The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-24 00:00:00

TIIV STOI7DIRIIITIGE OPSFRTFP

own islands, others are unable to withstand
the promise of an eight or ten per cent. re-
turn when the interest is guaranteed by a
foreign government. Supposing, for in-
stance, a man to have purchased in the year
1863 an Egyptian bond of the value of£loo,
the interest at the rate of ten per cent. per
annum would by this time have amounted
to the whole of the principal, which principal
still remains to produce one-tenth of its
value every year as long as the Egyptian
Government shall last. This is by no means
an imaginary case, but an illustration drawn
from actual experience. There is a saying
' that high interest means poor security, but
the investor must accept the responsibilities
with all the risks and uncertainties inci-
dental to a condition of chronic unrest and
occasional signs of collapse. Still there are
very few home securities which pay ten per
cent., end while foreign countries offer such
a tempting rate of return for an investment,
, no one can be surprised that their loans are
Iso readily taken up in the English money
'market.

future meetings appointed. Everywhere the
greatest enthusiasm exists, and there is no doubt
in these districts candidature of Mr. Allsopp
meets with approval.
On Wednerday a meeting was held at the Golden
Cross Hotel, Bromsgrove, and a local committee,
to support Mr. Henry Allsopp, was formed, Mr.
Joseph Russon, who was chairman of Mr. Amph-
lett's local committee at the last election, being
again chosen chairman. On Thursday another
meeting was held, and the names of many influen-
tial electors, who are willing to serve on the com-
mittee, were received. It was anticipated that
the list of the committee, will comprise more than
200 good names by the end of the week. The books
have been prepared, and the party are ready to
commence an active canvass as soon as it shall be
considered necessary to do so.
On Thursday night a large and influential meet-
ing of Conservative electors was held at the Talbot
Hotel, Oldbury, at which it was unanimously re-
solved to support the candidature of Mr. Henry I
Allsopp. Mr. A. Wright presided over the meet-
ing, and a committee was formed for the purpose
of canvassing the Oldbury division of the county.
Yesterday, Mr. C. W. Collis the Conservative
agent, and others were activly engaged in can-
vassing for Mr. Allsopp and received a large
number of promises. Mr. Noel, and others were
also active in canvasing Belbroughton and dis-
trict, and warmly received, nearly in every case
promises were given to support Mr. Allsopp.
We have not as yet heard of any positive opposi-
tion to Mr. Allsopp's return. The names of the
Hon. Mr. Calthorpe, Mr. Foley, and Mr. Martin
have been mentioned, but up to last night no
gentleman appears to have consented to oppose,
although in an advertisement in our colum
voters are asked not to pledge their votes at
present as there will be one in the field.

THE IRON TRADE.
WOLVEINIAMPTON, Wednesday.
The iron trade of this district continues to
be Characterised by considerable dulness, but
there is no disposition on the part of makers
to quote easier prices, the other alternative
of limiting the production being generally
adopted by the manufacturers of second-class
finished iron. The ;merchants, as well :is
large consumers, are only giving out orders
to satisfy immediate requirements, but the
ironmasters are building their hopes on the
near approach of the shipping season, and
the bareness of stocks in most of the leading
foreign markets, which they affirm must
bring out orders irrespective of the prevail-
ing price. Pig iron is in steady request at
the following standard of quotations :—Best
all-mine (hot air), £7 to £7 10; ditto (cold
air), £8 sto £8 10; part mine (hot air),
£5 15 to £6; and cinder, £4 10 to £5 per
ton. The attendance ou'Change to-day was
not very numerous, and the business tran-
sacted was of an unimportant character.
There was no alteration in the price of fin-
ished iron, which remains on the basis of
£l4 for marked bars of the B B H and other
first-class brands. Second class bars are,
however, offering as low as £ll 15s, and
other classes of finished iron in proportion.
Galvanised sheets are steady, at the advance
of 10s per ton, which was declared last week.
The coal trade in the Cannock Chase district
is still less active than before the holidays,
and the pits are in much less buoyant opera-
tion than at the corresponding period of last
year. Quotations remain firm, and it is com-
monly predicted that there will be no de-
clared reduction for a couple of months at
the earliest on the part of the Cannock
Chase Company. Some of the small coal
coalmasters in the Essington district have
reduced the price of house coal from 20s to
18s 6d per ton at the pit's month. Around
Willenhall and Bloxwich, also, quotations
have an easier tendency. If is understood
that several additional colleries in South
Staffordshire are about to be made joint-
stock concerns.