that a large number of horses are being
sent from Russia to France.

Some ingenious observer has discovered that there is
a remarkable resemblance between a baby and wheat, since
it is cradled, then thrashed, and finally becomes the flour of
the family.

From an official document just printed, it appears
that last year as many as 821 orders were registered by
county courts to protect the property of "deserted wives."
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Last year, as is shown by a public document, out of
23,232 warrants of commitments issued by county courts,
only 4,198 debtors were imprisoned, besides 67 warrants in
the City of London, and five debtors committed.
According to reports published hi the New York
journals, the Cuban insurgents have captured two forts,
with their garrisons, near Carrocoa.
The impostor who gave himself out some time ago
as Nana Sahib has been sentenced by the Maharajah Scindiah
to four years' imprisonment.

NParly £20,000 has been received at the Mansion
House in aid of the French Inundations Relief Fund. The
more recent subscriptions include one of a hundred guineas
from the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The number of emigrants that left Liverpool during
the past quarter was 37,739. In the corresponding quarter
of last year the number was 47,754, so that there is a decrease in
the present return of 10,015.

A Renter's telegram from Constantinople says that
advices received there announce that the town of Lefke, in
Asiatic Turkey, was almost completely destroyed by fire on
the 11th inst.

The Pullman eleeping•cars have now been introduced
on the Southern Railway of Italy. As they had already
been adopted on the Upper Italy lines, the through journey
from Mont Cenis to Brindisi by the Indian mail route may
now be performed without any change in those carriages.
At a meeting held at the Mansion-house, in London,
on Tuesday afternoon, Alderman Sir B. Phillips in the chair,
it was resolved to form an executive committee for the pur-
pose of promoting the objects of the Congress and Interna-
tional Exhibition of Appliances for Saving Life, to be opened
In Brussels next year.

It appears from the official returns recently issued
that the number of emigrants who sailed from Liverpool
during the quarter ending Jane 30 was less by 10,015 than
during the same period of last year.
It is again announced that in Constantinople the
movement in the Herzegovina is considered to be of a serious
character. Turkish troops have been sent against the insur•
gents, but no serious encounters have yet taken place. It is
said, too, that owing to the vigilance displayed on the fron-
tier by Austria, Bervia, and Montenegro, the rising has been
confined to certain localities.

An elderly maiden, who had suffered some disap-
pointment, thus defines the human race: Man, a conglo-
merate mass of hair, tobacco smoke, confusion, conceit,
and boots. Woman, the waiter, perforce, on the aforesaid
animaL _ . _

A gentleman while making a speech, inadvertently
stepped forward and off the platform. In response to the
peals of laughter that greeted his unlucky fall, he claimed
that any speaker bade right "to come down to the level o
his audience."
According to the Francisco Bulletin, of the 23rd ult.,
this year's harvest in California will produce 13,142,000
centals, of which 7,822,000 centals will be available for export.
Tile barley harvest is estimated at 6,109,500 centals, with
about 2,500,000 for export.
A man set a trout line a few nights ago with one
hook baited with a live frog. On going to his line next
morning, he was surprised to find it lifted out of the water
and into the branches of a neighbouring tree. A closer
examination revealed the fact that his live bait had been
taken by au owl during the night, and the owl in turn had
been caught by the hook.
The authorities of the Alexandra Palace have
determined to organise a great international -carrier pigeon
match between France and England and Belgium and Eng-
land. A large sum of money will be distributed in the
shape of prizes, the chief of which will be a gold vase. The
"pigeon races" will, it is said, be commenced at the
beginning of August.

The barque Nordcap, arrived at Quebec on the 3rd
of July, reports that about a fortnight ago in latitude 47 deg.
she picked up boat No. 5 of the steamer Vicksburg, of
Liverpool. It was floating bottom upwards, and contained
two life preservers, a life belt, and a cask of water.—Times'
American Correspondent.

Another Carlist stronghold has fallen into the hands
of the Royalist troops. The Official GazeNe of Madrid states
that Fort Collado, the last refuge of the Carlists in the pro-
vince of Castellon, has surrendered at discretion, with eleven
officers, 300 &Idlers, and two guns.

On Monday, at Dundee, several thousands of mill
workers, chiefly women, left their employment in conse-
quence of an announcement by the masters that the wages
were this week to be reduced 10 per cent. One of the largest
firms have closed their gates until Monday next.

A man in Arkansas, while at work in a forest re-
cently. observed the initials "J. C." cut in a tree and in the
ground near by a depression. Thinking the two circum-
stances meant something, he went to digging, and a jar con
taming near three gallons of silver and a diamond was the
result of the search. The money amounted to over 1,400
dole. The indications were tkat the money had been buried
but a few years.

The Art School at Madrid, formed npon the model
of that at South Kensington, and founded in 1872, seems to
have succeeded, several of the students having secured advan-
tageous employment upon the Geological Map of Spain, in
preparation by the government, and Senor Dorregaray's
work? " Musoos Arquitectonices. During the first year 15
matriculated, the second 50, and the present nearly 100.

A gentleman, giving a lecture to some boys, was
explaining how no one could live without air. He then
said, "You have all heard of a man drowning—how does
that happen ? " The ready answer was, "Cause he can't
swim "

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A grand banquet was given at the Mansion House,
in London, on Saturday night to the members and associates
of the Royal Academy anti other artists. The Lord Mayor
presided, and in proposing a toast to the Royal Academy,
spoke of the commercial principle involved in the pursuit of
art. Sir Francis Grant, P R A., having replied, his lordship
gave "English and Foreign Art and Literature," to which Sir
Henry Cole, M. Gustave Dor6, and Mr. G. A. Sala responded.
The army may be said to have displayed almost
greater liberality towards the victiris of the flood than any
other body in France. The average amount subscribed by
each regiment was about £6OO
A deputation, representative of the leading manu-
facturing towns of the country, has had an interview with Lord
Derby pn Tuesday on the subject of treaties of commerce
with foreign countries, especially with reference to the new
treaty now bAng negociated bettveen France and Italy. Ills
lordship premised to pay every attention to the matter.
The receipts on account of revenue from the let
April, 1875, when there was a balance of £6,265,322 to the
17th instant, were £21,579,749, against £20,728,900 in the
corresponding period of the preceding financial year, which
began with a balance of £7,442,854. The net expenditure
was £26,682,564, against £26,270,305 to the same date in the
previous year. The Treasury balances on the 17th instant
amounted to £1,477,694, and at the same date in 1874 to
£1,819,074.