The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-08-29 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Some capitalists of Bombay have joined to start
stills for the manufacture of silk and woollen stuffs.
Owing to heavy rain, the manufacture of salt at the
Sambhur Lake has been stopped for the season.
"Have you taken any remedy?" said a pompons
physician to his patient. The patient was a crusty one, and
replied, "Lots of medicine, but as usual, no remedy.'
Mrs. Brewster, the wife of an Essex magistrate,
was killed at Chelmsford on Monday by being-thrown out of
her carriage.
• - -

The Chnteau des Amerois, the summer residence of
the Count of Flanders, has been almost entirely destroyed by
tire. The greater part of the furniture was saved.

- -
The Henri-Martini rifle is to be issued without
further delay to the whole of the regiments of the line.
Otte hundred thousand rifles are at present in course of
manufacture.
Mr. Morley, brother of Mr. John Morley, of the
Fortnightly Resists, has met his death in Bombay by falling
over the roof of one of the principal hotels.
There was only a single charge--one of drunkenness
—before the Clerkenwell Police-court on Saturday, a cir-
cumstance which had not occurred at that court for more
than twenty years.
A mrrespondent of the Western Morning News at
Madeira states that vine disease is seriously prevalent in that
Island. Many vines in the best vineyards of the country
have been destroyed, and the discase is daily spreading.
The Executive Council of the Labourers' Union met
at Leamington on Monday under the presidency of Mr. Arch.
One hundred and seventy pounds were voted for emigration.

- -
The Prussian Government has extended the cus-
tomary holidays granted to national school teachers with the
view of affording these bodies of hard-worked men a better
and ampler opportunity " for travelling and recreation."
_ _ . . .

•
At the end of last year there were in England and
Wales 11,369 miles of railway lines open ; the total capita.
paid up, inclnding shares, loans, &c., was upwards of
£490,000,000; and the total number of pusengers conveyed,
including season ticket-holders, stood at upwards of
400,000,000. The total traffic receipts of the year amounted
to £47,000,000; the working expenses were nearly Z 26,000,000;
and the net traffic receipts £03,000,000.

. .
Preparations are being made far the meeting of the
International Congress of Orientalists which is to be held in
London from the 14th to the 19th of next month. The sub-
jects to be discussed at the sittings relate to the language,
literature, arts, sciences, and ethnography of the East, and
the business will be arranged in six sections, dealing
respectively with the Aryan, Semitic, Turanian, and Hamitic
languages and archieoligical and ethnological matters. A
large number of distinguished Oriental scholars, both Eng-
lish and foreign, are expected to attend the congress.

As a party of tourists were taking dime; at an Irish
country ian, one of the guests found the poultry rather.
tough. After exercising his ingenuity to no effect in trying
to dissect an old fowl, he turned to the waiter and asked,
"love you such a thing as a powder-flask ""No, nor, we
hare not. NVod yer be after wanting oi.e, sur ° " " Why. yes.
I think the shortest way would be to blow this fowl no"

An enthusiastic reception was given to the King of
Denmark on his arrival in company with the Princess of
Wales and Prin. Waldemar, at Copenhagen. A fleet of
fourteen steamers had gone out to meet and escort the frigate
that brought home the Royal party, and the city was de-
corated in honour of their return.

A literary man WM asked in a letter the other day
for some materials for his autobiography. The writer was
very polite and considerate. Be said Heaven forbid
that I should desire your death ; but such things win occa..
sionally occur, and it is best to be prepared for the worst."

- -
The London correspondent of the Scotsman states
that more than three thousand documents, partly in manu-
script, partly in print of the period, describing the rise and
development of the various religious sects in Europe, were
collected by Professor Schneider of Berlin in the course of
nearly fifty years bookhuntiug, and are now awaiting a pur-
chaser in the shop of one or other of the European seats of
learning. Great efforts are being made in Berlin, Munich,
and other university towns of Genuany to keep the collection
within the precincts of Fatherland.

- - •
The Scotsman says :—During a crush on the arrival
of atrain for Dundee at Broughty Ferry on saturday, a woman
was pushed between two of the carriages. the wheels of one
passing over her, and mangling her body terribly.
The reception of the President of the French Re-
public at St tie.lre was marked by very little enthusiasm
on the part of the people of the town, but was carried out
with the usual gaiety of decoration.

-
From the let April to the 22nd instant the total re-
ceipts into the Exchequer amounted to £26,411,069, as com-
pared with £20,811,647 in the corresponding period last year
The expenditure during the same period was £30,387,503, as
compared with £32,934,505 last year The balance an the
Stunk of England was £1,673,526; in the Bank of Ireland,
£059,874.
A fire broke out on Tuesday morning in the top
floor of the South Prison, Glasgow, and was not put out until
the whole of the west wing was gutted. The floor was used
as a lodging for single paalicemen, a number of whom have
lost most of their clothing. It is supposed that the fire
originated in the mess room.
- - - -

In the last seven months the value of poultry im-
ported, including Ostend rabbits, was 012,575 ; last year,
£112,587.

About two or three thousand Good Templars made
an excursion from Loudon to Raistbourne on Tuesday, and
formed a procession, with banners arid hands of music, in
going and returning.
Mr. W. H. W. Betty, who was formerly known as
'the Young Roseius," died at his residence in London on
Monday night, in the 83rd year of his age. lie first rip.
peared on the stage, when about twelve years old, in
August, 1813, and he retired from professional life in
August, 1824.

In the plebiscite recently concluded in Fife and
Clackmannan, 2,094 men have voted for resisting the 15 per
cent, reduction of wages, 1,150 for submitting to it, while
3,348 have abstained from voting. It is expected that in a
few days as many as 7,000 will be idle.
There has been a serious accident on the Great In-
dian Peninsula Railway, near Khundwah. A bridge collapsed
while a goods train was upon it, and the engine and tracks
were precipitated into the river below. The driver, guard,
and a native fireman were killed.

The Goalundo railway station on the Ea.stern
Bengal line has had a narrow escape from being washed
away. The whole of the surrounding country has been sub.
merged by the rising of the Brahniapootra.
_ -

-
In the Crown Court, Liverpool, on Monday,
damages to the amount of £550 were awarded to a waggon
inspector for injuries sustained through negligence on the
part of the servants of the London and North-western San-

The last of the well-known "haunted houses" in
Stamford-street, Blackfriars-road, which were bequeathed by
the eccentric Miss Angelina Reed to the Brompton Consump-
tion Hospital, is now demolished, and on its site the founds-
tionetone of the Central Rank of London has been laid.
A fearful accident happened on Sunday night in the
St Germain quarter, Paris. An omnibus, full Inside and
outside, was descending a deep incline when the horses took
fright, and in a few seconds the vehicle with its living cargo
was dashed against the kerbstone and overturned Olt to the
pavement. The driver was killed on the spot ; he fell on his
head, and Ms skull was smashed in. Fifteen of the passenger,
were injured, some so seriously that their lives were des-
paired of. As usual in such accidents, those inside suffered
more than those outside.

The death is announced, at the advanced age of 88,
of the Rev. lienryJenkins, BD., and late Fellow of Magdalen
College, Oxford, and rector of Stanway, one of the oldest
members of the University, which lie entered at the end of
the last century, and proceeded to his bachelor's degree in
the year 1803. lie was subsequently elected to a foundation
fellowship of this society, and after holding it for many
years was presented by the president and fellows to the rich
college living of Stanway, Colchester, of the annual value of
£503 with a residence.
Miss Becker's paper, illustrating some difficulties
which have arisen in enforcing the Education Act, lent •
special mt.t-rest to Monday's proceedings of the British Asso-
ciation at Belfast. The paper, which was followed by others
read by Mrs. Grey and Miss Reedy on other aspects of the
education question, especially as affecting women, gave rise
bean animated discussion.
Mr. P. Vivian, M.P., the president, in delivering
the inaugural address at the forty-second aumuiLexhibition
A the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society at ffiatimith, on
Tuesday, expressed his belief that coal would lialtreturn to
the prices that prevailed before the rale two rlllll shoe, and
a hope that the attention of scientific societies would be
directed to the prevention of the monstrous waste of fuel
that was to be observed in every manufacture.
Two carriages attached to the northern express
train from St Pancras on Tuesday evening got uncoupled in
the lielsixe tunnel. Great consternation ensued among the
passengers, owing to their being left in total thrkness, and
the stifling nature of the atmosphere. Luckily the flee
o'clock local train from Nfoorgateatrvei ran over the fog
signals laid down by the guard, and pulling up in time, wu
able to push the runaway carriages into Finchley-road
station.
A series of religious meetings of a somewhat unusual
type is to be held at Oxford from Saturday next to the 7th of
September. The object of the meetings is stated to be the
promotion of scriptural holiness," and Christians of all
denominations are to take part in the proceedings. Meet-
ings for prayer interspersed with addresssa will be held daily,
but on Sundays they will be no arranged as not to interfere
with attendance at the churches and chapels where special
services will be held. It is expected that some eminent
foreign ministers will he present. The Town-hall has been
engaged for the chief meetings.

i

Dandelion salad is now one of tho dainty daily
dishes served in some of the French restaurants
The mixture or separation of the children of the
white and negro population is a question creating much ex-
citement in the Southern States of America The whites are
willing that the black ehildren should be afforded an educa-
tion in every resptiet as good as that provided fir themselves ;
rut the oppositieli to the mixture if the rac„., i„ very
vehement.
The Abbe Gerard, for forty years cure of the parish
of Corbeil. has just died, after an exemplary life. wherein he
VaVtl really all that he had and it was much to the poor.
shortly before expiring lie directed all the promises to pa;
which he held for 60,0001, to be brought to him, and next to
be burned in his presence
The body of Mr. Frederick Roberts Wilton one of
the masters of the City of London School. who has aen miss-
ing since the llth inst., has been found in a lonely part of
Snowdon by Owen Owen arid William Roberta, two Llanberis
guides. Deceased evidently lost his way after leaving the
summit, and, wandering along an old ravine, fell fifty yards
down the face of the mountain on the pass-aide. Ills watch,
paw, anti other erttiles were found upon him. At the in-
quest, on Tuesday. the meilical opinion was that, being badly
injured lq• thu hill deceased could not nmve, and died from
exposure. A verdict of ' Foluid dead " was returned.
A series of fetes at Boulogne was brought to a chase
on Sunday with the procession of Notre Dame, in which
several thousand persons took part, and which was of a very
imposing thwarter. The ceremony of bleasing the sea was
performed by the Archbishop of that province.
Immense quantities of plums, apples, pears, and
other wall fruit are being brought from Hamburg. Rotter-
dam, and Antwerp for sale. Contrary to expectations on this
aide, the Continental fruit crop is a large arid bountiful
one the fruit Ls verrprime in quality, mad Is sold at a very
moderate price.
On the let September neat, and thenceforward, the
postage on a newspaper notexceeding Mar ounces in weight,
addressed to Any of the following places, arid Wended for
transmission by the Mail via Southampton, will be reduced
from two pence to one penny, viz to the East Indies,
Gong Kong, or any other part of chins; Japan, Ceylon,
Straits Settlemeuta, Labaun. a further rate of one penny
being chargeable for every additional four ounces or fraction
of four ounces.
An atrocious act of piracy has occurred in the China
seas, a number of pirates who had embarked as passengers,
at canton, on board the steamer Spark, for Macao, having
murdered the captain, mate, and purser, and maimed several
of the passengers and crew, and afterwards made their
escape in a junk. Gunboats have been sent in pursuit

•
The ship St. Vincent sailed from Plymouth on the
22.t0l inst. for Adelaide, under charter *itli the Agent
General for South Australia, with 330 emigrants, the whole
being under the assisted passage regulations. Among the
number are CC single women domestic servants who are
greatly wanted in the colony.
Mr. H. M. Stanley has left London for Zanzibar on
an expedition of African discovery-. lie is to attempt the
final solution of the Nile problem, and otherwise to increase
our knowledge of the Interior regions of Africa.
In London on Monday morning the Empress of
Austria, accompanied by Baron Nopesa, the Countess de
Festetics, Madame de Ferentisy, and M. Linger, wpt
through uzioribstreet and by the Holborn Viaduct and the
City to the Tower, over which her Majesty and suite were
conducted by the chief warder. Her Majesty and suite re-
turned by way of She Victoria Embankment, and were taken
over Westminster Abbey by the Dean. Her Majesty after-
wards visited the Houses of Parliament
The difference between noted men and noted women
Is said to be that the men always like to see themselves in
print, and tnat the wotmer prefer to see themselves in silks
and velvets

We (The Timor) are informed by correspondents tha
swarms of winged ants were observed on the 19th inst., a
K illin (Perthshire), on the top of the sugarloaf Mountain
Monmouthshire, and in many other places, and on the 19th
inst. in Cumberland. at Ilfracombe, and the north-west
corner of the Isle of Wight.
A shocking accident took place on Monday morning
at the Foshill Bank Priutworks, Blackburn. A Young
woman was engaged in sorting cotton yarn, when the yens
caught in the cog-wheel of a shaft and drew her in. She
was drawn round the shaft and killed instantly. The body
was frightfully mutilated.
On Monday afternoon, while Miss Handley, daughter
of Mr. Handley, steward to Lord Aveland, was out driving
with a lady friend at Emplugham, Rutland, the horse took
fright and galloped off at a furious pace. The driver lost
all control over it, and in crossing a narrow stone bridge the
carriage was dashed against the parapet, the occupants
being thrown out on to the roadway, The coachman was
, killed on the spot. Miss Handley inotained severe fracture
of the skull, and no hope is entertained of her recovery. The
other lady is also reported to be dangerously injured.
On Tuesday morning forty emigrants, composed
principally of women and children, left the locked-out
district in Cambridge for Liverpool, from whence they were
to sail for Canada. The emigration agents state that they
have succeeded is removing from this district alone during
the present year. POO persons. Several recent emigrants to
Canada from Burwell have just returned home.

- •
In another week all the cornfields of Essex are ex-
pected to be cleared. The crops on the heavy lands of the
county have turned out better than was expected. Some of
the wheat which liva been thrashed out In Essex is, however,
thin and steely. Barley is not a great crop this year in
Essex. Some of the wheat whtch has been carted in Norfolk
is not in very good condition, but that carried towards the
close of last week was secured in first-rate order. About
half the barley in Norfolk is up, and in aome pasta of
Norfolk the harvest may be said to have been completed on
Saturday nigh( Wheat is considered to be a full average
crop in Norfolk. Barley is disappointing as to quality, but It
has been secured in excellent condition.